British electro-rock band IAMWARFACE can do no wrong when it comes to making music as far as I’m concerned. Based in Brighton and London, their aggressive name is a fitting metaphor for their bombastic high-energy, groove-based sound, and they rank high among my favorite UK bands. In addition to founder and frontman Matt Warneford, the band members include Lou Matthews (guitars), Tom Howe (DJ synth), Mike Smith (bass) and Adam Stanley (drums).
Photo by Caitlin Stokes
I first featured them on this blog in 2016 when they released their face-melting debut single “Say My Name”, then again in July 2018 with the release of the magnificent “Closer“. I loved both tracks so much that they peaked at #1 on my Weekly Top 30, and “Say My Name” placed at #14 on my Top 100 Songs of 2016, and “Closer” at #8 on my Top 100 Songs of 2018. They now return with another incredible, hard-hitting single “Fear the Future“, providing further proof (as if any is needed) that these guys are phenomenal musicians.
The song launches with Adam’s smashing drumbeats, Tom’s grinding synths and Lou’s jagged riffs, all hallmarks of the band’s signature electrifying sound. As the track progresses, layers of sparkling industrial synths and jangly guitar are added to the mix while Mike lays down a pulsating bass line that drives the song forward. Matt has a powerful, resonant singing voice, and he raises adrenaline levels here with his arresting, passionate vocals that soar to the heavens in the chorus as the instrumentals reach a spine-tingling crescendo.
The biting lyrics seem to address the bullshit and fear-mongering being fed to the masses in a pernicious attempt to dumb-down and divide us, thereby allowing us to be controlled.
It’s all in the news The act is done They’ve got us all and alone Praise the lord Cheat us all Its televised Another fear
Its all i hear It gives me the creeps
I fear the Future Wont you take me with ya Aw come on come on now
High five Where are we now Cheap seats the end of the world And free lies The Bubblegum shit Closes eyes dreams of England
IAMWARFACE have another massive hit on their hands with “Fear the Future”. While they may fear the future with regard to the current fucked-up sociopolitical state of things, they needn’t fear for their future as a band on an straight upward trajectory.
1. IN THE WATER – The Underground Vault (1)
2. DELTA BLUES – Jetstream (3)
3. WANDER – Vox Eagle with Pierre Fontaine (2)
4. SUNFLOWER – Post Malone & Swae Lee (5)
5. SUPERPOSITION – Young the Giant (8)
6. APOCALIPSTICK – Lazy Queen (7)
7. PRESSURE – Muse (9)
8. LOVE IT IF WE MADE IT – The 1975 (11)
9. NORTHERN LIGHTS – Death Cab for Cutie (12)
10. CHANGE – The Revivalists (13)
11. HIGH HOPES – Panic! At the Disco (4)
12. FAST TALK – Houses (6)
13. POWER OVER ME – Dermot Kennedy (17)
14. SIGUE CON EL AMOR – John Defeo (16)
15. S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun) – The Glorious Sons (21)
16. VOLCANO – Feather Weight (18)
17. WORST NIGHTS – Foster the People (14)
18. LIGHT ON – Maggie Rogers (15)
19. HOME – morgxn featuring WALK THE MOON (20)
20. TRAMPOLINE – SHAED (26)
21. MOVEMENT – Hozier (22)
22. YOU’RE THE ONE – Greta Van Fleet (23)
23. LONGSHOT – Catfish and the Bottlemen (24)
24. DISAPPEAR – Western Jaguar (25)
25. EXITS – Foals (27)
26. BACK DOWN – Bob Moses (10)
27. READY TO LET GO – Cage the Elephant (29)
28. SALVATION – The Strumbellas (30)
29. ASSUME FORM – James Blake (N)
30. SECRET THAT LIES BEHIND – The Gear (N)
I’ve followed Los Angeles duo Ships Have Sailed on Twitter for a couple of years, but have somehow neglected featuring them on this blog. I’m now remedying that sad situation, as they’ve just released a beautiful and deeply moving new single “Escape“, and I love it. Ships Have Sailed is the brainchild of vocalist/guitarist Will Carpenter, and after collaborating with a number of fellow musicians starting around 2012, the lineup now permanently includes drummer Art Andranikyan. They play a pleasing and infectious style of pop-rock characterized by memorable melodies and thoughtful, uplifting lyrics. I had the pleasure of meeting Will last year in Los Angeles, and his gentle kindness comes through in his sublime vocals.
Ships Have Sailed released their debut EP Someday in 2013, and followed two years later with Moodswings. They also released a few EPs between 2015 and 2017 that featured remixes or acoustic versions of previously recorded songs. More recently, they dropped two stellar singles – “Up” in 2017 and “Let’s Just Dance” in 2018, along with some great remixes for both. Their latest effort is “Escape”, which dropped on February 22nd, and I think it’s one of their best songs yet.
From the moment we hear the opening guitar chords and delicate synths, we’re enveloped by a warm and heavenly soundscape. Then Will’s soft, comforting vocals enter the mix, and it’s pure bliss. He has a beautiful voice that melds perfectly with the gentle instrumentals. The music intensifies in the third verse as Art’s crashing cymbals and assertive drumbeats bring drama to the track. Will’s vocals rise to the occasion, becoming raw and impassioned, raising goosebumps on the back of my neck.
The song speaks to a person struggling with personal demons and addiction. About the inspiration behind the song, Will explains: “Everyone has struggled. Born as the stark expression of an especially trying year, ‘Escape’ represents a shift from what we’ve become best known for, exposing a more vulnerable angle. It represents musical honesty in its most raw form, and we truly hope it makes you feel something.”
So you stumble through the world run against the grain… There’s a demon in your mind with a boiling rage… Screaming at the sky do you feel insane? Someone better hold you down. Someone better figure you out… Someone better hold you down… Get off this ride…
If you look into the sky can you feel the rain? Does the needle in your arm take away the pain? Do you wonder if you’ll ever find a home again… beyond this cheap escape…my friend.
The powerful and stunning video shows scenes of Will and Art performing the song, alternating with scenes of a young man experiencing emotional turmoil. Filmed in and around Los Angeles, it was directed by Michael Easterling & Jaala Ruffman of Talkboy TV, and produced by Ruffman. The cinematography was done by David Parks, and the actors are Caleb Thomas, Zarah Ruffman & Clarity Ruffman.
To learn more about Ships Have Sailed, check out their Website
Morosity is an unusual band with a unique genre-bending sound like no other I’ve heard. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Morosity is comprised of front man Jesse Albrecht (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Sean Bachinski (Bass), Jason Wolfe (Violin, Guitar, Mandolin), and Nick Johnson (Drums). They meld progressive rock with folk, dark wave, psychedelia, Middle Eastern and even tribal influences to create an exotic sound that’s captivating, haunting and always mind-blowing.
They released their ambitious debut album Misanthrope in 2011 to wide acclaim, and after a six-year span, followed up with the magnificent Low Tide, which I reviewed. In May 2018, they released a darkly beautiful single “Defend“, which I also reviewed, and now return to grace our ears with a stunning new single “Time“, which drops today.
Wow, this phenomenal track is loaded with moody, atmospheric vibes and gorgeous instrumentation that make for a mesmerizing listening experience (all of their songs are, really). The intricately-strummed acoustic and electric guitars are exquisite, and Albrecht’s captivating echoed vocals run the gamut from seductive to chilling, keeping our rapt attention. Everything eventually builds to a crescendo, climaxed with otherworldly synths and eerie vocal chanting in the chorus that lends the track a dark, almost demonic aura.
The lyrics speak to the perplexities of time and the eternal unanswered questions mankind has pondered about it throughout our existence:
Time It’s in the stars above Time The past and what’s to come Time Exists infinity Time An astral fantasy
Spinning round like hands falling down the sand you see the signs
Wondering if it ends What’s the master plan It’s Time Devine
Time It’s an illusion state Time Lack of conclusion day Time Controlling destiny Time There’s no conspiracy
The more I seek the less I find I can not see all Spectrum of light Perception finite
The visually stunning and clever video was created by Albrecht and his wife Heather (who also created the amazing cover art of Father Time). It shows two toy figures representing a chicken and a rabbit encountering a host of characters and worlds as they travel through time and space. I love it!
Gravity Castle is the music project of Oliver Kersey and Gabriel Gledhill, and they just dropped a wonderful new single “I’ll Just Be Me“. The duo are seasoned musicians and multi-instrumentalists based in Provo, Utah. Prior to joining forces, each was independently involved in music for more than a decade, and between the two of them play more than 10 instruments. Oliver, who’s originally from England and moved from London to Utah with his fiancé in 2012, met Gabriel while he was performing with another artist at a cafe in Provo one night, but nothing clicked between them.
A few years later they reconnected, and by that time, Oliver was performing as Oli K. Gabriel and two other musicians joined Oliver, and Oli K became a band. Unfortunately, people kept getting their name wrong, and the final straw came on the night of July 4, 2016 when the band was performing at a festival in Ogden. The PA announcement of the festival activities, which was on a continuous loop, kept referring to their band as “Oil K”. Almost immediately afterward, the band was rechristened Salt Valley. They released an excellent EP Roots in 2017, and had a successful run, but two years later Oliver and Gabriel decided to split off as a duo, whereupon Gravity Castle was born in September 2018.
The two share a versatility for writing, recording, and producing all their music in their own, self-built home studio. They released their debut EP Beginnings in December 2018, featuring five beautiful tracks, and in January 2019, they released their first music video for one of the tracks “I’m Sorry.” They also launched their YouTube vlog series Gravity Files, where they discuss their music, songwriting tips, their approach to the music business, and more. Check it out, as well as their music videos, on their YouTube Channel. “I’ll Just Be Me” was released on February 20th.
It’s an upbeat pop-rock song with a message that it’s okay to be yourself, and not allow others’ expectations define who you are: “Sometimes I feel like I don’t fit all the roles I’m paired with. I redefine, I walk a line. Know I’m going nowhere. Biding my time with questions. It doesn’t take much to keep me laughing. This could go forever to figure out why I know I’m doing just fine.”
Musically, the track is a vibrant soundscape of sparkling and spacey synths, accompanied by beautiful chiming guitar, subtle bass and a spirited parade of skittering drumbeats. Oliver’s resonant vocals are heartfelt and charming, and I really like Gabriel’s backing falsetto harmonies. The distorted refrain of “I’ll Just Be Me” adds interest to the track. Throw in the catchy melody, and it all makes for a delightful feel-good anthem.
I continue to be amazed at the sheer volume of musical talent that exists today, with so many really fine musicians and bands making outstanding music. A recent find is a young four-piece from Leeds, England who call themselves The Common View. I liked their music at first listen, and as I learned about their social and political views and willingness to be outspoken advocates for social justice, being an unapologetic progressive liberal myself, I’ve also come to admire them and am proud to feature them on my blog today.
The band was formed in 2018 by three University of Leeds students with a shared love of music: Dom Robertson (guitar, vocals), Jose Ignacio Barrera (guitar) and Jacob Lindsay (drums, vocals). Bassist Joe Sykes joined a bit later, filling out the band’s sound and completing their lineup. Their indelible and dynamic style of alternative rock is influenced by indie pop-rock, post-punk revival and Rockabilly.
They released their self-titled debut EP The Common View, Vol. 1 in December 2018, featuring three outstanding tracks. The guys recorded, mixed and mastered the EP themselves, and I must say that the production values are first-rate, sounding very professional for a debut effort. They also have a terrific little blog on the website musicglue, where they share news about themselves, their music and coming events, so do check it out here. Dom has quite the sense of humour (I thought I’d be cheeky and use the British spelling), and provides entertaining insight into the creation and meaning of the songs, some of which I’ll quote below.
The first track, “I Can’t Get Your Face Out of My Mind” is a delightfully sultry affair, with pulsating riffs of swirling guitars, throbbing bass and snappy drums delivering moody vibes and a captivating melody. Dom describes the song’s genesis: “My memory is somewhat comparable to a goldfish, but if I recall correctly, the song started off with a vaguely similar chord progression and a completely different strumming pattern. It was admittedly a bit of a mess, but I distinctly remember the moment it all came together; For some unknown reason I started to try a bit of a Ska rhythm, akin to something The Specials would use in their hits, and it started to sound really good! After that, the rest of the song started to fall into place and we worked on the progression and the voicings (which usually consists of Jacob’s best whale impression to the sound of the song), with the solo and actual wording being sorted much later on.”
I confidently state that it all came together quite nicely. The tight instrumentation is a clear indication of this band’s impressive musicianship, and I really like Jacob’s sultry, yet heartfelt vocals that convey a sense of sad resignation as he laments to someone who broke his heart: “Oh, if you’re feeling low, don’t come running. I’m moving on now, you can’t keep me down. Got my head spinning round. Your words are poison. You’re killing all the boys, and I’m intoxicated, Hear me out. And you led me on, said I was the only one for you. But you were lying through your teeth. How could you do that to me.”
The socially relevant “Ignorance” greets our eardrums with a rousing mix of jangly and fuzzy guitars, accompanied by a frantic punk-rock beat that makes for a exhilarating listen. About the track, Dom explains: “At the risk of sounding like a dickhead, I am actually quite proud to say I wrote the lyrics to ‘Ignorance’, even if it was at 3 am in a disgustingly dirty kitchen in student halls (This will become a trend). They draw from the general idea that there are so many things in the world that seem so obviously wrong (whether it be Global Warming, genocides, racism or terrorism to name a few) that to anyone who ignores, pretends or simply doesn’t understand the fundamental basics is so glaringly ignorant, I’ll never understand them. Ignorance may well be bliss, but we really should be better than this!”
On “The Hollow“, Jose and Dom deliver a languid, soulful groove, with shimmery riffs of chiming guitar that are drop-dead fucking gorgeous! And if all that beauty wasn’t enough, Jacob and Dom’s vocal harmonies are positively sublime. Dom discusses their creative genius behind the song’s captivating melody: “‘The Hollow’, despite being the slower track of the EP, will always hold a special place in my heart. It came about as we were recording our music in Jose’s apartment in Manchester and were looking for another song to go on the EP. Jose and I picked up our guitars and were messing about with a few ideas and eventually one of us (I think it was me) started to use the 7th chords which sounded a little jazzy, and Jose immediately picked up on it. We worked together to form the verse, then he started to add a little bit of lead to it and Jacob worked his magic, moaning like a buffalo in the plains of the wild west in tune to the music, to find some voicings that worked, and then altering some of Jose’s proposed lyrics to fit the tune. Then all of a sudden we had it – a completed song, from start to finish, composed by all of us together, in the space of about 20 minutes. Then, in about half an hour we had it all recorded and had to rush to the coach station to head back home to Leeds. It truly was ‘made in the studio’!”
Shortly after the release of their EP, they dropped a provocative new single “Fuck Them“, where they call out the failure of British society and the government to adequately address the chronic issues of health care, poverty and homelessness: “We are sick of the way the NHS is so poorly funded and mismanaged. We are sick of the rising levels of homelessness and the complete neglect to do anything about it. We are sick of the glorification of food banks as a solution rather than proof of failing policy. We can’t change the government, but we can let them know that we don’t want them!”
Musically, the track has an exuberant tempo that belies the scathing lyrics, with roiling riffs of jangly and gnarly guitars, sparkling synths, bouncy drumbeats and an abundance of crashing cymbals. Jacob coldly sings: “Everyone is in despair. Hard to find someone who cares. People dying in their beds, cause there’s no money for their meds. We’ve got to work and do it right. But all you ever do is fight. / We don’t, we don’t want you. We don’t, we don’t need you. We don’t, we don’t believe you. We don’t, we don’t need you here.”
This brilliant song was expertly mixed and mastered by Alexander Elegger, a young audio engineer and producer from Tula, Russia who began working in sound engineering at the tender age of 14! And the photo used for the video is by Matt Collamer for Unsplash, and was published on February 12, 2018.
Lastly, here’s a video of the band playing an acoustic version of their latest track, a love song called “A Perfect Bridge“. These guys are supremely talented songwriters and musicians and I’m helplessly hooked on their music. Even at their young ages, they’re already masters of their craft, and I expect we’ll be hearing even more incredible music from them in the future. There’s nothing common about The Common View, and I’m excited about following them on their musical journey.
Revolvers are a four piece indie band based in London who play high-energy guitar-driven melodic rock. Originally formed in 2016 at the London College of Music, the band now consists of James Thurling (guitar/lead vocals) Will Oliver (guitar/backing vocals), Steven Morrison (bass/backing vocals) and Rhys Kibble (drums). They released their debut EP Your Indie Heroes Will Betray You in January 2018 to positive reviews, and now return with an exuberant new single “True Love” which drops today, February 20th.
It’s a terrific, hard-hitting song that reflects the band’s trend toward a heavier rock sound. The thing that really stands out for me is the fantastic guitar work. James and Will deliver an explosion of lush, reverb-drenched jangly riffs that continue throughout the track, punctuated by a tasty little gnarly guitar solo in the bridge. Steven lays down a solid bass line while Rhys pounds his drums and crashes his cymbals like a banshee, adding tremendous impact to this exhilarating song. James has a commanding vocal style, and I really like how his strong British accent shines through when he sings.
The lyrics seem to address dual themes of the impermanence of romantic love, and how as we grow and change, we can never go back to what once was. It’s a rough thing to come to grips with, as anyone who’s moved away has experienced upon returning to a place where you used to live, or to an old flame you once loved, but for whom the feelings have faded or disappeared for at least one of the parties.
Letting go has never been so easy You know that more than anyone Cause I don’t believe true love ever exists It’s a game made up by mankind
Say farewell to small town agendas Streets and corners where you surrendered All those days Racing through your life without warning Then you realize that you never belonged here You don’t belong here
True love never makes it to midnight
The wonderful video for the song shows a man back visiting the town he grew up in, and seeing himself in various situations with old friends and girlfriends but feeling lost and out of sorts, no longer fitting in.
1. IN THE WATER – The Underground Vault (2)
2. WANDER – Vox Eagle with Pierre Fontaine (1)
3. DELTA BLUES – Jetstream (5)
4. HIGH HOPES – Panic! At the Disco (3)
5. SUNFLOWER – Post Malone & Swae Lee (7)
6. FAST TALK – Houses (6)
7. APOCALIPSTICK – Lazy Queen (8)
8. SUPERPOSITION – Young the Giant (11)
9. PRESSURE – Muse (10)
10. BACK DOWN – Bob Moses (4)
11. LOVE IT IF WE MADE IT – The 1975 (12)
12. NORTHERN LIGHTS – Death Cab for Cutie (13)
13. CHANGE – The Revivalists (17)
14. WORST NIGHTS – Foster the People (15)
15. LIGHT ON – Maggie Rogers (16)
16. SIGUE CON EL AMOR – John Defeo (18)
17. POWER OVER ME – Dermot Kennedy (19)
18. VOLCANO – Feather Weight (20)
19. HURT PEOPLE – Two Feet featuring Madison Love (9)
20. HOME – morgxn featuring WALK THE MOON (22)
21. S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun) – The Glorious Sons (28)
22. MOVEMENT – Hozier (24)
23. YOU’RE THE ONE – Greta Van Fleet (25)
24. LONGSHOT – Catfish and the Bottlemen (26)
25. DISAPPEAR – Western Jaguar (27)
26. TRAMPOLINE – SHAED (29)
27. EXITS – Foals (30)
28. GUIDING LIGHT – Mumford & Sons (14) 20th week on chart
29. READY TO LET GO – Cage the Elephant (N)
30. SALVATION – The Strumbellas (N)
Harroland is an alternative indie-rock band from Reading, England, comprised of siblings Michael (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Kate Kennedy (keyboards, backing vocals), Steve Tabor (lead guitar) and Sam Tranckle (drums). They’ve just released a new single “Home“, the first of a number of releases planned for 2019. They wrote and self-recorded the track on a shoe-string budget in a freezing cold converted laundry house outside Reading, and had close friend Liam Memmott do the mixing. Mastering was done by two time Grammy Award-winning analog mastering engineer Andres Mayo.
The song opens with an ominous synth chord, then expands into a darkly beautiful soundscape of shimmering keyboard synths, chiming guitars and smooth percussion. The moody piano riff is particularly sublime. Michael has a unique vocal style that’s incredibly appealing, and Kate’s lovely backing vocals harmonize beautifully with his, making for a wonderful listening experience. I found myself wanting to hear this song again and again, liking it more with every listen.
According to Michael, “‘Home’ is told from the viewpoint of someone who gained power using empty promises and feeding on other people’s hopes and dreams. The lyrics reflect the mindset of the kind of person that only wants to enrich themselves, no matter who gets hurt because of their promises. We think it’s important to question who you can and should trust, or if they’re just telling you what you want to hear, especially in the political climate we’re all in at the moment. We’ve all been burnt by people like that.”
The lyrics are extensive, but here’s a snippet of verses that drive home the song’s message from someone intent on holding onto their own power while disregarding the hopes and dreams of others (perfectly describes the vile Liar in Chief currently occupying the White House):
Flip up the table, But it don’t move, Now they say, They’re threatening, My home, your dreams, My right to rule
So move aside, I won’t play no part, I’m better to be someone with no broken heart Don’t you ever feel it’s Best I stake my claim.
And I got my home, and I got my ways, and I’ll take your dreams, In some old fashioned way
“Home” is the band’s last collaboration with drummer Sam Trackle, who is stepping down to spend more time with his family. He will be replaced by Stu Roberts, who will debut with Harroland at their March 16th show at the Rising Sun Arts Centre.
Catch Harroland at one of these upcoming shows:
Saturday, March 16 Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading
Saturday, March 23 Hope & Anchor, Wokingham
Wednesday, March 27 Purple Turtle, Reading
Saturday, May 18 Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading
Saturday August 10 A Different World Festival, Abbey Rugby Club, Reading
Darksoft is the music project of Bill Darksoft, a smart and creative young artist from Seattle, Washington who’s produced one of the most interesting and brilliant concept albums I’ve heard in some time. Brain, which dropped in November 2018, is named after the very first computer virus to attack the internet back in 1986, with each track named after infamous viruses that followed.
He operates his own label and website Look Up Records (for which he also writes some pretty awesome reviews), and in addition to his music project, has played with many Seattle acts over the years. About his inspiration behind the creation of Brain, he explains: “Distanced through haunted screens, we rely on spooky contact that we don’t fully understand. At times, dark forces lurk on the other end, with a motive to con. Always a silhouetted hooded presence, the hacker has become our modern portrayal of Death; captor to the mind and its web of memories. As we stare deeper and deeper into the glowing comfort of this synthetic deception, trust has become the challenge of our modern paradigm, and the cyberscape the new Great Unknown. At its core, Brain is a story not only of the brain, but of the heart, as both confront trust and deception, the real and the synthetic, the mind and the motherboard, and the dark web connecting it all where the matter of our endless identities can be created as quickly as it can be erased, infected, encrypted…or simply revealed for what it truly is, beneath the hood.”
Brain opens with “Mydoom” a pleasant track with gauzy riffs of jangly guitars, subtle bass and gentle percussion. The lyrics speak to the seemingly harmless but insidious virus that keeps a watchful eye on one’s internet dealings: “I’ll just pop up in your window to see how it’s going.From time to time I will drain your battery life… Track you close, I’ll watch your move. Mydoom A has put a bug on you to stay. It’s ok to be vulnerable if you’ve got nothing to lose.” Darksoft has a velvety smooth vocal style that’s incredibly pleasing, giving the track a rather dreamy vibe. On “Elk Cloner“, he first warns about a virus that works to take over our thoughts: “They will enter your world. They can infiltrate microchips. They will stick like glue. They will modify you.” But then it’s as if the virus itself tells us not to worry and just remain calm: “No cause. No cause for alarm. No harm. We just occupy thought. No cause for alarm. No cause, just be calm.” The track has a lovely, mesmerizing melody and his vocals are really soothing, belying the rather menacing message.
Darksoft quickens the pace on the bouncy “Conficker“, though it still has a somewhat moody undertone with a mix of fuzzy and jangly guitars, shimmery synths and a determined drumbeat. The lyrics allude to the algorithms that control what we’re fed on social media, shaping our world view in the process: “We choose what you feel. No view into reality. Your life is ours… permanently.”
With gnarly guitars and spooky synths propelled by a strutting bass line, “Lamex” speaks to how easy it is to escape into an artificial online world: “If you want a lame existence. They will send you a virus or two. Lamerism is the name of the tool I use”, yet yearning to break free and think clearly and independently: “I need to get out…To free my mind…To quit this code and leave the app I knew behind. If you look away you’ll open your eyes.”
One of my favorite tracks is “Heartbleed“, with its enthralling melody, irresistible drumbeat and gentle psychedelic groove, thanks to deliciously eerie synths. The jangly guitars are marvelous, the bass line’s sublime, and I absolutely love Darksoft’s warm, captivating vocals. I honestly think I would be perfectly happy listening to him sing the yellow pages! My take on the song’s meaning is it seems to compare the feelings of someone who’s emotionally dead inside to that of a computer – a machine who only does what it’s programmed and directed to do: “Matter is a thing. You focus it’ll bring you life and pleasure. Just wait and see. Let your lead heart bleed. Silicon and hardware respond. Nothing really matters when you’re a machine… You live to be used by others.”
Another favorite is “Cryptolocker“, a darkly gorgeous song with dreamy and sometimes eerie synths that create a lush atmospheric soundscape. The gently-strummed chiming guitars are exquisite, as are Darksoft’s ethereal vocals that are seductive, yet menacing, as he coldly warns another not to fuck with him: “You don’t know who you’re dealing with. You don’t understand who you’re messing with. Lock me away and I will pull the plug from under you.”
I distinctly remember the virus for which “ILOVEYOU” is named. Darksoft uses it as an allegory for the emptiness and futility that can result from using online dating websites: “Every fuckin day is the same. Can’t look up from the screen. Crushes breakin over the phone. Guess that I’ll be alone. Til I see your message titled ‘love confession’. Feeling’ tempted by a lie; it’s a misdirection. You were nothing more than spam. My little love connection. Engineered to phish my soul. Been spoofed again by a false confession.” The song has an infectious drumbeat and some fine, intricate guitar work.
“Code Red” is a beautiful, languid song featuring Darksoft’s resonant, pulsating guitars and sublime vocals, backed by his own harmonic choruses. The lyrics seem to speak of clearing one’s mind of self-destructive thoughts and behaviors: “Everyone has a code. Some write them, others they follow a worm. Everyday, take a chance. Decrypt all the bullshit and break from the trance.” The final track “NightShade” is a mellow, anthemic rock song with jangly guitars and humming bass, accompanied by snappy drumbeats. NightShade seems to be a metaphor for drugs taken to numb the pains of life: “Where you’re from, how you came as I take it all away with NightShade. /If I can survive maybe then so can you. Aren’t we all playing role games? Infect the database with NightShade.”
Brain is a great album, and I love pretty much everything about it – Darksoft’s clever lyrics inspired by each of the computer viruses, his beautiful melodies, outstanding guitar work, first-rate production values, and stunning vocals. He’s an amazing talent, and I eagerly look forward to hearing what he comes up with for his next music project.
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 