ARLISTON‘s latest offering ‘Vertical’ is a brooding, introspective journey that delves deep into the heart of existential dread. The duo’s signature blend of intimate vocals and expansive soundscapes is in full force here, creating a sonic atmosphere that’s both suffocating and cathartic.
Opening with a delicate piano melody and Jack Ratcliffe’s soulful baritone, the track gradually builds to a crescendo of emotional intensity. It’s a familiar Arliston territory, but ‘Vertical’ feels like a particularly raw and vulnerable exploration of the band’s signature melancholia. The lyrics, both poignant and relatable, capture the paralyzing feeling of being overwhelmed by life’s challenges.
Musically, the track is a masterclass in dynamics. The tension between quiet introspection and soaring choruses is expertly handled, creating a sense of emotional catharsis. The addition of Sam Catchpole’s driving drums and Brett Shaw’s percussive flourishes adds a layer of complexity to the arrangement, without ever overshadowing the song’s core emotional impact.
While Arliston’s influences are clear – The National, Bon Iver, and Damien Rice cast long shadows over their sound – the duo have managed to carve out their own distinctive niche. ‘Vertical’ is a testament to their talent for crafting songs that resonate deeply with listeners, offering a much-needed soundtrack to those moments of doubt and despair.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Arliston, ‘Vertical’ is a must-listen. It’s a song that lingers in the mind long after the final notes fade, leaving you with a sense of both melancholy and hope.
‘Vertical’ was released last Friday (26th July) via various music platforms. Why not have a listen below…
Singer, songwriter and producer BENNY BIZZIE brings on those hazy summer days in single, ‘Not Sorry’, with hypnotic synths, mesmerising guitar licks, and memorable hooks, topped off by the warmth of the North London-born R&B crooner’s soulful falsetto. ‘Not Sorry’ is hitting all streaming platforms on 1st August.
With a soft bass line, inspired by UK garage classics, such as Shanks & Bigfoot’s hit, ‘Sweet Like Chocolate’ and Sweet Female Attitude’s ‘Flowers’, ‘Not Sorry’ should have been a Valentine’s track as it is all about giving out love excessively, without any consequences. Bizzie sings: ‘If loving you is a crime, then I’m guilty for my crimes charge me so I can do the time, If I say I’m sorry, that’s a lie’
‘Not Sorry’ follows Benny Bizzie’s first single of 2024, ‘Dejavu’, which pays homage and love for families and children in Gaza affected by current conflicts. Bizzie calls on his younger self, as a rap/grime artist, to deliver gritty rap lyrics packed with emotion while keeping it warm with soulful R&B melodies.
Benny also makes zero apologies for the love he is pouring out to his ever-expanding fan base as he plans to unleash a string of releases throughout 2024, which includes his upcoming album, ‘Project Human’.
Growing up in the estates of Tottenham, in north London, Benny wanted to find his place in society, where he can be his true self. He found solace in music, which led to his journey as a grime/rap artist, often swapping and dropping verses with childhood friends. His childhood friends would later become firm figures in UK’s grime scene which includes Ghetts, BoyBetterknow and Ruff Sqwad.
In his adult years, Benny transitioned into R&B artist, perfecting spine-tingling falsetto over the years, often touching on current topics that are close to his heart (as featured in single ‘DejaVu’), self-development/self-discovery – and, of course, love in all forms. To date, Benny has generated over 650,000 views on YouTube and over 250K streams on Spotify alone and has generated firm support from the likes of BBC1xtra and BBC London.
Bizzie continues building momentum with cross-platform visibility through recent appearance in National Lottery advert and various podcast appearances. His collaborative single with Audio Attack, ‘Crazy For Your Love‘, was featured on Australia’s TV hit shows, Home and Away and Bachelors.
Forming part of his upcoming album, ‘Project Human’, ‘Not Sorry’ is available from 1st August on various music platforms.
Well, it’s been quite a while since US rapper TEZ PARIAH has graced his presence on the blog. Tez’s last appearance was with his 2016 music video for track, ‘The Kush Coupe’, featuring Rich Logan and KC.
Glad he didn’t fall by the wayside and continued his journey as an epic rapper. Tez Pariah presents his latest EP, ‘Diss Tracks From The Northside 2’, which comprises of six tracks where the Georgia smooth spitter eases his laid-back bars into largely slow jams instrumentals.
‘Diss Tracks From The Northside 2’ EP features appearances from Cam Major and Ryan Milla and produced mostly by Zoink$, G6k Beatz, Saint XO and Bludy On The Track.
‘Diss Tracks From The Northside 2’ is out now for your pleasure. Why not have a listen below…
Must Listens: Soprano, Montana; Trippin; After School Program
Nearing two years since the release of ‘Come Back To Surprise’, the Nordic-British post-punk quartet PERMAFROST return with their latest single, ‘Wrong Heart’. This release kicks off the lead up to their new album, ‘The Light Coming Through’, set to unveil in October this year. In addition to the single, Mental Overdrive (aka Per Martinsen) has remixed the single, which will also be available on 4th July.
Formed originally in Molde, Norway in 1982 by school friends Frode Heggdal Larsen and Kåre Steinsbu, Permafrost has undergone numerous transformations over the years. Now joined by fellow Norwegian Robert Heggdal and Daryl Bamonte from the UK (who worked very closely with Depeche Mode and The Cure for several years), they continue to deliver the authentic post-punk sound of the early ’80s. While many contemporary musicians attempt to replicate this era, Permafrost have lived it. Their latest single, ‘Wrong Heart’, has also evolved over time, ultimately resulting in a dark, bass-driven post-punk track that transports listeners back to the shadowy, goth-filled clubs of the ’80s.
Alongside the single, they have released the music video for ‘Wrong Heart’. In a wholesome contrast to the song’s dark sound and nature, the video follows four young girls as they set out to create a music video. Of the video they said “In another dimension Permafrost could be a girl band. In this reality they are planning to create a music video. They have to drag their equipment into the forest to get to the preferred spot, making it into a road movie with a lot of obstacles on the way – like grazing sheep and deer in the blossoming Norwegian nature. When they finally arrive at the spot and want to start playing, the song finishes. All that work for nothing.”
Spread across Trondheim, Oslo and Margate, Permafrost’s creative process is a challenge which the band have had to overcome. During the pandemic, they held weekly video meetings to plan new songs and other band-related issues, leveraging improved long-distance collaboration technology to maintain momentum. The songwriting process typically begins with one member suggesting an idea, which bassist Robert (Bob Frost) then develops in Logic Pro, programming drums and other elements. Singer Kåre (Curry) creates a melody to match, and lyrics are selected from a collective vault they have accumulated over the years. The song is refined through a collaborative process, passing back and forth between all four members until everyone is satisfied.
Utilising their refined songwriting process, Permafrost meticulously crafted their forthcoming album, ‘The Light Coming Through’. Describing their sound as “Optimistic Melancholy”, the album aims to offer inspiration and escapism during challenging times. Infusing politically charged lyrics with dark, synth-infused post-punk instrumentation, Permafrost employs metaphors to convey their message effectively.
Permafrost has built an impressive discography over the years. They debuted with the ‘Godtment’ EP in 1983, released on a limited edition of 50 numbered cassettes. In 2019, they followed up with the ‘Permafrost’ EP on vinyl, later making it available digitally in 2021. Throughout 2021, the band dropped three critically acclaimed singles. ‘Femme Fatale’ and ‘Closed Eyes’ both achieved remarkable success, reaching #1 on the Indie Disko Top40 chart, with the latter maintaining the top spot for six consecutive weeks. These singles also performed well on the Deutsche Alternative and Native25 charts, while earning placements on influential playlists such as Apple Music’s ‘New in Rock’. The third single, ‘Restore Us’, continued their streak of success by hitting #1 on the Indie Disko Top40 and the Native25 chart.
‘Wrong Heart’ is out now across various music platforms. Why not check out the video for the single below…
RAYNE STORM is back with a new mixtape, a new EP and a new single featuring Juelz Santana. The latest track ‘Boom’ finds both Harlem rappers completely in their zones as they slide across the beat on this aggressive summer anthem. The up-tempo but ominous banger is produced by DJ Flippp, known for his production with Lil Yachty, Famous Dex, Playboi Carti and more.
The Storms Coming EP includes 6 songs previously released only on mixtape, specifically Storms Coming II. The EP features original songs like ‘Gettin’ Bizzy’, ‘Much More’, ‘Up Up Away’, ‘No Tomorrow’, ‘Revolution” & “Scorchers’. The Storms Coming EP represents Rayne in his “Pure Hip-Hop” form as a majority of these tracks take on a Boom Bap approach.
New Lease Music 