Song of the Day: Soliloquy (Wouldn’t Feel Alone) – Marshall Cecil

Genre-blending Danish group MARSHALL CECIL‘s poignant latest cut, ‘Soliloquy (Wouldn’t Feel Alone)’ – out now through their own label Heady – takes the listener on a symbolic journey through frontman Daniel Abraham’s mind.

Speaking on the track, the lead singer and songwriter explains; “It’s a self-examining conversation with myself that spins out of control and ends in a cathartic rap. It’s a song open for interpretation but for me, it’s about the relationship between excessive self-examination and loneliness.”

Addressing social isolation, a phenomenon increasingly common in an era where the physical is being replaced by the digital, the visuals feature auto-fictional elements including iPhone clips, personal footage from the trio’s recording sessions and live shows, alongside more intimate images showing a glimpse of the lead singer’s daily life.

Born from a close collaboration between the band and directors to create a visual story that draws from the song’s deeply afflicting and raw lyrics perfectly depicting “loneliness, this complex and unpleasant emotional response to isolation,” explains Daniel, talking about the concept behind the song and video. “We’re exploring loneliness while being surrounded by people. Sometimes the answer to our isolation is right in front of us – companionship – but we’re usually too busy finding the answers within ourselves. The song and video are not an answer to this problem – rather an abstract depiction of it’’.

Having made their mark on the international music scene with a series of enthralling singles and videos, gaining praise from the likes of Vice/Noisey and Clash Magazine, and notching up memorable live performances at some of the biggest international festivals including Reeperbahn and Roskilde – MARSHALL CECILl is not like any other band out there. Using their individual production skills, fusing elements from r&b, pop, hip-hop, with ‘Soliloquy’ they created a unique and potent music formula, one that is both triumphant, forward-thinking and touching at the same time.

Check it out below…

Liquid Slams Down A Brand New Banger, ‘Hard Labor’

Stephen James Hawley – aka LIQUID – is a co-founder and member of the Internationally acclaimed and Juno award winning Montreal collective Bran Van 3000. Best known for their smash hit, ‘Drinking In LA’, LIQUID is back and smashing through the walls and barricades with his new track, ‘Hard Labor’, released last Friday (8th November)

On a cold fall day, LIQUID sat on top a local terrace, having just demolished it in entirety. He sat amidst the brick and demolition on his lunch break and said aloud: “That’s Labor!” “Hard Labor!” His recently released from custody boss hollered back at him: “It’s Hard Labor!” He repeated with a toothless grin welcoming LIQUID to the rubble.

“That’s what I’m gonna call my next album!” Liquid proclaimed! “Hard Labor!”

Birthed amidst the brick and mortar, ‘Hard Labor’ was born. Swinging a sledgehammer, with pick at foot, the foundation was created.

LIQUID call upon Rench, the Brooklyn based producer and frontman of the Billboard charting band Gangstagrass. The Emmy Nominated producer of the theme song for the hit TV show ‘Justified’, created an alternative fusion of  bluegrass, country, blues, rock and rap, reflecting the blood, sweat and tears of a working man’s journey.

‘Hard Labor’, the title track of his upcoming EP,  sets the pace for an engaging, prolific journey through the eyes of a man; a dreamer, working hard for job creation, to better his future.

Check it out below…

 

Album Review: Flowers Of Doubt – Rain To Dust

A hazy melodic theme, heavily influenced by post punk of the early 1980’s, runs throughout Mert Yıldız’s  – aka RAIN TO DUST –  debut album, ‘Flowers Of Doubt’. Beyond buttery soundscapes, it’s very safe to say that the lyrics are far from melodic….

Every song on the album revolve around how fear brings a need for dependence which consequently breeds more fear, eventually pushing the human being into a shell of personal dogmas and psychological routines that he/she will probably end up dying within.

Introducing the eight-track album is title track, ‘Flowers Of Doubt’, which was inspired by the suicide attack that took place in İstiklal Street, Taksim, İstanbul in March 26th, 2016. The cover photo which was taken in Taksim, in the exact same spot, roughly 2 years after the event.

‘Drinking The Ghosts’, carries the themes of fear and doubt with a story that was inspired by Mika Kaurismaki’s ‘Zombie And The Ghost Train’. It is about the downward spiral of an alcoholic who eventually finds relief from shame in death.

Taking its title from an Osamu Dazai novel, ‘A Farewell With Regret’ is about two people having a one night stand and deciding to hide their true feelings from each other out of fear of emotional rejection. Musically, it references Funk influenced bands of British New Wave with its groovy rhythm, funky electric guitar licks and vocal harmonies.

After several listens, ‘Flowers of Doubt’ becomes a brutally honest production but, at times, I cannot help but feel a agree of empathy to the easily relatable stories featured. It’s worth a trial; have a listen below…

Must Listens: Flowers Of Doubt, Drinking The Ghosts, A Farewell With Regret For When It Hurts.

Blackbird Blackbird Shares ‘Myself’ Single

Prominent LA-based producer BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD‘s newest single ‘Myself’, sees him expanding his chillwave leanings into the sonic territories of Synthwave and boasts mixing credits by Mike Marsh (New Order, Porter Robinson, The Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack, Depeche Mode).

Speaking of the track he comments: “It’s a self-deprecating darkwave song about me coming to terms with my faults and shortcomings to help people understand why I can be an asshole,” he says, laughing good-naturedly.

‘Myself’ follows tracks, ‘Hawaii’ and ‘Pure’ both topped the Hype Machine charts, and he has twice been Hype Machine’s most blogged artist. Hailing from ‘Hawaii’, BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD – named after the famous Beatles song ‘Blackbird’ –  has racked up over 62 million Spotify plays, over 8.1 Million Soundcloud plays, nearly 12 million Youtube streams.

‘Myself’ is out now via his own imprint Blackbird Blackbird Records and is lifted from his latest album ‘Hearts’, released last month.

Liam Phelan Goes ‘Far Away’ In His Latest Single

Londoner LIAM PHELAN delivers another irresistibly hazy fusion of neo-soul/hip-hop, adding a lick of some rock riffs through his latest single, ‘Far Away.’

following single, ‘Khao San Road’, released earlier this year, ‘Far Away’ is from Liam’s second EP, ‘Finding Love Over Wealth’ out this Friday (1st November).

Check it out below…