EP Review: Brand New – Liam Bailey

I know it’s unorthodox to conclude an album at the beginning of the review, but I’m gonna do it anyway: if there’s a statement to sum up LIAM BAILEY‘s project, ‘Brand New’, it would be profoundly stunning.

From the atmospherically revitalising pieces, ‘Brand New’ and ‘I Lost My Way’ to a modern spin on old school soul/gospel delight, ‘Hold Tight’ and the guitar-drenched ‘Come Clean’, Bailey effortlessly delivers his compelling vocals, that’s so powerfully soulful which uplifts every single arrangement in the collection.

There’s talent and then there’s REAL TALENT; LIAM BAILEY definitely sits comfortably in the latter category. This guy is not to be messed with – check him out below:

Song of the Day: Russian Roulette – Sub Blue (ft. Incisive & Caleb Femi)

SUB BLUE continues to offer a fresh take on chilled out, alternative introspective R&B with single ‘Russian Roulette’.

Already championed by a diverse set of influential platforms ranging from Complex to BBC 1Xtra to Spotify, as well as amassing over half a million streams on his first few single releases, Sub Blue teases his die-hard fans with his first single of the year, ahead of his forthcoming project ‘Wilfully Blind’.

Featuring West London rapper Incisive acclaimed poet Caleb Femi, and produced by fellow Liverpudlian and long-time collaborator XamVolo, ‘Russian Roulette’ offers another cautionary tale, directly following on from previous release, ‘Think We’re Fine’.

Produced by Concrete Films and directed and conceptualised by Liam Broughton of The Playmaker Group, The visual for ‘Russian Roulette’ plays into this message, examining drug culture and self-destruction.

Check it out below…

Song of the Day: Half Dead, But Still – Nova Moura

Born out of solitude, NOVA MOURA dropped his enigmatic soul/R&B single, ‘Half Dead, But Still’ into today’s hotspot. Produced by Fla. Mingo, the atmospheric song explores pure conflicted emotions of a loner in times of complete isolation.

“This song is about loneliness and isolation. It displays a weak and pathetic defensive wall against this loneliness. So I suppose the song is about me trying to act tough against my own loneliness; trying to act like it doesn’t bother me and that I’m fine without anyone. I think the beauty of the track is that you can hear the confidence and the sadness at the same time.”NOVA MOURA

Check it out below (absolutely stunning):

 

Album Review: New Soul – Gold Complex

It took three years for Canadian band GOLD COMPLEX to perfect and defined their sound for their latest album, ‘New Soul’.

The album introduces, what can be described as, alternative R&B with a luscious lick of funk featured through single, ‘Homegirl’ and goes on to flaunt between various bluesy/nu soul elements  working in unison with the occasional presence of progressive pop/rock with questionably a hint of EDM (heard in single, ‘Meant to Dance.’)

From what I can remember, ‘New Soul’ is a slight shift from their neo-soul-centred signature, displayed in their previous self-titled album. Although there’s more elements of contrasting tones, the arrangements are still as harmonic as ever – pull together by those killer soulful vocals.

Check it out below:

Must Listens: Homegirl, Meant To Dance, New Soul