ALBUM: Dizzy – ‘The Sun and Her Scorch’

Canadian quartet Dizzy bring candid tales of lost love, introspection and acceptance on their sophomore album, The Sun and Her Scorch. The four-piece – consisting of vocalist Katie Munshaw and instrumentalists Alex, Mackenzie and Charlie – showcase an impressive sonic duality on their latest record as they move away from raw chaos and frustrated buzz of their debut album Baby Teeth, in to the mellow simplicity and resigned reality checks that come with growing up.

Opening with the haunting, hazy soundscape of ‘Worms’, Dizzy immediately draw you in with unassuming intrigue, as Munshaw’s dreamy vocal delivery blends with smooth guitar-led instrumentals. The track paints a vivid picture of the band’s childhood in Oshawa, Ontario, before following track ‘Sunflower’ ejects the album out of the nostalgic setting with its deceptively vibrant sonics. Where ‘Sunflower’ echoes the central theme of youthful uncertainty, indie anthem ‘The Magician’ charms with its effortlessly upbeat candescence.

The stand-out offering is the lyrically nuanced and delicately melodic ‘Good and Right’, which establishes the songwriting and storytelling prowess of Dizzy. It’s a skill they employ in other tracks, including the expansive yet immersive ‘Roman Candles’ and the light, cosy setup of Daylight Savings Time’.

Whimsical and experimental, the album offsets chirpy vocals of tracks like ‘Good and Right’ with straight-edged break-up tune ‘Lefty’, and atmospheric, pop-tinged ballad ‘Primrose Hill’ to an impressive effect that speaks of the fickle nature of 20-something dreamers. Perfectly book-ending the nostalgia of the opener, with final track ‘Worms II’ the band inject a last bit of colour and vibrancy with its changed lyricism, but leaves the soundscape unscathed as the tight grasp of times past remain.

Overall, The Sun and Her Scorch is a collection of anxious musings, candid observations and heartfelt contemplations, sprinkled occasionally with much-needed mirth and good vibes. This is an alt-pop production with lots of substance and little bit of simplicity, and with their second record Dizzy have proved that the impact of their first was no fluke.

Order your copy of Dizzy’s new album here.
Follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Pooneh Ghana

Malvika Padin
@malvika_padin26

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PREMIERE: Robin Kester – ‘Cigarette Song’

Following her 2018 debut, and with plenty of plays on Spotify as well as US station KCRW, Netherlands artist Robin Kester has now announced the release of her upcoming EP This Is Not A Democracy. 

Taken from the EP and featuring Conor O’Brien from Villagers, new single ‘Cigarette Song’ reflects on a broken marriage. Propelled by the subtle ethereal power of Kester’s vocals alongside lilting twinkling melodies and a poignant reflective lyricism, it oozes a stirring, heartfelt emotion reminiscent of the likes of Laura Veirs or This Is The Kit. A truly dreamy ballad, it’s impossible not to get caught up in the swirling majestic splendour of ‘Cigarette Song’.

 

This Is Not A Democracy, the upcoming EP from Robin Kester, is out 11th September via independent label AT EASE.

Mari Lane
@marimindles 

Photo Credit: Lisa Brammer

 

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Track Of The Day: The Muffin Heads – ‘Snow White’

Having blown us away with the epic, frenzied energy of their live show at more than one of our gigs at The Finsbury, GIHE faves The Muffin Heads have recently blasted into our ears once again with the release of new EP F£€$h (pronounced Flesh).

Taken from the EP, single ‘Snow White’ (which we first heard a few years back as an exclusive ‘stripped back’ version on our radio show!) is driven by scuzzy riffs and a gritty energy as the impassioned seething growl of front-woman Bex rages; building with an eerie tension to an immense riotous cacophony. With shades of the likes of early QOTSA in its reverb-strewn musicality, it’s a truly colossal slice of ferocious desert-inspired punk-rock.

 

Mastered by Pete Maher (The Pixies, Nick Cave), F£€$h  is out now.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Jon Mo / @jonmophoto

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LISTEN: L.A. Witch – ‘Gen-Z’

There’s a hazy feeling that comes with listening to the music of Californian trio L.A. Witch. Their grungy vocals and psychedelic guitars have a way of transporting you to the Californian desert with the taste of last night’s whiskey on your breath.

The band have a unique way of combining vintage appeal with fresh subject matter and ‘Gen-Z’ is the perfect example of this. A four minute track inspired by the high suicide rates among Generation Z due to the pressures of existing in a social media age. Of the track, guitarist & vocalist Sade Sanchez expands:

“When I was a kid, music and guitar was my escape. Music was how I fought through my depressions. What will the future do to get through it?… With constant pressure to be perfect and information/advertisements and brainwashing constantly being shoved in your face, you become a product of your environment. ‘Gen-Z’ is about being a slave to technology, specifically to our phones.”

L.A. Witch’s 2017 self-titled debut oozed swagger through its laidback sound, possibly due to the band’s organic and slow-paced songwriting process. But upcoming album Play With Fire came to be under different circumstances; between their hectic touring schedule, studio availability, and the timeline for releasing records, they found themselves with only two months to do the bulk of the writing.

Despite the limited time frame, however, ‘Gen-Z’ showcases a band on top form; with its gritty energy and swirling bewitching haze, it’s a perfectly hypnotic slice of psych-infused desert rock.

 

Play With Fire, the upcoming album from L.A. Witch, is set for release 21st August via Suicide Squeeze Records. 

 

Ellie Ball
@ellie__ball

 

 

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