Track Of The Day: of all living things – ‘If I Go’

A brooding, atmospheric guitar tune that shimmers with melancholic yearning, Dublin four piece of all living things have shared their latest single ‘If I Go’. Taken from their upcoming EP On Familiar Ground, which is set for release on 8th October via Irish label Any Other City records (Villagers, Girl Band), the track is a slow-burning offering that enraptures the ears with its soft vocals, lush guitar sounds and bittersweet lyrics.

Formerly known as Nicetry, of all living things create music that’s inspired by the nostalgia of the 90s alternative scene and their own heady reflections on a misspent youth. Together, the band craft delicate yet immersive soundscapes that chime with raw emotion, and latest single ‘If I Go’ fully showcases these talents. Tentative cymbal taps and lilting guitar textures melt together throughout the track, with an ethereal vocal floating effortlessly above them.

The band recorded their upcoming EP On Familiar Ground with producer Ber Quinn in Dublin’s Sonic Studios and the record is available to pre-order on limited edition 12” vinyl now.

Listen to ‘If I Go’ below.

 

Pre-order your copy of On Familiar Ground here.

Follow of all living things on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Maria Uzor – ‘Donuts’

Having been massive fans of Norwich duo Sink Ya Teeth for a number of years now, we’re super excited to hear that vocalist and songwriter Maria Uzor has now released her debut solo EP. Written in a corner of her living room during the winter lockdown last year, Innocence and Worldliness fuses together an eclectic range of influences, aiming to ooze only the most positive of vibes. Of writing the EP, Maria explains:

“I didn’t realise the extent to which I’d shut down parts of myself in order to function in a world where I didn’t see myself reflected back. And I didn’t realise the damage that shutting down had done until I had the time to step back and process it. The pandemic has been a great opportunity for healing for me, and a chance to re-evaluate who I am and who I need to surround myself with. I wrote the EP as a response to that. I wanted to acknowledge the journey I was on,and I wanted to create something that spoke to the emergence of a more positive sense of self. This EP is definitely forward-looking.”

To celebrate the EP’s release, and following her exquisite last single ‘Innocence‘, Maria has now shared a brand new video for EP track ‘Donuts‘. Propelled by a swirling, glitchy energy and whirring, otherworldly allure, it showcases her sweeping, sultry vocals as the playful refrain of “Mama needs her donuts…” lodges itself firmly in the ears. Oozing throbbing beats and fizzing electro-driven hooks, it’s a wonderfully immersive sonic fusion. A perfectly blissful cacophony that will take you on a rainbow-tinted trip into space; an enthralling slice of psych-tinged euphoria from this truly innovative artist.

Of the track, Maria adds: “‘Donuts’ is like an ode to spending time in your own company; being able to shut the door and kick back with your belly out.“

So, grab some pastries, sit back, and immerse yourself in the trippy, colourful haze of the new video for ‘Donuts’ now:

Make sure you check out Maria Uzor’s new EP, Innocence and Worldliness, which is out today. Buy the digital album, or a special limited edition 12″ vinyl from bandcamp now.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Bestfriend – ‘Hannah In The City’

‘Hannah In The City’, the lead single from Bestfriend’s upcoming EP, is a beautiful contradiction. Written and produced by the duo, its confessional lyrics and DIY sensibility feel cosy and intimate, while the dreamy, brilliantly arranged synths and Stacy Kim’s stunning vocals, buoyed by Kaelen Geoffrey’s sweet harmonies, give it a lush glossy pop finish.

The song’s subject matter – regret and missed opportunities – follows suit. As Kim explains, “It’s a happy-sad-angry reminiscing song all about the idea that a relationship might not have fallen apart if we’d just done this or that – all while knowing in the back of your head that it was obviously doomed to fail in the first place.”

This is grown-up bedroom electro pop, simultaneously beautiful and bittersweet. Kim and Geoffrey write songs long distance, over email. But you’d never guess. As the band’s name suggests, there’s a real connection, and the duo’s storytelling and ideas marry together as harmoniously as their voices. It’s truly magical. 

‘Hannah In The City’ is taken from Bestfriend’s upcoming EP Places I’ve Lived, which is set for release on 1st October.

Vic Conway
@thepicsofvic

Photo Credit: Maxine Tamoto

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EP: Goth Lipstick – ‘formless, shapeless’

An EP that the band describe as “a slice-of-life isekai about the adventures of two wraiths”, formless, shapeless from San Francisco’s DIY emo duo Goth Lipstick draws you effortlessly into their candy-coated, glitch-splattered dream world. Following their full length album crystalline corset from earlier this year, formless, shapeless continues to explore themes of identity and queer liberation.

The EP consists of fairly short tracks, with most lasting less than two minutes thirty seconds. The single exception is ‘faceless, nameless’, which reaches a whole four minutes. Every track is incredibly tightly constructed. None of them feel too short; each one feels exactly long enough to tell its story and then wraps without wasting any time, leaving you with the precise impression it wanted to convey.

The collection begins with the titular ‘formless, shapeless’ – a slow, soft rumble that leads into quick, clicking percussion under high chirpy keys and husky vocals. While the tempo, energy and general style of the tracks vary, this opening song establishes some key elements early on that are consistent through the EP.

As a whole, the EP creates a distinctly unique and endlessly interesting soundscape, blending distorted and electronic sounds with gentle, clear piano notes. The relationship between the different types of sound is key to the Goth Lipstick style, with acoustic and electric notes dancing playfully around each other, with those echoing vocals floating over the top.

The use of glitches too gives these songs so much character. The jerks and digital stumbles always hit at exactly the right moment, whether that’s ripping into a vocal that’s well into its stride or distorting sounds that are just starting to build, creating a more chaotic journey from the first couple of beats.

Whilst there are massive differences in feeling from track to track, they fit so well together that they flow beautifully.

The second track, ‘wraiths awake’, brings a bigger energy into the EP. It is broadly more upbeat, but winds down into vocals that have a sense of vulnerability about them, before bouncing back into the hyped electronica.

‘identity thief’, all heavy growling, glitching bass, is followed by the light and chirpy ‘chocolate’, then the rich swollen beats of ‘fangs’, which wouldn’t be out of place heard on a nightclub dance-floor at midnight.

Somehow these seemingly conflicting songs sit very comfortably side by side on this EP. It feels much more like this is down to a matter of attitude than any one particular technical component. The songs sit so well because they feel made to be played together, and you can feel how much fun the artists had constructing every beat of the finished product.

It’s so easy to get drawn into Goth Lipstick’s story, to bathe in the cool, flowing emotions heavy in this EP. It’s not surprising to see that the first edition cassette run is already sold out.

formless, shapeless, the latest EP from Goth Lipstick, is out now. It is available to download via bandcamp.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

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