WATCH: Lunar Vacation – ‘Mold’

With a twinkling new excursion, Atlanta-based band Lunar Vacation share their new single ‘Mold’ in anticipation of their debut album Inside Every Fig Is A Dead Wasp, which is set for release in October.

Setting the scene with choral vocals and synth pads that hold the power to stretch for days, ‘Mold’ is captivating from its start, casting off into a dream sequence breathing honest lyrics on the art of balance. Catchy riffs nudge the track into its snappy rhythm and develop Lunar Vacation’s indie-rock disposition into irresistible, danceable dream-pop. Modest, detail oriented drums keep the track swirling, sustaining ‘Mold’s luscious yet driving guitars and honey-sweet vocals. However, it is the chemistry between players that seals the effortless breeze and nonchalant feel of Lunar Vacation. 

A sense of closeness seeps through every crack of ‘Mold’s mix. Its world remains “changing with the seasons” as the track unravels through warm sing-along choruses, and signs off with a sonic shift that hits like winter in slow motion. Reminiscent of the dreamy soundscapes of Snail Mail or Alvvays, Lunar Vacation elegantly share a melancholic experience packaged in a lush, sparkling soundscape.

‘Mold’ is accompanied by a quirkily psychedelic, Wes Anderson-inspired new video. Watch it here:


Inside Every Fig Is A Dead Wasp, the upcoming new album from Lunar Vacation, is set for release on 29th October via Keeled Scales.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

Photo Credit: Violet Teegardin

LISTEN: Bleach Lab – ‘Real Thing’

Fusing hope and hesitation with heart-wrenching ease, Bleach Lab’s latest single ‘Real Thing’ is a dream-pop delight. Following on from their debut EP A Calm Sense of Surrounding, the South-London based indie group’s latest track shows Bleach Lab at what they do best: endearing, emotional indie with a hint of electronica.

Like candy that can kill, there’s a sweet sadness to ‘Real Thing.’ “It’s about wanting to find a more meaningful and lasting connection with someone,” explains vocalist Jenna Kyle. “I had been processing a lot of issues over the last couple of years to do with previous relationships and personal development, and I had finally reached a place where I felt I was in the right state of mind to be open to looking for something new.”

Saturated with the shoegazy sounds like Slowdive and Mazzy Star, it’s no surprise that the single was produced by alt-rock genius Stephen Street, who has produced tracks from The Smiths, Blur and The Cranberries in the past. The song’s acoustic guitars, soft electronic drumbeats and reverb depict the rectifying promise of budding romances. Kyle envelops her lyrics with longing as delicately as silk sits on skin: “I really wanna see you again / I wanna be more than friends,” which seems more like a prayer than a refrain.

Tender, touching and tactful, the new track emulates the melancholy melodies of Heaven or Las Vegas. If you find the slightly soul-crushing sounds of the Cocteau Twins comforting, Bleach Lab is the band for you.

Listen to ‘Real Thing’ below.

Follow Bleach Lab on bandcampSpotifyInstagramTwitter & Facebook

Jay Mitra
@punkofcolour

Track Of The Day: Beorma – ‘Her’

A bittersweet, sultry tune lamenting the pain and confusion that comes with heartache, Birmingham-based duo Beorma have shared their latest single ‘Her’. Mixing R&B and indie pop sensibilities with a Prince inspired guitar solo, the track is a smooth, melancholy-tinged reflection on absent love.

Formed of Tom and Ferns, Beorma performed separately in different bands before they began working together during lockdown in 2020. Sending ideas back and forth online, the duo’s collaboration led to the creation of their debut EP Virtual Emotionality, which they released at the end of January. Now, the pair have shared their new single ‘Her’ which captures the inner conflicts of desire and the need for distance when it comes to a breakup.

“’Her’ is probably our most soulful song,” Ferns explains. “I really wanted to just lay it bare on vocals and nothing too fancy, just more about trying to channel raw emotion. Prince is a huge inspiration to me so that’s kinda the vibe I was going for whilst still making it very Beorma emo through the lyrics. I think it’s a really relatable song, we’ve all been through some sort of heartache and it’s never easy, especially not when you’re the cause of it. ‘Her’ is essentially a soulful breakup.”

“‘Her’ is a song that felt like it took forever to finish,” Tom continues. “I had the core of it sorted and sent it to Ferns quite early on in Beorma days, but the structure just never felt right, then at some point Ferns suggested a Prince type guitar solo after the first chorus and it all just fell into place after we put the guitar in there and now it’s one of our favourite songs.”

Listen to ‘Her’ below

Follow Beorma on Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Track Of The Day: Taylor Blackwell – ‘B.S. poetry’

Having previously captured our attention as part of LA based the tenth (a band she co-founded with actor Harley Quinn Smith), singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Taylor Blackwell has now announced her debut solo album – In Memory of Haroldine –, set for release in September.

The first taster of the upcoming album, new single ‘B.S. Poetry’ is inspired by a guy who wrote “shitty poems” about Blackwell. Propelled by lilting folk-strewn melodies and a quirky energy, it juxtaposes an uptempo shimmering musicality with an angsty lyrical reflection on the broken promises of early romance. Oozing twinkling accordion refrains alongside Blackwell’s honeyed vocals, it offers a playful, tongue-in-cheek commentary on patronising, full-of-BS men and the lies they spin to get what they want; a subtly empowering ‘FU’ to them and their meaningless words. A perfectly catchy, saccharine sweet sonic delight interwoven with the gritty, bitter angst of heartbreak.

‘B.S. Poetry’ is accompanied by an entertaining new video, depicting the story behind the song. Directed by Blackwell and Chase Cope, it also stars actors Dempsey Bryk, Bebe Wood, Nolan Gould, Brady Reiter and August Aiden Black. Watch it now:

In Memory of Haroldine, the upcoming debut solo album from Taylor Blackwell, is set for release in September, and is produced by Sharp/Shock’s Davey Warsop.

Mari Lane
@marimindles