LISTEN: Blue Loop ft. Shakira Stellar – ‘Before It Begins’

An atmospheric, sharply produced debut offering, London-based electronic artist Blue Loop has shared her new single ‘Before It Begins’. Taken from her upcoming EP Grand Illusion, the track is a tentative, ambient piece of “poetronica” featuring the soothing spoken words of poet Shakira Stellar.

Dedicated to sharing the joy of music and encouraging others to do the same, Blue Loop has worked alongside organisations including Girls Rock London, Music Empowerment and Mobility Exchange and ROLI in an effort to demystify all things music & tech.

Born from a collaboration between herself and Stellar when they met during a Girls Rock London showcase at New River Studios in North London in 2019, ‘Before It Begins’ is a shimmering downtempo, expansive soundscape. Filled with intoxicating clicks, beguiling electronics and Stellar’s considered words, Blue Loop’s debut single is an insightful introduction into the new producer’s world.

Watch the video for the single below and follow Blue Loop on Spotify & Instagram for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: LIME – ‘Fever’

A fuzzy, disco-infused indie tune that softly probes at the absurdity of modern life, Brighton-based band LIME have shared their latest single ‘Fever’. Filled with dance-able beats and catchy lyrics, the track is a dive into the mind of generation Z, playfully questioning their efforts to impress each other via jangly guitars and grooving bass lines.

“Why should I get up when I’d rather be in bed?” asks LIME’s lead vocalist Chloe Howard at the beginning of the song. It’s a sentiment that resonates stronger during the current UK lockdown, but the slinky saxophone and jazzy electronics soothe the sting of this reality. Howard’s rhetorical questions – “Why should I do my make-up when it’s all inside my head?” and “Why should I be up when the rest of us are down?” – have a relatable buzz, and her sardonic delivery is underscored by the band’s buoyant percussion.

Formed of Howard (vocals/guitar), Leila Deeley (guitar), Tippi Morgan (bass) and Annabel Whittle (drums), LIME met whilst studying in Brighton. Like many bands, their plans to play shows to crowds this November have been cancelled, but they will be sharing a live session alongside Katy J Pearson recorded at the Battersea Arts Centre for The Close Encounter Club on 19th November (more details on how to subscribe here.)

Listen to ‘Fever’ below.

 

Follow LIME on bandcamp, Facebook, Spotify, Twitter & Instagram for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: LIINES – ‘Sorry’

Having received acclaim from the likes of Sleaford Mods, John Kennedy and BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq, as well as blowing us away headlining for us at The Finsbury, Manchester trio LIINES consistently impress with their distinctive, raw post-punk. And latest single ‘Sorry’ is no exception.

Oozing the band’s trademark dark, brooding power, ‘Sorry’ builds with deep, intense bass lines, the gritty, commanding growl of vocalist Zoe McVeigh and Leila O’Sullivan’s consistent pummelling beats. Propelled by a thrashing sense of urgency, an eerie swirling majesty encompasses the listener, captivating the ears with its punk-fuelled bewitching allure.

Of the track McVeigh explains:

“… it’s about whether somebody is present or absent, you’re trying to make someone feel sorry for you, but as the song speeds up it becomes a bit more of a manic notion and sort of bordering on obsessive. LIINES songs are more of a mental state than a specific event – they are an emotion, a feeling.”

 

Produced by Paul Tipler (Elastica, Placebo), ‘Sorry’ is out now (with B side ‘On and On’), with a limited number of black 7” vinyl editions available for direct mail order and through independent record shops, via Reckless Yes. Order via LIINES’ Bandcamp now. 

 

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: CATBEAR – ‘Who Are You?’

A heady, retro-pop tune about the breath-taking nature of new found lust, London-based duo CATBEAR have shared their latest single ‘Who Are You?’. Full of lush synth sounds and snappy yet danceable beats, the track is an aural flirtation designed to provide a moment of joy during uncertain times.

“This was so much fun to write,” explains band member Zoe Konez. “I came up with the first half of the song on a train during my commute on one of the last days before [the first] lockdown and we developed it during those first few long weeks of quarantine where making music kept us going.” Along with bandmate Sarah Smith, Konez wrote, recorded and produced CATBEAR’s new music fromhome over the summer, an achievement that’s made even more impressive by the fact that Smith worked on the frontline in A&E for the NHS throughout the pandemic, and that Konez runs a music programme in a mental health hospital.

‘Who Are You?’ is a wonderfully upbeat escape from the pressures of the duo’s daily routine, brimming with that infectious and overwhelming feeling of attraction when you find your thoughts spiralling over a new crush. Listen to the new single below and follow CATBEAR on bandcamp, Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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