LISTEN: Fern Ford – ‘Match’

Sparse beats and atmospheric electronics permeate ‘Match’, the debut single from Fern Ford. Released via AWAL, the track is a slow-burning soundscape inspired by Ford’s desire to overcome feelings of self doubt.

Best known as the drummer for Mercury Prize nominated band The Big Moon, Ford’s solo work is a world away from the garage-rock anthems she creates with the group, who released their second album Walking Like We Do earlier this year. On ‘Match’, Ford allows space for her musings about trusting your intuition with her tentative beats and ambient keys.

Speaking about the track, Ford explains: “I first started writing 8 years ago, armed with just a Casiotone 202 and a xylophone. Being the drummer in a band, I always felt like maybe I should stay in my lane and leave the song writing to the pros. It felt a bit like imposter syndrome, helped by the fact that the music I was making didn’t sound like the music I was hearing around me, which made me think that maybe I was doing it wrong. I soon realised that was silly. Over the years the self-doubt subsided and with a bit of practise, I finally found my voice. ‘Match’ is about trusting your intuition. It’s about realising your strength and finding comfort in the unknown.”

Listen to ‘Match’ below and follow Fern Ford on Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: George Selwyn-Brace

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Madame So – ‘You Say’

Madame So provides a cathartic dose of resilience and optimism on her latest single ‘You Say’. The Paris-born, London-based songwriter’s vocals flow over fuzzy guitar riffs as she dismantles feelings of negativity and despondency in her lyrics.

Following on from her previous release ‘Generation Y’, Madame So has teamed up with Brazilian illustrator Tomás Santos on ‘You Say’ to create an animated lyric video for the track. She recalls her first interactions with the artist: “In January 2019, I got a notification on Instagram that I had been tagged by a certain Tomás. I clicked on the post only to gasp at the beautiful illustration of a shot of me by photographer Crawford Blair. Tomas’s work is one of a kind, as confirmed by my friend Julian Molinero of the band Medusa who when he saw it wowed, I quote, ‘that’s the sort of thing ya pay absolutely loads for!’ Well, I was blessed with Tomas’s gift to me, and here we are now in full-blown collaboration.”

“‘You Say’ is a song about stonewalling negativity and seeing the bright side of things in life”, she continues. “It is aimed at all the killjoys, naysayers, narcissists as well as all the ambitious, optimists and resilient.” Watch the video for the track below and follow Madame So on Facebook & bandcamp for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Tokky Horror – ‘Girlracer’

The new project from ex-Queen Zee vocalist Zee Davine, Tokky Horror’s debut single ‘Girlracer’ is a wild blend of drum & bass beats, dance music rhythms and punk-infused energy. Released via Alcopop! Records, the band gatecrash the outdated notion that only boys can enjoy the thrill of fast cars and fast music.

Formed of Mollie Rush, Ava Akira and Davine, the Liverpool/London trio come at their listeners full speed on their debut offering. Speaking about the new track, Davine explains: “For me, ‘Girlracer’ is a joyous return to the fun of creating and making music after falling out of love with it. The experience of creating Tokky Horror has helped me address what my priorities are with my creativity, and how I wish and need to express myself. Sonically we had no idea what we would sound like, except we wanted it to be intense, visceral and cathartic.”

The band are also donating 100% of the income from the single on their Bandcamp page to Black Minds Matter UK and Action for Trans Health UK.

Listen to ‘Girlracer’ below and follow the band on bandcamp & Facebook for more updates.

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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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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