Track Of The Day: Song Sung – ‘The Mind’s Eye’

A dreamy musing on dual feelings of hope and doubt, Song Sung have shared their latest single ‘The Mind’s Eye’. Lifted from their upcoming debut album, This Ascension Is Ours, set for release on 31st July via Night Time Stories, the track is a tumbling, ethereal soundscape that shimmers with positivity.

Formed of twin sisters Georgina and Una McGeough, Song Sung grew up in Monaghan, close to the Northern Ireland border, before moving stateside to New York a decade ago. Since then, the pair have been dabbling in music software and creating their own sounds, working with David Holmes (Unloved) to produce their debut EP, I Surrender, which they released earlier this year.

Speaking about their new track, the band explain: “This song wrestles with doubt, but is fought with hope. It’s provocative and resilient and in a way, quite anthemic. We can fall down together, but in defiance, we will stand up forever.” The band’s hazy vocals and lush synths lure listeners in to this blissful state.

Listen to ‘The Mind’s Eye’ below and follow Song Sung on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

 

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Basic Bitches – ‘You Know I’m Right’

If you’re constantly battling Zoom-induced fatigue, or if your opinions are still being ignored in online work meetings, Basic Bitches are here to set the record straight. Their latest single ‘You Know I’m Right’ is a rallying cry against unfair work-place politics, and a middle finger to the mediocre men who are one step ahead of you on the career ladder – even when you’re all working from home!

The Brooklyn-based duo combine thrashing beats, riotous riffs and a chant-worthy chorus to communicate their frustrations. The track is taken from their 2019 EP, Relatable Content (released via Hell Hath No Fury Records), and is accompanied by a familiar looking set of visuals. Directed by Erin Waters and edited by Erin & Johnathan DeMuth, the video shows how a conference call “dissolve into chaos as a condescending middle manager faces a revolt from his bored and disgruntled workforce”.

Check out the video for ‘You Know I’m Right’ below and follow Basic Bitches on Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Photo Credit: Nikki Krivanek

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Track Of The Day: National Treasure – ‘Come And Go’

Releasing your debut single in the middle of a national lockdown is a pretty brave move – but if there’s one advantage, it does mean that National Treasure had the unparalleled opportunity to film the song’s video in deserted carparks, with lead-singer Mille standing out of the sunroof of a moving car. And it’s fitting, in a way, to have crafted a DIY pop-style video to fit this DIY pop gem, which conjures a mature, well-built and catchy sound that the band are referring to as “Classic cougar pop, with added mellotron”. To these ears, however, what the Bristol four piece have come up with is a hefty slice of indie/sophisti-pop, that belies its debut nature and its DIY origins.

The song, largely centred around Millie’s lyrics and vocals, commences with a C86-style shimmer of a synth riff, which swells throughout most of the running time, dovetailing with the backing vocal harmonies and the pacey rhythm of its drums. Lyrically, the song is written from a male perspective – its title and chorus being something of a double entendre – and subverts its otherwise upbeat sound by depicting a negative experience of love, that its frustrated artist narrator is largely at fault for creating. It’s another smart move, that keeps bringing the listener back whilst also marking out its author’s approach as one to watch. After a middle eight breakdown, around the halfway mark, the song builds back up – featuring a particularly effusive curse – before slamming into an absolutely searing guitar outro, giving it a delightfully AOR conclusion.

With lockdown starting to be lifted, it looks like National Treasure may have to look for other opportunities to make videos in future. But what won’t change will be the group’s ear for a hook, and their pop sensibilities. And, with their “class on a shoestring” ethos, the forthcoming EP The Good Light looks set to be a winner, come Autumn.  Volvo, or no Volvo, NT look to be set to stay.

John McGovern
@etinsuburbiaego

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WATCH: GYMNAST – ‘Ghost’

With glitchy experimental-pop synths roaming across a rushing soundscape, Gymnast’s ‘Ghost’ exudes the feeling of exploration, travel and transition.

From the song’s start, long reverb swells set Gymnast’s footprint in a world that is in motion at the speed of light. A sense of urgency is pressing, and the stakes are high risk and eerie. A scurrying string solo continues the feed into the hunt of what ‘Ghost’ is leading us to. Or is it where?

Sounds of pattering keys and echoing vocals beg us to run at the pace of the track and trust its sense of quick direction and pit stops along the way. Skimming through perspectives from “the ghost in the garden” to the “the bride in the branches”, Gymnast’s ability to characterise their captivatingly whimsical lyrics is stellar. Even while only resting for a moment in each one of these characters’ shoes, ‘Ghost’ both instrumentally and emotionally paints vivid personal images of the track’s overall themes. At times, we are all “the kid at the picnic, the pixels in your rockpool”, merely taking part in the background in our transitional surroundings.

With a compelling chorus that sounds as wide as a choir, Gymnast lends a hand to us all in our current universal experience of change – we are in this whirlwind together.

‘Ghost’ is accompanied by an intricately made video; an innovative Google Maps animation, fitting the song’s exploration of themes of belonging vs. hosting, outside/inside boundaries… plus allowing some vicarious world-exploration for locked-down viewers!

 

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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