Track Of The Day: Tuvaband – ‘Ambiguous Flies’

Having previously received acclaim for her debut album Soft Drop and being named ‘One To Watch’ by The Guardian, Norwegian artist Tuva Hellum Marschhäuser – aka Tuvaband – has now shared intense new single ‘Ambiguous Flies’.

Exploring “the line between passion and insanity”, ‘Ambiguous Flies’ flows with a dark, ethereal energy, propelled by the swirling whirr of guitars and the soaring power of Tuva’s rich vocals. Building with captivating atmospherics, it oozes a sweeping majesty creating a simply spellbinding soundscape. Of the track, Tuva explains:

“I wanted a more distorted sound, and live, my band and I really tried to push the boundaries from my released music by moving from stripped down and vulnerable, to trying to sound like a punk/rock band”.

‘Ambiguous Flies’ is out now, with Tuvaband’s upcoming album I Entered The Void set for release on 27th November, both via Brilliance Records. Catch Tuvaband live at The Lexington on 5th February 2020.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Ruben Jacob Fees

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Track Of The Day: Captain Handsome – ‘I Wish I Had A Dog’

Having been a pretty massive fan of indie-pop superstars Fightmilk for a couple of years now, it’s exciting to see that Lily from the band has now shared the first single from new solo project Captain Handsome.

A poignant exploration of every-day anxieties, ‘I Wish I Had A Dog’ flows with jangly hooks and a gentle electro whirr as Lily’s distinctive silky-smooth-yet-gritty vocals ooze a touching raw emotion. With a twinkling lo-fi scuzz alongside the sensitivity of Lily’s refreshingly honest and consistently relatable lyricism (“I feel so strange and I can’t keep up”), it’s a slice of effervescent indie-pop that tugs at the heartstrings in all the right ways.

(FYI, though, I really wish I had a cat or a rabbit like the one pictured, not a dog…)

 

‘I Wish I Had A Dog’ is out now via Reckless Yes, and is taken from Captain Handsome’s upcoming EP, set for release in early 2020.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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EP: Rookes – ‘Liminal’

Rookes is a solo electro-pop project based in London. She has just released her second EP, Liminal, using ’80s synth sounds as a frame for her powerful voice, reminiscent of the best of the Eurythmics or Yazoo. This sets the scene for a four track EP, in which Rookes explores her own love experiences during two years of exploration of her queer identity across the London dating scene. 

‘Salvage’ is a slow, shimmering start dealing with post-breakup feelings, becoming more urgent and uptempo with the chorus, whereas ‘New Lovers’ has an eerie ’80s feel, with spiralling synths. However, the synths gain a harder edge as the song goes on, expressing the fear of a dangerous love (“do me no harm”). 

Lead single, ‘Liminal’, is catchy and poppier, where a lover is asked to take a romantic risk; suggesting both hope and caution, it’s a beautifully uplifting ballad. ‘Constellations’, however, closes the EP on a poetic note, oozing a dreamy warmth alongside soaring strings and shimmering synths.

This EP is polished, dramatic, and features intriguing songwriting. And you can dance to it! The emotions and experiences are completely relatable in songs centred on looking for love; finding it (but not being ready), and then losing it again. A stirring collection that will leave you wanting more of Rookes’ glistening soundscapes. 

Liminal is out now. Stream on all online platforms.

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

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Track Of The Day: HOST – ‘Trainwreck’

A contradiction in sound and content, synth-pop artist HOST‘s latest single ‘Trainwreck’ is a catchy, upbeat affair despite its context being rooted in self-deprecation. The Irish artist released her EP Adolescent Content at the start of 2019 and followed it up with single ‘Crying for Days’ before sharing this new track, which combines a pessimistic outlook with optimistic, dreamy sounds.

HOST’s strong vocals float above echoing beats and shimmering synth textures on ‘Trainwreck’, as she sings of “barely hanging on” to a healthy perspective. It’s HOST’s ability to dance with her demons that makes her music such a catchy slice of catharsis, providing momentary relief for listeners who might be feeling a little like the track’s title.

Listen to ‘Trainwreck’ below and follow HOST on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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