Track Of The Day: Belako – ‘Lungs’

Spanish indie rockers Belako effortlessly combine slick riffs, pounding drums and lush vocals on their latest single ‘Lungs’, providing a musical breath of fresh air. The track is taken from their upcoming album Render Me Numb, Trivial Violence, which is set for release on 23rd February via Primavera Sound’s in-house label El Segell.

The Basque country-based four piece have said their new record is going to be a “head twisting mix of punk, techno, indie, folk & electro,” and they’re expected to embark on a tour shortly after the album’s release, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for future Belako gig dates.

Listen to ‘Lungs’ below and follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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EP: EMA – ‘Outtakes from Exile’

Sitting comfortably in what she calls “The Outer Ring” of society – the zone between the country and the city, both literally and figuratively – EMA’s dark electronic sounds ooze with an unease and intensity inspired by “material that speaks truth to power.” Rather than agonise, Erika M. Anderson (aka EMA) organises synths and vocals to express her resistance against poverty and inequality, and her recent EP Outtakes From Exile is another impressive example of these determined efforts.

Lead single ‘Dark Shadows’ ia a blend of hazy vocals, sharply produced beats and opulent electronics, inspired by the film 20th Century Women. Anderson says she was inspired by the premise – “badass women living in 1970s Santa Barbara getting into punk” – and ‘Dark Shadows’ emerged as “a survivor song”, detailing someone who’s “leaving a dark past behind, emerging again into the world”. It’s a world in which second track ‘MopTops (Twist While The World Stops)’ plays out confidently, with EMA’s hushed, croaky vocals sitting atop steady synths that loop for three and a half minutes.

‘I Don’t Treat Anything Good’ is similar in its understated style and tempo, but it culminates in EMA’s plea-like vocals to be saved from this casual apathy. The emotional exposure on penultimate track ‘From The Love That We Made’ will have listeners caught up in a sultry, synth-heavy haze before an unexpected switch from electronics to acoustic guitars mid-way through the song clears the figurative smoke screen.

It’s the defiant power of closing track ‘Breathalyzer Instrumental’ however, that truly displays EMA’s ominous, shadowy skills. It’s twenty minutes of intriguing noise which broods somewhere between intense awareness and a need to be aurally anesthetised. Whilst her vocals on previous tracks are quietly hypnotic, the lack of them here is not to be lamented. Ten minutes in, her almost inaudible whisperings appear over persistent synths, offering a brief distraction from this epic, intoxicating sonic assault.

Make sure you set aside the time to explore EMA’s intriguing soundscapes on Outtakes From Exile – you won’t be disappointed.

EMA’s Outtakes From Exile (released via City Slang) is available to stream/download now.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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EP: Tina Boonstra – ‘My Concrete Heart (Will Beat Again)’

Inspired by the likes of Wolf Alice and Arcade Fire, London-based artist Tina Boonstra writes in a vulnerable yet determined vein. Her debut EP My Concrete Heart (Will Beat Again), released on 2nd February via 7Core Music, is a collection of moving, honest songs that will school listeners in empathy and introspection.

The understated ‘Prodigal’ opens the record, quietly showcasing Tina’s measured but powerful vocals. It leads into the soothing ‘I Think I See You Now’ which plays out “as steady as my heart beats / as certain as the sunrise.” Tina’s musical style may have been intended for the halls of churches (she was raised in a Christian missionary family), but it’s clear from these tracks that her sound was meant to echo further.

It’s easy to surrender “skin and bone” to the sound of ‘Occupy Me’ as it gently builds into another three minutes of hymn-like escapism. Following track ‘Concrete Heart’ is a complete change of pace, with pounding drums, heavier guitar riffs and a melodic chorus that breaks through like the “perfect love” Tina sings of. It feels like an aural emotional release, ringing with the relief you experience when you find someone worth opening up to again.

‘Only A Human’ changes the EP’s direction once more, as Tina explores the isolation of another character: a teenage boy with a suicide bomb strapped to his chest. It’s an unexpected turn and a thought provoking exploration of empathy, culminating in the honest lyric “you’re not to blame now / you’re only a human.” The gentle ‘Castle’ closes the record. It’s a carefully curated piano-led ode to a fortress of love and support and a calm ending to this soft but tempestuous debut.

Speaking of her EP, Tina admits: “I wanted to sing about faith and doubt and the very real struggle to feel anything apart from completely numb.” We’re sure listening to My Concrete Heart (Will Beat Again) will make others feel more again too.

Listen to Tina’s EP on Spotify here, and follow her on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LIVE: Fenne Lily – The Islington, London 31.01.18

Fenne Lily‘s understated, soft, yet seething lyrics captivated her sold out crowd at The Islington on Wednesday night, and we were impressed by her tentative voice and startling self-awareness. Whilst persistent sound issues kept taking listeners out of the moment, Fenne Lily managed to bring them back into it with a combination of perfect vocals and self-deprecating humour.

Whilst her songs often ring with sadness and pain, her not-so-PG stories – including one about a guy who ruined Back To The Future for her by asking for a blow job – make her live performances a real joy to witness.

Accompanied by her bassist and drummer for the majority of her set, she effortlessly performed singles ‘What’s Good’, ‘Bud’ and ‘On Hold’ as well as delivering a poignant solo rendition of track ‘Brother’. She performed the tear-inducing ‘Three Oh Nine’ in her trademark modest, stunning style and even in her sleep-deprived state – she’d spent almost a solid 24 hours hand-painting tote bags for the merch stand – she’s a beguiling, beautiful performer.

We recommend you catch her now, before she inevitably becomes uncatchable.

Support came from Oxford group Be Good, who won the crowd over with their indie-pop sounds and hap-hazard charm.

Fenne Lily’s debut album On Hold will be released on 6th April. Pre-order it here.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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