Track Of The Day: Bamboo Smoke – ‘Maybe I’

A soulful, lo-fi tune about hesitation and uncertainty; Bamboo Smoke have shared their latest single, ‘Maybe I’. Released via Swedish imprint Something Beautiful, the South London trio combine tentative electronics, smooth vocals, and echoing beats to create an ambient new soundscape.

Formed of vocalist Louise Wellby, multi-instrumentalist & producer Thomas Hollis, and percussionist Mark Gilyead; Bamboo Smoke captivated us with their live performance at our Notting Hill Arts Club gig in 2018. Since then, the trio have been busy creating new music to share with listeners over the course of 2020.

“I don’t wanna wish away time” muses Louise on ‘Maybe I’, a relatable sentiment that’s scored by subtle synth textures, and cautious percussion. The band explain the context of the track further: “This tune tumbled out in a tiny attic room on a trip at the start of the year. It’s about wishing you could draw someone out of their darkness. We find it so hard to talk about mental health, we hide away our shadows in dreamscapes.”

Listen to ‘Maybe I’ below, and follow Bamboo Smoke on Spotify and Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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

Having been pretty obsessed with their 2017 album Swear I’m Good At This since it came out, the return of Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman – aka Diet Cig – to my ears could not be more welcome. Ahead of the release of their second full-length, Do You Wonder About Me?, next month, the duo have shared a brand new single.

Flowing with Luciano’s luscious honey-sweet vocals, infectious jangly melodies and all the twinkling energy I need now more than ever, ‘Who Are You?’ is a delectably catchy slice of dreamy indie-pop. Juxtaposing an emotion-strewn lilting charm and subtle gritty angst, it’s a shimmering, sunny delight; perfectly uplifting isolation listening, leaving me desperate to hear the album in full as soon as possible.

Of the track, the band explain:

“‘Who Are You?’ is for anyone who’s ever received a completely self-serving apology from someone who’s hurt them. I learned that healing doesn’t wait for an ‘I’m sorry’ to appear, and it can feel silly to have one arrive when you’re completely over it. This song takes these bad feelings and turns them into a fun upbeat jam to dance around in your kitchen to!”

Do You Wonder About Me?, the upcoming second album from Diet Cig, is set for release 1st May via Frenchkiss Records. Pre-order here. Diet Cig were due to be touring the UK over the next month, but have now re-scheduled their dates to the Autumn (with some dates supported by GIHE faves Charmpit!):

18th November – Rough Trade, Bristol
19th November – The Bodega, Nottingham
20th November – YES, Manchester
22nd November – The Hare and Hounds, Birmingham
23rd November – Broadcast, Glasgow
24th November – Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds
27th November – The Dome, London
28th November – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: ECKOES – ‘The Light’

Having performed at the likes of Glastonbury and All Points East, and now signed to Goldie MBE’s new record label, London based artist ECKOES has now shared her latest single ‘The Light’

‘The Light’ is a delight in contradiction – crunchy and aggressive 8-bit style drum beats break against ECKOES’s smooth, fragile voice. Strobing synths and twinkling guitars lull you into a state of hypnosis only to be interrupted by a crashing cacophony, bringing to mind spaceships dropping from the sky in the classic video game Space Invaders. This is what it feels like to have your life fall apart. “I wrote this at a time when my life as I knew it had imploded…” says ECKOES of ‘The Light’; her constant refrain, “I wait”, evokes that feeling of not knowing where to go, waiting for a sign from the heavens, in this truly captivating soundscape. 

The single’s accompanying video is set on the edge of the world whilst dancer and choreographer Liza Van Der Smissen moves through ‘The Light’ in a beautifully choreographed contemporary dance piece as ECKOES, dressed in black veils, stands stoically as a haunting figure in the background. 

‘The Light’ is available to stream now on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music. 

Aisha Kasmir
@aisha_vocal

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Track Of The Day: OHMME – ‘Ghost’

Buzzing guitar riffs, smooth dual vocals, and yearning lyrics combine on ‘Ghost’, the latest single from OHMME. The track is lifted from the band’s upcoming album, Fantasize Your Ghost, set for release on 5th June via Joyful Noise Recordings.

Formed of Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart; Chicago-based OHMME blend driving beats and brooding, distorted guitars to create their deceptively simple, catchy songs. On ‘Ghosts’, the pair meander through snaking riffs and restless lyrics to relieve the feeling of being stood still. This need to travel and keep on the move influenced their upcoming album Fantasize Your Ghost, which is referenced in the track’s chorus.

The track is accompanied by a colourful video, directed by Austin Vesely. The band explain how the visuals came to life: “We’d been kicking around the idea of doing something like the ‘Pop Musik’ video by M, but darker. There’s a lot of darkness these days, but it’s important to keep dancing. Austin said, “fancy ghosts?” and “can I press order on these California King satin bed sheets?” and we said “Yes, and YES!””

Now that’s the kind of offer you can’t refuse. Watch the video for ‘Ghost’ below, and follow OHMME on Spotify and Facebook for more updates.

Photo credit: Ash Dye

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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