Track Of The Day: Montauk Hotel – ‘White Billboards’

A luscious shimmering soundscape with a poignant context; Montauk Hotel have shared their new single ‘White Billboards’. Released via Reckless Records, the Dublin-based band say their new track is a “reflection on the power of advertising in our society and how models and [industry] standards influence our choices, happiness, and feelings of adequacy”.

Montauk Hotel’s music is influenced by the glimmer of early 80s indie-pop, full of glistening guitar sounds and shining melodies. The band released their self titled EP in March 2017, and have shared stages with the likes of Goat Girl, PINS and Beauty Sleep. Across Ireland, they’ve played venues such as Whelans, The Workman’s Club and Roisin Dubh, and they’ve performed at Electric Picnic too.

Their new single ‘White Billboards’ is sure to take them back to these stages. Speaking more about the track, the band explain: “The song pictures an imaginary future where as an result of over-saturation, people have become indifferent to commercial models. Advertisers and brands have run out of slogans and have lost their impact on people and society. There is a question left open, which whether a society with empty billboards would indeed set us free to be happy or whether it would leave us lost and unable to regain a personal identity”.

Listen to ‘White Billboards’ below and follow Montauk Hotel on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: The Motion – ‘Sleep Talk’

Having previously wowed us live at The Finsbury, and with a special acoustic set on our radio show last year, The Motion – a musical project curated by songwriter, engineer and producer Penny Churchill – draws on raw and emotionally-driven lyrics to reflect on their own personal experiences. New single ‘Sleep Talk’ is a slow indie record, using synthetic instrumentals behind soft vocals to add an air of vulnerability that couples with the lyrics perfectly.

Themes of isolation, insomnia and emotional instability expose Churchill’s own raw emotions, which makes it easy for the audience to connect with what they’re saying. The light/dark of the verses and brighter choruses reflect the real-life contrast between happiness and sadness, which are effectively fused together in ‘Sleep Talk’, creating a truly immersive offering. 

Of the track, The Motion explains:

“The track captures the mood of being stuck in a cyclical rut of routine. The verses are slow and sonically dark, whereas the chorus is directly contrasting with a warm, surreal feeling. This makes me feel as though, for a moment, I am elsewhere, somewhere with a more free and organic atmosphere in momentary bliss.”

‘Sleep Talk’ is out now, listen on Soundcloud. And you can catch The Motion live on 5th June at The Underbelly in Hoxton Square, London.

 

Bekky Smart
@bekkymays

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Track Of The Day: GHUM – ‘Get Up’

Having wowed us on numerous occasions with their immersive live performances, and with support slots for the likes of Dream Wife and Muncie Girls, GIHE faves GHUM are now set to captivate our ears once more with their upcoming new EP, The Coldest Fire.

Taken from the EP, new single ‘Get Up’ flows with deep, dark bass lines, as scuzzed-out whirring hooks are propelled by a gritty energy to accompany Laura’s swirling, steely vocals. Building to a hauntingly anthemic offering, ‘Get Up’ perfectly showcases GHUM’s goth-tinged, sparkling majesty and bewitching charisma, proving this band to be deserving of every success they earn.

Of the upcoming EP, the band explain:

“These songs have a power and fire about them but they also feel hostile and mysterious at times, which is a trait you’ll find across all the songs we write… The title also perfectly describes us as a band. We’re very different people, with a mix of personalities (and star signs!) covering three of the four elements; fire, water and air. It’s the combination of that fire with the colder elements of water and air which make GHUM – we’re a mix of passion, anger, logic, precision, timidness, volume and emotion, all at the same time. All the songs on the EP talk about love, but the kind of unpredictable, cold and fiery love that exists through life.”

Listen to ‘Get Up’ on Spotify now, or on Bandcamp below:

 

The Coldest Fire, the new EP from GHUM, is out 28th June via Everything Sucks Music.  Catch GHUM live at the launch party on 13th July at The Shacklewell Arms.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Poppy Marriott

 

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