Track Of The Day: deep tan – ‘hollow scene’

Following their uplifting last single ‘camelot‘, and with acclaim from the likes of NME, So Young and BBC 6Music, Hackney-based trio deep tan have now shared another stirring taste of what’s to come from their upcoming debut EP.

Propelled by glitchy beats and whirring, twinkling hooks, ‘hollow scene’ captivates the ears with the vocals’ compelling seductive allure. Flowing with fuzzed-out shades of ’90s trip-hop, whilst maintaining its own unique sparkling edge and gently haunting majesty, it’s another truly spellbinding offering from the trio, oozing an exquisite rousing splendour. Of the track, the band explain:

“‘hollow scene’ is about the feeling of having to move through life with a certain level of detachment in order to function. Gatekeeping empathy for the sake of an easy life, if you will. It’s a pretty draining business, though, and can make any real search for meaning feel futile. Meursault was wrong and he was right. Robert Smith, however, is always right.“

 
‘hollow scene’ is out now, and is taken from deep tan’s upcoming EP, Creeping Speedwells, set for release on 4th June via Practise Music.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Timothy Casten

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Track Of The Day: Queens & Kings – ‘Going Through Hell’

Ahead of the release of their upcoming debut EP, Toronto-based, instrument-swapping garage rock duo Alissa King and Brendan Albert – aka Queens & Kings (a name to purposefully provoke thought about sexist language patterns) – have recently shared their impactful latest single.

Propelled by a fuzzed-out visceral energy and gentle blues-rock twang, ‘Going Through Hell’ reflects on the duo’s 10+ year relationship and the struggles they have gone through both personally and as a band. As Alissa’s gritty swooning vocals flow with a stirring, soulful drive alongside scuzzy hooks, it oozes a soaring, impassioned splendour. With shades of the likes of The Kills or Alabama Shakes, it’s a powerful Americana-tinged slice of garage-rock brimming full of anthemic emotion. A sizzling, poignant ode to learning to let go and move forwards in life.

Watch the new video for ‘Going Through Hell’, featuring footage of the duo from over the last 10 years, here:


‘Going Through Hell‘ is taken from Queens & Kings’ upcoming debut EP, set for release later this year. The EP has been made and mastered with the likes of Vic Florencia and Bill Skibbe from Third Man Records, as well as four time Grammy nominee, Howie Weinberg.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Mentrix – ’99 Names Of God’

A soft, altruistic re-working of a traditional Muslim chant, Iranian born, Berlin-based vocalist & composer Mentrix has shared her latest single ’99 Names Of God’. Working alongside DJ, producer & activist Nesa Azadikhah (founder of Deep House Tehran), Mentrix’s version of the song – which is usually sung by men and associated with Ramadan – centres and celebrates freedom of expression via her distinctive vocals and Sufi-inspired beats.

“’99 Names Of God’ are the many words which describe God in the Quran,” Mentrix aka Samar Rad explains about the chant. “These words are principals and qualities that manifest the divine. In Sufism, the teachings invite one to contemplate on these names: which one of these words are you? This chant, composed of three vocal octaves in the style of Tavashi, has been sung by many around the world. My version is here to honour the very essence of Islam, an invitation for every individual, beyond gender and any social construct, to cognise the divine within.”

The track is accompanied by a hypnotic video which Mentrix made in collaboration with Tobia Gremmler (Bjork), reflecting the fluid nature of gender and beauty with fluctuating shapes and symmetrical images. With her 2020 debut album My Enemy, My Love, released via her own female-led label House of Strength, Mentrix sought to shift perspectives on femininity and challenge patriarchal norms with her music. On ’99 Names Of God’, she continues this journey and delivers a beguiling, empathetic soundscape in the process.

Watch the video for ’99 Names Of God’ below.

Follow Mentrix on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: all cats are beautiful – ‘(u know) u mean a long minute 2 me’

‘(u know) u mean a long minute 2 me’ is the first single from all cats are beautiful’s (ACAB) forthcoming EP. Recorded while best friends Kyle and Elena were locked down in separate countries due to the pandemic, it’s a lo-fi, electro-pop lullaby that’s full of love and longing.

The song has an otherworldy beauty, marrying raw, heartfelt lyrics with woozy beats and beeps to create something really special. As Kyle sings, “All I know for sure is my way back to you”, it feels so intimate and personal. But their vocal is buoyed by layers of beautiful harmonies and instrumentation, giving the track an atmospheric splendour.

As the pair alternate vocals, their chemistry fizzes and evokes the magic of Coco Rosie and to a lesser (and perhaps more obvious) degree, The XX. The bittersweet lyrics and emotive delivery will stay with you long after the song ends, and, before you know it, you’ll be full of gin and crying on the phone to your much-missed friends, telling them how much you love them.

‘(u know) u mean a long minute 2 me’ is taken from all cats are beautiful’s debut EP, the things we made, set for release on 6th August via Moshi Moshi.

Vic Conway
@thepicsofvic

Photo Credit: Aaron Price

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