​Del Barber
I Told You So
From Almanac
 
The last time the world heard anything from multiple-award nominee Del Barber was during the recent coronavirus pandemic. Stray Dogs: Collected B-Sides Vol. 1 was the product of many days spent back to back with lots of free time. That is, unless you’re an artist, when it’s a given that your time is already decided. Learning that Del Barber also lives on a farm near Winnipeg, it’s amazing that he finds the time to record his music. The song I Told You So is, in the words of its composer, a gift from his late father. It came to him at the time of his passing and seemed to fit the mood and the message of the day. This second single from his forthcoming album, Almanac, follows on from the already acclaimed Still Got You. Due to be released in April of this year on acronym Records, Almanac takes the personal journey of Del Barber through song-writing lenses for us to experience.
 
Dainty plucked guitar builds a vibrant undercurrent of sound as Del Barber begins to sing. Slide guitar adds a smooth layer of harmony as the lyrics open like a flower. Country vibes echo in the quietude as a hush gives us complete focus on the voice. Story makes the song move with new avenues of imagery and notions of passing time. A melancholy and dreamy folk swing moves from left to right and back to forward with the changing of the lines. Drifting notes playfully jostle within the mood to elevate the sense of sadness and memory.
 
You can follow Del Barber on Facebook

and Instagram

Find out more on the Del Barber website
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EMEXL
Prepare For Drama
Unlearn Records
 
Fresh out of the North of England, Newcastle’s EMEXL is back on form with a brand new moniker and destination. Previously working under different names and producing for various rave music labels, a change of scenery and a new direction is always a way to get a new wave rolling. His journey begins on Unlearn Records, owned by scene headliner Doc Brown. Taking his table to house and techno, a sonic entourage of influence and talent sweeps in from the side-lines with this massive production.
 
A volley of snapping hats opens the music with a swerving rhythmic effect that carries underneath. The bass kick doubles up to open the door for a bouncing and firmly percussive bass-line. A stretch of dancing energy continues into the next bar as vocals bring a sensation of the human to this otherwise electronic composition. More cymbal feeds in that drives the pulse into extra deep grooves. The swerving synth effect begins to swell and grow until it overpowers the rest of the music. A drifting fizz of distorted synth brings out the vocal again which breaks the mix into hats, kick, snare, and bass once more. A persistent edge of inventive progression maintains a sense of energy that inspires dancing no matter where you are.
 

You can follow EMEXL on Instagram

and Facebook

​The Loving Arms
If This Is How It Ends
New Zealand
 
A super-group of professional veterans, The Loving Arms is made up of ex-members of Dean Savage, Smoothy, Love Sector, Sugar Hits, The Hitlist, The Pet Rocks, Ghost Town, Black Doris and Bitumen Waltz. Their brand of alternative country and soul delivers a timeless and folk-hearted energy that sits comfortably on sturdy modern décor. Their first album is out now, Dreaming Over You contains their recent singles including If This Is How It Ends. The band went to Kerry Furlong for production, who’s worked with Neil Finn of the Fleetwood Mac, Crowded House, and Split Enz teams. At Red Trolley Studios, only the highlights and the best bits were used in the final cut. This made the album extremely listenable and something to put in your everyday playlist.
 
Haunting piano enters with a slosh of cymbal and a strum of guitar. Wails of slide-guitar join in like cool breezes as bass rumbles onward with melodic bursts. The song begins, close-up and comfy projection sinks in like cosy closeness as the rhythm gracefully rises. Evocative drumming casts a stereo sound over moving chapters of music that build and progress. Soft and catchy lines spill sadness and drama over motions of choppy blues and free-flowing notes. Sitting back and relaxing to this music is easy, there’s more than enough on the bones to make it worth listening to and it’s laid-back with graceful complexity. 

You can get music by The Loving Arms on Bandcamp

You can follow The Loving Arms on Facebook

and Instagram
​

Terry Emm
Island Soul
Hertfordshire
 
This third single from the highly-praised Terry Emm has just hit the airwaves and streaming sites. This coincides with the release of his new album “Wish You Were Here”. A clear salute in the direction of Pink Floyd, this singer-songwriter never-the-less contains his own unique variety. Island Soul takes the reins with a calypso shuffle number that dreams of far away places and archetypical days. This track features the vocals of Maz O’Connor who adds another layer of charming to the sound Terry creates. The single has a video that was made by the fantastically talented Holly McIntosh and Sam Wisternoff. With Lukas Drinkwater adding production skills and musicianship in the studio, a fully formed and masterfully manicured piece of music is ready with this great short film.
 
It glides in on the wings of a seagull with duet vocals swaying with the rhythm and melody. Terry Emm adds the opening verse with soft yet strong words. Maz O’Connor adds harmonies and gradients to the tune as the music carries forward with buoyant and upbeat flow. A dream of imagery and experience builds through keyboard backgrounds and twinkling guitar that scatters like reflected sunbeams. The comparison of the vocals builds a space to exist within that sits gladly in between.
 
You can find out more on the Terry Emm website

You can follow Terry Emm on Facebook

and Twitter

You can buy music by Terry Emm on Bandcamp

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​This Static Light
Between The Waves
London
 
Since finding his feet in music by playing in bands, Julian Simons aka This Static Light took the plunge and began producing music as a solo artist and professionally for other artists. He found a natural niche for himself in this and it didn’t take long before his own work was getting noticed. Having been involved with producing music for TV and film, those same talents have been stencilled in to his own unique compositions. A new single is out now, called Between The Waves, and is already gaining attention on air with radio play all over the world.
 
Drums, guitar, and vocal enter in unison as piano joins with sparkling high notes. A story of imagery casts a shadow over the song with poignant lines about human conditions. More piano makes the sound fuller as bass pulses to the quick yet softly designed rhythm. Folk meets rock n roll as the pounding toms bash against delicate and melodious compositions. Emotional clarity focuses a sense of wanderlust and wistfulness within the moving and listenable passages of the song.  

Find out more on the Static Light Productions website

You can follow This Static Light on YouTube
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The Noise Who Runs
Takes A Long Cold Look and Then The Kitchen Sink
TNWR Records
 
Based somewhere between the UK and France, Ian Pickering and Felipe Goes bring the latest track from The Noise Who Runs. Since his days with The Sneaker Pimps and Front Line Assembly, Pickering has been working with his new band. The name is a direct translation of the phrase meaning to gossip in French. To be fair, people are talking already, with their sounds delivering on streaming sites and media sites alike. This quirky title, Takes A Long Cold Look and Then The Kitchen Sink, has been built from dreams of Syd Barret and Talking Heads. Ian Pickering, along with his Brazilian guitar player Felipe Goes, have reinvented this number originally from 1996.
 
Disparate rumbles creep into a guitar sound that pounds on thumping toms and a heavy bass kick. The music enters as vocals join the verse with moody and thought-inspiring words. A let-loose swagger bowls the syllables forward as keyboard sounds swing with swooping zaps and luminous pitch shifts. Melody keeps the music together through the ambient dream-score that clings to the progression. Walking with a slow and meaningful purpose, the music follows its own trail through the passing scenes. Human and touching, emotions are portrayed with inflections of sound that flicker between the structured song.
 

You can get Takes A Long Cold Look and Then The Kitchen Sink on Bandcamp

​Find out more on The Noise Who Runs website

Follow The Noise Who Runs on Facebook

Instagram

and Twitter
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