At the heart of ‘Light hit my face like a straight right’ lies a subtle tension. This follow-up to Mallrat’s 2022 debut ‘Butterfly Blue’ presents, on the surface, a mix of dance-influenced yet largely conventional singer-songwriter pieces, drawing inspiration from both the soft, introspective style of bedroom pop production and the distorted realm of hyperpop. Generally, this results in something that ranges from unremarkable to pleasing; while nothing is overtly bothersome, the blend of understated performance and vocal effects inevitably recalls the production work of AG Cook, typically paired with the catchy pop hooks that are absent here (such as in ‘Defibrillator’ or ‘Ray of Light’). Likewise, the use of textures akin to more traditional singer-songwriter elements, evident in tracks like ‘Pavement’ and the emo-influenced ‘The Worst Thing I Would Ever Do’, emphasizes an otherwise trivial lyrical simplicity. Yet, when the album finds its rhythm, it is not necessarily at its most compelling. This occurs when the fusion of dance beats and Mallrat’s subdued style evokes a bedroom-club atmosphere: the catchy refrain of ‘Hocus Pocus’; the suffocating loop of ‘Love Songs / Heart Strings’; the gentle euphoria of ‘Hideaway’. Although these remain soft, pastel-toned listening experiences, they offer a glimpse into a personal, intimate party. However, it is the track ‘Horses’ that truly stands out, not only as the album’s most impactful song but also as one that sonically diverges from its predecessors. With natural sounds enveloping a seemingly unadorned, more straightforward vocal, the emotion of the song – referencing the singer's late younger sister – is expressed powerfully and poignantly.
Swedish singer-songwriter Julia Logan contemplates her heartfelt, enchanting, and nostalgic second album 'Faraway Nearby,' a work that encapsulates the tension of distance, both tangible and emotional, during a period of uncertainty.
A warm, sunlit tribute to the small joys of life, Ziggy Alberts' "I'm With You" is a whimsical, uplifting folk-pop track brimming with warmth and affection, solidifying the Australian singer/songwriter's position as a distinctive and genuine presence in the current music scene.
The Ipswich multi-venue event for this year is scheduled for the 13th and 14th of June.
This marks the second collaboration between the duo on a record, after their 2016 song 'Beautiful People'.
Chicago rapper Juice Mazelee shares insights about his most intimate and impactful album to date, intertwining honest storytelling with lyrical evolution, while contemplating legacy, identity, self-exploration, and the significance of being 'Here Now N Forever.'
When presented with such a grand display, it seems secure.
A compilation of singer-songwriter music with dance influences, featuring an underlying tension that is hard to grasp.