EP Review: Zella Day – Self-titled EP

We’ve been talking about LA based singer/songwriter Zella Day for sometime now and the moment has finally come for her music to be praised by the masses. Day’s self-titled debut EP was released this week via B3SCI Records – leading with Zella’s dazzling new single Hypnotic.

If you’ve been listening to Zella Day’s music then you’ll already agree with the talent she possesses – shoe gazing pop music with an adventurous side that’s indeed captivating. Intertwining shimmering synths, delicate piano chords and indie wave guitar strings to create dreamlike atmospherics which truly come to life by Day’s beautiful vocal tones and unique songwriting.

Singles Sweet Ophelia, East of Eden and Compass have sparkled the blogsphere over the last few months but it’s the new single that makes Zella Day the future pop star we’ve all been waiting for. Hypnotic is the song that’ll get everyone talking – rhythmic offbeat, glittering electronic synths and a chorus that truly embraces its name. It won’t be long before we see Zella amongst the likes of Lorde and Lana Del Rey.

Verdict – 4.5/5

Stream Hypnotic below and be sure to buy the debut EP on iTunes.

Review by Mustafa Mirreh

EP Review: Colour The Atlas – Opaline EP

That precious feeling when you’ve been following an artist or band from their very first record, progressing over the past year, releasing new material and conquering live shows; that has been the case with Swindon’s alternative four-piece Colour The Atlas. After the short break, Jess, Andy, Alex and Stefan are back with their brand new EP Opaline and with it a new era of music.

Opaline is certainly not rushed, the group returning back to their hometown over the months to work on new material and it has indeed paid off, what we have here is a music that truly transcends above the norm, moving on from their older acoustic sound to a more mature and experimental approach – submerging into the growing genre of Trip Hop, music with no boundaries allowing it to flourish in multiple elements.

We recently reviewed the single That Sound, a leading beacon into Colour The Atlas’s new era, embracing the tranquil mixes of production, textured beautifully alongside Jesse’s infectious vocals. Come Alive is certainly upbeat, bongo drumming backdrop layered with shimmering electric guitar and Jesse’s harmonic thrums, the track further continues to progress with further rhythmic drumming and souring vocals, fusing both ambient electronica with tropical elements. Things continue to impress with How Many Times, an elevating piece as we explore further into the unique sounds of Trip Hop. Opaline truly shines through with the partnership of Jesse and Alex, their illuminating duets and thought-provoking songwriting are unmatched by anyone else; Look Inside Your Mind is a perfect harmonic and lyrical understanding, the core of Colour The Altas’s sound.

Colour The Atlas have really grown into their own, matured and with a sound that set’s them apart from everyone else. We are beginning to see a new era of music unfold and Colour The Atlas are firmly in pole position.

Verdict – 5/5

Opaline is available now on iTunes.

Review by Mustafa Mirreh

EP Review: Age Decay – Pavor Nocturnus EP

Age Decay, the new solo project from Christopher Nicholls (formerly of An Axe), releases its debut EP Pavor Nocturnus as a digital download on October 13^th. Nicholls – who performed, recorded and mixed all of the tracks on his own – describes the EP as being inspired by the themes of “ageing, my night terrors, the black hole in the Perseus Cluster that produces a sound that’s 57 octaves lower than middle-C… And then the notion of creativity and the part it plays in the face of all of those things.” The result of this somewhat unusual collection of ideas is a rich, textured, dark album.

Opening track The Rains begins with droning basslines and some spaghetti-Western-esque lead guitar work that gradually shifts towards being unnerving, playing around with the Devil’s cadence and slight hints of dissonance, which crashing, hissing percussion and jabs of distorted rhythm guitar build behind it. This then fades out into white noise and segues into Wasteland, which opens with a not-dissimilar lead line over strange screeches and scratches.

The ambient noises disappear, replaced by vocals sitting back in the mix, nicely complimenting the guitar. Stabs of distorted guitar and a whole new lead line join the fray at the halfway point, changing the song’s dynamic and moving it away from what almost feels like an extended segue from track one. Pull it Ashore is an entirely different proposition, built around vocals complimented by some heavy natural reverb and a simple, folky acoustic guitar part. These are joined by sparse keyboards and gentle arpeggios on a lead guitar in a song that reminded me a little of Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen.

Strange Blood begins with ambient noise and some distinctly unsettling percussion, before detached vocals and powerful, heavy guitars take over. The result is a song that feels like the result of locking The Horrible Crowes, Joey Jordison, Jesse Lacey and Mark Trombino in a basement overnight with nothing but their instruments, a crate of energy drinks and a DVD of Let The Right One In. At once uncomfortable and profoundly satisfying to listen to, this song most certainly lives up to the promise of Nicholls’ thematic inspirations. Unfortunately, the final track, Paro, is something of a let-down after the sonic envelope-pushing that precedes it. It feels like a low-energy tribute to Source Tags & Codes-era …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead.

That is one of my personal favourite albums, a whirlwind of sonic experimentation that helped rewrite the rulebook for alternative rock and inspired huge cultural shifts in post-hardcore, and it is a shame to see a recording that has been just as ambitious as it was end up re-treading old ground.

Verdict – 4/5

Pavor Nocturnus is out as a digital download on October 13^th. Pre-orders can be placed here. A cassette-only version will follow towards the end of the year from Breathe Plastic Records.

Review by Declan Mills

New Music: Goldroom – ‘Till Sunrise’ (feat. Mammals) Music Video

When it comes to LA we immediately think of Goldroom (Josh Legg) who has cemented his place of as one of LA top dance producers. His latest single Till Sunrise ft guest vocals from Mammals was a track we’ve already fallen in love with and backed by a class offering in releasing the vocal stem version allowing fans to input their own pre-mixes to the hit release. Now Josh Legg unveils the official music video, teaming up with Glee star Dianna Agron.

The video features Dianna’s younger brother Jason and up and coming actress Gabby Haugh representing a young couple’s love in downtown LA, showing their inner love of the neighbourhood and capturing the dreamy fantasy that the single communicates.

Talking to Billboard Josh states – ‘When Dianna told me her vision of romantic innocence set to the backdrop of downtown, I was hooked. ‘Till Sunrise’ is all about fantasy and what-ifs, and for me this video captures that dream perfectly.’ 

Stream the new video below. Till Sunrise is available to buy now on iTunes.