#singlereview

Boldly bearing their fifth single of the year, the rising indie-pop group Wild Horse are on a roll with their success and momentum of what has been a very busy year for the trio. Touring and gigging across England to get their new music in front of new faces, Wild Horse are just as dedicated in putting on a live show to remember as they are in putting out tracks you can’t get enough of - and their newest ‘Attraction’ fits the bill perfectly.

Glowing in with their signature groove and sway, ‘Attraction’ cascades through your eardrums right from pressing play with all the much-loved charisma and charm that Wild Horse always have to offer. Laced between a sensual electric guitar riff and floating vocals airily gliding through a loose higher range, ‘Attraction’ establishes itself to be an intimate treasure that’ll in many ways leave you swooning. It’s not long before it’s pushed forward by a thumping scattered beat, propelling the song along with a much-needed energy and rhythm while a building backing sound effect leaves you awaiting the choruses’ explosion. Falling into place with more dominant guitar strums, heavy beats and a looping guitar riff, Wild Horse maintain their personal feeling sound while bumping up the spirits, an atmospherically soaring assortment of instruments that continues its’ warmth the entire way through. Keyboard keys add a subtle vibrant edge as the track progresses, keeping things exciting in terms of progression while limiting their palette of sounds to one that’s upbeat but tender all the same. At two and a half minutes long, ‘Attraction’ doesn’t waste a second of its time with you, infectiously wrapping its colourfully infused sound into your brain and always leaving you wanting just that little bit more.

As per their speciality of songwriting, ‘Attraction’ is yet another glowing romantic serenade that Wild Horse have utterly perfected at this point, writing straight from the heart but always edging in a painful depth to their every sweet word. Written by their frontman Jack Baldwin, ‘Attraction’ soars out as a fast-paced anthem delving into attraction at its highest forms, at times leaving you hurting - whether that be from yearning to advance their relationship, or never being satisfied with what they get unless they’re entwined 24/7. Seemingly romanticising someone from afar, ‘Attraction’ looks through rose-tinted glasses at an overwhelming new crush, mesmerised by their every move: ‘when I see you moving like that, wish you’d do it like that for me.’ Singing ‘I don’t really know if this is too far, but I always think about you when it gets dark’ , Wild Horse also entangle lyricism that’s multifaceted in interpretation, alluding to both potential lust as well as the intimacy of the night’s solitude. But this love is almost too much, like an all-consuming obsession that leaves them pained when there’s any distance between them: ‘it’s getting to the point where it’s hurting.’ It’s clear their emotions are almost out of control in lyrics like ‘it ain’t even been two weeks, but I know it’s you’, falling head-over-heels at first sight without thinking deeper. As Wild Horse continue to tear apart the constructs and perceptions of love we all share, their every word and song allows for an insight into relationships and raw emotion that’s not always flowers and rainbows, showcasing imperfect humanity in its purest form.

Check out ‘Attraction’ here to enjoy Wild Horse’s ever-addictive sound with a more meaningful message than you’d expect.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

Returning with yet another new release in collaboration with Ritorukai, the emo-rock stars Love Ghost have just shared their newest single ‘Human Error 404.’ As Love Ghost’s Finnegan Bell is currently in Mexico recording with many Latin artists, we’re sure this won’t be the last single the duo have to come, continuing to offer a staggering amount of new tracks to listen along with while never letting their sound suffer for it.

Just like all of Love Ghost’s work, ‘Human Error 404’ finds itself angstily encapsulated by a sound of grit and down-to-the-bone emotion, unafraid of the darkness and embracing it wholly. From the rich electric guitar strums and the emphatic riff that leads things in, ‘Human Error 404’ immediately captures a sense of foreboding, floating through a raincloud cloud that’s only seconds from a downpour. Thudding drum beats and subdued guitar strums add a more pounding resonance for the opening shortend chorus, all the while Love Ghost’s vocalist offers a more clean, hooking vocal delivery that urges you learn and sing along to every word. Things shift for Ritorukai’s introduction, wrapped between electronic scattered beats, dark guitar strums and hoarsely half-screamed backing vocals that lace around his cleanly sung emo-rap styling. The second verse makes way for Love Ghost to take centre stage, continuing scattered beats and prominent guitar strums while he offers an emotive set of lyrics to unpack. The final chorus climaxes into a peak of everything, from vigorous guitar strums to thundering drums and multiple layers of clean and raspy vocals, ‘Human Error 404’ wraps up with a heightened moment exploding from all the built-up emotion tied within. Delivering yet another emo-rap and alternative-rock anthem, Love Ghost have been knocking it out the park as of late, and ‘Human Error 404’ is just another hit you’ll be eager to add to your playlists immediately.

Delving into mental health complexities, ‘Human Error 404’ is another staple from Love Ghost that entangles within it a poignant message of struggling through depression and darker thoughts without an escape. Led in by the line ‘weightless I am floating, watching the sky turn red’, it’s made clear that the reality for Love Ghost has seemed to shift, no longer seeing the world for its blue-tinted skies but instead drowned in the darkness of their mind. Continuing ‘I wanna find a place where I can’t be in my head’ , Love Ghost yearn to be freed from the shackles inside of them, desperate for an exit from the never-ending stream of bad energy their mind continues to forge. Though the world fails to offer them a much-needed escape, lyrics like ‘I haven’t slept for three days, I’m always uncomfortable so I’ll make a new world in my head’ focus on transporting them elsewhere, creating a safe-place to go when the world’s torment becomes too much to bear. As the song closes out with the hard-hitting line ‘please don’t give up now’, Love Ghost seem to sing to both themselves and their audience listening along, urging anyone in a similar place to keep on living and make it through. With a mass of thought-provoking lines and an achingly real resonance of what it feels like to go through the burdens of mental health issues alone, ‘Human Error 404’ is a song you’ll both want to scream along with and hurt for all the same.

Check out ‘Human Error 404’ here to appreciate the hard-hitting lyrical lines and edgy soundscape Love Ghost have to offer.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

The husband and wife indie-folk duo Ghost Prom hail from New York, mesmerising audiences since their 2021 debut. With a few years since their last offering, the pair have since spent a rainy morning inside of barn studio down the road from their Hudson Valley home, penning what we now know as their new single ‘5am.’ With two years of refinement and hard-work, it’s never been a better time to spare Cameron and Eden a moment of your time to fall in love with their growing catalogue of creations.

With an alternative-country twang and a loose soft rock edging, Ghost Prom have created a western feeling melancholic serenade within ‘5am’, taking you on a journey through muted and mellow interwoven instrumentals that lightly set a bedding for you to wrap and warm yourself inside of. Led in with thudding drum beats and eccentric guitar twangs that resonate out into the soundscape with a poignantly fitting depth, ‘5am’ atmospherically layers sounds from the get-go with a rich and delicate front while still pertaining a deep and impactful backing that rings out with a great strength. Simmering as the first verse commences, Ghost Prom relax into steady subdued drum beats and a carefully picked, looping guitar riff, setting the stage for an intimate lyrical delivery to unfold through their vocalist’s heavy-hearted words. The chorus collapses into more of a rising instrumental moment, haunting through rich guitar strums, pounding beats and backing vocals that almost seem to harmonise with Cameron behind every word, with Eden’s stirring range that adds an even more agile and intimate air to the release’s glowing sound. Continuing to unfold through this washed-out, hazy soundscape, Ghost Prom have surrendered a release soaked in the most captivating of sounds.

Lyrically drenched with raw and personal confessions, Ghost Prom heart-wrenchingly explore through the complexities of addiction in candid ways many would shy away from. Consumed by the weight of their battle; working through trauma that led to their dark path; smothering thoughts of self-doubt and of course the eventual surrender to recovery and healing, ‘5am’ seeps out like a patchwork of sprawling diary entries entangled within moments of hope and moments of relapse. From the opening setting of the scene, Ghost Prom sing ‘it’s 5am and the fog rolls in, and my hand shakes like a young man with a gun’, a painfully painted picture of their withdrawal that aptly explores both their fear and lack of control over their body. Continuing with the line ‘last cigarette and it trembles away’ , Ghost Prom almost seem to leave you with a multifaceted interpretation of their words, almost feeling double-edged in how the cigarette either takes the edge off or exacerbates their growing dependance tenfold. The chorus attempts to shift gears, revealing that ‘I told you that I would change, and I must’ve told you that a thousand ways but I swear that this time it is different in my mind’, perhaps both a self convincing announcement as well as for those around them. Seeking to turn things around, ‘5am’ journeys through both the light and dark of addiction as well as the greys that are often unseen, tackling thoughts that many would prefer to bury than share. But reminding everyone struggling through their own path of addiction that it’s more of a fuzzy trek than clear sailing, Ghost Prom look to share an insight into an inconsistent pattern of recovery and relapse, as well as the motivation to finally get through to the other side.

Check out ‘5am’ here to soar through the tender sound of Ghost Prom and their truthfully real lyrical journey.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

Sharing with the world their third ever single, the husband and wife duo Grace & Moji delve back into their staple acoustic indie folk-pop stylings for a heart-wrenching new adventure called ‘Tipping Point.’ Following their other well received debuts, this Los Angeles based pair have already found themselves resonating with audiences far and wide, enchanting those who listen with their deeply original sound.

Commencing through an atmosphere that’s just as tender as the pages of a diary, ‘Tipping Point’ embraces both warmth and emptiness in its tender sound, feeling familiarly pained in an all-too-human fashion. From the gentle acoustic guitar riff that leads things in, the bright chimes of each note ring out into the vast space accompanied only by Moji’s floating vocals that are drenched in a soft, echoey reverb made to feel utterly dreamy. Soon things shift to Grace’s vocals, adding an always emotional element to their releases as it’s almost as though their words shift perspectives between two voices, all the while whirring background hums add a glow to the background too. The chorus interweaves layers upon layers of gentle instruments that when brought together deliver their own powerful height of raw feeling, gliding through guitar strums; a vibrant electric guitar riff; heavy vocal reverb and overlapping, harmonised voices between the pair, serenading you through the most hair-raising, impactful depth of sound. There’s truly no one else that does it like Grace & Moji, as they continue crafting sounds that so expertly inweave a multitude of sounds, sensitive vocals and poignant lyrics into something you’ve never heard done before - and ‘Tipping Point’ is the perfect new addition to their growing discography of similarly masterful releases.

As the lyrics offer a story that’s just as heartbreaking as the sound, Grace & Moji speak of the precarious moment where a relationship teeters on the brink of unrecoverable collapse, yet still those in it cling to their hope, love, and resilience to guide them through the rocky waves. Lead in with Moji singing ‘she’s been open and honest, brutally honest, she’s been paranoid and all annoyed, waiting for the tipping point’, the track immediately establishes the severity of their growing resentments, from her growing distance to his hinting distaste towards her honesty. As Grace continues that ‘I’ve gotten used to talking to myself’, it’s clear the grand rift between them is only going to keep pushing them further and further apart, encouraging they no longer find security and safety in one another. Guilt and shame seems to seep through the lines too, as Grace shares ‘you look at me, I can’t look at you’, an impossible predicament that’s weighing them both down the longer it continues unmanaged. Spilling through with regretful hindsight, Moji sings ‘I should’ve known better, should’ve listened closer, should’ve seen the signs’ , an admission that at times a relationship can become so comfortable it’s no longer nurtured, not paying attention to the smaller details as things fall into routine. Yet the choruses hook holds an impenetrable hope, shining like a beacon of light in the dark the two lovers collide, singing ‘we’re waiting for the tipping point, on the verge of falling, so hold onto me darling ‘cause I’m not letting go if you’re not letting go.’ As they join together in a harmony that cannot be broken by their issues, ‘Tipping Point’ reminds that even in the darkest times your lover is your partner and your other half, a person who should be willing to fight through it all to continue the love you share.

Check out ‘Tipping Point’ here to appreciate the true depth of Grace & Moji’s sound, as well as the thoughtful undertones of their carefully crafted words.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

Steadily building a devoted fan base and attracting critical acclaim, the up-coming act about-faces have been basking in the appreciation for their debut single ‘Under The Sun’, a highly-well received first hit. Atop of these great heights, the five-piece have also been met with a series of great achievements that include being featured on BBC Leeds, gracing the stage at the 'By The Sea' Festival selected by BBC Introducing, and being recognised as Danielle Perry's self-released artist of the month throughout August. Their newest single ‘The River’ looks to continue their growing momentum, offering a tune that you’ll never get out your head once you press play.

Atmospherically leading in with a glowing, simmering base of sounds, ‘The River’ finds itself flowing through enchanting electric guitar strums and harmonised opening vocals between their lead Sennen and the ethereal backing vocals of Danielle. This haunting intimacy is cut short with a propulsion of spirits though, fading out of Danielle’s added vocals and instead pounding along through added drum beats and guitar strums growing right in front of your eyes from a small seed to a flourishing flower of beauty. The chorus even further pushes this anthemic feeling sound, carrying with it a freeing sense of escapism that takes you on a journey without having to physically travel anywhere. Enclasped in crashing drum beats; backing vocal ‘ooh’s that add a vastness to the sound; bass twangs and continued emphatic guitar. Sizzling out to the second verse, ‘The River’ shifts into resonant bass, continued drum beats and the occasional gritty guitar strum before things once again rise for a climactic height made all the more powerful with the addition of a vibrant electric guitar riff. From here on, ‘The River’ only becomes more and more dominant in what it has to offer, delivering you the musical equivalent of standing on a mountain above the clouds without a care in the world.

Basking in a serenade of sorts, about-faces use ‘The River’ to spill out romanticised lyricism towards living life itself, an appreciation for the world around us and our limited days. Escaping to the country, ‘The River’ came about from a grounding experience that brought frontman Sennen back down to his roots, looking outside and cherishing the beauty in every moment and every day. As a picturesque scene sets the tone from the get-go, Sennen sings ‘there’s a rope swing, where the birds sing’, a simplistic acknowledgement of something that can be found in the day-to-day and yet the beauty transcends its monetary worth. Continuing that he’s ‘been sunkissed by our biggest star’ , the lyrical depths of ‘The River’ look to adore not just what’s close-by, but the entire galaxy that surrounds us and keeps our planet spinning. With the chorus hook ringing out as a reminder, about-faces preach that ‘I wanna hear you say that life’s for living, and the end is only a lifetime away’, pushing you not to take your time for granted in this life that we only get to live out once. But with an intangible amount of days in our future, they’re here to remind you that you can still look around and find casual magic in the scenes we often pass by every day. Cramming every second possible into their day, the infectious freedom of ‘The River’ shines through every word, making the most of any and all experiences they can get their hands on: ‘we’ll be roaming the fields till the day turns dark.’ Spanning biographical experiences from testing fears; driving fast on old lanes; bathing in the sun and staring at the stars, this wholesome release is one that’ll pick you up and bring you back into the light as an anthem to remember what there still is to experience out there for the taking, even on those darker days.

Check out ‘The River’ here to shift your mindset and find treasure in every single day.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown