Recommended Music

New Music From The Inbox – Monday Edition! (Jan 14, 2019): Thelma, White Lies, Sister Sparrow, and more!

Artist: Thelma

Song: “Take Me To Orlando”

Album/EP: The Only Thing

Fluid and pleasant art-rock built firmly upon the shoulders of Thelma’s consecutively breathy and full vocals, “Take Me To Orlando” slowly rolls organic instrumentals into a wash of strings, synths, and moody brass. But oh the vocals – the emotive playfulness walks the razor’s edge of uncanny vs. unsettling, really elevating this tune to a memorable performance.

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Artist: White Lies

Song: “Tokyo”

Album/EP: Five

Grandiose indie pop built upon an epic sweeping chorus and booming baritone lead vocals, “Tokyo” plays like a biblical, stadium-filling anthem meant to instill the same bittersweet reflectiveness as larger-than-life radio ballads like Bastille’s “Pompeii” (and coincidentally, is also named after a city). The backing choral-like synths and driving pace especially add to the song’s air of determination.

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Artist: Sister Sparrow

Song: “Gold”

Album/EP: Single

A swinging and jazzy tune fronted by a brisk and bright vocal performance (noticing a pattern this week?), “Gold” comes straight from praying at the altar of big band proclamation rock. Brassy hits, joyful piano, and of course that thick punchy bass provide quite the sermon from Sister Sparrow.

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Artist: Pink Orange Red

Song: “Rollercoaster”

Album/EP: Firelights

Thank god for side projects! Phillip Tubbs of ambient pop outfit Cigarettes After Sex provides new music under the new moniker Pink Orange Red, and the sepia-toned indie pop fling “Rollercoaster” is the newest single from that project. Dialling up the melodic effects from the main band’s usual offerings, Tubbs’ warm vocals, sinuous synths, and grooving backline set a welcome stage for the upcoming EP.

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Artist: Big Wild

Song: “City of Sound”

Album/EP: Superdream

Airy and funky pop chock-full of falsettos and plenty of opportunity for two stepping and disco finger, “City of Sound” is a modern metropolitan dance tune fit for its title. Neon-bright production and a spunky syncopated guitar riff bring it all together in the irresistibly catchy single from this Lancaster DJ.

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Mathew Kahansky

Once upon a time, Mat studied journalism. That's how he became Alan's one-time intern and current-time contributor, and the rest is ongoing history - get it? Mat also studied biology and music, so he has a strangely specific knowledge set that doesn't really apply anywhere other than useless fun facts. He currently works for a music tech start-up in Halifax, and is a big fan of the em dash.

Mathew Kahansky has 297 posts and counting. See all posts by Mathew Kahansky

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