Mastria

This record is felt prior to it being heard. It begins as a rumbling in your chest like a train going off to a distant place in the dark. The music comes first, your mind comes second. The first song is titled "Cruel Wind" and it hits the target right on the head. No slow build at all. The guitar sounds immediately as soon as it is delivered, and the singing is authentic and lived-in. It never sounds like somebody is acting. Once the chorus begins, the voice opens up in an honest way, like so many feelings have been suppressed and are now coming out. The title track “Midnight Train” gets the vibe going a bit differently, yet still energetic. It exudes confidence in classic rock without being overpowering. The chorus remains in your memory after it's finished. There's also a calm sadness to it, though. The song is in a state of being torn between forward motion and clinging to what's being left behind. "Keep Me Hanging On" takes things in a different dire...

The New Citizen Kane's EP FREE to FEEL reminds me of a city at night, just after the rain has stopped. The lights still shine on the streets, and it's a quiet kind of life that's going on. Not a single point appears to be at rest. It's the same feeling throughout the entire EP, you feel it before you know why. It starts with "Dream Logic" which has a strong, steady beat that is kind of like a push to stop overthinking. Their vocals remain cool and confident and the music sounds somewhat like an older synth sound, but it doesn't sound like it's trying to be a relic of the past. It's new, yet still retains that style. Next comes “Metallic” and the music takes a different turn. This was the one song that stuck with me the most as it doesn't try to explain itself. It just keeps going with a certain assurance and a little adventure. It relies on you to follow along and it feels open and free. I was taken aback by the song "Into My Heart," ...

Now suppose you are driving on a long road as the sun begins to set. Windows are open and the surroundings are peaceful and cozy. The attitude DownTown Mystic brings to Mystic Highway Road Trip is that one. It does not fade out of your mind and you can hear it throughout the entire record. Each song contributes to the same comfortable vibe. The first track, “Superstar, To Sir Elton with Love Mix,” doesn't let up. It has lots of zip and maintains it throughout. The song is very forward, immediately drawing your attention. It makes you feel more conscious, as if it's telling you to abandon all else and have fun. Then, "Live" goes something different. It starts gently and more reverently before it gets bigger and bigger. The chorus is where the emotion grows. Robert Allen's voice is sincere. It is as if he believes everything he says, rather than just singing the song. “Losing My Mind” continues to build on that feeling. The music is always taut and propels itself fo...

Imagine a vintage video shop at night. The shelves are softly lit with blue and pink light, a TV is playing static, and nobody is watching. That's the world that VHS PANTY RIOT creates with the debut EP, "KISS KISS CUT CUT🔪" Five songs that feel like the soundtrack to an unmade movie. The opening track, "You're Pretty When You Panic", gets started right away. The beat keeps moving, but it feels nervous, like there's something behind you but you don't want to look around. No vocals, but the music speaks for itself. “I Smile You Scream” combines two conflicting emotions. The song is light and somewhat cheerful, but there is a colder, more driving force pushing it forward. What stuck with me was that contrast. It's a real smile that feels almost fake. “Heaven Sent Me a Psycho” dives even deeper into that uncomfortable sensation. The tension and quietness come back in for a moment halfway through. Then it returns with even more force. It's the t...

Imagine a quiet road, with soft yellow streetlights, no sounds other than yours, and a silence that feels almost endless. This is how New Sunday evokes this feeling in “The Empty Street”. It's like a love song composed on a night of sleeplessness, carrying the emotions of that night long after it ended. I was struck with the ease of everything sounding. It's soft guitar and a voice that says exactly what it needs to say. Nothing feels rushed. It doesn't need to impress you. It simply sits next to you, and gradually starts to tell its tale. The vocalist’s voice is measured, as if the words were purposefully selected. It does not sound uncertain. It's as though she's carefully holding onto every emotion. It's a quiet control that speaks more than any big moment. It makes the song feel honest. The song slowly builds as it goes. The emotion doesn't suddenly become strong, but it's building under the surface. A subtle blend of wistfulness and melancholy. It...

Imagine the night sky fading out above with the lights of a city slowly fading below. Things begin to calm down as the plane ascends into the night and goes higher. “Flight 69” is that feeling that R3tro Riq brings. It seems the world shrinks down to just two as the engines' hum surrounds them. What grabs you first is how easy the whole thing sounds. The first was how relaxed they felt. The beat never rushes and the bass never leaves it behind. It's like a heartbeat that is never far away but you can almost forget it's there. The song is very laid back, although there is still a growing sense of energy. My favorite part was the vocals. His voice is gentle, like he's singing to one person rather than a group. It feels like he wants to reach out to someone. It's as if he is sharing something with the other person, something that belongs to the two of them in the song. As the song continues, the layers are added in a natural and smooth way. The different vocal tones bl...

Nashville Exile, “Sing Our Song” was a song that caught me off guard. The bit of chatter at the beginning of the video pulls you right into their world like you're standing in the room with them, and then it's just music. It's quite warm in this one. The vocals are clean and raw with no polish, no affectation. They're not just singing for fun, they're singing because they enjoy it. I find the build of the song is what stayed with me most. It begins slowly and gradually increases until it is like a hug at the end, a good hug. The guitar playing is right at the front, never taking centre stage, and when the organ sneaks in later, it changes the whole vibe without you realising when. I began to wonder how few songs about true love there were that didn't sound maudlin. This one does. Relying on simple, sincere feeling rather than dramatic statements. When the song's essence is right, there's no need for anything ostentatious. The video is a plus too. Knowing...

I was impressed the first time I heard Bureau of Change by Tom Minor. This is a song that I wasn't expecting to find myself laughing in the middle of. I unexpectedly found myself smiling at my speakers without a moment's thought. I don't happen to get that very often. The song begins in one style and continues to alternate. First it's an indie rock guitar sound. Then it turns into a bit of Latin. From then on it seems like a two step. I thought it would take on a style, but it doesn't. I think that's what the song is going for. It is like it is poking fun at those who talk about progress and letting everyone else down. I don't normally listen to songs with a message, but this one doesn't feel heavy. It comes across more like a quiet smile than a lecture. I replayed it as I was washing up and caught myself dancing a little while holding a tea towel. That was when I knew the song had stuck with me. It wasn't just another track that I listened to once a...

I was driving home and playing "Planet B" and somehow missed my turn. This doesn't happen to me very often. This track was so well put together by Energy Whores that I lost focus on what I should have been doing. The song is part of Carrie Schoenfeld's project and it feels steady while gradually escalating. It's like a heartbeat that's gradually increasing in speed. It's not trying to be loud or flashy. It slowly develops its case until you begin to see it. I've heard it about six or seven times and I'm noticing something different every time. I can't hear a small sound or notice a change in the rhythm before. It gives you more when you listen to it carefully, and not all songs do. The lyrics are not serious or pushy, which I was not expecting given the topic. The song doesn't say what to think about the planet. It focuses on the idea that there is another option available when there might not be. That was something that stuck with me. The ...

There's a certain level of pain when you hear yourself in a song. Not in an exciting way, but in a subtle, unexpected way. The first time I heard “Part of the Problem,” it did something to me. I did not expect the direct impact that it had. Rumour Den is a Northern Irish duo, having written together for a long time, and that's reflected in the feeling of this track. Nothing is forced. The music has grown around the words, not over them, and you can hear the choice all the way through. It begins with a sort of push or pressure, as if someone is preparing to say something they have been delaying, and then it becomes quieter and more accepting. AJ Gilmore's voice carries it all and doesn't exaggerate it. It's like a voice that has seen a little bit of this world, that's not trying to be a part of it. It's a tale of a man who believed he was doing a favour for somebody and gradually realizes that he was not. He was only holding things back. That realization come...