Mastria

Just because nothing has changed around a room, it suddenly seems bigger than it is and quieter as well. I feel that under Allan Jamisen's "Milk & Honey" from the opening bars, before the song fully begins. This song creates that feeling in an easy way without trying too hard. The song starts softly, with the guitar and gentle electronic elements blending in the background. That slow start works well, and it takes a while for the voice to come in. There is no hurry or pressure. The music seems to be inviting you in, rather than asking for your attention. When the voices come in together, the thing that stands out is how comforting they feel. It is not a performance meant to impress you. The lyrics are about returning to a place that you know and finding that it is not quite what you remembered. I believe many people have experienced some version of this, but have not always put their feelings into words. Listening to the song about that feeling, I could see that feeli...

Suddenly everyone is silent and someone says the thing everyone didn't want to say. That feeling is at the heart of Cheryl Craigie’s version of "What's Going On," the song Marvin Gaye first shared with the world in the seventies. It begins with a question that is still familiar today. Her voice is not loud or overpowering the song or trying to make a statement. It seems natural and relaxed, as if she's talking to someone and not performing for them. That honesty is what makes you click in before you really absorb the meaning of the words. It's the fact that she creates it all on her own. The sound of her voice and the music around her are all from one person. That makes the song feel more intimate, like someone's softly exploring their thoughts rather than being carefully built in a studio. It's a hard decision to make to record a song as popular as this one. Marvin Gaye's original has a lot of meaning for many already, and many people know what it...

The "boo hoo" part is a surprise the first time you hear it. It should sound like a joke, kind of, but it isn't. That left me sitting with a contradiction for a while after the song was over. “That There Is Our Problem” by Paul Garside is not what I'd been expecting when I picked the song. I'd imagined it to be about a couple that was breaking up in some normal way. It instead becomes something different, a man who is in competition with God for someone's love, and it somehow works. There's a lot of pounding of the guitar here, but it's not rushed and instead gives each note time before the next one appears. The pacing doesn't seem rushed at all. It only plays out the way a person speaks when they are finally being true to themselves about something painful. The memory that remains with me is the change in the singing halfway through. It sounds more like frustration, especially in the beginning, as if someone is simply reacting in the moment. Then ...

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...