As the days slowly grow longer and warmer, spring even seems like it could be around the corner. This week’s collection of tracks balance the darkness of winter, with wintery folk bliss from The Fruit Bats, and a dark reimagining from Falling In Reverse, to brighter offerings from Tayo Sound and Bru-C. Read below for The Mic’s thoughts on these, and more.
‘Big Bang’ – Cherry Glazerr
Californian grunge-rock trio Cherry Glazerr have returned with an eerie emo-influenced track in Big Bang, their first single of the year. The band have grown into a prominent position within the west-coast grunge revival, and Big Bang experiments slightly from their previous work. The track opens with a military drum sound alongside a simple acoustic guitar lick, with a quiet yet menacing synth sound building in the background. A spectacle of lead singer Clementine Creevy’s voice, it drifts from intimately gentle in the verses to her recognizable shout-singing in the choruses. Combining the melodic strings in the chorus, with Creevy’s angsty lyrics of “I don't wanna make you my lifeline / Love, I don't wanna make you mine,” and a reduced amount of heavily distorted guitar, Big Bang proves the versatility of the punk scene in the 2020s. Cherry Glazerr’s sound has matured since their grunge-fest debut Papa Cremp, and this track is a gorgeous manifestation of their developments as a band. For fans of Wolf Alice, Girlpool, and Cloud Nothings. Rebecca Hyde
‘Runaway’ – Tayo Sound
Having fast made a name for himself with his delicious blend of woozy, melancholic vocals and soft, guitar-driven hooks, bedroom pop star Tayo Sound has gone from strength to strength over the past six months. The namesake for Tayo Sound’s new EP, single Runaway features alongside previous breakthrough hits Cold Feet and Gone, again showcasing a remarkable level of songwriting skill from the teen sensation. With infectiously catchy, no-frills choruses, and a warm, natural likability about the man himself, it’s little surprise that Tayo has been hailed as Reading’s answer to Rex Orange County. This isn’t the first time The Mic has put the spotlight on Tayo, and should the young singer-songwriter continue in this vein, it certainly won’t be the last. Tristan Phipps
‘I'm Not A Vampire (Revamped)’ – Falling In Reverse
Ten years since fan-favorite The Drug in Me Is You sat pride of place in the playlist of every 2000s teenager, Ronnie Radke has breathed new life into one of the album’s most successful tracks I'm Not A Vampire. Replacing the classic emo guitars and playful ad-libs, the track swells with orchestral offerings and atmospheric piano embellishment, slowing the pace entirely. This version comes complete with a new music video, reminiscent in places of Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. Having infamously served jail time and being no stranger to controversy in general, Radke hopes to offer fans a new perspective on his entire creative process, and who he is as a person, through the re-imagining of the track, but it would seem that it was never a phase, mum. Louise Dugan
‘Take Control’ – Bru-C
Nottingham bass icon Bru-C doesn’t do days off. After albums in 2019 and 2020, Bru-C has flown into 2021 with bouncy new single Take Control. With frequent collaborator and bass stalwart Shapes on production, Take Control is yet another example of Bru-C’s growing versatility. Unlike more recent drum and bass projects from the MC, the new single boasts an uplifting, contagious garage inspired hook, proving a perfect backdrop for Bru-C’s playful and witty lyrics. Infectiously catchy and pleasantly uplifting, his latest effort marks a wholly positive start to 2021 for Bru-C. Tristan Phipps
‘The Balcony’ – Fruit Bats
If you, like many of us, are in need of a warm drink by the fireside, or maybe a good hug, but due to lack of a fireplace or the social distancing guidelines, such a thing is unavailable, Fruit Bats’ slow release of new singles in the lead up to their next album, The Pet Parade, should do the job. After re-grouping and signing under indie-folk aficionados Merge records (The Mountain Goats, Waxahatchee, Destroyer) only two years ago, the band has been bringing out a relentless stream of gorgeous, warming folk music, and The Balcony fits in perfectly. With their usual Blakean adoration and mysticism for nature in their lyrics in full swing, The Balcony calls out to the transitional period between winter and spring, “Once again the winter’s gone, But still chilling your veins,” which we find ourselves on the edge of, as the ground remains frosty but snowdrops attempt to push through. The most comforting section of the track comes in the last few seconds, as the guitars and drums fade away to a melodic layered horns section. Fruit Bats still have a lot to say for themselves, and this track is a welcome reminder of the homely familiarity of folk music. The Balcony sets a promising stage for the rest of the album, which is set for release in March. Rebecca Hyde
‘Baitest Sound’ – Capo Lee, Frisco, JME, Shorty
An ode to the ever-flourishing grime scene of North London, hot prospect Capo Lee joins forces with the long-established JME, Shorty, and Frisco, in a crisp and uplifting affair sure to get heads nodding. Unlike the age-old adage claims, too many cooks certainly don’t spoil the broth, as each rapper displays individual flair and style to perfection, while simultaneously maintaining tight chemistry to keep the listener hooked. On the whole, the track offers supreme cohesion, from Frisco’s offbeat chorus to Shorty’s self-love inspired verse. Personally, I find JME offers the tightest feature on the single, delivering punch-lines with the same impressive, iconic rawness that gave him his platform in the 00s. With the collaborative album, Norf Face out on the 5th March, Baitest Sound has certainly succeeded in drumming up hype ahead of the long-awaited album’s release. Tristan Phipps
Edited by: Louise Dugan
Featured image courtesy of Cherry Glazerr via Facebook. Article image courtesy of Tayo Sound via Facebook.
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