Dark Roses. Donna Blue
Is it two years since Donna Blue released a new song? Two years into the pandemic I have to conclude that this is exactly the case. Two years without too many live shows as well and not only for me but for the people who have to make a living out of (servicing) performing. In March 2020 Donna Blue had to move out of the US as fast as possible, having just started a mini tour there.
The first song in two years surprised me as much as the first single did, several years ago. Where's Danique? A male vocal is addressing me and I am sort of shocked. This is not what I want to hear, was my first reaction. Not noticing the 60s yeah yeah pop going on in the background. Bart van Dalen takes the lead in Dark Roses singing from an obvious male perspective about "the girl with the golden crown". The song contains all the elements that make Donna Blue's music so intriguing. The mystery, the sound from the 1960s, the longing for something that is not there. I will not deny that I like Danique's voice better but Dark Roses is a nice addition to the repertoire of this fairly unique band. Donna Blue will tour this spring throughout the country, including my hometown, so be on the lookout for them.
Jane Willow releases a new single from her debut album, the title track. The album received a positive review and made it to my favourite albums of 2021 list. Burn So Bright is a beautiful ballad. The piano carries the song with behind it Jane Willow's acoustic guitar. The beauty comes in the extra's. Her voice sings all the right notes, carries not only the melody but especially the mood of the song. Slightly melancholy, with a lot of longing for someone who appears out of reach, not seeing what is obvious to hear for us as listeners. She may sing that she has to turn away, but someone is also not seeing "what you mean to me". The violin and cello add the second layer of beauty. Without ever overdoing it for a second, which would take away from the power of the song, they embellish Burn So Bright in a way that makes the song shine so bright. Who takes this song to Dutch radio? It deserves a spot there.
Hits To The Head, Franz Ferdinand's upcoming greatest hits record, contains two new songs. Curious is the second song to be released as a single preceding the album. Where 'Billy Goodbye' showed all the exuberance one is allowed to expect from the band, Curious is a more subdued affair, if I take Franz Ferdinand's standard for exuberance that is. Not everything is accented to the max. My guess is that it is a leftover left on the shelf because there were better alternatives at the time. This makes it an average song in the band's repertoire. The good side to this account is of course that an average song by this band is always worth more than that of many other bands, let alone its contemporaries. Upbeat melancholy is the description for Curious. It downsizes the party potential of the song. The listening experience remains fully intact.
Alternative rock can't be called an exclusive U.S. or U.K. affair any longer. The records coming out of the Netherlands and Germany the last few years very obviously compete with the best coming out the English language countries. Even Spain has great garage rock bands these days. Drens is releasing records for some years but is a new name to me. The Dortmund based band releases a single with a great name but with a message people should not heed if we want to keep them open. "I don't wanna go to the record store"? What kind of message is that for a band? I know its 2022, times have changed. Record Store is an oh so nice rock song, with guitars going fully at it in the best Nirvana tradition. The build up sounds very familiar as well. Drums and bass in the verses with a few guitar notes here and there, before the whole band comes in full force for the chorus. You know how it works and so does Drens.
Let's tone down a bit with this perfectly dreamy song. Revolution Above Disorder is the vehicle under which Dublin originating Vancouverite Steven Nicholas White releases his new work. Scream Quietly originally is by the band Television Personalities. Not long ago Fire Records re-released some of its albums. You can find a review on this blog. Scream Quietly in everything sounds like it originates from long ago, like a call from the past reaching me anyway. The music can bring me in a trance as well, making the impression of things past even more apparent. At the same time it's great. Hints of Tubeway Army mixed with a real guitar and bass come across. I just love how the song pushes on and on and on. The little organ coming in with a few notes. White sings with a dreamy, soft voice heightening the experience. This is one of the nicest singles I have heard in a long time.
A new band with its first single. Seb Zukini is a band from Emmen in the northeast of the Netherlands. Reap What You Sow is the kind of alternative rocksong that goes down well on this blog. In its debut single the band mixes a pop melody with the right kind of dynamics and the bluster of rock guitars. More Go Back to the Zoo than Global Charming the band plays the kind of rock music that is instantly pleasing. Having listened to the song several times, I can't help noticing that everything in the single seems to be in its right place, without losing anything of its urgency. Just listen to how the guitars kick in to announce the chorus. The singer has the right kind of rough edge to his voice making his singing totally convincing for the music. This is exactly what Reap What You Sow does. For a first single it is extremely convincing and promising. Let's not forget that.
PTSD is as dark a song as the title suggests to you. "It's the frightening world, PTSD", Jenn Vix sings. With her new song she reflects on being diagnosed and living a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and on the pandemic and all that came with, for herself and the people around her. Musically, PTSD is an electronic track. The beats were provided by Mister Lazy. Dark and rumbling, as if under a layer of blankets they prop up the song accompanied by synth sounds swooshing in and out. Over the electronics is a strummed electric guitar played by Feehey. Vix sings in a dark register, giving credence to PTSD. The harmony vocal is far higher but also more despondent. Some of the fright caused by that frightening world comes through. If you expect some light to shine through in this song, you better look elsewhere, e.g. Jenn Vix's other single 'Shoplifting In Summertime'. Expect a grey, overcast sky as well though here.
Yes. I'll admit it. I had nearly forgotten about Moss. When did I put on one of its records for the last time? It might be in 2018, a year after its last album was released. Despite all the good albums and nice shows, the band sort of drifted from my to listen to list. Today the change has come. With Before It's Gone Moss returns as a six piece band and as strong as ever. This single contains what Moss is good at. Playing an ultimate alternative pop song that has a great pop feel, while rocking enough to be totally credible, and over it all this a little bit of electronics making the song different enough. The dynamics are taken care of as well. Bass and drums are the larger part of the first part of the song before the instrumental intro returns as an interlude. Over it all the electronics are sprinkled adding a little magic. The drive the drums provide makes it a wrap. Five years was a too long wait for me to keep Moss on the edge of my musical consciousness. With Before It's Gone the band is back and how. I can't wait to hear more.
Another record that is released today, that is at the time of writing, is Tramhaus' second single and the other half of the vinyl single also released today. In other words a double A-side. Viewing the ESNS video on the band, it appears that most in the band play an instrument they never played before and that includes the singer. Just listen to Karen Is A Punk to listen what musicians can achieve despite that. Karen Is A Punk has that same going against the grain like the previous single 'I Don't Sweat' has in it. Those notes that almost do not fit and yet give the music one part of its energy. The other part is going fully at it. Unleashing all the energy Tramhaus holds within it. I'm just glad I'm not in the rehearsing venue with them. An earsplitting experience that will be. 2020s punk? It exists and Tramhaus' new single proves it to the world. I am nearly certain the band will be noticed on a global level. In niche circles most likely, but around the globe it will be. It's simply that good.
The final single this week is the total opposite of Tramhaus' noise eruption. Homey is an acoustic, dark sounding guitar, softly strummed over which a somewhat hoarse voice sings between soft and normal. Singer-songwriter without any intricate guitar patterns. This is as basic as it comes. Also, two minutes and Homey is all over. Lo/Now is Wolvon frontman Ike de Zeeuw who has taken his music back to the bare minimum. Listen to the song and you will hear familiar references. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy certainly is a reference for example. This takes nothing away from the power of Homey itself. It's the kind of song that despite being totally boned out to its most elementary, one man and his guitar and a microphone capturing the music, captures me as well. Sometimes it takes nothing else to impress. I'm even sure that I can play this with ease. "I'm nearly here, I'm brittle like a ghost", De Zeeuw sings. It seems he's got it wrong, he's here all right, far from brittle and all but a ghost.
Wout de Natris
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