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The Point. Soft Skies Inc.
The Philadelphia duo Soft Skies Inc. finds itself on this blog once more after two singles in 2024. With The Point the needle is once again directed at the 1980s. The darker side of that decade is somehow mixed with the electronic pop a duo like Petshop Boys made at the time, think 'West End Girls' or 'Suburbia'. Soft Skies Inc., twins Martin and Ryan Rex, know their way around the electric guitar as well and do not mind showing it to us, with strong accents and riffs all over the more electronic background. The result is a rocking danceable track that works in different circumstances.
One thing is certain, The Clockworks' 'Exit Strategy' was not completed successfully, as the band signed a contract with V2 instead of leaving the music industry. Is the world the better for it? Let's first take one step back. I even bought 'Exit Strategy' in 2023 but found that the album did not really stick and disappeared into that wall of music. That does not equal not being interested in hearing new work. With Through The Looking Glass that new work is there. The single starts with just singer James McGregor and a church organ. Slowly but surely the track becomes more urgent, it feels faster, like it's speeding up. That feel is expanded on when after one minute the drums come in. Connotations of The Killers and The War on Drugs present themselves, yet Through The Looking Glass is strong enough to stand its own ground. The Clockworks presents itself as it should, working towards the release of its second album, 'The Entertainment', slated for March 2026.
Little Something. Fit
Post punk from Utrecht. Fit announced a prestigious show at Eurosonic next month and released Little Something to celebrate. Little Something has the kind of urgency a young new band should have. Listening to the song, it is quite clear where Fit has found its mustard. The first two albums of Maxïmo Park gives enough of a hint. Singer Ide Ploeg's voice has the same sort of diction Paul Smith's has and the rhythm of Little Something underscores the similarity. That is totally fine by the way, If Fit ever manages to make a song as exciting as 'Apply Some Pressure' I will stand cheering for the whole of the way. For now, I'm enjoying the extra sounds the band blends into the song. The lead guitar and the keyboard in the outro! Last spring it seems I never got around to the debut EP 'Miracles Might Happen'. It's time to catch up.
And now for some more noise. I have heard the name The Hickey Underworld before but could not place the band. It is from Antwerp and around since the mid-00s. According to Wikipedia it's last album is from 2015. Today there's a single and settles quite nicely somewhere between alternative rock and punk rock. Singer Younes Faltakh has a nice rough edge to his voice, making him sound very convincing for the music the band makes. My personal reference, The Strokes when it made relevant music, as in the first seven, eight songs on 'Is This It?' and 'Juice Box'. Euromancer has the energy a song like this needs and combines it with a joyful exuberance a strong melody brings offers. The lead guitar that keeps playing this bouncing riff, supported by a strong bass and drums. Great single in other words.
Joy Buzzer is not a person but a band from NYC. It is compared to no other than Fountains of Wayne. Should it be true, that demands listening, at least once. After giving the song a chance, I'll allow the comparison, as long as singing is excluded. Singer Kevin Lydon's voice is far rougher but works in the context of If You Can Forgive Me. Just like FoW Joy Buzzer manages to bring together a host of influences into just two and a half minute and make them all sound extremely nice and interesting. This song is loaded with ideas, tricks and fun stuff that make it extremely good to listen to. I'm up for more in the future.
I am not sure what to make of Hot Mess, but the track does get me into its groove. In the bio the word soul is used to describe the music in combination with indierock. What it makes me think of most is 'Everywhere', one of Fleetwood Mac's biggest hits, in a version in which Lindsey Bucking ham got a total free reign to work on the rhythm and his guitar extravaganzas LuxJury is London based duo singer/guitarist Nicole ‘Lux’ Fermie and drummer Howey Gill This is their first single after signing a contract and they are working on their debut album slated for somewhere next year. Like 'Everywhere' Hot Mess hovers somewhere between boring and awe. (See my opening line.) 'Everywhere' may be the better song, being around for nearly three decades helps here, Hot Mess will prove its mettle soon.
Boise, Idaho? That is not your average town to have a band from on this blog. Eileen Jewell pops up when I searched. And now there's Mylo Bybee. The band formed in 2020 and consist of Tyler Schlagenhauf (Vox/Guitar), Tony Caruso (Bass) Jason Guadalupe (Drums) Tim Fahlen (Guitar). Producer Wes Schlagenhauf played some bass also. Put on Time Machine and you will find a familiar sound somewhere between alternative rock and indie. Light sounding guitars play a clean rhythm. Lead notes sound like ringing a bell. The band rocks out for sure but without running the gauntlet in any way. Mylo Bybee scores with its melodies and brightness. With the EP 'Revisions' coming up, there is something to look out for as well. Time Machine is a real nice introduction to Mylo Bybee.
Next up is Dutch singer Pitou. With Pirate she delivers a new single. It has a jazzy vibe mixed with an indie background. Pirate is a song where Pitou invites you to listen to, just a little bit more than the average track does. I can imagine that putting this song on in the background may even be irritating, while with full attention given to Pirate, beauty oozes from the speakers. With 'Big Tear' in 2023 she received two reviews on this blog and also previous single 'Too Good To Go' found itself on this blog. On 27 March 'P2' will see the light of day. For now, Pitou's fans are more than serviced with the emotional Pirate. The coda takes on a life of its own as you will find.
Another Dutch female singer, but if you think Pitou is a bit theatrical, wait till you hear Daisy Bellis. Etna is best known as a volcano and to older Dutch people as an gas-fired oven. Should it have been Edna, the title? as Etna in the opening of the song is told she's going to pay, it sort of looks like it should. Daisy Bellis makes me think of Elenne May with a far bigger production, which provides the song with an international allure. Etna has a great rhythm and, yes, there is a little Kate Bush in there, as in 'Running Up That Hill'. Over it, the song is spread out in different ways, making the songs have several surprising turns and twists. Vocally, I have the impression Daisy Bellis is not going full out yet or ran into her vocal limitations, making her cautious to let go. In the moments where true mad vocals could have been possible she shies away from them. That said, Etna is a great single and introduction to Daisy Bellis.
We end this week with the third Dutch singer in a row. M. Lucky made her debut on this blog thanks to Erwin Zijleman in 2023 when he praised her album 'Gentlewoman' no little. It passed me by at the time, not this new single, Gone. It is a very dreamy track with bass synth sounds that keep the listener on his/her toes. M. Lucky or Marcia Savelkoul, sings with a slightly high voice in a dreamy way. The music fully reflects this, but as I already wrote with these injections that make the song somewhat different from other dreamy songs. She's working with producer Pieterjan Coppejans (Eefje de Visser) on a new album, that we can expect sometime next year. If Gone is anything to go by, it will be an electric album with the organic voice of M. Lucky. Gone is quite nice and makes we want to hear more, please.
Wout de Natris - van der Borght
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