The Most Exciting Acts to Come out of 2016
Billie Marten – outstanding talent
Billie is a poetess with a rhythmic yet softening voice and the outstanding talent to deliver exquisite and fresh compositions one after an another.
Her summer hit “Lionhearted” was a heartily strummed haunt. Her voice? Icy-cold and a-tremble like a shuddering leaf.
Black Honey – Photo Cedit: Charlotte Patmore
Black Honey have just completed a series of dates [with Slaves] and songs like the smashing brightness of “Hello Today” [pushed along by the cinematic music video] with those shimmering vocals by Izzy Baxter are slightly poppy slash slightly shoe-gaze. Also very 1990s.
It’s as if Blur suddenly had a new girl singer. The result is something that finds itself halfway between The Crystals and The Kinks.
Bonnie Whitmore – Raitt style Americana/Blues
If you’re still searching for Raitt style Americana/Blues then we think we might have found it for you in 2016.
Songs on Bonnie’s album involve studies into the drawn-out dissolution of relationships. Songs such as “Ain’t Waitin’ on Tomorrow” have bruising tar-black fuzz-guitar lines and ardent vocals that stride the creamy organ-notes with their rumbled rhythms.
Fuzzwalker – song-building mastery
If you’re looking for fizzy Brit Rock then Fuzzwalker is the place to come. Their debut EP titled “Continental Breakfast” is a loose-hipped merry sway that reminds us of the British new wave-pop tradition circa late 1970’s.
This young band has the image, sound, and refined ‘n’ elegant song-building mastery that ensures quality presentation and total excitement.
Hannah Peel dreamland for the passionate heart
The Irish singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist [now based in London ] is probably best known as the vocalist and arranger for The Magnetic North. Here her softly whispered lyrics shone as spirals of voice hooped and flumed in ever increasing circles.
Now her synth work and incredible vocals can be experienced in another way – as a solo artist. “Awake But Always Dreaming” — recorded with long-term collaborator Erland Cooper is a dreamland for the passionate heart.
Kagoule – Photo Credit : Elmore
Nottingham’s (UK) Kagoule play wonky guitars with glossy lips of sound that loop in-and-out of the clack and regular poppets of rhythm.
They’re fiercely independent (even do their own artwork) and are now working on album #2
Lets Eat Grandma spooky corners and trembling lashes
Best friends [not sisters] Rosa and Jenny create slightly peculiar psychedelic sludge pop nuggets. We have been listening to “Rapunzel.” It is pure and silvery. With spooky corners and trembling lashes of sound.
If Kate Bush had started-out on her career in the sex-abuse nightmareland of post-Brexit Britain in 2016, this is probably what she would have sounded like.
The Big Moon will send shivers into your bones
London town’s Juliette, Soph, Celia & Fern have released debut album “Love In The 4th Dimension” in 2016. We have been listening to “Formidable” that’s smooth and greasy.
It reminds us of Lana Del Ray [perhaps with Marina and the Diamonds] this is a buzzy hymnal with vocals that will send shivers into your bones and elegant lines of guitar that stream like acidic ribbons.
The Regrettes with a sweet yet aggro voice that simpers as much as it bites
Urgent and cheeky garage-rock from California with Lydia Night and chums Genessa Gariano (guitar) Sage Chavis (bass) and Maxx Morando (drums.)
Songs like their newly released “Marshmallow World” (released for the holiday season) have brazen funfair attitudes. Gutsy “Seashore” has bossa nova rhythms and always that crystal-sugar dangerously sweet yet aggro vocal that simpers as much as it bites.
TUSKS – nylon nets of vapour that cling onto dreamy-sweet vocals
We have been enjoying the beauty and inner peace found in the sweet misty meanderings of London-based artist & producer Emily Underhill but it’s since the False EP that she has become a force to be reckoned with.
Songs such as “Torn” have pimples of synth sound and nylon nets of vapour that cling onto the dreamy-sweet vocals. It’s like a bubble bath. For your ears.
Words: Neil Mach 2016 ©
Main Image: The Regrettes
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