by Dustin van Wyk
Mansionair – Hold Me Down
New single from Aussie trio Mansionair is a slick blend of folk-tronica electronic edits and jangly indie pop. The instrumentation weaves in between low passed keyboard phrases, compressed clean guitar chords and thick low end bass rubbles while tender vocal melodies navigate through the songs shape shifting structures. Mansionair’s debut effort Hold Me Down will be released October 10th via Goodbye Records.
Kindness – This Is Not About Us
One man funk machine Adam Bainbridge’s second single for upcoming LP Otherness is a new jack swing-inflected soul ballad with its raw percussions that Bainbridge manages to sing over as an array of instrumentation moves in and out, from wailing sax lines, reverberated piano stabs and subtle synth lines that quietly chime in the mix. Kindness’s upcoming LP Otherness will be released October 13 via Female Energy.
Dornik – On My Mind
British producer/songwriter Dornik ‘s latest single feels like an ode to 80s boogie funk as his production channels early Zapp and Roger grooves with Off the Wall-esque vocal coos. The wobbling bass lines, understated Rhodes lines and commanding snare patterns fit perfectly with Dornik’s ambitious songwriting skills and big chord/key changes.
Seinabo Sey – Pistols At Dawn
Swedish songstress Seinabo Sey’s dark R&B single "Pistols At Dawn" sees her haunting expressions layered neatly over stadium-sized piano chords, while rolling hi hats pan in the mix. The instrumentation's constant climbing and building nature works well with Sey’s commanding vocal delivery that manages to stay in centre focus throughout the tracks duration.
Circa Waves – So Long
A rather refreshing take on garage rock, the British quartet pen themselves as ‘Indie-Disco’ but come across more convincingly as an alt-rock collective from the mid 00s with their single "So Long". The instrumentation and production are both organic and larger than life as their reverberated guitar lines, falling crashes and catchy vocal hooks all seem to come together to create a surprisingly enjoyable listen.