MELT REVIEWS

E.P. Review: Hotel Lux – Barstool Preaching

Artist: Hotel Lux

EP: Barstool Preaching

Genre: Post-Punk/Indie Rock

Label: Nice Swan Records

Rating: 8/10

Barstool Preaching is an appropriate title for Hotel Lux’s new E.P. It’s hard not to picture yourself at the nearest pub as your vision begins to blur after beer after beer while you bullshit the night away with your pals. These songs are beer-soaked, but they’re more intelligent than belligerent, as the tales of cynicism, self-deprecation, and introspection are told with lyrical sharpness rich in wit, dark humor, and honesty. Lead singer Lewis Duffin’s gruff voice channels the raw spirit of early Post-Punk, and instrumentally these tracks are impeccably produced with the band perfecting the finest sounds Post-Punk and Britpop have to offer. It’s hard not to see yourself in these songs. Don’t we all at some point bend the truth just to get our point across or display ourselves as something we’re not? Duffin cleverly compares this reality to a tabloid newspaper on the opening track, and a similar subject appears on the track “Loneliness of the Stage Performer,” where the song is sung from the perspective of a singer who has created a fictional version of himself to appease the audience, only to come to the realization that he doesn’t know what the people want at the end of the day. It’s heavy subject matter, but it never loses its darkly comedic tone. The “Pub Rock” style is most present on the track “Eddie’s Gaff,” a song about the days of youth, the days of getting plastered, the days we’d waste our lives away, and like a drunken sing-along the band shouts “wasting our lives away!” in unison. I found myself singing along last night while I was getting drunk and wasting my day amid this social distancing. The track “Charades” sounds like a hangover but turns into a self-aware tune while female vocals beautifully back Duffin’s somber tone on the chorus. The closing track “Ballad of You & I” is a sweet tune with a hint of melancholy with an arrangement of trumpets and organs that wouldn’t sound out of place on a “Blur” record. Though a full album of tongue-in-cheek cynicism might get a little stale, this E.P. leaves you eager to hear a full-length album anyway, and the band most definitely has the talent to grow. Here’s to the future, cheers!

Written By: Steven Sandoval

E.P. Review: Movie Club – Man O’ War

IMG_E5414

Artist: Movie Club

EP: Man O’ War

Genre: Instrumental/Garage Rock/Psychedelic Rock

Label: Self-released

Rating: 7/10

There’s nothing like witnessing a band perform. The chemistry between every member, the ideas that are bounced off each other as each member brings their own distinct quality to the table, it’s a beautiful thing to see and hear, but what’s even more impressive is when a band only has two members. Of course duos are nothing new, but when two people can create a sound that gives off the illusion that you’re listening to a quartet, it’s a massive accomplishment. Meet “Movie Club,” an instrumental duo hailing from Venice Beach, CA. Consisting of members Jessamyn Violet on drums and Vince Cuneo on guitar, their chemistry is infectious as their seamless interplay makes you wonder if they share the same brain. Their new E.P. Man O’ War is no exception. The duo flirt heavily with “Psychedelic Rock” on this record, which feels like a natural progression, and they’ve even incorporated bass thanks to musician Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie, Black Crowes). With this sound the band takes you on a journey with each song, a journey that feels cinematic, which is fitting considering the band’s name. As a matter of fact, the band’s appreciation for film is especially apparent in the music videos for the tracks “Moonbow” and “Bones” which features recurring mysterious white wolves who chase the duo in a Horror inspired style. The band never wastes a second on this E.P. as every track has enough change-ups to veer away from boring repetition, but at the same time they don’t bombard you with over-ambitious grandiosity as these are jams you can sit back and relax to without being surprised by an abrupt dramatic transition. These tracks flow smoothly, but at the same time they’re a spiritual journey if you want to ingest it that way. This E.P. can be a journey, it can be your new favorite music to chill out and smoke a doobie to, or it can be the soundtrack to your commute, walk, or exercise, whatever it may be to you, you can count on this E.P. to never be boring.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Track Review: VOODOO RADIO – Turn Out The Light

Artist: VOODOO RADIO

Song: Turn Out The Light

Genre: Power Punk/Hard Rock/Alternative Rock

Label: Self-released

“Is Rock dead?” London-based “Power Punk” duo “VOODOO RADIO” would most likely answer that question with a confident “Sorry I can’t hear you over these tasty riffs.” Coming from the London underground, “VOODOO RADIO” are about as trendy as Eric Clapton. You won’t hear Trap hi-hats or auto-tune in their music, but instead of going against the grain from a “kids these days” perspective, their ambitions to Rock like the 70’s feels natural and it’s a rebellion that reminisces over the days of Rock past, but at the same time embraces the new school. I mean, they covered Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” go check it out if you can’t take my word for it. The band’s latest single “Turn Out The Light” solidifies their status as Rock & Roll scholars. Featuring member Tony’s guitar riffs that shift from heavy to bluesy to boozy with an astounding guitar solo, and lead singer Paige’s relentless and attitude-driven vocals along with her upbeat drum-work, this track is a fearless dive into Rock & Roll bliss as it sounds like the love child of “Van Halen” and “The Runaways.” These two are aware that Rock music can still be fun, and that there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism. Hell, we need that now more than ever, but instead of sounding like a novelty act, the band are just as serious as they are fun, because this isn’t Rock music to take lightly. If the band are already this skilled in songwriting and composition, just imagine how much further they can go with their talent. They definitely have my attention.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Caribou’s “Swim” Turns 10

IMG_E5213

On this day in 2010 producer Dan Snaith released Swim under his “Caribou” moniker. This album found Snaith departing almost entirely from the “Neo-psychedelic” nature of his previous album Andorra, incorporating various sounds and production techniques associated with “House” music due to his growing interest in “Electronic” music. However, his attention to experimental detail is still present throughout this record as he combined the danceable sensibilities of minimal House with flute, guitar, and the reverbed effects that dominated Andorra.” Elaborating on the album’s title, Snaith has stated that he wanted the album to have a fluid sound to it, which he definitely achieved. This album can also be considered the quintessential album when it comes to his complete dive into “Electronic” music not only with “Caribou,” but also his second project he developed called “Daphni.” This album was a massive turning point for Snaith, and is one of the best “Electronic” albums of the 2010’s. Happy Anniversary!

IMG_E5206

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ “The Good Son” Turns 30

IMG_E5183

On this day in 1990 “Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds” released their album The Good Son, an album that many didn’t see coming. Much of the band’s work up until that point had been dark and unapologetically graphic, but the The Good Son had a shift in tone. It was more mature musically due to Nick Cave’s time in Brazil where he fell in love, and also following his time in rehab. The album features Nick Cave’s signature vivid storytelling, but much of these stories were told through a melancholy and romantic lens that drew parallels between the song’s characters and characters of biblical stories. This album solidified Cave’s status as one of music’s most unique and imaginative songwriters. Happy Anniversary.

IMG_E5182

Ganser Announce New Album “Just Look At That Sky,” Share New Song “Lucky”

IMG_E5197

Chicago band “Ganser” have announced that their new album Just Look At That Sky will be released on July 31st via “Felte Records.” Today the band have also shared their new single “Lucky,” a song that member Nadia Garofalo describes as “A commentary on personal feelings of inadequacy and how these feelings can often result in unhealthy or extreme behaviors.” “Lucky” also has a music video to accompany it, and the video appropriately depicts these stir crazy times we’re living in at the moment as two roommates in the video drink, drink, and drink some more, because what the Hell else is there to do? This is a video that much of us need to see. Many of us self-sabotage and succumb to self-destructive behavior, and the band depict this in a way that’s more reflective and less D.A.R.E. commercial. You can watch the music video for “Lucky” below:

Fleurt Shares New Song “Nihilist”

Nihilism has never sounded so upbeat. Today solo artist “Fleurt” has released a brand new song titled “Nihilist,” and it isn’t the dark and brooding affair the word is typically affiliated with in music. To contrast the wonderfully written feeling of loneliness and boredom, the song’s instrumentation consists of delicate bells, subtle but effective synths, and a minimal but upbeat electronic drum beat that evokes the spirit of “Indietronica.” This song couldn’t have arrived at a better time, because in this time where we are forced to self-isolate, we are stuck with ourselves and our own thoughts, and not all of us enjoy our own company. It’s easy to become envious of those fortunate enough to spend this time with a significant other, it’s easy to get stir crazy, and it’s easy to become completely bored of the hometown you’re stuck in, like the song says “I’m getting bored of New York.” Though the song’s content can come off as negative, Fleurt cleverly depicts the feeling of self-realization, and underneath it all there’s a real feeling of hope, not 100 percent succumbing to nihilism’s tendencies. This is a perfect example of how music, especially in this time, is immensely important. You can listen to “Nihilist” below:

ADULT. Share Music Video for New Song “Total Total Damage”

IMG_E5075

Electronic duo “ADULT.” are set to release their new album Perception is/as/of Deception on April 10th via “Dais Records,” and today the Detroit duo have released another new track off the upcoming album as well as a new music video to accompany it. The track is titled “Total Total Damage,” and the music video was made in quarantine and features the two completely annihilating the set they had built for the video with sledgehammers, which perfectly reflects this stir crazy time we’re forced to endure at the moment in quarantine. You can watch the music video for “Total Total Damage” below:

Nine Inch Nails Release New Album “Ghosts V-VI”

“Anybody out there?” asks Trent Reznor as he and Atticus Ross casually drop a new “Nine Inch Nails” album. The band’s new album is titled Ghosts V-VI, and it is a continuation of the Ghosts series they dropped for free back in 2008. Like Ghosts I-IV, the new installments of the series are available for free on the band’s website. Reznor has described the album as “Some of it kind of happy, some not so much.” You can download Ghosts V-VI from the link below:

GHOSTS V: TOGETHER AND GHOSTS VI: LOCUSTS

LINGUA IGNOTA Shares New Song “O Ruthless Great Divine Director”

IMG_E4797

In this time of isolation, it’s comforting to hear something new from one of the most captivating artists in music at the moment. Today Kristin Hayter under her LINGUA IGNOTA project has shared a fantastically epic new song titled “O Ruthless Great Divine Director” for “Adult Swim,” and it’s a grandiose and uncompromising piece of art both lyrically and musically. About the track Hayter says “O Ruthless Great Divine Director” both addresses and embodies the hypocrite and the false prophet. The sanctimonious scene police, the friend or community who will turn away or against when things get hard, fear mongering and pervasive misinformation. It was a great pleasure to have Greg Fox’s incredible talent on this song, and to work with Seth Manchester again at the console.” You can listen to “O Ruthless Great Divine Director” below:

https://www.adultswim.com/music/singles/20