DEMOS WE WANT YOUR MUSIC!
IF YOU’RE AN UP AND COMING BAND OR MUSICIAN, AND WOULD LIKE YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED IN OUR DEMO SECTION, EMAIL A TRACK TO INFO@NARCMEDIA.COM AND TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF! WORDS: LUKE WALLER
DEMO OF THE MONTH
DEMO OF THE MONTH
M4ss Production – Hometown Groove Punk has been political since its conception; whether anarchic, anti-establishment or just plain incandescent with rage, it has always taken its root in anger at the outside world. And M4ss Production, the brand new up-and-coming Gateshead-based punk band, seem to do precisely that with their single Hometown Groove.
Bosko Green – Streetlight
Since his 2018 debut, alternative rocker Bosko Green has released three albums, two live albums and now an EP, opened and championed by its title track, Streetlight. His discography has ranged from punk to rock to almost hip-hoppy lo-fi-type electronica, but all underlaid with his very own captivating sound – and Streetlight seems the natural culmination of it all. Bosko Green’s new track bears an unmistakably indie sound, with a characteristic concoction of buoyancy and melancholy; though his voice and the chorus’s accompanying synth line are bright and blithe, the song’s pensiveness glows through. The oscillatory mood conveyed by lyrics such as “Streetlight, it brightens up our conversation”, swiftly followed by “I really want to go…”, reclusing into another more downbeat verse makes for quite inspirational songwriting. www.boskogreen.bandcamp.com
Darren Wilde and New Dimensions – Nitewinds
If you think that you’ve seen and heard all that there is, but are unfamiliar with the name Darren Wilde and New Dimensions, then prepare to stand corrected. Self-described as an audio visual studio project, Wilde’s alt. pop/
Set into motion by the highest class guitar riff, the track has a fantastically classic, raw feel to it, taking the rage and rhythm of modern punk bands like Idles and adding quintessential dash of North East spunk. Fading out on the blissful psychedelic sound of a wah-wah solo done properly, the nihilistic screams of the chorus still ringing in the ears, Hometown Groove leaves the impression of a rebirth of the truly old-school, but without a hint of anachronism. www.instagram.com/music_by_m4ss
rock act is something quite different, and Nitewinds, released last April, seems to epitomise everything they’re about. Between the lyrics describing sensory overload “on a journey through the stars”, the bumpy bassline carrying us ever onwards, and the out-of-this-world music video – pun quite intended – featuring dancing aliens and an astronaut-edition Darren Wilde flying through the cosmos, not one single trick is missed. And, when Darren’s done transporting you to places you never thought you’d go, he tells us, perfervidly, “Live in the moment!” Mind-blowing, in all. www.facebook.com/ dewdimensionsdarrenwild
NTGB – Inertia
A dainty, bittersweet plucked ukulele line breaks the silence at the opening of NTGB’s track. Bass and drums kick in, a veneer of Hammond organ comes in to action, and the unmistakable hum of electric guitar builds the tension… until release into a bright love song about strong feelings leading the narrator to reckless behaviour. Filled with lively, playful guitar lines and jubilant brass parts, Inertia provides the uplifting feel that everyone sometimes needs.
NTGB, based in Sunderland, is a five-piece rock group formed by singer Gaz Brown and multi-instrumentalist Nick Thompson, who had been writing over lockdown. Having recorded two tracks, Inertia and Dirty Dreams, NTGB hope to release their first album later this year. www.nt-gb.co.uk
L93 – Getting Heavy
The first single of Newcastle rock band Electric Circus’ frontman Shaun Lamb’s solo side-project, going by the name of L93, is no disappointment. Far softer, but perhaps more sophisticated than Electric Circus’ debut single, Don’t Need (which was awarded demo of the month back in November), it features synthy basslines, a punchy saxophone part and glossy guitar tones. Something about the saxophone, earworm-ish chorus, and the exquisite harmony at the end of the guitar solo echoes Thin Lizzy’s Dancing In The Moonlight – which is more than a small compliment. With lyrics describing getting back on track by cutting down on smoking, and devoting more time to dreams, it may be a fitting choice for those struggling with new year’s resolutions. www.lnk.to/ntN8Le
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