TRACKS
THE AVELONS SETTING SONS Words: Jake Anderson A full of life, emotional piece, Newcastle’s The Avelons release their second single – Setting Sons. Sonically much tighter and cleaner than their previous single, with semantics revolving around loss and the pensive feelings such an emotion brings, the track incorporates a nostalgic sound to its sonic environment that further emphasises the themes. I frequently found myself reminiscing while being sucked into the song’s engaging narrative. The held back vocal performance could be seen as a detriment, but it elevates the intimacy of the track, as the band understand the perfect points to raise the intensity in the structure, which culminates in an excellent bridge that truly flexes the artistic strength of this group. Released: 03.06.22 www.soundcloud.com/theavelons
SUCCOUR S/T EP Words: Evie Lake Succour’s self-titled debut EP is a tension-building, chord-bashing blanket of grunge, which is apt considering their final track is entitled Blanket of Misery. Wormhole initiates the EP as self-assured and confident. Leaning towards their softer side, the coolness of the verses cuts through the heaviness of the intro and chorus to create something familiarly accessible in its head-bobbing punk. Cymbals and shouting infiltrate the entire EP, but find interesting meaning in the third song Endo, initially released during Endometriosis Awareness Month to draw attention to the condition. Succour ends with its heaviest track, leaving a lasting, head-tingling impression reminiscent of a live performance. Invasive, weighty and proud, Succour pull their weight and more. Released: 11.06.22 www.facebook.com/succourband
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REVIEWS OF SINGLES AND EPS BY NORTH EAST ARTISTS. WANT YOUR MUSIC FEATURED? EMAIL NARCMEDIA@GMAIL.COM (PLEASE TRY TO GET IN TOUCH 8-6 WEEKS AHEAD OF THE MONTH OF RELEASE)
THE DAWDLER CUCKOO Words: Tom Astley Cuckoo offers a tender folk-inflected song, melded with synthetic, yet nonetheless romantic, sounds. Coming in advance of an EP due in July, Cuckoo’s lyrics are personal, idiosyncratic and hard to pin down. This makes them all the more intriguing. Meanings are hinted at, rather than made overt, and the music supports this ambiguity perfectly. A vast ocean of reverb trails that are both relaxing and slightly disconcerting prop up the delicate finger-picked guitars and falsetto vocals. The machine and the human blur together by the end, the bass synth gaining a sinister edge, and swells of sound eclipsing the guitar, only to evaporate and leave the guitar to end the track alone. This is a beautiful piece of music, well worth multiple listens. Released: 03.06.22 www.facebook.com/thedawdlermusic
NADEDJA HOLOGRAPHIC SICKENING LOVE
Image by Saint Sophie
Words: Tom Astley Nadedja’s latest single Holographic Sickening Love gives a burst of unapologetic, dancefloor filling pop. The track is flawless, really. The shade of palm muted guitars, panned delicately to the right; the eminently danceable drum beat; the shoulder shimmying hi-hats; the a capella title line before the bounce of the sing-alongable “oohs” in the chorus; the little break and build up at the end. The structure is textbook too, hitting all the right emotional points at all the right moments – arriving, announcing itself and leaving the dancefloor jumping in just over three minutes. If you’re in the mood for some well-made perfect pop music (and who isn’t at some point in the day?) then this is the track to go to. Released: 09.06.22 www.nadedja.com
