Month: July 2018

Photo Courtesy of Stray Owls Instagram

Today, North Carolina-based alternative rockers — Stray Owls — dropped one side of their impending single on Youtube entitled “Billing Luna”. The eerie track wrestles with the age old illusion of mortality, only to be silenced by an all too familiar sound.

The song was recorded by newest member, Jerry Kee. And the video was shot and edited by Matt French, Cory Griffiths, & Scott Griffiths.

As the Stray Owls’ folksy lo-fi jam spirals into a psychedelic maze of sonic decay, the infectious beat, and decrepit, yet glowing vocals of Matt French shine through. “Billing Luna” is an experiment in the evolution of folk music. A sonic mutation gone beautifully awry.

Be on the lookout for the Stray Owls new single by keeping up with them on Spotify (it will be out later next month). Also, support them directly by purchasing their music via Bandcamp!

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“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” — Sagan

Photo Courtesy of Crayon’s Instagram

Electronic French artist Crayon collaborates with Lossapardo on “Pink”, an intimate track off his latest experimental EP, Post Blue. It’s one of those songs that ends before you know it. The kind of track that lulls you into a lucid daydream — only to snap you back into our supposed reality upon its final note. 

I feel that we are all born into this world with an innate sense of knowledge, a sort of inherent wisdom that transcends both space and time.

It’s the paradoxical tale of the temporary infantile state of wisdom that seems to be clouded by the veil of indoctrination as one is culturally conditioned into an apathetic state of servitude. Beyond the introspective world of the Parisian composer lies a love story steeped in this very same youthful conundrum. It’s the eternal tale of a young girl attempting to escape reality.

The track is a soft and delicate dreamscape set to the ethereal vocals of Lossapardo. It’s a fusion of an idealistic world and the profound need to escape to another place.

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“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” — Sagan

Photograph Courtesy of Luna Honey’s Instagram

DC-based Luna Honey shows us what bittersweet rock can do for a weary soul in their debut album, Peace Will Grind You Down. The LP is a haunting story full of luminescent heart and tragic tales. Ambient rock often finds itself lacking in emotional diversity, leaving many to believe that the genre is nothing more than a dumping ground for sad stories — but Luna Honey delivers an album wrought with emotion, anger, disappointment, and self-loathing. These sentiments feel fresh as a melancholy energy is explored through the beautifull, yet evocative vocals of Maura Pond. Not many bands can say that every track they produce tells a cohesive string of tales, but Luna Honey has created an album with eight unique storylines. 

My personal favorite comes from “Line of Sight”, which is perhaps the most experimental track on the album. Its sound reminds me of gritty, dark streets straight from the pages of a comic book, with lyrics that preach a mixture of desire and longing. While each song on Peace Will Grind You Down is a masterpiece of gothic fiction in its own right, “Line of Sight” looms above the rest as it feels both sexy and horrifying. The album, it seems, uses every aspect of itself to tell a story, even if the tales aren’t all that pleasant. Through this, Luna Honey dares to discuss the most unpleasant aspects of life in an approachable way.

Luna Honey expands on electronic rock by fusing it with gothic undertones and solid narratives, a feature that gives their album a provocative, yet alluring sound. Although Peace Will Grind You Down is their first album, the band already displays a mature sound that boasts a lifetime of experiences. If this album is any indication of where the band will head in the future, I feel it’s safe to say that Luna Honey will find itself among one of the gothic greats.

Note: This is a sponsored post. However, we still honestly review even sponsored content. If you’d like a sponsored post of your own, please contact our writer, Alisa.

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“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” — Sagan

Photo Courtesy of Magic Moon’s Instagram

Magic Moon’s bluesy ballad “Lucy” reunites psychedelic rock with its soul, an essence that has long been lost to consumerism. The track is truly an embodiment of desire as its steady tempo drifts into surges of intensity marked by Timo van de Ven’s impressive organ work and Walter Pols’ seductive vocals.

The song’s sudden dip into fast-paced rhythms revitalizes the track’s sound, rewriting its formula to keep it from becoming predictable. Although the track isn’t quite as groundbreaking as Magic Moon’s previous single “Nightcrawler”, “Lucy” still meets the high expectations many have placed upon the band as they strive to bring a fresh sound to psych-rock.

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“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” — Sagan

Photo Courtesy of Henry Raker’s Instagram

Henry Raker is an experimental saxophonist and clarinetist. His new track “You Know” displays an instrumental prowess that many musicians long to achieve.

Through a combination of metallic clicking and stirring saxophone work, the New York based artist has masterfully delivered a short, emotional track with an old school feel.

Raker’s vocal sound, which is reminiscent of Radiohead’s Thomas Yorke, is both alluring and haunting as it steers the track’s simple lyrics towards a deeper meaning.

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“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” — Sagan