“Harvest” by MFMB – A Song Feature

 

     MFMB describe “Harvest” as possessing the Swedish band’s “specific kind of gloomy ambience.” The moodiness is consistent through most of the single. The level of attractiveness is polarizing, since many readers aren’t monitoring Indie Obsessive posts to hear this brand of music. But we strongly recommend the guitar solo near the end of “Harvest.”
 
      Interestingly, MFMB have dual drummers playing duplicate roles. The instrument synchronization was common during the wall-of-sound days of Phil Spector. But the doubling is not often seen in the Indie Universe.
 
     “Harvest” is a song about the fear of losing it all. The press materials explain the MFMB single as “A return to the fatalistic Krautrock that defined their early work, the propulsive Harvest, steeped in the doom impending, seems however to end in a future unknown. A timely expression of dark uncertainty.”  
 
       The members of MFMB are Sebastian Hedberg (bass), Joakim Lindberg (guitar), Christine Björk (guitar, vocals), Kristoffer Bäckström (drums), Vic Narin (vocals, synth), and Erik Nilsson (drums). They are based in Malmö/Stockholm, Sweden. “Harvest” is from their recently released album “Sugar.” Again quoting press materials:
   "’Sugar’ is seven years in the making, marking nine years since our last full-length release ‘Colossus’ (2013). It has been a bumpy ride, the band remark on the entirety of their new album. The tours following ‘Colossus’ took their toll, leaving us in a state of internal friction - infighting basically. Then when it finally came time to work on ‘Sugar,’ when it was decided the process of composing songs should be a completely democratic one, tensions increased further. We were not always the best of friends. Priorities changed. Members quit, then joined again. It was never easy. But we feel you can hear it on the album, how every song is a result of differing opinions fighting it out until we landed. But in the end, it's MFMB, but ringing purer than ever before."

    “Harvest” by MFMB

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mfmbband
Bandcamp: https://mfmb.bandcamp.com/

 

Lyrics of “Harvest” by MFMB

One step away, from the sunshine phase,

One step away, could've made this great

 

And away it goes, and away we go, and away it goes, and away it all goes

 

We breathed, we lived, and we learned to love

But the seasons came, and the harvest spoiled

 

And away it goes, and away we go, and away it goes, and away it all goes

 

One step away, from the glory days,

Always too late, they never came

 

And away it goes, and away we go, and away it goes, and away it all goes

“Blue Hours” by Bear's Den – A Song Feature

 

     Over a span of months, Bear’s Den has been sharing singles that are destined for their album release on May 13. Today, the album’s title track, “Blue Hours,” was unveiled. This single ventures further into the domain of electronica than is typical of Bear’s Den. Still, the duo remains tethered to Folk elegance by the silky sound of brass during portions of “Blue Hours.”
 
     The Bear’s Den journey into the more electronic theme signals the diversity within the “Blue Hour” album. They showcase their characteristic sound, while exhibiting skills in incorporating other elements. The three previous releases from the album (“All That You Are,” “Spiders,” and “Shadows) unquestionably contrast with the title single.
 
     Bear’s Den is the Folk Rock duo of Andrew Davie and Kevin Jones. While speaking about the album’s title track, Davie said, “Fundamentally ‘Blue Hours’ is a song about communicating with someone that’s hard to reach. It’s this idea of trying to have a conversation with someone through one-way glass, where they can’t even see you and there’s a real disconnect with how you’re communicating. On one level, it’s also an internal thing, where you’re trying to get through to yourself. I think the act of writing songs, or even trying to write anything, is the act of trying to communicate, so I think there’s something in that which is interesting.”
 
     For ticket information about the European and North American legs of the Bear’s Den tour, visit https://www.bearsdenmusic.co.uk/live. The tour includes an October 6 visit to San Francisco. We’ve been to a pair of performances by Bear’s Den and plan to repeat the experience this year.
 
     The “Blue Hours” album can be pre-ordered at https://bearsden.lnk.to/bluehours.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bearsdenmusic
Website: http://www.bearsdenmusic.co.uk/

Lyrics of “Blue Hours” by Bear's Den

Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever reach you

Or if now you’re just gone for good,

If I’ll ever see you smile again

It’s on a wing and a prayer

Babe but I will be there

Letting you know I care

 

If I could just break through the glass

If it shatters in my hands

Then it shatters in my hands

It’s a risk I’m willing to take

Baby, I’m about to break because

 

I can’t go on, I can’t go on, I can’t go on

I can’t keep pretending that I’m okay

Watching you slip away

 

Why’d you have to go there?

Why do you lie?

Why’d you answer in questions whenever I ask you why?

Don’t act like you’re so hard to find

I know where you hide

I know where you hide

 

Why won’t you just stay with me?

Why do you lie?

Why’s there always something keeping you up at night?

Don’t act like you’re so hard to find

I know where you hide

I know where you hide

 

In the blue hours

 

I wish that I could crawl inside of your head

Stumble round, see what I can find

Which of your synapses deceive

That seem to tie you in knots,

Tangled in all you forgot

And all you cannot see

 

Is the person who’s standing there

Right in front of me

If you could only see yourself for a second it could change

 

But no I can’t go on, I can’t go on, I can’t go on, I can’t

Keep pretending that I’m okay

Watching you slip away

 

Trying to hold these two truths in my head

Both the darkness and the light

Please don’t expect them to play nice.

 

Why’d you have to go there?

Why do you lie?

Why’d you answer in questions whenever I ask you why?

Don’t act like you’re so hard to find

I know where you hide

I know where you hide

 

Why won’t you just stay with me?

Why do you lie?

Why’s there always something keeping you up at night?

Don’t act like you’re so hard to find

I know where you hide

I know where you hide

 

Why’d you have to go there?

Why do you lie?

Why’d you answer in questions whenever I ask you why?

Don’t act like you’ve got nothing to hide

I know where you hide

I know where you hide

 

Why won’t you just stay with me?

Why do you lie?

Why’s there always something keeping you up at night?

Don’t act like you’re so hard to find

I know where you hide

I know where you hide

 

In the blue hours

“My, My” by Gallipoli – A Song Feature

 

    “My, My” progresses with a gentle elegance. There is a slow-building crescendo at 1:30, but it does not foreshadow the guitar-driven explosion that occurs at 2:11. The early focus on soothing vocals abruptly shifting to forceful guitar bears some similarity to “Fix You” by Coldplay, but we favor the execution by Gallipoli.
 
     Gallipoli is Lucas McCone and Aman Sheriff. They formed the Indie/Alternative band in early 2021, after writing and producing a four-track EP in the mountains of North Macedonia. The duo named themselves after the WW1 Battle of Gallipoli as an homage to their family history. Gallipoli has played shows in Los Angeles, performing at venues such as Hotel Cafe and with Sofar Sounds. “My, My” will be on the EP “On Vodno,” which will be released this year.
 
     “My, My” by Gallipoli

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gallipolimusic/

Website: https://gallipolimusic.com/music/

Lyrics of “My, My” by Gallipoli

My, my

My only lover

You’ll have another boy

To cheer you up

 

My, my

My only lover

You’ve found another boy

To pick you up

 

You’ve found another boy

To pick you up

 

It’s getting cold outside this window

It’s getting dark inside my head

There’s still a little flame left over

Watch it take its final breath

 

My, my

My only lover

How much longer

Can I keep this up?

 

My, my

My only lover

Oh how much longer

Can I keep this up?

How much longer can I keep this up?

“The Way Back Up” by Hayden Calnin ft. Nick Acquroff – A Song Feature

 

     It’s fair to describe “The Way Back Up” as a vocals-driven single. The combination of voices of Hayden Calnin and fellow-Australian Nick Acquroff is ear-caressing. Their vocal compatibility is more likely to arise between siblings than between two close friends. But while the vocals are the main draw to the single, the instrumentation also deserves attention. The song will be on Calnin’s upcoming EP, “Something/Anything,” which will be released on May 6 via Nettwerk Music Group Inc. We are hopeful the EP release will include credits that identify the instruments beyond the piano and percussion (for example, is that a cello?).

 
     The individual voices during the first two minutes of “The Way Back Up” are pleasing, Then, the enchantment hits a greatly elevated level at 2:10, when the the two vocalists come together in harmonization. Still, the feature that is particularly effective is the two-dimensional crescendo that occurs around 2:40. In addition to the usual intensity build, the crescendo incorporates an increasingly improving vocal fidelity.
 
     In talking about both “The Way Back Up” and his friendship with Nick Acquroff, Hayden Calnin said:
   “Nick and I have been playing music together for years whenever we’ve gotten a chance to, and we thought it was about time to lay one of our songs down and let people have a listen. We were both living down the southern coastline of Australia, and I had Nick over one night for some dinner and drinks. Naturally, we ended up in the studio a bit later on writing and recording. That seemed to be pretty common practice for us when we would hang out, and this was a track that really resonated with us. It sat on a hard drive for 2 years, and I opened it up one day on my computer and thought it was too bloody good not to finish, so I gave it a good mix, and this was the result. Nick is such an incredible guy, and I’m just super stoked to be putting out a collaboration with my mate, it’s awesome. Mates are awesome. Writing songs with mates and releasing them is even more awesome.”
 
     “The Way Back Up” by Hayden Calnin ft. Nick Acquroff

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haydencalninmusic

Website: http://haydencalninmusic.com/

Bandcamp: https://haydencalninmusic.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “The Way Back Up” by Hayden Calnin ft. Nick Acquroff

It's fair to say I've liberalized of late

And I'm not sure that you'll be responsive to change

And you'd spend your whole night in one room

And you'll spend your whole life in one room

 

You're on the way back up

What the hell does that mean?

If you’re still bad luck

What the hell am I doing here?

 

It's fair to say I've spoken out of place

I didn't know you were counting all my mistakes

But you packed up, you made your move

Yeah, you took to another roof

 

You're on the way back up

What the hell does that mean?

If you’re still bad luck

What the hell am I doing here?

 

It's what you took down on the beach

I hold those thoughts so close to me

What the hell am I doing here?

I take a breath submerge the sea

I wash it off what's left of me

What the hell am I doing here?

[Repeat]

 

You're on the way back up

What the hell does that mean?

If you’re still bad luck

What the hell am I doing here?

[Repeat]

 

What the hell am I doing here?

“Crisis Actor” by Sandman Sleeps - An Album Feature

 

      “Crisis Actor,” the debut album of Sandman Sleeps does not include a weak link among its 10 tracks. Still, from our perspective, the more favorable singles are the ones in which the lead vocals have many of the vocal characteristics of Chrissie Hynde, the Rocker voice and driving force of Pretenders. Perhaps the song with the closest alignment with Hynde is “Feet.” But our favorite single from the album is “Spiral.”
 
     Sandman Sleeps includes sisters Cristina Peck (guitar, vocals) and Alex Peck (bass), as well as Karsten Andersen (drums) and Zack Jones (guitar, vocals). They are based in Fort Pierce, Florida.
 
     Quoting press material with which we agree:
  A cohesive album that refuses to settle for just one style, Crisis Actor features everything from ethereal, moody alternative (“Soaked, “Opaque,” “Induced”), punchy upbeat tropical punk leanings (“Feet,” “Fellini,” “Five Bell Alarm”) which capture the band’s restless on-stage chemistry and energy, and indie, alt pop tendencies (“Spiral,” “Rare Cloud”). Lyrically, there are recurring themes such as fear of illness (coincidentally mostly not related to COVID), a hyperawareness of mind/body, love/break ups, as well as feelings of dissociation. ‘Crisis Actor’ knows no boundaries and never panders, instead letting us run with its emotional hints to our own destinations, different on every listen.

     “Spiral” by Sandman Sleeps

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandmansleepsmusic
Website: https://www.sandmansleeps.com/
Bandcamp: https://sandmansleeps.bandcamp.com/releases

Lyrics of “Spiral” by Sandman Sleeps

Awake

Thought I was done for

Cut the cake

Got to fight it off

Outside drifted parts of me

In your eyes all the memories

And I won’t trust fire in the sky

but I’ll throw myself in anyway

The game, got to fight it all

I found the words to say

but see how my lips will hold their shape?

I’m sipping in the dust and light

It’s just another way of keeping you close to my side

Come inside, hide

Ten billion years old

Would you stay the same?

Would you take me home?

Come inside, hide

     “Feet” by Sandman Sleeps

 

Lyrics of “Feet” by Sandman Sleeps

Strangers’ outside

Did you glow? Did you knock?

You vanished from my sight

I see the road but the signs won’t light up

And I feel my feet they’re already there

on the tile of your kitchen floor

So maybe if I squint so hard I’ll see the sun

You said emptiness is god

Another come and go

I’ll wait to find my own

Strangers’ outside

They won’t stop knocking now until you answer

But someone might come

They might carry you on your way now over their shoulder

(they might not)

And I feel my feet, they’re already there

on the tile of your kitchen floor

So maybe you’re thinking so hard nothing gets done

Even emptiness is god

Another come and go

I’ll wait to find my own

This is not my body

and it’s not the badge of my beliefs

“Bad World” by Saint Mesa – A Song Feature

 

     Saint Mesa performs well in the dark. The Southern California music project excels at creating a sound that is powerfully cinematic and moody. In their cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Saint Mesa took a sad song and made it darker. Today, “Bad World” was released and, while the majesty and richness of the Saint Mesa sound pierces the darkness, they stayed true to their art.
 
      Even the cello solo near the end of “Bad World” is characteristic of Saint Mesa. The cello is the favorite string instrument of many Indie followers. It is well-suited to embrace the emotion of a song, because it's invitingly warm and sorrowful. In comparison to typical cello play in Indie, the instrument is played at a lower pitch in “Bad World.” Saint Mesa prefers to swim in the deeper water of low frequencies and tribalistic percussion.
 
     Saint Mesa is the performance name of Danny McCook from Mission Viejo, California. He works closely with Mike Freesh, who is credited as the engineer on “Bad World.”. McCook said of the single:
   “Wrote this song about the last couple years as a way of coping with how hard things have been, feel even more relevant with the state of events right now. Tracked a beautiful string section at sunset sound in LA, as well as a bunch of percussion. There's a really badass cello part that comes in after the bridge leading into the final chorus, if you want to jump to that at 2:48.”
 
     “Bad World” by Saint Mesa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintmesamusic
Website: http://www.saintmesa.com/

Lyrics of “Bad World” by Saint Mesa
You've been covered with ashes
All your love has turned to dust
A quick walk to madness
A sharp drop and a sudden stop
 
So run like you mean it
Cause they'll come, they're coming to take you away
Forget your feeling
Cause it's the end, it's the end, it's the end of us
 
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
Cause it's a bad world
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
 
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
Cause it's a bad world
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
 
Break out the torches
Mask on and paint it black
Red hands are burning
Still cross behind the back
 
Can't stop you screaming
The good men stand by and watch them take you away
Call for your freedom
But in the end, it's the ending of the night
 
We won't fade away
We won't fade away
We won't fade away
And we won't fade away
And we won't fade away
 
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
Cause it's a bad world
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
 
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
It's a bad world
Cause it's a bad world
It's a bad world
It's a bad world

“Lemon Tree” By Mt. Joy – A Song Feature

      Mt. Joy twice interrupts the smooth, melodic nature of the “Lemon Tree” with an eccentric segment that includes off-kilter guitar and, during the second, pounding piano. The second occurrence functions as the outro. The press materials explain:
   “The track, which is accompanied by a dreamy, psychedelic-style music video, boasts luminous guitar underlining a head-nodding beat, before an off-kilter riff and saccharine refrain take hold.”
 
     The members of Mt. Joy are Matt Quinn (vocals, guitar), Sam Cooper (guitar), Sotiris Eliopoulos (drums), Jackie Miclau (keyboards), and Michael Byrnes (bass). They are originally from Philadelphia but are now based in Los Angeles. The band named itself after Mount Joy in Valley Forge National Park, Pennsylvania. 
 
     In talking about “Lemon Tree,” Matt Quinn said:
   “It’s about realizing that you can’t change the past, but if you can work on being a force of positive energy for others you can be rewarded with the privilege of moving on.” “I was drawn to that phenomenon when you’re thinking of someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and that person texts you or reaches you in some physical way. At my most spiritual, I think there’s something about our energy that connects us. When you lean into positive energy, you’re rewarded for generating happiness for those around you. ‘Lemon Tree’ is about the power of our connection via this force.”
 
     “Lemon Tree” By Mt. Joy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mtjoyband
Website: http://www.mtjoyband.com/

Lyrics of “Lemon Tree” By Mt. Joy
I just found a lemon tree
It's a bad day for my enemies
Yes, there's sugar water in the breeze
And I'm ready, I'm ready
So someone play guitar for me
I'm ready to leave my body
 
And oh, this could be rage
We're flying to the space
Between the lies we told
And find the good in every soul is all
Connected energy or how would I know
You were thinking of me in the tree?
 
The sweetness is around the seed
And I'm learning to keep going
Just an itty-bitty hit of weed
Got me ready to leave my body
 
And oh, this could be rage
We're flying to the space
Between the lies we told
And find the good in every soul is all
Connected energy or how would I know
You were thinking of me in the tree?
 
When all of the lights remain
This is all that our time contains

“BIY” and “Drive Home” by Brite Spot – Song Features

 

     The debut single of Brite Spot landed last month. “BIY” is a song that builds upon itself, sometimes with readily apparent additions and other times with subtle enhancements. Today, Brite Spot released a second engaging single – “Drive Home.”
 
     “BIY” refreshingly diverges from the norm. The song is unconventional from the start, since it does not include an instrumental intro, other than four seconds of easily missed rhythmic ambience. More importantly, the song uses an upward staircase of intensity. It is common for a song with a verse-chorus-verse beginning to have an increased tempo during the chorus, relative to the verses that bookend the chorus. In comparison, Brite Spot fitted “BIY” with a three-step increase of instrumental intensity and vocal urgency. Better, a fourth step is added at the start of the following verse.
 
     Brite Spot is the Indie project led by producer/songwriter Matt Sztyk (pronounced “stick”). He is originally from New Jersey, but it now based in Los Angeles. At the start of “BIY,” his vocal approach is calm and the lyrics are contemplative. The lead vocals grow increasingly more forceful as the single progresses and are joined by backing vocals that add to the richness. At times, there is an interesting pause at the end of a line, such as in "Caught up in the moment, just a moment, all I ... need."

 While talking about the song, Sztyk said, “’BIY’ is an introduction to the rest of your life after being caught up in a moment for too long.”
 
      “BIY” by Brite Spot

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brite-Spot-100547159189752
Website: https://www.britespotmusic.com/
Bandcamp: https://britespot.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “BIY” by Brite Spot
A long time ago
Laying in a field of snow
Waiting for the stars to write a word
Or paint a picture of life on earth
 
I couldn’t see it but I wanted to believe in something
Found love when I wasn’t paying her attention
Caught up in the moment, just a moment, all I need
I believed in you
 
One year ago
Justin was still alive
Driving fast, playing hard, falling in love
Holding on, one more song, just to be sure
 
It started to fall
A new way to see the world
Thousands of miles return home
I couldn’t recognize it anymore
 
I couldn’t see it but I wanted to believe in something
Found love when I wasn’t paying her attention
Caught up in the moment, just a moment, all I need
 
Well, I believed in you
'Cause I wanted to believe in you
Well, I believed in you
'Cause I wanted to believe in you
 
Plenty of time
Waiting for more
Holding my breath
I don’t know how to feel anymore
Driving all night
With the lights off
Holding my breath, it’s quiet
How can I feel anymore
 
I couldn’t see it but I wanted to believe in something
Found love when I wasn’t paying her attention
Caught up in the moment, was it ever real?
Let go, watch it fall until it’s gone and disappears
 
I believed in you
'Cause I wanted to believe in you
Well, I believed in you
'Cause I wanted to believe in you
 

     “Drive Home” has a more consistent energy, other than during a near dream state that begins at 1:42. Matt Sztyk describes the single as “a feel-good song about the beginning stages of a relationship. While dating my gf at the time (now wife), I wrote the bridge first, which was inspired by the two of us driving around listening to music in the car. I sat on it for a while, until figuring out the drum groove, then the rest of the song came quickly after that. It’s a guitar song with a nod to 90’s alternative, the pet shop boys, falling in love, and driving aimlessly through LA until late hours of the night listening to music.”

     “Drive Home” by Brite Spot

Lyrics of “Drive Home” by Brite Spot
I saw you standing in the door
Wearing out my shirt and I
I couldn’t help but smile at the scene
Wave goodnight until they’re gone
Fade into the rearview while
Driving down the street
 
We got caught
Stuck in the car
Watched the moon the whole way driving home
Up the hill around the reservoir
Stuck in the dark
Making time for everything you said
Promise don’t let go of my hand
 
Waiting for the rain to leave
Pressed against the window seat
Going fast enough to keep it dry
After hours on the run
Right until the sun comes on
Chasing out daylight
 
We got caught
Stuck in the car
Watched the moon the whole way driving home
Up the hill around the reservoir
Stuck in the dark
Making time for everything you said
Promise don’t let go of my hand
 
Stand in line, stay inside, it’s all the same
We’ve got time, figure it out on the way
Half alive when I met you, wasted time
Don’t let go of my hand
 
With the windows down and the air is cold
And the radio’s playing west end girls
And we’re driving slow down this dead end road
Don’t let go of my hand, don’t let go of my
 
Raining outside, waiting out cold
Don’t let go of my hand, don’t let go of my
Raining outside, waiting out cold
Don’t let go of my hand, don’t let go
 
We got caught
Stuck in the car
Watched the moon the whole way driving home
Up the hill around the reservoir
Stuck in the dark
Making time for everything you said
Promise don’t let go of my hand
 
Stand in line, stay inside, it’s all the same
We’ve got time, figure it out on the way
Half alive when I met you, wasted time
Don’t let go of my hand