Author: gfscaff

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New Album Review

Smerz- “Believer”

ALBUM: “Believer” by Smerz

RELEASE YEAR: 2021

LABEL: XL Recordings

RATING: 10/10

BEST TRACKS: “I don’t talk that much,” “Flashing” and “The favourite”

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The new Smerz album, “Believer,” dropped this February and with it came many music videos! This is very exciting and made me want to switch things up from our typical album review format. The videos perfectly visualize the album and truly expand the listening (and now viewing) experience. So, why just stick to reviewing the songs, when I could rate my favorites in order?

With that being said, here are my favorite music videos from the “Believer” album (from least favorite to favorite). Enjoy 🙂 

“Hva hvis”  

Technically, this belongs to the “I don’t talk that much” video, but it feels very separate to me. It’s so calm and serene. I wish I was there right about now. 

“Believer”

This video is very ethereal and reminds me of a childhood fairytale. It’s very classical and very beautiful. I especially love the emphasis on nature that seems to continue throughout the entire album’s videos. 

“Grand Piano”

I LOVE this video. It perfectly encompasses their Copenhagen background and style. It’s simple and very natural, just a bunch of people running around in the grass and their sweet little white puppy dog chasing them around aimlessly. I love it.

“I don’t talk that much”

This is my favorite song on the album. It’s so fast and I love how they juxtaposed this with the classical dancing and all white dress. Catharina Stoltenberg wears the same white dress in the Believer video, so there’s some continuity here too. This was super close to being my number 1 and I’m still torn!!

“Flashing”  (WARNING- There are flashing lights in this video)

Number 1 on my list! “Flashing” is so fun. The entire video is set in the driver’s seat of a car as Henriette Motzfeldt, one of the two in the duo that is Smerz, sits and sings. There are so many cool, small details such as the light from the cigarette she smokes when the light flashes to dark. I also love, love, love this song so much. 

I hope you check out the album and its videos and enjoy as much as I did.

XOXO,

Gab

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New Album Review

Cecile Believe- “Plucking a Cherry from the Void” Album Review

ALBUM: “Plucking a Cherry from the Void” by Cecile Believe

RELEASE YEAR: 2020

RATING: 9/10

BEST TRACKS: “Stay Open,” “Living My Life Over (Extreme Vocal Edit” and “Bitch Bites Dog”

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It feels like it was only a couple days ago when Cecile Believe dropped her first album “Made in Heaven” in May (you can read my album review here 🙂 ). And now she has blessed us yet again with another EP- “Plucking a Cherry from the Void.” The EP cover is really what drew me in– the glitter nails and tiny cherry are SO cute!! 

Speaking of “Made in Heaven,” Believe takes one of my favorites from the album and transforms it into the 5th song on “Plucking a Cherry from the Void”– “Living my Life Over (Extreme Vocal Edit).” I didn’t think the song could get any better, but I was wrong!! I actually find myself listening to the Extreme Vocal Edit way more than the original version. This along with “Stay Open” and “Bitch Bites Dog” have to be my favorites. 

“Bitch Bites Dog” reminds me a bit of Rina Sawayama. It’s very pop, but also kind of hard? Plus, there’s an incredible classical music interlude towards the end of the song, that contrasts the rest of the song beautifully. If we could go to the club, this would be playing. 

“Stay Open” on the other hand, is much more calm and more reminiscent of “Made in Heaven.” It reminds me a bit of Magdalena Bay and Caroline Polachek. It’s sooo pretty and just makes you wanna bob your head– the perfect song to drive to. This song has to be my favorite off the album <3 

I hope you give “Plucking a Cherry from the Void” a listen and love it as much as I do. 

Xoxo 

-Gab

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New Album Review

Yaeji: “WHAT WE DREW” Review

MIXTAPE: “WHAT WE DREW” by Yaeji

RELEASE YEAR: 2020

LABEL: XL Recordings

RATING: 9/10

BEST TRACKS: “WHAT WE DREW,” “WAKING UP DOWN” and “THESE DAYS”

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Yaeji dropped her first full-length mixtape, “WHAT WE DREW” this April. Before the mixtape, she released some of my favorite songs like “Raingurl” and “Passionfruit” under the eps “EP2” and “Yaeji” in 2017. The music video for “WHAT WE DREW” is SO cute. It includes snippets of her and her grandfather walking and chatting as well as her and friends. It’s so genuine and heartwarming and I think it really sets the tone for the “WHAT WE DREW” mixtape. 

I highly recommend watching the music video before listening to the mixtape if you haven’t already. The mixtape is so calm with her sweet lyrics and that classic Yaeji synth and quick bass. It is so uniquely her sound. “WAKING UP DOWN” reminds me a lot of Sassy 009’s “Maybe in the Summer,” (another banger). Some of my favorites from the album have to be “WHAT WE DREW,” “WAKING UP DOWN,” and “THESE DAYS.” “THESE DAYS” reminds me a lot of Blood Orange. 

I feel like this would be a great mixtape to do work to. Its rhythm and pulsating beat make you want to move or be productive. I listen to this a lot when I sew 🙂 

I highly recommend the mixtape and hope you all will give it a little listen the next time you’re making something, driving, or need some motivation. 

Enjoy 

Xoxo 

-Gab

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New Album Review

Album Review: “Inner Song” by Kelly Lee Owens

ALBUM: “Inner Song” by Kelly Lee Owens

RELEASE YEAR: 2020

LABEL: Smalltown Supersound

RATING: 8/10

BEST TRACKS: “Melt!,” “L.I.N.E” and “On” and “Night”

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Kelly Lee Owens, Welsh electronic musician, released her second album “Inner Song” at the end of this August. The album has 10 songs that all vary from techno and dream pop to what almost sounds like the instrumental of an 80s horror movie (which I love). The songs are long, ranging from 3 minutes to almost 7 and a half. The album is perfect for fall walks and drives. 

The first song on the album,“Arpeggi,” reminds me a bit of Goblin’s tracks in the movie Phenomena. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. Other songs are more techno like “Melt!” and “Night,” which remind me of her older songs like my favorite “More than a Woman” from 2017- all bangers!! 

My favorite song on the album has to be “L.I.N.E.” This song is sooo pretty and calm. There’s a repetitiveness in her lyrics and the pattern of the songs. “L.I.N.E” along with “On” are a bit softer and more ethereal than the other songs on the album. There’s so much range in the different types of songs she has here- from dream pop to techno, she does it all! 

Overall, I think “Inner Song” is both fun, party vibes and also a calm, introspective album. It has range and I realize different things about it the more I listen. I hope you all will give it a listen and  enjoy it too <3

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New Album Review

Album Review: “TURN OFF THE LIGHT” by Kim Petras

"TURN OFF THE LIGHT" album cover image

ALBUM: “TURN OFF THE LIGHT” by Kim Petras

RELEASE YEAR: 2019

LABEL: AWAL

RATING: 9/10

BEST TRACKS: “Wrong Turn,” “Death by Sex” and “Tell Me It’s A Nightmare,” “Close Your Eyes”

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Although this album came out almost exactly a year ago, I felt like it was perfect to review this month. Kim Petras’ Halloween album, “TURN OFF THE LIGHT” is one of my absolute favorites. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, so when Kim dropped a continuation of “TURN OFF THE LIGHT VOL. 1,” I simply could not stop listening to it all of October and even more throughout the year :p

This year, I’ve found myself listening to it again. It’s so spooky and fun and perfectly narrates all of October, especially now that there are fewer Halloween festivities 🙁 Every song on the 17-song long album is soooo good. “Death By Sex”… just WOW. This song is spooky and sexy and just really makes you want to dance. It reminds me a lot of the typical Kim Petras sound we’re used to. The driving beat almost reminds me of “Icy” from her album “Clarity” but with a Halloween twist. “TRANSylvania” reminds me a bit of Daft Punk with its bass and spooky and electronic sound effects.

I was hoping there would be a volume 3 this year, but unfortunately it looks like there might not be (I’m guessing due to COVID-19) 🙁 BUT, we still have VOL. 1 and 2 to listen to this October and November and December and all the months 🙂

Hope you listen and enjoy as much as I do–

XOXO

Gab

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New Album Review

EP Review: “Made in Heaven” Cecile Believe

Best Tracks: Living My Life Over, Pick Up The Phone, 7PM, Already Come

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Cecile Believe dropped the 9 song-long EP, “Made in Heaven,” this May as her debut EP under the name “Cecile Believe.” Caila Thompson-Hannant– AKA Cecile Believe– previously released music under the name Mozart’s Sister, where she released 2 full length albums “Field of Love” and “Being” both with a strong dance-pop sound. “Made in Heaven” is SO different from Mozart’s Sister’s previous work. 

“Made in Heaven” has a much deeper, more morose and sophisticated production and sound. There are clear dream pop and PC music influences, but also something kind of slow and haunted. Her vocals and sound remind me a bit of Hannah Diamond and Caroline Polachek. Both her and Caroline share the wide range of vocals and both love to showcase their talent in their songs. Cecile Believe definitely does that here. The song “Made in Heaven” reminds me a lot of Caroline’s “Ocean of Tears” with their vocals and similar driving synth and beat.  

The EP ranges from all different genres and sounds. “Living My Life Over,” “Pick up the Phone,” and “7PM” ~all my favorites :-)~ have a strong dance pop beat along with Cecile’s ethereal vocals. On the other hand, the EP features BEAUTIFUL instrumentals like “Yellowjacket” and “7PM (Accretion Disk Edit)” that sound almost like ASMR and remind me a bit of SOPHIE’s bubble popping sounds. The last song on the EP, “Already Come” is completely acoustic, really showcasing her vocals along with her beautiful and simple lyrics. 

Overall, I’m really excited to see what’s coming next for Cecile Believe. Her newest remix to TOPS’ “Colder and Closer” is one of my favorites right now and also something I’d recommend. I hope there’s more to come soon and that maybe we’ll see a Caroline Polachek x Cecile Believe collab somewhere in the future ~fingers crossed~ !!!

Hope you guys listen and enjoy,

xoxo,

Gab <3

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New Album Review

EP Review: “Cherushii & Maria Minerva”- Cherushii, Maria Minerva

Best Tracks: A Day Without You, This Must Be the Place, Boyfriend Shirt, Out by Myself, Thin Line (& ALL OF THEM)

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Although this EP came out about a year ago, I still find myself listening to it almost every day. If you haven’t already listened, drop everything now– stop reading, open your Spotify or Youtube or whatever, and listen to this EP. After the tragic passing of Chelsea Faith Dolan, aka Cherushii, friend and music partner Maria Minerva took over the reigns to finish 6 tracks they had once started together. Out of the 6 songs came this incredible EP, that keeps Cherushii’s legacy alive despite the tragic loss. 

Choosing my “best tracks” for this EP was almost impossible. Every song on the EP is SO good. “A Day Without You” has to be my absolute favorite, maybe because it was the first I heard from the EP and it truly drew me in. The synth, driving beat, and catchy lyrics in “A Day Without You” and “Out by Myself” make you want to sing and dance and get mad at a shitty boyfriend who doesn’t exist. “This Must Be the Place” reminds me of going to clubs and parties and the thrill and boredom of going out. The lyrics “Night life, people are having fun. Everyone is looking for something or someone. I don’t feel like playing this foolish game, cause every Friday night the story is the same,” repeat throughout the song with Minerva’s mesmerizing vocals. What I would give to go out to a club and be bored again!! :’( Until then you can find me dancing to this EP alone in my bedroom:)

“Cherushii & Maria Minerva” really doesn’t compare to anything else I’ve heard before. It’s so uniquely them and clearly has a lot of love and care behind it. It makes you want to dance, despite the tragic loss. Listen to this EP! Share it with your friends! It is so perfect. 

Xoxo,

Gab 

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New Album Review

EP Review: “Devotion”- Planet 1999

Best Tracks: Spell, Party, Replay, Devotion 

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I first found Planet 1999 on Caroline Polachek’s “IF U PLZ” Spotify playlist (also highly recommend this) with their single “Spell” in 2019. Planet 1999 is the first band to sign with PC Music and is often known for their ‘90s dream-pop sound. You may have also heard of them through Charli XCX– the band co-wrote and co-produced “February 2017” on album “Charli” with artists Yaeji and Clairo. This year, they finally came out with a full EP of their own- “Devotion.” 

“Devotion” is seven songs long and goes between melancholy and shoegaze-y songs like “Spell” and “Haze,” to upbeat, party songs like “Party” and “Replay.” This EP is SO pretty. The ethereal vocals and tonality remind me a lot of the Cocteau Twins, with their difficult-to-understand lyrics and ‘90s shoegaze sound. You can’t help but hum along and pretend you know the words :p

This EP is clearly very different from the typical Hannah Diamond, A. G. Cook, Charli XCX sound that PC Music is known for. It’s a lot more indie and dream-pop. I love this EP and am very curious to see more of the clear changes happening within PC Music. Even A.G. Cook just put out acoustic songs on his new 49 song album “7G”– who would have thought! Some of my personal favorites from the EP are “Spell,” “Party,” “Replay,” and “Devotion.” 

I highly recommend you check out the EP as well as their new singles– one of my favorites being “This Is For Me [baby blue] – Planet 1999 remix.” 

Xoxo, 

Gab

Categories
New Album Review

Album Review: All the Time- Jessy Lanza

Best Tracks: All the Time, Alexander, Badly, Like Fire 

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If you’re a big fan of Jessy Lanza like I am, you’ve been anticipating her newest and 3rd full length album, All the Time, since she dropped her newest singles- “Lick in Heaven,” “Face,” and “Anyone Around” around the beginning of quarantine. Before the singles dropped, Canadian “clup-pop” artist, Jessy Lanza hadn’t put out an album since 2016’s Oh no. 

I first fell in love with Jessy Lanza’s sound with her first album- Pull My Hair Back. Songs like “Giddy” and “F*** Diamond” got me hooked with her etherial voice and siren-esque synth. Similarly, her second album, Oh no, became one of my favorites. Songs like “VV Violence” and “Never Enough” are reminiscent of the 80s with similarities to Janet Jackson- which I love. As well as a techno and club influence with songs like “It means I love you.” All the Time, Oh no, and Pull My Hair Back are similar yet very different– All the Time feels a lot more pop and electro-pop. 

The album is so cohesive in its consistency of sound throughout each song. Songs like “Face,” “Badly,” and “Like Fire” are very PC music, whilst still contributing her repetitive and ethereal vocals. They make you want to dance!!! Her lyrics are short and sweet- repeating phrases like “would you rather be lonely” and “over and over” on songs “Alexander” and “Over and Over.” Songs like “Baby Love” and “Over and Over” are slower, more drawn out and remind me a lot of Pull My Hair Back and even Robyn’s- “Baby Forgive Me.”

If it isn’t clear enough that I love this album, let it be known that I accidentally sent my therapist a text meant for a friend telling her to listen. Turns out my therapist listened anyways and loved it too :p I’ve also been playing the album a lot on my balcony and have gotten sweet responses from my neighbors- some even telling me to “turn it up.” SO, it really is a universally good album. 

If you’re in the mood for a fun, summer to fall album- I highly recommend. Tell your friends, neighbors, & even your therapist if you have one 😉 

-Xoxo, 

Gab