NEW MUSIC: FT. Glass Peaks, Theatre Royal, Charlie Hannah & J:Kenzo
We have four new songs for you to listen to this week
This Friday, while you are social distancing or even heading back to work, let these new tracks from Kent artists tune your ears in to what the most musically productive county in the country sounds like right now.
We have added all tracks to the ‘cene #KeepitKent Spotify Playlist HERE
GLASS PEAKS - LIFT ME
Kent indie rock trio Glass Peaks return with a heart-felt and uplifting tale of yearning for love.
The soft tones of vocalist Alfie Jefferies and the touch of electronics and complex guitars continue the comparison with the legendary Depeche Mode and, with this particular record, the emotionally charged duo of Hurts. Glass Peaks always manage to create engaging, atmospheric hooks and the all important listen again lust. Brooding.
CHARLIE HANNAH - PRAISE ME
Perhaps best known as the co-frontman of psych-pop band Itchy Teeth, Charlie Hannah has hit a rich vein of solo material with his latest release ‘Praise Me’, from album ‘Special and Different’. A spokesman for the humdrum, he is campaigning to represent the mundane topics of life, oft excluded from pop songs. And he does it superbly.
Dry satirical lyrics are so perfectly constructed as to illustrate the ironic logics of modern life. It’s packed with cliches, it’s funny, and also a really moreish song.
For example, in talking about picking up an empty packet of MonsterMunch and putting in a bin, he sings “And I did it for the planet, because I’m a man who’s proud of Thanet, and not for the praise, but praise me.” Creative.
THEATRE ROYAL - TOMORROW NOW
Medway four-piece, named after the now demolished Chatham venue, Theatre Royal have returned with a guitar pop track that has elements of late Britpop.
A strong hook and chorus vocal, there is the the meandering guitar solo and the keyboard undertones that are so adopted by the likes of The Coral. The lyrics hope for a better tomorrow, with an urgency to get away from everything we now know. There feels a solid meaning behind a track that is beautifully composed. Cheerful.
J:KENZO & AMIT - RIGHTEOUS
Kent superstar producer J:Kenzo has teamed up with Amit to create a double track release of heavy beats and foreboding atmospherics.
We have picked out ‘Righteous’, with its compelling and repetitive lyrics that are part ominous and part exciting. It’s complex and thought provoking. Heavy vibrating bass and rallying drums get the adrenaline pumping. Forceful.