This edition of LITM Pop Picks brings you a few romantic ones, as well as a few sombre ones. Featuring artists - Matthew Phillips, Noëlle Rose, Grant Harvey Dudson, and Rich Webb & The Liars.
1. Matthew Phillips – Battlefield of Love
San Diego-based synth-pop artist Matthew Phillips just dropped a heartrending track featuring lilting, romantic passages and a swirling cascade of synths, making this a track that might just sweep you off your feet. The arrangement plays with a variety of tones and atmospheric textures that hang off of each word in the lyric, while the hazy overtones create pockets of airtight spaces along with big, bright, open ones, allowing a rhythm of punchy and flowy soundscapes. The resulting mix of echoey and hazy vocals floats gently atop a powerful current of instrumentation, both together carrying the emotional intensity of the song, as well as the listener's attention.
2. Noëlle Rose – Heaven in his Eyes
Another song that’ll tug at the heartstrings is Noëlle Rose’s latest drop, ‘Heaven in his Eyes’. This is one of those tracks that stay with you not just while you’re listening but days after you’ve last listened to it. The concept of “my hero found me when I stopped searching” is relatable to a lot of people, while at the same time providing that big-sisterly reassurance that many of us look up to. The music itself drifts you from soft and fluid tones until you reach the grand stage where Rose’s powerful vocals take over. At times, the softer regions of the vocals blend seamlessly into the synths, leading to glistening overtones and a buildup in intensity. Check out the song here-
3. Grant Harvey Dudson – Without You
This next synth-pop track is all about the vocal harmonics. The track, composed and sung by Grant Harvey Dudson, builds sleek towers of notes with glistening polish and sleek surround sound, allowing only the hazy overtones to escape the surface. The vocal harmonies aren’t delicate; they’re bold, bright, and powerful, adding more potency to the main vocal layer. The underbed of floaty undertones boosts the overhead layers, and the soft choir towards the end creates an interesting choppy contrast to the cursive leads. This is another song on the list dedicated to the romantics!
4. Rich Webb & The Liars – Peace with Bombs
Australian Indie-rock band Rich Webb & The Liars just released their latest track ‘Peace with Bombs’, a track that boldly states what a lot of listeners are thinking, with lines like “bombs continue to fall”. The lyrics call out a broken system of hierarchy and oligopoly, as the music beside it leans into irony, giving the song a friendly, energetic, upbeat trajectory. The indie rock track feels adventurous and summery overall, a bit reminiscent of Green Day, especially with its unbridled political messaging. Other than these aspects, it's also brilliantly punchy and entertaining throughout. Listen here-
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