This edition of LITM Rock Picks brings you bright and swirly as well as dark and edgy, along with one for the festive season! Featuring artists- First Known Use, MICHAEL & THE GUILLOTINE, WØLFFE, Stevoo Hide and Mick J Clark.
1. First Known Use – Semantics
'Semantics' is both a shimmering gem and a fiery hellscape from the dream pop verse. It starts soft, with simple acoustic guitar, drums, and ethereal vocals with an element of melancholia, until the song fully opens up in the chorus, where every element of softness and ethereal shimmer dissipates, replaced with a burst of cathartic overdrives, roaring guitars, fiery drum fills, and scorching instrumentation, before it simmers back down into its shimmery haze. The production adds whimsical elements, twinkling synth tones and delicately placed blue notes, that foreshadow a slow, unfolding darkness while hinting at the incoming wave of intensity. This way, there’s a sharp contrast between the soft, feathery segments and the ringing, metallic segments that almost draws you in, keeping you engaged throughout. If you’re curious about venturing into dream pop territory, this would be a great start.
2. MICHAEL & THE GUILLOTINE – THE HYDRA BLUES
MICHAEL & THE GUILLOTINE’s latest track is one of those you would imagine as a soundtrack for a dark cinematic scene, with its edgy, grungy rock landscape and high-octane intensity. The instrumentalists brandish their weapons, getting heavier as the song progresses, letting the vocals and instrumentation get increasingly more menacing, making it great company for agitation. The arrangement mixes clean with raspy and gritty textures, with both the vocals and the instruments. The high-energy singing makes it highly entertaining, and it's one of those songs you’d pick up the words quickly and would want to sing it out loud.
3. WØLFFE – Favourite Song
With husky vocals and silky instrumentation, artist WØLFFE’s latest track, ‘Favourite Song’, brings in a lush indie pop blend laced with alternative hues. The track drifts in gently as subtle harmonies lift the vocals, before the instrumentation fragments and warps, leading you through jagged pathways. The track brings in a dark palette with a seamless blend of electronic textures and modern grit, as swirling synths bring an ethereal quality to the whole soundscape. The shifting rhythms create a great pace and feel, and it’s one of those songs that’s a slow burner, building up in intensity along the way—not in terms of an adrenaline rush, but in sheer emotional weight and release. Check it out here:
4. Stevoo Hide – Nothing Really Matters
Stevoo Hide’s latest track, ‘Nothing Really Matters’, opens up a sprawling soundscape built on a mix of different rock textures, pulling from familiar as well as unfamiliar territory. Ranging from clean, glassy tones to crunchy distortions, the instrumentation brings a vivid mix of paints to create variation in the landscape. It feels dark, as if you’re entering an otherworldly space – slightly anti-gravity with the instrumentation and layering. In contrast, the vocals carry a grounded, earthy feel to them, as the song slowly starts to drift you off into rocky terrain. The movement itself is slow and meditative, with the song experimenting with tonality, landing on a crisp guitar solo before bringing back that ethereal, glassy stringiness within the soundscape.
5. Mick J Clark – It’s Getting Near Christmas
Since we’re heading straight into the festive season, this is the ultimate cosy song to rock out to with the family, and the one you would wake up to on the 25th morning, to open up presents around the tree. The instrumentation is fun and jangly, driven by frolicking guitars alongside sparkling overhead synth tones, while soft bells toll gently above the instruments. Clark’s warm vocals make the whole atmosphere feel all the more joyful and celebratory. This is one song sure to bring in that pure Christmas joy. If you’re looking to start adding songs to your festive playlists, this one is freshly prepared to amp up your holiday season!
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