This edition of LITM Rock Picks features cosy niches from meditative shoegaze to powerful pop-rock performances, from the artists Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends, Mia Rose Brake, Euplasia, Empty Kodiak, and Cosmic Madness.
1. Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends- Vagnar Av Guld
‘‘Vagnar Av Guld’ is a Swedish track that’s as whimsical as its founder’s name. An eclectic mix of acoustic and electric soundscapes, the track features an assortment of soothing vocals, soulful harmonies, and a charming composition. It’s one of those songs that will mentally transport you to a long car drive along fields or, depending on your mood, leave you feeling like you’re staring into the nebulous entanglement of the night sky. The highlights are the vocal and instrumental layers that almost feel like they’re merging at certain points, with glassy tones intermingling with harmonies that ooze out—overall, making it a time-suspending listen.
2. Mia Rose Brake- Somersault
With a vocal ability that’ll make heads turn, Mia Rose Brake delivers a stunning pop-rock anthem backed by an adrenaline-fuelled arrangement and a high-octane performance. The track is quite the headbanger, as Brake uses expert vocal technique and lung power against a complementing layer of punk-infused instrumentation, building in tension and taking wacky, unexpected turns. The guitars, especially, are expertly used to pump up the soundscape with crispy, punchy overdrives alongside a funky bass and headbang-worthy drumming. Other than being technically sound, it’s objectively entertaining and high-key loop-worthy.
3. Euplasia- Hallayoola
Euplasia’s latest pop-rock track ‘Hallayoola’ gives major ‘summer holiday’ vibes with its electrifying hook. With a heavy emphasis on fun, the track uses a vibrant mix of guitars, synths, and drums to deliver a giddy, happy tune enjoyable for any age bracket. The song starts with an immediately infectious hook, followed quickly by the drums and vocals, pulling you into a danceable beat you can’t help but groove to. The vocals are bright and warm, almost inviting the listener to join in and skip the FOMO. During the interlude and the finale, the drummer goes wild, taking the rhythm twice as fast while the guitar solos freely atop the chaos. Listen here-
4. Empty Kodiak- We’re Gonna Be Ok
Heavy on the feverish, atmospheric soundscape, ‘We’re Gonna Be Ok’ is a sweet and introspective track. This song sits somewhere in the shoegaze genre with its sizzling, dreamy instrumentation, which comprises glistening synths, echoing tones, and seemingly infinite layers of tonal haze. The composition weaves softs and sharps within each instrumental and vocal layer, creating mystical waves of fluorescence. You’d almost feel as though you’re lifted, out of your seat and slowly being drawn towards the song’s epicentre, as the sheer resonance alone feels like a meditative stillness.
5. Cosmic Madness- Domain Change
Domain Change is an energetic jolt of adrenaline, crackling with raw distortion. With an upbeat rhythm and warping sonic landscapes, the track takes you through wonderfully different terrains. There’s a textural blend of deep, atmospheric resonance, grainy, and metallic edges. With lyrics like “Solving futile equations to beat invisible threats,” it sets an existential tone. The track starts with a soft hook followed by hazy vocals, treading on a rhythm and slowly building in tension, while the chorus brings in the electricity. As we get to the interlude, we reach a climactic riff and a rather abrupt ending—one of those that leaves you wanting more.
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