This edition of LITM Rock Picks takes you through alternative beats and slow-burning melodies with featured artists Tony Lio, Mortal Phophets, MatAre, Dandy Lions, and Damn Williams.
1. Tony Lio- Better to Sleep
A few rhythmic taps, a hypnotic lull, and whispered melodies form the soundscape of Toni Lio’s ‘Better to Sleep’. The artist paints a picture of numbness, drawing the listener in with its smoky tones. A slow-burning, feverish melancholia, the track offers to be a partner in grief and a snug, empathetic space, tapping into the suppressed compartment of the mind. The guitar, vocals, and soft bongos are seamlessly fused, slowly building on the ambient intensity. Overall, the song finds itself tucked into a cozy corner of the alternative folk-rock genre.
2. Mortal Prophets- Tiny Dancer
Experimental ambient band Mortal Prophets mixes melancholia with disorientation with their latest track, ‘Tiny Dancer’. It’s a moody song that infuses unconventional sounds with warping melodies and fragmenting notes, creating a seamless, hypnotic soundscape. The track opens with an unapologetic introduction to this buzzing soundscape, and has the drawly vocals layered on top of a whirring, spinning underbed of avant-garde composition. The track sticks to a hypnotic rhythm but breaks the flow with ghost-like synths injected every now and again, creating a mild imbalance, as if you’ve just woken up from a ‘falling dream’. A bit dazed and unsettled, but on board for round two.
3. MatAre – Into the Sea
Post punk, dream pop artist, MatAre amps up the energy with his latest song ‘Into the Sea’. A vibrant track, it invokes visual landscapes of the ocean, with the overall theme of ‘release’. The artist delivers an enjoyable and fun soundscape in waves, starting with the groove, which feels very ‘90s nostalgia. The next wave brings in the vocals alongside the punchy instruments, as the lyrics ponder over glimmering sunsets and exhilarating currents. The atmospheric underbed swells and sways in intensity, offering an overall warm and immersive pull, like a gentle tide, and if you’ll have it, the track can engulf you in sweet escapism.
4. Dandy Lions- Christmas (or any other day)
The sibling duo Dandy Lions bring an alternative spin to the festive season with their track ‘Christmas (or any other day)’. They’ve used the imagery of Christmas as a jumping-off point to talk about everyday life — life after Christmas, touching on themes of impermanence. It’s reflective and bold, offering a different perspective. The music itself has a clean, vibrant arrangement, with a seamless blend of playful bass notes and a steady drum section, atop an atmospheric mix of tones. The vocals have a nice, dark, velvety texture in contrast to the grungy, yet catchy groove of the guitar. At the end of the day, the season doesn’t affect the vibes, and this track is loopable whether it’s December or July!
5. Damn Williams- Roger
Alternative band Dane Williams turns up the heat with ‘Roger’, a song that starts almost immediately with a mission, as if the band is about to get confrontational. The track is energetic and slow-burns its way from tension to release, with an instrumental groove that’s sure to rile up the listener to join in on the band’s mission. The drum section is a highlight, with its shifting grooves and variations, bringing in the overall track’s energy. Lyrically, the song is observational, with the singer starting off soft and nonchalant but building tension as the momentum increases, culminating in a climactic instrumental interlude that features an electrifying duet between the guitars and drums. All in all, a thrilling piece!
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