Some familiar faces are back, ready to kick off their 2019, while some new faces and new faces to Velvet, also join in with the mix on this weeks What’s Good?
PLAZA – Hold
The boys from up north are back, bringing their first track of the year to the table, ‘Hold’. The Hartlepool rockers talent for crafting indie rock tracks ready for stadiums and roaring festival crowds is undeniable, continued furthermore on ‘Hold’ as chilling lulls before their first chorus ignites the fire and passion felt on every release from the Hartlepool group to date.
Ducks! – Swerve (ft. Rachel Maio)
Berlin based, Australian duo Ducks! take sparse, minimalistic electronica and combine it with the sombre tones of Rachel Maio’s cello on their new track Swerve. Centralised around the narrative of someone not being satisfied with the life they’ve made for themselves, the repetitive chiming feels claustrophobic to the point where Swerve breaks out into a series of singular beats, seeking to break out from the uniformed prison of conformity.
In Caravans – Maybe
Danish group In Caravans released ‘Maybe’ last month, with the coinciding music video, dropping yesterday. A psych/funk fuelled, indie track that tinkers around with shoegaze elements, ‘Maybe’ develops big hitting guitars into dreamy soundscapes, utilising the presence of funk on the track to allow ‘Maybe’ to breeze by effortlessly for their first real track.
Palace – Martyr
The third track to be taken from their upcoming second LP ‘Life After’, London group Palace visit their old roots on ‘Martyr’, travelling back to the sound of their earliest release ‘Veins’. A swarm of brightly chiming guitars clash with swooping hooks, as the two amalgamate to create a hazy, blues rock beauty that could have happily found a place on their first full length.
KERA – Bright Future Ahead (ft. Devendra Banhart)
Now this last one comes from LA artist, KERA, self labelling their music as “bi-polar folk”. On ‘Bright Future Ahead, this queer artist speaks openly about both providing help for those who need it, as well as acknowledging the resilience of those who require such help. With 100% of proceeds from the song going to Trans Lifeline it’s a worthwhile cause to donate to and an equally impressive track to keep repeating.
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