Gianni Ferraro – Elevator Music
The romantics always seem to win out in the end, even if the world seems to be hell-bent on making them repent for their optimism. And, well, you’d expect to hear plenty of romance seekers in pop music, wouldn’t you? But they’re not. Sure, there are a lot of songs being shipped out to the general public, but can you really trust the words of modern hit singles?
Nah, the world is waiting to teach you about love and anxious to break your heart. And it’s best not to avoid either one of these events if you know what’s good for you. Gianni Ferraro considers what it takes to get over a heart that’s been bruised and battered on the artist’s newest release.
“Elevator Music” is romantic, half old-fashioned, half cool indie music. It is, of course, inspired by The Arctic Monkeys during their inaugural, much-beloved phase. It’s constructed around playful melodies and lovely, colourful guitar chord progressions. It’s both a song of despair and of hope. Yeah, the romantics always win out in the end.
Velour on Tap – Hourglass Lake Ahead
Ever since the city in which I typically reside has begun resembling a dust-filled furnace during the Summers, I’ve made my way up North. “But what you get up there is just rain, cold lakes, and wild creatures roaming on top of mountaintops, isn’t it?” Yes, exactly, and those are all mighty reasons to find your own cabin in a deserted place out in nature.
Only that it’s not quite as deserted as you expect. In fact, prepare for a lot of company. As it turns out, there are plenty of people choosing the same plan and not just for meteorological reasons. They’re looking for a bit of mystery, some spooky sounds and, possibly, a few ghost stories of drowned sailors. But, if the trip is inconvenient, Velour on Tap might have a story for you.
“Hourglass Lake Ahead” is quite remarkable for the fact that jangle-pop has never sounded as ominous as the band does here. It’s just natural, I suppose. Velour on Tap hail from Nova Scotia and this is their debut, their chance to be as honest and with as few consequences as possible. It’s a mighty convincing first step and a beautifully creepy tune about wilderness, ghosts and the nothingness that we all crave.
