
belabela – “Lilith”
Similar artists: Mazzy Star, The Doors, Portishead, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Bauhaus
Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
Combining ASMR-like vocals with the kind of songwriting techniques that would interest a seriously cool cult, belabela hopes to thrill and hypnotise.
A kid earning a driver’s license will almost always want to drive fast and recklessly. They’ll want to know what the car can do and, just as importantly, what they are capable of. They’ll rev the engine to the limit, put themselves in danger and, most likely, not warrant the attention of anyone. It’s hard to be impressive these days.
Similarly, musicians like to show you just how many notes they can play, how high they can sing, and why they paid all that money for a fancy school. This happens, in particular, with young musicians. However, you must’ve heard folks coming out of retirement to play the solo to “Eruption” in front of a bemused group of onlookers.
belabela’s “Lilith” is a well-crafted song in that there is absolutely nothing on here that is in excess. There’s no sonic overindulgence. This is the kind of music designed to start a cult or reignite excitement in an established and forward-thinking one. belabela murmurs about sexy, evil things over a minimalist post-punk groove. Nobody would dare call her bluff.
Kensuke Sudo – The Invisible Place
Similar artists: The Beatles, Kula Shaker
Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
Kensuke Sudo makes Japanese Brit-pop that sounds properly geared to be played at Wembley, to be sung from the terraces or to ring out from the boozer.
There has rarely been less understanding in the world. There are a lot of reasons for it. The most important one, perhaps, has to do with the way in which politicians and corporations keep reminding us of the differences between one another. Our fears make us then want to look at our neighbours with distrust. And once we’ve formed this within our mind’s eye, we are free to assume the worst.
The fact that music can travel all across the world and defeat any barriers is proof that there’s something that unites us all. The fact that convincing blues, Celtic-punk or Scandinavia-metal is not restricted to one geographic location is a testament to just how sacred this connection really is.
Perhaps all we need to do is ensure our communication is done through sound. Kensuke Sudo has done this and has come up with an incredibly convincing piece of music for “The Invisible Place,” a song complete with great, exuberantly sung melodies that recall British pop-rock at its best. It’s easy to like and sing along with “The Invisible Place.” And if you do, you may just be doing something good for the world, too.