Toobs – Worms
Part of Toobs’ charm is that this sounds like a kid just discovering the enduring strength and appeal of hitting the distortion pedal at strategic moments. However, beyond this, Robert Dakota Bragg seems to possess the kind of street-smarts that make the monologue of “Worms” an interesting, easily listenable affair.
The verses are the kind of music you’d use to impress your friends down by the skate-park, with quick, rhythmic slabs of poetic frustration. Yet, the chorus hits you right between the eyes, with a giant sound that echoes the same feelings of defeat.
If you’re a reader of Alt77 and you were to discover “Worms” in a random playlist, there’s a high likelihood, we predict, you’ll be playing it back a few times. It’s a well-acted, big indie-rock single.
Give this kid a budget and big-time producer and let’s see what he can do!
passive witnesses – Interrupted Journey
“Interrupted Journey” resembles a picture that’s been overexposed or a watchful eye that cannot avoid focusing on details rather than a full picture. The video accompaniment to the song treads on similar territory.
Musically, passive witnesses sound like Radiohead fixated on meditation chanting, could be, essentially, most of Radiohead’s output in over a decade. The song shimmers and moves like a soundtrack to Hatha Yoga highlights.
The vocals are delicate and elegant. They should rightly draw more than a passing comparison to Thom Yorke’s style and tone. However, it takes more than a mere desire to imitate, to pull off this kind of gentle-dynamics.
passive witnesses is artsy and ambitious, late-night city music, the kind of sounds that replace the busy traffic noises.
