Whirle – What She Thinks She Knows
Genre: Post-Punk, Shoegaze, Dream Pop
I am happy to report that, however, much you like music, you’re never going to be able to properly discover but a small part of what it has to offer. And if you really like modern pop music, you’ll never have the time to take a break. The world has never been this connected. Information has never been shared faster. And the fact that all of this must make your brain swirl if the natural response to all of these exciting changes.
World music ain’t what it used to be either. Why, I can only assume that before, the only way for a European or someone from the U.S. to hear Brazilian music would’ve been through buying expensive imported records or by catching a snippet on some television show. And, when you could hear it, the music was stubbornly local.
While that’s great, the fact that Brazil, a country much larger than Europe and just slightly bigger than the continental U.S.A. is interpreting modern rock music and making it available for all to hear is a wonderful gift of our age of never-before-seen connection.
Whirle’s “What She Thinks She Knows” is music infused with the melancholy-drenched feeling of 80s post-punk a la Joy Division. There are traces of modern indie-rock as well added to this stylish, minimalist sound. It’s a familiar story, placed in a new setting, told in a new way and delivered to all of us through the wonders of the modern world.
Noel Heaney – Dystany
Similar artists: Andy Shauf, Chris Staples, Lomelda, Haley Heynderickx, Julia Jacklin
Genre: Lo-fi Rock, Dream Pop
Have you ever found yourself merrily walking down the street when you were accosted by a large group of people who were confusing you with a well-known celebrity? No, me either. But I am assured that these things happen all the time. In fact, the people who’ve told me that this happens to them ever so often seem pretty pleased about these encounters.
When it comes to pop music, there are plenty of performers trying to force this to happen, and very few have encountered this organically. Performers try to get the right haircuts and the right motivation and ask their vocal coaches to teach them to sing in a way that resembles somebody more famous. The ones that are worthy of being confused through no extraneous effort are a rare bunch.
Noel Heaney’s “Dynasty” is a brilliantly put-together lo-fi rock song that sounds an awful lot like Dan Auerbach. But that’s alright. Actually, that’s great. And if it wasn’t, there doesn’t seem to be a lot that Mr. Heaney can do about it. Vocals and production similarity aside, Heaney is following his own instincts, weaving Earthy tales about innocence, his first-owned car and the first days of Summer. And, should anyone confuse this for The Black Keys singer…well… they’re unlikely to be disappointed either.
Noel Heaney’s “Dynasty” is a brilliantly put-together lo-fi rock song that sounds an awful lot like Dan Auerbach. But that’s alright. Actually, that’s great. And if it wasn’t, there doesn’t seem to be a lot that Mr. Heaney can do about it.
