Hollywood Video Game Kill-Bot "Night"

Minimalist lovely soundscapes flow from my speakers today as I've discovered yet another act worthy of mention. Lawndale, California "band" (quotes because it's one of those situations where there is one guy, Zachary Chacon, doing the heavy lifting - writing, arranging, recording, and performing) has a new track titled "Night." 

The song opens with tense piano chords, or clusters followed by an electro-beat. Everything feels very disjointed but in a way that paces itself, then wraps around making the tune very satisfying. There is also the inclusion of noise-made-into pad elements which I love. I imagine that fans of early to mid-NIN or Aphex Twin would enjoy Hollywood Video Game Kill-Bot. This track in particular seems to hold a lot of potentials, like could it be a soundtrack? a dance piece? videogame music? All of the above seems apt but perfectly enjoyable as a standalone as well. 

Bryanna Rain "Blaming Eternia"

Young polymath Bryanna Rain has released a new EP titled "Blaming Eternia." For the most part, it's captivating dance music with plenty of bass and synths which ought to keep audiences moving (assuming we can ever get back into the clubs post lockdown). 

The music video for the ep-titled song follows much of the same inspiration as the other electronic track. It's very orchestral in its execution; it's dark and thumping. Through her website, we're also treated to some insight into her creative process as we get to see her recording this first song to the EP. It's always nice to get a "behind the scenes" look at an artist, so I say bravo Ms. Rain!

Next in the lineup is "Phosphene," its opening pad-chords cascading over the speakers like sheens of heavy light. The drums kick in to prove, once again, that this still dance-music. Bryanna, has a low-spoken-style-alto voice, which communicates a seriousness juxtaposing the uptempo elements of the track. What I like most about this song is the subtle way Ms. Rain finds the unexpected melody notes in the chords to create appropriately surprising lines in the vocals. 

Finally, we have the acoustic song (girl+guitar) "Sleeping." From the outset, the lyrics are captivating "I blame you for the moonlit sky..." Upon hearing that, my ears perked up and I thought "OK, I've got to see where this is going." And it doesn't disappoint, the poetry on this track, in particular, is evident, which shouldn't be such a surprise as Bryanna Rain is also an author. 

Overall, I think for fans of early techno, beat poetry, and introspective music, "Blaming Eternia" would be a very welcome addition to their music collection. 

Erin Fox "Very Far"

Have you ever heard an original song, and thought to yourself: "I know I've heard this before, but I just can't quite place it?" This was the Deja Vu-type moment when I switched on Philidelphia-based singer/songwriter Erin Fox's "Very Far." It's like this beautiful amalgamation of sweet French pop-musicals (a la "Umbrellas of Cherbourg") and Portishead's "Third." But the song "Very Far" is so original in its own right as well, kind of like the way fashion comes back but with a modern twist.

Erin Fox's voice is sweet and crisp - with easily discernable enunciation paving a road of beautiful and mysterious lyrics. I would be remiss if I did not comment on the beautifully produced music video as well (see above). 

This is yet just one more example of the plethora of talent available to us from the rise in social media. Young talented people are able to produce content that rivals the best (and indeed, surpasses) what's available in the corporate record world. For fans of female-fronted-indie-intelligent music, Fox is a welcome and enriching addition.  

Whole Damn Mess "Nothing In The World Feels Better"

Just in case anyone out there in internet land was wondering if indie bands are still writing instantaneously catchy songs - the answer is an emphatic "YES," and the song I would like to direct you to is one released earlier this year (2021) by the LA-based band: Whole Damn Mess, featuring their ear-wormy tune "Nothing in the World Feels Better." Though it was released in January, I imagine this will fit well with summer road trip mixes, blaring out of rolled-down car windows, while friends sip on iced coffee headed to some kind of adventurous destination. 

Essentially, the song takes the form of a subtle, yet upbeat rock anthem. The vocal melody is somewhat chant-like in its delivery while the uptempo rhythm section provides a streaming pulse (as you can see in the music video, the robot has no trouble dancing to it). There is a mild psychedelic aspect to "Nothing in the World Feels Better (also available on Spotify) and a little more than a dash of 80's pop (think The Cure/Smiths). As of right now, it seems like audiences agree with me, as of writing this review, the song has over 50K plays on YouTube which is extremely respectable for bands that don't enjoy major corporate backing. Well done gentlemen!

The BRKN "Lost Boy"

The Denver-based band BRKN shows off a bit of their acting/improv chops with their new music video accompanying the song "Lost Boy" (released May of 2021). In the opening, the lead singer sarcastically ribs his bandmates (both of whom are playing video games) about "touching his guitar;" it's a whimsical look at the trio which I think will be appreciated by their fans. 

While the music video shows three young men who don't take themselves too seriously, the song, and musicianship and sheer chops of The BRKN tells another story. The lead vocalist is absolutely a rock singer but has a real pop-edge to his style and ability (and this is NOT an insult, think 2000's boy band style tenor). The drumming and guitar solo in the track are no less impressive. Overall the song is catchy, fun but shows a band that thinks carefully about the quality of their music. 

Jess Yaffa "Too Soon"

One of the best things to come from the social media explosion over the past 10 years is undoubtedly the accessibility of stellar talent from the youth community. From Billie Ellish to Post Malone the public has been treated to young singers and songwriters breaking molds and showing the industry what they've been missing. One such artist is Jess Yaffa, who as of this year (2021) has released a catchy and expertly performed song titled "Too Soon."

Yaffa, at age 19 is a fantastic singer, and that's the primary thing listeners will take away from "Too Soon," but I think the instrumentation and arrangement of the song need some mention as well. I'm particularly fond of the opening tanpura drone, which calls to mind more than a few of my Hindustani classical music lessons while visiting Calcutta. The tom drums carry us into the first verse with some McCartney-esque lyrics about "all those crazy love songs." The languid melody sung is hypnotic and stays with listeners almost immediately.

Jess Yaffa is a new artist for me (and CMT); I'm very curious to see what more time behind the pen and microphone will do to her output - but, I can confidently say that she's starting from a place that is years beyond her age.

Realmannyg "Universe 4"

A small confession I have for CMT readers: instrumental tracks are not typically my go-to. It isn't because there aren't compelling instrumental tracks out there (there are, and I'm going to show you one in a moment) I think it's more because modern DAW software has increased the ease of making music, and the market is just saturated with people creating and sharing said creations, which are often churned out on a semi-daily basis. Not so with what I'm about to present. Realmannyg has released a new track and music video titled "Universe 4." The music video is its own bit of loveliness but I want to talk about the music. 

The opening piano and guitar riffs say clearly "indie" or "dream pop" but the introduction of perfectly edited crisp drums says "no, this is electronica!" Still, the organic elements create a very live feel. It's minimalist in some ways - meaning that we can clearly hear what is in the forefront - but the mixing is so first-rate. "Universe 4" is everything that's great about new music production - delicate manipulation of sounds with catchy and beautiful lines that offer a banquet of ear candy. 

Rayne "Rambo"

So, here's something that I'm sure every male reader of CMT will be thankful. Rayne is a New York-based Hip-Hop artist with an understandably thriving Instagram page (if you haven't guessed, she's crazy-beautiful). And, as of April 30th of 2021, her new single "Rambo" is available in all the normal places. On this track, she's teaming up with the likes of Benny Wonder and Beau Vallis (grammy big names). The tune has a sexy and fun vibe going on. 

We shouldn't let Rayne's appearance distract us too much though - her vocal chops are first-rate. "Rambo" seems to be the kind of track that is appropriate at the club, or blaring in the car. Its samples sound very vintage 70's grindhouse flick - with a serious eastern feel. The lyrics are tough as is Rayne. This is a textbook example of expert production very worthy of a great speaker setup. 

You can listen to "Rambo" on Rayne's Spotify Here

CerVon Campbell "Cedar Falls"

From the opening guitar plucks/strums, my first thought was this was going to be a kind of Modest Mouse-inspired song a-la "Good News for People Who Love Bad News." Then some more effected RnB/Hip Hop vocals coming in kind of threw me for a loop. The crazy thing is, though, that the Modest Mouse comparison is actually an apt one in my opinion. It's a very stream-of-consciousness type of track that CerVon Campbell has going here. Plus, there seem to be a lot of genre-defying aspects to "Cedar Falls" - obviously rock, pop, dream-pop, and punk rock.

I've actually had to listen to this thing a few times - I love the energy of "Cedar Falls." The live feel of the track is so refreshing in a world of digital loops (not that there's anything wrong with them, it's just nice to hear something different). I think for fans of bands like "His Name is Alive" There's a lot here - if you're on a road trip, this song is a must. . 

CerVon Campbell · Cedar Falls (how you doing?)