The Happy Somethings - A Gathering of All Sorts

Released: 17 Feb 2023
Label: Subjangle

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UK indie pop band - The Happy Somethings, are a recent discovery for me. Their music is wonderfully uplifting and humorous with hints of 80s indie. 

The album opens with 'Worried Fools' which is quite folky in style and a run down of the highs and lows of the typical year. It is lovely and laid back, and the vocals have a childlike innocence.

'Anglepoise' is more punk sounding with plenty of attitude. The production has that lo-fi charm. 'I Wish You Could Sing like Tracey Thorn' is a homage to the iconic indie pop singer and manages to be funny yet sad at the same time. 

Other highlights include 'The Present',  which is about the problems of buying and receiving gifts, something we can all relate to! 'Sweet Little Sad Song' is very moving, and about loss. Again it has that childlike simplicity which makes it so effective.

It ends on 'Some Happy Thing' which is stripped back with vocal harmonies. The lyrics are quite motivational and its definitely a good song to listen to if you are feeling low.

A hugely enjoyable album from a band well worth investigating. Highly recommended. 

Peter Hall - About Last Night

Released: 13 Jan 2023
Label: Subjangle

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Peter Hall, from Nottingham, is back with a new album. It is more wonderfully melodic and sophisticated indie pop with 80s/90s vibes. 

The album opens with 'About Last Night' which is brilliantly upbeat with soaring harmonies and heartfelt lyrics. His sound brings to mind later Teenage Fanclub, Trashcan Sinatras e.t.c.

My favourite here is 'In Plain Sight' which sounds like a radio hit of the 80s era, with hints of Aztec Camera. It is a hugely enjoyable listen and will have you reaching for the repeat button. 

Other highlights include 'For Love' which is beautifully uplifting and instantly memorable with an anthemic chorus. 'Waiting For Nothing' is more melancholic with vivid and wistful lyrics. The production is epic, with sweeping strings and a more 70s sounding guitar solo. 'Click Your Fingers' is catchy 3 minute guitar pop at its finest.

A superb album with well-crafted and heartfelt songs. Highly recommended, especially for fans of melodic indie music from the 90s or before.

Marlody - I'm Not Sure At All

Released: 13 Jan 2023
Label: Skepwax

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Marlody is a new discovery for me. Her debut album is a lovely listen, the sound being a mixture of Folk and hints of electronic. Most of the songs are piano based, rather than guitar like most of the music I review here. 

The album opens with 'Summer', which is a powerful song, reminiscing about childhood and loss. It is hugely atmospheric and emotional. It is hard to find comparisons but it brought to mind Joni Mitchell and Tori Amos.

Other highlights include 'Change', which is more traditional folk sounding and stripped back, with layered vocal harmonies. 'Wrong' is devastating, with some heartbreaking lyrics -  "There's no way to rewind and unravel these layers of longing in me...". 'Words' is another beautiful song and also seems to be about regret.

It ends on 'Otherly', which is haunting and again has an eerie ambience to it. The more electronic production is reminiscent of some of Radiohead's later music.

A stunning debut from a wonderfully unique singer-songwriter. Highly recommended.

Skytone - Adrift

Released: 18 Nov 2022
Label: _

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Skytone, from Canada, are back with a new album. Their sound is a bit different to the music I typically review here. Its a mixture of chillwave, 80s-inspired synth pop and jangle pop. Their previous album 'JangleWaves' is well worth checking out too if they are new to you (especially the song 'Slow Down').

The new album opens with 'Here and Now' which is a catchy pop song of the highest standard. I could imagine this being a potential radio hit. It is very chilled and laid back with hints of dream pop.

Other highlights include 'Don't Look Back' which is more of a slowed down ballad, with a big anthemic chorus. 'End of the Summer' is a wonderfully atmospheric love song with hints of The Beach Boys. 'Adrift' is beautifully ambient with lovely vocal harmonies.

A highly recommended album - feelgood, Summery jangle pop at its best. Its also well worth checking out their acoustic covers on Youtube:

The Sundries - Full of the Joys of Spring and Magic Johnson EPs

Released: 31 Dec 2022
Label: Subjangle

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The Sundries, from London, are a new discovery for me and one of the latest bands to be signed to the superb Subjangle label. 

The album is full of wonderfully jangly 80s-inspired indie pop. It opens with my favourite here - 'Full of the Joys of Spring'. It is highly melodic and heartfelt, with melancholic lyrics. Their sound brought to mind the early 90s indie of The Popguns. It also reminded me of more recent band - The Hannah Barberas (also on Subjangle).

Other highlights include 'Triumph Herald' which is feelgood, upbeat guitar pop, with hints of Kirsty MacColl and The Smiths. 'A Line Between Us' is a very moving listen with some heart-breaking lyrics about a failing relationship. '22' has some great pop hooks and lovely vocal harmonies.

A hugely enjoyable album, with heartfelt and memorable songs. Highly recommended.

Colours Through The Air Best of 2022 Albums and Songs

It was so hard to choose but here is the Colours Through The Air 'Best Of' post. My favourite albums and songs of 2022. With the songs, it is one song from each artist.

I felt these albums were the strongest overall and had the most impact on me. You can find the reviews for all the albums apart from Young Guv (Listen here) and The Jangles (Listen here)  

Albums

1. The Shop Window - A 4 Letter Word

2. Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band - Dear Scott

3. Young Guv - III

4. Field School - When Summer Comes

5. The Fernweh - TORSCHLUSSPANIK!

6. The Jangles - Pioneer

7. Gabriel's Dawn - Gabriel's Dawn 

8. Kevin Robertson - Teaspoon of Time

9. The Sadies - Colder Streams

10. Armstrong - Happy Graffiti

Songs

1. RW Hedges - Charm Song

2. The Wends - What A Heart Is For 

3. The Pierce Kingans - Giving It Up 

4. Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band - American Kid

5. Young Guv - It's Only Dancin'

6. Cactus Blossoms - Love Tomorrow 

7. Nell Davies - What The Heart Wants

8. Davoli - Sleep Deprived

9. Luca Nieri - Never To Learn

10. Sam Kogon - Barbed Wire

All in all, it has been a good year and I have found so much great music from doing this blog. Thanks so much to everyone who has shown an interest/sent music to me.

Field School - When Summer Comes

Released: 18 Nov 2022
Label: Bobo Integral

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This is is a superb collection of songs from Washington indie pop band Field School. They are the new band of Charles Bert who was originally in Math & Physics Club (who I reviewed here back in 2020). 

The album is jangly indie pop of the highest standard, recalling The Smiths. It has that lo-fi charm and a very stripped back sound. Highlights include - 'I Just Want to Paint You in Pictures' which is very heartfelt and upbeat. I love the simplicity, and it is instantly memorable.

'I'm Starting to feel a bit Like Myself Again' is beautifully melancholic. It also brought to mind The Magnetic Fields, especially their 69 Love songs album. 'Don't Let This Moment Pass You By' is so emotional, and again has that heartfelt simplicity that makes it so effective. 'Is This Our Love Song?' is hugely melodic and has some sublime vocal harmonies.

A wonderful album with songs which will stay in your mind from first listen. Highly recommended.