Dunkie - The Vanishing and Other Stories EP

Released: 19 Mar 2021
Label: Dirty Carrot Records

Listen and Buy Here

Dunkie, from Wales, return with a new EP, after 2019's epic album Working To Design. If you have not heard it, I'd strongly recommend checking it out. One of the best albums of that year and a unique masterpiece, full of wonderful songwriting and artwork. 

The thing I love about this band is their ability to create something so powerful and moving so effortlessly. On this new EP they continue to do that. It opens with 'The Vanishing' which is really haunting and beautiful. The melody has hints of New Order - True Faith. It has a huge soaring chorus which will blow you away.

'Shadows On The Sun' is more heartfelt indie, with memorable melodies. My favourite here is 'Choke', a re-working of a song from the Working To Design album. This version is quite stripped back and features the delicate vocals of Mali Davies. It offers a new fragility to song.  

'Deep Dark Heart' has more Folk/Country vibes and is a lovely duet. It is superbly orchestrated with violins, strings e.t.c. 

It ends on 'The Vanishing Shadow' (vocals by Lauren Cotes) which is very atmospheric. It wouldn't feel out of place on a film soundtrack, and is again very powerful. 

A superb EP, full of wonderfully produced and crafted songs. Highly recommended.

Colours Through The Air Best of 2019 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 2019. With the songs, it is one song from each artist.

I don't think the Dunkie album is released yet (expected this month) but there was no way I could not include it. You can find the reviews for these albums on this blog for more info. 

Albums

1. RW Hedges - The Hills Are Old Songs 

2. Dunkie - Working To Design 

3. The Vapour Trails - See You In The Next World 

4. Attic Lights - Love in the Time Of Shark Attacks 

5. ANC4 - ANC4 

6. The Jellybricks - Some Kind of Lucky 

7. The Brothers Steve - #1 

8. Paul Den Heyer - Everything So Far 

9. The Lilac Time - Return to Us 

10. The Rails - Cancel The Sun 

Songs

1. RW Hedges - Haven't Seen Her In A While 

2. Dunkie - Can A Song Save Your Life? 

3. The Prescriptions - Hollywood Gold 

4. The Vapour Trails - See You In The Next World 

5. The Late Pioneers - Let Me Tell You How It Hurts 

6. Amoeba Teen - Suit and Tie 

7. Nick Frater - Sunshine After Rain 

8. The Gold Needles - Here She Goes Again 

9. John Myrtle - Foggy 

10. Gospelbeach - Dark Angel

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. There will be a lot more reviews to come.

Dunkie - Working to Design

Released: 27 Dec 2019
Label: _
Listen on Bandcamp

Dunkie is the work of Welsh songwriter - Anthony Price, and this is his debut album. It is full of beautiful, emotional songs about life, death, love and loss. 

The album is highly accomplished, musically and also visually due to the fantastic artwork. Each song has an illustration (by Gustavius Payne) which has the essence of a surreal children's picture book.   

'The White Hole' has an angry tone and demonstrates some highly skilled musicianship, particularly the guitar work. One of the most remarkable things about this album is the attention to detail. It is often orchestral or has atmospheric electronic soundscapes.

'Can A Song Save Your Life?' shows masterful songwriting and is an example of how the simplest melody can become something so epic and hugely emotional when produced in the right way. The subject of the song is finding comfort in music and it actually does provide that.

'Rabbit Hole' is upbeat musically, but heartbreaking with themes of loss and isolation. Lyrically, it paints a vivid picture in your mind, like many of the other songs here. 

Other highlights are 'W.A.L.L.S (Within a Little Lovesong)' which has vibes of R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts. 'Sugar' is a lovely heartfelt ballad with electronic beats. '71-41-11' is about the emptiness due to bereavement and is incredibly moving. Its sound is reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens' more electronic music.

My favourite song here is 'The Memory Tree', a gorgeous folk song about preserving a departed loved one's memory. It is strangely uplifting, never overly sentimental or depressing. It brought to mind, Eels album - Electro Shock Blues.

This is a wonderful album with so much depth and intricate detail, from start to finish. Highly recommended. 

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