MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 4/24/2024
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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Rabeca "Too Much"
Jazzy saxophones are played extremely smoothly as Rabeca’s lead vocals dance up and down higher-pitched scales. Fluid, classy instrumentation features twinkling keys and the body of Rabeca’s full, five-piece band. “Too Much” is a gorgeous, vintage groove, utilizing a timeless sound to discussing modern over-stimulation (Lyrics that indicate this include, “Every day the world gets hotter, every night I’m looking at my phone./Making friends with nature means accepting that you’ll have to let things go,” “...To be bored and chronically online,” “Sometimes it feels like it’s all too much/Memory wasn’t made to process so much information at once.”) Released on their 2023 album, Junk, “Too Much” is a dreamy piece of music with pretty, classical composition and clever production that delicately balances its many pieces to make a wholly complete sound. Secondary vocals eventually come in with glorious harmonies to close out this track with a 1 minute wind-down, which is truly indulgent.
Collective Fate "God is a Woman"
In Collective Fate’s “God is a Woman,” distortion-twisted metal guitar work fades in, hissing to introduce you to vibe of the track. The introductory, swaying build-up is resolved with a rapid, screaming takedown that pushes forward all the aggressive instrumentation. The brutal vocals don’t stop there, though, becoming the front-and-center sound of this track’s mix. Each piece of “God is a Woman” is hammered into the song to make an immediate impact, from the screamo to the pounding percussion. Lead electric guitar is classically high-amplification, but the bass is boosted too throughout, giving the song its sturdy backbone. Describing themselves as “electronic hardcore,” Collective Fate have so much to offer the scene, and this 2024 single is a fabulous example of their heavyweight, eclectic abilities.
Lucid VanGuard "Flora"
Lucid VanGuard’s “Flora” is a warm, twinkling instrumental composition. This short and sweet piano piece drips with sentimentality and has an unmistakable modern lo-fi charm. This track is featured on Lucid VanGuard’s EP Aural Ornament, which is dedicated solely to his love of playing keys. With “Flora,” Lucid VanGuard has mastered generating nostalgic emotion from the listener with a classical melody; then he compounds this aesthetically, gracing the EP’s cover with a childhood photo to smile back at you as you enjoy his work. Listening to “Flora” is a one-way ticket to appreciating the beauty of simplicity as I admire his self-described “no clicks, no edits” and “barely mixed” recording and production style. “Flora” is fresh and oh-so tranquil.
Foe "Loom Over Me"
This track has an unapologetic Brit-rock core which sounds like mashing Arctic Monkeys’ groovy, indie-rock sound with Muse’s conspiratorially sexy electro-rock anthems. Foe’s “Loom Over Me” dances with the influences of American rock’n’roll, too, before snowballing psychedelically and knocking into indie rhythms. I absolutely adore the swirling layers of sound that catch the ear quickly in “Loom Over Me” - it makes me want to dance. This song was released as a single in February, 2024 and proves wholeheartedly that Foe have what it takes to make rockstar sound.
Juniper Fly "THIS IS NOT FOR YOU"
Fiercely vulnerable, “THIS IS NOT FOR YOU” is a protection spell of a song. It feels like a sung counterattack to narcissism, as vocalist June croons out in layered harmonies, “I’m not here to show you a good time/You’re fine, you’re fine.” An experimental bridge takes us from folksy downbeats to a more jovial, vintage lyrical refrain. While on that bridge, though, the listener is granted the opportunity to be an empathetic ear to stories of social ills and negatively impactful, autobiographical experiences. In contrast, optimism continues to audibly bloom as “THIS IS NOT FOR YOU” exorcises these personal pains and begins to sound lighter throughout, the more that has been said. Reclaiming their own creativity and purpose and sending a message, Juniper Fly have produced a very pretty and unique sound for this 2024 single. “THIS IS NOT FOR YOU” can also be found on their latest EP, A POEM FOR U.
VIAL "friendship bracelet"
Pop-punk melodies tell a tale of a friendship breakup in the ironically named VIAL song, “friendship bracelet.” This powerful but platonic break-up culminates in a delightfully messy final bridge where the song breaks up, too, after emitting a lightly strangled scream. We hear the tongue-in-cheek criticisms of their former BFF throughout - “Back-stabber, attention grabber, liar… I thought you said we could be best friends forever!” Sardonic laughter turns into sobs when the track quickly trails off, much like the rapid decay of the protagonist’s relationship. I relate to the chaotic retelling of lost friendship that VIAL pulls off so well, and found this track cathartic to sing along to. From their latest album, burnout, VIAL have delivered another spunky hit with this one. They are currently touring the U.S.
