LITM Rock Picks Tunes Featuring Pilots, The Sundials, Lemon, Under Starling and SANSOM.
Pilots - Leave Someone
"Pilots' ' Leave Someone' is a five-minute alt-rock behemoth that fuses Brit-rock throwback and contemporary heft. From the introduction sequence, the song holds the listener in a firm, vice-like grip through a dense, propulsive bassline that resonates tantalizingly with gorgeous, melodic guitar playing. Drawing influences from Muse, Biffy Clyro, and even the anthemic energy of Oasis, Pilots create something at once recognisable and energising.".The manner in which the chorus builds and explodes is near cinematic- as though the helicopter is lifting off into the sky- providing chills. It's one of those songs that you want to turn up loud and envelop yourself with waves of emotion and adrenaline. With "Leave Someone," Pilots show that they're so much more than just another alt-rock outfit; they're a mission-band, a band with a cause that is just beginning to leave their mark.
2. The Sundials - Finally Free
"The Sundials' 'Finally Free' is a triumphant return for the Adelaide band, a soulful, cathartic anthem born from personal as well as professional struggles. Blending old-school rock swagger with sunshine harmonies redolent of '70s folk-rock, the track recalls a fusion of Sam & Dave's gospel fervor and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's poignantly bittersweet words.".
Frontman Dieter Horvat leads the way with a reading of raw, emotional vocals, and saxman Daisy Davidson injecting shots of heat into the fray. Toby Johnson's drumwork and Paddy Maddern's bass drive the song to its galvanizing climax, a chorus of emancipation and new birth. "Finally Free" is no simply a breakup song, but an anthem—a band exorcism of tragedy and a bold move into what is next.
3. Lemon - Gimme Something True
Lemon's "Gimme Something True," featuring Cath Coffey, is a ballad that gently tests the limits of exposure in indie rock. Its delicate, piano-and-guitar construction is warm, settled, like a gentle pleading for truth from a relationship.
The language- delivered with a poise of restraint and desire—is underscored with the worth of emotional exposure. The song's melody builds steadily, like the spread arms of two hands in peaceful comfort. At the final build of the chorus, the song achieves a point of resolution, wrapping the listener in a coating of comforting consideration. "Gimme Something True" isn't just a song; it's a comfort invitation to drop your guard and seek sincerity.
4. Under Starling - Birdwatching
"Birdwatching" by Under Starling is a beautiful mix of alt-rock and folktronica with richly embedded Irish southeast seaboard scenery. The track narrates two lovers luxuriating in their final moments together before they must be parted—echoed in the short flight of birds on a puff of wind.
The track blooms from a whispered, indie-guitar introduction to a sweeping, cinematic peak that so aptly catches the vastness of the Irish sky and the poignant pang of departure. Molly Robb's softly rendered vocals glide beautifully along with the lead, creating an unearthly texture that gives depth to the song's emotional impact. "birdwatching" is a poignant journey through love, nature, and the irreversible passage of time—a tune that lingers in the mind long after the last note falls.
5. SANSOM - Burn The Bridges
SANSOM's "Burn the Bridges" is a firecracker of a rock anthem loaded with raw energy and emotive dynamite. The CD was recorded at Brighton Electric Studios, and the song has the unrelenting energy of Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters, combined with heavy riffs and anthemic melodic hooks.
From the very first pounding drumbeat, the song keeps the listener in a state of tension that will not let go. The soaring vocals ride atop a sea of massive instrumentation, and there is a dynamic struggle between control and chaos. The standout lyric—"Burn the bridges to light the way"—isn't just a hook; it's a mantra for anyone who desires to leave the past behind and forge a new path forward.
The recording is unpolished but polished, with a spotless balance of melody and rage. "Burn the Bridges" is a mission statement, a threat that SANSOM is a rock band ready to shake the very foundations of the genre. With this being the inaugural of four releases in the pipeline, it's clear they're only getting started—and they're bringing fire with them.
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