This edition of LITM Rock Picks displays diverse, dynamic rock renditions from artists Tom DiCillo, freya from the north, Franklyn 95, The Indestructible Water Bear, and Symmetrie.
Tom DiCillo - December Sun
Award-winning independent filmmaker and musician, Tom DiCillo captivates with his cinematic musical setting in the single, December Sun. This song is part of his new album, "Shot of Blue," which explores everything in between love’s surreal wonder and agonising wreckage. December Sun presents a story as illusory and hypnotic as its sound—a love so absorbing and real, but only, it was all in a dream. The soundscape captures the bittersweet whimsy and existential weight of the theme in its atmospheric blues-americana rock. The subdued twangs of emotive guitar melodies waft in the air like smoke in a bar. The gentle yet restless pace of the drums softly caresses the moody riffs and ethereal harmonica tunes. The singer’s raspy, baritone voice heaves and shivers under the weight of the emotions and contemplations it carries. December Sun totally immerses you in its transportive sound and affecting story. Listen here!
freya from the north - Fjord Song
Denmark-based musician freya from the north envelops you in the ethereal and enthralling atmosphere of the latest release, Fjord Song. Much like the winding, deep, beautiful Fjords, this soundscape also forms through lush, vast, and spell-binding instrumentation. Angelic vocal echoes opening the song form a portal-like halo, its irresistible allure inviting you to surrender to the inward pull of the music. As you go further into the song, radiant and energetic guitar riffs welcome you, swiftly joined by celestial synth melodies. Their joyful and exuberant glow allows you to bask in the magical bliss of it all. With its short runtime of just two minutes twelve seconds, the song’s ephemerality adds to the enchantment. However, its bewitching musical ambiance ensures that the spell lingers and you come back for more. Listen here!
Franklyn 95 - Stay Awake
Franklyn 95 revives the pulsing, rough-hewn, authentic charm of 90s rock music in the album 90s days. The North-London based band, led by the talented singer-songwriter Simone Le Gassick crafts a mesmerizing blend of shoegaze, grunge, indie rock, channeling the spirit of live gigs in the nineties. Stay Awake, the opening track from the album, gives a compelling introduction to their sonic aesthetic. Shuffling drum beats start off the music along gravelly bass lines. Gritty riffs shroud the music in its gauzy melodies while mystical vocal whispers waft invitingly in the musical atmosphere. The instrumentation, true to its roots, boasts a raw, DIY, and rough production, elevating the appeal of the track. With time, the song reveals its searing, electrifying spirit with thumping drums, distortion-heavy riffs, and impassioned vocals. Stay Awake has a stirring intensity both in its nostalgic design and lyrical vulnerability. Listen here!
The Indestructible Water Bear - Everything is OK
The Indestructible Water Bear, a Philadelphia-based rock band, bring a moody and whimsical atmosphere in their soundscapes, infused with just enough vulnerability and verve that it always feels refreshing and evocative. Everything is OK, the title track of their debut album, gives you a taste of what’s to come and leaves you craving more of that ephemeral elegance and effervescent energy in their music. The soundscape presents a cathartic lightness and moving intensity- gritty riffs rain down heavily while pounding drums anchor the momentum to a slow and steady pace. Just as you settle into it, the music slips into softer atmospheres, with luminous guitar melodies, airy beats, and mellifluous vocals. And then it comes, the familiar force of instrumentation led by soaring vocals. In this captivating oscillation, the song finds its footing, a relentless flow in the duality that also carries you in its sweeping current. Everything is OK is a masterful musical piece. Listen here!
Symmetrie - Stück für Stück
Symmetrie, a rock band from Germany, craft genre-defying, thematically-driven, and emotionally-charged soundscapes, reflecting serious instrumental, lyrical, and vocal prowess. The latest release, Stück für Stück, is an introspective and intense track, bringing both conceptual depth and sonic energy. With a vital and optimistic message, this song serves a much-needed dose of optimism to carry into the new year. The German lyricism conveys that even if you feel lost or stuck, there is always hope to move on and every small step is still a step forward. This contemplative mood and hopeful spirit is perfectly encapsulated in the soundscape through the slow, somber start that swiftly transforms into energetic rhythms, blazing guitar riffs, and impassioned vocal melodies. Stück für Stück highlights the band’s impressive ability to seamlessly weave elements of pop-punk, indie-alternative rock together into a rousing composition. Listen here!
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