Icarus Phoenix: On my belly

If anything singer-songwriter Drew Danburry does not shy away from being straightforward in his lyrics. On my belly, the new single he wrote for his band Icarus Phoenix, is a jangling pop song about having doubts contemplating having offspring.

Lines like "Put a baby in me she said put a baby in me she said // Not on my belly or my face not on my belly or my face" likely won't make it past the stuck-up gatekeepers of mainstream playlists. Which is a damn shame, because these things happen in the real world and it comes with an ace melody. As per usual the track is also available as solo acoustic version.

Words about music (824): Aristotle

Music directly represents the passions of the soul. If one listens to the wrong kind of music, he will become the wrong kind of person.

Aristotle

Kaki King: Infinite Ache

Brooklyn based guitarist Kaki King is a musician's musician, whose dexterity and tone on an acoustic is nearly impossible to replicate. The four tracks on her Infinite Ache EP may deal with sadness, but they also manage to sound comforting and even uplifting. Fluidity interacting with single notes, plus her own invention the passarelle, once more shows her versality as a player and composer.

It is small batch of songs to gently bop along with, scratching your head how to hell she manages to do what she does. Enjoy in small doses, because the overall effect can be overwhelming.

Heavenly: Scene Stealing

Cult indie pop band Heavenly have released another single from their forthcoming album Highway To Heavenly, their first in 30 years. On Scene Stealing they paint the picture of a guy taking advantage of an inebriated girl, the subsequent guilt and realising that this will haunt him forever and leave a permanent scar on his victim. They point a finger by way of an upbeat song that sounds cheerful, but of course it isn't, making it a prime example of damning dichotomy.

Chalk: Tongue

Belfast based electro-punk act Chalk have filled every nook and cranny on their new single Tongue, a dark and dense banger that hits hard. Ross Cullen (vocals) and Benedict Goddard (guitar, synth) have nailed bottling anxiety and make it sound like having fun in a weird way.