Album Review
Foley’s Latest Masterpiece “Crowd Pleaser”
Foley, the dynamic musical duo, drops their highly anticipated album “Crowd Pleaser” in a blaze of electrifying melodies and heartfelt lyrics. After gifting us a taste of their genius with hit singles like ‘Coffee’, ‘Smooth It Over’, ‘Killing Me Babe’, and ‘Nothing’, Foley is now ready to enthrall the world with their full album, just in time for their Australian debut at BIGSOUND 2023.
“Crowd Pleaser” is more than an album; it’s a testament to Foley’s artistic prowess, carrying an unmatched boldness and confidence in every note. The album digs deeper into Foley’s musical identity, revealing their ability to thrive and flourish beyond the surface. The recent single ‘Tongue’ showcases their prowess in tackling complex themes with a vibrant dynamism that’s uniquely their own.
Leading the charge is the electrifying single ‘What Got Into You,’ a mesmerizing example of Foley’s tight songwriting partnership and musicianship. Collaborating with long-time producer Josh Edmonds, Foley ventures into uncharted sonic territory by running the entire song through a guitar pedal board, resulting in a production style that’s both innovative and captivating.
But it’s not just about the music; “What Got Into You” dives into the whirlwind of the rumor mill. Foley delves into the chaos from a simple whisper, exploring how a single piece of gossip can spiral into an uncontrollable tale that ravages lives. As Foley eloquently puts it, “What Got Into You” captures the unraveling of a rumor that morphs into something beyond imagination, wreaking havoc as it spreads.
With 9 enthralling tracks spanning a concise 30-minute journey, “Crowd Pleaser” showcases Foley’s versatility, musical prowess, and ability to resonate with listeners profoundly. Brace yourselves for a sonic adventure that will leave you craving more.
Album Review
Cognitive Constellation Corps blurs humanity and technology on “Thank You for Your Feedback (I)” album
In a world of notifications and automated responses, algorithms, and feedback requests, Cognitive Constellation Corps finds something unexpectedly human inside the machinery. “Thank You for Your Feedback (I)” is an alt-pop exploration of connection, isolation, communication, and the increasingly complicated relationship between people and technology, transforming familiar procedural language into something else.
Created by Brooke Tamsin Clevenger, a Belfast-based artist, the project’s principal composer, lyricist, producer, and conceptual director, the album is deliberately constructed around what happens to human emotion when our lives are increasingly structured by systems that process information rather than necessarily understand feelings. The album opens with “Opening Loop (i),” which introduces that world through the idea of repetition, linking software loops to the habits we humans learn in modern life.
Followed by “Signal Received (i),” the track becomes more fragile, a mix of bubbling electronic movement and the promise of waiting for a response. It picks up the strange emotional weight that can be behind something as simple as a digital signal. “Thank You For Your Feedback (i)” examines the pressure to be constantly evaluated, and “Echo Chamber (i)” reflects on how digital interaction creates intimacy and amplifies alienation. “The Curve of Clarity (i)” is a road toward understanding where data and human realization begin to converge.
On the production side, the project explores electronic textures without allowing its technological concept to overwhelm its emotional core. “Threadbare, Threadshare (i)” turns the fatigue of constant communication into an interesting concept. “The Response Loop (You’re Still Talking)” injects a sense of urgency with a faster, more club-friendly beat that mixes early-80s electronic music with state-of-the-art sounds.
“Harmonic Distortion (i)” continues the album’s obsession with emotion that has been filtered, and “Always (i) [Sevahem]” is an appropriate closer, reflecting on organic feeling and ancient human knowledge through the prism of digital sound. “Thank you for Your Feedback” is a tech-driven concept that is always aware of the person behind the screen. Cognitive Constellation Corps is cerebral and electronic and conceptually ambitious while remaining emotionally accessible.
Album Review
With “The Rhythm of Mandolay” album, Eye Travel finds beauty in the space between memory, melodies, and moments
With “The Rhythm of Mandolay,” Gothenburg singer-songwriter Christoffer Andersson, known from his musical project Eye Travel, reveals a deeply personal world. It is an 11-track album forged in time, reflection, and creative discovery and a crossroads between past and present.
The project was recorded with Charles Storm at the Cloudchamber studio on the island of Hisingen, and it turns individual songs into a linked collection where raw emotion, acoustic beauty, and vintage influences coexist. The album kicks off with “Holly,” a dramatic opener built on an Omnichord foundation and expressive vocals that have a theatrical quality. Next up is “Birdsong,” a more delicate affair with breezy melodies that recall the charms of 90’s pop.
For “Verona,” Eye Travel strips everything back and creates an intimate acoustic moment that captures feelings of distance and quiet longing. “Going Under” takes a different direction, using heavy Moog bass and lush string and flute arrangements to create a boisterous, vintage-inspired sound with lots of movement. Meanwhile, “This Planet” takes a bright, catchy pop approach that brings a playful energy, and “Beech Street” is a warm, reflective acoustic folk-pop memory trip.
“Castle” slows the pace to a gentle European folk feel, establishing an intimate, personal atmosphere. “Scientia” is a nicely placed instrumental lullaby that helps the album flow, and “Surface” is a quick but poignant glimpse of a fleeting feeling. “Pauline” is one of the album’s most powerful moments, a grand, emotional performance that captures its drama.
The last song on the album, “Comforting Hell,” leaves a bittersweet taste, exploring the tricky places where sadness and comfort can coexist. “The Rhythm of Mandolay” is an album carefully constructed on the rhythm of contrast. Eye Travel delivers a timeless record that is so very human, drawing on vintage influences, acoustic storytelling, and emotional honesty.
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