Music
Single Review: Hasten Mercy – You Don’t Leave Me
Hasten Mercy embraces a thought-provoking sound with the crystal clarity of “You Don’t Leave Me.” The languid pace of the sound anchors it within slowcore’s purview. Beyond that, elements of early 90s alternative rock, proto-shoegaze, and dream pop enter into the equation. Vocals rest front and center of the entire thing. Grooves here offer a fractured sensibility informed more by emotion than tempo. Keeping everything neatly-balanced, there is a spaciousness to it. All done with care, the best part of the song comes from the clever lyricism. Word choice is exceptional, and there is care with which the sound is approached.
A whispered quality cleverly introduces the song. The approach has a highly original quality to it. Basslines recall a bit of Seefeel’s mixture of dub, post-rock, and electronics. Drums too, have an off-kilter aspect giving the whole thing that wooziness that radiates oh so much love to it. Over the course of the song, a narrative of sorts emerges, one that has such passion behind it. Various melodies waft up into the air filling the sky with a sense of true hope. Within the rest of the sound, there is a spaciousness to it, one that seemingly references endless possibility, even a slightly romantic notion to all of it.
“You Don’t Leave Me” offers poetry of sorts, from the instruments to the vocalist, proving Hasten Mercy to be an exceptional crafter of its own sonic universe.
Link to the project:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1QWeo6PIIqEes2MbbD50Zh
Link to the music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfySYkz0UOc
Link to Website:
https://www.headfakemusic.com/
Album Review
Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”
Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.
Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.
“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.
The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.
The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.
Connect with Aptøsrs on Website | X | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify |
Artist Spotlight
LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”
LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.
LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.
LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.
Connect with LAST ALEX! on Spotify
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