Songs To Brush Your Teeth To (26th January)
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I don’t have much to say about this week’s list. It all sort of fell into place really nicely. The whole process felt smoother this week – I guess theme of the week is ‘organisation’. As always it was a last minute scramble to choose the final tracks, but that was mostly because someone recommended an artist to me, and after a little research, I’m not fully convinced they’re not AI. Now, I’m not against someone liking an AI track, I enjoyed this one (Whether it’s AI or not remains to be seen, I’ll try to report back if I find out), and there’s no doubt that as the models learn and improve AI will more consistently make music which is quite good. But I am against the way this music is created, the theft of actual artist’s work, the manipulation to make it sound like something people already love, and the lack of transparency around it. Among other things. Anyway, so much for not having much to say. On to the list…
Would- Be-Goods – Dr. Love
Second single from The Would-Be-Goods, Dr. Love is a dark, indie pop track. On first listen I described it as Peter Doherty meets The Last Dinner Party. Musically it’s reminiscent of Peter’s solo work by heavily drawing on both indie rock and more folk/soulful influences. It’s also laced with rich storytelling, and a not-to-be-taken-too-seriously undertone that manages to make the track dark, yet also funny at times. Jessica Griffin’s crisp vocals are where I found myself thinking of The Last Dinner Party at times. It has the same musical theatre-esque lilt, which in a track such as this gives a unique anachronistic feel that’s incredibly charming.
Find out more about Would-be-goods here.
Labyrinthine Oceans – clipped wings
I’ve long been championing this band, and I intend to obnoxiously remind you of this regularly when they blow up! Newcastle-formed (and now London based) four piece Labyrinthine Oceans have a grunge-gaze mix that just hits the spot, and latest track clipped wings is no exception. It creates a floaty sense of otherworldliness and manages to still feel like a very chilled out track despite the heavy guitars. I love the vocal ebb and flow and the little moments where they just hang. Another great track from these excellent up and comers.
Find out more about Labyrinthine Oceans here.
Sidney – Long Haul
Another artist I’m a big fan of is Melbourne-based Sidney and she’s recently shared long haul the final preview of her forthcoming debut EP what if it ends? Written in the early stages of a relationship, long haul captures the quiet weight that can lie beneath optimism – the desire to believe in something while already sensing the cost.
Of the track, Sidney shares, “I was on the road all the time doing what I loved, but my partner couldn’t be there with me. The distance caused tension, and I felt torn between chasing my career and showing up for the person I loved. ‘long haul’ was my way of saying: I’m here, I’m choosing you, and I’m in this for real.”
Find out more about Sidney here.
Foley – Cinematic
This one narrowly missed out on being included in a previous edition of Songs To Brush Your Teeth to. I found myself singing it this week and decided to revisit it. It’s a nostalgic, dream pop track that I can imagine in a road trip montage in a movie. It’s hopeful and fun and it clearly stayed with me!
Speaking on the track, Foley shared: ‘Cinematic’ is about a love so beautiful and promising that you feel like it may not be real – at the start of a relationship the glow around a person can be so overwhelming and you find yourself romanticising everything.
Often we can have that self doubt of ‘is this actually real’, but ‘Cinematic’ is about embracing that feeling and leaning even further. Kissing in the streets at night, breaking into a stadium, and going home with butterflies in your stomach. It’s nostalgic even in the moment it happens, and you know that this could be encapsulated in a Hollywood movie because it’s so outrageously perfect.”
Find out more about Foley here.
Slowcoaching – Freakout
I’m not going to say too much about this one, as I’ve reviewed Slowcoaching’s album I’m in my Brain again in full here. However, this complex, dreamy, angsty yet hopeful track is a great taste of what you can experience on the album. It left me not quite knowing how to feel, but endlessly drawn into it.
Find out more about Slowcoaching here.
All our Songs To Brush Your Teeth to can be found on our playlist for new music:
Apple Music and Spotify versions of the playlist here.
Let us know in the comments which track is your fave!