March has been a bit better for full-lengths than February by my count. Probably my highlight has actually been the soundtrack to Earthblade by Lena Raine, the game, was recently cancelled, but thankfully we still got part of its dream-like OST. We also got the newest Drudkh album (as featured on SO: January), a much more natural and earthy record than their recent few. The new records from Dessiderium and Steven Wilson didn't blow me away, but I was predictably impressed by the conceptual Dead Channel Sky from Clipping. (also featured in SO: January). We aren't here to talk about those pesky LPs though, so here are my opinions on a few of this month's singles.
Kaidi Tatham - "So Happy"
from Miles Away coming March 28th
Kaidi Tatham is a Nu Jazz producer from Ireland, mixing criminally smooth jazz, R&B, and soul with more atmospheric electronic elements. "So Happy" is just a pure reduction of form for this style of Nu Jazz; it's warm and beautifully melodic and features a wide array of instrumentation. From picturesque keyboard parts to a grooving bassline and repetitious synth parts.
The Otolith - "Glimmer"
Standalone single
A much more dramatic and symphonic affair than what I recall from The Otolith's debut in 2022. "Glimmer" is an abnormal song for sure, with a couple of really crushing riffs and a clattering guitar tone. The vocals range from these dramatic, almost operatic female vocals and a few stints at sludgy harsh vocals. Folium limina was an impressive debut, and if "Glimmer" is a sign of what their next record will be like, well you certainly have my attention.
Durand Jones & The Indications - "Been So Long"
from Flowers out June 27th
As is often the case with these, I wasn't familiar with Durand Jones before this came to my attention. "Been So Long" is a downbeat, simple psych-soul track. It does one thing, and it does one thing well. Jones's vocals are paired well with bouncy bass and infectious hooks. Slickly produced and very brief, the song's a good breather; it doesn't stick with me too much after listening but pulls me in while it's on.
Scowl - "Tonight (I'm Afraid)"
from Are We All Angels out on April 4th
Scowl is not my favourite melodic-hardcore group. With a lot of alt-rock influence and a very slick production, they lose the bit of edge that makes me love Thrice and Bad Religion. Still, there's something worthwhile here. This song's outro is particularly good, with some solid drumming and harsh vocals ripped straight from Converge. Maybe their sophomore release will impress me more than their debut did. And even if not: being a sub-par melodic-hardcore band isn't so bad; it just means you're one of the best pop-punk groups out there.
Your Spirit Dies - "Serpentine"
from My Gnawing Pains Will Never Rest out May 2nd
Another song that I'm not nominating for any awards but is one I'd like to talk about. "Serpentine" does a lot with it's short runtime, betraying a wide array of influences from across the metalcore spectrum. It's almost a mathcore intro with dissonant and atonal riffs, a very melo-death-inspired middle section with Carcass-esque vocals, and a massive breakdown serving as its outro. That last riff is pretty boilerplate, but it's still really strong and sticks out the most to me.
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