Wonder Villains – “Marshall”

Derry City’s anti-pop quartet Wonder Villains are what modern pop music should hope to be but so often is not – they’re actually fun. Born in a Northern Ireland high school in 2009, they are preparing to release their first full album, Rocky, in June, and the band seems to have really solidified their character. Sprinkled with Mother Mother-esque vocal flourishes, Wonder Villains have all the charm and color of Tilly and the Wall and the no-nonsense lyricism and energy of The Wombats – but they are indisputably one-of-a-kind. Still drifting in the ambiguous grey area between adolescence and adulthood, the group’s sound is mature beyond their years, yet they never once come off as self-indulgent or pretentious.

While it may be common practice for reviewers to grasp at straws for something favorable to say or to over-inflate their sentiments in order to inspire interest in their writing and appease others, it is important to me that I am honest about my opinions and that I give credit only where credit is due. That being said, from the moment Eimear Coyle’s infectious vocals came in over the pumping pop-punk guitar and bright synth, I felt a sneaking suspicion that I had stumbled upon something truly special, and I had no choice but to share it. My impression was validated when, several songs into their discography, my exceptionally discerning boyfriend declared with an almost evangelical enthusiasm, “I love this!” “Marshall” is refreshingly modern, yet it strikes all of the right nostalgia chords that make music stick with you for a long, long time.

“Marshall” is currently available for streaming on Soundcloud, or, for the full experience, have a look at the foursome’s freshly released music video for “Marshall” on Youtube.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Delta Will – It All Glows EP

Delta Will’s four-track EP, It All Glows, is a spacey, artful narrative with a bluesy, folksy soundscape of vocal overlays and subtle atmospheric synth washes. It chronicles the alien Delta Will’s exploration of humanity and earthly life through the eyes of the human Charles Tilden. Lyrically, it is a welcome reprieve from the mundane songwriter-centric direction of much of music across every genre.

It All Glows is lush and warm with an unassumingly whimsical tone reminiscent of Miniature Tigers’ sophomore album, Fortress. Tilden’s melismatic vocals are honey-smooth as he maneuvers through registers and dynamics, carrying the melodies confidently, but never becoming overbearing or contrived. The pleasant energy of the title track lends it a nostalgic sweetness that brings to mind Weezer’s “Island in the Sun” and ambient bird chirps and conversational mutterings at the conclusion of the instrumental track, “Space Throws”, conjure imagery of crisp sunlight and green foliage. “Holy Ghost”, the most understated song on the EP, features Fleet Foxes-esque arpeggiation and spacious vocal reverberation. The album’s buoyant attitude juxtaposes the somewhat morbid lyrical content in a way that is evocative of the Tralfamadorians’ observations of the universe in Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five; Delta Will acknowledges the peculiarity and transience of existence without being overly mournful or sentimental.

It All Glows is imaginative while remaining cohesive through textural instrumentation, artistic assuredness, and high production value. The title track is the highlight of the album, and while the energy does die down as the album progresses, none of the songs overstay their welcome. After two EPs, Tilden seems to have a firm grasp on his creative vision, and hopefully he will continue to pursue the musical direction demonstrated in this album.

You can listen to two of the tracks from It All Glows on Bandcamp or Soundcloud, and both physical and digital copies of the album are available for purchase through Bandcamp and iTunes.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.