Our Reviews are provided by our Elevate Team and come in both written and video format. We review all genres of music, anything in the music industry and publish reviews periodically. Below you will find examples of our written and video reviews (and a link to the Archive where we store past content).
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Latest Written Reviews:
New Romans
Sea Glass, Blue Canopy
Released: 04/02/2022
Rating: 9/10
Contemporary music offers artists the ability to mix new styles with past ideas and New Romans is a fine example of this. Electronic drums, synths and reverb tinged guitars pervade through the dream like soundscape. The subject matter embodies a serious message but it is entirely possible to get lost in the ethereal character of this record and simply float off into a musical oasis. The team tired to break down the influences that helped to curate this song and its difficult; New Romans could easily could find a home in the 80s synth-pop world (but it could also be too futuristic for the 80s). Comparatively the record can be recognised a fresh new contemporary track (but you cannot ignore the nostalgic vibes it emits). It really is a collaboration of multiple influences! Furthermore, while the soundscape is impressive, we cannot ignore the effervescent vocal line that Blue Canopy provides to this track; adding both warmth and a sense of the surreal. We feel New Romans should be experienced by anyone who claims to be a fan of music; this dream pop record is truly a masterpiece of modern music.
The Brit Awards
Show Type: Music Award Ceremony
Date: 08/02/2022
Rating: 8/10
An arena full of people, live performances, big technical budgets, the re-introduction of certain music categories and even a hard rock and pop fusion from Ed Sheeran and Bring Me The Horizon! The 2022 BRIT Award ceremony had a lot going for it.
The first take away from the 8th February show was the presence of both a sold out arena with live (yes, actual live) music performances. Returning to it's original dual format of being a live awards ceremony that simultaneously broadcasted itself to the world, the 2022 show reminded us all how much better the live experience (even on TV screen) is than the virtual experience we have consumed for the last 24 months. More than that, being an actual live event allowed the technical team to flex their creative muscles and produce a show that virtual environments simply cannot compete with. The performances and the technical side of the event were truly impressive on the broadcast; and we are sure it looked just as good, if not better in person!
Musically, as is customary with the big award ceremonies, the night focused heavily on popular and main stream music; with the familiar faces of Adele, Dua Lipa and Bruno Mars picking up awards. While we cannot deny these artists have the talents and impact to justify their wins, the BRITS, like many other major awards still seem to largely ignore independent artists and music that sits on the periphery of contemporary pop. The Best Rock / Alternative category, for example, included very few acts our team would consider 'actual' rock or alternative artists. It was great to see Maneskin listed (and even better to see Sam Fender bag is first statue) but more acts outside of mainstream music need to be considered. Bringing back the Best Dance Act category was a great move and seeing Wolf Alice, Little Simz and Holly Humberstone receive recognition is really re-assuring. Adele's victories were expected following 30s stellar sales in 2021 and Ed Sheeran claiming the Songwriting Award is a no brainer. The awards still, however, have some distance to go before it truly has categories that represent and recognise up and coming artists in our opinion.
Overall, the show was enjoyable, even though the awards were somewhat predictable. Mo Gilligan brought the night to life from the first second and the live performances, the overzealous but impressive tech were massive highlights (though our lack of recent exposure to these elements may sugar coat our experience). It was entertaining and with a rock infused opening act, the return of the old artist category and artists like Wolf Alice and Little Simz getting much deserved recognition, it was a huge step in the right direction. Not a bad outing BRITS 2022. Not bad at all!
Reaching For the Sun
Marc Clough
Released: 24/12/2021
Rating: 7/10
Acoustic music is seldom an artform that allows an artist to hide behind electronic samples and spectrum filling effects. Rather it relies on the artist to bring presence, body and emotion and Marc Clough does every one of these aforementioned elements in Reaching For The Sun. Adapting the proverbial tale of Icarus flying to close to the sun into a chorus that will find a place in your head for days, Clough narrates the struggle of reaching for something new, while feeling like you are failing to reach that very goal. Clough tells this story through precise song writing (where each word, metaphor, line and subject is chosen for what it adds to the story) and raw emotion. The combination of guitar strumming, the simple drum beat and the violin creates a sombre atmosphere for Clough's vocals to tell this story. The anthesis of Clough's vocal tone and this sombre atmosphere allows Reaching For The Sun to appear more than a negative song, rather it is one of reflection and thought. Acoustic music has to embody the elements mentioned above and we think you will find it hard to find one that covers these categories better than this one.
Sorry For You, Mate
Flo Gallop
Released: 28/01/2022
Rating: 8/10
Flo Gallop never ceases to impress and her latest single Sorry for You, Mate is no different. Embracing her characteristic cockney accent in an up-beat, kick back, pop style, this song celebrates losing a negative person from your life, rather than focusing on any of the corresponding heartache. Sorry for You, Mate bursts with excellent lyricism, a subtle, yet prominent guitar part and what sounds like chords on pipe-organ. This soundscape bundled with Flo Gallop's distinctive vocal line creates a soulful feel good pop anthem which flows perfectly between softer, more spoken word verses, to energy filled choruses. Only Flo Gallop can take a wordy chorus and make you feel good about a break up. Truly, this is another excellent addition to this artists growing catalogue.
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Ten Essential Records for 2022
If you are looking to hear some of the best independent music 2022 had to offer, or even simply kick of 2022 in the right way, look no further! Our team have put together a list of their favourite independent music releases of 2021. No genre is excluded. Click on the image to see what our team picked out.
Take Me To Church!
The preacher of The Church of Van Tastik himself has released a single called Hangman. It is your hit of blues, Americana and grit. The team have looked at the new single and tried to work out how Van Tastik preaches so effectively and why you must join his Church. Click on the image to learn more.
Things are getting Lo-Zi...
Scottish producer Zildjianpinky has produced and released an E.P. full of positive vibes, excellent sample and near perfect production. The Elevate team have broken this new E.P. down and shared our thoughts on what makes this E.P. great. Click on the image to see our breakdown.
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