Tag Archives: alt-rock

Yoke : Yeah, EP released December 2023

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Created from notable Cambridge bands (moonstrips, baby seals, model village, doyouthinkhesaurus – all reviewed elsewhere on this site…), Yoke release their debut EP. It is probably unique in that it is an unplayable disc with embedded seeds to be planted (‘..when you have grown tired looking at it…’)

  1. Yeah. The title song rolls some keyboard idling around a tight two chord pulse while the drums make glorious noise throughout. Not sure what the verses are about but no mistaking the chorus,’...Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Yeah, Yeah..‘.
  2. Game of Crows. This psychedelic onslaught is dark and deep with a killer descending line to the words ‘…. if we take our medicine…’ The spooky organ solo gives way to soaring guitar as this track shows off the band at full power.
  3. Wayne Coyne. Starting off as a pastoral guitar and piano interlude, this enigmatic piece of baroque rock later unleashes waves of anthemic sounds.
  4. Tortoise. This grand finale fuses together musical ideas from the rest of the EP, built around a pounding and ominous slow marching structure. The haunting vocal refrain stays in the mind, as do many moments from this choice collection of spiky art-rock.

https://www.facebook.com/yokemusic

https://oooyokeooo.bandcamp.com/album/yeah-ep

Chloe Mogg : The Crazy One, LP released September 2023

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The debut album from singer/songwriter/guitarist Chloe Mogg opens with the dark country blues of the title track ‘The Crazy One’, the noisy guitar duelling with Chloe’s bitter words. ‘Permission’ is another strong vocal performance with a great hook ‘…I don’t recall asking for your permission….I was in control all the time, wasn’t I?…’. ‘Bryony’ revels in an atmosphere of sinister nostalgia with an unusual rhythmic pattern while the compact pop of previously released single ‘Heaven Sent You’ revolves round a neat hook and another bold vocal.

‘Better Off’ has the changing dynamics of Chloe’s voice weaving around a stealthy guitar riff to great effect. ‘Understood’ is a key track on the LP, an extended musing pivoting around the anguish of the recurring phrase ‘…..Oh it must be love or something close…. ‘cause I’ve never understood….’ with the song being given plenty of time and space to immerse the listener. There are quieter moments; the acoustically driven ‘Cut Me Off’ and the reflective swirling waltz of ‘The Only One’ all add to the rich emotional depth and musical texture of this impressive debut.

https://www.facebook.com/chloemoggmusic/