The Underground Forest - Volume 44
Welcome to The Underground Forest 🌳
Featuring: Suzie Ungerleider, Nadia Sheikh, Levi Robin, Erika de Casier, Portland, Elaine Howley, Coolgirl & Neggy Gemmy.
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This month's edition features; the dreamiest trip-hop song you have ever heard; a 1990s VHS flavoured song called Porno; the most all-consuming and divine dreampop you have ever heard; a song called Polly Pocket that shimmers and glimmers like its namesake; an electronic ambient song that sounds like dark velvet, with vocals that are woven from silk; a song that will remind you of fond memories in a forest; and a song that will remind you of the likes of Alanis Morisette and Avril Lavinge.
Porno - Coolgirl
I love Coolgirl’s productions, Road Closure being one of my favorite albums. This new track, Porno, is fun from start to finish. The bassline is very much of the title (specifically, in my mind, what I imagine the 1990s VHS versions were like), which is set against surreal, Boards of Canada-esque synths and pads, making the whole thing mesmerizing.
I can practically see the plastic palm trees, gel pink blow-up chairs, and checkerboard floors.
Connect with Coolgirl
Bandcamp / YouTube / Spotify / Instagram / X
Hold Me In A New Way - Elaine Howley
Hauntingly beautiful ambient electronic from producer/artist Elaine Howley; the vocals in this remind me of Donna Lewis (who is one of my favourite voices ever), in that they have the texture of silk, and entrance you in a way that you will never forget. The electronic soundscape is draped in deep, luxurious velvet; one that will keep you warm on a stormy night.
I can also imagine this playing on the radio in the background of a childhood memory from the 1990s.
Connect with Elaine Howley
Bandcamp / YouTube / Spotify / Instagram / Facebook / X
Miss - Erika de Casier
I came across this on Bandcamp; it is the first song from the Portuguese-born Danish artist/producer’s album Lifetime. Miss feels like a blissful dream floating through a pink sky; the trip-hop beat transporting you back to a time when MTV reigned supreme, Custo Barcelona tops were everywhere (if you know, you know), with lush RnB textures floating over the beat. The vocals are entrancing, floating to your ears from the shimmering textures of the soundscape.
A masterpiece.
Connect with Erika de Casier
Bandcamp / Website / Youtube / Spotify / Instagram / Facebook
Polly Pocket - Neggy Gemmy
This could absolutely be on the soundtrack for the upcoming Polly Pocket movie. Neggy Gemmy’s new single opens with a warm shoegaze-driven intro, before descending into a lofi beat, with heavenly vocals that sparkle and shimmer throughout.
The soundscape glitters like Polly Pocket’s Glitter Island, with Neggy Gemmy’s unparalleled creativity running throughout.
Connect with Neggy Gemmy
Bandcamp / Website / YouΤube / Spotify / Instagram / Facebook
Juniper - Suzie Ungerleider
Taken from the artist’s upcoming album Among the Evergreens, this song was written as a present for her husband on their 20th anniversary.
This will bring you right into a lush forest where you feel fully alive; and although this is the tale of a warm and wonderful memory, it really feels like you are there, you can smell the juniper in the air and feel the euphoria, which is a testament to Suzie’s great songwriting skills.
This is a gorgeous song from a wonderful songwriter.
Connect with Suzie Ungerleider
Bandcamp / Website / YouΤube / Spotify / Instagram / Facebook / X
Memories - Nadia Sheikh
This has a really cool alt-90s/early 00s vibe to it, which makes sense as the artist counts Alanis Morissette and Avril Lavigne amongst some of her inspirations.
Memories has a vaguely eerie vibe running throughout, the vocals are absolutely gorgeous, flowing over the uneasy backdrop like sugar. This evokes the uncanny sense of an empty room, and the memories that fill it.
On the song, the artist says, “Memories’ is one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written. It might sound cliché but it was one of those where I felt that tingling feeling as I was writing it, I knew it was going to hold a special place”
Connect with Nadia Sheikh
Website / YouTube / Spotify / Facebook / Instagram / X
When the Walls Fall - Levi Robin
This draws you into its sultry world immediately; this is so good it could be from the worlds of True Blood or True Detective (season one). The vocals come to you from an abandoned church, the vibe also kind of reminding me of Hozier, this instrumental creeping around the vocals, drawing you down a dark path. Sublime.
On the song, the artist says, "The single sings of an uproaring from the voice of conscience. When the walls fall and all seems broken, it's an alarm to wake up from the deep slumber of the soul."
Connect with Levi Robin
YouTube / Spotify / Instagram / Facebook / X
Lay Me Down - Portland
Powerful dreampop that rises into an all-consuming musical wall of musical glory; this new song from Belgian band Portland is gorgeous. I can imagine this being at another level at a live show, as the power of the instruments and arrangement is fully preserved in the recorded version.
This has a deep sense of melancholy running throughout, but also the powerful feeling of prevailing against the odds.
Connect with Portland
Website / Youtube / Spotify / Instagram / Facebook
Spotify Playlist
About Eimear O Sullivan
Eimear Ann O Sullivan is a multi-genre music producer, audio engineer and vocalist. After receiving a Masters in Music Technology from the CIT Cork School of Music, she went on to operate as a producer under the name Blakkheart. Her releases have received critical acclaim from Ireland's biggest music publications, such as District Magazine and Nialler9, alongside receiving heavy commercial radio airplay. She currently works in Cork recording studio Flashpoint CC. Previous clients of hers include the likes of Comedy Central’s Dragony Aunt star Candy Warhol, rapper Darce and Outsider YP. (Photo credit @Fabian Boros)
Contact Eimear O Sullivan at eimear.o.sullivan@musicngear.com
In this blog section we host new music releases, artist features and handpicked playlists by the Musicngear staff.
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