Skip to main content

TOP TRACKS OF THE YEAR - Goodbye 2016



2016 took many great and iconic musicians away from us - from Bowie to Prince to Rick Parfitt.

However a man in fabulous spectacles once sang and taught us about the Circle of Life. Although 2016 brought about a great loss, 2017 shall bring about a world of opportunity for up and coming musicians.

There's an immutable abundance of talent in the North East, and it's time it got the recognition it deserves. So without further ado, here's my top tracks of 2016.



COQUIN MIGALE - 'SOFT'

Now Coquin Migale are a somewhat inconsistent group - their music either is a little lackluster or radiates an atomic bomb's worth of energy. However, it would be a crime to the local scene not to have this track in this piece.
'SOFT' is their latest and greatest work and I hope the band channel the vibe of this track in the new year and continue to grow and produce the incredible music they're clearly capable of.




THE PALE WHITE - 'THAT DRESS'

It's no surprise that The Pale White have made yet another appearance on S.O.A.E.. They are without a doubt the biggest band in the North East at the minute.
From selling out the Cluny to earning over 250,000 plays on Spotify - this band is going places.



BLESH - 'BINGO STRIPPERS'

Although 'Fell For It' is their catchiest and most popular track, 'Bingo Strippers' is my personal favourite track from Blesh's debut E.P.
The track displays a more mature and sophisticated manipulation of melodies and dynamics, creating an exciting, unique sound.
 


THE OLD PINK HOUSE - 'SO BAD'

The Old Pink House produce some of the most wonderfully charming indie-pop songs on the scene. They're infectiously catchy without being superficial or shallow.
'So Bad' showcases exactly what the NE scene is all about - belter tunes that don't compromise on showing the intelligence and talent we have in the area. And it's guaranteed to brighten up even the most dour of days.




BERNACCIA - 'MURDER'

Last, but by no means least, is the sublime neo-psychdelic meets desert blues group Bernaccia.
I could write page after page about the genius of Bernaccia, however their debut album 'Growl Peace Belief' articulates it far better than I ever could.
'Murder' is my favoruite track on the album. It emits a gorgeously rich sound that balances a dramatic narrative and enigmatic melodies.





Happy New Year everyone - thank you for all the kindness and support you've given me and my little blog.
May 2017 bring you wealth, health, happiness and killer tunes. 
Lots of Love -
Sal
xoxo

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Track of the Week - Sarajevo - The K's

Merseyside natives The K's kicked off 2018 by announcing that they had been signed to Republic Music Management. With a handful of sold-out headline shows already under their belt, their tongue-and-cheek indie tunes are earning them a loyal fan base and plenty of buzz. Their debut single 'Sarajevo' is an infectiously catchy and utterly charming track. The vocals are akin to a more in-tune Jamie T, giving their witty lyrics a warm ambiance.  The upbeat melody gives a nod to early 2000s indie, but the ferocious riffs and hearty bass lines give it plenty of originality.  The track has already achieved half a million streams on Spotify and it's a sure bet that there's bigger and better things on the horizon for The K's. FOLLOW SOUNDS OF AN ECCENTRIC FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM

Poison - Mouses Track review

After relentless gigging, Billingham's lo-fi garage-punk duo Mouses are set to release their debut single: 'Poison'. If you haven't heard Mouses  before (firstly, where have you been for the past two years?), imagine the love child of  The Thermals, Dinosaur Jr  and Wheatus  on a generous kick of acid. The track opens by submerging you into a whirlpool of distorted guitar and fuzzy vocals, invigorating the track with a relentless energy. Despite the initially aggressive tone of the track, the infectiously catchy chorus provides it with a poppy undertone, making it incredibly upbeat and easy to dance/sing along to. I can envisage audiences belting out the lines: "I'm not breaking bones for you, I can be myself with a little bit of poison" - or at least that's what I presume Ste is singing under that heavy lo-fi disguise. If I'm perfectly honest, I'm unsure what the song is about, referencing' everything from; a 'crashing tiger...

Interview with Lee Allcock from NE VOLUME

I caught up with Lee Allcock, editor of   NE Volume , a music local magazine that celebrates everything the North East has to offer. Tell us about yourself and the story behind NE Volume ? My idea actually began back in college, where I basically wanted to go to gigs, review them, and get paid for it – I thought, at 16, that that would be the dream job. I then went on to study Journalism at Teesside University, and I worked voluntarily at another North East Music Magazine where I noticed they were covering the Newcastle area primarily. Whilst working for that magazine, I felt that bands, venues and music-related businesses in Teesside and the surrounding areas weren’t getting the recognition they deserved. So my idea basically came about because I wanted to help those involved in the music scene in this area – and the North East as a whole – to gain recognition for their hard work. Which artists and/or experiences fuelled your love of music and which albums do yo...