Album of the Week #24

Artist: Emma Ruth Rundle
Album: Some Heavy Ocean
Year: 2014

After leaving a tantalising glimpse of Emma Ruth Rundle's spectacular talents in last week's Midweek Mixtape, it's probably only fair that her stunning debut album comes under the one album a week-shaped spotlight today. Rundle has concocted a dreamy world of sounds in Some Heavy Ocean, taking the listener on an immersive journey through her folk-tinged set of psychedelic numbers. Recalling the spirit and sound of hometown L.A. and throwing in her own pop sensibilities to create a unique sound, it is a beguiling listen that sweeps and soars its way through 10 songs of pure beauty.

Although there are hints of 60s psychedelia, 70s folk and pop, it is the menacing atmosphere running through this work that sets it apart from its contemporaries. 'Haunted Houses' is atypical of the album as a whole, with its soft acoustic plucking the backbone behind sweeping strings and Rundle's haunting voice, which is honest, heartfelt and often seems to plead with the listener to join her on this journey - rather like fellow American Lana Del Rey.

'Arms I Know So Well' is the obvious entry point into the album and the perfect example of Rundle's eye for a pop melody underpinning the sea of ambient sounds that it accompanies. It reaches its glorious crescendo amidst barely-audible vocals and increasingly frantic guitar strumming, offering the perfect centrepoint of an album which is built around this song.

The reverb-heavy 'Living With The Black Dog', and is the furthest point at which Rundle extends her psychedelic tendencies, making it a compelling album closer that recalls female doom-pop merchant Anna Calvi and even Stevie Nicks' solo output. It may seem hyperbolic to compare 'Some Heavy Ocean' to such artists, but it is a fully deserved praise of an album that never fails to delight.

Midweek Mixtape #7

Eerie atmospherics soon give way to jangly guitars in Ferry Light Switch, the opening track off the Bristolian 5-piece Daggers and Waves' Wayward Lines EP. This uplifting sun-kissed drifter, held together by delicate guitars and woozy vocals, absolutely flies by in five minutes of Kurt Vile-esque bliss.

Continuing those warm weather vibes, as we desperately try to remember what sunny weather is like here in the South West, are father and son duo Tree Dwellers, who are presumably hanging around somewhere on the same beach frequented by Daggers and Waves. This one's a bit of an oddball really: a bass riff here, stabs of strings there, sampled vocals hooks and funky guitar licks all thrown into the melting pot for an infectious slice of funk-hop that comes from the same page as the likes of Gramatik or J Dilla.

I think these chilled-out tracks must be sending you to sleep though. SO WAKE UP! HERE'S A SING-SONG! Lois The Band's 'Be True To Yourself' is massive, epic, anthemic, glorious etc et al that recalls the best moments of Britpop and all of those early noughties sing-a-long groups. Live, this would be a beer-drenched classic.

Now for something all the way from L.A. Singer songwriter Emma Ruth Rundle makes incredibly atmospheric, heart-wrenching guitar music sprinkled with pop sensibilities. It can be pretty dark and pretty powerful stuff - but beware Rundle's ability to draw you into her world with those catchy melodies before you find yourself totally engrossed in the arresting soundscapes that she creates. 'Arms I Know So Well' is a nice entry point into her stunning debut album Some Heavy Ocean, which you can listen to here.

Sheffield duo Slow Club's latest offering veers away from their earlier folk-pop offerings, strings and brass giving the slow-burning 'Suffering You, Suffering Me' a real Motown edge that pushes the group into their poppiest territory yet - not that you should be worried, 'cause those two have absolutely nailed it once again.