Song Review – Page 2 – Queen City Sounds and Art

Silver Liz Creates a Cinematic Experience of Deep Affection in Dreampop Single “Through The Trees”

When “Through The Trees” begins it sounds as though you’re hearing strands of music from overlapping realities. But Silver Liz appears to write music with a deeply layered aesthetic with mixed styles intermingling in unpredictable ways. When the song gets off the ground it’s like an IDM song in terms of production and arrangement but the ethereal synths, melodiously atmospheric vocals and textural guitar work ground the song in human emotion and the feeling of deep affection for one’s beloved. The intertwining of electronic and organic elements is seamless and adds to a great sense of space and sonic depth throughout the song so that even at three minutes forty-five seconds it feels like a full cinematic experience with the changes in tone and emotional resonance. Listen to “Through The Trees” on Spotify and follow Silver Liz at the links provided. The duo’s new album III drops January 30, 2026 on limited edition colored vinyl, digital download and streaming.

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Trendsetter’s “Superhero” is Like a Downtempo IDM Journey to Mysterious and Intriguing Places

The dark tone at the onset of “Superhero” by Trendsetter (with collaborators Magnus Deus and Katty G) suggests long late nights driving the back alleys and byways like perhaps Batman would. The song has layers of saturated tone that feel like textures through which the yearning, melodic vocals come through like something out of a mid-to-late-90s downtempo song. But this piece of music sounds even more steeped in 2020s production. The percussion beats are in the vein of future garage/IDM but which drop drop out and echo lightly at times to give a subtle dub effect. But beyond picking apart the musical elements the song feels like a deep journey into mysterious places that stimulate the mind with the possibility of intrigue ahead. Listen to “Superhero” on Spotify and follow Trendsetter at the links below.

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Bad Flamingo Leans Into Defying Conventional Morality on the Languid, Noir Folk Single “The Fruit”

Bad Flamingo, photo courtesy the artists

With “The Fruit” Bad Flamingo takes a more gentle tone from the dark edge of some of its other songwriting. Some tasteful slide guitar work and folk-inflected delicacy gives a new quality to the band’s tales of being from the wrong side of the tracks and leaning into sweet temptations. Bad Flamingo is expert at implying people in the throes of a romantic and sexual relationship or rare connection and passion. But this song is more like having the time to reflect on yet another facet of that relationship in a moment with the typical, and refreshing, lack of regret for transgressing conventional behavior and morality in pursuit and service to something real and vital. The title of the song and references to snakes cleverly allude to original sin while discarding such spurious notions and taking a thrill at defying god/mainstream society at the same time. In the video we see the be-masked members languishing about in what looks like a hotel room from the 1970s, an aesthetic suiting their vibe and the late night musings of the song. Watch the video for “The Fruit” on YouTube and follow Bad Flamingo at the links below.

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CTZNSHP Returns With the Dark, Moody and Dissonant Post-Punk Song “Hawaii”

CTZNSHP recently released Lost Loves (A Collection Of Rarities), a compilation of early demos, practice space recordings, previous and more recent studio recordings. The Montreal-based post-punk band garnered attention a little over a decade ago for its commanding and spacious guitar and emotionally charged vocals with lyrics of uncommon psychological insight. The lead single “Hawaii” sounds more melancholic like a dark surf rock song Chris Isaak might sing. Its lightly distorted guitar lead threatens to break apart in any moment and the vocals similarly so in its urgency. And as the song progresses that initial impression splinters because it sounds more desparate and dissonant than anything you’d expect from Isaak and more like something in the vein of Preoccupations or Protomartyr and how both bands can dip into a fractured sensibility and then back into coherence reflecting the actual experience of having a moment of peak emotion. Listen to “Hawaii” on Bandcamp and follow CTZNSHP on Instagram.

014LN’s Darkly Sensuous and Alluring Downtempo Neo Soul Single “Creep With Me” is Overflowing With a Yearning For Complete Connection

01L4N (pronounced Oilan) recently released the downtempo neo soul single “Creep With Me.” The song with production by Brittany Campbell (aka 01L4N), Aaron Day and Dayloop with vocal contributions from The Last Artful, Dodgr has a dreamlike quality that draws you into its words of desire and a yearning for complete connection and commitment with one’s beloved in a deeply emotional, physical and spiritual way. The loping bass line pulses with a lingering dynamic off which hazy atmospheric melodies flow with the sensuous vocals in luminous cool colors of tone. The mood of the song is reminiscent of the more experimental moments of Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah albums with commanding and alluring performances from Campbell that bring you back in to revisit the spell the song weaves. Listen to “Creep With Me” on Spotify and follow Brittany Campbell at the links below.

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Pullman Returns With Pastoral Ambient Single “Weightless” Featuring Former Members of Tortoise, Codeine and Eleventh Dream Day

Pullman returns after two decades with a new album Pullman III due out January 9, 2026 on Western Vinyl. The group which includes former members of Tortoise, Codeine, Eleventh Dream Day and Rex is primarily a studio project recording pastoral soundscapes with mostly acoustic instruments offers us a new single in “Weightless” with a free flow of warm guitar, textural and impressionistic percussion and a nearly hypnotic rise and fall dynamic as the main harmonic sounds seem to shimmer and glimmer in an organic pattern. It has a quality like a sonic suspension constantly resonating and revealing details of its quality with each moment. Listen to “Weightless” on YouTube and follow Pullman at the links below.

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Kat KIKTA’s Sound Art Piece “Your Voice In My Ear” Challenges Conventional Notions of Desire and Romance

It’s best to set aside musical expectations when hearing/watching the video for Kat KIKTA’s sound piece “Your Voice In My Ear.” The background harmonics establish a dreamlike mood and the dialogue between a human woman and a processed voice whose source is implied to be a sentient machine intelligence in which there is a sensuousness and even sexual aspect to the way the voices interact. The touch of delicate rhythm along with the drones is very much more an ambient companion to the mood in the sonic foreground. It may be conceptually something like science fiction without the special effects but it speaks to the very human phenomenon of people falling for each other purely through vocal contact or even indirectly through letters or online because they feel a connection for the other person and a sense of ease, comfort and emotional attraction that can bond people together in a way that transcends more outward and superficial factors. It captures the essence of a modern experience of desire in a way few “songs” ever do. Watch the video for “Your Voice In My Ear” on YouTube and follow Kat KIKTA at the links below.

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Cry9c’s Darkly Moody and Enigmatic “Play Pretend” is Reminiscent of Modern Avant-Post-Punk and Early Ambient Industrial

“Play Pretend” has a kind of icy moodiness, enigmatic energy and imaginative production that makes you wonder if Cry9c is tapping into the same frequency of creativity as more left field post-punk bands like The Serfs, Kaput and Luna Honey. The interweaving layers of rhythm, minimal guitar riffs, drones, distorted harmonics and lightly echoing vocals are reminiscent of an update of late 70s and early 80s proto-industrial pop like the members of the band listened to a lot of Cabaret Voltaire, Indian Jewelry and Drab Majesty at the same time. But the song has its own wonderfully dark resonance like the more accessible band at the noise show or the startling refreshingly different arty Witch House band at a more generally conventional post-punk show. The energy of the music is reminiscent of late 2000s American DIY scene with an elusive air of mystique and that’s a rarefied quality these days. Listen to “Play Pretend” on YouTube and follow Cry9C at the links below. The self-titled EP released October 16, 2025 and is available for digital download, streaming and on cassette.

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The Title Track to Lizzy Rose’s New Album Faultlines is an Indiepop Map to Emotional Health in a Time of Catastrophe

The simple piano figure and soft programmed drums that open the title track to Lizzy Rose’s new album Faultlines (released October 24, 2025) eases us into a tender song about life starting to come apart. The urgent synth arpeggios later in the song perfectly embody the moment when you can no longer ignore the fissures in one’s relationship and one’s life and are forced to deal with them before you feel you’re ready. But in the song, Rose’s vocals are steady, strong and gentle and while conveying the truths of coming to terms with aspects of one’s life that can be unpleasant also show how we can get through this time with grace through emotional honesty, patience and a willingness to take on life’s challenges as they are without having to over-dramatize or catastrophizing the situation at hand. It is honestly a perfect song for reminding oneself that this approach can be taken to just about everything even when it all feels like nothing can make it better. The new album was written and recorded six years ago by the singer/songwriter who is finally bringing the music to light and as circumstances now make clear it’s emerging at just the right time at a time of crisis for many. Listen to “Faultlines” on Soundcloud and follow Lizzy Rose at the links below.

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The Noisy’s “Ballerino” is a Heartwarming and Affectionate Indie Rock Tribute to a New Romance

Philadelphia’s The Noisy released its new album The Secret Ingredient Is Even More Meat on October 24, 2025 via Audio Antihero. Lead singles “Ballerino” demonstrates an aspect of the band’s songwriting that perfectly displays its knack for a solid pop hook in the vein of 90s indie rock bands like Velocity Girl and The Breeders. The perfect blend of guitar grit and irresistibly melodic vocals and a buoyant spirit courses throughout the song along with a touch of wistful melancholia. But really it seems like a sweet and affectionate song recounting heartwarming memories of a romantic relationship. The music video has a playful, fantastical whimsical quality that thoroughly embodies the sentiments and energy of the song. Watch that video on YouTube and follow The Noisy at the links below.