REVIEW: Barely Passable, ‘Hindsight’
Barely Passable may be a fresh name, but they’re wasting no time in establishing themselves as true undiscovered gems in the retro-tinged pop renaissance. Their debut EP, appropriately titled Hindsight, is a joyful revival of floor-filling sounds gone by that’s just right for the post-Rona landscape.
Our introduction to the band comes in the form of opening track ‘Turnaround’ and brand-new single ‘Silver’, and after both songs, it’s clear that Barely Passable’s unique selling point is just being an absolute blast to listen to. Seriously, I defy you to hear the funk-infused basslines of ‘Silver’ and not join in with their finger-snap beats. Despite taking inspiration from the golden age of disco back in the 70s, these songs feel markedly fresh; they stand out in screaming colour against the fray with their off-kilter rhythms and overall sunshiney attitude. As well as being influenced by the world of disco, ‘Turnaround’ harkens back to the synth-led indie glory of acts like MGMT, paired with vocals that command true presence.
"Despite taking inspiration from the golden age of disco back in the 70s, these songs feel markedly fresh; they stand out in screaming colour against the fray with their off-kilter rhythms and overall sunshiney attitude."
One aspect of Hindsight that makes it perfect for our return to the dancefloor is that it seems permanently energised. The cheer and charm of ‘Silver’ is directly followed up by ‘Step Inside’, a track with perpetual high energy thanks to sax tones that craft a marching-style beat. Barely Passable seem to have a shimmering synth effect for every occasion, bringing real modern versatility to an instrument often dismissed as a thing of the past. If anything, tracks like ‘For Now’ are let down by not testing out these synth possibilities so much – at least, not until the bridge, where we see a sudden and utterly magnificent beat drop. The drums are crashing, the synths are whirring, and it catches you off guard in the most intriguing way.
Other News
EGYPTIAN ELBOWS PRESENT – 00:01
06/07/2021
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If you’ve wondered where Why Generation? is going to be when restrictions drop on 19th July, we’ll be heading down to 00:01!
Boardmasters 2021 Confirmed To Go Ahead For The First Time Since 2018!
01/07/2021
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Gorillaz, Jorja Smith and Foals are set to headline the Boardmasters music festival this summer.
The five-day event plans to return to Newquay in Cornwall for the first time since 2018, running from Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 August.
Other performers confirmed to attend include:
The Zine
OTHER REVIEWS:
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“We Came From the Stars'' is The Ghost of Helags debut album and is nothing short of a synth-pop dreamscape of drama, romance and escapism. Teresa Woischiski and John Alexander Ericson who make up the band as the singer-songwriters and producers hail from Sweden and are now based in Berlin. Woischiski and Ericson intertwine their Scandinavian origins with the hearty electronic sounds that have held up the music scene of their new home in Berlin.
REVIEW: Touch Me, Marilyn Hucek
American-Chilean, pop singer Marilyn Hucek has released her new single 'Touch Me', a sugary sweet song about love and female empowerment, just in time for Valentines Day.
ALBUM PREVIEW: Kid Kapichi, This Time Next Year
In 2018 they hit the ground running and haven't shown any signs of slowing down yet. Having shared the stage with the likes of Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, Fidlar along with playing sets at some huge festivals like Reading and Leeds and Neighbourhood, Kid Kapichi has only been on the up, and they still continue to rise.
REVIEW: The Young Hearts, ‘The Modern State’
After a smattering of EPs across over five years, rising punk band The Young Hearts have finally dropped their debut album. According to frontman Craig Lawrence, the plan for this year was to power through the struggles facing so many bands right now and release another EP, but “after realising it could be the final release […], we decided that an album would be the most productive way for us to say everything we wanted to”.
Cat SFX and the hopeful return of punk.
Alan Mcgee told the NME that he wanted to sign “cocky little fuckers” for his Creation23 label again. This may apply to wannabe wee Gallaghers and the likes, but the “dark fruits” stereotype doesn't really do justice to his recent signing of culture critic, mental health advocate Cat SFX. Lead singer Caterina Speranza already has a fair amount of music industry experience. Having previously fronted a band called The Vincent Fiasco who opened for Interpol, Cat has come back 13 years later with more to say. According to McGee, “In a different time, she’d be a punk hero.”
