On “Reaper,” a song off their recently released album Mirage on the Meadow, Pine Barons combine psychedelic instrumentals and vivid lyrical imagery to deliver a haunting track that truly rocks; perfect listening for this, the spookiest of seasons. The tone is firmly established within the first few seconds, as a series of long atmospheric tones from the synth drape themselves over the drum and guitar lines. Before the lyrics come in you have already been set on a meandering walk through the dark forest in your mind. 

Songwriter and vocalist Keith Abrams cleverly illustrates the concept of scattered thoughts in the pre-chorus where, utilizing different production effects, he plays two intertwining inner monologues: one perpetually questioning, and one confident in its defeatist statements but not offering any answers. From this back and forth bursts the hook, which delivers everything you could ask for in a great rock chorus. It’s melodic, it’s powerful and it stays with you long after the song has ended. For much of “Reaper” there is an expertly curated sense of movement, like some physical manifestation of inner anxieties is stalking you at a distance. The closing guitar solo and coda, which layer in melodic callbacks from earlier sections, bring about a feeling of envelopment, like that fog of fear has finally caught up and engulfed you. Photo by Chris Sikich.

Indie folk artist SYML, otherwise known as Washington-based Brian Fennell, has released the hauntingly atmospheric single “Symmetry.” Intricate guitar and lovely strings beckon you into the arrangement’s dark, dreamy soundscape, while Fennell’s gentle voice croons a hypnotic and lovely melody. His honest, poetic lyrics speak of comfort and acceptance: “Come now child, the day is long / Hide not yourself from me.” What begins as a mellow, simple arrangement builds into something grand and gripping—evocative brass, emotional strings, and thrashing percussion let you lose yourself in the surprising and rewarding instrumentation. “Symmetry” bends genres and defies expectations. It’s a nice follow-up to Fennell’s debut album, SYML, which came out earlier this year via Nettwork.

Surfacing from the Netherlands is indie-pop duo Donna Blue’s old Hollywood-inspired new single “Desert Lake”. This track is a self-described passing through the obstacles of every artist facing the inevitable dimness of doubt. It clothes itself in a sultry sixties influenced sound, enveloping the listener in a haunting yet cunning vision of a journey. In turn, it succeeds in creating an imaginative space for what it'd be like moving through a Tarantino movie. Picking up Western tones with the call of a pensive whistle, “Desert Lake” draws its listener into a stylized, intricately personal mystery of an artist in the throes of creative madness.

Dundee-based band st.martiins continues to bring a refreshing versatility to their work with latest single "saw the moon." The duo consisting of Katie Lynch and Mark Johnson conjures up sleepy sentiments about the familiarity of a relationship and its possible disintegration. A smooth bassline creates the backbone of the song while the contrasting guitar reverb fondly brings to mind early projects from Jay Som. Amidst the carefully constructed production, Lynch sings, "If I see things differently / Will they last?" and "If you look right at me / I might look back." Noncommittal "if's" and the repeating line "I saw the moon" flow out in the lyrics and ride the wave of emotion that Lynch so beautifully performs. "saw the moon" showcases another side, expanding st.martiins sound to areas not explored in their previous singles like "My Girl" and "Want God." While you await the band's first LP, you can catch them playing a handful of shows this December.

“Strangers In A Nightclub” by Loose Buttons begins with a powerful, almost spooky guitar riff before introducing simpler, strummed guitar, producing a lovely sort of layering. As the vocals introduce themselves, the song takes on a distinctly romantic tone. "Strangers In A Nightclub" rocks and flows between guitar and husky vocals, maintaining its simplicity while remaining mesmerizing. Towards the tail-end of the track, a crunchy, wailing guitar solo steals the show. It takes the listener on a quick little adventure, before returning to the crooning vocals and the beach rock sound that drive the song. "Strangers In A Nightclub" is an alluring little tune.

LA queer pop duo TWINKIDS try to navigate the maze of emotions that results from a difficult encounter with a recent ex on their new single “I Luv You”, the second offering from the outfit’s forthcoming sophomore EP Lizard House. Songwriters Gene Fukui and Matt Young utilize 80s J-pop influences mixed with lush layers of swirling synths to build an ethereal, vivid landscape that’s hard to forget. The story depicted is one that we know all too well—the rollercoaster ride of emotions that hits you when you run into someone that you used to love. Fukui and Young don’t fail to paint the classic aspects of this type of situation: the rush of nostalgia and the comfortable familiarity that you suddenly yearn for all over again. They further color it in with their heartfelt lyrics, “I am misaligned / I’m no longer mine, this / Cage I built myself / Stuck on someone else.” The vibrant punches of percussion and soaring, melodic choruses mirror that agonizing push and pull that spins you around inside. The song reinforces the idea that just because something may not be as intact as it once was, doesn’t mean it still doesn’t have a substantial impact. Lizard House is officially out on November 22nd.