Review

DULCE JOYA

Dulce Joya is a European pianist and composer, whose dedication to the works of the classical era from the likes of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and other contemporaries have influenced her to get to where she is today. Joya’s third full length album, Renaissance, is a palette where Jaya has embraced her artistic vision and savours in her sweeping symphonies.

Renaissance takes you through a roller coaster ride of emotions, from the broad extent delights found in Arcadia, thunderous rolls and crashes in Extasis juxtaposed with beautiful arpeggios that roll seamless over the piano. The lengths of the tracks can be from either four minutes or titanic seven to 10 minute opuses, all of which Dulce Joya gleefully finds the time to expunge her soul into her work, such as the travels found on the track Luminosa which finds the straight line between chaos and calm and the dark chamber pieces and found on Lacrimosa.

Overall, Dolce Joya delivers on every spectacle from solo to full band arrangements, combining inspiration and a comfort of knowing herself that almost transcends the album. This album is a fan of those with an interest of classical music and soothing sound pieces.

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XYLAROO

Xylaroo are indeed an odd bunch to say the least. Clean cut indie influences combined with an early 70’s production mix and a sickeningly sweet vocals from sisters Coco and Holly crash around the listener, turning everything in the pot into gold. Four years after their debut album Sweetooth, Xylaroo are back with the EP Wild Woman.

Wild Women is a multitude of ideas, and thankfully none of these ideas fight against each other or detract the attention of other track – every idea is used to the fullest extent and each track proposed something more original than last. Sweetooth opens up the EP with a bubble gum pop rock ethic that’s as safe as it is bombastic, to Like Planes Taking Off To The Wind that would make you want to hold your lighter aloft in a festive frenzy. Wild Woman, Tomb and Yesterdays hold up to their own tentative strengths, working through interlaced stories with folk and disco elements being casually flirted with, as the delightfully high melodies of the band cuts through so finely on its clean production that allows the two sisters to soar.

Wild Woman makes use of Xylaroo’s oddities, and plays on its rhythmic sensibilities and nuances. By giving every member a solid goalin mind musically, Xylaroo have gone above and beyond to making what could be your new favourite EP.

By Connor Flello

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JAMES HAWKEN

Dream AWAY – James Hawken

Awake in the night and can’t stop the mind racing, feeling low or stressed, maybe just want to kick back on a Sunday morning?

Peaceful, calm, relaxed. All music has a purpose to get a reaction, and that is what this piece looks to. It could be what you need.

It is gentle piano without leaps, tempo changes or crescendo, so you can sink in. The overlay of
choral voices delivering tones, not lyrics, which reminds me of some of how Clannad and Enya added to the atmosphere in their music. It also fits with other music I have of guitar playing over waves lapping on a beach, which lets you just drift.

The video shows pictures of the beautiful Cornish countryside blending into each other. It fits the music and adds another ethereal feel.

If you also suffer from limited mobility (like me) and can rarely get out to the countryside (or even have just felt trapped in a city during lockdown) then the combination of sound and vision can provide a little break while looking forward towards experiencing it once again.

I like it because it fits with those times, particularly with the video accompanying it.

Jez Simpson

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