Chordblossom
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
Chordblossom
No Result
View All Result

Artworx – Artworx

Bex Macrae by Bex Macrae
December 15, 2012
in Music Reviews
Artworx – Artworx

With funky bass-lines, awesome guitar riffs, and at times a haunting quality to the vocal, there is a perfect intermingling of dark and light to keep your fingers tapping and head bobbing, but it is the surprisingly well-produced style of the sound as a whole that gives real weight to this impressive four-piece considering their songwriting began only slightly over a year ago!

You’re eased into to the sound as gently as a pensioner is into a recliner. ‘The Fear of Being Alone’ is the definition of easy listening. I imagine sipping on a corona in my back garden on one sunny Sunday afternoon and actually not being self-conscious of anyone eavesdropping on my song choice. Pleasant enough I feel for everyone’s ears, inoffensive to the older uncool Dad generation but with enough spicy drum rolls and silky guitar plucking teamed with a lead vocal like Kelly Jones’ non-smoking younger brother-this is a potential super summer soundtrack.

ADVERTISEMENT

The next track ‘Brewed the Same Way’ begins in a melodic lullaby but laced with an almost melancholic undertone. It draws you in oh so gradually you don’t even know you’re eventually going to get sucker-punched with a wall of catchy distorted chorus. It is here you may well start to think this alternative four-piece mean business. It is the next track ‘Down Master’ that leans to the more electronic pop direction, albeit brief. It has a quirky retro discord…although this doesn’t last long and it falls easily into the sounds of its predecessors. Don’t get me wrong it’s still an anthemic tune; I just wonder in which direction they wish to go. Essentially we have an EP with 3 tracks of the same alternative, indie-rock genre and one that encompasses the electronic, melodic pop vibe they’re dabbling in.

And so we come to the culminating track that is the enchantingly named ‘The Meadows’. The funky bass-line is the pulsating undercurrent that carries you through to thrilling guitar riffs and lingering melodic vocal harmonies. Again watch out for the sneaky little change of pace towards the end. Love it. I could see this easily doing well commercially.

Artworx certainly challenged the idea of a ‘stand out track’. All four tracks on the EP were well within contention in their own right. Each song cleverly compliments each other as well as having its own little individual kick halfway through. The juxtaposition of drums, guitar, vocals and the superb way in which the instruments crescendo to elevate you to your happy listening place, then stop and change to a completely new pace will leave you crying out for more. I must say I’m overjoyed that songwriting has moved on from the ‘Bridge, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus stalemate from times when the radio was called a ‘wireless’. However here at Chordblossom we don’t give up that easy and so I suggest ‘The Meadows’ as a sublime introductory track to get your..er..ears watering.

◀ STANDOUT ⁞ The Meadows ▶
◀ SOUNDS LIKE ⁞ Bloc Party ▶

Leave a Comment ⁞

Tags: ArtworxBex MacraeBloc PartySterephonics
ShareTweetShareShareSendSend
Previous Post

The Sons of Robert Mitchum – Too Late For Tears

Next Post

The View – Cheeky For A Reason

Related Posts

Allez Bartoli – Koliada Drift
Fresh Northern Irish Music

Allez Bartoli – Koliada Drift

March 4, 2014
Lazy Flies – Kill Your Darlings
Music Reviews

Lazy Flies – Kill Your Darlings

October 10, 2013

Recent Posts

Invaderband - Photography by Michael McGlinchey

Invaderband – 18 June 2022

June 23, 2022
Stream: Clara Tracey – Baby Witch

Stream: Clara Tracey – Baby Witch

June 22, 2022
Stendhal Festival 2022 Header

Stendhal Announce Day Line-Ups For 2022

June 21, 2022

Twitter

Instagram

Follow

  • Invaderband at Bennigans on Saturday night.

Photos by Michael McGlinchey
  • Ex-Isles at the Empire Music Hall on Friday night.

Photos by Ben Lamming

Spotify Playlist

Fresh Music From Northern Ireland

Mailing List

  • About Chordblossom
  • Kickstart
  • Music Reviews
  • Live Reviews
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Photos
  • Fresh Music From Northern Ireland Playlist
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • Mailing List

© 2020 Chordblossom

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies

© 2020 Chordblossom

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT