Soundscapes and Stories, Only at little chief

Review

“Shadowland” by Erro

Erro’s second album proves they’re not interested in playing it safe. “Shadowland” takes the raw, one-take approach from their debut and doubles down on it, with results that actually justify the hype. The album opens strong and stays there. “Honey Bear Lane” has this infectious bassline that pulls you in before the guitar work starts …

Review

“Dark Sky” by Consequential

Consequential delivers a strong atmospheric drum and bass track with “Dark Sky”, and it’s worth your time. The Bury St. Edmunds producer has put together a release that gets better each time you hear it, with plenty of small details hiding in the mix that you’ll only catch if you’re paying attention or have decent …

Review

“Through the Daylight” by Thickshake

Thickshake’s “Through the Daylight” is exactly the kind of song you need now in the first month of the year. It’s catchy, it’s honest, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a good time. Thickshake made this entire track himself in his house in Rockhampton. Wrote it, played all the instruments, recorded it, …

Review

“Bad Strategies” by Tony Frissore

Tony Frissore manages to pack a punch about corrupt leadership into a funk track, and “Bad Strategies” just grooves hard while making you think about who’s really accountable when people in power mess up, trust me, you will love it. The bass and drums are locked in from the start, and the guitar and keys …

Review

“Elizabeth” by Evelí Ray

Evelí Ray’s “Elizabeth” is a song about her mom that doesn’t fall into the sappy trap you’d expect. The Barcelona artist wrote this as a love letter to her mother, but it opens up into bigger questions about how we relate to nature and each other. Antonio Mazzei plays piano while Joan Miró Prat adds …

Review

“We’re All Lost” by Audren

Audren released a new single that I really love, and I’m here for that kind of honesty. The track starts with just Audren and a piano, then slowly brings in the full band, and the fretless bass adds this unexpected warmth, and when the guitar and piano trade lines, it actually sounds like a conversation. …

Review

“Paradise Cove” by Bleach Dreamer

Bleach Dreamer gets it right with “Paradise Cove”, it opens with a beat that immediately pulls you in, and then these synth layers start building until you’re completely wrapped up in the sound.You can hear it in the synths and the rhythm, but this isn’t some nostalgia play. Bleach Dreamer takes those elements and makes …

Review

“WHEN U WERE MINE” by Ratfink!

Ratfink recorded this album with cheap gear and a laptop that got beer spilled on it, which should tell you everything about the vibe here. WHEN U WERE MINE is rough around the edges and doesn’t apologize for it. The songs are just impressive. The singles ‘About Ya’, ‘Gay Song’, and ‘Plastic Bits’ came out …

Review

“Ache” by Highroad No. 28

Highroad No. 28 have put together a really solid track with “Ache”, and it’s one of those songs that gets better each time you listen to it. Coming from their upcoming album The Will to Endure, this Australian band keeps things simple but effective. The guitars spread out across the mix in a way that …

Review

“Animal” by Weak Trees

Weak Trees wrote “Animal” after getting properly lost in a snowstorm, drunk, and then getting rescued by their dog Elvis. That’s the real story, and you can tell they meant every word of this one. The whole thing started when one of them wandered off to find kindling during a camping trip, got turned around …

Review

“EP1” by Eva Pagán

Eva Pagán is out here making moves, and her debut EP proves she knows exactly who she is as an artist. This project is deeply personal, a love letter to her family wrapped in Spanglish electropop that actually sounds like something real people made, not something assembled in a lab. The title track “Far” opens …

Review

“THE MOON MAN!” by JESUS THE APOLLO

JESUS THE APOLLO has made something wild with “THE MOON MAN!” and it’s hard to look away from it. This track pulls you in immediately with a cinematic, almost theatrical energy that makes you feel like you’re watching something unfold rather than just hearing a song. It’s got real personality. The production is genuinely impressive, …