Spiralling in Style

“Hot Mess” bursts out of the EP like a spark you can’t look away from—a raw, glitter-smudged snapshot of young chaos handled with surprising finesse. What makes this track instantly gripping isn’t just its boldness, but the way it captures that dizzy middle space between falling apart and growing up, where everything feels loud, bright, and impossibly important.

The production leans into an indie-pop pulse that feels both sharp-edged and breathable, giving the song a reckless confidence. There’s a thrum underneath—restless, slightly wild—that mirrors the emotional turbulence the track is trying to make sense of. The vocals glide between fragile and feisty, carrying that heart-in-the-throat energy only someone still standing on the cusp of everything can deliver.

What’s striking is how the song manages to feel unpolished in the best way: intentional roughness, teenage honesty, the sense that it was written before the dust even had time to settle. Yet, it’s paired with a melodic polish that makes it unmistakably addictive. It’s a song that spirals, but beautifully—like watching someone laugh through the tears and mean every part of both.

As part of the larger collection, this track deepens the EP’s portrait of youth by adding a defiant streak, a little fire to balance the softness. And honestly? It lands like a standout moment—messy, magnetic, and utterly alive.

Into the Grey Between Worlds

“Bardo Blues” lands like a jolt from another dimension—moody, magnetic, and brimming with that deliciously unhinged swagger the band has built its reputation on. The track feels like a fever dream stitched together from post-punk grit, psychedelic haze, and a rock ’n’ roll pulse that refuses to sit still. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t just play in the background; it slithers up your spine and takes over the room.

From the very first seconds, the music builds an atmosphere thick enough to choke on—shadow-soaked guitars circling like vultures, a bassline that moves with dangerous intent, and drums that punch forward with a restless urgency. Woven through all of it is a vocal performance that flickers between allure and attack, carrying the track through its shifting moods with eerie precision. One moment you’re hypnotised, the next you’re on edge.

What really grabs you is the band’s ability to straddle chaos and control. The track sways between tight grooves and wild spirals, creating this tension that keeps your heart rate just a little higher than it should be. There’s a raw unpredictability here—like anything could combust at any moment—and that’s exactly what makes it addictively replayable.

“Bardo Blues” doesn’t just mark a return; it feels like a rebirth. Bold, murky, and fiercely alive, it teases a new era that’s ready to shake the floorboards loose. Turn it up, let it swallow you whole, and enjoy the trip through the in-between.

A Quiet Storm, Softly Rising 

“Thousands Are Sailing” lands like a deep breath you didn’t realise you’d been holding, the kind that fills your chest with something heavy and hopeful at the same time. Lost Chimes lean fully into their indie-folk instincts here, crafting a track that feels intimate yet vast—like a small candle flickering against a huge night sky.

The band’s acoustic palette is warm and patiently layered, giving the song a tender heartbeat. Every note feels placed with intention: the gentle guitar lines, the subtle percussive touches, the vocal delivery that wavers between vulnerability and quiet determination. There’s an emotional clarity in the performance that sneaks up on you, the kind that sends a little chill down your arms without you realising why.

What gives the song its real gravity, though, is the story it carries. Instead of approaching displacement with broad strokes, the track zooms in on one woman’s moment of courage—her decision to leave, to choose herself, to step into an unknown future because staying is no longer an option. It’s a personal narrative that expands into something universal: resilience, escape, survival, rebirth.

Despite its weighty theme, the song never sinks into despair. It honours the ache of leaving while quietly celebrating the spark of hope that pushes someone forward. That balance—pain and possibility in the same breath—is where Lost Chimes truly shine.

“Thousands Are Sailing” isn’t just heard; it’s felt. And long after it fades, it lingers like a memory you don’t want to shake.

A Neon-Lit Throwback With a Fresh Pulse

Bailey Perrie’s “Livin’ On A Prayer” hits like a blast of confetti from the height of the 2000s pop-punk era—only sharper, faster, and wired directly into the emotional chaos of right now. From the first beat, the track surges forward at full throttle, driven by a 150 BPM rush that feels like sprinting through a memory you didn’t realize you missed. It’s loud, it’s youthful, and it carries that signature feeling of being sixteen and convinced the whole world is both ending and beginning at the same time.

What makes the song stand out is its clever storytelling. Built around fifteen familiar song titles, the chorus doesn’t lean on nostalgia as a gimmick—it repurposes it. The references land like emotional snapshots, stitching together a story of messy affection, identity shifts, and the kind of heartbreak that once made you scribble dramatic captions on your MySpace page. Yet the production gives it a modern, cinematic gleam: punchy guitars, crisp drums, and a vocal tone that cuts straight through the noise.

There’s an undeniable charm in how boldly the track balances angst with energy. It nods to the eyeliner-and-drama era without feeling stuck in it. Instead, it revives that spirit with a wink, a spark, and a skyrocketing chorus built to be shouted in cars, bedrooms, and anywhere else feelings get loud.

“Livin’ On A Prayer” isn’t just a tribute to a beloved era—it’s a reboot that invites a new generation to feel the rush.

Eternal Echoes of Friendship

“Ever for Ever” by Boxwood Ivy is a luminous exploration of memory, loss, and the quiet beauty of enduring bonds. From the very first note, the song draws you in with a warm, intimate atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and deeply personal. The production, a collaborative effort bridging Detroit and Nashville sensibilities, balances shimmering instrumentation with restrained elegance, allowing the emotions at the heart of the track to breathe.

What sets this song apart is its remarkable emotional clarity. The melodies ripple with a gentle poignancy, carrying the weight of shared experiences and the bittersweet ache of absence without ever feeling heavy-handed. There’s an authenticity here that resonates—every note and sonic texture seems to honor a connection that transcends time. It’s a tender reminder of how music can serve as both a tribute and a source of comfort, a space where grief and celebration coexist seamlessly.

The arrangement is carefully layered yet deceptively simple, creating a sense of expansiveness that mirrors the depth of the story it tells. Subtle shifts in instrumentation and dynamics guide the listener through moments of reflection, nostalgia, and quiet uplift, making the journey feel personal yet universally relatable.

“Ever for Ever” is not just a song—it’s an emotional experience, an ode to friendships that leave indelible marks on our lives. It’s the kind of release that lingers long after the final chord, inviting repeated listens and quiet contemplation, reminding us of the enduring power of connection, memory, and music itself.

Riding the Waves of Emotion

“The Ocean” by Replaced By Robots is a journey that feels both intimate and expansive, a track that balances reflective calm with exhilarating crescendos. There’s a warmth to the opening that immediately draws the listener in, as if the track is whispering a story meant only for you.

As the track progresses, it swells into a cinematic alt-rock experience, layered with anthemic guitars that carry a weight of heartfelt emotion. The trio’s ability to seamlessly fuse vintage new wave textures with modern rock energy gives the song a timeless quality—it’s both nostalgic and freshly invigorating. The dynamics are masterfully handled: soft, contemplative moments are punctuated by bursts of soaring instrumentation, making the emotional impact feel earned rather than forced.

What stands out most is the way atmosphere and power coexist effortlessly here. The song doesn’t rely on gimmicks; instead, it builds tension and release organically, making the listening experience feel like a small journey through reflection, anticipation, and release. It’s a track that invites repeated listens, each time revealing new layers of depth and subtlety.

“The Ocean” is a compelling testament to the band’s artistry, offering a blend of heart, atmosphere, and cinematic energy that lingers long after the final chord fades. It’s alt-rock with soul, and it resonates in a way that feels both personal and universal.