> Single Reviews - October Issue 55 2023 - SNACK: Music, film, arts and culture magazine for Scotland

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Single Reviews – October Issue 55 2023

Yussef Dayes – The Light feat. Bahia Dayes

Centred around an intimate moment of fatherhood captured in a voice note from his daughter, and showcasing his incredible skill as a drummer, this feels like a little peek into a familial bubble. Warm and glowing bass, a tinkling trickle of keys; it feels like a sleepy hug as the sun blushes through the window. – Chris Queen

‘The Light’ is taken from the album Black Classical Music, out now via Brownswood Recordings

Yussef Dayes – The Light feat. Bahia Dayes [Official Video]

There Will Be Fireworks – Classic Movies

Absence may well make the heart grow fonder. But even if we ignore the protracted leave of beloved Scottish quintet There Will Be Fireworks, their latest single ‘Classic Movies’ is the kind of track that elicits the same serotonin rush of seeing a loved one after far too long apart. Twinkling guitars, soaring vocals, and a wistful romanticism similar to that which Brian Fallon instils in his work; it is truly great to have them back. – Craig Howieson

‘Classic Movies’ is out now

There Will Be Fireworks – Classic Movies (Official Video)

Supermann on da beat & KruddTheGuru – DeadEnd

A transatlantic collaboration between Baltimore rapper KruddtheGuru and Hip Hop Scotland head Sanjeev Mann, ‘DeadEnd’ comes out swinging; a pounding mash of drums and loping phonk distortion. Distorted vocals and a guitar overdriven to unrecognisabilty bring Death Grips-like intensity that flares across the track, making every second of the two-and-a-bit minutes run time count. – Chris Queen

‘DeadEnd’ is out now.

DeadEnd Cover Art

Jack Calum Richardson – No Words

‘No Words’ is a headphones-recommended tune. Lavishly produced, warm and soothing, the whole thing oozes with a slick, nostalgic, 70s feel.

A whimsical brass arrangement, courtesy of Liam Shortall (corto.alto), pairs perfectly with the lyrics to create a sense of longing. The piano-driven melody and guitar strums cradle the listener through to the bridge for some instrumental flourishes, before Jack’s smooth vocals return to see us through to the end.

It’s a lush, soulful track that will make you want to curl up by the fire, making for perfect listening as the nights grow colder. – Matthew O’Donnell

‘No Words’ is out now


Main Photo Credit: Danika Magdelena

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