Entertainment This Old Dog Mac DeMarco Azaria Bell Mac Demarco’s latest release, This Old Dog, is the perfect record to listen to whilst camping in the winter, sipping on a hot drink or watching the sun set. A more mature, stripped down version of Mac’s iconic style, each song is primarily acoustic with simplistic, Jim Reid-reminiscent vocals and occasional experimental, Tame Impala-style electronic sounds. Reflecting on his complex relationship with his distant father, Mac explores the inner conflict that comes with watching a relative you never really knew deteriorating in health, and struggling with the suppressed emotions of your
Truth is a Beautiful Thing London Grammar Dan Pagotto The powerful British trip-hop trio are back with their latest album Truth Is a Beautiful Thing and boy howdy, get ready to go on a feels trip. The powerfully evocative lyrical tone of the album (in keeping with most of their previous work) is often juxtaposed with icy cool grooves and the chillest of vibes. The album’s opening track, ‘Rooting For You’, is an astounding display of vocal power. Hannah Reid has a range that will give you chill-induced goose bumps – the kind of voice that drops your jaw and leaves you speechless. ‘Oh Woman Oh Man’ is a shining
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childhood for the first time. ‘Sister’ is a short but sweet track that has similarities to Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Landslide’ and is a stark contrast to ‘Moonlight on the River’, which starts out slow, and ends in a frenzy of reverb-heavy electric guitar. Closing with ‘Watching Him Fade Away’, a deeply personal and heart-wrenching ode to his father, you can’t help but feel as though you know Demarco on a more personal level after listening to this album. This is the most exposed Mac Demarco has ever been, making for an excellent, poetic album that many can connect with on a personal level.
example of just how groovy the band can be, with tasty guitar riffs, the sharpest of hooks on the chorus and a loose, relaxed percussive undertone. With the album being 14 tracks in total (18 on the deluxe version), it gives the listener a lot to digest whilst still offering variation in both style and tone. Reid’s voice is often used as an instrument of its own, joining in on both brass and string sections on various tracks. This is a huge step forward for London Grammar, with them creating an album of intelligent and inventive composition – and it will surely reward them with some new fans while satisfying existing ones.