These days, more and more artists are releasing new music in the form of either EPs or singles. Sometimes they’re part of a forthcoming album. Sometimes they are just what they are as presented.

I find I’m hearing more and more of these releases as time goes by. I think they deserve their own reviews, rather than put them up against albums. So, here we are. Sometimes, the reviews might be just as short as the songs.

DAVID BYRNE, “Everybody Laughs”. There should be a rule: If you need a pick-me-up, contact David Byrne. He has a gift for making everything feel a little brighter. This tune (from a forthcoming album) sounds like an extension of his American Utopia project, which is a very good thing, indeed. Uptempo and bright, this song will no doubt get the feet tapping and the body moving. It’s fun!

PROXIMA FLARE, “Fearless Stand.” (EP) Melodic metal in the vein of A Perfect Circle, with soaring vocals and crunching guitars. The melodies are highly singable, even as you bang your head. A band well worth keeping track of.

SARGINE, “Hold On” (EP). A band with a lo-fi Tool vibe, with a slightly muddy mix that adds to the band’s mystique. But the songs are plenty cool. The music is spacious despite its weight, with highly introspective melodies. The drummer is over the top wild in places, which just adds to the cool.

CHRISTOPHER MARSHALL, “Awakening.” Positively EPIC. A three-minute theme looking for a superhero. Beautifully orchestrated with lush strings, soaring brass, ethereal vocals, and thundering percussion. It might be the most uplifting three minutes you’ll spend this year.

NITE, “Burn.” (EP) Anyone jonesing for the synth grooves of the eighties will find a taste or home here. Shades of The Cure, Depeche Mode, and New Order can be found in this tune. The vibe is so similar, Nite could be put on a classic mix tape and no one would know any better. It’s a nice flashback to what could be cool about eighties music.

NEURAL GROOVE MACHINE, “Programmed Autonomy”. If Garbage and Nine Inch Nails had a love child, it would sound something like this. Raw and aggressive, yet highly produced, with a solid blend of electronic grooves and heavy guitars. The vocals are lush and siren-like. It’s a good way to remember the music of the nineties while still feeling new.

#cirdecsongs

If you would like to have your music reviewed, contact me at cirdecsongs@gmail.com. Please put “REVIEW” in the subject line.

If your band is performing in the Chicago area and would like to have your performance photographed, contact me at cirdecsongs@gmail.com. Please put “PHOTOS” in the subject line.