Exuding a timeless rock appeal with harmonious vocals and exciting tonal range, Barnstormer is the new album from Queen Daxene, the project of London-based musician Alex Denny. A nostalgic, hook-filled sound is apparent throughout, recorded entirely in a London bedroom though exuding an impressively polished and dynamic production nonetheless.
“S-Train” is a fitting opener, quickly showcasing Denny’s knack for melodic structural builds. The “hiding from the light,” multi-layered vocal segment enamors alongside the peppy guitar shimmers, leading into jangly and exuberant guitars that further the track’s vibrant feeling. Elsewhere, “Wabi Sabi” shows a more debonair vocal tone, cohesively gliding into wordless vocal effects with power-pop appeal. The album impresses with a range of sounds, from the subdued build of “Wabi Sabi” to the instantaneous brightness of the opener and “Hands On Pumps.”
“Sometimes I feel like I just wanna cry,” the vocals admit on “Hands On Pump,” delving thereafter into a quivering guitar magnetism. The playful guitar-based charisma here is another standout moment on an album full of them, whether referring to the bouncy pop charm of “Kazuo Ishiguro” or the lush vocal contemplation of “Pope Gregory,” which also culminates in beautiful vocal harmonizing and vintage pop engrossment.
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“Reflection” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of June 2023’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
