Gold Coast
Meet V.BLVQ (v black, for those who were as slow as I was) whom harkens from Australia’s most magical place, the land of milk and honey and punch ons at beachside clubs. One time I almost bought a wind chime at Surfers Paradise so that’s a treasured memory from my end that you and I can enjoy together. Anywho, this dude just dropped a new record called Ferris Bueller about a week back, the second release under the V.BLVQ moniker but the first I’d come across. The debut was actually way back in 2018 and between the first and the current are a smorgasbord of soundcloud releases that yet dug into but you best believe I will. Now this first 2018 one called Role Models was more of a down the line hip-hop record that sounds like it could’ve been producer by Parker Corey. It’s very good and because you’ve been so patient just now while listening to the story about my Surfer’s Paradise windchime, I’ve embedded it below as a little treat.
This new one ‘Ferris Bueller’ though, it’s a different beast. It’s in the same lane as an artist like Jean Dawson, covered with a patina of hip-hop but more than a fistful of classic indie influence. It’s a record about wanting to go full Ferris Bueller, taking a day off (“I don’t care if I get laid off”) and sonically it’s as languid as the subject matter. Keen to here more from this dude, hopefully on this same washy, spun out recliner tip.
Remember that time you ate 4 tangelos then fell asleep in the sun at Bilgola beach in 2014? That’s right, we’re talking about Citrus Daze here, and while that irradiating experience was ultimately horrifying, I think you’ll find this one extremely pleasant. Today’s heatstroke comes direct from the bright sands of the Gold Coast, a five piece who’ve formed with the evident goal of releasing this incredible debut single and a similarly powerful debut press shot. Both had me clutching my pearls. The audacity of these people to succeed so resoundingly with their first efforts.
Chloe’s voice pops and wanders like a vagrant angel while the untold hero of the song is truly Jess’ bassline. It’s nothing OTT, just the right trampoline for that voice to springboard across lilting guitars. It’s all bittersweet nostalgia of Summers past, engendered through moody words but sunburst back through the the filter of a vocal solar flare. This Summer’s one that’ll live on mournfully, at least in our geographical part of the world and amidst fire and political inactivity, ‘Blue Summer’ feels like just the poison to capture the warmth, the smoke, the sadness and wrap it in a saccharine layer. And sure, I’m reaching quite far to find a political parallel, but I guess I just want you to know that I really eff with this and that it’s been a timely record.
Beyblade let it rip!
Artists you need to know rn
| 1. 1300 |  |
316 |
| 2. Voidhood | |
259 | 3. jamesjamesjames | |
186 | 4. Zan | |
174 |
| 5. Sesame Girl | |
147 |
