We Speak Music

Stumbleine releases hypnotic new single ‘Cinderhaze’

Published

9 months ago

April 25, 2024

Don Reed

Cinderhaze, the second single from UK producer Stumbleine’s forthcoming eighth album. Deleted Scene, envelopes you in a gorgeous pool of sound that shifts and pulls its emotional weight in cyclic waves.

Deleted Scene, overflows with beautiful nostalgia-tinged electronica. The album is steeped with cloud-like beauty, with opener and recent single I Can Stop Anytime I Like fusing addictive sampled vocals with soft, glassy guitars, as if a reflecting pool of the listeners’ memories.

Elsewhere on the album, Ursa Minor Sleeps Forever is fittingly sleepy, circling soft slow synth arpeggios in a dreamy haze, a sound built upon by Somnia to an epiphany-like string bed, never straying too far from Stumbleine’s serene haven of melodic grace, while on Catastrophette, Stumbleine crafts a more dramatic and poignant web of sound, as if running through the memories created by the rest of Deleted Scene.

‘Stumbleine’ is the alias of Peter Cooper. With roots in the UK post rock scene, the reclusive producer began blending slow dream-like pop with fractured lo-fi beats as Stumbleine in 2012. Melancholic rnb vocals ebb and flow above submerged guitar ballads. Sand blasted samples intertwine with broken beats to create music with a nostalgic fragile warmth. Stumbleine is known for a DIY ethic, releasing music directly to fans or via the independent label Monotreme Records.’

The new album as a whole is an escape to a dream-state of Stumbleine’s making, captivating, yet familiar, and completely enveloping. According to Peter, “Deleted scene refers to the memories that play over and over inside your own head, replaying hazy copies of hazy copies that evolve into a bittersweet fever dream. Everybody has their own unique collection of deleted scenes slowly distorting and fading away.”Deleted Scene will be released on June 14^th digitally, as a CD in a colour printed slipcase cover and as a limited vinyl edition of 300 copies on 180 g white vinyl, which can be pre-ordered here: https://monotremerecords.limitedrun.com/products/776439

We Speak Music

Joshu’s Soulful Voyage Into Identity and Place In ‘Way Back Home’

Published

9 hours ago

January 22, 2025

Philomena Marie

Indie-folk artist Joshu’s latest EP, Way Back Home, is a captivating exploration of belonging, identity, and the search for self. Following a painful breakup, Joshu embarked on a life-changing journey across the Atlantic Ocean, retracing the path from his birthplace to the island of Antigua, where he grew up. The EP serves as an emotional reflection on his voyage, filled with personal revelations and introspective moments that resonate with anyone who has ever felt a sense of disconnection or longing for home.

The title track, “Way Back Home,” encapsulates the feeling of isolation and the emotional weight of Joshu’s journey. Its haunting melody and tender vocals draw the listener into his personal reflections on belonging, and what it means to find peace in one’s place. As Joshu sailed across the vast ocean, he questioned his identity as a second-generation white man in the Caribbean, pondering the concept of home and how we form connections to the places that shape us.

Over the course of five deeply reflective tracks, Joshu delves into themes of identity and place, all while challenging the notion of home as a static concept. His vulnerable lyrics invite the listener to ponder the same questions: is home where you’re born, or where you’re raised? How do we cultivate a sense of belonging in a land that may never fully feel like home? The EP, though deeply personal, is a universal meditation on human connection in an increasingly fragmented world.

Written and self-produced in the intimate surroundings of Antigua, Way Back Home, showcases Joshu’s growth as an artist. His delicate vocals are supported by lush, minimalistic arrangements, creating a warm, introspective atmosphere. The production highlights his ability to blend folk sensibilities with subtle Caribbean influences, crafting a sound that is uniquely his own. As both a producer and songwriter, Joshu’s skillful handling of mood and emotion shines through, making this EP a poignant and captivating listen.

Yet, Way Back Home, is more than a personal exploration; it’s a reflection on the broader human experience. Through his delicate storytelling and heartfelt music, Joshu explores the universal longing for connection and the quiet grief that comes with feeling displaced. In a world where so many of us feel disconnected from the places and people that define us, Way Back Home, is a beautiful reminder of the power of music to heal and reconnect.