Sincere Engineer
Bless My Psyche
Hopeless (2021)
Sincere Engineer, fronted by Deanna Belos, runs the emotional gamut with angry highs and desperate lows – often both within the same song. I kind of think of it as a female take on ‘90s emo: the songs are personal and introspective, searching for help through the downtimes. A difference being that most ‘90s emo was seeking validation while this seeks community. There are songs of failure and frustration, isolation and rage, and the whole damn gamut -- all through a first-person, relatable point of view. Belos’ ability to turn on a dime from somber anxiety to raw pain pulls it all together with emotion shouts that cut through the skin. Some context: Sincere Engineer was founded as a singer-songwriter project by Belos, often performing acoustic but also with a full band. It’s mostly grown into a punk band, but these songs are ultimately lyric-driven and written to be performed with either arrangement. The lyrics and melodies set the tone and the instrumentation adds depth, mood, and energy. Belos uses her ranging vocal styles as additional instrumentation to convey the complex and often overwhelming emotion that flows throughout. “Hurricane of Misery” is a great example, as it opens with celebratory … Read more
Barcelona Gipsy Balkan Orchestra
Nova Era
Satelite K Records (2020)
Nova Era is a sweet journey through the olden Balkan ethos that permeates this region, of which I also happen … Read more
San Salvador
La Grande Folie
Music Development Company (2021)
There’s nothing like a good vocal driven ensemble am I right? Well, I don’t know about you but I find … Read more
Partial Traces
Wild Surf/Quiet Blues
Salinas Records (2021)
Partial Traces play pop-inspired keyboard rock – but not at all the kind you imagine when you hear those words. … Read more
