Coke Belda “9”
Coke Belda, a Valencia, Spain native who settled in Pittsburgh, has been serving up finely tuned power pop since 2013. Across nine albums, he has stayed true to his love of melody, harmony, and polished pop craftsmanship, with The Bee Gees, Jeff Lynne, and The Beatles among his key influences. On this latest release, those influences remain clear, but Belda puts his own sugary stamp on them.
Coke’s approach is relaxed and smooth, allowing the melodies to take center stage. “Golden Days” gets things off to a strong start with soaring strings and lush harmonies, while “Everyone Needs You” has an almost ethereal quality, built around layered guitars and beautifully stacked vocals. Then there’s “Beach Life,” which positively shimmers. If you’re looking for the perfect song to accompany a honeymoon video, this one practically begs for it.
“The Music Is Waking Up” sounds like a lost Gilbert O’Sullivan song, with its charming piano-led arrangement and lyrical plea for music that retains a human touch in the age of AI. “Velvet Sunrise” features some clever harmonic touches in the chorus, while “World Without Fear” and the jaunty “Keep on Wandering” provide more highlights. There’s no denying this album leans heavily toward the sugary side of pop, and some listeners might find the sweetness a little excessive. For fans of classic pop craftsmanship, lush harmonies, and unabashed melody, this is another winning entry in Coke Belda’s growing catalog. Highly recommended.
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Professor and The Madman “Dreamworld”
Alfie Agnew and Sean Elliot came up through the Southern California punk scene, playing in several bands before befriending Rat Scabies of The Damned. When former Eddie & The Hot Rods bassist Paul Gray joined in, Professor and the Madman was born. Their latest concept album is a love letter to mid-’60s psychedelia and pop, complete with the “Revolver”-inspired artwork.
“Dreamworld” opens with simple piano chords before bursting into swirling psychedelia and a “ba ba ba” chorus. “Tolerant World” charges forward on a forceful guitar riff, and “Mental Tape” has a playful, campy quality, with vocal inflections reminiscent of Smash Mouth’s retro lounge style. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, the production is rich and polished without losing the album’s vintage character.
“The Light” delivers strong hooks and a touching lyric about trying to get through a painful time. The Beatles influence is unmistakable on “12 Strings and Tambourines,” which borrows the hypnotic drum-and-bass rhythms of “Tomorrow Never Knows.” My favorite track is “Adams Street,” a perfect blend of dreamy vocals, nostalgia, and memorable guitar. Its lyric, “We’d create fictitious bands/Give them faces, names, and plans,” neatly explains the album’s concept. Professor and the Madman have built their own dreamworld, and it’s a fun place to visit. Highly Recommended.