Holy shitballs, Batman, it’s a warm October Monday. Get your shorts back out the back of the wardrobe and lets pretend it’s July again. Beautiful blue sky, it kinda reminds me of that COVID March and April when it was warm and sunny. Happy days, aye?!?!
Fancy some tunes to soundtrack your lunchtime/evening/middle of the day because you’re not at work, walk? Course you do. They’re hot to fuckin’ trot, homies.
Bored Marsh – The World In Your View
Why we love it: because Nottingham’s finest have knocked it out of the City Ground. Again.
It starts a bit Stone Roses but also a bit The Cure. It’s the Remi hi-hat rat-a-tat and Simon Gallup bouncing bass. Joe doesn’t sound like Ian Brown though, he soars like Ian Curtis. The guitar is more shoegaze feedback like The Jesus and Marychain. It’s a dancefloor filler and make no mistake. It’s emotive and impassioned and anthemic, biting back at the 1% wankers.
This is the first single to come from their second EP, DoGooder EP, due later this year.
“This is the right time to release ‘The World In Your View’. There is only so much tolerance we can have for those that pedal, perpetuate and believe lies. Faux patriotism and fascism from states and individuals should not be ignored.The self serving media and political narrative continue to create divide, with those fighting their self-created wars as collateral damage. The hope and opportunity for those born somewhere else should not be taken away by the fear from the minority. The lack of opportunity here and beyond, is due to a widening gap between the rich and the rest. Everyone deserves a chance”. (Jim Auton)
SANAM – Harik
Why we love it: because SANAM are here. Or at least they will be very soon. The Beirut-based avant-rock sextet begin their tour of Europe and the UK in France later this week and to herald their arrival and the recent release of their second album, Sametou Sawtan we can listen to the record’s impressive opening track and lead single, ‘Harik’ which comes to us complete with a video by filmmaker and Studio Humbaba founder Areej Mahmoud (Mashrou’ Leila, Shabjdeed), whose award-winning short films and music videos blend poetic storytelling with experimental form.
Out of the ongoing turbulence, conflict, and chaos of their home city, SANAM emerged some four years ago and have fused a melodic, textured, and often beautiful sound, illustrated here by ‘Harik’ where Sandy Chamoun’s expressive voice floats over a wave of synths, guitar and buzuk (the traditional tear-shaped Arabian instrument). (Simon Godley)
The Hanging Stars – Sister of the Sun
Why we love it: because put quite purely and simply, The Hanging Stars are brilliant. And ‘Sister of the Sun’ is yet more evidence of their brilliance. Currently out on tour opening on Edwin Collins’ Testimonial Tour – his “last lap round the UK” – this new single marks The Hanging Stars’ first collaboration with another venerable Scotsman, Gerard Love.
The former Teenage Fanclub mainstay’s melodic charm can be heard coursing through the production veins of ‘Sister of the Sun’ and helps elevate The Hanging Stars onto even greater cosmic heights. Make no mistake, this is an absolute delight. (Simon Godley)
Issy Sutcliffe –Ride (Baby)
Why we love it: Because Issy Sutcliffe’s ‘Ride (Baby)‘ is the sonic shot of adrenaline that we need right now. This cathartic, visceral and melodic Riot Grrrl track will course through your veins and urge you to get up and mosh. Channelling west-coast psychedelic unhinged drone of Brian Jonestown Massacre laced with pounding drums, fierce jagged riffs and 808 sub bass, alongside her unique, fun, dangerous perspective on the trials and tribulations of ADHD life, all opaquely slicing through a chorus that’s as bold as it is vulnerable. A cyclical sample embeds the track throughout and is taken from her ‘Especially Not In My Barbie Bed” song accompanied by a beautifully atmospheric video capturing the euphoria, depth and stylish energy of the track. The space-echo cowboy themed music video can be seen below- crafted by students on the Cinematica Music Video Production course in Liverpool- It’s stunning! (Carmel Walsh)
Waterpistol – Shotgun
Why we love it: South Wales based Waterpistol recently released their new single ‘Shotgun’ recorded at Rockfield Studios. Twanging guitars with a Spaghetti Western style sway with hazy male/female harmonies, jangly guitars and even bongos. It’s a song about solutions, the chorus has got a widescreen, soaring, sun going down “we are all in this together” quality, infused with classic indie melodies, it reminds one of the era of Primal Scream or the Stone Roses. The Welsh band weaving dark ’60s guitar psychedelia with euphoric shoegaze, drawing inspiration from The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Shack, Mazzy Star and The La’s. Since forming in 2022, the band have brought their transportive sound to festival stages across Green Man, Sŵn Festival, Nozstock, FOCUS Wales, and In It Together.
Waterpistol stands as Harry Watton (Vocals and Bongos) Rhea Padua (Vocals), Aaron Tormey (Guitar and Vocals) Carwyn Whiteman (Guitar and vocals) Emma Way (Bass) and Tommy Evans (Drums).
Fred Brown – Distraction
Why we love it: Fred Brown recently announced his debut EP and releases the title track ‘Distraction’. Recorded at Louis Grace’s studio (renowned for his work with the likes of Mura Masa & kaeto), the new single features Brown himself on drums, Joey Crouch on bass and engineering duties, and Henry Arrowsmith on piano.
With wistful and yearning vocals that reveal a fragile heart musing on feeling like a Distraction to others, in a good and not so good way. Shimmering strums and gently rocking percussion, Brown’s voice offering a heartfelt reflection that’s frayed around the edges. With a well worn melody that has echoes of Elliot Smith or Bon Iver, filtered through Brown’s mindseye, a subtle piece of enveloping songwriting that wraps itself around you.
Speaking about the track, Fred explains: “The song is about seeing myself as a distraction for others around me. In a both positive and negative way. When writing the words this wasn’t clear to me at first, and I then found it to be that entertaining others also distracts myself from bigger things inside. The things I want in life, and being afraid to try my hardest at them.” (Bill Cummings)
Llinos Emanuel – I’m Yours
Why we love it: Llinos Emanuel has released her wonderful new single,‘I’m Yours’ which radiates with a quiet longing and heartbreak, with gentle guitar motifs cycling underneath like lapping water at your feet. While Emanuel’s heartfelt, exquisite vocals hold a captivating restraint that unfurls with a undeniable, majestical, bittersweet essence. The track unfolds with a rich and gorgeously drawn intimacy and emotional depth, channeling the timelessness of beloved love songs. Pulling you close ‘I’m Yours’ reveals a more vulnerable, intimate, confessional side to Llinos’s sound and it shows why she is an astounding emerging talent.
After lending her voice to artists such as Jacob Collier, Tom Odell and Paris Paloma, Llinos stepped into the spotlight with her 2024 debut single ‘Golden‘. Since her debut, Llinos has become a viral sensation, amassing over 12 million views and 2 million likes on TikTok and Instagram, where she shares original songs and jazzy reinterpretations of old and new favourites. Before launching her solo career, Llinos made waves as part of close-harmony group Archie and has featured on The Little Mermaid soundtrack (Disney), The Robbie Williams Show (Netflix), The One Show (BBC One), as well as BBC Radio 2’s Folk Show and Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum. Her live performances include a sold-out debut at Green Note, Camden, alongside appearances at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Union Chapel and the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival. (Bill Cummings)
