Top 10 EPs of 2023

2023 has been yet another fine year for new music. Before acid test of the LP, comes the taster session of

10. Nothingheads – Sunlit Uplands

The filth and fury rides again!

9. Marseille – Freedom (Full review here)

There is so much joy and emotion emanating from this EP it’s near impossible not to be enamoured with it. Always pastiche, never parody, Marseille can fly the flag of their heroes with pride.

8. Half Captain – In The Firing Line (Full Review here)

‘In The Firing Line' is a raw but rewarding journey from dark to light.

7. Jonny Ash – Did You Get Involved?

A death-defying joyride in rock ‘n’ roll.

6. Carsick – Drunk Hymns (New Band spotlight link)

The visceral venom of Soft Play (Slaves) guitars via the poignancy of Jamie T reignites the notion of running with believers!

5. THIS IS WAR – Rotten (Full review here)

The step up in class is perhaps best personified by the acoustic version of last year’s ‘Mona Lisa’. What was gritty and fiery melts into a George Martin-produced classic with Mick Head on guitars.

4. Saloon Dion – Muckers (Full review here)

Bristol’s Saloon Dion released their debut EP ‘Muckers’ at the end of May via Mucker Records which they followed with a triumphant support slot with Opus Kink at London’s Village Underground.

3. Marseille – This Dream Of Mine

This autumn, we reviewed every track from Derby’s rising stars.

This Dream of Mine / Brightest Star / I Love You / Devil’s Gonna Get You

2. Rosellas – Somewhere Inbetween (Full review here)

The Rosellas have begun a new chapter on this EP. Their inclination to reflect thoughtfully is now dancing with the kind of rock ‘n’ roll that the UK yearns for on big stages. It’s only a matter of time.

1. Rolla - Nothing Less Than Everything (Full review here)

A fire-breathing beast of an EP. Rock ‘n’ roll through and through!

The Great Escape Festival 2023 - Preview Part 1

Brighton’s Great Escape festival began in 2006 and has been a beacon of light for new music ever since.

As we approach this year’s festival, we pick out (in alphabetical order) our favourite acts to look out for.

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard

In 2022 the Cardiff glam-rockers released their criminally underrated debut album ‘Backhand Deals’. Not resting on their laurels, they returned with the harder and darker single ‘Chew’ this last March.

Key Tracks: You / Chew

Deadletter

The Yorkshire outfit relocated to South London to forge a claim as the finest exponents of political polemic of the modern era. With better hooks than Gang of Four and the stylised delivery of Talking Heads, Deadletter will blow Brighton away this year.

Key Tracks: Binge / Madge’s Declaration

DeafDeafDeaf

The Manchester four-piece are destructive gothihc-punks with desolate Joy Division soundscapes to isolate within.

Key Tracks: Nothingness / Bodies

Dirtsharks

Dirtsharks will be on home soil in Brighton. Their throwback outsider rock pulls from the Murder Captial and Fontaines DC fire but always with the hooks of The Amazons loitering.

Key Tracks: Split Tongue / Tides

Dylan John Thomas

The Scottish troubadour is a one-man La’s. Jangling across horizons with Gerry Cinnamon looking on in awe.

Key Tracks: Fever / Nobody Else

Melin Melyn

The effortless jangle of a Real Estate and the mesmerising oddity of a Gorkys Zygotic Mynci. Hailing from London and Cardiff, their 60s baroque pop comes bi-lingually reminiscent of the Gruff Rhys’ fine solo albums.

Key Tracks: Nefoedd yr Adar / Short Haired Lady

Midnight Rodeo

The Nottingham six-piece are a Tarantino soundtrack in the making. Sexy, dangerous, and cool as fuck!

Key Tracks: The Big Melt / Now You’re Gone

Nice Biscuit

Making the long journey from Brisbane are the five-piece Nice Biscuit. They take the psychedelic lunacy of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard for a joyride with Sugar Candy Mountain and Wolf Alice.

Key Tracks: Fem Chem / Round and Round

Pale Blue Eyes

Hailing from Totnes and Sheffield, the modernist psyche-pop outfit are destined for big things. The folksy mod instincts of Erland and The Carnival unite with nodes of The Cure, Cocteau Twins, and Tame Impala.

Key Tracks: Little Gem / Globe

Rosellas

To date, Rosellas have been a band with great promise. Single after single they showcased something fresh and, on ‘Hideaway’ they have pulled it all together. It’s a thunderous piece of rock-psyche that brings the five-piece out of indie’s shadows into the main stage spotlight.

Key Tracks: Hideaway / Slowdance

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