Shining a light on great new music.
The Utopiates
The North London outfit were formed during lockdown. That alone is a message of hope that only an old person planting a tree for future generations can top. They consist of Dan Popplewell (vocals/guitar), Ed Godshaw (keys), Josh Redding (lead guitar), Luke Nottingham (bass), and Joe Jeffreys (drums).
The North London outfit were formed during lockdown. That alone is a message of hope that only an old person planting a tree for future generations can top. They consist of Dan Popplewell (vocals/guitar), Ed Godshaw (keys), Josh Redding (lead guitar), Luke Nottingham (bass), and Joe Jeffreys (drums).
Within a year, they’ve garnered attention from Lammo and are set to line up Shiiine On’s summer party in July and, on June 25th, they will release a new EP. For now, we focus on their last single ‘Only Human’
Usually, we would take a look at a few songs to highlight what a band’s humble beginnings are striving for. The Utopiates, however, are a different animal. Their last single ‘Only Human’ is a moment to saviour.
It’s the stop everything moment! ‘Only Human’ has that power! It’s reminded the world what rock ‘n’ roll can be. EVERYTHING! Guitar music needed this song. Not since Fat White Family has it really done anything new. Somehow, they have Depeche Mode’s darkness and Marr’s expressiveness firing alongside soul music vocals and razor-sharp lyrics.
They’ve taken the good work of Big Image (formerly Ivory Wave) to another universe. The funk and grooves of New Fast Automatic Daffodils’ classic ‘Big’ is injected with the hope of Electronic to conjure new realms for rocks explosiveness to traverse.
That is to say nothing of the guitar solo itself. It’s Prince via The Mondays. It’s mesmerising, it’s destructive, its escapist, it’s nihilistic. It’s a world power launching the nukes. It’s incredulous!
The Utopiates have landed and, bow down to their invasion!
Iridesce
Camden’s Iridesce comprise of Marco Spieth (lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar), James Doig (lead guitar), Thomas Guizzetti (Bass / backing vox) and Joe Bennett (23, drums). They recently won the battle of bands competition to open the Shiiine On Weekender in November. So what exactly will they be bringing to the main stage at Minehead:
Rise
The deep tone of singer Marco Speith in the vocal is going to bring Tom Meighan comparisons, but, the inclination to pull on the heart strings like the forever morbid Matt Berninger (The National) and the brooding industrial qualities of Tom Smith (The Editors) will put that one to bed.
Some bands spend a lifetime building towards this level of epic so, to have this in the armoury so early is remarkable. What’s truly great about this, is that you feel they haven’t quite nailed it. They haven’t failed, it feels like there is more to come. Brace yourself.
Bloodlines
Iridesce have hit upon a radio friendly gem here. Speith’s big vocals deliver a hook for both young and old to shout into their hair brushes. Meanwhile, the gentile and shimmering guitars straddle that line of mainstream and underground to great effect. There is enough for the shoegaze and c86 officanados and more than enough to reel in the casual Killers and Kings of Leon fans.