The Outcharms are a four-piece hailing from Doncaster. They consist of Curtis Cooper (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Ross Fowler (lead guitar), Matthew Barron (bass guitar), and Shay Evans-Booth (drums).
The Rosadocs
Afflecks Palace
Pastel
Sister Psychosis
Daz Cadwallander
Daz Cadwallander hails from the tiny village of Bolton Upon Dearne in the North West. After performing at Tramlines and supporting the legendary Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets) he is back with new single, ‘Dream of Yesterday’.
Skylights
Threads
Bedside Manners
Emily Breeze
Lock-In
London 5-piece Lock-In formed early in 2019 and have been catching the eye of the ever since, especially This Feeling and their loyal army of rock ‘n’ roll lovers.
Breakup Haircut
The Galahads
Manchester’s The Galahads quietly went about their business in 2020. Putting out a series of singles, each better than the last.
Once you have the vaccine, we order you to thank the NHS, call your family then run in to the street and decree ‘The Galahads are coming!’.
Here’s why:
Turns To Hate
The band’s fourth single was released just before Christmas. The lazy haze of Kurt Vile is given a robust workout alongside some lo-fi soul vocals from Oliver Flynn.
The dose of distortion just niggles at the dreamy guitars creating a powerful tension. The threat of eruption is never far away from this
volatile psychedelic gem that wouldn’t be out of place on the Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968
Sunday Bop
The ambition of Pink Floyd is taken on a trip through the dreamscapes of Real Estate, Ride, and The Byrds on what is, quite frankly, a modern classic. It spirals through space bringing peace amongst the galaxy with its effortlessly cool and enriching psychedelia.
Get your best Laurel Canyon outfits ready as, post lockdown, a great trip lay ahead!
Dexy
South London’s Dexy has digitally released his latest single ‘Drop Your Hand’. Produced by Adrian Hall, it features contributions from Lecero’s Rick Steff and Fightmilk’s Lily Rae.
Ever so slightly withdrawn but still bristling with spritely pop-cum-psyche, it evokes memories of Elliott Smith’s ‘Angeles’ and ‘Somebody I Used Know’.
Tales of letting the past go often entail vitriol and angst. Dexy changes tact and, exquisitely dives into the minutiae of the journey. Detailing the clichés friends serve up as support ‘And everybody sings the same old songs’ will raise a wry smile. Dexy goes on to unveil the torment via his struggle to not be tainted:
“Getting older takes no effort at all,
But getting kinder?”
It is though, sonically where his storytelling excels itself. In particular, the moment he frees himself from the pain. Spiralling the vocals into the ether releases all the tension expertly. The ‘la la la’s’ fade the pain away to a carefree state of mind.
Dexy’s new album is due out early in 2021.
Bitch Hunt
London based four-piece Bitch Hunt recently signed to Reckless Yes (Fightmilk, Captain Handsome, Mark Morris). They identify as a queer/trans alt-rock band. Let’s check out what they have been up to:
Their debut EP is available on Bandcamp.
Spaceman
Punk has been in the ascendancy within rock music for some time now so, to suggest it needs a reset may seem odd. It does! Too many bands are idling by talking over their music, few are landing any real blows.
On ‘Spaceman’, Bitch Hunt have renewed punk’s vigour with their stripped-back garage-punk style. Dirty lo-fi riffs demand your attention before The Strokes-esque solo makes you beg for it!
(The Verve like video is simply hilarious!)
Armadillo
With the joy of The Buzzcocks and the charm of Jilted John, this track will awaken many teenagers to the embrace of punk.
It’s a John Hughes movie for the 21st century accompanied by the sound of best friends finding a musical release. The guitars are sharp, life-affirming bullets of love that provide angst and anxiety a place to escape to.
A. Smyth
Dublin’s A. Smyth is set to return with his second album, ‘Last Animals’ on 19th February. Already a budding talent in Ireland, Smyth is set to breakthrough in the UK this year.
With that in mind, let’s check out a couple of his tracks:
Hero
An angelic dream where Elliot Smith gives a modern take on Van Morrison’s peak. The vocals are featherlight whilst the guitars pack an enriching hug.
A divine guitar solo sets Smyth out in his own right. The aching shimmer floods the senses with Neil Young’s warming distortion.
River
Ryan Adams’ ‘Desire’ is given an injection of Nick Drake’s innocence on this lullaby. Delicate and sweet, Smyth questions life choices with the spirit of the Romantics in his heart.
*Image Courtesy of Mark Duggan
The Gabriels
The Gabriels are an indie quartet forged on a love of jangly guitars and classic pop sensibilities. Made up of Gudg (vocals), Fran (Bass), Leon (Guitar), and Stuart (keys), they release their debut album this Spring.
The single is available at Bandcamp.
The leadoff single is ‘Loose Canyon’ and, is as stunning a debut single as your ever likely to hear. The guitars trickle downstream without a care in the world allowing frontwoman Gudg to sprinkle angelic vocal over.
With little England dominating politics and covid19 sucking the morale out of everyone, their yearning to escape is the new year tonic we all need. The shimmering West Coast guitars evoke yesteryear but, remain fresh and purposeful to their scintillating end.
Through their longing to be back in the Laurel Canyon scene, they have encapsulated Roger McGuinn’s ability to make guitars glisten. However, what lifts this song is its ability to capture the heart of Gene Clark. The longing of ‘Set You Free This Time’ and the vulnerability of ‘If You’re Gone’ permeate their dream of escape.
Few debut singles can profess to be this fully formed. Even less can say they are great.
Civic Green
Barnsley’s Civic Green is a four-piece consisting of Danny Hall (vocals/guitar), Andy Lowman (bass/vocals), Gav Darley (drums), and Matt Walker (guitar). The indie quartet has signed with the impeccable These Bloody Thieves Records (False Heads, The Institutes) for the latest single ‘City Streets’.
Let’s check out their latest single and ‘There Is Always A Light’ from earlier in the year.
City Streets
The romanticism of The Enemy’s ‘Sing When You’re In’ flows through the guitars on this heart-pounding anthem.
Laced with heart, this is a clarion call for underdogs. As they decree ‘I don’t need nobody here / I’ll make it on my own’, it’s time for the underclasses to saddle up and join them in battle.
When that vaccine comes, beers will fly uncontrollably around arenas to this!
There Is Always A Light
Form the playbook that brought ‘More Than A Tramps Vest’ and ‘Hindu Times’, welcome back the radio-friendly indie hook.
They have a flair for Tom Clarke and Noel Gallagher’s style of lyrics. When frontman Danny Hall sings ‘what’s been lost, will come back again’ and ‘faces loved and lost they will live on’, an instant bond is formed between band and fan.
Robust, rebellious, and infectious, it sets the platform for indie classicism to soar once more.
Shade
Many say the North will rise again. When did it sink? It wasn’t with Cabbage, The Blinders nor was it via the resurgence of Johnny Marr’s solo career.
Further proof lies with Manchester four-piece Shade. Signed to Fear Records, they have released two tracks this year. Let’s check them out:
Head In The Clouds
Released in September and produced by the legendary Gavin Monaghan, Shade set their axes to exuberant and blow the fucking doors off.
The hiss of Definitely Maybe loiters with a feverish intent. Dripping in bravado and oozing guts, it holds the same qualities of a resplendent Liam Fray striding out to a sold out Heaton Park. It’s humble and brash, earnest and boisterous. Big stages lie ahead.
Neverdie
Despite their Manchester roots, there is something inherently Liverpudlian about this instant classic!
The effervescence of The LA’s seduces the innocence of Gerry Cinnamon on this fluid piece of magic.
It’s not ‘Live Forever’ but, you’ll crave the solos with the same fervent expectation. The early flourishes lure you into their brand of hedonism before the closing moments sail off victoriously.
*Image courtesy of Asupremeshot
Test Card Girl
Test Card Girl is the creative moniker for Caffs Burgis, a singer-songwriter from Manchester. In 2017, she attended the iconic Trades Club in Hebden Bridge to watch John Bramwell. It was here she would meet her producer and collaborator Dave Fiddler.
Her latest single. ‘Holds Me Down’ was produced with Fiddler at Fuse Studios in her Manchester. The crisp and quirky synths accentuate Burgis’ acutely soulful vocals. It takes a supreme talent to make synths sound warming. Burgis has nailed it on her first attempt. Enriching and homely, she takes the Celtic soul of King Creosote for a heart-warming day out with Billie Eilish.
Being able to lift the pop of Haim towards the power of Zola Jesus is rapidly beckoning her towards national treasure status Test Card Girl releases her debut album ‘Seven Dolls’ later this year.