Shining a light on great new music.
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.
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:
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
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!
The Ringards are a post-punk four-piece hailing from East Dulwich in South East London. Formed in 2018, they consist of Enzo Salinie (lead vocals), Vinny Baker (lead guitar), Gary Cartmill (bass) and Jo Hornby (drums).
They have a string of art-rock singles to their name to date. Let’s check a couple of tracks out:
Their last single pays homage to the national treasure, Helen Mirren. Bombastic Arctic Monkeys riffs are given fresh impetus with their dark Cabbage-esque production and Salinie’s vocal delivery.
Satanic and sardonic, they walk a dark line but, every so often drip feed a hook to entice you in and never let you leave.
Straying between the murky psyche of The Horrors and the pop playfulness of Pulp, ‘Tit Willow’ is nothing short of a triumph.
Rasping New Order guitars are giving a heavenly vocal cut through and thus, begin to sparkle in the shadow of a ‘Rise’, ‘Still Life’ and ‘F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.’. It lacks the true killer moment to stand shoulder to shoulder with these post-punk giants but, it matches them for the heart!
*Image courtesy of Aggie Cherie
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.
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.
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!)
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.
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:
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.
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 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.
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.
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!
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.
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:
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.
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 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.
Columbia are five piece from Liverpool consisting of Alex Sheppo (vocals), Jonny Eccleshall (bass & vocals), Jay Sweeney (lead guitar), Tom Comer (rhythm guitar) Jay Culkin (drums).
Named after the Oasis classic and, recording with The Real People’s Chris Griffiths, they are set to light up big stages, when they’re allowed.
Let’s take a look at what they have been up to in 2020 so far:
A death defying renewal of ‘Definitely Maybe’s spirit. Taking no prisoners, it’s a tirade of debauched escapism.
The release of Jay Sweeny’s guitars is an exhilarating joyride that is going to send the re-opened gig venues of the UK into sweat dripping frenzy. They’re matched, in the closing moments by front man Alex Sheppo as he wrenches out an Ashcroft “this is a big / fuck you / come on” moment of demonic brilliance.
Channelling Richard Ashcroft’s William Blake mode, Columbia wander lonely streets on this record. Sweeney’s guitars, are beset with turmoil, try to find the light but, a fraught danger is forever in looming.
The contrast of acoustic and electric guitars bring memories of The Verve and Oasis’ glory days flooding back. Is it just pastiche? Perhaps, but, when it’s this good, it deserves to stand alongside the giants of working class glory.
Meanwhile, frontman Sheppo offers his most interesting vocal to date. John Power and Richard Ashcroft lurk but, something melodically deranged formulates like Mansun’s iconic Paul Draper. With an innate ability to play vocal textures like this already, it poses a great future from a remarkable star.
Bristol’s Glass Violet consist of Tom Hurdiss (Vocals, Guitar), Alex John (Guitar, Vocals)
Matt West (Drums), Josh Walsh (Bass), Declan Pollard (Synth / Keys). Barely a year into their career, they have been turning heads on their local scene.
Lets see what they have been up to:
Fans Oasis ‘Lord Don’t Slow Me Down’ film, will have often pondered, what do Oasis and Kasabian merged sound like. ‘Chemicals’ offers up that alternate reality. Earnest and determined to escape lifes shackles, they have evoked their working class rock ‘n’ roll. It also leans on the another of Oasis’ touring partners, the criminally underrated Soundtracks Of Our Lives. Their sun-drenched rock is oozing through this.
Hurdiss’ vocals are too indebted to Tom Meighan here. However, Liam was too Ian Brown long before Creation Records knew about him.
A far reaching colossus! They have caressed the grey tinged horizons of the UK with a freedom that only gutsy British rock ‘n’ roll can.
Melodic, escapist and with Kasabian’s ‘Bless This Acid House’ in their hearts, they have hit upon a unifying tonic. One that, is absolutely needed in 2020.
In Earnest are three-piece band from Southend-on-Sea. Consisting of Thomas Eatherton, Sarah Holburn (Vocals) and Toby Shaer, they are self-professed sad indie noise enthusiasts.
17th April marked the release of their debut single, ‘Put Me Under’. It focuses on singer-songwriter Holburn’s chronic anxiety and depression, conditions which prevent her from holding down regular jobs. Luckily, for the rest of the wold, she has channelled it on this sublime song.
Lyrically, Holburn goes a long way to paint the perspective of anxiety sufferers. The awareness of what should but can’t be done builds a tension full of integrity. The isolation she puts over with ‘every now and then I sleep in someone else’s shoes’ is a remarkably honest notion. She goes on to deliver the tracks true standout line:
“You are everywhere and nowhere / just don’t put me under your spell”
A line to think on, especially in these secluded times.
Together, the three piece have launched themselves to the world with a stunning piece of music. At points, Holburn’s vocals have the haunting beauty of Julien Baker but, they surpass her during the climatic crescendo.
Shaer’s acoustic picking layers delivers nice nods to the atmospheric joy of Bon Iver. Meanwhile, Eatherton’s guitars, are of such quality that, they seem to ooze from earth like John Martyn’s classic ‘Small Hours’.
With a six track EP due soon, In Earnest have arrived in both, great style, and substance. Watch this space!
Manchester’s TINFOILS release their new single, ‘Spitting’, Friday 17th April across all digital platforms. Having had to postpone gigs with the sublime Mysterines and the emerging C33s, they have brought this release forward as much needed uplift to their fans.
All images courtesy of Trust A Fox
The garage psyche of Thee Oh Sees is given a jaunty trip down The Libertines frenzied Albion coast. Raucous and riotous, but, always heart-warming, TINFOILS have found away to step away from life’s bullshit and create their own world.
At times, somehow, they make rolling with life’s heavy punches sound euphoric at times. Largely though, this is the sound of working class Britain. Taking the piss out of everything and not giving a shit.
Joyous!
The Red Stains, just another band from Manchester? No. They’re another fucking great band from Manchester!
Photography by Andi Callen
The four piece are made of Natalie Emslie on vocals, Sterling Kelly on bass, Ella Powell on synths and guitar and Ben Dutton on drums. Only a year into their existence, they have already garnered interest from the iconic Tim Burgess and the wonderful people at Vanadian Avenue.
April 24th will witness their debut single ‘Mannequin’. Even during lockdown, it’s one of the most eagerly anticipated singles in recent years.
The throbbing baselines paint a dank landscapes for Emslie to deliver her venomous insight into objectification. Much like Ari Up, Emslie has the ability to be make almost every syllable sound like a right hook whilst, simultaneously, containing great melody.
This summer, Covid19 permitting, they will be appearing at Kendal Calling. Visions of people arriving to a stage three hours early are forming of the back of this great debut.
For some time, there has been a disconnect on the indie circuit among fans. Rightly or wrongly, for the rock ‘n’ roll types, the likes of Foals and Bombay Bicycle Club lack an edge and authenticity. For trendier types, bands like Courteeners and Reverend & The Makers are dismissed as unintelligent and lad rock.
Arise Andrew Cushin.
His career began in unlikely circumstances. As a non-league goalkeeper, his coach asked him to train the younger players. This friendship led to discussions and music sharing over Weller, Ashcroft, Doherty, Beatles, Oasis and Damien Rice.
The twenty-year-old Geordie walks a tightrope of creativity between the two strands. The opening notes of his debut single ‘It’s Gonna Get Better’ will cause some to think, “oh, another Noel Gallagher wannabee”. That is, until he opens his mouth. Cushin is blessed with vocals sent from the soul gods.
In a short space of time, Cushin has been stealing shows and grabbing headlines with This Feeling and, circumstances permitting, will be a shining star at their Re-Wired festival this August.
