Twin City – I Feel Alive

Bristol-based Twin City are back with their third single, ‘I Feel Alive’. It’s their first single signed to Bubblebrain Records and was recorded at J&J Studios. Tom Smith (Holy Youth Movement) produced it.

*image credit Iwan Jones. Courtesy of Songbird PR.

Last time out on ‘Solid Gold’, Twin City, although expertly, strayed probably too far into Oasis’ sphere of influence. ‘I Feel Alive’ has hints of ‘Definitely Maybe’ but has a funk to its basslines, charting a course very much of its own.  

Conor Feeney’s exquisite bassline kicks this rock 'n' roll affair off like the Devil emerging from the pub. Its devilish twists and turns funk through the soaring riffs and rock ‘n’ roll despair. Feeney’s killer hook allows Louis and Pete Refson’s guitars to build a wall of sound, climaxing with the escapist licks spiralling alongside Louis’ snarling vocals in sheer ecstasy.

Twin City’s Bubblebrain signing has kicked off in some style. Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming show:

THIS IS WAR – Pray

Liverpool’s THIS IS WAR return with their new single ‘Pray’ via Bubblebrain Records. The Verve’s Si Jones was produced again with Andy Fernihough mixing and mastering. ‘Pray’ is released on Friday 18th August.

There’s a great sense of journey to ‘Pray’. The youthful adventure of The Jam and Razorlight’s debut are given a more mature makeover. Despite the more measured contentment of Jonny Roberts and Mike Mullard’s guitars, they’re still besieged with ambition to rival any teenage exuberance.

Although sonically always moving forwards, lyrically, ‘Pray’ is beset with great trepidation. Singer-songwriter Paul Carden’s delivery has gone to a place now that marks him out as one of the UK’s finest. The sense of fear juxtaposed with a sense of loyalty and duty he purveys are mesmeric.

THIS IS WAR are on the road to their debut album now, and ‘Pray’ has us drooling with anticipation.

Marseille - This Dream Of Mine

The Derby five-piece are back with their new single, ‘This Dream Of Mine’ via Bubblebrain Records. Released on 25th August. After the breakthrough success of their ‘Freedom’ EP earlier this year, can ‘This Dream Of Mine’, and its 3 b-sides (‘Brightest Star’ / ‘I Love You’, Devil’s Gonna Get You’) keep up their momentum?

Images & artwork courtesy of The Songbird

Previous singles ‘Freedom’, ‘Only Just Begun’, and ‘Forget It All’ have all had elements of the Roses but, ‘This Dream Of Mine’ is different. It’s desperate, and all the better for it. Tom Spray’s drumming is ferocious despite the angelic licks around him, lending punks urgency, almost punk power to their brand of sun-kissed Byrds-esque anthems.

The intro sets the late 80s and early 90s Madchester senses racing as they fold in elements of the Roses’ ‘One Love’, ‘Standing Here’, and ‘Elephant Stone’. Make no mistake; Marseille are here to make that sound, their sound! Every nod to the greats is given fresh impetus. The trippy opening to ‘One Love’ is given steroids by Spray’ frenetic drumming. Meanwhile, guitarist Joe Labrum condenses Squire’s opening howl on ‘Standing Here’ into a moment of raw emotion.  

Marseille’s talent has never been in dispute from day one. What they’ve now added is the unseeable and the unquantifiable. A Death-defying, life-affirming, urgent, vital spirit has emerged on ‘This Dream Of Mine’ not seen before. Leading this charge is frontman and lyricist Will Brown. His lyrics on paper are innocent tales of romantic adventure. However, when Brown sings, they become a hand up off the floor. His soaring intonation is a double dose of hope, a vision of something better.

Check back on the 21st of August when we begin reviewing their fine b-sides.

Viva la Marseille.

Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming shows in Jersey: