EP

Marseille – Freedom EP

Derby’s Marseille made huge inroads into the hearts and minds of British music lovers on their recent sold-out tour. To cap it all off, they release their debut EP on the 5th May. Banner image courtesy of Paul Dixon.

Artwork courtesy of Mr. Shaw

The title track ‘Freedom’ is lit up by drummer Tom Spray’s drumming. What begins as a glorious nod to Tony McCaroll’s spiky drumming cascades into something far more flamboyant that Reni would rejoice in. It allows frontman Will Brown to slide into the limelight with his angelic rock ‘n’ roll star vocal. Brown gives the record a soaring sense of destiny but, through his beauty and fragility, lets the masses into the world of Marseille, which is becoming untouchable talent-wise.

On the latest single ‘Thinker’, the love of Oasis turns to Noel’s ‘Masterplan’. Rock ‘n’ roll isn’t here to reinvent the wheel, it is, however, a great tool to reignite old flames as Oasis did so well with Slade and T-Rex on ‘Definitely Maybe’. Blessed with sumptuous guitars and big key changes, they tap into Gallagher’s penchant to unite big crowds with even bigger universal sonic.

Former single ‘Only Just Begun’ steps back into a hazier realm. As weightless as ‘Twistarella’ and freeing as Shambolics’ ‘Dreams, Schemes, & Young Teams’, they’ve conjured images of ‘Sally Cinnamon’ flirting with The La’s and DMA’s. Vocally, the band has stepped up with harmonies enhancing what was, already a rich sound. As Brown decrees “I don’t want to be that guy”, he emits a level of emotion not seen by him before. His soul, for a fleeting moment, is left exposed and vulnerable. This level of openness and generosity of feeling is so often wrapped up in angst and rage. Brown and co have encased it with lysergic licks of love which breed hope and togetherness.

EP closer ‘Lost and Found’ finds a sweet spot between DMAs and Oasis. It allows for their sun-kissed instincts to connect with the raw pop-rock power of ‘What’s The Story…’. Lennon Hall’s power chords give this an urgent, almost desperate quality that Owen Morris’ reckless soul would surely smile through studio glass at. Hall’s rhythm is met by Labrum’s innate ability to stand on the shoulders of guitar giants. As carefree as The View’s debut he unleashes a sprawling melody that Lee Mavers and John Squires will marvel at.  

Indebted too much to the past? Possibly. 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.

The Lunar Towers - Hurry Up and Wait

The Lunar Towers are a four-piece hailing from Cheltenham and now residing in London. They consist of Rory Moore (bass/vocals), Joe Richardson (guitars/vocals), Rob Sewell (guitars/vocals), and Bradley Hillier-Smith (drums).

Rory and Joe met by chance in a French class at school and bonded over music, Oasis t-shirts, and Morrissey haircuts. They have recently recorded with The Moons frontman and Paul Weller multi-instrumentalist Andy Crofts, a sure sign of genuine talent.

After the singles ‘Wire’ and ‘Happy As Larry’ were picked up by Shindig magazine, Radio X, and BBC Introducing in the summer, they’ve returned with their debut EP ‘Hurry Up and Wait’. Here’s our track-by-track review:

*Images and artwork courtesy of The Songbird HQ

‘Hurry Up and Wait’ is available to buy on their Bandcamp page.

Plastic Glass Towers

The rippling guitars of Derby peers Marseille can shimmer on the darkest of winter days. Not content with bringing the sunshine to grey landscapes, they have Teenage Fanclub’s innate ability to conjure an escapist momentum to revel in.

There’s a ramshackle beauty to Sewell’s vocals which evokes Pastels’ Creation Records era. The abrasive yet beautiful delivery gives them a joyous us versus the world sonic!

Pillar 2 Post

This time out, Richardson takes the vocal lead which transforms the bands sound. Blessed with the smokiness of Elliot Smith, the lo-fi drawl of Lou Barlow, and the joy of The Orchids’ James Hackett, It allows their sunny disposition to roam free.

The sumptuous guitars meander with the effortless beauty of Lawrence in his Felt days and the folk-indie magic of Belle & Sebastian. What prevents them from becoming just another indie band with a nice jangle is the directness of the solo. It brings Teenage Fanclub and Goa Express into play which broadens their horizons and therefore, future excitement exponentially.

Southern Love

With The Byrds in their hearts, they set sail for the Laurel Canyon. McGinn’s guitars and crosby’s soulful vocals are reimagined to a scintillating effect. The urgency is instant. The vitality is necessary! This is rock ‘n’ roll at its absolute best. Desperate to set the soul free from its trappings via art and integrity.

Back To You

Vocally, Moore has found a sweet spot between the abrasive Pete Shelly and The Jacques’ Finn O’Brien. What makes him more special is the re-homing of the punk spirits in this gentler sonic.

The guitars have the warming glow of Richard Hawley in a parallel universe where he joined forces with Strangelove and Luke Haines to conjure an awkward yet endearing form of crooning.

Pastel - Isaiah

Manchester’s Pastel release their second EP ‘Isaiah’ EP this Friday via Spirit of Spike Island Records. Produced by Afflecks Palace frontman J Fender, it follows the success of their ‘Deeper Than Holy’ EP released back in 2021. Can it follow up on the early promise?

The previous EP demonstrated a love of the Verve which they have doubled down on here. The title track ‘Isaiah’ is steeped in Nick McCabe’s magical swirling guitars that beckon tonnes of dry ice on a huge stage for them. Frontman Jack Yates angelic vocals give the astonishing sonic a human touch, allowing us mortals into their world. ‘Escape’, written after a hefty acid trip, has the melodic hallmarks of ‘Weeping Willow’ and ‘Space & Time’ and the explorative splendour of ‘Blue’. The sumptuous slide guitars are destined for iconic status.

Their time with John Squire at Knebworth was clearly well spent. On ‘S.O.H.O.’ the ‘Second Coming’ and ‘Do It Yourself’ strut comes out to play. Great and immediate hooks combine with Yate’s Chris Helme vocals to bug everything out.

On ‘Two Fools’ however, the promise builds but does not arrive. Whilst the hiss of Owen Morris’ Oasis production lurks and the vastness of ‘Urban Hymns’, its tails off without landing a killer moment. That is a testament to the quality elsewhere that your hopes are raised song upon song.

*Image courtesy of Fear PR

Pastel’s remaining live date of the year is:

November 20th - Preston, Crosstown Festival

The Native – Looking Back

Plymouth outfit The native recently released their debut EP ‘Looking Back’ via This Feeling Records. It comes off the back of the Reading & Leeds Festival and appearing on Soccer AM. It was produced by John Cornfield (Oasis / Stone Roses) and mixed by Grammy Award-winning Adrian Bushby (Everything Everything).

Some bands thrive on the fringes. They can tear up the rule book and conjure a new scene from thin air. Then, there are bands like The Native. They come fully formed destined for the centre ground. Not enough for the punks but, everything to who believe in headline togetherness of The Killers or a Coldplay.

The Devon band have real intent on creating something epic before their time is up. On the latest single ‘Looking Back’, they race to the centre ground of indie-pop. They condense down the euphoria of Embrace and try to motor skywards. Whereas, ‘Blindside’ tunnels into hearts with bombastic drumming keeping it on the right side of credibility.

There is a brief moment on ‘If Not Now, Then When?’ where they strip it all back and stray into the world of acoustic guitar blandness. Without the age behind them to crash into life’s failures, it doesn’t land the depth this kind of song needs to succeed.

However, when they let their youthful exuberance of the leash on ‘All Or Nothing’, taps into the emotive power of Starsailor and eloquence of the DMA’s. Similarly, to Snow Patrol’s breakthrough, few will be able to ignore its beauty and Edge-esque solo

You'd be forgiven for rolling your eyes if this was a band three albums deep. The fact is, this is a debut EP and The Native have emerged with a decent swing at mainstream indie. With the chancellor on a path to destruction, mercifully, The Native offer a flicker of light as they hint at Editors’ haunting qualities, Blossoms pop instincts, and The Railway Children’s rueful melodies.

*Images courtesy of Fear PR

The Skinner Brothers - Lonedon EP

Not resting on the laurels of ‘Soul Boy II’, London’s The Skinner Brothers have returned with their new EP ‘Lonedom’.

Images & artwork courtesy of Fear PR

here is our track-by-track review:

Lonedon

Frontman Zac Skinner’s vocals should be iconic by now. On this latest offing, he has the gruffness of beans on Toast, the insolence of Jamie T but, crucially it’s his soul-boy persona that shines brightest. Theirs an air of the 80s wide boy donning the finest Fila jacket sipping G&T’s surveying the chancers who know better to cross him.

Despite the coolness of the record, their anxiety permeates throughout as our protagonist struggles to belong in London. The big smoke is a vibrant joyous place full of choices if you can afford it. For anyone slipping financially, mentally, or emotionally, it can be a pressure cooker waiting to blow. The Skinner brothers take those infectious laid-back licks of The Astors and the chilled bombast of Eddie Floyd for a walk along desolation row. The solo that blasts out twice takes the band to another level altogether. The Coral’s ‘Magic and Medicine’ unites with Miles Kane’s dreams of rock star status to conjure a perfect blend of isolation and toxicity.

The Mellow

It may lack the 100 overdubs but, it embodies Ashcroft’s sense of freedom on ‘Urban Hymns’. Spikey lyrics, stoner melodies, and escapist guitars unite to create bugged-out rock ‘n’ roll for the 4am finishers.

Loaded Gun

Jamie T’s guttural glory combines with a Fatboy Slim–esque riff. This is gloriously unhinged debauchery set to unite groups of mates on both triumphant and failed nights out for a generation. It has a raw sense of adventure destined to be a catalyst for another wave of bands.

Make It Count

The effortlessness of Peter Bjorn & John and Foster The People flirting with the lo-fi magic of Ian Brown’s unfinished Monkey Business.

Priestgate - Eyes Closed For Winter

Yorkshire’s Priestgate recently released their debut EP ‘Eyes Closed For Winter’ via Lucky Number Music (HMTLD / Walt Disco).

Here’s our track-by-track review:

Bedtime Story

If The DMA’s made a Cure record, this would be it. Dream pop-psyche flirting with the lighter gothic moments of Robert Smith’s eyeliner magic. Frontman Rob Schofield switches from a popper Farris Badwan in the verses to the broken gruff soul of James Geard (Sissy & The Blisters) or Alexander "Chilli" Jesson (Palma Violets) in the pain-ridden end.

Darkness loiters lyrically throughout:

“All I really wanna do is sleep / That's the only thing that belongs to mе”

Our protagonist worryingly losing agency is a brave and bold discourse for such a young band to tackle but, a triumph remains!

Eyes Closed For Winter

They’ve taken The Maccabees ‘Feel To Follow’ to the edge of The Horrors’ psychedelic landscapes.  

Both walked the tightrope of creative and commercial success with aplomb. Priestgate has effortlessly moved into this territory on the title track. Melodically soaring throughout, frontman Rob Schofield toys switches from angelic to anthemic alongside the life-affirming guitars of Connor Bingham and Isaac Ellis.

Credits

Real Estate’s bliss and Ride’s pop alt-pop sensibilities ignite this dreamy affair. Schofield’s vocals nestle in between Robert Smith and Harry McVeigh which elevate The Horror’s ‘Primary Colours’ keys and the sumptuous guitar hooks.

The lysergic joy of Afflecks Palace is pumped full of Walt Disco’s new wave playfulness to create a bona fide alt-pop track for the ages.

By The Door

The crowning jewel of a truly incredible debut EP.  The Maccabees ‘Given To The World’ collides with A Flock of Seagulls on this epic adventure. As Schofield sings “leave your secrets by the door / what ya bring them here for”, a darker abrasive world opens up for them.

It’s here their penchant for great melody soars the highest. The juxtaposition of Cure-esque hooks and fractious relationships is a collision Priestgate should revisit over and over for our pleasure.   

The Chase - Not the F*cking Game Show

Nottinghamshire’s The Chase have been on a roll the last 12 months. Brothers Tyler (frontman) & Dion (drums) along with cousin Luke on bass and James on keys have notched up support slots with The Rifles and The Skinner Brothers.

They recently released their debut EP ‘Not the F*cking Game Show’. Here’s our track-by-track review:

Black Cloud

Raucous garage punk sitting between The Stranglers and The Velvet Hands. James’ great keys light up this explosive affair alongside the scintillating guitars.

I'm the Man

Tyler’s vocals have the deranged but melodic joy Frederick Macpherson (Les incompetents/Spector). The power he emanates alongside the stomping drums and violent guitars feels like the single comeback Oasis always attempted ‘Heathen Chemistry’ until the end but never landed.

The bluesy stomp teases The Stones’ devilment out of BRMC’s wayward souls and yet, there is a togetherness oozing from this record. One which is going to set ablaze live audiences.

Live to Die

Great synths take the band towards an indie-punk rapture. Taking all the best bits from Maximo Park, Spector, and The Cribs they lift off to a destination unknown but one you’ll be hell-bent on finding.

Set The World To Rights

Despite the frenetic pace to the EP so far, musicianship worthy of session artists has lurked. Here, with pace mercifully slowed, they showcase just what they’re capable of when they let everything breathe.

Melodies worthy of Crowded House are taken to the sun-setting rock ‘n’ roll of Soundtracks of our Lives. Despite the center-ground here, the vitality of the sound is not diminished. Urgency pours from their sweat like fine wine!

La La La

The Dead 60s ‘Ghostface Killah’ collides with early Ordinary Boys on this psychedelic ska anthem. Volatile like The Coral’s debut, they prove that, no matter what the genre, they are unpredictable, melodic, and ready to take the alternative scene by the scruff of its neck!

In The Queue

A sign of their quality that this ramshackle throwaway affair carries more melody than most alt-bands we saw at Glastonbury this weekend.  

Andrew Cushin - You Don’t Belong

Not content with recording with Noel Gallagher, Geordie sensation Andrew Cushin has been opening for him on some massive outdoor gigs this summer. Cushin has released his debut EP ‘You Don’t Belong’ to mark the celebration. Written but Cushin, it was produced by Jason Stafford and recorded The Libertines’ iconic Albion Rooms studio in Margate.

To date, Cushin has released a litany of melancholic tales blessed with Gallagher’s key change joy and soulful lyrics. ‘You Don’t Belong’ for the most part, buries his past and departs on a bombastic carnival ride.

The title track and ‘Yeah Yeah Yeah’ fly out of the traps. The former peacocking across the stage with a glam stomp to get awaken the senses. The absence of a killer solo lets down the guitar hook, Cushin vocals, and its energy. An absence that is remedied on ‘Yeah Yeah Yeah’. The pop-mod immediacy of Ocean Colour Scene’s ‘Goodbye Old Town’ is met with a joyous solo that sounds like Stephen Stills joined ELO.

Stills’ penchant for debauchery and infectious rapture is rolled out to full effect on the Noel Gallagher-inspired ‘Catch Me If You Can’. Cushin spectacularly finds a way of pulling in the dynamism of ‘Keep on Reaching’ and the wonder of ‘Revolution Song’ into the hedonism of Stills’ guitars.

Cushin returns to his archetypal sound on ‘Runaway’. A track was written on the fly in homage to Gallagher’s ‘Supersonic’. Cushin paints tortured souls like no other and, as the exceptional stargazing production soars, his soul falls into the gutter:

“You drink yourself to death / just like you always do / like the wind used to”

Although it leaves you hollow and despairing, the heart will remain full for this is a young man reminding us all that a working-class hero is still something to be!

*Image courtesy of Sonic PR

The Clockworks - The Clockworks

The self-titled EP from Galways The Clockworks will be released on 1st April (no seriously) via Alan McGee’s label It’s Creation Baby.

Here’s our track by track review:

Endgame

Being directionless in a world gone fuck up has never sounded so great. Frontman McGregor’s vocal cadence radiates “4 Real” carvings in the arm it’s so vital; every breath, note, silence sounds like the key moment in the best film you’ve ever seen.

Previously, their guitars have been in two camps. ‘Can I Speak to a Manager’ and ‘Bills and Pills’ were a great homage to 00s icons The Rakes, The Cribs, and beefed up Good Shoes. Then, in ‘Enough is Never Enough’ something changed.  Brutishness pervaded their punk as they traversed far more desolate landscapes.

Image and artwork courtesy of Sonic Pr

Here, they have married up the two to create the next wave of UK punk. It’s fired them into the brace of Shame and Fontaines DC, arguably surpassing them. Especially when you consider McGregor has found a way to sit between Henry Dartnail’s (Young Knives) slightly high-pitched growl and the warming punk of Grian Chatten (Fontaines DC).

Money (I Don’t Wanna Hear It)

It’s felt an age since social commentary and great characterisation were a part of our lives. There has been great polemic of recent times but, ‘Money’ goes further. It unites the town crier with the poet and is destined to reel in fans from all strands of the alternative world!

Feel So Real

Almost a year to the day since this was first released and its prose feels more needed now than then. The disgusting Spring Statement that neglected millions (becoming a habit Sunak!!!) are lit up perfectly. McGregor’s lyrics scour London life, consuming the good, the greed, and the destitute.  It feels like Welsh, King, and Niven have formed a three-piece punk band with one objective, righteous angst!

The Temper

Not many punks can strip down to acoustic guitars and maintain the quality levels. The Clockworks do not struggle here. The passion of ‘England’s In The Wars’ and the playfulness of ‘D’Ya Wanna Be Spacemen’ offer up a moment of calm but incisive lyrical joy.

Images of Pete and Carl filling time between stage collapses or Brett Anderson sitting on the edge of the stage without a mic come racing to the fore as, this acoustic affair sways with Blake-esque poetry.

The Shakes – Demos

This past Friday, The Shakes opened up Martin Rossiter (Gene’s) benefit for Ukraine at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Everyone from James Acaster to Sleeper to the London-Liverpool express were given minimal stage time. Yet, they still managed to blow a hole into the soul for all who watched!

Out of tribute, no, just sheer respect to their ten minutes, we’re revisiting the Demos EP they released in January. Here’s our track by track review:

The Demos EP is availble to buy on the bands Bandcamp page. Images courtesy of the band.

Watch It

Hurtling out of the traps like the Small Faces on speed, ‘Watch It’ fires like The Strypes with The Buzzcocks fury in their hearts.

It has all the hallmarks of great 00s indie-punk bands but, though their guitars, there is an innate ability to take that sound to the vastness of Pete Townsend and hint at the psychedelic mayhem of ‘Disraeli Gears’. The guitar breakdown snarls like Paul Cook but has the prowess of Townsend and the life-affirming swagger of Noel Gallagher with that union jack guitar.

When Liam Gallagher hit his peak, he was the vocal personification of John Lennon and John Lydon. Frontman Zak Nimmo, here, has found something between Liam, Ian McCulloch, and Mick Jagger. Like Liam, he not only has the ability and confidence to carry it off, he has the charisma to work them into his live sets without it ever being pantomime. He is an instant icon!  

I’m Your Man

In between the glorious noise and confusion comes the infectious ‘I’m Your Man’. A sumptuous ode to the lovesick males among us. Teenage boys will bang their chest in bravado to ’Watch It’ but, in front of the bedroom mirror, will swoon with a lynx Africa in hand begging to be this expressive!

With the beauty of Zutons and The Coral and the devilment of the Buff Medways and The Libertines, they have unearthed a classic to wave the flag of good ship Albion once more.

Lost Along The Way

Not for the first time on the EP, The Libertines’ sense of togetherness is key to their success. The jagged ska of ‘Guanga Din’ is given an injection of Iggy via Hendrix. Their ability to keep the melodic visceral is remarkable, it keeps this looping verses integrity intact and thus, allows the solo to feel like a cannonball being launched into the night sky.

The aggression and raw power of the looping riff powers this Iggy via Hendrix and Libertines classic. Despite the penchant for ‘Guanga Din’, a visceral and muscular power rumbles throughout that Kinks would be proud of.

The Libertines imagery is hard to shake as lyrics detail a forlorn character making best-laid plans (“when I think of all the plans that I’ve made / I guess they got lost along the way”). Those wilderness years of the band caused a decade of ‘what might have beens’ for fans. Now, The Libs are back but, they’re most definitely playing second fiddle to The Shakes.

The solo shimmers and shakes like the psychotic bugged-out love child of Carl Barat and Dave Davies.

Here Comes The Rat

The guitars, oh those guitars, it’s heaven for lovers of The Stands, The Bandits, The Zutons. Liverpool has been paid homage to here and then some! Despite being the most well thought out piece is beset with the desperation all rock ‘n’ roll needs to thrive!

The Winachi Tribe - Parasitical Elimination

Warrington’s Winachi Tribe are back with their new EP ‘Parasitical Elimination’. A collaborative remix piece was recorded between their own studio and LA with producer John X at the Earthstar Creation Centre.

Last time out, we saw their love of Chic and Johnny Marr soar across sun-drenched climates on ‘Time For Love’. This time out, they match the style but dial up the attitude. Throughout the EP, there is a sense of zero fucks given. The title track has the accessibility of Massive Attack effortlessly colliding with Prince Fatty to conjure an indomitable dub groove. Rather than just stay on this glorious track, they lift the soundsystem to higher planes with the injection of Asian Dub Foundation’s aggression. It adds sonic defiance that few can match!

‘Sense of Drama’ sees the band rejoice in their North West heritage. The lo-fi guitars of Aziz Abraham chime with a bugged-out and melodic homage to Rob Collins.

When frontman Liam Croker interjects, business picks up. His husky, almost whispered vocals strike a menacing tone that Death in Vegas would revel in. It’s Croker’s Bobby Gillespie ability sporadically and expertly join the affray where his genius lay. It heightens everything and takes the ego out of what is clearly a big talent.

‘A Room With a Zoo’ is yet another beast to contend with. The soul-pop sensibilities of Pharrell Williams are taken on a dank journey into the North West’s underground scene. Croker’s vocals cut through the tension and beckon you into a world of trepidation. Its trippy funk and soul for the witching hour taps into Daft Punk and the Stranger Things score to conjure one of the finest tracks of the year.

Their debut album is due for release later this year and, with this array of quality, has to be a late runner for album of the year.