Futureproof Promotions

Rainn Byrns – Never Ending Story

Peckham-based Rainn Byrns returns on June 10th with his new single ‘Never Ending Story’ (via Futureproof Records). It Follows last year’s EP ‘Country Living’ and precedes his new album due later this year.

Writing the drudgery of working day repeat has a become a fine UK tradition in UK counter culture. The Jam’s ‘Smither-Jones’ offered us an insight into the pretense working-class folk can break the glass ceilings, The Coral turned up the darkness on ‘Bill McKai’s train journeys whereas, Sleeper’s cannon filled in the gaps with the relationship and sex of these characters types (‘Inbetweener’ being the finest exponent).

Byrns has thrown his hat into the mix with ‘Never Ending Story’. With nodes of country and bluegrass, Byrns takes from ‘Sgt Peppers’ and The Kinks to paint pictures of a hopeless slacker. Spiritually, it beds in alongside ‘Importance of Being Idle’ with the protagonists growing sense of lethargy and alienation to success:

“Every waking day I’m painfully conscious that I’m fading away”

Whilst splicing in the laugh out morbid haplessness of Morrissey:

“Can’t find my soul in the lost and found”

It’s firm proof that Byrns, with the pen at least, belongs in esteemed company lyrically. Musically, Byrns hasn’t nailed the standout single of this writing lineage. It’s a more beloved album track than career-defining 3min alt-pop.

However, anything with a country-tinged Graham Coxon solo and ragged Jay Jay Pistolet vocals deserves everyone’s attention!

*Images courtesy of Futureproof Promotions

Mount Forel – Elba

With members from the US, UK, Japan, and New Zealand, London-based Mount Forel are a truly international outfit. Their second single 'Elba', is taken from 'Small Worlds' released today via Futureproof Promotions.

mount art.jpg

On this showing, it's easy to see why Tom Waits, Robert Smith, and John Mayall recently gave them praise. The slow psychedelic amble into action brings back all the hope of the Roses 'Breaking Into Heaven' before they take us somewhere far more cinematic.

So often, with emotive psyche guitars dazzling as they do from Ross Thompson and Pete Garner here, the vocals will cool off like Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) or Ruban Nielson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra). Here, Thompson does something truly majestic and matches the power of the guitars. The underrated power of Peter Green joins forces with soul of Plant to conjure something truly spellbinding.

Mount Forel's debut album is out today. Check it out here https://mf.fanlink.to/smallworlds

*Images courtesy of Futureproof Promotions