Argh Kid – Riot

Manchester’s Argh Kid has been one of the shining breakthroughs in 2019. Less than a week after they released their debut EP ‘Derelict Dreams’, he returned with the explosive single ‘Riot’.

The raw power of Public Enemy combines with the Beastie Boys outlaw instincts to provide well timed assassination of government. As the visceral production takes hold, just consider, in 2 months, an unelected leader has lost 6 votes, 2 court cases, stated no custom checks in NI, stated there will be custom checks in NI, sacked members of his party, and dithered on about Jason Donovan. What a time to be alive!

Thankfully, leadership comes in many forms. UK spoken word artist Dave Scott (aka Argh Kid) has stepped up to the plate. His distinctive Mancunian vocals adopt venom of Jason Williamson and aggro yet melodic tones of Tom Meighan circa ‘Club Foot’.

Meanwhile, all around him a bassline throbs to echo down the ages. The guttural hook is soul shaking and, as Scott decrees “don’t believe the shite”, a breed of patriotism you can be proud of emerges. Not the bloated lunch on expenses, Churchill wannabee guff of Mark Francois!

Put simply UK Hip Hop hasn’t felt this vital since the early work of Kano and Dizzee Rascal. It’s pure, its violent and it’s working class intelligence from the gut!

Cellar Doors - Cellar Doors

San Francisco trio Cellar Doors release their self-titled debut album via the Spiritual Pyjamas label on the 15th February. They've played limited shows in the UK but, on this showing, like Melbourne's DMA's, its set to become their spiritual home.

In the digital age, the concept of the killer opening track has dissipated some what. Cellar Doors have revoked this notion on 'City Girl'. Combining Krautrock and the aggression of Kasabian's debut album, they have delivered a truly death defying piece rock n roll. Young listeners will see this as their moment, their release from boredom. Older rock n rollers, inevitably will be closing their eyes and reminiscing of their first summer of discovery to this hazy anthem.

They say timing is everything and, as Sex Education grips the world on Netflix, Cellar Doors coming of age debut appears right on cue. The danger of 'City Girl' conjures up images of Mauve's middle finger salute and the Velvet Underground tones of 'Pale Blue' should have sound tracked the Otis and Eric's relationship.

'In A Dream' also has those teenage hallmarks of escape. The racing energy of the Roses on 'She Bangs The Drums' emerges alongside the motorik of Neu and the distorted bliss of Jesus and Mary Chain. For fans of Creation Records and the spirit Alan McGee, this is indeed a dream.

There are moments of sublime pop majesty. 'Prism' sees singer Sean Fitzpatrick deliver an angelic Paul Weller vocal circa 'English Rose' vocal amid an eruption of Kasabian's 'Reason Is Treason'. The sex and danger of Fitzpatrick's guitar playing on 'Sirens' should hopefully banish the banal dross of Arctic Monkeys for good and, on 'Frost', they have an anthem for the ages. Complete with Depeche Mode's darkness, Neu's motorik, and the lightness of early John Squire guitar playing, 'Frost' is a haunting psychedelic pop behemoth.

Is the music industry capable of being taken over by the sound of angry poetic young men anymore? We're about to find out.

Kasabian - You're In Love With A Pyscho

Beats and psychedelia pumping out the stereo can mean only one thing, Kasabian are back!

Despite Trump and bitter confusion of Brexit, Kasabian had one hell of a 2016. They watched Leicester City do the unthinkable and Serge got married. The swelling of love in their circles was huge and has oozed seamlessly into this comeback single.

Kasabian’s affinity with Frankie Knuckles’ love drenched house continues as the teeth grinding beat marches on. However, when the bass and guitars chime in, it’s clear they are taking this in the direction of classic Talking Heads singles ‘Pyscho Killer’ and ‘This Must Be The Place’.

No Kasabian track is complete without masterly pieces pf psyche, synth and warped production and this is no different. They are spliced in with the funk of ESG’s ‘Bam Bam Jam’ and the bluesy trippyness of Primal Screams ‘Burning Wheel’.

Much like Primal Scream, Kasabian continue to be ambitious and experiment with clashing sub-cultures and pop music. Crucially, they mesh everything to make the latter, surface level alone, this is a bouncy sing-along, dig deeper and you’ll find many a hidden treasure.