The Blinders - Gotta Get Through

From the most anticipated debut album of 2018 comes the lead single ‘Gotta Get Through’.

The Doncaster trio have built on the punkadelic riots of 2017 and added one vital ingredient, sex! This throbbing mess of lust and brutality viscerally entwines like the passionate Skins love trio Cook, Freddie and Effy.

As ever, The Blinders have a deeper lying message. Despite all the danger, a sense of hope burns brightly throughout. Signifying that, to know lightness, darkness must first ensue is another step on a furious psychedelic journey not to be missed.

Photo Credit: Nidge Sanders

Arable Desert – Chasin’ Everyday

In 2002, The Libertines reignited the rock scene with their decadent punk rock. The Coral, often tour partners at the time, produced weird and wonderful 60s psyche music. Could the same dynamic materialise between Doncaster’s The Blinders and London three piece Arable Desert? Let’s hope so.

Their new single, ‘Chasin’ Everyday’ takes 60s R’n’B and funnels it through warped guitar riffs and solos. It has a peculiar juxtaposition of perpetually swirling out of control guitars and sense of being trapped simultaneously.

Comfortably the most exciting thing they have produced to date, Arable Desert look to be on to something with the splicing of soul and psyche. Be sure to check them out at Dingwalls, May 18th.

Image Source: Ben Crank

Matt Edible & The Obtuse Angles - Jumping Houses

Hull’s cult hero Matt Edible is back, and yet again, provides challenging pop music for the alternative community.

This ballad, meanders from psychedelic synths to languid vocals like a glorious drunk walk home in the wee hours. Edible’s vocals have always had a touch of James Dean Bradfield about them but, here, his caution to the wind attitude witnesses a departure from that traditional delivery.

Despite the ethereal production and adventurous guitars, Edible still embeds great melody and pop sensibilities into this short epic. It appears nigh on impossible for experimental yet poppy efforts like this to garner recognition nowadays, but, this should only fuel your love it more. Cherish it like the best mate your parents have never been sure of.

The Blinders - Brave New World

The desolate psychedelic outfit have come up with the goods once more on this punk via glam and psyche music stomper. Musically, its perhaps the most honed they have sounded to date, but fret not, all the danger has not evaporated.

This time, it’s staunchly in the lyrics as they venomously pull apart world and its leaders as it currently stands. The best references however, are unsurprisingly aimed at the Donald. The sarcasm is heavily laced in the chorus ‘oooohhhhhh to be / from the land of the free’ and the label ‘Idiot King’ is one which will stick around for a long time.

Happy 4th July. Fuck that, this is The Blinders and their coming to rip down dystopia as we know it!

Whistlejacket - Slam Dunk

Lovers of all things psyche, New Cross’ Whistlejacket are back and this time it’s seriously dreamy.

‘Slam Dunk’ is a sleepy as it’s possible to make guitars. Whilst a stark departure from their triumphant EP, ‘March Hare’, it does nothing to halt their march to glory.

Amidst the blistering heat this week, the woozy guitars and hazy production are the perfect tonic as everything grinds to a sweaty halt. In particular, the looping guitars in the final moments create a sense of blissful nothingness.

Kevin Pearce - So On

In 2017, where opinions are so dialectically opposed, and aggressively so, you have to question where Kevin Pearce’s latest offering ‘So On’ fits in.

It’s steeped in the English folk heritage of Fairport Convention and Pentangle during the verses. Where there is Kevin Pearce, a form of folktronica usually looms large. Here though, its minimal but, the blending of the two genres has never been this seamless.

There is a swelling of bands at present, full of rage and teenage angst, and rightly so. On ‘So On’, Pearce goes beyond instinctive polemic and lurks in the shadows of ‘work of art’ territory. It’s a stark reminder that music can create new realms and lift consciousness to higher planes.

Queensburys - Won't Shut Up

The Essex outfit have released their debut single ‘Won’t Shut Up’ via Label White Room, home of TT favourites States of Emotion.

It wastes no time in punching out its big bluesy riff to compliment frontman Thomas Champion’s new found gruff soul-rock vocals.  

Big guitar hooks have become a dirty phrase of late, a backing track here and a keyboard, not on this single! The guitar part leading into the chorus is awash with escapism and akin to Oasis’ shimmering ‘Columbia’ and the trippier work of The Verve’s Nick McCabe.

If that wasn’t enough, then the solo from George Brown is going to satisfy your needs. It has the hallmarks of Ride’s classic ‘Like A Daydream’ channelled through Peter Green and QOTSA.

Childhood – Californian Light

Following their terrific debut album ‘Lacuna’ in 2014, the Brixton outfit return with sure signs of reinvention.

Their new single ‘Californian Light’, is from their forthcoming second album ' Universal High' and is a a great stride towards Philly soul. Fans of 'Lacuna' will not be left wanting though, it blends the soul with their trademark psyche-pop.

The crisp soul vocal from Ben Romans-Hopcraft sits somewhere between Love's Arthur Lee and Marvin Gaye on his 1971 classic 'What's Going On' album. Hopcraft has the ability to reel you into a warming soul arena and then, in a heart beat just drift away with an aloofness. It's the perfect tone for Childhood's sun drenched sound in a world that is struggling not destroy itself.

If the standard of 'Universal High' is like this, well, Childhood could quite possibly unite the musos and the mainstream.

The Blinders – Ramona Flowers

Anyone who has seen The Blinders recently will attest to the fact that the times they are changing. Fuelled by the political climate, the three piece from Doncaster via Manchester bringing punkadelic toe forefront of the UK scene.

Their latest single, 'Ramona Flowers', is powered by brooding and violent guitars, bridging the gap between psychedelia and Nirvana's 'About A Girl' and 'Love Buzz'. The results are spectacular.

'Apathetic but inviting / She's amazing / You're amazing / Hell raising' drools frontman Thomas. The slow and slightly deranged delivery will lead you down the dank backstreets of the most exciting city.

This year's festival scene has been put on red alert with this single. With their venom and visceral brilliance, The Blinders are going to crash the indie party which, has become far too safe for its own good.

Odina – Why'd You Make Me Cry

The London via Barcelona singer-songwriter is back, and she is on stunning form. This slice of melancholy is as morbid as it is beautiful.

Everyone has questioned the actions of a loved one like this, but, most of mortals have lack the purity of Odina’s vocals.

To date, Odina has written about toxic relationships and depression, and once again the darker aspect of her soul is getting airing here. However, the early Bon Iver guitar style, enriching horns and dreampop production will never fail to raise spirits.

Theatre Royal - ...And Then It Fell Out Of My Head

The Rochester outfit are back with their fourth album 'And Then it Fell Out Of My Head'. They have been a secret for far too long, but, with backing from Steve Lemacq, this record seems set to spread their message far and wide.

Despite their lack of coverage, their confidence has certainly not diminished. It is an album packed with potential singles (if only people bought them). So, its only fitting they lead off with the former single 'Port Bou'. It bristles with their archetypal Mersey-psyche sound and has the feel of a beloved underdog.

'Locked Together On The Lines' recalls the tale of frontman Oliver's Nan finding a dead sailor and prostitute at Chatham's war memorial, The Great Lines. Every facet oozes brilliance. Vocally, the human touch shines through on what is a tragedy. Sonically, the guitars blend the breeziness and haziness of The La's with the pop instincts of The Bluetones.

The real star though is the lyrics. They build the intrigue immediately with brilliant opening ‘did he woo her / did pay her’. Prostitutes are so often viewed as second class citizens which, is deftly portrayed here with anonymity:

‘a sailor lay with a stranger now frozen in time’

This album’s real success lies with 'Standing In The Land'. The bravery alone to talk about fear and confusion over refugees should be applauded. The opening line will stop all in its wake:

“it seems clear to me / how can we be free/ when there is dying in the sea / Because of you and me”

Usually, the social comment is reserved for political angst or sub-cultures in full flow. This goes one further and relays an actual conversation with the accessibility of Gogglebox. It's laced with anguish, guilt, and regret, it is a triumph of inputting pure feeling into a song not seen since Primal Scream's 'Damaged'.

At times, on 'Teardrop' and 'Will Someone Please Write Me A Song', your left with a sense that their magic has waned somewhat. Upon further reflection, it's a testament to how many potential singles they have. Few can deny the brilliance of the harmonica on 'What Has Become of Me', witty lyrics, and the dejected isolation projected in its closing moments.

Theatre Royal may not be new, but with this album, they have certainly arrived.

The album is out now. Find it on their Bandcamp page here:

https://theatreroyal.bandcamp.com/album/and-then-it-fell-out-of-my-head

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.

Theatre Royal - Port Bou

Sometimes, bands can play but lack the human touch and vice versa. Theatre Royal have both, what they’ve lacked is just that little bit of luck. With their new single ‘Port Bou’ though, they have got their breakthrough on day time BBC6.

Its blend of the Paisley and Medway scenes is far more revitalising than rehashing. It injects them with an ‘us vs the world’ spirit that makes you want to ride into battle with them. It’s the immediacy of the opening riff which fires everything up, much like The Jam’s ‘Running On The Spot’ or ‘The Gift’.

‘Port Bou’ is not solely about its chest out bravado. Far from it. This is pop music! The jingle jangle guitars shimmer throughout which simultaneously, conjure visions of hope and loneliness. Couple this with an early John Squire solo and a final third which has a brief, but glorious Ian McCulloch vocal drag, you clearly have one of 2017’s (grandchildren) nuggets of gold.

Antisocial - Attention

Ben Kingwell’s one man army Antisocial have returned with another punk banger, something must be in the water in Plymouth.

Kingwell has nailed his Billie Joe Armstrong vocals here which serve the simplicity of this song well. It snaps at you from the first second and demands your attention, which, is handy because it’s exactly what the chorus is professing.

Like previous singles ‘I Wanna Get Drunk’ and ‘Feel Alive’, ‘Attention’ gets away with the basic structures by having such an infectious carefree spirit coursing through its veins.

Kevin Pearce - Heartbeat Mind

The Essex singer-songwriter returned last autumn with the sublime single ‘Jump’. Pearce’s new release ‘Heartbeat Mind’, again showcases his ability to push the boundaries of folk and electronica.

‘Heartbeat Mind’ is a slow building affair, with Pearce singing over the top a disconsolate heartbeat drum loop for most of it. Like Leonard Cohen’s ‘You Want It Darker’, it has the ability to sound warming and otherworldly simultaneously.  

Vocally, Pearce has often been compared to Turin Brakes’ Olly Knights. Here though, Pearce adopts a deeper and smokier tone not a million miles away from John McClure. This allows Rebecca Hammond to sprinkle a lightness on the backing vocals, which, immediately prior to the songs euphoric conclusion are nothing short of beautiful.

The closing moments of ‘Heartbeat Mind’, are beset with the hallmarks of a Hollywood hero going through hell to save the world and get the girl. The strings and piano soar with such majesty, it defies belief that Pearce isn’t a global phenomenon.

Engine - Truth Be Told

Engine recently told the excellent http://www.theskinny.co.uk/: 

"The song was conceived and recorded at our respective home studios in the Leeds suburbs; the inner heart of Burley and the outer ring of Headingley. A patchwork of sketchy samples and reverberated live recordings, we built the track up over several weeks.”

The results of this DIY effort are remarkable. Put Steve Mason's vocal on this and you have a Beta Band classic on your hands. The drums cascade their way through an array of synths and bleeps to conjure images of an aimless dissident.

 This is apt as lyrically, ‘Truth Be Told’ details the confusion of what is real in this politically moribund era. The glorious reference below to the advocators of “post-truth” could only be topped by a GIF of Farrage and Trump flinging their own shit at walls until sticks:

"Say what isn't seen and / Then it's seen / Then it's meant to be"

Three quarters through comes a guitar part so sublime it offers up hope in its purest form. This supplemented with the lyrical call to arms at the songs conclusion:

"No more dreaming, no more respite / No more sleeping, no more respite"

Echobelly – Anarchy and Alchemy

Echobelly will forever be tagged with Britpop, but with albums released in 2001 and 2004, they have already proven they can outlive that bubble. They return with their first single in 10 years after successful acoustic and full band tours in recent times.

With the use of a stand up bass, 'Anarchy and Alchemy' takes on a distinct jazz foundation. Meanwhile, Sonya's vocals add a sense of anxiousness, particularly within the abstract chorus. It's a terrific reflection of the times, the chemical sense that things are going nowhere or often backwards looms larger all the time.

Sonya's chief partner in crime, Glen Johansson, is also on fine form too. His guitar playing stokes the fires and provides the anarchy to Sonya's alchemy on this subdued yet raw single. What a pleasure to have them back once more.

You Can purchase this now via their Pledge Music page here:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/anarchy-and-alchemy

Listen to the new single and Sonya in conversation with BBC6's Stuart Maconie here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b088nkyy

Elbow - All Disco

Oh Guy Garvey, that voice, from the first word it instantly feels like your best friend has come home from a long spell away.

‘All Disco’, inspired by an interview Garvey did with Pixies legend Frank Black, details how he learned to let go of his ‘be all end all’ attitude towards his songs. This seems odd, as Elbow have always sounded at their best when their mind body and soul have been left out there for all to hear.

That said, fans should rejoice at Garvey’s new reflective stance. The world lost too many heroes last year and to have another one slide into murky waters trying to be perfect would be a tragedy.

Elbow’s archetypal sound is out in full force here, lending itself to all things beautiful in the world. So, to combine it with a wise message of letting obsessions will hopefully have a positive effect on the simplistic dialectical discourse the world has adopted of late. 

Temples – Strange Or Be Forgotten

A great pop music return for the Northampton psyche band.

James Bagshaw vocals beautifully borrow from Mercury Rev’s Jonathon Donahue and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker. Sonically, this is similar to their Aussie peers as well, however, it’s a four minute pop song. The conciseness of this record proves that pop music doesn’t need to boring.

Lyrically, this is the most symbolic to date. Questioning the necessity to be so individualistic that no-one cares about you is one all bands could heed presently. Identity is great, but, if you cannot make it tangible to something real and make fans feel anything then what is the point?

The way Temples have driven their love of psyche and prog into the realm of pop music is remarkable. It feels the right time Tame Impala to become path makers and allow Temples’ pop majesty to flourish.

Ocean Flaws - 20:22

What a remarkable step up in class from one of 2016's most promising bands. Previously, they have touched upon The Verve circa ‘Storm In Heaven’ and ‘A Northern Soul’ but, here, they take the genius of Nick McCabe and spliced it with their own magic.  

The throbbing riff that pulsates throughout is a demented heartbeat in this slow building epic. It could, trip along like this and be fine but, the addition of Olivia Russell on dual vocals allows them to expand their sound monstrously.

It would be remiss not to mention the insatiable bugged out psyche via rock n roll solo in this song. As brilliant as Tame Impala have been in the past decade, this solo is serving notice on them and all prog-psyche, it’s time for psyche to get dangerous once more.