MOSES – Guilty

London’s MOSES are back after two years away. Their new single ‘Guilty’, is the first to be taken from their upcoming third album due for release later this year. Recorded at Magic Garden Studio in Wolverhampton, it sees the band hook up with Gavin Monaghan (The Blinders / Ocean Colour Scene / Rosa Caleum) once again.

Image & artwork courtesy of Rocklands TV.

Last time out on ‘I Still Believe, Do You?’, the band exquisitely and poignantly lit up the struggles of a working-class band in the modern age. It was an album steeped in anguish but never without hope. Upon return, MOSES have found a new mantra, “fuck it”. Everything, including the kitchen sink has been thrown into this!

With two fingers up to an industry that helps so few, they have come out swinging with crunching basslines and a career-best vocal from frontman Victor Moses. Together, they deliver the venom and fury that Foals have been trying and failing to nail down for the past decade.

The breakdown, short, but mystical, erupts into a frenzied attack of gunshot guitars and Rob Harvey-esque vocals. The Music’s debut album’s colossal soul oozes through this razor-sharp return from indie-s unsung heroes of recent times.

Their time is now!

Matt Edible & The Obtuse Angels – Idiot

Hull’s Matt Edible (The Holy Orders / Kingmaker) and The Obtuse Angels are back with their latest single ‘Idiot’. Recorded at Edbile’s home studio, it follows 2023’s comic glam-rock masterpiece ‘Mirror Shoes’.

Image & artwork courtesy of the band.

Like ‘Mirror Shoes’, they tread a similar path of glam-rock and humorous lyrics. Edible pokes fun at those who revelled in a lack of Michael Gove’s experts, leading us all down a path of cultural and financial devaluation for a decade. Sonically, he takes the jovial and mercurial spirit of Sultans of Ping, Jim Bob, and the poetical play of Yard Act to a world of glam-rock riffs with divine results.

The introduction of the angelic backing vocals elevates the comic timing of “im a card carrying idiot” to Bafta award levels.  With a general election on the horizon and said idiots in retreat mode, the hope is that Steve Bray lines this up as Sunak and his non-dom wife toddle off to California on July 5th.

There may have been seven months between ‘Mirror Shoes’ and ‘Idiot,’ but the wait has been worth it. Great melody and sardonic lyrics skip hand in hand, knowing that time is up for the idiots.

Idyllic – Everyone Wants to Know

Liverpool’s Idyllic returned in April to self-release their latest single, ‘Everyone Wants to Know.’ It follows the free-flowing ‘The World is Falling Down.’ Will it match its prowess?

*image credit Trust a Fox Photography

Idyllic has reawakened the 00s guitar scene on their latest single. Instant jagged guitar hooks and enriching indie-soul vocals pull from the finer moments of Pigeon Detectives, The Zutons, and The Kooks’ debut. With a crucial exception, there's is better!

Niall Doolan’s vocals have the warmth of Dave McCabe (The Zutons), the ragged soul of James Skelly (The Coral), and the defiant urgency of Matt Bowman (Pigeon Detectives). Despite possessing obvious talent, his vocal has a humbleness and an everyman appeal—the kind that lights up pubs with comedic tales of heroic defeat.

‘Everyone Wants to Know’ is the perfect counterpoint to ‘The World is Falling Down’. Where the latter rumbles on with infectious expressiveness, ‘Everyone Wants to Know’ taps into an old-school single mindset. Short, punchy riffs unfurl the sweetest of instant gratification!

The Lunar Towers - Morpho Butterfly

Cheltenham band The Lunar Towers recently released their first song of 2024. ‘Morpho Butterfly’ was recorded at Yawn Studios in the Wirral with the masterful songwriter Bill Ryder-Jones and Nathaniel Cummings (Mick Head) producing. The single has been released via the impeccable Colorama Records.

Banner image & artwork courtesy of the band.

The time spent with Ryder-Jones has been well spent by frontman Rory Moore as he slips into The Coral co-founder’s gentle vocal husk. With Jones as his constant, Moore allows hints of Elliott Smith’s moonlit beauty and ‘Goodnight Unknown’ era Lou Barlow to glide in and out of view effortlessly.

Joe Richardson and Robn Sewell’s guitars provide the backdrop to this ode to the natural world and a beguiling woman they once encountered. The joy of The Lemonheads and Teenage Fanclub is never far away from their fingertips. Their wayward beauty erupting into focused bursts of technicolour allows their visions of a “butterfly” or “the girl dreaming of” to swirl with an innocence that guitar music should always be steeped in.

The Lunar Towers' music resonates with summer's lazy, dreamy vibes, punctuated by occasional bursts of genius. Their sound, reminiscent of Belle & Sebastien’s glorious 1996 releases of ‘Tigermilk’ and ‘If Your Feeling Sinister’, captures the fertile periods of youthful ambition.

about-faces – Learn to Surf

about-faces have released their new single, ‘Learn to Surf’. Recorded at Greenmount Studios in Leeds, it was produced by Jamie Lockhart and mastered by Felix Davis at Metropolis Studios in London.

*banner image credit: Barnaby Fairley

Artwork credit: Livestock Studios

Learn To Surf’s origins began on frontman Sennen Ludman’s camping holiday. Staring out to the ocean, his friend Noah uttered the phrase, ‘If you can’t stop the waves, learn to surf.’ This profound uttering ignited a spark of inspiration within the band. Lyrics of defiance and poignant piano parts flowed from Sennen, but it wasn’t until last October, when the bassist rearranged it, that it all came together.

Sennen’s lyrics connect the harrowing to the inspiring, dependent on mood. The hook of ‘If you can’t stop the waves, learn to surf’ , alongside the euphoria of the sonic build, has the potential to drag people under as much as it uplifts. It brings a relentless pressure which, if fragile, should come with a warning. Ultimately though, the goodwill out, and no matter if you think all hope is gone, if a loved one is, or when eternal love fractures and fades, learn to surf. Life is going to come at you relentlessly; embrace it!

Wave upon wave of resilience emerges from a band that, four singles in, has found a formula that could see them emulate the indie gods of Arcade Fire and TV on the Radio.

Marseille – She Can Fly

Derby band Marseille unveiled their latest single, ‘She Can Fly,’ last Friday. It is a captivating follow-up to March’s ‘Monkey in the Middle’. This is the second single from their highly anticipated ‘Godiva’ EP, set to be released this September.

Where ‘Monkey In The Middle’ stared down the world with its psychedelic directness, ‘She Can Fly’, as the title suggests, has a more ethereal quality. Without losing a scintilla of heft, Marseille have managed to jab and move here with exquisite poise.

With The Verve’s debut album ‘Storm In Heaven’ as a guiding light, ‘She Can Fly’ leans into the melodic power of ‘Slide Away’. The band, with fleeting moments of driving shoegaze dynamism, pays homage to their influences before embarking on their own rippling exploration.

Stepping on and off the power provides the perfect counterpoint to the psyche assault of ‘Monkey in the Middle, ’ which Labrum intercuts with rippling guitar magic that strays from Andy Bell to John Martyn with a drool-worthy effortlessness.

With two powerful singles already in 2024, Marseille is poised for a breakout year. The anticipation for the 'Godiva' EP, set to release this September, is palpable. Roll on to September.

Click the image below for tickets to Marseille’s autumn tour:

Subterrania – Knows Me Too Well

South Wales’ Subterrania are set to release their latest single ‘You Knows Me Too Well’ this Friday. It’s been eight months since their last release ‘Shine’ hit the airwaves and grabbed rock ‘n’ roll fans’ attention Can they maintain momentum?

*banner image & artwork courtesy of Songbird PR.

Image & artwork courtesy of the band.

Where ‘Shine’ embodied the boozy swagger of early Oasis, ‘You Knows Me Too Well’ brings it right up to date by leaning into the newfound urgency of Pastel. Dylan Cai’s vocal flits between angelic and hopeful to a raw, lo-fi, defiant roar, allowing music lovers to believe in openness once more.

Our protagonist, blessed with a purity sorely missing in society in 2024, becomes heroic in the closing stages as Cai wrenches, “don’t call my name / when I see you here tomorrow / there’s nothing to blame / but you’re drowning in sorrow” from his soul repeatedly.

Cai summons a guttural two fingers to the world leached from soul whilst Fin Roach’s guitars hiss with the recent urgency of Pastel’s ‘Dancing On A Pin’ and ‘Your Day’. Together, they manoeuvre from a heavy, trippy fog to a distilled rock ‘n’ roll clarity.

Subterrania's three singles have tapped into the trippy psyche and violent rock ‘n’ roll of the all-conquering Pastel. Throw in the mysticism of Rosellas and the laudable comeback of The Crooks, and suddenly, a new wave of psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll is less a bedroom dream and more a juggernaut coming over the horizon.

Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming headline show with This Feeling:

The Outers – Twenty

London outfit The Outers recently released their first single of 2024. ‘Twenty’ witnesses the band join forces with esteemed sound engineer Tom Hough (Azelia Banks, Stereophonics, Rihanna) on an eclectic look back at the Orwellian lockdown of recent years.

*banner image credit: Martine Lund

Image & artwork courtesy of Rocklands TV.

To date, they have wowed through frenetic energy and punk rock idealism. Now, they are pulling from the emotional power of Fightmilk and the isolating but melodic drama of Brett Anderson’s cannon to forge a new way. It’s pop music! It’s electro! It's indie. It’s Linda Thompson on acid.

The Outers' sound is further enriched by adding fuzzy synths and moonlit howls on the guitar, creating a sense of alienation akin to Suede. Frontwoman Ade’s vocal performance is a career-best, carrying the pop immediacy of Ninja (The Go! Team) and the playful energy of Sonya Madan (Echobelly). It’s a vocal style that echoes the dreams we all had for Polystyrene (X-Ray Spex) in her later years-playful, urgent, soulful, folksy, and defiant as hell.

After dazzling in Brighton for Kick Out of the Jams for the Alternative Escape this week, The Outers have kicked off 2024 with one hell of a bang.

Afflecks Palace – You Are The Answer

Manchester’s Afflecks Palace returned last week with their new single, ‘You Are The Answer’. It was produced by their frontman, J Fender, and will be released on their label, Spirit of Spike Island.

Their trademark lysergic guitars remain, but they’re now clashing with the jagged edges of early REM and motorik drums. The culture clashes have breathed a vibrancy into their sonic vision that surpasses what are already two fine albums.

Artwork & image courtesy of Spirit of Spike Island.

On a lyrical level, 'You Are The Answer' is a poignant exploration of self-doubt and the relentless creative struggle to overcome it. This rock ‘n’ roll desperation propels the band to new heights, hinting that as we age, we must “run faster than you ever run” to chase those teenage dreams.

‘You Are The Answer’ is the sound of a band getting older and wiser, knowing its last chance saloon. Kaleidoscopic guitars and ethereal production appear fleetingly, allowing Fender’s message of seize the day (“breathes new life deep into theses lungs / inhale the flames and spit them out the fire”) to take a powerful stranglehold.

What began as a reimagining of a bygone Manchester has now spread its wings far beyond their home. They’ve enveloped more influences and spat out a more focused, universal, and desirable ode to their roots and, crucially, a vision for the future.

Jamie Reid, Simon Emmerson, & Youth – Ancestors

Sex Pistols and Suburban Press collaborator Jamie Reid and Simon Emmerson (Afro Celt Soundsystem) both tragically passed away in 2023. Before they parted, they hooked you with the iconic producer Youth to make ‘Ancestors’, the premier release on Youth and Alan McGee’s new label ‘Creation Youth’.

*Artwork courtesy of Creation Youth and Danny Watson

KLF’s tribal beats and Massive Attack’s grooves combine in the early part to conjure a hedonistic freedom worthy of Transglobal Underground. The bass-heavy grooves decay into a more destructive John Robb (The Membranes) sonic in the second half alongside a primitive Shapeshifter-era Robert Plant howl.

There’s a timelessness and purity to ‘Ancestors,’ which takes it from Castlemorton to 1968 to Don Letts. Stone Grove and Janette Sewell’s vocals are battle-weary after the last fourteen years but resilient. Frayed but stern in their defiance. Their belief in something better. Their hope for change!

Holy Youth Movement – The Next One

Bristol-based Holy Youth Movement, in collaboration with renowned producer Jagz Kooner (Primal Scream, Andrew Weatherall, Sabres Of Paradise), is set to make a comeback on the 25th of April via Ditto Label Services. This marks the release of their second single from the highly anticipated ‘Shock of the Future’ EP, scheduled for July.

Image & artwork courtesy of the band.

On ‘The Shock of the Future, ’ HYM was in a realm where dance and rock music roamed seamlessly together. Here, they’re leaning into their love of electronic music far more. The atmospheric build soundtracks a hopeful entrance into a smoke-filled room before you lose yourself in sweat and hedonism.

Frontman Tom Newman, so often an explosion of technicolour, remains in a hushed and measured groove, allowing the synths and Kooner’s production values to shine with a glitched euphoria somewhere between Bicep and Josh Wink.

The Crooks – Wide Awake

Chestfield outfit The Crooks follow their comeback single ‘In The Meantime’ with ‘Wide Awake’. The self-released single comes ahead of their first tour since before the pandemic May. Let’s check it out.

*banner image courtesy of the band and This Feeling.

The acute Nick McCabe licks demonstrate that, this time around, The Crooks are more comfortable with creativity. There’s no rush to launch into the attack anymore. These licks fade into a furore of Ride and Chapterhouse shoegaze, allowing the psychedelic menace in the closing stages to take flight. Allowing the devil to rattle around in his cage for two-thirds makes his release devastating.

With his rock n roll power, Jacko often makes his presence felt from the beginning. His snarling but melodic intensity is a rare find. In 'Wide Awake ', he tempers it down, revealing a more aggressive version of Andy Bell. He stays in this lane, until he bursts into life alongside the blistering shoezgaze.

The vastness and cinematic arrangement is made all the more potent by the three-minute containment. The fleeting nature of all its parts elevates it to something remarkable.

The Rosadocs – Stand Alone

Sheffield outfit The Rosadocs recently returned with their first release of 2024, ‘Stand Alone.’ It was recorded at Chairworks Studio (The Reytons) and mastered by Peter Maher of U2, Coldplay, and Rolling Stones fame.

*banner image courtesy of Scott Antcliffe.

Artwork courtesy of Scott Antcliffe.

The five-piece, basking in the glory of their monumental sell-out at Sheffield City Hall in 2023, are now reaping the rewards. The euphoria of that unforgettable night resonates in their soaring guitars and Maher’s masterful production. This success story, rooted in their working-class poetry, is now being showcased on a grand scale, rightfully earning them the limelight they deserve.

Despite' Stand Alone' being their most mainstream single to date, The Rosadocs have managed to maintain their musical integrity. Frontman Keelan Graney’s cadence in the verses skips with Gerry Cinnamon’s abandon before roaring with Tom Clarke’s (The Enemy) uncontrollable fire. With such vocal power comes great responsibility, and here, Graney knows when to step on and off the gas, giving this record a creative freedom few can rival.

Lyrically, the spirit of ‘We’ll Live and Down In These Town’ album is reimagined for this generation:

“When to school, college, uni just trying to learn / Went and got a degree for money you’ll never earn / Now you’re toeing the line / Losing your mind on your own“

The forging of ‘You’re Not Alone’s sonic with the gritty lyrical despair of ‘This Song Is About You’ is one of the finest juxtapositions the guitar scene has served up in some time.

Graney and Joe Egan’s guitar parts lift ‘Stand Alone’ well beyond just the realm of an indie-punk Enemy number. They ooze warmth and threaten to escape to the dizzy heights of The Courteeners Heaton Park triumphs.

Rock ‘n’ roll has been watered down for too long. The Rosadocs, as a mainstream weapon, have given it a much-needed dose of realness.

Click the image below for tickets to their Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus gig this summer:

Holy Youth Movement - The Shock of the Future

Bristol-based Holy Youth Movement will release their new single, ‘The Shock of the Future’ (Ditto Label Services), on Thursday, March 28th. Produced by the Jagz Kooner (Primal Scream, Andrew Weatherall, Sabres Of Paradise), it’s the lead single from their upcoming debut EP of the same name.

Image & artwork courtesy of the band.

In 2023, HYM supported Primal Scream and The Dandy Warhols. Both can be heard on this wild electronic rock ‘n’ roll single. The bugged-eyed glam-rock electronic stomp of ‘Detroit’ and the dirge euphoria of ‘Every Day Should Be Holiday’ link arms with Radio 4’s ‘Party Crashers’ on this breakthrough single.

The 00s was awash with bands with dance music sympathies. The Rapture, Radio 4, White Rose Movement, Kasabian, Keith, and Sunshine Underground are among the finest. Whilst they cut through various scenes, there was a world between the single and the remix. HYM are emerging as the seamless middle ground. Guitars roll into synths and back again whilst frontman Tom Newman sways like Nick Drake fronting Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. For the first time in an age, rock ‘n’ roll’s wheel is being nudged towards invention and it’s utterly intoxicating.

 HYM will release the next single from the EP ‘The Next One’ on Thursday 25th April. On this breathtaking showing, it’s going to agonising wait to see what they do next.

The Shop Window – Blues

Maidstone outfit The Shop Window will release their latest single, ‘Blues,’ on March 29th via their imprint Jangleshop Records.

Artwork & image courtesy of the band.

The Shop Window, a band that has long been on the radar, is bidding farewell to their cult indie status by releasing their bluesy jingle-jangle ballad,' Blues.' This unique sound marks their transition from a niche indie band to one poised to captivate the masses.

Sarah’s Records' beauty effortlessly blends with Carl Mann’s Andy Bell circa ‘Vapour Trail’ vocal, and the stoned melodic joy of ’10 Story Love Songs’ is evident in their latest single,' Blues.' This bluesy shoegaze track cuts through the world's chaos with a purity that offers hope for change, making it a fitting sonic ode to avoiding conflict and restoring love.

The Maidstone outfit is on the brink of unveiling their third album, and if this single is any indication, it's shaping up to be a strong contender for record of the year.

Lissy Taylor - Life Changing

Stoke artist Lissy Taylor returned on March 15th with her latest single, ‘Life Changing’. It follows the news she is opening the main stage at this year’s Y Not’s Y Not Festival. Let’s see if it’s justified.

*banner image credit: Paul Gallagher

Last tie out on ‘Minds A Riot’, Taylor was in an explosive mood and showed no signs of settling here. The guitars howl with the pain and torment that the protagonist must overcome to alter their reality. Mercifully, her awe-inspiring lyrics temper the sonics’ ability to drag you to hell:

“You have the power to change your life / Get on it and come alive / You / You can reach paradise”

Taylor’s spirit evokes the era-defining clarion calls of ‘Definitely Maybe’ and ‘Stone Roses’. Hope is often spoken, written, and sung about, but it hasn't seemed possible for the past thirteen years. With an election looming and Taylor’s colossal power, the offshoots are again visible.

Good luck to whoever follows Taylor on the main stage at Y Not.

Spangled - Horizon's Glance

Artwork courtesy of the band.

Manchester’s Spangled are back with their new single ‘Horizon’s Glance’. Produced and Mixed by Gareth Nuttall, it follows last September’s breathtaking ‘Little Tom’ but can it stack up?

*banner image courtesy of Alan Wells

‘Horizon’s Glance’ bursts forth with the hallmarks of a great Western movie. Like a lone cowboy striding into an unknown town, the acoustic guitars are both weary and stern as they prepare for the fight. In the heat of the shootout, they take Kasabian’s masterpiece ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’ to the edge The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster’s malevolent fire.

Their mercurial stamp pervades throughout and hits a new high when they loop the chorus, “ was eating vermicelli in the pouring rain.” This repetition, along with the tremolo pedal, brings a sense of delight and terror, conjuring images of a deranged hostage taker and euphoric glam-rock scenes alike.

Tonight, accompanied by The Avenues, Spangled headline Bridlington Spa Sessions. On this showing, it’s not to be missed!

Click the image below for ticket’s to tonight’s show:

Columbia – The Wait

Columbia returned recently with their latest single, ‘The Wait’. It was recorded at 3rd Planet Studios in their home city, Liverpool, and marks the run to their biggest headline show to date at District on the 9th of March.

Image & artwork courtesy of This Feeling.

In recent years, Columbia has carved out a reputation as an anthem maker. ‘Where Did It All Go?’ and ‘Memory Lane’ were chest-out, reaching for heaven’s moments. ‘The Wait’, however, has dropped in tempo but harnessed an intensity not yet seen.

As the protagonist continues to make the wrong choices (“I should have waited / Now I'm here alone”), anxiety levels skyrocket. When Jay Sweeney’s guitars chime, they carve out an inescapable panic attack you can’t escape.

The mid-tempo suits frontman Alex Sheppard in particular. He has the aggression of Tom Dempsey (The Kairos), the swagger of Chris Griffiths (The Real People), and the folksy rock ‘n’ roll splendour of Howie Payne (The Stands).

Columbia are not new by any stretch of the imagination anymore. They are, sadly, largely unknown still. ‘The Wait’ will not be a ‘Last Night’ or ‘Time For Heroes’ chaotic break-out single. It does, however, have the air of a ‘Love Burns’ (BRMC) or ‘The Good Ones’ (The Kills). The kind that spits rock ‘n’ roll and oozes sex and drugs to entice big crowds.

Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming gig:

Rosellas – Is It Any Wonder?

Manchester’s five-piece returned on Friday with their new single, ‘Is It Any Wonder?’. Backed by the two B-sides ‘Leaving For Chicago’ and ‘For Tonight’, it's their first new material since last November’s ‘The Last Curse’.

*Image & artwork courtesy of the band.

Last time out, they moved from the devilment and Nick McCabe atmospheric work on their Somewhere In-Between EP to a straight-line indie-rock. It was a fine counterpoint to their broodier moments. On ‘Is It Any Wonder?’, they’ve stripped everything away to allow their melody to do the talking.

Their time on tour with Starsailor appears to have paid dividends. The acoustic guitars bring the 00s starlets to the fore whilst the delicacy of the piano brings Thirteen Senses purity into play. Above all, they’ve given their melodies space to breathe. In an age where technology demands instant hooks, it’s not just refreshing; it's creatively brave!

‘Is It Any Wonder?’ is backed by the b-sides ‘Leaving For Chicago’ and ‘For Tonight’. The former is a forlorn yet positive moonlit melody which embodies everything great about Noel Gallagher’s songwriting. ‘For Tonight’, completely stripped back, caresses the lo-fi magic of Alfie and the melodic purity of Cherry Ghost, and, with that, Rosellas have proven to the world they can do it all.

Marseille – Monkey in the Middle

Derby’s rising stars Marseille return on the 1st of March with their new single ‘Monkey In The Middle’. It’s the lead single from the GODIVA EP, due for release this September.

Image courtesy of

Last time on the ‘This Dream of Mine’ EP, they mostly enthused the Roses into their escapist fantasies. Except for the closing track, ‘Devil’s Gonna Get You’. The moodier piece traversed the world of Nick McCabe and Richard Ashcroft, thus ushering in non-single material that was worthy of equal attention.

‘Monkey In The Middle’ continues this direction with a mesmeric power. The guitars now drive with Andy Bell’s purpose on ‘Leave Them All Behind’ in the early part, adding a mystique to Marseille’s allure. The shoegaze dissipates midway, and their love of the Roses comes back via the ‘I Am The Resurrection’ bassline and Squire-esque guitars.

Joe Labrum’s guitars begin as a jingle-jangle breakdown, soon become an all-encompassing ‘Resurrection’ meets ‘Champagne Supernova’ freak-out moment of glory! What prevents them from parody is the rampageous spirit of The Verve’s ‘Come On’. In part due to frontman Will Brown’s vocals in the climatic stages. Moreover, it’s the intensity which they impart as a collective. Full on and all ablaze, they maintain a relentlessness destined to play massive stages, not for the money but for people, togetherness, and immortality.