Friday 31 January 2020

October Drift - Interview


October Drift today release their long-awaited debut album Forever Whatever. We caught up with them for a chat about the journey they've been on as a band, the difficult decisions in selecting which songs to put on the record and plans now the record is out there in the world.

Ist Ist - Salford Sacred Trinity - 30th January 2020


There's a wave building behind Ist Ist right now. High-profile support slots and international festival invitations at the end of 2019 have flowed into the announcement of their debut album Architecture earlier this week and tonight they've filled out Salford Sacred Trinity with just 48 hours notice and effectively by the word of mouth of their social media. Revealing songs from Architecture mixed in with old favourites, it felt like a moment, the point you know a band is about to go up a level in all respects and get the success they deserve.

The Howl And The Hum / Bull / Amy May Ellis - Hebden Bridge Trades Club - 29th January 2020


The Howl And The Hum played Hebden Bridge Trades Club on Wednesday night as the finest independent venue in the country (in our Editor's humble opinion) played host to one of the most exciting emerging bands around supported by Bull and Amy May Ellis.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Thousand Yard Stare - Schism Algorithm


Even The Stars favourites Thousand Yard Stare start the new year off with a sparkling new single, Schism Algorithm and the promise of a new album The Panglossian Momentum later in 2020.

Thursday 30 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Julia Bardo - I Wanna Feel Love


Julia Bardo has revealed I Wanna Feel Love, her second single and her first since signing to Wichita as well as being the lead track from her debut EP Phase that is due out on March 6th. The track possesses the same timeless feel to it as her debut single Desire whilst referencing her Italian heritage at the same time.

Wednesday 29 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Odd Morris - Cold Water


Odd Morris are one of a plethora of bands emerging from the fertile Dublin scene at present, but like the others are following their own path. Hot on the heels of their first two singles What Might Be and Lilac Leaves comes their first release of 2020 entitled Cold Water.

The Seamonsters / Dollie Demi / Ruby Joy - Manchester Night People - 28th January 2020


The Seamonsters headlined a fundraising and awareness event for Solidarity Not Silence, a campaign set up to fund women to defend themselves against a defamation case made by a well-known musician in respond to numerous accusations about his behaviour towards them. Support came from Manchester's Dollie Demi and Ruby Joy.

Tuesday 28 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Ist Ist - Wolves


Ist Ist have today announced their debut album Architecture and revealed the opening track Wolves as well as a UK tour in May and a secret show at Salford Sacred Trinity this Thursday.

Monday 27 January 2020

The Murder Capital / Junior Brother - Prague Underdogs - 26th January 2020


The Murder Capital's European tour headed into Prague on Sunday night for a sold-out show at the Underdogs venue supported by Junior Brother. An initially hesitant Prague crowd were won over by the sheer intensity of the band's performance despite a few technical problems.

Geneva - Interview


Following a couple of low-key reunion shows last Spring and a series of Starshaped Festival performances in the summer and the reissue of their Further and Weather Underground albums late last year, Geneva head out on their first short headline tour of the century in Brighton, London and Glasgow at the weekend. We caught up with front man Andrew Montgomery for a chat about how the reunion is going.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Badly Drawn Boy - Is This A Dream?


Is This A Dream? is Badly Drawn Boy's first new material since 2012's Being Flynn soundtrack album. With his immediately recognisable voice and ability to craft lyrics drenched in equal parts in romance and world-weariness, Is This A Dream? has a streak of optimism and hope running through it if those you love stick together.

Sunday 26 January 2020

The Murder Capital - Munich Strom - 25th January 2020


The second night of The Murder Capital’s European tour saw them hit Munich’s Strom on Saturday night for an adrenaline-fuelled set of tracks taken from their When I Have Fears album.

Friday 24 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Velvet Two Stripes - Lizard Queen


Velvet Stripes have released a new video for their single Lizard Queen taken from last year's second album Devil Dance as the Swiss trio kick off an extensive tour of Germany in February.

Wednesday 22 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY 2 : The Slow Readers Club - All I Hear


All I Hear is the first single to be taken from The Slow Readers Club's forthcoming fourth album The Joy Of The Return due out on March 20th with a thirty-date UK and European tour to follow. It's full of the trademark anthemic qualities that they've become renowned for and showcases the band at their confident best as they attempt to replicate the surprise Top 20 success of their previous album Build A Tower.

Smoke Fairies - Darkness Brings The Wonder Home


Darkness Brings The Wonder Home is Smoke Fairies' sixth album, their first since 2014's self-titled fourth album and their Christmas-themed Wild Winter records. It's an evocative descriptive record to mark their comeback, bringing guitars very much to the fore to act as the counterpoint to the often mysterious and dark lyrics that run throughout.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Porridge Radio - Sweet


Sweet is the second track to be taken from London four-piece Porridge Radio's forthcoming second album Every Bad released on March 13 shortly followed by a UK tour.

Tuesday 21 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Neon Waltz - Thanks For Everything


Neon Waltz return with their first release of 2020, a single called Thanks For Everything, which will be taken from their Huna EP that will be released on vinyl, download and streaming on 27th March to coincide with a ten-date UK tour.

Monday 20 January 2020

Domiciles / VLURE / The Roques - Dundee Beat Generator - 18th January 2020


Dundee Promoters MAD Sounds put on a superb three band bill, with the DJ spinning some impressive tunes in between. Stuart Ralston made a return to Dundee to catch up with rising local stars The Roques and left being won over by Glasgow's next big things VLURE and an impressive headline set from Domiciles, on the opening night of their tour.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Ren Harvieu - Yes Please


Ren Harvieu has released Yes Please, the second single from her long-awaited Revel In The Drama album due for release via Bella Union on April 3 and announced a UK tour to coincide. Clocking in at five and a half minutes the song perfectly captures Ren's showstopping voice that has won her so many admirers since she released her debut Through The Night.

Sunday 19 January 2020

John Bramwell / Dave Fidler - Hebden Bridge Trades Club - 18th January 2020


John Bramwell opened up what promises to be a busy 2020 for the former I Am Kloot frontman with a sold out intimate seated show at Hebden Bridge Trades Club on Saturday night, mixing I Am Kloot favourites with songs from his solo album Leave Alone The Empty Spaces and its forthcoming follow-up. He was supported by Dave Fidler performing tracks from his two albums I'm Not Here and Songs From Aurora.

Friday 17 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Bri - Polite


Polite is the second single from Dublin singer-songwriter Bri, the follow-up to last year's stunning debut Low Supply. Once again it showcases a unique voice that grabs you immediately that delivers lyrics that are both personal but also extremely relatable.

Thursday 16 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : En Attendant Ana - In / Out


In / Out is the final single from French band En Attendant Ana before the release of their second album Juillet that is released next Friday (January 24) on Trouble In Mind Records. It's a gloriously upbeat indie-pop gem that will feel familiar yet hard to place musically whilst Margaux's accented vocals give it an enticing charm all of its own that will keep you hitting the repeat button on the track.

Wednesday 15 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Happy Couple - Feel Better


Feel Better is the new single from Brighton-based trio Happy Couple, released on a shared lathe-cut 8" single with Beach Riot and Our Family Dog limited to just fifteen copies and the more conventional download.

Tuesday 14 January 2020

October Drift - Forever Whatever


Forever Whatever might describe the wait for October Drift's long-awaited debut album. Years of relentless touring around the UK and Europe and a series of limited edition singles has won them a growing army of fans as one of the most intense and energetic live bands on the circuit. Forever Whatever attempts to distill their live shows onto wax and chronicle the sheer scale of their sonic ambition.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Car Crash - Them Not Us


Them Not Us is the debut single from Dublin post-punk four-piece Car Crash and is taken from their forthcoming album Blindspots due out in February. It's a caustic put-down of those who live in their echo chambers, incapable of any rational debate of anything and stuck in their own mindset - a damning reflection on what passes for social and political analysis and commentary these days.

Monday 13 January 2020

Space Monkeys - Interview


Sometimes a band needs to catch a lucky break. Space Monkeys have managed to catch all the unlucky ones across their quarter of a decade as a band with the demise of Factory Records putting an end to their first wave and then Pledge Music almost sinking their comeback album Modern Actions. But it's out in the world, a triumphant call to arms and celebration of love and survival. We caught up with front man Richard McNevin-Duff to find out about their past and present, the inspiration and friends behind the record and their plans for their Valentine's Day Deaf Institute show.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Yuka Tree - Preacher


Preacher is the debut single from hotly-tipped five-piece Yuka Tree out on January 24th. It focuses on the importance of being happy in yourself, refusing to accept the social norms and expectations that are placed upon you and to be your own person.

Sunday 12 January 2020

The Red Stains - Manchester Peer Hat - 11th January 2020


The Red Stains opened up what promises to be a busy 2020 for the band we included in our tips for the year with an early set at Manchester's Peer Hat, unveiling a new song and delivering a feisty punk set of three minute hit and run punches to the gut.

Friday 10 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Amy Naessens - To Be The One You Choose


To Be The One You Choose is the second single from Irish singer Amy Naessens, the long-overdue follow-up to her debut Reasons from back in mid-2018. An intensely powerful vocal adds gravitas and genuine emotion to lyrics about a failing relationship where the other person wasn't as in to her as she was to them.

Thursday 9 January 2020

Last Race Home - Salford Eagle Inn - 21st December 2019


Manchester six piece Last Race Home rounded off the year with a stunning gig in the delightful Eagle Inn. Stuart Ralston joined the party.

Wednesday 8 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Saults - Proud


Proud is the debut single from four-piece Saults ahead of their debut headline show at Aatma in Manchester this Friday night. The song takes aim at the rise of patriotism in Britain and the pride that people take in being British that is being fuelled by the toxicity of the media with a real sense of anger.

Tuesday 7 January 2020

Purple Heart Parade - Desolation Angel EP


Manchester's finest purveyors of psychedelic pop return with their third EP Desolation Angel including recent single Petrichor. Stuart Ralston has a listen and declares it to be their best work yet.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Lanterns On The Lake - Baddies


Baddies is the second single to be taken from Lanterns On The Lake's fourth studio album Spook The Herd that is released via Bella Union in February 2020. The track takes aim at the way the world has become a less friendly and understanding place, how differences are highlighted by those seeking to use them to manipulate people's opinions for their own benefit.

Friday 3 January 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Hannah Lou Clark - Trigger Happy Kisses


Trigger Happy Kisses is Hannah Lou Clark's first single since 2017's The Heart And All Its Sin EP and is accompanied by a simple but very effective video that matches the starkness of the lyrics to the visuals.

Wednesday 1 January 2020

Space Monkeys - Modern Actions


Space Monkeys see in the decade with the delayed release of their third album Modern Actions, a record that straddles the band's creation in the days following the end of Madchester and the autumn after the summers of love and a fresher modern sound. It's a record that screams peace and love from the rafters, celebrates life and friendship and people coming together - an antithesis to the malignance that's seeping through society as we enter 2020.