Track Of The Day : The Leisure Society - Tall Black Cabins

The Leisure Society have revealed details of their forthcoming fourth album The Fine Art Of Hanging On, due on April 13th, and have revealed the lead track Tall Black Cabins, which is our Track Of The Day.

Track Of The Day : The Minx - I Want A War

One of our Even The Stars favourites The Minx will be no more after Saturday night as they bow out with a sold-out show at The Soup Kitchen in Manchester. Ahead of that they've released a free download of an unreleased studio track called I Want A War and we've got all sentimental and made it our Track Of The Day.

Northside - Interview

2014 saw the return of Northside with a series of triumphant comeback shows and the release of Shall We Take A Trip?, an all-encompassing compilation of their time around their debut album Chicken Rhythms. As they prepare new material for release in 2015, they're taking time out to headline Sound Control's 5th birthday party this Thursday and we caught up with front man Dermo for a look back at 2014 and at what's in store in 2015.

The Barr Brothers - Manchester Deaf Institute - 25th January 2015

The Barr Brothers brought their Sleeping Operator album to a sold-out Deaf Institute on Sunday night. We went along to witness them astound a crowd with a wide range of unusual instrumentation and songs from the heart.

Track Of The Day : The Tapestry - Infatuation

The Tapestry were one of our three Top Tips for 2015 and they've started the year intent on proving us right with their double A-side single Infatuation and Look Out, which is out digitally today and will also come in 7" vinyl soon.

Rae Morris - Unguarded

Rae Morris's debut album has been a long time coming and we've been able to watch her develop and grow as an artist over the past three years from the shy, nervous, giggling teenager to the confident, bold woman she is today. Unguarded manages to mix traits of that youthful innocence and simple but emotive piano-led songs with a whole set of new influences and collaborators.

Introducing - Daisy Victoria

Norfolk-based Daisy Victoria is a singer-songwriter who released two stunning EPs last year - her debut Heart Full Of Beef in March, being followed up by Nobody Dies at the end of November. She's currently hard at work on new material for a release in the near future, but is taking time out to play a show at Birthdays in Dalston tomorrow (27th) and to talk to Even The Stars.

The Charlatans - Modern Nature

The fact that The Charlatans are releasing their twelfth album Modern Nature is an achievement in itself. They are a band that has seen its fair share of adversity and tragedy, losing two members way too young including drummer Jon Brookes during the recording of this album, and, almost as an irrelevant aside to that, whose commercial star has risen and fallen along with so many of their 1990s contemporaries. Yet, they're still here and in Modern Nature, they've created an album that still has their indelible stamp all over it, but which may just be the best of their career.

Natalie Prass - Natalie Prass

Nashville's Natalie Prass has appeared out of nowhere with a debut album that showcases a unique expressive voice married to a series of classic songwriting pieces and arrangements that pull off the mean trick of sounding effortless but at the same time striving for perfection.

Zun Zun Egui - Shackles Gift

Returning with their second LP on the ever popular Bella Union label are Bristol based collective Zun Zun Egui. Led by Mauritian Kushal Gaya, who provides guitars and vocals and keyboard player from Japan Yoshino Shigihara, Shackles Gift is a real fusion record, mixing a variety styles and influences.

Track Of The Day : We Were Strangers - I Believe

One of the artists we've championed over the past couple of years and one of the first we wrote about was Stefan Melbourne. He's put the solo project on the back burner for the moment and is part of a new collective called We Were Strangers. They've just revealed their first track I Believe and it's our Track Of The Day.

Jimi Goodwin / Kid Wave - Hebden Bridge Trades Club - 24th January 2015

It's the 25th anniversary of Heavenly Records and they're celebrating with a weekend of gigs at the country's best small venue (whatever the polls say) at Hebden Bridge Trades Club. We jumped on the train from Manchester to catch a matinee performance for new hopes Kid Wave and Doves' stalwart Jimi Goodwin.

Track Of The Day : Colour - Strangers

Colour describe themselves as "art pop" and have just released their debut EP Strangers. The four-piece hail from Stoke and Liverpool and have been gathering a rising reputation around Liverpool over the past few months. We love the title track of the EP and it's our Track Of The Day.

Track Of The Day : Aaron - Strong

Aaron is a London based singer-songwriter about to release her debut EP Letters To Jonny. A self-declared purveyor of dream pop, the lead track on the EP is Strong and we were hooked by how the warm, engaging vocals mix with the shimmering electronic background so much that we've made it our Track Of The Day.

Alvvays / Moon King - Manchester Deaf Institute - 21st January 2015

Alvvays' self-titled debut album gathered the Toronto collective a raft of admirers with its summery sweet disposition.  We went along to their sold out months ago gig at the Deaf Institute in Manchester to see if they could recreate the magic of the record in the live environment. They more than delivered. Support came from fellow Torontonians Moon King.

Track Of The Day : She Drew The Gun - If You Could See

She Drew The Gun is the nom de guerre of Wirral songwriter Louisa Roach. Her band's debut single If You Could See is released on James Skelly's Skeleton Key Records on February 23rd and is our Track Of The Day.

The Barr Brothers - Interview

The Barr Brothers are from Montreal, Canada and they released their second album Sleeping Operator in October. They're back in the UK starting a run of dates this week and we caught up with them for a quick chat ahead of the tour.

Track Of The Day : Cold Cold Heart - Megan

Cold Cold Heart revealed themselves last year with two stunning tracks - Wolf Eyes You're Staring and Stand/Still - that got them played on Radio 6. They open up 2015 with a beautiful brooding instrumental piece entitled Megan that is our Track Of The Day.

Track Of The Day : Blossoms - Cut Me And I'll Bleed

One of our top three tips for 2015, Blossoms, have released their new single digitally this week. Cut Me And I'll Bleed is a huge step-up for them from their debut single Blow and precedes a huge UK headlining tour. The single is also out on 7" vinyl on March 2 - both formats feature a version of live favourite The Urge recorded at Parr Street Studios.

Ratworld - Menace Beach

Ratworld is Menace Beach's debut album following the release of last year's Lowtalker EP. The album is raw, doesn't take prisoners yet has a softer underbelly in parts in amongst all the guitars. It's set the bar high for garage-infused rock in 2015.

Viet Cong - Viet Cong

2015 is looking every bit as promising for new artists and new albums as last year. Stuart Ralston chalks up his first review of the new year with his thoughts on the impressive debut from Canadian four-piece Viet Cong.

Diagrams - Chromatics

The second album from Sam Genders (Tunng, The Accidental) and a huge array of musicians who collaborate with him under the Diagrams moniker.

Track Of The Day : Tear Talk - Realise

Liverpool's Tear Talk release their new EP Ruins today, their first since their debut single Breathe in 2013. We've chosen the opening track from the EP, Realise, as our Track Of The Day.

Track Of The Day : The Monday Club - Time Ticks Away

The Monday Club are a four-piece from Sheffield who have just released their second single Time Ticks Away, the follow-up to last year's Itchy Feet. The song is a meticulously crafted slice of guitar pop with a rousing chorus and a riff that will attach itself leech-like to your brain.

The Chadelics / Ist Ist / Bold Things / Fly The Bird - Manchester Night And Day - 16th January 2015

 

The Night And Day's local showcase nights are a great concept. Three or four bands, not always local, less than a fiver to get in and always guaranteed to throw up a new band or two. Tonight's gig featured two of our tips for 2015 and two bands we'd never heard of before. We were impressed by all four.

Track Of The Day : The Yearning - Chasing Shadows

The Yearning are a London-based self-confessed retro band that released their debut album Dreamboats And Lemonade last year.  Chasing Shadows is the latest single from it and with its video filmed in an Oxford Union library it is today's Track Of The Day.

Track Of The Day : Cats Of Transnistria - San Francisco

Cats Of Transnistria describe themselves as a "doom/dream pop duo" from Helsinki.  Today they release their debut EP Away.  We've chosen the track San Francisco from the EP as our favourite and as our Track Of The Day.

Track Of The Day : Oh Wonder - Rain

We seem to be stumbling on mysterious, anonymous electronic music at the moment. The latest is Oh Wonder, a songwriting duo from London. Their latest track The Rain is one that's caught our ears.

Track Of The Day : Dark Furs - Hearts

Dark Furs are back with their third single, the male/female duelling of Hearts, a story of a break-up set to music with female and male vocals telling the story in dramatic accusatory tones, set to a cacophony of electronic chicanery and trickery.

The High Reform For Gigantic Indie All-Dayer - Interview

The High have announced plans to reform to play their first gig in 22 years, headlining the second stage at the Gigantic Indie All-Dayer at Manchester Academy on May 23rd. Their excellent debut album Somewhere Soon, released in 1991, got caught up in the Madchester backlash and its follow-up Hype never got granted a proper release by their label. So now it's time for them to set the record straight.

James To Reissue Laid And Wah Wah Albums in Deluxe Editions

James will be reissuing their 1993 album Laid and its 1994 companion piece Wah Wah on March 23 in a number of new formats with the Super Deluxe edition featuring a range of previously unreleased tracks. The Laid album contained the hit single of the same name as well as further Top 30 singles Sometimes and Say Something and is regarded by many as their finest work. Wah Wah was released a year later and is a collection of studio jams recorded at the same time as Laid with Brian Eno and features live favourites Jam J and Honest Joe.

Track Of The Day : Gospel - EMPR

EMPR is the second single from London-based duo Gospel, the follow-up to last year's debut Disasters Running Wild, which we wrote about on Even The Stars.  Their new single, due out next Monday (19th), delivers on all the promise of that debut and more.

Track Of The Day : Pyx - Lava Fields

Pyx are a mysterious new entity from Manchester. We don't even know if they're a band or a solo artist as their Facebook profile has their members as Vocals / Keys / Cello / Synth / Beats / Guitar / Sampler. They've have only recently revealed their first tracks and we think you should give them a listen.

Track Of The Day : Pale - Comeback

Pale's wonderful Comeback EP has been around a few months, but it's only been brought to our attention today by the lovely people at Secret Sessions who voted for them as their number 1 choice for BBC Sound Of 2015.

Track Of The Day : Scarlet - Heart On A Line

Scarlet are a Liverpool-based five-piece that have been earning rave reviews from the vibrant blog scene around that city. Their debut EP is being readied for release around March time, but we've fallen in love with a track they revealed a couple of months ago, called Heart On A Line, which they previewed on Soundcloud.

Jo Rose / Mano McLaughlin / Lucy & Virginia - Chorlton Strange Brew - 7th January 2015

Early January is a time of fairly slim pickings on the live gig front, but we were treated to a special acoustic evening with three great acts at the intimate surroundings of the Strange Brew in Chorlton. Jo Rose headlined with a special guest appearance from Klara from First Aid Kit and he was ably supported by Mano McLaughlin and Lucy & Virginia.

Track Of The Day : Bruising - Honey

Bruising are a two-piece from Leeds featuring Naomi Baguley on vocals and Ben Lewis on guitar. To date, they've only released one track - Honey - which showcases a low-fi approach reflecting the fact it was recorded in their bedroom studio and the fuzzy blurred approach to the guitar and the vocal effects remind us of Best Coast's debut album.

Track Of The Day : Masters Of The Radio - Radio Forever

The next band to feature in our new Track Of The Day feature is Widnes electronic four-piece Masters Of The Radio and the new song Radio Forever.

Track Of The Day : Milo Greene - Heartless

Milo Greene excited us back in 2012/3 with their stunning debut album and their first UK shows in places like St Pancras Old Church in London and The Castle in Manchester. They're back with their second album, out on January 27 in the US and later in the year here, and they've revealed a track called Heartless from the album.

Introducing - Ist Ist

We love a bit of mystery to a band and Ist Ist currently are the ones that are providing us with this. They've posted four demos to soundcloud but very little information about the band themselves, photos of buildings and a logo, but only one studio shot of their drummer. Their live debut is next week at the Night And Day in Manchester, but have a listen to their songs.

Ghost Culture - Ghost Culture

Ghost Culture's debut album is a rare piece that manages to merge the best elements of electronic music with an innate understanding of classic synth pop and intelligent meaningful lyrics to produce one of the most compelling albums of its genre for years.

Blossoms / Hartheim - Manchester Night And Day Cafe - 31st December 2014

Two of our tips for 2015 playing a show just round the corner on New Year's Eve was too good to turn down. Whilst they made strange bedfellows for a gig, both bands cemented the feeling that 2015 will be a year in which they both find wider audiences for their very different styles.