The best of the best of the past month
ALL TOGETHER
TRACK BY TRACK
– 1 –
Band: BOB VYLAN
Who: London‘s hip-punk-pop duo.
Track: DREAM BIGGER
One of the singles of last year’s 3rd
album Humble As The Sun.
The jackhammer returned now re-named Dream Bigger.
Amyl Taylor (and The Sniffers) – photo by TUTV – Antwerp, 2023
It features riot-gun rappin’ vocals from Australian
punk daredevil Amyl Taylor from Amyl & The Sniffers.
Bigger dream. Bigger havoc. Bigger Amyl.
.
Instagram – Linktree
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– 2 –
Photo by Graham Noble
Band: DECLAN WELSH AND THE DECADENT WEST
Who: Post-rock-punk combo from Scotland. So far
they recorded/released two albums.
New single: CAREFREE
A stunning steamroller that gets under your skin faster than
you can say “this is bloody bonkers “. Its red-hot-blooded rush
doubles your adrenalin production on the spot. Blimey. Ecstasy.
Instagram – Linktree
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– 3 –
Promo photo
Band: FRANZ FERDINAND
Who: The Scottish power-pop
veterans.
Track: HOOKED
Best piece of their new 6th album The Human Fear.
Far better than the two average singles they dropped.
Addictive electricity.
Yep, you’ll get hooked.
Can’t escape the buzz.
Instagram – Facebook
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– 4 –
Band: THE LATHUMS
Who: British folk rockers with a massive following,
countless Mumford & Sons fans included.
Track: HEARTBREAKER
From their upcoming, 3rd LP, titled
Matter Does Not Define, out March 7.
A blazing hot crackerjack
driving your ears and your
legs crazy.
Instagram – Facebook
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– 5 –
Band: CHEST.
Who: Post-punk
combo from Paris.
Track: ACETA
From their debut EP,
that’ll land in February.
Aceta speaks to someone overwhelmed by anxiety. Someone feeling stuck, unable to
move forward, and uncertain about why. The song aims to bring comfort, offering a
reminder that doubt is a natural part of life and that it’s important to embrace these
turbulent phases, as they always pass with time.
Imagine Idles, Yard Act and Kneecap
throwing punches at each other.
Mind-blowing uppercut. Wowzers.
.
Linktree
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– 6 –
Credit: Anya Forrest
Band: MARSEILLE
Who: Juvenile rock wolves
from Derbyshire, UK.
New single: HISTORY
The song is a love letter to the
dreams we all had as children.
TUTV: These young British gunslingers echo the early hopped-up days of global rock champs Oasis. They have the Gallaghers‘ sassy swagger, cocksure verve and champagne supernova groove. And the vocalist is Liam‘s son, well he could be.
They look cool, they act cool and they sound supersonic cool. They don’t look
back in anger, they want to conquer the future. D’ you know what I mean?
.
Instagram – Echo Bass Records
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– 7 –
Band: SKUNK ANANSIE
Who: Famous British noizz rockers SKUNK ANANSIE,
fronted by the awesome Skin.
Track: AN ARTIST IS AN ARTIST
Their first single in 3 years and according to
a press message “the surprising first taste of
what’s to come from the band in 2025”.
An Artist Is An Artist is an instant striking stroke pushed by a mind-boggling
speedy velocity, Skin‘s hyperactive rapping, a paranoid saxophone and a
flabbergasting chorus. Not the titanic bombast we’re used to. Mind you,
still loud enough to wake your neighbours. Fucktastic flare-up.
Instagram – Linktree
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– 8-
Press photo by Destiny Robb
Band: CHARM SCHOOL
Who: The latest project from Andrew Sellers who, originally from Louisville (KY),
has paid his dues in both the NYC and LA DIY music scenes, and his various bands
have played with seminal acts like Joan of Arc, Grizzly Bear & At The Drive-In.
Track: WITHOUT A DOUBT
Cut from their upcoming LP, titled ‘Debt Forever‘,
out on January 24th. More info here.
Album artwork
Sellers about the track: “It’s by far the most pensive, melancholic song on the record, and it seems fitting that it’s coming out right now, amidst all the turbulence in the world. The main theme of this new record is financial uncertainty (or just uncertainty in general), so the main thing I remember about this song is the refrain “Please don’t let me run out of money” coming out randomly during practice one day.”
Interpol guitar echoes are the backbone of
this glorious mid-tempo gem. Close your eyes
and lose yourself in this riveting masterstroke.
.
Instagram – Facebook
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– 9 –
Band: THROWING MUSES
Who: Legendary indies fronted by
mesmeric voice Kristin Hersh.
Track: SUMMER OF LOVE
Single from the Muses‘ upcoming, 11th longplayer,
baptized Moonlight Concessions. Comes our way
on March 14.
The song was inspired by a bet Hersh had with a guy for
a dollar that revolved around the idea that the seasons
don’t change us.
Kristin Hersh strums her acoustic guitar
as she did/does her wayward way for years
now, on this sonic hypnotizer. It gets under
your skin without asking permission.
Instagram – All Albums
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– 10 –
Band: CMON CMON
Who: Brussels/London-based indie rock trio,
who started to realize their childhood dream
in their 40s.
New track: TURN OFF THE LIGHTS
It’s the second shared song from their upcoming, new EP, titled Headwind.
It follows CC’s excellent 2023 debut album The Crack And The Light.
Striking artwork by Belgian designer Lisa Van de Vyver with
cover images by Swedish photographer Moa Karlberg.
Turn Off The Lights is exhilarating guitar pop that sticks
on the spot. It has all the entertaining ingredients to be
added to your on repeat list.
An effervescent flow, a dominant and steadfast drum beat, an awesome guitar solo, romantic vocals, blithesome harmonies and a resonant chorus. Sonic warmth in winter.
CC hit the bullseye again!
Linktree – Facebook
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– 12 –
Band: MUMFORD & SONS
Who: London’s famed folk-rockers.
Track: RUSHMERE
I had no clue these guys were still around.
But with this contagious TUNE they triggered
my ears right away.
Instagram – Website
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– 13 –
Band: SNAPPED ANKLES
Who: London-based synth mavericks, incorporating
elements of performance art and art rock. Masked
and dressed up as threes on stage.
Track: SMART WORLD
Third single from their new upcoming album Hard Times Furious Dancing. Out on
28 March.
Snapped Ankles never let you down
when you love to sway yourself gaga
to electro dancefloor uplifters like
this acid house one.
Instagram – Linktree
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– 14 –
Credit: Julie R. Kane
Band: RATTLE
Who: Musicians Katharine Eira Brown and Theresa Wrigley formed in
2011 after meeting on the live circuit whilst both playing in other bands.
Track: RITUAL
It is inspired by Boleskin House in Scotland, once
inhabited by occultist/writer Aleister Crowley.
Drums thud non-stop and put
you in a trance. ghostly vocals
augment the eerie mystique.
Intriguing and spellbinding.
Instagram – Bandcamp
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– 15 –
Artist: ERIC SCHROEDER
Who: Very productive San Diego-born songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist who released no less than
5 albums in just 4 years and a new one is waiting
in the pipeline.
Track: EMILY
Piece from his new, forthcoming LP
named Cat’s Game out on April 11.
The lyrics speak to a lost love, as he sings, “I long to be where the colors tease, and her love concedes” with wounded swagger benefitting the paradoxical paradise of psychic devotion. There’s a unique form of bittersweet American poetry in Schroeder’s ability to make you feel the weight of longing with every lancing line.
A guitar-infused reviver from start to finish.
Catchy as hell. Emily will bounce around in
your head for quite a while.
.
Instagram
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– 16 –
Band: HOT HAIL!
Who: Seattle-based darkwave
act. Brainchild of songwriter Billy Sigil.
Track: HORRIFIC
It follows the 3-track debut EP
Dance Your Body Broken.
Depeche Mode vibes, a touch of New Order and Bauhaus echoes.
Apocalyptic danger in the dark. The world is in a really bad place.
Have a last doom and gloom dance before it’s all over.
.
Instagram – Linktree
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– 17 –
Single Artwork Photo by Max Power Photography
Artist: TRISTAN ARMSTRONG
Who: Skilled composer and lyricist finding beauty in the quotidian struggles of urban life. His music combines a sense of earnest romanticism and poignant introspection, with a guitar-centric aesthetic.
Track: THE LONELY AVENUE
A cathartic release of rock-and-roll energy inspired by the dualities
of urban life and a longing for home. Written during his early days
in Toronto after moving from Vancouver Island.
Expect a tsunami of riffs and a pulsating
bass engine juiced with avid vocals.
Instagram – Spotify
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– 18 –
Artist: MR BILLY FRITZGERALD
Who: Dublin-based solo artist writing lush indie-pop songs
that simultaneously bathe in the faded light of heartbreak
while pulling you on to the dancefloor.
Track: LET US BE (SINGLE)
Song from his upcoming debut album,
titled ‘A Grand Romantic Gesture’, out on
Feb 20th.
Lyrically the track explores the theme of being with someone when everyone else thinks it’s a bad idea. Billy draws on his own experience, while growing up and learning how to be in a relationship and developing those tools, inevitably and regrettably, people get hurt along the way. Here he delves into this, as he declares love and devotion while facing down the barrage of words against the union. A true Romeo and Juliet story.
Tremendous intro. Infectious upper
juiced with sparkling guitar play,
a puissant, foot-tapping drum beat
and intensive vocals.
.
Linktree
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– 18 –
Artist: BOB MOULD
Who: Former Hüsker Dü frontman.
Track: HERE WE GO CRAZY
Title song of his upcoming,
15th longplayer.
Mould about the album: “On the surface, this is a group of straightforward guitar pop songs. I’m refining my primary sound and style through simplicity, brevity, and clarity. Under the hood, there’s a number of contrasting themes: Control and chaos, hypervigilance and helplessness, uncertainly and unconditional love.”
Vintage Mould passion.
Affective. Sticks immediately.
Instagram – Spotify
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– 19 –
Artist: STEPH SWEET
Who: Arresting British
songstress.
Track: TUESDAY LOVE
The shadowy aura of Mazzy Star,
the mysterious karma of Tess Parks.
Dim the lights and let this torch song
capture your soul.
.
Instagram – Website
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– 20 –
New album artwork
Artist: SHARON VAN ETTEN
Who: Renowned Brooklyn-based
singer-songwriter.
Track: TROUBLE
Song from her 7th LP, titled
Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory,
out on 7 February 2025.
Her first album which credits her band, named
for the occasion, The Attachment Theory.
One of the finest and most sensuous voices
of the past years. Van Etten charms even
when she’s in trouble.
TURN UP THE VOLUME