A Foretold Ecstasy

30 BEST TRACKS OF 2024

Posted on by JL

ALL TOGETHER

TRACK BY TRACK

– 1 –

Band: HINDS
Who: Sizzling Spanish
ecstatic pop fury.

Track: Superstar

Piece from their 4th LP,
titled Viva Hinds

TUTV: Perfect 24 Carat power pop tune with a rhapsodic impact
on your ears. Sonic euphoria that causes a prompt outburst of
dazzling delight.

Fantástico!

Instagram – Linktree
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– 2 –

Band: KINGS OF LEON
Track: Mustang

The Nashville family launched their 9th album
named Cand We Please Have Fun’ last May.

TUTV: A roasting steamroller that turns up the heat even
more when the cooking chorus kicks in and blows the roof off.
Red-hot-blooded belter.

Bad-ass.

Instagram – Spotify
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– 3 –

Band: FONTAINES D.C.
Track: Starbuster

Unquestionable standout from the Irish indie
stars’ much applauded 4th LP Romance.

TUTV: Intense jam, rollin’ on with a bone-chilling flow and
frontman Grian Chatten raps all over it with his characteristic
uptight parlando and grasping for his breath every time the
refrain comes on.

Breath-taking.

Instagram – Spotify
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– 4 –

Band: GUSTAF
Who: Swirling 5-piece from Brooklyn led by charismatic frontwoman
Lydia Gammil released their 2nd album Package Pt. 2 last April.

Track: Starting And Staring

TUTV: Funkier than the B-52’s in their heyday, and  Gustaf spin around
with more dash and class than Bodega and Parquet Courts. Fact!

Knockout.

Instagram – Spotify
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– 5 –

Band: STRAND
Who: Power pop quartet
from Dublin, Ireland.

Track: Progress

Part of their upcoming 5-track EP
that’ll land early next year.

“Progress is a song about changing places, people and times.”

TUTV: Epic. Grandiose. Staggering. Amplified guitar-pop at its mind-blowing best.
One of those not-everyday puissant killer tracks overwhelms your emotions
from the first spin.

Superb.


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Linktree – Spotify
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– 6 –

Artist: GAVIN FRIDAY
Who: The former flamboyant spearhead of Irish
new art wave act Virgin Prunes (1977-1986).

Track: The Church Of Love

From his new album
Ecce Homo.

TUTV: Glistening electro-pop splendor. Uplifting, jaunty and
brisk. Trust me, you’ll want to join Friday‘s church afterward.

Believe.
Here.
Now.


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Instagram – Spotify
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– 7 –


Press photo by Zac Bayly

Band: AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS

Track: You Should Not Be Doing that

Stand-alone single released after they dropped their
3rd full-length Cartoon Darkness last October.

TUTV: A searing left/right uppercut. Amyl is sniffin’ again
as we are used to by now, but I never get tired of her
kickass briskness.

Wowzers.

Instagram – Spotify
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– 8 –


Press photo

Band: DITZ
Who: Earthquake-causing
hit team from Brighton, UK.

Track: Taximan

Piece from their forthcoming second longplayer, baptized
Never Exhale. It’ll hit the streets on 25 January 2025.

TUTV: Taximan does your head in the way we, brainbangers, like it.
Bam Bang Boom. No mercy for the wicked. Manic mayhem as usual.
You’d better check out if Robert ‘Travis’ De Niro is behind the wheel
before taking a cab.

Helter-skelter.


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Linktree – Bandcamp
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– 9 –

Band: THE RATS
Who: 5 ambitious rascals
from Ghent, Belgium.

Track: OLD FLAMES

Cut from their excellent
debut EP Disco To Disco.

The song is about rediscovering old lovers after a night out from disco(theque) to disco(theque), with references to The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan and his excessive
drinking, and a legendary Belgian crooner.

TUTV: Full steam ahead from the get-go. All engines on. Decibels up, amps up.
The breakneck speed and the relentless synth/percussion riff make your head
spin 360°. I dare you to catch up with this missile all the way.

Hit! Hit! Hit!


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Instagram – Bandcamp
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strong>- 10 –

Band: LAMBRINI GIRLS
Who: A two-motor punk bulldozer from Brighton, UK who have built
a notorious reputation over the past 2 years, on record and on stage.

Track: Love

Cut from the duo’s upcoming debut LP
Who Let The Dogs Out. Out next year, on
January 10.

TUTV: Without a shadow of a loud doubt, one of the grrrlz’s best stormers so far.
An amazeballs wall-of-nasty-guitar/bass hullabaloo, a ruthless octopus drummer
and Phoebe‘s best vocals. Hell-tastic.

‘True love is nothing more than the wrong hill to die on”.

Dynamite.

Instagram – Spotify
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– 11 –

Band: THE MYSTERINES
Who: Impassioned powerhouse pop indies from
Liverpool fronted by ravishing voice Lia Metcalfe.

Track: SINK YA TEETH

Single from their 2nd LP
Afraid Of Tomorrows.

TUTV: A maddening master blaster.
Haunting electricity and Metcalfe
mystique.

Cool as fuck!

Linktree – Spotify
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< – 12 –

Band: SPRINTS
Who: Irish post-punk sensation.

Track: TICKING
Opener of their kick-ass
debut LP Letter To Self.

TUTV: The jaw-dropping vitality these volcanic Irish beatniks develop here is off the charts. They build a near-unbearable tension and explode insanely, time after time, along the rough ride. Vocalist/songwriter Karla Chubb knows terrifically well how to double your adrenalin production.

Timebomb.


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Instagram – Spotify
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– 13 –

Band: GETDOWN SERVICES
Who: Two flamboyant
weirdos from Bristol, UK.

Track: DOG DRIBBLE

From the duo’s brand new 6-track EP
Your Medal’s In The Post.

TUTV: Dog Dribble operates somewhere between Yard Act and Sleaford Mods.
Its limbs-activating groove is simply irresistible. Get up, stand up, and fight
for your right to bounce up and down like mad.

Buzzing.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 14 –

Band: FAT DOG
Who: South London-based gang that made thousands
and ‘true love is nothing more than the wrong hill to die on”.
thousands of ears go bonkers with their first-rate debut
longplayer Woof.

Track: All The Same

TUTV: A ballistic disco-punk whopper to end and start all (il)legal
raves with. When the huge orchestral injections blast out of your
vibrating speakers you know that these misfits are your new
favorite dogs. Hallelujah!

Barking party mayhem.

Instagram – Spotify
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– 15 –


Press photo by Cal McIntyre

Band: RIDE
Legendary British shoegazers.

Track: Last Frontier

Toptier one from their toptier
7th LP, named Interplay.

TUTV: A sickly sticky earworm with
an orgasmic chorus. Less shoegaze,
more pop bliss. Moonstruck stroke.

Bingo.

Instagram – Spotify
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– 16 –

MAYFLOWER MADAME
Who: Norwegian pysch-pop outfit.

This Norwegian band specializes in a dark and distinctive blend
of post-punk, shoegaze and psych-noir. So far they released two
albums.

Track: A Foretold Ecstasy

One of the stellar singles from their
new, third, album Insight.

TUTV: Drums and bass team up for an incessantly beat that carries
this instantaneously infectiuos trip, along with a magnetizing Cure-esque
guitar riff that gets you in a trance.

Truly hypnotizing from start to finish with velvety vocals
and darkwavish synths in the back adding a twilight tone.

Sparkling.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 17 –

Band: BLACK DOLDRUMS
Who: British synth-pop-Goth trio with key
members Kevin Gibbard and Sophie Landers

Track: Summer Breeze

From their second LP,
named In Limerence.

TUTV: No, this is not a New Order song but it could easily be one, actually a stellar one. Summer Breeze sparkles from the very start to finish with scintillating guitar riffs, zealous percussion, shiny synths and Gibbard‘s eager vocals. It’s a pure pop pearl for all seasons.

Paramount.

Instagram Spotify
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– 18 –

Artist: ST. VINCENT
Who: Glamorous songstress
Annie Carke from NYC.

Track: Big Time Nothing
Cut from her 7th LP
All Born Screaming.

TUTV: Sexy crowded nightclub stomper.
Dancefloor filler. Orgastic titillation.

Sigh!

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– 19 –

Artists: ARROWS OF ATHENA (Boston, MA)
Who: A pandemic project that found its two main players – multi-instrumentalist and producer Scott Lerner and vocalist and lyricist Jac-Lyn Gibson – reuniting after the latter spent some time away from music, Arrows of Athena are crafting a distinct sound on
their own terms, bridging usually disparate ends of the pop and rock spectrum for an illuminated sound of big dance beats, heavy riffs, and melodic intensity.

New single: Reckless Heart

Piece from their debut
album The Ghost

On this song the duo explores the mental and emotional work required
for a successful marriage, and how we’re often careless with love.

TUTV: I’m quite sure that Arrows Of Athena are huge fans of former Swedish glam and glitter pop duo Roxette. The bliss and blitz at play on Reckless Heart is sonically similar. Sizzling guitars, battering drums/bass grooves, sensuous vocals and a peppy chorus combine here for a power pop pearl that flames lustrously. Orchestral melodiousness, fiery 90s spirit, and musical. An invigorating joyride.

And eye-catching animated video clip.

WATCH/LISTEN

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– 20 –


📸 @ebony_alexander_media

Band: VIRGINS
Who: Young up-and-coming
Belfast-based shoegazers .

Track: s o f t e r
Single from their fascinating debut LP
nothing hurt and anything
was beautiful

TUTV: This is a psychedelic shoegaze stunner, a multi-layered symphony
propelled by about a thousand guitars, a mindboggling bass riff, and combative
drums, while Rebecca Dow‘s ghostly vocals come from another galaxy.

Heavenly.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 21 –

Band: LEG PUPPY 2.0
Who: Madcap techno act from London.

Track: Welcome To Your New Future
Piece from their best album, so far, baptized Humanity 2.0.

TUTV: What’s in store for humankind. Nuclear war or peace and free love?
Or will we be just another brick in the wall? Whatever happens, never stop
pirouetting yourself dizzy to Leg Puppy.

We don’t need your education
We don’t need no your thought control

Move those legs.

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– 22 –


Art by Jeffrey Boyle

Band: THE DARTS
Who: Unwearying garage
rock turbo from Phoenix, Arizona.

Track: Ppur Another
From this year’s fabulous
new LP Boomerang.

TUTV: The most energetic, exciting, pizzazy band around. Cooking on record and on stage. Sultry garage rock for party animals. This is my absolute favorite of this years Boomerang LP. Chipper tune.

Have a drink, folks.

Linktree – Spotify
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– 23 –

Band: RAPTUROUS
Who: British hip-rock-hop squad.

Track: Repeat After Me

TUTV: Think Cypress Hill fronted by Zack de la Rocha, rattling like
a rapid-fire riot-gun. An avid anthem that celebrates freedom and
invites you to shout along while pumping your fists in the air.

Repeat after them.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 24 –

Band: BAD MOVES
Who: Fervent guitar-pop
quartet from Washington.

Track: Hallelujah
Piece from their 3rd LP,
titled Wearing Out The Refrain.

TUTV: Hallelujah rages against the anti-LGBTQ
haters with knives between their teeth and an
unstoppable drive.

“To express oneself, now expressly forbidden/ That’s a spiritual hell, that’s
a new prohibition/ And they’ll boil you down to reproductive function/ When
they see you as a vessel and not as a person!”

Bang-on.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 25 –

Band: CANYONS AND LOCUSTS
Who: Boston‘s hefty garage blues-rock duo.

Track: Anna Save A Life
.
TUTV: A manic motherrocker from a duo who sound as a 4-motor hit-and-run team. Riff-o-rama all the way while bashing drums do your head in. Garage punk ‘n’ roll at its filthy best. Call your own Anna and challenge the anti-decibels police.

Pretty sick.


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– 26 –

Band: DUMB POSH HIPPIES (hilarious name!)
Who: Psych-influenced, three-piece punk band from
Dublin/Derry with a love for big riffs and pace.

Track: Scrunched Up Fist

TUTV: Wham bloody wham bam. Expect a sharp-splitting punk rock juggernaut. Amps up and full steam ahead. No rest for the wicked with this razor-blade cutting, head over heels bombshell spiced with sneering vocals. Wham bloody wah-wah guitars bam. Scrunched Up Fist hits your face really hard. Hurry-scurry stroke.

Hells bells.


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Instagram – Spotify
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– 27 –

Band: SOFT SKIES INC
Who: Philadelphia-based identical-twin duo and longtime musical confidants
Ryan and Martin Rex, their shared sonic compass draws a straight line from the
classic alternative of their youth to the modern alternative and dream-pop of
today.

Track: Sooner Or Later

A song of hope, riding those tender waves of nostalgia, understanding that a loss of innocence comes with age but that we emerge from the other side with newfound perspective and awareness.

Melodic guitar pop at its Sebadoh best. Uptempo shoe-slacker-gaze
spiced with scintalling synths and ethereal vocals. Start dreaming in
overdrive.

Enrapturing.


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Linktree
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– 28 –


Photo credit: Thandiwe Zivengwa

Artist: SPIELMANN
Who:Eager singer-songwriter from Leeds, UK.

Track: Just Like Everybode Else
From this year’s EP, titled Fifteen Minutes With Spielmann.

TUTV: Just Like Everybody Else is a glorious, full-orchestrated pop gem, that transfers you in an eye/ear blink to a sonic dreamland with its affecting melodiousness, riveting chorus and warm-hearted vocals. Three highly-entertaining minutes and twenty seconds with Spielmann

Instagram – Linktree
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– 29 –

Artist: KIM DEAL

Track: Crystal Breath
Single from Deal’s solo debut full lenght
Nobody Loves You More.

TUTV: Quite special and different from anything
Deal has been done before. EBM bass dynamics,
trip-hop quivering and a spiky guitar riff.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 30 –

Artist: LAUREN MAYBERRY
Who: Synth-pop band CHVRCHES‘
Scottish voice/face.

Track: Something In The Air
Superb song from her solo debut LP
Vicious Creature.

TUTV: A sky-scraping tune, a stunning slice of elevating music
with a multi-storey chorus and Mayberry‘s crystal voice going
airborne.

Spectacular vocals.

Instagram – Spotify
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5 BEST ALBUMS – NOVEMBER 2024

Posted on by JL

– 1 –

Band: THE CURE
Robert Smith & Co.

Album: SONGS OF A LOST WORLD
Their 14th LP, their first in 16 years.
It went to the top spot in the UK and the US.

NME says: “The album deals in darkness and death, but with
flowers on the grave… Being arguably the most personal album
of Smith’s career. “

TUTV: Sonically, it resonates as if you’re part of a funeral march that progresses in slow
motion. Every song starts with a long instrumental intro of waves of melancholic synths and weeping guitars, and every time when Smith‘s feverish voice joins in, the intensity augments wondrously captivating.

The most drastically soul-stirring record I heard all year, accentuating how sorrow
can overwhelm and hurt one’s heart and mind. It’s a universal experience that millions, and millions of people who lost loved ones – past, present and future – can relate to.
Pure masterpiece.

KEY SINGLE

ALBUM


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Instagram – All Cure Albums
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– 2 –


New album artwork

Artist: KIM DEAL
Best known as the utterly cool bass player of indie icons
Pixies and from her own band The Breeders, featuring
her twin sister Kelley.

Album: NOBODY LOVES YOU MORE

MOJO (British music monthly) says: “Nobody Loves You More is a singularly uplifting,
life-affirming listen, where joy and despair, love and loss, are irrevocably entwined, and
kept afloat by Deal’s unfailing lightness of touch.”

TUTV: Kim Deal on her own, expresses mixed emotions about past and present
personal experiences. Mostly with moony and subtly orchestrated reveries such
as the title track, Coast, Are You Mine?, Wish I Was, and Summerland. All charming
and melancholic songs for a quiet winter night in.

Deal‘s slightly hoarse voice is instrumental. Its tender-hearted aura creates a relaxing ambiance, interrupted now and then by more uptempo, upbeat tracks like stand-out
vibe Crystal Breath, the vigorous guitar-frisky Disobediece and the buzzing Big Ben Beat
jam. A formidable debut record.

KEY SINGLE

ALBUM


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Instagram – KD: Linktree
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– 3 –

Band: MAYFLOWER MADAME
Who: A band from Oslo, Norway who specialize in a dark and distinctive blend
of post-punk, shoegaze, and psych-noir. Their history, so far, includes two album
releases, Observed In A Dream (2016) and Prepared For A Nightmare (2020).

Album: INSIGHT

MM: “Insight’ is the album we’ve always wanted to create, but at the same time it’s
the most personal and emotionally hardest we’ve made so far. Lyrically, it delves into
a wide range of emotions, from somber reflections about loss and sorrow to feverish
depictions of love, escapism and catharsis.”

TUTV: As they showed/proved us so many times before MM know mesmerically well
how to embed infectious, poppy melodies into trance-like orchestrations infused with waves of sparkling guitar lines and transfixing vocals, creating a magnetic appeal.

Best examples are the 4 top-tier singles Crippled Crow, Never Sever, Paint It All In Blue
and A Foretold Ecstasy. References? Depeche Mode, New Order, Interpol. Impressive, right? You betcha.

ALBUM


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Instagram – Facebook
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– 4 –

Artist: PETER PERRETT
Who: former frontman of legendary British new
wavers The Only Ones (1976–1982, 2007–2017).

Album: THE CLEANSING
His 3rd one.

The Guardian (British newspaper): “Its two predecessors
were surprisingly good, this is genuinely great.”

TUTV: Lots of critical praise for PP’s new opus, deservedly so. At 72, he still excels
in writing high-quality pop/rock songs and he’s still a romantic at heart. His unique
voice and luminous guitar play combine for a splendiferously aural delight. With
20 tracks a bit too long, although there’s not one bad one on this gratifying record.

KEY SINGLE

ALBUM


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Instagram – Facebook
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– 5 –

Band: THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA
Who: London-based DIY duo – Daphne Ang (Singapore) and Andrea Papi (Italy)
that fills a gap in music by bringing literature, art, and history together into a
space where rock and metal meet electronica. They released two fascinating
albums so far.

TUTV: TCOMAS have broadened their musical and lyrical boundaries again.
Mind you, their psycho-delic, metallic trademark sound, their quiet/Loud/quiet rollercoaster compositions and their intriguing sagas are still in place here, but
there’s more room for meditative moments, annex Samara‘s chill-out voice/vocals,
like on Waves, Mysterium Tremendum, with beautiful classical piano play, and Per Astra.

Their mercurial and emotional odysseys are inventively fragmented, swinging
forth and back. And then there’s the unexpected, but superb collaboration with
Italian hip-hop rapper Mr Meuri on standout piece Bite The Bullet. Another rad
longplayer achievement.

SINGLE/VIDEO

ALBUM


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Instagram – Website

25 BEST TRACKS OF 2024 (So Far)

Posted on by JL

Already 6 months behind us this year.
Time to look/listen back. These 25
tracks made TUTV’s ears go bonkers.

ALL TOGETHER


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TRACK-BY-TRACK

1. ‘Starting And Staring’ by GUSTAF (NYC)

The swirling 5-piece from Brooklyn led by charismatic frontwoman
Lydia Gammil released their 2nd album Package Pt. 2 last April.

Lead single Starting and Staring is a knockout.

Funkier than the B-52’s in their heyday, and they spin around
with more dash and class than Bodega and Parquet Courts.

Let’s roll.

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2. ‘Mustang’ by KINGS OF LEON (Nashville, US)

The Nashville family launched their 9th album
named Cand We Please Have Fun’ last May.

Peak piece Mustang is a roasting steamroller that
turns up the heat even more when the cooking chorus
kicks in.

KOL.

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3. Ticking by SPRINTS (Ireland)

The flabbergasting energy these ear-splitting loud Irish beatniks develop on their ace debut LP Letter To Self is off the charts. The opener Ticking is what these 4 Irish indies
do on repeat. Building a near-unbearable tension and exploding insanely along the rough ride.

Holy smoke.


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4. ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ by AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS (Australia)


Press photo by Zac Bayly

Since this Australian punk tornado released their 2nd
longplayer Comfort To Me back in 2021 they’re on an
endless tour around the globe.

Yet, in between all gig mayhem they found some time to write/record/release
two new searing sucker-punches with U Should Be Doing This as my favourite.

Amyl: ‘This song makes me laugh, but it’s also in a way poking fun at the shock that
people still feel at a little bit of skimpy clothing, and the bitchy high school way that
the music community still is.’

Sassy striking stroke.

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5. ‘Hallelujah’ by BAD MOVES (Washington D.C.)

Washington‘s flamboyant guitar pop quartet release
their 3rd LP, baptized Wearing Out The Refrain next
September.

On Hallelujah they rage against the anti-LGBTQ
machine with knives between their teeth and an
unstoppable drive.

“To express oneself, now expressly forbidden/ That’s a spiritual hell, that’s
a new prohibition/ And they’ll boil you down to reproductive function/ When
they see you as a vessel and not as a person!”

Punktastic.

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6. ‘Sink Ya Teeth’ by THE MYSTERINES (UK)

Sink Ya Teeth from their 2nd LP, named Afraid Of Tomorrows
which came out last month, is a a maddening master blaster.

Cool as fuck!

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7. ‘Body Of Mine’ by LAMBRINI GIRLS (Brighton, UK)


Photo by TUTV

The feminist-punk duo went nuclear the past year following their
amazeballs 6-track EP You’re Welcome and this year’s bulldozing
and gender-themed missile Body Of Mine.

Speedball stunner.

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8. ‘Starburster’ by FONTAINES D.C. (Ireland)


Promo photo

Irish indie stars FONTAINES D.C. will share their 4th LP,
named ROMANCE with the world on August 23rd.

The lead single Starburster is a feverish corker
with a bone-chilling gush and frontman Grian
Chatten rapping all over it with his characteristic
uptight parlando.

New look, new vibe, new feat.

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9. Danzig With Myself’ by THE DANDY WARHOLS (Portland)

Last March the Dandys came up with their 12th album, named Rockmaker.

Lead single Danzing With Myself features Pixies‘ general Frank Black and
is a gloomy and doomy groover. With its poignant progression, this piece
creeps under your skin in an eye/ear blink.

Danz here.

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10. ‘Aeroplane’ by THE LIVING PINS (Austin, TX)

These two electrifying Amazons hit the bullseye with this
jagged jackhammer from their rawk-ing EP Let It Be So.

Imagine 60s British glam rock legends T. Rex and
American trash duo Royal Trux jamming together.

Fly along here.

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11. ‘Repeat After Me’ by RAPTUROUS (Kent, UK)

UK’s rock/hip-hop team Rapturous invite us to scream
our lungs out on their avid anthem that celebrates freedom.

“The song was inspired by the old blues style of call & response, we wanted to create something that could be easily sung back to us by the crowd. The song is about being free from anything that is getting you down, be it your job, finances, the world, or the weekend’s football scores. Freedom from misery, that’s the idea.”

Think Cypress Hill fronted by Zack de la Rocha,
rattling like a rapid-fire riot-gun.

Repeat after them.

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12. ‘All The Same’ by FAT DOG (South London)


Press promo

Fat Dog are coming up faster than an out-of-control comet.

These bloodhounds are working on their debut LP.
One of the shared tracks (so far) is this disco-punk
axe.

Bingo!

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13. ‘Oh Shit’ by THE LIBERTINES (UK)


Promo pic

British infamous mavericks dropped their 4th album
called All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade last April.

Oh Shit was one of the singles. A shit-along crackerjack sung by
Carl Barât and joined on the chirpy chorus by his buddy Doherty.

Oh fun.

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14. ‘A Foretold Ecstasy’ by MAYFLOWER MADAME (Norway)

This Norwegian band specializes in a dark and distinctive blend
of post-punk, shoegaze and psych-noir. So far they released two
albums.

On this new, superb single drums and bass team up for an
incessantly beat that carries this instantaneously sticking ride,
along with a magnetizing Cure-esque guitar riff that gets you in
a trance.

Truly hypnotizing from start to finish with velvety vocals
and darkwavish synths in the back adding a twilight tone.

Top-tier tune.

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15. ‘Lights Down Low’ by DIE SEXUAL (Los Angeles)

This hepped-up EBM duo conjure their influences of EBM, techno and electropop,
their sound is an intoxicating mix of analog synthetics and seductive vocals, touching
on themes of desire and despair, domination and submission.

They have a new 3-track EP, titled Inservio out, with opener Lights Down Low
as my favorite. An electro booster with a mindblowing techno beat à la The Prodigy
that rotates irresistibly, non-stop.

Bang-on.


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16. ‘Big Time Nothing’ by ST. VINCENT (Oklahoma)


Album artwork

Glamorous songstress St. Vincent delivered
her 7th LP All Born Screaming last April.

High-spot cut Big Time Nothing is a 24-carat
pumping dancefloor knockout.

Party time.

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17. ‘S o f t e r by VIRGINS (Ireland)


📸 @ebony_alexander_media

This Belfast-based shoegaze team made an impact on my ears
last April, with their notable debut LP nothing hurt and anything
was beautiful

Lead single Softer is a psychedelic shoegaze stunner, a multi-layered symphony
propelled by about a thousand guitars, a mindboggling bass riff, and combative
drums, while Rebecca Dow‘s ghostly vocals scrape the sky. A  titanic thrill.

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18. ‘Peace Sign’ by RIDE (UK)


Press photo by Cal McIntyre

The shoegaze veterans scored an excellent
opus with their 7th LP, named Interplay

The album’s first single Peace Sign
is a sickly sticky pop earworm with
an orgasmic chorus.

Bingo.

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19. ‘I Don’t Understand What Any Of You Are Doing’ by DEAD ANYWAY (UK)

This British duo combine the dark lyricism of Kate Arnold
against the music and soundscapes of Marc Symonds.
They caught my attention with last February‘s top album
Partially Eaten By Animals.

Highlight ‘I Don’t Understand What Any Of You Are Doing’ dives into trip-hop-pop territory with Arnold‘s crystal clear voice floating all over shiny synth dynamics. Catchy as hell.


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20. ‘Welcome Tou Your New Future’ by LEG PUPPY 2.0 (London, UK)

This madcap techno act scored their best (so far)
album with Humanity 2.0 which came out last May.

You can shake your (p)elvis to single Welcome To Your New
Future while getting nervous about the unknown tomorrow.

What’s in store for humankind. Nuclear war or peace and free love?
Or will we be just another brick in the wall? Whatever happens,
never stop pirouetting yourself dizzy to manic music .

We don’t need your education
We don’t need no your thought control

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21. ‘Just Like Everybody Else’ by SPIELMANN (Leeds, UK)


Photo credit: Thandiwe Zivengwa

This cut features on Spielmann‘s new, splendid
EP, titled Fifteen Minutes With Spielmann

Just Like Everybody Else is a glorious, full-orchestrated pop gem, that transfers you in an eye/ear blink to a sonic dreamland with its affecting melodiousness, riveting chorus and warm-hearted vocals. Three highly-entertaining minutes and twenty seconds with Spielmann

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22. ‘Just Another Rainbow’ by LIAM GALLAGHER & JOHN SQUIRE (UK)

New star tandem Gallagher-Squire produced/released their debut LP last March.

The lead-single Just Another Rainbow is partly Oasis, partly Stone Roses.
Liam sings like Liam (who else?) and Squire does his psychedelic 6-string
Stone Roses thing.

Infectious lads rock.


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23. ‘Close Enough’ by STRESS DOLLS (Buffalo, NY)


📸 Peter Heuer Photography

Stress Dolls is the musical moniker of songstress Chelsea O’Donnell.
Last May she released her enchanting debut album Queen Of No.

Close Enough is one of my favorite tracks. A captivating pop song.
Tantalizing tunefulness, glistening guitar sparks, and gratifying vocals
combine for a top tune.


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24. ‘Red’ by YOKOPHONO (Finland)


Promo picture by Jan Trygg

This is how British blues rock titans Royal Blood would sound if their
producer is a fanatic post-punk fan. Red is a riff-rough stormer.

The crude combination of hammering drums, stoner rock electricity,
and firm vocals create a shocking effect. Yokophono is a RED-hot 2-piece.


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Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds have canned album number 18.
It’s baptized Wild God and will show up on August 30.

The title track is a sublime composition. The first part is crooner Cave as we know him,
but quickly the vocal passion and goosebumps intensity go up and from halfway on, this diamond turns into an orchestral masterpiece, with a zealous hallelujah choir and an opera-like majesty.

Best piece they wrote in years. Breathtaking.

TUTV: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter

20 BEST TRACKS OF THE MONTH – MAY 2024

Posted on by JL

The best of the best of the past month

ALL TOGETHER


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TRACK-BY-TRACK

1. ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ by AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS (Australia)


Press photo by Zac Bayly

This Australian rawk ‘n’ roll tornado released their second LP ‘Comfort To Me‘
already 3 years ago and they’re still touring it. It calls popularity and success.

But they found some time recently to record this belter. U Should Not Be Doing
That bounces forth and back, and funks and punks with big beats, schreeching
guitars, a sexy sax and Amyl ‘s sneering vocality.

Amyl rules.

Instagram
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2. ‘Help Me, I’m Spiralling’ by SPRINTS (Ireland)


Press promo

2024 is supersonic Irish post-punk turbine Sprints‘s breakthrough year.
Their rad riff ‘n’ roar debut LP Letter To Self, caused/causes exciting waves
among critics and old/new fans.

To keep the momentum going they dropped this new whirlwind stroke.

Instagram
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3. ‘Psychopath’ by BODY COUNT (NYC)

Ice-T and his earsplitting gang are back.
They bagged their 8th LP, and titled it
Merciless. Release date TBA.

For the first slam dunk, they get help from growling loudmouth
Joe Badolato from deathcore band Fit For An Autopsy.

They’re all psychopaths if you ask me.

Instagram
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4. ‘Repeat After Me’ by RAPTUROUS (Kent, UK)

Rapturous is an English Hip-Rock-Hop squad that erupt here like
if Cypress Hill is fronted by Zack de la Rocha, rattling like a rapid-fire
riot-gun.

If you’re looking for an avid anthem that celebrates freedom,
then this is the very loud and very clear one you can go berserk
to in the streets.

Repeat after them.

Linktree
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5. ‘Crumbs, Chaos And Lies’ by PIG (UK)

Industrial Goth-rock crusader Raymond Watts
has his new cast iron LP, baptized Red Room
out.

It features this flabbegasting sledgehammer
you can pulverize concrete with.


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Instagram
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6. ‘A Foretold Ecstasy’ by MADAME MAYFLOWER (Oslo, Norway)

Truly hypnotizing from start to finish with velvety vocals and darkwavish synths
in the back adding a twilight tone. Top-tier tune. The on-repeat button was invented
for this kind of arousing thrills. Don’t miss this ecstatic MM jam.

“In and out
Inside again
I’m passing out
To ease the strain”

Instagram
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7. ‘Don’t Go Making Plans’ by HARD-FI (UK)


Press pic

The British pop/rock team that scored three successful albums between 2003 and 2014 returned in 2022 for some live action. They all got in the mood again and wrote/recorded thsi brand new song Don’t Go Making Plans.

It’s an infectious, brassy tune that swings around with a dance-inviting oomph.

“Where’s everybody? Where’s everyone? / I’m coming out tonight, I wanna have some fun /
But these empty streets and shut-up bars/ Too broke to eat, to nowhere to dance.”

Instagram
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8. ‘A Good Man Died’ by CUT THE KIDS IN HALF (New Jersey)


Photo credit: Francine Silver

This rotating riff-ripper is just irresistible. It’s a head-spinning stomper that gets under
your skin from the get-go. A fervid upper with a jump-up-and-down with your fists in the air chorus that doubles your adrenalin production for 4 and a half banging minutes.

Think of the early zealous gusto and the buzzing drive of NYC’s celebs The Strokes.
In a normal world, this revved-up stunner of a tune should top all indie charts
all over the globe.

Cut it here!

Linktree
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9. ‘Cover It Up’ by TYPHOID ROSIE (Brooklyn, NY)


Photo: Janier De Jesus, via Typhoid Rosie

Rosie Rebel and her robust retro rock combo do it again. This one is for their beloved dog of six years and tour companion, Canaan, who now rocks his tail off, up there in the sky.

As we experienced before Typhoid Rosie always storm full steam ahead from start
to finish. This punked-up, harmonious chant with its sickly sticky chorus triggers your
best zigzagging moves. It’ll feature on their 5th album, called Last Words, which lands
on June 21.

“We’re not gonna leave you in this shithole town!
Get in the car, let’s go!”


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Instagram
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10. ‘Nothing To Report’ by FOLD PAPER (Winnipeg, US)

This far-out trio is masterminded by the Nigerian-born, Michigan-raised and
Winnipeg-based Chell Osuntade, who delivers almost-spoken-word lyrics searing
with intent. They produce a raw, jittery and energetic brand of post-punk.

Nothing To Report is a glorious cacophonous jackhammer going everywhere fast.
It rattles and rambles, motorized by schizophrenic guitars, a mean bass/drum
tandem and Chell Osuntade‘s sloganesque chant. Almost 5 minutes of razzle-dazzle turmoil, revved-up dynamics and jazzed-up rhythms. Think British mavericks black midi.

Touchdown.

Instagram
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11. ‘So Desperate’ by SALEM WOLVES (Providence, Rhode Island)


Photo Credit: Black Cherry Creative

With this new piece, Salem Wolves taps into the human
psyche and a lost wrestler’s supernatural ambition.

Gray Bouchard (songwriter): “‘So Desperate’ is about recontextualizing what should be a moment of triumph as something grimy. If you’re ambitious or a dreamer, it’s easy to just focus on the goal, the stage, that moment in the spotlight when all eyes are on you. You tune out the noise, ignore your screaming muscles and tired bones, and march toward victory.”

Expect a riveting mid-tempo flare-up pushed by an agonizing vocalist,
an ironclad rhythm section, and mental guitars. Vehement emotionality.

Linktree
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12. ‘Cold’ by CRENSHAW PENTECOSTAL (North Carolina, US)

This North Carolina outfit formed, fuelled by late-night jam sessions, where the only
rule was to keep the spirit of Tom Petty alive, with members who found themselves
veering away from their roles as backing musicians for solo artists.

With Cold they hit bullseye. It’s a bittersweet epic Americana
symphony that touches heart and soul. Splendid score!

Linktree

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13. ‘Shark-Shark’ by JOHN CALE (Wales)


Press photo

The 82-year-old VU legend JOHN CALE is one of those artists who’ll never stop
making music until his final breath. Back in January 2023 he released one of the
finest records of that year with Mercy.

And he has already another one to offer.

It’s called POPtical Illusion and he will share it with the world
on June 14. The songs were written around the time he worked
on Mercy.

While you wait for the LP find
out how old(er) dogs still rock.

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14. ‘Cyanide Soul’ by ALAN VEGA (US)

Tomorrow, 31 May, another previously unreleased
Alan Vega (1938-2016) album, titled Insurrection will
hit our ears.

This otherwordly and enigmatic synth-psych groove will be on it.

Spooky stuff.

Linktree
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15. ‘Taking Hold’ by COMMON CULTURE (England)

Common CultureCommon Culture is a rousing, fiddle-driven alternative folk band from Barnsley, England who fuse traditional and contemporary elements into an upbeat and energetic sound.

From the very start their new pîece Taking Hold explodes like a firecracker. Peppy, bustling
and stimulating. It’s a highly encouraging mind-and-body booster incited by a dizzying pace, flaming violin play, electrical rapture, pepped-up vocals, and a delirious chorus.

There’s always a common culture light at the end of the tunnel.
Folk rock veterans Levellers should take them on tour.

Here’s why.

Linktree
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16. ‘All That School For Nothing’ by JOHN GRANT (Michigan, US)


Press

The boy from Michigan has bagged his 7th album, baptized it
The Art Of The Lie, and he will share it with the world on June 14.

Ahead of it, we can funk ourselves dizzy to this peppy dance floor knockout.

Instagram
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17. ‘Need’ by THE GREETING (Ireland)

This act is a collaboration of Irish bands Big Generator and pMad

“War, Hate, Distrust, Propaganda, Bullying and all the horrible attributes of life,
we don’t need it!! We have seen it all and it does not make us happy, let us break
the cycle and stop the unhappiness!!”

Wow! What a powerhouse debut smack this is. Terrifically vigorous
and puissant, with a titanic guitar-blazing and drum-hammering chorus.

Play it!

Facebook
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18. ‘Bye Bye Sunday Afternoon’ by SMITT E. SMITTY & THE FEZZTONES (Boston, US)

This Boston collective knows how to shake their booty. They did it before and
they do it again with this instantly working booster and exultant chant.

A rotating bass riff dictates the jumping-for-joy pace, alternating female/male vocals add some more jubilation and on the chorus, we all can go nuts. And let’s not forget that brisk violin with a jocund vibe.

Party time!

Instagram
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19. ‘Lunch’ by BILLIE EILISH (USA)


Press photo

Mega superstar (I bet she has fans on the Moon) Billie Eilish
has her new, 3rd album Hite Me Hard And Soft out.

And she eat girls for lunch on it.

Yummy!

Instagram
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20. ‘Garawek Khaos’ by CEMENTO ATLANTICO (Italy)

Cemento Atlantico is the electronic project of Italian
producer and DJ Alessandro “ToffoloMuzik” Zoffoli.

His new single is a mid-tempo techno boomer that spellbinds from start to finish.
Magnetic vibrations interwoven with hip-swaying synth eurhythmics and echoing
vocals.

Dance here.

Linktree
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TUTV: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter

MAYFLOWER MADAME – Norwegian Indies Get You In A Trance With Hypnotizing Jam ‘A FORETOLD ECSTASY’

Posted on by JL

Daily electricity to load your batteries

21 May 2024

Band: MAYFLOWER MADAME
Who: A band from Oslo, Norway that specializes in a dark and distinctive blend
of post-punk, shoegaze and psych-noir. Their history, so far, includes two album
releases, Observed In A Dream (2016) and Prepared For A Nightmare (2020).

New single: A FORETOLD ECSTASY

First shared piece from their forthcoming 3rd longplayer, due for release in October.

“The song sees the band refining their signature blend of post-punk, shoegaze and psychedelia into a sharper soundscape distinguished by a pulsating, forceful rhythm section, atmospheric synths and reverb-drenched guitars that stab and shine. It’s the perfect soundtrack for the nightly walks of restless city dwellers, but also a highly
potent dancefloor-filler at gritty indie clubs.”

TUTV: Drums and bass team up for an incessantly beat that carries this instantaneously sticking jam, along with a magnetizing Cure-esque guitar riff that gets you in a trance.

Truly hypnotizing from start to finish with velvety vocals and darkwavish synths in
the back adding a twilight tone. Top-tier tune. The on-repeat button was invented for
this kind of adrenalized earworms. I just hit it for the 7th time. Don’t miss this ecstatic
MM jam.

“In and out
Inside again
I’m passing out
To ease the strain”

WATCH/LISTEN

STREAM


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MM: Instagram