Band: CANYONS AND LOCUSTS Who: Two-piece act, Justin Keane (vocals, guitar) and Amy Young (drums, backing vocals), from Boston, MA. Fueled by the current chaos of the world and an urgent need to be part of the conversation, the two took the indie rock foundation they built in previous bands and upped the ante by adding new levels of noise via pervasive, edgy guitar sounds, low and thundery drumbeats, and emotional vocals.
Press info: The record draws together several storytelling narrators underneath the
duo’s unhinged wall of fuzzed-out rock and roll. Each of Canyons and Locusts’ 10 songs
in The Goal Gigolo, tabbed by WBUR, Boston’s NPR, as one of the most-anticipated New England records of the winter, point to the album’s storyline as a north star, developing
a narrative path forward as the eponymous anti-hero comes to life in cinematic ways.
It’s not exactly linear storytelling, but it’s no less gripping.
Keane: “Broadly speaking, The Goal Gigolo is the story of a guy who makes his living solving others’ emotional problems while trying not to get entangled with them romantically. It’s set
in the 1970s, so I guess we weren’t calling those people life coaches yet.”
TUTV: C&L hit harder and rougher than The White Stripes (Motorwall Oil / Anna Save A Life / Detain The Piano Man) in their early days. At times the DIY tandem turn up the roasting heat as if they want to kick Dinosaur Jr‘s ass (Trapped In The Trigger / Moriarty The Serpents / It’s A Long Goodbye) and they make your limbs twist around with a salvo of AC/DC riffs.
No fancy production nor redundant studio tricks for Keane/Young. They’re for real and leave all their sweat on the floor to make their loud and clear mark. Jello Biafra should
take this two-motor diesel on his label. Now.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Band: DITZ Who: Unbridled post-punks from Brighton, UK (where everybody is
in a band).
Track: TAXIMAN
Piece from their forthcoming second longplayer, baptized Never Exhale. It’ll hit the streets on 25 January 2025. Pre-order
info here.
TUTV: Taximan does your head in the way we, brainbangers, like it. Bam Bang Boom.
No mercy for the wicked. Maddening mayhem as usual. You better check out if Robert ‘Travis’ De Niro is behind the wheel before taking a cab.
Last August former white stripe JACK WHITE (aged 49 now) released
one of the best LPs of the year with powerhouse record NO NAME,
his 6th solo one. A crazed punk blues LP with a total of 13 thunderous
outbursts.
TUTV: I’m quite sure that this song was recorded during the No Name
sessions. Anyway, it’s as if Jimi Hendrix woke up from the dead for a day
to play firework guitar on this blistering blow.
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 move in mysterious ways.
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
Piece from the duo’s upcoming debut LP Who Let The Dogs Out. Out next year, on
January 10.
TUTV: Don’t be mistaken, it’s not because the new single is titled ‘Love’
that LB wrote their first-ever song about the birds and the bees. According
to the lambrinis tandem, ‘true love is nothing more than the wrong hill to die on”.
It’s one of their best knockouts so far.
An amazeballs wall-of-flaming-guitar racket
and a manic drummer with 4 arms. Hell yeah.
Band: BILLY ZACH Who: German act described by singer/guitarist Max Zacherl as “the sandpaper of pop music”. So
far, they canned/released two albums.
Track: PAINTED NAILS
Single from their notable brand new 5-track EP, called Interferer (you can stream/buy it below via Bandcamp).
TUTV:Painted Nails is a flabbergasting post-punk tour de force, a jawdropping
psychedelic trip burning its way through a turbulent trip, fired-up by schizophrenic
guitars and bone-chilling vocals. Petrifying thrill.
The rap-punk poets teamed up with the famous synth-pop band to collect money for help organization WARCHILD. An organization that works with parents, caregivers, community members, NGOs, governments, corporations, and other partners worldwide to ensure that children have access to protection, education, and psychosocial support.
It’s an unlikely collaboration, but it’s pretty cool that they do it together
for charity. They recorded 2 tracks in London’s famed Abbey Road studios.
You can buy both here, viaBandcamp.
One of them is a frisky punk-disco stomper; called CAT BURGLAR
Band: CAMLANN Who: Intruiging Indonesian
dark disco duo.
Track: RONNY (BURN IN HELL)
The song is deeply rooted in the personal experiences of lead singer Ony Godfrey,
who candidly addresses the sexual harassment she faced as a teenager at the hands
of a middle-aged man named Ronny. Through this powerful narrative, Camlann channels
a raw and unfiltered expression of female rage that resonates with many women who
have endured similar traumas.
TUTV: Expect a knockout headbutt, an in-your-face sucker disco-punk punch.
Hells bells. A blazing blast that goes after all sexual abusers out there. Bullseye.
The message is loud and clear. To hell with all harassing predators. NOW!
“You have played with fire
And the fire’s now burning you alive
So have fun suffering
‘Cause God knows that you will be
Burn in hell forever”
TUTV: The band say they have written this energizer, they want to compete
with at the Eurovision Song Contest of 2035. Say what?. The big question, of
course, is ‘will the world still turn in 2035?‘ as devastating wars destroy lives
every single day on half of our planet and the future doesn’t look bright
whatsoever. We can only hope for peace.
Artist: SOMEBODY’S CHILD Who: Musical project led
by Irish songsmith Cian Godfrey.
Track: TIME OF MY LIFE
First taster from his upcoming 2nd album
When Youth Fades Away, out 28 March 2025.
New album artwork
TUTV: If you can resist this epic guitar/drums/piano-driven earworm
you need to change your meds and/or consult your shrink and you’ll
have the time of your life.
Band: CANYONS AND LOCUSTS Who: Two-piece garage rock act, Justin Keane (vocals, guitar) and Amy Young (drums, backing vocals), from Boston, MA. Fueled by the current chaos of the world and an urgent need to be part of the conversation, the two took the indie rock foundation they built in previous bands and upped the ante by adding new levels of noise via pervasive, edgy guitar sounds, low and thundery drumbeats, and emotional vocals.
Rowdy piece the tandem’s forthcoming
2025 concept album, The Goal Gigolo.
TUTV: Another manic motherrocker from this duo who sound as a 4-motor hit-and-run band. As usual, amps way up, and the volume to the max. Riff-o-rama all the way while bashing drums do your head in. Garage punk ‘n’ roll at its turbulent best. Call your own Anna and challenge the anti-decibels police. Sounds like far-out fun, right? You betcha.
Rabbit Hole is an invitation to explore life’s hidden corners, where desire and despair
often collide. The accompanying video clip immerses fans in distorted shadows and dramatic visuals, that perfectly mirrors the raw and introspective.
TUTV: Expect a motorized riff-ripper
with a titanic fists in the air chorus.
Steaming stuff. Punktastic!
Band: NOVANOISE Who: Italy’s rising alternative
punk rock outfit.
Track: LEVELS
It’s a fresh blend of punchy punk rock riffs, bold synth lines, and the undeniable
energy of frontwoman Luna Esmeralda Rizzi. Known for their high-voltage performances and cyberpunk flair, Novanoise delivers a track that’s both defiant and uplifting.
A shout-out to staying connected in a chaotic world.
TUTV: Levels is a high-voltage blowout,
with biting vocals, Herculean powerhouse
intensity and full-on electricity.
TUTV: It’s a heartfelt, sepia-colored musing where sparkling guitar lines
and Perrett‘s unique voice come together to shine. Moony melancholia in
motion.
Band: CMON CMON Who: Brussels/London based indie rock trio from Belgium,
who started to realize their childhood dream 5 years ago,
in their 40s.
.
New track: ALL THE OTHER KIDS
It’s the first taster from their upcoming, new EP, titled Headwind that’ll land
next year and recorded in renowked producer’s James Brown‘s studio in the
world-famous Portobello Road in London. It’ll follow CC’s 2023 debut album The Crack And The Light.
Single artwork by Belgian designer Lisa Van de Vyver
with cover images by Swedish photographer Moarlberg.
TUTV: All The Other Kids is a breezy, zippy and riff-juiced
tune that brings notorious songsmith Evan Dando and his Lemonheads to mind.
Its easy-going melody and feel-good vibe make you want to whistle,
hum, or sing na-na-na along. That’s what pop-ular music is about.
Band: NEVERLESS.AM Who: Prolific Boston trio who pulls threads from their hard
rock, psych, and funk influences to create a distinctive sound
that blurs a line between shoegaze and dream-punk.
Track: WILL I EVER?
Preview from their forthcoming
debut album, out in February.
It details a horrific personal experience vocalist and guitarist CA Newcomb endured
two years ago, as she relays the story and emotion of being hit as a pedestrian by a
drunk driver, sending her to the hospital and placing her on a long path to recovery.
TUTV: Woozy layers of fuzzy guitars and Alice-in-Wonderland vocals take you on a shoegazing trip to a place where reality and surreality meet. Btw, don’t get petrified
when you hear some freaky growling for a moment.
Artist: BLAIR GILMOUR Who: An 18-year-old multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter from Irvine, Scotland. Immersing himself in music at a young age, he quickly realised that performing helped suppress his Tourette’s tics. Diving into music on a sensory level, the young artist explores the secrets of songwriting, producing and performing, inviting listeners along for the journey.
The tune was written at a songwriting camp in Spain. Initially inspired by the heat of their environment, the song eventually transformed into a love song, with Blair exploring the question: “How can you love something or someone so much that you know it is bad for you and your mental health, but you’re still in it for the chase?”
TUTV: Swirling pop bliss is what you get, adrenalized amorousness is
what you feel, euphoric elation is what you hear. Touch play and enjoy.
Band: WYLDERNESS Who: Welsh shoegazers from Cardiff
with 2 full-lengths under their belt.
Track: BIG IDEA
First taster from their forthcoming new EP
entitled ‘Safe Mode‘ which will be released
in 2025.
TUTV: Glistening guitar sparks set the glistening tone
for this sonically colored rainbow, all the way through.
Woolgathering vocals and arresting melodiousness.
Peter Murphy – photo by Jolene Siana / Boy George – photo by Dean Stockings
Former Bauhaus voice/face PETER MURPHY (67) and Culture Club‘s voice/face BOY GEORGE (63) team up for a beauty of an epic reflection. A romantic ballad
titled LET THE FLOWERS GROW with another legend, Killing Joke’s Youth taking
care of the track’s production.
The song was originally written by the Boy George with its initial message being
“one of personal acceptance about being gay. As the song developed, it took on a more expansive and universal scope with its lyrics extending beyond sexuality and embracing
race, gender, creed and religion.”
TUTV: It’s a surprising, but terrificallyt gripping heart-and-soul
collaboration. Starry-eyed magic spreading gold dust.
“I’ve been changing / and mama don’t know /
let her tears fall / and make the flowers grow,”
Band: CANYONS AND LOCUSTS Who: Two-piece act, Justin Keane (vocals, guitar) and Amy Young (drums, backing vocals), from Boston, MA. Fueled by the current chaos of the world and an urgent need to be part of the conversation, the two took the indie rock foundation they built in previous bands and upped the ante by adding new levels of noise via pervasive, edgy guitar sounds, low and thundery drumbeats, and emotional vocals.
It’s the first dose of new music from since March’s The Red Angel, and it’s the attention-grabbing inaugural blast from Justin Keane and Amy Young’s forthcoming 2025 concept album, The Goal Gigolo.
Keane about the track: “I feel like this one jumps out at you. It’s bracing, it’s kind of herky-jerky …I always like first singles that are surprising in some way, and I think this is a little bit punkier, and maybe even so very slightly new wave-ier, than anything we’ve done. But it’s also still unmistakably Canyons and Locusts.”
The line at the beginning of the song – ‘neon lights and empty nights, my disgrace’ – is the rosetta stone for this one. This album is the story of a pretty flawed protagonist, himself The Goal Gigolo, who’s made some bad decisions and has gotten himself into trouble trying to help people in his new location. He’s got to go through some shit to get back on his feet again, and he’s looking at that pit he’s about to jump into, but at that same time he’s got enough gallows humor to imagine writing a letter to someone named Anna who might very well save someone’s life – a life, not necessarily his.”
TUTV: Another manic motherrocker from this duo who sound as a 4-motor hit-and-run band. As usual, amps way up and the volume to the max. Riff-o-rama all the way while bashing drums do your head in. Garage punk ‘n’ roll at its turbulent best. Call your own Anna and challenge the anti-decibels police. Sounds like far-out fun, right? You betcha.
Boston‘s hefty garage blues-rock act released their new EP The Red Angel.
Six barbed wire bursts is what you get. To give you a loud and clear idea
here’s the closing crusher Wave Out Sunkiss.
S o f t e r is a psychedelic shoegaze stunner, a multi-layered symphony propelled
by about a thousand guitars, a mind-boggling bass riff, and combative drums, while Rebecca Dow‘s ghostly vocals scrape the sky. What a titanic thrill.
This disco-punk sucker-punch is just perfect to start and end all (il)legal
club nights with. High Value Man is a jiving bass-insane jackhammer that
doubles your adrenaline production on the spot and triggers your hottest
body contortions.
The orgastic ‘dance with me’ chorus revs up the sultry temperature and invites you to go mental, like a kangaroo on E. London‘s boiling dancefloor wackadoos Warmduscher should take these Welshmen/woman on the road with them. Frisky fun guaranteed. Machos not allowed.
Seattle‘s rock giants led by towering voice Eddie Vedder are back in business.
They canned their 12th longplayer, called it Dark Matter and they will share
it with the world on April 19.
Single Running sounds like if Vedder & Co
found their young razor-blade rock legs again.
This dazzling electronic 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, titled Inservio out, with opener Lights Down Low
as my favorite. An electro booster with a tantalizing techno beat à la The Prodigy
that rotates irresistibly, non-stop.
Spring is in the air, titillating tunes are in the air, like this frisky one
that circles around a disco beat in overdrive, and has an instantaneous,
activating impact on your eager limbs.
Lively vocals and a jumpy synth chorus augment the briskness at play here.
Get up, stand up, take your blue suede shoes out of the closet and show us
your best hip moves. Shake your dancefloor fright off with this rad
head-over-heels twister.
Expect a synth-adrenalizing thrill, a head-spinning belter,
infused with whirlwind vocals and UK garage dynamics. Imagine The Streets on acid or Yard Act pressing the accelerator.
11. ‘Diana’ by AUTOGRAMM (Seattle/Chicago/Vancouver)
Photo by Dave Paterson
Diana comes out of the gates like a speed train and never looks back.
Dynamizing synths start the rapid trip, the powerhouse drum/bass
engine pushes the rotating rhythm with vivid vigour, and zippy vocals
complete the accelerating sonic picture.
No, I don’t speak/understand Spanish, but hey, there are a lot of English/American hardcore/punk bands that scream and shout in such a cacophonous way, that I have no clue whatsoever what they’re on about. Who of you understand, except the people from Iceland, what world-famous orchestral pop outfit Sigur Rós, are singing about? It’s always about the music first.
Oceans Sangrientos is a titanic psychedelic blast. Be ready for a wall-of-fuzzing-and-buzzing guitar attack. Think The Brian Jonestown Massacre turning up their amps to the max and coming up with layers of mind-blowing electricity. Blimey.
These Boston rockers let the good times roll. Op-Operator is a dynamite
power pop tune that gets you out of your bed, after a night on the town
and triggers your limbs to start partying all over again.
This is how British blues rock titans Royal Blood would sound if their producer
is a fanatic post-punk fan. Trying is a riff-rough roller coaster going forth and back.
The crude combination of hammering drums, stoner rock electricity, and yearning vocals create a shocking effect that bangs on and on. Yokophono not only try, they succeed with bold brio.
Nick Cave and his iconic bad seeds band have bagged album #18.
It’s called Wild Godand will hit the streets 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 goes up and from halfway on, the song turns into an orchestral masterpiece, with a zealous hallelujah choir and an opera-like majesty. Best piece they wrote in years.
Blansjaar is an up-and-coming 21-year-old singer-songwriter
born in Amsterdam, raised in Oxford, now based in Brooklyn.
Anna Madonna echoes Ezra Koenig and Vampire Weekend. It’s a frolicsome tune that flutterers around in your head like a happy-go-lucky butterfly. A sweet little pop gem.
Worldcub are a group from North Wales piloted by brothers Cynyr (guitar & vocals) and Dion Hamer (drums & vocals). They produce material from their home studio on the hills of Eryri, splicing together elements of surf guitar music, kraut-rock grooves and hypnotic psych tinged Cymru vocal harmonies.
They have their new album ‘Back to the Beginning’ out 17th of May.
The title track gets under your skin from the kick-off with its
bass-pulsating groove, its breezy guitar sparks, and its layered,
affecting harmonies.
The 76-year-old singer-songwriter/producer has recorded his 15th solo
full-length, his first in 18 (!) years. The Other Side comes out on April 19.
First single ‘Waiting For You’ is a vintage romantic, longing, bittersweet, sentimental and good old ballad. I’m a sucker for lullabies like this (certainly after a day with lots of noisy music) that calm me down and touch my heart and soul. Burnett‘s warm voice and crystal guitar play turn this song into a wonderful, timeless, and charming musing. A universal love song.
Band: CANYONS AND LOCUSTS Who: Two-piece act, Justin Keane (vocals, guitar) and Amy Young (drums, backing vocals), from Boston, MA. Fueled by the current chaos of the world and an urgent need to be part of the conversation, the two took the indie rock foundation they built in previous bands and upped the ante by adding new levels of noise via pervasive, edgy guitar sounds, low and thundery drumbeats, and emotional vocals.
TUTV: Looks like C & L do not like Valentine’s Day, maybe because of all the commercial BS hanging all over it, or maybe they do but only their way with some roasting punk ‘n’ roll draining fake love down the drain. Anyway, this duo turbo hit again like they’re used to.
Think Dinosaur Jr turning up the amps for a blistering roller coaster full steam ahead while harsh vocals crank up the whole shebang. No, don’t expect the vibe of The Beatles’
All You Need Is Love’, rather their Helter Skelter fury.
These rockin’ amazons – Carrie Clark and Pam Peltz – have known each other since
the mid-90s, they played in different bands together and decided to give it a go again with some friends.
Imagine 60s British glam rock legends T. REX and American sassy duo Royal Trux
jamming together. Aeroplane grooves and moves with pithy panache and steaming swagger. Add the saucy and sensual duet vocals, and we have ourselves a winner.
The Baby Seals are three DIY indie grrrls from Cambridgeshire (UK)
who released their debut EP back in 2017.
Mild Misogynist is a ripper from their upcoming debut album Chaos.
The trio have that roaring rawness, unbridled roughness, genuine gusto and spontaneous bravado, Sleater-Kinney had back in the 90s. These three punk Amazons resonate more like Courtney Love when she went mental with Hole ages ago. Garage frenzy rock at its sharp-teethed indie best.
On March 15 the Dandys launch their 12th longplayer, named Rockmaker. Last summer the Dandys dropped stand-alone single The Summer Of Hate. An infectious steamroller that will be on the album.
Courtney Taylor-Taylor (frontman): “It started with a riff that either sounded like
Misfits or Danzig and then got slowed down. Overall, Rockmaker is the manifestation
of our desire to hear a record of heavy raw punk and metal guitar riffs, but it has its
own alley.”
It features Pixies‘ general Frank Black and is a rather gloomy and doomy (yes, Danzig-like) sounding stomper, but vintage Warhols. Its poignant pace creeps faster under your skin than you can say ‘fuck Trump’.
Purrs are 4 French gunslingers who bring together a singular artistic emergency drawn from Great Britain in the 80s and the current observation of a dark future, and orchestrate a bitter present but which does not refuse hope.
‘To Be Enjoyed’ explores the delicate theme of mental health, highlighting the simple desire to feel better and make progress with one’s condition. Through this composition, we aim to convey the idea that there are different ways of taking care of one’s mental health, and that it’s crucial to find the solution that’s right for everyone. Having all lived experiences more or less close to depression, this song is our way of communicating not only with those facing this illness, but also with their loved ones who accompany them on the road to recovery.
Energetic punk ebullience à la British mavericks Idles. Aggressive, furious and from a
fast beating heart. Trust me, Purrs are going places. 2024 will be their breakthrough year.
Bristol punks IDLES became a top act after 4 splendid albums since 2018. And they’re
not done yet. Longplayer #5 Tangk is waiting in the pipeline for release on 16 February.
Ahead of it, you can go apeshit to new, third single and fierce haymaker Gift Horse.
Who? Two-piece act, Justin Keane (vocals, guitar) and Amy Young (drums, backing vocals), from Boston, MA. Fueled by the current chaos of the world and an urgent need to be part of the conversation, the two took the indie rock foundation they built in previous bands and upped the ante by adding new levels of noise via pervasive, edgy guitar sounds, low and thundery drumbeats, and emotional vocals.
Soo All The Way is a mean motherrocker that easily could have been on an early Sonic Youth or Dinosaur Jr album. Distorted guitars, raw and rough. Sturdy drum hits. Expressive and punchy vocals. DIY rock ‘n’ roll at its razor blade sharpest.
This eccentric ensemble is more eccentric than American eccentric legends Sparks and British eccentrics Sigue Sigue Sputnik were in their early eccentric days. Wacky voices, goofy harmonies, and a ridiculously infectious chorus all work together to cause big fun entertainment.
Get up, stand up, and fight
for your right to go bananas.
The LP lands on April 1 and follows their tremendous 2021 one As Days Get Darker.
Aidan Moffat (vocalist) about lead single ‘Bliss’: “It’s about women being terrorized online;
it’s about cowardice and bigotry. It’s about how we expose ourselves on social platforms while hiding alone at home. But you can dance to it too!”
Moffat sings/tells his troll story over a trippy dance beat.
Berlin-based artist KAT KOAN shines again. After releasing her magnific
debut album Lustprinzip in 2022 and three ear-catching singles last year
she has a new track out, titled Dreamirl.
Kat Koan always knows how to entrance the listener with stylishly, graciously
and also sensually designed music that stirs heart and soul. The sentiments
expressed here may be familiar to many of us and can be a comforting companion
on your headphones with the lights dimmed, while relaxing on your couch, dreaming
of your own dream-self.
Last September, British shoegaze heroes Slowdive returned to the scene with praised LP Everything Is Alive, their first full length in five years. Their Boston peers Drop Nineteens followed two months later with Hard Light, their first album LP in thirty years.
And now the equally veteran shoegazers Ride join the revival.
Their 7th LP, named Interplay, their first since
2019, is planned to be released on March 29.
Potent drums/bass determine the upbeat pace and whirling vibe of the track all the way. Peace Sign is a pure pop earworm with an orgasmic chorus. Picobello. Welcome back.
Who? Musical act born from the lifelong musical collaboration of Candy Bassas (vocals and guitar) and Sergi Cabanes (lead guitar). After relocating to Berlin from Barcelona, the duo formed a four-piece band in late 2021, which takes inspiration for its noisy-yet-ethereal sound from artists such as Galaxie 500, Spiritualized, New Order, the Cure, and Lou Reed.
New single Entwined is a cut from their upcoming
debut EP, titled All I Wanted, out on 2 February.
A tenacious tandem of bass and drum take care of this striking song’s backbone beat
all the way through. From the kick-off, Entwined has the impact of a sonic magnet.
Its ongoing flow creeps under your skin without asking. Scorching, shoegazy guitars
add some more electricity and quirky vocals (made me immediately think of the singer
of former Irish indie band JJ72) create a spooky atmosphere. Give it a couple of spins
and you’re hooked.
Who? Zach Pliska and Emily Sturm. Their musical project started in 2017.
They describe their sound as deathgaze, combining the raw energy of
deathrock with the depth of shoegaze. So far the duo released five
albums and a handful of singles and EPs.
Think Siouxsie and the Banshees going fast-forward. Glistening guitar electricity and a pumping bass dictate the ongoing revolving rhythm, while Sturm‘s ghostly vocals roll all over it. No brakes, no breaks. Probably the most upbeat tune Vazum has ever delivered. Blush is a sonic whirlwind, a flamboyant flurry, a turbulent twister.
Who? German pop-rock team So far they have
3 albums on their résumé and #4 is canned.
Nowhere To Run is the 4th shared piece from their upcoming
4th album, named ‘If This Wall Could Sing’, out on 1st March.
Expect an irresistible drive. Fast-forward. Heartening vocals. Atomic is an unadulterated pop gem. A sprightly summer song for freezing winters like this. It could have easily been
a bonus track on Miles Kane‘s newest, perky album One Man Band.
Atomic has an atomic single out with a sky-high starry-eyed bliss.
Who? Italian act started by Paolo Mioni, former member of Jennifer Gentle,
spearhead of the Italian psych scene. They released their debut album Painkillers And Wine last year.
With new single Hey AtlasMonoscopes draw you into their psychedelic world where surrender and hope are the only options to handle life. Hey Atlas sends shivers down your spine. It’s both a melancholic and harrowing jam bringing the mellow moments of Interpol to mind. It touches and moves heart and soul. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. That comforting given should inspire all of us who are confused and fidgety these days.
Today, Gordon announced the upcoming birth of her
2nd solo LP. It’s titled The Collective and it’ll land on
March 8.
First shared track Bye Bye, is a dazzling piece of music. Its hypnotic trap beat sonority and fuzzy chainsaw rotating synths are the motor of this dazzling jam. It creeps forward like an industrial rock serpent in slow motion. All over it come Gordon‘s chilling spoken-word vocals citing a series of consumer products. Eerie and enigmatic.
The accompanying video features her daughter Coco Gordon Moore and is directed by photographer Clara Balzary, who is the daughter of Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea.
These Irish punk hound dogs release their new EP Glorach on March 15.
First shared track Empty is a brutalist slab of heavily effected droning guitar and bass, corrosive blasts of feedback and gut-wrenching vocals centered around the persistence
of grief over time.
Deafening sledgehammer.
Screamo disorder.
NIN on acid.
Who? The moniker of Irish musician Paul Dillon who draws inspiration
from bands like The The, The Cure, Killing Joke, Echo and the Bunnymen,
Rammstein, and Depeche Mode, and developed a unique sound that
traverses genres from Darkwave Post-Punk to Trash Metal Indie Rock.
WithOpinion he delivers a Curesque meditation. Pulsating bass, darkwavish melodiousness and wondering vocals and enquiring thoughts. No matter
what you think, say it, sing it, express it, write it down.
Who? American songwriters Brad Armstrong and Megan Barbera.
Their music blurs between Sunday afternoon country-folk and
the golden age of the 1970s.
Same Old You is a crystalline lullaby with a melancholic country aroma. Tender,
moony, and enticing. The endearing duet vocals and melancholic guitar sparks
augment the soul-stirring effect of this bittersweet humdinger.
It’s a candlelight pearl, a heart-warming companion on these freezing winter nights. Romanticism in motion. Think of the quietest moments of Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten and Willie Nelson.
Band: CANYONS AND LOCUSTS Who: Two-piece act, Justin Keane (vocals, guitar) and Amy Young (drums, backing vocals), from Boston, MA. Fueled by the current chaos of the world and an urgent need to be part of the conversation, the two took the indie rock foundation they built in previous bands and upped the ante by adding new levels of noise via pervasive, edgy guitar sounds, low and thundery drumbeats, and emotional vocals.
The extra “o” in the title’s “Soo” is certainly deliberate, as it’s a shoutout from the noise-rock duo to Sault Ste. Marie, the international border cities of Michigan and Ontario – dubbed the “Soo” – that have a special place in the heart of Justin Keane.
Keane: “For my work, I am part of a mentoring group based out of Sault Ste. Marie,
and through that group I’ve met some of the coolest and nicest people in my life. One of the things they mention is that while the winters can be pretty long – and rough, but also beautiful – the summers are so lovely and the time when many folks take to their cabins and camps and cottages for vacation. So, thematically… it’s just about that cycle of going inward in the winter and outward in the summer – going ‘Soo All The Way.’”
TUTV: Soo All The Way is a mean motherrocker that easily could have been on an early Sonic Youth or Dinosaur Jr album. Distorted guitars, raw and rough. Sturdy drum hits. Expressive and punchy vocals. DIY rock ‘n’ roll at its razor blade sharpest. Hells bells.
It’s true what they say
it’s soo all the way
every winter’s a lie
set for the fourth of july
it’s free now
you go all the way
it’s free now
and it’s over in time
it’s true what you read
the soo is all i need
it’s free now
you go all the way
it’s free now
and it’s over in time”
Band: CANYONS AND LOCUSTS Who: Two-piece act – Justin Keane (vocals, guitar) and Amy Young (drums, backing vocals) – from Boston, MA. Fueled by the current chaos of the world and an urgent need to be part of the conversation, the two took the indie rock foundation they built in previous bands and upped the ante by adding new levels of noise via pervasive, edgy guitar sounds, low and thundery drumbeats, and emotional vocals.
Keane: “Somewhere in the late ’90s when we were all scared of Y2K and the end of the world and there was just that energy — especially in NYC where Amy and I both lived at the time — I discovered Art Bell’s show and would usually listen to that late at night and into the early AM. It was this glorious mishmash of chupacabra and Bigfoot and reverse speech and exorcism and not anything like what we think of as ‘conspiracy theory’ today.”
TUTV: OMG! This jagged jackhammer hit my ears on the spot. Imagine AC/DC’s
over-aged school boy Angus Young doing what he does best, playing the same riff
over and over again, and Sonic Youth doing what they did best, turning up the amps,
the hubbub and the noizz. Add hefty drumming and biting vocals and what we get is
a badass beast of a blast. Fasten your seat-belt.
“when your sacred texts go round
when your secret’s upside down
when the area’s been cordoned off like trash
god save it to the grave it’s to Art Bell
when the secret turns out just like sour mash
god save it to the grave it’s to Art Bell
when the aliens send word to space rock clash
god save it to the grave it’s to Art Bell
when the Coast to Coast goes calling out like M*A*S*H
god save it to the grave it’s to Art Bell”
