Band: DOWN THE LEES Who: A passionate powerhouse trio, rooted in Vancouver and Belgium, and now based
in the Okanagan Valley, by guitarist/vocalist Laura Lee Schultz, with Andy Ashley on drums
and Chris Carlson on bass.
Three records that show the evolution in the trio’s towering noise-rock escapades,
marked by an inflaming emotionality, a torch-burning feverishness, and frontwoman Schultz sky-scraping vocals. Her poignant lyrics are embedded in a wall of astonishing thunderstorm-sound, creating a trance-like atmosphere that mesmerizes.
Following album No. 3 the band toured and filmed a high-concept concert at
the Mary Irwin Theatre in Kelowna, Canada. It features 5 tracks from Dirt, 3 from Bury The Sun and the stupendous non-album track Midi-Doric.
One of the best live records I heard in a long while.
Get ready for a relentless roller coaster,
a gigantesque noiz tour de force,
a bone-chilling experience.
Another year, another Jukebox to fill with new
tracks, 5 twice a week, for your aural pleasure.
This is the 5th batch of 5 new rad ones of 2026.
ALL TOGETHER
TRACK BY TRACK
Artists: DEAD ANYWAY Who: British duo that sets the dark lyricism of Kate Arnold
against the music and soundscapes of Marc Symonds. A mix
of poetry, electronica, and guitars.
TUTV: What the hell is this? Must be the most dancey, vibey, and trippy track
of their sonic canon. A Shift Of Perspective has an irresistible pelvis-energizing
swing spiced with sparkly guitar play and, of course, Kate Arnold‘s spoken-word
panache. Let the siren howl.
Band: DOWN THE LEES Who: The post-rock noise project of seasoned Canadian
singer/songwriter/guitarist Laura Lee Schultz. DTL released
3 notable albums, so far.
TUTV: Another torch burning jam enflamed with feverish, ominous
and sinewy guitar dynamism, a high-strung rhythm section, and Schultz‘s delirious vocals.
Band: SPECIAL FRIEND Who: French-American indie
guitar pop, based in Paris.
Track: BREAKFAST
New preview from their upcoming 3rd album, named Clipping. It’ll arrive on March 20th. More info here.
TUTV: Breakfastimmediately made me think of Canadian girl power pop band The Beaches and New Zealand‘s peppy outfit,The Beths. This is the kind of blithe
ditties that kick-start your mood after your first coffee in the morning. Trip and
hop along the speedy flow and the frolicsome duet vocals.
Band: THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS Who: Alt rock duo – John Flansburgh and John Linnell – started their
journey way back in 1982 and have since released 23 albums.
TUTV: These two giants are musical addicts. If you have released 23 albums, you
deserve some blue ribbons. And they’re not done yet. They’re still full of energy.
‘The sound itself comes from the nature of the home recordings, I’m limited
in what I can do in certain places so I’ll tend to lean more into more scrappy
lo-fi/garage sounds. The gear I like to use is simple and mostly broken.’
TUTV: Full electrifying speed from the get-go. This swirling guitar-riffing
missile has an adrenalizing gusto that makes your head spin 360°, while Holloway lets his sentiments roll out, loud and clear.
Angus Rogers (frontman): “Rock and roll music for the empty and stunning.
A song about contempt, appetite, impotence and self-preservation through
gyration. Enjoy superficially with your body and send the reeling mind on
to hell.”
TUTV: Wham Bam! Yeah Yeah! Go Go! Oh my Oh My! Razzle Dazzle!
This is the kind of adrenaline-pumping thrills I wait impatiently for
every single day.
Get up, stand up, and fight
for your right to show off.
“‘Although it’s a big, joyous dance track, it’s about hiding deep emotional pain and trauma and how hedonistic coping mechanisms, like drugs, alcohol, and womanizing, are just temporary distractions.”
TUTV: This is what amazing pop-ular music is all about. Big melody, big emotions, big orchestration. Euphorically sticky as first-class glue despite its dramatic ‘real life‘ story. Aftermath soul-searching can work cathartically.
Who: Irish post-punk whirlwind, led by charismatic
voice/songwriter/guitarist Karla Chubb.
Track: BETTER
Along with Something’s Gonna Happen, my top fav track
on their brand new, second LP, called All That Is Over.
TUTV: Every time I play this pure punk-rock gem, I feel way better.
It’s striking swagger, superb groove, passionate duet vocals, and
high-strung guitar play mesmerize.
Who: The moniker of Massachusetts‘ chilling singer-songwriter Izzy Hagerup. She released her debut album Through The Window
in 2023.
Track: SYSTEM
First new piece and title track from her
2nd LP, coming our way on October 3rd.
Hagerup: “When I wrote ‘System’ I was supposed to be present and alive
and gracious and happy. But somehow I couldn’t escape my own internal
fears and depression that can follow me wherever I go.”
TUTV: What a brilliant torch song. Weeping guitars come and go while Hagerup‘s heart-stopping vocals cause goosebumps. And what a fuming
finale.
TUTV: Its ominous mid-tempo dynamics, its distorted vocals, and its riff-psychotic razzmatazz resonate as if you are listening to the scary theme song of a horror movie.
At the 2.30 minute mark, all hell breaks loose.
From a whisper to a scream. From planet Earth
to Dante‘s Inferno.
Track: FOUR
One of the highlights from their
brill 2nd LP Never Exhale
TUTV: Ditz operate in a very dark place. Sonically, as well as lyrically.
In the middle Cal Francis barks at the moon, while dense drones
infiltrate your shocked ears. Inhale, exhale.
TUTV: This 4-piece grab you by the throat from the kick-off and never lose their firm grip, while vociferous vocalist Marie De Graeve‘s has a crushing impact on your petrified stereo. Liar is a titanic motherrocker that pulverizes the Richter scale in just 250 seconds. Queens Of The Stone Age, Deftones and Black Sabbath come to mind.
TUTV: OMG! What a riot-gun banger. These Irishmen create suffocating havoc with
a maddening mix of nasty racket that brings illegal-decibels-producing bands such as
NIN and Metz to my cooking mind.
TUTV: Ecstasy. Elation. Euphoria. Exhilaration. This electro smack makes
you bounce and jump on your pogo-stick. They punch you in the teeth
without asking, while having fervent fun.
Who: Belgian noise rock trio whose sound draws influences from bands such
as Black Midi, Tool, Battles, and Swans, blending dissonance with a strong sense
of identity.
Track: NANDOR
Piece from their ace
3rd album Trois.
TUTV: What the fuck! From the very kick-off, chainsaw guitars do your
brain in. Electric chair electricity throughout. No way to escape. Neurotic
vocals complete this blitzkrieg assault.
Band: DOWN THE LEES Who: The post-rock noise project of seasoned Canadian
singer/songwriter/guitarist Laura Lee Schultz. DTL released
3 notable albums, so far.
Track: MIDI DORIC
First single. A song that deals with the
isolation and depression of the pandemic.
TUTV: A characteristic DTL thunderstorm, cranked up by blustery bass lines,
monstrous guitar riffs, Herculean drumming, Schultz‘s sky-scraping vocals and
a volcanic finale. One of the best noizz rock bands around.
TUTV: It’s a sublime, crystalline pop nugget, with its hypnotizing guitar riff,
the non-stop drum beat and the intertwined, spellbinding vocals of Win Butler
and his spouse, Régine Chassagne.
Band: KASABIAN Who: British star rockers from Leicester. One of the best bands
of the past 25 years on record and on stage, in my book.
Track:HIPPIE SUNSHINE.
Lead single from their forthcoming
9th LP. Details TBA.
TUTV: Expect a mega vitalizing, disco-charged haymaker.
Since co-founder/songwriter/frontman Serge Pizzorno pulls
all the band’s strings, he provides dynamite tunes you can
throw 24-hour parties with.
Who: One of the most adventurous/inventive/original post-punk & dub artists/performers
ever. He was a founding member of genre-bending new wave group The Pop Group and released lots of solo and collaborative records. Unfortunately, he passed away 2 years ago,
only 62.
Track: MEMORY OF YOU
Single from Stewart‘s solo album The Fateful Symmetry,
which was completed early 2023, not long before his passing.
TUTV: Haunting, synth-symphonic and bang-tastic,
with Mark‘s characteristically energetic voice on top.
First single from their forthcoming 4th full-length, their
first in 4 years, slated for release in September 2026.
TUTV: Holy Coves are back, and they don’t waste time. It’s full steam ahead from
the get-go. Eager guitars and sinewy drumming inject this sweltering steamroller with
a flaming briskness that causes a kinetic reverberation, while Marsden emotive vocals accentuate the song’s sad sentiments.
Who: 2-piece from Birmingham (UK) – Euan Woodman (drums/vocals) and Tom Rhodes (bass/vocals) – born in late 2023 over a shared love of noise, literature and late night shebeens. They write music about love and hate. They’re good for your soul.
TUTV: Warning. This insanely groovy punk blast will bulldoze all over your shocked speakers. Expect a superheated funky firestorm that attacks the Richter scale with a shattering impact. A manically jagged jackhammer it is. Trust me, you’ll think you like them, VERY MUCH, while you bang your head into your fridge’s door.
Who: A collective with members scattered across the UK and the Netherlands.
This group, now comprising seven members, has its roots in a trio that expanded
over the past four years.
New track: WET LEATHER
Piece from their sophomore
LP Total Technik.
TUTV: Kraut-rock and roll with an intoxicating force. A wall-of-guitar-pyrotechnics rollercoaster. An overpowering tempest of rambunctious riffs. Voltaic psychedelia
at its spine-chilling best, bombarding your ears the way you like it.
Who: The musical project of singer-songwriter-poet Jamie Cameron. Hailing from
the Scottish Borders, the music blends lo-fi beats, synths and guitars with spoken word lyrics in which he discusses subjects ranging from politics and premonitions to self help culture, and a modern society obsessed with economic thinking.
TUTV: This rattling rap ‘n’ punk roll crackerjack swings forth and back, left
and right and Jamie Cameron’s full of vim and vigour word-flow activates all
of your insatiable limbs before he relaxes towards the synthy end. Kinetic throb.
Hands up for the coach.
TUTV: A nasty bass riff motorizes this rollicking psych jam that seems to go on
like forever, and when the powerhouse chorus kicks in, your ears are instantly
overwhelmed. Life Is Joy is one of those riff-crazy haymakers that stick after just
Who: Mysterious trio with an inimitable take on
humanity’s downward spiral into a dysfunctional
entropic existence. They unleashed their punk-groovy
debut EP Like You last year.
TUTV: This arresting, melancholic song is heart-rending. Its bluesy guitar
radiance, its bass-beat-heavy cadence, and despondent vocals get under
your skin. Its melodic catchiness has irresistible written all over it.
TUTV: A razzle-dazzle steamroller that gets under your skin faster
than you can say “this is bloody superb”. Its insane, mind-bending
course doubles your serotonin production on the spot.
Who: Must hear/see indies from Brighton (where everybody is in a band).
They cruise from folk to punk, using, besides traditional instruments (guitar,
bass and drums) also cello, flute, violin and other classical gear.
TUTV: These young wolves bulldoze their way through the daily
bullshit we have to endure with a knife between their teeth. Sippy Cup
is a bruising, full of vim and vigor, uppercut hitting where it hurts.
TUTV: A nasty bass riff motorizes this rollicking psych jam that seems to go on
like forever, and when the powerhouse chorus kicks in, your ears are instantly
overwhelmed.
Life Is Joy is one of those roasting riff-insane haymakers that stick after just
one spin. The repeat button was invented for mind-bending juggernauts like
this. Sun Mahshene is blistering joy. Wowzah!
Artist: FIG TREES Who: The artistic project of Belgian songsmith JJ Vroman, a former music journalist.
He’s inspired by bands such as Captain Oats, And They Spoke In Anthems and ADM.
They appear as mythical figures in his musical odyssey.
Piece from his upcoming debut
album, titled ‘Room 22‘.
TUTV: This feels good, really good. From the kick-off, you’re drawn into an electrifying guitar-juiced groove that will play on your stereo in your head all day long. No need to
look for hooks, you get a ton of them right here.
When Vroman turns up the speed for the dazzling chorus (is that a banjo I hear in the
back?) your adrenaline production will speed up too. Then again, that rotating riff bliss is the song’s magnetizing motor, and his captivating, carefree vocality completes this solid gold gem of a tune. Bingo.
Artists: PARTY DOZEN Who: Australian duo featuring saxophonist Kirsty Tickle and
percussionist Jonathan Boulet. They have released 4 albums
so far. You can discover them via Spotify.
Band: DOWN THE LEES Who: The post-rock noise project of seasoned Canadian
singer/songwriter/guitarist Laura Lee Schultz. DTL released
3 notable albums, so far.
The first taster from the film. A song that
deals with the isolation and depression of
the pandemic.
TUTV: A characteristic Down The Lees thunderstorm cranked up by blustery bass lines, monstrous guitar riffs, Herculean drumming, Schultz‘s sky-scraping vocals and a volcanic finale. My oh my. One of the best noiz rock bands around. Fact!
“It’s about noticing how quickly we get entrapped online into spending money, and spending
the latest form of currency, our attention, and questioning how to break away from it. It’s about how horrifying excess is.
The fictitious shop, Tamoo, which looks like it should come with a gamblers aware warning sign, stocks everything you’ve never wanted, and it’s not just your money it will cost you being there.”
Single artwork
TUTV: The Baby Seals strike with high-powered Black Sabbath-esque thwacks on this
hellish haymaker, bucked up with eldritch guitar flashes and a slam-bang chorus. If
you’re addicted to spending money, give it all to these ear-poppping punkettes so they
can spend all that money on recording new exciting music like this. Yep, a win-win.
First single from their forthcoming 4th full-length, their
first in 4 years, slated for release in September 2026.
Press info: A song which tells the tragic story of the loss of frontman Scott Marsden‘s
uncle Tony, who sadly drowned as a child in Cyprus. It was a story Scott was told from
a very young age, staying with him his whole life, creating a fear of the water.
How living on a small Island surrounded by the sea created an anxiety he never really understood growing up. How for decades the tragedy affected the whole family with trauma and struggles with addiction which tore the family apart.
TUTV: Holy Coves are back and they don’t waste time. It’s full steam ahead from
the get-go. Eager guitars and sinewy drumming inject this sweltering steamroller with
a flaming briskness that causes a kinetic reverberation, while Marsden emotive vocals accentuate the song’s sad sentiments. His everlasting heart-and-soul distress leads
to this astonishing piece of sonic catharsis. What an impressive return.
TUTV: A raging blast of an uppercut, pro-welcoming refugees and anti-super rich
who despise the common people. Raw and rough like powerhouse proto-punks The Stooges.
Band: KNEECAP Who: Belfast‘s sharp-mouthed, notorious rap team KNEECAP – Mo Chara,
Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí – hip and hop around with a knife between
their teeth since 2017. So far, they have 2 LPs on their résumé.
For the past months, the spotlight wasn’t really on their music
but more on their problems with some governments for their
support for Palestine on and off stage.
Member Mo Chara got charged for allegedly displaying a flag
in support of Hezbollah one year ago. After a long trial, he was
acquitted of all claims against him.
In the aftermath, they dropped this new chant, called NO COMMENT featuring renowned British DJ Sub Focus.
Kneecap: ‘No Comment’ is all about getting harassed by the British state.
Simple as. Us Irish are well used to it, been happening for centuries. Was
a pleasure to work with Sub Focus on this, the man is a legend.”
A song about being caught
between two life chapters.
TUTV: The Middle has that rotating rock vibe of Run Run Run by proto-punk
legends The Velvet Underground, but with even more garage buzz, straight
from a smelly basement somewhere in Stockholm. The rattling beat goes
on and on and on.
On top come anxious vocals that add a barbed edge
to this jagged jam. A bang-on debut. Don’t miss it.
TUTV: Dramatically disturbing sentiments are bottled here in this titanic juggernaut
of a song, where 80s/90s Gothwave guitar lines connect with modern-day psych-rock kingpins such as Interpol and The Strokes. We should never ever stop screaming about murderous conflicts. That’s exactly what Customs do here in sonic capitals. STOP THE KILLING.
The fierce frustration embedded in this outburst is a universal, final warning.
It’s also one of the, unfortunately, too many scary songs we posted lately in
our daily wake-up call series.
The accompanying video is a series of photos and footage that shows the
devastating horror caused by today’s inhuman war-greedy world leaders.
Band: REFLECT Who: Young indie rockers from Belfast, Ireland.
The name ‘Ocnus‘ comes from an allegorical deity in Greek
mythology personifying hesitation, delay and the wasting
of time, harking back to their debut.
TUTV: Be ready to get on Reflect‘s new soul-stirring rollercoaster, going back and forth.
Its unbridled rock and pop brio has a whopping sonic boom imprint, and the splendacious vocal performance stands out right in the middle. Think Florence + The Machine turning up the heat. Gee-whizz feat.
‘’Empathology’ is half about wanting to feel the pain of everyone around you
so they don’t have to, and half wanting to share it with them, grow closer and
connect on a deeper level. I’ve created my own subject, Empathology: the study
of empathy’.
TUTV: Empathology is a chilling, torch-burning grunge jam propelled
with jarring guitars, brawny percussion and Chelsea Andrews‘s transfixing
vocals. Empathy can lead to a connecting nirvana experience.
Artist: USI ES Who: The musical moniker of Belgian singer-songwriter Ester Weemaes. In her attic studio, she interweaves synths and samples with her distinctive, dark voice. Her music balances between darkness and dreaminess, feeling like a blanket wrapped around you: soft yet heavy, with frayed edges. She released her debut EP Mutiny.
2nd single from her upcoming debut album, expected to
be released early 2026, on which she worked again with
her coach, mentor, and mixer Dijf Sanders.
“I see it as one of the signature Usi ES songs, in a coming-of-age jacket.”
TUTV: Imagine Kate Bush and Goth queen Chelsea Wolfe doing a slo-mo duet in
a twilight universe where surreality and reality meet. Spellbinding, mysterious,
and entrancing. Dim the lights, sit down, relax, and let your thoughts run free.
Verstegen: “The inspiration for this track came when I was looking at a box of matches
and suddenly realized that every romantic “match” is actually a bit like a real matchstick.
You only get one chance to make it ignite. Some go out quickly, others need a bit of oxygen
and sometimes you can spark a fire that will keep you warm for the rest of your life.
“Matches” is the first release from my upcoming debut album, and for it, we drew some inspiration from artists such as Bon Iver, Ben Howard, Phoebe Bridgers, Marble Sounds,
and others.”
TUTV: Matches feels like a sonic match right away. It’s a heart-and-soul touching
reflection with a feverish drive. Near-whispering vocals and enthralling harmonies
star up front, causing goosebumps. Think Bon Iver, Ed Harcourt, and other transfixing voices.
Verstegen sounds like being around for a long time. His enwrapping story-telling
and evocative singing is top-tier and a real revelation. Don’t miss this notable debut.
Artists: MOON MOTHER Who: MM is the voice echoing through a starless night, music born from darkness, yet always carrying a glimmer of light. From the rural landscapes of western Sweden, the duo has built an architecture of earthy, alternative slow rock and melancholic, atmospheric folk with a Nordic touch. A sound they call månrock.
It captures the feeling of standing outside the world through a heavy
acoustic lament, where fragility slowly breaks through the darkness.
Single artwork
TUTV: Intimate piano soulfulness, emotive vocals, and at times grand orchestral
arrangements combine for a mystical-like ambiance. Both transmundane and melodramatic. Moon Mother‘s musical world triggers surreal sentiments in our
grim reality on this mesmerizing trip.
Artist: MAVIS STAPLES Who: Legendary soul/blues/rock voice who, along with family, had a long and
greatly accomplished career under the name ofThe Staple Singers (1948-1994).
She’s 86 now, singing and swinging like a 36-year-old.
Vitalizing tunes that work faster than a stream of caffeine
4 November 2025
Photo by Ryan Wagner
Band: DOWN THE LEES Who: The post-rock noise project of seasoned Canadian
singer/songwriter/guitarist Laura Lee Schultz. DTL released
3 notable albums, so far.
Schultz: “We filmed a live concert film in an intimate theatre that we are calling
‘This Is What It Feels Like”. Complete with visuals, you can see what our live performances
are like. The first single from that film is “Midi Doric”, a song that deals with the isolation
and depression of the pandemic.”
The first taster from the film is MIDI DORIC. A characteristic DTL thunderstorm
cranked up by blustery bass lines, monstrous guitar riffs, Herculean drumming, Schultz‘s sky-scraping vocals and a volcanic finale. My oh my. One of the best noiz
rock bands around. Fact! This is how Down The Lees feels. Petrifying.
Band: DOWN THE LEES Who: The post-rock noise project of seasoned Canadian singer/songwriter/guitarist Laura Lee Schultz. DTL has released 3 albums, so far. Their towering 2019 debut titled Bury
The Sun still is my aural favourite. It was recorded with Chicago‘s legendary noise expert Steve Albini, who passed away on 7 May, only 61. Really sad loss.
“Bewitching tracks in their respective rights, the songs showcase the band’s
broad sonic strengths and highlight their range and versatility. Recorded and
mixed by Jesse Gander “
EP artwork by Mirabelle Van de Put
TUTV: Backed by a merciless bass/drums tandem LL Schultz does again what
she and her band do best. Building up a sonic fever, slowly but surely, up and
down, forth and back, left and right, until the accumulation of volcanic emotions
erupts with a colossal amount of deafening decibels sending shivers down your
spine. A hectic roller coaster that turns your ears’ perception upside down
Schultz‘s voice stars throughout the 28 minutes of thunderous mood swings.
Her compassionate timbre and high-octane tone causes goosebumps, and all
around this commanding trio has a hair-raising impact. Sometimes I wonder if
DTL wants to scrape the sky above, or challenge hell down below.
Laura Lee Schultz – Photo by Turn Up The Volume
‘Douse’ and ‘Dead Over’ were the singles for obvious reasons. Two standout
tour-de-force accomplishments. Both deserve a gold medal (yep, the Olympic
Games are coming closer).
Another remarkable feat is closer ‘Since La Vie En Rose’. I would never expect a tribute
to the iconic French chansonier Edith Piaf (1915-1963). Thanks to my parents I discovered the flamboyant, turbulent, emotional and artistic coeur-et-âme honesty of Piaf. And why do I love DTL? For their own way of flamboyant, turbulent, emotional and artistic heart-and-soul honesty. So this tribute isn’t a real surprise after all, it’s only about a difference in musical approach.
Band: DOWN THE LEES Who: The post-rock noise project of seasoned Canadian singer/songwriter/guitarist Laura Lee Schultz. DTL released 3 albums, so far. Their towering 2019 debut titled Bury
The Sun still is my aural favourite. It was recorded with Chicago‘s legendary noise expert Steve Albini who passed away last week, only 61. Sad, really sad loss.
“Bewitching tracks in their respective rights, the songs showcase the band’s
broad sonic strengths and highlight their range and versatility. Recorded and
mixed by Jesse Gander “
EP artwork by Mirabelle Van de Put
TUTV: Backed by a merciless bass/drums tandem LL Schultz does again what
she and her band do best. Building up a sonic fever, slowly but surely, up and
down, forth and back, left and right, until the accumulation of volcanic emotions
erupts with a colossal amount of deafening decibels sending shivers down your
spine. A hectic roller coaster that turns your ears’ perception upside down
Schultz‘s voice stars throughout the 28 minutes of thunderous mood swings.
Her compassionate timbre and high-octane tone causes goosebumps, and all
around this commanding trio has a hair-raising impact. Sometimes I wonder if
DTL wants to scrape the sky above, or challenge hell down below.
Laura Lee Schultz – Photo by Turn Up The Volume
‘Douse’ and ‘Dead Over’ were the singles for a obvious reasons. Two standout
tour-de-force accomplishments. Both deserve a gold medal (yep, the Olympic
Games are nearing).
Another remarkable feat is closer ‘Since La Vie En Rose’. I would never expect a tribute
to the iconic French chansonier Edith Piaf (1915-1963). Thanks to my parents I discovered the flamboyant, turbulent, emotional and artistic coeur-et-âme honesty of Piaf. And why do I love DTL? For their own way of flamboyant, turbulent, emotional and artistic heart-and-soul honesty. So this tribute isn’t a real surprise after all, it’s only about a difference in musical approach.
Kasabian‘s general Serge Pizzorno is a master in writing sing/scream-along stadium/festival belters. And the lead single of new, upcoming longplayer Happiness Bastards, is another ecstatic call to arms.
2. ‘Welcome To Your New Future’ by LEG PUPPY 2.0 (UK)
If you’re a party animal and you don’t know the self-proclaimed best Techno/EBM act in
the world LEG PUPPY, it’s about time you will because a new LP is coming up, baptized ‘Humanity 2.0’, and will signify a totally new beginning for you and them.
Welcome to your new future, all you survivors out there.
These fast up-and-coming indies from Leeds (UK) fronted by wonderful
voice Lily Fontaine prove their huge talent once more with this new pearl.
R&B is another wayward slice of ET pop intensity. It starts a bit like a Dry Cleaning
song with a rigid bass riff and Fontaine‘s spoken word vocals, but turns quickly into
a strenuous stunner fueled by schizo guitar frenzy and jittery percussion.
Lily Fontaine, Brugge, Belgium, 13 February – photo by TUTV)
4. ‘I Don’t Understand What Any Of You Are Doing’ by DEAD ANYWAY (UK)
This British duo combine the dark lyricism of vocalist Kate Arnold
with music and soundscapes of Marc Symonds.
Their new album, Partially Eaten By Animals is the best indie one of the month
in TUTV’s book, with trip-hop thrills all the way. Think Massive Attack, Arab Strap
and Portishead. I know big names, but my trained ears told me what they heard.
‘I Don’t Understand What Any Of You Are Doing’ will draw your aural attention on the spot.
Yokophono is a Finnish duo that hit the scene in 2020. Their music consists of energetic
dance-punk/indie rock songs. Their sound has been compared to the likes of Royal Blood, Arctic Monkeys and even Queens Of The Stone Age. Consisting of just drums and guitar they also rely on their catchy melodies.
Their new single Red a is wham bloody wham bam disco-punk juggernaut.
This Finnish tandem make you jump around like a kangaroo on acid. Distorted guitars
and banging percussion work close together to create a filthy disco-punk juggernaut.
Red triggers your limbs’ actions from the kick-off until the final beat. Inbetween you
can go berserk every single time the clamorous chorus hits your greedy speakers.
After 3 albums the Canadian post-rock-noise project of seasoned Canadian singer-songwritter-guitarist Laura Lee Schultz, backed by a tremendous bass/drum tandem return with this scorching Herculean shocker from their new, upcoming EP, titled Dirt,
out on May 3.
The heaviest parts of this quiet/Loud/quiet/Loud uppercut resonate like if British blues rock turbo Royal Blood having a fierce sonic fight with post-industrial-punk legends Killing Joke.
These 4 young Irish bullpits take you on a tempestuous ride with this new blazing blast.
Just like their countrymen Gilla Band, they look like 4 regular guys from around the block. But when they open the gates for Dead Sound they become 4 not-regular guys storming fast forward. A bumpy bass riff takes the haymaker on its back throughout the full course of its speedy rush.
The vocalist spits and sneers like Mark E Smith did his whole jarring career. The clamourus chorus is one that’ll start mospiths and when a psychotic guitar works its way to the front we get pandemonium. It’s also a loud and clear harbinger of an out-of-your-fucking head finale. Bingo master’s breakout.
Molly Horses left their basements only a year ago.
They produce elements of post-punk, krautrock, and Albini-esque noise rock.
With King Dundalk they take you on a dazzling rollercoaster.
All burners, all cylinders on. No rest for the bad man. Hefty.
You really need to check out these maddening motherrockers.
This fresh 4-piece outfit from the North Wales nail
it right away with their first cut Mourning Sickness.
What a superb debut. It’s a slow-progressing psych guitar jam rotating around an intoxicating riff that creeps under your skin without asking. Think of early Radiohead
days. Engrossing and riveting.
There’s an eerie vocal and electrifying tension in the air that makes you wonder when
the song’s intensity will explode. But it moves on like a serpent on a mission until the last second.
The reincarnated Ramones are back among us as 4 Ramonas fronted led by Australian songwriter (now living in Los Angeles) and musician Romy Hoffman. They make schizo, synthy, paranoid, post-punk with a dash of dysmorphic desire.
An absolute standout piece from the L.A.’s psych-pop gem from their brand new
full-length Loss Of Live. It features Christine and the Queens and turns out to be
a match in heaven.
Portland‘s dark-dance-wave trio say about their new single Impetus: “While creating this track, we all pushed our creative boundaries to write a song that reflects our desire to grow
as artists and people. This song encourages the listener to reflect inward. We hope to inspire ourselves and others to stop hiding. Stop waiting. Take one small step toward your goals, then another, and another. The time is NOW. Stop hiding your gifts. The world needs your passion.”
Impetus is a sensual mid-tempo electro-pop tease. Seductive,
flirtatious and tempting. Dim the light and move in mysterious
ways.
Sukie Smith is a songstress from London who has collaborated widely with artists, musicians and writers creating cross-disciplinary sonic work, exhibiting and performing internationally. She has released three critically acclaimed albums with her band Madam and toured throughout the UK and Europe.
Into The Light is a new compostion from her upcoming 4th album, named ‘The Glass Dress
and a Ringing Bell’ and will land on 8 March via Smith’s own label Shillingboy Records.
A song about leaving a turbulent relationship Smith found herself trapped in during lockdown, as Smith succinctly says, “I wrote this, then escaped,” with its focus a celebration of the jubilation felt in newfound freedom and the liberation found in the enlightening processes of recovery.
Into The Light grooves and moves pushed by dynamic eurythmics from the get-go, and keeps on cruising throughout its ablaze 3.07-minute duration. Glowing jingle-jangle guitar play, rock-solid drumming and Smith‘s impassioned vocals combine for a striking stroke.
The iconic Jamaican pioneer of dub reggae passed away in 2021, aged 85.
His final album, titled King Perry is now posthumously released. It features
vocal guest performances from Greentea Peng, Shaun Ryder, Tricky, Marta, Rose Waite
and Fifi Rong.
The musical project of Bo Barringer and Reuben Bettsak, have since their project’s inception in 2020, surfacing through the haze of a global pandemic and illuminated by the city’s darkest corners, produced steady and prolific beats across underground dance floors.
Their 3rd album, called A Kiss of the Mind,
is waiting in the pipeline for its imminent release.
First new shared piece Spiral Down is vintage synth-pop pulsation. Utterly infectious. There’s a shadowy side to it, but its bootylicious vibes, its subtle guitar riff, its shiny electronic waves and moony vocals combine for a spot-on EBM thrill.
Common Culture is a rousing, fiddle-driven alternative folk band from Barnsley, England.
They fuse traditional and contemporary elements into an upbeat and energetic
sound, their songs are full of catchy hooks, infectious rhythms and a party spirit.
The song serves as a poignant lament for the Earth’s dwindling natural beauty and a stirring call to action in the face of greed and injustice destroying the planet. It’s five to twelve, indeed. The majority of political leaders look the other way when these world-crushing issues come up. Some even don’t believe that our climate is changing drastically. More red-alert songs like this one are always welcome.
Bad Ritual is a Polish trio formed at the beginning of 2020 by three architects.
They play songs immersed in a dark and unsettling atmosphere. Their music is
a blend of indie-folk, swampy blues, and rock ‘n’ roll. It often evokes associations
with David Lynch‘s films, spaghetti westerns, and film noir.
They have their arresting self-titled debut album out now. Stream it here.
Standout track On The Road gets you in Bad Ritual‘s sonic/cinematic world. Its melancholic timbre and shiny guitar sparks, make me think of romantic glam legend Chris Isaak. Bad Ritual‘s idol David Lynch directed Isaak‘s Wicked Game video that featured flashes from
his 1990 Wild At Heart movie).
Leonardo: “I wrote this song after reading Nick Cave‘s reply (note: read below) to some of
his fans, who had asked him why he was about to attend the coronation of the UK’s king as
part of the Australian delegation. I love most of Nick Cave’s records and I consider him one
of the greatest songwriters ever.
I’m also a long-time Nick Cave fan. A truly remarkable artist. But attending King Charles‘ coronation? Disgusting. That guy nor his late mother never ever had something done to earn their status, they were born that way, they didn’t pay taxes for many years etc… It’s just as disgusting as Johnny ‘Rotten’ Lydon (the Sex Pistols‘ album the best punk one ever, in my book) voting for natural-born charlatan Trump. What is wrong with those millionaire artists?
That said Nicholas Palace is an infectious groove, a jagged jam, driven by an addictive riff with Leonardo‘s augmenting the funeral vibe of the song, think The Velvet Underground on a rainy day. Around the 1.30 min mark aggressive guitar play accentuates the ultimate end of Cave‘s birthday party.
Band: DOWN THE LEES Who: The post-rock noise project of seasoned Canadian singer-songwritter-guitarist Laura Lee Schultz. Backed by a bassist and a drummer DTL released 3 longplayers, with Bury The Sun as the most recent one (2019) and also their most poignant one to my
ears (playing right now on my headphones while writing this stuff).
New single: DOUSE
The first taster from the upcoming EP, named Dirt, produced
by Jesse Gander (Brutus, Japandroids), out on May 3.
Artwork by Mirabelle Van De Put
TUTV: Douse is a scorching Herculean shocker going up and down, forth and back,
left and right. The heaviest parts resonate like if British blues rock turbo Royal Blood
having a sonic fight with post-industrial-punk legends Killing Joke .
Cool, right? You betcha. Notable also, is Schultz‘s vocal tone, even more haunting
than before, and as usual she’s backed by a powerhouse bass/drum tandem.
Time flies. We already have six months of 2023 behind us.
Six months of listening every day to music, bad/good, very good and 24 Carat Gold.
It was hard to make a selection of the 25 most impressive pieces. But we did it.
These Brighton punk feminists are MENTAL and AWESOME.
They released Turn Up The Volume‘s best EP of 2023 (so far), named You’re Welcome
a couple of weeks ago. And one of the 6 Molotov cocktails on it is this in your-macho-face sucker-punch. The Lambrini girls race faster than a Ferrari bolide. Best band in the world!
A vigorous young trio from the UK. On this turbulent ripsnorter, it’s full tilt ahead
from the get-go. No brakes, no breaks, no mistakes. A whirlwind of scorching guitars,
pounding drumming, a revolving bass line somewhere in the middle, go-getting vocals
and a dynamite refrain. This is gonna be the year for 32 TENS.
This brand-new supergroup features Shaun Ryder & Bez (Happy Mondays/Black Grape), Andy Bell (Ride/Oasis) and drummer Zak Starkey, yes Ringo’s son, who played with Oasis and The Who among others and who actually came up with this project’s idea and describes it as “a fantastic psychedelic groove from a band of misfits, outsiders and innovators.”
It’s an incredible shame that women still have to fight for so many fundamental rights.
It’s bloody 2023 and so much female injustice is still a reality. So, it’s great that female artists get up, stand up and fight for their right to tackle this human disease.
Chic Choc do it right away on their fantastic debut single. An electronic-booming EBM knockout to fill dance floors with. Boosting beats, catching chorus, sensuous vocals and
a protesting choir, lead to a sassy stunner. Bang-on. Le freak, c’est chic choc.
This 4-piece post-punk from London launched their
kick-ass debut LP Metaphysical earlier this year.
Beefcake Doctrine is driven by repetitive Krautrock dynamics.
Its trance-inducing beats create a hypnotic and puzzling razzmatazz
you can’t and you won’t escape from.
After scoring the best debut LP – to TUTV’s ears – of 2023 The Great Regression, followed by a live album, they just
dropped this brain-frying hammer blow.
It’s a liberating, drum-backed anthem that allows the band to break free from any stress
or obligations in pursuit of a good night. Good times or bad times, it’s always (in)sane to lose your marbles while diving into a hot let’s have a ball night, now and then. And ‘Lose Your Mind‘ is the matching master blaster to double your adrenalin production.
On this slam hip-hop dunk the duo condemn the US’s mass shootings of late in a cynical loud-and-clear way The rip-roaring rappers pretend to be murderous shooters firing at everyone and everything. Bulletman is a devastating drill, a boiling burst that cuts like a first-class Swiss knife.
10. ‘Set Yourself On Fire’ by ULTRA SUNN (Brussels, Belgium)
Once again this cold/darkwave duo – Sam Huge and Gaelle Souflet – shine in the darkness. The rapturous chorus hits you from the first spin. Resounding beats, entranced synths, and echoing vocals combine for another triumph.
11. ‘Your Death Is My Glory’ by CAMLANN (Indonesia)
A human-caring dark-disco duo Ony Godfrey and Fauzan Pratama from Indonesia.
Their newest single is a catchy-as-hell injection that accelerates your bloodstream.
An irresistible stomper to jump up and down like crazy while giving the middle
finger to all power-greedy politicians.
What a way to debut! Expect a glorious nightclub gem with a synth-tantalizing vibe reminiscent of the starry-eyed sparks of British electro-pop heroes New Order. Lipstick
is both a sensuous and affectional tune with gripping vocals up front and melancholic
ones in the back.
Their new single is a flabbergasting metallic corker. It goes forth and back, left and
right, slow and fast as if Casablancas and his misfits put several snippets of several
songs together and puzzled them into one stupendous stroke of a track.
This noizzzz jackhammer from their self-titled debut LP rocks and rolls with panache. Expect ablaze guitars buzzing in a slow/fast mode and turning up the volume, especially
on the yell-along refrain. Legends Hüsker Dü come to mind. Say no more.
It’s the second single off of the upcoming debut album World’s End of this cyber-synth duo.
Heart On is an arousing mid-tempo groover. Both spicy and funky, shadowy and seductive, lustful and provocative with hypnotizing vocals. Its slow-mo synth-bass beat crawls under your skin from the kick-off and progresses steadily towards your restlessly pounding heart.
Night Time is an ecstatic, awe-inspiring, and anthemic thrill. It has that engrossing and
afire rock swagger of Bruce Springsteen‘s melancholic Americana exploits, it’s infused with The Edge-like guitar sparks and frontman Sutherland‘s ardent signing is a perfect match for this soul-stirring pearl.
18. ‘Cars’ by Artists: LUNAR TWIN (Hawai/Salt Lake City)
This electro-pop duo scored an excellent album with Aurora last April.
A 30-minute sonic trip, an ambient fantasy with trancy vibrations, ataractic
effects, and near-whispering vocals.
Cars is my favorite piece. Electrifying dream pop
at its mesmerizing best with sparkling guitar play.
This colorful collective criticize the disastrous state of health care, with the government ignoring the life-risking problems, in England with a sickly sticky riot grrrl pop tune that activates your limbs instantly.
Think Debbie Harry and Blondie playing around on their debut LP. Vibey and briskly. Frolicsome 60s organ touches, lively guitars here and there, and avid vocals.
The band’s new punchy stroke jumps up and down in your head and elevates your mood from the start. It’s a contagious foot-stamper with a poppy chorus vibe inviting you to play air guitar and sing along with all the force your lungs can come up with.
The first new music in three years from the post-punk-rock project of singer-songwriter-guitarist Laura Lee Schultz. The composition captures the raw emotions of sadness, frustration, and anxiety that permeated throughout the years since the pandemic began.
The track’s ominous mid-tempo progression and swelling structure advancing over
an ongoing hypnotic guitar riff send shivers down your spine. Second by second, like
a nervously ticking clock, the sonic poignancy and heartfelt fervidness grow with exuberance and magnitude until Schutlz’s monumental vocals go through the roof.
This is an emotive post-break-up pearl. Heartfelt reflections embedded in
a goosebump musing that resonates like a bittersweet symphony. This British
singer-songwriter’s highly passionate vox reminds me of Antony Hegarty‘s sensitive ardency. The whole-souled tristesse and mixed emotions at play here make you
silent.
This is the artistic moniker of Canadian songsmith Miles Evans-Branagh. He signed for
one of this year’s best albums, so far, with Slow Down. Eight musings. Eight engrossing compositions with one and the same message: get high on life with love. Craftily written, subtly arranged, and graciously orchestrated with intimate, soulful charm and stylish elegance that moves and touches.
Opener A Little Bit is one of those 8 affecting reveries.
