A stream of rattling rippers, jagged jams, and magnific musings

All 20 knockouts together on Spotify…

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Knockout by Knockout…

1. ‘Silenced’ by THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE (Los Angeles/Berlin)

Early this month psych rock virtuoso Anton Newcombe and his orchestra
released new LP Fire Doesn’t Grow On Trees. Their 19th and one of their
best to my keen ears.

And Silenced is one of its standout grooves.

Here’s why…

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2. ADD bY VIAGRA BOYS (Sweden)

The Swedish allies launched their 3rd longplayer CAVE WORLD a couple
of weeks ago. Another swell one with ADD as one of the pithiest tracks.

Make your best move here…

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3. ‘Eight Fivers’ by GILLA BAND (Ireland)

The Irish noiseniks are back in town. Their 3rd
full-length Most Normal arrives in October.

With the lead-single they do again what
they do best, making bone-chilling
chainsaw music.

Cuts like a knife.

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4. ‘Live To Love’ by ILA (Belgium)

Ila is a Belgian post-punk trio fronted by bewitching songstress Ilayda Cicek.
Last year they had their stunning debut album Felt out, containing one of the
best singles of 2021 with Leave Me Dry.

Brand new piece Live To Love confirms
the immense intensity of ILA.
They are here to stay!

Press play and get puzzled…

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5. O.K. Sis by HEY TEAM (The Netherlands)

“This song is about a friend that you loved but just cannot be near. They always get
into trouble, always cause drama/fights, make a bunch of empty promises and get
you to do a bunch of intense stuff for them without getting anything in return.”

It’s a blazing bass/drum tandem that ignites this jiggish jackhammer with ardency
and flamboyance and keeps on steamrolling for the full 140 seconds.

And when an avid Amazon jumps in with pithy and bouncy vocals
you know, you feel and you hear straight away that we have a winner.

Check for yourself…

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6. ‘Baby, I Had An Abortion’ by PETROL GIRLS (UK/Austria)

Last month this raging feminist post-hardcore 4-piece unleashed their 3rd album
named Baby. A badass beast of a record mixing raw power, mouthy screams, and a tsunami of loud and clear messages.

In the light of the incredible Roe v Wade debacle, disrespecting women’s fundamental
human rights, this LP’s sassy slam is a middle finger to all anti-abortion idiots.

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7. ‘Kick Me’ by DANNY ELFMAN and IGGY POP (US)

American film soundtrack composer DANNY ELFMAN has a new album
out, titled BIGGER. MESSIER., on 12 August with reimagined versions of
songs from his last year’s Big Mess longplayer. More info here.

It features guest vocals from Trent Reznor, HEALTH, Zach Hill
of Death Grips, Xiu Xiu, Squarepusher, Ghostemane.

And the omnipresent Iggy Pop joined the fun too with this kick-ass jam.

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8. ‘Living Dead’ by TV DEATH (Newcastle UK)

These psycho-billy maniacs produce a wall-of-holy-smoke havoc on this horror-ific haymaker with sawing guitars, punk turbulence, hellish vocals a pulverizing chorus.

Deadly knockout, right? You betcha.

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9. ‘Blue Skies’ by FEVA (Newcastle, UK)

This razzle-dazzle master blaster races and rushes with vivid vigor and fervid
firmness. Punk ‘n roll at its razor-sharp best. And when the towering chorus kicks
in the sky-screaming vocals go through the roof. Amazeballs energy in overdrive.

Steaming score!

Go beserk…

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10. ‘Love Is Free’ by THEM VIBES (Nashville)

A few years ago I saw these striking Nashville gunslingers
live in Belgium. A sweaty rawk and roll gig I’ll never forget.

The band’s new single is another convincingly proof of their
let the good times roll spirit.

Its bang-on boogie woogie drive awakes your lazy limbs
and invites you to jump around to the heated beat.

Elevating – in sound and story – corkers like
this are totally welcome in these grim times.

Hail hail…

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11. ‘Repetition’ by HATIF (Sweden)

If this Krautrock-like rotating electro ripper doesn’t trigger
your body, mind, and senses you need to change your meds.

Its repetitive rhythm mesmerizes and stupefies. Its sickly sticky synth swirl is simply irresistible and its magnetic voice brought the late great Talk Talk leader Mark Hollis
to mind.

Check the vibes here…

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12. ‘Bystander’ by DROPBEAR (Boston)

Talking about a victorious debut single.

On this Herculian stroke metal, shoegaze and classic guitar rock mania (think Eddie Van Halen and Neil Young‘s Crazy Horse) meet with forceful effect, while Rachel Bacon‘s vocals float above the giant raucousness. Bystander is a slow-burning torch, a powerhouse with mammoth riffs. Hefty score from their sterling 5-track EP Spiralized.

Tune in here…

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13. ‘No Exit’ by HVIRESS (Brighton UK)

The obscure slow-progressing synth/guitar intro could easily be the shadowy intro
theme of a film noir starring this duo – Hana Piranha and Mishkin Fitzgerald – as Femmes Fatales with spine-chilling voices that cause a sensation of puzzlement and perturbation strengthened by the heavy metallic reverberations in the back.

Spellbinding!

Roll the tape below.

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14. ‘You Don’t Live Around Here Anymore’ by THE CRAWLING EYE (UK)

This splendid mid-tempo electronic-pop-rock belter wouldn’t
be out of place on a Garbage album, especially vocally.

Singer Regan Meredith has that charismatic Shirley Manson tonality.
When her vivid voice reaches for the sky midway, shivers roll down
your spine.

What a thrill!

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15. ‘No More Good News’ by JO-JO & THE TEETH (London)

When you look glamorous, move glamorous, and sound glamorous,
you have my attention in a flash. This London’s colorful gang’ new wallop
mourns the loss of heroes such as Tom Petty and genius Bowie.

Its avid flow gets under your skin from the get-go. A voltaic retro-resounding
guitar goes solo midway and challenges the somber mood. And Amazon
Jo-Jo spices the ripper with her notable rock voice.

A solid gold glam rock punch.

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16. ’20 Questions’ by LITTLE FUSS (Boston MA)

This starry-eyed pop peach with a booming bass beat and
a vibrant flavor entertains your eager ears on the spot.

This is what pop-ular music is all about. You can sing along,
hum along, whistle along and it puts a big smile on your face.

Any questions? Ask Little Fuss.

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17. ‘A Line Of Shots’ by THE AFGHAN WHIGS (Cincinnati)

High-passionate mavericks The Afghan Whigs from Ohio
with general Greg Dulli upfront will share their 9th longplayer
named How Do You Burn? with the world on 9 September.

A Line Of Shots is one of the brill tracks we heard so far off the LP.

A slo-mo diamond.

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18. ‘Too Close To The Sun‘ by THE SEA AT MIDNIGHT (Los Angeles)

Vince Grant is no stranger to Turn Up The Volume. His dedication to darkwave
is infectious as he shows again here with his new shadowy single. Sonically you still
hear Joy Division and The Cure echoes.

Too Close To The Sun is an addictive melody at heart locked in tenebrous eurhythmics. Think of lots of The Cure hits (Close To You / Friday I’m In Love / Lovecats and so many more). They were experts in writing uncomplicated pop tunes and made them sound instantly captivating.

Grant also unites aural catchiness with shady musicality including
a melancholic saxophone solo in this new composition. Top.

Press play here.

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19. ‘Big Shot City’ by INTERPOL (NYC)

Two weeks ago New York City‘s darlings dropped their 7th LP titled
The Other Side Of Make Believe. In my aural opinion their best
since their 2002 debut.

Big Shot City is a musing for the midnight hours.

Moony and moody.

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20. ‘Great White Shark’ by JESSIE KILGUSS (Brooklyn, NY)

Kilguss‘s voice is just amazing. Resonating somewhere between the magnific
voices of nightingales Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten. Yes, that is amazing and
Great White Shark is also a heartfelt sort of musing that those two emotive ladies love. Say no more.

He tears open
From the heart
From the root
From intuition
He tears open
From the gut
From the soul
From inner vision

Wonderful!

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See/hear you next week, music junkies