UNCUT Magazine (British music monthly): “Momentum sags somewhat over its lengthy duration, but it also unquestionably features some of their finest, and funkiest, work to date.”
TUTV: Vintage electro pop bliss, the Ladytron way. Sticky, soothing New Order– and Pet Shop Boys-like melodies are nested within waves of scintillating synth radiance, while silvery vocals add tranquillising vibes. EBM for daydreamers.
KEY TRACKS: In Believe In You / Kingdom Undersea / A Death In London /
Caught In The Blink Of An Eye / Metaphysica and Solid Light
Press info: “It’s a record born from necessity rather than momentum, written during
a period when Hillig had nearly walked away from music altogether, and found himself worse for it. What emerged instead is his most vital and clear-eyed work to date, an
album shaped by collapse, community, and the unglamorous work of staying alive.”
TUTV: KAH’s warm and enthralling Americana voice injects his mixed-emotions songs with a puissant Tom Petty swagger, a rock-solid John Mellencamp zip, and, at times, a Billy Bragg tenacity.
Hillig‘s versatile songwriting skills shine throughout this highly appealing
and enrapturing record. I’ll have it on my earphones for a long time.
KEY TRACKS: The Horrible Truth / Divorce Of Course Of Course / Jules Can You See Me? / Something Is Different / Our Remaining Pig / We Were Right (‘Til We Were Wrong)
Band: CHALK Who: Earthshaking electro junks from Belfast, Ireland.
Album:CRYSTALPUNK
Their debut, following 3 EPs
over the past 4 years.
NME: “A knockout collection of arresting dance-punk. Ultimately, for all the personal meaning poured into ‘Crystalpunk’, it’s an album about unity. The unity in the oppositional soundscapes Chalk pull together, and the connection that’s possible once your individuality becomes a badge of pride. Because in ‘Crystalpunk’, there is something to believe in.”
TUTV: Decibel alarm! Chalk bombard your eardrums with a flaming flurry of disco-punk torpedoes. A sonic storm of nuclear projectiles put the flexibility of the Richter scale to the test. Think Depeche Mode on a ton of steroids. Let’s all run downtown, to the nightclub, and get the unifying party that those Irishmen are aiming at started.
Press info: “Jacob the Horse take on the rise of modern fascism, dealing with anxiety, and rallying cries for anarchy and Satan on new. It hits that nostalgic sweet spot of classic punk with elements of grunge, while bringing in tight, modern, folk-punk lyrical content that speaks to the time we’re living in now. It sparks equal parts anger and depression, while making sure we’re all having a great time listening.”
TUTV: Holy smoke! An unstoppable tidal wave of riot-riff-gun punk-rockers attack your stereo, ears and eventually your whole shaking body with a vehement Green Day urgency and targeted Bad Religion discharge. Double middle-finger for all political tyrants.
They’re busy destroying our planet. Let’s chase these scumbags out of here, so all their corrupt BS blows over. While doing so At Least It’s Almost Over will be your call-to-arms soundtrack. Attack. Now.
KEY TRACKS: Bad New Religion / 666 Chicks / The Black Hand / Totally Depressed / Closer
Dwyer: “I feel like it’s every artist’s calling to construct personal messages cloaked
in moments of escapism. It’s a bit of a joyous/sad record dealing with hope and
forgiveness, two things which I hope end up more in my life.”
TUTV: With Damaged Bug, Dwyer demonstrated/demonstrates that he’s way
more than a guitar freak. So, yes, less hyperkinetic electricity, more funky/punky
grooves, spiced with beat-rich percussion, subtle synth textures, and even a sax on the alluring meditation Over-Exposed.
Btw, Dwyer picked these 11 songs from a total of 40 he has written between tours. So, we can expect more bugs in the near future. Does this guy-in-shorts ever sleep?
KEY TRACKS: End Of The War / Hoak / Junk Food / Over-Exposed / Tented Lights
TUTV: Wham Boom Wham Boom Bam! From the first chord on, you can stamp your feet, spin your head around, and punch your hands in the air. Lip Critic bop to the beastly beat, so does your itching body.
But as the track progresses, the funky ambiance gets ominous, aggressive, and brutal. Vocalist Bret Kaser goes nuts, the band goes bonkers, your stereo goes berserk, and
your ears go bananas. Hallelujah.
Band: TEMPLES Who: The glitzy British glam
rockers from London.
Track: JET STREAM HEART
Lead single from their forthcoming 5th full-length, the first
in 3 years, named Bliss. They will share it with the world
on June 26th.
TUTV: Frontman says James Bagshaw, the track sounds like Kylie Minogue
meets Daft Punk, meets Temples! My ears hear something a bit different,
more like good old T.Rex hanging out with Hot Chip at the disco. Most
important thing: T is back.
TUTV: Jumpy. Bouncy. Zippy. Cacophonic overtones, frolic organ blitz, sinewy vocals,
and psychobilly guitars drenched in an Eastern frenzy, blast out of your stereo. If this is what the Apocalypse will sound like, I wanna be there. Trust me, so will you.
“An energetic, confrontational track about power and the everyday things we tend
to take for granted. No preaching, but something we could all be a bit more aware of. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
TUTV: These Belgian motherrockers trigger your maddest pogo-stick moves and
your insatiable appetite for sweaty moshpits with this fervent flamethrower, fueled
by a bulldozing drum/bass artillery, schizophrenic guitars, and crackbrained vocals.
Consider it a privilege to be able to go out-of-your-mind to this punk dunk.
All together now, loud and proud, La-La-La-La-La-La-La-La-La.
TUTV: Fast forward from the kick-off with squeaky guitars, a cranky rhythm section,
and hurry-scurry vocals. Speedy punk Gonzales for all you sonic sprinters out there.
Band: VILLANELLE Who: Fresh Brit-rock trio led
by Liam Gallagher‘s son Gene.
New track: PLACEBO
Their 3rd one. It’ll feature on their
debut EP, which will land on May 6th.
TUTV: Placebo is a haywire riff wallop. Gene Gallagher doesn’t follow in
his father’s band footsteps. His motto is more like ‘tonight I’m a grunge star‘.
Yep, his band don’t look back in anger at the Nirvana days. They’re
definitely, maybe fans of Kurt Cobain‘s unpolished and unbridled
exuberance.
Band: JENNIFER TEFFT & THE STRANGE Who: A fired-up, energizing outfit who create earthy music
from its roots and breathes fresh, rock and roll life into them.
Tefft: “This song was written during a point in my relationship where I felt like it was
too one-way. Where I really wanted ‘A Little More’ from my significant other, communication, time, emotion, etc. – but I was afraid to say it out loud. I think it is a pretty common theme in relationships.”
Art by Stephen ‘Sharky’ Beccia; design by Jennifer Tefft
TUTV: If I tell you that riff-riveting blues rock duo The Kills are one of my all-time fav
bands, you’ll absolutely understand why I love this amazeballs crackerjack. Jennifer
Tefft voice matches Alison Mosshart‘s warm-blooded one. Both passional and sensual.
A Little More is a magnetic mid-tempo turn-on, energized by
a striking drum/bass artillery and sparked by anxious guitars.
Artist: PEACHES Who: The fabulous/controversial/notorious performer/producer and
feminist/gay activist born Merrill Nisker, 58 years ago in Toronto, Canada.
Artist: LEG PUPPY 2.0 Who: Seasoned techno freak from London who has released a ton
of longplayers (so far). Take a day off and move over to Spotify to
check out as many as possible.
TUTV: As my therapist once said: rich company owners are psychos. No morals,
no respect, no tolerance. Workers are tools abused to help them make even richer. Leg Puppy 2.0 translates this ongoing criminality into a brain-breaking midtempo techno club-hammer. It easily could be the theme song for George Orwell‘s yet-to-be-made
‘1984‘ movie.
Jacob Peck (frontman/lyricist): “ The song expresses our frustrations with
middle-class comforts, over-analysis without action, nimbyism, intellectual
cowardice as a stand-in for material change and all too easy deference to
business and power.
TUTV: These Manchester punk dropouts hit hard. All greedy sharks in
our collapsing society better run and hide. Hungry go on a roasting rampage,
powered by a propulsive bass/drum tandem, neurotic guitars, and cranked-up
vocals.
Band: MONT LOSER Who: A deformed creature born from the depths of a late-night Parisian haze, half kamikaze, half blood-drunk bat. ML invite you to dive headfirst into the void of a rock scene that always seems to rise from its ashes, when we sometimes wish it would stay dead.
Track: CONFESSIONAL
The title track from their upcoming
album, out on April 17th.
“It’s only reality tv confessionals — people alone in a booth, crying to
the camera, saying things they probably never meant to say out loud.”
TUTV: Ballistic guitars, chaotic screams, mindbending verve and head-twisting changes of speed combine for a roasting 5-minute rollercoaster. Be ready for a dizzying experience.
Band: GERECKI Who: Art rock ensemble from Serbia, known for blending 60s- and 70s-inspired
rock’n’roll with chamber-pop intimacy, subtle psychedelic hues, and jazz-inflected
textures.
Track: IT GETS DARK
New piece from their upcoming debut album, named Athanasios (Greek word for immortal), out May 7th.
The song draws from a quiet, deeply personal memory: a family visit to the zoo.
Seen through the eyes of a three-year-old daughter — curious, overwhelmed, moved to tears by the crocodile house, then distracted by ducks flying over seemingly empty cages.
TUTV: Gerecki produce a hook-hungry groove, reminiscent of The Beatles‘s classic Get Back jam. No kidding. That’s what my experienced ears (big Beatles fans) told me immediately. A-OK, right? Far and away. It Gets Dark thrives on it and repeats its infectious throb after slowing down here and there.
After the brutal killings, in cold blood, of two American citizens – Rennée Good
and Alex Pretti last month in Minnesota, several musicians called out Trump and
his ruthless Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
So did The Boss.
“I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it
to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of
Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent
immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”
Band: KULA SHAKER
Who: British psych rock vets, fronted by charismatic
vocalist/songwriter Crispian Mills. Their 1996 debut LP,
titled K made them instant indie stars.
KAH: “I drew a man on his family farm wading across a river toward the final living pig, knowing he had to slaughter it. You can tell he doesn’t want to do this, but sometimes the
hard thing is exactly what must be done.”
TUTV: Arresting from the start. KAH’s puissant Americana voice and the song’s rock-solid Mellencamp flow merge seamlessly together, resulting in a stem-winding gem. Both electric and absorbing.
Verstegen: “As a songwriter, I have a love-hate relationship with the “blank page.”
As long as I don’t put anything on it, anything is still possible. It’s a promise of everything
song could ever be. But I also find that emptiness intimidating. What if I mess it up?
What if I have nothing meaningful to say?
That uncertainty and doubt reminded me of how I feel after a broken relationship.
You suddenly have to turn the page and write a new chapter. A head full of doubts
and a heart full of hope. And before I knew it, I had a page full of sentences about…
a blank page.”
TUTV: Dim the lights, sit down, relax, and let your thoughts run free. Verstegen will soundtrack it all with this new restful reverie. His near-whispering vocals and acoustic, sepia-colored sonority echo Matt Berninger‘s soft, romantic touch. Candelight music for relaxing moments.
Artist: RYAN THOMAS SMELLE Who: Canadian singer/songwriter with an acoustic approach to storytelling, using
hook-laden songs in the areas of folk, alternative, North Americana and pop.
RTS: “Some songs are stories of moments from our life. As a songwriter, this short
and sweet lyrical tale is a snapshot of a love’s farewell and how we can stew in the
feelings.”
TUTV: Vocally Ryan Thomas Smelle reminds me of The National’s Matt Berninger‘s tranquillising hush-hush timbre, which benefits the heartrending emotions and
the saddening nature of NothingLeft Of My Heart downright.
Acoustic and electric guitar sparks, think Mark Knopfler, paint cloudy images.
This is a melancholic reverie for silent pondering and soul-searching reflection.
A touching and moving ballad.
One of the 23 tracks performed by big-name bands/artists on a new album,
named Help, with all benefits going to War Child. An organisation that shapes
systems that protect and support the well-being of children affected by conflict.
Another batch of 5 new, stellar tracks are
added to Turn Up The Volume’s Jukebox.
All for your aural pleasure.
ALL TOGETHER
TRACK BY TRACK
Artist: LEG PUPPY 2.0 Who: Seasoned techno freak from London who has released a ton
of longplayers (so far). Take a day off and move over to Spotify to
check out as many as possible.
Press info: “It’s is a raw, heartfelt tale of ageism and fear. Set against a modern landscape of automation, algorithms & A.I., the story follows the quiet devastation of a loyal employee cast aside after 30 years of service. His decades of dedication are reduced to a final, hollow reward: A commemorative 30-year lanyard, symbolic of a system that no longer values human lives beyond their utility.”
TUTV: As my therapist once said: rich company owners are psychos. No morals,
no respect, no tolerance. Workers are tools abused to help them make even more rich. Leg Puppy 2.0 translates this ongoing criminality into a brain-breaking midtempo techno club-hammer. It easily could be the theme song for George Orwell‘s yet-to-be-made
‘1984‘ movie.
“Thirty years,
then told goodbye,
replaced by code,
he wants to die”
Band: STEREOLAB Who: Angelo-French electro-pop vets (1990–2009, 2019–present).
So far, they have released 11 LPs, with 2025’sInstant Holograms
On Film as the most recent one.
TUTV: On their last tour, they sold exclusively a 7″ vinyl single featuring two new
songs. They have put them online now so everyone can enjoy. Cloud Land is my
favorite. It’s a pretty swirling dance-oriented tune spiced with layers of synths.
Artist: FRED AGAIN… Who: Acclaimed English record producer, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist,
and DJ, born Frederick John Philip Gibson. He has recorded/released 4 albums so far.
Over the past few months, he has presented two songs/music videos under the banner “Brandon’s night out” featuring the nightlife adventures of actor Brandon Bendell.
Track: LIGHT BURN DIMMER.
The 3rd and final song of his ‘Brandon’s
Nights Out’ trilogy with Jamie T on vocals.
TUTV: Holy Moses! Fred and Jamie are on
a bubbling techno roll. Great pairing for
a big banger.
Band: WATERPISTOL Who: South Welsh indie squad who got together in late 2022. Combining the guitar textures of ‘90s shoegaze with golden age rock ‘n’ roll, they have been firmly set on embodying their influences in The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The La’s, and Liverpool
cult favourites Shack.
Track: FELIN
The song touches on the highs and lows of the creative process. The first
glimpse of a wider collection of material already taking shape behind the
scenes.
TUTV: Expect a jumpy indie guitar flurry, bouncing left and right, forth and
back. Felin is a full of vim-and-vigour pop tune invigorated by jangly guitars,
a tight drum/bass tandem, and reaching a climax every time the multi-voiced
chorus pops up.
Press info: “The song pushes deeper into Hillig’s emotional terrain, pairing alternative-country and indie rock with a writer’s instinct for metaphor, restraint, and uncomfortable honesty.”
KAH: “I drew a man on his family farm wading across a river toward the final living pig, knowing he had to slaughter it. You can tell he doesn’t want to do this, but sometimes the
hard thing is exactly what must be done.”
TUTV: Arresting from the start. KAH’s puissant Americana voice and the song’s rock-solid Mellencamp flow merge seamlessly together, resulting in a stem-winding gem. Both electric and absorbing.
