The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara

20 BEST TRACKS OF THE MONTH – MAY 2026

Posted on by JL

ALL TOGETHER


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TRACK BY TRACK

– 1 –

Band: REALLY GOOD TIME
Who: 3 heated, Irish punk rock
dropouts from Dublin.

Track: DO IT

“It’s a song about impossible tasks. It’s about trying to do everything you have been told to do in life, and never achieving what was promised. The goalposts have shifted, no, that isn’t how you do it.”

TUTV: Really Good Time are manic motherrockers, racing and rushing with puissance and roasting power. They develop a kind of Gilla Band disturbance, but less chaotic, way more movin’ and groovin’. Whether you want it or not, your head goes 360. Blimey.

Just do it!

Instagram – Linktree
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– 2 –

Band: FARVEBLIND
Who: Electro dance-pop-rock trio from Copenhagen, Denmark that fabricates
sonic touchstones ranging from Battles and The Chemical Brothers to Underworld
and Viagra Boys.

Track: KNOCKING DOWN YOUR DOOR.
Piece from their brand new debut LP, titled Micro Pleasures.
It features vocals by itcallsme i.

TUTV: A cocksure, motorik-feverish dancefloor filler for sweaty nightclubs. A tsunami of synth extravaganza hits you straight in the face, while rollicking vocals add a jaunty feel.

Bingo!

Instagram – Linktree
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– 3 –


Photo by Luke Bovill

Artists: ARAB STRAP
Who: Trippy Scottish electro-pop vets, Aidan Moffat and
Malcolm Middleton (1995–2006, 2011, 2016–present).

Track: YOU YOU YOU
First single from their new full-length Half-Told Tales,
their 9th, out on September 4th. Tracklist here.

AS: “A disco-metal sound and lyrics that explore
overcoming troubles and tumultuous times”.

TUTV: Trip Trip Trip! Hip Hip Hip! We We We!

“I’ve got a portly paunch I just can’t shift/I feel undesired, dismissed, adrift/
My get-up-and-go is long gone/ and the days keep dragging on/ But I’ve got
you, you, you”

Instagram – Spotify
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– 4 –


Promo picture

Band: WESTSIDE COWBOY
Who: Fast up-and-coming indies
from Manchester, UK.

They turned all eyes and ears on their spellbinding post-Brexshit-punk disturbance with
2 EPs, This Better Be Something Great (2025) and So Much Country ‘Till We Get There (January 2026), both together worth an ace album.


Album artwork

Track: KICK STONES (THE BOYS)
Single from their upcoming debut LP, titled It Goes On.
Out on August 21st. Tracklist here. Pre-order info here.

TUTV: A jittery, hypnotic, speedy guitar-riffin’ roller coaster ripper, spirited
with Geese-resonating duet vocals. All freshly galvanic and strangely thrilling.
They’re gonna be big. Pretty soon.

Tour Dates 2026 – Instagram
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– 5 –


📸 Charlie Pryor

Band: BLOC PARTY
Who: London‘s indie rockers,
fronted by charismatic songwriter
Kele Okereke.

Track: COMING ON STRONG
First single from their upcoming 7th full-length, titled
Anatomy Of A Brief Romance, out September 11th.
Tracklist here.

Okereke wrote the record in the wake of a more than decade-long relationship.
“Every lyric you’re hearing on this record was something that actually happened to me.
I had to tell the story, from start to finish.”

TUTV: Damn. Time flies with supersonic speed. BC are entertaining our eager eardrums since 1999. Well Okereke took time, now and then, for solo work, but it’s always a sonic pleasure to hear them coming up, again and again with firm, dance-spiked singles.

Play!

Instagram – Linktree – All Albums
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– 6 –

Artists: RADARBASE
Who: Two Brits knocking
dance anthems together.

Track: SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

TUTV: Soft Cell on adrenaline. Erasure on amphetamine. Enriching electro pop nirvana
at its most beautiful. Ignore the outside bedlam for about 6 minutes on repeat. The beat goes on and on and on. Twirl yourself dizzy.

Eureka.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 7 –

Artist: MARTIN CARR
Who: Former guitarist of Britpop
idols The Boo Radleys.

Track: WHAT FUTURE
The title song of his new album.

Carr: “I’ve been putting together these sounds for many years but this
is the first time where I thought ‘this doesn’t really sound like anything else
and decided to put it out.”

TUTV: Techno daft-punk on the run. Electro rock shock. Winding mix of paranoic synths, bass booms, and some helium-infused Carr interventions. Good grief. What a brainfucker.

Instagram – Spotify
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– 8 –

Band: KNEECAP
Who: The controversial and
outspoken Irish rap trio.

Track: COLD AT THE TOP
Cut from their 3rd LP,
named Fenian.

TUTV: Hip-hop-rotating vibes combined with non-stop
rap radiation results in one of their most mainstream
firecrackers.

Shake it.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 9 –

Band: ICEAGE
Who: Glamorous Danish indie outfit fronted
by charismatic frontman Elias Bender Rønnenfelt.

Track: THE WEAK
Piece from their 6th LP, baptized
For Love Of Grace & The Hereafter,
out today.

TUTV: This is a sassy, kind of fuck you stunner, that speeds all over your
trembling stereo with Rønnenfelt throwing sneers around. Vicious sucker
punch all the way.

Badass.

Instagram – Spotify – All Albums
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– 10 –

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

Track: GIROTONDO
Single from their forthcoming 4th album, named Misantropi.
Out June 22nd. Tracklist and pre-order info here.

TUTV: This Metallica-echoing shocker thunders unstoppably and peaks every time its fistpumping chorus kicks in. TCOMAS rock here as never before. They kick ass with this striking uppercut.

Helter skelter.

Instagram – Facebook – Website
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– 11 –

Band: SOCIAL DISTORTION
Who: The robust, generational Californian rockers fronted by the only
original member, voice/guitarist/songwriter Mike Ness, who beat tonsil
cancer a few years ago, are one of the most notorious and celebrated
American punk bands ever.

Track: CRAZY DREAMER
Cut from their brand new, 15th full-length Born To Kill.
It features the wonderful country star Lucinca Williams
on vocals.

TUTV: This really fun country rock corker makes
my ears happy and is a top mood booster.

Catchy as hell.

Instagram – Tour Dates – All Albums
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– 12 –

Artist: JON SPENCER
Who: Flaming blues rock expert riffin’
around with different bands and solo
since 1983.

Track: ORANGE SLICE BLUES
Piece from his forthcoming album, named
Songs Of Personal Loss And Portest
out on June 12th. More info here.

TUTV: Vicious riffs, red-hot riffs, nasty riffs. Spencer never gets tired.
You’re never too old to run electrical amok seems to be his motto.

Let’s roll.

Tour Dates – Instagram – Linktree
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– 13 –

Screenshot

Band: CASSIUS WOLF & DAS ABS
Who: The musical project of Cassius Wolf and Don Watson. Formed in Liverpool during the original wave of post-punk and new wave. Now, decades later, that same spirit is driving the band’s long-awaited return.

Track: LOSING SLEEP
Single from their brand new full-length, An Afternoon in Bedlam. Stream here.

TUTV: When I say that this avid anthem has an epic Echo & Bunnymen sonority,
you should pay attention instantly. The flamboyant flair, the whirling drive, the
euphoric vocals. I see Ian McCulloch standing around the corner, with a big smile
on his face.

Top drawer tune.

Instagram – Facebook
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– 14 –


Photographer: Martin Sommerschield

Band: DELFOI ROAD
Who: A Finnish alternative rock act, formed at the turn of the millennium.
The four-piece blends artistic sensitivity, strong melodic songwriting, and
atmospheric depth with an energetic and dynamic edge.

Track: TAKE ME AWAY
New piece from their upcoming debut full-length, planned to come out in the fall.
“It’s one of the catchiest and most radio-friendly tracks on the album.”


Artwork single

TUTV: Think Mumford and Sons‘ arousing passion and vocal eagerness.
Take Me Away draws you into its stirring spirits, its intensifying orchestration,
and its exhilarating euphoniousness. Towering tour de force.

Tremendous bliss.

Instagram – Spotify
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– 15 –

Artist: BIZARRE FAE
Who: British eccentric non-binary
“fairy-witch” from Hull.

Debut LP, Revolting, came out in 2024.

Track: REAL PROBLEMS

BZ: “I’ve spent a long time thinking about where to take my musical journey next & Real Problems, ironically, has become an unexpected solution. I wrote this track off the cuff a while back, as an outlet for feeling disconnected from the so called “real world”. For my entire life I’ve been told “that’s just how the world is” but all I’ve learnt in my 23 years alive is that it seems the world was never meant to be like this.

Humans have this disturbing desire to disconnect themselves from the natural world & forget that we’re in fact all a part of it. Real Problems is my attempt to reconnect to that part of myself that I feel has been hidden away due to societal noise. I’ve never met ‘these people’ & they’ve never met me, so why am I expected to uphold their ideas of who I was meant to be!”

TUTV: Industrial slam-bang EBM for all dance-addicted misfits out there.
You need to be in top shape to catch up with Bizarre Fae. She zooms with
steamy swiftness throughout this boomtastic missile. Face your problems
and sway them into oblivion. Trust me, it’s unquestionably worth a try.

Fast and furious.

Instagram – Facebook
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– 16 –

Artist: TRICKY
Who: Trip-hop bigwig and former Massive Attack visionary, born
Adrian Nicholas Matthews Thaws in Bristol-UK 58 years ago.

Track: BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW
Newest single from his 15th LP, named Different When It’s Silent.
It’ll land on July 17th. Tracklist and pre-order info here.

TUTV: Tricky grooves in the dark again.
Tenseness in the air, twitchiness in motion.

Masterly piece.

Instagram – Linktree – All Albums
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– 17 –


Photo by Jenn Webb

Artist: KAT FIVE
Who: EBM songstress from London. She fuses together a raw
punk energy with a dark pop magic, she consistently creates
indefinable, politically-engaged glitched-up anthems.

Track: EMERGENCY START
Newest single.

 

FIVE: “This is a call out to all kinds of creators, and also a shout out
for some simple moves you can make against techno-feudalism.”

TUTV: Kat Five offers a both luring and foreboding-sounding EBM tune for
shadow-dancing fans. Despite the hazardous times worldwide, she suggests,
rightly so, that togetherness is the only way to get out of the intolerant chaos
we have to go through right now.

Action!


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Instagram – Linktree
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– 18 –

Artist: SOUTHPAW GRAMMAR
Who: British garage musician and producer. He has toured extensively with some
of the biggest names in popular music. His music speaks directly to the realities of working-class life while delivering dancefloor-ready grooves.

Track: THE NEW DANCE

“It captures the evolution of a generation raised on late nights and pirate radio, now navigating mortgages, energy bills, and nursery pickups. With his signature dry wit and unmistakably British storytelling, Southpaw Grammar delivers a relatable anthem for anyone who’s swapped the rave for responsibility but still hears the bassline in everyday life.”

TUTV: This is cheer fun. Its ska-esque beat and jumpy flow kick-start hectic body movements. Bouncy piano touches and frolicsome rappin’ piggyback the feel-good tone. Ideal to play when workin’ out, although I fear that many of us (certainly me) will fall over our feet when trying to follow the pace. Fervid ambiance.

Just a lot more coffee,
and ess Charlie Sheen.

Instagram – Facebook
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– 19 –


Photo by Kelly Davidson

Band: GIRL WITH A HAWK
Who: Boston collective fronted by longtime
musician and scene veteran Linda Viens.

Track: WASN’T IT JUST YESTERDAY
Single from the upcoming new LP Regenesis.
It will arrive on June 12th. More info here.

LV: “At least four or five of the songs on the record speak to a life lived being in bands, the bonds forged, and the life of a musician and performer, with themes of loss, addiction, death and redemption woven through. All the cliches about spending your time in bars, being on the road, being ‘out’ and not at home, are real.”

TUTV: Overall, this is a warm, hearty, and nostalgic energizer, spiced with classic textbook riffs and bright-eyed and bushy-tailed vocals. A stimulating upper for moody moments. It’s only rock ‘n’ roll, but we’ll never stop liking it.

Forever.


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Linktree
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– 20 –

Artists: KIDS WITH BUNS
Who: Lauded dream pop duo from Belgium. They released
their debut album Out Of Place in 2023.

Track: HALF OF A DREAM
First single from their upcoming 2nd LP,
titled ‘Bell Jar‘. Out October 16th.

TUTV: Dream pop bliss with a romantic
melodiousness and heartwarming vocality.

Beautiful.

Instagram – Linktree
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THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA – Intimidating Poetic Metal Duo Launch 4th LP In June – Hear 3 Stunning Tracks Right Here

Posted on by JL

18 May 2026

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

New album: MISANTROPI
Their 4th. It’ll land on June 22th.
Tracklist and pre-order info here.

Press info: “‘Misantropi‘ presents a raw, unfiltered manifesto for those who despise humanity. According to the duo, this album is: rue to their roots, the album melds spoken poetry and spoken word over heavy metal riffs, but with a new emphasis on going back to the classic set up of drums, bass, and guitars. There is more singing and melodic vocals, adding a visceral human element to their already intense sound.


Album artwork

TCOMAS: “The album is human made. It’s played with real instruments, with hands,
feet, vocal cords, and human body parts. It’s raw and unfiltered. It is for those who see
through the facade and aren’t afraid to admit that they hate what we have become.”

So far, the duo has offered 3 stunning previews.

– LUCKY DUCKER –
It features a staggering 131 swear words throughout its 247-word-long lyric in this
deafening 4,49 minute bombshell. Cult crime movie Scarface (1983) with Al Pacino as
coke king Tony Montana has 266 fucks, but spread over 170 minutes, so TCOMAS win
the swear contest, by far.

– THE LAST PLAGUE –
A rare slow-mo piece, burning slowly but
fiercely with an ominous and enigmatic progression.

Intimidating and transfixing.

– GIROTONDO –
Metallica-like shocker peaking
on the fistpumping chorus.

Helter skelter.

All 3 together on Spotify


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Instagram – Facebook – Website

5 BEST ALBUMS – NOVEMBER 2024

Posted on by JL

– 1 –

Band: THE CURE
Robert Smith & Co.

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

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

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

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

KEY SINGLE

ALBUM


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Instagram – All Cure Albums
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– 2 –


New album artwork

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

Album: NOBODY LOVES YOU MORE

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

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

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

KEY SINGLE

ALBUM


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Instagram – KD: Linktree
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– 3 –

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

Album: INSIGHT

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

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

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

ALBUM


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Instagram – Facebook
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– 4 –

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

Album: THE CLEANSING
His 3rd one.

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

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

KEY SINGLE

ALBUM


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Instagram – Facebook
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– 5 –

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

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

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

SINGLE/VIDEO

ALBUM


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Instagram – Website

THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA Float On The ‘WAVES’ Of Life’s Uncertainties

Posted on by JL

Daily electricity to load your batteries

11 October 2024

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

New track: WAVES
New taster from their upcoming,
3rd LP ‘Origins’. Pre-order info here.

“Origins is about our personal experience of mysteries, rituals, true friendships, bad mentors, addiction, and death. This album is deeply personal, and is written from the heart. We dedicate it to the people who are still here, and for those we have lost. You’ll find many unexpected twists and turns throughout the album. Such is the chaos and unpredictability of life.”


Album artwork

“This song is about the unpredictability of life, and how quickly we
can transition from safety and comfort to peril without noticing.”

TUTV: As said before, on the occasion of the 4 previous singles, TCOMAS are exploring other musical and lyrical directions as we are used to from this creative duo. With Waves they take us on a guitar/synth layered and slowly progressing musing with Daphne Ang‘s enthralling voice creating a ghostly atmosphere.

But somewhere in the middle Andrea Papi opens the Gates of Real Life with a metallic brutality and ominous growling. From there on a mind-boggling roller coaster leads
you to a ruthless finale. Hope and despair, crashing into each other. Helter-skelter!

WATCH/LISTEN

STREAM


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Instagram – Spotify

THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA Surprise Again With New Track ‘IT GOES’

Posted on by JL

Daily electricity to load your batteries

13 September 2024

Band: THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA

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

New track: IT GOES
Third shared piece from their upcoming,
3rd LP ‘Origins’. Pre-order info here.


Album artwork

TUTV: TCOMAS surprise again after previous new track Bite The Bullet
for which they invited Italian rapper Mr Meuri and now with It Goes they
do it again. It’s a totally unexpected acoustic musing, with some contra
bass resonance in the back, and arresting vocals by Pappi. Intimate, but
powerful. Can’t wait for their next move.

WATCH/LISTEN

STREAM


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TCOMAS: Instagram

20 Best Tracks Of The Month – AUGUST 2024

Posted on by JL

ALL TOGETHER


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TRACK BY TRACK

Artist: KIM DEAL
Who: Best known as the former Pixies bassist
and from her own band The Breeders, featuring
her twin sister Kelley.

Track: CRYSTAL BREATH

Brand-new cut from her upcoming solo debut
album ‘Nobody Loves You More‘ out November 22.

Crystal Breath is quite special and pretty different from anything
Deal has been done before. EBM bass dynamics, trip-hop quivering
and a spiky guitar riff.

Linktree
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Artist: CAROLINE ROMANO
Who: 22-year old Nashville-based
alt-pop singer/songwriter.

Track: BODY BAG

“‘Body Bag’ is a peak behind the curtain at the reality of modern romance and feeling young and old at the same time. I think sonically the song has so many ups and downs, and that’s exactly how this stage of my life has felt. It’s running barefoot on the concrete, chasing something you can’t quite put your finger on, but running towards it nonetheless. That’s
how I would best describe ‘Body Bag.’”

TUTV: This is an astounding piece of multi-layered music. An effervescent mix of pop,
rock and EBM going everywhere fast and Romano‘s sensual voice adds an arousing dynamic. A stream of adrenalin rushes through your body, all the way.

Top-tier tune.
Hands down.

Linktree
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Press photo by Nik Freitas

Band: BRIGHT EYES
Who: Nebraska‘s indie trio formed
by singer-songwriter Conor Oberst.

Track: RAINBOW OVERPASS
From their 11th LP, baptized ‘Five Dice, All Threes‘.
It comes our way on September 20th.


Album artwork

TUTV: Bright Eyes are on a revved roll here.
So will you too when this whirlwind blasts
out of your speakers.

“No I’m not slowing down
Yea I’m not slowing down
I’m speeding up”

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

Track: OLD FLAMES

It will be on their debut EP Disco To Disco, out on September 13.

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. Bringing these two completely different iconic figures together makes you wonder if they don’t have more in common than you might think.

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 steamroller.

If you don’t know they’re from Belgium you would think they are one of those
post-Brexshit-punk misfits such as Deathletter, Ditz, shame, English Teacher, and
more of those exciting indie wolves. Cool, right? You betcha.


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Instagram
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Band: THE SMILE
Who: Star trio featuring radioheads Thom Yorke
and Jonny Greenwood and drummer Tom Skinner .

Track: ZERO SCUM

One of the two new shared pieces from their upcoming 3rd LP, named Catouts, out October 14. It’s a hypnotizing Krautrock-like jam rushing through your bloodstream.
Great saxophones too.

The Smile: Instagram
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Photo credit: Ebru Yildiz

Band: A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS
Who: The rapid-fire Brooklyn turbine,
led by Oliver Ackermann, pump up the
decibels since 2003.

Track: YOU GOT ME
A foretaste of their upcoming LP,
titled ‘Synthesizer‘, out on October 4.

TUTV: Expect a spine-chilling guitar/bass riff rocket with Ackermann‘s
vocals echoing all over it. Another hellraiser for your graveyard parties.

Instagram
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Band: THE VERAS
Who: 4 British mavericks inspired by glam rock,
punk, new wave, 90s indie, and Britpop.

Track: DAVEY WALKING ROUND WITH THE SOLE OFF HIS SHOE

“It’s a shout out to all the unusual characters that you may find in any High Street who, for whatever reason, are considered outsiders. They need championing as they are just like everyone else and want the best for themselves, but have been dealt a difficult hand.”

TUTV: The Veras storm out of the gates with tons of high-voltage force, powered by
an army of ablaze guitars and mighty drum/bass beats. The spanking chorus fueled by peppy vocals completes this rattling burst. Now go out in the streets and start a riot.


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

Track: BITE THE BULLET
From their 3rd album, named
Origins, out November 1st.

TUTV: This surprising, blistering collaboration sees TCOMAS exploring another
musical place where they’ve never been before. Teaming up with sharp-cutting
Italian rapper Mr Meuri and make it work, combined with their by-now trademark
metallic wall of sound and monstrous growls is flabbergasting.

TCOMAS: Instagram
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Band: LONELY LITTLE KITSCH
Who: Two-piece alt-rock band from Niagara, Canada featuring
vocalist Kristen Goetz and drummer Nolan Jodes. What started as
a way to pass the time during the pandemic, soon became a more
serious project as fully formed songs took shape.

Track: VICES

TUTV: A grungy headbanger propelled by hammering vigorousness, some
edged Grohl riffs and exploding when the crashing chorus crushes in. Right
in the middle of the song and the video, vocalist Kristen Goetz, draws your
attention with her Shirley Manson-like vocal tone and her subtle moves.

Get together now.

Instagram
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Band: THE MERINGUES
Who: A Kingston, Ontario-based
post-punk powerhouse.

Track: ROYALTY
This track is a cut from their 2nd album, Pavlova’s Dog,
which will be available on September 16th.

“It’s that feeling of having idealized someone, only to discover they didn’t deserve it.
Or when you thought you knew someone, but they revealed a different side. This song
explores the disorienting feeling of realizing you were wrong about someone or something.”

TUTV: This punk ‘n’ roar torpedo guarantees you a vitalizing kick. Royalty explodes
from the get-go. The smashing chorus, with its screamy duet vocals, causes ecstatic
elation.

Instagram
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Band: RAZORLIGHT
Who: British power guitar-pop indies RAZORLIGHT (2002–2014, 2017–present),
led by guitarist/singer Johnny Borrell, who have their first LP in 16 years finished.

They baptized it Planet Nowhere.
It’ll land on October 24.

Track: SCARED OF NOTHING

It’s the first taster off of the forthcoming full-length. A simple, but oh so
effective tune. Jaunty and terrifically infectious. Welcome back to the party,
guys.

Instagram
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Band: STRAWBERRY SLEEPOVER
Who: A psych, garage rock act from Baltimore, MD which  makes waves in
the local music scene with their unique sound and captivating performance.

Track: FILTH
From their upcoming new
album, out September 6.

TUTV: If you’re depressed because summer is almost over, comfort yourself with this bonkers cowboy-punk jackhammer. Big, really big fun. ‘Filth‘ gets filthier and filthier along
its rowdy course. Think Dropkick Murphys riding wild horses while consuming a stream
of cold beers. Get the picture? As I said, big fun.


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Instagram
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Press photo by Dario Vazquez

Band: HINDS
Who: Spanish powerpop Amazons. Two members, bassist Ade
Martín and drummer Amber Grimbergen left. Only 2 hinds now.

Track: THE BED, THE ROOM, THE RAIN AND YOU

TUTV: A moony daydream floating smoothly around and in your ears and
has an on-repeat effect. It’ll appear on their 4th LP, baptized ‘Viva Hinds‘
and lands on September 6.

Linktree
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Artist: LEAH MARTEL
Who: Singer-songwriter
from Ontario, Canada.

Track: NOT COOL
Only her 2nd single.

Martel: “After surviving elementary and high school, working in customer service and an office job, going to college and university I realized I still have not overcome social anxiety. I wrote this song about it so I could finally try to stop caring so much.”

TUTV: Martel strikes again with unbridled punch on this invigorating pop pearl juiced with jumpy bass lines, a vigorous drum beat, an edgy guitar solo and a chirpy chorus. Vocally Martel could be family of Alanis Morissette‘ voice. That same stirring timbre and expressive tone.

Instagram
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Band: THE WAEVE
Who: Blur‘s guitarist Graham Coxon
and songstress Rose Elinor Dougall.

Track: YOU SAW
Piece from their upcoming 2nd LP.

TUTV: City Lights is an ardent upper for the midnight hours when you hit town.
Coxon lets his greedy guitar and his sultry saxophone have some funky fun, the
relentless bass/drums tandem take care of the groove’s banging beat. Uplifting
duet vocals and a chipper chorus complete the sonic picture.

Instagram

Band: THE TRUSTED (Southend-on-Sea, UK)
Who: Formed in 2016, making music with strong
melodies and catchy hooks.

New single: MIRACLE FACE

“This is very different to anything we have released before it’s
very pop and a song of unrequited love and idolising others.”

TUTV: The Trusted deliver again. Miracle Face is a bittersweet power-pop symphony. Vehement orchestrations, layers of guitars, drum/bass puissance, and perfervid vocals combine for an affecting anthem. Think of New York City‘s heroes The Strokes’ mellower moments.

Instagram
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Press photo by Joe Magistro

Band: MERCURY REV
Who Day-and-night dreamers with key members Jonathan
Donahue and Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak

Track: A BIRD OF NO ADDRESS
From their 10th LP, their first in 9 years, named
Born Horses, and out on September 6.

TUTV: A Bird Of No Address is a starry-eyed musing, a magnific symphony
with classical piano play, sensitive orchestrations and Donahue‘s romantic
vocals.

Bewitching, just bewitching.

Instagram – Tour
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Artist: BLACK VIIOLET
Who: The moniker of the new solo project of Nicole Laurenne, the
flamboyant daredevil/voice/face of American garage rockers The Darts.

Track: KILL ME NOW
The title song of Laurenne‘s debut EP. A totally different
affair from what she has done for a long time with The Darts.

TUTV: Music for jazzy, smoky nightclubs where crooners play love songs,
happy and sad ones on piano, backed by a smooth little orchestra.

Viiolet‘s sexy, near-whispering voice and her sensual
film noir appearance fit the mood just perfectly well.


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Linktree
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Artist: JAMIE SUTHERLAND
Who: Scottish singer-songwriter

Track: SOME THINGS HURT A LITTLE MORE
Piece from his upcoming 2nd solo album.


“I was playing around with this song and the chorus came to me almost immediately. It reminded me of something from Joni Mitchell’s Clouds album and the line “Some things hurt a little more, this one’s you” had such a resigned sentiment the rest of the song was easy to write. It’s a love song, but from an older point of view. Less drama and more realisation that another one had slipped away. The loneliness of an empty house and the need to escape the quiet.”

TUTV: Singer-songwriter splendour. A dynamic reverie, driven by titillating acoustic
six-strings, playful piano fragments, and a heartwarming voice. I’m pretty sure that
Jamie Sutherland is a fervent Nick Drake and Tim Buckley fan.

Instagram
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Artist: ADRIANNE LENKER
Who: Big Thief‘s frontwoman/songstress

Track: ONCE A BUNCH
A song that only appeared as a bonus track on the Japanese
CD edition of her new 5th solo LP Bright Future.

TUTV: It’s a sprightly cowboy song to sing along
to with your friends in your local pub/bar/café.

TUTV: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter

THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA Team Up With Rapper MR MEURI For A Flabbergasting Collaboration – Hear ‘BITE THE BULLET’ Here

Posted on by JL

Daily electricity to load your batteries

9 August 2024

Band: THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA

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

New single: BITE THE BULLET
It features London-residing, Italian rapper Mr Meuri who emerged
from the vibrant Sardinian hip-hop scene in the early 2000s.

Pappi: “We wanted to push our sound into another territory. We invited our good friend
Mr Meuri to collaborate on vocals for an instrumental track I created. He’s an awesome rap artist who has performed and worked with many well-known Italian artists.”

Daphne: “Working with Mr. Meuri on this track really inspired me to finally try my hand at rapping, something I’ve always wanted to do but never had the chance or courage to pursue.
It was a great experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone to explore a new creative outlet”.


Single artwork

TUTV: This surprising, blistering collaboration follows the earlier new piece
Feed The Beast and sees TCOMAS exploring another musical place where
they’ve never been before.

Teaming up with sharp-cutting rapper Mr Meuri and make it work, combined
with their by-now trademark metallic wall of sound and monstrous growls is flabbergasting.

Last Tuesday I saw nu-metal titans Korn playing in Belgium. That was the first
thing that popped up in my mind when I listened to Bite The Bullet. Say no more.

BITE THE BULLET


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TCOMAS: Instagram

20 BEST TRACKS OF THE MONTH – JUNE 2024

Posted on by JL

The best of the best of the past month

ALL TOGETHER


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TRACK BY TRACK

1. Hide & Seek by THE JESUS LIZARD (Austin / Chicago)


Press picture

The highly influential The Jesus Lizard (1987–1999, 2008–2010, 2017–present,
still with their classic line-up) have their first album, named Rack. in 26 years
out on September 13.

First single Hide & Seek is an explosive, nervous, race & rushing
missile and sounds like they recorded it 26 years ago.

Hells bells!

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2. ‘O%’ by HELLO MARY (Brooklyn, NY)

Hello Mary are a fierce Brooklyn post-punk trio.

0% is a vicious cryout with schizoid guitars producing a chainsaw cacophony,
bone-chilling howling and primal screams sending shivers down your spine, and
vehement drum/bass ebullition doing your head in. 100% helter-skelter turbulence.

Sonic Youth is dead! Long live Hello Mary!

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3. ‘Doug Yuletide’ by DALE CROVER (US)

Drummer Dale Crover of chaotic veteran rockers Melvins
comes out of the shadow of the band again, for his 3rd solo LP.
It’s titled Glossolalia and shows up on September 13.

The lead single is a killer track. It moves and grooves with power-driven
energy and voltaic dash. Crover says it’s “vampire-story ‘Venus In Furs.’”.
Come again.

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4. ‘Jacked’ by HEARTWORMS


Photo by Turn Up The Volume

Heartworms is the psych-pop band of fast up-and-coming British songstress Jojo Orme.
They drew a lot of aural attention with last year’s 4-track A Comforting Notion. And they confirm their upcoming indie star status with Jacked. A flabbergasting guitar-propelling jam rotating in your head before you are aware of it.

Top!

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5. ‘I Know The Future’ by THE LOOKOUT (Montreal, CA)

The Lookout are a melodic punk rock band from
Montreal, fronted by dynamite voice Martha Rockhard.

On I Know The Future all burners and all cylinders are ignited.
The band go fast-forward with unbridled panache and vivacious
vigor.

They fuzz and buzz with revved-up energy, fueled by what sounds like an army of hungry guitars, by a merciless and relentless bass/drum collaboration pushing this barnstormer’s bustling beat to a dizzying level, and avid Amazon Martha Rockhard augments the red-hot-blooded intensity with her commanding powerhouse vocals.


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6. ‘Backbone Slip’ by SEASICK STEVE (Oakland, California)

Late musical 73-year-old blues bloomer just launched his 14th longplayer,
titled A Trip A Stumble A Fall Down On Your Knees with Backbone Slip
as my ears’ favorite cut.


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7. ‘Moodswings’ by IDLES (Bristol, UK)


Promo

This is their cover of Mood SWINGS, a cool hip-rap-hop hit
by British artist Little Simz from her new album Drop 7.

Idles threw some samples of Peaches and Chemical Brothers in
their hepped-up version and come up with a dance booster.

Boom Boom Boom.


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8. ‘Houdini’ by EMINEM (US)

Eminem canned his 10th LP and named it The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce). Release date TBA. I really feel for Shady, how many times has that poor guy died?

Lead single Houdini echoes his 2002 cracker Without Me and thrives on a
sample of the utterly catchy chorus of Steve Miller‘s 1982 hit Abracadabra.

Now you see him, now you don’t.
Now you hear him, now you don’t.

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9. ‘Feed The Beast’ by THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA (London-based)

London-based poetallica duo of Daphne Ang (Singapore) and Andrea Papi (Italy) return,
after 2 notable albums with this new head-twister. A piece about addiction and recovery.

Feed The Beast dives into the tumultuous inner journey of learning how to live all over again. The emotional and barbed quest starts cinematically with Ang‘s near-whispering voice echoing intriguingly, at the 1-minute mark Papi joins in vocally and metallically causing mental turmoil.

From there on, the mercurial and emotional trip gets fragmented, swinging forth
and back, and drawing all of your auditory attention until the volcanic finale hits
you in the face.

Epic odysssey.


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10. ‘Waiting’ by VERRA CRUZ (UK)

This British trio infuse their guitar-driven sound with emotion, bravado and purely
authentic melancholy. as they prove here, again, with striking stroke Waiting.

With Waiting they hit bullseye with invigorating dash, resonating
somehow like Dinosaur Jr and/or The Lemonheads on a roasting roll .


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11. ‘Worthless’ by GUSH (Belfast, Ireland)

These fresh Belfast grunge rockers just launched
their new 5-track boiling EP Exposure Therapy

My greedy ears picked Worthless for this monthly list.
It’s a guitar-maddening shocker cutting like a brand-new
razorblade.

No, it’s not Courtney Love on vocals but the furious spit and sneer outpouring
at work here makes you think of Hole‘s former punked-up celebrity skin.

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12. ‘Lovely Day To Die’ by FRENCH MOTHERS (UK)

Band: FRENCH MOTHERS
Who: 4 indie rockers out
of Leighton Buzzard, UK

This caring quartet gives depression the middle finger with this urgent riff-ripper
that has a jangly Strokes-esque flow and rattles in your head without asking
from the first spin on.

This is a lovely day to be alive with French Mothers.
There’s always a ‘you only live once’ light at the end
of the tunnel.

“Pleased to meet you, I’ve been lonely too”


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Instagram
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13. ‘Boom!’ by KAT KOAN (Germany)

KK: “This is essentially a happy breakup song. It’s about that moment when you realize
you can actually get up and stand tall, after the tough period of stumbling through the pain that breaking up from a person you care about brings with it – regardless of whether that is a romantic partner, a friend or a project collaborator. Once you come out of it at the other end of the tunnel you know that the transformative process was a character building experience, and that most things happen for a reason.”

Well, why not have a happy break-up song for a change. And Boom! is more than just a happy tune. It’s Koan‘s most inventive piece (so far). A brassy mid-tempo uplifter inviting you to do some of your best dance moves. I hear sultry horns, Eastern and samba vibes, ska trumpets, and lots of fun on this fiesta-like chant.

Bingo!


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14. ‘Starburster’ by FONTAINES D.C. (Dublin, Ireland)

Irish indie stars FONTAINES D.C. already have 3 top-drawer albums
on their résumé. And #4 is bagged now. They named it Romance
and will share it with the world on August 23rd.

On Starburster frontman Grian Chatten
goes on a parlando roll again.

Magnetizing and hypnotizing.

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15. ‘Hero In The Season Of The Gun’ by LIFE COACH (Glasgow, Scotland)

Hero In The Season Of The Gun is an aflame synth-layered flare-up that triggers jump-from- left-to-right moves on the spot. It’s a hopped-up and vivified disco-punk knockout.

Life Coach balances here between the perky moments of fellow countrymen Arab Strap and The Streets with Mike Skinner charged by Duracell batteries. And his rapid-fire verbal ranting adds some more oil to the sonic British Army fire.

Party, party, party.


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16. ‘Death Is Cheap’ by GREAT HARE (Sweden)

The Swedish do what they do best, once again.
Making your day with an instantly sticking guitar/synth
tune that has a both relaxing and brisk impact on your
ears at the same time.

Great harmonies, great pop gem, great hare.

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17. ‘The Right Stuff’ by THE TRAMPOLINE DELAY (Milton, Ontario, CA)

“At its core, the song delves into the aftermath of a regrettable decision and the need
for redemption. However, beyond the surface, it’s an introspective exploration of life’s pressures, the weight of regret, and the awakening to what truly matters. It captures the essence of emotional turmoil and the consequences of acting on fleeting impulses,
ultimately leaving scars on all involved.”

You can whistle along, hum along, and sing along to this chirpy and feel-good
earworm, reminding me of harmonious Scottish nightingales Teenage Fanclub.

Splendid.


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18. ‘They’ by ADIOS MF (Northern England)

Adios MF is a musical project spearheaded by Nathan Keeble carving
fresh dark waves and electronica sounds from the underground of
Sheffield, UK.

AMF about the new track: “They” is a Kitsch by product of existence amid the constant
churn of urban development and the persistent buzz of drilling. It was written as a tonic
to the realisation that resistance is futile; you must simply acquiesce to the world of
urbanism and let it carry you along on its unpredictable journey, set to a naughty
80s beat.”

Expect a swirling, darkwavish electro reviver that bounces somewhere between
the dark side of Depeche Mode and Cold Cave‘s addictive sonority. Infectious beats
and shadow-dancing rhythms.


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19. ‘Coolcats’ by GREEN CROW COLLECTIVE (Belgium)

Green Crow Collective is a new unit from Belgium led
by seasoned singer-songwriter Roeland Vandemoortele.

Coolcats is one piece from their fresh double A-side debut single that
will show up on their debut album Hard Drive Error later in the year.

No brakes, no breaks, no mistakes. Always full steam ahead driven by schizo guitars, steadfast drumming, and cool rock cats meowing all together. A mean machine debut.


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Facebook
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20. ‘Frogs’ by NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS


Promo press

Star crooner Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds launch
their 18th full-length, called Wild God on August 30.

Frogs is a vintage Cave ballad.
Orchestral, lyrical, nightmarish
and goosebumps-gripping.

Cave: “The sheer exuberance of a song like ‘Frogs’,
it just puts a big fucking smile on my face.”

Take that gun out of your hand, Nick.


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TUTV: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter

All photos are promo/press ones

THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA Take You On A Head-Twisting Trip On New Single ‘FEED THE BEAST’

Posted on by JL

New striking strokes

11 June 2024

Band: THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA

Who: London-based DIY duo – Daphne Ang (Singapore) and Andrea Papi (Italy)
that fills a gap in music by bringing literature, art, and history together into
a space where rock and metal meet electronica.

They released two splendid albums so far.
Trust No Leaders (2022) and Full Spectrum (2021)


Single artwork

New single: FEED THE BEAST

Following Mysterium Tremendum the duo’s 2nd new piece of 2024.
So far, no sign of a third LP.

TUTV: Feed The Beast is about addiction and recovery. It dives into the tumultuous
inner journey of learning how to live all over again. The barbed and emotional quest
starts cinematically with Ang‘s near-whispering voice echoing intriguingly, at the
1-minute mark Papi joins in vocally and metallically causing mental turmoil.

From there on, the mercurial and emotional trip gets fragmented, swinging forth
and back, and drawing all of your auditory attention until the volcanic finale hits
you in the face. You need a couple of spins to discover all layers of this head-twisting
prog-metal-rock jam. You know where to find the repeat button. Another dazzling ride.

STREAM


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TCOMAS: Instagram

THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA – Versatile Metallic Duo Return With Bombastic Symphonic Rock Rollercoaster

Posted on by JL

Daily electricity to load your batteries

27 February 2024

Band: THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA

Who: London-based duo – Daphne Ang (Singapore) and Andrea Papi (Italy)
that fills a gap in music by bringing literature, art, and history together into
a space where rock and metal meet electronica.

They released two spectacular albums so far.
Trust No Leaders (2022) and Full Spectrum (2021)

And TCOMAS is back on the scene now with
new single MYSTERIUN TREMENDUM .

Info: “It was Written and recorded between December 2022 and October 2023, the new track merges metal and classical music, and contains section sections with classical piano and a full orchestra.”

Papi on the new song: “I would describe “Mysterium Tremendum” as being ‘Opera Metal’. It contains musical and lyrical elements that gives the work a perfect combination of ‘heaviness’ that is both melancholic and brutal.”

Ang: “The song contains a large section with a full orchestra, which took a long time to compose and arrange. It was a real challenge, but it was mostly a rewarding experience,
as we made it purely a TCOMAS effort.”

“The song explores the concept of ‘mysterium tremendum et fascinans’. I came across this concept in Das Heilige (The Idea of the Holy), a book by Rudolf Otto”, Daphne Ang notes. “It is the raw, enduring, and barbaric pain that pierces deep into the soul, which may then develop into something pure, beautiful and glorious. It is the totality of the highest and lowest points of our existence.”

TUTV: Oh my, oh my. What a jaw-dropping return this is. Mysterium Tremendum is a
symphonic metal rock rollercoaster going up and down, forth and back, through different phases. From the Bohemian Rhapsody-like piano intro to growling death metal aggression to quiet/loud/quiet/loud turbulence, from waltzing strings to operatic grandeur and back.

The piano/violin epilogue is for Daphne‘s gripping spoken word reflections on German theologian and philosopher Rudolf Otto‘s book Das Heilige. Über das Irrationale in der Idee des Göttlichen und sein Verhältnis zum Rationalen / An Inquiry into the Non-Rational Factor in the Idea of the Divine and its Relation to the Rational.

As usual, the duo comes up with a fantastic video clip to visualise their work.

TCOMAS: Facebook – Instagram – Spotify