20 BEST TRACKS OF THE MONTH – APRIL 2025

– 1 –


Press photo by Damien Sayell

Band: MCLUSKY
Who: Notorious Welsh noiseniks fronted by angry man
Andrew Falkous (also the mastermind of Future Of The Left).

Track: CHEKOV’S GUNS
Piece from their upcoming album #4, titled The World Is Still
Here And So Are We
. It will shock our stereos from May 9th on.

TUTV: Post-punk aggression at its Mclusky‘s sharp-biting best,
gas-powered by a cast iron bass/drum tandem, schizo guitars
and Falkous‘s intimidating sneering.

Chop, chop, chop.


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Instagram – Linktree
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– 2 –


Art design by Jason Zucco

Band: REAL BEAUT
Who: Rackety rockers
from Boston.

Track: POLITICS ON THE INTERNET
Piece from their new 4-track EP, named
Politics
. Stream/buy here.

“‘Politics on the Internet’ is about caring for yourself enough not to engage in the beast battle
all the time. You can talk to your brothers, parents, and friends. Prioritize your family and fight locally. Flinging verbal excrement at a screen isn’t the way. Love yourself, love others. Love, sex, being strong through kindness, the weight of political turmoil and technology on what is human in humanity.”

TUTV: Blimey. This pyrotechnics juggernaut has a knockout vehemence
that floors you in 150 seconds. To hell with shitty politics on the Internet,
these motherrockers are the real riff-raging deal.

Helter-skelter.


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Instagram – Facebook
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Artist: MARK STEWART
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
First shared taster from Stewart‘s solo album The Fateful Symmetry,
that was completed early 2023, not long before his passing.

TUTV: Haunting, synth-symphonic and boom-tastic
with Mark‘s characteristically energetic voice on top.

Mark Stewart Facebook – Mute Records
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– 4 –


Photo Credit Katie Silvester

Band: THE NEW EVES
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.


Photo by Turn Up The Volume

New single: HIGWAY MAN
First new music in 2 years, out
now via Transgressive Records.

It’s a darkly-energised, female-first retelling of
writer/poet Alfred Noyes classic 1906 romantic
poem.

TUTV: These four musical mavericks don’t care about rock ‘n’ roll rules. Only 4 singles in, and it’s clear they do what they want, the way they want, annex unseen visual presence on stage and in video clips. On Highwayman they rattle and brattle full speed ahead motorized by restless drum/bass teamwork.

Here and there the tune, goes, eh, out of tune, and it sounds totally perfect for this emotional belter. No arty farty production for TNE. Winder-Lind‘s awesomely agitated vocals put a spell on you. Pure present-day punk. I want more.

The accompanying, eye-catching video is quite special too.

Instagram – Linktree – All Singles – Tour Dates
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– 5 –


Photo by Laurens Wille

Band: WHOLES
Who: A fresh, rowdy hit team led by Belgian, musical chameleon Wolf Vanwymeersch,
who played with several bands (pop, rock, sludge metal) and released a pure singer-songwriter pearl with solo debut album The Early Years back in 2022. Wholes are what remains after a soul has been detonated, what struck those around it, what could no longer be contained.

Track: TILL WE DON’T MEET AGAIN
Their debut single.

TUTV: Stoner rock dynamics and spiky garage blues disturbance work together to inject your eager ears with doom and gloom disturbance. Like dark clouds predicting a storm, like demons challenging each other, eye to eye, face to face. Wolf’s near-whispering, Josh Homme-esque vocals complete the ominous sonic picture.

Roasting ripper.

Instagram – Bandcamp
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– 6 –


Photo Credit: Meg Moon

Band: THE BEACHES
Who:
4 Canadian pop-rock indies.

Track: LAST GIRLS AT THE PARTY
Third single from their 3rd LP, called
No Hard Feelings, out August 29th.

TUTV: An instantly sticking, surf-pop shaker.
Two words: irresistibly catchy. Let’s toast to
Beaches and join their showy party..

Instagram – Website
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– 7 –


Press photo by Danny Clinch

Band: ARCADE FIRE
Who: The famous pop-rock
collective from Canada.

Track: YEAR OF THE SNAKE
First single from their forthcoming 7th album, named
Pink Elephant ready for release on May 9th. 2025 is
the ‘year of the snake‘ in the Chinese Zodiac.

TUTV: It’s a sublime, crystalline pop pearl, with its hypnotizing guitar riff, the non-stop
banging drum beat and the intertwined, spellbinding vocals of Win Butler and his spouse Régine Chassagne.

Sterling stroke.

Instagram – Shop
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– 8 –


New album artwork

Band: PULP
Who: Sheffield‘s guitar-pop heroes
fronted by the charismatic songsmith
Jarvis Cocker.

Track: SPIKE ISLAND
First single from their first LP in 24 years. It’s named
More and will be shared with the world on June 6th.

TUTV: A vintage, mid-tempo, pop thrill with a grandiose
chorus. Wake up common people, here’s some more pulp.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 9 –

Artist: ANDY BELL
Who: Best known as vocalist of British synth-pop duo Erasure with
former Depeche Mode/Yazoo keyboardist/songwriter Vince Clarke.

Track: HEART’S A LIAR
Newest single from his upcoming 3rd solo album Ten Crows,
which lands this Friday, on May 2nd. It features Blondie icon
Debbie Harry.

TUTV: Two glamourous voices, one glamourous disco
tune. It’s a fervid break-up pop gem to fill dance floors
with.

Catchy as fuck.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 10 –

Artist: LIFE COACH
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.

Track: SQUADDIES IN HAIR NETS
Piece taken from the upcoming 2nd album, named
‘A Love Letter To Your Yearning Heart’, which is due for
release on May 30th.

TUTV: Life Coach are on fire, again. This new rattling rap ‘n’ punk roll crackerjack
swings you forth and back, left and right and Jamie Cameron’s adrenalizing word-flow
energizes all of your insatiable limbs before he relaxes towards the synthy end. Another kinetic kick. Hands up for the coach.

Let the siren blare.


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Instagram – Facebook
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– 11 –


Image Credit: Euripides Altintzoglou

Band: LIONS OF DISSIDENT
Who: Electrifying outfit from the Midlands (UK).
They released their debut album Ghost Behind You
in 2022.

Track: SIRENS AT THE SEA

Tim Baker (founder and creative director): “The best of what we do in one song,
it’s a tune that really carries the soul of everything good we have stood for over the
last ten years”.

TUTV: Expect electrifying energy from the kick-off. Delirious guitars set the haywire tone and hyperventilating vocals augment the buzzing fuzz. A modern-day post-punk roller coaster.

Rapturous ride.


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Instagram – Linktree
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– 12 –


Photo by Turn Up The Volume

Artist: SALVIA
Who: The moniker of Belgian, Ghent-born,
singer-songwriter Nicole Selivan.

Track: YOU AND ME

TUTV: Only two singles in, and it’s already clear that Salvia‘s songwriting skills,
and her impressive vocal performance will bring her musical journey pretty far.

You And Me is an entrancing jam with a rotating guitar riff that gets under your skin
from start to finish. Salvia‘s seductive vocals match the trancy vibe perfectly well.

Today Ghent, next week Belgium, next month the world.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 13 –

Artists: peach I melba
Who: Queer femme indie duo,
half Brighton and half Los Angeles.

Track: WORST TRIMESTER
With blistering lyrics delivered at a rapped pace, the riot grrrl duo
explore the gender politics of pregnancy, in their style of both members
singing every word together over minimalist bass guitar and driving drums.

TUTV: There’s good news and bad news. Bad news first? World peace is an illusion.
From the moment Adam & Eve fucked up, shit started to happen and dirty wars are
still fought, its part of human nature.

The good news? These two DIY Amazons swear to release a new song every six weeks until world peace has been fully achieved. So, we’re ready for a looooong wild and rough ride, starting with this fun, outspoken and catchy 100% indie thrill. Don’t miss their bus, all you music junkies out there.

Instagram – Follow PM
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– 14 –

Band: SUGARBUNNY
Who: Seasoned, high-powered
pop outfit from Belgium.

Track: SHADOW
Their newest single.


Photo by Turn Up The Volume

TUTV: Frontwoman Hannah Vandenbussche‘s voice is the heartbeat of this fresh
act, composed of experienced musicians. With Shadow they released their 4th single.
A spellbinding and haunting piece of captivating music, moving around a bewitching
guitar riff. Tension in the air throughout. Compelling tune. Sugarbunny is going places.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 15 –

Band: LEDHER BLUE
Who: The product of two distinctively different individuals, and Pedro,
that the waves of life comically decided to beach in a northern town of
Portugal – Guimarães.

Track: CRAIC
Piece from their brand new, excellent debut
album, titled Fait Divers. Stream it here

TUTV: What starts as a both moody and amplified reflection, explodes
on the let’s all sing together chorus, like if this cracking anthem was recorded
at a Premier League football game. It sticks after one spin. Score!

Raise your glass and
join the party.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 16 –

Band: TV SUNDAZE
Who: Wired indies
from France.

Track: DON’T MIND ME
Single from their brand-new 2nd LP, named
Plastic Bags / Packing Tape. Stream it here.

TUTV: When I just say that my excited ears hear jangly Parquet Courts echoes, you already should get excited too. The sharp-edged riffage, explosive eruptions now and then, and fidgety vocals will drive your mind and stereo mad.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 17 –


Photo credit: Ebony Alexander Media

Band: VIRGINS
Who: Belfast-based shoegaze band who transcend that reductive tag to deliver a noise which is thrillingly loud and weightily light. Last year they released their notable debut album nothing hurt and everything was beautiful.

Track: BLOOMS

TUTV: Heavenly melodiousness, edged layers of shoegazing guitars, forceful
drumming, crystalline vocals, and a non-stop bass riff pushing the pace
throughout combine for a breathtaking score.

Instagram – Linktree
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– 18 –

Artist: FIR CONE CHILDREN
Who: The musical moniker of
Berlin-based indie Alexander Donat.

Track:YOUR VOICE
Single from FCC’s brand new CD
Gearshifting. Stream it here

TUTV: From the first chord on Donat takes you on a head-twisting and power-driven
trip. No brakes, no breaks. Always pedal to the metal. Raise your voice and absorb
this flat-out ripper. Bingo.


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Instagram – Facebook
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Band: THE HIVES
Who: The notorious Swedisch
punk ‘n’ roll dropouts.

Track: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Lead single from their 7th LP, baptized The Hives Forever,
Forever The Hives
. It’ll land on 29th August.

“Everyone’s a lil fuckin’ bitch!
And I’m gettin’ sick and tired of it!”

TUTV: Beware folks, and watch boxer
star Howlin’ Pelle hit left and right.

Instagram – All Albums
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– 20 –

Band: GREAT HARE
Who: Swedish pop indies, making noise since 2010.
They released their debut album In Another Shape
in 2013.

Track: CALM BACKWATERS

TUTV: Never a dull guitar-pop moment with this seasoned Swedish combo. This lazy tune, for lazy days is one that Scottish melancholic heroes Teenage Fanclub would be proud of. It feels as if Spring invites you to have a feel-good Summer.


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Instagram – Bandcamp

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Turn Up The Volume’s 20 KNOCKOUT TRACKS Of The Month – AUGUST 2021

Turn Up The Volume‘s 20 Knockout Tracks for August 2021!
A stream of rattling rippers, jagged jams and romantic reveries.

All together on Spotify…

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Knockout by knockout…

‘Before You Gotta Go’ by COURTNEY BARNETT (Australia)

An infectious ditty, bouncing in your head before it ends. If this, simply irresistible, tune doesn’t do anything for  you, you gotta go to your shrink. From Barnett’s new, upcoming album Takes Time, Take Time, out 12th November.

Catchy
as hell…

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‘Hot Summer’ by PRINCE (US)

Summer is only over when it’s over. Still time to move and groove to this disco
stomper from the recently released lost Prince album Welcome To America.

Make your move here, ladies and gents…

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‘Go Get A Tattoo’ by FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES feat. Lynks

Why don’t we all get a tattoo, suggests Frank. I think he’s right, it’s
the only way to really go nuts to this bangtastic jackhammer. From
the band’s 4th longplayer called Sticky, arriving in October.

Smash your TV…

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‘Security’ by AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS (Australia)

“I’m not looking for trouble, I’m looking for love / Let me in your hard heart Let me in your pub” sings Amyl over and over again with fervency and tons of gusto, while flamed-up guitars go mental. A blast from new album Comfort To Me, out 10th September.

Hit hit hit, Amyl…

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‘Aire & Calder’ by ULTRASOUND (UK)

These passionate British glam-prog rockers unleash a deluxe edition of their
1999 double debut LP Everything Picture on 24 September. More info here.

Here’s a new video clip for one of the album’s highlights ‘Aire And Calder‘…

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‘Soap And Cigarettes‘ by Nun habit (London)

A queer five-piece from London who play fun, fuzzy garage rock. Their songs are a mishmash of influences all pulled together by a love of loud noises, pop tunes, and
having a good time. ‘Soap And Cigarettes‘ is a stand-out knockout from their brand
new album Hedge Fun.

Trust me, you can’t resist this vibrant vibe…


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‘You And Me’ by THE RUDDY RUCKUS (Canada)

This ardent 4-piece flames with force on this new riff-roaring ripper. They operate somewhere between Green Day and Weezer, with peppery panache, gusty guitars,
vivid vocals, and a cracking chorus.

Scream along…

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‘What’s Wrong With People?’ by PESCH (Belgium)

Darkwave electricity from Belgium. Haunting and ominous. You can smell Doomsday waiting around the corner. It’s 2021, folks, we need to fix our problems now. This sickly sticky roller coaster is a call to arms.


What’s wrong
with all of us..

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‘Highway To Hell’ by TOM MORELLO feat. Eddie Vedder and Bruce Springsteen

Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello launches his new album titled
The Atlas Underground Fire on 15 October. He invited several friends, like
Springsteen and Vedder for a bombastic version of AC/DC’s classic headbanger.

Yessssss

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‘Queen Of Swords’ by TYPHOID ROSIE (Brooklyn, US)

The speedy and steamy title track is one of the fired-up highlights of the new album of this punked-up Brooklyn squad. A zigzagging collection of amplified belters to start and end post-lockdown parties with. More info here.


Rock
your ass off here…

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‘Money Song’ by ROYAL CASTLES (Canada)

Wham bam, bloody bam! From the kick-off Money Song booms, bangs and batters. Hefty guitars blare in between and raise your blood pressure on the spot. And when the blissful chorus pops up it’s time to leave your cocoon and let your body do its thing. Don’t wait to boost your stream of adrenalin.

Act now, dance now, party now.

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‘And Tomorrow’ by LORE CITY (Portland, US)

A stunning and shadowy top piece from this duo’s equally stunning
album Participation Mystique. And Tomorrow sounds cinematic,
atmospheric and spacey. Join Lore City on their journey.


Listen
today and tomorrow too…


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‘No Regrets’ by SHE/BEAST (Sweden)

Wurlitzer jukeboxes were invented for these 60s inspired humdingers, so they could be played in dark bars downtown were broken hearts gather at midnight. One more thing:
do not mess with SHE/BEAST, she’s not in the mood for fucking assholes and psychos.
And she’s absofuckinglutly right.

Press
play…


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‘Popstar’s Daughters’ by SHAUN RYDER (Manchester, UK)

The Happy Mondays frontman’s brand new solo album
Visits From Future Technology is hip-shaking proof
that he still can fill dance floors.

Here’s the trippy and poppy single…

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‘All Nations’ by NADINE GAGNE and The Star Nation Collective (British Columbia)

This resonates as a bright sonic light at the end of our troubled world tunnel. Only with togetherness, friendship, mutual respect, equality, harmony and tolerance, humankind can have hope for the future. This tremendously catching chant reflects all that. It’s a joyful, anthem that should be played on radios all over the planet.

“We are all stars, all stars come on now. Rise, rise and shine, gotta stay proud!”

Let’s get together…

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‘Heart Like Chernobyl’ by SOFT CELL (UK)

The song’s title is the gloom and doom harbinger for
a scary, realistic vision of how we live on the edge.

Tainted love…

Lead-single from new album *Happiness Not Included,
out in the Spring of 2022.

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‘See The Light’ by SHAUNA SEETEENAK (Iqaluit, Canada)

We need songs like these in the restless times we live in. Songs of hope, songs of consolation, songs of inspiration. Shauna wants humankind to fight to see the light
(at the end of the tunnel) again. Her thoughts are embedded in a starry-eyed and
instantly enthralling groove that hops from dreamy pop to hip-swaying rap and back.

See the light here…

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‘Nowhere’ by THE BLACK FEVER (Toronto)

Nowhere sounds like a desperation song, but one that has a deeply felt effect on your psyche, on your state-of-2021-mind. This spellbound jam is driven by melancholic guitar lines, reminding me of Interpol‘s electrically-charged drive. Affecting and soul-stirring fever.

Check it out…


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‘Skin’ by BASEMENT REVOLVER (Hamilton, Canada)

An inspiring reverie for the countless girls/women and boys/men worldwide, struggling with the looks of their body when it doesn’t correspond with society’s everlasting sexist perception of how a body should look like, as we all know. Skin is an instantly heartfelt
slo-mo musing, turning after a distorted guitar intro, into a vocal and musical pearl, with touching piano play. I’m sure The Sundays‘s Harriet Wheeler would love it.

Open your ears and eyes here…

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‘You Are A Runner And I Am My Father’s Son’ by PORRIDGE RADIO (Brighton, UK)

Porridge Radio‘s leading Amazon Dana Margolin is a fan of Canadian rockers Wolf Parade. Here’s her  terrifically gripping rendition of the band’s 2005 composition.

Just beautiful…

See/hear you next month, music junkies…

THE RUDDY RUCKUS Flame With Force On New Ripper ‘YOU AND ME’

Daily electricity to load your batteries

4 August 2021

Band: THE RUDDY RUCKUS
Who: Ardent indie rockers
from Hamilton, Canada

New album: Wentworth and Main
Out 10th September 2021

New single: YOU AND ME

“About one of those relationships – one that has the velocity
of atoms smashing in the Large Hadron Collider.”

Turn Up The Volume: This ardent 4-piece flames with force
on this new riff-roaring ripper. They operate somewhere
between Green Day and Weezer. With punked-up panache,
gusty guitars, vivid vocals, and a cracking chorus.

And don’t forget, all you need is love.

Pump it up here, folks…

THE RUDDY RUCKUS: Facebook

New album Wentworth and Main (great artwork) out 10th September