Big names are back, newbies are making their entrance: welcome to The Round-Up.
TRACK OF THE WEEK:
Robin Richards – Gefail Yr Ynys
On ‘Gefail Yr Ynys’ – which, for the non-Welsh among us, translates to ‘The Island Forge’ – PRAH recordings are spearheading a new musical movement: SpoonCore. It’s a head-bopper fit for a long drive, or a Wes Anderson flick. Silverware has never sounded so fun.
Allie X – Regulars
Plucky instruments frame the narrative – it’s not always easy to integrate into a place you’ve felt excluded from; but with a faux cheery persona, it may be possible. Allie X’s catchy single speaks of the outsider’s experience; you’ll find not hitting replay a difficult task.
Billie Eilish – everything i wanted
More tales of dreamscapes in Billie’s new track, ‘everything i wanted’ introduces a slight tangent on her usual sound, opting for a muffled backbeat over some soft and woozy piano. Gentle and precise, it’s exactly what it sets out to be: dreamy.
Bring Me The Horizon – Ludens
Bring Me The Horizon are really broadening horizons here, a heavy rock track with elements of techno and even some grungey beats – not for me.
Glowie – Unlovable
Best time of the day to listen to Glowie’s silky siren vocals is first thing, because then you can keep the nice warm feeling this song evokes wrapped around you all day. You’re gonna think Glowie is in love with you, and that’s a pretty bloody sweet sound.
Hazel English – Shaking
Shaking, swirling, and all that good dream-pop goodness is injected into English’s new bop. Underneath its shimmering reverb is a truly raunchy undertone, complete with poignant lyrics like “Get down on your hands and knees, baby, beg for me.” So, if you want to get a little hot under the collar in a trip to the 70s, baby do I have a tune for you.
HONEYMOAN – Still Here
A solid first half to this track, with a great groove most of the way, ‘Still Here’ takes a bit of a noisy turn towards the end. Maybe it needs a second listen, maybe once was enough.
Jake Bugg – Kiss Like The Sun
Oh God, I love this. You can practically feel the vibrations of those guitar strings dancing through the introduction, and its fuelled with a beat you just want to stomp to. Very very good.
Øslo Dentist – Fratricide
Fresh out the oven, Øslo Dentist have debuted an intriguing single that already shows some range. While giving us a slightly sinister first impression, the title track is particularly successful in dipping between softer sounds that end in a louder, really quite sophisticated, final quarter. Kinda punky, kinda not. I like.
Roísín Murphy – Narcissus
No one appreciates a country-esque dance track like we do, genuinely no one, but here there’s just not enough dance or enough yeehaw for our liking. There’s six and a half minutes of our lives we’re not getting back.
Sarah Mary Chadwick – Please Daddy
Sarah Mary Chadwick is trying to please Daddy in her latest raggedy piano ballad. I can imagine hearing this in a dark, hazy New York bar at 2 am would send a tear rolling down your cheek. Not in sadness, but in empathy.
Weird Milk – Time Machine
Nice bit of 70s glam rock of the Alex Turner kind in this – kind of how I imagine the Beatles would have sounded like when Queen came out. Bring on more.
