Track of the Week
Lazarus Kane – Night Walking
I never understand what people mean when they described a song as ‘huge’, or a chorus as ‘big’. I guess they mean this though. I guess they mean this song from Lazarus Kane, the fictitious cowboy from the US of A. They must mean Lazarus Kane, right? This new track, ‘Night Walking’, that’s what they’re talking about when they call a song ‘huge’, right? Because it is. It’s absolutely massive, wonderful weird and a whole lot of fun.
Alison Mosshart – It Ain’t Water
Bit of a noir feel to this one. Bit of a western feel to it, too. Western noir? Good band name, that. Big fan of Alison’s work up to now, and this new solo track won’t change that. Her vocal is gripping as always, and the mysteriousness of the music keeps you intrigued for what may come next for The Kills’ singer.
The Beths – I’m Not Getting Excited
An imposter-syndrome ridden, feisty track. Think – punky guitars with coruscating solos, and syrupy vocals. It’s a juxtaposition in many ways; its topic is sentimental, but the execution is frenetic. A clash, but a good clash.
Butch Kassidy – 644
A weird but wicked debut demo. This song fuses everything good about most bands you see at The Windmill in Brixton with heavy, dirty metal. It’s like Motörhead and Black Midi had sex, the vocals sometimes narrated sometimes screeched. Quite a serious assault on the ears, brilliant nonetheless.
Cafe Spice – She Loves and Leaves
This gentle, uplifting track details the acceptance of a lost love and the calm that has come after the storm. It’s not the kind of break-up song that has you smashing up your ex’s car with a golf club – sorry Taylor Swift fans. In fact, the two could not be more different. Try listening to this on an easy Sunday morning with a coffee… away from any sports equipment.
Coco – One Time Villain
This song got me thinking of ‘One Time Villains’. Harry Styles used to be a villain, love him now though. That counts, right? Anyway, Coco are new on the scene, nobody really knows anything about them, apart from the fact that they sound brilliant. Their low-fi sound has worked it’s way onto my radar and as long as I keep reading my emails, it’ll stay on my radar.
Dirty Nice – My Dead End Self
Not going to lie, the constant stop starting in the intro had me restarting my WiFi, thinking there was a problem with the connection. There isn’t though. Lovely falsetto in this song. And yes, that’s The Rodeo using a proper music term. Shocking, I know.
Everything Everything – Arch Enemy
Everything Everything are the weirdos of the alternative scene and they aren’t about to relinquish that title anytime soon. Some proper strange lyrics on this one, dinosaurs and sewages both getting mentions. Sounds great though, and that’s all that matters, right?
Haux – Calico
A poignant tale of grief, painted in a layer of rawness. It’s story-telling at its most real, and the vulnerability which coats his vocals only plunges the track into pure intimacy. Every word hits.
The Hails – Situations
It’s been a year since Florida-based five-piece indie pop band The Hails released a single. And, it was worth the wait. ‘Situations’ is very, very fun. An upbeat track about disillusionment with social pressures – talk about contrast. Alongside the song, the band put out an audio video filmed with some fans on Zoom a couple weekends ago – lovely stuff.
Honey Lung – Big
Proper road-trip song, this. Speeding down the motorway, watching the trees go by, sticking your head out the roof, opening your arms wide like you’re in Perks of Being a Wallflower. Would be great if we could go on road trips. But we can’t. Honey Lung, stop teasing us.
Jeremy Tuplin – Space Magic
“I believe in magic,” declares Jeremy Tuplin throughout his latest track. That’s mighty convenient, because ‘Space Magic’’s hazy distorted guitar is nothing short of magical. The perfect soundtrack to a languorous day lazing in the sun, put on your yellow-tinged glasses and join him in basking in it.
James Smith – Call Me When It’s Over
Everyone needs a good ol’ sing-song every now and again and the chorus to James Smith’s new track is a ruddy good’en. Kind of makes me want to get some Ben and Jerry’s, bring my duvet downstairs and start belting out the words. Cheers James, now I’m crying.
KennyHoopla – Plastic Door//
KennyHoopla’s back again and bats another one out the park. ‘Plastic Door//’ is somehow simultaneously mellow and angsty. It’s proof alt-rock’s still got legs to stand on in 2020, and we can’t wait to see where his upwards trajectory is going next.
Lazy Day – All The Time
It’s a rockin’ poppin’ rootin’ tootin’ darn good song. The polished music is contrasted by the rawness of the vocals, the singer belting it out in the chorus before returning to something softer in the verses. Reminds me of Angel Olsen a little bit. Now that is a compliment.
Little Kid – Losing
It sounds like fir trees. It sounds like snow. It sounds like a warm hot chocolate around a campfire. It doesn’t sound like a cliche, unlike all that garbage I’ve just written, sorry about that. It’s a wonderful song though. Effortlessly cool, very calming. Bit like a cup of camomile really. Fans of Whitney should check this out, defo.
Nicole Atkins – Mind Eraser
I like how this song makes me feel. It makes me feel like I’m being watched. Then it makes me feel hopeful. Then it makes me feel romantic. Then I feel like I’m being watched again, and that there’s nothing to be hopeful about. But then the hope returns. No, I don’t know what I’m saying either. Good song though, clearly.
Sid Stone – Better Alone
Stone delivers a piano-driven, jazz infused pick-me-up we needed right now. It feels like that first bubbly sip of a pint on a warm summers day, and it goes down just as smooth. It’s definitely one for the beer garden (and by beer garden I mean having a beer in your own garden).
