The Assist are an indie-dance four piece from Walsall, comprised of members Mikey Stanton (vocals), Ryan Stanton (guitar), Jak Baker (bass) and Ben Faulkner (drums). They have recently graced both LEEDS & Y NOT Festival alongside support slots with both Ratboy, Blossoms and Jaws. The Assist completed a full UK headline tour to coincide with the release of their debut EP ‘TROUBLE’. They were strongly supported by BBC’s introducing show and not long after labelled as “Birmingham’s next big thing” by X radio. They have now released their new single ‘Tell Her How You Feel’. ‘Tell Her How You Feel’ is an animated energetic track bursting with rubbery bounce that rebounds and slaps you in the face with smooth pop melody coated in intense post-Britpop and a dash of R&B. This track flows with a spring in its step with elastic punchy drums and funky bass. Driving strides on guitar adds a zesty flavour and edge to the track. Stanton’s vocals rap the verse with attitude while the wistful soaked catchy chorus displays his emotional and dynamic vocals. The Assist display a well developed track that showcases their confidence as a band with swagger-filled instrumentation that shows their talent and competence while also displaying strong songwriting skills. The Assist are ones to watch.
Stream ‘Tell Her How You Feel’ below
Welsh alternative band We Are Animal have released their new single ‘Capoeira’. Its a gritty dark edgy track smothered in murky fuzz and eerie tones. Elastic depth on bass and rooted beat gives the track a sensual luring quality and repetitive psychedelic feel. Haunting raspy vocals add a spooky hair raising quality while enticing and drawing the listener into the shadowy gravelly depths of the track. Shredding guitar brings the track to its crescendo adding intensity and ferocity. The sweet catchy melody is hypnotising and seeps into your mind leaving you like a willing zombie mindlessly singing along. Distorted instrumental feature is hair-raisingly chilling and scratchy, it reminds me of a nervous person uncontrollably scratching an itch that doesn’t exist. ‘Capoeira’ is a mind numbing piece of well crafted alternative rock blended with psychedelia.
Stream ‘Capoeira’ below
Hailing from Manchester, Baum Jr. is a newly emerging musician with an aptitude for creating catchy electro songs with edgier vocals. He has a background in rock and describes his newly-invented genre as ‘Next-Gen 8-bit’, calling upon influence from film scores and game soundtracks of the 1980’s. His debut single ‘When I Grow Up’ was released in October and is a re-imagination of a Garbage song, the popular American-Scottish alternative rock outfit founded in the mid 90’s. Baum Jr.’s rendition of the track boasts some restructuring and sonic shifts. In lieu of Garbage’s alternative rock stylings from 1998, Baum Jr. has opted for an electronic pop landscape that’s infused with his signature ‘8-bit’ sound. It is elegantly contemporary while wholly retro. ‘When I Grow Up’ is an electronic composition bursting with thick gooey synths that bleep and bloop with bombastic acoustic drums that create a dramatic backdrop for the anthem-like chorus. With an eerie spacey electronic vibe created by the darkened shimmering synths and elastic bounce and rumble beat Baum Jr. gives us a dramatic swirling electronically bubbling punchy track that seems a little subdued by the tactful, edgy vocals. Baum Jr. has rebuilt Garbage’s song from the ground up utilising a new key and style while effortlessly showcasing his complicated, structured music.
Heez has released his EP ‘Codependent’ its a five track meandering labyrinth of intricate electronics churning with dark tones and poetic lyrics. Previously featured on Indie Buddie ‘Dancing’ kicks off the EP with its snappy beat, interweaving electronics and shadowy atmospheres. The heavy hearted vocals add emotion to the track while the rap adds rhythm and gives an edge. The quick synth-stabs which are a recurring feature in Heez’s EP give the track an elastic bendable quality while providing a strong sharp whack beat that has a trance effect. ‘The XX Makes Me Sad’ which we also featured this year is a deep rooted flex wave track that is sticky and muggy in thick slap beats and punchy electronics. The haunting lull of backing vocals give a subtle ghostly wailing effect to the track as if they groan and moan with anguish conveying the depression and sorrow of the track. ‘Cold Soul’ follows with distorted spoken vocals and simple accompaniment drawing the listeners attention to the lyrics. The slight echo and “wah wah” vibration to start has a psychedelic vibe. A strong beat enters giving something solid to hold onto before you slip into a trance. ‘Must Be Love’ brightens the tone of the EP with a catchy pop melody for the chorus. Rap vocals brings an R&B feel while the soft instrumentation has a feathery feel and cheery vibe which contrasts the entire EP up to now and showcases Heez can do happy but his way. ‘Sunday’ is a slick sensual light at the end of the dark swirling psychedelic black vortex tunnel that was the first half of the ‘Codependent’ EP. Filling us with hope for the future and optimism. Its a daydream of hazy sunshine with a hint of reggae thrown in and a brighter glimpse of that whack beat teamed with razor shape edgy guitar and strums from a warm mellow acoustic guitar.
Stream the ‘Codependent’ EP below
Robert Loud is the electro solo-project from Robert Connolly (lead guitar/vocalist of Fictionist). He has released his first track ‘Intentional’ from his forthcoming EP set for release early 2017. The track features guest vocals by Janessa Smith (Goldmyth). ‘Intentional’ creates a room-shaking body grooving dance-music moment with a heavy electronic beat, driving and orbiting swirling synths with sweet vocal melodies. Having distorted vocals and tropical undertones this track will get you on your feet and dancing like a Daft Punk robot. Easing us into the sound to start, Robert Loud lures us with infectious beats and honeyed melodies. Once you are drawn in queue the swirling hypnotic elements contrasting heavy fuzzed psychedelia and your trapped in a hazy concoction of electronic pop and edgy indie that commands you to dance.
Stream ‘Intentional’ below
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Sherlocks
Sheffield four-piece The Sherlocks have been steadily building a solid live following and were the first unsigned band since Arctic Monkeys to sell out their local venue the Sheffield Leadmill. Their recently released single ‘Will You Be There?’ is an infectious indie track that continues the bands epidemic of frenzy causing high energy anthemic tracks that are sure to cause dance seizures. Animated bounce on drums teamed with razor sharp vigorous guitar riffs that are presented in such a slick nimble manner will cause a live audience to go berserk. The catchy chorus is sing-along ready with a mosh/ frantic jumping worthy crescendo and shredding guitar solo, its the perfect indie rock track. With effortless smooth and cool vocals and a melody soaked in melancholic tones this bustle robust track sweeps you into The Sherlocks whirlwind of intense tireless energy.
To see all live shows for the Sherlocks check out the link below
Hailing from East London, Sonïtus are a multicultural assemblage of tenacious artists whose powerful neo-rock explores the beautiful, devious and carnal sides of the human psyche. The band consists of members Russell Balogun (vocals), Dein Moore (guitar, vocals), Nathan Chan (guitar), Scott Bacon (bass) and Romulo Heredia (drums.) The quintet’s debut EP, ‘Kleptocracy’ was recorded in part at Urchin Studios in Hackney with Dan Cox and Matt Ingram (Lianne La Havas, Enter Shikari, Denai Moore, Slaves), and produced by Sonïtus’ Nathan and is set for release this Friday. It is a seven-song EP that shows Sonïtus are unafraid to weave threads of R&B and urban UK sound into their politically driven progressive metal.
The EP lead track is ‘Alleviate’. It is an acutely intense track that agonises and bubbles with deep emotions and frustrations. Beginning teasingly gentle and subdued with soft hushed whispering vocals and repressed instrumentation like the cold sting of emotions churning and boiling inside. This track oozes and bleeds with harmonic waves of arpeggiated guitar and bass, flowing across a determined kick drum and shivering hi-hat. ‘Alleviate’ hooks you into the chilling eerie vibe of swirling hair raising emotion. The track builds into a ferocious surge of molten metallic rage showcasing Sonïtus’ attack of alternative rock. With gritty growl-like yell on vocals, striking vigorous guitars and tireless pounding rumble on drums the track becomes aggressive with fight back spirit. Its a punch in the face of bloodthirsty brutal retribution from the restrains of conformity.
You can catch Sonïtus live Friday 18 November at The Finsbury, London N4 (Official Kleptocracy launch show)
Stream ‘Alleviate’ below
Nottingham pop-rock four-piece Mowbeck have released their new single ‘Vaseline’ which is taken from the band’s recently released debut EP ‘Talkabout’.The debut EP was written and recorded in a dingy rehearsal studio deep in an industrial estate, where the band began to stray from their early pop roots to embrace a darker, grittier core. Whilst ensuring that songwriting was always kept at the forefront and playing any gigs possible, the band’s strong DIY ethic caught the attention of Dean Jackson (BBC Introducing East Midlands) and earned them regular airplay on BBC local radios and even a slot on the BBC Introducing Stage at this years’ Reading & Leeds Festival. ‘Vaseline’ is an atmospheric ballad that croons and coos soft tender moody emotions. With a gradual build this track eases us into Mowbeck’s “gritpop”. With an effortless cool sway and spine tingling twinkle of keys coated in dark shadowy undertones this track oozes a ghostly delicate vibe that has a lulling soothing effect. Soft falsetto vocals start the track laced with raw emotion and haunting echos that builds to a raspy gritty intensity. The eerie glint and sparkling in the background like a light happening upon a diamond adds a dreamy haze to the track while the haunting almost nostalgic guitar gives us that razor sharp edge, like a cold breeze waking you from the dream. The track surrounds the vocals making them and the lyric the vortex while the haunting instrumentation twirls and weaves around complimenting and enhancing them. Mowbeck show fantastic musicianship with ‘Vaseline’ as they fully develop this track piece by piece carefully and delicately emphasising the right aspects at the right time portraying an intense raw track with smooth qualities embroidered with gritty elements.
Watch the video for ‘Vaseline’ below
British singer-songwriter DD Allen has announced the release of his new single ‘Just Like The Old Days’ which is taken from DD Allen’s forthcoming album due out early 2017. DD Allen first caught the attention of critics and fans alike as the support on James Blunt’s 2014 ‘Moon Landing’ arena tour in Bournemouth. Since then he has been putting the finishing touches on his debut album. On the new record, DD Allen has teamed up with an A-list team including engineer Mike Spink (The 1975, Jake Bugg) and Andrew Scheps (Adele, Hozier). The yet untitled album was inspired by many great artists, including Bob Dylan, who Allen names as his greatest influence. The record also includes a cover version of Dylan’s ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’. ‘Just Like The Old Days’ blends edgy contemporary rock and roll with sustainable melodic and soulful musicianship creating a sound that flows smoothly with effortless grace and charm. Warm sweet mellow tones on guitar fills the track with full flavoured ripe qualities. With animated bounce on drums teamed with soulful harmonica this track exudes bright rich tones with multi textures. Allen’s raw vocals amplify and heighten the dynamic energy and flush textures of the track. Shredding guitar solo adds a sharpened sting to the track while creating a cheeky “air guitar” moment for the listener.
Stream ‘Just Like The Old Days’ below
