Luna Tides have released their new single ‘Young Laws’. Established in early 2016, Luna Tides is the creation of lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist Thomas James, and drummer and backing vocalist Sion Walsh. With the flip of a coin, the band’s name was decided whilst demoing their first EP, Open Woods, taking influence from the bewitching Welsh coastline. Later in the year, the trio was completed by electric guitarist and bassist, Rhys Plaister. Celebrating the release of the Open Woods EP in November 2016, the band held a packed out release show at the renown Clwb Ifor Bach in their home city, Cardiff. Encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response from national media, the band set out onto the road in January 2017, supporting the likes of Toploader & Hunter and the Bear as well as playing a multitude of festivals across the country.
‘Young Laws’ is a highly passionate emotive track, this trio are ready to paralyze listeners with their dramatic and intense folk-rock/ pop. It’s one for the chanting crowd as they pound their chests with the blood pumping beat and adrenaline rushing rhythm. With warm guitar jingles throughout, dynamic vocals, lush harmonies and a meticulously layered sound Luna Tides have created a track that is rich, snappy, earthy and wholesome. With a chorus that is powerful and anthemic they pack oodles of energy and might into a short spirited few minutes, its impressive. It’s an invigorating wholly satisfying listen.
Dublin’s alternative rock band Motions have released their new EP, ‘The Late Night Calls’ is a superb majestic EP to indulge in. Title track ‘Late Night Calls’ flows in with a beautiful melody on top of cool flicking electronics. With ethereal guitars providing a breezy sting, it’s an airy richly textured track that packs in oodles of passion into a fluttering danceable number. The snappy ‘Back & Forth’ follows. It’s a catchy track filled with buzz swirling electronics while a sputtering rhythm injects between lush backing vocals. This track is dipped in darker tones as harsher vocals exude swagger and attitude. My favourite track on the EP ‘Back & Forth’ showcases a rich depth and musical proficiency that keeps the listener hanging on to every gripping note. Its sway like tempo and jangly guitar are just the icing on this delicious cake. It’s the sublime little gem of the EP. A trickling ‘Interlude’ breaks up the sticky intensity before final track ‘Waiting To Tell You’ reintroduces their mellow fluid sound. A creamy melody glissades upon a fluctuant beat while aerial guitars twinkle around with a sweet blissful tone that holds a sense of mind relaxing freedom. Its dreamy and light yet Motions mix a bit of grit into the mix for the bridge.
Motions prove that they can create a passionate wholly satisfying collection of tracks that submerge you into a universe created completely by them. Each track is catchy, intricate and well layered while maintaining its own identity. ‘Late Night Calls’ is a sublime listen.
Freeda are a five piece indie-rock band from Manchester UK, comprising of members Sean Rowles (Guitar + Vocals), Callum Hignett (Guitar), Cameron Meekums-Spence (Guitar), Adam Barton (Bass) and Adam Jackson (drums).Working with the production duo Sugar House (Glass Caves, Viola Beach) the band have released their debut single ‘Plug It In’ and are working towards recording their first EP. Fresh off a string of support slots at venues such as Band on the Wall and Manchester Academy, Freeda are aiming to establish themselves as a headline act in the Manchester area.
‘Plug It In’ is a blistering indie track brimming with razor sharp guitar stabs piercing through punchy drums and elastic bass slaps. This catchy track scorches with red hot intensity and scalding instrumentation. Its snappy rhythm provides a flexible foundation for the swagger soaked sizzling guitars to rebound off as they jangle throughout adding bright little stings between the infectious melody. With gritty fragments throughout these guys blend the sweet and sour perfectly creating an impressive exhilarating debut track to make them ones to watch out for.
Bio: Liverpool’s We Were Glue have released their new single ‘Stuck in Love’. The track was recorded with Mark Morrow (Vistas, Mt Doubt) and represents the first offering in 2018, the follow-up to last year’s singles ‘Birthday’ and ‘My Girl’.
Track: ‘Stuck in Love’
Why We Like It: It’s a tasty nibble of infectious indie. Sharp zesty guitars spiral around a dynamic vocal while punchy drums add a buoyant spring to this vibrant number. Luscious melodies playfully melt upon the busy instrumentation as We Were Glue perfectly blend biting razor sharp indie rock with delicious sun kissed indie pop.
You can follow We Were Glue on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/wewereglue/
Stream ‘Stuck In Love’ below
Voyages
Genre: Indie pop
Bio: Bath family of five, Voyages have released their new single ‘New Year’s Day’. Voyages is the creation of singer/songwriter, Will Walter whose work began in Spring 2017 in his home studio in the West Country. Enriched by psychedelic sounds, Walter’s journey started to create a modern alternative production and a new sound from everything he loved about his record collection before adding a band of brothers together for the ride. The band, who now perform and record as a 5-piece, are twins, Will and Tim Walter on vocals/keys, their brother Ollie Walter on guitar, alongside another set of twins in James and Lewis Woods who take care of the rhythm section on bass and drums.Their debut EP entitled New Year’s Day has been recently released on newly pressed limited edition vinyl.
Track: Godspeed
Why We Like It: It’s a twinkling retro 60’s flavoured track doused in trippy blissed out psychedelia. A dreamy vocal glides upon the sweet melody while swirling synths and tapping rhythm create the perfect mellowed out state of euphoria. The track builds into a crescendo with 16 layers of vocal harmony over a 3 round vocal pass forming a lush rich texture to wrap your ears around.
Bio: UK based blues rocker Philip Morgan Lewis has released a music video for his single ‘Sinner’ taken from his ‘Grief Harbour’ album which is released via Moonalizer Records. The London East End singer, songwriter, producer Philip Morgan Lewis combines alternative, blues, rock and folk influences. Philip writes and produces his songs playing most of the instruments. A nominee at the British Blues Awards, Philip features as producer alongside Gordon Raphael (The Strokes) on Elêphant’s album (RYP recordings).
Track: ‘Sinner’
Why We Like It: With a stomping rhythm forming the back bone of this darkly hued track ‘Sinner’ instantly grabs the listener by the ears, slithers and hustles its way into your brain. Infectiously catchy with steamy wailing guitars and smokey raspy vocals smothered on top of a sultry bluesy outfit it’s a cool swagger soaked rough and ready number. With a sing along friendly chorus backed by gospel like soul, this track makes for some hefty listening.
Fears Chella are an evocative Stoke/Manchester based ‘Slackerpop’ band who cheekily blur elements of grunge and pop with sparkles of dreamy and chaotic 90s indie-rock. Forming in 2016 Fears Chella quickly gained support from Huw Stephens on Radio 1, Shell Zenneron Amazing Radio, Hattie Pearson, The Unsigned Guide’s ‘Artist Spotlight’, Ditto Music and BBC Introducing. The band have now released their new single ‘Polaroid’ which follows the success of their previous singles ‘Girlfriend’ and ‘Lush’ which have earned the band playlisting slots with Spotify, 150k streams and a plethora of blog and radio coverage. The new single ‘Polaroid’ is “A song about the intoxicating feelings of that freeze-framed teen abandon you get with new loves, and about the games people play when really everyone just needs to feel wanted”. Having spent 2017 playing shows like headlining stages at Dot To Dot Festival and slots at Threshold Festival and Sonder Festival the band have also been busy playing shows with the likes of The Big Moon, Get Inuit, Honeyblood, All Tvvins, King No-One and PINS. All of this has been in culmination for Fears Chella upcoming 2018 tour starting in March.
‘Polaroid’ is a fizzy luscious can of sugar indie pop bursting with sunny vibes and energetic youthfulness. Vibrant zesty guitars interweave between a foot tapping beat and an irresistible honey coated melody. This track explodes with sparkling luminosity as swirling adrenaline infused soundscapes deliver a sugar rush of bliss while jangly guitars add a refreshing spritz of sharpness to the sweet syrupy euphoric track. Its a peppy, catchy, sun kissed anthem bursting with oodles of youthful pizzazz and intensity.
New York City based alternative folk artist Tender Glue has release the first single from his forthcoming album ‘Closet Leftovers’, which will be released monthly over the coming year. Self-recorded in the closet of Tom Gluewicki’s studio apartment, the album is a delicate blend of indie rock, alternative folk and elements of post punk. As an active and passionate member of the artist community, singer-songwriter behind Tender Glue, Tom Gluewicki set up his own label ‘Don’t Label Me Records’ which has a main focus of building an integrated and like-minded community whose priority is to create genuine songs. Furthering that ideology, Tom set up his own live project ‘Smartphone Sessions’ created to support passionate musicians and artists by documenting live performances recorded by volunteers using their smart phones.With a passion for genuine music and the sole aim to create and experiment, Tom wrote the first single ‘With You Here’ in a five-minute burst of creativity before work. The single itself is a textural and ambient modern take on alternative folk. Following his DIY ethos, the track was recorded in Tom’s closet, leading to some challenges with static and interference along the way, all adding to the endearing and warming character of the single. Written, performed and recorded by Tom himself it gives a taste of what to expect from the forthcoming releases. Release dates of all next singles will be posted on social media throughout the coming months.
‘With You Here’ is a reverb laden track laced in sweet vibrant hazy guitar and a soft tapping beat. It’s tender and beautiful brimming with sun kissed vibes and luscious melodies. For me the golden zesty guitar lines which wistfully whine are the magnificent gem of this track, they flood it with such passion and emotion while lifting it to aerial celestial heights. Tom’s vocals exude emotion and tenderness while the sublime layering on the track creates a special unique experience. Its an ethereal majestic piece from Tender Glue and a sublime beautiful track to hold dear.
Alt-Pop three piece Twist Helix have a lot to owe the valley of Ouseburn, and they intend to repay the area where they honed their craft with their appropriately named forthcoming euphoric track ‘Ouseburn’ which was released on the 9th February, at a sold out single launch gig at “The high place above the river” – the Cumberland Arms venue. With adopted Geordie and lead vocalist, Bea Garcia, reigning from Spain, radio play spanning more than 7 countries and having recently signed for Madrid based record company Paul Back Music, the band is an internationally acclaimed affair. Taking influences from the likes of White Lies, Depeche Mode and M83, the three piece present a synth-pop sound that demands you have a good time. With their 2017 shows spanning across Europe, from Glasgow, to Cumbria’s Solfest festival, and having the opportunity to be introduced by Radio3’s Julio Ruiz as finalists at the Madrid Bdcoder Festival, the three piece have achieved some great success since forming.
‘Ouseburn’ is a dynamic track that explodes with a bedazzlement of flashing electronics swirling between a snappy kinetic beat and powerful vocals. This track is pumped with adrenaline and vigorous energy as whirling soundscapes fill the song with a breezy spacey atmosphere while the catchy melody and power chorus lift the track to anthemic heights. It’s mighty frenzy inducing alternative power pop.
Named as one of the North Easts must see bands for 2018 by NE Volume, Spotlight Music and Spark FM Twist Helix have a list of upcoming live dates to look out for -see below
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Martha Ffion
Irish-born, and now Glasgow based singer-songwriter Martha Ffion has announced her eagerly anticipated debut LP entitled ‘Sunday Best’ which is released 9th March 2018 on Turnstile Music.’Take Your Name’ is the first single to be announced from the album and has an accompanying video which was directed and edited by Beth Chalmers & Claire M F McKay.Initially breaking through with a ‘postcard single’ on Scotland’s flourishing Lost Map label, Ffion’s reputation soared with last year’s ‘Trip’ EP, a swooning five-track collection that was released by Turnstile Music (Cate Le Bon, Gruff Rhys, Charlotte Church, Emmy the Great etc.) and championed by Gold Flake Paint for its “beautifully melodic sway”.
‘Take Your Name’ follows the swoony lusciousness of her EP. A 50’s, 60’s- esque melty melody unfolds upon delicate sweet instrumentation. With its sway-like tempo and heavenly backing vocals teamed with light guitar twinkles and a soft dragged laid back drum beat it’s a timeless little gem that soothes the soul and fills you with an innocent sense of longing and wistfulness. Ffion’s flawless crisp vocals smoothly caress this delicate dreamy track and adds a contemporary hazy filter over this picturesque delight. Filled with heartfelt tenderness and pristine sweetness it’s a soft centered utterly beautiful elegant composition.
Hana Brooks is set to release her new single ‘Used To Be’ which was mixed by Nick Bennett (London Grammar/Asgeir/Zak Able) on 12th February. Partly recorded in LA whilst Brooks was visiting the states, the song was heavily inspired by her time there. Having toured the Sofar Sounds circuit in the capital during the summer, Hana released a free download track ‘Leave It’ on her website on November 6th 2017.The song was heavily reviewed by online magazines and was play listed numerous times on radio (featured in USA and across Europe as well as the UK), Spotify and SoundCloud.’Leave It’ received glowing features from two of the most popular and highly regarded fanzines A&R Factory and Music Crowns, the latter of which also promoted the track’s official music video and live internet performance leading to 50,000 hits in a matter of a few days.The release was also supported by a live UK tour which peaked with a storming show at London’s legendary venue The Troubadour at the beginning of December, leading to Hana being offered a monthly residency at the club starting with the USED TO BE SINGLE LAUNCH PARTY on 28th February 2018.
‘Used To Be’ is a glistening summer ready anthem. With urban sticky beats slapping against a glowing sun kissed Californian sound of synths this track is a laid back summer jam. Zealous guitars jingle throughout flooding the track with sparkling facets of bright glorious scintillation while warm heartfelt vocals coo over an infectious glorious melody. Brimming with feel good vibes this track will brighten any day and have you bopping and grooving along in no time.
Coming quickly off the back of last year’s rousing single ‘Someday’, the Leicester-born, Manchester-raised duo Demons of Ruby Mae are set to begin 2018 in a big way with the release of their new single ‘To Be Adored’.
‘To Be Adored’ is a sparkling gulp of luscious electronic pop. Its dreamy soundscapes create a sweet delicious twinkling of pop heaven while warm passionate vocals soothe throughout. The snappy lively rhythm creates an instant danceable quality and flickering texture to the track. Ethereal guitars jangle while spacey sonic soundscapes swish and swirl with euphoric adrenaline that is heart stopping and thrilling. The track floods through with a spirited sense of positivity and breezy aerial joy. It has a Coldplay feel while still remaining unique and refreshing. It’s all set to be a summer hit for sure.
Stream ‘To Be Adored’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
