Liverpool band NULLA have released their debut single ‘Sunyata’. With its infectious groove, laid back swagger and silken guitar lines ‘Sunyata’ is a tight impressive debut from Nulla. The guitars inject a zesty refreshness into the track as they shrill and lightly zing through the ethereal soundscape. A melty pop melody floats upon the dreamy soundscape with a buoyant beat and elastic bass groove creating that charming hip moving foundation for this easy going gem. With its catchy melody, velvety vocals, shredding solo and sun kissed radiance ‘Sunyata’ is a glorious jazz-drizzled ditty to keep you smiling all day.
Following a string of releases in 2018 and the BBC 6 Music plays of ‘Precious’ last year, Drogheda-based indie dance artist Donal Quinn has released his new single ‘Do You Like Spicy Food?’. This frantic track ignites with blistering guitars as it blazes through at a brisk hyperactive speed. With a punchy beat ricocheting with relentless stamina, this track is a neck snapping belter as Quinn’s swaggered vocals bounce off the catchy melody and witty lyrics. Designed for dancing and jumping manically to, this accelerated track scorches with shrilling guitars that majestically soar through the frantic rhythm while its crashing chorus creates a messy rough texture and gritty quality. Hypnotic and brimming with fiery energy and intensity ‘Do You Like Spicy Food?’ is another blazing track from Donal Quinn.
Grant Kilpatrick has released his debut single ‘Tension’ which was recorded with Bruce Rintoul (Twin Atlantic/Vukovi/Fatherson) . Based just outside of Edinburgh Scotland, Grant Kilpatrick is a songwriter with an edge. With introspective lyrics draped over a backdrop of raw angular guitar music, Kilpatrick displays his wide range of influences through his tunes.
‘Tension’ is an edgy indie rock track that swarms in with sharp guitars, pulverising drums and a hefty wall of sound. This mammoth blasts with adrenaline pumping energy as Kilpatrick’s smooth vocals dynamically sing over the blistering backdrop. The acute guitars sting, pierce and shrill with attitude and relentless stamina adding sweltering swagger and passion while the buoyant fierce rhythm keeps the track travelling at an exhilarating speed. This song storms in with a whirlpool of boisterous indie rock at its best. Driving with vigor and kinetic electricity ‘Tension’ is an invigorating debut from Grant Kilpatrick.
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Bayonets
Bayonets has released his new single ‘Farewell To Me’. Bayonets is a solo project created by Kerry musician and songwriter Vinnie Flynn. His distinctive style is a mix of alternative rock, indie, blues and folk.In addition to writing and performing live, Flynn also works with several publishing companies based in the US who pitch his compositions to prime time TV shows and movies. Flynn has a string of gigs and festivals in the pipeline for 2019, including Vantastival and some overseas appearances.His singles have received regular radio play on RTE’s 2fm and have even hit airwaves as far as Brooklyn, United States.
Another deeply haunting number ‘Farewell To Me’ creeps and stealthily slinks into your mind with its thrilling inky stain of delight. Devilishly tempting the track lures with a hypnotic guitar refrain that lingers in your mind for days. With an air of chilling mystery wrapped in an opaque shroud of ominous soundscapes this track is sublimely crafted to fill you with enchanting horror. Flynn’s vocals take a Marilyn Mansion quality as he whispers and deeply entices beneath the steady beat and guitar strums as if slowly luring you to your demise with a deceiving sense of security. The verses prowl with a charming intrigue while the chorus entraps you in Flynn’s sound and dark eerie tale. The cinematic aspect of this track will give you goosebumps as ‘Farewell To Me’ takes you to the point of no return.
Hot off the release of single ‘Mr Crabs’ in February of this year, Cork based indie-punk trio Pretty Happy have released their debut EP, ‘EGO, NO EGO’. The group, consisting of brother/sister duo Arann (lead vocals, bass) & Abbey Blake (Guitar) and Andy Killian on Drums have built a solid reputation as one of Cork’s most charismatic and creative live bands over the past 18 months.
There is a lot of character and intriguing elements to ‘EGO, NO EGO’ as Pretty Happy finely blend some punk rawness with indie melodies and lush instrumentation. It’s a refined body of work, unique in its obscurities and filled with refreshing tunes, quirky interludes and catchy as hell melodies. ‘Note To Self: Don’t Buy Any More Skittles’ – a spoken snippet with delusion inducing sounds takes us into the sublime world Pretty Happy have created. There is a groovy shimmy from ‘Shut Up’ as the bass wiggles through a punchy drum beat while suave guitars jangle about the track. The lush backing vocals hold that infectious melody while the screaming, needy main vocals yelp hysterically. The lyrics are humorous and the track seamlessly wanders between brain crashing frenzy and sweetly mellow creating a thrilling psychotic sense of comfort.Indie Buddie favourite ‘Mr. Crabs’ follows with its swagger drenched persona pounding though your brain with no shame. There is a theatrical flavour to these tunes and Pretty Happy blend this drama with absolutely mesmerising instrumentation and rhythms. Each track is unforgettable, unique and wholly mind boggling. ‘Eugene Completely Sold Me Out, Even Though I Let Him Give Me a Skittle for a Ride Home. Hell Yeah!’ is an interesting interlude that has to be experienced to be believed. ‘Delay’ peppers the EP in indie rock with vibrant guitars glistening with scintillation strengthened by the rooted foundation and thumping beat. The track builds into a dreamy pop speckled chorus. This song meanders from 60’s tones of flower power to reggae- esque hues before its dazzling psychedelic crescendo. A truly trippy and engaging journey, this track is where Pretty Happy showcase their musical prowess. The EP finishes on another obscure number- the short ‘That’s Over- Crooked Man’ another dramatic ditty with snide eerie vocals over a deep bass groove. It’s short but very absorbing ( I wish there was more of that tune).
These guys have the entertainment down to a tee. Each track is witty and filled with character while the instrumental quality is top notch. ‘EGO, NO EGO’ is a wholly satisfying and bewitching experience.
About the EP Arann Blake said : “We wanted to release an EP that was fun. Something that captured our personality but also had the energy of our live performance. We were also able to get a bit creative with our drummer Andy Killian producing. Andy was able to do our songs justice whilst still experimenting to make an EP that’s a bit different.”
Dublin’s Thumper have released their new single ‘In My Room’. With major radio support across Ireland and the UK and stretching as far as Brazil, these guys are currently riding high on Spotify’s Hot New Bands playlist.
‘In My Room’ is an erosive blast of psych pop that corrodes with blistering guitars and pummeling drums creating an exhilarating wall of sound while the pop smacked melody coats the track in sugary fizz. This frenzied track froths with shrilling distortion and abrasive instrumentation as the rumbling elastic bass slaps and grooves infectiously behind the crashing majestic guitar-burns while the smooth vocals bounce along the bubblegum melody. The track builds into a sonic blast of pounding rhythms and mania for the thrilling crescendo as this adrenaline-inducing song shows Thumper at their most intoxicating. It’s one hell of a tune made for playing as loud as possible.
Nottingham alternative rock band Distant Blue have released their new single ‘Lucid Liar (Novocaine)’. With its hefty gritty persona ‘Lucid Liar (Novocaine)’ storms in boasting the scorching, swagger-dripping sound of Distant Blue.Raspy vocals prance through the infectious melody while the brawny drums and burly bass provide the pulverising, body pounding foundation. This track is impressively crafted as the band blend their mighty, powerful alternative rock with a smooth luring melody. The track builds fantastically into an intense beastly crescendo as the vocals scream through the furious instrumentation. The refined guitars slice through some beefy riffs as well as showcasing the bands finesse with slinky licks and shrilling whines. ‘Lucid Liar (Novocaine)’ is a lean mean, powerful number from Distant Blue.
Three-piece rock band Pompadour have released their second single, ‘Oh, Honey!’ which was recorded and mixed at J&J Studios in Bristol. Pompadour co-produced the single with Nathan Long. It was mastered by Tom Cory, who has also worked on tracks for Adidas, and his own band; Novatines. Pompadour was founded in January 2018 after college friends and bandmates, Tamsin Sayers (vocals, bass) and Kearney Day (guitar) left their previous band and created their own project with their best friend from college. After a lineup change in early 2019, Rob Beresford joined Pompadour on drums, adding a whole new dynamic to the band.
‘Oh Honey’ is a dynamic surge of indie rock as Pompadour blend their smooth melodies with blistering instrumentation. Sharp guitar bursts jangle between a snappy beat while Tamsin Sayers’ powerful vocals ooze expression and warm tones. The track has an ethereal atmosphere as the easy on the ears melody melts upon a stormy backdrop. The song builds into a fiery chorus as the guitars crash and rebound off the buoyant beat while the gritty bass slices through this gripping wall of sound.Filled with adrenaline and oodles of energy ‘Oh Honey’ is another exhilarating track from Pompadour.
About the track Tamsin Sayers said: “Oh, Honey is written as a love song of sorts, in whichever capacity that may be, It’s about how the right person can have a big effect on your disposition. In this case, they bring out the fun, kind of crazy side of them. On the flipside, it could be a love song to themself, and how they love the carefree, energetic part of themselves. They can’t quite summon the energy inside them to be like that all of the time.”
Blackpool atmospheric rock band Oceans Over Alderaan have released their second single ‘Falters’. Since the release of debut single ‘Sevenfour’ in January the band have received airplay from DKFM, Radio X, BBC Introducing, Primal Radio, Dandelion Radio, Fylde Coast Radio, ARFM, Manchester Music Scene, Progwave Radio, Lost In The Manor, Merryn Music Feed & Indie XL.The new single was recorded with Tom Peters of Alpha Male Tea Party and released on the band’s own label ‘The Recording Industry Is Dead, Records’ who also release music by the band members other projects as well as music made by their friends.
‘Falters’ is an atmospheric beautiful display from Oceans Over Alderaan. The band meticulously blend alternative gritty instrumentation with sweet tender twinkles and ethereal soundscapes. The verses flicker and emotionally glisten with soft guitars and simple drum progression while Alice Deacon’s passionate vocals glide over the dainty melody as the chorus builds becoming more aggressive and harsh. The guitars crash through the punchy rhythm as the vocals become more expressive. There is painful heartbreaking tones through this mesmerising track as Oceans Over Alderaan depict a tender theme with grace and elegance.
The video for the track is a joint effort made by Barry Parkinson and Alice Deacon with band friend (and label mate) ‘The Wisdom Of Oz’, who plays the main character in the video, with band members Joe Wylie and Steve Trenell helping out with the performance sections.
The Amazons have announced their new album ‘Future Dust’ will be released on 24th May on Fiction Records, alongside revealing their new single ‘Doubt It’. The Amazons were the most hotly tipped band of 2017 and followed through with their debut album reaching #8 in the official chart. The band received BBC Radio 1 and 6 music A lists as well as a sold out tour including London’s Kentish Town Forum.
‘Doubt It’ is a gritty rugged slice of The Amazons’ swaggering sound. With jagged riffs carving through the pounding drums and groove infested bass this darkly smothering track is one exhilarating anthem. These guys drench the track in blistering instrumentation with sweltering guitars and a hip moving foundation to create a menacing blast of absorbing indie rock. With its luring intense verses building magnificently into the powerful chorus this fiery anthem is arena ready and absolutely thrilling. Lush backing vocals coo behind Matthew Thomson’s main passionate vocal delivery while sizzling guitar injections penetrate the punchy rhythmic section – its a thrilling new belter from The Amazons.
Lead singer Matthew Thomson says, “Doubt It is about being on the edge of making a potentially stupid decision due to lust-induced blindness. It addresses the lingering doubts, the residue of morals and succumbing to the temptations.”
Stream ‘Doubt It’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
