Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From White Room
Brighton indie risers White Room have released ‘Shoot’, their first release of 2018 and follow-up to 2017’s double EP ‘Eight’, co-produced by frontman Jake Smallwood and Theo Verney (Fake Laugh, TRAAMS, FUR).Having spent 2017 conquering the festival circuit and receiving widespread acclaim throughout the tastemaker community and radio airwaves (BBC 6 Music, Radio X), the quintet played their biggest headline shows to date in London (Moth Club) and Brighton (Patterns) this spring, cementing their reputation for visceral, energetic and captivating live performances. After a summer immersed in writing and developing new material, the five-piece are ready to hit the road again supporting The Blinders on an extensive UK tour alongside the release of ‘Shoot’.
‘Shoot’ is a lavish and exhilarating whir of indie pop bound in a mouthwatering concoction that is too hot to handle. It’s eclectic and edgy with a thick rhythmic bounce adding that chic cool foundation for this track to ricochet off. These guys showcase their ability to tie captivating and seemingly disjointed elements together to create a head spinning wholly satisfying and rich sound. Quirky vocals whisper, wail and entice through a luring bass rumble, steamy guitar interplay and dense textures. Each part is ingeniously cultivated for maximum explosive impact as the verses build the intensity for the blistering chorus. Filled with stomping adrenaline as chaotic soundscapes hurry around the dynamic vocals, haunting backing vocals and glorious melody ‘Shoot’ has everything you could need. Holding a refined stance this track floats on an air of elegance while only just about holding back the manic instrumental frenzy in the backdrop. White Room are fast becoming one of my favourite new finds.
Nottingham rock outfit Mowbeck are back with their newest single ‘The Basement’ which follows their debut EP ‘Talkabout’. After storming sets at Reading & Leeds festival last year on BBC Introducing Stages with sold out headline shows of their own, the band headed back into the studio at the start of the year working on new material. The band’s previous tracks ‘Talkabout’ and ‘Vaseline’ both received significant support from BBC Introducing’s Dean Jackson and lead to national radio play around the country on BBC Radio 1 and Radio X. The video’s which have gained over 15,000 views to date split audience and critic’s opinions for its dark, graphic portrayal of sexual abuse from a male victim’s perspective. ‘The Basement’ is a sublime rush of brain freezing indie rock with sweet pop melodies cooled with breezy tones and chilling bite on guitar. Flowing at a running pace this track is an uplifting anthem smoothed in melancholic tones. Sharp guitar stings and blasts through the track with flashes of zealous strident vitality. Punchy drums add bounce and spring while the raspy smooth soothing vocals pack an emotional punch. ‘The Basement’ is an atmospheric soaring tune that uses dark sombre tender tones and blistering instrumentation to create a grit pop sound that is compelling and powerful.
With more material ready to release later in the year Mowbeck will be playing a number of shows over the coming months including festivals. You can catch them live at
April 11th – Nottingham, Bodega (supporting King No One)
April 12th – Sheffield, Leadmill (supporting King No One)
April 13th – Liverpool, Studio 2 (supporting King No One)
April 14th – York, Fibbers (supporting King No One)
Stream ‘The Basement’ 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
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
