Category Archives: Indie Pop

EP Review, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music

The Half Light ‘Night On My Mind’ EP

The Half Light are a four piece indie band from London who have returned to the scene in 2018 with new material and a new line up. The band have released their new EP ‘Night On My Mind’, which is being released in full alongside the single ‘Seven Summers’. This release follows the earlier releases of the lead track ‘8th May’ (March 2018) and title track ‘Night On My Mind’ (April 2018). To mark the launch of the EP and ‘Seven Summers’, the band will be playing Clarence Park Festival, Wakefield, on 28th July. The Half Light’s music has featured on radio stations across the country, including BBC 6 Music, BBC London and Amazing Radio and the band were nominated for Best UK Act at the 2015 Pure M Awards. Since forming in 2011, the band have self-released ‘Clapham EP’ (2012) and ‘Moscow’ (2015), which is now followed by ‘Night On My Mind’ EP. Following these earlier releases, vocalist James and guitarist Guy were joined by a refreshed rhythm section, Mike and Martin, to complete the line up and the band entered the studio in London in late 2017.

‘Night On My Mind’ is a delightful triad of glorious indie, swirling between luscious pop melodies and sparkling chimes on keys. Both the title track ‘Night On My Mind’ and ‘8th May’ have been previously featured on Indie Buddie, The former wisping us away with ethereal guitars soaring over breezy soundscapes, punchy drums and a delicious bitter sweet melody while ‘8th May’ shimmied its way firmly into our minds and hearts with its rich rhythm and infectious chorus soaring over glorious guitar work. It was no surprise that ‘Seven Summers’ would be the sweet icing on the cake. Laced in glorious melodies coated with sparkling guitars, sublime bass rumbles and gleaming keys. This follows the vibrantly heavenly vibes of its predecessors perfectly and displays the bands meticulous well crafted musicianship. The track builds to a magnificent crescendo as the guitars slash an illuminating zesty flash of light through the glorious soundscape. These guys have an ability to write heart warming wholesome tracks that hop, bop and tantalize the listeners ears until they are shivering in the corner craving to hear more.

Stream ‘Night On My Mind’ below

 


Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music

The Covasettes ‘Top Drawer’

                                            Photo credit: Ianthe Warlow

Promising Manchester indie-rock band, The Covasettes, have released their third single ‘Top Drawer’, following the release of their last two singles, ‘This Feeling’  and ‘Wondering Why’, The Covasettes have enjoyed success so far, featuring on BBC Introducing and playing sold out shows in Manchester, Leeds, Derby and London.

‘Top Drawer’ is a fizzing blast of vibrant indie that surrounds your ears in blissful summer-soaked tones and luscious melodies. A buoyant beat hops and rebounds off exuberant weaving guitars while a peppy bassline holds it all together. This scorching dazzler is infectious and filled with glorious hooks and tasty guitar lines that leave you craving for more. With a sublime melody melting upon a vivid and radiant backdrop this wonderful tune wraps your ears in an ethereal peppy cloud of delight. Smooth velvety vocals flow upon the sweet melody while the anthemic chorus adds that instant rush of youthful adrenaline that ensures this track will be placed firmly on repeat. With its glossy lustre and irresistible infectiousness ‘Top Drawer’ is a well-crafted and thoroughly satisfying listen.

Watch the video for  ‘Top Drawer’ below


Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music

Run in Red ‘Fade Away’

Dublin based three piece Run in Red have released their new single ‘Fade Away’ which will be the first single from their upcoming second EP ‘Undercover, Overthrown’. This warm number coos and soothes with graceful guitar twinkles over ethereal soundscapes and a beautifully tender sing along melody. Raspy cosy vocals caress the charming melody with a sweet and easing tonality while jangly guitars and buoyant beat keep the backdrop bouncing along. It’s a heart warming number swooped in a cinematic swoony soundscape of bliss. This delightful gem is 90’s- esque, feathery light and well-crafted to grip your heart firmly and evoke those sweet, nostalgic and longing memories you had long suppressed.

To celebrate this release, the band will play their first headline show in The Sound House on Eden Quay tonight if you are around make sure to check it out

Watch the video for ‘Fade Away’ below


Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Winter Heart

Irish band Winter Heart have released their new single, ‘Light A Match’. Winter  Heart  was formed  in  2016  by  childhood friends  James O’Donnell and Mikey  Aldridge  through  a  shared  love  of  big  choruses  and  honest  lyrics.  They’ve  played  two  headline  shows  both  selling  out  and  released  three  singles.They  describe  their  music  as  “Honest  music,  we  are  writing  about  our  lives  and  what  we  go  through,  i  don’t  see  much  point  in  writing  a  song  that  means  nothing  to  us”states  James.The  new  single  ‘Light  A  Match’  showcases a  new  mature  sound  for  the  band  and  has  gained  the  most  attention  gathering  over  10,000  views  in  its  first  two  days.

‘Light A Match’ is a breezy soaring display from this duo. Filled with heart racing soundscapes over a throbbing drum beat, it’s perfect for a gripping cinematic scene as a sweet emotion filled melody floods over swirling biting soundscapes and a fantastic rhythmic section. The passionate vocals add hues of raspy grit while ethereal guitars give the track a lofty heart gripping suspenseful lift. The divine melody fills you with a sombre sweet longing while the backing vocals surge a haunting airy quality to this exhilarating track. Winter Heart have displayed an ability to firmly consume the listener in their breathtaking wholly intoxicating sound leaving you craving more. The song builds to a thumping crescendo that sparks images of a live crowd chanting and clapping along- it’s one for arenas for sure. Keep an eye out for these guys.

Stream ‘Light A Match’ below


Alt- Pop, Glam Rock, Indie, Indie Pop, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, Tropical Indie

FLING ‘Extra Special’

Bradford’s resident psychedelic rockers FLING have released their new single ‘Extra Special’ which was produced by Lee Smith and Jamie Lockhart at Greenmount Studios (The Cribs, Pulled Apart By Horses, Submotion Orchestra, Snarky Puppy). Known for their wildly eccentric live shows, the burgeoning quintet have already built up quite the following, with their playful personalities seeing them well-received on the festival circuit so far this summer and have earned plaudits from the likes of Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1) and Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music).

‘Extra Special’ is a delicious mouth watering glam pop number brimming with oodles of luscious melodies and fruity components to make for a satisfying listen. This track will have you drooling over its subtle gush of juicy guitar injections and sugar saturated shimmering keys. The laid back almost whispered vocals lure and entice you into this tropical bliss as Charles McSorley sprawls upon the melty melody with irresistible panache and charm while a rich rhythm shimmies and shakes creating a captivating fluctuant foundation for this delectable track. The wandering keys playfully weave between the mesmerising melodies while a glorious stinging guitar glimmers a blazing solo to create a dreamy psyche hued haze over this infatuating tune. This track is well crafted to alert all the senses and surge a sublime wave of tantalising sounds into your ears.

Discussing the single, the band stated: “It’s about that private time of solitude in between the chaos where you choose whatever it is you want to do, whether it be smoking or something else. The moment where you empty your mind from all thoughts and just experience coexisting with someone or something that gets your vibe”.

Stream ‘Extra Special’ below

 

 


Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Tropical, Tropical Indie

Ben Browning ‘Even Though’

Australian producer and songwriter Ben Browning has released his sophomore album ‘Even Though’. A long-time member of the band Cut Copy, Browning’s solo project sees him defining his personal musical identity pulling melodic inspiration from Brian Wilson, XTC and Paul McCartney. Ben’s 12-track sophomore album ‘Even Though’ follows his debut 2015 full-length ‘Turns’ and is a retrospective of Browning’s journey as a musician; from playing in high school and college bands to Cut Copy, to moving to the States from Australia. The first glimpse we got of this album was the kaleidoscopic swirl of ‘Sunshine Baby’ but the track we are loving is one of the first songs he wrote for the upcoming album and also its title track, ‘Even Though’.

‘Even Though’ is a chilled shimmy soaked large guzzle of sweet tropical bliss. With shimmering electronics sparkling between peppy bright guitar jingles and buoyant rhythmic grooves this track is instantly refreshing and likeable. Browning’s vocals soothe with a laid back vibe over a delicious velvety melody and tranquilising tones while the swirling juicy soundscapes flicker and bounce about creating the perfect sun kissed glorious atmosphere. This track is one for sweltering hot summer days, cocktails and colourful shirts.

Stream ‘Even Though’ below

 

 


Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Mellor

Reading quartet Mellor​ are set to release their new single ‘Safe Word​’ on August 17​ via self release. The Mellor name has been around for about 5 years, but this current line up with Gary Kingham on vocals, Sam Igoe on drums, Kristian Bell on guitar, and Josh Woodward on bass has been together for around eighteen months. The lads took the moniker in homage to a certain Joe Strummer aka John Mellor! It’s this current line up that the band have felt comfortable with the music and sound they’re producing. Kristian, Gary, and Josh have known each other since college, and Sam joined the band thereafter. Last year was the first year of releases with the current lineup, they released four singles ‘Fire on Fire’, ‘Bone Idle’, ‘You Were Right’ and ‘Arms Length’ culminating in an EP at the end of the year. With airplay supports from Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music; John Kennedy, Radio X; Charlie Ashcroft, Elise Cobain, Amazing Radio; Tim Cocker, Virgin Radio; Frank Skinner, Absolute Radio; Linda Serck, BBC Intro Berks the lads are making a name for themselves for sure.

‘Safe Word’ is a strident, scorching example of the refined airtight indie rock this four piece do so well. Raucous guitars grate, shrill and pierce throughout blasting out some slick licks, shredding riffs and thrilling solos that will have you in a kinetic frenzy of awe. The punchy drums batter, bash and rumble out a bounce-able rhythm to make you jump up and down in a state of ecstasy. The groove infested bass weaves an elastic, sensual foundation through this exhilarating piece of gritty indie perfection. The pop drizzled melody is doused in melodious goodness that is sweet nectar to our honey bee ears as it smoothly flows upon the blistering backdrop cooling the mania with its delicious flow and catchiness. The vocal delivery from Kingham once again exudes swagger and passion wrapped in a raspy dynamic coating. Another magnetic and invigorating track from the Reading lads. These guys are travelling  full steam ahead and have a bright future.

 ‘Safe Word​’ touches on the aspect of everyone having a comfort zone in their life and how many of us often go through life regretting that we didn’t do certain things. Speaking of the track the band said, “People get very comfy doing the same thing day in day out. We think it’s an interesting thought that can applied to many aspects in life, whether it be work, personal, or social.”

You can catch Mellor Live at :

30th June – Texfest, Leicester

20th July – Actress and Bishop, Birmingham

22nd July – Tramlines Fringe, Sheffield (Record Junkie)

25th July – Lock Tavern, Camden

27th July – Bute Festival, Bute – Scotland

7th August – The Horn, St Albans

10th August – The Soundhouse, Leicester

16th August – Gwdihw Cafe Bar, Cardiff

17th August – Oakford Social Club, Reading

Stream ‘Safe Word’ below


Ambient Music, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music

Cascadia Fault Line ‘Grace’

Cascadia Fault Line are an indie three piece located in Liverpool.The band have recently released their debut album ‘Told A Thousand Times’ along with the release of their latest single ‘Grace’. This smooth gentle number glistens with delicate guitar and soothing vocals to start before building into a vibrant bursting chorus. It’s a heartwarming listen that has a golden hue like a sunflower flowing in a summers breeze.The tapping beat unfolds into a punchy dynamic bounce and the guitars become more aggressive and sharp as the track progresses. Rachael Dunn’s vocals remain sweet and graceful throughout as this dreamy floaty number evolves becoming more hefty and edgy instrumentally. It’s a dainty little ditty that packs in a heavy dose of emotion. This subtle yet hard hitting, sun speckled number will have you in a haze of sweet melancholic nostalgia.

Stream ‘Grace’ below

https://soundcloud.com/faultcascadia/grace


Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Synth-pop

Marc Baker ‘Common People’

Electro pop singer Marc Baker has released his new single ‘Common People’ via Tragic Fashion. Taken from his forthcoming EP ‘Marc Baker’, the single is the follow up to Marc’s 2017 hit single ‘No Place I’d Rather Be’. Originally from Melbourne, Baker currently resides in Los Angeles, California, where he has spent the past three years recording and touring across North America. During the past nine years, the Aussie born has collaborated and performed alongside some of the industry’s biggest names, including the likes of The Big Pink, Miami Horror and Big Black Delta. Having performed to thousand’s of people across the US, Baker has built a loyal fan base that is now yearning for more new music. Named by the critic’s as one of the most exciting emerging artists, he has finally announced the release of his debut self-titled EP, which was produced by Miami Horror frontman Ben Plant. The four song EP includes the debut single ‘No Place I’d Rather Be’, which became an instant hit for Baker and received critical acclaim from media and fans alike upon release.

‘Common People’ embraces bedazzling flashing electronics while conjuring the kind of synth washes and sweet melodies reminiscent of the luscious heart racing pulses of the mid 80’s. Baker’s velvety vocals coo over dazzling soundscapes and sticky beat slaps to create a nostalgic dream soaked gem. It’s subtly anthemic as the chorus bursts with emotion and vibrancy while the “do do” intro makes this catchy number easy on the ears. It’s soothing as jangly, vivid guitar injections add a breezy vibrancy to the wistfully melancholic pop tune. ‘Common People’ is a slick, slightly chilly and majestic slice of electro pop that will revolve around in your mind for days.

Stream ‘Common People’ below

 


Alt Rock, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music

The Honeymoon Suite ‘Arcade’

The Honeymoon Suite are a 4 piece alt/indie pop band from Derby. Coming onto the scene in late 2017 with the debut track ‘Taste-Less’, the band received backing from the BBC Introducing and have seen themselves take their set around the country supporting a variety of big names including dream-pop leaders JAWS. The band are now set to release their new single ‘Arcade’ tomorrow which was recorded and produced by Alex Greaves at The Nave studios in Leeds.

‘Arcade’ is a breezy bubbly indie number that spreads dreamy soundscapes on top of hefty alternative rock blasts. A driving rumbly bass provides the wobbly elastic foundation for the jaunty guitars to crash and rebound off. The punchy drums and ethereal guitar heights contrast sublimely to create an energetic satisfying listen. With a pop sprinkled melody teamed with sun kissed hazy soundscapes this track showcases the diverse instrumentally rich sound that The Honeymoon Suite do so well.

For more follow The Honeymoon Suite  on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/theh0neymoonsuite/