Category Archives: Indie

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

Hayes & Y ‘Always So Simple, Always So Cold’

With band members that hail from as far afield as Bulgaria and Finland, indie-pop four-piece Hayes & Y harbour a somewhat continental feel that immediately sets them apart from their quintessentially British contemporaries. Having moved to the UK just a couple of years ago, the four-piece have assimilated quickly, becoming a part of their new country’s scene and taking shows at some of Britain’s best-loved venues in their stride, including the likes of London’s Dublin Castle, and Manchester’s iconic Night & Day Cafe, as well as a notable slot on the Spirit of Burgas festival in Bulgaria supporting Kasabian. With three EPs already under their belt the band have now released their latest single ‘Always So Simple, Always So Cold’. This cruising 80’s electronica flavoured track glides with effortlessly cool swagger and slicked back groovy vibes. Rolling bass lines teamed with frenetic winding guitar licks add an elastic sensual chilled back allurement while also creating a brooding moody foundation for the electronic wavy soundscapes to bounce off. The 80’s infused synths add a shimmering sparkle, breezy freshness and infectious disco dance vibe.  Oh, so smooth and creamy the melody fluidly coats the rippled soundscapes while a slapping sticky beat adds a steamy sultry quality. Hayes & Y present the track in a seemingly effortless way creating a laid back hazy tune thats irresistible from the start. The vocals are sweet and luscious and oozing passion and emotion. It’s a delicious can of sugary smooth pop with a dash of zest provided by the sting on guitars – its refreshing, lush and chilled.

The accompanying video sees Hayes & Y using grainy, black & white film clips in order to reinforce the sombre tone watch it below.


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

Brass Phantoms ‘Indigo’

              (Picture: Olga Kuzmenko)

In support of their single ‘Indigo’ Dublin fourpiece Brass Phantoms will be playing upstairs in Whelan’s on Friday October 27th. The single is the follow-up to recent single ‘City Of Wolves’ which we previously featured on Indie Buddie. The band have garnered airplay all over Irish radio, as well as being featured on BBC Radio 6 with Steve Lamacq, Spotify Discover Weekly, and Amazing Radio. Earlier this year they were listed as The Metro’s ‘Artist Of The Week’. They have headlined shows throughout Ireland, as well as New York this month for their first US dates which will be followed by a UK and Irish tour.

‘Indigo’ is a euphoric indie gem, smothered in areal breezy tones and oozing oodles of passion. Biting blustery guitars swirl and soar crashing into a galloping rumbling beat while Ryan Cashell’s unique powerful vocals add potency and might. It’s passionate and intense with little anthemic bursts that are blissfully aerial and refreshing. These guys have a knack for packing a lot into their tracks and ‘Indigo’ is no different. It’s brimming with luscious indie pop melodies consumed in a whirlpool of rich ethereal soundscapes creating a kinetic catchy tune that shows their refined musicianship and is sure to be amazing live.

The video for ‘Indigo’ was produced by Alan McCarthy. It shows a dancer performing a routine in a hall alongside a live performance by the band, which builds in intensity with the song. 13-year-old Alicia Premkumar stars as the dancer in the video.

Brass Phantoms are playing upstairs in Whelan’s on Friday October 27th make sure to head down and  check them out.

Watch the video for ‘Indigo’ below


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

The Assist ‘Give It To Me’

Indie four piece The Assist have released their new single ‘Give It To Me’. These guys have had a massive impact on 2017 since their debut EP, ‘Trouble’ was released. Their recent single, ‘Wonderful’, made the Spotify Viral 50 and they’ve played sets at Isle of Wight, Reading + TRNSNT (Jack Rocks/This Feeling) as well as support slots with Blossoms, Rat Boy and The Twang. ‘Give It To Me’ fleshes out their infectious blend of indie rock sprayed with danceable grooves and enough energy to have a live audience going crazy. Infectious melodies are coated in biting guitars and rich shakeable rhythm. Drenched in attitude it’s a no-nonsense belter that is insanely catchy. Just that “do do do” backing lyric will have you hooked – you will have to prise it from you brain. Upbeat immensely energetic and fresh these guys shake thing up with a simple tune that radiates bright scintillation while also packing a nice bit of grit and punch to keep it interesting. Slick guitar lines and groovy bass add a touch of swagger and greasy slickness while the spoken lyrics add a smack of Brummy attitude.  Fine track from the four piece.

Watch the video for ‘Give It To Me’ below


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

The Curious ‘Gentleman’

The Curious are an Indie/Alternative band from London. The five piece consists of members Dominic Smith (Lead Vocals), Sam Roberts (Drums), Lewy Rutherford (Guitar and Vocals), James Cooper (Guitar and Vocals) and Alexander Nuti (Bass). They have released a video for their track ‘Gentleman’ taken off their ‘Electric Sheep’ EP. This infectious snappy ditty bops, hops and shakes with refreshing zing and swagger oozing indie. It’s an intoxicating guitar driven slice of slick, musicianship from the shredding razor-sharp guitar solos and jagged stinging riffs to the sticky elastic rhythm that rebounds and springs with a glutinous vitality. With a melty delicious melody and slick panache drenched vocals, its sure to get those feet tapping and body grooving in no time. Animated, extremely energetic and likable its one to put on repeat, let everything go and dance around the room to. These guys have a tight refined sound that is so cool, slick and fun all while packing some luscious melodies with sophisticated snazzy instrumentation. Keep an eye out for these guys.

 

Watch the video for ‘Gentleman’ 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 Enola Fall

Enola Fall are an Australian indie rock, pop band formed in Tasmania in 2001, now currently based in Portland, USA. They have released their new single ‘London’ from their upcoming album ‘Bloodhound’ which is being released next year. The album was recorded with Lachlan Mitchell who produces the Jezabels. This striking slow-jam boasts Muse-esque flavours wrapped in subtle elements of mystique. It creeps in with a catchy jingly hook that sends chills up your spine. Joe Nuttalls cold and expressive vocals exude intense passion and repressed agony. He simmers between his sweet falsetto and deep eerie range creating a mysterious and emotionally tearing atmosphere. The soundscapes are light and breezy with haunting ghostly backing vocals and flickering soundscapes. It’s well-crafted as the track slithers in gently building to the extremely emotive anthemic chorus. These guys make the most of the instruments at their disposal creating a track that is icy, captivating and emotionally charged. With crisp freshness created by guitar whines swirling around the biting raw soundscapes and melty melody, its cleverly thought out. All of this backed by a punchy durability on drums Enola Fall’s ‘London’ gradually and meticulously wriggles and bleeds right up to the massive powerhouse chorus. It’s a little gem.

Watch the video for ‘London’ below


Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Swine Tax ‘Feels Like’

Newcastle upon Tyne based noisy, artsy indie-rock trio Swine Tax have released their fourth single ‘Feels Like’. Taking influence from Pavement, the National and Parquet Courts, Swine Tax continually strive to create music prolifically and unerringly explore new sonic and emotional territory – an ethos which is underpinned by their commitment to writing, recording and mixing every song independently. The track was largely written and recorded during the band’s intensive August residency at the iconic Sage Gateshead music venue, having been chosen from artists across the north-east of England to compose new material in their time there. Born out of these productive sessions, this latest single perhaps provides the most accurate representation of Swine Tax’s unpredictable, emotional and, at times, euphoric live performances.

‘Feels Like’ is a woozy spin of blusterous indie rock. Beginning disguised as a croony, hazy, dream pop tune with a smooth guitar jingle and soft beat doused in a sun kissed melody. The track builds becoming more intense and sharp. Crashing guitars shrill and smash against boisterous pounding drums and strident soundscapes add a piercing razors edge. With a playful vocal delivery and boppy bubbly exterior it’s instantly likeable. The splintery guitar solo radiates golden flashes of scintillation while still piercing with a shrilling sting. Upbeat and fizzy it has all the elements of a perfect indie rock track.

Stream ‘Feels Like’ below

https://soundcloud.com/swinetax/feels-like


Alt Rock, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Rock, Synth Rock, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Serene

Psychedelic Rock trio Serene have released a video for their new single ‘Havana’ which is the third single from their new album ‘The Lonely Road’. From the trippy flicker and stabbing acoustic intro this track sends shivers up your spine. It’s a throbbing gritty fuzzed wallop of the psychedelic rock this trio do so well. Blistering guitars fire through the track with red hot intensity. An infectious throbbing bassline grooves with a luring smoulder and punchy drums bruise deep while flashing wobbly synth soundscapes quiver and dazzle with bright kaleidoscopic scintillation. It’s an epileptic fit of psychedelic bliss. Raw edgy and razor sharp in all the right places Serene build the track slowly and meticulously right up to the dizzying hallucinogenic crescendo. Smooth swagger soaked vocals strut and prance around the beaming instrumentation with intensified emotion. Underneath all this acute fury there is a velvety smoothness and dreamy haze floating about. It’s tranquilizing and sweetly paralyzing to the harsh instrumental battering. It’s a mighty absolutely brilliant track from Serene. They are one of my favourite new bands at the moment and each track they release gets better and better. An exciting band to keep an eye out for. So good.

Watch the video for ‘Havana’ below


Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter, Theatrical

Nicola Hardman ‘Just Human’ and ‘Little Fish’

After the successful release of her debut album ‘Full Beans’ back in December 2015, alternative singer-songwriter Nicola Hardman has announced details of her latest double single release comprising of tracks ‘Just Human’ and ‘Little Fish’. Throughout 2016, Nicola Hardman performed across the UK, appearing on radio shows and achieving number 2 in the top 20 chart of Round Sound Radio for her single ‘Little Fish’. She then went on to appear on Made in Liverpool TV and perform at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall alongside the likes of Ian Prowse ,Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets) and John Bramwell (I Am Kloot). Later in 2017, Hardman  was noted for her “kooky avant-garde-ness … her assured voice recalling Regina Spektor or Amanda Palmer at time” by Get Into This for her performance in Liverpool’s Threshold Festival. Based in Liverpool, Hardman is notorious for her theatrical vocals and catchy piano hooks. Not only does the musical content of her material draw people in, but the lyrical content of each song is captivating – discussing both personal and political issues in a way that speaks to many.

‘Just Human’ flurries in with a rushing menacing defined piano feature. It’s an intense swirl of emotion, the instrumentation whirls around a strong chord progression while Hardman continues to fascinate with her enduring vocals that wrap the listener up in a velvet soothing blanket. At times her vocals become sharp and ominous lying in the background with an almost harrowing screaming growl. The music remains fairly light and floaty with dark churning undertones creating a wholly chilling experience.

‘Little Fish’ is a theatrical bouncy swirly eerie track. With animated keys playfully hopping with an elastic mischievous rebound. The track wriggles and hauntingly sways like a spirited ghostly waltz attended by wicked creatures on Halloween, yet it holds an air of solitary loneliness. Evoking images of grandeur and fine dresses swishing in time with the free slowing swing and strong spin of the chords on keys. Hardman’s vocals exude emotion and drama with operatic high-pitched ornamentation lifting each note at the end of certain lines adding a vibrant spring and boost to the track. It’s enticing and tempting with both a spine chilling and joyous vibe. It’s absolutely thrilling. Love it.

Drawing from an eclectic range of influences, including the likes of System Of A Down, Bjork and Incubus, Nicola Hardman presents tracks that are both distinctive and charming. The double header single is set to be released on all digital platforms on 14th October 2017 after her single launch gig held at Studio 2, Parr Street, Liverpool on 13th October. More information about Nicola and any of her upcoming live shows can be found on her social media channels here https://www.facebook.com/nicolahardmanmusic

You can catch Nicola Hardman live at:

Fri 13th Oct – Liverpool – Studio 2 Parr Street

Sat 21st Oct – Northwich – House of Quirk

Friday 1st December – Liverpool – The Epstein Theatre

Sat 2nd Dec – London – Maddens East Finchlay

Stream ‘Just Human’ and ‘Little Fish’ 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 The Hubbards

Riding high on a wave of praise following their most recent single ‘Just Touch’, Hull-born Leeds-based four-piece The Hubbards have already notched up support slots for the likes of stadium stars Foals and The 1975, not to mention a coveted slot at this year’s Radio 1’s Big Weekend. Their material has aired on both Radio One and 6Music, while previous single ‘Cold Cut’ was used on ‘Made In Chelsea’. The quartet have now released their new single ‘Body Confident’. This laid-back indie bopper cruises against a backdrop of crunching sharp guitars and punchy drums. The dazed hazy melody drifts with a woozy dreamy loftiness and ear worm infectiousness. With an air of casual easy going almost “meh” nonchalance to take the edge off the piercing dynamic soundscape it’s effortlessly cool and breezy. Elastic bass and bouncy drums give a gyrating swagger and enthralling allurement to the track. It’s smooth with a groovy mellow backbone and one for lazy hazy days.

You can catch The Hubbards Live at

7th October: Sebright Arms, London

13th October: Fruit, Hull

21st October: – The Shed, Leicester

22nd October:- The Brunswick, Brighton

Watch the video for ‘Body Confident’ below


Album Release, Album Review, Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music, Synth Rock, Synth-pop

Deep City Diver Self-Titled Debut Album

Hackney indie rock band Deep City Diver will release their self-titled debut album on the 6th October. This trio have crafted an album with tracks anthemic in every way with their brand of guitar pop stamped all over it. Doused in synth soundscapes they bring each track to life and evoke every fiber of emotion in the listener. Their sound is ambitious and exciting fully polished and meticulously formulated, it doesn’t feel like a debut album it feels like the fourth or fifth album of a well-established  band. They know their sound and it’s so familiar and comfortable it’s like they have been around for years, yet fresh and new. ‘Easy Prey’ kicks off the album smothered in 80’s synth pop shimmer and sparkle. The melody is sombre and sway-like and Nico’s vocals coo and brood for the verses before becoming dynamic for the anthemic chorus. Running basslines and a snappy beat adds a dance-like shuffle while jingley guitars flicker and stride with swagger and panache. It’s an infectious 80’s flashback. This trio do exuberant fist pump anthems well and ‘Everyone Is Alone’ and ‘Another World’ display this perfectly. With Bon Jovi-esque fiery choruses, powerful vocals and that adrenaline pumping get up and dance your worries away vibe. They bring the rock and roll nostalgia to the album with melty ear worm melodies and some sharp guitar injections adding a bit of edge and rawness to their sound. ‘As the Crow Flies’ is a beautiful melodic tune. Wandering soundscapes wisp around strident guitars. It’s pretty sweet and tender however the musical background adds a film like dramatic sorrow and breezy sharpness. ‘Down On Wreckyn Street, I’m Ruined’ is another indie rock thumper. Energetic, boppy and vibrant smothered in vitality with a dash of airy synths filling out the sound and giving a refreshing little multi dimension to the track. ‘Nothing Hurts’ is an elastic guitar driven tune. A rebounding spring on guitars adds buoyancy before the shredding air guitar worthy solo. ‘Honeyeater’ another slow burner with a strong thumping beat and elegant honey drizzled melody gives a 60’s feel mixed with a bit of the The Smiths. Probably my favourite track on the album for its depth and sweet sorrow filled guitar feature. It’s richly emotive and Nico’s vocals are immensely passionate and divine. It’s a tearjerker for sure utterly romantic and raw, just sublime to listen to.‘Living In The Hyphen’ and album closer ‘Youth’ are the delicate ballads. Beautiful melodies and smouldering synths create a dark sorrowful atmosphere swirling around Nico’s compelling emotion-filled vocals. ‘Youth’ displays Nico’s vocal depth.It’s a little organ-y which adds warmth to the track and once again this track is very passionate and heart wrenching. It’s a short track, just over two minutes bringing a nice end to the album. With simple accompaniment it leaves space for contemplation.

Deep City Diver have compiled a collection of tracks that speak to the heart, live in the moment whatever that moment is and makes you feel something. It’s an emotional journey of highs and lows dramatic anthemic tracks that are massive and fiery to slow tender pure passion and raw emotion. It’s epic guitar pop at its best.

You can catch Deep City Diver at their Vinyl Launch Gigs at

20th October 2017 – The Underground, Stoke-on-Trent (w/ DIVENIRE)

21st October 2017 – Blondies, London (w/ Bear Muda)

Stream ‘Another World’  below