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.
It was a Brighton take over Thursday night in The Grand Social Dublin. With sparkles at the ready, swagger in tow and Guinness ready to guzzle. Indie rock, rising deity, Black Honey took the venue by storm equipped with everything to make the night memorable.
One of those was fellow Brighton gems Chappaqua Wrestling who flooded the venue with the sweetest, most delicious tunes as their musical prowess pleasantly wafted delicately about our ears. Each tune brought their sound to a new delightful level. Both Jake Mac and Charlie Woods take turns on vocals as they coo and softly lull through tracks like ‘False/Blue’ and ‘Wait To Form My Head’ while ‘Football’ blows our minds with blistering instrumentation. Their tracks are laid back, sun soaked and infectiously groovy. The duo are accompanied by Jude Lilley and Josh Cassidy-Stone who maintained the joyous buoyant foundation and rhythmic bliss superbly. Their breezy tracks melt exquisitely into the ears with ease as the honey drizzled melodies float upon their edgy indie backdrop. Each track was tight and utterly mesmerising with a 50’s melodic hue floating about them. You can’t fault their slinky solos and thrilling riffs as they flesh out the bands intricately weaved sound beautifully.This duo’s easy going charm is infectious as they banter with the crowd “ I tried my first Guinness today …. I love it so much” as well as jokingly haggling on the price of their EP as members of the crowd try to create a bit of currency exchange confusion. The band are talented and down to earth with some really infectious tracks . They even hug each other after their set, it was pretty moving. Chappaqua Wrestling are definitely ones to see live.
Black Honey take to the stage triumphantly as the crowd’s cheers resound through the venue. The ever so spellbinding frontwoman Izzy B Phillips parades in a sparkly pink dress and flashy sunglasses which she presents to a thrilled fan at the front with a wink and greeting smile before belting straight into ‘ I Only Hurt The Ones I Love‘. Flamboyant and sassy she struts about the stage executing every pose, stride and wiggle with a precision that leaves the crowd in awe. She has a mesmerising effect on the audience as they gaze upon her in all her glittering glory. The band is brimming with charisma, guitarist Chris Ostler prances about as he performs those sublime, ornate and golden soaked spaghetti western melodies and refined solos with finesse and grandeur. His smiling face a joy to see as he bops and hops along to their lavish tunes. The band give us a sneaky listen to the cinematic James Bond – esque new “not on the internet yet” single ‘ I Don’t Ever Wanna Love’.
“Girls come close, come in, lads step aside, girls at the back come up…. Cos this song is for you ” Izzy calls as she moves closer to the crowd hugging her stunned fans while they sing the chorus for the beloved ‘Corrine’. This is something she regularly does throughout the set, she stays with the crowd embraces and dances with them before returning to the stage to wiggle and shimmy to the bands infectious tasty tunes. The tracks take a new dimension live, the disco funk speckled delight ‘Midnight’ becomes more gritty and raw within the live setting while a slower start to the exhilarating ‘Spinning Wheel’ teases the fiery frenzy to come. Drummer Tom Dewhurst lays down that all important meaty foundation and punchy beat that keeps tracks like ‘All My Pride’ pounding through your soul as he grins to the coolly composed Bassist Tommy Taylor who’s slinky bass lines make tracks like ‘Teenager’ and ‘Midnight’ swelter their way to epic status.
A beautiful rendition of ‘Baby’ allows Izzy to showcase her flawless vocals while ‘Bad Friends’ and ‘Into The Nightmare’ wallop through with attitude and fiery instrumentation. Their setlist powers through at an unstoppable speed, it almost feels like no time has passed when the band announce their final track of the night ‘Somebody Better ‘ as the crowd cheer and dance along.
Black Honey put on one heck of a performance. One of the best live shows of the year so far.
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.
Manchester indie band Delights have released their new single ‘Daydream’ another heavenly track from the band. With a rooted bass weaving its elastic wiggle-ready groove around the punchy drums and glistening sun saturated guitar, this sweet number is easy on the ears and utterly mesmerising. The dreamy melody floats delicately on the zesty indie backdrop creating a soothing cushion while Delights build the background with subtle edgy instrumentation. The guitars soar, sting and wail through the track adding dashes of vibrancy and scintillation throughout as the sublime rhythmic foundation bounces and bubbles behind the velvety vocals.It’s a charming track that is ready for those lazy hazy days in the sun.
Berlin-based Italian singer-songwriter Giorgio De Palo has released his first debut EP called ‘First Waves’. Most of the EP has been created in his small home studio, where time and economical pressure were inexistent offering the ideal environment for a free creative process.
‘First Waves’ is an easy listening collection of tracks filled with beautiful mellow melodies and rich musicianship simmering in ethereal atmospheres. ‘Eclipse’ kicks off the EP with sublime guitar, plucked delicately through wispy soundscapes while Giorgio’s warm vocals passionately coo over the heartfelt melody. Rich and exotic with sun bursts glistening through every vibrant note and luring beat its a sublime way to begin the EP. The tender previously released singles ‘Rails’ and ‘Vivid Dream’ follow with their uplifting vibes, supple beats and glorious guitar melodies. There is a dreamy haze created in this collection of tracks that absorbs you into a caring world created meticulously by Giorgio. ‘Disruption’ brings the EP to an end with darker tones as haunting soundscapes surround deep vocals and a melancholic melody. It’s a nostalgic sombre number doused in beautiful guitar work and an ominous beat. The way the guitar meanders and weaves through each track ties them all together superbly and adds a majestic quality to this fantastic and moving EP.
Stream ‘First Waves’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
