London indie three piece Pin Ups have released their new single ‘Lunchtime’.The track which is inspired by Donald Trump’s comments of arming teachers in order to prevent school shootings sees drummer Jesse Baker deliver the lead vocals. This snappy track is a barbed pop sprinkled number doused in light-hearted irony with a catchy chorus and vibrant soundscape.The smooth melody sweetens the bitter sting on guitars as they intricately weave and slice through the punchy drums and swirling synths. It’s dynamic and edgy with a hip – hop element peeping through the indie pop coating. With attitude soaked vocals rapidly rolling over the brisk verses before springing into the anthemic crowd-friendly chorus it’s one sun speckled richly layered tune.. ‘Lunchtime’ is a well developed track that shows just how superbly this band are growing.
Houston, Texas anthemic, grungy indie rock/pop band Dres have released their new EP LYSNE. LYSNE (pronounced “LISTEN”) is an acronym for “Last Year’s Summer Never Ended” and was created straight out of high school.
‘LYSNE’ is a summer soaked EP sparkling with richly hued multi – genre facets and good times. Brimming with zealous guitar riffs buoyant rhythms and pop sprinkled goodness these tunes are instantly likeable. ‘Just a Thought’ kicks off this delightful adrenaline rush with catchy melodies, smooth vocals, glorious guitar lines and a vibrant rhythm. These guys flood every track with kinetic energy and youthful fun. There is a hint of the band Magic! wiggling its way between the indie pop as ‘Wake Up’, ‘Road Trip’ and ‘Oh (Florida) You Got Me’ are criminally catchy and easy on the ears. Glorious guitar lines weave lush zest filled tones throughout the EP carrying that sun kissed ethereal vibe joyously in each track. These songs are not for the cynics or grumpy as their intense jubilant atmosphere can be a little overwhelming. Each song explodes with this inferno of happy feeling and elated instrumentation. Things get slightly more rock and roll with the gritty bass in ‘What I Want’. With swagger dripping off the scorching guitar this anthemic sing along ready number would be great at a pool party. But it is final track ‘Cobain’ that brings a shift in the EP. The verses are more moody and grunge drizzled, however the chorus returns to that vibrant mass sing along.
‘LYSNE’ shows some sublime instrumentation from Dres that brings the summer in one short treasure chest EP. However like pandora’s box, once opened you have to suffer the consequences – you won’t be able to prise the tracks from your head and that youthful sun kissed glow will radiate from every pore in your body.
Hausu’s pop troubadour Arthur Valentine makes his first on-record appearance with his debut single ‘Selfish’. Arthur Valentine is the eclectic pop project of Cork based singer/songwriter and producer Luke Aston.His forthcoming debut EP was recorded as a full-band effort, spanning over many sessions, with Hausu musicians chipping in.Originally debuted as a live performance on Mike McGrath Byran’s RedOnRed show on Red FM, ‘Selfish’ is a dreamy sweet track smouldering upon light finger picked guitar and a melty easy on the ears melody. His lush vocals coo and slip effortlessly into his sweet falsetto. Romantic and steeped in a honeyed melody this dreamy ditty flows rippleless-ly into your ears until you are wooed by this simple well crafted track. It’s clever, honest and charming.
Dublin based psychedelic rock band Jooce have released their new double A side release ‘Lazarus/Disarray’. ‘Lazarus’ and ‘Disarray’ take Jooce’s blissful psychedelic rock down two different trippy avenues.
‘Lazarus’ cruises along with vibrant swirling soundscapes while hazy guitars weave a warm toned golden thread through this ethereal track.It’s prismatic layers create an enthralling lustrous listening experience as the track wanders off into a glorious and hypnotic instrumental piece. The raspy vocals coo and dynamically call out the anthemic chorus and punchy verse as a buoyant rhythm bounces through the swirling lush soundscapes.
‘Disarray’ mellows the tone as it ventures down a delicate ballad side to Jooce. Soft guitar strums between emotional and fairy-like light soundscapes. It’s a sweet reverb laced dreamy number that builds as it progresses. The guitars jangle with a zesty biting sting through the chilling atmosphere and sway-like melody. They weave the psychedelic tones through this track sublimely while sprinkling a dash of pop over the melody.
Moving and deeply enthralling Jooce showcase their fine musicianship and exquisite melodies through both these mesmerising tracks.They are instantly addictive.
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Pretty Visitors
Portsmouth indie rock band The Pretty Visitors have released their new single ‘It’s Not Easy’. Originally forming in 2012, the band played many shows in Southampton, Portsmouth and London, supporting artists such as Circa Waves, Jaws, Billy Lunn (The Subways), The Family Rain and more recently, Sisteray. Making a Victorious Festival debut in 2014, the band made a decision to pursue other avenues for the coming years. Reforming in Autumn of 2018, The Pretty Visitors are back, with bigger sounds and ambitions. They kicked off the year in style with a headline gig at Wedgewood Rooms, after selling out the smaller sister venue within a week of announcement.
‘It’s Not Easy’ is a crisp biting display from The Pretty Visitors. Swallowed up in an energetic wall of sound this blistering punchy number is raucous old school indie rock at its most potent. Raw guitars wail and shriek while crashing off snappy, pounding drums. A rooted elastic bass creates a fluctuant foundation and dance-able quality to the track. Hyperactive and filled with mosh ready madness this burly assault storms in ready to get a live audience in a frenzy. With a scorching guitar solo between a heavy rhythmic backdrop and attitude soaked vocals The Pretty Visitors showcase their swaggering raw sound with subtle flickers of finesse glimmering through the thrilling mayhem. It’s a catchy, exhilarating adrenaline shot of indie rock.
Dublin based art rock duo Manyana have released their debut single ‘1ofmy’. Comprised of Aran Sheehy and David O’Rourke the duo are leading the way for an album they have planned for release this year.
This absorbing number immerses you in a deeply ambient electronic soundscape filled with passionate rich tones and an extremely mesmerising and tangible sound. Every electronic flicker, pulse beat and lush melody slowly seeps into you, making the track a full sensory experience. Immense care has been taken with this track- each fragment is tailored precisely.From the fluctuant slapping beat shuffling through ethereal soundscapes to the strong piano chords, this composition is organic, rich and compelling. The elegant piano is the strength of the track between the breezy atmosphere and chilling soundscape. The piano grows slowly building to a sweet yet sharp melody that twinkles and wanders between a warm vocal harmony and jittery beat. There is great beauty and grandeur in this track. Its simplistic approach draws you into the inner working of this intriguing gem as Manyana dilute certain parts while highlighting and enriching others to create a textured fascinating listen. It’s catchy, melancholic and biting while warm vocals soothe and coo over a drifting sombre soundscape that feels barren yet filled with loneliness and tender instrumentation. ‘1ofmy’ is utterly consuming.
Alternative four-piece, Y!KES have released their debut single ‘Uncanny Valley’. The band is comprised of TJ Weston (Drums), Liam Howard (Guitar, backing vocal), Joby Fitzgerald (Lead vocal, rhythm guitar), Matt Ford (Bass) and this new single is the first of five singles scheduled for this year.
‘Uncanny Valley’ is an intoxicating blast of Y!KES’ catchy demolishing alternative rock. It’s snappy rhythm is consumed with relentless energy as punchy drums batter through a groove riddled bass line while shredding exhilarating guitars majestically soar, wail and screech over this mammoth whack of turmoil. It’s a meaty burly tune glossed with an infectious melody and raspy vocal delivery. Ready for the sticky mosh pit Y!KES announce themselves with one attention demanding anthem. ‘Uncanny Valley’ is fiery, full of gusto and one hell of a tune.
The accompanying video is a grotesquely humorous representation of the songs intense themes of isolation and stigmatisation, as well as a showcase for their extreme energy and theatricality. This is a band who are primed and ready to break down the doors of the UK rock scene this year.
Sylvette have released their new single ‘Memories (falling)’. Sylvette are a 5 piece Art-Rock band based in Manchester who create an imaginative and powerful sound.
‘Memories (falling)’ fleshes out Sylvette’s gripping musicianship with an ethereal mystical air of finesse. Doused in groove infested rhythms this track is one exhilarating rush. A gritty bass wiggles its way around luring jagged guitar shards while soft keys weave through pining violin lines creating a sublime dramatic backdrop. Meticulously crafted this track entices you with its slinky wriggling instrumentation while Charlie Sinclair’s expressive vocals narrate and theatrically express the eerie tale. Its spine chilling with fantastic elements broken up by sweet interludes. The track builds becoming more intense and ominous as the guitars stride with a dark mysterious melody through a classy elegant soundscape of sinister violin and rich rhythmic rumble. Absolutely thrilling this is one riveting number.
Manchester indie rock band Freeda have released their new single ‘Plead’.Forming in early 2017, the band spent their first year establishing themselves in their hometown, selling out headline shows along the way and progressing to 1000+ capacity venues. In 2018 Freeda released two singles, ‘Plug It In’ and ‘Go Home’, which were recorded and produced by Sugar House (Viola Beach, Glass Caves, Pale Waves). The tracks received attention from tastemaker blogs in England, Germany and America, leading to them being featured on Hype Machine’s ‘Latest Music’ Spotify playlist.The band have headlined shows from Manchester to Paris with support slots at Gorilla and the Ritz, they also performed at the festivals Dot 2 Dot and Cotton Clouds. Securing slots on Amazing Radio and BBC Introducing.
‘Plead’ is a palpitating flutter of gripping indie as Freeda sweep you up in their anthemic and invigorating musicianship. With rumbling drum rolls, ethereal guitars and a catchy chorus these guys build the track sublimely for the perfect hair raising experience. The warm passionate vocals teamed with the biting sting on guitar and aerial breezy atmosphere make the song refreshing and emotional. This track has an edgy refinement that is first rate. A smooth brooding melody weaves its way through the cutting soundscape with a soft grandeur that is impressive. It’s dynamic, snappy and upbeat with a stormy undertone making for a satisfying listening experience.
Liverpool quintet The Indica Gallery have released the video for recent single ‘Wait For Your Love’. Formed in early 2018, The Indica Gallery have a blossoming sound that blends 60s and 70s pop with modern psychedelic overtones and poetic Northern grit. Recorded at Airtight Studios in Chorlton, ‘Wait For Your Love’ is a love letter personified in a song and is the follow-up to their debut single ‘Forever Loving You’ released last year.
‘Wait For Your Love’ is a lazy afternoon swoon of lush 50’s pop glistening through sweet instrumentation and ethereal melodies. It’s a delicate sway-able number with minimal adornment as a twinkling guitar feature gently sparkles soft beams of sun light through the mid tempo and easy beat. The warm velvety vocals add a soothing sweet quality to this sophisticated, admirably restrained tune. With a rich, reminiscent and romantic tone The Indica Gallery sound very much at ease with themselves and their talents, offering a flurry and satisfying glimpse of the beauty of their musicianship. Dreamy, mellow and lushly melodic ‘Wait For Your Love’ is a retro classy number to fall in love with.
The enchantingly surreal music video questions the potential impact technology has on individuality, human nature and the quest for real love, with the unlikely help of two sentient scarecrows. It was filmed by Inframe Productions at Didsbury Fletcher Moss Gardens in Greater Manchester, a place of regular inspiration and solitude for lead singer and songwriter Joe Mansergh. He says : “The band and a few close friends took a trip to Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens. We spent the time we had together mostly laughing, making freaky outfits and shooting as much footage as we could. We wanted to make a video that toyed with our own thoughts about the effects that technology has on individuality and relationships. By the time we were finished having fun it had taken a more abstract path and I think that’s become part of the charm for us.”
Watch the video for ‘Wait For Your Love’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
