Listening Post – June 2024

Words: Andy Hughes

Listen – don’t even get us started on how quick this year is going. Ay caramba! 

Alongside our bumper playlist for the year (capturing everything we’ve been loving from January through to now), the ‘Listening Post’ returns this month and is rammed with some top tunes, 20 of them in fact – old and new, all gold!

Whilst you’re here, why not get involved with our new podcast? ’60 Minutes or less’ has been up and running for over five months now, featuring interesting chats with Protomartyr, Paul Hanley (The Fall), Omni, Everything Everything, Field Music, The Utopia Strong, USA Nails, METZ, HALO MAUD, Jamie Lenman and Pissed Jeans! When you’re done here, get yourself listening to the new episodes and give it a rating on your favourite streaming service!

The Maghreban x Omar – Waiting
(Connection)

If you’re anything like me, you just can’t get enough of that 1991 sweet jam that is ‘There’s Nothing Like This’, the title track from British soul singer Omar’s debut album. Consider us tickled pink then with the recent discovery of a new Omar collaboration with southern outfit The Maghreban, a proper VHS video nasty style house track that well and truly gets right under your skin. Proper belter this!

Lene Lovich – Lucky Number
(Stateless)

I know there are cycles in fashion but bloody hell, doesn’t this sound like it came out last week, rather than 1979! A killer wonk-pop earworm from English-American recording artist Lene Lovich, there’s touches of – well – just about everything in this, from Pottery to PYLON to The B-52’s to Sparks.

Jordi Savall – Doina & Hora (Roumanie)
(Espirit Des Balkans [Balkan Spirit])

Five minutes plus of delight here on ‘Doina & Hora’, Jordi Savall conducting his Hespèrion XXI ensemble – featuring musicians from Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece and Turkey – to delirious highs. One for the kitchen dancers!

Uranium Club – Viewers Like You
(Infants Under The Bulb)

Fuck yeah, man – just when you thought The Minneapolis Uranium Club couldn’t get any gnarlier, they chuck a load of brass into the mix for delectable results! Raging as expected, ‘Viewers Like You’ is taken from their fourth album ‘Infants Under The Bulb’ (out now via Static Shock Records / Anti Fade Records), their first full length since the release of ‘The Cosmo Cleaners’ in 2018.

Nik Kershaw – Wouldn’t It Be Good
(Human Racing)

The Absolute 80s love-in continues at Birthday Cake For Breakfast HQ ever since the purchase of a DAB radio for the kitchen. They have a ‘No Repeat Guarantee’ by all accounts, but you wouldn’t know it as ‘Wouldn’t It Be Good’ is on all the bloody time! No complaints here, mind – such a banging blast of nostalgia it is, we’re hooked!

Cassandra Jenkins – Only One
(My Light, My Destroyer)

NYC artist Cassandra Jenkins first captured our attention with the release of the brilliantly titled ‘An Overview on Phenomenal Nature’, her 2021 album that we discovered off the back of the news that she was due to tour with Purple Mountains before the tragic death of David Berman in 2019. New single ‘Only One’ is a welcome return, a dreamy new cut from her forthcoming third album, ‘My Light, My Destroyer’, due out next month.

Crack Cloud – Blue Kite
(Red Mile)

Here we are again – another Crack Cloud album announcement, another stone-cold banger of a lead single to become obsessed with. ‘Blue Kite’ is their first offering at their new home of Jagjaguwar and leans more towards the type of soaring anthemic pop they’ve been moving towards of late, the six minutes flying by in an instant of catharsis.

Sneaks – Down In The Woods
(Gymnastics)

With a bassline that just won’t quit, ‘Down In The Woods’ is a pacey, hypnotic affair from Washington D.C. artist Eva Moolchan, a.k.a. Sneaks. With a runtime of 52 seconds, you can get lost in the groove again and again! 

Cosmo Sheldrake – Cuckoo
(Wake Up Calls)

This song absolutely hypnotised our dog when it came on the wireless just the other week. From field recordist, producer and composer extraordinaire Cosmo Sheldrake, the instrumental ‘Cuckoo’ is the sound of immersing yourself in the trees with the birdsong. 

Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning
(Diesel and Dust)

We’ve been Absolute 80s pilled for a good month now and this is one of the big hitters that’s had us hooked. Starting off with thoughts of ‘what the fuck is this?’, it didn’t take long for it to sink its teeth in. A top 10 hit over here when it was released in the late 80s, but completely new to these ears in our year of the lord 2024.

(Photo Credit: Kian Boyle)

Metronomy x Panic Shack – It’s Good To Be Back
(Small World – Special Edition)

I was at Band on the Wall in Manchester the other week for ‘Bad Dreams’, an all-dayer headlined by visiting art-punks Bodega. One of the supports came from Welsh punks Panic Shack and they smashed it, which had us looking back into their catalogue and boy was it nice to revisit their Metronomy remix for the latter’s last record. Very much putting their spin on it, the Cardiff natives turn a pop bop into an anthemic full-pelt ripper. 

Egg Hunt – We All Fall Down
(2 Songs)

Putting in the research for a forthcoming podcast episode (did we mention ’60 Minutes or less’?), I’ve been listening to the audiobook for ‘Our Band Could Be Your Life’ of late, so it’s been a trip discovering side projects and such from the hardcore elite. Former Minor Threat members Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson put out just the one raging single as Egg Hunt (during a trip to England no less), but that’s more than enough.

The Bug Club – Quality Pints

Fair play, we first posted about The Bug Club in 2021, bigging up their ace debut single ‘We Don’t Need Room For Lovin’’. Blast forward three years and they’ve only bloody signed to Sub Pop?! Proper grafters, they’re always on tour and have since put out two full lengths without a drop in quality – the fuzzy ‘Quality Pints’ continues on the theme and is heaps of fun! 

Mock Tudors – Hair of the Dog
(Good Drinkin’ Times)

On new single ‘Hair of the Dog’, three-headed, trackie-loving Sheffield outfit Mock Tudors have done it once more, penning a stupendously infectious rock dream for the lugholes. From a forthcoming ten track record of expected rippers.

Clairo – Sexy To Someone
(Charm)

Capturing the type of nostalgic warmth so expertly produced by Denver’s Tennis, solo artist Claire Cottrill a.k.a. Clairo wows on this sultry cut from her forthcoming third record ‘Charm’, out next month. A sun-soaked pop hit that sounds like it might be more at home in someone’s record collection in 1973.

Adwaith – MWY

Did someone ask for a big Welsh bop? Well you’re in luck, chuck, ‘cus Carmarthen trio Adwaith have got just the ticket with their latest single, ‘MWY’! A proper good time of a track, it’s impossible to stay still when this thumper is on! 

Kino Motel – Repeater
(Visions)

Having once appeared on these very pages as 1/3 of German-based noise-rockers HEADS., Ed Fraser returns with Rosa Mercedes as part of ‘Beach Goth’ duo, Kino Motel. From a new album out earlier this year (their first full length), ‘Repeater’ is a hazy, cinematic fuzz-fest.  

Potato – Almost Gone
(Stew)

Fair play, it’s a good band name, eh? Good luck googling these cats… With a sound not too dissimilar to the brilliant Tapir!, ’Almost Gone’ is a tender, beautiful piece from south London quartet Potato’s forthcoming debut EP ‘Stew’ (good stuff), out next month via Mookin Records. 

M(h)aol – Pursuit

Irish intersectional feminist quartet M(h)aol well and truly captivate on the driving ‘Pursuit’, a song about the all too real fear women have of just trying to get home. Thumping to a shouted crescendo, like Gilla Band before them, this is head-wrecking music to really dance to.

Chinese American Bear – Feelin’ Fuzzy ( 毛绒绒的感觉 )

Love this funky little wonk-pop earworm from mando-pop / rock duo Chinese American Bear (who’ve just signed to Moshi Moshi Records) – a song influenced by singer Anne Tong’s upbringing in a Chinese immigrant household, wanting to have fun whilst under the roof of a strict “stereotypical tiger mom”.

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Listening Post – May 2024

Words: Andy Hughes

Alongside our bumper playlist for the year (cataloguing everything we’ve been loving from January through to now), the ‘Listening Post’ returns this month and it’s full of our favourite choice cuts of late, 20 of them – old and new!

It’s a crisp 70 minutes so you can rip through this playlist again and again – be sure to tell your loved ones all about it!

Whilst you’re here, why not get involved with our new podcast? ’60 Minutes or less’ has been up and running for over four months now, featuring interesting chats with Joe Casey (Protomartyr), Paul Hanley (The Fall), Philip Frobos (Omni), Jonathan Higgs (Everything Everything), Peter Brewis (Field Music), Steve Davis OBE (The Utopia Strong), Steven Hodson (USA Nails) and Alex Edkins of METZ! When you’re done here, get yourself listening to the new episodes and give it a rating on your favourite streaming service!

Metronomy x Pan Amsterdam – Nice Town
(Posse EP Volume 2)

Stepping into the new year with some bumper news, Metronomy have just signed to Ninja Tune for the release of a new EP, the follow up to their killer collaborations EP out in 2021 (appropriately titled ‘Posse EP Volume 1’). Featuring NYC multi-instrumentalist Pan Amsterdam rapping in an old school stylee and ripping it on jazz trumpet, ‘Nice Town’ is an energising dance-y hip-hop bopper.

Skydaddy (feat. Tyler Cryde) – Tear Gas
(Pilot)

Skydaddy a.k.a. London based musician Rachid Fakhre, toured with Black Country, New Road ahead of releasing any actual material, so it makes sense that the band’s own Tyler Cryde would make an appearance on his debut EP. Featuring Cryde on classical guitar, her dual vocals with Fakhre make ‘Tear Gas’ such an engaging, yet sombre listen.  

Katie Von Schleicher – Pilea

Fresh off the back of releasing ‘A Little Touch of Schleicher in the Night’ in 2023, Brooklyn’s Katie Von Schleicher just last month released the lovely, summery ‘Pilea’, a swell little song about her pilea plant and her sweet tweetie-pie bird, Ursula. Dig that bass clarinet!

Ora Cogan – Feel Life
(Formless)

Real killer moody post-punk of the N0V3L and Preoccupations variety here from Ora Cogan, the sharp instrumental really creating a fire under the hypnotic, ghostly vocal. From a record featuring international guest spots from Y La Bamba and Mac Diarmada of LANKUM, ‘Feel Life’ moves ahead at a real clip.

Haasan Barclay – Curfews

Boston, Mass artist Haasan Barclay gets real deep on this vibe of a cut from his oeuvre, released in 2021 – “…pleasure’s just an overdraft away”. ‘Curfews’ is an ice-cold, many-moving-parts hip-hop peach of a record.

Jalen Ngonda – Illusions

London based soul artist Jalen Ngonda well and truly captured our hearts with his storming debut LP ‘Come Around and Love Me’ and he’s followed up its 2023 release sharpish with new single ‘Illusions’. It’s crazy to think this is a cut from our year of the lord 2024, rather than some uncovered gem from a Northern Soul DJ’s loft!

Helene Smith – I Tried So Hard To Be Good To You

Said to be Miami’s ‘First Lady of Soul’, Helene Smith totally wows on this heart-swelling soul piece from the 60s. This has got late Sunday morning with a giant cup of coffee on the go written all over it!

Girlfriends and Boyfriends – Ambulance
(Lost In The Noise)

I was mildly obsessed with this when I first heard it – a revved up, bass and synth attack heart-stopper that sounds like DEVO if they’d put out a New Romantic record. From Vancouver, British Columbia, Girlfriends and Boyfriends really hit the spot on ‘Ambulance’, a raging bit of nostalgic punk.

Mary in the Junkyard – Ghost
(This Old House)

The opener from a forthcoming debut EP from Mary in the Junkyard, ‘Ghost’ sounds a wee bit like Big Thief – soft and sparse, then opening with bursts of noise as the ethereal vocals of guitarist Clari Freeman-Taylor really soar.

Wine Lips – Derailer
(Super Mega Ultra)

Fair cop, ‘Super Mega Ultra’ is the perfect title for a new record from Canada’s speed-punks Wine Lips. Discovered in this house off the back of their third album ‘Mushroom Death Sex Bummer Party’ (another gnarly title), ‘Derailer’ is a total fuzz-fest ripper of a good time!

Anna Erhard – Botanical Garden

I was literally just thinking – when are we going to be getting a new song from Anna Erhard? Consider us tickled pink then to discover brand new material from Erhard, her latest off the back of brilliant standalone single ‘170’ out last year. ‘Botanical Garden’ has a touch of the Darwin Deez to it and is a sugary-sweet delight to these ears!

Astrid Sonne – Boost
(Great Doubt)

January 2024 saw the release of the third album from Danish composer and viola player Astrid Sonne and from it, ‘Boost’ is a proper head-wrecker. Booming beats cut through what sounds like the theme for some end of level boss fight at times. Love that record sleeve too!

Shabaka (feat. Saul Williams) – Managing My Breath, What Fear Had Become
(Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace)

Album title / cover of the year here from London born Shabaka Hutchings for his latest release, the brilliantly titled ‘Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace’. Known for his work with Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming, on ‘Managing My Breath, What Fear Had Become’, Shabaka hooks up with MC and poet Saul Williams for a completely tranquil, mind-escaping three minute journey.

Stuck – AITA?

Seeing this live last month really cemented it for us. From a standalone single (alongside ‘Deep Tunnel’), ‘AITA?’ is yet another dynamite hit from Chicago outfit Stuck, vocalist Greg Obis asking the big question again and again – ‘Am I The Asshole?’

(Photo Credit: Carrie Davenport)

Manukahunney – Moved On Up
(My Dark Side)

Appearing in numerous gospel groups before starting Manukahunney in 2012, Northern Irish soul vocalist Siobhan Brown recently celebrated a decade of Manukahunney with the release of a new EP. ‘Moved On Up’ is a total showcase of that powerhouse vocal. Nails drumming too!  

John Grant – It’s a Bit…Disconcerting
(The Art Of The Lie)

Prince has returned, but this time around the vessel with which he gets funky is a mid-50s bearded white male by the name of John Grant. A few years on from the release of ‘Boy from Michigan’, Grant gets the party started on this total groove-fest from his forthcoming new album, ‘The Art Of The Lie’.

Fran & Flora – Fishelekh Gefinen
(Precious Collection)

Inspired by traditional Eastern-Europe melodies and folk songs, violin and cello duo Fran & Flora are completely captivating on ‘Fishelekh Gefinen‘, the vocals as striking as the driving instrumentation. From their recently released second album ‘Precious Collection’, self-produced by the pair.

Liz Lawrence – Strut
(Peanuts)

Shades of Cate Le Bon and Dana Gavanski on this cucumber cool, wonk-pop stomper from Liz Lawrence, searching for somewhere to feed her ego – “…somewhere between my dreams and the fruit machine.” From a new album out this June, potentially named after Charlie Brown, Snoopy and all their mates.

Hiro Ama – Music For Peace and Harmony

Come in, relax and get 100% soothed by the wonderful ‘Music For Peace and Harmony’, the new single from London-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Hiro Ama. Known for his 9-5 as the drummer in indie-rock outfit Teleman, his new material centres around the Waraku synthesiser (‘Waraku‘ translating literally to ‘peace and harmony’), an obscure Japanese instrument that blends the sounds of traditional instruments such as the Koto and Shakuhachi.

Jane Weaver – Emotional Components
(Love In Constant Spectacle)

If you’ve been in my company recently and Jane Weaver’s been the topic of discussion, you might’ve heard my hot take that ‘Emotional Components’ – the enchanting bop from her latest album ‘Love In Constant Spectacle’ – very much has the vibe of ‘There’s Nothing Like This’, the early 90s smooth number from Omar.

Like what you see? Why not stick around and check out the other articles and interviews!
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Listening Post – April 2024

Words: Andy Hughes

I can’t quite Adam-and-beliEve-it that we’re already easing into spring. No, this isn’t an April Fools (particularly as that was a few days ago), but rather the year zooming ahead as per. 

Alongside our bumper playlist for the year (cataloguing everything we’ve been loving from January through to now), the ‘Listening Post’ returns this month and it’s full of choice cuts, 20 of them – old and new!

It’s a crisp 60 minutes, so you can bosh this one out in snappy fashion – be sure to tell your friends / family / pets too!

Whilst you’re here, can we quickly draw your attention to the new podcast that we launched at the start of the year? ’60 Minutes or less’ has been up and running for over three months now, featuring interesting chats with Joe Casey (Protomartyr), Paul Hanley (The Fall), Philip Frobos (Omni), Jonathan Higgs (Everything Everything), Peter Brewis (Field Music) and Steve Davis OBE (The Utopia Strong)! When you’re done here, get yourself listening to the new episodes and give it a rating on your favourite streaming service!

Patio – Inheritance
(Collection)

Cooler than the other side of the pillow stuff here from NYC formed trio Patio. From their second album ‘Collection’, out September last year on tastemaker label Fire Talk, ‘Inheritance’ is as groovy as it is moody and calls to mind the brilliant Lithics. Love those machine-gun fire drum bursts.

Parsnip – The Light
(Behold)

On our radar ever since their 2017 EP ‘Health’, Aussie lot Parsnip return in 2024 with their forthcoming second album (on the way this month via Upset The Rhythm). Kicking things off with bright and breezy lead single ‘The Light’, it’s an offering that sounds like it’s been zapped forward in time from the swinging sixties. 

Bench Press – Respite
(Not The Past, Can’t Be The Future)

From their 2019 album ‘Not The Past, Can’t Be The Future’, Melbourne’s Bench Press have a motto we can get behind – ‘don’t bore us, get to the chorus’. Mastered by Mikey Young, naturally, this is a snarling post-punk number that sinks its teeth in from the off.

Bingo Fury – Leather Sky
(Bats Feet For A Widow)

It was a trip seeing Bingo Fury at hipster hotspot YES in Manchester recently, given that the cover photo for his new album ‘Bats Feet For A Widow’ captures the songwriter in the restaurant across the street, literally taken from the very same room we were stood. ‘Leather Sky’ is something else, a proper stop you in your tracks affair from the young crooner, one that’s drawn comparisons to songwriting greats like Scott Walker.

Saint Saviour – Be Gentle
(Sunseeker)

It’s fitting that we move into spring with this sun-soaked delight from London based singer-songwriter Becky Jones a.k.a. Saint Saviour (though it is pissing it down in Manchester as I write this…) From a new album out now – the aptly titled ‘Sunseeker’ – elsewhere on the record you’ll find a guest collaboration from Bill Ryder Jones.

Non La – Hurtful
(Like Before)

Mega S/T ‘blue’ album Weezer vibes aplenty on the fist-pumping ‘Hurtful’, one of the big hitters from ‘Like Before’, the new record from queer Chinese-Vietnamese multi-instrumentalist Non La (whose name sounds like what a scouser might say when you’ve asked them for something they’ve just run out of…) Dig that fuzz!

Ting Tang Tina – Hair
(Honeybee)

Texan quartet Ting Tang Tina first started playing shows in 2017, but listening to the infectious ‘Hair’, you’d think they’d have been at it for decades. Hardly letting up across its near three minutes, this from their debut album ‘Honeybee’ sounds like it’d be sitting pretty on the soundtrack of any coming of age teen film. 

Grazia – Stupid Paradise
(In Poor Taste)

Featuring ex-Sauna Youth bod Lindsay Corstorphine, London based duo Grazia put out a killer EP at the start of the year (another winning release from the team at Feel It Records). ‘Stupid Paradise’ is a total ear worm of the slacker variety.

VR Sex – Real Doll Time
(Hard Copy)

I’ve been flirting with disaster of late, listening to loads of VR Sex on my work laptop (that name!), but I can’t help it – I’m hooked on their new record, ’Hard Copy’! Spearheaded by Noel Skum (a.k.a. Andrew Clinco of Drab Majesty), ‘Real Doll Time’ is a mega infectious bit of moody post-punk from a record that well and truly has its hooks in us.

The Chico Hamilton Quintet – The Morning After
(Chico Hamilton Quintet featuring Buddy Collette)

An absolutely delightful piece here from American jazz drummer and bandleader, Chico Hamilton, a completely cinematic jazz affair that would perfectly soundtrack any time of day (not just ‘The Morning After‘…)

Folly Group – East Flat Crows
(Down There!)

Sometimes seeing a band live can really take their record to another level. Following an appearance in Manchester last month, I’ve been hammering the debut album from Londoners Folly Group. ‘East Flat Crows’ is a particularly cool number from the quartet, the dual vocal and hypnotising rhythm section taking hold.

Modema – Running Back

A regular in The Orielles live band (as well as behind the counter of Manchester institution Piccadilly Records), last year saw the release of a debut single from Scottish artist Modema, a slick pop number that doesn’t sound too dissimilar to the synth-pop stylings found on the latest Everything Everything record.  

SLAP RASH – Photo Fit
(Catherine Special)

Local lot SLAP RASH put out their debut EP ‘Catherine Special’ at the tail end of last year and from it, ‘Photo Fit’ is a frantic post punk shoulder-shuffler of the Drahla variety. Thumping drums, killer bass and a captivating vocal attack that keeps you on your toes, this is solid!

Holiday Ghosts – Big Congratulations
(Coat Of Arms)

The ever prolific Holiday Ghosts swiftly follow up their 2023 record ‘Absolute Reality’ with yet another slab of wax to be devoured. Latest single ‘Big Congratulations’ is a total pop treat – a joyous, breezy single to welcome in the brighter months of the year.

(Photo Credit: Atiba Jefferson)

Dehd – Mood Ring
(Poetry)

Starting off as a thumping, Nine Inch Nails type industrial assault, ‘Mood Ring’ switches gears dramatically and becomes such a pop bop. From a new record out this May, ‘Mood Ring’ is insanely catchy and a total heart-sweller from the Chicago trio.

Mannequin Pussy – Aching
(I Got Heaven)

You know we love a 90 second ripper at Birthday Cake For Breakfast, so we were stoked when we heard this on the latest Mannequin Pussy record. A hardcore rush that sounds like the gnarliness of early Turnstile, you’ll want to stick ‘Aching’ on again and again.

Lambrini Girls – God’s Country

Very much in the vein of early Sleaford Mods – dog-dirt bass and engrossing, corner-you-in-the-pub stream of consciousness vocals (both a compliment, trust us) – ‘God’s Country’ is the latest attack from killer trio Lambrini Girls. Known for a notorious live show and with records to match, they can’t seem to put a foot wrong!

Rosali – Bite Down
(Bite Down)

From a new record out last month via Merge Records, North Carolina’s Rosali conjures up a real vibe on title track ‘Bite Down’. Guided by the warmth of the vocals and the instrumentation, it’s the type of track you can completely lose yourself in, allowing your mind to float off along a lazy river. 

Alison Cotton – The Letter Burning
(Engelchen)

From a new record out this year on Rocket Recordings and Feeding Tube Records, ‘The Letter Burning’ is a haunting, thought provoking piece from London based viola player / vocalist Alison Cotton. The record ‘Engelchen’ – meaning “little angel” in German – is a tribute to Ida & Louise Cook, two opera fans who rescued 29 Jewish people from Nazi-occupied Europe in the 30s.

Cowtown – Thru Being Zuul
(Fear Of…)

A commemorative pen in the post for Leeds formed Cowtown, the trio now celebrating twenty years in the game! To mark the occasion, the trio have just announced a new album is on the way this May via Gringo Records – their first new album in eight years! New single ‘Thru Being Zuul’ is the Cowtown sound we’ve come to love, an energetic burst of DEVO styled synth-punk to get the body moving.

(Photo Credit: Vincent-Lee)

Like what you see? Why not stick around and check out the other articles and interviews!
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Listening Post – March 2024

Words: Andy Hughes

As if it’s bloody March already?! Alongside our bumper playlist for the year (bringing together everything we’ve been loving from January through to now), the ‘Listening Post’ returns this month and it’s full of the good stuff!

Ease into spring with our March playlist – 20 tunes, old and new – featuring everything that’s been tickling our fancy of late. Be sure to tell your friends / family / pets too!

Whilst you’re here, can we quickly draw your attention to the new podcast that we launched at the start of the year? ’60 Minutes or less’ has been up and running for over a month now, featuring interesting chats with Joe Casey (Protomartyr), Paul Hanley (The Fall), Philip Frobos (Omni) and Jonathan Higgs (Everything Everything)! When you’re done here, get yourself listening to the new episodes and give it a rating on your favourite streaming service!

Tapir! – My God
(The Pilgrim, Their God and The King Of My Decrepit Mountain)

The hype for South-London-based sextet Tapir! hadn’t gone unnoticed here at Birthday Cake For Breakfast HQ, and their brilliantly titled debut album ‘The Pilgrim, Their God and The King Of My Decrepit Mountain‘ is quite the triumph. With shades of BC:NR and Caroline in the mix, ‘My God’ is a heavenly heart-swelling piece that really hits one in the feels.  

Corridor – Mourir Demain
(Mimi)

Having wooed us with their 2019 Sub Pop debut, ‘Junior‘, Montreal outfit Corridor reemerge in 2024 with a new album out next month (which rather cutely is named after the guitarist / vocalist’s cat). Whilst my Duolingo French hasn’t quite got me up to speed on the lyrics, the cinematic ‘Mourir Demain’ is a real slice of loveliness from the quartet where they ruminate on the march towards death.

Beth and Blue – Knife

How’s this for a speedy formation? Having met on a dating app in 2021, Aussie musicians Imogen Grist and Marcus Gordon not only tied the the knot in swift fashion, they also started a band too. Inspired by the likes of Nancy & Lee and Sonny & Cher, their latest single ‘Knife’ is a real hypnotic treat, like the track over the end credits of some bittersweet love story. 

Lip Critic – The Heart
(Hex Dealer)

Having previously appeared on these very pages mid-Covid 19, around the release of ‘Lip Critic II’, New York electro-punks Lip Critic return off the back of signing to tastemakers Partisan Records with the head-spinner that is recent single ‘The Heart’. Rapid doesn’t cut it, this is one to get the heart rate up.

The Lovely Eggs – My Mood Wave
(Eggsistentialism)

Four years on from the release of ‘I Am Moron’ (with collaborations with Iggy Pop and Pigsx7 in-between), two-headed Northern noise makers The Lovely Eggs return to 2024 with a new album ready to go! Lead single ‘My Mood Wave’ is properly lovely and calls to mind the fuzz-pop we loved so much from Leeds lot Menace Beach.

Barry Hyde – Beautiful Cosmos
(Ivory Cutlery: A Tribute to Ivor Cutler)

Wait a minute, you’re telling me Barry Hyde – him out of our favourite group The Futureheads – did an Ivor Cutler covers record?! Big Ivor Cutler fan. Massive Barry Hyde fan. What a match made in heaven. Whereas Cutler’s original was a quirky twee thing, Hyde really puts a lovely spin on it. Magic. 

DEVO – Puppet Boy
(Shout)

Now this – this is your kitchen dancing DEVO record, I reckon. Just the other evening I was cooking in the kitchen, breaking off to energetically dance with our Plummer Terrier to cuts from the incredibly 80s sounding ‘Shout’. ‘Puppet Boy’ is catchier than that 100 day cough that’s been doing the rounds. 

METZ – 99
(Up On Gravity Hill)

Due to the haze of the pandemic, it feels like the last METZ record ‘Atlas Vending’ came out only a few months ago, rather than almost four years ago (!) Time playing tricks the way it does, METZ returned at the tail end of February to take our minds off it with not one, but TWO new singles from a forthcoming new album! ’99’ just clinches it for us, a raging return with a chorus heavy on the repetition that just won’t quit!

A. Savage – Riding Cobbles
(Several Songs About Fire)

Upon hearing ‘Riding Cobbles’ for the first time, it came as no surprise to hear Cate Le Bon was involved in the making of A. Savage’s latest record, ‘Several Songs About Fire’. Full of quirks, this sounds very much like something you’d hear on a DRINKS record (the Le Bon collaboration with Tim Presley of White Fence), full of plink-plonk instrumentation and dreamy dual vocals.

Kyoko Takenaka x Tomoki Sanders – Grow
(Planet Q)

I don’t know how it happened, but BBC Radio 3 is now a regular fixture in my weekday mornings and Saturday afternoons. Love that ‘J to Z’! ‘Grow’ was a recent discovery from it, a riveting jazz bopper from the team at Planet Q, the collaboration between players Kyoko Takenaka and Tomoki Sanders, two artists from the Japanese diaspora. 

Ex-Easter Island Head – Norther
(Norther)

All this talk of artists not having released a record for three or four years – Liverpudlian lot Ex-Easter Island Head have not had a new album out since 2016! Last month saw the quartet release the title track from their forthcoming new album ‘Norther’ (out May via Rocket Recordings) and first impressions call to mind the type of instrumental wizardry that blew us away on that last Horse Lords record. Spellbinding bit of kit, this!

The Fall – No Bulbs 3
(Call For Escape Route)

Fell into a bit of a Mark E. Smith lyrics rabbit hole just the other day learning about ‘No Bulbs 3’. Is it about a junkie? Is it really about someone unable to find a belt to hold their trousers up in a messy flat? Whatever the case, it’s an infectious piece from one of my favourite lineup eras of the Northern leg-ends.

Tony Njoku – La Ruée
(Last Bloom EP)

What a dream this is from British-Nigerian artist and composer Tony Njoku. From a new EP out this May (via the ever dependable PRAH Recordings), ‘La Ruée‘ is engrossing from note one, a classical piece that isn’t afraid to blur the lines with electronic and ambient leanings.

Vanishing Twin – Life Drummer
(Life Drummer)

Part of the Sub Pop Singles Club to start off the year, it’s always a joy to hear new music from London based trio Vanishing Twin. ‘Life Drummer’ is a moody banger that hardly lets up, its abstract lyrics adapted from a chapter from ‘The Listening Book’ by W.A. Mathieu.

Pencil – The Window

Following the release of their debut single ‘The Giant‘ in October 2023, Southern lot Pencil set phasers to stun with their delightful new single ‘The Window’. The first act from Moshi Moshi Records’ relaunched Singles Club, the new single reminds us of some of the loveliness encountered on Modern Nature records. Nice to see Cai Burns in the mix too, the ex-Kagoule guitarist / vocalist whom we’ll always have time for.

The Garment District – Moon Pale and Moon Gold
(Flowers Telegraphed to All Parts of the World)

Hearing this for the first time the other week, I thought Ouija Psych Pop super group The Moonlandingz had a new single out! Sadly not, but this is just as good – a trippy, psych adventure called ‘Moon Pale and Moon Gold’ from multi-instrumentalist Jennifer Baron and all her mates.

William Doyle – Now In Motion
(Springs Eternal)

We loved William Doyle’s ‘Great Spans of Muddy Time’ record from 2021, so were chuffed up to hear the Londoner had a new album on the way this year. The snappy ‘Now In Motion’ is a cucumber cool burst of wonky art-pop that sounds like Field Music at their best.

Ho99o9 – A Machine Of

Yeti Bones and theOGM, the New Jersey duo Ho99o9, explode into 2024 with the nails ‘A Machine Of’, a brutal blend of hardcore, industrial and hip-hop that makes one want to punch a hole in the sun on its heaviest moments. Ahead of its release, the pair’s socials suggested we “brace for impact” – too right!

English Teacher – R&B
(This Could Be Texas)

It’s getting silly now with Leeds, isn’t it? For years now, all the new and super exciting outfits seem to have emerged from Leeds and we can’t get enough of them! On ‘R&B’, taken from their forthcoming debut album ‘This Could Be Texas’, band of the moment English Teacher explore ideas of imposter syndrome on a moody post-punk number that calls to mind fellow Leeds lot Drahla.

Dana Gavanski – Ears Were Growing
(LATE SLAP)

Yet another wonk-pop winner from the forthcoming Dana Gavanski album ‘LATE SLAP’. We’ve compared the London based artist to Cate Le Bon before (and to be honest, I can see us doing it again and again), but we can assure you that such a comparison is a huge compliment. Funnily enough though, it’s actually Talking Heads that provided the influence on this one, which is just as good!

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Listening Post – February 2024

Words: Andy Hughes

Eagle-eyed readers might’ve spotted the lack of a ‘Listening Post’ at the start of the year. We’ve been a bit busy launching a podcast you see – ’60 Minutes or less’ – live now, featuring interesting chats with Joe Casey (Protomartyr) and Paul Hanley (The Fall)!

That doesn’t mean we’ve had our ears closed to new music, mind. Alongside our bumper playlist for the year (bringing together everything great throughout 2024), the ‘Listening Post’ returns this month and it’s full of good stuff!

Ease out of January and into February with 20 tunes, old and new – be sure to tell your friends / family / pets too!

Fulu Miziki – Pieteron

With a name that roughly translates as “music from the garbage”, Ugandan outfit Fulu Miziki look like superheroes from an early 80s Troma film series, decked out in eye-boggling attire, playing a number of instruments that they themselves have upcycled. Latest single ‘Pieteron’ is a heart-racing mover-and-shaker to get your body bopping!

Pissed Jeans – Moving On
(Half Divorced)

Off the back of releasing brutal standalone single ’No Convenient Apocalypse’ last year (one of our Top 50 songs of 2023!), Pennsylvania’s Pissed Jeans look to 2024 with the release of their sixth album, ’Half Divorced’. Lead single ‘Moving On’ treads a little lighter than the last single, but still thunders ahead in chest-pumping fashion, the chorus becoming an instant earworm after just one go. 

Dana Gavanski – How To Feel Uncomfortable
(LATE SLAP)

Early contender for single of the year, ‘How To Feel Uncomfortable’ is a riveting, Cate Le Bon style wonk-pop affair that’s had us hooked since it was released early last month. There’s a hint of LUMP in the mix too, which makes sense given that the new album from Dana Gavanski was recorded with Mike Lindsay at his studio in Margate.

BODEGA – Tarkovski
(Our Brand Could Be Yr Life)

Rejoice – a new year comes with news of a new record from BODEGA! The new Yorkers have dipped into their back catalogue, putting together a new record of material originally written almost a decade ago. Anthemic lead single ‘Tarkovski’ is a joy, capturing everything we love about the outfit in a sparkling four minute package. TAKE ME TO THE ZONE!

We actually heard a number of cuts from the record in a live stylee a number of years back and can confirm they sounded rad back then!

Omni – Plastic Pyramid
(Souvenir)

PUMP! PUMP! PUMP UP THE PYRAMID! Ahead of releasing their fourth full length later this month (via Sub Pop), Atlanta’s Omni return with possibly their catchiest single to date. Featuring the fitting coolness of guest vocalist Izzy Glaudini (a first for the trio), ‘Plastic Pyramid’ is a swish post-punk delight and yet another addictive addition to their oeuvre.

Ty Segall – My Best Friend
(Three Bells)

Sounding very much like a ‘Rated R’ b-side, Californian cool lad Ty Segall once again shines with a groove-tastic, fuzzy number about his canine companions, Fanny and Herman. As a dog owner, I sing to my own dog constantly throughout the day, so I feel a kinship with Ty and the gnarly ripper that is ‘My Best Friend’.

Gustaf – Starting and Staring
(Package Pt. 2)

Following the release of their debut album ‘Audio Drag For Ego Slobs’ in 2021, Brooklyn’s Gustaf return this spring with its follow up, ‘Package Pt. 2’. Groovy new single ‘Starting and Staring’ is a stone cold bop, capturing some of the energy and intensity that vocalist Lydia Gammill and the rest of the crew bring to their live shows. 

Maxband – Nothing’s Changed
(Maxband On Ice)

I love how as soon as the chorus hits in this one, it’s like – oh that’s one of the Savage’s! Switching out drums for guitar and taking on shared vocal duties, Max Savage (Parquet Courts) fronts the aptly named Maxband. Latest single ‘Nothing’s Changed’, from their forthcoming debut album, is a swish indie-rock number with some bite. 

Marcos Resende & Index – Behind the Moon
(Marcos Resende & Index)

Sounding not too dissimilar to ‘Blowdry Colossus’, the latest solo album from Peter Brewis of Field Music, ‘Behind the Moon’ is a brilliantly wonky pop piece of the ‘Mother Earth’s Plantasia’ variety. From a recently “unearthed” self-titled debut album recorded in Rio de Janeiro in 1976 from progressive Brazilian instrumental musician Marcos Resende.

(Photo Credit: Courtney Deutz)

Uranium Club – Small Grey Man
(Infants Under The Bulb)

We were filled with utter delight upon waking up one morning in January to discover The Minneapolis Uranium Club had not only resurfaced, but that there’d be a new album on the way – their first since ‘The Cosmo Cleaners’ back in 2019. New single ‘Small Grey Man’ is a total trip, their quirky DEVO vibes making for a welcome return. 

Diode – Tomothy
(Diode)

Oh we do love rapid-fire synth-punk gnarliness on Birthday Cake For Breakfast. Dig this from Los Angles outfit Diode, a super catchy speed-run that packs in so much, but is somehow just over a minute long (just how we like It!) 

Half Man Half Biscuit – She’s in Broadstairs
(Cammell Laird Social Club)

From Birkenhead with love, amazingly it’s taken me 20 years to discover the brilliant ‘She’s In Broadstairs’, but there’s no looking back now. Piss-funny and invigorating all at once, a top turn from Half Man Half Biscuit.

Jane Weaver – Perfect Storm
(Love In Constant Spectacle)

Psych-pop funkiness on this infectious cut from Jane Weaver, ‘Perfect Storm’ being the opener from her forthcoming new album ‘Love In Constant Spectacle’, out this April. It’s more than easy to get lost in this proper hypnotic, cosmic jam.

A. Savage – Out Of Focus
(Several Songs About Fire)

As a massive fan of Savage’s 2017 solo debut, ‘Thawing Dawn’, I was chuffed up to see the Parquet Courts vocalist return once more in a solo capacity with the release of new album, ‘Several Songs About Fire’. Closer ‘Out Of Focus’ is a heart-swelling slice of loveliness that sounds like the perfect soundtrack to a sunny Sunday jaunt in a sleepy European village.

Drahla – Default Parody
(angeltape)

Off the back of a few knockout singles these past few years, Leeds / Wakefield collective Drahla finally follow up their 2019 debut album ‘Useless Coordinates’ with a full length, due out this spring. As they so often do, Drahla knock it out of the park instantly, new single ‘Default Parody’ being a jagged post-punk head-wrecker, elevated as ever by the cucumber cool vocal of Luciel Brown.

USA Nails – Cathartic Entertainment
(Feel Worse)

Making their label debut with One Little Independent Records next month, USA Nails kick off new album ‘Feel Worse’ with the gnarly, chaotic ’Cathartic Entertainment’, yet another blistering ear-ringer that has had us making that smell-the-shit face all month. What a way to open a record!

Donny Benét – American Dream
(Infinite Desires)

Sounding like the sort of thing David Earl would cook up for a jingle on Chatabix, Donny Benét’s ‘American Dream’ is a total nostalgic funk-fest. With an aesthetic not too dissimilar to fellow countryman / weirdo Alex Cameron, it’s taken a sixth album for us to discover Benét, but with ‘Infinite Desires’, we’re happy to be on board.

Group Listening – Frogs
(Walks)

It feels very on brand for Group Listening to open up their newest single ‘Frogs’ with – you guessed it – 60 seconds worth of frogs chattering away. The ongoing musical collaboration between Paul Jones and Stephen Black (a.k.a. Sweet Baboo), their forthcoming album ‘Walks’ will be their first collection of completely original compositions. With a hint of an Italian cinema score to it, ‘Frogs’ is a luscious pool to swim in.

Dog Race – It’s The Squeeze

Love an oddball vocal, me! On top of a moody but inviting, keep-you-on-your-toes instrumental, vocalist Katie Healy captivates on ‘It’s The Squeeze‘ with an almost theatrical performance. Freshly signed to Fascination Street Records, one gets the feeling we’ll be hearing a lot more from Londoners Dog Race!

Ibibio Sound Machine – Got To Be Who U Are
(Pull The Rope)

A decade on from the release of their self-titled debut album, Ibibio Sound Machine have just announced a new album is on the way – ‘Pull The Rope’ – the news arriving via show-stopping, sultry dance-a-thon lead single ‘Got To Be Who U Are’. London-born Nigerian vocalist Eno Williams graces the records cover once again and rightly so, having put on the usual powerhouse performance as expected!

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Listening Post – December 2023

Words: Andy Hughes (Photo Credit: Louis Canadas)

As snow settles throughout the land and the Christmas deccies go up in every other house on the street, we eschew the festivities of the month and crack on with our regular monthly playlist! For those not in the know – every month we focus on twenty tunes as part of our ‘Listening Post‘, compiling a list of the very tracks that have had us all shook up of late.

This month: Returns and new music aplenty from noise-rockers, post-punkers, Parisian pop-peddlers and jazz saxophonists. There’s debuts too from New Yorkers, Aussies, Londoners and even a 70s cut from a Welsh icon. Tuck in, get stuck in!

War Violet – Different Formations

Written during a bout of insomnia for vocalist and songwriter Olajumoke Aremu, ‘Different Formations‘ is her label debut for Bella Union (released via Kill Rock Stars in the states). Taken from a forthcoming debut album yet to be announced, it’s the first release in five years from the New York-based artist, a magical moment and a bright sign of things to come.

USA Nails – Feel Worse
(Feel Worse)

It is forever a treat to hear from Londoners USA Nails when they’ve got a mega exciting announcement to share. In our year of the lord 2023, their most recent reveal for forthcoming new album ‘Feel Worse‘ is that it’s coming out via One Little Independent Records (home of Bjork!) The never-miss foursome make their OLI debut in blistering fashion, title track ‘Feel Worse‘ being a mammoth head-wrecker and yet another notch on their we-are-the-best belt.

Ausmuteants – I Hate You
(Band of the Future)

Squint your ears a wee bit (possible) and this frantic cut from Aussie lot Ausmuteants sounds like Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys fronting a synth-punk band, ran through a snotty Geelong filter. Up for it, to be fair…

Cobra Man – Bad Feeling
(Toxic Planet)

As heard on the soundtrack to the brilliant ‘The Worst Person in the World‘, Cobra Man bring Turbowolf x MGMT realness on the righteous ‘Bad Feeling‘ – a nostalgic sounding romp that sounds like it would’ve slotted right into a cutscene from an early ‘Grand Theft Auto’ game. Full throttle, the band say it best – “Power Disco didn’t exist before COBRA MAN got together“.

Chassol – Wersailles (Planeur)
(Ultrascores)

What were you up to when you were four? Parisian pianist and composer Christophe Chassol was enrolled in the Institut National de Musique, a conservatoire in Paris, to study piano, whilst most other infants were getting stuck into a box of Lego. The Parisian parenting clearly paid off! ‘Wersailles‘, from 2013 release ‘Ultrascores‘ is completely spellbinding.

Omni – Exacto
(Souvenir)

Praise be – a new record on the way from the wunderbar Omni! Their second for Sub Pop (and fourth overall), we’ve been patiently waiting these past four years off the back of ‘Networker‘ in 2019. ‘Exacto‘ is just a treat from the off, combining the delectable vocal delivery of bassist Philip Frobos with Frankie Broyles nails guitar work. Welcome back, fellas.

Hotline TNT – BMX
(Cartwheel)

Full disclosure, with the amount of live shows we go to, there are occasions where we’re more interested in how we’re getting home than what’s taking place on stage. Last month however we were blown away by New York shoegaze heads Hotline TNT, not wanting their set to end! Their new album ‘Cartwheel‘ has pricked up the ears of many and we can see why, ‘BMX‘ a wall of heart-pumping noise.

Painted Fruit – Clientele
(II)

Last month saw the release of a new record from Canadian foursome Mock Media, featuring players from Crack Cloud, Pottery, N0V3L and Painted Fruit. Whilst we were more than familiar with 3/4 of the line-up, Painted Fruit were a new one for us, but – as expected – we can dig what they’re laying down. From their second (and final) album, ‘Clientele‘ is N0V3L meets early Preoccupations and we’re all for it!

Death Valley Girls – Islands in the Sky
(Islands in the Sky)

The title track from the latest Death Valley Girls record sounds huge! Glittering like a disco-ball, ‘Islands in the Sky‘ makes it seem like a no brainer that this quartet are from sunnier climes, the Californian lot mesmerising with their triple vocal ode to believing in yourself and living your own life. Whack it on again!

Home Counties – Bethnal Green
(Exactly as it Seems)

It’s been a minute since we last wrote about the terrific Home Counties and it seems much has changed. For starters, they’ve collectively moved to that London to make a go of it! What hasn’t changed though is their knack for writing a catchy big-hit single and recent release ‘Bethnal Green‘ is a high-energy, wonky dance-a-thon that will get fully stuck in your nut after just one verse. Invigorating!

Halo Maud – Terres Infinies
(Celebrate)

A joyous big pop bop here from French artist Halo Maud, ‘Terres Infinies‘ bursts into life and calls to mind hazy summer days. Taken from her forthcoming second album ‘Celebrate‘ (featuring a number of tracks co-produced by Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier), it’s a triumphant return. C’est super!

John Cale – You Know More Than I Know
(Fear)

One of those numbers that stops you in your tracks, hearing this on the wireless mid-month glued me to the spot for its duration, completely taken in by the lovely instrumentation and slightly haunted delivery of Cale. From the Welsh lads fourth solo studio album, ‘Fear‘, released fifty years ago as of next October.

Miles Spilsbury – Tungsten
(Light Manoeuvres)

Once a regular sharing stages with the likes of The Physics House Band and Cattle, Miles Spilsbury slipped out of our view for a minute there, the jazz saxophonist and composer re-appearing into focus for us last month with the release of his debut album, ‘Light Manoeuvres‘, his first full-length album as bandleader. ‘Tungsten‘ is a real swish jazz odyssey from the Brighton based player and his cohorts, individual chops definitely on display.

Grave Goods – Source
(Tuesday. Nothing Exists.)

Back in September, we finally got the chance to see Manchester’s Grave Goods at the inner-city Manchester Psych Fest, the trio worth the wait off the back of their hotly tipped debut album ‘Tuesday. Nothing Exists.‘ From the record, ‘Source‘ is a thumping post-punk attack of sharp guitar, clattering drums, rib-rattling bass and forceful, pin-you-up-against-the-wall vocals. Well worth a re-visit.

Split System – Alone Again
(Vol​.​2)

Ripper territory this! ‘Alone Again‘ is proper anthemic, a raging punk-y number, shooting for the stars with its fist-pumping chorus and mega guitar parts, absolutely hooking you in from the get go with that killer riff. With their initial jams together curtailed by lockdowns back home in Melbourne during the pandemic, the second album from Aussie lot Split System is a go – out next February via Legless (AU), Goner (US) and Drunken Sailor (UK & EU).

(Photo Credit: Ian Laidlaw)

ENOLA – Looking Back
(All Is Forgiven)

Real catchy, moody stomper here from ENOLA – ‘Looking Back‘ sounding like an 80s deep-cut, whilst also not too dissimilar to heavy hitters like Fontaines D.C., the listener hanging off every word of the soaring vocal. The solo project of non-binary artist Ruby Marshall, initial listens detected a touch of Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever in the shimmering guitar sound, which would make sense with ENOLA being an Aussie!

Fake Turins – Beatnik
(Inheritance)

Forget quartets, sextets and the like – the real heads know the sweet spot comes with 11 members. No pissing about, ‘Beatnik‘ from southern lot Fake Turins is energising like LCD Soundsystem at their catchiest. A crisp, funk-fest with a captivating vocal that sounds like Ought’s Tim Darcy. We’ve caught onto them just at the right time too – they split up this summer. Bugger.

Daudi Matsiko – Fool Me As Many Times As You Like
(The King Of Misery)

Discovered via the wonders of the Adam Buxton podcast, Ugandan-British folk artist Daudi Matsiko not only talked the talk, but he walked the walk too, playing a number of hypnotising numbers on the pod. From a forthcoming debut album that touches on real life personal struggles with depression, bipolar affective disorder and racial trauma, ‘Fool Me As Many Times As You Like‘ is a hushed, gentle affair with beautiful playing from Matsiko and saxophonist Pete Beardsworth that captivates from note one.

Laura Misch – Hide to Seek
(Sample The Sky)

On her debut album ‘Sample The Sky‘, released back in October, Londoner Laura Misch is said to have opened up every aspect of the process to her South London creative community – from musicians and field recordists to painters and florists – which sounds almost as delightful as the music she crafts. ‘Hide to Seek‘ is a scintillating modern jazz cut, featuring Everything Everything type electronics and some lovely saxophone flourishes.

Alice Phoebe Lou – Open My Door
(Shelter)

From the streets of Berlin where her music career started as a busker, it’s fair to say South African musician Alice Phoebe Lou has made some leap – she plays Manchester’s grand New Century Hall this month! From her new album ‘Shelter‘, released this summer, ‘Open My Door‘ is a sun-soaked slice of heaven, her vocals floating across a lush instrumental.

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Listening Post – November 2023

Words: Andy Hughes

What’s been tickling your fancy of late? Well we can tell you what’s been ticking ours – something we’ve been doing for the past 10 years (an occasion we’re celebrating throughout 2023!) Every month we focus on twenty tunes as part of our ‘Listening Post‘, compiling a list of the very tracks that have had us all shook up throughout the month.

This month: Uplifting jazz to anthemic hardcore, sharp Aussie punk to shiny mirrorball disco and loads more! Tell your mum, tell your dad, tell your dog – give it a wee share!

Dumbo Gets Mad – Cosmic Bloom
(Thank You Neil)

Ease into the playlist this month via cosmic instrumental loveliness from Italian duo Dumbo Gets Mad, a wee ditty taken from their brilliantly titled ‘Thank You Neil‘ record from 2015 – named after Neil deGrasse Tyson, the album being a concept piece inspired by the astrophysicist and the 2014 documentary series ‘Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey‘.

Aja Monet – Why My Love?
(When the Poems Do What They Do)

Dig the captivating poetry here from Brooklyn’s Aja Monet, spoken in a stream of consciousness style that keeps you on your toes and welcomes deep pondering, touching on everything from popping pimples to wet dreams and the male gaze. Spellbinding jazz compliments the strong delivery of her words.

Media Puzzle – On The Piss
(Jockey)

The gnarly ‘On The Piss‘ is a burst of scuzzy, down the barrel Aussie punk that thrashes through its 90 seconds without a second wasted. From the debut Media Puzzle album, the outfit took their name from an Irish horse that scored a victory in the 2002 Melbourne Cup (naturally). Rager.

Beige Palace – Distant Fizz
(Making Sounds For Andy)

Finally – ten years into it and I’ve got an outfit making sounds just for me! Off the back of a split 7″ with our pals from Chipping Norton earlier in the year, Leeds based trio Beige Palace get horrid on the solid ‘Distant Fizz‘. A head-spinning, smell-the-shit riff to get that head banging. Taken from their forthcoming second album – on the way this month via Human Worth, with a portion of all sales proceeds donated to local Leeds charity PAFRAS.

Sauna Youth – False Jesii Pt. II

I think I’d likely crumble in a Desert Island Discs type scenario, but put me on the spot and ‘False Jesii, Part 2‘ just might squeak into it. The early Pissed Jeans staple is one I return to often and, occasionally, I’ll get reacquainted with this fuzzy, poppier cover version from much missed Londoners Sauna Youth. Taken from a 7″ on Static Shock Records from 2013, it strips the menace in favour of aiming for heart-swelling highs.

Say She She – Astral Plane
(Silver)

Get the flares out, lads – we’re going disco! NYC trio Say She She go all the way on this cinematic, soulful piece from their newest record ‘Silver‘, out at the tail end of September. The joyful ‘Astral Plane‘ stirs up imagery of driving in a soft-top car through some sun-soaked landscape on the way to a 70s party in the hills, a far cry from the piss-wet South Manchester suburbs from where this is being written. One can dream.

DEADLETTER – The Snitching Hour

Following the release of their ‘Heat!‘ EP in late 2022, Londoners DEADLETTER kicked off 2023 with ‘The Snitching Hour‘ – a pulsating, energising post-punk romp that’s parts ‘Start!‘ by The Jam and ‘Parklife‘ era Blur. Really top stuff from the box-fresh sextet.

Lost Map presents Weird Wave – Unrecognise!
(Lost Map presents Weird Wave)

What is it about 2013 and makings things happen?! In the same year we cooked up Birthday Cake For Breakfast, Pictish Trail launched his label Lost Map Records, based out of the Hebridean Isle of Eigg. To commemorate the milestone, Pictish Trail has gathered a gang of players from across the roster (including members of Tuff Love, Savage Mansion and Kid Canaveral) for a special release, ‘Unrecognise!‘ being a spiffing dance-a-thon of the Holodrum variety. Impossible to sit still whilst this is on!

The Klittens – Universal Experience

Dutch quintet The Klittens describe themselves as “untrained but unbothered“, which is a motto we can fully get behind. Their latest single ‘Universal Experience‘ is a total joy, packing one hell of a pop-bop chorus and some heart-melting vocal flourishes. Mastered by Mikey Young – the seal of approval in our eyes.

Babehoven – Chariot

New out last month on Double Double Whammy, the fuzzy blanket of ‘Chariot‘ is hypnotising, a real stop-you-in-your-tracks affair that calls to mind the lump in the throat heights so often reached by Big Thief and the like. Really lovely.

Rumer – The Same Old Tears on a New Background
(Boys Don’t Cry)

Heavenly turn here from British singer-songwriter Rumer – a really warm rendition of ‘The Same Old Tears on a New Background‘ from her album of 70s covers. New to us this month, but it makes sense that it would grab hold of us, given it originally featured on Art Garfunkel’s ‘Breakaway‘ album, which features the beautiful ‘Waters of March‘.

Hey Colossus – TV Alone
(In Blood)

It’s only taken us twenty years, but we finally saw Hey Colossus live last month! They’ve been on the road this fall to commemorate their two decades wrecking ears and on the night in Salford, we were totally gassed by the raucous ‘TV Alone‘, taken from their latest release, ‘In Blood‘. That heavy, driving chorus puts hairs on your chest, make no mistake.

The Tammys – Egyptian Shumba

The Tammys, the Pennsylvania girl group of the 60s, are a totally new discovery for us, but we’re head over heels for their big hitter, ‘Egyptian Shumba‘. We first heard it via an energetic encore at the Sweeping Promises show in Manchester last month – the band covering it on record earlier this year as part of a Girlsville benefit for Feline Rescue Inc. Sugar-sweet verses make way for almost unhinged shouts and screams.

Ife Ogunjobi – Still Riding
(STAY TRUE)

Bringing various musical influences to the table, taken from his Nigerian heritage and his London upbringing, as well as from the likes of Fela Kuti and Erykah Badu, Ife Ogunjobi makes up 1/5 of Ezra Collective, the outfit on everyone’s lips following their 2023 Mercury Prize winning album ‘Where I’m Meant to Be‘. From his recently released debut EP as a solo artist, ‘Still Riding‘ is a vibrant and absorbing jazz workout.

Brorlab – Shitty Oven
(Working Out In Heaven)

You know you’re in good hands when something comes out on the LA VIDA ES UN MUS DISCOS label. Calling to mind fellow punk speed-freaks Snooper, on the frantic ‘Shitty Oven‘, Belgium’s Brorlab hurtle out of the gate with an ear-splitting vocal and drums to turn your brain to mush, but all in the nicest possible way.

Canned Pineapple – Turkey Sandwiches

Dinosaur Jr. x The Presidents of the USA, but it’s a bunch of young guys from Brighton? Yeah go on then. Complimented by artwork that very much does what it says on the tin, the sun-soaked ‘Turkey Sandwiches‘ is a ripper of a good time, one that sounds like it would’ve frequented the soundtracks of many an early noughties teen film (the period which – dare I say it – is likely when these lads were born…)

W. H. Lung – High Pressure Days

Local lot W. H. Lung follow in the footsteps of fellow Manchester wonk-pop aficionados Dutch Uncles with nostalgic sounding gems to shuffle your feet to. A preview of sorts from a forthcoming, yet to be announced third full-length LP, ‘High Pressure Days‘ sees them covering 70s San Fran synth-punks The Units with real gusto.

Wandering Monster – Cowboy
(Zenna)

We’ve always been champions of the healthy musical scenes in Leeds, though full disclosure – we’d not encountered much contemporary jazz until just lately (having slept on that side of the city, it must be said). Led by double bass player and main composer Sam Quintana, Wandering Monster could very well be just the ticket however, as we’re hooked on this – ‘Cowboy‘ being their soothing interpretation of a piece originally composed by Randy Newman.

Fiddlehead – Sullenboy
(Death Is Nothing To Us)

Taken from the third Fiddlehead album, ‘Death Is Nothing To Us‘, out this August on Run For Cover Records, ‘Sullenboy‘ captures that anthemic blend of hardcore and 90s alt-rock the quartet have embraced for nearly a decade, sounding not too dissimilar to Leeds luminaries Eagulls. Serious ripper territory, it makes you want to punch the air in unison.

Takeshi’s Cashew – Full, Half, New
(Enter J’s Chamber)

Listening to this on the dog walk the other day (where all the best listening is done), I was convinced it was LA Priest or maybe even King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, hooked in by the mind-melting psych-trance that was actually being conjured up by Takeshi’s Cashew. A truly blissful instrumental, it’s easy to let this just wash over you – but make sure you hold on tightly to that dog lead, right?

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Listening Post – October 2023

Words: Andy Hughes

Here we are then. It’s October already and spooky season is upon us. But for us, it’s another month, which means another Birthday Cake For Breakfast playlist is ready to go. 20 tunes, old and new, featuring only the choicest cuts – some of the stuff we’ve been loving of late.

Dutch post-punk, New York jazz, African psych, 70s Italian cinema scores… it’s all here for your delectation. If you like what you hear, tell your pals. Even if you don’t like what you hear, shout it from the rooftops!

Lei Hope – A Sad Song

Originally from Leeds, local Manc artist Lei Hope follows up his debut EP ‘Autonomous Affection‘ with the 2022 single ‘A Sad Song‘. Right enough, this is bloody sad… But beautifully so, the instrumentation offering an almost hopeful backing to the bleak lyrics, combined with the breathy vocal from Hope to fully take hold during its 3+ minutes.

Cautious Clay – Yesterday’s Price
(KARPEH)

Yes, it’s happened – BBC Radio 3 has become a regular listening habit in our gaff, particularly the brilliant ‘J to Z‘ of a weekend. ‘Yesterday’s Price‘ was a recent jazzy treat we discovered, the work of singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Cautious Clay. Drafting in trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, this is a frantic, toe-tapping delight.

Anna Erhard – 170

Talk about earworms, the latest single from Berlin-based singer/songwriter Anna Erhard has been in my nut nonstop since its arrival in August. Wonky pop of the Beck variety, it tells the tale of one friend being taller than the other, with it causing a bit of a stir between them. More goodness from Erhard, following the release of ‘Campsite‘ last year. Last month we had the pleasure of catching Erhard IRL – Highlights here!

Sweeping Promises – Ideal No
(Good Living Is Coming For You)

Three years on from the release of their storming debut full length ‘Hunger for a Way Out‘, dynamic duo Sweeping Promises this year released its ripper follow up, ‘Good Living Is Coming For You‘. ‘Ideal No‘ captures their retro catchiness in a nutshell, spearheaded by the infectious vocal of Lira Mondal.

MICH – Burning Arms

Self-described as ‘A lovely band to shrug your shoulders over‘, Dutch quintet MICH make dynamite moody post-punk, latest single ‘Burning Arms‘ sounding like a slightly less revved up Powerplant with its nostalgic synth sounds.

Home Is Where – Skin Meadow
(The Whaler)

Raging math-y emo here from Floridian quartet Home Is Where – the heart-swelling ‘Skin Meadow‘ deep in lump in the throat territory across its five minutes. An insane opener, it’s taken from their second full length album, released this summer. Is that a singing saw we hear?

Lost Girls – With The Other Hand
(Selvutsletter)

Every new release from Lost Girls – the Norwegian pairing of artist and writer Jenny Hval and multi-instrumentalist Håvard Volden – fills us with excitement, particularly after the engrossing, 12 minute odyssey that was the ‘Menneskekollektivet‘ single from their album of the same name. Inspired by Leonard Cohen, on ‘With the Other Hand‘, Hval has you gripped with her enticing vocal throughout the opening minute, before she and Volden both open it up into a proper pop bop.

Stelvio Cipriani – The Great Alligator Theme
(The Great Alligator – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

I think you know where you stand with a song called ‘The Great Alligator Theme‘. The title theme to a late 70s Italian adventure flick and can’t you just tell? Most certainly one from the Alex Turner playbook.

(Photo Credit: Bridie Cummings)

Congratulations – Easter Island Head
(Woo Hoo)

We’ve become a bit infatuated with Brighton lot Congratulations this summer, having caught them live twice in the space of a few months. From their debut EP ‘Woo Hoo‘ (out via Bella Union no less), ‘Easter Island Head‘ bursts into life with machine gun drums and the rest of the quartet follow suit in frantic fashion.

Nite Bjuti – Mood (Liberation Walk)
(Nite Bjuti)

This Brooklyn-based, woman-led Afro-Caribbean trio have got some real credentials between them, not least a Grammy-nominated sound chemist! With a penchant for improvisation and experimentation, ‘Mood (Liberation Walk)‘ is a mesmerizing jazz workout, featuring some mad instrumentation and engaging vocals.

Tinariwen – Kek Alghalm
(Amatssou)

Not quite the typical blurb we’re used to, Tinariwen was founded by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, who at the age of four witnessed the execution of his father, a Tuareg rebel, at the hands of the government during the 1963 uprising in Mali. Over a number of decades, the band are said to have emerged from their base in the African desert to tour the globe to much acclaim. ‘Kek Alghalm‘, opener from their new album ‘Amatssou‘, is a totally hypnotic, almost psychedelic affair to get lost in.

The Homesick – Trois
(The Homesick)

A record that almost flew under the radar for us (possibly due to not having the Sub Pop backing behind it this time around), Dutch trio The Homesick returned last month with a new self-titled album, the follow up to their incredible second album ‘The Big Exercise‘, released in 2020. ‘Trois‘ is invigorating, seeing the band take their post-punk leanings into dub territory.

American Cream Band – Taste What We Taste
(Presents)

Tuck right into this! ‘Taste What We Taste‘ is a nod to the likes of Delta 5, ESG and The B-52’s, a totally head-spinning groove-fest from the brilliantly named American Cream Band. This is music for the sweaty, dimly-lit basements. Come to Manchester soon, yeah?

Bas Jan – No More Swamp
(Back To The Swamp)

With a blurb namechecking ‘Witches, Tarot readings, road signs, Salt-N-Pepa‘, Londoners Bas Jan sure know how to create interest in an album – good job then, with new LP ‘Back To The Swamp‘ on the way this November. ‘No More Swamp‘ has got that Kate Bush brand of pop wonkiness to it that we love so dearly, lead vocalist Serafina Steer forever captivating us with her dedication to the wonky.

Get Wrong – It’s So Easy
(Get Wrong)

‘Kin ‘ell, peep the names on this – produced, recorded and mixed by Peter Brewis, with mastering done by David Brewis (both of Field Music), Get Wrong is the new project of Naomi Griffin (Martha) and Adam Todd (The Spook School). A bit of a long-distance collaboration between Durham and Glasgow, Get Wrong get it right (!) on debut single ‘It’s So Easy‘, the synth-pop loveliness calling to mind New Order when they’re at their poppiest.

Pedro Ricardo – Entre o Vale e o Eco
(Soprem Bons Ventos)

Love this enchanting instrumental piece from Portuguese artist Pedro Ricardo. From debut album ‘Soprem Bons Ventos‘ released earlier this year, there’s a touch of the Giorgio Moroder to ‘Entre o Vale e o Eco‘, bookended by tranquil, soothing keys.

Mock Media – Modern Visions
(Mock Media II)

Every day I hope for a new record from N0V3L or Pottery. Still no sighting. There is however exciting news from both camps, Bennett Smith and Austin Boylan from both bands joining up with fellow Canadians Garnet Aronyk (Crack Cloud) and Evan Aesen (Painted Fruits) for a DIY supergroup of sorts. From the newly announced, appropriately titled ‘Mock Media II‘, ‘Modern Visions‘ has got that Pottery / N0V3L / Crack Cloud stink all over it and boy are we taking a big whiff – love this!

PACKS – Honey
(Melt The Honey)

More woozy yet breezy slacker style garage rock here from Canadian artist Madeline Link a.k.a. PACKS. Following swiftly on from ‘Crispy Crunchy Nothing‘ out earlier this year, lead single ‘Honey’ – from her forthcoming album ‘Melt The Honey‘ – captured our attention yet again because of her charming, almost-not-arsed vibe and delivery. Great retro organ flourishes at its end!

Royel Otis – Going Kokomo
(Sofa Kings)

From their ‘Sofa Kings‘ EP out earlier this year, Aussie duo Royel Otis shoot for anthemic on the nostalgic sounding, sun-soaked ‘Going Kokomo‘. The story goes that the pair have recently hooked up with both Speedy Wunderground’s Dan Carey and big boy producer James Ford whilst in the UK, so chances are you’ll be hearing a lot more of Royel Otis in due course.

Ulrika Spacek – The Tier Drop

Following on from the release of the wonderful ‘Compact Trauma‘ earlier this year, Londoners Ulrika Spacek recently added a bit extra to the package, releasing two new tracks from sessions for the new record. Taken from a bonus 7” that accompanied the deluxe version of the album, ‘The Tier Drop‘ is a reworked instrumental of opening track ‘The Sheer Drop‘, removing the vocals entirely and instead mixing things up to make for a jazzy, more cinematic affair.

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Listening Post – September 2023

Words: Andy Hughes

For the uninitiated, the ‘Listening Post‘ is a monthly playlist that packs in 20 tunes, old and new, that have been tickling our fancy of late. Every month it’s wiped clean, so you’ve got to make the most of the time you have with it!

This month we’re at it again and here’s a taster – Aussie punk, contemporary soul out of LDN, noise-rock from Widnes, Bristolian post-punk and disco funk from Brooklyn. It’s all here!

The Bug Club – Short and Round
(Rare Birds: Hour of Song)

You really have to hand it to Welsh trio The Bug Club – incredible work rate. They never miss either, with a 100% hit-rate. Their latest, ‘Short and Round‘, is daft infectious and yet another quirky vintage pop number that reminds us of British royalty The Kinks.

A. Savage – Thanksgiving Prayer
(Several Songs About Fire)

For a minute there, it seemed like ‘Thawing Dawn‘ – the wonderful debut album from Parquet Courts‘ Andrew Savage – would be the New Yorkers only solo effort. Consider us tickled pink then with the recent announcement of a new album of solo works – his first for Rough Trade. Ever the wordsmith, lead single ‘Thanksgiving Prayer‘ captivates from note one.

Minor Conflict – Second-Hand Time
(Bright Lights, Dead City)

Yet another tightly wound ripper from Bristolian trio Minor Conflict, taken from their debut EP ‘Bright Lights, Dead City‘ out last month. With a knack for keeping you on your toes with each new release, there’s a touch of fellow art-y lot Drahla in the mix on new single ‘Second-Hand Time‘, those stabbing keys creating a haunting ending to such an engrossing track.

Akusmi – Secant
(Lines)

A welcome return here from French-born, London based artist Pascal Bideau a.k.a. Akusmi, swiftly following up on the release of debut album ‘Fleeting Future‘ (a record we were transfixed with not long after its release) with more music. Inspired in part by train travels across the English countryside, the energising ‘Secant‘ hardly lets up across its near seven minutes, filling ones head with such instrumental joy that it’s hard to think about anything else when it’s on.

MUMS – 100 Kilos
(Legs)

Fuzz heroes MUMS return in 2023 with news of a new album to compliment a shift in line-up. ‘100 Kilos‘ is a proper teeth-rattler, as expected from the Northern trio – one of the few bands to almost deafen me live. A killer comeback.

Fran Lobo – Armour
(Burning It Feels Like)

From her debut album ‘Burning It Feels Like‘, out now via the ever dependable Heavenly Recordings, LDN artist Fran Lobo really gets stuck under your skin on ‘Armour‘. A powerhouse vocal really hooks you in, Lobo being no slouch in that department, having formerly been a part of all-female singing collective, the Deep Throat Choir.

Laura Jean – Folk Festival
(Amateurs)

Taken from an album featuring collaborations with New Zealanders Aldous Harding and Marlon Williams, the lovely ‘Folk Festival‘ calls to mind ‘Memory Of A Cut Off Head‘ era OCS, its haunting plucked strings opening up to a beautiful chorus.

Peter Brewis – Dog Bark Dark
(Blowdry Colossus)

Following collaborations with Paul Smith (‘Frozen By Sight‘) and Sarah Hayes (‘You Tell Me‘), Field Music’s Peter Brewis embarks on his first solo outing since the release of ‘The Week That Was‘ in 2008. From the forthcoming ‘Blowdry Colossus‘, Brewis gets mega wonky on ‘Dog Bark Dark‘, a song that’s part art-pop instrumental gem and part video game theme. 

HANN – Cupid Home Delivery

Loveliness here from Manchester’s HANN, the trio made up of a father, daughter and friend of the family. The story goes that daughter Hannah was roped in on backing vocals, ultimately going on to not only take on lead vocal duties, but writing too (on top of instrumental flourishes). ‘Cupid Home Delivery‘ has got 90s pop written all over it, a proper treat.

Purling Hiss – Baby
(Drag On Girard)

A mega anthemic ripper from Philadelphia’s Purling Hiss, the fuzz-tastic ‘Baby‘ sounds like some unearthed Pixies rager from way back when. A return of sorts after some time away, it’s taken from the fourth Purling Hiss record ‘Drag On Girard‘, out via Drag City earlier this year.

Pest Control – Enjoy The Show

It’s a little known fact that the best albums from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are the ones where they went full on Metallica, singing about the world becoming a fireball. Metallica riffs sell, baby, and it’s one of the many reasons we’re buzzing off ‘Enjoy The Show‘, the latest single from Leeds hardcore thrash outfit Pest Control. Off the back of their hotly tipped debut album ‘Don’t Test The Pest‘ out earlier this year, ‘Enjoy The Show‘ is a gnarly bit of kit!

The Beths – Watching The Credits

Recorded during the sessions for third album ‘Expert In A Dying Field‘, it’s said that ‘Watching The Credits‘ was lyrically inspired by songwriter Elizabeth Stokes’ habit of learning everything about films without actually watching them. The New Zealanders really go for the heart-swelling vibe on ‘Watching The Credits‘, a blissful burst of sun-soaked loveliness.

Green Gardens – Things I Didn’t Do
(This Is Not Your Fault)

Black Country, New Road run through a math-y filter, Green Gardens wow on this lead single from their debut album, ‘This Is Not Your Fault‘. Recorded at notable local spot Greenmount Studios with Jamie Lockhart (The Cribs) and Rob Slater (Yard Act), the outfit are Leeds through and through, its members also running shows at Oporto, putting on Sofar showcases or working behind the bar at the famed Brudenell Social Club.

Jalen Ngonda – Come Around and Love Me
(Come Around and Love Me)

The title track from Washington raised, London based soul artist Jalen Ngonda’s debut album, ‘Come Around and Love Me‘, is a proper bop, championing the incredible vocal of Ngonda. He’s gone from listening to his father’s collection of Motown CDs in his short trousers, to opening up for the likes of Laura Mvula and Lauryn Hill, ultimately signing with Brooklyn’s Daptone Records.

Model/Actriz – Crossing Guard
(Dogsbody)

From their debut album out earlier this year, Brooklyn’s Model/Actriz create pill-popping, head-wrecking noise-rock in a similar vein to contemporaries Gilla Band, with a nod of the head to early Nine Inch Nails. ‘Crossing Guard‘ is a thoroughly engaging piece, one for the moody shoulder-shufflers.

Dennis Cometti – John Citizen
(Suburban Condition)

Step aside The Chats, there’s a new bunch of piss-funny Australians on the make. Named after retired Australian sports commentator Dennis Cometti (obviously), on ‘John Citizen‘ the trio sing of ‘bangers and mash for dinner every single night‘ against a proper Aussie rock and roll backing.

Upchuck – Freaky
(Bite The Hand That Feeds)

There’s a fuzzy flavour of Ty Segall to be found in the mix on this from Atlanta, Georgia’s Upchuck – no wonder too, given their new album ‘Bite The Hand That Feeds‘ was produced at his very own Harmonizer Studio. ‘Freaky‘ is a rapid-fire punk slammer.

Lorelle Meets The Obsolete – Dínamo
(Datura)

From Mexico via the UK’s Sonic Cathedral label, on ‘Dínamo‘, Lorelle Meets The Obsolete (great name) sound a lot like local Manchester lot Mandy, Indiana rubbing shoulders with Queens of the Stone Age. Dig those trippy, plink-plonk sci-fi electronics!

Anna Meredith – Nautilus
(Varmints)

Discovered on these very pages via Field Music’s Peter Brewis, we were completely taken by Anna Meredith’s ‘Nautilus‘ on first listen. The opener to 2016 debut album ‘Varmints‘, the soaring ‘Nautilus‘ is absolutely hypnotic, building and building and building, not too dissimilar in mind-fucking to big Battles hit ‘Atlas‘.

Say She She – C’est Si Bon
(Silver)

I heard this in Quality Save the other day, so world domination is most certainly imminent. Rightly so too, this from Brooklyn based trio Say She She being such an infectious disco-funk bop. The sound of the summer, discovered by us just as autumn gets set to bring in the colder months.

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Listening Post – August 2023

Words: Andy Hughes

For the uninitiated, this here is the ‘Listening Post‘ – a monthly playlist that packs in 20 tunes, old and new, that have been tickling our fancy of late. Every month it’s wiped clean, so you’ve got to make the most of the time you have with it!

This month we’ve got contemporary covers of Japanese idols, Swedish hardcore leg-ends, Mancunian royalty and the “fourth horseman of the queer apocalypse“. There’s something here for everyone, so tell everyone – get it shared and tell your friends!

SUDS – Entropy
(In The Undergrowth)

It was love at first listen on discovering Norwich’s SUDS, recent-ish signees to tastemakers for all things indie/emo, Big Scary Monsters. Calling to mind the fuzzy loveliness found across Anna Burch and Julia Jacklin records, ‘Entropy‘ is a totally raging heart-sweller.

Pollyanna – The Beach
(OUCH!)

Opener from a forthcoming debut EP via genre-fluid London based label Beth Shalom Records, Pollyanna is the solo outing from FES vocalist Pollyanna Holland-Wing, going the Prince and Madonna route it seems with just the one name! We’ve forever been suckers for her vocals and Pollyanna completely captivates on new single ‘The Beach‘, a debut that hits one right in the feels.

Mac DeMarco – Honey Moon

Released by Light in the Attic Records as part of an exclusive series of releases from contemporary artists covering their favourite songs, Mac DeMarco took on one of his biggest musical idols in Japanese artist Haruomi Hosono. ‘Honey Moon‘ is such a peach, very much fitting the vibe DeMarco was going for at the time following the release of 2017’s ‘This Old Dog‘. Great whistle solo!

Jean Dawson – MENTHOL*

Like an adrenaline shot straight to the top of the dome, this from Jean Dawson is such a jam, building up to fist-pumping euphoria as the Tijuana raised vocalist proper gives it some, with such passion, like a dog backed into a corner. Cheeky cameo from our Mac DeMarco there at the end.

LIIEK – Waterfall
(LIIEK)

Wicked razor-sharp post-punk from Berlin’s LIIEK. A glance at Bandcamp came with it the suggestion that they’re like Gang of Four, which isn’t a bad shout – ‘Waterfall‘ firing on all cylinders, with a solid bassline, jagged guitar work and killer call and response vocals on the chorus.

Refused – New Noise
(The Shape of Punk to Come)

Yes, we’ve been watching ‘The Bear‘. It’s hard not to get all razzed up inside every time ‘New Noise‘ kicks in (which seemed to be at least once an episode in the new series…) The Swedish hardcore lot were certainly the perfect fit for the high intensity of the award winning, must-see show. CAN I SCREAM?!

Flat Worms – Time Warp In Exile
(Witness Marks)

It’s always a treat to have new music on the horizon from Los Angeles based trio Flat Worms, the forthcoming ‘Witness Marks‘ a welcome return off the back of standalone single ‘The Guest / Circle‘ released in 2021. Cooking up their usual fuzzy blend of gnarly guitar, machine gun drums and hypnotic bass, ‘Time Warp In Exile‘ slams from note one.

LYNKS – USE IT OR LOSE IT

We first heard ‘USE IT OR LOSE IT‘ last month when LYNKS performed at 2000 Trees Festival, the London based artist not letting mud and rain stop him from putting on a dynamite show. Freshly signed to Heavenly Recordings, it’s the first single release for the label and a catchy as hell, pulse-racing dance-a-thon about your hottest years being done at the age of 25. Love the line about no man being safe, except for his brother and his dad.

The Vanity Project – Epoch

A touch of Everything Everything and Jade Hairpins to this funky art-pop belter from Manchester duo The Vanity Project. You will most certainly be singing back the chorus by the end, after being completely hooked in by the Eccentronic Research Council style story about gazpacho violence. Love the swear word censoring too – always an unrequired piss-take move that gets a thumbs up from me.

Mr. Scruff – Fish
(Keep It Unreal)

Mancunian royalty Mr. Scruff celebrates 20 years of ‘Trouser Jazz‘ this year, which must mean it’s been longer than that since he put out ‘Keep It Unreal‘! Released whilst I was still in short trousers, ‘Keep It Unreal‘ was introduced to me by an older brother who happened to be a fellow DJ, and the incredible ‘Fish‘ has been on my mind ever since. Eating Fish!

Corker – Lice

From a forthcoming yet to be announced debut album on the ever dependable Feel It Records, ‘Lice‘ appeared right at the start of the year and blummin’ ‘eck, Corker is right! Frantic Stuck-esque post-punk from the Cincinnati based quartet that’s got us mega excited for whatever they’ve got coming up next!

PACKS – Laughing Til I Cry
(Crispy Crunchy Nothing)

Dig this from Canadian artist Madeline Link a.k.a. PACKS – 120 seconds of fuzzed-out bliss, with a smidge of the Mac DeMarco’s about it. From an album that touches on “burnout, dead-end jobs, bike theft, stress dreams, heartbreak“, ‘Laughing Til I Cry‘ is a proper cucumber cool number.

Pearl & The Oysters – Read The Room
(Coast 2 Coast)

Dreamy tranquillity here on ‘Read The Room‘, drifting ever so slightly into glam-pop, Sparks style territory on occasion. Packed with the Laetitia Sadier cameo of approval, it’s taken from the latest Pearl & The Oysters album ‘Coast 2 Coast‘, a record that covers the pairs voyage from Paris to the states.

MJ Lenderman – Rudolph

Having been mildly obsessed with a number of cuts from 2022’s ‘Boat Songs‘ (‘You Have Bought Yourself A Boat‘? Woof!), we were chuffed up to hear MJ Lenderman has new material on the way. New single ‘Rudolph‘ marks his first release for the ANTI- label, a mega Americana style jam that evokes imagery of travelling those long roads throughout the great big old US of A.

Water From Your Eyes – Buy My Product
(Everyone’s Crushed)

Invigorating stuff from Brooklyn duo Water From Your Eyes, ‘Buy My Product‘ sounding almost like a poppier Crack Cloud with its frantic rhythm section, the vocals of Rachel Brown soaring over the top of the captivating instrumental. Taken from their new album ‘Everyone’s Crushed‘, their first for Matador.

Handcuff – Holiday
(Handcuff)

Absolutely box-fresh unit Handcuff (formed in summer 2022) hit the ground running with their signing to choice label Church Road Records. First single ‘Holiday‘ is an anthemic hardcore burst of joy in the vein of Fugazi at their catchiest or Big Break if we’re looking closer to home. Self-described as “short songs for bored people”, ‘Holiday‘ is the type of song you’ll want to put on again immediately the second it ends.

Woahnows – Sounds Like Spitting
(Understanding and Everything Else)

Doing the house clean on a rainy Sunday afternoon (the fun never stops), the soundtrack was dictated by records I’ve not touched for a while. Dropping the needle on ‘Understanding and Everything Else‘ for the first time in at least seven years, it all came flooding back when ‘Sounds Like Spitting‘ burst into life. Hairs on the back of the neck type stuff from the brilliant Woahnows.

OSEES – Goon
(Intercepted Message)

This trend of short, fast-paced OSEES singles is absolutely one we can get behind, the John Dwyer led outfit following up last year’s thrash effort ‘A Foul Form‘ with their forthcoming synth-heavy new LP ‘Intercepted Message‘. ‘Goon‘ is catchy as hell, Dwyer going full on goblin on the vocals as the quintet fire ahead through what feels like about 10 choruses in the space of two minutes.

Electric Chair – Live With It
(Act of Aggression)

Having won us over with the nails artwork for their 2019 ‘Performative Justice‘ EP, the gnarly Electric Chair (out of Olympia, Washington) explode through 77 seconds of in-yer-face thrash hardcore on the no-fucks-given ‘Live With It‘. SOLID.

Dancer – Arch Nemesis
(Dancer)

Quite the résumé held between the members of newish Glaswegian outfit Dancer, its numbers including members of Current Affairs, Nightshift, Robert Sotelo and Order of the Toad. Their S/T debut EP is a real trip, with ‘Arch Nemesis‘ – a tale about holding grudges and hating that special person in your life – not too dissimilar to those very early Dry Cleaning records.

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Listening Post – July 2023

Words: Andy Hughes

Zipping through the year at an alarming rate aren’t we? Let us provide the soundtrack to help guide you through the month!

Tuck into our monthly playlist – 20 tunes, old and new – featuring everything from Japanese pop to American hardcore, Israeli funk to Welsh art-pop and heaps more!

HEY – Did you know that we’ve got a brand new tee available to purchase? Click here to help us celebrate our tenth anniversary!

SPY – Afraid of Everything
(Habitual Offender)

Raw as fuck nails hardcore here from California’s SPY. From their 2021 EP ‘Habitual Offender‘, opener ‘Afraid of Everything‘ is like a sonic headbutt, setting the stall out for a furious 10 minutes across six tracks.

CIVIC – Shake Like Death
(Future Forecast)

We were lucky enough to catch Aussie punks CIVIC on their recent UK tour and were absolutely bowled over by ‘Shake Like Death‘ from their 2021 album ‘Future Forecast‘. A harder approach than we’re used to from this lot, this comes across more snarling and aggressive, like if Pissed Jeans came from Melbourne.

JOHN – Service Stationed
(A Life Diagrammatic)

From an album boasting guest spots from Barry Adamson and Simon Pegg (bloody heck!), the anthemic new one from two-headed machine JOHN is ripper central, a continuation of the full throttle force we’ve come to expect from this pair over the years. KEEP ON KEEPING ON!

Destroy Boys – Beg For The Torture

Research tells me that California’s Destroy Boys (great name) were previously on one of the Tony Hawk’s Pro-Skater soundtracks. That’s the pinnacle right? The 80+ second ‘Beg For The Torture‘ is a great burst of snarling, hurl you against the wall punk.

Protomartyr – Polacrilex Kid
(Formal Growth In The Desert)

From the quartet that never miss, ‘Polacrilex Kid‘ (the latest single from the new Protomartyr album ‘Formal Growth In The Desert‘) has some bite, vocalist Joe Casey keeping you on your toes from the off as drummer Alex Leonard thumps along with him. Mega guitar work from Greg Ahee as per.

Grove – BIG BOOTS

Bristolian vocalist and producer Grove gets mega catchy on ‘BIG BOOTS‘ (featuring EJ​:​AKIN), aping Sir Mix-a-Lot but in an us against them call to arms about strapping on them BIG BOOTS and stomping on the monarchy, colonisers and those chiefs at the top. Big one!

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – The Widow
(V)

You might’ve noticed we’ve been having some weather recently. For those days where the tarmac feels like it’s going to melt into one big gloopy puddle, the new Unknown Mortal Orchestra record has been the perfect accompaniment. ‘The Widow‘ is a jazzy instrumental treat, one to get lost in for sure.

Meduulla – Life’s Like A Box of Chocolates

Local lass Meduulla puts her experiences growing up in a Zimbabwean household in North Manchester into her music, though ‘Life’s Like A Box of Chocolates‘ is pretty universal if you’re living in the UK and have to deal with shit public transport. Jibbing the train because – let’s face it – it’s not worth the ticket, given the cost and unreliability. Anyway… Love this from one of Manchester’s own, very much reminding us of that sort of chilled out hip-hop that The Pharcyde were such champions of.

Freak Slug – Sleepover Mood
(Viva La Vulva)

Blissed-out, sun-soaked indie pop is the vibe from the brilliantly named Freak Slug, calling to mind fellow Northerners The Orielles on the super-sweet ‘Sleepover Mood‘. This has got tinnies in the park written all over it.

The Paranoyds – BWP
(Talk Talk Talk)

From their first release on Jack White’s Third Man Records, ‘BWP‘ is a proper psychedelic fuzz-fest. With a name like The Paranoyds, it makes sense that this sounds like a mid-90s radio hit transported into the future, this from the Californian quartet sounding a touch like Beck’s ‘Devils Haircut‘ mixed with DRINKS, the side-project of Cate Le Bon and Tim Presley.

Deerhoof – My Lovely Cat!
(Miracle-Level)

How many years in the game?! It’s always the case that whenever I hear something raging, nine times out of ten it’s a new cut from San Francisco’s Deerhoof. From their latest release ‘Miracle​-​Level‘ (their 19th album and their first record sung entirely in Japanese), the brilliantly titled ‘My Lovely Cat!‘ is a wonky ripper of epic proportions!

HotWax – Treasure
(A Thousand Times)

As one gets further into their 30s, you can imagine how it feels to read that a band are “Barely out of school…” Age is but a number, mind, as you’ll no doubt agree when you hear this grungey, Demob Happy style banger from Hastings based trio HotWax, taken from their recently released debut EP ‘A Thousand Times‘.

Sababa 5 – Eilat 22
(Eilat 22 / Elifelet 23)

Part of the Batov Records Middle Eastern Groove series, ‘Eilat 22‘ (said to be named after Sababa 5’s new studio address on the border of Jaffa and Tel Aviv) is a real funk-fest from the Israeli outfit. Enlisting the dynamic Hoodna Orchestra’s brass section seems like a no brainer.

Good News – Kishki

Mega catchy stuff from Sheffield’s Good News, a stonking slice of post-punk that calls to mind the likes of The B-52’s, ESG and D.A.F. Killer Russian vocals on their debut single ‘Kishki‘, from a forthcoming EP out via tastemakers Bingo Records and mixed / mastered at local hotspot Delicious Clam.

Martha Ffion – The Man
(The Wringer)

Super solid new single here from Glasgow-based Irish singer-songwriter Claire McKay AKA Martha Ffion. The Scottish Album of the Year Award nominated artist previews the release of her second full length release under Lost Map Records with ‘The Man‘, treading a similar pop path to the likes of Bat For Lashes and Julia Jacklin.

Margaret Glaspy – Act Natural
(Echo The Diamond)

On forthcoming third album ‘Echo The Diamond‘, New York-based musician Margaret Glaspy looks to pick up the pieces following some profound loss. Album opener ‘Act Natural‘ though is a proper fist-pumping love story, Glaspy showing off her guitar chops and powerhouse vocal with gusto.

CHAI – PARA PARA
(CHAI)

Now this is a bop! Tokyo based quartet CHAI preview their forthcoming self-titled album with the super nostalgic sounding ‘PARA PARA‘. Part Tricot, part Pointer Sisters, this is a mega dance hit in the making.

Say Sue Me – Season Of The Shark
(10)

Late last year, South Korea’s Say Sue Me released ‘10‘, an album of cover versions from a number of 90s and 00s American alternative acts to mark their tenth year together. This is a lovely and heart-stopping rendition of the Yo La Tengo number ‘Season Of The Shark‘, which celebrates twenty years this year!

Cate Le Bon – Fold The Cloth
(Cyrk)

Having previously released the stunning ‘Reward‘ as a Dinked exclusive, Cate Le Bon recently teamed up with Dinked again for the reissue of her second album ‘Cyrk‘ (and companion piece ‘Cyrk II‘). The art-pop wonkiness was clearly there from the off and ‘Fold The Cloth‘ is a hypnotic, cool number that could have easily slotted onto the tremendous ‘Mug Museum‘.

Bob Vylan – The Delicate Nature

Drafting in Laurie Vincent of Soft Play (formerly Slaves), in demand London duo Bob Vylan get deep on this cut from late last year, a comment on gentrification and life on the streets. Keep your ears peeled for the hardcore closing stretch!

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Listening Post – June 2023

Words: Andy Hughes (Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill)

Spring has just about sprung here in Manchester, but now we dip a tentative toe into summer – and boy do we have some scorchers for you in our NEW monthly playlist!

Here’s the score – 20 songs, old and new – all packing a punch. From stomping glam-punk out of Sheffield to jazz from Leeds, Canadian post-punk to Swiss psychedelia. All here, all worth the price of admission. Have at it!

Sweeping Promises – Eraser
(Good Living Is Coming For You)

Having released one of our favourite debuts in recent memory (‘Hunger for a Way Out‘ from 2020), we were chuffed up for Sweeping Promises when they announced they’d signed with known tastemakers Sub Pop Records for the release of standalone single ‘Pain Without a Touch‘. This month sees their return to Sub Pop with the release of full length ‘Good Living Is Coming For You‘ and super catchy lead single ‘Eraser‘ captures everything we love about the pairing.

Go Chi Minh – I Left Joburg In A Packet

Back in May, we had the pleasure of catching well-travelled post-punk outfit Go Chi Minh ripping it up in the backroom of Manchester’s Big Hands. We were drawn in by the costumes and their humour, but hooked by their blend of post-punk and garage rock, particularly ‘I Left Joburg In A Packet‘ which has a touch of The Fall to it (if they were fronted by a moustachioed bloke doing a cod South African accent).

Mock Tudors – Self Assessment
(Self Assessment EP)

Released on January 31st to tie in with the deadline for filing tax returns, Sheffield trio Mock Tudors suggested their ‘Self Assessment‘ EP was an attempt to “bottle all the anguish, pain and joy of being freelancers in the 2023 gig-economy.” Title track ‘Self Assessment‘ is a proper glam punk ripper to make any monotonous task sound enjoyable!

Fold Paper – Medical Jargon

Originally from Nigeria but now based in Winnipeg, Fold Paper vocalist and guitarist Chell Osuntade has previously toured internationally with others, but now looks to focus on fronting his own outfit. Their debut single ‘Medical Jargon‘ is a propulsive blast of scrappy yet slick post-punk that calls to mind the likes of contemporaries Stuck.

LA Priest – Silent
(Fase Luna)

The first run through of the new LA Priest record took place in the bath and what a perfect location it was, blissing out to the wonk-pop vibes on offer from under the suds. Having loved everything about last record ‘GENE‘, it was a no brainer that ‘Fase Luna‘ would deliver the goods – ‘Silent‘ being a totally hypnotic slice of fried gold.

(Photo Credit: Fallon Frierson)

Wombo – Slab
(Slab EP)

Another outfit we had the pleasure of seeing live in May, Louisville based trio Wombo continue on a run of invigorating single releases with the title track from their forthcoming ‘Slab‘ EP. In and out in under 120 seconds, ‘Slab‘ races ahead in such joyous fashion, that bassline really stealing the show.

L’éclair – Dallas

Cosmic jazz-y instrumental wonderfulness now from Swiss sextet L’éclair, with at least one amongst their numbers being the owner of a CAN record or two. ‘Dallas‘ is a real sun-soaked dream of a record.

Cloth – Pigeon
(Secret Measure)

Can’t get enough of this at the minute from twins Rachael and Paul Swinton! From the latest Cloth album ‘Secret Measure‘ (out now via Mogwai founded label Rock Action Records), the breathy vocal is not too dissimilar to the work of Imogen Heap and it’s a total breeze getting sucked in by the captivating, heart-pumping alt-pop.

Pozi – Somnambulance
(Smiling Pools)

Taking the lead from the unnerving ‘Noel‘ from their debut album ‘PZ1‘, Londoners Pozi create some real tension on ‘Somnambulance‘, a change of pace on their latest album ‘Smiling Pools‘. A creeping up and down bassline runs the length of the track as the violin of Rosa Brook eerily drifts in and out.

OSEES – Intercepted Message
(Intercepted Message)

After the hardcore thrash thrill-ride that was their last album, ‘A Foul Form‘ (a lean 20+ minutes compared to some of their proggier, lengthier efforts), the prolific OSEES once again switch it up for their forthcoming record ‘Intercepted Message‘, described by their leader John Dwyer as “A pop record for tired times.” It’s still OSEES alright, but there’s a heavy dose of DEVO in the mix too and brother, we’re here for it!

(Photo Credit: Drake Sweeney)

Deeper – Sub

Another outfit we were chuffed to see get the Sub Pop signee seal of approval, Chicago based quartet Deeper build on the momentum of 2020 album ‘Auto​-​Pain‘ with their new soon-to-be-hit ‘Sub‘. The story goes that the single was saved from the recycle bin and a good job too, the jangly post-punk of ‘Sub‘ capturing that same excitement we first felt on hearing ‘This Heat‘.

Dragnet – Lighten the Load
(The Accession)

Featuring members of some of our favourite Aussie punk bands within its numbers (Vintage Crop and GONZO), last month saw the release of a new album from Melbourne sextet Dragnet. Proper infectious garage punk action makes ‘Lighten the Load’ a real treat.

The Saxophones – The Mist
(To Be a Cloud)

As The Saxophones, husband and wife duo Alexi Erenkov and Alison Alderdice sound very much like they could be the on-stage entertainment at The Bang Bang Bar in ‘Twin Peaks‘. Recent single ‘The Mist‘ is lush – part LA Priest, part Chris Isaak. Dig that whistling solo!

Wesley Gonzales – When I Rot
(Wild Garlic EP)

Fair play, Wild Garlic is a great name for a backing band. On the forthcoming ‘Wild Garlic‘ EP, Londoner Wesley Gonzales recorded with a full band (for the first time since he played in previous outfit Let’s Wrestle), the aim being to capture the sound of his live shows as close as possible. Lead single ‘When I Rot‘ is a tight little piece of jangly alt-pop. Love the sardonic delivery of a number of lines here, particularly the part about his wife becoming a pescetarian and the fear that the boys down the factory will find out.

Deep Dyed – Dracula Force
(Unmade Beds)

From their recently released debut album ‘Unmade Beds‘, German outfit Deep Dyed deliver the goods on ‘Dracula Force‘, a hazy, psychedelic alt-pop trip that calls to mind Canadian outfit Corridor or Rotterdam’s own Lewsberg when they’re at their best.

(Photo Credit: Morgan Alice)

Cindy – Earthly Belonging
(Why Not Now?)

Lovely little 90 second pop bopper here from San Francisco’s Cindy, the sugary sweet ‘Earthly Belonging‘ sounding like the type of song that could have easily been on the soundtrack to ‘The Adventures of Pete and Pete‘.

Gotts Street Park – Got To Be Good
(On The Inside)

Taken from their debut album announced this week (with a Dinked exclusive on the way), jazz-y Leeds outfit Gotts Street Park hook up with Manchester born Pip Millett for a delectably soulful piece, a sure-fire sign of more good to come from ‘On The Inside‘.

Mt. Yonder – Domino Day

Featuring members past and present from Blakfish, Shapes and The Broken Oak Duet, Birmingham based quartet Mt. Yonder really hit the ground running with their raging debut single ‘Domino Day‘. The controlled, melodic vocal contrasts the sharp guitar and heavy-hitting rhythm. It’s good stuff, but what else would you expect with the players involved?

The Lemon Twigs – Any Time Of Day
(Everything Harmony)

Picture the scene: I’m cycling home from work when ‘Any Time Of Day‘ comes on, its triumphant key change towards the end causing me to involuntarily fist pump the air with joy and nearly swerve into oncoming traffic. Such is the power found in one of the many highlights from The Lemon Twigs‘ latest record, this soft-pop powerhouse single in particular providing all the vibes you could ever need.

Tchotchke – Dizzy
(Tchotchke)

Mates of The Lemon Twigs, the 2022 release from New Yorkers Tchotchke sounds a lot like their pals, no surprise given the record was produced by brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario. ‘Dizzy‘ has got some lovely classic pop chops, with some real wonkiness to it – that heavenly chorus sounding quite a bit like another famous pair of brothers, Ron and Russell Mael.

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