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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Editor’s Picks: Top 50 songs of 2023 – Part Two

In classic fashion, my personal favourite record from 2023 came out a year ago. Eagle-eyed Instagram followers might’ve noticed too that when it came to the big Spotify Wrapped reveals, my number one song (and quite a few within the top five) were from an album that came out seven years ago! As our reviews man Ben Forrester likes to say though – don’t get it twisted! We bleed new music through and through and 2023 has been a bountiful year for it, so much so that it’s been particularly difficult picking just 50 songs for our regular end of year feature.

But pick we must and pick we have – cataloguing our (or rather, my) favourite tracks of 2023, split into two parts (part one being here!) As ever, these are in alphabetical order rather than a ranking because, after all, it is Christmas time.

Heads up – 2023 was also a big year for us, Birthday Cake For Breakfast celebrating ten years of being a thing – ten years of DIY on the fringes! It’s been quite the decade, so much so that we had shirts made up to celebrate the fact! There’s a handful left if you’re keen (and a medium!)

Words: Andy Hughes

Minor Conflict – Living Statue
(Bright Lights, Dead City)

One of the hottest debut EPs of 2023 (out mid-year on PRAH Recordings), Bristolian outfit Minor Conflict’s sound is of the POZI and Squid vintage. On the stirring ‘Living Statue‘, heavenly backing vocals and resplendent harp playing combine with a driving rhythm and almost stream of consciousness vocal for invigorating results.

Mock Tudors – Self Assessment
(Self Assessment)

Released on January 31st to tie in with the deadline for filing tax returns, ‘Self Assessment‘ was just one of many brilliant releases from tracksuit wearing Sheffield lads Mock Tudors this year. Fronted by him out of Mr Ben & The Bens, the title track from the EP is a rollicking garage rock rager.

MUMS – 100 Kilos
(Legs)

Skull-crushing trio MUMS returned this year after some time away to once again put the industrial town of Widnes on the map! Return single ‘100 Kilos‘ sounds like just that, a rock solid, heavy as fook fuzz-fest that requires earplugs even with the volume down.

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

It doesn’t seem right that London based, American soul musician Jalen Ngonda is younger than me, given that ‘Come Around and Love Me‘ (the title track from his new album) sounds like a classic unearthed from 50 years ago. Ngonda has a timeless voice that really elevates this delectable cut from his debut LP, out now via Daptone Records.

Objections – BSA Day
(BSA Day / Better Luck Next Time)

The second release this year from tastemakers Wrong Speed Records (Hey Colossus), Objections brings together members of Bilge Pump and Nape Neck, with ‘BSA Day‘ being their debut release. What a stonking debut it is too, the earworm vocals of Claire Adams soaring over the crunchy instrumental. A full length album is due to follow in 2024!

Office Dog – Big Air
(Spiel)

An undeniable favourite from this year, the thumping ‘Big Air‘ just stirs up something within us. Maybe it’s the hazy, almost slacker vocals of Kane Strang in contrast to the energy of the music, or the musical concoction that sounds like a combination of Jimmy Eat World with Meat Wave and the theme tune from ‘Peep Show‘. Whatever it is, it’s had us suckered in all year.

Omni – Exacto
(Souvenir)

Man, it’s good to have Omni back on these pages. The Atlanta, GA, based trio recently announced the release of a forthcoming new album – their second for Sub Pop (fourth overall) and the follow up to ‘Networker‘ from 2019. ‘Exacto‘ perfectly captures that infectious blend of sparkling post-punk they’ve been mastering since the release of their debut album, ‘Deluxe‘.

OSEES – INTERCEPTED MESSAGE
(INTERCEPTED MESSAGE)

Whilst closing track ‘LADWP Hold‘ is *thee* best song of the year (literally just the infamous hold music we all know and love), the title track from the latest OSEES record (at the time of writing, anyhoo) was an unexpected gear shift from the band after their prior hardcore punk record (‘A Foul Form‘), frontman Dwyer leading the band into wackier, synth territory. Into it!

PACKS – Laughing Til I Cry
(Crispy Crunchy Nothing)

Throughout 2023, we’ve encountered PACKS on a number of occasions and ears have collectively pricked up every time. ‘Laughing Til I Cry‘ was an early favourite, finding ourselves taken in by the woozy, tripped-out style of vocalist Madeline Link, reminiscent of early Mac DeMarco.

Pardoner – Are You Free Tonight?
(Peace Loving People)

Commenting earlier in the year that ‘Are You Free Tonight?‘ features one of the best halftime switch-ups this side of Parquet Courts ‘Almost Had to Start a Fight / In and Out of Patience‘, the flip is switched from a twinkling Kiwi Jr. style affair to a full-pelt, snotty punk thrash-through in its short two minutes.

Personal Trainer – The Feeling

A year on from the release of their stunner debut album ‘Big Love Blanket‘, Personal Trainer end the year on a high with the news that they’ve just signed to Bella Union! To mark the occasion, the Dutch collective recently released heart-swelling nine minute saga ‘The Feeling‘, which is parts BC:NR, Deliluh and Pavement.

Pest Control – Enjoy The Show

Leeds thrash-heads Pest Control made a real stink this year with the release of their debut album, ‘Don’t Test The Pest‘, loved by just about everyone who fucks with gnarly Metallica riffs. Its follow up, standalone single ‘Enjoy The Show‘, is a proper rad, in-yer-lughole blast of hardcore, packed with gnarly guitar solos, snarled metal vocals and The Big Four vibes aplenty.

Pissed Jeans – No Convenient Apocalypse

With a gruff vocal sounding almost like American soft-lad Alex Jones whenever he’s gone full tilt, Matt Korvette gets blunt on the brutal, noise-rock assault of ‘No Convenient Apocalypse‘, the material funny but actually quite worrying as he laments “We’re screwed!” The latest offering from Pennsylvania formed outfit Pissed Jeans, it’s their first new material in six years!

Rozi Plain – Complicated
(Prize)

The arrival of ‘Prize‘ in early January alleviated some of the winter blues, ten tracks that provided a real warming treat to start off the year. On ‘Complicated‘, Rozi Plain has the listener in her palm, the curious lyrics against the hushed instrumental completely captivating from the off.

Public Body – Driven By Data
(Big Mess)

Another year, another Public Body entry on our annual list chronicling the best new music out there. This lot delivering the goods, always. From their first full length album proper, the frantic ‘Driven By Data‘ flies by in a whirlwind of DEVO style synth-attack.

Say She She – C’est Si Bon
(Silver)

Don’t be fooled – this did come out in 2023, rather than fifty years ago! A glitterball disco delight that’s had us hooked since mid-year, ‘C’est Si Bon‘ is an unreal funk-fest from Brooklyn based trio Say She She. Impossible not to smile – or move your feet for that matter – during its near four minutes running.

Screaming Females – Brass Bell
(Desire Pathway)

Before knocking it on the head at the end of the year (following 18 years together), New Jersey trio Screaming Females kicked off January with the stonking ‘Brass Bell‘, lead single from their eighth (and final) studio album ‘Desire Pathway‘. Packed on heavy with ripper guitar parts and wall-crumbling vocals from Marissa Paternoster, it was an instant smash.

Snooper – Pod
(Super Sn​õ​õ​per)

Following a run of unmissable singles and EPs over the past few years, Nashville’s Snooper – fronted by vocalist Blair Tramel and guitarist Connor Cummins – finally released their hotly tipped debut album in 2023. From it, the hyperactive speed-punk of ‘Pod‘ provided untold thrills, a head-spinning dance-a-thon to play over and over again.

Stuck – The Punisher
(Freak Frequency)

With a sound not too dissimilar to fellow Chicagoans Meat Wave, this year saw Stuck release their second album, ‘Freak Frequency‘, a follow up to the brilliant ‘Change Is Bad‘ released in deepest, darkest Covid times. ‘The Punisher‘ paces ahead, fuelled by jagged guitar, chest-thumping drums, sax flourishes and an increasingly worked up vocal from Greg Obis. 2024 will see the Chicago base outfit on EU/UK soil, with unmissable shows pencilled in!

SUDS – My Own Mind
(In The Undergrowth)

A new discovery and subsequent highlight from 2000 Trees Festival this year, Norwich’s SUDS had a big 2023, signing to tastemaker label Big Scary Monsters and releasing their debut album, ‘The Great Overgrowth‘. Prior to that, the quartet put out their debut EP ‘In The Undergrowth‘ and from it, ‘My Own Mind‘ blew us away, sounding like Julia Jacklin if she was backed by a midwest emo band…

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

A Sub Pop album debut for Sweeping Promises this year and rightly so, after their debut album ‘Hunger for a Way Out‘ well and truly captivated us on release in 2020. From ‘Good Living Is Coming For You‘, ‘You Shatter‘ is a brooding, ice-cold post-punk statement from the dynamite pairing of Lira Mondal and Caufield Schnug, sounding like an authentic artefact from the 80s, brought to life in our year of the lord 2023.

Terry – Golden Head
(Call Me Terry)

Five years on from the release of their last record, the brilliant ‘I’m Terry‘, cowboy hat sporting Aussie quartet Terry made our year by once again gracing us with their presence. ‘Golden Head‘ is a lovely number – dig the four-way vocal which, when coupled with the strings, have a touch of the melancholy about them.

Ulrika Spacek – The Sheer Drop
(Compact Trauma)

Initially shelved during the pandemic (for obvious reasons), ‘Compact Trauma‘, the latest record from Londoners Ulrika Spacek, became an early favourite for 2023. Opener ‘The Sheer Drop‘ sets the tone perfectly, opening on its quirky synth intro before jangly guitar leads the listener into spellbinding transcendence.

USA Nails – Feel Worse
(Feel Worse)

USA Nails waited for the vinegar strokes of 2023 to release their new single ‘Feel Worse‘, but it was worth the wait, coupled with the news that it would be taken from a forthcoming album of the same name and would be their label debut for One Little Independent Records! As they always do, the quartet smash it from the off with their lead single – a thunderous, rib-rattler, full of bite that sounds as vital as ever.

Wombo – Slab
(Slab EP)

Having wowed us 100% with the massive 2021 single ‘Dreamsickle‘, Kentucky trio Wombo returned in 2023 with a three-track EP to coincide with a UK/EU tour. From the EP, its title track showcases what they’re all about in the space of 110 seconds – dynamite guitar, engrossing basslines and keep-you-on-your-toes drumming.

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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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