DATE ARCHIVES : November 2019

Ardentjohn – ‘I Wasn’t There’

Ardentjohn originally formed in Edinburgh but now it’s membership – Mark Abbott (lead guitar), Seth Marron (drums/percussion), Keiron Mason (vocals/guitar), Alan Shields (vocals/bass) and Linda Tym (cello/vocals) – are scattered far and wide.

Perhaps this dispersal was a catalyst, or at least assisted, in creating the rich vein of longing and melancholy to be mined from their latest album Malin Head; a tribute to the sense of heartache many an Irish person experienced leaving their friends, family and homeland behind. The album, melancholic and mournful as it maybe, it is a beautiful and moving experience filled with timeless songs marked with heart, soul and an ear for melody. The rich and earthy latest single ‘I Wasn’t There’ is a perfect example of their wares. As a softly hushed croon rolls in tandem with dripping melody, it is nigh on impossible to resist the sweet and beautiful harmonic pairing, as the gentle acoustic strums illuminate their tender song-writing, bound by a sense of yearning and longing, depicted with vivid storytelling draped with hushed lilting vocals. Passing with a whisper rather than a roar, it is a charming, rich and moving folky vibes delivered with warmth and confidence.

Listen to ‘I Wasn’t There’ below now – and the album Malin Head, is available here.

Mykel Hawk – ’33 1/3′

Mykel Hawk is a DIY artist in the truest sense of the word; he produces every beat, writes every lyric, records and engineers every song, designs his cover art and creates his own video and multimedia.

From this ethos Mykel Hawk crafts slick, smooth and seductive hip hop jams as evidenced by single ’33 1/3′. It is classy jam with plenty of swagger and breezy, feel-good vibes as smooth vocals deliver effortlessly flowing wordplay over a seductive beat that’s got more bounce than Zebedee. Written about escape everyday pressures by going back to your happy place; for Mykel Hawk it harks back to his younger days, discovering music and spinning records – definitely a relatable feeling, for myself and many of you. ’33 1/3′ is a real gem; an infectious and melodic head nodding groover with heartfelt and nostalgic vibes for simpler times.

Check out ’33 1/3′ below:


Remington Super 60 – ‘Fake Crush’

Remington Super 60 are a Norweigan outfit formed by songwriter and producer Christoffer Schou more than twenty years ago, the band has taken many forms but the other constant has been a predilection for lush, retro-flavoured indie-pop brimming with warmth and dreamy nostalgia.

The current Remington Super 60 lineup includes Magnus Abelsen and Elisabeth Thorsen, and together they are gearing up to release a new EP (out January 24 2020). They already treated us to ‘The Highway Again‘ a wee while ago and have shared another dreamy delight in the shape of ‘Fake Crush’. It is a woozy, slumbering slice of beautiful dream-pop wrapped in a lush, dripping melody as it washes over a gently undulating groove and soft patter of brushed drums. As alluring as this combination is, everything is secondary to the lush, seductive and ethereal whisperings of Thorsen’s vocals. An utterly divine composition that will woo the darkest of hearts.

Listen to ‘Fake Crush’ below and keep an eye out for Remington Super 60’s forthcoming 6 track EP (out January 24 2020).

Kid Indigo – ‘What To Do’ (with DNTST)

Kid Indigo is Los Angeles-based producer and musician Aubrey Ella Hart, who under this moniker, crafts dreamy, hazy and beautiful electronic-pop that delves into a dreamworld of rich melodies and waves of lush tones.

Drawing from a deep well of influences – electronica, hip hop, electro-pop and folk – Kid Indigo’s beautifully sculpted brand of electronic pop is created, as evidenced by latest single ‘What To Do’ (with DNTST). It is an exquisite and utterly transfixing track built on a reverb heavy hip hop inspired beat that carries us through this enchanting, hazy atmospheric wold of fuzz, shimmering synths and harmonious layers of chanting vocals. Crackling electronics twinkle and flicker amid the subterranean haze, illuminating a path for her vocals to float elegantly overhead. ‘What To Do’ is a transfixing, dreamy,and beautifully hazy electronic-pop song that whisks us off to a dreamworld of rich melodies and waves of lush tones.

Listen to ‘What To Do’ below:


Eilis Frawley – ‘illusions’

Eilis Frawley is a name familiar to some eagle eyed regular patrons as the drummer from I Drew Blank / Party Fears.

Working under her own name, Frawley plans to release debut EP ‘Never Too Emotional’ via Reckless Yes early in the new year, and heralding this news comes super single ‘illusions’. Unsurprisingly Anchored in its rhythmic power, Frawley creates an intriguing canvas for thought-provoking and transfixing spoken word narratives. A Krautrock-inspired groove emerges from the atmospheric haze as a cosmic combo of frazzled electronics, laser beam like sounds and fizzing synth create futurist sound collage for Frawley’s vocal. It is a transfixing and beautiful yet jarring musical vision of off-kilter brilliance. 

Listen to  ‘illusions’ below and keep an eye out for the forthcoming debut EP Never Too Emotional out via Reckless Yes early next year.

Adam Melchor – ‘I Choose You’

Adam Melchor is a Jersey-born, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter with a penchant for rich, melodic and heartfelt old-fashioned pop songs.

On his Plan on You EP, released earlier this year, Melchor displayed a knack for atmospheric dreamy folk-pop and he is back, signing off for 2019 with another alluring pop song ‘I Choose You’. While the folk ingredients remain, Melchor has braided more pop into the mix than before, delivering a colourful confection of sweet and charming ear-worm pop. Melchor’s verses bob along the skipping rhythms, playful percussion and jangly guitar and all sewn together with sinuous melodies – an unshakable blend.

A wonderful, charming single to sign off on – listen to ‘I Choose You’ below:


Crush Club – ‘My Man (featuring Nicki B The Vagabond)’

New York duo Crush Club have been carving out a rep for gloriously contagious dancefloor bangers with a slew of suitably swaggering funky singles – and their latest is no different. 

New single ‘My Man’ sees Crush Club joined by friend and live collaborator Nicki B The Vagabondfierce soulful diva vocals reign supreme above this rampaging funk-fuelled dance floor groover. It is an upbeat, catchy and infectious slice of disco meets electro pop, the kind destined to fill floors, set clubs alight and disco balls spinnin’. ‘My Man’ has soul, funk and class as we are treated to wildly contagious and irresistible dance track – a phenomenon!

Listen to the irresistible ‘My Man (featuring Nicki B The Vagabond)’ below: 

Slow Riot – ‘Heaven’s Daughter’

Irish post-punk outfit Slow Riot have finally released their much anticipated debut album G.A.D but the release is bittersweet.  It is a record that more than delivers on the huge promise of their early singles & EPs but having disbanded in 2018, it is hard to believe this is likely the last we’ll hear from the Limerick band.

The album, like previous releases, channels classic post-punk influences – Gang of Four, Television, Wire – combined with more contemporary bands such as Interpol. Girl Band and Future of the Left; into a bold, peerless and sometimes seething sound that unrepentantly reside on the darker side of post punk. ‘Heaven’s Daughter’ is the lead single and one of many highlights on G.A.D. It is intense, epic and driven as stunning layers of burning guitars keep pace with the unrelenting rhythm as Clancy’s passionate brogue delivers a layer of lyrical darkness which soars above. It is a massive, massive tune that wields a mighty power, and is quintessentially Slow Riot.

It is such a shame that this will likely be the last we’ll hear from them but on a positive note at least we have G.A.D to console ourselves with and just in case it hasn’t been clear enough already; it is a superb record and a hell of way to bow out.

Listen to ‘Heaven’s Daughter’ below and then head over here to listen to the album.

Glitter Party – ‘Glitter Party’

Glitter Party is a Canadian outfit doing a wonderfully addictive line in fuzzy garage pop. I say ‘outfit’ but Glitter Party is the sole creation of a 19-year-old, Toronto-based musician called Sam, who crafted a whole album in house over the course of a month.

The resulting self-titled record is a whirlwind of hyperactive yet beautifully catchy and sweetly melodic garage-pop goodness bathe in swathes of fuzz & distortion – and this prowess is never better demonstrated than by lead single, also called ‘Glitter Party’.It is a two-and-a-half-minute frenzy of fuzzy, fun-filled and sweetly melodic garagey, noise-pop. Amid the exuberant bursts of energy and scuzzy riffs there is an irresistible alchemy at work. What makes this fuzz-filled racket so ear-pleasing is catchy harmonies and sweet pop hooks that woo the heart entirely. In typical fashion, this magnificent fuzz-fest will be bouncing round your head all day long.

Listen to ‘Glitter Party’ below and if that is to your liking, the album is here too.

Johnny Kills – ‘Editing’

Over the past two years of so, Brighton / London-based trio Johnny Kills have impressed time and time again with a series of infectious and fuzzed up slabs of scuzzy garage-surf-pop.

The trio are back and repeating the trick once more with a new single ‘Editing’. Lifted from their debut EP Panic, due out on November 20th via Killing Moon, ‘Editing’ is a charming, melodic and scuzzy surf-pop treat that is bristling with emotion and energy as it juxtaposes tender, touching lyrics with driving guitar. While wrapped in a delightful (and recognisable) fuzzed up package of catchy chorus, singalong lyrics and hooks you could hang your hat on, it is marked by an air of melancholy and rousing defiance. It is a sublime track, one that manages to blend rousing anthemic fervour with touching and tender and the sweetness of the pop, in a way of Blur in their pomp.

Listen to ‘Editing’ below and keep an eye out for the EP come November 20: