DATE ARCHIVES : January 2020

Pave The Jungle – ‘Jelly’

‘Jelly’ is the debut single from Newcastle indie-rock foursome, Pave The Jungle, and it is a scintillating introduction by any estimation.

‘Jelly’ is an epic and colossal indie-rock juggernaut. Propelled forward by the oscillating forces of muscular bassline and thunderous drums, it is bursting with unrelenting energy as all manner of guitar heroics are unleashed with abandon. Riffs soar as scintillating vocals fly above, rendering all else secondary. A rousing, defiant and heavy-hitting indie-rock anthem with a dark pop heart which shifts from menacing, threatening riffy rock to the rousing, epic and heart-filled variety. A thrilling and enthralling jam executed with style and exuberance; the soaring guitar lines, thundering rhythms and scintillating vocals are a match made in indie-rock heaven.

Listen to ‘Jelly’ below:


Introducing: Opera23

Opera23 iis the moniker of Barcelona-based producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, Vincenzo Germano.

Utilising both analogue and digital instruments, Germano’s sound leans heavily on repetition and minimalism, something explored with great detail on his recently released debut album Internal with Figures, Lights. And Shadows. Capturing the genesis of the album are singles ‘Room 3’ and ‘Blob-Tragedy’. ‘Room 3’ opens with intense flash of transfixing static which flesh out to fuzzy waves of repetitive, fluctuating and glitchy 8-bit sounds which flow to meet a rising soft but strident beat. It is powerfully compelling and epic, moving with an air of awesome (in the truest sense of the word) as it transfixes with cinematic expanse. ‘Blob-Tragedy’ meanwhile is similarly minimal but while the former was awe inspiring and hopeful, this a much more pensive affair. It navigates its was slowly along droning stabs of synths while electronics flicker and hum amid a sea of moody, murky and shadowy swirling textures.

Listen to  ‘Room 3’ and ‘Blob-Tragedy’ below and if you like what you hear, check out the album here.

Death Hags – ‘Be Who You Are (Skyforest edit)’

Death Hags is the multifaceted project of Los Angeles-based, French electronica artist, Lola Jean. Working mostly from the secluded hideaway hills of East LA, Jean crafts hypnotic, futuristic and minimal electronica inspired by the likes of Brian Eno, Björk and Twin Peaks.

An enigmatic creative force for sure, Jean’s singles to date have been nothing short of sublime, and new one ‘Be Who You Are (Skyforest edit)’ is no different. It is lifted from Big Grey Sun #1, the first instalment of an ongoing seven-volume multi-media project, one “centered around the idea of a post-human utopia.” Hushed, dreamy vocals hover above deep, burrowing bassline groove that meanders slow while distorted guitars burn slowly amid a haze of warm fuzz – ‘Be Who You Are’ is lush, lavish and dripping with rich melody. Hypnotic and transfixing, residing in a moody atmospheric world of rich textures and dreamy allure, ‘Be Who You Are’ offers a much less tense and terse take on Death Hags’ brand of dream/synth-pop.

Tune in below:

Sons Of Zöku – ‘Luz / Paralysed’

Adelaide psych-rock trio Sons Of Zöku – Ricardo Da Silva, Ica Quintela and Jordan Buck – have been making a name for themselves, and their free-flowing, energetic and colourful explorations of psych, in their native Australia.

Previous single ‘Dead Poets’ – a 2019 standout and absolute a force of nature – is pretty typical of their wares and they kicked off 2020 in similarly sensational form with double a-side ‘Luz / Paralysed’. The former is a hypnotic haze of colourful kaleidoscopic sounds, propelled by a swirling groove and propulsive rhythm and adorned with dazzling guitars, sitar lush effects as dreamy, hushed vocals glide above, dripping with melody, it is utterly consuming and transfixing. It’s companion ‘Paralysed’ meanwhile, is less melodic and dreamy and more frantic, propulsive and energetic. Guitars twang and sitars sing again but they play second fiddle to the more feverish vocals that breathlessly aim to keep pace with the winding rhythmic grooves as it teems through a sea of feedback, distortion and riffs. Sons Of Zöku have once again struck a balance between thunderous noise and subtle sweetness, and in doing so delivered yet another masterclass in psych-rock.

Tune in to ‘Luz / Paralysed’ below:

Norskye – ‘Universal’

‘Universal’ is the debut single from Hungarian producer Norskye, and oh my, what a way to announce yourself to the world.

‘Universal’ is nothing short of stunning. An imaginative and diverse electronic excursion, it begins with at trickle of glistening tones, chimes and elegant slashes of electronics while a deep, seductive groove bubbles away gently, slowly swelling into a soul consuming joy illuminated further by lush vibes, shimmering synths and the icing on the cake, the sumptuous brass. ‘Universal’ is irresistible, a pure and utter joy from start to finish.

Give it a spin below, it does not disappoint.


The Orielles – ‘Space Samba (Disco Volador Theme)’

The Orielles announced their second album Disco Volador back in October with the release of lead single ‘Come Down On Jupiter’.

Given that their debut Silver Dollar Moment was one of 2018’s finest records, there is quite a bit of excitement around its follow-up and thankfully with Disco Volador due next month, the psych-pop foursome have shared a second single ‘Space Samba (Disco Volador Theme)’.

It is five minutes of sleek, neon bright and danceable indie-disco drawing its seductive allure from an irresistible blend of disco, tropicalia, indie, psych, and of course, samba. Fuelled by a insatiable pop danceablility, ‘Space Samba (Disco Volador Theme)’ is a  terrifically catchy and infectious jam oozing with colourful spirit and buoyant energy. It grooves along with a confident strut through funk-fuelled hooks, cowbells aplenty pulsating electrified cheeps and chirps, with Esmé’s syrupy-sweet and relaxed vocals juxtaposed with the relentless groove, dancey beats and swirling, psychedelic haze. This is pure indie-pop heaven, so addictive is it, it should come with a health warning.

Disco Volador is out 2/28 on Heavenly. Get in on it below.

Victoria Bigelow – ‘To Everyone I’ve Loved Before’

Following on from her debut EP Going Blue, Nashville singer-songwriter Victoria Bigelow has returned with a new single ‘To Everyone I’ve Loved Before’.

Bigelow’s latest offering is patient, vulnerable and potent as she reflects on past mistakes and lost love with honesty. ‘To Everyone I’ve Loved Before’ is a stunning and beautiful piece of heart-aching indie-pop, it bobs along a woozy, retro-tinged waltz while Bigelow’s hushed, smokey voice strikes a reflective tone, channelling her deepest emotions. ‘To Everyone I’ve Loved Before’ swells with each passing verse, from minimal opening arrangements of gently pulsating keys and sparse percussion to a rousing, rich and layered climax, all made more palatable on transition by the  light and woozy strings easing the track softly to life, with an Americana-tinged hum.

A sublime single, listen to it below: 

Valley Medical – ‘Ad Nadja’

Valley Medical is an electronic music producer from Chicago, and under this moniker, explored a flair for stunning sonic distillations that transfix and captivate, and get dancefloors moving.

Valley Medical’s latest single ‘Ad Nadja’ is an absolute banger. Emerging from a cloak of dreamy, ethereal tones it quickly establishes its dancefloor credentials. Soft swirls of synth and pillowy beats morph and transform into a bright up tempo jam as sputtering and choppy electronics and burbling synthesizers are stitched together with acid squelches, deep house basslines, winding techno and ravey tones. The frantic stuttering beats and wobbly bassline groove is a match made in heaven and not only is it totally addicting but it will get your body grooving (and no doubt dancefloors moving).

Listen to ‘Ad Nadja’ below:

Lauran Hibberd – ‘Bang Bang Bang’

Lauran Hibberd has been charming us with irresistible blasts of fuzz-filled indie pop for a while now and the Isle Of Wight native has kicked off 2020 with style with new single ‘Bang Bang Bang’.

Following on from 2019 debut EP Everything is Dogs, ‘Bang Bang Bang’ is of similar pedigree; fizzy with guitar-pop brilliance. With driving guitars, hooks you could hang a hat on and sing-along chorus set against layers of endearing fuzz and distortion, ‘Bang Bang Bang’ is Hibberd’s catchiest and most anthemic song yet. Hibberd has carved out a rep for super catchy and fuzz-filled guitar-pop heroics and even taking a cursory glance at her output over the past 12 months, it is easy to see why. It has been one solid gold tune after another, and ‘Bang Bang Bang’ is as good as any of them.

Check out ‘Bang Bang Bang’ below and if you like what you hear, there is plenty more where that came from here.

Yammerer – ‘Seasons 13-31’

Liverpool-based outfit Yammerer are a band with a preference for sharp, angular, high-energy, unhinged and raucous psych-punk fury.

Their audacious, boisterous and snarling sonic adventures are there for all to see (and hear) on their debut EP Reality Escape Resort, released toward the close of 2019. Forged from a swell of free-flowing psychedelia and hammered out in an incandescent rage, the EP is a whirlwind of off-kilter, frenzied psych-punk and none more so than ‘Seasons 13-31’. It is a nine-minute spectacular; a highly charged cacophony of pent up post-punk fury. A hyperactive frenzied blitz of bone rattling drums, furious, jerky guitars, buzzing riffs and spiralling effects, with frenzied vocals uncoiling above. A stunning intro to the Liverpool-based five-piece, it is a chaotic, wild and arresting jam.

You can listen to ‘Seasons 13-31’ below and the debut EP is here too