DATE ARCHIVES : February 2020

Prisoner of Mars – ‘Cityscapes’

Prisoner of Mars is the brainchild of Phil Galloni & Cameron Ljungkull. The duo, originally from the Midwest, met in Los Angeles and began writing together, bonding over their eclectic music tastes.

The result of this collaborative instrumental/experimental project came to be known as Prisoner of Mars. Borrowing its name from 90s avant-pop group Stereolab, the project takes inspiration from across a broad musical spectrum – from 90s hip hop, to 70s soul, 80s pop, and 90s underground avant pop – with a vision to create a unique soundscape that stands apart from the assembly-line pop production of the 21st century. There vision is most certainly realised on their brand new single, ‘Cityscapes’.

Adding the talent of Alex Kyhn (bass, Macy Gray) and Ian Wurfl (drums/percussion), they eek out a perfect blend of organic and synthetic sounds. ‘Cityscapes’ is a smooth, lavish and carefully weaved blend of mellow hip hop and trip hop grooves – peppered with brass above and a muffled, dreamy bassline running beneath it; this is a breezy, easy on the ears slice of fresh, jazzy hip-hop seduction. A warm aural feast of silky smooth vibes and lush allure – marvellous stuff.

Listen to ‘Cityscapes’ below – it is lifted from their forthcoming EP Dream Cell, out April 7, 2020.

Freedom Fry – ‘West Coast’

The ever prolific LA duo, Freedom Fry are preparing to release a new album in 2020, a follow up to their delightful 2018 debut LP, Classic, and ahead of which, have shared a first single called ‘West Coast’. 

The pair, Marie Seyrat and Bruce Driscoll, have regularly brightened up our lives with charming, catchy, bright and lovable indie-pop songs, and ‘West Coast’ is no different. Regaling a semi-autobiographical tale about moving to Los Angeles with a dream and sticking with it despite many pitfalls, ‘West Coast’ is  lush and alluring, and delivered with a breezy softness and glistening elegance as pillow beat and gentle guitar waltz amid a warm, dawn-like shimmering haze. This shimmering sonic delight comes filled with their trademark ear for a melody, divine harmonies, charm and shimmering sonic delights. The sun-kissed vibes that radiate will have you fawning over this one all week.

Listen to ‘West Coast’ below – hopefully we get a release date for the new record soon.

Peaness – ‘Kaizen’

Longstanding favourites Peaness are back, and they are back with a bang!

The Chester-based trio have been charming our ears for years with their irresistible  brand of melodic, indie-pop goodness, and latest single ‘Kaizen’ is no different. ‘Kaizen’ (a Japanese for the phrase “change for the good”) sees them introduce an added muscularity to insanely catchy and addictive indie-pop. Vocals soar powerful above a seductive meaty bassline while catchy riffs burst into life while bouncing along an instantly addictive groove and jaunty rhythm. It is insanely catchy, littered with gloriously sweet harmonies and hooks you could hang your hat on, dusted with a light coat of warm fuzz. It is yet another gem from Peaness who have a propensity for such magic you know.

Listen to ‘Kaizen’ below:

Remington Super 60 – ‘I Don`t Wanna Wait’

Remington Super 60 are a Norwegian outfit formed by songwriter and producer Christoffer Schou, and while the outfit has taken many forms over two decades, one constant is the lush, retro-flavoured indie-pop brimming with warmth and dreamy nostalgia.

The current lineup includes Magnus Abelsen and Elisabeth Thorsen, and together the trio have released the aptly titled, New EP. The EP –  teased with ‘Fake Crush’ & ‘Highway Again’ late last year – is a selection of serenely beautiful dream-pop wrapped in lush, dripping melodies; the latest single ‘I Don`t Wanna Wait’ is cut from the same cloth. In fact, it sees a refinement of their warm, fuzzy, lush psych-pop by combining spacey sounds and textures with a luscious melody proggy-guitars and synths. In doing so they create something hypnotic and seductive, and topped off by the lush, melodic and bewitching vocals. The very essence of daydreaming escapism, sit back and let ‘I Don`t Wanna Wait’ flow over you and seep into your senses, and leave you better for it.

Listen to ‘I Don`t Wanna Wait’ below and if that is to your liking, please check out the EP here.

Seazoo – ‘The Pleasure’

Welsh indie maestros Seazoo will release their new album Joy, follow up to their sublime 2018 debut TRUNKS, on April 3 via Big Terry.

The North Walian outfit never cease to amaze with their effervescent indie-pop sound, and latest album taster ‘The Pleasure’ is no different. In fact, just like recent singles ‘Heading Out’ and ‘Throw It Up’, it is vintage Seazoo. It is giddy, quirky and full of that recognisable exuberance as it fizzes along with lively guitars whizzing around addictive melodies and splashes of spurting, colourful synths, painting a perfect backdrop for the self-deprecating, tongue in cheek lyrics to melt the heart. It is sweet, charming and bursting with contagious pop goodness that’ll have you bopping along from the off.

Listen to ‘The Pleasure’ below now and keep an eye out for the new album, Joy, it is out April 3. 

Luiniss – ‘Yellow Bird’

Luiniss is a US-based musician/producer who crafts beautiful compositions to accompany their other loves; massage therapy & yoga. 

Luiniss’ latest release ‘Yellow Bird’, is an elegant, lush and dreamy slice of electronic lullaby. Combining warm synthesizer tones & soft piano melodies, it twinkles as it tips graceful along a subtle undulating melody amid a touching and tender tone. It is a gentle, warm and woozy escape to a place of relaxation and tranquillity. Melting with an understated melody and lush allure, ‘Yellow Bird’ exudes a warm, elegant and beautifully ambient vibe. In short, it is divine.

Listen to ‘Yellow Bird’ below:

bad tuner – ‘Adelaide’s Voyage’

Born in Yugoslavia, raised in Russia and is now residing in Brooklyn, bad tuner is moniker of musician and producer Jozef Sergei Dimitrov.

Bad tuner’s specialty appears to be woozy dancefloor focused electronica and his latest single, ‘Adelaide’s Voyage’, is a stunning sonic distillation of said approach. Lifted from the forthcoming coming soundtrack in collaboration with NYT writer, Ian Urbina, ‘Adelaide’s Voyage’ surges with energy, unleashed gradually, allowing you to enjoy the ride rather than be swept aside. Unhurried, its progress feels organic as seductive rhythms and soft precision beatwork usher us forward through an ocean of intricately textured shimmering synths and lush, woozy electronics, that are voluminous and dense.These rhythmic oscillations add further momentum and that deep groove captivates entirely, bewitching the listener into a state of blissful stupor. 

Tune into ‘Adelaide’s Voyage’ below – prepared to be wowed!


MEMES – ‘J.O.B.S.’

Glasgow lo-fi post punk noise-makers, MEMES, introduced their fiery, furious and feisty sounds with a series of scintillating singles last year with ‘Blah Blah Blah‘, ‘Funny Man‘ & ‘Happy Shopper’ making them one of the finest new discoveries of 2019.

However, amid the silly season towards the close of 2019, another MEMES single slipped into the world without me noticing, until just recently. ‘J.O.B.S.’ is of a similar ilk to what we’ve quickly come to recognise as MEMES’ sound; fast, feverish and exhilarating post-punk fury – and cousins John and Paul McLinden have nailed it again. Hurtling off at breakneck speed along a frenzied rhythmic surge as meaty, bubbling bass riffs duel with fevered drums and short, sharp, jerky guitars as sneering vocals are spat out above. A thrilling, raw and exhilarating jam that will leave you breathless and have you hooked from the get go.

Check out ‘J.O.B.S.’ below (one especially FFO Sluts of Trust, The Fall & HMHB):

TV People – ‘Kitchen Sinking’

TV People are post-punk foursome – Paul Donohoe, Brendan Clarke, Len Rochford & Rob Kavanagh – from Dublin.

Since their formation in early 2019, the band spent the year honing and refining their sound, and they are kicking off 2020 in style with new single ‘Kitchen Sinking’. While channelling classic post-punk influences, their musings also owe a debt to garage, indie and punk. The single is a bold and peerless bout of slowburning aggression that thrives on the darker side of post punk. Amid burning intensity, ‘Kitchen Sinking’ trundles along driving, meaty basslines with burning guitars and glistening riffs over a rumbling rhythm and skittish groove as raw yet semi-hushed vocals stride above. ‘Kitchen Sinking’ is a massive tune, packed with power and emotion, and one that is utterly superb.

Check ‘Kitchen Sinking’ out below:


Mykel Hawk – ‘The Flows I Know’

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.

We were introduced to his prodigious talents late last year with stylish, slick and swaggering single ’33 1/3′ and with new single ‘The Flows I Know’, Hawk has lost none of the pep from his step. Nor has it lost any of the predecessors allure as it swaggers along a funk-filled stomping, shape throwing groove as a fizzing synthline bubbles away beneath meandering, super smooth and melodic vocal delivery all engulfed in cascading frazzled electronics. It is such an addictive tune, bristling with energy and attitude, it will have you headed straight for repeated listens.

Listen to ‘The Flows I Know’ below – it and ’33 1/3′ feature on Mykel Hawk’s new record which you can listen to here.