Introducing: Anton Che

Anton Che is a producer from Khabarovsk, Russia who has a preference for captivating, escapist and cinematic sounds, matched in no small way by a supreme ear for groove.

The latter is a constant, a hallmark or calling card throughout his work, and more specifically on Che’s latest singles ‘UFO’ and ‘Loose. The former is an elegant arrangement that glistens and flickers as minimal flourishes of synths and frazzled electronic radiate a sense of wonderment and awe before the soft and seductive beat emerges to navigate through a world cosmic splendor. ‘UFO’ is an atmospheric beauty; an engrossing and transfixing escape. ‘Loose’ meanwhile is more earthy and grounded as it stutters and shuffles along seductive, bubbling bassline and choppy chords while soft beats click-clack amid a sea of fresh and hazy tones.  Both tracks lean heavily on groove; from the subtle bassy swagger of ‘Loose’ to the relaxing stasis of ‘UFO’ – and are captivating and mesmerizing in their own ways.

Listen to ‘UFO’ & ‘Loose’ below:

Imploded View – ‘Don’t Know What To Call This Feeling’

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Irish producer Imploded View (aka Jerome McCormick) – and mores the pity.

A longtime favourite around these parts, whether bestowing elegantly sculpted downtempo soundscapes or buoyant electro, the Longford-based producer never disappoints. In keeping with tradition Imploded View has come bouncing back into our lives with a lavish slice of the latter in the shape of ‘Don’t Know What To Call This Feeling’. Built around a funky synth and bass, the allure of the groove runs deep to the core as catchy hooks, warm shimmers of synth and cascading frazzled electronics illuminate a path for this funk-filled strut. Amid the bright and bouncy jaunty air, a pang of unease emerges through a wining string line grounds us an the hushed vocals from McCormick which offer introspective exploration marked by a raw and redemptive tone. A marvelous tune, musically and thematically. Welcome back!

Check out ‘Don’t Know What To Call This Feeling’ below and it’s worth mentioning that much of the video was actually shot by McCormick’s six-year-old daughter. Enjoy!


Seatbelts – ‘Superstardom’

Liverpool outfit Seatbelts introduced their joyful brand of guitar pop with a slew of super singles – ‘Hey, Hey Tiger!’, ‘Content Crush’, ‘Capitalist Confession’ & ‘Black Strings’ – and absolutely nailed it with each and every opportunity.

Comprised from James Madden and Ryan Murphy of Hooton Tennis Club, and Abigail Woods and Alex Quinn, Seatbelts are back with new single ‘Superstardom’. Produced by Edwyn Collins, it is a bouncy three-minute celebration of human uniqueness as it skips along a jaunty strut and bubbling bassline while new wavey guitars glisten and woods powerful honeyed vocals soar above the seductive groover below. It is bright, playful and superbly addicting, and will no doubt have your head nodding and feet tapping. Seatbelts are a real favourite around these parts, each new release is a step up from the last and as utterly irresistible as ‘Superstardom’ is, I can’t help but wonder what they’ll have in store for us next.

Check out ‘Superstardom’ below and if that is to you liking, they’ve plenty more where that came from.

The Whags – ‘Fraction Of’

The Whags are a Seattle-based five piece whose sound is a joyous amalgam of indie, psych, funk and soulful Americana with rich vocal harmonies and a deep seductive grooves.

‘Fraction Of’ is the first in a series of singles set for 2020, and is the perfect distillation of their sound. It is a deep grooving and swaggering slice of soulful pop the slowly unfurls into a beautifully bright, breezy and wholly optimistic jam. Everything feels big and bright as soaring choruses, lush harmonies and sweet licks are peppered with an uplifting air shimmering tones while the lilting, soul-filled vocals roll across the top.This a heavenly jam dripping with melody and lavishly coated with lush harmonies as it swells to enraptured bouts of euphoria. This an absolute joy, a treasure in fact and food for the soul.

Tune in to the wondrous sounds of ‘Fraction Of’ below:

Max Bloom – ‘Thinking ‘Bout You’

Best known for his role in London-based lo-fi loving indie outfit Yuck, Max Bloom is stepping out on his own, and releasing his debut solo album, Perfume, on April 24.

Ahead of that, Bloom has shared a new single lifted from his debut called ‘Thinking ‘Bout You’. Shifting away from distorted guitars and ’90s inspired lo-fi fuzz that marked his work with Yuck, ‘Thinking ‘Bout You’ is a bright and uplifting slice of joyous pop – made all the more alluring (and fun) by the triumphant bursts of brass that illuminate the guitar bop and power-pop punch. It is an unbelievably catchy jam filled with sinuous melodies and adorned with huge hooks, ones you could hang your hat on. If you need cheering up, this is the right job for you.

‘Thinking ‘Bout You” is out now and Max Bloom’s debut is expected on 24 April via Anniversary.

Tia Gostelow – ‘Rush’

Australian artist Tia Gostelow introduced us to her lavish and exquisite indie folk / pop stylings with superbly addictive singles ‘Giants’& ‘Phone Me’ back in 2018.

Two years on, amid working on a new album, Gostelow has returned with a dazzling new single ‘Rush’. Delivered with recognizable pop finesse, it is a lush blissful and colourful burst of indie pop – exploring more feel-good territory than before. Gostelow’s sweet honeyed tones are the perfect pairing for the warm and colourful confection that shimmers above the seductive groove and propulsive synthline. This is lush, feelgood and bewitching electro-pop. It is irresistible and danceable as it goes, a sonic embrace made in heaven. ‘Rush’ is simply stunning and as good as anything she has produced to date – and that is lofty enough praise in itself.

Get lost in the feelgood blissfulness of ‘Lush’ below – three minutes of much needed relief from the realities of the world at the moment.


Koresma – ‘New Frontier’ (Remix by Nifty Earth)

Koresma (aka Ryan Lindberg) is an electronic producer based in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina who favours a blend of chilled electro-acoustic music grounded by strong grooves and inspired by the natural world around him.

Over the past 18 months or so, Koresma has treated our ears to a series of hypnotic, chilled and easy on the ear bouts of escapism – and with those qualities, it is as opportune time as any to return with some soothing sounds. Koresma has enlisted the talents of fellow US producer Nifty Earth on remix duties. It is a perfect union; both have a flair for the colorful, the imaginative and chilled-out rhythms and grooves – something born out exquisitely here. Centered around the dual power of the piano melody and mesmerizing beat, we are whisked away to an aura of calm and beauty, as percussive grooves project a hypnotic, trance like state of breezy tones, lush colours and soft, precise beats that weave in and out of lush melodies. This is absolutely stunning, simple as that.

Let the bewitching tranquility of Nifty Earth’s rework of ‘New Frontier’ wash over you below & it is lifted from North Remixes, you can listen to that here.


Orpine – ‘Sondern’

Orpine are Eleanor Rudge and Oliver Catt, an indie-folk pairing with a flair for harmonies, ear for melody and pitting rhythmic with the rumbustious.

Rudge and Catt introduce themselves with stunning first single ‘Sondern’. Lifted from debut album Grown Ungrown due in May 2020, ‘Sondern’ is about grief and defeat and written around the time of the first Brexit deadline. It opens with a burst of melodic exuberance before retreating to gentler more sombre surroundings, plateauing to a place of calm where duetting vocals and harmonies wash against gentle strums. The latter increases in pace in tandem with the percussion before bounding back into life with ebullience as propulsive groove is reborn. An absolutely stunning introduction, a masterclass in melody, harmony, rhythmic prowess and of course, juxtaposition.

Listen to ‘Sondern’ below and watch out for Grown Ungrown, it is due for release in May.

The Wants – ‘Container’

The Wants are a NYC trio whose gloomy, propulsive post-punk resides on the darker side of life as post-punk, new-wave, techno/dance and industrial collide.

The Wants began life when drummer Jason Gates and Velding-VanDam met in New York in 2014, but became fully formed while VanDam and Elle were working together under the Bodega moniker years later. Finding a common passion for electronic music, the trio began writing together, and debut album Container is the result of this collaboration. Released earlier in March, it is fronted by lead single and title track which perfectly captures the essence of their sound. ‘Container’ is gritty, thrashy and dark post-punk fare, loaded with a menacing air and anxious noise, and gripped by the dead-pan delivery from VanDam. This gripping sense of foreboding chimes perfectly with the insistent, nagging bassline,  increasingly manic, winding guitar and metronomic drumbeat which underpins this dark and gloomy but utterly captivating post-punk monster.

Listen to ‘Container’ below and if that is to your liking, why not try the album here.

bad tuner – ‘Fluid Borders’

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 introduced said penchant with ‘Adelaide’s Voyage’, and he’s returned with a similarly a stunning sonic distillation in the shape of ‘Fluid Borders’. Shuffling along a sweet and seductive groove, it basks in a shimmering, sunkissed haze peppered with warm synths, lush textures and bright chimes riding a woozy wave of soft beats and danceable allure. With a protracted promise of the euphoric, the rhythmic oscillations woo the soul as the deep groove bewitches the listener into a state of blissful stupor. Yet another lavish, woozy wonder from Dimitrov.

Listen to  ‘Fluid Borders’ below, it is lifted from his new record Operational Interference, you can listen to that here.