DATE ARCHIVES : October 2020

Freedom Fry – ‘Human’

Ever prolific LA duo, Freedom Fry released the follow up to their delightful 2018 debut LP, Classic, with Songs from the West Coast back in May and in keeping with their productive tendencies have shared a brand new single called ‘Human’.

Over the past number of years, Freedom Fry, AKA Marie Seyrat and Bruce Driscoll, have regularly brightened up our lives with charming, catchy and bright indie-pop songs, and ‘Human’ continues this trend. It is a lush and alluring blend of gently seductive grooves and undulating rhythms percolating amid a sea of woozy tones and textures with a sweet strum for company. It is all whisked together into a beautiful confection of melodic, dreamy and hazy indie-pop which, as is so often the case, topped off by Freedom Fry’s pièce de résistance; the wonderful harmonies and beautiful vocal interplay from the pair. A wonderful song that will leave you all the better for making its acquaintance.

Listen to ‘Human’ below now:

Superheart – ‘LILO’

We’ve been keeping tabs on UK-based producer Luke Batt aka Superheart for quite some time now, and over the past few years, has emerged as a reliable source of comforting and dreamy electronic-pop, and Batt is at it again.

New single ‘LILO’ is yet another uplifting and excellently crafted delight and serving as a nexus to their lush electronic-pop; of cosmic vibes, dreamy vocals, hopeful lyrics and shimmering synthesis. We are transported to a blissed-out world of pulsating synth tones, lofty vocal melodies and cosmic vibes as lush, heavenly vocals and dreamy keys usher us through hazy ambient surroundings as it gently builds, drifting along until a warm rapture envelopes you, lifting you to a higher state of being. Marked by Batt’s signature flair for elegant, blissful and ethereal production, ‘LILO’ is a heavenly, lush and transfixing slice of electronic-pop; and one that will leave you all the better for making its acquaintance.

Listen to ‘LILO’ below now:

Total Rubbish – ‘What’s Your Damage?’

Total Rubbish are Philadelphia-based garage rock trio – Bre Steinfeldt (bass), Cass Nguyen (guitar) and Kiki Schiller (drums) – who have released their debut EP, Triple Negative, and having introduced it, and their wares, with phenomenal debut single ‘Honey Ryder’, they are back with single #2, ‘What’s Your Damage?’.

‘What’s Your Damage?’ carries that same nineties-esque, alt-rock, grunge and psychedelic fuzz which was all over their debut. It stomps and swaggers through a guitar-heavy wall of sound with soft, melodic vocals, buzzing riffs and scorching licks for company. Once again, the inappropriately named Total Rubbish have eked out a perfect balance with powerful, brute force and ear for melody, coexisting in a sea of dense atmospheric tones and swirling riffs.

Listen to ‘What’s Your Damage?’ below now and Triple Negative is out now via Born Losers Records

Monggrel – ‘Dhobi Ghat’

Monggrel is US producer – AKA  B. Wood – who fuses lo-fi beats, dub rhythms, industrial noise, and field recordings into an immersive listening experience.

Monggrel recently released his latest album, Ceremonies, and latest single ‘Dhobi Ghat’ offers a perfect introduction to the record, and the artist. From the first note, Monggrel creates an ominous pitch black soundscape that is suitably murky, eerie and subterranean. Stark, minimal production and haunting repetition creates an eerie vibe for a murmuring malaise of beats, clanking synth and dub infused groove and subterranean tones to swirl around. As ominous as it is, it is super seductive as it thrives amid the sparse, scorched earth tone of the barren atmosphere. ‘Dhobi Ghat’ is bone-chilling but also utterly captivating.

Listen to ‘Dhobi Ghat’ below:

Ian Simmonds – ‘The Falling Tree’

Ian Simmonds is a Welsh musician & producer whose music oscillates between nu jazz or downtempo and heavily produced electronica, often interwoven with hip hop textures.

With 15 studio albums to his name already, Simmonds latest work is the stunning and seductive ‘The Falling Tree’. Lifted from Diffract Records 17-track compilation Rhuba, it is one of many highlights among a superb collection filled with immersive electronica, trip hop, jazzy breakbeats, movie samples, abstract atmospheres, and funky grooves. ‘The Falling Tree’ is one of the most bewitching with its gentle but irresistible groove and soft patter of beats lulling you into a trance as melodies undulate alongside latin flavours, low-slung, bubbling double bass before orchestral bursts and chilling tones create a darker, more sinister atmosphere. It is lush and superbly seductive with its sunken groove and its rich array of colourful sound collages.

Listen to ‘The Falling Tree’ below and Rhuba is here.

Elliott Mo – ‘Oceans’

Elliott Mo is an Irish producer / electronic musician who has a flair for dynamic dancefloor focused electronica.

Mo’s Latest single, ‘Oceans’ is a perfect example and is nothing short of stunning. A gorgeous marriage of epic euphoria, ethereal electronica and frosty, crisp elegance – it is spine-tingling immersive and hypnotic – majestically blurring the lines between exhilarating electro and ethereal electronica. A spectacular four minutes that is spearheaded by glistening tones, chimes and elegant splashes of electronics while a deep, propulsive groove bubbles away in tandem with solid beats – swerving energetically for the dancefloor. Lush, glistening and altogether alive, you will be consumed by waves of crunching beats, liquid blissfulness and boundless flourishes of crystalline percussion. ‘Oceans’ is a magnificent introduction to a very promising talent, no question.

Listen to ‘Oceans’ below – it does not disappoint:

MEMES – ‘So What?’

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

The Scottish noise-makers are readying their new EP, MEMES EP coming in November via Fierce Panda and ahead of which, share new single ‘So What?’ – and MEMES are back with a bang. ‘So What?’ rumbles and rattles into view, with all that raw and electrified swagger we’ve come to recognize as MEMES’ sound. Raspy vocals dance over jagged rhythms, looped bass, urgent guitars and scorching riffs for a feverish yet infectious blast of post-punk fury. A thrilling, raw and exhilarating jam, MEMES have nailed it again and will have you hooked from the get go.

Check out  ‘So What?’ below:

Checkmate Corleone – ‘Southpaw’

Checkmate Corleone is a Los Angeles rapper who’s style draws inspiration from hip hop, R&B, rock, jazz and country.

Latest single ‘Southpaw’ is a slick, smooth and seductive groover. It flows majestically along a bubbling bassline that mingles with head-nodding, shuffling percussion submerged amid a lush sea of subtle and melodic instrumental touches amid woozy vibes and layered sunny charms. ‘Southpaw’ oozes with all the smooth and soulful seduction while Checkmate Corleone gently reveals his greatest attribute; his smooth, smokey voice and melodic delivery.

Tune in to ‘Southpaw’ below:


ASTER – ‘Unaware Bliss’

ASTER is a singer, songwriter and musician from Glasgow.

Drawing from a deep well of folk, psych, pop and subtle electronica influences, ranging from  the likes of Big Thief, Perfume Genius and Half Waif, ASTER crafts a unique brand of beautiful, expansive, fragile and experimental psych-folk; something born out on new stunning single ‘Unaware Bliss’. It is an exquisite psych-folk daydreamer that whisks us away on a dreamy meditative journey. ‘Unaware Bliss’ meanders gracefully along a blissful groove and swirling, rhythmic psych-folk, and splashes of electronics complete the mesmeric backdrop for ASTER’s bewitching crystalline vocals entrance the listener completely. An elegant, awe-inspiring and charming blend of shimmering psych-folk and glistening electronica – a hazy, soothing and altogether wonderful song.

Listen to ‘Unaware Bliss’ below.

Psych-O-Positive – ‘Make Me Wanna’

Psych-O-Positive are New Jersey outfit – Andy Gilchrist (vocals, lead guitar), Karyn Kuhl (drums), Judy Nock-Olsen (vocals, electric sitar), Debby Schwartz (vocals, bass) & Louis Zhelesnik (lead guitar) – with a flair gloriously ramshackle and instantly addictive lo-fi garage pop.

Psych-O-Positive’s latest single ‘Make Me Wanna’ is an utterly infectious, sun-drenched lackadaisical garage jam with a nods to 60’s garage band The Prophets and a Who-based tangent and back again. Sun-drenched, hazy and whimsical vibes combine with rumbling drums, scratchy guitars, seductive reverb-soaked guitars and melodies and memorable harmonies. This rollicking adventure is draped with infectious exuberance, inherent sassiness and layers of scuzz – not too far away from Jonathan Richman / The Modern Lovers – what’s not to like? 

Tune into ‘Make Me Wanna’ below: