DATE ARCHIVES : November 2020

Wilding – ‘Swipe Right’

Melbourne psych-pop purveyor Wilding – aka Justin Wilding Stokes – has charmed us with gloriously playful, jovial and off-kilter pop at every given opportunity and following a period of relative quietness, he is back with some life brightening music.

Infectious and jaunty cosmic psych pop is the order of the day with ‘Swipe Right’ – the third single from his new album The Death Of Foley’s Mall – as he leads us through the dispiriting pursuit of finding human connection through online dating amid lockdown. ‘Swipe Right’ is quintessential Wilding as it bops along an infectious groove, bouncing synths and bright syncopated guitars and hooks you could hang your hat on with melodic vocals floating above. It is a sweet and charming sound all wrapped with a delicious pop sensibility that will have you hooked from the get-go. This is irresistible pop eccentricity at its best and a timely reminder of Wilding’s boundless talents, and is an artist that merits such wider acclaim.

Listen to ‘Swipe Right’ below and if that floats your metaphorical boat, why not check out the new album The Death Of Foley’s Mall here.


Vanessa Anne Redd – ‘Dark Minds’

London-based British/German artist Vanessa Anne Redd is preparing to release her third album, Sweet Way Around, in the new year., and ahead of which, Redd has shared lead single ‘Dark Minds’.

As far as intros go, ‘Dark Minds’ is as fine as you could ask for. It sweeps into view with hazy, smokey vocals centre stage as it drifts and meanders along a languid and syrupy groove, aided and abetted by undulating bubbly bass and snare combo before shifting through the gears. The seductive grooves are complimented (rather than overwhelmed) by a surging swell of fuzzed-up riffs and crunchy guitars, with Redds powerful vocals matching the rising tide step for step. It is dreamy, seductive and languid yet ultimately rousing and anthemic by the close – an utterly stunning song.

Tune in to ‘Dark Minds’ below and keep the eyes and ears open for the new record come the new year:

ELPENTHE – ‘Rev-O-Lution’

ELPENTHE is the moniker of producer & musician Elliott Beenk. Originally from a small Iowa farm town, he now resides in Venice, CA and where he continues to collaborate as a producer and songwriter —  with current focus on ELPENTHE; his debut electronic-dance artist project.

His debut outing for the fledgling project is ‘Rev-O-Lution’ – a stunning single and a serious statement of intent. ‘Rev-O-Lution’ feels huge and anthemic while being simultaneously open and intimate as it moves through styles and textures, everything held together by a deft ear. The central beat is constructed from samples recorded from the Youth Climate Strike with Greta Thunberg in downtown LA last year. It builds, loops upon loops, with each new layer of groove slotting into place beneath a dazzling blend of warm shimmering synth, luminescent flourishes and woozy haze. Underpinned by dusty beats and deep bass, it quickly swells into a richly melodic, bewitching and irresistible allure. An absolutely stunning cut.

Listen to ‘Rev-O-Lution’ below now.

CIEL – ‘All My Life’

CIEL are Brighton-based, Dutch dream-pop trio fronted by Michelle Hindriks.

Together, the trio concoct a heady brew of starry-eyed dream pop with shoegaze, psych and indie brushstrokes – demonstrated exquisitely by their debut EP Movement earlier in 2020. The trio are back with a brand new single ‘All My Life’.

It is another sumptuous single that marks yet further evolution of their dream-pop origins. Opening with a gently pulsing synth underpinning Hindriks’ dreamy tones as we are slowly enveloped by a woozy wonderland before a change of pace, as it surges atop bristling guitars and huge hooks to anthemic heights. It is still dreamy and richly melodic but there is a harder edge to it with CIEL striking a perfect balance between indie-rock and dreamy pop, synths and guitars, and power and elegance.

Listen to ‘All My Life’ below:

NANCY – ‘7 Foot Tall Post-Suicidal Feel Good Blues’

Based in the North East of England, NANCY have demonstrated an enigmatic talent with a propensity for audacious sonic adventures that are anything but conventional, and hot on the heels of the ‘Happy Oddities EP’ comes news of a brand new mini album ‘7 Foot Tall Post-Suicidal Feel Good Blues’, and we’ve been afforded the title track as a taste of things to come.

Inspired by all the bullshit he had to deal with getting picked on growing up, ‘7 Foot Tall Post-Suicidal Feel Good Blues’ is as wonderfully warped as anything NANCY has done to date. It’s dark, it’s stark and super catchy as it swaggers through a haze of fuzz with a super seductive glam rock era groove and stomping riff, and vocals unfurl with a drawn out warped drawl. Sounding like a warped record played on a dodgy turntable, this is a sleazy, stomping and groove ridden reminder of NANCY’s enigmatic talent and flair for the unconventional – perfect imperfection if you will.

With the 10 track mini album set for release on January 15, check out the title track below.

MÊL – ‘Cusco’

‘Cusco’ is the third single from Welsh outfit MÊL and marks their move from being collaborators to a fully formed “proper” band; they are Rhodri Owen, Morgan Jones and George Amor with help from Eryl (Pearl) Jones and contributions from musician/producer Llŷr Pari and poet Geraldine Mac Burney.

Inspired by a trip to the Peruvian city of the same name, ‘Cusco’ was recorded in September, as the freshly liberated outfit emerged from lockdown cabin fever, blinking into the sun. A mash of ’60s-leaning-psychedelia, pastoral folk and freewheeling exploration, ‘Cusco’ opens with a sunken bassline and off-kilter groove ushering us into a mystical atmosphere that feels revelatory and transcendent and as it reveals itself, a mesmeric hypnotic pattern emerges for the hushed and withdrawn vocals to thrive. The slowly plodding, off-kilter bass-line wanders at its own pace as if existing in its own space and time while mingling with hazy guitars that meld into the percussion while mumbling of words babble in the background. Taken separately, these components would make little sense but in tandem they hum sweetly.

‘Cusco’ is a real treat – listen to it below

Sprints – ‘Manifesto’

Sprints are Dublin-based post-punk foursome – of Karla Chubb (vocals/guitar), Colm O’Reilly (guitar), Sam McCann (bass) and Jack Callan (drums) – who together, create a raw, raucous and potent post-punk sound – one bursting with a ferocious blend snarling vocals, driving rhythms, meaty riffs, swagger and noise.

These aforementioned attributes are offered in spades on their aptly titled latest single ‘Manifesto’, a tenacious statement of intent. An early taste of their forthcoming debut EP of the same name, due in the new year, it comes exploding out of the blocks. A powerful stomping beat underpinning an assertive and meaty bassline rumble as raspy, fierce and fiery vocals come to the for before soaring high above the explosion of buzzing guitar, scintillating riffs and crashing drums. It is a huge, explosive and supremely confident anthem. Previous single ‘The Cheek’ was great but ‘Manifesto’ sees them kick it up to another level entirely – a simply stunning tune.

Don’t just take my word for it, listen to ‘Manifesto’ below:

Low Hummer – ‘Take Arms’

Low Hummer are a Hull quintet who do a fine line in wonderfully crafted post-punk meets indie-pop, sprinkled with synths, it is danceable and ridiculously infectious.

Having formed in 2019, Low Hummer have been indulging us with a steady stream of superb singles of the aforementioned ilk – and follow their excellent previous single, ‘Sometimes I Wish (I Was a Different Person’), with another agitated jam which takes the band’s sound to the noisiest level yet. Driven by a pulsing synthline and relentless bass, ‘Take Arms’ is a fiery rallying cry bursting with rebellious spirit as powerful raspy vocals duke it out anxious guitar riffs amid a sea of frazzled electronics. Where previously guitars have taken centre-stage, on ‘Take Arms’, they take a backseat to the synth/electronics for a relentless, pulsating Krautrock indebted end of days address. It is searing, passionate and raw – while a little dancey too – ‘Take Arms’ is their finest work yet.

‘Take Arms’ is out now through Dance to the Radio.

Sal Dulu – ‘Alien Boy 96’

Dublin-based producer Sal Dulu has established a rep in this neck of the woods for fabulous hip-hop flavoured electronic productions with a series of stellar singles last year; ‘Duluoz Dream’, ‘Antasma’ & ‘Tyko’, ‘Buzzcut’.

Continuing this rich vein of form, Sal Dulu has returned with a hypnotic new single ‘Alien Boy 96′ and taster track from his forthcoming debut album, penned for an early 2021 release. It is yet another beautiful piece of instrumental hip hop that transfixes it slinks along a hypnotic groove, underpinned with dusty beats, jazz-inflected keys and slo-mo melodies. A fuzzy ambience and downtempo chill-out vibes, collides with snatches of eerie vocal peek through the atmospheric swirl. It is dreamy and hypnotic, cinematic and escapist, and most importantly a wonderful insight to what we can expect from his album come the new year.

Listen to ‘Alien Boy 96’ below now:

A.S. Fanning – ‘All Time’

Berlin-based, Dublin-raised, singer/songwriter A.S. Fanning has shared the single ‘All Time’ ahead of the release of new album ‘You Should Go Mad’ on 13 November via Proper Octopus Records.

It is the follow up to Fanning’s 2017 solo debut Second Life and ‘All Time’ indicates a continued evolution of his blend of folk, country and rock & roll, with psych and gothic brushstrokes. Fanning combines these aforementioned sensibilities to create a richly resonant, dark and foreboding backdrop with subtle layers of psychedelic textures and glistening production adding a touch of respite and illumination; illumination for Fanning’s finest attribute, his brilliant songwriting and storytelling abilities, to thrive. His world weary baritone vocal delivers a vivid introspective tale through time and memory for a compelling 7-minutes of rich and powerful emotion.

Listen to ‘All Time’ below now – and You Should Go Mad’ is out on November 13.