DATE ARCHIVES : November 2020

Lauran Hibberd – ‘Boy Bye’

Lauran Hibberd has fast become a reliable go-to name for irresistible blasts of fuzz-filled indie pop with her satiric, tongue-in-cheek approach is wrapped with fuzz, crunchy guitars and anthemic tendencies

The hotly tipped Isle of Wight native has returned with yet another top quality tune in the shape of new single ‘Boy Bye’. While marked with a lot of the recognisable Hibberd characteristics – it is satirical, sarcastic, punchy and hooky – ‘Boy Bye’ takes a more measure tempo as it meanders melodically through swathes of warm fuzz and feedback. It is potent and powerful with roaring guitars complimenting her angry vocals as it swells to anthemic climax. Hibberd has crafted yet another powerhouse  slacker anthem bursting with all that hooky, sarcastic brilliance that we all know and love.

And just a final note, even taking a cursory glance at Hibberd’s existing work and it is easy to see why she’s built a rep for super catchy and fuzz-filled guitar-pop heroics. It has been solid gold tune after solid gold tune, and what’s here is as good as any of them.

Listen to ‘Boy Bye’ below – and if your into this, there is an interview with Lauran Hibberd in the 10 Year Celebratory Zine from a few months back – read it here.



Continue reading →

Swine Tax – ‘Relax’

Newcastle-upon-Tyne outfit Swine Tax have proven their credentials for fiery, jagged and infectious post-punk with a slew of singles that are best described as a bit indie, a bit alternative rock, a bit rough-around-the-edges and a whole lot melodic.

The Newcastle quartet return with a thrilling new single ‘Relax’. Quite possibly their best work to date, it is produced by Barry Hyde of The Futureheads, who approached the band about producing their music following an intense live show in Sunderland last year, and ‘Relax’ is the first fruit to emerge from these sessions. The single itself is a spikey, agitated and hook-driven jam propelled by a throbbing bass groove and a heavy punk stomp as jerky riffs and power-pop chorus duke it out for an intoxicating, off-kilter dance. Yet another rousing, boisterous and brilliant blast of guitar hijinks from Swine Tax.

Listen to ‘Relax’ below:

Stealing Sheep – ‘Barracuda’

Liverpool trio Stealing Sheep – Becky Hawley, Emily Lansley and Lucy Mercer – are always worth keeping an eye on.

Formed in 2010, the electro-pop outfit have three albums to their name – Into the Diamond Sun (2012), Not Real (2015) & Big Wows (2018) – all worthy of your attention. Stealing Sheep’s sound has developed from its sweet and heavenly voiced psych-pop origins, evolving into something a more upbeat, dancey and colourful confection of electro-pop joyfulness. And if there was ever a track (in reality, there is an abundance) to capture the trio’s fun and infectious sound it is ‘Barracuda’ – the 1977 Heart rock jam re-imagined. It struts, swaggers and swerves all across the dancefloor as a steady disco-infused beat centres their colourful confection of sound as the Liverpool trio expand upon their signature three-part harmonies and fresh and breezy  melodies with a glittery blend synths, drum machines, glitches, and fun electronic blips and beeps. ‘Barracuda’ is playful and infectious as they come, stacking irresistible hook upon irresistible hook amid the glittery bounce.

‘Barracuda’ is the first single to be released digitally from the Instant Replay Album, a lovingly curated record of covers from 1971-1981 – including some of the finest funk, folk, punk, pop and ballads of the time – for Lush. You can find out more about the Instant Replay Album here.

Jacqueline Tucci – ‘Home’

Created with RNI Films app

Jacqueline Tucci is a Toronto-based musician with a penchant for 90s indebted alt-rock as evidenced by 2020 singles ‘Fear’ & ‘Sweeter Things’.

Further strengthening this rep, Tucci has released a powerful and potent new single, ‘Home’. It is a powerful and potent alt-rock anthem that is bristling with raw biting emotion and intensity as guitars burn and wind through mild fuzz and feedback with a bouncy bass bass riff for company, with Tucci’s powerful vocals soaring above. It is a huge tune that while meaty, raw and powerful, there is deftness to it too. It once again demonstrates Tucci’s brilliant ear for melody, a catchy chorus and lyricism, wonderfully switching as it does, from softer, more melancholic verses to euphoric, uplifting and anthemic choruses with seamless ease. 

Check out ‘Home’ below – it will not disappoint.

Toledo – ‘Challenger’

Brooklyn-based TOLEDO – AKA the pairing of Dan Alvarez and Jordan Dunn –  have kept us well stocked with irresistible, lush and melodic indie-folk delights.

The pair have returned with a new single called ‘Challenger’, which offers yet another delightfully charming slice of understated melodic indie folk sound. ‘Challenger’ is a woozy and heartfelt jam that wanders, chilled & relaxed, song a meandering groove as subtle bassline bubbles beneath a sea of warm shimmering tones and bright dreamy guitars while soft melodic vocals purr breathily above. It builds and builds, slowly and steadily to climax with a rich swell of organ and heart melting emotional pull with its tender vocal imbued and pang of melancholy. ‘Challenger’ is rich and dreamy, and brimming with sweetness and charm, and bewitching us in the process.

Listen to ‘Challenger’ below now – as per usual, TOLEDO don’t disappoint.

Fax Machine – ‘Motorbike’


Fax Machine is the musical moniker of Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK) based songwriter David Turnbull who has a propensity for unconventional, off-kilter and colourful confections of sound as evidenced by 2019 debut Soup.

Turnbull is back with plans for a new album Ouch!, expected on Dec 11, it is preceded by the magical lead single ‘Motorbike’ – a giddy and playful slice of jerky post-punk, art-rock and indie-pop. It buzzes with excitement and exuberance as razor sharp riffs and hyper-active bursts of guitar jerky to-and-fro as a series of earworm hooks and playful melodies swirl around the colourful sound-palette akin to Futureheads meets The Beta Band. ‘Motorbike’ is a wonderfully manic, spikey and infectious jam coated in a fine veneer of power-pop – word of warning, this is a tune that will be stuck in your head for days and days but will leave you all the better for it. 

Listen to ‘Motorbike’ below – and keep an eye out for the new album next month.


—