POSTS TAGGED : Garage

The Bug Club – ‘Intelectuals’

Welsh outfit The Bug Club were my favourite new find of last year, their mini-album Pure Particles and EP, Launching Moondream One were, and still are, outstanding.

From the little-known rock n’ roll hotbed of Caldicot, Monmouthshire, the creative trio of Sam Willmett (guitar/vocals), Tilly Harris (bass/vocals) and Dan Matthew (drums) craft tight-knit, catchy and memorable tunes; sometimes blistering, fiery and fierce and other times, melodic and playfully addictive, and always fizzing with humour and riffs-a-plenty. And the good news is; The Bug Club are back with new single ‘Intelectuals’. But it is a single with a difference. ‘Intelectuals’ is actually five new tracks, recorded in one take.

During the Intelectuals sessions the band wrote five tracks. They recorded the whole lot back-to-back in one take and whacked that entire session out as the a-side with the ‘Money Version’ – a single of sorts – sitting on the proverbial reverse.

Over the 10 minutes we are treated to the gamut of The Bug Club’s endearing brilliance. Opening with a gentle melodic, meandering and tender pop air allowing Willmet & Harris brilliant dual vocals to thrive before fizzing into a blistering, fiery and excitable garage-rock foray, leading to crunching anthemic territory and concluding with hyperactive guitar driven brilliance. Phew! It is a whirlwind of electrifying energy.

Tune into both full and ‘money version’ below:

Introducing: Mudge the Dog

Mudge The Dog are a Californian duo composed of Carrie Potts (guitar, vocals) and Luke Rossi (drums, bass) who specialise in scuzzy, fuzz-filled punk/garage leaning indie. 

Formed in 2021, the pair have just released a debut, three-track, self-titled EP, and it is a treat. Mudge The Dog offer a treasure trove of scrappy, endearingly lo-fi and fuzzy garage jams; opening with the melodic meanderings of the addictively catchy ‘Hey Dad’. But amid the glorious hooks and allure, guitars crunch and riffs buzz as vocals bite above the infectious swagger which feeds perfectly into ‘Familiar Stranger’ & ‘Sinner’. While the latter pair are both just as irresistibly catchy as the opener, there is an added zip as guitars fizz with biting riffs duke it out with a frenetic rhythmic energy while all bathed in a glorious layer of fuzz.

The EP is short and sweet, zipping along with a real honest charm and packed with an effervescent energy, catchy riffs and mashed with earworm hooks and in doing so have created something that thrives between brash and beautifully catchy – a joy to listen to.

The Bug Club – ‘The Fixer’

The Bug Club are the creative trio of Sam Willmett (guitar/vocals), Tilly Harris (bass/vocals) and Dan Matthew (drums), from the little-known rock n’ roll hotbed of Caldicot, Monmouthshire.

Together they craft tight-knit, catchy and memorable tunes; sometimes blistering, fiery and fierce and other times, melodic and playfully addictive, and always fizzing with humour and riffs-a-plenty – attributes on display in abundance on their brilliant debut EP Launching Moondream One which was released earlier in the summer.

Hot on the heels of their debut EP comes new single ‘The Fixer’ – a blistering bolt of fizzed-up garage-rock – lifted from their forthcoming new mini-album ‘Pure Particles’ due in November. Propelled by an unrelenting stomping beat and electrifying energy, guitars buzz as meaty  raucous riffs roar amid lovely layers of warm fuzz and lashings of distortion as Willmet & Harris deliver brilliant dual vocals. ‘The Fixer’ finds a sweet spot between melodic and muscular; an utterly addictive scuzzy jam hooks you could hang your hat on.

Yet another brilliant and utterly addictive jam from The Bug Club and the mini-album is one to really look forward to.

Listen to ‘The Fixer’ 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: 

Bee Bee Sea – ‘Day Ripper’

Italian garage-psych trio Bee Bee Sea specialize in loud, propulsive and guitar-driven psych infused garage rock stompers – something patently clear from a cursory glance at their output to date.

Following on from ‘Daily Jobs’ & ‘Gonna Get Me’ early in the year, the Italian outfit continue to get us hyped for their new album Day Ripper – due on October 9 via Wild Honey Records – with the record’s title track. ‘Day Ripper’ is packed with all those trademark upbeat, frenzied riffs, sharp tempo shifts, melodic choruses, singalongs and huge hooks; all bathed in a haze of warm fuzz and distortion. Driven relentlessly onward with a propulsive motorik groove and  mesmerising, angular guitars, hypnotic vocals and bold and addictive choruses do battle with the jerky, spiraling riffs and swirls of distortion. ‘Day Ripper’ is a relentless, all-consuming and addictive jam – no question about it!

Listen to the single below and Day Ripper (the album) is due on October 9 via Wild Honey Records.

Field Trip to the Moon – ’62 Bullets’

Field Trip to the Moon is the musical project of London-based Manchester native Angela Christofilou, who with band in tow, has a flair for dark, potent – sometimes jagged or dramatic – post-punk infused garage-rock.

Together they released their debut album Something Owed in 2017 and they are back with a new self-titled EP, heralded by lead single ’62 Bullets’; a raw, raucous and thrilling jam. Opening with a catchy, fuzz-drenched riff introducing Christofilou’s raspy vocal before ’62 Bullets’ hurtles off in a blaze of buzzsaw riffs, stomping beats and shredded guitars all basking in a sea of fuzz and distortion. From the off, ’62 Bullets’ is a rip roaring blast of guitar wielding brilliance underpinned by a relentlessly driving beat and fiery energy, and whirlwind of fuzz, that is utterly irresistible.

Listen to the brilliant ’62 Bullets’ below and check out the new EP here.

Bee Bee Sea – ‘Gonna Get Me’

Italian garage-psych trio Bee Bee Sea specialize in loud, propulsive and guitar-driven psych infused garage rock stompers – something patently clear from their latest single ‘Gonna Get Me’, taken from their upcoming new album ‘Day Ripper’ which is due on October 9 via Wild Honey Records.

Following along the same lines as previous single ‘Daily Jobs’, new one ‘Gonna Get Me’ is a wildly addictive blast of scuzzy, hyperactive and incredibly catchy garage rock. The Italian trio combine their trademark upbeat, frantic and frenzied tempo with sunny vibes, cheery melodies and huge hooks; all bathed in a haze of warm fuzz and distortion. This is, like ; ‘Daily Jobs’ before it, hugely addictive stuff – but the kind of addiction that leaves you better for it.

Tune in to ‘Gonna Get Me’ below:

Bee Bee Sea – ‘Daily Jobs’

Italian garage-psych trio Bee Bee Sea specialize in loud, propulsive and guitar-driven psych infused garage rock stompers.

New single ‘Daily Jobs’ encapsulates everything you need to know about their scuzzy, frantic and frenzied sound in just over three minutes. It is a furious assault of frenzied riffs, crunchy guitars, sharp tempo shifts, melodic choruses, euphoric singalongs and whopper hooks all bathed in fuzz and distortion; it is both wildly manic and ridiculously catchy. The latter reflective of the burden of life as it swings wildly and the all-consuming thirst for hope, release and escapism; shitty jobs can be suffocating. ‘Daily Jobs’ a frantic, frenzied of barrage of scintillating riffs, hooks and fuzz; an absolute beast but one that is rather easy on the ear at the same time.

Listen to ‘Daily Jobs’ below:

Drens – ‘Saditsfiction’

Dortmund/Cologne fuzz loving garage rock / surf punk foursome Drens are back with their new single ‘Saditsfiction’.

‘Saditsfiction’ is the second single lifted from the German outfit’s forthcoming debut EP‚ Pet Peeves‘, and in case you’re wondering, it is a doozy! Less frenzied and spiky than previous singles – ‘No’ & ‘Yellow Teeth’ – ‘Saditsfiction’ opens with a reverb drenched, new wavey guitar hook and met by dreamy guitar underpinned by a bubbling bassline groove as it shifts through the gears of catchy, power-pop addiction. It is an undeniable earworm; fuzzed up and catchy as hell, it’s got swagger, danceability and hooks you could hang your hat on while vocally, it slides from nonchalant to passionate with an ease and breeze. A more nuanced side of their talents, this might be the best we heard yet from Drens.

Listen to ‘Saditsfiction’ below while we await the new EP, due on May 15th.

Los Blancos – ‘Ti Di Newid / Cadw Fi Lan’

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Last year was a rather good one for Welsh foursome Los Blancos, establishing themselves as one of Wales’ most exciting prospects.

A band bonded in friendship – Gwyn, Dewi, Emyr and Osian have known each other since school days – Los Blancos have proven a reliable source of irresistible slacker/garage-rock, a fact that isn’t about to change anytime soon as they waste no time in opening their account for 2019 with a new double A side single ‘Ti Di Newid / Cadw Fi Lan’ via Libertino Records.

Sung in their native Welsh, Los Blancos’ scuzzy, fuzz-filled sound mutates somewhat between each release – something that can be seen with the contrasting nature of both new singles. ‘Ti Di Newid’ is a gritty and dynamic feast of melodic fuzz and distortion, smouldering with emotion and packed with blazing riffs, crunchy guitars and soaring choruses. While it is rough, ragged and raw musically and emotionally, there is a beauty and brittleness to the genuine heartfelt emotion as it chugs along with a surging vitality and screeching riffs. ‘Cadw Fi Lan’ is the calmer of the two tracks, providing a hazy meander sojourn to warm and swooning sliding guitar-led alt-country meets lo-fi indie filled with a melancholic end of summer youthful sweetness. Aside from their native tongue and dash of garage fuzz, the other constant is Gwyn Rosser’s voice, his drawl consistently delivering that added emotional punch with aplomb.

Listen to ‘Ti Di Newid’ and ‘Cadw Fi Lan’ below; the double a-side is out now via Libertino Records.