Electric Eclectic as ever. Some recommended musical 2021 starters from TheZineUK’s December timelines.

The End Of Great British Days as the Grave New World looms. On the other hand, it’s the start of the Rock n Roll Isles as we rebelliously SEX-it in a Fertile Environment of creativity and collaboration to recreate new futures. TheZineUK is telling a story, so doesn’t do “listmas” end-of/best-of opinions, but in a parallel dimension, the secret stars of our documentary’s pages are icons with their words, tunes and charisma. Dear world, come with the beleaguered British Isles to an incredible movement of sounds, visions and attitudes to rawly and raucously roar us into the next year.

Asian Dub Foundation - ‘Comin’ Over Here’

Last month’s round up started with ‘Traitors by Benefits, which should definitely replace ‘Auld Lang Syne’ this New Year’s Eve. It’s only right that 2021 begins with Asian Dub Foundation’s ‘Comin’ Over Here’ (feat. Stewart Lee). This is proper vibrations for the many of us who refuse to join the hostile environment. If there was a Newer Wave chart then this would already be No.1.

MOSES - ‘PAWNS’

Something completely different, again, from MOSES. An ear-worming incantation of vocal performance and electro ambience is the opening scene of 2021’s rock opera in real time.

Michelle O Faith - ‘Eskimo Summer’

The nations top of the opera pops sensation, Michelle O Faith, with a huge and haunting slice of gorgeous as her latest single. Another arena worthy star woven into our tale.

Sleaford Mods - ‘Mork n Mindy’
Ft. Billy Nomates

Billy Nomates got so much soul and she brings it like a tune bank to the beautiful beats of this council estate rap rhapsody taken from the Sleaford Mods album 'Spare Ribs' which is released 15 January 2021 on Rough Trade Records.

Pink Shift
‘I’m Gonna Tell My Therapist On You’

Physically distanced, socially rocked out jamming from Summer 2020 that pulses harmonic punk arse kick fun! You couldn’t never play this too loud, it’s so good. Like an audio firework display with dynamic layers of instruments (vocals included) soundtracking the flight of an out of control superhero.

Lori - ‘Harlequin’

The debut single from Lori (on These Bloody Thieves Records) is an ear opener underpinned by industrial cyber beats that sounds like singing a breakdown in less than three minutes. A cinematically choreographed video.

Those Fucking Snowflakes
‘Due Some Terrible End’

There is something so dark and true about this band and their musical commentary that it gets under your skin if you’ll just let it. DIY alt-rock video is literally “Blackpool illuminations”.

Sinead O Brien - The Most Modern Painting

From the EP ‘Drowning In Blessings’ this pitch perfect poetical choreography of word, sounds and vision is a gallery exhibition worthy work of art.

Hawxx - ‘Blunt’

One of the joys of telling tales of the interdependent rock scenes in the grassroots music venues is seeing the artists develop stealthily but consistently. Joys like Hawxx (and Nova Twins) at the Heavy Music Awards 2020.

The Novus - ‘PMF’

Recently, rising rock icons, The Novus played a live streamed session for Blackstar Amps (produced by Magic Garden Studios - the essential music mecca). Their performance in a church only underlined that we are living in a Post Modern Fairytale. Best video at the 2020 Birmingham Music Awards, ‘PMF’ was made in 2019 but looks very 2021 already! “In this dystopia can you be the change?”

STRANGE BONES X CALVA LOUISE
‘Nine Lives’

Godzilla sized rock force double bubble of explosion from two of TheZineUK team’s fave bands, Strange Bones and Calva Louise, collaborating again and newly signed to FRKST Records. This roars.

Apeman Spaceman
‘Truth Is A Thing Of The Past’

Apeman Spaceman telling it like it is, again, with frantic energy.

THE CLOCKWORKS
‘ENOUGH IS NEVER ENOUGH’

Urgent and awesome and bursting out of it’s raw riffed skin. Just can’t get enough of ‘Enough Is Never Enough’

Sault - ‘UNTITLED (Black Is)

Terrific, prolific, how are they doing this? Got ‘Wildfires’ running through my veins, but yeah. Here is our new abnormal world, immortalised in mind warping, soul fusing sound. Things are gonna change.

The Red Stains- ‘Freezer Jesus’

This is the band’s first video and if TheZineUK had a TV show this would feature because it’s everything audiovisual to LOVE. A punky top song for our modern day consumer sluttery that wouldn’t be out of place in any era of popular music… and trust, The Red Stains deserve to be very popular.

Birthmarks - ‘Charcoal’

A New Year’s Eve party video. ‘Charcoal’ is taken from the debut album ‘…And Then The Rain Stopped’ which is too good to miss. Daniel Cross of Birthmarks also did a recent interview with TheZineUK - It is uplifting #positivity

The Clause - ‘In My Element’

THE CLAUSE X SKREAM official remix of ‘In My Element’ (Winter 2020) is pretty darn intergalactic. The song, and this 2019 video filmed (in Snobs nightclub, Birmingham) by Sam Crowston is definitely one for the annals of British pop history. Sam’s keen eye photography skills are also part of TheZineUK doc.

Nadia Sheikh - ‘Fire Away’ video

In TheZineUK’s recent interview with the internationally rising artist, Nadia’s promo video was just about to drop. It’s here, brand new (and makes us miss gigs even more…!)

Lime - ‘Fever’

The absolute fucking zest on this beat-pop zinger with Talking Heads and Ian Dury tints and a full on groove. With bright disco pop like Lime, the musical future is in good hands.

Protomartyr ‘Day Without End’

A summer 2020 video from the band’s fifth album, 'Ultimate Success Today', instruments chime over a building crisis chant of a day in the life from very now America.

Fitzroy Holt - ‘Kelly’, ‘Medicine’

Soulful sounds from a face and voice which is no stranger to the tapestry of #TheZineUK doc. It’s early doors for Fitzroy Holt but check out these performances of unreleased songs which aired at the Scotts Menswear instagram over Christmas. Especially got a “thing” for the song ‘Medicine”.

Jekyll - ‘Nightporter’

The other day, listening to Kelly Munro on BBC Introducing Radio (Kelly/End Of The Trail Creative does TheZineUK’s #HotNewTunes among so much else) and was reminded of how excellent this Japan cover is. Possibly one of 2020’s finest Isolation Performances.

Goat Girl - ‘Sad Cowboy’

#LivingTheStream - On 27th January, Goat Girl will be performing songs off their brand new album as part of the Live From Rough Trade HD streamed series.

The band’s second LP, On All Fours, will be released via Rough Trade in January. ‘Sad Cowboy’ is a trippy taster. Blend it like Peckham!

The Specials - ‘Ghost Town’

This timeless classic feels especially poignant as 2020 ends on this landfill of ghost towns. Heritage bands like The Specials prove that we are viable. Being an artist can be a life long career, no need to retrain, but right now the creative and performing world and it’s legions of crew, need all the help it can get from everybody at every level who can.

We have a lot of rebuilding to do. Lucky that we are DIY creatives then, innit, because it feels like we’re on our own but our documenting of interdependent co-collaborations, already proves that we can be small but mightily effective.

Sound Tracks for some december tags in #TheZineUK timeline: #ChippyTits #PlagueIsland #StopTheLeftPurge #StandUpForTravellers #GetOuttaMyPub #SaveStonehenge #fixstreaming #Drilly4Mayor #BeyondTheMusic #NHSheroes

This selection of joys compiled by
TheZineUK’s Events Department.