The Zine UK

This isn’t late by the way, time doesn’t exist in January. Everyone knows that.

I’ve been gigging a lot - starting the year right - and at one of them (our mate Simon Drowner’s ace Night Owl nights) I feel in love with first track on this month’s playlist, Flesh Tetris. Don’t Judge Me Judy is an insanely catchy song about everyone’s least favourite TV fascist Judge Judy - you’ll catch yourself singing it at random moments throughout the day.

Second up is Panic Shack’s The Ick. Insanely relatable - like a lot of their other tracks from punky, groovy and attitude’ed Cardiff self confessed piss-takers - How are they not MASSIVE, yet?

Same could be said for Darlings, hot-tipped by ever-on-the-ball This Feeling peeps. Life Could Be So Simple (If You Want It) seems to bridge the gap between indie guitar and proper good BritPop nostalgia. Catch them at their headline at the Camden Assembly in April. Next up is The Glass Hearts with Brick Dust. When I say this is one of the sexiest songs I have heard this year, I mean it. It’s got glam rock undertones, it makes you want to dance, you’ll be playing it on repeat.

Then we have Mark Charles (of Charles of London fame) and the White Reflectors with White Reflector. We’ve been following Mark from Gobsausage days, we’ve been digging Charles of London garbs FOREVER, and now we may just have a new favourite. It’s arty, it’s punk and you’ll be shouting ‘Kiss my arse and suck my dick!’ right back at them.

Madison Moore’s On my Own is pure guilt free emo punk. Stupidly catchy chorus, sing-a-long-a-rama goodness. Followed by Wynona Bleach with Swim in the Bay, Fierce Panda rarely miss with their bands, and this is no different. It’s gloriously silky indie, gorgeous vocals and that guitar riff. They are going places.

ZineUK veterans The Blinders' next with Swallowing Static. Now I know we have a huge soft spot for the boys - but this is deserved. A return to the grungy sex undercurrent sound, Tom’s vocal is at its best on this track. Catch them on tour now, it’s going to be dangerous in the pit again.

For as bad as the FakeBook algorithm can be, it did show me Ming City Rockers this month. Oh My God is two minutes of garage punk brilliance. You can’t help but sway your head and tap your feet to this one.

Some glam rock with Heels from Royal Sugar next. Dirty, sleazy guitars, big choruses, sexy baselines. You can feel the charisma, but there’s an element of fun throughout. Something in the Lake with Daylight next - striking indie prog with a shadow of Radiohead. This one is a multi-listen with gorgeous clashing guitars and strong Galaxy Caramel like vocals.

Dead Freights Call Me in the Wildside should not work but it does. A mashup of Carly Rae Jepson’s Call me maybe and Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wildside with added guitar is glorious, unexpected and somehow made completely their own. The Notion’s Still in The Dark gives a passionate confessional. Proving they are a future fill a stadium band, they have a richness and depth that’s somewhat unexpected, but very much enjoyed.

Last track was a must on the playlist this month with the sudden passing of dear journalist Neil Kulkarni. Always my favourite track of his band the Moonbears - Why I Never Roller-Skate is pop perfection delivered with an audio wit and class that you’d expect from Neil and his mates.

Fancy being on the #ZeenageDaydreams playlist for February? Just click here to email me with a link to your Spotify.