I could have sworn there was 31 days in June. Anyway, in a mist of England being lacklustre in the Euros and in a couple of days … a new government.
Oh well, at least we have the tunes, eh?
We kick off strong with GIRLBAND! and ‘21st Century Suffragette’. A thunder struck rebellion of a track - catchy punk for days and with a strong feminist message from the Nottingham based band. GIRLBAND! get better with every release and you’re gonna want to keep your eye on them.
Second up, I couldn’t resist adding KNEECAP now that Fine Art has been released. The title track being one of pretty much all of the tracks I could have added - I’m obsessed. In Fine Art, KNEECAP spit out a language they don’t want to talk, combined with a language that was all but extinguished in the North of Ireland, lyrics retelling their ongoing court battle over the £15,000 funding withheld to them because of their ‘political views’. I could write 10,000 words on KNEECAP, but on listening to Fine Art, they say it all, with street eloquence.
Up Next is London based Ain’t with ‘Oar’. There’s a metaphysical element to the storytelling of this shoegazy track that’s infectious. Melodic guitars add to a feeling of surrendering to crashing waves and shipwrecked abandon. A sign of big things to come from Ain’t.
A heavier turn next with Glasgow’s amazingly named Brat Coven and ‘Favourite Crime’. It’s a gloomy, doomy track which has echos off early Hole with the fire-in-belly rage of Jack off Jill. Brat Coven is for the Witches out there, and they’ll all want to join.
PET NEEDS with ‘The Age That You Were’, brings unapologetic pop-punk goodness to the playlist. Lamenting childhood nostalgia via Dad-Based DIY and the fact that at the same age now they ‘can’t even hang a picture frame’, The Age That You Were will have you tapping your feet long after first listen.
MOULD with ‘Cables’ next. I swear there’s something happening in Bristol because we are getting the cream of the crop lately from down there. Clearly more than sewage is in their water… Cables is a scuzzly guitar based lament on alienation and rejection from society with increasing desperation in the vocals. A heavy rotation band in the making.
Dundee’s Red Vanilla next with ‘All These Better Things’. With lead vocals that feel like vanilla laced icing in your ears, The perfect blend of 90’s guitar pop with Foo Fighter-esque guitars and lyrics that dwell on regret and introspection All These Better Things is a hit in the making.
‘What is the root of all madness? We idle watching our screens” Starts Sign of the Times by Irish band Gurriers. Joining the wave of new Irish Music that is parting the sea of music currently - Gurriers provide a punky soundtrack to the violence we see on our screens these days with this track. You’re gonna want to get on this before they blow up.
The Pleasure Dome bring the anger with ‘Your Fucking Smile’. Its fast paced aggressive energy is incredibly infectious but somehow doesn’t betray the depth of the lyrics. Haven’t we all fallen for the facade of a nice smile…
Shade in Me by Welsh rockers Slate next. It’s somehow both a gentle lullaby and a crash of guitars and drums all at once. There’s a dreaminess that is becoming a signature of Slate and Shade in me is no exception.
She’s in Parties with Puppet Show on track 11. Another breakout band, She’s in Parties are bringing shoegaze to the 21st Century with a stunning yet vunerable vocal delivery from lead singer Katie. Puppet Show shouldn’t be understated as just another Shoegaze song, however. There’s a depth to the song that haunts you after listen.
Newcastle’s Big Romance bring kitchen sink lyrics with ‘Sickner’. With dead-pan vocal verses and sing along choruses, it’s hard to not fall in love with the catchiness of Sickner, or to emphasise with the disillusion of the lyrics. It’s an unapologetic anthem that grows and grows.
AILSHA brings something completely different with ‘Haunted’. If pink glittery vampire-queen metal was a thing, it would be ‘Haunted’. There’s a clash of instruments, synth, guitar… drums that deliver a pleasing musical soup with a mix of screaming and bubblegum ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ vocals all packaged up in a delightful, yet spikey bow.
Last but not least is The Male Gays and ‘Be Kind’. A optimistic yet cynical queer-pop lament that stays with you from former Domino Records’ Bart McDonagh and Guy Blackman of Melbourne’s Chapter Music.
