We are fast approaching the end of 2021, but the songs keep on coming with no sign of a let up. Here is singles round up number 13 for the year. Who knows there may even be a 14… If I was superstitious there would have to be. With each one new song that comes out, the decision for singles of the year becomes harder and harder…
Here we go again – in no particualre order…
James Domestic – Push on Through
A throbbing hypnotic bass line pervades the air, before adding a keyboard melody and some angular post punk guitars, ad a vocal that sounds like Ian Dury has joined Sleaford Mods and you’re about there with this hypnotic alternative fucked up caffeine fried road song.
Blue Violet – Asylum
Following up the magnificent White Beaches is the equally beautiful Asylum. The charm of the refined and graceful alt folk musicianship covers a bleak tale of love in the face of mental health struggles “On a winters day, he came to take me away”. The carefully selected words, like the repeated use of “mad” throughout and as the song fades shows that despite the progress made in the face of mental health issues, there is still a long way to go, with much of society still not understanding and using such unacceptable language.
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The Cundeez – The Stornoway Stomp
Dundee’s The Cundeez are unstoppable at the moment. With the stadium anthem of Kilt’s On, Taps Aff still ringing in the ears after this summer’s European Football Championships, there comes another of their East meets West Peat & Diesel influenced song in The Stornaway Stomp.
Young Man in a Hurry – Harlem Nights
I’ve been really enjoying this single by Young Man in a Hurry on my lunchtime walks around the city centre, it is an epic and serene charmer of a song, laidback and unhurried with an unhurried sprawl of an outro allowing you to take yourself off to another place at an other pace, forget the stress and hustle and bustle of the day, and lose yourself in Harlem Nights.
Sly Hand – Your Party
From the sublime and laidback to full on energetic post-punk from the North East of England with Sly hand’s Your Party. The single crashes into life immediately with an urgent guitar riff, before revealing a vocal that gives away the bands origins with that familiar brogue, usually a warm and welcoming accent, but on Your Party there are infections here and there that demonstrate and element of menace, especially as the song reaches its zenith.
The Blinders – City We Call Love
I’m delighted that The Blinders have recently been announced as support for The Cribs on their 2022 tour. Useless fact – the last time I saw both bands they were on the same bill at the same venue as part of Glasgow’s Stag and Dagger festival several years ago. Anyway, their latest single is City We Called Love and it’s another cracker from this band who appear to be able to do no wrong.
Pizza Crunch – Motivational Substances
Despite still having reservations about their name, I continue to love every single Pizza Crunch have released to date. Motivational Substances continues that trend. Guitar lines that positively sing, a continuation of the natty line in clever lyrics, delivered in a darkly warming vocal style, with a driving rhythm section holding it all together and drawing you in surreptitiously. I hope for big things. I’ll get over the name thing…
The Total Rejection – Paul’s Eye John’s Teeth
If you love a bit of psych induced garage punk, you could do a lot worse than investigate The Total Rejection. Paul’s Eye, John’s Teeth shifts along at breakneck speed, foot to the floor, balls to the wall, driving by them with a no nonsense, no hostages taken garage punk attitude with a fierce bite. I look forward to the new album…
Uncle Kid – Lamplig
Previously appearing on the Indistinct Chatter EP, Uncle Kid has now released Lamplight as a single. This delicate trip hop tune relates a trip around IKEA to a metaphor for life… “I’ve made it to the big stuff, WE’VE made it to the big stuff – I’m scared”. There are several remixes available on Bandcamp.
The Surfrajettes – Couch Surfing
You’ve got to love a bit of surf rock, so it was a no brainer including this one in my latest singles round up. The song is the theme song they specifically recorded for their show on their YouTube channel, and will appear on their debut album “Roller Fink” due in April 2022.
Arrest! Charlie Tipper – Trust Me
Available from their Bandcamp page on limited edition lathe cut 7” vinyl, Trust Me is the a side of rest! Charlie Tipper’s new single. Don’t be fooled tough, like those who are drawn in by the false promises of the calculating evil bastard that parades as a bumbling buffoon, and the atmosphere created by him and his ilk, who this song is about. While Trust Me starts off purporting to be a delicate emotional song, just as you are being drawn in, there comes the kicker in the lyrics. The b-side Key Worker is just as cutting and scathing in its observations.
pMad – Who Am I?
An effective opening worthy of the unsettling feel of the song, throbbing bass, overlaid with ominous choral voices. The mellifluous bass underpins the entire track, with a suitably sinister video to go along with the deep baritone and questioning lyrics, set off by the foil of the soaring female backing vocal. Effective and affecting.
I, Doris – In the Ladies
Having included their impressive version of Its the End of the World as We Know It and I Feel Fine on a previous round-up it seems only fair that I include one of their own songs too. In the Ladies is their take on a night out, played in inimitable glamorous punk fashion as only they can. Excellent.
Ballamona – Music for Dancing to
A touch of industrial rock with a gothic dancey edge to it from Ballamona. Something like Killing Joke meets The Faint. Music for Dancing to – would it be enough to get I, Doris out of the ladies onto the dance floor?
Baabes – Bad Boy, Worse Drugs
Hard-edged bluesy garage rock in overload with Boston’s Baabes, a sleaze fest of distorted “fuck you”vocals and grunge punk guitars with a heft dose of attitude.
Teitr – Until the End
The latest release from Glasgow alternative experimental electronic rockers Teitr is this sombre and darkly effective atmospheric exploration of the human condition, Until the End .
Tallies – No Dreams of Fayres
The wonderful Tallies continue to keep the memory of bands like The Sundays alive with tunes like this laidback dreamy song complete with sophisticated guitar lines that positively sing, complementing Sarah’s hypnotic vocal perfectly.
Charlie Clark – Blink of an Eye
New single from Astrid frontman Charlie Clark has him in reflective mood on this emotive and melancholic number, but still transmitting a sense of hope and positivity in the soaring tune as it builds to its apex.
Bliss Williams – Tearaway
A gloriously soulful number that wouldn’t have sounded out of ace on the decks at the Wigan Casino in the 1970’s. The incessant beat provided by Ben Gordelier (of Paul Weller nad/The Moons) ensures you will be itching to get on your feet and re-create the acrobatic moves those who frequented said venue performed of a night. As the name suggests – bliss.
Jill Lorean – Kneading
Already with an impressive back catalogue as a member of bands like Bdy_Prts and Three Queens in Mourning and a array of collaborations with the likes of Frightened Rabbit, Roddy Woobmle and Broken Chanter, Jill continues to tread her own unique path with this heartbreakingly beautiful folky Galaxie 500 tinged song. Check out her mini album from last year Not Your First too.
Hugh Reed and the Velvet Underpants – Guy Called Sue
How can anyone fail to be entertained by the effervescent and energetic Hugh Reed? Here he and his motley crew provide their Glasgowfied version of the Johnny Cash classic. If you’ve never seen the Hugh Reed live experience, you must seek out a gig and attained. Put it on your bucket list.
Scott Sorry – Black Dog Dancers
Scott Sorry has been through some really tough times over the last few years, which makes Black Dog Dancing an even more welcome return. This brazen rock n roll monster tune comes with some poignant lyrics reflecting what he has been and is going though “I would be lying if I said that time was on my side”, but trying to bring some positivity in hard times “kick the boots off baby, I’ll be dancing with the black dog tonight”.
Karma Surround – Trust is a Two Way Betrayal
If you aren’t already following the releases of Darren Roy’s Karma Surround, Trust is a Two Way Betrayal is as good a place as any to start. Trust… sees Karma Surround with a more stripped back to acoustic guitar and keyboard sound compared to previous releases such as the lush tones of Do You Wonder, but not any less sublime for that.
Callum Easter – Little Honey
From Callum’s freshly released album, System, Little Honey is another perfectly crafted distortion loaded anthem which in places is bizarrely reminiscent of Mungo Jerrys In the Summertime. Listen for yourself.
Bob Vylan- GDP
To finish, its the freshly released new single from the visceral, straight talking sounds of the magnificent Bob Vylan. With their new album, The Price of Life, just announced on pre-order for a Valentine’s Day release, GDP follows up their last offering Pretty Songs and, as usual, there is no mincing of words from Bob and Bobby in this socio-political commentary on the financial and cultural gap between the have’s and have not’s.
As usual, if the songs are on the evil Spotify, I’ve added them to a taster playlist, so you can listen then go and buy from the artists…
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