Four months into 2023 and the new music keeps coming thick and fast, so much to listen to, so much to love. As usual, there is the evil Spotify playlist at the end, try then buy….
Lambrini Girls – Lads, Lads, Lads
Ahead of the release of their EP, You’re Welcome, comes single number three from feisty punks Lambrini Girls, this time tackling the subject of lad culture and toxic masculinity with great gusto, venting their spleen with impassioned fury. Be sure to catch them when they play The Hug and Pint in June, and if you’re going south for Iggy’s Dog Day Afternoon, get their early to see them.
Gal Pal – Takes Time
With an album, This and Other Gestures, coming in June LA’s Gal Pal treat us to another heavenly slice of laid back shimmering layered guitar fuzz in the shape of Takes Time.
Dream Wife – Orbit
Another cut from forthcoming album Social Lubrication, the dancey-vibe of Orbit gives further indication that this album will be one of the must listens for 2023, following on from the seething anger of Leech and furiously energetic relationship warning of Hot (Don’t Date a Musician)
Candy Coffins – Another Kiss
From current Candy Coffins album Once Do It With Feeling comes Another Kiss, which gives off a Pictures of You type vibe to me, sending shivers up and down my spine with its melancholy vocal, soaring guitars and emotional arrangement.
Live Skull – Neutralize the Outliers
I pretty much wore out my cassette copy of Positraction, and also the auto reverse function on my imitation walkman. While the 2023 version of Live Skull is an entirely different beast, the driving sonic rhythm of Neutralize the Outsiders bodes well for new album Party Zero.
The Kidney Flowers – Laces
Great to hear The Kidney Flowers return with a burning fire in their belly and raging against racism and the rise of the right with tenacious determination on their incendiary new garage punk rocker Laces brimming with delirious wrath.
The Twistettes – Selling Skin
Following on from her video for Minerva Wakes single Come On, Jo D’Arc is back putting her video editing skills to good use with a video for the fuzzed up viciously frantic energy of The Twistettes Selling Skin. If I’m not wrong, there will also be a Minerva Wakes version of this coming too…
The Wife Guys of Reddit – Post Punk Experiment #3 (A Bigger Splash)
This may be the first, and probably the last time I write these words, but Post Punk Experiment #3, with its throbbing bass, staccato drums and choppy barbed guitar lines is probably the best song you’ll hear this year about doing a shite…
C.O.F.F.I.N. – Cut You Off
Thundering punk n roll riffs and gruff in yer face vocals from Sydney’s C.O.F.F.I.N. Fresh from impressing those who saw them supporting Amyl & the Sniffers, the band return to Glasgow, playing Stereo on May 16th.
Rancid – Tomorrow Never Comes
It’s always good to hear that Rancid are releasing new material, so this straight down the middle foot to the floor anthem, Tomorrow Never Comes, from forthcoming album of the same name, is the sonic equivalent of the band taking their own advice and rocking like their lives depended on it. Just one thing, Glasgow is WELL overdue a Rancid gig…
The Hip Priests – Pissed on Power
Staying with high energy punk rock n roll, The Hip Priests Pissed on Power is another cut from their fantastic new album Roden House Blues, seemingly taking their lead from Lemmy’s Motorhead, Pissed on Power is a study in full on bruisingly debauched bourbon infused heavy rock riffing.
Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton – Settle for Less
Samantha Fish visits these shores again later in the year for some live dates, in the meantime, Settle for Less is a sharply canny and worldy-wise bluesy rocker from her album with Jesse Dayton, Death Wish Blues.
Honeyblood – Fade Into You
Stina Marie’s beautiful take on the Mazzy Star classic, I don’t think I need to tell you anymore, just listen, Stunning.
The Countess of Fife – Wandering Star
I think my love of The Countess of Fife is already well documented (album review Star of the Sea, and launch gig review), now that the vinyl copies of the album are due to appear soon, here is the video for the glorious single Wandering Star.
Gutterblood with Bonnie Prince Bob – Gardyloo
It would appear that someone has crawled into my head and somehow extracted everything I wanted to say to Old Sausage Fingers Charlie and Co. about the monarchy and the utterly unnecessary opulence that will be on show shortly, rubbed in the faces of all the forelock-tugging, genuflecting subjects who are probably up to their necks in debt as they line the streets bowing and scraping, with nary a thought for their own self respect as the new (#NotMy)King sneers at them from his gold plated carriage. I’m not a monarchist in case you didn’t realise. Vive le Republic…
There is certainly no subtlety on show on Gardyloo, with crunching, screeching riffs, throbbing bass and thunderous drums underpinning a venomous lyric that doesn’t hold back on its seething vitriol and dark humour, spat out in disdain. But then, who needs subtlety when you’ve got something to get off your chest. Along with songs like Pele’s Raid the Palace and the following tune from Shock & Awe, this will form part of my playlist for next weekend. If there was any justice this anarchic romp would be number one on the weekend of the C********n, but then again, look what the establishment did to God Save the Queen… Utterly cathartic.
Shock & Awe – Not My Fucking King
Ataying on topic, another new release hot off the presses, this time from Edinburgh’s Shock & Awe, who say…
“A little demo ditty to celebrate the coronation of his majesty King Charles Spangle. All instruments and vocals done in the first take because I didn’t want to waste any more time than was necessary on these parasites. The track is available for free download, Available for one week only, whereas royalty is forever apparently ….”
The Howler Munkees – My Back Pocket
I can’t say anything better than reproducing the reasoning behind this single available to order now on 7″ vinyl vis Bandcamp…
“VETS BILL FUNDRAISER!!!!!
Who the *^%! are The Howler Munkeees???
Well it’s a long story, but I think if you have bought certain records from Raving Pop Blast! in the past, you’ll be able to figure it out without the need for us to spell it out. So the idea is this To raise much needed funds for JJ (He was the cover star on an LP by The Total Rejection called The Time Traveller’s 3rd Will & Testament.) He has become diabetic, and it’s costing a fortune in vets bills. So The Howler Munkeees formed and recorded this fundraiser single. One song ‘Lights’ was a rejected song by The Total Rejection that the Howlers, nicked and recorded. The other song was a trial song for Dah Bleedin’ Fings, but rejected as it didn’t fit with the flow of things…. so again The Munkeees nabbed it.”
Nanobots – Get Hyper
Get ready to launch your senses into hyperspace with the new single from Glasgow duo Nanobots, blending their unique mix of electro pop and frantic electric guitars in impeccably high spirited frenetic style.
Altermoderns – She’s Not Yours
The Altermoderns are heading North of the border to play with Bratakus in May.
The band are currently part of the Future Sound of Bristol:
“We would love to ask you, dear friends, to visit our profile by the Audiotarky link and listening to our single “She’s Not Yours” there!! Audiotarkey“
What does this mean for the band?
“You are more than welcome to share the link too and invite your mates to do the same!! More shares we have, and the song being streamed on its whole length, more chance of us making the cut (and being selected for a cash prize!). With the money we will be able to record our second album (we got sixteen songs ready to go), plus contracting more creative professionals to join our dream team and get our duo to the next level (no, we are not adding more musicians to the band hahahaha, two piece forever!)“
Adam Andersxn – Casket Bound (demo)
Casket Bound from Adam Andersxn takes the pop punk blueprint adds some fuzz heavy guitars and a low key delivery to create an affecting, thought provoking track.
The Pearl Harts – Baby Chaos
Another band with album imminent, The Pearl Harts tease with another track from their album Love Chaos, not to be confused with Glasgow band of the same name, Baby Chaos is a sassy classic rock n roller, packed with raw scuzzy guitars and voracious attitude.
Freya Beer – Fantasy
Staying with the theme of scuzzy garage rock, from her latest double A side single, Fantasy is an avaricious exploration of our wild side, an expression of how we should let our repressed untapped emotions free and express ourselves assuredly and positively over raw, low growling guitar riffs.
bdrmm – Be Careful
Lush and understated hypnotic beauty from bdrmm on Be Careful from forthcoming album I Don’t Know due out on 30th June, recalling 90s shoegazers Chapterhouse at their most mellow.
Mary Hennessy – Why Do I Bother?
Another gloriously dreamy pop song from Mary Hennessey following up her lasting outing, Teeth. There is a it of an acerbic bite to this single, with its opening line “Do I Give a Shit” and lamenting about a one sided relationship “its clear you’ll never change” sings Hennessey as she wonders why she continues to bother.
Sir Chloe – Know Better
Another single from debut album I Am the Dog due out on the 19th May, Know Better swings between laidback swagger and high energy riffing, Dana Foote’s vocal the one constant, an assured sanguine coolness and a lesson in stylish sophistication.
Feral Family – Smother
There is a lot of release activity in May… Feral Family release their debut EP Playtest on the 19th. This track, Smother, precedes the release, a dark and moody vocal beneath a vociferous clamour of intense instruments coming together, all building in their fierce intensity to a cataclysmic maelstrom.
Drunk Gods – Lovesick
From the new album from Drunk Gods, The Immortality Project comes this latest turbulent ball of furiously raging energy, Lovesick. Be sure to check out the album
The Mickey 9s – At Home He’s a Tourist
The Mickey 9s with their unique take on this Gang of Four classic track, At Home He’s a Tourist, performed in their own inimitable style, claiming it as if it was one of their own.
Saint Agnes – Animal
Following on from the release of the first single, the title track, from their second album Bloodsuckers comes new Animal, a fury filled anthem, with Kitty screaming with unfettered rage, ablaze with impassioned defence of the outsiders.
Galen and Paul – Room at the Top
Former Clash bassist (as well as Havana 3AM and the Good the Bad and the Queen) Paul Simonon has joined forces with Galen Ayers (daughter of Soft Machine’s Kevin Ayers) on an album of songs (Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day?) written while he was busking solo around Palma around the time of the lockdowns. Room at the Top has a real retro vibe to it, country meets Hammer horror, with a keyboard sound (played by Dan Donovan) which is a tribute to the music of Del Shannon.
Scottish Faultlines – Nightshift Husband
A new track from Hugh ahead of his upcoming support slots with Spare Snare. A beautiful song of love and longing to add to his ever expanding repertoire of poignant and stirring songs.
Snows of Yesteryear – Danny’s Waltz
On my first listen to Danny’s Waltz having been sent the single by the band’s singer Kat, my immediate reaction was to well up. Maybe it was the evocative combination of the emotive strings and Kat’s expressive vocal, I don’t know, but what I do know is that I absolutely adore the utterly heart-breaking reflective nature of the song.
Parliamo – You’re An Animal
I really should include this seeing as I spent most of the last 6 months in Perth. Perthshire’s Parliamo channel summer vibes in new single You’re an Animal, funk rhythms meet driving rock guitars with a vocal sprinkled with sunshine. Infectious in the extreme.
Elisabeth Elektra – The Dream
As well as being part of the Scottish indie supergroup Silver Moth, Elisabeth Elektra has been busy in her own right with the release of this buoyantly effervescent dream pop banger. This is the sort of song that should be winning Eurovision, hands down.
The Damned – You’re Gonna Realise
The Damned are back once again with another new album Darkadelic, from which this single, You’re Gonna Realise comes, a shadowy but sonorous punkabilly rumble complete with brass section. There is life in the old punks yet.
Sparks – The Girl is Crying in Her Latte
What’s not to love about Sparks? Ron and Russell’s lates offering is everything you would want from this leftfield sibling duo, sardonic humour soundtracked by a hypnotically addictive electro-art-pop soundtrack.
Dropkick Murphys (feat. Violent Femmes) – Gotta Get to Peekskill
I love the direction Dropkick Murphy’s have gone in, this single from their second album of songs re-interpreting the lyrics of folk singer and activist Woody Guthrie. On this single they are joined by the legendary Violent Femmes, the song reflecting on riots in Peekskill in 1949 when Ku Klux Klan protested against a concert by Paul Robeson. Guthrie and Pete Seeger joined Robeon in a concert of defiance and solidarity the following week.
Pet Needs – The Argument
Mary Hennessy took the Why Do I Bother? approach top a relationship that wasn’t working, In more bullish nature, Pet Needs (featuring Bridget) take the approach of both parties clashing head on in a raging melee of furious guitars and vehement splenetic ill-tempered vocals traded back and forth, neither prepared to back down.
The Hedrons – Heartache
After a long time away, 16 years to be precise, The Hedrons follow up their triumphant gig in Glasgow last year (and debut album re-release on PNFG) with a brand new single Heartache, Glasgow’s version of The Runaways are on top form with this foot to the floor gritty rock n roll, the four gelling together as if the last 16 years had never happened and sound as vital and energetic as they did first time around, Vive le Hedrons.
PJ Harvey – A Child’s Question, August
The first release from PJ Harvey’s new album, I Inside the Old Year Dying, is almost disturbingly atmospheric in the extreme, a stirringly poignant, almost mediaeval sounding dark and captivating folk song.
Feather Trade – Big Nobody
Electronic beats and swirling noise introduce Big Nobody as the vocal crashes in. Big Nobody has a gargantuan sweeping goth sound, that sits somewhere between Bauhaus, Killing Joke and the electro beats of Nitzer Ebb. Pity there are no Scottish dates on their upcoming tour.
We Three Kings – The Edge of Death
More foot to the floor scuzzy rock ‘n’ roll for this month’s playlist courtesy of We Three Kings, straight down the line, bold and belligerent, blow the cobwebs away no messing raaaaawk.
Dragon Welding – The Dark (edit)
Andrew Golding (The Wolfhounds) with his anagrammatical band and the first of two songs on Dimple Discs. The Dark is a hypersonically pulsating electro-beat laden dark behemoth of a tune.
Keeley – Seeing Everything
The second Dimple Discs release on this month’s roundup is from the pen of the mega talented and dedicated campaigner Keeley Moss, lead singer and guitarist of KEELEY. Seeing Everything is the latest in her series of releases dedicated to the tragic life and death story of murdered tourist Inga Maria Hauser, as she explores the life of, and seeks justice for, the murder of the German backpacker .
Seeing Everything is the lead single from KEELEY’s debut full length album, Floating Above Everything Else, and once again displays her ability to write affecting celestial, multi layered and honey textured harmonies to match the lyrics that come straight from the heart, musically Seeing Everything reflects the ethereal shoegaze sound of the late 80s/early 90s, perhaps a nod to the likes of one of Keeley’s musical heroines, Miki Berenyi of Lush. The album is a treat for the eardrums, bringing together some tracks from earlier EPs, new songs and a magnificent cover of Spiritualized track, Shine a Light.
KEELEY and Dragon Welding are playing a date in London in June alongside Mari Dangerfield, with any luck loads of you will buy the new album and encourage KEELEY to play north of the border.
Keeley – If You Have 10 Minutes to Spare, I’ll Tell You the Story of My Life
Brenda – Microscopic Babe
I’m glad to say there is is no band quite like Brenda, if you don’t believe me go and catch them live. Latest single Microscopic Babe, from their debut self monikered album due in the summer, has a video which was recorded in LA (more about that here) that tells you much about the band,. Down to earth and self-deprecating, mixed with a bit of dark humour. This reflects who they are both on stage and in person, and while they may joke about their talents as musicians, yet again, they’ve released a belter of a alt-synth-pop single to follow up Cease and Desist. Microscopic Babe is more melancholic, exquisitely understated and hypnotically reflective than their previous single, resplendent with sublime three part harmonies in the chorus. I’m sure the album is going to be one of the essential listens of the summer. In the meantime, get down to the Flying Duck on the 6th of May to see the band play with Watermachine and Delivery, before their album release party in The Glad Cafe on July 28th.
Tina Sandwich – Sick Girl
Single number three from the magnificent Tina Sandwich. Following in the footsteps of Up All Night and Fast Cars, Sick Girl is another potent highly charged punchy electro-punk anthem with an immediately catchy refrain that will stick in your head from the moment you hear it. This song is the medicine you need…If you’ve got a ticket for the single launch I’ll see you there…