Doubling up for this massive round-up, the last couple of months have disappeared in a flash… Loads of great new music from these summer months. As usual, where available, I’ve added the songs to an evil Spotify playlist for you to sample before you buy… support the artists by buying their music, and merchandise, if you like what you hear.
In no particular order, but kicking off here with the new single from the duo who have given me one of my most unique and unusual gig memories of the year, well, to be fair, probably my life…
The Courettes – Tough Like That
Returning to these shores for the second time this year, The Courettes are currently taking a break from recording their new album with a tour of England, and released a video for their Back in Mono B-Sides and Outtakes track, Tough Like That. Hoping for a return to Scotland when they release the album.
Brian Setzer – The Devil Always Collects/Black Leather Jacket/Girl on the Billboard
Former Stray Cat Setzer has a new album, The Devil Always Collects due out on 15th September, he has been trailing the release with a selection of cuts from the record, including the high octane rockabilly romp that is the album’s title track.
Everyday Pharaohs – Skelmo
Glasgow trio’s latest single Skelmo sits in that space on a Venn diagram where earnest Scottish indie rock a la Idlewild, US emo and infectious power pop intersect, creating an addictive slice of anthemic driving rock.
Wreckless Eric – Southern Rock
The creator of one of punks most touching and well loved songs, Whole Wide World, releases another cracking tune from his new Leisureland album, which he will be touring across the UK in October and November, including a date in the unlikely location of Coatbridge.
C.O.F.F.I.N. – Factory Man/Give Me a Bite
Children of Finland Fighting in Norway continue to showcase their forthcoming Australia Stops, their fifth album, out on 15th September with Factory Man and Give Me a Bite their captivating hard rocking melodies perhaps less hedonistic than on previous outings, but the results are certainly no less arresting for that.
Harry Stafford & Marco Butcher – Rules of the House/Walk Among the Spectres
Inca Baby Harry Stafford joins forces once again with guitarist Marco Butcher on their second album We Are the Perilous Men due on 8th September, releasing a couple of tasters in the shape of Rules of the House and the laidback blues groove of Walk Among the Spectres.
Harry Stafford & Marco Butcher
Keeley – Floating Above Everything Else/Arrive Alive
I included Arrive Alive in an earlier singles round up, but with a song that good, it deserves a repeat inclusion, this time with a video, the other song is the atmospheric title track of Keeley’s recent debut full length album, which she is touring in September, so I’ll finally get an opportunity to catch the full Keeley live experience when she plays Nice n Sleazy on the 20th. A date not to be missed.
Sun’s Signature – Apples (John Grant Remix)
Talking of repeat inclusions, I don’t really ever need an excuse to include the immaculate vocal of Liz Fraser, so a John Grant remix of Apples is a perfect opportunity.
Cloth – Ambulance
Sticking with an ethereal ambiance, it’s Cloth with another taste of their empyreal gossamer smooth sounds from their most recent Secret Measure album.
Dead Pony – Mana/Cobra
Another brace of singles from over the last couple of months, this time from Dead Pony, with Mana and most recently Cobra adding to the band’s ever growing catalogue of powerfully grungy distorted guitar anthems topped with Anna’s commanding vocal sealing the deal. The band start a UK tour this week, which incudes a sold out date in their home city, in St Luke’s on 8th September. The majority of the tour is already sold out, but check with venues.
pMad – Fury
Fury lives up to it’s name as pMad continue to impress with their own brand of thunderous industrial strength gothic electronica played at full tilt.
Pedalo – Halfway House
Pedalo follow up their debut single Better with another four and a half minutes of sparkling jangle pop, with positively shimmering guitars, and sublime harmonies.
Furrowed Brow – Outdoor Man
Another repeat culprit, but again, there was no video when I posted it last, so once again, it’s Outdoors Man from left-field Manchester post punk outfit Furrowed Brow.
Drunk Gods – Sovereign Son
Ewan continues to mine a productive seam in following up his comeback album The Immortality Project, and subsequent singles Lovesick and Dumbstruck with this frantic new single Sovereign Son, already as I write this TV Drip has been released and will appear in a September round up.
David Delinquent and the IOUs – Too Far Gone
The first of two appearances in this round-up for Dundee’s David Delinquent, first up with his IOUs and their delectable Replacements-esque single Too Far Gone, a song packed full of power chords and hook laden riffs, so much so that one listen just isn’t enough.
David Delinquent – A Martyr for Your Conscience
The second appearance for David is an altogether more sedate affair in his touching acoustic tribute to Sinead O’Connor, all donations made for this song will go to Suicide Prevention charities.
Sacred Noise – Silhouette
The quite wonderful Sacred Noise show their quieter side with latest single Silhouette, a heartbreakingly prepossessing semi-acoustic single, gentle piano and acoustic guitar backing Kirsten’s delicately impassioned vocal, the introduction of subtle electric guitar signalling an element of over-wrought agitation verging on distress in the vocal. Stunning.
The Radio Field – Other One
The final pre-release single from their debut album, Don’ts and Do’s which came out at the end of August, has Federica from Phantom Handshakes joining Lars on vocal duties and adding a layer of dreampop sheen to the bands already lustrous jangle indie pop glow.
Jody and the Jerms – Liberation
With it’s Hammond Organ, dual harmonised vocal, and wah wah guitar riffs, the Mark Gardener (Ride) produced single Liberation takes on a feel that is somewhere between The Mama’s and the Papa’s and Voice of the Beehive, even more regret now that I didn’t manage to catch the band when they played recently in Glasgow
Pigeon Wigs – Iron Dynamite
More retro sounds from Cardiff’s Pigeon Wigs with another lush slice of psychedelic rock from their debut album Rock By Numbers.
Chew Magna – Secrets
Secrets is one hundred and twenty seconds of melody heavy alt indie rock, drenched in driving squally guitars, the only complaint? It’s all over too soon!
Teenage Fanclub – Tired of Being Alone/Back to the Light
Nothing Lasts Forever is the upcoming album from the post-Gerry Love Teenage Fanclub line-up, featuring Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci frontman Euros Childs and Dave McGowan alongside Francis, Raymond and Norman. Tired of Being Alone and Back to the Light prove there is life in the old dogs yet, and satisfying that itch for their charmingly alluring and melodic harmony laden songs.
The Petal Falls – Side By Side/Dancin’ Through the Crowd
There are a few retro sounds in this current round up, so here are a couple more to add to the mix, in the shape of the uplifting melodious classic rock sounds on offer from The Petal Falls.
Sweat – Running Around
More retro seventies sounds from the excellent Sweat and their cool album Who Do They Think They Are? If you love the sounds of Ann and Nancy Wilson and their band Heart, this one’s for you.
Thank – Torture Cube
Thank create a dissonant and malevolent noise on Torture Cube with their unholy coming together of jolting electronica and a vociferous cacophony of squalling guitars
Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee – Los Angeles
Supergroup time with the first offering from the ex members of The Cure, Banshees/The Creatures and Compulsion guitarist and producer extraordinaire Jacknife Lee. The single also features James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, the dark electronic hum breaking into tribal drumming and keyboards that speak of the roots of Lol and Budgie with a feel of The Creatures, while the lyrics hint at the darker underbelly of Los Angeles.
Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee
Hifi Sean and David McAlmont – Real Thoughts in Real Time
Having released an album which was one of the years early contenders for end of year lists, Hifi Sean and David McAlmont take their soulful sounds out on tour in 2024, meanwhile, Vince Clarke works his magic on Real Thoughts in Real Time to tide you over. Sean will be appearing in next month’s round up too with new music from The Soup Dragons (No Music of a Dead Planet) incoming…
Spearmint – Melody Mother’s Jam
24 Hours in A&E is still one of my “jams” from their Are You From the Future? album, a song which lodges itself in the psyche and lodges itself there. With a new album coming in November, This Candle is for You, Melody Mother’s Jam is yet another instant earworm from the band, a breezy melody paired with a thoughtful poignant lyric.
Saint Sappho – Back Burner
This smouldering slow burner is the latest single from Glasgow duo Zoe and Tammy, the song gently simmers, bristling with an underlying intense ardour, as it builds to its crescendo, with Zoe’s gently seething guitar break.
Kidney Flowers – Mutiny
With an album launch gig a-coming in The Old Hairdresser’s Kidney Flowers are well and truly back with the unholy riotous, or should that be mutinous, garage rock cacophony clocking in at just shy of two minutes, and proving, alongside recent album from The Bucky Rage, that the seedy underbelly of garage rock is alive and well in the Dear Green Place…
Bex – Trust No-one/Spydh King
With her November “Welcome to Hell” debut live dates recently announced (including a Glasgow date on 4th November) BEX has shared another brace of tracks from her upcoming SCUM EP (27th October release date) for your delectation.
Queen Cult – Blackhole
I’ve got Junk Pups to thank for this one, having see the band support them (alongside Sweet Bleach) at their headline Endless Summer gig in the Hug and Pint. I’d highly recommend getting to see Queen Cult live if you get the opportunity.
Blu Lipz – Scattered
Ryan Tait is an artist who has featured on these pages before, both under his other guise as part of the band Teitr, but also as Blu Lipz, whose latest single Scattered is a hip hop inspired melancholic trip through the wasteland of a broken down relationship.
Alabama 3 – North Korea
New music in the shape of single North Korea, a stone cold Alabama 3 classic, doing just what they do best, culled from their forthcoming Cold War Classic Vol 2 album.
Mint Mind – Contemporary Jaguars
With an album VG+ coming in November, Contemporary Jaguars is a trippy laid back slacker rock song, borrowing from the templates of a host of fuzzy indie bands and in doing so creating a song that has a refreshing familiarity to it.
Avocado Hearts – Everest
Everest, a double a-side paired with I Love You, is the latest offering from one of Glasgow’s finest bands, soaring and epic as befits a song with that title, musically Everest is a joyful electro/synth/guitar pop romp, positively racing along at break neck speed and inducing the urge to dance (like no one’s watching of course), but a the same time with a lyric that hints at self doubt – “I don’t know what I’m doing here, I don’t know”.
Pinkfiz – Runaway Car/Perceptions (demo)
Yeah, I know, I’ve had Runaway Car in the round up before, but I’m pretty sure the last time I shared there was no video… anyway, whether there was or not, it’s always worth sharing again. As a bonus, I’ve added the demo of new song Perceptions, I’m glad to hear more coming from Pinkfiz whose music I fell in love with on the release of her Did I Ask? single.
Pennine Suite – Make Up
Make Up is perhaps my favourite Pennine Suite single to date, the song has a huge hook of a chorus, that builds and repeats creating an expansive soaring epic earworm.
Yur Mum – New Beginnings
Talking of epic, New Beginnings is a thunderous behemoth of a tune, a low growling guitar hum emanating from the speakers before Anelize vocal “kicks” in atop a swathe of tumultuous kick drums , the song building up to a reverberating juggernaut of raw dirty rock.
My Lofi Heart – Day Dream
There is nothing about this addictively hypnotic lo-fi synth pop song that sounds anything like Terence Trent D’Arby, but for some reason the chorus has had me signing Sign Your Name in my head. Listen for yourself…
Uncle Kid – Wonderful World
Uncle Kids glitchy take on the Louis Armstrong classic has an endearing charm about it. Little changes in the lyrics to bring in a bit of local dialect, the understated production, the low key vocals, all come together to create a version that, while he is doing his own thing with it, shows respect to the original.
Tribes – Dad, I’m Not a Tough Guy
It’s great to have Tribes back after disappearing for about 10 years. An earnest message to all the dad’s out there who have ever put pressure on their sons, the compassionate and thoughtful lyric addressing the subject of masculinity and really connecting with those who, like myself, have faced ridicule for running away from a fight rather than being involved is pathetic shows of machismo.
Hector Gannet – Emmanuel Head
One of the North East’s finest exports since Martin Stephenson, Hector Gannet’s latest single Emmanuel Head is a treat to the senses, I say this in the knowledge that even without it’s accompanying video this stunningly sublime piece of music, and lyrics, can transport you straight to Emmanuel Head without leaving your sofa. Just close your eyes and listen.
Continental Lovers – Paraffin Lips
If you like your rock with a hint of punk attitude, and a sheen of glam rock, Continental Lovers are the band for you, Taking their lead from the 70’s with the proto punk of New York Dolls and the bluesy punk swagger of Hanoi Rocks in the 80’s, even Backyard Babies into the 90’s and noughties, Paraffin Lips is an unstoppable four to the floor high octane glam stomp that will have you reaching for your air guitar.
Legss – Daddy, There’s Sand in the Sandwiches
Entirely different musically to the Tribes song earlier, but at first both song titles hint at similar themes of machismo and bullying. However, listen to the lyrics of the Legss single and you are taken on an entirely different journey. The song initially, dare I say, has a feel of Arab Strap about it, with it’s minimalistic guitar and hushed vocal, a sense of longing in the lyrics and vocal delivery, but as the song progresses and the instruments are layered it becomes somewhat discombobulating, almost giving a feeling of uncertain dread. Effective and thought provoking.
Sunnyside Uppers – Runaway
As I’ve come to expect from Sunnyside Uppers, Runaway is another heavenly slice of sunshine imbued power pop, upbeat jangly guitars announcing its arrival and with an unbridled joy and a sense of freedom like a summer’s day with the whole world opening out in front of you…
Bob Vylan – Dream Big
More crunching riffs pounding drums and grime beats from Bob Vylan on their new single Dream Big a song positively encouraging the youth to aim high with their ambitions, and featuring Bobby’s daughter, nieces and nephew’s on backing vocals. Bob Vylan is back in Glasgow this winter with Panic Shack supporting.
Grrrl Gang – Blue Stained Lips
More blu(e) lips(z) (sorry…) in this round up with Blue Stained Lips from Indonesian surfy, punky, indie, power pop trio Grrrl Gang, recounting a night out drinking a blue cocktail that turned lips blue. Standard. Check out the album Spunky! when it lands on 22nd September.
Death Valley Girls – I Am a Wave
Another mesmerising mind bending trippy post-punk-psych cracker from Death Valley Girls, the instruments rolling and crashing across Bloomgarden’s bewitching vocal like the metaphorical wave of the song.
Duff McKagan – I Saw God on 10th Street
The latest single from the second coolest member of Guns N Roses (second to Izzy Stradlin FYI) kicks off as a sedate acoustic affair, a bit of a political protest song in the mould of Bruce Springsteen, building and adding instruments to its rockin’ climax “I saw God on 10th Street, he says we’re rotten to the core”
Lisa Beat and the Liars – Sheena is a Beat Rocker
The Ramones classic reimagined as a 1960s beat pop hit. Not much more to say. It works! Give it a listen.
Adventures of Salvador – The Brain of Eno
Having been a fan of their album Welcome to Our Village back in 2019, it was pleasing to hear Adventures of Salvador had a new single out in the shape of Brain of Eno. A welcome return for that caustic vocal and dry acerbic wit, atop propulsive sleazy garage rock guitars and a rhythm section with a compelling urgency, and a lyric that seems to be a health warning about the future “everybody’s looking for something but they don’t know” perhaps the nightmare of AI taking over….”machines with dreams, transmitting on computer screens”.
Tulsaqueen – Your Sweet Love
More solo material from the Curdle/Dorothy Hale guitar player, this time around choosing to cover Lee Hazlewood and doing so in style. While being sympathetic to the original, Tulsaqueen brings an almost surreal and mysterious air to the song, with a twanging guitar and haunting vocal that wouldn’t sound out of place in the Roadhouse or Bang Bang Bar in Twin Peaks.
Gravelle – Forever
Forever is the latest single from the Industrial electro synth pop duo, Gravelle. Auto-tuned vocals over an incessant pounding of intensely pulsating and distorted synths, with a longing lyric “I don’t to live forever, all I want is to be remembered, by you…”
Courtney Barnett – Different Now
Courtney Barnett’s joyous version of the Chastity Belt’s Different Now appears on a double A-Side 7″ on Suicide Squeeze backed with Kurt Vile’s version of This Time of Night
Dead Sheeran – One Thing After Another/Johnson
The man who says what we all want to say in his lyrics attacking the government and its increasing list of downright incompetent leaders and cabinet ministers who lack empathy or any knowledge of the real world, focussing on policies that no-one wants and ignoring the real needs of the country in favour of their own hare-brained and increasingly bizarre vanity projects . Whatever happened to government for the people? I seem to have skipped these in May and June so here they are now.
The Red Stains – Mannequin
A thunderous bass throb heralds the arrival of The Red Stains follow up to Fluid, Mannequin. Musically a hedonistic head fuck, lyrically a powerful statement about the objectification of women “I’m a mannequin, just a body”, Talie’s repeating of the refrain as the song reaches its zenith taking on an increased indignant rage.
flinch. – Escape From Rupture Farms
Taken from the wonderful enough is enough album, Escape from Rupture Farms has just recently had a video release which has had me revisiting the album on repeat for the last few days. I’m not saying I forgot how good it was, just that it deserved a re-airing after the nudge from the skate/graffiti video, which looked like a whole lot of fun to record.
Kohla – One and Only
With debut album, Romance, due at the end of this week (8th September), Kohla is another artist who I finally managed to catch live for the first time in The Hug and Pint recently (I seem to go there quite a lot?). her affecting neo soul was delivered to a respectful and appreciative audience. The crisply sparse production on One and Only allows her mesmerisingly affecting vocal to shine and soar into the ether.
Girobabies – It Felt Like the End
A cracking return from Girobabies, Mark signing/rapping his al,ost remorseful downbeat lyrics over minimalistic beats and a haunting low key melody, telling a story partly of regret, partly a journey or self discovery and self improvement.
Bin Juice – That’s You Done
This Glasgow trio continue to impress with their latest single That’s You Done, a combination of early 80’s angular post punk and infectious Slit’s reggae influenced riffing, all sound tracking a song about that disastrous experience experience we’ve all had – a shite haircut….Sheer brilliance as usual.
Ruby Gaines – Holier Than Cows
I was recently utterly blown away when I witnessed the unassuming and self deprecating Ruby Gaines wow the audience at a recent show in Glasgow’s Hug and Pint, supporting Carla J Easton. The title of her EP is Heavy Good, which is a pretty accurate reflection of the content of the EP. Gaines has a voice that recalls the likes of Billie Holliday, and more recently the much lauded but tragic figure of Amy Winehouse. This track showcases that vocal alongside a reggae influenced riff, but to hear the full glory of that voice, I urge you to get along to a gig.
Carla J Easton – Sugar Honey
Talking of a certain Carla J Easton, don’t let the saccharine title of the song (the title track of upcoming new album) fool you, despite the seemingly innocent initial lines soon you start to hear the serious nature of the lyrics. “I am working my way through every cliche” sings Carla reaching the crux of the song, as she rhymes off the various excuses for male violence towards women, from walking home alone in the dark, to blaming the woman themself – “I didn’t mean to make you want me, please don’t ever touch my body”. Powerful stuff, and having seen this and other new songs played live recently, the new album is already shaping up to be a classic.
Soft Play – Punk’s Dead
For so many reasons, this is probably one of my top songs of the last few months This song is getting some old punk gammon’s knickers in a twist, with accusations flying of the band being too woke in changing their name from S*a*e*. Soft Play have taken all the criticism and called it out for exactly the bullshit it is, and using it in the lyrics, “Liberal lefties” “”I don’t like change” “PC babies”, “Should have run it by me first” to show these dinosaurs up for the bigoted meatheads they are, who have the limited brain capacity to understand that the attitude they are demonstrating would have the likes of their heroes, such as Joe Strummer, turning in their graves. I love it. And it has some added Robbie Williams just to stick the boot in. Anything that winds up these muppets is good with me.
“I don’t like change
Punk’s dead, pushing up daisies
Come and get a load of these P.C. babies
Why can’t you just stay the same?
Punk’s dead, pushing up daisies
Come and get a load of this shit”
Micko and the Mellotronics – (What’s in A) Name
I didn’t actually mean to have this one following on from Soft Play, but now I realise I should have claimed it as intentional.. What’s in a Name. Indeed. In this razor sharp spiky alt. rock masterpiece, Micko explores the impact on the name we’ve been given with his usual cleverly astute aplomb.
The Filthy Tongues – In These Dark Places
Ahead of their first Dark Places Festival (reviewed here), The Filthy Tongues released the single version of the title track of the third album in their trilogy, a suitably aphotic affair to match the nature of the lyrics lamenting an existence in the murky shadows deserving of the antagonists nebulous actions.
The Jesus Bolt – Essoldo in Lights
I was given the heads up on the most recent single from The Jesus Bolt by the one and only Ged Babey. For a full explanation of the story behind the video, see his article on Louder Than War.
As he says, the song at first feels just like the re-telling of childhood memories of trips to one of the old style cinema’s that those of a certain age will remember. But the tale takes a sinister turn revealing itself to be a much more horrifically tragic tale than on first listen.
Gates of Light – Gates of Light II
I need to give more coverage to this EP, but for now, here’s a cursory mention of the Gates of Light II EP out now on Last Night From Glasgow. Need You Now is the first track on the “Glasgow Edition” EP featuring the sublime vocal talents of Louise Quinn. Worth investigating….
The Bluebells – Anyone Could Be a Buzzcock
The video for The Bluebells single Anyone Could Be a Buzzcock recently premiered on the Ginger Quiff (link), their excellent tribute to the late great Pete Shelley comes from their stunning return The Bluebells in the 21st Century album.