February was another formidable month for singles, with the round up for this month including a whopping 50 top tunes.
As usual, I’ve collected them all on a Spotify playlist, against my better judgement, for you to sample should you choose. If you like the songs, go and search out the bands music, buy their merchandise and go to their gigs. It’s the only way to ensure the future of new music and keep music venues open.
Single(s) of the Month
Here’s my top 15 singles of the month for February… at the top of the list and earning the “trophy” for single of the month is a band on the ascendency…
Junk Pups – Trophy Wife
It feels like an age since Junk Pups released their last single, Miss Behave, but have certainly not been sitting doing nothing, gigging constantly, the latest of which was headlining the last night of January’s New Year’s Revolution in King Tuts (review). Trophy Wife is another slice of brilliance from the fearsome foursome, with an outrageously engaging video to boot, that showcases the outstandingly inimitable talents of drummer Sophie, bass player Dylan, Ishi on guitar and the remarkable vocal talents of the one and only Jack. Not so long between this and the next single please…
Get along and see Junk Pups live supporting Death Valley Girls on the 17th of March.
Brenda – Pigs
As I type this, Brenda are currently soaking up the sun and wowing the music fans of Madrid with their glorious synth pop. They recently launched of the video for their single, Pigs, from their tremendous self-titled debut album, (review). The target of the songs lyrics shouldn’t be too hard to determine. Don’t be a Pig. Be a Brenda.
Sister Madds – Here We Go Again
The world is still full of men trying to dictate woman’s place in society and the music industry – what they should do, how they should dress, what they should say, how they should act… Maddie Cassidy has had enough, she’s fed up and and isn’t taking it anymore, as she eloquently demonstrates on Sister Madds latest fabulous single, Here We Go Again
The Laurettes – Mainstage
In between entertaining Scotland rugby fans at Murrayfield during the Six Nations, and ahead of their summer jaunts around the Highlands and Islands The Laurettes have released their celebration of life and music, Mainstage, the title track from the album out in early March, advocating, in more modern terms, the old adage of eating, drinking and being merry for tomorrow we die. Do the things you love, life’s too short.
The Countess of Fife – Hard Woman to Love
Fay Fife is undoubtedly the unchallenged Countess of alt-country, as she continues to prove on this, The Countess of Fife’s latest single, the bitter sweet love song, Hard Woman to Love. Fife’s distinctive honeyed vocal takes centre stage, complemented by delectable harmonies, and of course the laidback mellow alt-country groove provided by the band. Catch the band, with latest addition Brian McFie on guitar at Irvine Harbour Arts on Friday 8th March.
The Filthy Tongues – Black Valentine
The title track of The Filthy Tongues best of compilation, Black Valentine was a new track making its first appearance on this compilation. What more appropriate month for its release… a subdued sombre affair as you would expect from The Filthy Tongues. Black Valentine has an understated beauty, Metcalfe’s vocal almost sorrowful and bristling with regret.
Dancer – Change
Another single from their upcoming debut album 10 Songs I Hate About You (with a third, Bluetooth Hell already released and added to the March round up), Dancer continue to impress, with these singles pretty much guaranteeing that the album will be one of my constant “go to’s” this year.
Dumb Poets – Lazy Eye
One of the bands on my “must see live before I die” bucket list, is Lance and his Dumb Poets, with another of his sublime and gracefully alluring tales, his vocal as captivatingly entrancing as ever. And centre stage in the song and video, the bike that many of us coveted as youngsters in the 1970s, and one that, to this day, I have never owned.
Lacuna – Creature Comforts
From their three track Greenhouse Baby (Live at Chime Studios) EP comes this stunningly elegant version of Creature Comforts, sweeping strings a perfect foil for the delicately winsome vocal. Beautiful.
Dragged Up – Missing Person
Sinister sounding fuzzed-up garage/surf rock from Glasgow’s Dragged Up, repetitive refrains and an erratic and eccentric bass/cowbell heavy noise/instrumental break, with equally quirky homemade video makes this a shoe-in for singles of the month. Plenty of live dates on the horizon across the UK for you to get your Dragged Up fix.
Autumn 1904 – I Heard Catherine Sing
The City was one of the top singles of January, so it’s no surprise the follow up, I Heard Catherine Sing, makes the cut here, the single cementing the fact that the early 80’s post punk band’s decision to reform and record some new songs to add to some of their original recordings to enable the release of a well overdue debut album, Tales of Innocence, was the correct one. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I was to hear Win Butler ever mention in an interview that Autumn 1904 was an influence on the sound of Arcade Fire.
The Claudettes – Touch You Back
A year down the line from The Claudettes new (can I still call her that?) vocalist Rachel Williams joining the ranks, the Chicago blues-based indie rockers go from strength-to-strength with this soulful funk tinged single. “When I said I wanted revolution, I wanted you to turn around” is her opening gambit, with the chorus of “Touch me, and I’ll touch you back” brining to mind the phrase… is that a threat or a promise? Like Dumb Poets, seeing this band live is on my gigs bucket list… but Chicago is even further that the deep south of England…
Quad 90 – Anodyne
From the purveyors of one of 2024’s best singles, Le Blank, which they followed up with the equally impressive Unequal Division in September, Katy and Naomi return with their third highly danceable and addictively hypnotic slice of funky synth pop genius. The best 1980’s Mute meets Factory indie dance single that doesn’t have a Fac number…. Lets rectify that Fac 4-90. Get all three on a digital EP from LNFG and catch them live as part of the label’s weekender in April.
Starless – You’re Beautiful
Love and Money’s original version of this song meant a lot to me back in the day and brought back lots of memories – good and bad! Paul McGeechan has resurrected the song for the latest Starless album due to be released soon on Last Night From Glasgow. See them live in April as part of the LNFG Weekender.
The Courettes – Shake!
The hardest working duo in music are already about 100 dates into their latest world tour, somehow they found time to record and release Shake! which continues in the same vein of 60s girl group influenced garage rock as they excel at and will be set to have everyone shaking their collective asses when the group (inevitably) hit these shores once more.
The Rest of The Best
Here’s the remaining 35 songs in my February round up. I love them all… do your ears a favour and give them all a listen.
Mannequin Pussy – Nothing Like
Molly Vulpyne – Romantic
The Zebecks – Medicate
Chiara Berardelli – Little Lies
THETA – Eat You Alive
Gallus – Wash Your Wounds
Gates of Light – Make it Real
Easter – War Chest
The Elf of Elbrook Court – Cold
Teitr – Destroyer 24
The Lovely Eggs – My Mood Wave
Freya Beer – Write Her Off
The Baby Seals – Vibrator
Circolo Visioso – Walls
Charlie and the Oscillator – Day After Day After Day
Pleasure Island- Evangelion
Dead Posey – Zombies
Kim Gordon – I’m a Man
Lambrini Girls – God’s Country
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Selassie is the Chapel
Bob Marley – Dedicated to the life & legacy of Tuff Gong.
Gun – Boy’s Don’t Cry
The Black Crowes – Cross Your Fingers
Martha May and the Mondays – Spit!
Tuppenny Bunters – T-Time
the crushedvelvets – Mambo Sun
the crushedvelvets
Paul Morricone – People in My Way
Parallels – Fantastique – Factory Sessions
System Exclusive – Click
Queen Cult – Be Better
Martha May and the Mondays – War Games
The Mysterines – Stray
Artesan – Lonely People (Are Never Alone)
Tangerinecat – Ask Owl (Live)
Mdou Moctar – Funeral for Justice
Dead Pony – Rainbows
Playlist
As promised here’s the playlist of all the songs in this month’s round up. We all know that the crooks who run Spotify keep most of the money for themselves and you need about a trillion streams to earn a penny. If you like what you hear from any of the bands – go direct to the band, their indie label, or independent record shops to but the physical copies of their music, and get along to their gigs, buying merch from them while you’re there…