I love new music. Simple. New music from new bands. New music from old bands. It never ceases to amaze me when I come across people who don’t like music (at all?!?) or are determined to tell me, all the great music has already been made (really?1?)… Suffice to say, EVERY month there are dozens of quality new sounds and bands that blow my mind…
Top 10
I keep digging a hole for myself by rating things. How hard it is to have a favourite! it’s like, do I prefer eating, drinking or breathing? Anyway… here goes…
Single of the Month
Keeley – Inga Hauser
One of the Ginger Quiff’s 24 for ’24, the peerless Keeley Moss and her band Keeley, continue to go from strength to strength, having wowed me from the off with the songs on their Brave Warrior EP, and literally everything that has followed since, culminating in my finally getting to see this musical tour de force live last year. The mighty July single offering from the forthcoming Beautiful Mysterious album, due on October, finally name-checks her raison d’etre in a song title. If you’ve followed the progress of Keeley to date you’ll know the story behind the songs, and I mean EVERY song (bar one cover version…), if you don’t know, this single is a brilliant place to start, and I’m kind of jealous that you get to discover this extraordinary back catalogue for the first time. If you are already a Keeley afficionado you’ll have managed to get in quick and download the previous sneak peak at the new album, in the form of Days in a Daze, and be in the know that this album is going to be so special, for all the reasons we already love Keeley, and for the incredible progression and increasing depth and textures of the music, which were quite frankly already off the scale.
…The Rest of the 10
The Courettes – California
The hardest working band in the world return to these shores in October, playing The Caves in Edinburgh on 1st October, and Glasgow’s Room 2 the following night. They follow up their addictive single Shake! with this glorious take on the classic sound of US 1960s girl groups, appropriately featuring The Crystals La La Brooks, I’m pretty sure I said a coupe of the songs in the June round up were the sound of the summer, scratch that THIS is the sound of the summer…
The Best Bad Influence – Fallin’
Talking of hard giggin’ bands, there does not seem to be a weekend goes by when The Best Bad Influence aren’t playing at least three gigs, and between times, you can usually find them hanging around St Enoch’s or Buchanan Street busking to huge crowds. Fallin’ precedes a new album by the young West of Scotland rockabilly boys.
Meryl Streek – Paddy
Ahead of the release of the new album Songs For the Deceased comes a Meryl Streek single wrought with emotion, in the form of the very personal “Paddy”, less political than previous offerings, but still with an element of this bubbling under the sentimental lyric with the repeated refrain “you’ll always be missed, you’ll always be loved” increasing in intensity until the songs conclusion.
Pinkfiz – Jennifer’s Body
I’ve been following the rise of Pinkfiz since I was first wowed by the Did I Ask? single, and to see the development of the music to this, the latest and most accomplished single to date, is one of the reasons why, despite my advancing years, I am still a music fan to this day who isn’t satisfied by sitting growing old while reliving my youth listening to “legacy” acts, but strives to find invigorating new bands and tunes. Jennifer’s Body was inspired by the movie of the same name, with a theme running through the lyrics… Izzy: “I wanted this song to be something people can rage and feel sexy to at the same time. I want to inspire people to see themselves as beautiful when they possess traits that we’ve been taught are not “lady-like”, be messy, be bossy, be loud, it’s gorgeous.”
Soapbox – The Fear
I can relate to the theme behind this single… having once seen a picture of some folks (I mention no names…) on stage at a Soapbox gig which may or may not have been in Nice n Sleazy at the end of a certain House Party festival… The Fear is real, and more than ably brought to life in the latest in a long line of off the scale Soapbox singles from one of the country’s most incendiary live acts.
Big Girl’s Blouse – Day & Night
Another superb offering from one of Glasgow’s most uniquely innovative bands, I can sense much pogoing down the front to this one when they play their Rum Shack show in September, this is one hell of a song, a strident angular bouncing rhythm with a hint of the post-punk of Wire and a thunderous solid backbeat, the instruments layer and fuse into a mellifluous cacophony, a melee of sound that increases to a riotous squall with Emmy’s powerful vocal rising above the fray.
Los Bitchos – 1K!
The Queens of Cumbia return with this cool instrumental from their latest album, Talkie Talkie, which if their debut Let the Festivities Begin will be packed to bursting with addictive psych-surf rhythms. Be sure to catch them on their upcoming Scottish dates.
Night Caller – Begging for a Heart to Break
Following up one of my singles of the year, Number One Wee Guy, with the equally urgent and compelling Begging for Heart to Break in my mind sets Night Caller firmly as one of Scotlands bright hopes. Unfortunately their recently announced Glasgow date coincides with an appointment o have with Sister MADDs in King Tuts. I hope for many more future opportunities.
Dog Race – The Leader
Hypnotically sinister with a video to match, The Leader is the latest from Bedford’s rising stars Dog Race, hooks you and reels you in and has you feeling the sense of urgency in Katie Healy’s vocal that adds a layer of exasperated desperation to the mix… “I’ve got a meeting with the leader…” sings Healy in an effort to appeal to whoever the implied threat emanates from.
The Rest of the Best
Dead Sheeran – Good Riddance
Last month’s singles round up included ore-General Election single from The Twistettes railing against Tory Cunts, this month’s includes the Chas n Dave-esque celebratory post election Good Riddance single from the always nail on the head Dead Sheeran, who also warns that the new lot won’t be much better…
pMad – Electric
I mentioned in last month’s round up of the almost omnipresent The Petal Falls, pMad are another band who are rarely far from a singles round up, and even when they’re not, they still have a presence from the likes of The Greeting. They are back in full effect this month with a single which while having a constant pulsating rhythm at its core, Electric has a melancholic feel that befitting of it’s questioning lyrics
Silverbacks – Selling Shovels
I can’t believe Silverbacks are already onto album number three in Easy Being a Winner (due in October) from whence this gloriously left field romp comes.
Water From Your Eyes – The Good Ship Lifestyle
With the I, Doris single featuring his Dunstan Bruce’s talents last month, and his solo offering, Fucking Expensive, featuring in this round up, you’d think that would be more than an expected Chumbawamba representation, but no, Water From Your Eyes add to this with their welcome cover of Tubthumper album track The Good Ship Lifestyle.
Waxahatchee – Tiger’s Blood
Waxahatchee releases the title track from her 6th album, in the form of the dreamily divine alt-folk/country of Tigers Blood.
Maximo Park – The End Can Be As Good As The Start
Another slice of thoughtful indie power pop from Paul Smith and Co where clever lyricism blends with textured rhythms to create a welcome sound from this cherished Newcastle treasure.
Ian Donaldson – Dreams Can Change the World
Donaldson looks to the music of his formative years moving from glam rock to “a new tribe” in punk… “the first chord of Complete Control” sings Donaldson, identifying key moments in time, in the run up to the positive affirmation in the chorus “Dreams can change the world, I never really understood until now.” We can make a difference if we want it enough…
Echo Chambers – Do You Still Feel Good in the Morning?
Driving full throttle alt-rock delivered with a passionate and resolute persistency from this earnest Glasgow quartet
Queen Cult – To Be a Boy
Having followed Queen Cult, not literally, though I did manage to catch them live in Leeds on a work trip earlier in the year, since I saw them play Hug and Pint last year, I’m please to say they’re another band who keep getting better, with this probably being my favourite of their singles to date, with it’s energetic dynamism and powerful lyrical message.
Specky Cult – Pie & Mash
From their most recent album released in March this year comes Pie and Mash, an ode to the mundane realities of life “…go to work every day, treated like a jerk every day….” and the cure for all the shite thrown at you daily? “All I need is pie, mash and a pint of ale…” sounds about right… Get them in…
Rory A McIntyre – Panacea
A delicately atmospheric instrumental from Glasgow guitarist Rory A McIntyre, this is the title track of his may released album.
Kim Deal – Coast
Kim Deal’s single Coast evokes thoughts of Blondie’s Sunday Girl while retaining a definite Deal vibe (her sister Kelley also playing a part) on this her first on 4AD as a solo artist. The single has a laid back mellow vibe, but it’s not all sunshine and roses though, with an element of pensiveness in the lyrics “abandon plans for the good times,” matched by the melancholy of the brass section
Tina Sandwich – Joni
Tina Sandwich has already scored a Ginger Quiff single of the month with Joni, a song which struck a chord with me from the first moment I heard it played live in St Lukes at Tenement Trail last year, so with the song now having a video to go with it, it was the excuse I needed to share it again.
Yur Mum – Same Igual
A frantic head fuck of a single from the fuzzy punk duo’s latest album Duality with a moment of respite mid-way before the chaos ensures once again as the single reaches its frenetic climax.
Xan Tyler – Ziggy
Another cut from the wonderful Xan Tyler album, Holding Up Half the Sky, Ziggy has a glorious summer vibe, reminiscent of Blondie’s Island of Lost Souls era. Check out the whole album, it’s a masteroiece.
The BellRays – Hard Drive
This single’s title should give an indication of what to expect, hard rocking pedal to the metal blues with driving guitar riffing all topped off with that glorious vocal from Lisa.
Joan as a Policewoman – Back Again
Starting off as a violinist but turning to singing after the death of Jeff Buckley and worked with Antony and the Johnsons and Rufus Wainwright, but her solo work under this nomenclature really showcases her wonderful vocal style. Joan plays in St Lukes on the 5th of October.
Joseph Malik – Only Fans
It’s thanks to Scorpio Leisure that I was introduced to Joseph Malik after their Give Us Some Space single was released on Ramrock Records and then having him DJing at the Voodoo Rooms as part of their album release party, this soulful cut has an addictive retro 70’s disco vibe, head over to the playlist for the extended X-Press2 “Front Room” Vocal remix.
Jody and the Jerms – I Don’t Wanna
Jody and the Jerms are in bold and brazen form on this in-your-face assertion. Jody’s aim is true and there is no doubting the message she is conveying to the subject of the song…
We Three Kings – Get Back
Talking of brash and in-your-face, We Three Kings are “getting back in black, back in the saddle” in this no messing straight for the jugular declaration of intent. No prisoners taken in this full on assault on the eardrums.
Raphael Mann – Shipbuilding
More about this excellent project to follow on the blog, this sensitive cover of the Robert Wyatt classic with Raphael Mann taking lead vocals comes from a collaboration album with Marianne Dissard “Souvenir of England” which features songs from the stage production of the same name. The video features street photography of Knightsbridge by Marianne.
Black Bordello – The Garden of Unearthly Delights
Kicking off with almost a Portishead-like feel, The Garden of Earthly Delights has swathes of trippy psychedelic sweeping through the hauntingly almost otherwordly melodic gothic undertones. I’d love to see this band on the same bill as Death Valley Girls. The single comes from the bands forthcoming second album White Bardo.
pedalo – Mystery
Like Joni, pedalo’s Mystery has appeared in the singles round up before, but again, it didn’t have a video at the time, so feast your eyes and ears on this one again…
Dunstan Bruce – Fucking Expensive
An unconventional “list” song from Dunstan Bruce making the second singles round up in a row following his appearance with I, Doris last month, on a single in which he was indicating there’s life in the old dog yet and proving it on this song in which, in his own inimitable style, he makes a cutting commentary on how fucked up and. well, fucking expensive, life in (post) Tory Britain is these days…
Wan Man Clan – Super Jock
I know very little about Wan Man Clan, having been introduced to this gem by Alex Lusty. Here is Wan Man Clan’s blurb from YouTube…”King of the Neds. I am Super Jock. Braveharse. I put the bag in pipes. The goalpost bending, thistle whistling, bucky drinkin’ Wan Man Clan!” The album ‘OCH AYE FUCK YOU’ available now on limited ed. CD, £7 paypal XXZMEDIA@GMAIL.COM or on download from all sites.
Mind-blown
Wan Man Clan
The Martial Arts – No Victory (2024’s version)
In There Like Swimwear is now out in the public domain as I type this. The album includes the 2024 version of this gloriously unabashed pop song, No Victory, with its roots firmly planted in the 1960s.
BERRIES – Watching Wax
Coming from their upcoming eponymously titled album, the sentiment and the theme of the lyrics of this single Watching Wax have really struck a chord with me recently, it’s key theme being “…escaping your worries for the day and attempting to give your mind a rest”… the intensity of the instruments throughout portraying the feeling of being overwhelmed by life and your thoughts, with the breaks in the intensity like those brief moments of clarity before you head down that spiral again…
Lives – Cancelled
Lives last single Come Together #2 featured in a previous round up, this single starts with a line many of us can probably relate to “I’ve been going downhill since the first day I went online” the single having an entirely different vibe that that previous single. “Our final hour is a shit show shower” sings Peter as he despairs of the “hypocrites” and keyboard warriors arguing on social media while the likes of Starmer, Musk, Trump et al wring their hands in glee as continuing to right royally fuck things up
Sassyhiya – Kristen Stewart
A boisterously joyous ode to Kristen Stewart from Sassyhiya, the track has an upbeat celebratory style and a lyric that suggests a missed opportunity to meet the subject of singer Helen Skinner’s devotion. You can’t help but love this.
Jewel Scheme – Bells
Having just been introduced to new Glasgow band Jewel Scheme last month, I was happy to discover there was a sumptuous follow up to Spectral Index in the shape of the atmospheric synth-laden Bells, sounds like the album is going to be a cracker
The Cowboy Mouth – Swimmer
What a way to close off this month’s singles round-up with this raucous track from The Cowboy Mouth, Skinner’s familiar brogue, singing guitars from one of the busiest men in the Scottish music scene, the one and only Douglas McIntyre, with a solid rhythm section in Laughlin & Douglas. Come on, dive in…