The last few months saw an other bunch of quality singles appearing in my inbox or facebook news feed…
Def Robot Vs Kerosene
Paul Taylor brought back the 90’s again, joining up his current band, the most prolific of albums bands of the last few years, Def Robot with his 1990s punk incarnation, Kerosene. Following up their 2019 Brexit song with the power pop punk comment on the clusterfuck that is 2020, Save Our Souls. Could be the anthem on 2021 based on the way things are currently looking…
Kerosene – Bandcamp – Facebook
Def Robot – Bandcamp – Facebook
CJ Wildheart
CJ announced the arrival of his latest long player, Siege, with the full on aural assault that is State of Us. This is one full throttle, pedal to the metal, ear melting comment of the state of the world in 2020. Just try ignoring this one. That’s the cobwebs well and truly gone…
CJ Wildheart – Bandcamp – Facebook
Adventures of Salvador
Dropping Like Flies is the stunning new single from Bury’s answer to The Cramps and this is their Human Fly… The sinister tale told by this strangely addictive song is a stark warning based on Jean Jacques Rousseau’s prescient theories from 1738 about the end of species. Ignore at your peril…
Adventures of Salvador – Bandcamp – Facebook
Slime City
Glasgow’s gloriously irrepressible and irreverant Slime City offer up another slab of effervescent fuzz rock in the shape IDST. If Dropping Like Flies was a warning of an existential problem, this is a warning about the modern age and the permanence of the footprint we all leave online…everything you’ve said still exists.
Slime City – Bandcamp – Facebook
Jonzip
Jonzip takes us back to that fateful date, 8th December 1980, in New York City with his beautiful piano ballad mourning the death of John Lennon which has finally seen a welcome release after 40 years. A date that everyone of a certain age will remember, where were you when you heard the news?
GIFTSHOP
Staying in the Big Apple, NYC punks with pop sensibilities released their latest masterpiece Stylish Junkie recently. A hypnotic driving rhythm has you mesmerised as you get drawn into Meghan’s tale and questioning of the seemingly high performing stylish junkie of the songs title. I need more…
Nanobots (with Martin Metcalfe)
Goodbye Mr MacKenzie frontman (and Bowie fan) joins the Nanobot duo to provide the vocals for this high energy electro-rock interpretation of Bowie’s Scary Monsters. Nothing to be running scared of here, this is a joy to behold.
Nanobots – Bandcamp – Facebook
Ian Donaldson
Another self-confessed Bowie fan, Ian Donaldson, throws his latest glam rock single into the mix. The stomping beat and crashing guitars of Mirror Ball (I Remember) is a joyful celebration of memories of classic seventies glam.
Ian Donaldson – Facebook
The Kaplans
Consistently excellent, The Kaplans have done it again. Could Be is their latest single, the slow burn intro bass heavy intro leading into atmospheric reverb laden riffs. Another slice of sonic mastery.
The Kaplans – Facebook
Liines
Sorry say Liines in their latest single. No need to apologise, this is another furiously addictive slab of powerful post punk, heavy bass and thrashing guitars blending with Zoe’s acid tongued lyrics to intense effect.
Dead Pony
More angular post punk guitars and acid tongued vocals on Dead Pony’s latest single 23, Never Me. This band continue to impress with each single they release. If you haven’t had the pleasure, make sure you check out their previous singles too.
Dead Pony – website – Facebook
Tijuana Bibles
Tijuana Bibles made a welcome return with Stateless, an angry thrashing “national anthem” for the disaffected.
Tijuana Bibles – Facebook – Stream
Arab Strap
Talking of welcome returns, the wonderful Arab Strap released single number two, Compersion Pt 1, from their upcoming album, As Days Get Dark. And with a Barrowland date scheduled for next year too, at least there is something to look forward to in 2021.
Arab Strap – website – Bandcamp – Facebook
Trashcan Sinatras
Another seminal Scottish band released a new single recently. Ways is the sublime new track from Ayrshire’s troubadours. Pair that with the news that Last Night From Glasgow have partnered with them to re-release their I’ve Seen Everything on vinyl next year, and Christmas has come early.
Trashcan Sinatras – website – Facebook
Strawberry Whiplash
Fancy a bit of 1960’s influenced indie Rickenbacker jangle pop? Join Laz and Sandra for the sunshine tinged Press 4 For Love, and the paean to rain soaked Glasgow streets in A Rainy Day in Glasgow.
Strawberry Whiplash – Facebook – Matinee Records
The Cundeez
It is nearly Hogmanay, and while we can’t have any parties this year, there is nothing to stop you having your own wee party, and you could do a lot worse than have it soundtracked by The Cindeez and their cover of the Peat and Diesel track Horo Gheallaidh.
The Cundeez – Facebook
Carol Hodge
My namesake, Carol Hodge released the latest track from her beautiful Savage Purge album. Stop Believing in You with its electronic drums and synthesiser parts is a slight departure from her normal sound but no less alluring for that.
Carol Hodge – Bandcamp – Facebook
Dumb Poets
Just a snippet for the next one. I’ll feature it fully when it is released but I’ve been fortunate to hear two divine new tracks from the Dumb Poets who brought us the tremendous All the Ghosts album a couple of years ago. The video being produced is for Paint and Feathers a beautiful country tinged ballad, steel and acoustic guitar coming together with a heartfelt vocal from Lance and a heavenly backing vocal. You’re in for a treat.
Dumb Poets – website – Facebook
Asian Dub Foundation (Featuring Stewart Lee)
This final part of the blog is more of a plea to get this song to number one as we move into the New Year and face an uncertain future with a no deal Brexit and all of the connotations Brexit brings with it. Wait until after Christmas Day to purchase so it qualifies for the NY chart…