We’re well into the last quarter of the year now so it is time to share the third last selection of the best singles, demos and other tracks that have been earworms for The Ginger Quiff during the month of October… as usual I’ve added any that are on the evil corporate musician shafting platform that is Spotify for you to try, then go and buy music, merch and gig tickets from the bands.
Reaction – Bad Trip Express
Much like their forebears The Clash (just as long as we don’t get a Cut the Crap at some point), Lanarkshire punks Reaction have never been a band to stand still, rest on their laurels or become complacent with their sound. They continue to push the boundaries on their latest album Vigilantibus from which this ska and and dub infused belter comes. Do yourself a favour and grab a copy of the album, which also includes the superb Last Trip Home Dub version of this single.
Rats From a Sinking Ship – Epilogue
The much-missed Rats From a Sinking Ship made a brief re-appearance to say goodbye properly with their career retrospective Now Rat’s What I Call Music (reviewed here). The albums includes two new songs Epitaph and Epilogue, both of which show the band have lost none of their ire and passion, and are a fitting farewell from this socially conscious and politically charged band.
Girls in Synthesis – My Husband
You could do a lot worse than send your hard-earned cash (if you’ve got any left after paying your ever-increasing rent/mortgage, fuel & food bills) on the latest album from Girls in Synthesis from which this discombobulating, disconcerting single comes. Clamouring and boisterous, My Husband feels sinister and threatening like you’ve been on the receiving end of a kicking in a dark alley in the wrong part of town, where you’ve taken a pounding but somehow walk away battered and bruised, but utterly invigorated and alive.
First Class and Coach – Sure
This song has more emotion and personality in its first few bars than a whole Wet Leg gig. Sure from West Cork’s First Class & Coach is somehow both dark and sombre and upliftingly soulful, all wrapped up into one perfectly formed five-minute package.
Billy Sinclair – To the Moon Alice
Fresh from entertaining the motley crew gathered in the Scottish Honky Tonk on the Isle of Bute for the annual Halloween Bash playing bass for Three Minute Heroes, Billy Sinclair released this huge tune packed full of delicious harmonies and twangy riffs. The title will make those of a certain age think of The Honeymooners, the rest of you can just enjoy this ridiculously addictive earworm for what it is, power pop perfection.
The Plastic Youth – Big Thief
Kicking off in a suitably hypnotically ramshackle laidback style, The Plastic Youth build in layers of exquisite harmonies and squally but sonorous guitars matched with crashing drums to create this bobby dazzler.
Depeche Mode – Ghosts Again
Ghosts Again, the first single from Depeche Mode post Andrew Fletcher’s untimely death, is an emotionally charged song that has all the hallmarks of a Mode classic tinged with hints of New Order.
Bedouin Soundclash ft. Aimee Interrupter – Walk Through the Fire
You can’t keep a good woman down. The seemingly omnipresent Aimee Interrupter adds her familiar and powerful voice to the sunshine soaked ska rhythms on this toe tapping earworm.
Starry Skies – Light in Your Soul
From the latest album Small Wonders comes this joyously melodic slice of heaven, gently calming and laden with gloriously sweet harmonies and a wonderfully soulful organ break. Gorgeous.
Yellow Bellies – Frankie
If you didn’t know better, you’d be forgiven for thinking Yellow Bellies were from the US of A such is their penchance for a driving melody akin to the big sounds created by a series of 90s alt rockers. To my ears, Frankie sits somewhere between Wheatus and Weezer, and that is no bad thing.
The Cult – Mirror
The Cult release another single from Under the Midnight Sun and impress once again following on from previous single the bombastic A Cut Inside, Mirror harks back to their more goth-like days prior to swallowing the AC/DC guitar tab book and going all classic rock riffs. Mirror is epic and soaring and showcases one of the best albums of their more recent outputs.
Young Fathers – I Saw
I’m delighted at the prospect of a new Young Fathers album, Heavy Heavy, in February, I Saw is a perfect appetiser, pounding beats and rhythms bringing the thunder to underpin the gloriously layered vocals accompanied by a hypnotically eye-catching video.
The Cundeez – CG McGeddon
An adrenaline fuelled cut from latest album Geeez It, the vigorously potent guitars and thunderous machine gun drumming backing Gary’s heartfelt lyrics about mental health. The Cundeez at their powerful best.
Eater – Fifteen
Andy Blade teams up with young glam punks Jo Jo and the Teeth (album review to come on the GQ) to release a revamped version of single Fifteen (reworked from Alice Coopers Eighteen reflecting the bands age at the time of original release) on 7″, 90 seconds of unbridled high-octane passion and energy.
Bob Vylan – The Delicate Nature
Featuring Laurie from Slaves on guitar creating his familiar riffs, Bob and Bobby’s latest single The Delicate Nature has the band continue on their path to world domination.
Los Bitchos – Los Chrismos
The inimitable and unstoppable Los Bitchos welcome in the festive season early with their own approach to a Christmas tune in the shape of the wonderful Los Chrismos, which appears on the updated version of their superb album. Let the Festivities Begin. Christmas Time, Sexy Times indeed.
Whim – Scrolling
Scrolling the latest single from Whim (the chosen moniker by Liam Chapman for this release) is a breezily effervescent, sprightly and carefree slice of blithe sunshine for these dark winter days and nights.
Steve Lane – Don’t Forget to Breathe
From LNFG released album The Great Imposter, Don’t Forget to Breathe adds to the selection of quietly unassuming but elegantly compelling songs in this month’s round-up. Shades of The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn in Steve’s mellow baritone, his voice soothes the soul. Treat yourself to this outstanding album.
Water Machine – Hot Real Estate
Water Machine haven’t released any music yet but I’m including them in this round up on the strength of clips I’ve seen on Instagram and Facebook of gigs they’ve played in the last couple of months. I’ve not made it to the gigs myself, but on the strength of short clips I’ve seen, I’m dying to hear more and get to one of their gigs. Set to be one of my new favourite bands if these clips are anything to go by.
Dutch Wine – Only One
Unfortunately, (but strangely also fortunately as I’ll be at Lungleg/Bis), I’m going to miss a cracking triple bill on the 10th of December featuring Dutch Wine, Tina Sandwich and Junk Pups. I will console myself by revelling in the evocative beauty of Only One as it atmospherically rises and falls, its boisterous driving guitars crashing in and creating a tumultuous close.
Walt Disco – Never Knew Love Like This Before
Another song dramatically and radically re-worked for Walt Disco’s covers EP, Stephanie Mills 1980 hit becomes an impressively sumptuous, nigh on melodramatic, slowed down lavishly impassioned ballad.
Monica Queen – What is Home?
Not just my single of the month for October, but perhaps my song of the year. There is a lump in my throat just thinking about it. This is one emotional rollercoaster of a song. Stunning.
Check out the Stop That Girl album now… review here
“Seriously Monica, you’re going to do this to me? The Smillie/Queen original What is Home? which follows this edifying selection of covers confuses my addled brain, I’ve been raised to the heavens, then my heart is wrenched apart with the raw emotion expressed in this heart-rendingly beautiful composition. sheer beautiful melancholy within the lyrics, purity and sensitivity in the vocal delivery, and what about the compassionate musical arrangement? It wouldn’t be a review from me without talking about how the music makes me feel, but as I’ve tried to type and re-type this paragraph, I’ve honestly found it hard to remain composed as I listen to this extraordinary song on repeat, reaching its emotional peak time and again. “What is hope? What is home?” This is one stunning masterpiece and stands shoulder to shoulder with the extraordinary song-writing of the artists covered in this collection.”
Monica Queen and thrum | Facebook
Fucked Up – One Day
The title track of their latest album, titled on the basis that they aimed to write all the songs in a 24 hour period. One Day has that familiar Fucked Up trademark, a furious blend of full-on angry US shouty-punk/metal mixed with delectable harmonies and hook laden riffs.
Diablofurs – Dream Skies
I’ve already said everything about this new Diablofurs single… HERE
“Listening to the effervescent charm and optimistic vitality of Dream Skies could bring light to the darkest of winter days as the five come together in perfectly addictive harmony to create a song whose electronic beats will stay with you throughout the long winter nights”
The Mummy Cats – Critical Moments
A whole lot of lot of raw raucous energy and unrestrained irrepressible fun wrapped up in four and a half minutes of high energy scuzz rock.
Orbital & Sleaford Mods – Dirty Rat
Dance legends Orbital teamed up with Nottingham acerbic post punk duo Sleaford Mods for this vitriolic diatribe aimed at a certain type of individual, the refrain of “you voted for them, look at you, you dirty rat” probably totally going over the heads of those it describes, or falling on their deaf ears, exactly as the song suggests. Top stuff.
Tallies – Special
From their latest album Patina, comes this atmospherically uplifting track, Special, featuring cello from Michael Peter Olsen, a song which recalls the delicate nature of the much-missed Shellyann Orphan.
Billy NoMates – Balance is Gone
With a new album, Cacti, due in January, Billy NoMates (aka Tor Maries) released this taster for the album in October. A lyric which I, and I’m sure many others, can relate to regarding the shit show that is (thankfully soon to be was) 2022. “I just go round and round” repeats Tor reflecting on the hamster wheel life has become.
Los Sustos – Roleta Rusa
High energy garage punk coming at you all the way from Mexico, Roleta Rusa (I’m sure you can translate it for yourselves) is a majestic mix of surf guitars/rock n roll and fuzzy guitars. I’ve got no idea what they are singing about, but it sounds sublime…
Deux Furieuses – Our Day Will Come
Deux Furieuses come up with the goods single after single, Our Day Will Come is the latest attitude fuelled punk protest anthem to come from their powerfully uplifting album Songs From Planet Earth, if you haven’t dipped your toe in the water yet, now is your chance. Believe me you won’t regret it, the album is sensational.
Vampire Slumber Party – Little Light
A clamourous pop punk banger with a youthfully exuberant energy that has this aging blogger feeling as if there is still life in the old bones yet…
You Are Lost Be Careful – Oh God
Oh God is bewitching in its elegant allure, deeply emotional and passionately delivered lyrics soar over a slow building crescendo of layered instruments before the wall of sound disperses, Euan’s heartbreaking vocal laid bare once again.
Mari Dangerfield – Love Machine
Addictively idiosyncratic electro pop that recalls La Roux in many ways. Mood lightening and fun, a perfect antidote to life in the UK in 2022.
Department S – Burn Down Tomorrow
The band has changed hugely since the days of Is Vic There? but the passion and vigour is still there as demonstrated by the energetic romp that is Burn Down Tomorrow. They are a force to be reckoned with live too having witnessed then in McChuills a few years back. Hopefully this song signals more new music and live dates in 2023.
Nihilists – I Am the White Stripes
You’ll recognise the vocals on this one if you were a fan of the indie music that emanated from Manchester spreading its influence across the North of England. James Mudriczki was the frontman for Puressence who created some epic tunes in the 90’s, I’m glad to hear that James has lost none of the passion and fervour demonstrated in the huge tracks released by Puressence in I Am the White Strips which builds and crashes ultimately creating a behemoth of a tune.
Trampolene – Thinking Again
Another slice of thought-provoking alt-guitar indie pop from spoken word poet and lyricist Jack Jones and co. Trampolene tick all the boxes, great lyrics, emotion, melodies and rhythms that pull you in and catch the imagination. Always a pleasure.
Panic Shack – Meal Deal
I love the energy and devil may care attitude of Panic Shack, not to mention their DIY punk ethos and utterly addictive songs, like this single which has shades of Amyl & the Sniffers written all over it. They’re coming to Glasgow in February, that will be a show not to be missed.
Happy Dust Gang – Machine Love
Spoken word vocals over an incessant repetitive rhythm hypnotises the listener, as Happy Dust Gang question the oddities of life, sending your brain into overdrive adding your own questions to their list…. “why is a boxing ring square? why does snow fall, but rain drops?….”
Scottish Faultlines – Old Comics (Acoustic)
By the time I end up publishing this blog, I believe the lovely Hugh Haggerty aka Scottish Faultlines will have released more of his touchingly sublime songs, this beauty can tide you over in the meantime. Unfortunately, I was elsewhere when he played his debut gig in The Glad Cafe supporting Spare Snare. I’m sure if he continues writing songs like this, there will be plenty more opportunities to catch him playing live.
The Apparents – Price of Life
Political punk ranting from Ayrshire’s The Apparents the lyrics a comment on the Tory created cost of living crisis. All this ironically as the subject of one of their previous songs controls the purse strings from No 11 Downing Street. #fuckthetories.
Cud – Sorry I Let You Down
Despite having tickets for their King Tuts show in October, I didn’t make it along, much to my regret having experienced the uplifting nature of Cud shows in the past. I have to console myself in this new song, Sorry I Let You Down, with its pulsating guitar riffs and Carl Putnam’s familiar welcoming rich brogue. Hopefully this signals a new album and maybe another Glasgow gig that I can make it to…next time.
Freya Beer – Honeymoon Eyes
Freya Beer released her album Beast last year to some great plaudits and reviews, it featured in my Bubbling Under list of albums of the year at the end of 2021. This single is a collaboration with Tom Saint (check out Death Ex and I’m in Love with a Vampire) and is a suitably sparsely arranged spookily eerie laidback alt-electro-gothic love song.
Bugteeth – Little Insects
The follow up to previous single Ice-9 is another gracefully refined soundscape, play it loud in your headphones and radiate in its luxurious silken melodies as the sweet sounds envelop you.
Ian Donaldson – The Alchemy of Us
Latest single from former H2O frontman has Donaldson crooning in his familiar sonorous manner atop a electro driven rhythm, the song has a bit of an Associates feel to it, and that can only be a good thing.
One Morning in August – Moment
Like the bugteeth single, this another song to play loud through your headphones, lie back, close your eyes and let the music take you, as it manages to be both sparsely effective in its message and gloriously opulent in equal doses.
Hot Pink Sewage – Eyeballs in My Anus
Like an even more depraved, fucked up, trash thrash bastard child from a Dirt Box Disco coupling with Turbonegro, (even the outfits in the video resemble Spunk Volcano meets Hank Von Hell…) this is most definitely a NSFW song and video, with the song title arising from a sense of boredom while working in a mortuary…I’ll leave the rest to the imagination.
The Primitives – Don’t Know Where to Start
Despite announcing their retirement from full tours, The Primitives have announced another Glasgow date in Broadcast for 2023 following their triumphant gig in 2021. Not only that but, like Cud, they have new single out on vinyl. Don’t Know Where to Start is exactly what you would expect and want from Tracy, Paul and co., driving garage rock underpinning Tracy’s instantly recognisable vocal. You can’t keep a good band down.
The Thaw – Lovers Eyes
Debut single from Edinburgh’s The Thaw is a zealous piercing sonic headfuck, layers of luscious tumultuous shoegaze noise underlining impassioned vocals from lead singer Lauren. Epic.
The Courettes – Talking About My Baby
I’m not sure this band ever have a day off. I’m pretty sure every day on my timeline I see them posting about that night’s live gig. How can you not love their take on sixties garage rock for the 21st century? A
As always, to give you an opportunity to test the water before you go and give all your hard earned cash to the bands featured, if the songs are on the evil streaming service they are included on the October Ginger Quiff playlist.