As a lover of albums, one off tracks and singles sometimes pass me by, it would be remiss of me though not to highlight the plethora of quality stand-alone tracks, singles, or album teasers that have been waved temptingly in front of me over the past weeks and months.
In no particular order…
Deer Leader
Deer Leader follow up the absorbing Four Deuces with new single Crocodile. The single is an epic taste of what the band can do and fairly whets the appetite for more from this remarkable trio. An enigmatically engaging elegiac start to the song, hypnotic rhythms, soothing and reassuring, becoming softer and lulling you into a safe quiet place …. until BOOM, your senses are both confused and invigorated by a crunch of guitars and melee of crashing cymbals as the track reaches its zenith. Astonishing.
Nicol & Elliott/In the Forest
Also, on Last Night From Glasgow, this time on split 7” is the magnificently harmonic duo Nicol & Elliott with fiddles used to great effect on the gloriously dark slice of Scottish Americana/country that is The Storm. On the flipside is On the Run by In the Forest, and as someone who has been overdosing on Fleetwood Mac recently, I couldn’t help but notice the similarity in the female/male harmonies in this folky rock tune.
Nicol & Elliott have also recently revealed their emotionally saturated new single Dragging Me Down, the song is musically delicate but somehow so powerful, especially when you combine it with the equally powerful video.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=611972942826699
Minerva Wakes
As well as launching a Twistettes live album in November, Jo D’Arc is also releasing the second single from her Minerva Wakes project. The follow up to Tell Me is Perfect Soul, and it is as trippy and woozy as I could have hoped for. A different direction from The Twistettes altogether, with more of a Portishead than punky feel, Perfect Soul is perfectly hypnotic, Jo’s breathy vocal calming your soul as the beats intensify towards the close.
Garlands
Glasgow’s Garlands released their final single of the year in Forest Noises. Taking their lead from a variety of alt-guitar bands and picking up the baton from their previous releases, the song goes on a foot to the floor addictive fuzzy guitar romp namechecking albums by two of the band’s US alt rock influences in Bossanova and The Real Ramona. They should have been the last band I saw live in 2020 if I hadn’t had to leave before they came on….
Smalltown Tigers
Surf guitars come to the fore on the Halloween video release from one of 2020’s most exciting acts, the punk meets glam sneer of Smalltown Tigers. The Italian trio should have visited these shores for some live gigs this year, but …well we know what. Looking forward to when those days can eventually happen.
The Strangerz
https://www.facebook.com/thestrangerszFor a joyful “blink and you’ll miss it” single clocking in at just under 90 seconds, check out the single Straight Gay Brother from Doncaster based punk teenagers The Strangerz. Released at the end of September the single is a jubilant declaration of celebrating who you are and fuck what anyone else thinks.
The Kaplans
I’ve been neglecting The Kaplans of late. A band who consistently come up with the goods producing high quality indie rock’n’roll. Having released their latest album Lights Out in May this year, they have recently revealed the video for their latest single from the album, The Underside. The usual trademark sound led by an omniscient and menacing bassline; the gravelly vocal backed by understated riffs before the full force of the track hits home. The Kaplans are both hard working and reliable in terms of the quality of their output. It’s a shame they remain under the radar, listen and share…
Outstandifold & the Wettygrippers
As alluded to the last live gig I saw was a triple bill featuring Savage Cut, the aforementioned Garlands and this next lot Outstandifold and the Wettygrippers (who were officially the last band I saw play live in the flesh). In 2016 they released their excellent “Box” album, on which there appeared a track called Ride the Wave. Keeping themselves amused and playing separately during COVID 19, they have re-recorded a belting socially distanced version and renamed it Ride the Lockdown.
The Three ‘n’ Eights
Staying out west, The Three ‘n’ Eights have been doing similar things, but this time with a new song, See It Believe It. The ska influenced track has a certain poignancy in that it features trumpet lifted from an early demo of the track played by Jo who tragically lost her life earlier this year. The band have just announced they have a track featuring on Vol 3 of The Graveyard Tapes on Mental Records due out next year.
The Super Pumas
Out Inverclyde way and Super Pumas have released their first new track since their Ambient Animal album. Dead Beat Path is an intensely sincere rocker, soaring melodies and passionately delivered vocals, a great return from the band.
Dan O’Farrell & the Difference Engine
Maybe it is because I am now a gentleman of a certain age, but I can relate to virtually everything Dan O’Farrell & the Difference Engine lists on his track I Am Afraid from his forthcoming third album Richard Scarry Lied to Me (there’s a blast from the past for you…). The tracks are thought provoking on its content, and its addictive rhythm will have itself worming its way though your senses before lodging itself in your brain for days on end.
TV Smith
Mr O’Farrell has in the past released a Christmas single, or perhaps better described as anti – Christmas single (Anti-Christmas Day) as has one of the best songwriters to emerge from the UK punk scene, the former Adverts frontman TV Smith, his single Xmas Bloody Xmas in a similar way encouraging us to take a step back and think about the excesses for one day of the year. TV Smith also has two formidable new songs out in advance of his new album.
I don’t think the song titles Send in the Clown and I Surf the Second Wave need any explanation, the tracks and the rest of the album, Lockdown Holiday, were inspired by TV Smiths personal experiences and observations after he and his partner were both ill with COVID 19. The usual spot on contemplations on observed situation with acerbic and cutting lyrics as you’d expect from Smith. The album should be a classic.
Katherine Aly
Once again Katherine Aly comes up with a supremely addictive slice of electro alt-pop in the form of Butterflies. Following up God Breed, Aly is building up an impressive back catalogue of complex and darkly infectious electro-pop masterpieces.
Geneva
The angelically voiced Andrew Montgomery and Geneva make a welcome return with new single Fault Lines. As expected from this most under-rated of bands, a faultless vocal from Montgomery backed with an elegantly dramatic soundtrack from the band makes for an essential addition to any Autumn playlist.
Baby Shakes
NYC meets Derry on the new Baby Shakes single. The NYC quartet, who I was fortunate to catch in Glasgow last year when gigs were still a thing, have teamed up with the Undertones Damian O’Neill and Billy Doherty on a new 7” on Dimple Discs. The two tracks are Sweet n Sour, from Damian O’Neill and the Monotones album from 2018 and on the flip side, the Billy Doherty penned Undertones B-side Really Really. The resultant version of Sweet n Sour is a belter of a glam stomper a most welcome addition to the Shakes catalogue. Check out the video and get your choice of coloured vinyl here.
Tulsaqueen
As it is Halloween, the last word must be provided by the self-confessed fan of all things horror and gore related, Tulsaqueen. Her latest single Never Again is in no way horrific though, a heartfelt and affecting atmospheric alt-country ballad, her sorrowful vocal backed by delectable riffs.
Where they are available on Spotify, I’ve added them to my 2020 playlist: