Karma Surround - The Ginger Quiff

The Ones That Got Away… Karma Surround – Songs Lost in the Meantime – album review

January 5, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Karma Surround is a duo made up of Darren Roy and his brother Michael from Fife, who recently released their debut album, the remarkable Songs Lost in the Meantime. They have been releasing songs over the last year or so via Bandcamp. Towards the end of the year finally putting together their album.

This is a charmingly captivating piece of work, made up as it is of ten sublime jangly indie pop, acoustic folky slices of good karma inducing instant musical sunshine. And what is remarkable is that these were all recorded in a makeshift home studio, mixed and full band songs mastered by Alex Wharton for a sum total of £250.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 -Part 14

December 6, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Never say never, but I’m pretty sure this will be the last singles round up of 2021. Some fantastic songs have surfaced this year. And there are probably even more that have passed me by. Here’s a selection of some of the one’s that have hit my inbox recenty and caught my ear…

Billy Sinclair – The One For You

Billy Sinclair’s latest single is stonking romp of a tune, if there was such a genre as glam country then this would be it. Soulful backing vocals complement the riffing with a catchy singalong chorus which lays out the protagonists case to get the girl…

Stream on Spotify now

Dreamkids – Metamorphosis A/A

Dreamkids follow up the video for the powerfully affecting It Must Be Nice and its focus on mental health with the double A side of their single Metamorphosis We Are Young a compelling grunge tinged emo rock song with a hint of Dolores O’Riordan in the vocals.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 – Part 13

November 21, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

We are fast approaching the end of 2021, but the songs keep on coming with no sign of a let up. Here is singles round up number 13 for the year. Who knows there may even be a 14… If I was superstitious there would have to be. With each one new song that comes out, the decision for singles of the year becomes harder and harder…

Here we go again – in no particualre order…

James Domestic – Push on Through

A throbbing hypnotic bass line pervades the air, before adding a keyboard melody and some angular post punk guitars, ad a vocal that sounds like Ian Dury has joined Sleaford Mods and you’re about there with this hypnotic alternative fucked up caffeine fried road song.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 – Part 9

September 5, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

2021 has been rammed full of quality new music, so many new singles and ones to fit every musical taste. Here’s my latest round up of the ones that have caught my attention.

And a note to all festival organisers whose bills are crammed with ladrock, there are literally thousands of alternatives out there….

Brat Coven

Brat Coven are a three piece riot grrrl/punk band with attitude form Glasgow. Listen to the lead song on their latest three track single and be in absolutely no doubt that they will accept NO unwelcome advances from sleazy blokes with the uncompromising grunge punk of Not Ur Girl.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 – Part 4

May 3, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

I find it virtually impossible to keep up with the volume of new music that fills my inbox on a daily basis. I would love to say I had time to listen to everything, but there aren’t enough hours in the day. If only I didn’t have to work to pay the bills.

Anyway, here is the latest round up of some of the singles and demos that I have managed to listen to and enjoyed, tunes that have caught my attention in the last few weeks. Seeing as it is a hideous, rainy bank holiday Monday, I am taking a welcome break from digging up the garden to pull them all together in one place.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up – January 2021

January 17, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Merely two weeks into 2021 and already my inbox is inundated with e-mails – new singles, forthcoming albums, demo’s. Certainly enough to focus my attention on the music and not the ongoing shit-show that 2021 has already shown itself to be.

It is nigh on impossible to listen to everything, but there have been certain songs that captured my attention more than others for one reason or another. Here is a selection of my favourites of the singles I’ve received so far (and I make absolutely no apology for sharing the first three again).

Mark W Georgsson

Theoretically this is a 2020 single given that it was released on Hogmanay, but I’m counting it as one of the first great singles of 2021.… Read the rest