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Overall, The Next One is a fantastically adventurous sonic landscape, making it a compelling addition for both fans of the avant-garde and those seeking a fresh musical experience.
The Outer Hebrides’ elusive songsmith, flakebelly, defies genre norms, fusing psychedelic indie rock and acoustic folk-jazz. His sound is an intricate fusion of folk-inspired acoustic warmth, blues-drenched guitar riffs, and ambient, psychedelic textures. Layered with jazz-infused piano melodies and indie rock nuances, his music forms a rich, genre-blurring tapestry that immerses the listener in an experimental and evocative journey. With ‘In Parks Of Tall Trees’ recently playing on Tom Robinson’s BBC 6 Music ‘Introducing Mixtape’, flakebelly’s distinctive songwriting is beginning to build ripples from an avalanche of pebbles.
With his distinctive vocal style and penetrating lyrics, Matthew Squires occupies a unique niche within the realm of indie pop, creating an idiosyncratic sound which has led the prominent Austin music site, Ovrld, to dub him “the best successor to Austin’s late great Daniel Johnston.”
With heartfelt, literary lyrics, and captivating melodies delivered in a soaring tenor range, Splash! brings you musical reflections inspired by philosophy, mysticism, and spiritual practice. His unique warmth provides a balm for your weary soul.
Born in Canada to French parents, Elea lived in Hemmingford until age 5 when her family moved to Dharamsala, India for her father to pursue Tibetan medicine studies. She subsequently spent a few years in the south of France before moving to Bristol, UK at 16 to study music. Releasing a string of singles, “Lust”, “Trigger” and “Sacrifice”, to critical acclaim in her idiosyncratically “towering sound reminiscent of PJ Harvey and Feist”, she was touted as “a millennial Patti Smith”. Albeit being Gen Z, she decided not to correct the journalist for the (hopefully only partly) erroneous compliment.
It’s a genuine mystery why Edwards hasn’t achieved at least Robyn Hitchock or XTC levels of acclaim.
Zebrahead is an Orange County, CA-based pop-punk/alternative rock/rapcore band which was formed in 1996 by vocalist/guitarist Justin Mauriello (formerly of Once There), guitarist Greg Bergdorf (formerly of 409), bassist Ben Osmundson (formerly of 3-Ply), drummer Ed Udhus (formerly of 409), and rapper Ali Tabatabaee.
Wiltshire, UK-based duo Shapes Like People are back with “A New Crown”, the third single from the forthcoming LP ”Ticking Haze” out in March ‘25. Jangle-pop, shoegaze, and Americana wrap this gorgeous, waltzy tune in a warm blanket. More please!
Where Hope Goes, Fear Follows not only represents a culmination of Peck’s artistic journey but also further establishes him as a formidable voice in contemporary electronica.
Shawn Brown has always been a shapeshifter musically, effortlessly weaving together folk, rock, R&B, and roots influences into a sound that’s as emotionally rich as it is sonically adventurous. His music carries an authenticity and vulnerability that instantly connects with listeners, offering a deeply personal, almost confessional tone that never feels forced. Brown’s genre-defying sound is a testament to his eclectic taste and deep roots in soul, R&B, and guitar-driven pop, with a palpable love for the grit and soul of roots rock.
Set to be released on Halloween, Psychedelic Soul & Trash Vol.3 is an amalgamation of styles to create a bubblegum sci-fi/horror, indie pop LP. The use of samples, decks, and instrumentation is nothing new, however, Nick and Luke blend these elements to create classic pop songs with help from several music friends including James Atkin (EMF) and Eliot Foster (Good Cop). Nick Foster describes the album as “a sonic exploration of all the song styles we are influenced by – from Garage Rock, Psychedelia, Soul, Funk, and even a little vocal tribute to the genius that is William Shatner”.
The Wichitas achieve an organic sound without unnecessary embellishments. The electrifying guitars provide a vibrant and enveloping vibe, while the rhythmic bass maintains a precise dynamic that drives each moment of the song.
Maisy’s Rainbow Dream is a punk-pop trio from Oxford, England featuring Tony Higgs (vocals and bass), Julian Richardson (guitar) and Chaz Snell (drums). Veterans of the Oxford music scene who between them have played in dozens of great bands over the years, New Past Times is the debut Maisy’s Rainbow Dream EP which features the singles “Puddles of Madness” and “Cool Kids” alongside EP closer, “Alone”.
The Scarlet Goodbye, labelled “the most unlikely mash-up in Minnesota music history”, is the creative combination of Daniel Murphy and Jeff Arundel.
Industrial Tribute_ is not just a homage; it’s a bold statement that reaffirms their role as innovators in the industrial genre.
Rebecca Aadland’s new album, Stronger Broken, is an eclectic collection of original songs, bridging styles of folk, rock and blues. Her resonant and beautiful vocals infuse this record, which is the culmination of six years in the studio with some of Minnesota’s finest musicians. Stronger Broken was released fifteen years after her debut record. Her lyrics are soulful, sometimes humorous, with themes of getting unstuck, finding love, and wrestling with life’s hardships.
Boris bring their sludge masterpiece to the live setting via an Amplifier Worship Service.
Cashavelly calls the bluff of a societal narrative that seeks to diminish women with age, knowing they often find their full power at the moment they’re written off. Her substantive pop music defies, provokes, and benevolently empathizes, convincing all who listen that the rebirth of a new world is not only possible but already underway. Her latest album, Meditation Through Gunfire, is a bold manifesto, weaving together threads of unflinching personal inquiry, societal critique, and urgent philosophical defiance.
Pianist and composer Andrew Hill was an iconoclast, a remarkable musician who wrote weird, complex, brilliantly melodic pieces and presented them to musicians who knew exactly how to flow in and outside of the tunes.
Hania Rani becomes a one-person orchestra, stopping by Philadelphia on her global tour.
Husband/wife indie folk/Americana duo writing and recording music together in their home in Metuchen, NJ, in between work, kids, and falling asleep on the couch at 9pm. New album, Two Ghosts, out Dec. 2 on Bright & Barrow Records. Vinyl pre-order live now.
Your Favourite TEQUILA ROCK band!!! Seven Red Lions is an alternative rock band formed in London. With a lineup as diverse as their sound, the band brings together lead singer and guitarist David Lion from Mexico, bassist and vocalist Sara Priegue from Portugal, the drummer Omar Perez representing Venezuela, and Magnus on guitar hailing from Sweden.
Reckless Hallows is the embodiment of heartache, hope, and redemption in the world of alternative indie music. With roots firmly planted in 90s nostalgia, their sound blends the timeless elements of Tom Petty and Elvis Costello with a modern twist reminiscent of The Gaslight Anthem and Hot Water Music. The band’s music is architecturally influenced by The Cure, The Smiths, and Soundgarden, creating a fusion that’s both familiar and refreshingly unique.
Originally from Swindon – where he was a member of the now legendary Aggravators whom supported The Clash on their infamous White Riot tour – he soon moved to London where he co-formed Restaurant For Dogs with Barry Andrews, formerly of XTC; a band which gigged extensively – including a UK tour opening for Robert Fripp – and released various recordings on both Virgin & Polydor.
So catchy, it spreads like wild fire. So fun and unpredictable, you don’t quite know what rhythms you’ll hear next or how to move to it. And this same music is so exciting that it can literally feel like it has the power to speed up time so that 45 minutes feels like the blink of an eye.
Blake is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the UK. He began his musical career singing and playing bass in a Joy Division covers band at school. Discovering he could write his own songs, he adopted the moniker ‘Blake’ after his favorite poet, William Blake.
Fringe Frontier’s tunes are fueled by Americana storytelling and gritty guitar hooks. Their music rolls through the back counties of the South up to New York City. Songs from the Wirehouse, their forthcoming LP, was mixed by 2x Grammy-winner and Midlake drummer McKenzie Smith, and mastered by Grammy-nominee Kim Rosen.
Recorded remotely between Scotland and Ireland, Reconnected encapsulates the band’s emotional journey over the past year and a half, reflecting themes of frustration, isolation, and introspection. Tracks like “Escape” and “Restless” delve into the struggles of feeling trapped and battling insomnia, while the title track “Disconnected” explores the dependency on the digital world for connection. With captivating storytelling and raw energy, Packetloss’s debut album is poised to leave a lasting impact on listeners, transcending boundaries and resonating with a diverse audience.
Joined by regular partners Aaron Diehl (piano) and Harish Raghavan (bass), Sorey lets his hair down, so to speak, and just plays music he likes, without having the weight of having written them be part of the conversation.
Although JBNG are such a new group, they’ve already carved out such an impressive niche for themselves, and prove that there’s still new gold to be mined within the alt rock genre.
With Crimson Legacy, McDuffee joins the ranks of great musicians like Danny Elfman and Brian Eno who inhabit the film and music worlds with effortless ease, creating vital works of art in both spheres.
Dave Clark is a singer/songwriter who has been writing songs and playing guitar for as long as he can remember. His music touches on the complexities of life and relationships, misunderstandings, and society’s intolerance, drawing inspiration from the world around him and his personal, often quirky, perspective.
“Puddles and Water,” is the next step in a personal musical journey. With beautiful and often intricate guitar alongside emotional vocals that draw the audience in, it will reward anyone who likes to listen deeply to music, focussing on themes of introspection and longing in his own unique, dark, but humorous style.
Jeremy Engel is a Luxembourg singer-songwriter whose evocative blend of folk and rock creates a unique and immersive musical experience. By day, he works as a conference interpreter for the United Nations, and by night, he pours his heart into his music, drawing inspiration from artists like Damien Rice, Rory Gallagher, Dave Matthews and Leonard Cohen.
sssiv’s debut album, sssiv 1, is the first of an ongoing collection of songs built from live, evolving, improvisational themes and moods that Sara, Stephen, and Sasha record and weave together in Copenhagen, Denmark.
It’s all been building up to this: Planetarium, a three-disk magnum opus, ten years in the making.
CARRIE ABYSS is set to release their original single “man’s debt” on October 18th, 2024, an introspective track exploring the theme of the debt men owe to women. Recorded at City University Studio, this release showcases the band’s ethos of feminism and their commitment to tackling societal issues through music.
SUPERPOSITION! represents a turning point for Storm Boy where they find themselves feeling out of step, out of phase, out of position, and out of alignment…in a state of super position where they’re feeling the burden and the joy of being multiple things at the same time, very much depending on how they’re observed.
George Wilding is an English singer songwriter from Avebury, Wiltshire.
Madame Psychosis is back with their most ambitious and emotionally charged project to date: MP3, their third studio album. It will be released October 23rd on all streaming platforms.
Little Blue Dot makes an important and necessary statement about the threats facing our planet, and it also represents a high watermark of creativity for The New Students, as they sound tighter and more inspired than ever.
Cautionary Yell is an impressive addition to an already storied discography for Sluka, and a real jewel in the crown to cap off what has come before.
Underwater Detection Method puts the man known for quirky postpunk and art rock in the realm of space rock.
For all of the different influences, it’s a remarkably cohesive collection of songs that form a stunning debut statement and will easily appeal to any fan of 80s goth and goth-adjacent music.
AIR blow the lunar dust off of their debut record Moon Safari, which has aged well.
Irish alt-pop/indie rock band MT.Heads are continuing their rapid rise in the music scene with the release of their latest single, ‘Feel Alright’. A track filled with raw emotion and infectious melodies, ‘Feel Alright’ showcases the band’s knack for blending groove-driven rhythms with thought-provoking lyrics and genre-defying soundscapes.
Rising folk-rock artist Itamar Fainer releases his highly anticipated 6-track album, Wild Horses in The End Of The World, a genre-bending project blending folk-rock, country, and Americana influences. With its raw authenticity and heartfelt storytelling, the album marks Fainer’s evolution as a multifaceted artist who writes, arranges, produces and performs everything on his tracks. The lead single, ‘Zoe,’ is a standout reflection of Fainer’s signature sound, weaving personal experiences into universal emotions.
The Bright Collide has a goal to write music heavily influenced by post-punk bands, alternative rock, 60’s pop rock bands, and artists who transcended genres such as David Bowie and the Smashing Pumpkins.
Rising artist SORAYA releases her powerful new single, ‘the story of the phoenix’, is a poignant charity ballad that blends orchestral, pop, and classical elements that aims to highlight the plight of the Palestinian people. Known for her evocative and emotional music, SORAYA delves deep into themes of grief, loss, and resilience with her latest track, which features the acclaimed Palestinian Galilee Quartet. This collaboration brings together a raw expression of personal and political sorrow, set against the backdrop of sweeping cinematic soundscapes.