Who? Chemtrails
What? A premiere of their new video 'Vultures' from Cuckoo Spit EP, out now via PNKSLM Recordings.
Where? London
They say: "This song's about the frustration of struggling to realise ambitions due to reality's relentless insistence on getting in the way, and how sometimes you feel like dropping out of society altogether - not that you'd even know how. Mixing really garage-y evil-sounding chords with more happy chords is something I really love doing, as you can go back and forth between building up tension and then going into a poppy release for the choruses."
Why we love it: The London garage punks have done it again, slinging together a witty, melodic, riff-laden delight that will stay at the top of your personal playlist for a long time.
FFO: Pixies, Menace Beach, Amber Arcades
Live: Feb 4-7 - London, UK - KEXP's live from London (NK)
Who? Róisín Murphy
What? 'The Rumble'
Where? Ireland
They say:The 4th of 4 dancefloor hook-ups between Róisín Murphy and Maurice Fulton.
Why we love it: A slinky melange of disco and boogie inducing house from the former Moloko singee who is forging a unique path with a run of excellent singles.
FFO: Moloko, Daft Punk, Maurice Fulton (BC)
Who? LIILY
What? 'Sepulveda Basin'
Where? LA
They say: “the song is about the pleasures of living in the greatest place in the world: the San Fernando Valley.”
Why we love it: Taking nods from the funk-driven guitar tones of Foals, LA four-piece Liily are crafting some delectable indie pop music. Sepulveda Basin has the kind of call-and-reply chorus that festival crowds will snap up in no time.
FFO: Foals, SWMRS, Wild Beasts (NK)
Who? Jess Ribeiro
What? 'Stranger'
Where? Melbourne
They say: “this music clip was made at my families truck yard in outback Australia. It features family members including my Uncles Chris, Tim, Pat and Anthony Kelly (martial artist - & Guinness World Record holder!). As we brought out the Ute, everyone wanted to bring out their toys - including the military World War One Harley Davidson. Lot's of cars and bikes didn't make it through the final cut but that's what happens when you make a song that goes for less than four minutes”.
Why we love it: With Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) produced debut LP Kill It Yourself already under her belt, Jess Ribeiro isn't faltering in her quest to the very top. Stranger is a chugging, haze of brooding sand-beaten rock n roll with some brilliant harmonies that float across the deserted horizon.
FFO: PJ Harvey, Alvvays, Phantastic Furniture
(NK)
Who? Los Blancos
What? 'Cadw Fi Lan'
Where? Cardiff
They say:
Los Blancos, has a great 2018 with a string of Welsh language singles. This year looks set to be a big year for them too, with the release of their long awaited album before the Summer.
On the 8th of February, the new double A side single 'Ti Di Newid / Cadw Fi Lan' will be released. Both songs are contrasting.
Why we love it: Sleepy slacker punk, that lurches into anthemic singalong territory.
FFO: Velvet Underground, The Replacements, The Wedding Present. (BC)
Who? Jerry Williams
What? David at the bar
Where? Portsmouth
What they say? “’David At The Bar’ is one of the most honest songs I’ve ever written, each line is so true as to what happened this night when I just got speaking to this man at a bar. I just got talking to him about life and dreams and I went on to say that I’m a singer and I write songs and I’m giving this a good go… He went on to say that he’s an alcoholic, he’s got a baby on the way, he’s really scared about it and he feels like he’s ruined his life”
"I just felt this weird, bizarre connection to this man. He said “If you write a song about me I promise I’ll give up drink” and I said “You should give up drink anyway, but I will”. The next day this song was written, I haven’t found him to tell him but I would love to find him. His name is David and I literally just met him at a bar, and that’s what this soheartbreaking”
Why we love it? A simmering hearbreaking narrative that threads affecting emotive vocals and frames it in widescreen folk-pop backgrop. Extra points for the Simon and Garfunkel style crashing drums.
FFO: Emmy The Great, Lucy Rose, Simon and Garfunkel (BC)
