Merry Monday. Very soon you can start officially saying it’s Christmas because December is coming on Thursday. We would do a Christmas TOTW next week but we’re a bit humbug round here at the moment but you never know, closer to the big day. Here’s some great stuff that people are crowbarring into the end of the year. Bosh. Right in your lugholes.
Tara Bandito – Woman (Recordiau Côsh)
Why we love it: What we’ve heard of Tara Bandito so far, she excels in anthemic alt-pop songs, firey and defiant and downright bloody inspiring. It’s rare in contemporary times to have a song about womanhood and for our authentic individual existence so uncompromisingly celebrated, but we totally have that here. In ‘Woman’, Bandito celebrates all aspects of our being; we are valid if we are physically and emotionally on top, but also if we’re wobbling. Because no woman is a fixed set of qualities, and to be constantly slapped with the ‘strong women’ label 24/7 is quite frankly, exhausting.
Written on International Women’s Day and inspired by her own biological and emotional fluctuations, I love the reassuring affirmation, ‘you got this’. Dig deep my sisters, and embrace your inner goddess. I know I am. ‘Woman‘ was on the Welsh A-list playlist on BBC Radio Wales and is Tara’s first English language single. (Cath Holland)
Lumer – English Dream
Hull born four-piece LUMER return with their new single ‘English Dream.’ With its social commentary and backdrop of a pumping bassline it’s a track which is relevant for the times we live in. The vocals of Alex Evans move between spoken and sung, creating emphasis where it is appropriate. The guitars are raw and edgy producing a soundscape for the themes of the track, disappointment and bitterness in the powers that be and their impact on society. The very end of the song is particularly striking and stays with the listener long after the song has finished.
On the track Alex expands: “’English Dream’ tries to epitomise my cynical view of my country. Why are you supposed to put so much in for very little in return? There is this constant battle, it seems, to find any form of joy in the political and social climate that we are currently surrounded by. I feel that we have to crawl on our knees for our leaders whilst very little is being done in protest from our people”. (Julia Mason)
Alffa – Closer To Me (Recordiau Côsh)
Why we love it : With this band, it never ceases to amaze what a mighty and full-on onslaught they inflict as a mere two piece. With ‘Closer To Me‘ Alffa double down on that, and crank it right up and out. The rock blast is fuller, but is not without subtleties and lyrically expresses vulnerabilities, happily avoiding the chest beating macho elements of a heavier rock tendency. We especially love the guitar in the closing seconds, sounding like a motorbike roaring off in the distance.
Michael Sheen described them as ‘the mighty Alffa’ and with this single they are not messing about. Alffa – Sion Jones (Guitar) and Sion Land (drums) – have turned it right up to ten with ‘Closer To Me’, the first single from their second album, out next year.
They are working on the record with Gethin Pearson who co-wrote Adwaith’s ‘Eto’. Alffa famously became the most streamed Welsh band ever over on Spotify and the tremendous new is, ‘Closer To Me‘ got on the All New Rock playlist on Spotify and the single got streamed ten thousand times in the first week. (Cath Holland)
cruush – Sombre by the Weekend
“I guess you can say our music has the sweet elements of having a crush on someone but the screeching of an industrial car crusher”.
What an evocative mantra from cruush vocalist and front-person Amber Warren. The Manchester shoegazers have signed to Heist or Hit and released new single ‘Sombre By The Weekend’. The vocals may be best described as shoegaze but the sonic landscape is more energised. The guitars create an industrial atmosphere but not morose and gloomy rather with a rawness and edge which produces a faster tempo than perhaps expected. The lyrics comment on toxicity, physiological decline, narcissistic behaviours and pessimistic tendencies. Thought-provoking themes indeed but delivered in such a way that you want to learn more about crush.
Amber expands on the lyrical themes:
“They touch upon trying your best to impress a group of friends only to be knocked down or made fun of. It’s about being surrounded by much bigger personalities and feeling timid and socially drained after social situations/parties. Feeling like you have to say yes to everything to impress, and toxic friendships which, when you’re out the other side of, you realise that they weren’t the right people for you.” (Julia Mason)
Empty Page – Dry Ice
Why we love it: Manchester’s The Empty Page new single bounds on the horns of sinuous bass bounds, pummeling drums and a cavalcade of riffs and synths. Spasming on singer Kel’s visceral crescendos: that are in the grip of humanity. writhing with other human flesh on the dance floor. Unstoppable.
Produced by the mysterious Morton Kong, the track was recorded at the vintage gear heaven that is Eve Studios, Stockport.
Singer and bassist Kel says: “‘Dry Ice’ was inspired by the alluring stench that pours out the back door of a club, beckoning you in as you walk past. The chorus celebrates ‘the crush of the warm crowd’ – the joy of moving as one to loud music in a roomful of people. It’s about writhing together unselfconsciously.
“I was already feeling nostalgic for freer, easier times, late nights, chippy tea bus rides, when I started scribbling down ideas but the restrictions of the pandemic exacerbated that yearning for closeness to strangers. I still don’t think we’re quite back there with the freedom to mingle sweatily that we once took for granted. This song is a celebration of that ‘disco convulsion'” (Bill Cummings)
ARKLEY – Higher (World Dance Edit)
Scottish DJ and producer ARKLEY has released his new single ‘Higher (World Dance Edit)’ the first from his forthcoming 90s rave and acid house inspired Channel A EP. The self-produced track was given the final mastering treatment by Mike Marsh (The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, The Shamen and Bizarre Inc). This is euphoric dance music to bring a massive smile to your face and get your body moving. The uplifting gospel vocals and a phenomenal solo section creates an old school house rhythm track. ‘Higher (World Dance Edit)‘ perfectly encapsulates the vibe of early 90s mega-raves, and if there was ever a time to lose yourself in music its right now.
So get this in your ears, turn the volume up and dance like no-ones watching. Trust me, you will feel so much better afterwards. (Julia Mason)
Gillie – I ti
Why we love it: Gillie‘s evocative new single ‘i ti’ is a wistful trawl through to self-discovery, documenting her journey back to her homeland of Wales after late teens and early twenties spend in London. A time of Transcience this wonderful song, swims deep in swirling melodies and pitta patters of the beat and entwining guitar motifs. Her vocals ripple with anxiety, contemplation and release, hewn with a recognition that things have to change. Her first release for Libertino records a hallmark of quality Welsh release, we look forward to what is to come from this talented and burgeoning songwriter.
As Gillie explains: “This song centres around a period in my life where I was looking for a change of direction and hoping to rectify frustrations of feeling overwhelmed and worn out. The rhythm is an attempt to reflect the fast pace of a city life that I was ready to leave, whilst the dreamy vocals reflect escapism, and a yearning for something more. I began writing this track in my last month of living in London, but the song itself came to life and was fully realised once I made the move back to my homeland.
“Some of the lyrics are quite disjointed. It doesn’t so much tell a story as it tries to capture a feeling of making decisions. I (kind of) wrote it as a stream of consciousness and didn’t think too much about the concept. I wanted to capture a feeling without over analysing it. The first verse touches on how I often feel that I am pointlessly shouting into the ether, trying to be heard, whilst I slowly get older, collecting defects along the way. The second verse sees me trying to leave some of these thoughts behind, looking toward a new start as things gently begin to fall into place.” (Bill Cummings)
