You know, it gets harder to think up witty intros to Tracks of the Week every week, especially on a Monday morning, sat in an office, whilst the sun and blue sky taunts and takes the piss out the window. On the plus side, bank Holiday again next week. Boom. In the meantime, wrap your lugholes round these little teases. Scrummy.
Cowtown – Total Engagement
Why we love it: because the Cowtown machine remains fully switched on. They may well be two decades into their career and it’s now eight years since their last album but the Leeds’ trio of Hilary Knott (keys/vocals), Jonathan Nash (guitars/vocals) and David Shields (drums) will continue to remain an integral part of the UK’s underground scene by producing brilliant music such as this.
‘Total Engagement’ is the third and final single to be taken from their upcoming album, Fear Of… which will be landing at a record store near you on 31st of May courtesy of Gringo Records. With its buzzsaw guitar and tightly wound proto-punk groove, it may well hark back to the spirit of Saturday Night Live in 1978 but still sounds as fresh as hell. It is so good that even after all this time Cowtown are still fuelling the fires of 21st century rock’n’roll. (Simon Godley)
Cardinals – Nineteen
Why we love it: Cork five-piece Cardinals share new track ‘Nineteen’ ahead of their self-titled debut EP landing June 7th on So Young Records. At sub-two minutes it proves the rule that less is absolutely more. Demonstrating a more tenacious side to the band ‘Nineteen’ is crisp and sharp and to the point. “If there’s one thing I wouldn’t do is take off my skin for you.” What a great line, succinct and to the point. ‘Nineteen’ is more upbeat than previous singles, proving that shaking things up is never a bad thing. It’s going to be cool to see just how the debut EP is going to sound as a whole.
Front man Euan Manning shares the following on the new single:
“’Nineteen’ came from a desire to write a song that was shorter than two minutes, I had been listening to lots of Buddy Holly and he’s got some great short songs. It was written very quickly in a practice session but was about four minutes originally so we whittled it down to the 1 minutes and 53 seconds you hear now. The lyrics were the first thing that came to mind, usually I’d go home and do re-writes but these were simple somehow, I liked them enough to keep them as they were.” (Julia Mason)
LOWMOON – Monochrome
Why we love it: because it is always a pleasure to be able to introduce a new artist through Tracks of the Week, especially one that comes armed with a killer tune. LOWMOON is that artist and ‘Monochrome’ is that tune. LOWMOON is the lo-fi indie bedroom pop project of the York-based musician Mikey Wilson, who has recently joined considerable forces with the city’s independent imprint Safe Suburban Home. And ‘Monochrome’ is their new single, arriving in advance of a full debut album which is due out on 28th June on cassette.
Talking about ‘Monochrome’, Mike Wilson says: “It was the first song I wrote for the album. It started with the bass part which I recorded through an old Japanese chorus pedal into a Jazz Chorus amp. I wanted to just follow wherever the song arrangement took me rather than forcing it into a standard verse, chorus structure. I programmed the drum machine using a Roland TR-505 and ran the snare through a cheap outboard reverb from the 80s which gives the track a hint of nostalgia.”
And this drive down memory lane takes us right back to mid-80s period New Order – think here Brotherhood and Low-Life – and a gleaming joyride through the black and white streets of some northern town. It is a journey on which we are happy to hitch a ride. (Simon Godley)
Sister Envy – Tide
Why we love it: because it’s a reverb heavy, distortion heavy, slice of psych rock. With shades of My Vitriol and Vex Red and the early 2000’s British Rock revival post Nu Metal, but with a dark undertone. There are American 90’s alt-rock nods when the guitars are overdriven and chunky that harks back to early Smashing Pumpkins. Its a heady brew with stark symbolism about relationships and loss, the production makes it a cavenous, gigantic experience.
They say “Tide is the first song we recorded together as a band, i wrote it whilst severely hungover one sunny afternoon, it was one of those days where the moon was visible.. I wrote it about someone I used to see, a toxic relationship that still pulls you in just to inevitably throw you back.” (Jim Auton)
Day Sleeper – All That Is True
Why we love it: Edinburgh-based experimental pop band Day Sleeper have shared new single ‘All That Is True’. This comes ahead of the release of EP Everything There Is (Deluxe Edition) on June 14th, exclusively on vinyl in partnership with Assai Records. ‘All That Is True’ features Scottish singer-songwriter Magpie Blue. It’s a beautiful track giving room for the vocals to step forth. Lead vocalist Leo Bargery delivers a glorious opening, accompanied initially by only the guitar. Magpie Blue takes over, her bluesy vocal a stunning addition to the song. The tracks emotional pull increases further at around the two thirds point, the instrumentation taking over and leading the soaring power with its ethereal atmosphere. The combined vocal then allows the soundscape to envelope them. There is a sense of effortless in ‘All That Is True’, a compliment not a criticism.
The deluxe edition of the EP features a newly remastered and resequenced tracklisting, recontextualising the band’s debut EP Everything There Is with 4 additional tracks in an entirely new presentation that compiles the first year of Day Sleeper releases. (Julia Mason)
Spotlights – Sunset Burial
Why we love it: because Spotlights have just announced their first ever headline tour of the UK and to celebrate the occasion we can revisit their latest album, Alchemy For The Dead and one of the record’s standout tracks, ‘Sunset Burial’.
Like some long-since dormant volcano, the metallic lava of ‘Sunset Burial’ bubbles under the surface always threatening to erupt but somehow never quite doing so. It is a wonderful example of tension and anticipated release and one that makes the upcoming tour by the Brooklyn trio of Mario Quintero (guitar, vocals, keys), Sarah Quintero (bass, vocals) and Chris Enriquez (drums) something to really savour. (Simon Godley)
Mountaintop Junkshop – Into The Blast
Why we love it: What’s not to love? A heartfelt and poignant vignette about the heavy impact of mental health and comjng out the other side. As Jon Bennett explains: “This is the second track on our new EP (released 20th May); it’s a song about feeling all of your uncomfortable emotions and trusting that on the other side of anxiety, fear and doubt lies peace of mind and joy.” Mountaintop Junktop play Leicester’s The International with John Murry and Aaron Brookes on Wednesday 22nd May. (Loz Etheridge)
