Not Another Music Blog.: March 2018

Thursday 29 March 2018

The Best of Fresh Finds (28/03/2018)

In this series, we pick out the best from Spotify's Fresh Finds playlists which shines a light on the latest and greatest songs from undiscovered artists around the world. You never know, you might find your new favourite tune. Click the titles to listen!

Carla Geneve - Greg's Discount Chemist

Aussie native Carla Geneve's new single 'Greg's Discount Chemist' is a bright and uplifting indie-folk track that sounds not too dissimilar from peers Courtney Barnett and Jen Cloher. The stand-alone single is hopefully the first of many to come this year from the nineteen-year-old singer-songwriter.

Holm - Hope

Holm is the solo project from Danish multi-instrumentalist Mikkel Holm-Silkjaer. This new track is produced, written and performed entirely by Holm himself. The twanging guitars and raw vocals combine brilliantly to create a DIY sound whilst maintaining an air of polished professionalism. Holm's passion is plain to hear throughout the brilliantly performed track.

Candy - Apartment in the City

The second Australian on this list, Candy is the solo project of former Amyl and the Sniffers member Calum Newton. His sound sits somewhere between shoegaze and lo-fi pop whilst taking influence from emo and mid-2000s indie. 'Apartment in the City' is his first single off the upcoming album 'Under the Weather'.

Bdrmm - Kare

'Kare' is the brand new single from Hull boys Bdrmm. It's a tune of beautifully hazy vocals, swirling guitar leads and driving rhythm sections that build and fall to create welcome intense moments throughout the reverb-heavy, dreamlike sound. Produced by maestro Alex Greaves (Trash, PLAZA) these lads from the North of England are definitely ones to watch.

Video Age - Hold On (I Was Wrong)

'Hold On (I Was Wrong)' is the new single from retro pop duo Video Age. The funky basslines, nostalgia-filled synth stabs and Nile Rogers-esque guitar parts make this tune brilliantly fun and awfully catchy. The perfect tune to bring in the summer.

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Wednesday 14 March 2018

A Fond Farewell to TRASH

Your favourite Chesterfield four-piece have decided to call it a day. After four great years releasing great tunes and touring up and down the country, indie darlings TRASH are sadly no more.

TRASH broke the news in an emotional Facebook post thanking their label Clue Records and also their loyal fan-base. We're big fans over here at Not Another Music Blog and we'll be super sorry to see them go. Their fun, jangly and insanely catchy indie will be sorely missed as well as their hilarious stage presence and fantastic live shows.

The lads left a little parting gift as they announced their split and it's ironically probably their best work yet. You can listen to the brilliant three track EP below which was produced by the highly talented Alex Greaves at Nave Studios in Leeds.

Farewell TRASH, it's been fun!

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Friday 9 March 2018

The Worst and Best of New Music Friday (09/03/2018)

It's New Music Friday and we're here to guide you through the worst and best tunes released today. Click the titles to listen!

Worst

Dermot Kennedy - Young & Free

Dull as dishwater this. Nothing here is new, groundbreaking or interesting. Kennedy sounds like any other male singer trying out for the X-Factor. The husky strained vocals grate massively and the production is just plain crap. The trap beats and arpeggiated acoustic guitars sound awfully awkward. What a dirge.

Samantha Harvey - When It Comes Down

Samantha Harvey made her name by singing tunes with that annoying little Conor Maynard chap. She's somehow got herself a record deal and is now releasing bang average R&B influenced pop. This tune is monotonous, one dimensional and even attempts a fist pump moment for the final chorus. Just stop now, please.

Betty Who - Look Back

Annoying this one. According to her Spotify profile Betty Who takes influence from MGMT. We're not really sure where that influence goes, as its definitely not in her music. The Australian's voice is weirdly odd and doesn't seem to work with the big bombastic pop production. Definitely, swerve this one.

Jason Derulo - Colors

Jason Derulo is back and the 'Watcha Say' singer has brought his dancehall production (yawn) and the steel drums with him. Honestly, this isn't even that terrible, it just sounds like every other pop tune at the moment. Unadventurous and painstakingly drab. We genuinely can't wait for this current musical trend to end.

Honourable Mentions

Kylie Minogue - Stop Me From Falling

Best

ZHU & Tame Impala - My Life

This collaborative effort from ZHU and Tame Impala dropped earlier in the week and we've had it on loop ever since. Kevin Parker's wistful vocal's combined with ZHU's anthemic production makes this a house tune that we can get on board with. The groove and drop are minimal but effective making it perfect for those night time sessions.

Hinds - The Club

Spanish garage-rock band Hinds have released a new single off their upcoming album 'I Don't Run'. The track is lo-fi and raw with passionate distorted vocals throughout. The guitar leads are catchy as hell and the track is charmingly bright and melodic. We can't wait to hear the album!

Parquet Courts - Wide Awake!

Parquet Courts have released another absolute banger. 'Wide Awake' is the new single and title track from their forthcoming album. The percussion-heavy instrumental and funky basslines are complimented by the gang vocals and layers upon layers of catchy guitar parts. You have to watch the crazy video too. It's so much fun.

Matt Maltese - Greatest Comedian

'Greatest Comedian' is South London cult hero and singer-songwriter Matt Maltese's first offering off his recently announced debut album. The track is a lot more upbeat than his previous efforts and the production from Foxygen's Jonathan Rado adds extra character and life to the already witty Maltese.

Honourable Mentions

Beach House - Dive
Grouper - Parking Lot
Cut Worms - Don't Want To Say Goodbye
Jon Hopkins - Emerald Rush
serpentwithfeet - bless ur heart

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Wednesday 7 March 2018

Album Review: Haley Heynderickx - 'I Need to Start a Garden'

Haley Heynderickx has been making waves with her self-described 'doom folk' since the release of 2016's 'Fish Eye' EP. Growing up in Oregon, Heyndrickx now resides in Portland where she has honed her craft and musical style by mixing a love of jazz radio with 60s and 70s folk influences. Released through Mama Bird Recording Co, 'I Need to Start a Garden' is her debut full-length LP.

The album opens with the beautifully intimate 'No Face' where the delicate tone of the record is instantly set. The solitary acoustic guitar intertwines perfectly with Heynderickx's vocal. Second track 'No Bug Collector' is another finger-picked track but this time Heynderickx's vocals are double-tracked giving the song a fuller sound accentuated by baritone brass sections and deep rolling percussion. The instrumentation has an insect-like feel here, scurrying and snapping to wonderfully mimic the lyrics. On 'Jo' the vocals are centred once again to create that great sense of intimacy before the album's centrepiece 'Worth It' is introduced. Clocking in at just under eight minutes, the track is sprawling and twisting epic that ebbs and flows with great intensity.

On 'Show You a Body' and 'Untitled God Song' Heynderickx takes it back to her acoustic roots until halfway through the latter where the band take centre stage to produce a moment of pure attitude and grit. 'Oom Sha La La' is probably the most 'pop' sounding tune on the record. Lyrically the track seems rather nonsensical before Heyndrickx loudly screams the album title over and over. The album closer 'Drinking Song' is another relaxed folk number to make the LP come full circle.

Even though the album is achingly short (it clocks in at thirty minutes with only eight tracks), Heynderickx has created a beautifully concise and charming body of work that is easily one of the best folk records to be released in 2018 so far.

8/10

Best track - The Bug Collector

Worst track - Show You a Body

Listen to 'Worth It' here

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Tuesday 6 March 2018

Track Review: Hum Fuzz - 'Act With Me'

At the end of last year, we introduced you to a young indie band from the South West of England called Hum Fuzz. They had just released their debut single 'Girl from the Bend' and for a first single we were pleasantly surprised. Now, the boys are back with their second single titled 'Act With Me' and it's as fun and well executed as the last.

The tune opens with upbeat rhythm guitar and vocals before the drums and bass are introduced to further accentuate the highly danceable groove. The song is packed full of catchy vocal melodies, lush, melodic instrumentation and lovely little breaks that show that the lads really know what they're doing. Once again Leo Nathan's vocals take centre stage and this time around they sound even better. There is more control and a little more restraint which shows Hum Fuzz have discovered a little bit more maturity in their unique sound.

The song is more concise than their previous effort and it sounds as if the boys have honed their sound and style even more. After this second teaser, we really can't wait to see how much the four-piece grows over the year.

Listen to the 'Act With Me' below.

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Thursday 1 March 2018

New Video: Brad Stank - O.T.D

Brad Stank has shared the new self-directed video for his brilliantly sensual single 'O.T.D'. Stank first came to attention after releasing the relaxed but equally groovy tracks 'Flirting In Space' and 'Daddy Blue'. Stank's solo material is far removed from his work as the drummer in rock 'n' roll reinventors Trudy and the Romance, and with this new jazz-influenced vibe, we can't get enough.

Released through your new favourite indie label Untitled Recs, the video explores the pathetic state of being separated from your lover with both humour and romanticism. The tune itself is beautiful slow-burning track full of thickly textured vocals and guitar licks that hit you right in the feels. The hints of subtle psychedelia played against breezy, jazz-tinged drum grooves are a wonder; making it easy to get lost in the vast soundscapes of Stank's creations.

We're excited to see what happens next with the young Liverpudlian. His unique sound has definitely caught our attention and hopefully will grab yours too. 'O.T.D' is now available on a very limited run of copies as the B-side to a newly remastered version of the majestic 'Daddy Blue'. Get yourself one here before they go.

Watch the video for 'O.T.D' below.

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