The Gringos are a band from Athens, Georgia and they have recently released a classy single called “In Retro”. It is full of soul and some delicious old school guitar licks. The vocals remind me of the Kings Of Leon when they first broke big. It feels modern and at the same time evokes the classic rock of the 60s and 70s. This song would not be out of place on the next ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ mix tape!
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German music powerhouse band Electric Callboy have just unleashed their latest single, “Elevator Operator”. It is an unforgettable blend of hardcore rock, electro dance, disco and pure pop. It has heavy guitar riffs. Club style synth sounds accentuate it. There are huge four to the floor beats. There are growly rock vocals alongside poppy disco vocals. In fact it has every-fucking-thing and it is destined to be huge! It reminded me of Junior Senior for its catchy infectious sound. It also reminded me of Electric Six for its smart and intelligent approach to music. The music is mainstream yet slightly leftfield at the same time. I bloody love this and I think you will too!
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Pip Lewis is a 22 year old British singer-songwriter based in San Diego, California. She has just dropped a great single from her forthcoming album ‘Growing Pains’. Pip sees some of her key influences coming from Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers. The song has a heavenly indie pop sound with a beautifully crystal clear vocal. The flowing and sometimes stuttering musical accompaniment gives the track a soulful dreamy feel. Interwoven in this film-like sound is an occasional funky acoustic guitar riff. Pip said this of “Safe & Sound”: “This song is inspired by the idea that one can feel alone in a room full of people. It’s a cry for help into the crowd and a love letter to those who answer it.” The video gets across the image of being lonely in a crowd perfectly. I think that this gorgeous song will stay with me for a long while. I love it!
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Antony Szmierek, Manchester based poet, producer, rather ace music maker and all round good guy has a new album out at the end of next month. It is called ‘Service Station At The End Of The Universe’. His new single, “Angie’s Wedding” will be the final track on the album. It brings together many of the album’s characters in a fictional wedding of the century setting. Szmierek’s rhythmic, soft spoken rap is ideal for this track. It oozes hope. Now I am even more excited for the album. Did Angie make it? Like Antony I hope she did too.
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British hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks are Jordan “Rizzle” Stephens and Harley “Sylvester” Alexander-Sule. They first broke big back in 2011 with the rather excellent single “Down With The Trumpets”. They had a few more hits and split up for a while. Last year they announced their return. They released a few classy singles last year in advance of their forthcoming comeback album ‘Competition Is For Losers’. The album is due out in February. Their first single in 2025 is “Vice” and man is it a good ‘un. It is funky, bright, overloaded with great hooks and is full of happy vibes. This song makes me smile and dance with zero persuasion, it is an instant party. I love the mention of hip hop royalty in the lyric, “Now, I don’t pause when I say love, I feel it right in my De La Soul“. Even Sporty Spice gets a name check! The video filmed in a bowling alley with the Rizzle Kicks playing around and having a ton of fun. I loved “Down With The Trumpets” all those years ago, but this new one is even better!
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Blue Violet have been championed by some influential radio stations including BBC 6 Music whose Steve Lamacq described them as “a cocktail of Iain Banks and Jane Austen”. I can see where Steve was coming from having witnessed Blue Violet for the first time back in November. To continue Lamacq’s literary comparison theme I would add Douglas Coupland. Their music has a dark and mysterious pop rock style and is loaded with great hooks. Their new album has arrived and what a delight it is! This sophomore release follows their debut, ‘Night Calls’, from 2022. It contains six very classy songs issued as singles across 2024 and 2025. The collection opens with the current single “Sweet Success.” It is a well-crafted slice of electro glam pop. This track draws on a diamond-studded history of some fine British bands like Depeche Mode and the Eurythmics. It has a mesmerising marching synth riff. “Imagine Me” has a darker feel which borders on Sisters Of Mercy territory and incorporates some fabulous synth riffs. Lyrically it seems to be a tale of stalking after a failed relationship. Although I could be wrong. If you like 60s influenced pop rock, then “Survival” is for you. I love the 21st century girl group feeling it has. It features a fabulous everything but the kitchen sink psych-out towards the end. The percussive opening on “Talking To You” is deeply hypnotic. Sarah McGrigor’s voice here made me think of Sarah Nixey, vocalist with cult British band Black Box Recorder. One of my favourite tracks on the album is “The Librarian”. The slow brooding vocal from Sam Gotley with a gorgeous counterpoint drew me back to those heady days in the 90s when Babybird first broke through.
Photo by Stuart J Clapp
Musically “Cold Hearts” feels a little like the Police’s “Every Breath You Take”, but it is so much more with a beautiful lamenting vocal performance from Sarah. Warped guitar riffage and crunchy synth sounds open “Boogie Shoes”. I think this should have been a huge hit when released as a single last year. Can we get it out there again? How can a lyrical refrain like “dance for pleasure, dance for pain” be ignored? Another single, “Fire” has a wonderful funk injection and is a song that it is impossible not to move your body to. “Teeth Out”, what a great title that is, oozes magnificent dark balladry. If a new take on ‘Twin Peaks’ ever materialises (RIP David Lynch) this song must be on the soundtrack. A paean to equality and being who you are is what “Barefoot On The Seine” is. It hides it’s darker moments behind some of the sweetest pop sounds imaginable. The title track, “Faux Animaux”, closes the album. It is cinematic and neo-classical in scope and ambition. It draws on the essence of later period David Bowie in its desire to be different. Of that final song Sam Otley says “The fake animals could be seen as the powers that be, leading us down paths that result in us ignoring our more natural instincts, often making decisions without our permission.” It is a great way to end such a fabulous album.
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Can ALT BLK ERA get any better than they already are? On the basis of their new single “Run Rabbit” they just did. The quality of their recent singles suggests that the debut album will by vying for a strong position in many album of the year lists for 2025. The track is driven by a persistent and incessant electro riff overlaid with Nyrobi and Chaya’s urgent vocals. Lyrically it feels deliciously dark. This has the makings of a huge club banger, we need an extended remix! The video is rather spiffing too and features ALT BLK ERA running around in the dark. These girls can go from pop to punk to electro to dance. They can also combine all of these as well. ALT BLK ERA remain one of my favourite bands and 2025 better watch out because they are not just knocking on the door they are ready to smash it down!
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When I saw this show advertised some while ago I had know idea what it would be like. But as a lifelong Bowie fan I was intrigued. Bowie’s music in a cathedral? I’ll have some of that please! This is one of a series of concerts promoted by Concerts By Candlelight across the UK’s cathedrals and similar venues. This show was presented at the magnificent Ripon Cathedral in Yorkshire. Mostly it is with some great tribute acts, including this one. The music for this show was provided by David Live, arguably the best Bowie tribute act on the circuit. I would put them at the top, closely followed by Absolute Bowie and the Bowie Contingent. Charlie Fowler is a great front man and while he has a slight resemblance to Bowie, his mannerisms, movement and voice are close to spot on. His between song conversational banter sounds like Bowie too. The band, who I believe have played together for more than ten years are supremely talented. Spencer James on keys plays with the style of Mike Garson when he needs to. The rest of the band are brothers JM Sutcliffe (guitar), JP Sutcliffe (Drums) and Raphael Sutcliffe (bass). They were all on top form, but for me Raphael shone just a little more brightly, especially when his rumbling 5 string bass guitar kicked in
The evening was split into two halves. The first set saw what might have been a show from the 1976 Thin White Duke Isolar 1 tour. Charlie wore the monochrome combo from that tour and he was on splendid form. After a brief rest where those of us in need to empty bladders had to leave the building to use a toilet (who knew Ripon Cathedral has no toilets) the band came back to another rapturous reception. This time Charlie was decked out in the striking blue suit like that worn on the ‘Reality’ tour in 2003/ 2004. The band coped with problems smoothly and easily with Charlie breaking his guitar strap and a backing track failure. There were so many highlights from the performance. The best for me were probably “Changes”, “Starman”, “Oh You Pretty Things”, “Fame”, “Space Oddity”, “All The Young Dudes”, “Ashes To Ashes”, “Little Wonder”, “Absolute Beginners” and a towering take on “Stay” from the ‘Station To Station album. the latter opened the whole show in spectacular style. But just pipping all of those were a gorgeous and emotional version of “Wild Is The Wind” and a powerful show closer with a magnificent “Heroes”. We all sang along and so many of the crowd danced throughout the whole show. Even if you don’t like tribute bands, I am not a huge fan of them, but when they are as good as David Live they deserve to be seen!
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The Apocalypse Disco just released their debut EP ‘Welcome To The Disco’. If you need something to soundtrack the impending apocalypse (thanks America), then this is it! The EP kicks off with “Revelation”. It has biblical levels of keys from Ian and an end of world impassioned vocal from Robin. Believe me, if you follow my advice you will be dancing when the world ends. The second song is the title track of the EP. The band’s bio claims that they make Apocalyptic Discotechno and based on this track that is 100% true. It features superbly crisp production. Neil Mclellan, who has worked on some great albums, produced this track. He was the engineer on the Prodigy’s ‘Fat Of The Land’. This track is the perfect tune to lead us into a pre-armageddon party and it will definitely feature on my end of the world playlist. If this is the last track you ever hear, then trust me, you have left this mortal coil on a good note! But there are more fine tracks on the EP. Next it is previous single “Alive” which has a highly hopeful chorus which is impossible not to sing along to. “Alive” is simply a joyous slice of electro and it makes me want to stay alive. The line “God loves a sinner, thank fuck for that” is a perfect line in such a great dance track. Dance to it and tell the four horsemen of the apocalypse to fuck right off!
“Army” has an excellent marching beat with what sounds like foot soldiers marching at the start. The last time that sound was heard in a great tune was probably back in 1977 when the Sex Pistols released “Holidays In The Sun”. This is another Prodigy style dance workout, but this one leans toward the border with the Land of Chill. But the dark undertones and zombieish lyrics take it up a few hundred notches. Right now “Thunder” is my favourite track on the EP, but that might be different tomorrow. Imagine the Prodigy joining forces with the Chemical Brothers and going in a kind of glam rock direction and utilising David Bowie’s “secret” band from the ‘Earthling’ tour, the Tao Jones Index, well that is what “Thunder” sounds like to me. But it is not just homage and definitely not a facsimile, it is banging, beat-laden, and bloody bonkers. Right up my street, in fact. Play this track (or in fact anything on the EP and you will have no choice but to shake your booty and dance like nobody is watching! The streaming version of the EP closes with “The Bridge” which gives a stylish nod to Erasure in its sublime hook. The way the keys build up the hopeful but explosive tension is a joy to experience.
I am the lucky owner of the CD version of the ‘Welcome To The Disco’ EP and that means I have an extra secret track. It is a cover of a song called “Art Of Dying” which was written and originally recorded by a little know scouse musician who was in a beat group in the 60s. I think his name was Hari Georgeson! If the second reign of Trump is the herald of the apocalypse, then bow to your inner illegal rave soul, grab your glowsticks, and smash it until the end of the world with the ‘Welcome To The Disco’ EP as your soundtrack!
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The last time I saw the magnificent Pennine Suite play live was in June last year at the Fulford Arms. They played some new tracks that night and one of those was “Manhattan”. A song from a York band that was inspired by New York. What I said about it then was “The new track “Manhattan” is thunderously good and needs to be a single, RIGHT NOW! Harry’s guitar was magnificent on this track and the power and drive from the mighty rhythm section of Moses and Louis is a close to perfect as you could get!” Well whether they listened to me or not I really don’t know. But the song was released as a single towards the end of 2024. (Yes I am a bit late with it, but the song is too good to ignore!) It has a wonderfully crisp production with Nick’s voice oozing emotion and sounding very fresh. This is indeed a great live banger but it sure works as a great single too. The rhythm section is at beast levels, Harry’s guitar lines intertwine with some fine keys from Louise. The harmonies, hooks and riffs work with each other like a well serviced formula 1 engine. The result is a near perfect slab of first class pop rock from a band that have the potential to enter the music world’s equivalent of Formula 1 competitions and join the big league.
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With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 