RANGING from legendary bands to aspiring artists on the verge of much wider acclaim, the exciting world of new music continues to produce some wonders this week. Taking influence from the rock and roll bands of yesteryear, this week’s New Music Radar features a selection of infectious hooks, rip-roaring guitars and fuzzy pop nostalgia.
Sankofa – Into The Wild
An exciting product of Liverpool’s bustling music scene, Sankofa have teamed up with Glasgow label In Black Records for the release of their new single ‘Into The Wild’. With strong support from local tastemakers and BBC Introducing, the band look set to make an even bigger impact when they unveil their debut album later this year. Taking inspiration from The Doors and The Creeps, the esoteric ‘Into The Wild’ is every bit as tenacious as their reputation suggests; with the opening gusto of a gun-slinging Spaghetti Western, it steadily rides over menacing rhythms and a flourish of twanged guitars before culminating in an unyielding crescendo of solos and heavy power chords.
Wayde – Easy (Don’t Be Long)
For those unfamiliar with London outfit Wayde, ‘Easy (Don’t Be Long)’ makes for a rather emphatic introduction. Packed full of reverb and fuzzed up guitars, the track oscillates between laid-back sections and thunderous, grungy choruses. Harbouring a nostalgic familiarity in their combination of warm guitars, mid-tempo grooves and vocal drawls, there is an unbridled energy and honesty at play that has stood them apart as an intriguing prospect.
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Always Sad
The Jesus and Mary Chain released the second single from their upcoming album Damage and Joy last Friday; their first LP since 1998’s Munki. Following the rock and roll blast of lead single ‘Amputation’, ‘Always Sad’ is a melodic piece of fuzzed out pop which sees Jim Reid trade vocal duties with guest star Bernadette Denning in a bittersweet duet. More upbeat than its title suggests, the song doesn’t stray too far from the sixties influences that so greatly informed their earlier work. It’s another stellar addition to an incredible catalogue that has inspired so many bands and artists over the years.
Tangerines – Peckham Boys
Another stellar addition to the impressive roster at RIP Records, Tangerines shared details of their forthcoming debut album last week alongside a preview track called ‘Peckham Boys’. Already very familiar to those immersed in London’s live music scene, the Peckham-based outfit have gained a reputation for their primordial brand of rock and roll and unrelenting, raucous live shows. This new track is a perfect encapsulation of their appeal; full of angular guitars and punchy melodies, it elicits the kind of sixties swagger and youthful energy that are suggestive of a bright future ahead.
Luxury Death – Listerine
Ahead of the release of their debut EP Glue next week, Manchester duo Luxury Death have revealed another new cut called ‘Listerine’. Since first emerging last summer, Meg Williams and Ben Harvest have shown their versatility with each release but this latest offering sees them at their most exposed. Taking the form of a moonlit ballad, this endearing piece of lo-fi pop matches glowing synth lines and floaty guitars with some sweet boy-girl harmonies. Said to tell “the tale of a friend’s struggles with relationship and identity”, it’s an off-kilter yet affecting composition that nicely sets up the release of Glue next week on 24th February.
