THIS week has thrown up another embarrassment of riches with new tracks from some of our favourite local acts – Joesef, Wuh Oh, HYYTS, Autobahn 86, Fauves, Man Of Moon, Vistas, Shredd and more. Featured alongside Check them all out below.
Joesef ‘The Sun is Up Forever’
Joesef has delighted fans with a surprise new single today called ‘The Sun Is Up Forever’. With each tune, the soulful singer appears to gain confidence and this one is no different. Recorded, produced and mixed by Joesef, the track has the same raw lyrical sentiment and emotional vulnerability ability as previous offerings but this time there’s more depth and warmth to the production. With its jangly guitars and soaring vocals, it’s all built around his finest chorus to date as he invites us even further to his dreamy sonic world. Dedicated to his mother , its the kind of soulful, sun-kissed slice of feel-good indie that we all need right now.
Autobahn 86 ‘National Health Service’
‘Brought to life in 7 West Studios with the help of Johnny Madden and Jamie Holmes, ‘National Health Service’ is vastly different to anything we’ve heard emerge from the esteemed studio thus far. Autobahn 86 deal in combative and invigorating electronica that is founded on an ethos to infuse the political and socio-economic with the danceable. Describing themselves as ever-evolving, primal and unifying, ‘National Health Service’ is the perfect introduction to their bold manifesto.
Written before the Covid-19 pandemic began as an homage to the National Health Service which has been the subject of cuts and controversy for years, the message of the track hits even harder in the current climate. Built on a foundation of acid-bass synths and scorched synth leads, the track features a powerful spoken word performance from John Jokey (also known for his appearance on Baby Strange’s ‘Bad Man in Prague’) who delivers the hook line “I was born a child of the national health service”. His speech is delivered with power and authority against the increasingly aggressive and ravey backdrop, – like a formidable rallying cry. The band told us “We want you to think of a trade unionist speaking to people on a soapbox, rallying the masses
At a time when the National Health Service is more important than ever, Autobahn 86 have unveiled a track that will strike a chord with listeners all over the country. Bold, defiant and utterly irrepressible, it’s a fierce introduction that is sure to unleash mayhem when we are finally permitted to return to our most well-loved music venues.
Wuh Oh ‘Zita’
A master craftsman in every sense, Glasgow’s own Wuh Oh doesn’t need some self-indulgent runtime to take you on a musical odyssey. Case in point, his latest offering, ‘Zita’ manages to be completely transportive within two and a half minutes. Led by his ability to shroud the picturesque within an undercurrent of something foreboding, the track imbues its rollicking beat with enchanting, eastern-inflected instrumentation before a warped choral interlude takes the listener into the stratosphere. Fusing styles and influences as only he can, it’s another one in the win column for Glasgow’s resident electronic-pop dissident.
HYYTS ‘The Low Sound’
Glasgow-based pop duo HYYTS have shared a euphoric new track called ‘The Low Sound’. Known for bringing their love of of underground electronica, brooding beats and multi-faceted production styles together with an appreciation for bubblegum pop and cheesy lyrics, the idea of contrast lies at the very heart of ‘The Low Sound’ both sonically and lyrically – it’s all about counterbalancing happiness with sadness, darkness and light and pairing singer Adam’s upbeat lyrics and passionate delivery with Sam’s manic, shape-shifting production. Oscillating between dreamy verses and waves of all-consuming euphoria, it’s the duo’s most ambitious production to date and it’s an absolute triumph that will be on our playlists for months to come.
Man Of Moon- Ride The Waves (Django Django Dark Beat Remix)
Two of modern Edinburgh’s most pioneering forces collide as Django Django’s Dave Maclean takes the reins of Man Of Moon’s gripping ‘Ride The Waves.’ Stripping the track down to it atoms before contorting it into a slinking and atmospheric slice of brooding electronica, Maclean has an innate ability to keep a rhythm intact all the while remaining more fluid and formless than most producers would dare to permit their composition to be. Invoking a journey through the capital’s less well-trodden alleyways as night falls, the latest remix to arrive down the pipeline from their upcoming EP is an entrancing journey that it’d behove you to embark upon.
Vistas ‘Summer’
After announcing that they will be ploughing on with the release of their debut album ‘everything changes in the end’ on 29th May, Vistas unveiled the seasonal anthem ‘Summer’ this week. A song that used to be a main fixture on their setlist a few years ago, the band chose to dig it out of the archives and give it some fresh touches for the record. Boasting a more widescreen sound and featuring one of their most euphoric guitar solos, it’s the perfect feel-good track that will make you reminisce on summers pre-lockdown.
Shredd ‘Cobra’
Shredd fans will recognise ‘Cobra’ from the band’s incendiary live shows – a track that always incites mayhem in the crowd, it has long been established as a fan favourite. Originally released back in 2017, the track was removed from all streaming platforms for reasons beyond the band’s control but today, they have unleashed it once again – a move that will undoubtedly go down a storm with fans across the country. At the time of its release, we described ‘Cobra’ as one of Shredd’s “most thrilling and volatile offerings to date”. We said: “Fuelled by an intense anger and industrial abrasiveness, the track erupts with a head-banging onslaught of searing guitar lines and menacing bass rhythms before driving onward with an irrepressible swagger.” Three years on, the track still hits every bit as hard. Check it out now.
Fauves ‘Wither Away’
Hot off the heels of their epic single ‘Bathe’ which came out last month, Fauves have treated us with a brand new offering called ‘Wither Away’. Originally written back in the summer of 2017 in their very formative stages as a band, their decision to revisit the track and freshen it up has proved well worthwhile. Much like ‘Bathe’ the band opt for a more organic instrumental this time around, shedding the synth-heavy approach of last year’s material in favour of a more acoustic sound – thus making it a natural successor to the seven-minute epic.
With noodling guitar lines, dreamy harmonies and waves of hypnotising psychedelia, it’s another triumph from the group which features one of Ryan Caldwell’s strongest vocal performance to date, shifting from his signature whimsical warble to a more earthy growl at points.
The 1975 ‘If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)
Few singles this year have been preceded with the same level of anticipation as the 1975’s ‘Too Shy’. Already a firm fan favourite, the track has been stuck in the heads of everyone who saw them on their UK arena tour earlier this year and live versions have been circulating the internet ever since. Now fans can rejoice as the recorded version is finally here and it has mist definitely been worth the wait. Featuring one of the best choruses the band have ever laid their hands on, it’s a shamelessly huge pop moment that follows in the same vein as ‘The Sound’ or ‘Love It If We Made It’. Throwing in all the eighties excess they can muster and driven by an all-consuming sense of rose-tinted joy, it’s reminiscent of the melodic emo-pop of The Cure and Tears For Fears while exploring the distinctly modern discourse of an online relationship. There’s even the golden nugget of an FKA Twigs appearance who provides the ghostly opening vocals on the album’s longer version. Boasting an instantly recognisable guitar line and a truly euphoric sax section that will bring on the kind of endorphin release we’ve all been craving, ‘Too Shy’ is the 1975 at their very best.
Dream Wife ‘Hasta La Vista’
Dream Wife have given us another taster of their upcoming album with brand new single ‘Hasta La Vista’. Known for their cutting riffs and fiery punk anthems, the new track marks a shift towards a poppier sound – one brimming with rose-tinted nostalgia and sweet sugary melodies. With nods to Blondie and nineties girl groups, the sharp guitar work is still present and correct but it’s a more restrained offering from the trio that shines a light on Rakel Mjoll’s dreamy vocals
Nadine Shah ‘Kitchen Sink’
Nadine Shah has unveiled the stirring title track of her forthcoming album, out on 5th June. It’s the third track we’ve heard from the album and is said to explore the idea of being an outsider discovering a new environment. Shrouded in mystery and intrigue, the singer offers a fantastic vocal performance, surrounded by barbed guitars and shuffling rhythms in what looks set to be a powerful moment on the album.
LARRY PINK THE HUMAN ‘LOVE YOU, BYE’
He may be known for his formidable riff-making skills as one of half of Slaves but Laurie Vincent has turned his hand to a brand new project called LARRY PINK THE HUMAN. Comprised of Vincent and one other member, the duo have shared their inaugural single ‘Love You, Bye’ and it finds them treading intriguing and unexpected new ground. Embracing a very modern bedroom pop sound with its drum machines, distorted lead vocals and heavy use of synths, ‘Love You, Bye’ is a heartfelt, wistful ballad adorned with horn sections and barbed guitars that shows a completely different side to the Slaves guitarist.
Coach Party ‘Space’
Hailing from Isle of Wight, newcomers Coach Party have announced details of their debut EP titled ‘Party Food’. Slated for release on 12th June via Chess Club, the band have unveiled preview track ‘Space’ – a scuzzy, undeniably catchy slice of grunge-pop that indicates massive potential. Speaking about the riff-heavy track, vocalist Jess Eastwood said: “’Space’ is about the emotion of putting your feelings on the line and how tormenting someone can be when you break up. The control someone has over you when they know something you don’t want others to know.”
Everything Everything ‘In Birdsong’
Everything Everything’s latest single, In Birdsong, is their first offering since their 2018 EP, A Deeper Sea, and is sure to please any and all fans of the English art-rock outfit. Singer John Higgs says the song ‘tries to imagine what it would have been like to have been the first self-aware human.’ The song’s ever increasing complexity expounds upon this theme and leaves the listener with a sense of profundity and awakening.
Jessie Ware ‘Ooh La La’
After the release of ‘Spotlight’ earlier this year, Jessie Ware is back with a new disco banger called ‘Ooh La La’. Built on a dexterous, deliciously funky bass line, the track is a lustful tale of romance that transports you to an 80s dancefloor with its synth stabs, tight understated drums and striking, falsetto-propelled vocals. And while the lyrics border on cheesy, it’s a track that revels in shimmering, disco feel good-vibes.
Hazel English ‘Wake UP!’
Hazel English finds a nice intersection between folk, indie and dream-pop on her new album ‘Wake UP!’. Even though it’s drenched in 60s iconography, it’s a record that grapples with very present and prevalent issues – self-discovery, love, authenticity, relationships and more – with tracks that will burrow themselves deep into your subconscious thanks to her deftness with hooks and melodies. Urging us to practice self-reflection and to be kinder to ourselves throughout, it takes the sun-kissed indie folk sound of her debut and expands upon it with a more elevated energy and newfound vitality. Check out the title track below.
Car Seat Headrest ‘There Must Be More Than Blood’
After the release of the incendiary ‘Hollywood’ last week, Car Seat Headrest has given us another insight into his upcoming album ‘Making A Door Less Open’. With each single as different as the next, the new record looks set to explore a broad palette of sounds and influences as from last week’s piercing riff-heavy offering with its throat-shredding hook, we ease into a mesmeric slow burner called ‘There Must Be More Than Blood’. Coming in at nearly eight minutes length, it’s a dreamy epic that displays yet another side of his talents.
