THIS week we’ve seen the return of Twin Atlantic, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Declan Welsh & The Decadent West, Stina Tweeddale and many more. Check out our top tracks of the week below.
Twin Atlantic ‘Bang on the Gong’
Following the release of last year’s ‘POWER’ album, Twin Atlantic are back with a swaggering new tune called ‘Bang on the Gong’. Marking a big sonic shift for the Glasgow outfit, the track is a bold, fun and adventurous return with slinking melodies, squelching synths and big, swaggering bass lines as Sam McTrusty delivers one of his most charismatic vocals to date. Arriving with a ‘Once Upon A Time in Hollywood’-themed video, it’s a song that doesn’t itself too seriously but it’s one that will be stuck in your head for days.
Stina Marie Claire ‘The Human Condition’
Stina Tweeddale, otherwise known as Honeyblood, has unveiled a new creative project called Stina Marie Claire. Brought to life during lockdown with the help of her fans, who contributed to the project through the membership platform Patreon, the process eventually resulted in a new EP called ‘A Souvenir of a Terrible Year’. This new single ‘The Human Condition’ is our first snippet of that new EP and it indicates a departure away from her signature spiky indie-rock towards a more restrained and intimate bedroom-pop sound – one that sees her return to her DIY roots with vulnerable lyrics and heartfelt themes. It’s a poignant listen that shows Tweeddale’s songwriting in a new, intimate light.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‘That Life’
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, the project of New Zealand native Ruban Nielson, are back with another new single in ‘That Life’. It’s a classic psych-soul tune with tumbling guitar lines, hazy keys and Nielson’s signature sensual delivery. Equal parts fuzzy, gritty and shiny, it’s an opulent return that comes armed with hooks aplenty.
Declan Welsh & The Decadent West ‘Talking To Myself’
‘Talking To Myyself’ is the third single from Declan Welsh & The Decadent West’s upcoming new EP ‘It’s Been A Year’. The band’s new material sees them turn their focus inwards and explored feelings feelings of uncertainty, going stir crazy and being nostalgic for better days. Adding a touch of contemplative sentimentalism to their indie-rock cocktail of driving tempos, anthemic choruses and sharp-tongued lyrics, the band continue to show progression, both sonically and lyrically. This new track is no different, considering the internal conversations we have in our head in a typically relatable and emphatic manner.
Brooke Combe ‘Used To Love Me’
Ahead of opening the King Tuts Summer Nights festival this coming Monday – marking the venue’s first gig in 18 months – Edinburgh’s Brooke Combe has shared a stirring new song called ‘Used To Love Me’. More restrained than previous offerings, the track shines a light on her vulnerable lyrics and stunning vocals.
Fauves ‘Ends of Me’
Glasgow funk collective Fauves have re-emerged from the studio with a blissed-out new track called ‘Ends of Me’. Describing the song as one made for ‘night-time driving’, the track finds the sweet spot between their love of West Coast hip hop and dream-pop, taking the listener on a colourful, wholly immersive sonic journey that traverses through spacey shoegaze guitars, whistle synths, wah bass lines and expertly curated samples. Impeccably produced, Ryan Caldwell’s inimitable falsetto guides us through the deeply atmospheric track as the six-piece emerge triumphant once again. Watch out for them at this year’s Playground Festival.
Quiche ‘Jupiter’
Following the news that they will be going their separate ways, Glasgow six-piece Quiche have shared two new singles ‘Jupiter’ and ‘Costa Calma’. A band who have made an indelible impact on the local music scene, they leave behind a hugely impressive catalogue of songs that are as unrelentingly creative as they are musically ambitious. Known for their exuberant psych-pop and classic rock influences as well as their burning desire to continuously push boundaries, these tracks are the first of a few songs to be released in the coming weeks. Majestic, romantic and spine-tinglingly euphoric, listen to ‘Jupiter’ below and get lost in its unbelievable guitar solo. The band play their last show at McChuills on 24th September.
Jorja Smith ‘All Of This’
Produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer and DJ GuiltyBeatz, Jorja Smith is back with ‘All Of This’. Known for dabbling in wide variety of sounds with effortless success, Smith is somehow still unpredictable in her releases. This time she steers into ‘Ampiano’ – her velvety delivery working brilliantly with the percussive backdrop. Hypnotic from start to finish, she rides the uptempo with ease, offering her own unique spin on the genre.
Sara ‘N’ Junbug ‘Dragon Soop Diaries’
Glasgow quartet Sara ‘N’ Junbug are a bit of an unsung gem. Having originally started out as a duo, the band have fleshed out their sound with each release, pulling from a variety of influences such as pop, country, folk and rock to deliver numerous pop-laden ballads and foot-stomping anthems. Now they’ve teamed up with 7 West for new single ‘Dragon Soop Diaries’, adding some grit and fuzzed guitars to the mix. Brimming with earworm melodies and the raw Glaswegian charm to match, it’s one we imagine will go down well when they play TRNSMT next month.
Chef ‘The World Is Mine’
Fresh from performing at the inaugural HANG showcase last week, Aberdeen-based rapper Chef has released his debut EP ‘The World Is Mine’. Featuring a myriad of guest appearances from the north east such as Louis Seivwright, Ransom FA and AiiTee, it’s an assured introduction – just as its title suggests – full of ambition and potential. The AiiTee-assisted ‘Presidential Mistakes’ is a highlight – her swaggering, velvety vocals a perfect foil to Chef’s incisive flow and vocal trade offs.
Kyle Falconer ‘No Love Songs For Laura’
Following the release of his new solo album ‘No Love Songs For Laura’ last week, The View’s Kyle Falconer is currently in a battle to reach the top 10 in the charts. The new record features some of his most revealing material to date, dealing with hard-hitting themes of addiction and redemption, fatherhood and loss as he attempts to navigate these deeply personal experiences through the art of songwriting. Of course, Falconer’s musicianship has never been in doubt and on this album, he pulls from a broader range of influences than ever before – hints of R&B, funk, soul and disco rear their head as he shows a joyous desire to experiment. Highlights include ‘Stress Ball’, ‘Wait Around’ and ‘Laura’.
Listen to our playlist below.
