swim school ‘Making Sense Of It All’
Edinburgh’s swim school emerged from lockdown earlier this year a different force entirely, fusing their sweet indie-rock influences with a combination of grunge and dream-pop to create a sound that felt vital, explosive and absolutely addictive. Their new EP marks a massive step forward – a delicate and impactful examination on mental health, it ebbs and flows between quiet moments of wistfulness and magnificent surges of noise. Brimming with singalong choruses, big hooks and soaring guitars, it’s a whirlwind of sound and emotion. Just in time for festival season, this EP could mark the beginning of an exciting time for swim school.
Lorde ‘Mood Ring’
Lorde shared the third and final single from ‘Solar Power’ earlier this week. It’s a light, breezy number that pulls from the blissed-out palette of early 2000s pop – Lorde sings of sun salutations and finding one’s inner peace over faint percussive beats and mellow acoustics. Continuing the sweet, sun-kissed feel of the tracks we’ve already heard (‘Solar Power’ and ‘Stoned at the Nail Salon’), the track features swinging harmonies from Phoebe Bridgers and Clairo. Definitely the breeziest track we’ve heard yet, her eagerly anticipated third album is out today.
Alex Amor ‘dare you’
Scottish pop newcomer Alex Amor ushers in a new chapter with the release of a sunny new single ‘dare you’. A track that’s testament to her dream-like creativity, the singer’s vocals guide you over a smooth, forward-thinking instrumental that begins with soothing synths and minimalist beats before evolving into something more. Turning her focus outwards, it’s a track about “taking risks while the sun is still high in the sky” and “opening yourself up to all potentials and possibilities.”
Vistas ‘What Were You Hoping To Find?’
Just over a year after their debut album, Edinburgh trio are back with their second full-length ‘What Were you Hoping To Find?’ Perhaps one of the most prolific bands in Scotland right now, they continue exactly where they left off, bursting back on the scene with an endless supply of catchy pop hooks and singalong festival anthems that is sure to see their fanbase grow even more. While they do balance their wide-eyed enthusiasm with an underlying sense of longing and desire this time around, there’s no denying that Vistas have grown into confident and self-assured songwriters.
Future Islands ‘Peach’
Future Islands’ new standalone single is a warm, meditative number that finds singer Samuel T Herring reflecting on life and death. It’s carried by the band’s signature synth-pop sound – energetic grooves, characteristically evocative vocals and synth sounds that feel both mellow and kinetic. It’s a bittersweet song that ends with a message of hope.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds ‘Vortex’
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds have announced ‘B-Sides and Rarities Part II’, the sequel to their 2005 b-sides and rarities comp. It features 27 rare and previously unreleased songs that were recorded between 2005 and 2020, including one featuring Blondie’s Debbie Harry. The first single released is ‘Vortex’, a song recorded in 2006 that was apparently shelved because they couldn’t decide if they should make it a Grinderman song or a Bad Seeds song. It’s pretty massive and retains all the vital intensity of his earlier work.
Mrley ‘My Side Of London’
Mrley, the pseudonym of 23-year-old Marley Rutherford from Lewisham, has landed with his riotous debut single ‘My Side Of London’. Brimming with spiky punk energy, it’s an unforgettable introduction that finds him exposing culture vultures and the twisted nature of social media. Raw and relentless from start to finish, the raging track is a fiery statement of intent.
Happydaze ‘Closer’
Happydaze continue their rich vein of form with the release of a new alt-rock anthem ‘Closer’. Rich and harmonious yet raw with emotion, it’s a track packed with big guitars and pounding drums. Not a band to shy away from a massive chorus, they’ve delivered yet again.
Listen to our New Music Radar playlist below.
