Useless Youth don’t bother reinventing the indiepop wheel but instead plunder it to great effect. On Youth, the latest single to be taken from the forthcoming album The Coldest Ocean, they mix jangling guitars, boy/girl vocals and sweet harmonies in order to create a likable bedroom pop track that will certainly garner a few more plays. Nice…. Facebook Continue reading Useless Youth – Youth
Pervert is the standout track from the new 7″ EP from London’s Primetime. Titled Going Places it’s packed full of post punk influenced tracks that would not have sounded out of place in the late 1970’s. However it’s the catchy as feck Pervert that grabs my attention sounding like a cross between The Buzzcocks, Fire Engines and any number of female fronted post punk bands such as Flowers (the original ones!) or Kleenex. Essential! It’s out now on La Vida Es un Mus. Buy it on 7″ from the label or digitally from the band. Facebook Continue reading Primetime – Pervert
Regular readers (if such as thing exists!) would have noticed I was a somewhat quiet during April and May and now I have a backlog of stuff to post all of which I am sure you have heard before. Anyway Mercury Girls released an impressive couple of demos last year (which are still available here) and recently released their debut single on Slumberland Records. Ariana follows the classic indiepop template albeit with a 1990’s twist but it’s the flip side All That Heaven Allows that stands out for me. It’s a catchy post punk pop song with a great chorus … Continue reading Mercury Girls – Ariana
The new 7″ single from Jessica & The Fletchers serves up two fine pieces of C86 style noise pop. It reminds me of the records released on Lazy Records in their prime such as the likes of The Primitives and the pre-Creation My Bloody Valentine who are just a few of the bands who have provided Barcelona’s finest (and that includes the football team!) with inspiration. My words cannot do the two tracks here justice so just press play to your hearts content. Then buy! Marble Fountain/Crystal Tears is out now via Market Square Records. Facebook Bandcamp Continue reading Jessica & The Fletchers – Marble Fountain/Crystal Tears
Hmmm. I wonder who this lot will sound like given their name? Well that’s a surprise. They sound like Slayer. Actually that’s a big lie. Of course they sound like a New Order lite right down to the bass lines. Mind you to be fair they also sound like The Pet Shop Boys on some of the gulp, seven remixes. Given that both those aforementioned bands have released two excellent albums these past few months you have to wonder if there is any need for the likes of State Of The Nation. Well maybe. The original edit of the track … Continue reading State Of The Nation – Departed (Remixes)
Another slab of punk and mod infused tunes this time complete with homage to a revolutionary German writer, poetry from the east end, gentrification angst and DH Lawrence quotes. Why can’t all records be like this? It would make a fine present for those poor souls affected by the recent Panama papers….. Economy is out now in 7″, cassette and digital formats. Get it from here. Facebook Continue reading Hard Left – Economy
I heard Your Friends Polymers, or to give them their correct Russian name Твои друзья полимеры, for the first time via The Pop Underground Volume One compilation that is due for release next month. The compilation seeks to showcase the best of the current Russian underground scene. Your Friends Polymers contribution Snow is a poppier take on the shoegaze genre complete with fuzzy guitars and those hard to discern ethereal female vocals I am a sucker for. I must check out more! The Pop Underground Volume One is available in digital formats from here. The cassette version has sold out. … Continue reading Your Friends Polymers – Snow
Please You by Melbourne’s The Newsletters is a well crafted 1960’s influenced pop song that has it’s heart and soul in all the right places. Lovely stuff for a lazy Easter Monday afternoon. It’s currently only currently available in digital formats but a vinyl release is planned for later this year. Facebook Continue reading The Newsletters – Please You
Mi Amor is the second single since their comeback by Swedish indiepop legends Red Sleeping Beauty. It’s a fine piece of synthpop sung in both English and Spanish. An album, entitled Kristina, will be released later this year. The band will also be making their first live appearance in 19 years at this years Madrid Popfest. Mi Amor is out now on Shelflife Records and will also be released on Labrador Records. Facebook Continue reading Red Sleeping Beauty – Mi Amor
Rocket Heart, the new single from The Trudy, is taken from their forthcoming album Always Never Beautiful Forever which is due for a release next month. The band have been going since the early 1980’s and there are hooks and influences from each decade of their existence here resulting in a pretty damn near perfect pop song. Rocket Heart is out now via Miron Music. Get it from here. Facebook Continue reading The Trudy – Rocket Heart
Records I Like 