TRACKS

Image: Heather Ferrier

Heather Ferrier - Engine For The Sound Ep

Words: Matt Young

The Morse Code-like siren call that begins Lacuna, the opening track on accordionist Heather Ferrier’s Engine For Sound EP, is an alert aimed at grabbing attention. What follows becomes a melting pot of influences and contemporary folk arrangements that playfully complement each other. This new trio featuring Heather, Alasdair Paul (guitar) and Adam Stapleford (drums), crosses genres and melodies. The joyful swoon of Apple and slower lilt of The Break introduce a bucolic air, an easy sense of peace, luxuriating in the gentler pace before dissipating in their crescendos. The EP is augmented with fiddle and viola (Niles Krieger) and double bass (Sam Quintana) and the nine-minute title track further highlights the uninhibited pleasure of playing with friends and riffing on themes that explore music’s hidden corners.

Released: 26.05.23 www.heatherferriermusic.com

Bosko Green - Scenes From A Dystopian Present

Words: Adam Paxton

The perverse silver lining to any time of governmental corruption and incompetence is the response of musicians. With Bosko Green’s new release, it’s hard to dispute that all of the pre-requisites of great oppositional music are present. Opener State of Decay is suitably anguished and anthemic, with a lovely melody and progression to go with it. 1933 may be too literal or histrionic for some, but that is the danger of political music; you can’t, nor do you wish to, please everyone. Hummingbird strays from pure politics for a moment of beautiful elegy, while A Truly Noble Gas will get stuck in your head for days – it’s stupidly catchy for a song with such vitriolic content. Well worth listening to for anyone in a profound state of dissatisfaction with the world at present (which is likely all of us).

Released: 01.05.23 www.boskogreen.bandcamp.com

FINN FORSTER - CAN’T BACK DOWN

Words: Matt Young

Finn Forster plots his way around a very familiar theme of betrayal, jealousy and revenge of thought, in this chiming country-influenced narrative. Citing a songwriter like Chris Stapelton as an influence you can gauge the intended tone. Forster’s acoustic guitar strums and scurries as his lyrics expound on the envy at hand, vocals sometimes scuffed with the throaty rasp of the well-worn and wise protagonist. This is a soulful and more subdued take on the embittered cowboy story. Removed of any bombast or bluster there’s room for regret in the tale and there’s a much more relatable humanity in there as a result. Can’t Back Down is solid, but it does showcase Forster’s deft ability in crafting and delivering his songs.

Released: 26.05.23 www.finnforstermusic.com

Slowlight Quartet - Firmament

Words: Nat Greener

A clever composition that encompasses dreamy aesthetics, Firmament is the third single from Slowlight Quartet following a seven year hiatus and many successes. Appearing like an indie pop production at first, the twist becomes clear when a gradual build up embodies a modernised and smooth jazz performance. With influences ranging from Snarky Puppy, Brad Mheldau, Vels Trio, Radiohead and Laura Mvula, this track is a showcase of a bigger body of work by the Newcastle-based outfit. Looping sax, hefty bass and unique vocals are all staples to Slowlight Quartet’s contemporary sound, coming together to create a mesmerising experience for listeners. Firmament appreciates the complexity that comes with curating a jazz piece that is new in flavour.

Released: 26.05.23 www.facebook.com/theslowlightquartet

Tired Trace - Brink Of Nearly Full

Words: Niamh Poppleton

North East artist Tired Trace, otherwise known as Jake Anderson, has mixed trip-hop and synth pop vibes to create an unusual EP. Alongside a gloomy atmosphere and trance-like ambience this, unlike his previous musical ventures, contains spoken elements. Each track explores its own narrative, ranging across numerous topics including fear of intimacy, nihilism and relationships. Introducing the EP is a ‘radio show’ discussion of his prior work suggesting it to be “dreadful”; this opening track is a vulnerable display of self-criticism, exploring the worldwide pandemic of artists doubting themselves. Across the six tracks there are three collaborations with other artists (Yes Plant, Cameron Scott and Alana Wan) which each bring their own creative energy, culminating in a unique listening experience.

Released: 05.05.23 www.tiredtrace.bandcamp.com

Twayn - Your Stupid Show

Words: Tom Astley

Twayn twins Hannah and Grace have brought a slice of lovesick doo wop-inflected pop to their new single. There’s something of David Lynch’s aesthetic here, in a song that sounds like it could be played on the stage at The Roadhouse in Twin Peaks. The song is steeped in a haunted Americana, with a I-vi-IV-V chord progression in 6/8, almost whispered close harmony vocals that sound a little like the Everley Brothers (… but sisters… obviously). There’s even some reverb drenched strings, and it’s all played out over a slightly warped synth foundation that adds to the eeriness. Importantly, sitting underneath all these well-observed aesthetic touches is a quality song that is innovative but immediately familiar on first listen.

Released: 28.04.23 www.twayn.co.uk

Wax Heart Sodality - Funny Games

Words: Kate Relton

The mystery and theatrical drama that surrounds garage rock band Wax Heart Sodality is alive and kicking in every beat of their latest track Funny Games. Drawing you into a visceral and raw sound world, the combination of heavy guitars, relentless driving beat, and a distorted vocal line drifting in from a distance makes Funny Games a wild fever dream of a ride. While you can hear flashes of musical influence from across the British rock hall of fame – from Muse to The Cure – the world Wax Heart Sodality inhabits is disconcertingly tricky to pin down. Funny Games is a perfect example: infectious and furiously dynamic, but with something dark and unsettling underneath.

Released: 12.05.23 www.facebook.com/waxheartsodality

Chris Mardula - Last Train To Nowhere

Words: Kate Relton

There’s an inescapable feeling of yearning running through singersongwriter Chris Mardula’s latest release, Last Train To Nowhere. The repeating motif of the guitar solo, the lyrics crying out “to find something more”, and musical influences reminiscent of guitar heroes like Gary Moore contribute to this track feeling like an indulgent wallow in longing and nostalgia. Making full use of the potential for weeping guitar solos, the track really comes into its own on the chorus, where the harmonies and instrumentation are richer and more expansive. The feeling of disillusionment and being cast adrift is driven home a little heavy-handedly as the track goes round in circles, but stops short of predictability with a startingly abrupt end.

Released: 26.05.23 www.facebook.com/chrimardulamusic

SHALLOW - DON’T CARE

Words: Tom Astley

Shallow wear their influences on their sleeve in a song straight out of the 90s grunge pantheon. In their three-piece rock aesthetic Shallow echo Nirvana in their quiet-loud-quiet structure, the discordant drawls of the electric guitar non-solo, the apathetic lyrics, in the whack-at-full-tilt drums, the Rat distortion guitar and hammered bass, and they’ve put together a track on the heavier end of the genre’s spectrum that fizzles with angst. So Shallow have firmly put their grunge influences front and centre. But I don’t care. It’s a breath of fresh air to hear an unapologetically heavy rock band turn it up to 11. Catch them playing at Tyne & Queer on 25th May at Little Buildings with Onlooker. Wear your best plaid shirt.

Released: 04.05.23 www.linktr.ee/weareshallow

Philip Alexander - Borderline

Words: Niamh Poppleton

Inspired by his own struggles with mental health and his diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, South Shields-based musician Phillip Alexander has returned to music with his new piano solo: Borderline. A dreamy air transports the listener to somewhere else entirely, as Phillip gently guides them by the hand, through the world of the unknown. The fast pace of the harmonies illustrates how a person can feel as though they are spiralling out of control entirely due to mental health struggles. Yet, this mesmerising, contemporary classical melody is the definition of tranquillity. Though a change from Phillip’s usual melancholy style, Borderline is, without a doubt, a stunning piece of music, perfectly depicting declining mental health through wordless wonder.

Released: 18.05.23 www.philipalexander.bandcamp.com

Porcelain - Hearsay

Words: Nat Greener

Reminiscent of Britpop and the classic 90s sound, Porcelain are establishing their space with latest release Hearsay. A perfectly chill melody with a strong guitar presence, the track is subtle in its ballad-like nature, but you can hear undertones of rock influences. Curating an emotive presence with stripped back lyrics and raw instrumentals, this ambitious outfit from Newcastle hope to make music that impacts audiences through authentic lyricism. Porcelain are fresh on the scene and utilise rhythm guitars that accompany an introspectively easy listening sound. With a presence that proves intriguing, it’s not hard to imagine Porcelain on a festival line-up, with a live show familiarity found within the indie band revival.

Released: 12.05.23 www.linktr.ee/porcelainband

JRM - Dazed EP

Words: Adam Paxton

The North East hip-hop scene is arguably as good as it’s ever been, and JRM’s Dazed EP is a shining example of the talent that’s out there. With the stated ambition of being a true representation of North East rap, it has to be said that this project absolutely achieves its goals. Embracing Geordie slang throughout every track, it never manages to feel forced. The two particular strong points of this release are JRM’s masterful flow and the production. The flow is punchy and rhythmic, and manages not to succumb to the boring staccato that has become standard in mainstream hip-hop in recent years. The beats are extremely polished and offer a perfect canvas for JRM and his collaborators, which include Kv$hnoodle, Reali-T and Just-B, to stretch their legs.

Released: 05.05.23 www.instagram.com/jrm__34