NARC. COMPILATION ALBUM

Image: Archipelago by Al Thoburn

WORDS: CHRIS J ALLAN / PAUL BROADHEAD / LAURA DOYLE / CLAIRE DUPREE / DAMIAN ROBINSON / CONOR ROY / STEVE SPITHRAY / ALI WELFORD

AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 15TH BIRTHDAY THIS MONTH, WE’RE CONTINUING OUR TRADITION OF GIVING YOU, DEAR CONSTANT READERS, A VERY SPECIAL GIFT IN THE FORM OF OUR ANNUAL COMPILATION ALBUM. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE 16 BANDS AND ARTISTS FEATURED ON THIS YEAR’S COMPILATION, AND DOWNLOAD IT FROM OUR BANDCAMP PAGE – FOR FREE!

DOWNLOAD FROM: www.narcmagazine.bandcamp.com

ARCHIPELAGO FEAT. FRAN BUNDEY – SNOWPLOUGH 5AM

A flashback to 2018, Snowplough 5AM was concocted alongside electronic artist Fran Bundey as part of Archipelago’s adventurous BETWEEN WAVES collaborative series. “We recorded it live at Cobalt Studios,” recalls Archipelago leader Faye McCalman. “We had a day and a half together to write the music, and we hadn’t ever met before! I chose this as it’s a happy memory of live music and of the awesome independent venues in Newcastle – plus, although this was a different sound for us at the time, I can trace elements of it in our forthcoming second album, so it’s a teaser!” (AW) www.archipelagobanduk.bandcamp.com

CAT RYAN – MANNERISM

The jaunty opening of Mannerism belies the song’s serious subject matter, which is typical of Newcastle trio Cat Ryan’s style; infectious melodies bristle with jangly guitar solos and summery production, juxtaposed with lyrics unafraid to tackle difficult subjects. “It’s basically about obsessing over trying to read someone else to the point that you’re almost under their control and you can’t break from them.” Says vocalist Mary-Anne Murphy. “We chose this song because it was our first single release as a proper band and it’s probably one of our favourites to play!” (CD) www.catryan.bandcamp.com

Faithful Johannes

FAITHFUL JOHANNES – DIFFERENT

An established voice among local music aficionados, Faithful Johannes’ new EP …Is Hopeful has made for a comforting chink of light amidst 2021’s grim first quarter. A standout from the four-track release, Different is, in his own words, “a DIY disco tune about feeling constrained as a teenager by your parents’ religious beliefs.” Replacing the original version’s bass-synth groove with a gloriously homemade medley of pots ‘n’ pans beats, this new alternate version re-contextualises its lyrical tale into something that’s “a bit slower, warmer and fuzzier, and which I think has more emotional impact – though with less floor-filler potential!” In a profoundly non-religious sense...thank God for Faithful Johannes! (AW) www.faithfuljohannes.bandcamp.com

Komparrison

KOMPARRISON – DANCING WITH DEMONS

An old-fashioned ode to the weekend, Dancing With Demons is built around a lyrical timeline that starts on Friday night before eventually coming crashing back down on Sunday night ready to do it all again the following week, and with a glorious celebratory chorus to help get us in the mood to do just that. As the band quite rightly state: “Dancing With Demons is inspired by letting go of the troubles of the week and going a bit wild on the weekends. As it was written during the first lockdown, the song was a bit of hope for us.” (SS) www.facebook.com/komparrison

LIZZIE ESAU – YOUNG MINDS RUN BLIND

This thoroughly infectious urban groove from Newcastle singer-songwriter Lizzie Esau might come across as laid back, but lyrically it’s anything but. “Young Minds Run Blind is a song for the youth of today who feel victimised and patronised by society and the incumbent government. Trying to make their way in a confused world where making mistakes and learning from them feels like the ultimate sin.” Explains Lizzie. With a vocal that eases between softly spoken and soulful beyond her years, Lizzie could well be on her way to being the voice that the youth she speaks of is crying out for. (PB) www.lizzieesau.bandcamp.com

MXYM – HARD DRIVE

Striking the perfect balance between sultry, sleazy, and self-aware: MXYM’s Hard Drive is the soundtrack to every bad decision and regretful rendezvous. Essential listening for alt. weirdos everywhere. “Hard Drive fell out of my brain in about 10 minutes, like a gift from the seedy cosmos. I was baffled by the concept that anyone would look back at photos of their ex, and that thought spiralled into the seediest of directions – ‘You survive, baby, in my hard drive.’ This song is a banger, and one of my absolute favourites to perform. I’ve found myself revisiting it in the performance-less year we’ve had.” (LD) www.mxym.bandcamp.com

MXYM

ONLOOKER – ISOLATION

Having recorded the original demo track just before Covid hit last year, it didn’t take long for Middlesbrough garage rockers Onlooker (post lockdown #1) to, as they say, “home record some new vocals adopting the current mood and frustrations as the world spiralled into a state of confusion”. Ending up with a lo-fi pop/rock piece sounding like The Small Faces’ Lazy Sunday if it had been remixed for Blur’s self-titled album, Isolation brings guitars, pop, anger and frustration in equally crafted parts. A well-composed pop/rock track that can seemingly fit with any world changing event. (DR) www.onlookertheband.bandcamp.com

LOVELY ASSISTANT – LOVE MOVES IN ORDINARY WAYS

The latest single from last year’s eponymous debut, Love Moves In Ordinary Ways is a gorgeous sample of Lovely Assistant’s understated, harmonised torch song aesthetic. “I was sitting outside a bar watching a parade of new graduates flooding through Newcastle, and I started thinking about passing on advice,” reveals songwriter Kieran Rafferty. “Rather than inspirational quotes I thought I’d say that life isn’t all romantic gestures and being fabulous – the peace of the everyday is important as well. In the end, though, there was plenty of romance and drama in the song anyway, so what do I know?” (AW) www.lovelyassistant.bandcamp.com

Nadedja by Michael Sreenan

NADEDJA – UNFOLD

Nadedja describes Unfold as an exploration of the “overflowing feelings, vulnerability, transformation and holding on to the connections we make with others”, and this relatable journey is beautifully realised on this track taken from her forthcoming EP, Transient. With inspiration coming from her Brazilian roots, RnB and art pop influences, the song builds up an ethereal beauty until it emerges as a fully formed sweet and summery treat of an uplifting dance hit. Unfold is a joyful earworm that will have you checking the weather reports ready to head to the beach. (CJA) www.nadedja.com

PAVE THE JUNGLE – ANTS

Ants serves as a perfect introduction to Newcastle alt. rock quartet Pave The Jungle; bursting with barely contained energy and claustrophobic chaos, its siren wail guitars and weighty percussion invite repeated listens. The song is inspired by short story Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes, which deals with themes surrounding the treatment of intellectually challenged people, as guitarist and vocalist Rachael Whittle explains. “Musically I wanted this song to reflect the chaotic and unpredictable nature of life. This is why the chorus is the only repeated section of the song. I wanted it to be quite progressive.” (CD) www.pavethejungle.com

Ruth Patterson by Eva Edsjo

RUTH PATTERSON – SOMEBODY ELSE

On Somebody Else singer-songwriter Ruth Patterson finds herself “questioning authenticity in this weird world of pretend and performance”, and after a year of living through Zoom calls and social media this reflection on identity is a welcome one. “We spend so much time trying to be somebody or something that it’s easy to lose track of who we really are,” she says. As this beautiful baroque pop-infused single goes on, it reveals its layers to further expose the meaning amongst the imagery, leaving us with a sometimes surreal but always heartfelt message. (CJA) www.ruthpattersonmusic.com

SHAKK – FRIENDS

Middlesbrough rapper Shakk is making waves in the North East hip-hop scene thanks to his emotive lyricism and fresh approach to each track he creates. Friends is as heart-warming as it is edgy, thanks to its quick bars and melodic breakdowns. “I’ve chosen this track as it is dedicated to a dear friend of mine who sadly passed away. The song is about embracing your struggles, your loved ones and fighting to see another day when things get hard, which I think is quite relevant right now. I hope you enjoy this song as much as I enjoyed creating it.” (CD) www.facebook.com/shakkmusic

Sing Again Syren by Adam Kennedy

SING AGAIN SYREN – RUN ON HOME

If you like your rock old school-style and packing a punch, then you’ll love the lead single from all-girl Newcastle band Sing Again Syren. Taken from their Time Is A Trip EP, it’s a three-minute blast of heavy riffing. “The track was written with the live show in mind. We wanted to create some powerful retro rock that’s as fun for the audience to hear as it is for us to play. With the punchy riff and the very Page-meets-Hendrix style guitar solo – it’s quintessentially Sing Again Syren.” (PB) www.singagainsyren.com

TRUNKY JUNO – SO COOL

So Cool, from Trunky Juno’s debut EP Too Many Teeth, is an addictively refreshing burst of nostalgic alt. pop: think road trips through sepia tone sunglasses. Reflecting on how the song came together he says: “It was a track which came out really quickly, and I feel like it was written in the span of around half an hour. I think that’s something that helps the track capture the moment so well.” With an infectious surf pop chorus line, a quirky percussion, rich back beat and jangly early 2000s guitar, this track is endearingly tongue-in-cheek and a lot of fun. (CR) www.trunkyjuno.bandcamp.com

YAKKA DOON – GOLDEN PLOVER

There’s a timeless quality to Yakka Doon’s pared-down folk; a clarity songwriter Claire Welford characterises as “oak-aged heartcraft” from the “pit-scarred heathland” of County Durham. Inspired by the epic journeys undertaken by its winged namesakes, Golden Plover exemplifies everything which makes 2019 full-length Strenuous Detour one of the North East’s finest under-the-radar gems of recent years. The songwriter eloquently states: “When days grow short and dark, And the nights darker still, Cold grabs hold, Refusing to let go, Gales desperate to carry us away, Trigonometrical anchoring, Black quickly to gold, Night to day, Bathed in warmth of spring, Remembering, Bright days will return again, Keep going.” (AW) www.yakkadoon.bandcamp.com

ZELA by Brian Nicholson

ZELA – I’M HEALING

Big electro-noir hopes ZELA delve into the darker side of life and relationships with a certain gusto, so I’m Healing is typically crushing and upbeat at the same time. The track is not so much about getting over a bad relationship as getting smashed at 3am to forget all about it, as the synths crash all around while a spoken word mid-section raises the bar even higher for the band. Singer Liv explains: “I’m Healing is just my favourite song. It perfectly captures everything ZELA is about; being unapologetically yourself and celebrating the bad as much the good. It’s just so raw but still so fun.” (SS) www.facebook.com/thisiszela