TRACKS
SPILT MILK THE THRILL Words: Kate Murphy This bursts out of your speakers like its namesake, dyed into a sugary rainbow by its happy, twinkling guitar and made rather charming by its slightly lo-fi quality, which adds to the excitable, hopeful feel. It’s a very pretty piece in places, and makes a star out of lead singer Oscar, whose vocals are powerful when he wants them to be and fluttery as blossom at other times. Though it might not be completely sure of what it wants to be yet, it shines with moments of pure talent: the melody takes these fantastic left turns that give it a cool, whimsical shape and the harmonies are ingenious. This is clearly a band with something different, and The Thrill brims over with promise. Released: 10.09.21 www.spiltmilkband.com
STEREOTYPES NEVER SURRENDER EP Words: James Hattersley There are a great many things I do not understand about Stereotypes; from their influences to their aspirations, but what I do know is that they clearly love to create. And create is what they have done on their newest EP Never Surrender. Any fans of the TV show Lost will find some dark intent in the duo’s latest single, the positively summer breeze of Gotta Get Back To The Island, while everybody can get lost in the blustery blues of Meander Love. You’re Awesome paints a feel-good state of being, with help from Dick Valentine of Electric Six, while Chasing The Setting Sun offsets a more sober tone. Accompany these tracks with the Stereotypes’ music videos and you won’t be sorry. Released: 03.09.21 www.stereotypesband.wordpress.com
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REVIEWS OF SINGLES AND EPS BY NORTH EAST ARTISTS. WANT YOUR MUSIC FEATURED? EMAIL NARCMEDIA@GMAIL.COM (PLEASE TRY TO GET IN TOUCH 8-6 WEEKS AHEAD OF THE MONTH OF RELEASE)
RUTH LYON PAPER AEROPLANE Words: Kate Murphy It’s a real art to write a song which does the very thing it makes important. Ruth Lyon’s Paper Aeroplane slows down time, and seems to suck all of the heaviness out of the world and hold it in its grasp so that we can see things clearly again. The track celebrates a child’s outlook through the eyes of an adult, and perhaps most movingly of all reminds us that the child inside us can look after us. That place of total peace and happiness every child can instinctively create for themselves, just by playing, is something we can always access. Ruth’s finely painted, perfectly concise lyrics say it best: “In my imagination, I found out what I used to know”. Released: 29.09.21 www.ruthlyonmusic.com
FAYE FANTARROW NOUGHTIES Words: Michael O’Neill A hyperkinetic and stylistically sprawling showcase for a songwriter with a strong command of the craft and a phenomenal vocal style to boot, Noughties is the sound of an entire decade being thrown into a blender and reshaped into a three-minute opus of soulful pop, upon which Fantarrow goes to task on the misrepresentation of Gen-Z in the current climate. Noughties brilliantly articulates the frustrations of growing up in a time of radical social and cultural development without resorting to vacuous sloganeering, instead painting a rich and deep narrative over phenomenal production which masterfully mirrors the frenetic sensory-overload of living in the digital age, making for a bold statement-of-intent from one hell of a talent. Absolutely essential listening. Released: 17.09.21 www.facebook.com/fayefantarrowmusic
