TRACKS

Image: Spilt Milk

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

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

Ruth Lyon

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

Stereotypes

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

Faye Fantarrow

CLUB PARADISE - DON’T CALL ME OVER

Words: Michael O’Neill

The masters of sun-soaked, panoramic indie synths return with another crystalline banger with everything you’ve come to expect from the Newcastle-based four-piece. Much like M83, The 1975 and Foals, Club Paradise have clearly studied the sacred texts of 80s pop and 00s indie and learned wisely: hooks, walls of sound, huge choruses, funky grooves and confident, forthright song-writing are all in abundance in all that they do, and Don’t Call Me Over has it in spades.

There’s a myriad of sonic left turns throughout the track’s brief runtime, but it never tries too hard or buckles under the weight of its colossal hooks, and wisely avoids slipping into the all-too-easy trap of sounding like a pastiche of their influences. Marvellous stuff.

Released: 03.09.21 www.thisisclubparadise.com

MCCORMICK - SAFE HOUSE

Words: Luke Waller

A soft, sweet and heartfelt ballad, Safe House, the latest single from singer-songwriter and acoustic rocker McCormick, will soon be joining his impressive back catalogue which stretches back more than ten years. Along with bassist Pete Gifford and drummer Hugh McGouran, McCormick continues to demonstrate his songwriting abilities with this wonderfully easy-going track on a theme of comfort and recovery.

Though not as rocky or as punchy as their other recent releases, such as This Song’s For You or Till The Sun Comes Up, Safe House is kept compelling by a strong melody maintained from beginning to end, supporting Steve McCormick’s gentle vocals – and with a sprinkling of placid piano lines to put the cherry on top.

Released: 10.09.21 www.itsmccormick.com

SWEARS - BELIEVE IT

Words: James Hattersley

This ain’t your grandpappy’s SWEARS. Their new single Believe It sees the group develop a more dense and chunkier sound – like chocolate Angel Delight that has been left in the fridge for a little bit too long.

Moody and melodic, this slice of alt. rock is a delightful catchy romp that wastes no time; it doesn’t overstay its welcome but you certainly miss it when it’s over and you’ll find yourself singing the main refrain “and you better believe it” long after the dust settles. Filthy bass, pulsating drums, buzzsaw guitars, shimmering melodies and a haunting vocal that echoes a lack of motivation to get yourself out of a terrible situation. Oh SWEARS, I do indeed believe it.

Released: 03.09.21 www.swearsband.co.uk

LINES FROM A POEM - CALIFORNIA SUN

Words: Luke Waller

California Sun, the fifth and latest release by Redcar/Saltburn-based indie trio Lines From A Poem, is a classically bittersweet summer song. Nostalgic overtones permeate the piece and its lyrics, it being inspired by singer, guitarist and songwriter Gary Wright’s experiences travelling in California.

Wright’s vocals fit perfectly with the song’s sentimental vibe, with a timbre somewhere between Brian Molko’s and Neil Tennant’s. Similarly, though inspired by the American West Coast, the band’s North Sea origins are not left behind; as with other previous releases of theirs, such as Saltburn and Reflective Walls, both of which featured on their debut EP, Staring At City Lights. Whether of Redcar or L.A., the picture their latest single paints is reflective, poignant and touching.

Released: 27.08.21 www.facebook.com/linesfromapoem

CHARLIE LAYZELL - ONE DAY

Words: James Hattersley

Newcastle’s Charlie Layzell is known for his deeply personal rap, which is underpinned by lo-fi chill hip-hop. He’s already racked up a number of blazing singles and Layzell’s newest release, One Day, delves even further in the persona of its creator.

The track itself exudates a great deal of maturity and growth for the artist. Layzell appears to be coming to terms with life as a musician, contemplating that perhaps it’s not about the destination but the journey. It doesn’t matter if we ‘make it’, as long as we are enjoying the process of making music – it’s up to everyone else to appreciate what has been produced. With head nodding beats, lay back and dream about that one day.

Released: 17.09.21 www.facebook.com/kingcharleslayzell

PATRICK GOSLING - THE ALUM

Words: Kate Murphy

Patrick Gosling’s summery indie anthem throws us straight into its own world. Coming in as one big cosy, shimmering wall of sound, it races ahead as if hurtling through a galaxy, and makes you want to run furiously along a beach and send a flock of seagulls bursting off into the air.

The Alum is a call to the heartbroken and the hopeful, its narrator hurt and adoring in the face of cold rejection, and has the fists-in-the-air spirit of a Springsteen song. Gosling brings a natural, open, folk style of storytelling to the verses of a commendable and otherwise traditional indie track, as well as a gracious response to a cruel dismissal, a response which suggests she doesn’t know what she’s missing.

Released: 03.09.21 www.patrickgoslingg.bandcamp.com

MAT HUNSLEY - BACKWARD STEPS

Words: Luke Waller

Five long years ago, Mat Hunsley released his gentle and uplifting EP To Being Free, and now, for the first time since then, Mat is back with possibly his finest work yet.

With consoling lyrics like “It’s OK to feel blue if it’s a difficult time for you”, the comforting sound of acoustic guitar and wonderfully passionate motifs to garnish, Backwards Steps has the aura of a buoyant sigh by a raindropstreaked window. All this is backed by a gloriously groovy backbone of drums, giving the song an intriguing offbeat feel and supporting Mat’s warm vocals and insightful lyrics throughout. Mat’s long-awaited follow-up release is by no means a letdown. To any fans of his: prepare to love his music anew.

Released: 10.09.21 www.mathunsley.bandcamp.com

JAMIE AINSLIE - F.T.S

Words: Michael O’Neill

Colossal palm-muted riffs kick things off in this detour into heavy, fuzz-soaked grandeur from Hartlepool-based solo artist Jamie Ainslie. The artist considers the single to be a departure from his previous, more indie-inflected releases, calling upon his love of Muse and Royal Blood to tackle the subject of unleashing one’s inner demons.

F.T.S certainly has shades of those two acts, with there also being hints of Jane’s Addiction and Sabbath in the double-tracked vocals, driving loud-quiet-loud dynamics and extended passages of discord and guitar solos. It could quietly slip into a Radio X playlist without looking the slightest bit out of place with Ainslie’s powerful, hook-heavy vocals. All in all, it’s cathartic, anthemic and, above all else, hugely entertaining.

Released: 03.09.21 www.soundcloud.com/jamieainsliemusic