TRACKS

Image: Eyeconic

EYECONIC - SUNFLOWERS

Words: Luke Waller

“I wanna lay low and stay high” – the mantra-like hook recurs throughout Sunflowers, North East rapper Eyeconic’s first release of the year – and continues to echo in your ears after the track’s abrupt end. Party culture has been the foundation of Eyeconic’s work, including his most successful single, 2021’s It’s A Vibe. However, in something of a turn away from expectations, Sunflowers tells the story of some ‘Boro boys on a weekend away from it all in the Lakes. An instrumental backing from Middlesbrough DJ Lunko creates a nostalgic feel with its amalgam of piano and synth, chiming with the line “Reminisce memories, make a few new with me”. With introspective lyrics whilst still maintaining the party mood, Eyeconic makes it clear he’s got stamina.

Released: 12.08.22 www.facebook.com/iameyeconic

ENEMYTHIRTY - BELIEVE IT

Words: Laura Doyle

There’s a weird vibe that comes with ENEMYTHIRTY’s new track. We’ve had a couple years of radio silence from the alt. indie duo, but hopefully Believe It will be but the beginning of a new wave of noise. It’s grimy and grungy, mixing relentless lo-fi techno beats with rough and ready vocals to tell their own tales straight outta North Shields. If they wanted, this duo could make quite the living out of a Noel Gallagherfronted Gorillaz tribute act (after all, I see Elvana is doing well on the circuit.) But that’s besides the point – Believe It puts the indie into industrial, draws you in and leaves you in a daze – with no choice but to hit the repeat button for another hypnotic spin.

Released: 01.08.22 www.facebook.com/enemythirtymusic

J.P. RIGGALL - BLACK TUSK

Words: Luke Waller

Just over nine months ago, J.P. Riggall released his third solo album, the folk rock Isolation Blues, to critical acclaim – and is now back for more with another album, spearheaded by his new single, Black Tusk. In some ways stripping back to basics – unostentatious drum lines, indie guitar, passionate vocals, and just a smattering of orchestral arrangements to taste – it’s clearly seen how the new track fits in with Riggall’s description of his new album-to-be: “a collection of stories about loss and adventure”. Although small in instrumentation, Black Tusk commands a natural grandeur, reflective of its namesake, a great mountain in British Columbia. Irregular rhythms towards its end give the song an instinctive feel and flow, and a taste of the album to come.

Released: 05.08.22 www.bearloverecords.bandcamp.com

IMOGEN BOSE-WARD - RED BRICKS

Words: Maria Winter

Imagine you’re on a long car journey; staring intently out the window and thinking about nothing in particular, but at the same time everything all at once, accompanied by the soothing melodies of a delicate ballad. This feeling of introspective reflection is perfectly epitomised within singer-songwriter Imogen Bose-Ward’s newest single, Red Bricks. The expressive, yet somewhat naturalistic instrumental allows for the intricate lyrics to take centre stage, exploring relatable feelings of longing and indecision. Originally from South Lanarkshire in Scotland, Imogen stayed in Newcastle after completing a degree in folk music specialising in the fiddle. With various musical influences from popular to instrumental folk, Red Bricks beautifully captures those expansive strands, and Imogen’s graceful voice blends exquisitely with the soft sounds of the guitar.

Released: 19.08.22 www.facebook.com/imogenbosewardmusic

MOTHERLAND - OCEAN DRIVE

Words: Laura Doyle

Never judge a book by its cover, because then you might see a song called Ocean Drive and skip over it as some kind of feel-good summer tune. The latest release (in quite an impressively long line of releases) from Motherland is still pretty feel-good depending on your outlook, but it takes a surprising turn into romantic declarations of affection. Surprising, because this track is decidedly guitar-rockier than most love songs. Ocean Drive “chronicles love and its unconditional commitment; love isn’t just an emotion, it’s a promise.” It’s a bold and unwavering statement, but if your lassie/laddie/enbie likes riff-heavy solos and finds sweet-talking to be a little too cloying but you want to send them a message, then you’re onto a winner.

Released: 05.08.22 www.linktr.ee/motherlandneuk

THE FALSE POETS - SHADOWS OF FEAR

Words: Jake Anderson

I wasn’t too sure what to expect from The False Poets. The intro features haunting and ominous sounds, then the drums jump in the mix alongside heavy lead guitar, feeling like it could go in any direction. At times it’s a very stripped back track, with not a lot of depth, but less can be more, and this does make the instruments present pop that little bit more. The vocal performance layered within is soft on the ears and is what made the track for me. That said, the song’s structure is a bit pre-emptive, not reaching the climax it was building up to and in turn making the main hook feel weaker than it should’ve been.

Released: 05.08.22 www.facebook.com/thefalsepoets

HANNAH ROBINSON - NINETEEN

Words: Maria Winter

Known for her hauntingly beautiful musical ambience, North East singer-songwriter Hannah Robinson is continuing in this style, with her brand new single. Featuring a seamless blend of indie, rock and pop vibes, this dream-like track evokes both a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, as we delve into the turbulent journey of Hannah’s youth. Mesmerising harmonies and catchy guitar riffs further reinforce this illusion, enabling you to completely escape into the music. As a song that was incredibly meaningful for Hannah to write, nineteen similarly allows the listener to reflect on their own personal journeys through relatable lyricism, which is a powerful ability to have as a songwriter. If you are looking for a unique mixture of both genre and musicality, this captivating track is for you.

Released: 05.08.22 www.facebook.com/hanrobinsonmusic

THE PEEVIE WONDERS - GYM LAD

Words: Michael O’Neill

Arriving like a demented twin hot on the heels of their debut release Indie Dancefloor Boy, the (brilliantly named) enigmatic Toon-hailing four-piece The Peevie Wonders return with another abrasive and phenomenally crafted slice of tongue-in-cheek sleaze that often feels like an unexpected bid to be the Geordie Jesus Lizard. Where Indie Dancefloor Boy satirised the pitfalls of muso-snobbery, Gym Lad goes to task on coke-addled, Peroni-dependent weightlifters to a bedrock of pounding drums, atonal guitar and jackhammer bass. It brilliantly suits the sublime lyrics, which once again do a phenomenal job of being witty and wry without being try-hard and overwrought. All in all, it’s refreshing and exhilarating. Long live the Peevies.

Released: 12.08.22 www.facebook.com/thepeeviewonders

OLYMPIA PALACE - CRUEL PARADISE

Words: Jake Anderson

A very strong lead in, Strat-heavy opening for Olympia Palace’s newest track Cruel Paradise moulds an instantly likeable track. The quick pace of the single makes Cruel Paradise quite lively and almost bouncy. The vibrant vocal performance eases us into a fun atmosphere that the track builds up pretty much straight away, and has an airy presence over the instrumental that gives the song that summer vibe it seems to be aiming for. I imagine it would sound excellent live, having seem to be built for such a purpose. Thanks to its anthemic and epic vibe, the liveliness of the chorus, and the erupting guitar solo, I’d want to be in the crowd taking it all in.

Released: 05.08.22 www.facebook.com/olympiapalacemusic

Image by DJMPhotography

HOLIDAY IN TOKYO - BIGGEST FAN

Words: Michael O’Neill

Funky chorused chords, bouncing bass, crystal-cut drums and brilliantly witty wordplay are fused together effortlessly in this introspective release from the anything-goes quartet who’ve previous dabbled in chaotic walls of noise and soulful ballads. Biggest Fan finds the band doing a phenomenal ape of the sophisticated deadpan indie pop of Nilüfer Yanya, fusing the sensibilities of lo-fi bedroom pop with the hi-fi dynamics of modern alt. R&B, upon which frontman Matty Rogers directly addresses an anonymous ‘failed musician’ the band used to poke fun at, making for a deft and self-aware character study that is honest, witty and groovy as all hell. It’s a brilliant display of the quartet’s versatility and unique character, and is endlessly replay-able.

Released: 19.08.22 www.facebook.com/holidayintokyo

AUTOLEISURELAND - THE BLUE STAR

Words: Michael O’Neill

Autoleisureland constitutes a reunion of sorts for David Brewis and Paul Woods, founding members of The Kane Gang, those sculptors of Closest Thing To Heaven, infamous for their name-check on The Fall’s Gut Of The Quantifier and, along with Prefab Sprout, a bona fide addition to the soulful sophisti-pop pantheon of revered acts such as The Blue Nile. The project is a culmination of four years of writing and amassing tracks together, with debut release The Blue Star being a brilliant continuation of the patented Kane Gang sound, whilst deploying a funkier, more 70s bent, immediately recalling the left-field grooves of Shuggie Otis’ legendary opus Inspiration/Information, with its rolling clavinets and atmospheric production, and is utterly phenomenal.

Released: 12.08.22 www.autoleisureland.com

SHAMU - DISAPPEAR EP

Words: Jake Anderson

I’ve kept an eye on Shamu’s output since 2020’s Use Your Voice, and their trajectory has seen them focus in on the chilled sounds of 2021’s Unwound. Disappear EP features tight production and engaging instrumentals, while thematically the EP reveals some of the band’s most intimate lyrics, especially on opening track Set It Off and the third track This Time Isn’t Real. For the self-proclaimed rock heads, there are rockier moments throughout. Don’t Assume features a lush, deep guitar solo towards the end of the track, which is an EP highlight, and Stitch Me Up feels more like a return to form for the band thanks to its up-tempo electric energy.

Released: 05.08.22 www.facebook.com/shamuisaband