Who? Birgitta Alida
What? Closely
Where? Bergen
What they say?
The track explores “many things such as love, loneliness, hope, dreams, confusion, anxiety and desire” which the video marries with a tongue in cheek starring role for her dog Lila.
Why we love it? Alida’s effortlessly wonderful vocal tone wraps around your heart as the breezy, delightful Motown-esque framing makes you swoon. ‘Closely’ is infectious lovelorn romp. Gorgeous.(BC)
FFO: The Supremes and Melody’s Echo Chamber, Alvvays
Who? Pongo
What? ‘Quem Manda No Mic’
Where? Portugal/ Angola
What they say? ‘Quem Manda No Mic’ traces Pongo’s buzzy beginnings, having guested on Buraka Som Sistema’s ‘Black Diamond’ album alongside M.I.A. and Kano. Pushing forward the Angolan genre of Kuduro (blending soca & samba with hip hop & techno touchstones) with her love for bass music & dancehall.
Why we love it? Visceral and infectious. It brims with the confidence of Pongo’s precise, give-a-F flow – ‘I drag crowds with the power of a Cadillac / Follow my pace, be sensible come by taxi”.(BC)
FFO: Buraka Som Sistema, M.I.A, Sampa the Great
Who? Beabadoobee
Where? London
What? She plays bass
What they say?
Speaking to NME, she said the song was dedicated Eliana, her friend and the bass-player in her expanded live set-up.
“She’s my go to person every time I have any troubles in my life and, you know, I’m the same with her. And I guess at times, it feels like we wish we could date, because if something ever goes wrong or we need anything we go straight to talk to each other. When you have a best friend like that, it’s like – we would be perfect for each other!”
Why we love it? Rushing, tuneful and effervescent dream pop that’s impossibly catchy and impossibly direct melodies claw onto your heart. It’s about leaning on your best friend in times of uncertainty.(BC)
FFO: Clairo, Camera Obscura, Japanese Breakfast
Who? TJ Roberts
What? The Party
Where? Cardiff
What they say?
‘The Party’
Why we love it? Laid back and artful. Candidly uncool and flagrantly honest, this tale of party privilege catches you unawares with its blend of choppy rhythms, dexterous baselines. a The vocal drag the listener through the trials of the woefully ignorant at university house parties. Super cool. (BC)
FFO: Roxy Music, Steely Dan and real-life Springfielder Mac Demarco
https://soundcloud.com/libertinorecords/tj-roberts-the-party/s-VoJmE
Dow
Who? Lunch Money Life
What? Unlimited Ice Cream Palace
What they say?
Lunch Money Life used to run a night called Weird Bands at Servant Jazz Quarters, in Dalston. King Knut was (and still is) the venue manager. He supported our music from day one and we’ve swapped and shared homemade tunes & listening discoveries ever since.
Why we love it? This sweet, playful, sample laden experimental, pulsing dancefloor soundtrack is inventive, abrasive and euphoric all at once. Super! (BC)
FFO: Don Cherry, Aphex Twin, J Dilla, Equinoxx
Who ? She Got Spies
What? ‘WEDI BLINO’
Where? Cardiff
What they say? Following on from the success of the debut album ‘Wedi’ in 2018, She’s Got Spies is back with a taste of her album due for release in 2020. The Welsh language single ‘Wedi Blino’ (‘Tired’) is the first to be released from the album. Full band line up includes Laura Nunez, Gareth Middleton (Gindrinker / Threatmantics) and Mel Beard.
“When the world gets messy, what else can you do.” – Laura Nunez, October 2019
Why we love it? Wonky and plinky plonky this psych smeared ditty is a joyously offkilter tuneful slice of Cymru pop. The title might be tired but the sound is positively bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!(BC)
FFO; Super Furry Animals, Tune-Yards
Who? Outerhouse
What? This Changes Everything
Where? Bridgewater
What they say?
Outerhouse are five piece female fronted guitar band from Bridgwater ranging from 16 to 18 years old. The band formed in year 7, because primary members Ria, Lottie and Beth wanted to play cover songs and get paid. Since then they have found two boys Troy, and Cameron to do what they tell them and the band was born. They use their style to enhance their onstage presence, picking out specific looks for each performance.
Why we love it? Spindling and oscillating through a shadowy atmosphere, a spidery guitar motif slithers through collapsing percussion and mysterious enveloping three-way vocal harmonies hanging heavy in the air with a melancholic presence. Sparse, haunting and very promising. (BC)
FFO: Beach House, Joy Division, Johnny Marr, Warpaint
Who? Ghost//Signals
What? English Fiction
Where? North East
Why we love it? Second single of the year for the Ghost//Signals that harks back to a 90’s indie rock sound, rousing song-a-long chorus and U2 guitar line breakdowns, that bemoans a little Englanders blinkered view of the multi cultured country and the make-believe version of England they have in their heads.(JA)
FFO: U2, The Cure
Who? Useless Cities
What? Life is Full of Endless Possibilities
Where? Ireland
Why we love it? Dark, angular post punk, Useless Cities have produced a slice of noir pop dueling male/female vocals as a back and forth, like a Roland Ozabel and Dolores O’Riordan duet (without the Irish lilt), that breaks into uplifting, even hopeful anthemic conclusion.(JA)
FFO: The Cranberries, The Murder Capital, Just Mustard
