Winter is coming. But that’s no surprise, it’s fucking November. It’s a bit Father John out there, so if you’re out walking, cycling or motorbiking stick a luminous tabard on and don’t speed ya bellends. Have a listen to these lovely morsels on your airpods, cans, or those thin strap over the head, spongy orange headphones you used to get with a Walkman. Check it.
Heather Woods Broderick – Blood Run Through Me
Why we love it: The name of Heather Woods Broderick is often heard in relation to her work playing and touring with Sharon Van Etten, Damien Jurado, Efterklang, and Laura Gibson. She is currently on tour across North America opening for Beth Orton, with whom she will also be performing each night. However, the American musician and composer is very much an artist in her own right as her new single ‘ Blood Run Through Me’ firmly attests.
Heather Woods Broderick released her third solo album, the quite wonderful Invitation, in 2019 and followed this up with her first fully instrumental work, the cello drone album Domes which came out earlier this year.
‘Blood Run Through Me’ is her first new music since Domes and speaking about her latest record, Heather Woods Broderick says it is “about human connection and the ways in which we move through our experiences, in relation to one another. Everyone has their own perspective or view through which they experience life, and although we move through life somewhat collectively, we each have our own story to tell.”
‘Blood Run Through Me’ features vocals from co-producer D. James Goodwin and Lisa Hannigan and is accompanied by a Jeremy Johnstone directed video. The end result is a wonderfully hypnotic swell of warm transcendence. (Simon Godley)
Lambrini Girls – Help Me, I’m Gay
Why We Love It: Brighton based Lambrini Girls have released their new single ‘Help Me I’m Gay’ and also confirmed they have been signed by label Big Scary Monsters. The trio of Phoebe Lunny (Vocals/Guitar – she/they), Lilly Macieira (Bass – she/they) and Catt Jack (Drums – N/A), first joined forces amongst the anarchic waves of the Brighton underground music scene. They give punk rhythms their own twist commenting on social and personal issues in their unique style. ‘Help Me I’m Gay’ was first performed live in the middle of lockdown, at a series of socially distanced, fully seated gigs at Brighton Dome. The audience must have had to be strapped to their seats to prevent them from dancing. This is a scuzzy, scratchy, shouty, energy fuelled track. The lyrics are tongue in cheek while at the same time making the point very clear. “This song is about the trivialisation of queer people. Shag whoever you want, don’t let anyone put you in a box and if you do ever find yourself in one, then know you can shag your way out of it” The future is looking bright for the Lambrini Girls as they have just been announced as part of The Great Escape’s First 50 with a show at Shacklewell Arms, and are set to support Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes next month. Long Live the Lambrini Girls! (Julia Mason)
Jen Cloher – Mana Takatāpui
Why we love it: Jen Cloher (Ngāpuhi & Ngāti Kahu) is an Australian song-writer and performer living on unceded Wurundjeri land in Naarm (Melbourne). They have just announced that their new album I Am The River, The River Is Me will be out on March 3rd next year via Milk! Records/ Marathon Artists.
The album explores Jen Cloher’s connection to their indigenous New Zealand lineage and the LGBTQ+ community.
‘Mana Takatâpui’ is the first single to be taken from the forthcoming album. Takatāpui is the Māori word meaning a devoted partner of the same sex. Jen Cloher explains that the song is a “celebration of my people, of takatāpui who get up everyday and resist oppression just by existing.” It is certainly a delightfully infectious and most powerful and uplifting anthem.
The song’s accompanying video – directed by Annelise Hickey – features many of Jen Cloher’s heroes, including the Greens MP Dr. Elizabeth Kerekere, who can be seen dancing on the steps of the New Zealand Parliament. Their PhD and accompanying whāriki (weaving) ‘Mana Takatāpui’ inspired the name of the song. (Simon Godley)
Grandma’s House – How Does It Feel?
Why We Love It: Bristol punk-trio Grandmas House share their explosive new single ‘How Does it Feel? via Brace Yourself Records and announce a new run of UK dates for March 2023. Drawing on frontperson Yasmin Berndt’s Belgian heritage, the track is sung in both French and English, with Poppy Dodgson (vocals, drums) and Zoë Zinsmeister (bass) also contributing vocals. Female, queer and unapologetic, the trio formed as they: “wanted a place to scream about the stuff we care about, which is why we started writing music and learning our instruments which lead to us moving in together and starting the band”. They have achieved this and more with ‘How Does it Feel?” It sets off at a blistering pace and even though singing along maybe tricky, the guttural delivery in French only adds to the sense of confusion. The pounding drums and driving bassline complement the vocals. And by the way the pace only increases as the track progresses, which of course pulls you into the thrilling world of Grandma’s House.
The band say of the track: “‘How Does it Feel?’ is a call and response between two people about the feelings of confusion you go through when breaking up. Sung in both French and English it is an explosion of queer angst and emotion.” (Julia Mason)
Teeth Machine – Penny
Why We Love It: because it’s beautiful and chilled out for a foggy November Monday morning. Stunning in its simplicity, Teeth Machine apply Trip-Hop and Lounge rhythms and percussion to Shoegaze guitars that are reminiscent of Just Mustard but without the ear splitting volume.
Singer Gray Rimmer says “It revolves around the sensation of being so wrapped up in your predicament, and so desperate to escape it, that you can miss what’s in front of you in the pursuit of that escape.”
They continue: “I was listening to Talk Talk‘s New Grass a lot the year it was written, as well as the compositions of Mark Pritchard and quite a bit of folk and American Primitive (Robbie Basho, Peter Lang etc). Arthur was also really into Steve Reich‘s Different Trains, the sonics of which inspired a big part of the production process. A similarity in all these works is those themes of emotive spaciousness; pacing and release arise a lot, with a melodic, heart-stirring quality that propels them along.” (Jim Auton)
Touts – Old Man’s Land
Why We Love It: Derry punks TOUTS’ have instigated a distinct change of pace with new single ‘Old Man’s Land’. The spit and fury rage of youth has been replaced in this track by a more measured approach, driven by a reggae beat. Unlikely to ever waste music on poor and meaningless lyrics, front man Matthew Crossan says the following: “’Old Man’s Land’ is about youth and innocence that was stolen in the past. The result that has on people today can be observed in many places at many times across our land. It draws influence from old Irish balladeers and the romanticism of their songs. It attempts to pick up the narration and story from where they left off.”
For those who know TOUTS this is a completely different sound but one which shows a band maturing. Change is inevitable with life experience and I have no doubt that the fire in the belly still burns in this trio. ‘Old Man’s Land’ soars with its emotion, and that reggae beat at the opening is an ear-catching start to a track full of passion. The pace picks up midtrack and the combined vocals provide a rousing end. It’ll be interesting to see what TOUTS do next. (Julia Mason)
Humour – Good Boys Remember Well
Why We Love It: Glasgow band Humour are set to release their debut EP on 25 November via So Young. In advance of this they have released the closing track from the EP ‘Good Boys Remember Well’. It opens with a haunting guitar riff and the unhinged distorted vocals of front man Andreas Christodoulidis. With a more recognisable hook in the track as opposed to the off kilter of previous songs, this has the guitar at the forefront. And just as we thought the drums are going to be given their moment in the sun, the song comes to an abrupt end.
Humour have delivered disorientating and chaotic previous singles and ‘Good Boys Remember Well’ sees the band create a more cohesive and yet no less striking track. The soundscape dominates here and with a nod to the likes of The Cure, their development is continuing to add to an intriguing body of work. Frontman Andreas draws sketches to go along with each of their songs, including the EP cover, and the artwork and plus the visuals behind the lyric videos for both ‘yeah, mud!’ and ‘alive and well’.
The band expand on the inspiration behind the new song: “This song’s about a really tragic submarine disaster Andreas heard about one day. He just lifts a bunch of particularly sad lines from Wikipedia about it rather than adding too much of his own perspective. I’ve always thought this was a cool thing about this song. It seems like he’s got a megaphone and is just sort of relentlessly listing facts and figures about the disaster in a desperate attempt to make you feel the way he did when he heard about it.” (Julia Mason)
Half Happy – Lovesweep
Why we love it: ‘Love Sweeps’ is a swoonsome tune about longing and love and is a fantastic introduction to emerging Cardiff band Half Happy. They describe it as a love song from people who never though they’d write one, Rose’s wonderful voice imbued with a hazy quality as she hangs around at home underpinned by dreamy waltzing percussion and a jangly sepia-tinged guitars. Before being swept away by the rush of the shimmeringly gorgeous chorus, where she’s overwhelmed by the feeling of love. Fans of the Sundays and Alvvays will find much to love here a mighty fine introduction!
Zac and Rose started writing music together in Lockdown on garage band and made a mini studio in their living room. When everyone could go back to the pub they went to the studio with friend Tom Rees (of Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard) and recorded a few tracks. To bring the band to life they asked long time best pals Jon and Pete to join. They’ve all known each other for 9 years and the love hit Zac and Rose around year 5. (Bill Cummings)
Kate Davis – Consequences
Why we love it: Portland’s Kate Davis recently signed to ANTI- Records and shared her infectious new single ‘Consequences‘ and its 90’s Microsoft Windows-inspired lyric video.With her contemplative and diaristic song, Davis considers the results of a lifetime of choices on ‘Consequences‘ and lets them wash over her. “It’s scary to realise the reasons why you wanna die” Sings Davis on this deliciously self-aware alt pop song as she she considers betrayal and her place in the world, layered with her evocative vocals, and a simmering bed of synths and guitars that swell into an ear worm choruses. Lovely stuff! She says “I experienced a major low point in 2020, tangled up in a chaotic love affair where I really met myself. It’s about a very peculiar kind of heartbreak and betrayal where you’re at the mercy of your “other.”
Growing up in Portland where she began playing violin at age five and bass at age thirteen, Davis later moved to New York City to attend the Manhattan School Of Music. At night, Davis would sneak down to Brooklyn to watch rock shows and secretly dreamed of breaking away from the academic rigour of the jazz world she inhabited. With time, Davis found a way to take control of her musical destiny and define her own path, which began with her 2018 debut album ‘Trophy’ . (Bill Cummings)
