After the successful release of his 2021 debut album, All Through Time and Space, J.T. Rogers teamed up with Carter Costello for his latest alt-pop hit, The Cycle of Orbit. After hearing the synthy-sweet hooky chorus, I’m fairly sure I surrendered a significant proportion of my soul to the mesmerising collaborative duo.
I don’t make Peeing Tom reminiscences lightly. Yet, the Seattle-born, LA-based artist warranted it with his uniquely evocative mix of vocal vibrato and reverb atop of the baroquely twisted instrumentals.
J.T Rogers took space pop to a fairly dark place, but those who find their minds in the shadows regardless will find plenty of salvation in this gorgeous amalgamation of bedroom pop, lo-fi and emo which is just as psychedelic as the most Avant work from the Legendary Pink Dots.
Costello adds a gorgeous dynamic single with his commanding debonair-vibe vocals. It comes as little surprise that J.T. is starting to amass so much traction in his career. We can’t wait to hear what he pours onto the airwaves next.
The Cycle of Orbit is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.
Staying true to their moniker, Dead Writers delivered poetry that scarcely feels of this century in their latest single, Among Spirits. If Oscar Wilde himself resurrected to write post-punk lyrics, they wouldn’t be as up to scratch as the arresting lexicon in this cutting track.
Right from the intro, the cavernous guitar notes hook you into the emotionally layered single that alchemically fuses melancholy with defiant bursts of energy that emulates the kind of euphoria that only those who have fought for it can truly understand.
When the chorus hits, Dead Writers prove that they have the rare ability to make morosity anthemic, and things get even sweeter in the instrumental interlude. Against the bitter-sweet piano melody, the guitars start to blazon the track with virtuosic rock n roll licks that feed Manic Street Preachers-Esque nuances into the mix.
Paradoxically, the vocals contain their suave indie-rock poise throughout the switch-ups between the evocative dark timbre that will be a hit with any fans of the Cure and the strident rock vocals that could easily fill a stadium. By all accounts, the London-based debonair powerhouse delivered an instant post-punk classic with Among Spirits.
The official video will premiere on October 29th; you can check it out for yourselves via YouTube.
The Scottish alt-indie outfit, Artie Ziff, is the kind of artist that leaves you instantly perplexed at how they fly under so many people’s radars with their ability to organically weave a myriad of genres into their captivatingly high-octane sound. Their latest single, Masquerade, proves that they have exactly what it takes to reach the same heights as Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Bring Me the Horizon or Yungblud as alt-rock pioneers.
The proceedings kick off with a post-punk-style prelude before post-hardcore stylings start to work their way into the anthemically unpredictable hit. If you think The National’s guitars when they kick into sonic overdrive are something, you might want to strap yourselves in for Masquerade that brings just as much to the table vocally. Anyone that never completely grew out of their emo phase should definitely consider Masquerade a playlist staple.
The official video for Masquerade premiered on September 16th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.
The Roulettes’ fourth single, Fading Sun, from their album, Demosphere,will be music to the ears of proto-punk, post-punk, garage rock and indie fans alike.
Straight off the bat, you’re plunged into a cold atmosphere orchestrated by throbbing basslines, harsh snares and rancorously overdriven guitars. Around the glitchy electronica, psych-rock tendencies start to flourish as the single unravels and warmth seeps into the mix through the vocals that carry the same enamouring appeal of Julian Casablancas (The Strokes).
The New Zealand-based duo’s album may have never seen a recording studio, but discernibly, that didn’t get in the way of the prodigal sons creating one of the most exciting alt-rock albums of 2021. Save room on your radar.
You can check out the official video for Fading Sun via YouTube.
Huddersfield may not be renowned as a thriving epicentre of alternative culture; it became one when some of the finest acts that the North has to offer raised the roof of the Parish in on September 23rd.
Hull’s finest alt-90s revivalists, Sweethearts, had the unenviable task of warming up a staunchly miserable crowd determined to reserve their energy for PINS. Even if you could have been forgiven for thinking that the crowd was mostly lobotomised, they persevered with their high-energy set taking every banter-fail in their enigmatically electric stride.
Their live set may have been my first introduction to their music which addictively mixes emotional vulnerability with unfalteringly performative insanity but I was gripped with every volatile second of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if half of Huddersfield heard their massive, cacophonously rhythmic drums, and the instrumental flair didn’t end there. If you can’t resist Pavement’s fuzzy hooks, you’ll find Sweethearts’ distorted hooks to be just as sharp. If you get a chance to see them live, take it.
It was my third time catching Heavy Salad live, and my god, their live performances have picked up extra instrumental grit and vocal soul since we last caught them in Manchester, shortly before the pandemic hit in 2020.
With less talent between them, their cultish wholesomeness would fall into the realms of esoteric novelty, but what Midsommar is to horror, Heavy Salad is to the airwaves. They find a way to add nuance to celestial conversation with vibration-raising mantras nestled into hooky psych-pop hits in a way that no one else could.
It was my first chance to hear some of the material from their currently-in-production sophomore album; it would appear that they have perfected the cosmic guitar-driven pop formula over lockdown. Watching them go from strength to strength following the release of their debut album, Cult Casual, in 2020 has easily been one of the gratifying feats of my PR career.
PINS may consistently get left out of the conversation when it comes to celebrating Manchester’s most iconic acts, but with their arresting, cooler than meth style and endless accolades, what more could you possibly ask for?
From the moment they stepped on the atmospherically lit stage with their post-punk-tinged danceable riffs and protestive lyrics that attack the fetid threads of our social fabric, their unshakeable demureness consumed the room. With the glamour of 60s go-go girls and their fiercely empowered poise, they are one of the few bands that can take influence from the original Riot Grrrls without allowing their sonic vision to feel like history revisited.
PINS took the often divisive girls to the front ethos to the next level with the final track on their setlist, Girls Like Us, by inviting the handful of women in the crowd up on stage to dance with them. How could I possibly refuse? With the outstretched hand of Faith, I grasped the affirmation that their motivation as an artist isn’t just to flaunt their autonomy; it is to extend it to anyone that witnesses it.
The Narcissists claim to be the best thing to have come out of Australia’s Capital City’; based on their debut EP, Conflict, it is safe to say that many noise-rock fans would be inclined to agree.
The lead single, Alcohol, creates a jarring introduction to The Narcissists’ sound that is just as nefarious as their moniker. The extended prelude finds itself on the darker and dingier side of no-wave as the 3-piece weaves in elements of post-punk and psych-rock. While the remaining duration of the 7-minute single toys with your rhythmic pulses as you’re shunted through unpredictable progressions and left at the mercy of The Narcissists tumultuous furore.
Their debut EP was released on September 10th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.
With a touch of button, the Rec show us how freaky this wild social media age can turn us into manic obsessed zombies so easily, on their new single which shows us a renewed music duo keen for success again called ‘fair dos‘.
the Rec is a London and Los Angeles-based alternative duo who were on their way to fame in the early 80’s. They make a thrilling blend of hauntingly honest music which has you feeling their world class quality, wash all over your shaken body.
”In 1981, Dovey and Ritchie, two Shropshire lads from the medieval market town of Oswestry ditched their schoolbooks, to form north Shropshire’s premier post-punk garage combo – the Assassins. They mapped the streets of their hometown with their songs of love, fear, record collecting, solvent abuse and girls. The gigs were legendary, word was sent from Peel, and stardom briefly beckoned, but they just couldn’t take the next crucial step. Now they’re making up for lost time.” ~ the Rec
With a stunning display that opens up our eyes to what is there in real life, but often gets hidden behind the rug of those who want to avoid the truth – the spooky beat and powerfully expressed lyrics – takes you to an anxious place, which makes you extra concerned about how the internet can be exploited so easily.
”Reconnecting 30 years later, a trans-Atlantic musical dialogue emerged as they swapped lyrics and melodies across the pond. The Assassins were reborn and renamed after one of Oswestry’s most notorious landmarks.” ~ the Rec
‘fair dos‘ from the London and Los Angeles-based indie duo the Rec, is the type of song that should put sweaty shivers all over your fragile spine. The truth about how the internet can turn normal people into addicts has red flags waving furiously, as they show us what the insides look like. Performed by two artists on a mission to reclaim their place at the top after thirty years away, this is a top notch effort with so much to be enthralled by.
Hear this new track on Spotify and see more on their Facebook page.
If you could imagine what it would be like to experience Desert Mountain Tribe, Oh Sees, the Fall and the Jim Jones Review simultaneously, you still wouldn’t come close to anticipating the brooding eclecticism of The Maitlands’ freshly cultivated sound in their first release of 2021.
With their double A-side, Diving in at the Shallow End / Bobby Driscoll, they’ve thrown a significant proportion of their humble indie rock swagger to the wayside to find more room for their artistic fortitude.
Mark Winterburn’s (Nine Black Alps, Plan B, Don Bronco, The Script) production, engineering and mastering brought a cinematic flair to the singles with symphonic motifs decorating the signature affably despondent style from their earlier releases. But honestly, I feel like I’ve just experienced the darkest post-punk glow-up imaginable.
Diving in at the Shallow End starts with desolate desert rock tones before the percussion starts speaking to you on a primal level, and discord starts to amass in the psychedelically arranged single until it breaks into a frenetic feat of dingy garage rock n’ roll.
Bobby Driscoll is a conceptual exploration of identity, loss and tragedy inspired by the story of the Disney child actor who wound up in an unmarked grave. It starts by stripping hubris away with the simple yet disarming question, ‘Do you ever feel like you’ve become a caricature of yourself?” As someone who frequently navigates the world in a dissociative state trying to uphold the image I project, it’s safe to say the compassionate narrative hit hard as it unfolded around the walls of shoegazey guitars and percussion that thrashes its way through, managing to reflect the inner turmoil that anyone with a hint of self-awareness feels.
Both singles released on September 3rd; you can check out the singles on Spotify, Amazon and iTunes via this link or connect with the Maitlands via Facebook.
Post-punk and symphonic metal converge in the darkened atmosphere of Baroque Monody’s latest single, Plan 2021, featuring percussionist Kellii Scott (Failure).
With Scott’s thrashing percussive flair, the heavy guitars and the etherealism of Jenifer Rose’s vocals as they emanate the same arcane allure of a 15th-century mystic, all of your senses will surrender to the sublimely-paced progressive furore in Plan 2021.
After making their debut in 2013, Baroque Monody has released two albums, and there is plenty more in the pipeline from the powerhouse duo. Save a spot on your radar.
Plan 2021 is available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.
With an electrically charged combination of electronic, post-punk, dark wave and industrial dance influences, Manx Dreams shows us what he has been working on through these cold pandemic-filled days on his latest track called ‘Nights and Corridors‘.
Ben Seymour aka Manx Dreams, is an experienced USA-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and music producer.
Returning after 2020’s ‘Hit Parade‘, this is a nostalgic-type of track which takes you to those wild evenings which you will never forget.
”Currently, Ben plays all instruments, provides all vocals and manages all production of Manx Dreams. This could potentially change on future projects.” ~ Manx Dreams
With a movie-like soundtrack, this is a beat-driven track with much to like from all angles. The driving energy keeps you hooked the whole way through and those haunting vocals, has you mightily compelled to use your vivid imagination during the whole late-night journey.
”In his first solo project, Manx utilizes analog, synth based textures, minimalist guitar and bass, and other elements to tell stories and paint mental pictures. After spending some time in Eastern Europe and other remote regions, Manx incorporates some of these influences and a prior lifetime, to fuel the first album. Prior to Manx Dreams, Ben played guitar for several Coachella and San Diego based artists.” ~ Manx Dreams
‘Nights and Corridors‘ from the USA-based music producer, vocalist and multi-skilled instrumentalist Manx Dreams, is the story about those long evenings out and about in town. They seem to last forever but before you know it, the sun is up and your heart beats real fast ,and your soul seems to drop a bit as the fun has ended. Sung with a deep tone and with an ominous soundscape, this is a true thunderbolt of exciting flowing energy through your veins.
Enjoy those nights while they last, otherwise you will truly regret not enjoying yourself more.
Hear this new single on Spotify and see more on his IG page.
