Picture the scene.
It’s 21st June 2021. You are leaving pre-drinks in the company of friends that you haven’t seen in a year. The night is just getting dark, but it’s comfortably t-shirts all the way as you skip down to the bar/pub/DJ set/party of your choosing. Whilst you are queuing up at the bar to buy a couple of drinks (maybe even a cheeky tequila shot, who knows), your favourite song comes on. Your eyes meet those of the nearest stranger at the bar and you both grin at each other. “We’re free” they whisper to you, and you embrace. Everybody gets laid and life is good again forever.
The resulting spike in COVID cases puts us back into lockdown for another decade, but bloody hell, what a night.
Bangers below.
The Horrors // Lout
Jesus Christ, how about this for a return. The Horrors have been pretty quiet since 2017s album V, and ‘Lout’ justifies the wait: a little bit Nine Inch Nails, a little bit Ministry.
NewDad // Slowly
One of our favourite newcomers over the past year or so. Galway group NewDad make shoegaze pop with Julie Dawson’s vocal conjuring massive 90s energy. Keep your eye out for debut Waves EP coming soon.
Bachelor // Anything At All
“Bachelor is not a band; it is a friendship”, is the kind of wholesome energy we need as we see out this winter. Bedroom indie stalwarts Jay Som & Palehound have collaborated to make this dreamy ode to queerness.
deep tan // camelot
A little bit gothic rock, a little bit post-punk. ‘camelot’ is about receiving a 48hr eviction notice, and the subsequent decision to throw one last rager in the residence. We are getting pretty excited for their debut EP, out in June.
Dead Slow Hoot // Taller Tree
Sheffield’s Dead Slow Hoot make driving rock with a perfect flow. ‘Taller Trees’ comprises of one part self-reflection & one part ‘fuck the Tories’, which is beyond relatable.
Freya Beer // Siren
Freya Beer cites 60s poet Charles Bukowski & J.W. Waterhouse as influences. Throw in a bit of dark-pop and maybe a slither of Ellie Rowsell’s rockier vocals and you have an exciting artist with her debut album appearing later this year.
Blood Wizard // Total Depravity
It’s hard to make folk-informed singles sound modern & self-aware, but Blood Wizard have smashed it with ‘Total Depravity’. Through this project, Kagoule frontman Cai Burns channels anxiety through his razor sharp lyricism to create simple songs that are far greater than the sum of their parts.
