Lunar Vacation ‘Inside Every Fig Is a Dead Wasp’

Lunar Vacation have been simmering away in the suburbs of Atlanta for several years now, occupying a woozy space of jangly, dreamy indie diametrically opposed to their hometown's signature hip-hop thud and finally have an album to show for it.

 

Black Honey, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds , October 10th 2021

Leeds’ Brudenell is mobbed yet again as it has been for all my post-pandemic visits since live music resumed this summer, throngs of visitors still super-keen to make up for lost time, squeezing the last drop of their weekend for a trio of live acts culminating in Brighton’s hook-laden power-pop noir exponents Black Honey.

Gustaf ‘Audio Drag for Ego Slobs’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Matthew E White ‘K Bay’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Hirsute Stateside singer-songwriter Matthew E White has seemingly set himself an impossible task, namely, create one of those cinematic sun-drenched neighbourhood records attempted by many but mastered by so few. Happily I’m pleased to inform everyone the news is good, ‘Kbay’ proves something of a humdinger.

LUMP - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds 02/09/21

LUMP is a Laura Marling side-hustle that completely passed me by until I tripped over the upbeat hypnotic psych-pop of recent sophomore album title track ‘Animal’. I suddenly realised who was singing and lo and behold, Google did the rest.

Tropical Fuck Storm ‘Deep States’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

How do you interpret the name Tropical Fuck Storm? For me it's the sound of a tornado tearing through a bordello, but for the Australian four-piece who actually bear the moniker it's clearly something different – something like an electrical storm in slow motion crackling around a (presumably tropical?) drug lab. Smoke swirls, chemicals which should never mix combine together and paranoia sets in. 

Quicksand ‘Distant Populations’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Not to make you feel old or anything, but when post-hardcore icons Quicksand's magnificent debut album Slip came out Amazon was just a rainforest, DVDs hadn't been invented yet and the world was still waiting for the first PlayStation – this last one is a particular shame as Quicksand would have slotted right in on the soundtrack to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.

The Lovely Eggs - Leeds Brudenell Social Club 24/07/21 (LIVE REVIEW)

It's been over 500 days since my last gig, my longest time between live music shows since birth to ACDC. Most of tonight’s disbelieving Brudenell throng are in the same boat, a few acquaintances joyously renewed by some regulars, the Space Raiders once again flying off the shelves, helping to soak up the beer as the famed Leeds venue finally enjoys the sort of visitor numbers not witnessed for a couple of summers.

Scores’Vol 1’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

The central point on the synth/guitar Venn diagram is in itself quite big, but the good bit is actually quite small. It shouldn't be controversial to say that opening up the traditional horizons is fraught with the dangers of spreading things too thin to actually make a difference or ladling it on so thick that there's no room to breathe.

The Lovely Eggs ‘I, Moron’ (SINGLE REVIEW)

The last time the word ‘Moron’ was shoehorned into a pop song ‘Jilted John’ was enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame before morphing into John Shuttleworth. Fifteen is also the number of months quirky Lancashire punk duo ‘The Lovely Eggs’ have been waiting to hit the road and promote their fine chart-topping record ‘I Am Moron’. 

Drug Store Romeos ‘The World Within Our Bedrooms’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Strap on your headphones, we're going stereo – Drug Store Romeos' superb debut album deserves the over-ear treatment to make the most of its richly orchestrated synth-led dream pop. 

BSÍ ‘sometimes depressed… but always antifascist’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Just like a football match the debut album from the enigmatic BSÌ is a game of two halves, and not unlike England's capitulation to the duo's Icelandic countrymen in Euro 2016 Sometimes depressed… but always antifascist is entirely unexpected – and a lot less likely to piss people off and lose Roy Hodgson his job.

Clamm 'Beseech Me' (ALBUM REVIEW)

 

On the face of it Beseech Me, the debut album from Clamm, is the next spiky post punk record shooting for the big time from a booming Bristol scene which has in recent years made stars out of IDLES and cult heroes of Heavy Lungs and Lice to name but a few. 

Jess McAllister 'Courage/Fear' (ALBUM REVIEW)

Lockdown robbed West Country based Jess McAllister of the chance to share her absorbing debut ‘Courage/Fear’ with live audiences across the land, instead restricted to the odd socially distanced or virtual gig, as, like many of us, homeschooling and side hustles suddenly took priority.

'68 Give One Take One (ALBUM REVIEW)

 

On the face of it the new record from '68 is another glistening dollop of sledgehammer sleaze but look beneath the hood and it's clear that frontman Josh Scogin has hit the chop shop, turning an already full-blooded power duo into a true tyre-shredding hot rod.

Blanketman 'National Trust' EP REVIEW

 

The setting – your lockdown living room. The time – 36 seconds after dropping the needle on Blanketman's National Trust EP. The scene – chaos, as the Manchester-based indie-pop darlings crescendo into the joyous, crashing chorus of 'Beach Body', the first song released from their debut EP and the one that really got the hype machine churning.

Baby Boys 'Threesome' EP REVIEW

Minneapolis muso geek trio Baby Boys have expertly utilized their vast amounts of time spent honing their skills in recording studios, combining that hard-earned nous with the playful experimentation of a certain local Purple pop legend, creating a beguiling little cartoon of an album full of twists and turns. 

Nuha Ruby Ra 'How to Move' (EP REVIEW)

This expletive laden, post-apocalyptic debut EP from Londoner Nuha Ruby Ra bristles with anger, danger, desire and chaos in equal measure. Released on 5th March courtesy of Brace Yourself Records, the stand out track is arguably the stylishly urbane bit-on-the-side lament ‘Sparky’. A fatalistic take on an intense, controlling yet doomed relationship in the classic quiet/loud format, Nuha just about manages to keep it together during the taut verses before unravelling spectacularly at each chorus.

Black Country New Road 'For The First Time' (ALBUM REVIEW)

The contrarian in me normally swerves bands who’ve enjoyed the hype festooned on them like Black Country New Road have over the past few months, despite their dearth of recorded output. 

Yung 'Ongoing Dispute' (ALBUM REVIEW)

 

"Sometimes I'm surprised by your level of self-absorption" – the opening line of Yung's second album could be aimed at at least half of the edgy post-punk indie scene still going strong in 2021, and while there is a degree of 'people in glass houses' and 'throwing stones' at work here, Ongoing Dispute is a solid affirmation of the Danish band's credentials.

Sun June 'Somewhere' (ALBUM REVIEW)

Austin, Texas has been punching above its weight in terms of the arts for a long time. The home of SXSW has become a magnet for beatniks and wannabe musicians all over North America and beyond. It’s where singer Laura Colwell and guitarist Stephen Salisbury, both out of towners, first crossed paths, soon forming Sun June before bulking out the band with Michael Bain (guitar), Sarah Schultz (drums), and Justin Harris (bass).

Osees 'Metamorphosed' (ALBUM REVIEW)

With productivity levels not seen since the purple one said goodbye to Paisley Park, as well as more frequent moniker tinkering than Mr Mellencamp, ‘Metamorphosed’ is Osees millionth release in the last fifteen minutes.