It be that time of week i.e Monday, where we give a platform for new shit. Not old shit. New shit. Big steaming piles of good new shit. A roast dinner good shit.
What else are you going to do this evening? Watch Reality TV? AGAIN? No!! Stick this on your Bluetooth or WiFi enabled speakers and have a dance/cry/smile to these cream crackers whilst cooking dinner.
Bleach Lab – Close To The Flame
Why we love it: because Bleach Lab have found a bit of an edge. Whilst we’ve always loved their dream-pop and floaty gorgeous vocals, there’s a growl to the guitar work, there’s some layered riffs and a spring to their step. It’s that little bit faster, a little bit harder and maybe even a little bit darker. Smouldering.
This is the third single and title track from their upcoming new EP and marks the first set of recordings with new guitarist Louis Takooree, who is bringing a new angle to their phonic foundations.
Jenna Kyle, singer and lyricist, says: “I was heavily inspired by bands like Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine when writing the lyrics and melody for ‘Close To The Flame’. I wanted it to feel like the end scene of a coming of age romance film, when they’re leaving everything they know in the middle of the night. It’s about an all consuming relationship, where you’re so obsessed with someone you almost want to merge into one and become them.” (Jim Auton)
Yumi Zouma – Blister
Yumi Zouma’s new track ‘Blister‘ sees the band throw off the introspective pop sound of previous releases and channel raw energy and embrace reckless abandon, embracing a sound inspired by ‘Song 2′, ”Connection’, ‘Kool Thing’. But make no mistake this is just as forward looking too, addictive, fuzzy chords, propulsive drums and the super charged anthemic vocals of Christine Simpson that shift from swaggering to crescendo, are impossible not to sing along with. “Why you gotta do me like that?!”, she sings in a moment of do not f#ck with me attitude, as she scratches at a painful patch of skin, yet it’s smothered in utterly catchy refrains, giant chiming riffs and bouncing along on shuddering cymbal crashes, Blister is bloody fantastic and the video harks back to a era of MTV2 and The Word.
On “Blister,” Yumi Zouma shares, “We found strength in simplicity, discovering that the more stripped-down we went, the more forceful the impact became. “Blister” surged ahead on the back of our most anthemic riffs, conjuring images in our minds of C4, Channel Z, prepaid flip-phone text plans, and the Big Day Out main stage under the punishing heat of the hole in the ozone layer.” (Bill Cummings)
Emma Swift – No Happy Endings
Why we love it: because isn’t it really about time that Emma Swift was back on these pages? It is nearly five long years since the Australian singer-songwriter was last here. Her cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘You’re a Big Girl Now’ and its accompanying video made our Video of the Week feature back then.
Now it is the turn of Tracks of the Week and the song ‘No Happy Endings’ that brings Emma Swift here. It is the first single from her upcoming album The Resurrection Game which is due out 12th September on Tiny Ghost Records. The album will be her first full-length collection of all original material since 2020’s Blonde On The Tracks, her reimagining of eight classic Bob Dylan songs and one of which was ‘You’re a Big Girl Now.’
Speaking about The Resurrection Game, Emma Swift says: “I am a big believer in the redemptive power of art. Though many of these songs come from a an immensely difficult time in my life, what I’m trying to do here is to alchemise the experience. To make the brutal become beautiful.”
And ‘No Happy Endings’ fits perfectly into that creative profile. It is painfully honest, speaks of great personal resilience and is quietly beautiful. (Simon Godley)
Small Miracles – Bisexual Panic
Why we love it: Gnarly, raw and frenetic, imagine the New York Dolls gyrating with Ezra Furman and you may have an idea of just how incendiary Cardiff’s Small Miracles sound… Finn Fatale’s viciously sneering vocal performance is magnetic bursting above thundering drums and scratchy guitar riffing, into a scream-along anthem. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it refuses to apologise for being different.
“The lyrics channel the anger of being harassed in the street for expressing myself,” says Finn. “It’s a fantasy of saying exactly what I wanted in those moments, without fear.”
‘Bisexual Panic’ was originally written for a live show supporting Joe & The Shitboys, and it captures the rage, tension, and euphoria of fighting back against societal shame. Minas’ feature adds a visceral depth to the track’s frenzied final moments, calling out the contradictions of toxic masculinity with unfiltered intensity.
This is the first single from SMALL MIRACLES upcoming debut album that they promise is “an unflinching exploration of identity, desire, and queer liberation. Fierce, fast, and refreshingly fearless.” We look forward to it! (Bill Cummings)
JakoJako – Dragon Bridge
Why we love it: Berlin-based modular synthesist JakoJako (aka Sibel Koçer) recently released her bright new track ‘Dragon Bridge’ from her forthcoming album, Tết 41, out on limited edition vinyl.
Named after the longest suspension bridge in Vietnam, Cầu Rồng, a 666m long structure which was designed to breathe fire and water every weekend, with blinking and bleeping electronic tapestry like the cities lights flickering in the dusk of the evening, it was inspired by Koçer’s first journey to Vietnam and her very personal reflections on the country. An illuminating and transportive experience crafting an atmosphere that takes you to another place.
Talking about the track, Koçer explains, “I wrote this track in Da Nang on the day the Dragon Bridge spit fire, it was pretty spectacular and special for the people there and us, especially as we were there in 2024, the year of the dragon. After watching, we went home, and I wrote that tune.”
Tết 41 is, in many ways, a distillation of ideas Koçer has been exploring for many years. Tapping into a deep understanding of machine-based music and illuminated by references to her heritage, the album reflects on notions of rebirth, and the pursuit of a sonic core. The album was created with a minimal hardware set up, and from this simplicity emerges some of her most expansive, unworldly compositions to date. (Bill Cummings)
Jay Prince – US feat Yissef Dayes & Chief Adjuah
London artist Jay Prince has finally released his debut album Shine , the lead single ‘US,‘ featuring Yussef Dayes and Chief Adjuah is fantastic, effortlessly fusing elements of hip hop, jazz soul and old school hip hop. ‘Us‘ is a wonderful concoction of propelling afro and Latin beats, string stings and scattered with exciting jazzy brass, threaded with a joyous vocals it sounds like the affirmation of community “all we ever had was us/how can we ever give it up” it also sounds like the best party you have yet to go to!
The 14-track project marks a major step in Jay’s journey. Shine dives deep into themes like love, growth, faith, and identity, blending Rap, Jazz, Soul, and Hip-Hop. With elite features from Estelle, Oddisee, Sam Wise, Ninja Kidsoul, Anaiis, and Elujay. it’s a rich, genre-blurring listen that’s both personal and uplifting.
Speaking on the album release Jay said: “It’s been 6 years since my last project. I’ve grown a lot as a man and artist. Thank you for sticking with me—your support means everything.” (Bill Cummings)
Sunday 1994 – Picking Flowers
Los Angeles Anglo-American trio Sunday (1994) have been in Europe supporting the release of their excellent second EP, Devotion, via Arista/RCA Records. EP track ‘Picking Flowers’ is absolutely sublime and features Paige Turner’s best vocal yet. “Nothing stays the same” she sings glowing with vivid couplets that detail the pain and longing of being messed around by a love interest, her voice radiates and swoons effortlessly with echoes of Lana Del Rey, Dolores O’Riodan and Taylor Swift and yet more expressive than that, spiralling into a stunning outro. With Lee Newell with the shimmering guitars and Puma on drums providing an elegant backdrop, swooning into a moment of clarity, yes it’s time to move on.
The six-track EP, produced entirely by Newell, promises to be a loose sequel to their debut. “We are thrilled to unveil Devotion, our second EP,” they added. “A fevered companion to our first. Each song converses, conspires, or continues the story of one that came before. We won’t tell you which; discovery is far more divine. Call it a psalm for the disenchanted. Or… an EP. Whatever you prefer.” (Bill Cummings)
