Following the success of their 2023 EP 'Heady Metal', Divorce are back with new single 'Gears', as well as news of a UK tour including their biggest headline show to date. The song, which tackles themes of balancing identity and responsibility, has a restless vibe as Felix MacKenzie-Barrow and Tiger Cohen-Towell's vocals come together as the chorus builds. On “Gears,” Divorce’s sound is assured and controlled, continuing to leverage and highlight all the strengths of their recent projects. (Gemma Cockrell)
home countys – you broke it, you bought it
Ahead of their long-awaited debut album, Exactly As it Seems, London-based post-punk giants Home Counties have released their latest album, You Break It, You Bought It. Previously a live-only fan favorite, this track captures the everydayness and anger of dealing with unscrupulous landlords and poor living conditions through punchy, half-spoken vocal lines shared by the entire band. I'm exploring. This is in contrast to other songs on the album, which contain political elements and instead use everyday experiences to reflect on current social issues. While powerful, the vocals are effortlessly delivered and layered over playful, angular guitar lines, heavy drums, and retro synth stabs to create an energetic final product. (Kyle Rosniak)
MRCY – Flower of Mourning
A homage to MRCY's diverse sonic and cultural backgrounds, 'Fflowers In Mourning' combines exhilarating Afrobeat rhythms with a nod to northern soul and dub, with Kojo Degraft Johnson's clear vocals gently Cutting through the layers with precision. At once expansive and personal, the track foreshadows the near future when the duo joins the likes of Khruangbin and soon-to-be tour mate Black Puma in a genre-bending contemporary soul career. It's a track full of. (Daisy Carter)
Kenya Grace – It's not fair
In the first 10 seconds of “It’s Not Fair,” Kenya Grace lulls the listener into a kind of false sense of security. Her sophisticated vocals are sugar-sweet, lamenting the pain of a breakup. Don't close the book. But soon these angelic tones are undercut by something punchier, with synth loops and lilting beats rising to meet her yearning vocal line. The end result, we imagine, is Ariana Grande switching to drum and bass, firmly placing Kenya Grace alongside the likes of Pili and Beg Pig at the crossroads of dance-pop's rise in 2024. I wonder what the sound would be like if I did that. (Daisy Carter)
English Garden – Behold
On English Garden's latest effort, the mesmerizing art-rock ballad “Lo and Behold,” the London band indulges in the genre's dramatic tendencies, embracing its theatrical nature without holding back. I can see that you are leaning towards it. The vocals, with their raw, almost scratchy tone, sound like a larger-than-life, unstoppable force that flies over the instruments and propels the track forward before things come to an abrupt halt. Sophisticated and inspired, this release is a treat for anyone who has had the privilege of seeing English Garden in person. (Gemma Cockrell)
Spielman, the alias of Leeds multi-hyphenate Ben Lewis, fuses pop know-how with alternative-leaning textures on his latest song '10,000 Hours'. Entirely self-produced, cascading synths, jangly guitar lines and assertive drums neatly intertwine to create a beguiling sonic package, with the Yorkshire-born songwriter already known for his work with Bombay Bicycle Club and Yard Act. The latter is the opening act), etc. ). Released to coincide with the announcement of her debut EP Fifteen Minutes With Spielmann (due out on May 31st via EMI North), the track is an exciting prelude to what's next on the cards. (Emily Savage)