Katie – I want to give you hell
Within the first few seconds of CATTY's latest single, you'd be forgiven for thinking you're listening to a straightforward, blurry, intense pop/rock song, with its unsettling fade-ins, gently menacing vocals, and powerful power chords. But CATTY takes it a step further, adding plenty of color and surprises. Organ and piano enter the mix, vocal effects are expertly tweaked, tempo changes and silences are plentiful, and a “woo hoo” motif is built for loud crowd sing-alongs. The result is a borderline compelling, fast-paced revenge-themed power track that's as catchy as it is mind-blowing, but you'll love the process. (Phil Taylor)
The Dare – Perfume
After the nostalgic indie sleaze resurgence of the past few years, The Dare (or a version of it) seemed bound to happen. A sonic version of Cobra Snake's photo at a ketamine-fueled warehouse party, the New Yorker's tongue-in-cheek electroclash lands twice as far left on parody as it so strongly evokes a certain niche of the late 2000s, but is it still… great? “Perfume” is silly, unapologetic, shallow, and very “sassy” (so much so that The Dare produced XCX's recent track “Guess”), but it's about 100 times more fun than most other new music you're likely to hear this month. Whoever takes the plunge might win. (Lisa Wright)
Imogen and the Knife – Red (my color)
Starting very delicately but quickly becoming dramatic and powerful with its simplicity and poetic lyricism, “Red (is my colour)” is a masterpiece in miniature. There is a bewitching lightness to this song, a swaying ease that draws you in and grabs your attention. As you start to listen more intently, the lyrics become even more impactful. “Patience is strength / So say those who have strength” starts to convey this message and Imogen's calm, soothing voice is the perfect way to convey it, before leaving us with her determined parting words, “This whole house must be torn down” (Phil Taylor).
Alien Chicks – Curtain Up
London experimental post-punk trio Alien Chicks delivers a bold and unbridled performance on their latest single, “Curtains Up.” Backed by a menacing bassline and sharp riffs, the track takes an unpredictable, twisting path with tense instrumentals and a theatrical vocal style. Blending spoken word, rap and bold shouts, “Curtains Up” spins all around you, leaving you in vivid anticipation of the next burst of energy from the band. Give Alien Chicks a round of applause on this one. You earned it. (Kayla Sandiford)
Automation – It was over before it even began
Despite the title, this track from South London alternative rock band Automotion starts off slowly, layered with carefully chosen guitars, and then builds. There's a muted, drawn-out feel throughout, as bassy vocals make their way with supple grace through the thicket of instrumentation. But as it all opens up towards the end, a sense of final triumph emerges. The song showcases a band very comfortable in their own skin, a trait on full display throughout their dense and engaging latest EP, Dissolve. (Phil Taylor)
HONESTY (feat. Liam Bailey) – NO RIGHT 2 LOVE
Following their debut EP “WHERE RU” last year and the 34-minute project “BOX” earlier this year, Leeds-based collective HONESTY have returned this week with new single “NO RIGHT 2 LOVE”. The politically driven track doesn't shy away from addressing important topics such as the overturning of Roe v Wade, the Black Lives Matter movement and social inequality. Nottingham vocalist Liam Bailey seamlessly blends into the mix as the track builds around his emotive vocals, forming something far more intertwined than you'd normally expect from a features album. The way “NO RIGHT 2 LOVE” was constructed may have been unconventional, but the result is undoubtedly something special. (Gemma Cockrell)
TOTAL TOMMY – ADELINE
Having made waves with his hypnotic debut single “microdose” earlier this year, London-born Sydney newcomer Total Tommy continues to turn heads with his latest cut, “ADELINE.” Self-described on Instagram as a “pep talk for my teenage self,” the track is a vivid expression of what the PIAS-signed artist is all about. Sprinkled with glimmers of rose-tinted nostalgia amongst wide-angle lens reflections, the track effortlessly fuses lo-fi elements with grunge-inspired guitars to create a multi-dimensional sound. Now the Australian musician's third album in just a few months, Total Tommy is quickly establishing himself as a creator to watch. (Emily Savage)[her]teenager self”it’s sadazzling display of fall that the PIAS signee has to offer placing glimmers of rose-tinted nostalgia amongst wide-lensed reflections the track effortlessly blending slow-fi elements with grunge-tinged guitars to create a multi-dimensional sonic as the Australian musician’s third offering in mere a few months total tommy is fast securing her own as an acreator to watch (Emily Savage) [her}teenageself”it’sadazzlingdisplayofallthatthePIASsigneehastoofferPlacingglimmersofrose-tintednostalgiaamongstwide-lensedreflectionthetrackeffortlesslyblendslo-fielementswithgrunge-tingedguitarstocreateamulti-dimensionalsonicAstheAussiemusician’sthirdofferinginmerelyafewmonthstotaltommyisfastsecuringherselfasacreatortowatch(EmilySavage)
Heavy Heavy – Happiness
Five-piece band The Heavy Heavy have joined the recent trend of reviving the summery, harmony-driven spirit of the '60s. Case in point is “Happiness,” whose harmonies really capture the spirit of bands like The Beach Boys and The Mamas & The Papas, but with a modern sheen. The accompanying video continues this retro vibe, with footage that seems like something out of a Wes Anderson movie. Perfect for warm summer evenings, it's a great throwback song with a charming taste of their soon-to-be-released debut LP. (Christopher Connor)
Etta Marcus – Death Grips
A thoughtful piano is the linchpin of “Death Grips,” beautifully played to bring out bright, soft chords that will make your heart sing and cry at the same time. Combined with Etta Marcus' natural, focused singing, crisp drums, and some decidedly uplifting guitar moments, you can't help but surrender to the song's atmosphere. The 6/8 time signature gives it a sense of lightness, adding to its timeless, dreamy appeal, but this is no soothing background music; there's a challenging reality to it as well. (Phil Taylor)
Emerin – Knight Rider
East London artist Emeline has proven herself to be a standout artist of late, and “Night Rider” marks a further evolution of her sound. Produced by Alfie Auquet (The Pink Panther), the song fuses a spoken word sound with an almost trip-hop back drop of thumping drumbeats. It may seem like an odd combination, but it's actually a very successful experiment. The song is vibrant and exciting, with plenty of sarcastic lyrics. She says she has a “wide range of talent” and this song proves it. (Christopher Connor)