Self-described as ‘London prog’, The Orchestra (For Now)’s ‘Plan 76’ EP finds the seven piece attempting to ‘refine rather than complicate’ their distinctive fusion of baroque indie hooks, post hardcore breakdowns and touches of jazz. ‘Impatient’ opens the album in stop-start fashion before delving deep into the avant-garde orchestral dramatics that have served the band…
Edinburgh duo No Windows (multi-instrumentalist Morgan Morris and lyricist Verity Slangen) are releasing their latest EP ‘The Great Traitor’ via Fat Possum Records on 9 May, 2025. Drawing on inspirations ranging from Leonard Cohen and George Harrison to film composer Jon Brion, the six songs were written and recorded during a time of personal upheaval…
Brooklyn-based Ciao Malz (Malia DelaCruz) releases her debut EP, ‘Safe Then Sorry’, via Audio Antihero on 6 December There’s a woozy alt-rock sound to the opening ‘Two Feet Tall’. Bringing back memories of Best Coast or Frankie Cosmos, this breezy piece finds Malia talking about how she’s ‘always reaching’ and how ‘I’ve been meaning to…
When Foals were writing and recording their second album ‘Total Life Forever’, Yannis Philippakis became fascinated with Fela Kuti and then his drummer, Tony Allen. In 2016, the two had the chance to collaborate with Yannis heading to a studio in Paris filled with African percussion instruments and analogue equipment. Scheduling conflicts prevented the two…
Quiet Lions recently returned with ‘The Long Recovery’ EP, the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Absenteeism’ album. As we all know, a lot has happened in the past five years – personally, professionally and beyond – and this is reflected in the EP’s topics of parenthood, fatigue and workplace existentialism. A wall of guitar noise opens ‘Weigh…
Experimental trio Exploring Birdsong follow up their 2019 debut EP ‘The Thing with Feathers’ with ‘Dancing in the Face of Danger’ – a collection of five tracks full of unique storytelling, stunning synth and piano work and live strings… The opening ‘Pure’ has clattering drums that soon make way for a swirling mix of post…
Bleach Lab follow the sublime singles ‘Talk It Out’ and ‘Real Thing’ with the ‘Nothing Feels Real’ EP. Produced by Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, The Cranberries), the EP follows praise from BBC 6 Music, DIY and The Line of Best Fit and finds the South London four-piece opening up about their personal struggles, toxic…
Cherym release their new EP ‘Hey Tori’ via Alcopop! Records on 1 October. The Northern Irish trio bonded over a shared love of garage rock, pop punk and a desire to be the biggest band in the world – while shining a spotlight on some of the most important issues in society today. ‘Listening to…
Edinburgh-based four-piece Swim School share their debut EP ‘Making Sense of it All’ on Friday 20 August. The five songs are all deeply personal to frontwoman Alice Johnson, who says: ‘Each track on the EP is based on an event that I’ve experienced in the last year and the effect it had on my own…
Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate)’s Keith Latinen has collaborated with Ben Hendricks (Annabel), Gooey Fame (Dowsing) and Joyn Guynn to form Parting – and the band are set to release their debut EP ‘Unmake Me’ on 4 June via Count Your Lucky Stars (US) and strictly no capital letters (UK) records. There’s a…
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