Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Sam Sodomsky releases ‘Melody Trail’, the latest album under his The Bird Calls moniker. Packed with astute observations, dark humour and a slab of Americana, it’s a record based around the concept of idly waiting around for some kind of revelation. There’s a touch of Wilco in the country-tinged opener ‘God Bless These…
Following frontman Kieran Shudall’s near-death experience (a main artery in his heart was severely blocked), Circa Waves make a welcome return with their sixth album ‘Death & Love Pt. 1. It’s a record Kieran said he needed to make to process his experience and recovery – and also to ‘make kids in their bedroom pick…
Out on 14 February, ‘Critical Thinking’, Manic Street Preachers’ fifteenth (!) album, finds the legendary Welsh trio celebrating conflicting ideas colliding. Nicky Wire says: ‘While the music has an effervescence and an elegiac uplift, most of the words deal with the cold analysis of the self, the exception being the three lyrics by James (Dean…
Alcopop! Records signings Keg have shared new single ‘Skybather’ ahead of the release of their eagerly anticipated debut album ‘Fun’s Over’ on 14 March 2025. The song is a celebration of one of life’s most simple yet pleasurable activities – bathtime. Opening like a raggedy version of Roxy Music jamming with Neil Hannon’s The Divine…
Jeffrey Lewis – one of the world’s finest cult songwriters and storytellers – returns with the fuzz-fuelled ‘Sometimes Life Hits You”, the first song to be taken from the aptly titled new album ‘The EVEN MORE Freewheelin’ Jeffrey Lewis’. The album was recorded by Roger Moutenot (Yo La Tengo) in just four days in Nashville…
Orchards have shared ‘Groan’, the fourth song to be taken from upcoming album ‘Bicker’, which will be released by Big Scary Monsters on 28 March. Inspired by a therapist asking her ‘Why do you feel the need to fix this?’, Lucy Evers weaves between feelings of frustration and catharsis as she realises the only person…
Atlanta’s emo superstars Michael Cera Palin have shared ‘Wisteria’ ahead of the release of their debut album ‘We Could Be Brave’ via Big Scary Monsters (UK) and Brain Synthesizer (US) on 7 March 2025. The song finds vocalist Elliott Brabant trying to make sense of a breakup and the emotional mess it left behind amidst…
Newcastle upon Tyne-via-Leeds duo lots of hands (Billy Woodhouse and Elliot Dryden) release their debut album ‘into a pretty room’ via Fire Talk Records on 17 January 2025. It’s a thoughtful collection of songs that cover everything from tragedy to triumph, taking in grief and growing up along the way. ‘Alive’ opens the record with…
London-based singer-songwriter Sophie Jamieson releases her second album ‘I Still Want to Share’ via Bella Union on 17 January. The record is packed with observations on the inescapable and often repeated nature of loving, losing and longing… ‘Camera’ opens the record with evocative piano and strings as Sophie sings about ‘letting go of all you’ve…
Composer/producer Paul Russell (Axes/Tough Glove) returns with ‘Thank You’, the fourth album to be released by his Human Pyramids project. Featuring members of Axes, Suicide Bid and Modern Studies, the album was recorded all over the world and mastered by Alan Douches (Sufjan Stevens/Animal Collective). Gentle feedback and breezy, chiming percussion combine in the early…
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