China Bears – ‘Easy Kill’


China Bears have shared ‘Easy Kill’ ahead of the release of their debut album ‘Participation Trophy’ (out via Fierce Panda on 12 July). Packed with Fatherson-style heart-on-the-sleeve sensibilities, ‘Easy Kill’ shares innermost thoughts about the power of (unrequited?) love against an anthemic backdrop of hooks, harmonies and heartbreak: ‘You bring out a side of me…

Grouplove – ‘Chances’


Grouplove have shared new song ‘Chances’ ahead of a US tour. Written and sung by Hannah Hooper – who is also responsible for much of the band’s artwork – it’s a call to arms to herself to jump out of her comfort zone more often, as this is where she – and anyone else –…

Bat for Lashes – ‘The Dream of Delphi’


Natasha Khan makes a welcome return with ‘The Dream of Delphi’, the first single (and opening track) to be taken from the upcoming album of the same name, out on 31 May via Mercury KX. Inspired and influenced by the birth of her daughter in 2020, the song captures ‘what happens when you’re stretched physically,…

Tugboat Captain – ‘Bosch’


Tugboat Captain make a welcome return with ‘Bosch’, the story of a homicide detective who has a horrible realisation about his own actions. It’s delivered against an intro that reminded us of Sneaker Pimps or I Monster’s ‘Daydream’. This soon morphs into the more familiar baroque pop sound – albeit with pleasing jazzy interludes –…

Masca – ‘Sweet Tooth’


Masca have shared ‘Sweet Tooth’ ahead of the release of new EP ‘Teen Dream Dealer’ in June. With angular guitar work and a woozy, wonky melody that falls somewhere between Everything Everything and Anamanaguchi, the song ponders the seemingly perfect nature of AI and how – if you fall madly in love and come to…

Silent Forum – ‘Yes Man’


Silent Forum have shared ‘Yes Man’ ahead of the release of new album ‘Domestic Majestic’ on 23 February. Opening with a group vocal harmonising instructions to ‘keep your head down’, the song – about working under a psychopath – veers into a sound akin to Modest Mouse grappling with Bombay Bicycle Club, over a bed…

Indoor Pets – ‘London (Love to Hate)’


Indoor Pets make a most welcome return – and announce they’ve re-signed to the mighty Alcopop! Records – with the release of ‘London (Love to Hate)’. As fuzzy, crunchy guitar riffs and ferocious drums stop and start behind him, Jamie Glass takes aim at how hard it is to make ends meet in our capital…

NewDad – ‘Madra’ album review


NewDad release their long-awaited debut album ‘Madra’ (which means ‘dog’ in Irish) this January. A guitar-heavy record that explores themes of self-exploration, destruction, mental health and resistance, it’s one that we’ve been excited about since first hearing them on BBC 6 Music and then seeing them at 2022’s Glastonbury Festival. ‘Angel’ opens the record with…