Browsing Tag indie
Airways – Trampoline
I like British band Airways, and apparently, so do you. Their single Reckless Tongue ended in both Your Favourites 2017 and Your Favourites 2018, meaning it was one of the best read Carte Blanche Music recommendations for two years in a row.
This week, they release two singles simultaneously: Trampoline and The End. ‘Two carefully crafted golden crispy supple nuggets of audio’, as the band describe them themselves. Both of the two showcase a new sound for Airways, which I like a lot. Not in the least because Twenty One Pilots appear to have been an inspiration. This is most evident on Trampoline, the track that I like best.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Retro Video Club – Addicted
Rock music is probably not the first thing you think of when it comes to Scotland. Still, some great guitar bands hail from the country. Biffy Clyro and Honeyblood, for instance, and earlier bands like Simple Minds, Teenage Fanclub and Snow Patrol. Here’s another one: Retro Video Club, one of the most exciting emerging rock bands in Scotland right now.
Liam Allison (vocals/rhythm guitar), Sam McGill (lead guitar), Michael Ward (bass) and Kieran Burt (drums/backing vocals) so far released five singles, with the short and snappy titles Noir, Psycho, Famous, Chemistry and 3AM. Their sixth track Addicted fits in nicely. Just like their earlier tracks, it’s a driving indie anthem that won’t fail to get the crowd bouncing.
There are plenty of bouncing crowds ahead. Retro Video Club is currently on a European tour supporting Barns Courtney, which will be followed by a British tour supporting The Hunna. Subsequently, they’ll do their own headlining tour.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Superbird – Year On String Along
Cola Bottle Fizz was a great introduction to British trio Superbird, but there’s more where that came from. Year On String Along is the band’s third effort, and once again, Joe Sin (lead vocals, guitar), Alex Ash (drums, vocals), and Freddy Sidero (bass, vocals) drag us back to the wonderful 80’s. The tune is driven by the funky, groovy kind of retro vibe that’s already starting to become the group’s signature sound. I’d be surprised if this wouldn’t do well both on the radio and live.
But don’t take my word for it, just see what Superbird say about themselves. Their bio claims this is ‘a band of genuine peacocks re-defining the term ‘flamboyancy’ with a red-hot live show, entailing wild frontman Joe’s soaring vocal-range and signature leg-kick, enhanced by Alex’s melodic & rhythmical disciplinary – accomplished by the bands “not-so-secret” weapon of funk Freddy’. Seeing is believing, I guess…
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Werner’s Weekly (week 12)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles (Wildcard this week)
- Indigo – Distant Lullaby (Wildcard last week)
- Barrie – Darjeeling
- Barry Moore – Hey Now
- Man & The Echo – A Capable Man
- Royal Republic – Fireman And Dancer
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Novastar, Walking On Cars, and many more.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
S.O.S – Firebrick
Originally born in Malta, 24-year-old Anglo-Maltese singer, songwriter and producer Sophie DeBattista followed her British roots and moved to the UK at the age of 18. Most days, she’s busking with her acoustic guitar on the London Underground. It was here she was spotted by The Mayor of London Culture Chief, who offered her a 3 year scholarship at the ICMP music faculty.
An important part of her studies was the creation of her artist brand S.O.S and the creation of her debut EP Edges Of The Mind. This EP contains the four tracks Sophie released over the past three years, and her new single Firebrick.
She explains about the song, which she wrote and co-produced herself: “Firebrick was inspired by a young woman who I’ve known for many years. The song tells the story of how she hasn’t had the best experiences when it comes to the men in her life. Although she’s been cursed with this bad luck, the silver lining in the narrative is that no matter how bad it’s been and no matter how many men have tried to control or deflate her, she comes back fighting each time.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Man & The Echo – A Capable Man
When they debuted in 2016 with their eponymous debut album (including the great single Distance Runner), Man & The Echo called their music ‘radical pop’. They claim to make the music they like best themselves, which happen to be tunes with a political message. In that respect, nothing changed since then…
The Warrington working-class heroes’ biting new single is called A Capable Man. Sparse and angular in its arrangement, it brings back memories of Roxy Music and early Franz Ferdinand. Lyrically, it’s a smouldering takedown of the wealthy middle-aged white male stereotype. Written by capable songwriters, performed by capable musicians.
Man & The Echo are currently producing their forthcoming album Men Of The Moment with Raf Rundell (The 2 Bears). A Capable Man is the first single off it.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Anthony James – The Biggest Thrill
Anthony James is an Australian-born Londoner, who debuted last year with his EP Pursuit Of Happiness. The songs on it typically include irresistible rhythms, catchy, bittersweet hooks and driving guitar lines. He brand-new single is no different.
The Biggest Thrill is a funky, upbeat track on the surface but has an underlying sadness. It tells a story of lust and addiction with raunchy tones that will leave the listener with a hunger for more. Worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of Beck, Phoenix and Mark Ronson.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Barrie – Darjeeling
I’m looking forward to Happy To Be Here, the first full album of Brooklyn five-piece Barrie. In 2018, they released their debut EP Singles, which included the five singles they had put out so far. Last month, this was followed by brand-new track Clovers, and hot on its heels, Barrie Lindsay’s band just came up with Darjeeling. Another smart, easy on the ear, well-produced song, but not too slick.
Barrie’s full-length debut is due out on 3 May.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Werner’s Weekly (week 11)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Indigo – Distant Lullaby (Wildcard this week)
- Sundara Karma – Little Smart Houses (Wildcard last week)
- Alphabeat – Shadows
- Hatchie – Without A Blush
- SWMRS – Lose Lose Lose
- The Lighthouse – Tel Aviv
- The Pale White – Medicine
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: The Black Keys, Cage The Elephant, George Ezra, Sam Fender, The Kooks, and many more.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
The Japanese House – You Seemed So Happy
It has been quite some time in the making, but after four EP’s, British singer-songwriter Amber Bain finally released the debut album of her musical alias The Japanese House. That name was inspired by a cottage in Devon, owned by actress Kate Winslet, where Bain spent a week during a childhood trip.
Her full-length debut, Good At Falling, is a good old break-up album, which Bain wrote after her relationship with Marika Hackman collapsed. Every tune on the album describes the relationship and break-up from a different perspective, making it a painfully personal collection of songs. And a beautiful collection as well.
One of my favourite tracks on the album is You Seemed So Happy. A radio friendly, musically light and uplifting song. But although it’s meant to sound happy, its lyrics reflect the darkness that actually lies within many of us.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
