1. BIG UPS - EIGHTEEN HOURS OF STATIC
"‘Eighteen Hours of Static’ is hands down the freshest, most urgent slice of punk rock of this decade and beyond. With 11 songs that clock in at under half an hour it’s very short and, despite its lo-fi aesthetic, undeniably substantial. Frontman Joe Galarraga’s vocals fluctuate between angst-filled but coherent screams and fast-paced spoken word, the drums have a DIY urgency, the bass grumbles, and the guitars, when not generating distorted and basic riffs, add elements of post-punk, 90s alt-rock like grunge and shoegaze, and post hardcore. There is no need to talk about “potential” with Big Ups, as this band have seized this very moment, squeezing a genre from both ends – from its 70s origins to its present day saturation – to provide a half hour of vitality, the likes of which hasn’t been seen in yonks." Full review by Clive Rozario.
"Alvvays began with Molly Rankin and Kerri MacLellan, two friends from the Canadian island of Cape Breton. Moving to Toronto the duo have set about creating their self titled debut LP, which is mixed by Holy Fuck's Graham Walsh, and produced by John Agnello. The album is 9 tracks of delicately blended soft vocals over which south coast surf pop riffs are gloriously played out. The obvious comparison is somebody like Best Coast, but Alvvays have a bit more grit than their American counterparts. Perfect for late night summer sunsets, or early morning sun rises, this debut LP will lift spirits and set romantic notions alight this Summer." Full review by Jon Sidwell.
3. BLEECH - HUMBLE SKY
"'Humble Sky' is the second album from East London three-piece Bleech, following their 2012 debut 'Nude'. The band are composed of sisters Jennifer and Katherine O'Neill and drummer Matt Nick.
The album released through Billie Dog Records is a reaction to what Bleech see as their capital city being full of wooly jumper hipster bands and posers. Jennifer explains how "it’s exasperating to see so many bands choose fashion over function these days". 'Humble Sky' is yet another arrow that can be fired into the trendy tastemakers balloon of 'there are no decent guitar bands anymore'." Full review by Jon Sidwell
4. SAINT SAVIOUR - IN THE SEAMS
"'In The Seams' is the 2nd album from Saint Saviour, aka Becky Jones, a talented singer-songwriter from Teeside. It is a beautiful body of work, taking the listener on a personal journey they can equally relate to, observe, and learn from. The record is led by Saint Saviour's delicate vocals, which are the main focus in a sparse and honest musical landscape under which are gentle guitars, piano, and gorgeous string sections.
The brave fragility of 'In The Seams' is it's true quality, drawing your mind and heart to singular thoughts, and ultimately it's success is capturing your attention from start to finish without you even realising." Full review by Jon Sidwell
5. USA NAILS - SONIC MOIST
"London based 4-piece USA Nails release their debut album titled 'Sonic Moist' available through Smalltown America on a delicious sounding mint green swirling 12" vinyl, alongside a less appetising digital download.
I'll level with you, 'Sonic Moist' is not an easy listen. However for those who like the current wave of post-punk-noise that seems to have surfaced over the past 12 months, it's an essential listen. In a nutshell it's abrasive, obnoxious, relentless, and at times damn right brutal, leaving USA Nails comparable with contemporaries Big Ups, and Pissed Jeans, and inspired by Sonic Youth and Swans." Full review by Jon Sidwell
6. BEVERLY - CAREERS
"Beverly, a recording project between Drew Citron and Frankie Rose, released their debut album 'Careers' through Kanine Records earlier last month. A combination of surf pop melodies and shoegaze noise, the duo based out of Brooklyn, New York have created an album that certainly sounds more than just after thought in between their main interests." Full review by Jon Sidwell
"'Wild Fleet' showcases the penchant Gymnast have for melodic pop songs but there's much greater depth than just that, with careful song-writing and a clear knowledge of musical arrangement present throughout. Drawing comparisons with London Grammar, Wild Beasts, and Alt-J, Gymnast take the listener on an interesting journey during the album's 10 tracks, with dark themes often intertwined with upbeat sounds." Full review by Jon Sidwell
8. YES I'M LEAVING - SLOW RELEASE
"'Slow Release' by Yes I'm Leaving is a blistering garage-punk-rock assault taking place over the record's 11 songs, full of angsty, grungy vocals and bass heavy guitars which never let up throughout the duration. It's a bleak yet strangely uplifting listening experience, leaving you with ears that feel abused but a brain that feels energised...strange!" Full review by Jon Sidwell
9. YETI LOVE - YETI LOVE
"This album by Yeti Love is not your straight forward acoustic folk fodder, it's a brave record that mixes up tempo and styles, with some clever production work, and with Hamilton's acutely infectious vocals surrounded by a swathe of delicate chords and finger picking guitar." Full review by Jon Sidwell
Solar Halos sound like a well versed and accomplished band five albums in. Their ability to manipulate sound is necromantic. It’s clear to hear that they pay heed to their past masters and use their significant individual musical experiences to create something unique. Stoner and drone are here to stay, but as the genre’s back catalog swells, it is only those who offer something special that will be remembered. This eponymous début is exactly that. A gleaming behemoth of achievement, fraught with drama, warm with fuzz, hypnotic with repetition. It’s an overwhelming gesture by the band and nothing short of a gift to everyone else. Full review by Moker
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