Caspian hit that glorious sweet spot where every note just sat right and emanated energy throughout the room, vibrating through the audience. It was a killer performance
Read MoreLive review: Orphan Boy at The Sebright Arms 29/10/15
Singer Rob Cross is a fine lyrical chronicler of the travails of the unfashionable everyday, not unlike a provincial British Springsteen, and, for all their punk roots, Orphan Boy at their best have a flavour of The Boss’s widescreen, anthemic escapism.
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Listen/review: David Ward – Möbius Wave
Ward’s soulful operatic vocal is set to harmonious, subtle contrasts. The slow-burning percussive pound, considered guitar licks and gently rising orchestration of the lovely verses is the real bedrock of the song, and ‘Möbius Wave’ never fails to intrigue.
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Watch/review: Jane Weaver – I Need A Connection
The effortless delivery of Weaver's vocals makes for a tasty treat further amplified by those Eighties-inspired synths that fill the space in the background, especially in the chorus where it gets a bit more meaty and emphatic. It's a pop-inspired track that has a cute flair to it and is inspiring
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Listen/review: O Emperor – Switchblade
The first thing that stands out on ‘Switchblade’ is its simple, delightful bassline and playful synth-riff melody that kinda floats on top before the vocals kick in. These are distinct and welcoming, coating the music in what feels like a warm massage oil.
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Listen/review: LAGS – Fear, Control, Mothers
The lashing six-string, growling rhythmic rumble, throaty melodic roar and overall Hurricane Jaoquin levels of energy mark 'Fear, Control, Mothers' most clearly as A-grade punk rock, and LAGS as a band to get psyched about
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Listen/review: Luo – Ebb & Flow
The jaw-dropping percussive engine takes top billing on ‘Ebb And Flow’, blending the trad and the tech to craft a showcase pitching up between downtempo dubsteppy nocturnes and adventurous post-rock.
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Listen/review: Tempers – Trains
The music kicks in at a heart-racing tempo that has the whole track moving, your heart pumping and your blood constantly at the edge of your skin.
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Listen/review: Sudakistan – Mundo Mamon
Latino influences are infused throughout, which brings a nice extra element and helps to distinguish Sudakistan’s sound from the wall of punk that slams you in the face for the rest of 'Mundo Mamon'
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Listen/review: The Vryll Society – Air
Despite a peppering of diverting effects, The Vryll Society’s hypnotic hazy psychedelia is comforting in its familiarity. ‘Air’, the lead track from their new EP ‘Pangea’, holds many reference points in its eddy of gentle space rock
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Listen/review: Boddhi Satva – Skin Diver (feat Teedra Moses)
The first thing that grips you is those vocals, which are absolutely gorgeous and go down smoother than a finely aged spirit, whetting an appetite that is then satisfied further by a drumbeat adding unexpected dance rhythms
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Listen/review: Bachar Mar-Khalifé – Kyrie Eleison
"The whispered chants, plaintive harmonies and lingering piano crescendo of the opening segment are compelling enough, but it is the stampeding bass notes and forceful chorale of the mid-section that packs the punch: piano hammers strike the strings like desperate blows on a bolted door as the singer directs his anger towards an unreachable almighty."
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Watch/review: White Reaper – Pills
"'Pills' eschews the Buzzcocks-esque thrum of much of White Reaper's oeuvre for something closer to the classic pop punk of Blink 182. It’s a piquant evolution from their humbler lo-fi beginnings."
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Watch/review: The Garden – All Smiles Over Here :)
"The Garden's philosophy of 'Vada-Vada', described by Wyatt as 'an idea that represents pure creative expression that disregards all previously made genres and ideals' seems to be more alive than ever as the brothers effortlessly defy categorisation."
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Watch/review: High Safari – Find Your Way Back
"The song has a real sense of maturity and ease, delivering the message with eloquence. It proceeds to get brighter and sunnier as it progresses, reminiscent of Sixties British pop in its rhythm and melody, plus some modern influences"
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Watch/review: This Is The Kit – Silver John
"Listen closer and there’s a composite of swirling instrumentation and subtle harmonics packed into ‘Silver John’’s backing. And that’s before we get to the effortlessly comforting timbre of Stables’ folksome vocal"
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Listen/review: Darwin Deez – Time Machine
"Deez has this amazingly affable talent to bash up songs that anyone and everyone would want to dance to. This latest single is a perfect example"
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Watch/review: Samantha Crain – Killer
"A great track with a powerful message, but the video is truly something special. It’s been described as a call for people to not take the media and their leaders at their word but to seek the reality of situations for themselves, and I couldn't possibly think of a more eloquent way of explaining what has been produced here."
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Live review: Let's Eat Grandma at Camp Bestival 1/8/15
'The 15-year-old girls from Norfolk are an experimental cross between MGMT and Haim. It was deliberately DIY, the musical equivalent of a Jackson Pollock, and entirely captivating.'
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Live review: Long Teeth at The Finsbury 1/8/15
"Long Teeth’s key strength lies in dynamic contrast, tonight showing how pared-down guitar, bass and drums can pull out drops and crescendos worthy of the dancefloor dedicated." And if you did have to compare them to a pizza...
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