KEYS - Home Schooling

Released: 21 Aug 2020
Label: Libertino Records
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Welsh indie band - KEYS are a fairly recent discovery for me. Their new album is a really enjoyable listen with Lo-fi and 60s Psych vibes. It was home recorded during the Lockdown. 

The songs are very well-written and their sound reminded me of Ultimate Painting, Teenage Fanclub e.t.c. 'This Side Of Luv' is a wonderful opener and has the timelessness of 60s Soul, and hints of The Beach Boys. The melody will stay in your head for a long time to come.

'Phases' is the standout song here, a heartfelt ballad of the highest standard. The lo-fi production really adds to the charm, and its simplicity is very effective.

'The Strain' has some fantastic harmonies and really brought to mind Teenage Fanclub's most melodic output. The melody vaguely recalls Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale. 'Cargoes' is very Psychedelic and heavily Syd Barrett influenced. 'Trick of the Light' is more Velvet Underground and another great melodic pop song. 'Your Name Across My Heart' is a beautiful song and again it sounds like it could be from any era.  

A wonderful listen, and the songs are so great, you will be playing them on repeat. Highly recommended.

Libertino · KEYS - The Strain

The Pierce Kingans - Pierce De Resistance

Released: 2 Oct 2020
Label: Boat Dreams from the Hill
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The Pierce Kingans are from Vancouver and this is their latest EP. I had very high expectations for this as their earlier 'Rona Sessions' one is a favourite of mine (coming to Subjangle as a cd soon). 

The new EP opens with 'White Phosphorus' which has hints of 60s Psych and brought to mind Shocking Blue's Is This a Dream. It sounds very different to the last EP which was more vocal harmony rich with Beatles/Everly Brothers vibes. The melodies are still gorgeous though, like the rest of their music.

'Opportunity Opus' vaguely recalls the melody of The Beatles - Only A Northern Song. The chorus is superb and there are a lot of changes which still make this unique.

'Entropy 2' has hints of The Strokes and is so enjoyable and upbeat. 'Proximity Pity' has Rolling Stones vibes and sounds more like his old band The Prettys who are well worth checking out too. Highly recommended.

Theatre Royal - Portraits

Released: 9 Oct 2020
Label: _
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Theatre Royal are an indie pop band from Rochester, UK, and have been making music for about 10 years. Although they are a fairly new discovery for me. 

The new album is a superb listen, demonstrating well-written songs full of melody and interesting lyrics. Their sound brings to mind the 80s jangle of other Medway bands (such as The Dentists) and also Australia's The Go-Betweens. 

It opens with 'A Marvelous Death' which is brilliantly anthemic and surprisingly uplifting for the subject matter. 'Kasher' is also a standout here and a lovely song, telling a story of a boy who takes in a lost bird. The harmonies are wonderful and recalls the timelessness of The Beatles e.t.c.

My favourite here is 'Together We're Alone' which is melodic, heartfelt indie pop of the highest standard. A great song which will have you playing it on repeat.

'Count Your Blessings' is a big ballad recalling Echo & The Bunnymen's Killing Moon. 'Tomorrow Now' is more memorable and anthemic indie. 'My Dear' has some wistful lyrics and is also very heartfelt which is something the band do really well. 

It ends on the epic 'Incidental Friend' which has something heartbreaking about it, singing about loss.

A superb album and highly recommended, especially if you love melodic sounding indie with elements of storytelling.

The English Rain - Echoes of You

Released: 25 Sept 2020
Label: _
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The English Rain are from Brisbane and this is their long awaited debut album. It is a great listen and recommended if you love highly melodic and sophisticated guitar pop.

It opens with 'My Town' which has Go-Betweens vibes. It has a big sweeping chorus, with wistful lyrics and glorious melodies.

'Baby Please' is more Americana in style and an example of some brilliant male/female vocal harmonies. It is a love song with a little heartbreak and yearning.

'Everywhere I Go' is another beautiful song, featuring guest vocalist Cassi Marie - an upcoming country singer. It is timeless with hints of Burt Bacharach - Walk on By.

My favourite here is the wonderfully Beatles-esque 'She's A Rainbow'. Its completely different to The Rolling Stones song of the same name. The hooks are superb and you will find yourself humming along.

'Without You' is more catchy 60s style pop, with vague hints of Americana. The chorus is so uplifting, even though the subject of the song is obviously about missing someone you love. It ends on the unexpectedly heavy 'Swamp Girl' which has anthemic 70s rock vibes. It brought to mind The Sweet, and is a lot of fun. 

A wonderful debut album with so much variety and memorable songs. Highly recommended.

Blake - HMS Blake

Released: 25 Sept 2020
Label: Subjangle
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Blake is the work of Julian Pugsley, a songwriter based in Wiltshire, UK. This release comprises of his latest album 1971 (from earlier this year) and a special bonus 'best of' disc of his earlier work.

It is an extensive collection of some of the best 'lost' guitar pop songs you will ever hear. His sound is reminiscent of 90s jangle - Belle and Sebastian and Gorkys Zygotic Mynci. 

1971 has some lovely songs. Highlights include the heartfelt 'Peter Green', which pays homage to the legendary Fleetwood Mac guitarist who passed away in July. The song has more of a Folk sound and has so much charm.

My favourite on the album is the superbly catchy 'Whenever', which actually sounds like a lost radio hit. 'Denied' is a moving and highly melodic ballad. 'Daisy Chain' is a simple acoustic gem, short and very sweet. There are also 6 new bonus tracks, the best of these being 'Pepper man', about Paul McCartney. It has vibes of Status Quo - Pictures of Matchstick Men.

Highlights of the 'best of' disc include 'Vinyl Junkie', which is about loving music and collecting obsessively, something a lot of music fans could relate to. My personal favourite here is 'Anyhow' which is catchy guitar pop of the highest standard. 'Now You're Gone' is also wonderfully melodic and demonstrates superb songwriting. It is instantly memorable like many of the songs here.

'She Flew Away' has 60s Psych vibes with more of a raw edge. It is a lot of fun and one I listened to repeatedly. 'We'll Be Champions' is an emotional song about the four Palestinian boys killed in Gaza (2014) whilst playing football. It is a beautiful yet sad listen. It ends on 'Star Over Bethlehem', a Christmas carol with some lovely harmonies. 

A superb collection of songs from a great 'lost' songwriter. Highly recommended.

The Electorate - You Don't Have Time To Stay Lost

Released: 18 Sept 2020
Label: _
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The Electorate, from Sydney Australia, are a new discovery for me and this is their debut. It is full of melodic and energetic guitar pop gems.

It opens with 'Number 1' which is dark and moody with vivid philosophical lyrics. 'Enormous Glorious Girl' is much more light-hearted and a superb pop song. It has a chorus that really soars.

Other highlights include 'If I Knew' which has to be my favourite here. Brilliantly melodic and anthemic, reminiscent of the best of 00s indie/guitar pop, such as Idlewild e.t.c. Right up my street and it even name drops Fugazi who are obviously an influence here.

'Hercules' has 90s Britpop meets Sgt Peppers Beatles vibes, and themes of climate change with quirky lyrics - 'Well its been strange, strange weather we've been having. Think we've gone down twisting in a sea of plastic.'

'A Good Man' has some great guitar riffs. If you like a slightly heavier edge, this band is for you. Lyrically it is quite angry and has themes of Womens rights - 'You should be able to walk without feeling threatened. You should be able to wear whatever the hell that you want to.'

A superb debut album, full of anthemic indie, covering some important issues. Highly recommended.

Cassette 50 - Jetmobile

Released: 10 Sept 2020
Label: _
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Cassette 50 is the new project of The Late Pioneers - Nick Worrall. As you might already know I am a big Late Pioneers fan and 'Let Me Tell You How It Hurts' was one of my favourite songs of last year.

It opens with 'Can You Hear The New Revolution', which is upbeat, catchy guitar pop with political lyrics. - 'You're fencing off the hills and the rivers and you're pocketing the gain. Together you can gamble a country and profit from the pain' It sounds like it could be an anti-Brexit song.

Other highlights include 'The Light Behind the Trees' which is catchy with the 90s vibes of Oasis and Teenage Fanclub.

'The Ichneumonidae' is about inequality and the evils of the capitalist society, people born into wealth. e.t.c. Again it has some great melodies and is very memorable.

'The Sunlight Underground' has more psychedelic folk vibes. 'Always in Doubt' is more superb 90s sounding indie with an anthemic chorus. 

An excellent album, both lyrically and melodically. Highly recommended.