Professor Yaffle - Let There Be Light

Released: 17 Oct 2022
Label: _

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Professor Yaffle, from Liverpool, is back with a new album. It is a beautifully uplifting listen, the sound being a mixture of indie, folk and psych.  

It opens with 'Most Of My Air' which is wonderfully laid back, yet with some bleak lyrics. The production is superb, with some excellent guitar work. It is hard to find comparisons but there are definitely hints of Pink Floyd's more ambient music.   

Other highlights include 'Something Beyond Beautiful', which is lovely and melodic, with heartfelt lyrics. Again, it is well produced with sweeping strings and intricate piano. 'Tears In My Eyes' is more Folk sounding and melancholic. 'Someday' is one of the sweetest love songs I have heard lately. It is honest lyrically, with magical sounding xylophones. 

My favourite here is 'You Make It All Worthwhile' which has some lovely vocal harmonies and a chorus which instantly stays in your mind.

 

A brilliant album, with great attention to detail, full of epic soundscapes and heartfelt songs. Highly recommended listening for Autumn evenings.

The Wends - Its Here Where You Fall

Released: 28 Oct 2022
Label: Subjangle

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The Wends (formerly known as Smile), from Italy, are back with a new album. It is hugely enjoyable and full of 80s/90s inspired jangle goodness.  

It opens with my favourite here 'What A Heart Is For' which is one of the finest guitar pop songs I have heard this year. It is wonderfully melodic and heartfelt and brought to mind The La's. The chorus will stay in your mind from first listen.   

Other highlights include 'Worthy of Nothing' which has a slightly heavier edge and a big anthemic chorus. The sound is reminiscent of early REM. 'The Way We Die Tonight' is more melancholic, with emotional lyrics and epic production. There are hints of early Radiohead. 

'Best Behaviour' is slightly post punk sounding with some superb pop hooks, bringing to mind Guided By Voices.

 

A brilliant album from a band well worth investigating. Highly recommended.

The Mellons - Introducing The Mellons

Released: 21 Oct 2022
Label: Earth Libraries

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Utah Baroque pop band - The Mellons are a new discovery for me. Their debut album is a gloriously psychedelic listen full of 60s inspired pop gems. 

'So Much Today' is wonderfully Summery and recalls The Beach Boys. There are some lovely vocal harmonies and heartfelt lyrics. It is well produced and captures the feeling of 60s Baroque pop perfectly.

My favourite here is the superb 'What A Time To Be Alive'. This one is more Beatles-inspired, and strangely hypnotic. The chorus is quite anthemic and its simplicity makes the song instantly memorable.   

Other highlights include 'Strawberry Girl', which is full of charm with whimsical lyrics and great pop hooks. 'Hello Sun' is so epic with a huge chorus, sounding like Abbey Road era Beatles. 'Magic Spell' has hints of soul and brought to mind Unknown Mortal Orchestra. 

 

A hugely enjoyable album and recommended for fans of 60s Baroque pop.

Vernons Future - Aquaplaning

Released: 7 Oct 2022
Label: VF Records

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UK indie band - Vernons Future, are a recent discovery for me. This is their first album under this name and is a collection of singles and other songs from 2019 onwards. They released one album back in 1990 (Smithdown Road) as The Vernons. 

Their sound is wonderfully catchy indie pop, reminiscent of late 80s/early 90s. It opens with 'Call To Arms' which is anthemic indie with hints of Echo and the Bunnymen. It is about climate change with some hard-hitting lyrics - "Don't expect a sympathetic ear, when the World you love will quickly disappear."

My favourite here is the superbly upbeat 'Holy Joe' which is feelgood guitar pop at its finest. There were hints of The Coral - In The Morning, and you will want to play it on repeat!  

Other highlights include 'Just Can't Help Myself' which is instantly memorable with 70s prog vibes, bringing to mind Greg Lake. 'Lights Have Changed' is more moody sounding, with some bleak lyrics - "The stars in the sky will not last forever..." and again has a big anthemic chorus. 

 

A hugely enjoyable album and highly recommended for fans of 90s indie.

Librarians With Hickeys - Handclaps & Tambourines

Released: 14 Oct 2022
Label: Big Stir

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Librarians With Hickeys, from Ohio, are back with their second album. It is more enjoyable jangle with plenty of great pop hooks.   Their sound is inspired by 80s REM with hints of the 60s Psych of The Byrds. 

It opens with 'I Better Get Home' which is superbly catchy and brought to mind The Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love, so there are hints of Punk here too.

My favourite here is 'I Can't Stop Thinking About You' which is a wonderful love song, and instantly memorable. It shows simplicity is often the key with this music and I could imagine it would have been a college radio hit.  

Other highlights include 'Can't Wait Till Summer' which is highly melodic and anthemic. 'Lady Overdrive' is a fun listen with a huge chorus and handclaps e.t.c. 'Last Days of Summer' is beautifully Autumnal with some lovely viola playing, which also adds variety to the album.

 

Highly recommended Autumn listening, especially for fans of 80s jangle.

Granfalloon - Calendar Volume I

Released: 30 Sept 2022
Label: _

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Granfalloon, from Manchester, are a new discovery for me. Their latest album is a wonderfully unique and enjoyable listen. The sound is a blend of indie and more traditional Folk.   

It opens with 'Archive' which is beautifully arranged, with big orchestral production. It is quite uplifting yet melancholic, the lyrics reflecting on memories of love, from scraps of paper receipts e.t.c. 

My favourite here is 'Please Write Responsibly' which is Folk style storytelling at its finest and will have you hanging onto every word. It is so imaginative and about a written story coming to life. The sound brought to mind Pulp and also the indie folk of Ralfe Band.  

Other highlights include 'Bee on a String', which is more 'pop' sounding than anything else here. It is brilliantly whimsical and perfect if you have a love for animal themed songs, as I do. 'O Joyce' is more lovely storytelling about the 'circle of life'. It ends on 'Rushmore' which is rather epic with some philosophical lyrics and soaring harmonies.

 

A superb album, and recommended Autumn listening, especially if you want to hear something a bit different.

Pixy Jones - Bits n Bobs

Released: 16 Sept 2022
Label: Strangetown Records

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Pixy Jones, once of the Welsh indie band El Goodo, releases his debut album. It is a superb listen, full of 60s-inspired Psych/Garage pop gems.   

It opens with album standout - 'I'm Not There' which is moody sounding with some wonderful harmonies, reminiscent of The Zombies. It is beautifully arranged and produced, sounding like it could be straight from the Psychedelic era.  

Other highlights include 'Bad Throat' which demonstrates superb storytelling. It is quite sad lyrically about someone's struggle with Cancer. Another favourite here is 'Maureen Dreams No More' which has a brilliantly catchy guitar riff and brought to mind early Kinks. 

'There's Something Wrong' is upbeat and more Beatles sounding with melancholic lyrics about depression. 'I'm Coming Home' has more Country vibes, reminiscent of The Flying Burrito Brothers.

 

A superb album, full of 60s Psych goodness, with memorable melodies and quirky lyrics. Highly recommended.