Hollow Hand - Your Own Adventure

Released: 3 Mar 2023
Label: Curation Records

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I first heard Hollow Hand, from Brighton, last year. It was actually a song of theirs from 2017 ('A World Outside') which caught my attention as its a lost Psych pop gem.  

The new album is more of the same gloriously melodic guitar music with hints of Americana and 60s Psych. 'Before Tomorrow' is wonderfully ambient with hints of Pink Floyd but with more pop hooks. The lyrics are superbly heartfelt and vivid.

'One Last Summer' has more Americana vibes, with lovely harmonies reminiscent of George Harrison and The Byrds. 'I'm Going to let You Break my Heart' is a love song of the highest standard with some great vocal harmonies.  

'Heaven Just Watched' has a slightly heavier edge and sounds so different from anything else on the album. It is full of quirky guitar riffs, bringing to mind 70s Post Punk band - Television. Lyrically it is very surreal which again makes this so unique for recent music.

Other highlights include 'All My Love' which is beautifully atmospheric with so many changes before descending into melodic chaos. 'Jealous King' is an epic ballad and sounds like The Beatles 'Let It Be' meets the Carol 'Silent Night'. The lyrics are angry and also melancholic at the same time.

A stunning album and an early favourite of the year so far. Highly recommended. 

Goliath - The Garden EP

Released: 10 Feb 2023
Label: _

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Goliath, from Glasgow, is a recent discovery for me. I first heard their music late last year and especially loved the song 'Everybody Cries', which is well worth checking out too.  

This new EP is a lovely listen. It opens with 'The Garden' which is a beautiful, yet devastating, piano led ballad. The sound is more indie folk and brought to mind Elliott Smith, Ben Folds e.t.c. The lyrics are raw and honest, with huge emotional impact.

'Hannah' is more upbeat and pop sounding. It is superbly catchy and Summery with hints of 10s indie pop band - Real Estate.  

There is also a wonderful cover of the BMX Bandits classic - 'Serious Drugs'. It is more Folk sounding with beautiful vocal harmonies, bringing out the emotion of the original song even more.

It ends on 'Cliche' which is a heartfelt love song. The simplicity makes it stay in your mind, long after listening.

A highly recommended EP from an artist, well worth looking out for. 

The Happy Somethings - A Gathering of All Sorts

Released: 17 Feb 2023
Label: Subjangle

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UK indie pop band - The Happy Somethings, are a recent discovery for me. Their music is wonderfully uplifting and humorous with hints of 80s indie. 

The album opens with 'Worried Fools' which is quite folky in style and a run down of the highs and lows of the typical year. It is lovely and laid back, and the vocals have a childlike innocence.

'Anglepoise' is more punk sounding with plenty of attitude. The production has that lo-fi charm. 'I Wish You Could Sing like Tracey Thorn' is a homage to the iconic indie pop singer and manages to be funny yet sad at the same time. 

Other highlights include 'The Present',  which is about the problems of buying and receiving gifts, something we can all relate to! 'Sweet Little Sad Song' is very moving, and about loss. Again it has that childlike simplicity which makes it so effective.

It ends on 'Some Happy Thing' which is stripped back with vocal harmonies. The lyrics are quite motivational and its definitely a good song to listen to if you are feeling low.

A hugely enjoyable album from a band well worth investigating. Highly recommended. 

Peter Hall - About Last Night

Released: 13 Jan 2023
Label: Subjangle

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Peter Hall, from Nottingham, is back with a new album. It is more wonderfully melodic and sophisticated indie pop with 80s/90s vibes. 

The album opens with 'About Last Night' which is brilliantly upbeat with soaring harmonies and heartfelt lyrics. His sound brings to mind later Teenage Fanclub, Trashcan Sinatras e.t.c.

My favourite here is 'In Plain Sight' which sounds like a radio hit of the 80s era, with hints of Aztec Camera. It is a hugely enjoyable listen and will have you reaching for the repeat button. 

Other highlights include 'For Love' which is beautifully uplifting and instantly memorable with an anthemic chorus. 'Waiting For Nothing' is more melancholic with vivid and wistful lyrics. The production is epic, with sweeping strings and a more 70s sounding guitar solo. 'Click Your Fingers' is catchy 3 minute guitar pop at its finest.

A superb album with well-crafted and heartfelt songs. Highly recommended, especially for fans of melodic indie music from the 90s or before.

Marlody - I'm Not Sure At All

Released: 13 Jan 2023
Label: Skepwax

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Marlody is a new discovery for me. Her debut album is a lovely listen, the sound being a mixture of Folk and hints of electronic. Most of the songs are piano based, rather than guitar like most of the music I review here. 

The album opens with 'Summer', which is a powerful song, reminiscing about childhood and loss. It is hugely atmospheric and emotional. It is hard to find comparisons but it brought to mind Joni Mitchell and Tori Amos.

Other highlights include 'Change', which is more traditional folk sounding and stripped back, with layered vocal harmonies. 'Wrong' is devastating, with some heartbreaking lyrics -  "There's no way to rewind and unravel these layers of longing in me...". 'Words' is another beautiful song and also seems to be about regret.

It ends on 'Otherly', which is haunting and again has an eerie ambience to it. The more electronic production is reminiscent of some of Radiohead's later music.

A stunning debut from a wonderfully unique singer-songwriter. Highly recommended.

Skytone - Adrift

Released: 18 Nov 2022
Label: _

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Skytone, from Canada, are back with a new album. Their sound is a bit different to the music I typically review here. Its a mixture of chillwave, 80s-inspired synth pop and jangle pop. Their previous album 'JangleWaves' is well worth checking out too if they are new to you (especially the song 'Slow Down').

The new album opens with 'Here and Now' which is a catchy pop song of the highest standard. I could imagine this being a potential radio hit. It is very chilled and laid back with hints of dream pop.

Other highlights include 'Don't Look Back' which is more of a slowed down ballad, with a big anthemic chorus. 'End of the Summer' is a wonderfully atmospheric love song with hints of The Beach Boys. 'Adrift' is beautifully ambient with lovely vocal harmonies.

A highly recommended album - feelgood, Summery jangle pop at its best. Its also well worth checking out their acoustic covers on Youtube:

The Sundries - Full of the Joys of Spring and Magic Johnson EPs

Released: 31 Dec 2022
Label: Subjangle

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The Sundries, from London, are a new discovery for me and one of the latest bands to be signed to the superb Subjangle label. 

The album is full of wonderfully jangly 80s-inspired indie pop. It opens with my favourite here - 'Full of the Joys of Spring'. It is highly melodic and heartfelt, with melancholic lyrics. Their sound brought to mind the early 90s indie of The Popguns. It also reminded me of more recent band - The Hannah Barberas (also on Subjangle).

Other highlights include 'Triumph Herald' which is feelgood, upbeat guitar pop, with hints of Kirsty MacColl and The Smiths. 'A Line Between Us' is a very moving listen with some heart-breaking lyrics about a failing relationship. '22' has some great pop hooks and lovely vocal harmonies.

A hugely enjoyable album, with heartfelt and memorable songs. Highly recommended.