Hot on the heels of my June 2021 entry comes the next blistering installment of my new music roundup. Twenty hot tracks from various genres to give you a soundtrack for whatever you’re up to. As always please support the underground artists in whatever way you can sharing their music, attending a rescheduled gig or purchasing their music.
1) Gotta Hold On Me by Mondo Trasho
I’ll admit it me a while to get into this band but I was instantly won over by their third EP called Pure Trash. This lead single is a 2 minute blast of unhinged 1960’s garage Gonzo rock. “Oh yeah, she’s gotta hold on me”. Mondo Trasho's bandcamp page
Tasmanian band Quivers harness some Motown vibes on this wonderful track taken from the Golden Doubt album that is packed with jangly pop hits including Gutters of Love, When It Breaks and You’re Not Always On My Mind. The Golden Doubt album is available now on Quivers bandcamp page.
3) Sparks by Jay Tennant
Jay always delivers quality tunes and his new album is gonna be outstanding given the string of singles he’s released in the last year - Star Chasing, Star City Serenade, Noxville, Spectre and now Sparks. Jay’s got the indie "Midas Touch" which explains why he never takes his shades off. Jay Tennant's bandcamp page
4) Droid by Invisible Squirrel
The Invisible Squirrel is an enigma - instrumental in the development of dance music since the Eighties. He has literally been holed up during lockdown in a tree, scratching his nuts and plotting his next move. Releasing big beat tracks under his own name for the first time. Invisible Squirrel has, for the time being, dropped his recent alter-ego (pretending to be a human indie recording artist) to focus on his dystopian acid house bangers. I wanted to know more about the identity of the Invisible Squirrel and I did find this piece of investigative journalism on the dark net giving the lowdown on this dance rodent's activities. Just Who Is The Invisible Squirrel?
5) Dirty Town by Jenny Colquitt
This is a beautiful song with great production - Jenny’s emotive vocal is the star here. Jenny is a top new talented singer songwriter from Widnes that deserves much wider recognition than she’s currently getting. A star in the making. Jenny Colquitt's bandcamp page
7) Save Me by Jen Dixon
Winner of the Best Solo Artist in the In Your Ears Radar Awards! Jen’s latest single showcases her wonderful voice as she ponders falling and considers whether she will be caught? This is a reoccurring theme in her first four singles. With all the songs about falling, crashing and drowning you’ll never guess Jen was a keen surfer. Jen Dixon's bandcamp page
8) Let Me In by Senses
The fourth single released from Senses this year and they’ve demonstrated different sounds on each of them. Let Me In has some shimmering sounds that flicker around your headphones whilst the emotional lyrics plead for the girl to “Let Me In”, offering unconditional support and outstretched arms. Senses have announced that all the profits from their debut album will go to two charities - MacMillan Cancer Research and Crisis UK. Please support these worthy causes and bag yourself a blinding debut album here… Senses bandcamp page
9) Broken Window by Lewca
Lewca gives us his take on the crazy world of Donald Trump and Brexit whilst pondering if their is any hope in the future. The bleakness of the lyrics is contrasted with a chipper bouncy tune that would sit nicely alongside Lily Allen’s LDN or Smile. This is just one of the five brilliant new tracks included on Lewca’s third EP Geezer Pop available to purchase on Lewca's bandcamp page .
10) Because You Hate To Care About by A Ritual Sea
A Ritual Sea are a excellent band from Dublin and Paris who play synth and guitar based shoegaze with fantastic female vocals. They have a debut album arriving in the autumn and several other singles to check out here... A Ritual Sea's bandcamp page
11) Middle Something by Tijuana Cartel
Taken from the Acid Pony album. This Australian band mix Middle Eastern sounds with flamenco guitars and beats creating chilled instrumentals - perfect for relaxing by the sea. Tijuana Cartel's bandcamp page
12) Old Days by Hiaground
Four guys from Sydney rocking out with some cool Indie rock n roll. The song is about enjoying the present with the knowledge that in the future you will look back on these times when they become the good old days.
13) Creatures of the Night by The Stone Apes
14) Hanging Around by Moonlight Parade
Moonlight Parade hit the beach in their best Summer swimsuits whilst playing a jangling song about a girl who’s whereabouts are of interest. It has echoes of the Beach Boys and The Thrills with harmonies and I think they’ve stepped up another level with this one. I doff my bucket hat to them. Moonlight Parade's bandcamp page
The Ride frontman has released an EP of acoustic versions of some of the tracks on his debut solo album. It includes this cover of a indie classic from 30 years ago Perfume by Paris Angels. Manchester's Paris Angels released one album before splitting up and their guitarist Paul Wagstaff resurfaced in Black Grape and the reformed Happy Mondays. Andy Bell's bandcamp page
16) Stephanie Said by Subterfuge
Velvet Underground vibes here with a strum-a-long song with humorous lyrics. Subterfuge are from Düsseldorf and have been together for 30 years on and off. They’re new to me and this is the first song from their forthcoming album The Dots. Subterfuge's bandcamp page
17) Rose Pink Cadillac by Dope Lemon
Now for an old favourite of mine, the legendary Angus Stone’s Dope Lemon have a groovy laidback tune out about a pink Cadillac. Effortlessly cool.
18) The Sun Hasn’t Left by Modest Mouse
Taken from the excellent new Golden Casket album - the first Modest Mouse album in over six years. Great lyrics as you’ll expect “friendships are just a chain of texts” for example. This song is about looking for the positives despite the messed up world we live in.
20) No Good by The Heavy North
Indie blues from deep within the Mersey Delta. From the band that won almost every category at the In Your Ears Radar Awards, comes more greatness. Kenny croons “You make me feel like I’m no good” on this excellent new single. It’s another soulful track that gets a digital release on 2nd July. Their big news is their debut album Electric Soul Machine due in January 2022 will be available to pre-order from 05/07/21 with a limited vinyl run planned. Don’t miss out! The Heavy North's bandcamp page