My monthly blog celebrates 20 recent tracks and also the return of Bandcamp Friday on 6th August. All those albums and singles you had your eye on can be snapped up on this day to maximize profits to the artists. The majority of the bands are UK based so they will be emerging from their lockdowns into the blinding lights of gigs, festivals, toilet touring circles and the UK live music scene is finally back.
1) One Way Ticket by Gorstey Lee Street Choir
This is a track taken from their excellent new album ...from Princes's Park to Farsley (Volume I) mastered at OX4 Sound Studio by Ride's Mark Gardener. The band are old friends who reunited to create these songs. I could have picked almost any song on this album but I'm drawn to the Dark Side Of The Moon vibes of One Way Ticket which includes some classic quotes from a popular Mod movie. The Gorstey Lea Street Choir bandcamp page
A song about clubbing and tiring of repetitive music and conversations. It opens with helicopter and a funky bassline before a pulsating beat worthy of Working Men's Club kicks in. Crap club nights have never sounded so fun. A great follow up to Find It On The News.
4) Run It Down by Invisible Squirrel
The Invisible Squirrel, no doubt inspired by the Olympics, has got back on his hamster wheel and knocked out a tune for the joggers who go round and round and round his park. If you like exercising to relentless beats, with lyrics about running then you can't go wrong with this track. There is repetition but also development on this track which has hints of The Police and Hot Chip.
5) Mother Mania by ELYXIR & Neilio
It's back to the Eighties on this high tempo, guitar led, tech noir synthwave tune. This is the debut single from ELYXIR, a Melbourne based artist who has collaborated with UK producer Neilio to create this hooky blast of disco angst. Elyxir's bandcamp page
The Scottish funk soul outfit’s wonderful heartfelt tribute to their dead friend Cammy R.I.P. Rarely if ever have I heard a more uplifting song about the loss of a friend. This is not only a wonderful song but also contains fantastic advice. Tom McGuire and the Brassholes' bandcamp page
8) Little Picture Without Sound by Senses
Senses have released this stripped back beautiful track to the amazement of all who have heard it. It's challenging their previous singles as their best song yet. There will be a beefier version on the album with I'm led to believe a bit of killer guitar. But for now we have this version and it's powerful enough to bring a tear to the eye of the most cynical music fan. If you haven't secured your copy of the Senses debut album then get over to Senses bandcamp page
9) Lights Out by Silver Haar
Glasgow’s Silver Haar, could give Losslines a run for their money in the new miserable stakes, but there’s plenty to wallow in here. Lights Out is the title track of their debut EP which is full of catchy choruses, harmonies, indie guitars, synthesised strings and all the right influences. The Smiths, The Cure, J&MC, Radiohead and The War On Drugs can all be heard if you squint hard enough. It’s a very strong collection of songs so check out the whole EP and maybe support them with a purchase on their bandcamp site. Silver Haar's bandcamp page .
10) Mirror Mirror by Dictator
The Dics are back with another great tune. Mirror Mirror deals with the dark side of social media addiction and the need for constant validation of your fabricated image. The vocals are sublime as you’ld expect from Dictator but the rest of the band are more involved than the last few releases. The Dics never disappoint and keep us guessing as to their next move - except when they announce it in their weekly newsletter. How many bands do that?
11) Freedom Belongs To Him by Megan Black
Opening with a slinky bass line, some jazzy vibes and dirty guitars riffing throughout the song, Megan’s stunning voice soars especially during the song’s rock’n’roll climax. Megan Black is one to keep an eye on! Megan Black's bandcamp page
12) Fading (Swim Deep) by Ava Carlyle
Ava’s debut single was written and produced by James Fender of Afflecks Palace. It’s a great tune and showcases Ava’s gorgeous voice which has a touch of Mazzy Starr to my ears. Ava’s been entertaining us with her YouTube videos this year - just her voice and an acoustic guitar. It’s a winning formula that has been retained for her first record. There is light instrumental elements, backing vocals and minimal percussion but Ava’s voice is front and centre.
13) Sun It Shines by Oh! Paulo
I’ve just counted and this is the sixth Scottish artist in my blog this month. It surely demonstrates the strength of the Scottish underground in 2021. It could also mean Ricky Spence’s Daily Bangers is very influential! Anyhoo, I’ve been a fan of Oh! Paulo’s since December and he is another that impresses with his acoustic covers on YouTube - able to reinterpret a classic song and make it his own. Sun It Shines is a heavier affair, but it’s catchy, joyous and two minutes long. Almost as long as the Great British Summer! I’m actually jealous having endured the wettest Australian July in 25 years with a tree falling in my back yard and the garage roof leaking. Enough of my problems, let Oh! Paulo warm your cockles! Oh! Paulo's bandcamp page
Emilia Quinn makes great Americana music out of Leeds. New song Games is a prime example as Emilia sings of escaping a bad relationship and kicking his arse to the curb. Americana is not a genre I usually dabble in but this is high quality, sassy and really rocks. Emilia Quinn's bandcamp page
I think I first heard a demo of this song on Sam Shiner’s VPC Introducing but it has now got an official release. Aside from the Scottish bands there are also a number of, shall we say, mature bands and artists on my blog this month. I raise it as an observation of my own evolving musical tastes. The Tom Biddle band are from Lancashire and are planning to release their debut album soon. They also have at least ten great classic covers on Spotify recorded live or in studio rehearsals. The Tom Biddle Band's bandcamp page
17) That Summer by Kelly Cresswell & Colin Guthrie
Kelly is a NHS nurse who began singing on social media last year. She has a wonderful voice and That Summer is her second release, after the bluesy Try single. It samples British birdsong which I haven’t heard in years so it instantly transports me back in time. It ends with some light Spanish guitar presumably from Colin Guthrie. That Summer is a beautiful love song with a good sense of humour. What’s that line about having a face for the radio? Guilty as charged! Kelly Cresswell's bandcamp page
18) Free of This Disease by Jai Agnish
This song was a grower on me. It’s a fairly minimal arrangement with centred on Jai’s vocal, a drum machine and a synthesiser. It draws you in and rewards multiple listens. Jai is based in New Jersey and has returned to his musical career after a break of 13 years. This song appears to be about battles with addiction rather than the Rona. There’s some raw lyrics here and it won’t be for everyone but it might resonate with some of my readers. Jai Agnish's bandcamp page