Mixtape August 2021

 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.      

Old Indie Kid's Mixtape August 2021 Spotify Playlist 

Alten-8 Rave and Mask pioneers (not featured this month)

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 

2) Pull by Sean Buckley featuring Chris James Willows 

This is another excellent collaboration from the instrumentalist tunesmith Sean (A.K.A. Mintball) and Chris James Willows who adds a vocal performance worthy of Thom Yorke.  The combination is spellbinding and thus musical magic is created once again!    

3)  Week After Week After Week by Rhys E

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

6) A Day In The Dam by The Shed Project

Whilst this tune is well known to me I'm including it here for those that are yet to discover the trippy wonders of The Shed Project's craziest single yet.  The production on this song is as high as the Sheds whilst "Mooching" yes "Mooching" 'round the Dam taking in the sites, smells and tastes.  The sound effects of trams, cycles and calls to "Come inside" really set the scene.  It's another leap forward in songwriting and at the two minute markit reaches a Beatlesesque A Day In The Life / Revolution #9 moment before the trip really kicks in for the final minute of hectic percussion and guitar licks.  Whilst the lyrical content has seen it shunned by some lesser radio stations it will surely find a place in the hearts of all those that are a bit partial. I could say so much more about this but I will leave you with the video which is dedicated to their friend Michael Rex Henighan who passed away recently. R.I.P.

 

7) Song For Cammy by Tom McGuire and the Brassholes 

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

14) Games by Emilia Quinn ft FINOLA 

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

15) State Of Mind by Marseille

Marseille have nailed the early jangly Stone Roses with this release. I explored their back catalogue - two other singles at this stage and there is also a clear Oasis influence to their sound.  State of Mind is five minutes well spent.  Check out this fabulous acoustic version.

16) You Are My Drug, I Am Yours by The Tom Biddle Band

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

19) Weather Vane by Emperor of Ice Cream

The new single from the Cork band is a huge tune propelled along by in your face drums, funky bass noodling and hurricane guitars.  There’s a great pop chorus at the heart of the song with wonderful  harmonies oohing and aahing giving it a dreamy feel despite the thundering music of a band that have taken things up another level.  The theme is overcoming relationship difficulties. Whilst accusations are thrown around, and a list of grievances are aired, they still hope it’s worth fighting for.  The songs on previous releases including the debut album No Sound Ever Dies (now available on a second vinyl pressing) were all written years ago and polished up for release.  Weather Vane is the start of their second chapter as the first newly written song to emerge from the band.  Fans of Nineties Shoegaze and contemporary indie rock will adore this song, as will anyone else in possession of ears and taste.  Weather Vane is available to pre-order from their Bandcamp site and will be released later in August. Emperor of Ice Cream's bandcamp page

20) We The People by Jonny Ash

I’m finishing my blog with another monster hit of the future.  Jonny Ash have recorded a beast of a rock n roll tune with We Are The People.  It’s out on the 13th August and can be pre-saved here…  https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jonnyash/we-are-the-people-4 

Catch Jonny Ash in September in the North of England on their joint tour with The Perps. 

In Other news...

The next round of the #Indie100Cup will be on Saturday 7th August on In Your Ears Radio.  Moby & I will be shaking things up and trialling Quickfire Qualifying rounds so tune in if you want to influence the vote.

If you're still seeking more new music then I suggest you dive into Old Indie Kid's 2021 Playlist           

which has over 1000 fresh songs from 2021.

Finally if you want podcasts of my radio shows - find them here. My Radio Show Podcasts 

And don’t forget Bandcamp Friday!