February 19 2016 - Hot Top Ten

VIOLA BEACH - SWINGS & WATERSLIDES
In memory of Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin. Purchase the track from iTunes.




HOLY FUCK - TOM TOM
Setting Twitter alight yesterday dropping this lead single from new album 'Congrats' (out May 27 on Innovative Leisure; their first new album since 2010’s 'Latin'), the Toronto quartet thump out a fuzzy piece of chugging experimentation. Catch them live at Los Globos in Los Angeles, CA on February 25, as part of a bill chosen by Innovative Leisure for Red Bull Sound Select.




FREAK - WHAT HAPPENED?
Fresh from our introducing him here, Chelmsford's 18-year-old Connar Ridd looks like he could be on way to same success as fellow school alumnus Ratboy.




THE BIG PINK - BEAUTIFUL CRIMINAL
The London synth-rockers precede their 'Empire Underground' EP, out March 4 on B3SCI, with this second cut of shimmery synths, big drum beats and lush flowing harmonies of vocalist/ guitarist Robbie Furze and singer/keyboardist Mary Charteris. Catch on tour in N. America from February 24.




PUBLIC MEMORY - ZIG ZAG
Brooklyn's Robert Toher's solo project airs new track from upcoming debut album 'Wuthering Drum', released on March 18 through Felte. Darkly ominous atmospherics, churning bass line and layered electronic beats, synth and hypnotic percussion, add to hypnotic, ghostly hymnal vocals.




MARSICANS - ARMS OF ANOTHER
Latest single from the Leeds quartet. Described as 'upbeat indie meets dirty pop', this infectious synth-driven dance-popper of a track featuring the band's trademark harmonies lead by vocalist James Newbigging contains plenty of summer-rich vibed over lyrics that tell of how ‘no one likes sleeping alone’. Catch them live tonight (February 19) at Tooting Tram & Social, south London for John Kennedy's Remedy night (free entry).




LUST FOR YOUTH - SUDDEN AMBITIONS
Swedish post-punk/electronic trio follow up first single 'Stardom' (from their upcoming new album for Sacred Bones, 'Compassion', released March 18) with this chugging, 80s glitchy-grooved, drum-driven electronica track.




PHOBOPHOBES - NO FLAVOUR
After ‘Advertise Your Life' comes this infectious, fuzz drenched garage/psych stomper of a single from the Brixton quintet (which includes ex-Fat White Family's Dan Lyons). Out March 25 on BAM Records.




SEA BED - CONQUEROR
Interesting channelling of dark R&B, and techno grooves, mixed through with analogue synths and guitar, the new self-produced track taken from the debut EP ‘Moving Ghosts’ released March 11 via Four Thieves Records. The Brighton duo - Lizzie Massey (vocals, bass, keys, programming) and Jim Corbin (guitars, keys, programming) - describe it as being, ‘a song about overcoming fear. It's about accepting the flaws in each other and realising that real strength is vulnerability'.




HALCYON DRIVE - UNTETHERED
New single from the Melbourne-based alt-pop trio, and the second track (after 'Reset') to come from their forthcoming EP - due for release in May - which was recorded with producer Steve Schram (San Cisco, Eagle & The Worm) in a makeshift studio in the Otways National Park, Victoria late last year. Foals-like vibe to their sleak garage hooks meets electronic synth sound.