November 4 2016 - Hot Top Ten

TRACK OF THE WEEK
PLAZA - YOUTH
A battle between North and South for our two top tracks this week. Out today via Beyond The Wall comes Hartlepool's finest four-piece with the follow-up to 'Blood Orange'. A favourite with us since their debut 'Totem', they display a maturity beyond their 'youthful' years musically. This juicy single is spliced through with some gorgeous guitar and Bradley Lennard’s lushly listenable vocals. Catch live tonight (November 4) at Manchester's Fallow Cafe.




WHITE ROOM - STOLE THE I.V.
The southern half of the country is repped by Brighton's must-see outfit with this single out on November 18. A change of title since aired at Little Indie's Blogtober gig, but the Adrian Bushby (My Bloody Valentine, Muse, The Maccabees) produced psych-tinged track steals the show on a bed of soaring guitars and frontman Jake Smallwood showing why he is being much vaunted for 2017. Catch live tonight at Joiners, Southampton, and tomorrow at The Lending Room in Leeds.




NATIVE PEOPLE - FIGURE IT OUT
Released last week, Kent-based four-piece from Folkestone combine 90s R&B, with downtempo funk and a sleek pop vibe on this new single, produced by Huw Stephens-approved collective The Citrus Clouds and Oz Craggs. Singer Reuben Todd's smooth, airy vocals complement the sparse flanged guitar, ethereal pads and minimalist percussion. Catch live tonight (November 4) at Bristol's Louisiana.




THE NEWS - FAIL BETTER
New Philadelphia duo Rachel and Ben kick off with a sultry R&B styled electro-pop debut single, released last Friday. Crisp, polished production that looks unlikely to be a failure.




MIDDLE KIDS - YOUR LOVE
Second self-produced single from the Sydney trio, Hannah Joy, Tim Fitz and Harry Day. The follow-up to 'Edge of Town' and both tracks from the forthcoming debut EP due for release in 2017. Foot-tapping beat and a touch of slide guitar admirably back Hannah Joy’s distinctive vocals. Catch live on November 10 at their debut UK show at The Shacklewell Arms in London.




THE LITTLE KICKS - YOU AND SOMEONE LIKE ME
Scottish quartet from Aberdeen make a return with their latest offering of crisp, electronic off-kilter indie, and the first single to be taken from their upcoming album (which was recorded in two weeks in a lodge on Loch Ness) out early next year. We love the quirky vid too.




WHENYOUNG - ACTOR
Second single - following debut 'See How They Run' - out November 25 from London-based Irish trio. Big hooky, sub three-minutes of melodic infectiousness helmed by bassist Aoife Power's vocals. Catch on November 24 at London's Shacklewell Arms.




STRAIGHT ARROWS - TURN ME OFF
Turn 'on' the Sydney garage rock punk quartet for a full sub two-minute excursion, out via Rice Is Nice label.




MOTHERHOOD - YOU CAN BE LONELY IF YOU WANT
Vivacious three-minute indie pop lustre from new Liverpool four-piece. Vocalist Evan Torrente says of their debut: “I wrote it with the mindset that you call someone bitter, but the bitter one is obviously [you]! It’s showing how you can become a dick when you’re single, which is unfortunately a boat that I’m still in!" Catch live at Liverpool's Arts Club on November 9.




STRANGE CAGES - LIZARD PEOPLE
Brighton psych surfing trio - Charlie, Ellis, Ben - add a touch of 60s rock 'n' roll to their garage vibes on this track which appears on the new Breakfast Records 'Compilation #2' album, a follow-on offering from their own 'Ego Killer' EP. Catch live tonight at The Amersham Arms, London, and on Sunday 6th at Old Blue Last.