This week our three guest reviewers take on another five new tracks and give them a spin through the headphones before they then air their opinion on each.
This week's panel: Tommy Ford, booker/promoter at Leeds venue The Lending Room; Christian Northwood of Bristol-based label, Leisure Records; Little Indie contributor Leah Raymond.
GLOO - FORCE YOU
Littlehampton, West Sussex trio reveal their new single through their own DIY label Dropping Bags Records. Frenetic pace, distorted guitars and hooky melodies. "The song is basically a massive middle finger to being told what to do” say the band. They play The Islington, London on October 7.
Tommy Ford: I really like this song, has that late 00's UK punk (Gallows, The Ghost Of a Thousand) feel to it but with this decades sensibilities. Catchy, hooky vocals with high energy guitars and grooves. 4/5
Christian Northwood: Some proper full throttle rock here. From the first few seconds there is absolutely no escaping the pummeling drums, and by the end it’s all a bit draining. Pretty fun, but a bit too clean for my liking and a bit one dimensional. 2.5/5
Leah Raymond: This rawks. Love the energy and spirit to it. 4/5
Total score: 10.5/15
LEISURE CLUB - HOLD ON
Vancouver's Leisure Club offer a rather Brit sounding, jangly pop groove, catchy guitar melodies, and vocal hooks on this number from their upcoming self-titled LP due for release on November 17.
TF: Really like the vocals in this one, very well structured but a touch too long. 2.5/5
CN: Firstly, great name. This is a nice track, great production and I’m sure it would go down a treat at Reading festival with a cold pint of Tuborg in hand. A little bit too late-00’s-indie sounding for me personally but a fun tune nonetheless. 3/5
LR: Amazing. I really like this. Would not have had them down as Canadians. 4.5/5
Total score: 10/15
SAMOANS - BROKEN HANDS
‘Broken Hands’ is the latest track following recent 'Future Ghost' to be revealed from the Cardiff band's second album ‘Laika’, released last week. Expansive, alt-prog-math-rock bordering,
TF: Kind of got that really cool alt/indie/emo vibe that the Scottish are pioneering at the moment (Fatherson, The Xcerts etc.) Really strong start to the tune, catchy sing along chorus, really nice length. 5/5
CN: Some very by-the-numbers rock here, so perfect for fans of stadium sized guitars and powerful vocals. The kind of thing that would sound amazing if everything you did was very dramatic and also in slow motion. Unfortunately, everything I do is incredibly mundane and at normal pace, so ‘Broken Hands’ fails to keep me occupied till the final end.
3/5
LR: Good vocals by Dan, and these nominated for the Welsh Music Prize in 2014. 4/5
Total score: 12/15
STRONG ASIAN MOTHERS - HARD TO FIND
London-based trio return with their most emphatic release to date. Tying together influences from hip hop, pop and electronics sounds, the track "is about the unrivalled feeling of chasing/achieving that great night out,” say the band.
TF: Strong Asian Mothers are just vibes, really good well structured songs with sing-a-along vocals that manage to transfer the emotion of the song from the vocalist to the listener. 5/5.
CN: Again, great name guys. Massive production on this one, in the vein of the latest Glass Animals record but with much more subdued, R&B-esque vocals. Imagine it’s a lot of fun live. 3.5/5
LR: What SAM do, they do expertly, but not something that works for me personally. 3.5/5
Total score: 12/15
WHITE ROOM - CABLE-BUILT DREAMLAND
New release from the Brighton band, from their forthcoming double EP, 'Eight', out October 13 via Deltasonic Records. Strongly driven indie psych, with crunchy, layered guitars and soaring bassline.
TF: Really good layers within this song to create that cool ambient vibe while being able to keep up the pace of a catchy indie tune. 4/5
CN: Bit of psych-rock in here and a bit of XTC-style weirdo pop. Fans of Django Django and Jagwar Ma will definitely enjoy this song's shifting bassline, blissful guitars and dance-infused, climax. Well worth getting lost in. 4/5
LR: Not sure about this....parts of it are good, the rest okay-ish. I find it a bit bland, and think White Room have produced better. 3/5
Total score: 11/15
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