Play It By Ear :: The Little Indie Guest Review with... Linn Branson

In our new feature, Little Indie sits one person in the guest reviewer's chair with a pair of headphones and five new tracks to swirl through their ears to give their opinion on each.

Little Indie editor Linn Branson sets the ball rolling.

Job: Editor at Little Indie.
Musical hates: Rock. Female fronted bands (with some exceptions).
Musical loves: Probably everything from Australia and New Zealand. Post-punk.
On my personal player:
Nasari - Ghosts (reminds me of Fontaines D.C. - Scottish style. Can't stop playing it)
The Murder Capital - On Twisted Ground (one of the most heart-wrenching and raw songs I have ever heard or seen performed, as witnessed in their Paris show back in April)


CALLOW YOUTH - WAKE UP

This new single from Manchester’s Callow Youth was recorded with producer Gavin Monaghan, who has managed to capture the essence of these rising indie-rock teens. Vibrant, melodic and great vocals. “'Wake Up' is about wanting to live in a moment forever and wishing nothing would ever change,” says vocalist Alfie Turner. “And also, the fact that that’s impossible - but I think everyone feels that way sometimes."
Star rating: ★★★★☆




AVALANCHE PARTY - 7

I think Avalanche Party are a band you either really love or... really don't: there's no middle way. Working up to their end of year debut album, this ferocious beast - premiered last week by John Kennedy on Radio X - doesn't outstay its welcome, coming in just over the 2m35 mark, but uses every second to destroy your senses. And apart from that, frontman Jordan Bell is a living, breathing, rock sex god. I rest my case.
Star rating: ★★★★☆




THE DUNTS - BAD DECISIONS

This was released last month and has been languishing in the bowels of the Little Indie system unintentionally (sorry, guys). This young Scottish band have been on our radar for some time, and after their recent Camden Rocks set, where they displayed sartorial savvy coupled with energetic vibes, we love them even more. A powerhouse drummer in Kyle McGhee who provides the underpinning with his ferocious drums, behind driving defiant guitars, bouncing melodies, and their ‘council-punk’ sensibilities and clever lyrics delivered by Rab Smith's vocals.
Star rating: ★★★★☆




PARLIAMO - YOUTH

Another Scottish outfit that Little Indie has followed from early last year's debut single 'Weekend'. The Perth band seem to get better each release, and 'Youth’ channels more of their exuberant punk-pop sound, with a growing maturity and confidence in writing. “'Youth' is a song about losing your virginity, which never turns out to be the idyllic, Hollywood affair that it’s often made out to be," states singer Jack Dailly. "In this case, it’s a nerve-soaked, drunken haze for both parties, which takes place in the highly sought-after setting of someone’s little brother’s bedroom during a party in a council house on a scheme in the north of Perth.”
Star rating: ★★★☆☆




YOUNG BRAVES - SLEEP IT OFF

The rhythm guitars are ace on this newest single from the Shropshire alt-rockers; loud and riffy, but the catchy melodies and vocal are what carries it. I am not sure if I have heard this band before, and they seem to have been around a while, which leads me to think they are still looking for the 'big one' to mark them out from a dozen others who sound similar.
Star rating: ★★★☆☆