A selection of new and/or relevant rock and indie-leaning tracks that have recently left an impression on us. For the full playlist click here.
Merry Brigade – “Neet“
Merry Brigade’s “Neet“ is John Bender epitomised. That perfect right-out-of-the-garage sound mixed with effortlessly cool melodies makes “Neet” a tough one to forget. Frontman, Joe Love manages The Strokes-style vocal to give you a song for those days just before an intentionally bad breakup. Couple that with bratty yet simple lyrics that slap you in the face with their not-so-serious attitude about some pretty strong feelings, and you’ve got this banger.
The band as a whole sounds like they’re bored out of their minds trying to tell us how good they are, and us listeners are just now catching up. With washed-out fuzzy guitars, trashy cymbals, chorus with the telephone EQ sing-along, and a cut-through resistance to anything remotely goodie-two-shoes like. What’s not to love? Listen to it here if you like, but eh… whatever.
Britney Freud – “Feelings for Violence”
“Feelings for Violence” by Britney Freud holds you in a tight clasp, with tension and tender feelings seesawing through the elusive lyrics and the gritty vocals. The title itself stands out like it were a blooming cactus next to a pond of untamed feelings.
While it graces the terrain of loss, faithlessness, and a general gloom, Britney Freud tactfully places a few wild spikes in both words and music. The over-compressed guitars and muddled overtones in the track will tug at you to play Alice in Chains alongside a few of Jim Morrison’s next, as Dragut Lugalzagosi nudges you back to the present and continues to impale you with raw emotions accompanied by fierce instrumentation.
Thankfully, all you have to do is sit back, listen and turn up the feelings of violence.
Darwin’s Cat – “Mystical Tales“
If skeletal guitar intros, front-and-centre booming bass, and cats are your thing, then this one’s for you. “Mystical Tales” by Darwin’s Cat swings you into an exciting new world of art rock with laid-back, simple drums, 70s guitar tones, and a story from an imaginary feline civilisation. Flared-up sci-fi lyrics and heavily accented vocals give the track an unmissable edge.
Just as you are getting comfortable, Alice Lafox pushes the adrenaline further while owning the line “It is my space, and I am the deep-space owner.” The duo skilfully baits the listener with the thrill of exploration within this newly found, unknown, yet bizarrely familiar landscape using tasteful guitar licks and a pace that coaxes your feet to move. So, start now.
