NERVOUS TWITCH “John Power”
Nervous Twitch’s sound is a heady mix of punk from the 70s, Britpop from the 90s and the girl group sound of the 60s.
Not quite sure if this is about the former La’s bassist and Cast frontman John Power
You can pre-order the new album here
This track “Somebody Else” was a single for the band in 2014 – definite 60s girl group sound to this, kind of if the Shangri-Las had been allowed to let rip and make the records they secretly wanted to, with fuzzed up guitars.
WHITE REAPER “I Don’t Think She Cares”
Punky records with a good organ line or two will always get a hearing on Beat City!
From the album White Reaper Does It Again which came out on Polyvinyl Records last year.
Here’s the vid to another track from the album “Make Me Wanna Die” which features Death, who has a Union Jack on his bedroom wall.
Typical bloody Americans, the baddie ALWAYS has to be British.
BABYFATHER “Meditation”
This is a new track from Babyfather, one of the aliases of Dean Blunt. Co-produced with Arca this is Meditation.
Dean Blunt has a history of unconventional release methods, from premiering his music on an illegal Russian torrent sites to Ciroc Boyz, his book of receipts.
The latest movement from the enigmatic artist’s camp is no different: Blunt is selling a toy Mini Cooper on eBay, branded with the Foxtons logo and with some weed packed in the back for good measure.
It’ll cost you £250, and tucked away in the photos is an advert for Cubitt, an artist-led organisation that Blunt is involved in.
WRAY “Shiva”
From the brand new album “Hypatia” out this week that was Wray with “Shiva”.
There’s elements of shoegaze in there but also a refreshingly hard-edged garagey sound.
They have some live dates coming up throughout the U S of A, as well as a showcase at the prestigious South By South West festerval in Austin Texas later in the year.
They played a gig recently with a symphony orchestra – bands usually wait until four albums in to do this but it seems to have been a triumph.
LIZZO “Humanize”
Lizzo with one of the more laid back tracks from her excellent album “Big GRRRRL Small World”.
From her debut album “Lizzobangers” this is Bus Passes & Happy Meals.
THE CORAL “Chasing The Tail Of A Dream”
2016 sees the welcome return of The Coral after getting the solo albums and side projects out of the way with their first new album since 2010’s Butterfly House. The album is called Distance Between and the first track from it to be is Chasing The Tail Of A Dream.
Sounding like it would be very much at home on Beat City’s ‘older sister’ show ‘Retro Beat 66’
I say “sister show” but its the disreputable kind of older sister who drinks a bit too much and is often seen in the company of unsuitable men.
LAURA MVULA “Overcome”
Two and a half years after her breakthrough album “Sing To The Moon” we’ve got some new music from Laura Mvula.
While she’s been “between albums”, among other things she’s made an excellent programme for BBC 4 “Nina Simone and Me” which I think may have fallen off the iPlayer now but you can watch on Youtube.
ALLUSONDRUGS “Magic College”
Allusondrugs with a single from last year called Magic College.
The band are heading out on their biggest tour to date – the Scuzz UK Throwdown Tour, 16 dates co-headlining with a couple of other excellent punk bands Press To Meco and Max Raptor.
You can see them in Birmingham,Glasgow,Aberdeen,Dundee,Carlisle,Edinburgh,Newcastle,Manchester Deaf Instutite, Derby, Tunbridge Wells forum (as far as I know the only venue on the toilet circuit that is actually a converted public toilet – true story) Milton Keynes, Norwich, Southampton Joiners (blimey I’ve started so I’ll finish), Bath,Cardiff and finishing at the Borderline in London, so no excuses for not getting along if you can – support great live music.
CONNIE CONSTANCE “Answer”
In The Grass’ is the first release from North/West London born artist Connie Constance.
In 2015 a friend introduced Connie to UK musician Blue Daisy, their friendship was instant and Blue swiftly became her producer and mentor.
Together they set about carving a uniquely tripped-out sound.
At just 20 years of age, Connie’s aura surpasses the time she’s been on this planet.
She wanted to create music for her generation that breathes escapism from the cuts and bruises of young British life, penning lyrics on buses and trains. Her style owes as much to Pete Doherty’s old school off key dialogue as Erykah Badu’s freestyle soul.
You can get the EP on Bandcamp as well as the track featured in the show “Answer” which came out at the back end of 2015.
BEAR’S DEN “Agape”
Sal’s first Indietastic Classic selection for this year is from Bear’s Den’s 2014 “Islands” album.
Also from the album is the tragically beautiful “Elysium”.
SEA PINKS “I Don’t Feel Like Giving In”
The opening track from Sea Pinks’ album Soft Days
You can get the album from bandcamp, which I’d recommend – its a superb grower of a record.
DAVID BOWIE “Lazarus”
As far as final hits in yer lifetime go, Elvis Presley had Way Down, John Lennon had Imagine and Johnny Cash had Hurt. I’d say Bowie wins by a canter with that one.
Among the tributes to Bowie – and I’m certain there will be plenty more to come – Bruce Springsteen played “Rebel Rebel” in Pittsburgh on the first night of his 2016 tour.
Bruce messes up the introductory riff big time but so what? Heart’s in the right place!
KENDRICK LAMAR “Blue Faces”
Also known as “Untitled 2” this track was premiered by Kendrick on the Jimmy Fallon chat show a week or so ago.
Also, Kendrick put this video out on New Year’s Eve – entitled “God Is Gangsta” (and ain’t THAT the truth!) it mixes tracks from the “To Pimp A Butterfly” album which, by the way, everyone should own.
THE BLACK FEATHERS “Down By The River”
The Black Feathers are an award winning duo from Gloucestershire in England.
The perfectly paired voices of Sian Chandler and Ray Hughes intertwine effortlessly to create a genre-defying sound, combining elements of folk, roots, americana, and southern rock. The duo have been touring all over the UK for the past 2 years, winning over new fans of all ages everywhere they go.
This is the loved-up video for “Strangers We Meet” from their 2014 EP.
We’ll be doing a one-off David Bowie special so look out for that but the next show proper will be available to download or stream from next Sunday and will feature among others Max Raptor, Mechanimal, Hinds and (fingers crossed) Fat White Family.
Thank you. Come Again.