Single: shy – live and breathe
Shrouded in as much mystery and ambiguity as they are guitar effects, the new tune from Irish multi-instrumentalist shy is a shimmering daydream of a song.
Kinda Grizzly
Single: Ranting – Grumpy Custard
Centred around some over-the-top but also obviously rather tongue-in-cheek catastrophisation, the new tune from Ranting is a uniquely English affair.
Single: Albert Hertz – Actor
With a distinctive style, Albert Hertz has made a high concept piece of art – existential crisis and deep despair disguised as a catchy indie pop song.
Single: Wings of Desire – Just To Survive
With a sonic palette that’s heavily indebted to the 80s, this husband and wife duo have crafted a beguiling blend that works ever so well.
Single: Bayonne – Oxygen
A flamboyant, fabulous affair, the new single from the Austin-based multi-instrumentalist is accessible enough for the popsters but cool enough for the indie kids.
EP: Elson – Everything Is
With anxious energy, anthemic vision, and quality songwriting that belies their youth, this Grimsby three-piece is really on to something with their debut EP
Single: Swiss Portrait – All Night
The ever dependable Swiss Portrait is back. With trademark tones aplenty, this blissed-out new tune will burrow itself into your brain.
Single: Remington Super 60 – Time to Breathe
A stylish pop tune driven by a gargantuan bassline and with a distinguished touch of class, the new tune from the Norwegian trio is impossible to ignore.
Album: Final Days Society – You Can
A post-rock, indie, shoegaze fusion, the ambitious new album from the Swedish rockers is a sprawling, audible adventure. This is music at its most powerful.
Single: Crab – Twinkle
A cacophonous noise and a shot in the arm: “Twinkle” is an audible odyssey that won’t be easily forgotten.
Single: Hockitay – Buttons
Hockitay’s second single sounds combines many influences, yet the resulting work feels — ironically — quite unlike anything else.
EP: Pagodas – Bean Burger
An assortment of styles is on display here – from wonky indie pop to slowcore to 60s garage sounds – and all are filtered through a very distinctive lens.
Single: My Best Unbeaten Brother – The All Encompassing Need To Say Goodbye
With a considered musical motif that’s present – more or less – throughout the entirety of the song – this distinctive, compelling, captivating stuff.
Single: Stellar Ruins – Sunless
Drenched in fuzz, this is a sonically adventurous rock n roll smorgasbord that touches on alt-rock, nu-metal, grunge, shoegaze, and more.
Single: Borders Of Nothing – The Life We Knew
An intriguing juxtaposition of styles, The Life We Knew is ragged and wild but at the same time, undeniably majestic and graceful.
Single: Sheffer Stephens – Wild Country
With classic-feeling, Stonesy guitar tones and a Lou Reed-esque laconic, languid drawl, Nashville-based songwriter Sheffer
EP: mikey – first notes
The new EP from the alt-pop duo bubbles throughout. A tense, reserved, piece of work that pulsates right through with soft synths and ethereal majesty.
Single: Chip Pirrs – Yellow From Green
A genre-fluid patchwork of sonic adventure and bold decision making, Yellow From Green is eminently enchanting and instantly mesmerising.
Single: Picture Postcard – Wherever You’re Meant To Be
A beautiful beast of a track, the new one from this Dublin quartet is a powerful, meandering shoegazey journey of a song.
Single: Frog Fortress – Hardcore Band
A snotty, snarky punky song with it’s tongue firmly in cheek, “Hardcore Band” is a high-octane brainstorm of a song built around juxtaposition and dreams.