Hot off the heels of their debut album Taken By Force released earlier this year on ATO Records, Melbourne-based garage punk act CIVIC deliver one more time with “Hourglass”.
The brand new song is out today, corresponding with the band’s first-ever US tour, starting at the very end of September already (find all the dates and ticket information here). The song itself is loud, aggressive, and unapologetically punk, making it a perfect anthem for all the genre-lovers.
Stream below.
A lovely one to finish off the week — Donegal-raised, Belfast-based alt-folk artist Joel Harkin has released his latest single “Is Iomaí Lá Sa Chill Orainn”.
It is a big 6-minute number with some beautiful guitar work, emotional lyricism and sensitive delivery with a level of vulnerability that is both refreshing and relatable. The song also features backing vocals from Belfast-based Co. Offaly artist Aoife Wolf and sweeping string sections that are absolutely breathtaking.
Speaking about the song in more detail, Harkin said: “The title directly translates to “there are many days in the churchyard,” which doesn’t mean much without the context. It’s supposed to be like the Irish answer to carpe diem but instead of focusing on the positive of seize the day it’s more like “you only have finite time now, whereas you have loads of time in the grave”. I like it. It’s like the looming abyss of death spurring you on to find meaning in your life and do something with your time. It doesn’t always work, mind you”.
Stream below.
A product of the hard work of two extremely talented musicians, “Rain” by Meadow Meadow (the project of ex-Spring King members Peter Darlington and James Green) is a beautiful flower in the form of a song.
Released via Practise Music, it is a true masterclass on how to make an indie folk/pop wonder using delicate aesthetics, rich arrangements and outstanding storytelling. With its timeless appeal, catchy melody, and thoughtful lyrics about the city being cut in two halves, it is a step forward for the duo, who are working on the debut LP, more details of which will be announced soon (hopefully).
Check it out below and get the single here.
It is hard to resist an intense and dark 6+ minute post-punk smasher, and this is exactly what Manchester trio YAANG provided us with their new offering “Pressure”. Not wasting any second, the track builds and builds, supplying the listener with cathartic release and a relentless attack of pounding drums, manic vocal delivery and crushing guitars by the end.
Produced by Formal Sppeedwear’s Beck Clewlow, the song takes on the gripes and misgivings ailing contemporary twenty-something life, as frontman Davey Moore explains:
“Pressure is about the contradiction between how mental health issues in daily life can feel like a hindrance to others but through performance can become entertaining and exciting. Stress, lack of control, and confusion forming together to create an explosive episode of beautiful mania”.
Stream below.
Newcomer China Aster (aka Guernsey’s Joshua Moore) is sharing today his eclectic new single “Reason”, a passionate and energetic retro-infused slice of synth pop.
He truly goes full 80s on it, with the song’s catchy melody and upbeat tempo reminiscent of the classics like Enya and Ultravox, mixed with a strong contemporary touch and vision. Moore offers further insight into the track below:
“‘Reason’ is a weird-pop love ballad that becomes a love song about reason itself. The track defies cliches about the irrationality of love and the cold abstraction of logic, celebrating instead a relationship between passion and rationality. I was listening to a lot of Enya and Kirin J Callinan during the writing process, which might explain the synth-compositions and intense vocals here”.
Check it out below.
Acute Pop 