Friday, May 23, 2025

Vanderlye’s Debut EP ‘The Reckoning’ is Tremendously Thought-Provoking

Following the recent release of its title track, Vanderlye’s ‘The Reckoning’ is a debut EP that will be hard to beat.

The six-track production collates a wealth of stellar songwriting, distinctive and dynamic vocals, and melodies that are so immersive, you’ll come back for more. 

Sultry, Smoky, and Surrendered: Luvcat’s Latest Single ‘Lipstick’ Leaves A Mark

Following the success of a recent leg of European shows, Luvcat returns with a proverbial kiss in release form, ‘Lipstick’.

Equal parts sweet to sultry, Luvcat weaves a tale of desire and devotion in her latest offering, lamenting on a real-life experience (with the subsequent drummer on the track) that subverts the fairy tale, turning the desire to be adored into a shadowy story of submission and surrender.

Julian Sometimes Releases Debut Single 'Buzz': A Shimmering Slice Of Soulful Pop

There’s something undeniably infectious about 'Buzz', the shimmering new single from rising soul-pop artist Julian Sometimes.

A sweet blend of jazz-tinged instrumentation and silky, honeyed vocals, the track delivers a dose of sun-soaked optimism that feels tailor-made for long drives and hazy afternoons.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Mannequin Pussy @ Manchester Academy 2: Raucous Punk Rock for Everyone

It’s been a whirlwind year for Mannequin Pussy: after the release of critically acclaimed fourth album ‘I Got Heaven’ in March 2024, the band have reached a stratospheric status, renowned for their ferocious live energy and unabashed message of community and liberation for all. 

At a sold-out Academy 2, the room is crammed in every corner from young punks with mohawks to older men here for the critical hype. The excitement is palpable, with exuberant cheers as bassist Colins Bear Regisford and lead guitarist Maxine Steen step out to soundcheck. The feeling in the room is joy: this is a collective of people united by the music of Mannequin Pussy and their message, the desire to enjoy themselves in a space that is safe and completely for them. 

Black Honey Bear Their Artistic Teeth In ‘Insulin’

After building up a devoted cult following the release of their 2018 eponymous debut album, Brighton’s Black Honey have announced their return to dizzying indie heights with the release of their newest single, ‘Insulin’. 

The second single to be cherry picked from their upcoming third album, ‘Soak’, released via Foxfive Records, ‘Insulin’ is a track brimming with demanding self expression, set to the backdrop of grunge laced grandeur. 

Coach Party's ‘Girls!’ Is The Newest Going Out Anthem

Coach Party are a four-member​​ indie band from the Isle of Wight. They have been in the music scene for several years, and while they’ve always been releasing amazing tracks, their latest single, ‘Girls!’ is a step towards something even greater.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Community-Oriented and Genre-Bending: The Great Escape 2025 Was Festival-Going At Its Best

If there’s a festival that could easily be termed as the big event for alternative music in the UK, The Great Escape has to be it. 

Anyone who has attended the Brighton four-dayer will be familiar with that unique buzz coursing through the streets, the delegates swarming the streets with their lanyards, the bands taking pictures around every corner, spotting a favourite artist in the audience at another favourite artist’s set, having to deal with seemingly endless stage clashes because there is simply so much to see and do – the feeling, in short, that literally everyone is there, all at once.