It’s an album you’ve gotta hear and definitely one of the best debuts of 2022.
With bands like Yard Act, Fontaines D.C. and black midi fueling a new post-punk revival of sorts along comes Brighton, England post-punk band DITZ with a blazing debut, The Great Regression.
Let’s dip in to see what others are saying about the album:
PopMatters :
On their stellar debut,’The Great Regression’, Brighton five-piece DITZ come out hard and dark. They deliver an intense and sonically invigorating assault on the superficial politeness that masks systemic inequality while exploring the elements of personhood that cast some from the mainstream.
Clash Music
The music is stark and abrasive but there is a feeling of hope. Lurking underneath it all themes of gender and insecurity litter ‘The Great Regression’.Uncut A record that is intensely visceral, loud and charged yet not needlessly overblown Pitchfork 'The Great Regression' has fun pointing out the world’s contradictions, subverting its vulgarity, questioning its systems. At its peaks, it feels like an antidote for the ennui of ceaseless catastrophe.
Other reactions from around the web:
Bandcamp supporter Bardo Morales: “Love every second of it. Fresh ideas, direct execution, creepiness, grooviness. My new favourite emerging Post Punk band.””
Bandcamp supporter dicedfoot “Astounding debut album; a real feast for the ears. violent and beautiful.”
Emma Wilkes (DIY Mag): ‘The Great Regression’’s bravest moments reap the most rewards, and coincidentally, it’s where their identity feels strongest. ‘Ded Wurst’ is a greebo’s dancefloor dream, where jagged synths glitter between bursts of disgustingly deep guitar, while ‘Hehe’ delivers a mighty finishing move with a sludgy, weighty outro. There’s still a little greenness here and there – the Royal Blood-esque ‘Summer Of The Shark’ lacks a little individuality, for example – but in the position that DITZ have put themselves in, there are a lot of places for them to push the boat.
Punchy surf rockers Voodoo Bandits hit us with another new single ‘Nice T-Shirt’.
The past 18 months have been non-stop for the Isle of Man quartet with six singles under their belts. And in that time, the band has become well-known for their twist on the garage pop-rock genre.
Latest effort ‘Nice T-Shirt’ is the perfect jam of high-octane guitar riffs, distinctive vocals and riotous beats come together to create a feeling of optimism and carefree relief.
The noughties styles gelled with feel-good energy is the perfect remedy for the bigger stages. It’s an animated, feel-good tune underpinned by a head-bobbing fuzz riff and a garage-leaning chord progression.
Speaking of the new single, singer Ben says, “’Nice T-Shirt’ is about the feeling of growing apart from someone that you’re no longer on the same page as.
“It’s tough to leave people behind but sometimes you have to put yourself first and that’s what the lyrics in Nice T-Shirt are all about.”
‘Nice T-Shirt’ was produced by Voodoo Bandits, mixed by Darren Lawson and mastered by Two Zero Nine (Graeme Lynch).
Wet Leg feels like a band that would have absolutely dominated that teen blog/ tumblr period of 2007-2012.
Maybe it’s because I was at the peak of my awkward teen powers in that period, but having listened through the self-titled debut album from The Isle of Wight act a couple of times now, their sound has thrown me back more than a decade to a time where trying to being cool and unique in an online space was a lot more time consuming than it should have been (please keep in mind I wasn’t allowed social media or anything of the like while at school, so this is all purely anecdotal from friends who did).
With a sound wedged in that mysterious and chaotic vibe somewhere between Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Le Tigre, Gossip and Metric, there’s been an incredible buzz surrounding the English group for the past 12 months that could (and honestly probably will) transcend and connect to generations past, present and future.
After bursting out with the inescapable “Chaise Longue” in the middle of 2021, Wet Leg has continued to release a flurry of catchy, hook laden and slightly sardonic hits over the past six months or so, all of which have managed to make it onto their debut.
While it makes sense to lead into your debut album having released a couple of songs, Wet Leg has gone one step further and by the time of release, they have already released half of the songs on the album.
Some may interpret this as showing their cards too early. I’m here to say, yes they have shown their cards, but luckily for the band, it’s just about a royal flush.
You’re probably like a lot of us – so much music, so little time to seek out, organize, stream, like, save, etc. many of the best tracks released during March.
Even while March 2022 has arrived and passed like a blur, there were bunches and bunches of sick tracks dropped.
This playlist contains a lot of new and ‘revival’ post-punk indie/alt. The explosion in popularity of bands like Yard Act and Fontaines D.C., to name just a few, has resulted in a glowing river of new (from the old) post-punk sounds – mostly from relatively new, and unknown (but why?) bands from the U.K. and Ireland (where post-punk originally spawned 40 years ago from the ashes of the rather brief wave of popularity in punk rock).
Plus, there are a bunch of fresh tracks from well-known, veteran indie/alt artists as well as the buzz bands of the moment.
Also, don’t miss our still-popular Top 10 Indie Songs playlists – dropped every month of the year.
They may sound like one of those shit southern dad rock bands, but don’t let the name Black Country, New Road put you off as this young English chamber rock ensemble are changing the landscape of contemporary rock and alternative music.
Equal parts King Crimson, Godspeed, Arcade Fire, Black Midi and something else entirely, BC, NR seemingly came out of nowhere on the promise of a couple of wild and lengthy singles at the start of this decade.
Signing to legendary electronic-leaning UK label Ninja Tune, their 2021 debut album For The First Time was a surprise storm; an unhinged whirlwind of chaos, noise, post-rock, math rock, seething violins, dreamlike woodwind, manic brass and the bizarre stream-of-consciousness ranting and raving of vocalist and lyricist Isaac Wood taking the centre stage.
In just forty short minutes, BC, NR’s debut album blew me apart listen after listen and left me wanting so much more each time. Ants From Up There leaves me feeling full and then some, running at just shy of an hour. The septet have knuckled down and expanded their vision so perfectly, using that extra running time to expand the sonic space, their dynamic structures and control their chaos, resulting in a record that is brighter, bolder and more complete.
Listening back to their debut after many listens of this follow up, I can see clearer now that some of the tracks on that album were more sporadic and loosely tied together. Though not a bad thing, the three act nine minute anthem ‘Sunglasses’ traversed through more clever ideas than one song could handle, and there isn’t really a song quite as loose and free-form as this here, as exhilarating as that song is.
If For The First Time was a suffering artist blurting out to their therapist their most dangerous thoughts and darkest secrets, then Ants From Up There is a calm; an acceptance; the sound of a troubled soul working through their hardships. This sentiment could apply to the septet as a whole, or even the idiosyncratic, enigmatic voice that is Isaac Wood.
New indie rock music videos are dropping left and right in past weeks, so we’re doing our best to keep up with reviewing and posting the best indie music videos of 2022 – one volume of 5 each at a time. Please share, like or follow to tell us you dig this series so we are inspired.
Just for clarification: ‘best indie music videos’ refers more to our feeling about the song itself and not the video by itself. The use of ‘video’, and the YouTube embed, helps separate posts with just audio, and those with audio AND video.
In this case, brothers and sisters, the video can be animation, lyric, or a real ‘real’ music video (if that makes sense?).
We do not post YouTube video singles that include mash-ups of stock footage and public domain media.
(YouTube/Google has a pretty strong hold on the music videos marketplace. The only viable competition – Vemo – is now owned by guess who? Google. Does this space allow fair competition? Doesn’t look like it – does it? Every time Google stock-owners go to the bank they say “GOO_GOO_GA_GA” when they see how much money – on paper – they are making. Remember – money either enhances or corrupts.)
In This Installment:
Beach House – “Sunset” from Once Twice Melody (Feb. 18th) PUP – “Robot Writes a Love Song” from The Unraveling of Pup, The Band (April 1st) MJ Lenderman – “The Hangover Game” from Boat Songs (April 29th) Baby Strange – “Under The Surface” from Land of Nothing (April 20th) Hater – “Something New” from Sincere (May 5th)
It’s no secret to our readers/followers that we have been big Beach House supporters from the get-go (more than 15 years by now – wow) after listening to the duo’s 2006 self-title debut album, featuring still-amazing tracks like the mega-loved “Master of None” to “Saltwater”, and others like the spooky “Tokyo Witch”, over and over again.
Now we are fortunate to have a track and video from the duo’s upcoming new release Once Twice Melody set to drop February 18th via Sub Pop Records.
Victoria Legrand‘s soothy, mysterious vocals and Alex Scally‘s dreamy, moody instrumentations on “Sunset” and many other tracks have never run dry or become ho-hum over the years.
Being overly analytical in cases like this can be a big fault: so, at the end of the day, all we can say about Beach House is they’re on our forever favorite indie duos of all time list.
Toronto punk quartet PUP are set to drop their foruth album, The Unraveling of Pup, The Band on April 1st via Little Dipper/Rise Records.
The video/audio track “Robot Writes A Love Song” shifts from melodic guitar-rock into an anthemic synth and drum machine-driven groove.
The band’s statement hints at something different coming up: “[It is] not just the next PUP record, but the most PUP record.”
PUP members recorded and mixed the tracks last summer at Grammy-winning producer Peter Katis’ (Interpol, Kurt Vile, The National) Connecticut mansion.
New instruments like piano, synths and horns are used for the first time on a PUP album and includes contributions remotely from the following artists: Sarah Tudzin (Illuminati Hotties), Kathryn McCauhey (NOBRO), Mel St-Pierre (Casper Skulls) and Erik Paulson (Remo Drive).
Asheville, North Carolina ndie rocker and former Wednesday band member Jake Lenderman, who records as MJ Lenderman, returns with a new track about Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. The song, “Hangover Game,” is off of his forthcoming album Boat Songs.
With combating guitars and a remarkable cresecendo, the track unravels a story that Michael Jordan’s infamous 1997 illness was not food poisoning, but instead a ‘bad hangover.’
Lenderman turns the song into a silly two minutes of poetic alt-country bliss. Boat Songs drops official April 29th via Dear Life Records.
Scottish rockers Baby Strange released their new video single “Under The Surface”.
The video is wonderfully creative and memorable – an accomplishment these days, especially on what we assume was a limited budget. Overall it’s a clever artistic concept that doesn’t need to be flashy or elaborate to be effective. Of course it helps that the song itself is a kick-ass rocker.
Another single, “Midnight,” released on New Years Eve – was the first teaser from the band’s upcoming second album, Land of Nothing, due April 20th via Icons Creating Evil Art.
It’s a powerful song for me, writing it was a total release”
Vocalist and guitarist Johnny Madden explains: “’Under The Surface’ is a song about feeling trapped and wanting to find a way out of whatever is holding you back. It’s about paranoia, dark thoughts and the need to get over them. It’s a powerful song for me, writing it was a total release and when we finished it in the studio I felt a weight was lifted from my shoulders.”
Frontview Magazine : “There is an underlying rawness to the energy sewn deep into the fabric of Glasgow that Baby Strange have harnessed with an unrelenting force.”
Swedish band Hater has dropped the first single, “Something” from their new album Sincere.
It’s the indie quartet’s follow-up to 2018’s Siesta, “Something” is a hypnotizing mix of shoegaze guitars, Caroline Landahl‘s wonderfully diverse vocals and soft, offset drum beats.
This newest peek-view at the upcoming release of Sincere on May 6th via Fire Records.
IRC’s first Top 10 Indie Songs (January 2022) for the new year presents the best new indie rock tracks we’ve heard so far this year.
New singles are dropping left and right – we’ll keep doing our best to bring you the best music you know and don’t know about.
This installment includes amazing songs from a mixed subgenre bag from rock to pop and folk to punk featuring Band of Horses; Yard Act; Black Country, New Road; Animal Collective; Beach House; Beirut; The Wombats; Metronomy; Broken Social Scene and Local Weatherman.
Enjoy and plz share and follow so we know you want more of these.
Following on from their sophomore album Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath, Manchester rockers The Blinders release the first part of their two-part EP, Electric Kool-Aid. The EP is the band’s first release since becoming a quintet, broadening their instrumentation with the addition of second guitarist Eoghan Clifford, Johnny James on keys and Thomas Castrey on drums.
Title trackElectric Kool-Aid, opens the EP, standing at just over a minute long. Short yet sweet, the opener reintroduces listeners to the iconic tones of vocalist Thomas Haywood’s guitar that work in harmony with Charlie McGough’s bass before ambient vocals kick in to repeat the EP’s title.
Barefoot Across Your Water follows, spotlighting Johnny James’ skills on keys. A romantic, sincere number, the track sees five piece brings something new to the table – showcasing each member’s talents and how they work blissfully with Thomas Haywood’s vocals that propel the track forward.
Next follows the EP’s lead single, City We Call Love. Now a key part of the band’s live shows, since being debuted on tour last August, this track holds stunning metaphors about the links between a city and the feeling of love, whilst pairing them with strong, menacing instrumentation to build what remains to be a stand out number on Electric Kool-Aid (Part I).
The Writer follows quickly after, a track that will be well known to fans as it has played a key role in The Blinders’ sets since 2019 – yet was left off of the band’s second album, Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath. Now given its time to shine, The Writer is given a new lease of life within Electric Kool-Aid (Part I), filled with intensity and political frustration, before calming slightly for its middle and bursting into life once again.
Last not least, I Hate To See You Tortured, sees the band wear their hearts on their sleeves. Showing immense control and passion with an anthemic chorus, with this track The Blinders prove that sometimes change can be for the better. Featuring what could be some of Thomas Haywood’s strongest lyrics to date – I Hate To See You Tortured closes the EP perfectly.
Throughout Electric Kool-Aid (Part I), The Blinders prove that they are a band that doesn’t just fit into just one genre – with each track bringing something new to the table. Becoming a quintet is something that has certainly paid off for the band, and Part I of Electric Kool-Aid is certain to leave listeners eagerly waiting for Part II.
A self-taught producer since age 11, Rosesleeves (aka Sabrine Alsalih) is a 17-year-old musician and songwriter in the U.K.
Influenced by the avant-garde production of FKA twigs and Purity Ring and the emotive songwriting and melodies of Mitski and Radiohead, his sound is best described as ‘constantly evolving alternative pop’.
Alsalih’s music is a “[My music] is a unique, personal journey that creates an ambient atmosphere,” he says. Structured by pop-influenced shapes and nuances, his discography is a sonic experience for listeners of DIY alt/indie pop.
The featured track, “Alphabet,” is an “atmospheric and evocative composition — anyone’s first listen is a memorable experience,” he adds.
FEATURED TRACK: “Alphabet” – Rosesleeves
We recommend listening to more of his tracks on Spotify. Currently, Alsalih has nearly 30K monthly listeners. That’s a sizeable audience for any DIY artist.
Collaborations with osquinn, Noahh, Mag and Ezekiel show Alsalih range and his transcending ability to adopt different styles. Rosesleeves also founded the indie electronic collective Sewerbratz in 2019 and continues to foster its growth.
Fully self-produced and written, he released his debut album 9920deadline in March 2021. He is currently working on developing new areas of his sound through a series of singles. IRC first featured Rosesleeves last summer.
Snapped Ankles, a group of anonymous British musicians who dress up in what looks like ghillie suits designed by Matthew Barney, have elaborate mythology around their new record which involves a character called The Cornucopian.
This is their avatar of the capitalist glutton, the hedonistic striver who reaches for material luxuries they can hardly afford. The character is given voice in this song, a crazed carnival tune that sounds like it should be signifying a good time but actually feels sweaty, paranoid, and unbalanced.
The vocals strongly resemble that of The Fall’s Mark E. Smith in tonality, phrasing, and sentiment as they spit bitterly sarcastic lines such as the opening “it’s a great time to be alive if only you’ve got some funds.”
The ideas they’re working with could come off a bit too didactic in lesser hands but this lot stays on the right side of satire and wisely place their greatest emphasis on rhythm and texture. You never need to pay attention to the words or look into their context to understand exactly what kind of bad – but still fun! – vibe they’re putting across here.
Milo Evans, aka nimino, is a musician from London who epitomizes what it means to be a SoundCloud artist. The self-taught musician first broke onto the platform with his iconic remix of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind” that came out seven years ago. Since then, nimino has refined his sound and production skills and has teamed up with TH3RD BRAIN for the release of his debut album, Rooms On The Ark.
Rooms On The Ark is filled to the brim with sultry pitched vocals, impressive features, organic instrumentation, futuristic sound design, and diverse harmonic elements.
There is an element of calm present throughout but not without utilizing some dance-focused electronic tricks and techniques in between. The entire project tells a beautiful story and is one reason why we’d recommend taking some time out of your day to listen to it all the way through with as few distractions as possible.
You only get one chance at making a debut album and we’re nothing but impressed by nimino’s successful attempt. Stream the full project below and enjoy!
Premiered by BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac as Hottest Record In The World, “Seventeen Going Under ” is the new indie single by North Shields crooner Sam Fender.
The track is the title track of his forthcoming new album established for release on October 8th 2021.
Musically as well as thematically, Seventeen Going Under picks up where “Hypersonic Missiles” ended. Equipped with social critique and eager political observations, the brand-new track deals with the discomforts of growing up in a small town, family, and friends.
Fender’s pointed lyrics prompt a vivid image of the events he encountered while growing up in the north of England (such as “See I spent my teens enraged/ Spiralling in silence/ And arm myself with a grin”), all the while making the song relatable to anyone that has been or is 17; a difficult age.
Buoyed by upbeat drums, soaring guitars and Fender’s massive vocal abilities, “Seventeen Going Under” vows to be an instantaneous classic.
In short, the album is a coming-of-age story, and a celebration of life overcoming those adverse teenage years.
The brand-new song follows on from Fender’s number 1 UK cd Hypersonic Missiles, released in October 2019, as well as the standalone singles All Is On My Side and Hold On. Driven by the success of the 2019 debut record, the Brit Award victor has been occupied playing sold-out live shows on both sides of the Atlantic until the pandemic halted touring.
Fender returned to his home town and began working on album number two with long-time friend and producer Bramwell Bronte who had likewise produced Hypersonic Missiles.
Seventeen Going Under artwork & tracklisting
Seventeen Going Under
Getting Started
Aye
Get You Down
Long Way Off
Spit Of You
Last To Make It Home
The Leveller
Mantra
Paradigm
The Dying Light
Sam Fender’s new album Seventeen Going Under will be released on October 8th
