Speedial - Echo Valley - Lucette - Gelli Haha

Photo - Samuel George Franklin

Speedial - Tourist.

London four-piece Speedial blend melodic post-rock, shoegaze, math rock, jazz fusion and noise-rock into a captivating and distinctive sound, reminiscent of everything from Deerhoof and Big Thief to Radiohead, Faraquet and the atmospheric textures of David Bowie's Blackstar.

Dual vocalists Serena and Millie weave intricate harmonies over complex instrumental landscapes, with saxophonist Monarch and drummer Joe's technical ability adding a crucial layer of depth. Produced by Joseph Futak (Tapir!, lilo), new single 'Tourist' - released today - offers a taste of this interplay, with Serena noting the song's lyrics' depiction of "an exaggerated 'evil' version of myself."

Speaking more on new single 'Tourist', vocalist Serena said: "When I'm feeling guilty about something I tend to get quite dramatic and it's easy to spiral into thinking one bad decision makes people think the worst of you. It was cathartic in a way to write all of that negativity down and realise that that isn't really how I am. I wanted the lyrics to be quite bleak and matter of fact. I usually get caught up with flowery language and making my lyrics kind of opaque and hard to decipher but I didn’t want to hide behind that for this song."

A collective of musicians who grew up playing together, Speedial's shared history is evident in their tight-knit sound. Part of London's thriving alternative scene, the band are regulars at The Windmill, The George Tavern, and The Shacklewell Arms, recently sharing stages with acts like Picture Parlour, Camera Picture (black midi), Ugly (UK), Dog Race, The Orchestra (For Now), Deep Tan, Automotion, amongst others.

============================================================================

Echo Valley - Lies.

Echo Valley is back with a brand-new single from their highly anticipated album, Leave You Behind, set to release this spring. This latest track is a lively and energetic breakup song, blending the band’s signature Bluegrass, Americana, and Country influences with a playful musicality that contrasts its weighty lyrics.

Fiddle player Emily Anderson steps into the spotlight with dynamic lead vocals, bringing both charm and attitude to the song. The contrast between the song's upbeat instrumentation and its poignant lyrics makes for a compelling and unforgettable listening experience.

“I wrote this song while helping a friend going through a breakup.” Says songwriter Lizzy Anderson, guitar player and harmony vocals on the song. “I was helping my friend delete the pictures of her ex off of her phone when I came across a picture that made me laugh. It was a poorly photoshopped photo of a cartoon gravestone with the boyfriend's name. It said “Here lies Billy. He died alone”. I chuckled about it for the next few days till I finally put it down in song.”

Recorded in Nashville, Leave You Behind marks a new chapter for Echo Valley as they continue to push musical boundaries while staying true to their roots.

============================================================================

Photo - Sebestian Buzzalino

Lucette - Rodeo Clown.

Canadian singer-songwriter Lucette shares the slow-burn single "Rodeo Clown" ahead of her new EP Nice Girl From The Suburbs releasing this Friday. Co-written with producer Soren Hansen (New Politics, Elle King, Sam Palladio), "Rodeo Clown" finds Lucette on the wrong side of the joke as opportunities pass to the steady beat of anthemic dream pop synths.

Lucette will play a special hometown show at Edmonton's Double Dragon on April 24, followed by a performance in Calgary on May 2. "'Rodeo Clown' is about feeling like despite giving it your all, you won’t succeed," says Lucette. "Even if you have the same bruises and failures as the ones that have seen glory. It’s about feeling unseen while still admitting to your faults."

Continuing the musical inclinations Lucette (aka Lauren Gillis) first began exploring on her acclaimed 2019 release Deluxe Hotel Room, Nice Girl From the Suburbs is brimming with self-awareness and a sense of shared humanity. The six-song EP mixes self-pity with clever self-deprecation, as the wry observer in Lucette turns her sharply intuitive eye onto herself. She has previously shared three singles from the EP, including a pedal-steel-filled boot-stomper filtered through a slacker-pop lens called “Back in the Blue” (feat. Mariel Buckley), and “Heading for the End,” which finds her living in the complexity of being human while still resisting people-pleasing stereotypes. The latest single “Too Soon For Sorry” starts out as a yearning love song before building to a frenzy of fuzzed out guitar wails, and Atwood Magazine called it "the kind of cathartic confessional that sends shivers down the spine"

============================================================================

Photo - Sophie Prettyman Beauchamp

Gelli Haha - Bounce House.

A shapeshifter, a sonic acrobat, a performer with one foot in the cosmos and the other in arthouse theatrics, Gelli Haha (pronounced Jelly Haha) is a space for pure creative chaos.

For the opening trick, Gelli Haha presents her debut album, Switcheroo. Gelli’s music thrives on duality: playful but profound, tongue-in-cheek but sincere. Switcheroo is the soundtrack to the Gelliverse, a sensory adventure sphere created by Gelli.

Her debut art pop single “Bounce House” flashes back to youth-like innocence with high upbeat energy, turning the dance floor into a playground. The track’s accompanying music video rockets viewers straight into Gelliverse. This live revue is an invitation into a world of choreography, dolphin balloons, flutes, mini trampolines, and a stage bathed in the project’s primary color, red - bold and full of mischief. The  360 experience was shot all in one take by director David Gutel.

============================================================================

Fishing 4 Compliments - The Moonlandingz - City Cycles - Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band - Lavinia Blackwall

Fishing 4 Compliments - Hard To Please.

The female fronted indie-folk-pop Fishing 4 Compliments new single 'Hard To Please' is released today March 18th, and it is simply wonderful! Fishing 4 Compliments are a quirky Huddersfield-based female fronted indie-folk-pop band which emerged organically around lead singer Eileen’s emotive & enigmatic songs. 

The songs began to be steadfastly encouraged and brought to life initially by Ashley (rhythm guitarist) who gradually reeled in Jim (lead guitar & backing vocals) and Steve (bass guitar & backing vocals) with all three being part of a 60s band at the time. Jim initially played drums on the songs but made the game changing decision (which was to be pivotal to shaping the band’s unique sound) that he’d like to switch to playing lead guitar. Before joining the band officially Steve had long been in the background supporting the songs and had always been their dream bass player and was also to become the group’s guru of harmonies.

All four have long shared a passion for developing and creating a sound they like to call their own which has developed naturally through the eclectic mix of influences from which they draw which include; The Beatles, XTC, Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler, The Cure, The Smiths, The Sundays and The Cranberries, to name but a few. 

Over the years the four core members of the band have much appreciated times shared with their initial drummer Ben and later David on drums and percussion and his daughter Fenella who has been a brilliant dep drummer/percussionist for the band on many occasions. Beckoning pastures new and changing life circumstances have dictated that for now the Fishing crew continue their journey as a four piece outfit with these three star contributors remaining close to their hearts. 

============================================================================

Photo - Rachel Lipsitz

The Moonlandingz - Roustabout.

The Moonlandingz that's Adrian Flanagan, Dean Honer and Lias Saoudi share a new single this week titled “Roustabout”, a third preview of their long-awaited second album No Rocket Required, out April 25 on Transgressive Records. “Roustabout”, with Nadine Shah, is a yearning, gothic duet, the Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue two-way for our times. The accompanying music video sees the band collaborate with “The Sign of A Man” director Jeanie Crystal again for another brilliant video.

On the track Johnny Rocket (aka Lias Saoudi) says, “It’s a fictional re-imagining of the complexities, stirrings and courage that appeared to dwell within an unnamed celibate moon faced indie icon from the 80’s!” Nadine adds, “I hope to see this song added to the list of the greatest karaoke duets. Up there with Dolly Parton and Kenny Rodgers ‘Islands in the Stream’”.

The Moonlandingz have returned, seven long years after their debut. When they first emerged from Valhalla Dale they were a semi-fictional band bringing us sticky squelchy pop songs to offer solace and punishment in the months following the Brexit vote and Trump’s first victory. The Moonlandingz conspired with Yoko Ono, Sean Ono Lennon, Rebecca Taylor, Phil Oakey and the Cowboy from The Village People to make one of the great albums of 2017, and we needed it. Interplanetary Class Classics was a dose of unreality equal to the unhinged times we were stumbling into. The Moonlandingz have finally returned – not when we wanted them but now that we need them – galloping in on their four horses, bareback and howling.

============================================================================

City Cycles - Futurist.

Meet City Cycles, a fab six-piece of musical maestros, all talent! They've set up shop in always-buzzing London, adding their unique rhythm to its already pulsating music scene.

City Cycles continues to carve out their distinct place in the indie pop rock scene with their latest single, Futurist. Building on the foundation set with previous tracks, this new release marks a bold progression in their sound. Futurist is poppier, more epic, and undeniably catchier, showcasing a newfound energy and dynamism that pulls listeners in from the very first note.

Lyrically, the song delves into deep, thought-provoking themes, posing questions about our origins and the uncertain future we face in an increasingly digital world. The lyrics strike a perfect balance between introspection and a call for clarity, as the band explores the crossroads between where we’ve come from and where we’re headed. The evocative line, “Anunnaki of the digital age, Futurist, they write the page”, encapsulates this existential journey, suggesting both the mystique of our past and the unknown potential of our digital future.

With Futurist, City Cycles has crafted a track that not only captivates with its infectious hooks but also invites listeners to reflect on the rapid technological changes shaping our lives. It’s a song that challenges, questions, and ultimately calls for understanding in a world where the future seems both promising and uncertain.

TCBYML · City Cycles - Futurist

============================================================================

Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band - I Can't See You Cry.

Bastian Pen, lead singer of the band Tricklebolt, steps into new creative territory with a fresh project under the moniker Baba Pen. Collaborating with a group of talented friends, they form Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band, a collective destined to make waves. Their debut album, set for release on October 10, 2025, blends 60s-inspired psychedelic rock with hints of folk and cosmic country, all wrapped in the lush, intricate production style of Jonathan Wilson.

The first single, "I Can't See You Cry," introduces Baba Pen as the new spiritual leader from the East. This track unfolds like a medieval love story gone awry, with its unconventional chord progressions leading us through baroque-inspired garden passages. But as the chorus kicks in, the song takes a turn, signaling that things are unraveling within the love-stricken walls.

Featuring members from Grand East, Money and the Man, Tricklebolt, and Jimmy Diamond, is "I Can't See You Cry" a captivating taste of what’s to come, offering a glimpse into the diverse sonic landscape of Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band. It's a brilliant first step into an album that promises to explore the many shades of Baba Pen's musical world.

============================================================================

Lavinia Blackwall - The Making.

Lavinia Blackwall, the celebrated voice behind Trembling Bells, is set to release her highly anticipated new album The Making on May 30th via The Barne Society, and has just shared what we can justifiably describe as an exceptional title-track accompanied with an intriguing video. A rich tapestry of folk, rock, and psych-power pop, the album showcases Blackwall’s unparalleled vocal prowess and evocative songwriting, further cementing her reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music.

A classically trained soprano, Blackwall first gained recognition as the lead singer of Trembling Bells, a Glasgow-based psych-folk outfit known for their ambitious blending of folk traditions with rock and baroque influences. Over the course of seven albums with the band, she honed her signature vocal style - often compared to Fairport Convention’s Sandy Denny - and collaborated with legends such as Bonnie Prince Billy and Mike Heron of The Incredible String Band. Stepping out as a solo artist, Blackwall released her debut album Muggington Lane End in 2020, which was met with widespread acclaim for its lush arrangements and intricate songwriting.

Following the success of Muggington Lane End, The Making is a deeply personal collection of songs that have evolved over time, shaped by both hardship and joy. Written over a four-year period and recorded at The Barne Studio, the album reflects Blackwall’s journey through personal loss, artistic exploration, and renewed creative energy.

“The whole process took much longer than intended,” says Blackwall. “Life seemed to happen around it. There was a lot of darkness - my partner and collaborator Marco lost his mum in 2021 and very nearly his dad shortly after. I lost my dad in October 2023. But there was a lot of light too, a lot of time spent in Italy and up at our cabin at Carbeth, all of which leaked into the songs on the album,” she continues.

============================================================================

Chad Price Peace Coalition - Oslo Twins - Lunar Vacation

Photo - Lindsey Lu McGuire

Chad Price Peace Coalition - "A.M."

Chad Price Peace Coalition shares their new video for "A.M." from the forthcoming debut, A Perfect Pearl, due out on Double Helix and SofaBurn Records. An artist entering his staggering fourth decade writing and performing music that weaves in and out of seminal pop-punk, alt-country, metal, and a fascinating indie folk-prog hybrid, Chad Price has made the most of his time.

All those miles and artistic transformations have now led to the welcome arrival of a new project: Chad Price Peace Coalition and the album A Perfect Pearl. Price unpacks the group’s origin story: “A year or so ago I did a show singing with an ALL cover band. I really liked the guys and we bonded over our love of prog-rock. The idea of expanding the sound started influencing my writing.” Cory West (drums, lead guitar, and keys) and Anthony Medici (bass, lead guitar, and vocals) were the perfect partners in fleshing out Price’s latest ten songs. While A Perfect Pearl certainly delivers Price’s signature rough-hewn vulnerability, the limber trio format kicks up some sublime musical moments that feel distinctly inspired by prog giants like Jethro Tull and Yes.

Deep on side two, “A.M.” nudges up the tempo a bit, but instead of retreating into basic rock and roll, it coils into a menacing circular repeating pattern, threes over fours–or maybe vice versa.

============================================================================

Photo - Freya Davies

Oslo Twins - Tresor (E.P).

Bristol-formed, London-based outfit Oslo Twins just released their new EP 'Tresor' via Half-Normal Records. Produced by band members Eric C. Davies and Claudia Vulliamy in their east London studio, new EP 'Tresor' follows keen airplay from BBC 6 Music (Nick Grimshaw) and glowing press support from tastemakers including NME Magazine, The Line of Best Fit, DIY Magazine, Far Out Magazine, 1883 Magazine, Under The Radar Magazine and more.

The new EP highlights a rejuvenated sonic depth for Oslo Twins - drawing influence from Nation Of Language, Angel Olsen, This Mortal Coil, Everything But The Girl, Lamb, Chromatics, Grace Ives and Ladytron. Exploring new territories both in their recorded sound and live performances, new EP 'Tresor' introduces electronic drums and clean synths to the forefront, venturing into more expansive territory.

From the thudding and transportive 'I Wake Up Slowly', to the chilling synth-pop of 'Sally' and the towering electronics of 'I See Mountains', singer Claudia expands on the EP's lyrical themes: "I think there’s a running theme of subconscious places in this EP. I was inspired by things seen and felt in dreams and daydreams, images that come to mind for a moment and are just out of reach".

The previously unheard 'Be Free' is another song inspired by Claudia's literal dreams. "There's also inspiration drawn from a strangely romantic fantasy of having to drive off somewhere after committing a crime, leaving everything behind. To get a sense of this narrative I wanted a quiet sense of drama in the sound, with a slightly funereal tone that I think we managed to get with the timpani and synths."

OSLO TWINS · Tresor

============================================================================

Photo - Brandon McClain

Lunar Vacation - Lights Off.

Atlanta indie-rock powerhouse Lunar Vacation release a new single today "Lights Off."

The self-produced track follows their sophomore album Everything Matters, Everything's Fire, released in September, which was produced by Drew Vandenberg (Faye Webster, Toro Y Moi) and introduced by a music video directed by Finn Wolfhard (of Stranger Things).

Singer/guitarist Gep Repasky says, “This song feels like an open letter. Naturally, I have my own meaning tied into it but whether or not it's a letter of adoration or the final farewell, it's not for me to say. Whether it's about something physical or intangible, it's also not for me to say. It could be about both or neither. It is up to the listener to create their own meaning, take what resonates with them, and use it to be the kindling wood in the growing fire of feeling, creativity, thinking and understanding."

============================================================================

Will Morton - Ruth Lyon - Penny & The Pits - Caravan Palace

Photo - Justin Hammond

Will Morton - Good Ol' Boys Don't Cry.

Rising country artist Will Morton has released the official music video for his latest single, “Good Ol’ Boys Don’t Cry.” Directed and filmed by Justin Hammond, the visually striking video was shot in a Nashville hotel room at night, capturing the song’s emotional weight through its introspective aesthetic.

Morton explained the meaning behind the music video, saying “We shot inside a hotel room in front of the big picture glass overlooking Nashville because I am often gone for work and miss my family. This song is so true and close to me, being about growing up tough, being raised by a single mother, trying to always be strong for her, and knowing how it feels to keep all of that inside. With the birth of my son and raising him, seeing how much love and kindness is in his heart, I just want him to know it’s okay to have and share emotions.”

Set against the glowing city lights of Nashville, the music video features Morton in moments of quiet reflection, looking out over the city, walking along Broadway, and writing lyrics on a notepad. The raw authenticity of the video further amplifies the track’s powerful message, making for a visual experience that resonates deeply with audiences.

Produced by Mark McKee and written by McKee, Morton, and Chris Ayer, “Good Ol’ Boys Don’t Cry” serves as the lead single from Morton’s forthcoming full-length album The Long Way, set for release later this year.

============================================================================

Photo - Sel Maclean

Ruth Lyon - Books.

Newcastle indie-folk singer-songwriter Ruth Lyon has just announced her debut album 'Poems & Non-Fiction', out 13th June on Pink Lane Records. Out now is new single 'Books', the second taste of the album following the previously released single 'Wickerman'.

Weaving deeply evocative narratives and potent meditations, with an artistry that balances delicacy and strength, 'Poems & Non-Fiction' is a major waymark for Ruth Lyon. Forged by her experiences as a disabled woman and a life-long sense of otherness, she explores the beautiful mess of existence, challenges social norms and ignites a journey towards self-acceptance, empowerment and perhaps most importantly, hope. “I have surprised myself with the raw honesty in these songs and I hope these stories inspire healing and growth,” Ruth says.

Working with acclaimed producer John Parish (PJ Harvey, Aldous Harding) and influenced by artists like Adrienne Lenker, Fiona Apple and Moondog, the songs are rich with poetic nuance and the unconventional insight of a young life lived to capacity—a mesmerising blend of analogue and angular indie-folk that gives as much attention to silence as sound, with understated yet muscular grooves. Shimmering between the abstract, the archetypal and the naked truth, meaning lingers just beneath the surface, daring listeners to both reach out and dig deep; to give emotion a solid, tangible shape.

New single 'Books' is released today alongside a video directed by Sel Maclean. Stop-start strings, plucked and bowed make holes in the texture like a typewriter on paper, weaving in and out of driving piano, bedded by lazy rhythm falling away and returning, all glued together with vocal calls to the echo of a page. Lyon turns a cosmic reckoning on herself “Weigh me today and weigh me in again tomorrow / rocks in my socks, balloons tied round my elbows” that perhaps can be heard as a plea to the fates, wedded with Lyon’s typical Dali-esque imagery.

============================================================================

Photo - Nicole Cecile Holland

Penny & The Pits - Montenegro On Ice.

You might be familiar with Penelope Stevens from her role as bass and keys shredder and sometime vocalist in Canadian avant-rock trio Motherhood (whose 5th LP Thunder Perfect Mind just came out recently and was described as "wildly entertaining" on Bandcamp Daily and "a welcome, alien presence in today’s musical landscape" on Post-Trash). Here, she is sharing a new single as Penny & The Pits, with Motherhood forming the backing band: "Montenegro On Ice"

Quote from Penelope Stevens: Montenegro on Ice explores memory and the ways in which the past can seep out of its box and drown your present and future. I was feeling the temptation to stew in past pain, choosing to really live in it, y’know? It’s so easy to stick your fingers in your own wounds. So I wanted to make a song that had a jaunty little limp, an endearing disfigurement, that could illustrate the way I was feeling at the time - wounded, absolutely, but sort of enjoying the ride.

The song is part of a larger mythology I’m working out in my songwriting - the allegory of the Liquid Compactor. Water has been an important force in my life, as an emotional cleanser and physical rehab. I’ve been imagining a sentient underwater machine to which I can feed my rage, my ethical malaise, my skewed memories, and allow it to compress these unsavoury bits into little building blocks.

============================================================================

Photo - Nicolas Patault

Caravan Palace - City Cook.

Before heading out on their North American tour, Caravan Palace (a 6-piece live band and a trio in the studio) are giving the standout track “City Cook” a fresh moment in the spotlight with a brand-new single release. Originally part of Gangbusters Melody Club (Le Plan Recordings), the song now comes in a tighter, punchier edit, perfect for those who like their tunes with a bit more bite. To top it off, the band has teamed up once again with directing duo Double Ninja - who previously brought “Lone Digger”, “Miracle”, “Moonshine” and “Wonderland” to life—for a music video that’s as delightfully offbeat as you’d expect.

About the “City Cook” music video, the band adds: “Once every seven days, a ritual takes place—a ceremony as old as the civilization itself, whether it be ancient or alien. They are bound to a single sense: sight. Their deity, by contrast, perceives all. And so, in fear of what they cannot match, they seal its eyes, stripping it of the only power they themselves possess. From the bowels of the earth, they extract their offering—flesh of beast, flesh of root—feeding a cycle neither questioned nor broken. And with each offering comes a spectacle to behold, a feast for sight alone—pleasure twisted into ritual, excess into sustenance.

What is this but the order of men, subjugating the feminine, binding its body to hunger, to control, to torment without end? Or is it humankind itself, ransacking the world for instant reward, for pleasure stripped of meaning, for wealth that devours all? The deity endures, plundered yet inexhaustible. The cycle turns once more. Meaning shifts in the eye of the beholder. The question remains.”

============================================================================