Another ten songs you'll want to hear from all of us at KBPS! Coco feat. Scrufizzer - Ingredients
A quirky, intriguingly produced grime track which sounds like it shouldn't work from its weird switches in pace and style, but does. (6/10) Coucheron feat. Ary - High By The Riverside
I keep getting impressed by the work of Coucheron and though the bigger focus on electronic club sounds rather than a catchy chorus works against this particular track, there's enough fun and hooks in the verse to keep things interesting. (7/10) Double S feat. Wiley - Get Paid
Another grime-pop cross over from Double S that again proves a successful merging of styles, with strong crisp production, fast verses and a commercial ear. (7/10) HAIM - Want You Back
HAIM release another quirky, catchy indie-pop number with solid harmonies. It's not ground breaking but makes for a pleasing listen. (6.5/10) J & The Rest - 4 a.m. Again '4 a.m. Again' is an upbeat, poppy track with a building funky rhythm and hints at a more clubby production style that bounce well of each other. (7/10) K.I.D - Taker
In definite need of a replay, this is a catchy, poppy, punky number with an instantly catchy chorus and a joyous fast-paced rhythm, though the lyrics are a little NSFW. Brilliant! (7.5/10) Lina - Can’t Keep Falling
'Can't Keep Falling' us an upbeat quirky little pop song with electronic undertones that keeps your feet-tapping. (7/10) Marshmello - Moving On
It might have two many dance-club tropes including being over-produced for my liking but there's something about the energy in it that I like. (6.5/10) Nasher - XO With hints of Gary Barlow in his vocal sound, this is a summery, catchy indie hit with a simple yet memorable chorus and an optimistic outlook that reminds you of the Boo Radleys at their peak. (7.5/10) The Pocket Gods - The Perfect Blue
'The Perfect Blue' is a really bouncy, upbeat pop song with crunching guitars, a toe-tapping vibe and a relentless optimism. Great. (7.5/10)
‘White Noise’ is a song whose drum machine backing belies its more emotional heart, the vocals of the lead singer giving it the emotional spark needed to lift it up above the others in the genre, with the chorus gentle but noteable. (7.5/10)
Coucheron feat. Matilda –
Barely Floating
‘Barely
Floating’ is another catchy pop-indie number from the reliable Coucheron that
mixes the sound of AlunaGeorge and Chvrches and works really well. From the
stripped back verses to the electronic-focussed choruses, there is a fun perky
energy to this track that will bring a smile to your face. (7.5/10)
Dave Hanson – Live! (EP)
Last
year I grabbed a copy of Hanson’s latest album ‘Almost Horizontal’ and loved
it, and a year on Hanson’s released a five-track live EP featuring performances
of four of the tracks and a cover, and it’s as much of a pleasure to hear them
live. Kicking off with the sunny and bouncy ‘Joanna’ it’s somehow even better
knowing everything there is live, Hanson’s great vocals driving the track on,
the chorus quickly singable, Becka Ward’s backing vox complimenting it well.
‘Midday Sun’ feels even more summery in its live version, the reggae-influences
somehow more prevalent. In the middle of the EP is a cover of the Santana
classic ‘Evil Ways’ which isn’t quite as catchy as Hanson’s own material but
expands the scope of the EP, though I would rather have had another live
interpretation of one of his own numbers. The EP wraps up with two more live
tracks, ‘Blind Faith’ complete with audience interaction, and ‘Island Sky’
tying up a great little sample of Dave Hanson live, bringing his Eric
Clapton-style to the table and giving the tracks more room to breathe. (7.5/10)
The Foreign Resort - She Is
Lost
‘She
is Lost’ is a dark, atmospheric indie piece but a song that loses its vocals in
the slightly over-powering music. Starting off intriguingly with its selection
of riffs the song fails to really go anywhere exciting and aside from the
musical breakdown half-way in doesn’t really grab me. Promising, but failing to
deliver. (5/10)
Gary Linley – The Light Of
Day (EP)
‘The
Light of Day’ is a four track EP from Bradford-based singer-songwriter Gary
Linley, a collection of gentle, stripped-back numbers that balance Linley’s
emotive sounding vocals with some casual, flowing rhythms. Including
the title track and closer ‘Absent Friends’, the best of the four, this is a
chilled-out indie-acoustic exploration of emotion. (6.5/10)
Lauren Rycroft – Tide of the
Mind (EP)
Having
recently seen her supporting Hannah Trigwell in Leeds I picked up a copy of
Rycroft’s six-track EP, a bouncy, catchy release of indie-numbers, kicking off
with the hooky ‘Waters of Life’, whose layered harmonies and drum-led rhythm
compliment her light, airy vocals well. Second track ‘Alice’ is the best of the
set, it’s lyrical references to a merry go round and Alice’s adventures in
Wonderland dressed up in a calming, toe-tapping number that was as catchy live
as it is here on the EP. ‘The Art Inside’ has elements of Shakira in the vocal
delivery whilst offering something atmospherically produced, its building
rhythm carrying the track through. ‘Tightrope’ feels a little like filler
compared to the other tracks, but isn’t skippable, whilst ‘Paint the Skies’ is
a gentle progression to the final track, ‘Marrow To Our Bones’, the second best
track on the release, mixing in dramatic vocals with a dark drum beat and a
strong showcase of Rycroft’s vocals. ‘Tide of the Mind’ is a great little EP
with some stand-out numbers. Perhaps lacking maybe one more big hitter, it’s
still a really pleasing way to spend 24-minutes. (7/10)
Louise Lemon –
Purge (EP)
‘Purge’ is a dark but emotive collection of four tracks,
starting with the atmospheric ‘Appalacherna’ that we’ve reviewed previously.
‘Thirst’ continues the style whilst ‘Only Meet At Night’ is more stripped back,
allowing Lemon’s vocals to shine over the simple piano backing. ‘Egyptian
Darkness’ wraps it up in a strong, well produced and haunting way. An
intriguing EP. (6/10)
Mark Villarosa – Hangover
Singing
over a fast drum bit and strings and with production effects here and there, Villarosa’s
‘Hangover’ is a Westlife-esque pop-indie track with his soft, likeable vocals
working well. It’s not a groundbreaking record but it plays along nicely for
just shy of four minutes. Fun. (6.5/10)
Miles Horn – Like We Used To
‘Like We Used To’ is a smooth, gentle, laid-back track with Horn’s emotive vocals taking centre stage and allowing the track to build to a bigger, albeit still gentle, conclusion. Nice. (7/10)
Tors – Merry Go Round
With
elements of folk and country, ‘Merry Go Round’ is a foot-tapping Seafret-like
number with some well written and evocative lyrics and solid harmonised vocals.
Fun. (7.5/10)
Another ten great tracks we'd recommend you hearing! Bad Lip Reading - Seagulls! (Stop It Now)
Possibly the weirdest thing I've ever posted, this is a strangely compelling and catchy song, both independently to the video but especially with it. (7/10) Bad Sounds - Wages
'Wages' is a bouncy, uptempo pop number that has a catchy central chorus. A great listen. (7/10) Coucheron - Loud
'Loud' is a great little single with the Chrvches-like vocals leading into a simple, yet engaging, chorus that has enough pop to compliment its indie vibe. Plus the lyrics video is great. (7/10)
DJ Snake feat. Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You
The chorus might descend into off the shelf beats but the verses are pretty fun and poppy, and better than their respective recent songs. (6/10) Ibrahim - The Great Divide (featuring Robert Wyatt) (EP)
Ibrahim's three-track EP starts with a gentle cover of New Order's 'World (Price of Love)' which, with its dual vocals, haunting piano riff, and simple production values is the best of the piece. 'The Gone-Away World' is a nice original song but it's a bit ponderous in moments, and the third track was only available as an excerpt, but the opening saxophone is evocative and promising. (6/10) The Imagineers - Utopian Dreams
Sounding like the lovechild of Oasis and Muse this is a surprisingly understated record without a huge hook but it somehow still grabs you thanks to its atmospheric vibe and solid indie stylings. (6.5/10)
Ingrid Witt - Babies Gonna Cry
'Babies Gonna Cry' is a quirky little single, grounded by Wiit's light, fairy-like vocals and the throbbing electronic backing track. Throw in a building tempo and you have a great little number. (6.5/10) Linnea Olsson - Weekend
'Weekend' is a delightful mix of dreamy vocals, violin and nicely composed lyrics that all weave together into a beautifully gentle pop song. (7/10) Naughty Boy feat. Kyla, Popcaan - Should've Been Me
It's a return to form for Naughty Boy with this fun pop-club track, though he has Kyla's loveable vocals to thank, working hand in hand with the summery brass moments. (7/10) Thieves Like Us - Jennifer
The verses might be a little light-weight and airy for my tastes but the indie undertones and electronic notes of the chorus make for a better song, that grows on you. (5.5/10)
