New Music Review #86

Ten more songs you need to hear!

Callum Beattie - Man Behind The Sun

Another great single release from Beattie, a poppy, sunny and catchy number with enough vocal call-outs and a fun enough beat to keep your feet tapping. Brilliant! (7.5/10)

Dua Lipa - New Rules

Another strong single from Dua Lipa that has hit the top spot. Though not as great as her last couple it has a distinctive enough chorus and production work to hook people in, it just lacks that big spark of 'Blow Your Mind (Mwah)'. (6.5/10)

JP Cooper - She's On My Mind

Built around a quirky vocal hook, this is another strong record from JP Cooper that will nest in your head pretty quickly. Very catchy. (7.5/10)

Liam Gallagher - For What It's Worth

Showing a maturity you don't get on his Twitter account (!) that has shades of older Oasis with a strong 90s indie-rock vibe. It's not as huge as his brilliant previous single 'Wall of Glass' but it's still a song in the right direction and the Beatles-vibe the band have gone for in the past is present here. (6.5/10)

London Grammar - Non Believer

Though not the most bombastic of tracks, the harmonies, electronic vibes and heartfelt delivery make for a strong indie ballad that will wash over you in a gentle wave. (6.5/10)

Lucy Rose - Second Chance

'Second Chance' is another gentle ballad from the singer with the great voice. It's not her most memorable song but whilst it's on proves to be a joyful little number. (6.5/10)

Simon Webbe - Nothing Without You

Returning after a bit of a break, former Blue boyband member Simon Webbe once more showcases his soulful voice on this sentimental ballad with a radio-friendly chorus. Another good one from Webbe. (7/10)

The Wandering Hearts - Devil

'Devil' is a fun country-crossover with a great duel between vocals and a folky-throwback sound. With a strong beat, distinctive vocals and a catchy vibe from the first moment, this is a must listen. (7.5/10)

Wildwood Kin - Taking a Hold

With occasional subtle nods towards T-Rex, this stripped back harmonised country-pop song isn't as sparky as some of their earlier songs but has enough heart to keep you listening. (6.5/10)

Wolf Alice - Beautifully Unconventional

The band's best release since 'Freazy', this mid-indie song channels Tenacious D's 'Tribute' at moments but elsewhere ticks the indie-rock boxes well. (6/10)

New Music Review #62

Another ten songs that you need to hear!

Artan - My Brudda

A whole range of cultural references - both contemporary, retro and obscure - are whipped up into a simply produced grime track but one with some more commercial sensibilities in its beats and chorus. (6.5/10)

Beauty - Fallen Famous

Beauty are back with their latest single, a soft-rock track with a swaggery lyrical delivery. The chorus may be a bit damp in parts but the attitude-filled verses with their strong pop style build it up well. (6.5/10)

Dua Lipa - Blow Your Mind (Mwah)

Only recently coming to our musical attention this is a catchy, ballsy club-pop tune with a big stadium-friendly chorus and a great foot-tapping beat. (7.5/10)

HVNNIBVL - On and On

'On and On' is a catchy, funky EDM number with a throbbing strong production. The chorus may be a little overly familiar but its all wrapped up as a good little summer anthem. (6.5/10)

Kehlani - Undercover (Coucheron Remix)

Like a lot of contemporary club-EDM the chorus is very samey but the sweet vocals, smooth electronic music and building Moloko-style tempo work in its favour. (6.5/10)

Makala - Strong

With a throbbing grime-beat this is a change in direction for Makala, with more committed production behind its tubthumbing lyrics. (6.5/10)

Sharon Shannon - The Machine

With some biting politically-charged lyrics wrapped up in a perky, Eurovision-esque summery track, this is a well-positioned balance of styles and themes, and a quirky building Celtic theme, with the language shifts well timed too. Great! (7/10)

Shaun Kelly and the Returned Gifts - Cadillac

With hints of Squeeze's 'Cool For Cats' this is a catchy, bouncy summer hit with a joyful vibe and a vocal enthusiasm that puts a smile on your face. (7/10)

Show of Hands - No Secrets

With a vocalist that's rather listenable and a music backing track that builds up, 'No Secrets' comes across as a song that sounds like Bruce Springsteen in his prime if he cheered up a little. Nice. (7/10)

The Wild Things - F.I.A.

With the F.I.A. a cleaned up declaration of defiance, this is a grungy, lo-fi rock number with the lead vocals adding some heft to a simple, yet head-nodding, number. (6.5/10)

New Music Review #50

Ten more tracks you need to hear!

alt-J - In Cold Blood

Alt-J are back and though 'In Cold Blood' doesn't have the same hooky nature as their earlier material this is actually one of their best in a while, with several vocal hooks, a poppier overtone and some strong production. (7/10)

Carol Laula - August Leaves

It might have taken a while for this song to come to our attention but this is a beautiful understated indie-pop ballad with plenty of heart. Delightful. (7.5/10)

Cliff Richard & The Piano Guys - (It's Gonna Be) Okay

This collaboraton is a fun poppy number that's Cliff's best thing in years. With hints of 'Bright Light, Bright Light' this is a bouncy number that lights up the radio. (7.5/10)

Dua Lipa - Lost In Your Light feat. Miguel

A more subdued affair than her previous singles this is a strong ballad between the two vocalists and has plenty of emotion in there. (6.5/10)

Elles Bailey - Wildfire

'Wildfire' is a great pop-indie crossover with Bailey's vocals and the rough guitars complimenting each other on a mid-tempo hit. (7.5/10)

James TW - Ex

It perhaps run out of fresh ideas before its conclusion but it's a neat little indie-pop number. (7.5/10)

Oh Wonder - Ultralife

Taken from an upcoming new album this is 'Oh Wonder' on more uplifting form but still boasting their very listenable vocals and progressive strong structure. A little poppier than their last album but still great. (7.5/10)

Robbie Williams - The Heavy Entertainment Show

The opening track of Robbie's latest album finally gets a full video. A perfect opening song, this mixture of Williams' inflated ego and Serge Gainsbourg's sample works well in creating a rather eclectic story-driven song. (7.5/10)

Sam Way and Henry Dell - Pretty Liability

With hints of Example and Calvin Harris this is a bouncy pop-club crossover with a catchy poppy chorus. (7/10)

Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back

Another fun pop song from Mendes with a heady mixture of building up production and very listenable lyrical delivery. Not earth shattering but good. (7/10)

New Music Review #21

Another ten new tracks that we love this week!

The Amazons - Little Something

'Little Something' is a dark and gritty slice of indie-rock with a growling guitar undercurrent and a crisp vocal line. (6.5/10)
Anteros - Breakfast

'Breakfast' is a great catchy piece of pop that is great to listen to anytime of day. With an understated but memorable chorus this is a great uplifting track for the time of year. (7.5/10)

Caravan Palace - Lone Digger

A track from a while back that has got a new lease of life, this is a dance-led, catchy, jazz number that mixes throwback riffs and sounds into a fast-paced catchy number. (8/10)

Crystal Fighters - Good Girls 

Crystal Fighters can be often replied upon to provide a great, bouncy, uplifting pop song and 'Good Girls', though not that different from their usual style, delivers on that. Very warming for a cold January! (7.5/10)

Dua Lipa - Be The One 

A catchy slice of indie-pop from one of the stars of 2017, it's not her biggest single and it gets a little repetitive but it's still a good listen. (6.5/10)

Dwayne Johnson - You're Welcome

Taken from the latest Disney film 'Moana'. Dwayne Johnson doesn't have the greatest singing voice but he delivers this song well and it's pretty catchy. And certainly less annoying than 'Let It Go'. (7/10)
Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill / Shape of You

Our Ed is back with two new tracks. They may be lacking the energy or originality of, say, 'Sing' but are some great comebacks. 'Castle on the Hill' is the better of the two with a strong building vibe and chorus and a certain pop-catchiness. 'Shape of You' is a bit more Sing-like with a rap vibe though the lyrics are a little shallower and drab, but the vocal effects are catchy. (7.5/10)

Halestorm - I Hate Myself For Loving You

A cover of a Joan Jett song this a solid rock version which keeps the classic song whilst injecting a bit of life into it. A good cover. (6.5/10)

Surfer Blood - Matter of Time

'Matter of Time' is a raw slice of indie but with some catchy licks and riffs and a fun, driving vibe. (7/10)

The xx - Say Something Loving

The XX continue with their strong pop-indie crossovers with this retro-throwback packed with harmonies any nicely evolving synths. It's more of a rolling track than building to anything but that still proves to be worth a listen. (6.5/10)