New Music Review 2018 #4

Another ten songs you need to hear!

Boy Azooga - Face Behind Her Cigarette

With an ethereal mix of throbbing bass, drum work, synth and percussion this is a well layered, eclectic song with retro influences and a crisp, well built production. Smooth. (6.5/10)

Fall Out Boy - Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)

It might lack the originality of a lot of their classic - and more recent - songs but there's enough buzz and energy in the quirky track to keep you entertained, with a few vocal hooks that show themselves after a few spins. (7/10)

Invisible Minds - Yo Mae Leh

If you like the cool chilled-out instrumentalism of early Royksopp then you'd enjoy the laid-back electronic-stylings of this song. Quirky but cool. (7/10)


LOCKS - Skin

With hints of Nina Simone in the vocals and brush drum this is a classic sounding jazzy and funky number with plenty of cool. (7/10)

Manic Street Preachers - International Blue

It might be a little familiar in terms of the modern sound of the Preachers but it's upbeat perkiness and guitar licks are very welcome at this time of year and it roars along with energy and bounce. (7/10)

Mr Jukes feat. Lalah Hathaway and Barney Artist - From Golden Stars Comes Silver Dew

Another cool, laid-back funky track with elements of funk expertly woven in, with a great rap and rnb breakdown thrown in. The definition of cool. (7/10)

Nina Nesbitt - Somebody Special

I personally prefer Nesbitt when she's on energetic, punky form like on 'Chewing Gum' but this catchy rnb-influenced ballad is still a strong follow-up with a catchy central chorus and a good build up to the peaks. (7/10)

Paul Brand - Walking Up The Royal Mile

After his contribution to a recent Christmas single we get Paul Brand working on his own solo material. 'Walking Up The Royal Mile' is a delightfully gentle ballad with a strong instrumental track and a sweet lilt. Smooth. (7/10)


Shed Seven - Nothing To Live Down

With a memorable 'the change will do you good' hook this is a strong return track from the indie-rock band. A definite grower. (7/10)

Tune-Yards - Look at Your Hands 

With a very quirky outlook and a building, catchy hook built from the song title, this is quite a free form track but it has enough weird sunniness to keep you interested. With hints of Prince in the vocals and the Talking Heads in the break-down later on there are plenty of intriguing influences and adaptions. (7/10)

New Music Review #122

Ten more songs that you have to hear!

Anne-Marie - Then

It's been a big year for Anne-Marie and even in its dying days she delivers another great little song. More subdued than her earlier numbers its still hard to not be pulled in by the strong songwriting and emotionally-charged production. Strong. (7/10)

Ball and Boe et al - Bring Me Sunshine

The 'each-artist-sings-a-line-of-a-classic-song-for-charity' trope has been well overplayed and this lands firmly in the middle. It's for charity so stick your hand in your pocket, but it's pretty inoffensive. (6.5/10)

Bleachers - Don't Take The Money

Though not their best song there's still plenty to enjoy in this well produced indie-pop number with a sing-a-long chorus, even if the video and its frequent pauses are irritating. (6.5/10)

Ed Sheeran with Andrea Bocelli - Perfect Symphony

Dropping another collaboration remix after scoring the festive number one with Beyonce, this version will depend on your love of the original song, but the added opera-stylings from Bocelli give it another bit of bite and the string-work some more heart. (7/10)

Kesha - This Is Me

From the Barnum musical that isn't the Barnum musical this is a stirring life-affirming song which could well be pretty personal for Kesha who injects plenty of energy into this stand-up-and-be-counted song. (7/10)

Manic Street Preachers - International Blue

Sounding a little like the Preachers adapting 'Dancing in the Dark' for a new audience this is a surprisingly poppy entry for the band. It's not a revelation for them but it's radio-friendly enough and sounds like it could become a live favourite. (6.5/10)

Pale Waves - New Year's Eve

There aren't enough songs about New Year's Eve and though this is quite downbeat in its lyrics and not something you'd expect the DJ to drop it on the night it's heartfelt and resonating chorus is surrounded by some fun production and a strong vibe. (7.5/10)

Paramore - Fake Happy 

After the incredible 'Hard Times' from earlier in the year we're in similar introspective territory here for this second follow-up. Williams' vocals are on top form, delivering a touching vibe to the bittersweet lyrics. (7/10)

Riton & Kah-Lo - Fake ID

Lifting the rhythm and pace from 'The Clapping Song' this gives it a modern paint job and turns it into a fun club banger. Intriguing. (6.5/10)

Shed Seven - People Will Talk

There are sometimes songs that grab you from their opening riff and this is one of them, building from the powerful opener to its upbeat, driving forward beat. Fun! (7/10)

Bingley Music Live - Day 1 Playlist

We'll be down this year to enjoy all three days of Bingley Music Live. Here are our favourite songs from the acts on today to get you into the mood!

Manic Street Preachers - The Love of Richard Nixon

Not one of their most famous hits but certainly one of their catchiest!

Twin Atlantic - Heart and Soul

A great song we can't believe is three years old now!

Maxïmo Park - Our Velocity

The band's best song in our opinion; brilliantly singable and full of hooks!

Tom Grennan - Praying

With hints of Imagine Dragons this is a dramatic indie number with rocky hints.

Maxïmo Park - Leave This Island

A more recent entry into the band's discography and slightly slower, this is beautifully written and performed.

Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Alone Is Not Enough ft. Nina Persson

It's perhaps unlikely that Nina will join them on stage today but you can still enjoy this pop stomper on YouTube!

Euro 2016: The Music

As we all know from big hits such as the Lightning Seed’s Three Lions, football competitions like the World Cup and the Euros are not just about the football, it’s about the music that goes with it, and Euro 2016 is no different, so here is KBPS’ look at the new football songs appearing in 2016 and some of our favourites from previous competitions.

David Guetta feat. Zara Larsson - This One’s For You

France’s most famous musical export since Daft Punk teams up with Sweden’s Zara Larsson for the officlal Euro 2016 anthem. “We stand strong together / we’re in this forever” Larsson sings over a stirring mid-tempo club beat before a range of DJ effects take over for the chorus. It’s a decent enough song in the verses but a chorus consisting of dubstep is hardly going to be chanted by the football crowds. Though it does at least bridge the language barrier.
Verdict: Could try harder.

Manic Street Preachers - Together Stronger (C’mon Wales)

Here is Wales’ official anthem, naturally using one of the country’s biggest bands. Shamelessly and quite obviously riffing off Andy Williams’ ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ it at least ticks the boxes of the familiar football song: extracts from commentary? Check. Name-checking footballers? Check. Sing-able chorus? Check. It’s actually a pretty good track and the clap-heavy breakdown is fun but it does rely heavily on the sample and is it just me that feels it’s a little bit weird for Manic Street Preachers to sell-out like this?
Verdict: Not Bale-rilliant, but good enough!

Super Furry Animals - Bing Bong

Likely to bring fans of Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’ into a cold sweat of psychological proportions, this simple, repetitive, vocodor-heavy number if quite likely the surrealist thing you’ll hear this year that’s football related. Except outside of the video it’s not really football-related. Catchy in its craziness, it’s not bad but you’d end up getting sectioned if you standing chanting this from the stands.
Verdict: Not so super, furry animals.

Andreas Klemmstein - EM Song

So unusual I’m not even sure of the actual title, this German song is naturally heavy on the electronic style with rap-like lyrics and mentions of the X Factor. It’s weird, wacky but surprisingly catchy, but again not exactly shouting out football.
Verdict: Nein.

Chris Phillips: Let The Good Times Roll

There must be something in the Welsh water as here is another song from the land of the dragons. A surprisingly well produced indie song with a video that doesn’t look like it was filmed in someone’s bedroom on a cheap camcorder for once, it again ticks the lyrical boxes of a football song but it doesn’t really ever get into a feeling anywhere near stirring. For a song called ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ it doesn’t feel that happy but it’s nice enough.
Verdict: Going to penalties.

Skip The Use - I Was Made For Lovin’ You (My Team)

Somewhere members of KISS are contacting their lawyers to see if it’s worth a lawsuit over this, er, interesting parody. Featuring a particularly unusual pronounciation of the words ‘My Team’ this is actually not too bad and they’ve certainly picked a catchy song to cover, it’s Chic-sounding backing feeling quite contemporary.
Verdict: I Was Made For Lovin’ You Martin? Who’s Martin?

Northern Ireland Team - Will Grigg’s On Fire

Sampling ‘Freed From Desire’ by Gala this is actually surprisingly good, taking the appeal of the original song and twisting the lyrics. Nice.

Izzy Bizu & the BBC Concert Orchestra - La Foule

The official song for the BBC’s coverage, apparantely Izzy Bizu, lacking in particular French skills, sang it phonetically. It’s an intriguing song musically, mixing in your expected French accordion sounds with a Carribean style and a touch of James Bond. I can certainly see it accompanying television coverage but not entirely sure a stand-full of slightly tipsy football fans would be able to navigate the Francais.

Verdict: Bon.

Four Lions - We Are England




Made up of members of Black Grape, this is certainly no Three Lions plus. It’s got a nice tongue-in-cheek feel to it but let’s face it, anything associated with Shaun Ryder is hardly going to be strong musically.

Verdict: Lion down on the job.

The Barry Horns: This is Wales

Yes, it’s Wales again. This song is a cross between some electrofunk record and a tourist’s map of Wales read out by Siri. That said it’s surprisingly toe-tapping if hardly stadium fodder.

Verdict: This is OK.

Seo Linn - The Irish Roar

It’s back to Ireland a more Enigma-style opening gives way to a more indie-Irish style mixing French references with commentary samples. After the Manic Street Preachers this is probably actually the best song of the year.

Verdict: Roar!

Click here for our YouTube playlist of these songs and our favourites from past years.