New Year Round Up (Part 3)

Yep, the good stuff from last year keeps on coming…

This time, we begin with Flesh from post-punk duo Chastity, a chaotic, antagonistic and downright eerie single released way back in October.

Cut Worms (a.k.a. Max Clarke) shared Song of the Highest Tower, a seven minute track that combines a poignant, nostalgic Americana with classic Roy Orbison style licks.

At the other end of the musical spectrum is the violent, post-hardcore squall of Big Heet’s slow burning anthem Failure At Work.

Taking their influences from NEU and Faust, as well as the space rock of Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized, Swedish Kraut-Rock three-piece Norma released a timely ode to seasonal affective disorder and inner demons of all kinds on their new single S.A.D.

Feed is a rock band from Seattle, WA. With fuzz pedals set to melted, phasers are wide and slimey, and amps that are cookin’, listen to blistering first single, Different Life.

Apparently Neko Case’s track Deep Red Bells is about a about a serial killer that stalked the Northwest. On his version of the track Mark Erelli gives the vocal a appropriately sinister edge…

The Good Graces is an indie-folk collective based in Atlanta, GA formed in 2007 by singer-songwriter Kim Ware, whose plaintive, utterly appealing drawl of a voice grounds each song with raw honesty and homespun warmth. Listen to The First Girl from The Hummingbird EP.

Oklahoma band, Helen Kelter Skelter release their sophomore full-length, Melter next week. With vintage organ flourishes over frenetic bass lines, vocals delivered with glam rock swagger over subtle and intricate guitar work, deep in the mix, droning loops, and pulsing beats it promises to be a cracker. Listen to lead-off single Minding.

We loved Breakfast Muff’s track R U A Feminist which almost made it into our end of year lists. Clam is another excellent track from the uncompromising Glasgow DIY pop trio, who all switch between guitar, bass and drums in a cacophony of anxiety, celebration and creativity.

Lastly we have Future Tense from Daddy Lion. It nods its head to the classic new wave and the indie rock sound of the 90s, a la REM and Bob Mould.