Each month I declare how much great new music there is, and the next month I find myself saying it again ... perhaps I should stop? On the other hand, declaring these things is one of the reasons this blog exists. May 2024 featured releases from new artists and well-established ones, too, with several new and notable albums, too. Here are my highlights (full 70+ song playlist below):
Be Charlotte - Rainbows In The Dark Deftly combining pop vibes, big electro-infused rock hooks and somehow intimate vocals, this is an interesting and rewarding listen. The CHVRCHES comparison has to be made, but Be Charlotte is more experimental, and more folk anchored. This shows huge promise ahead of the debut album 'Self Help and Fictional Doubts' which is released 21 June [Listen here.]
Ber - Whatever Forever The title track from Ber's rich, warm but hard-hitting new EP. A gorgeous evocation of nostalgic love-lorn emotion. Ber has a great knack of combining warmth and likeability with a way of pushing your heart over the edge. [Listen here.]
Dictator - Almost Famous Another stunning offering from these Scots innovators. This is a song which is firmly anchored in Dictator’s trademark emotive sound, starting subtly and quickly jumping into an energising vibe, absolutely packed with character. Only they could so deftly combine loopy synth arpeggios, indie guitars and a Hammond organ lying underneath, and top it with heart-rending vocals. [Listen here.]
Georgina Gale - Where Did You Go? Oh so gentle on the extended intro, a gentle entry of delicate vocals - this is careful and well-judged construction. A bravely long drop to silence really makes you sit up and pay attention, before the refrain hits like an energising spark and the song settles into a heart-beat like rhythm. [Listen here.]
Gracie Abrams - Risk Here, Gracie demonstrates expressive, careful, well-written and immersive songwriting. This is truly modern poetry to rival much bigger names. The tune is built on a pacey, nervy rhythm which only builds gradually, seeking to immerse more than pounce. [Listen here.]
Lauren Ann - BITE After wrong-footing you with quietly fading lo-fi beats, the true intention of this song makes itself very clear: reverb-soaked guitars pounce, then snarling vocals hit at the same time as a thundering, growling bass. This Belfast artist is keeping grunge and rock traditions alive and kicking. Photo credit (below): Jane Donnelly [Listen here.]
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Linn Koch-Emmery - For The Screens A pick from Linn's strong, multifaceted and gorgeously listenable new album, this track is a cinematic piece of musical art. [Listen here.]
Loupe - Black Beauty Race Clever, crisp and proficient, yet also emotive and a thrilling listen. This group always sound fresh and uplifting, but never lack depth or interest. [Listen here.]
Mutual Blue - Is It Too Much To Ask With reminiscent, nostalgic classic rock vibes from those twangy guitars, crisp, reverbing drums and layered vocals, Mutual Blue have somehow conjured a new classic from the archives. There's a lovely live studio sound to the production, and long sections of instrumental contribute to the epic feel. [Listen here.]
philine - your house, my house Wandering, reflective, absolutely intimate and really beautiful too. Low key alt-pop energy throughout, those ineffably filtered vocals, and a fantastically written song. This is going on my list of favourites of the year so far... [Listen here.]
Sick Love - Chill For The Summer Featuring blazing put downs, front foot beats and satisfying guitars throughout. I adore it. It's from their new album which is similarly great. [Listen here.]
Every pair of lines is a mic drop moment, and Sam sounds intense yet refreshed. Photo credit (left): Stewart Baxter [Listen here.]
Wrest - Nowhere Forever A sweeping, broad and hugely immersive song in the best traditions of this band.
This offering feels so right for now: it rises to a joyous, euphoric and cathartic climax. It's a reminder that we’re all in this together; a reminder of the healing and communal power of music. [Listen here.]
Youth Lagoon - Lucy Takes A Picture A winner of a track from an artist which stubbornly refuses to be genre-defined. I love them for that. This one is gently-lilting, subtly-baroque (without pretension) and spiralling through pop/jazz/indie rock and so much more. There are moments of twinkling piano, electro-inflected vocal effects, crisp jazz-break beats, cinematic strings ... It's all here, and it all works perfectly. [Listen here.]