IT'S ALL INDIE

January may be the bleakest part of the year: full of post-Christmas dejection, wet and windy weather, sometimes snow and ice, and in 2016, the devastating loss of some of the world’s most innovative geniuses. With the bleak days of winter in mind, many would argue that it is the perfect month for a Daughter resurgence. Debut If You Leave went hand-in-hand with a permeating dark, fragile, and ghostly nature about the arrangements. However, despite the obvious continuation of the underlying sense of sadness, the subtlety and serenity of the first album is not brought through to 2016. Rather, new album Not To Disappear is much bigger; bringing with it extra dynamism and ambition. Nestling away after touring their 2013 debut, the indie folk trio have certainly taken their time about this, their second and superior record. Whilst cleverly maintaining the gripping melancholy and gossamer constructions that we fell in love with, the band have pushed away from the “frozen hearts” Elena Tonra ...

Barndancer releases the debut single, "Open Season"

Hailing from York, England, singer-songwriter Barny Skinner debuts his solo project Barndancer with the strong alternative rock single "Open Season." ... a brilliantly raw and honest lo-fi debut, seamlessly blending jangly indie nostalgia with warm Americana vibes. The single is also the lead track from his upcoming debut album, and I honestly find this track rather brilliant considering it is a debut offering. He is a DIY artist, and you can easily hear that in the track, but not in a way that makes it sound terrible. It's in a way that makes it sound raw and honest, with his vocals especially sounding almost fragile in places, but backed up with a strong backline of instrumentation. It almost reminds me of Pavement in places and those lo-fi rock bands from the late 90s and early 2000s, with a sense of upbeat optimism bubbling away underneath it all. It's perfectly layered, with a smattering of subgenres flowing throughout it, featuring jangly sounds that remind me...

Conchis shares the cinematic new single, "Under Your Feathers"

Helsinki-based artist Conchis delivers a haunting blend of alternative pop and sizzling textures on "Under Your Feathers". The new song is her second of the year, following on from the June release, "Streetlights". ... a hauntingly atmospheric synth-pop gem that proves Finnish music goes way beyond metal. The track is a stunning example of cinematic vocals and celestial moments that help to make it incredibly atmospheric and ethereal. At its core, it's rather dark, but with the balance of violin strings and the main vocals, it really helps to bring it all together in a night-and-day kind of vibe. The track was written during a period of illness and carries an unusual sense of tension between hope and fear. This new song is a perfect gateway into her sound and is a wonderful example of how strong the music scene is in Finland. It's not just about metal; there are plenty of awesome acts bubbling away within the scene. Be sure to listen intently during the last...

Untold Jukebox reveals the retro new cut, "Rehnskiölds Fraustadt Strategy"

Based in Lund, Sweden, Untold Jukebox takes an impressively unusual route into AOR, with the artist blending 18th-century military history with the smooth, polished sounds of late-70s and 80s West Coast rock. ... a nostalgic, soulful AOR journey packed with smooth vocals and 70s-inspired grooves. "Rehnskiölds Fraustadt Strategy" is a six-and-a-half-minute-long track with some breezy 70s and 80s tones that almost remind me of Dire Straits in places. I also loved how smooth the vocals were and how this felt like a step back in time for me, as I grew up with this kind of music in the mid-90s whilst sitting in the back of my parents' car. With influences from Eagles, Lionel Richie and Little River Band, there's no denying that this song is very much written in a way that can grip your attention well within the first minute. With plenty of replayability, this is a song that is going to be stuck in your mind from the get-go, especially with that soulful chorus. If you like ...

Broken Colours return with the epic tune, "Now or Never"

Buckinghamshire's own Broken Colours return with "Now or Never". The anthemic new track is a charming example of everything this quartet is all about. It's very upbeat from the get-go and has a smattering of handclaps, festival-ready, driven guitar sounds, and catchy hooks all within the first 15 seconds. ... An explosive, festival-ready anthem bursting with infectious hooks and a powerhouse guitar solo. If you're a fan of the likes of Stereophonics, Arctic Monkeys, and bands from North London, then this is something that you're going to absolutely love. I personally loved the guitar solo at the halfway point of the track, and for me especially, that really helped solidify this song. I am an absolute sucker for anthemic guitar solos, so that was a stroke of genius. As you head into the final third of the track, you are just welcomed by a rush of sounds that feel like they have been written for the festival season. Want us to hear your music? Click here t...

KaiserKillers returns with their stripped-back tune, "Isolation"

Colchester's KaiserKillers are back with a new track, "Isolation". We've previously featured the outfit on this website, but what this new release showcases is a bit more on the stripped-back side of things. ... a jangly, catchy slice of acoustic-meets-punk indie driven by unmistakable British charm. One thing that instantly struck me was how jangly and fresh this track sounded, a bit more along the lines of acoustic rock, with the sounds of The Beach Boys even coming through. There's a very memorable riff within the track, but for me, the main vocals were the real draw, with an undeniably British accent clearly cutting its way deep into your mind. If you're the kind of person who loves a British accent whilst listening to music, then this lot are certainly going to be your new favourite band. Another great thing about this track is that it's under three minutes long, so there's a lot of potential for this song to be replayed over and over again, getti...

Martin Kuiper returns with the nostalgic song, "Freak On Fire"

Ruurlo-based Dutch musician Martin Kuiper brings high-octane energy with "Freak On Fire". The new single is the latest to be lifted from his album "Prison of Modesty", and is a wonderful cut that brings to you plenty from that early 90s era. ... a high-octane 90s-inspired rock anthem packed with soulful vocals, driving basslines, and an epic midpoint solo. Of course, this track is new, as it was released earlier this month, and for me, it sounds like one of Martin's strongest tracks this year. With a very upbeat sound, there are elements of indie rock, Britpop, and solid bass grooves drenched all over this track, with his anthemic vocals giving you plenty of opportunities to get stuck into the track. As previously mentioned with his music before, there is an epic guitar solo for you to feast on at the midway point. Once that passes, you are then left with a solid final third that seems to be even better than the first portion of the track. You can really hear ...

PLAYKNOW shares their nostalgic collab with Kim Rysstad, "Is It So Hard To Be Good"

Hamar-based Norwegian project PLAYKNOW is back with their second song to date, "Is It So Hard To Be Good". An incredibly cinematic track that has incredible nostalgic moments, taking you straight back to the heyday of the 1980s synth-pop scene. ... a jaw-droppingly beautiful, sax-infused synth-pop masterpiece that seamlessly wraps 80s nostalgia in sleek modern production. Featuring the warm, distinctive vocals of renowned artist Kim Rysstad, the track pairs those aforementioned textures with a vocal that feels like a warm embrace after you've had a long, hard day. The shimmering tones in this are only enhanced by the sheer level of production. Even on the first play, I was certainly wowed by how cinematic, nostalgic, atmospheric, and generally jaw-droppingly beautiful this track is. If you love some smooth saxophone on your synth-driven tracks, then this is certainly the kind of cut that you are going to be playing over and over again. Nostalgic and yet equally mo...

FAKE SUEDE shares their new tune, "Speak Up"

Based out of Los Angeles, "FAKE SUEDE" - the brainchild of Nashville-to-LA singer-songwriter Jeffrey James - has released the new cut, "Speak Up". ... a warm, soulful blend of bedroom pop and neo-soul made for sunny days and road trips. The brand new song is a great example of everything he is about. It's got gorgeous vocal hooks with plenty of warmth surrounding it, thanks to the keyboard tones and the smooth basslines. I really enjoyed the chorus, and during that point it felt like a proper summer anthem that you could play whenever the sun is shining on a hot summer's day. Also rather perfect for a road trip, might I add. I did also really appreciate how organic the track sounds, with the percussion breathing life into this incredibly soulful offering. It's got that bedroom pop undertone with a neo-soul sheen, with plenty of nostalgic vibes that will help listeners of any age to get stuck in. Let's do that: get stuck in. Give it a spin, enjoy. FAK...

Seattle Junior delivers the new single, "Long Angry Summer"

Based in Gluckstadt, United States, Seattle Junior delivers his new single, titled "Long Angry Summer". The song does not hang about and is right into the good stuff from the get-go. You hear vocals, bright percussion, and charming folk sounds seamlessly warming you up for what's to come. ... "Long Angry Summer" blends folk warmth, melodic rock, cinematic sounds and psychedelic touches into a hidden indie gem. I really enjoyed the whistling on the track before the 30-second mark and the bold guitar line that seemingly made the track take a left-hand turn into more of a melodic pop and rock song. If you are a fan of cinematic sounds, then this song has plenty of that going for it too, along with a smattering of psychedelic undertones that really help to make the track even better. With over 50,000 plays on his music to date, every release seems to get him more and more attention. Now that this new song is out, we feel like this could once again be a hidden gem w...