Florence + The Machine - King
A meditation on womanhood, family, femininity and the subverting of gender expectations, King is a glorious surprise return from Florence + The Machine. Unforgettable even on its first play, by the time this slow-burning, empowering anthem takes off towards the heavens in its second half is everything we could have hoped for and a thousand times more.
Mura Masa (with Lil Uzi Vert, PinkPantheress & Shygirl) - bbycakes
As big and as hot as it gets to kick off this weeks playlist with, bbycakes sees Mura Masa take the 3 Of A Kind UK Garage classic to meld it into something completely different with the help of some stellar guests. Ridiculously catchy, it is the sound of all our pop futures colliding at once.
July Jones - Girls Can Do Anything
An electropop anthem that speaks of female equality, the hotly tipped July Jones has hit the mark here again. Written out of frustration at underrepresentation in the music industry, it combines a searing commentary on the world with a turbocharged pop banger quality.
Bob Vylan - Health Is Wealth
The complete opposite to what you might have expected, Health Is Wealth is a world away from the fierce grime-punk sound that Bob Vylan has become famous for - sound-wise at least. A reggae-tinged blast at a economic system that prioritises wealth over health, this shows a whole other side to this week’s PRS Presents stars.
The Vaccines - Thunder Fever
Once again leaning into the same dance-pop edges of indie that Back In Love City explored, Thunder Fever is the first new music from The Vaccines of 2022. Exploring the wild feelings that falling in love can bring, it is another breath of fresh air from a band rapidly escaping the traps and pitfalls that being a long-standing indie band can bring.
The Snuts - Zuckerpunch
With its delightfully on-the-nose title, Zuckerpunch is a groove-laden punch aimed squarely at the effect of social media on today’s world. Defiantly big in sound and ambition, many more of these and The Snuts will be taking on the biggest of stages.
APRE - I Don’t Love You
Exciting times for the London duo, as I Don’t Love You walks that perfect line between huge pop-rock anthem and indie dancefloor banger. Taken from the forthcoming mixtape A001, it hits the mark perfectly for a band who have been on the road with the likes of Sam Fender and Inhaler, but now look ready to hit the big time themselves.
Devon - BULLETS
Devon returned this week with BULLETS, a track that explores feelings of betrayal and what the Forest of Dean-based DIY alt-pop dynamo described as the “stupid feeling you’re left with after someone walks all over you”. Bold and bright, this is a glorious return to the fray.
Hannah Diamond - Staring At The Ceiling
Since her Soundcloud breakout in 2013, Hannah Diamond has pretty much done it all. Her first new music since 2019’s Reflections, this is a strong reminder of what the hyper-pop princess has to offer. Gently poignant and wistful, but packed full of earworms - what a return.
Loose Articles - Chaos
“Dreams about the apocalypse, it didn’t look like this.” So say the Manchester punk bandshell, announced for a Foo Fighters support slot in the summer, on Chaos, a thrilling ride through the oncoming climate change storm. With an autumn tour to come, where they will be providing workshops for underprivileged young musicians before each show, an exciting time is coming for Loose Articles.
Sunflower Thieves - Lichtenberg Figures
A gorgeous slice of ethereally icy dream-folk from the Leeds duo, Lichtenberg Figures (named after the effect of a lightning strike) is a song about going through trauma and finding yourself stronger on the other side through its beautiful harmonies and lush orchestration.
Nick Mulvey - Star Nation
It feels like an age since Nick Mulvey’s brand of beautiful dreamy folk-pop was washing over us, so Star Nation is a more than welcome reminder of what he can do. And with a song matter all about finding answers and strength in times of crisis, it is even more welcome in this week of all weeks.
Tom A. Smith - Boltcutters
With an entire careers’ worth of experiences packed into just 17 years, Tom A. Smith is arriving on the scene like an express train from Sunderland. Part of EP1, Boltcutters, is a song ripped from the pages of a classic indie singer-songwriter songbook and will only speed things up further.
Louis Dunford - The Angel
An ode to his North London home town, The Angel, shows Louis Dunford wearing his heart on his sleeve as it casts a spotlight on the tiny details of life around him. While it might be based on the north of the capital, there’s plenty here for everyone else here too.
Barbara - A Perishing Of Cherished Things
Following on from Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard’s whimsical reworking of classic 70’s soft rock, Brighton duo Barbara take something familiar and turn it into something very 2022. Hugely entertaining, like a warm hug and hot chocolate on a windy spring day.
Rubber Oh - Nothing
Guitarist and producer for Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Sam Grant has launched Rubber Oh as a further string to his bow. A (much) quieter side project from his day job, Nothing is a deliciously mind-expanding romp through 60’s psych rock.
Static Dress - such.a.shame
Being voted Kerrang!’s Best New Band last year should tell you all you need to know about this Leeds post-hardcore band. And such.a.shame carries through on all that potential, a track with huge crossover appeal while losing none of the band’s trademark intensity. Huge.
TRAAMS - Sleeper
It’s been seven years since their last record, (there’s only been a couple of singles since), but TRAAMS seem to be lighting the touch paper on a new era here with Sleeper. Originally intended as an instrumental track before a last-minute switch up into its current form, it is a really exciting step towards the next chapter for the British trio.
Fräulein - Drag Behind
Deliriously fun and raw, this might sound deceptively simple on first listen but this bite of classic grunge hits hard like early-PJ Harvey. There is a lot to get excited about here from the Bristol band, currently hitting the road on their headline tour before a support slot with The Mysterines.
moa moa - Information
This is fantastic, a psychedelic romp through the modern online dating world that plays with all expectations of what pop music can be, and do. Following on from two other exceptional recent singles, the South London band’s impending debut EP release feels like an exciting moment of 2022.
