The Big Indie Playlist: Curated by Goldheart
Another week has come and gone, and this one has been a scorcher.
With nothing left to do but get some tinnies and a speaker and head to the park, the end of the week also delivers a huge dose of new music to accompany that dreamy scene. We know that’s what we’ll be doing, and so we made you this, The Big Indie Playlist, so all you need to do is hit play for the week’s best releases.
This week, the up-and-comers well and truly won. Sarah Meth delivered a deliciously cinematic new track with ‘Bromance Is Dead’, while Daffo is set to accompany you on an emotional journey, unpacking the hurt of a lost friendship with ‘Dagger Song’.
If what you need is the exact opposite of angst, there’s newness for that too. Brighton’s favourite cowboys, Trip Westerns, return with more rock and roll greatness, and even Etta Marcus, usually sharing wistful numbers, leaned into something heavier.
What better way to get the best new music recommendations than by asking the people making it? This week, London’s psychedelic disco unit Goldheart took over the controls to share their own favourite new releases and what’s on their own on-repeat playlist.
Track of the week:
Sarah Meth – ‘Bromance Is Dead’: For a long time now, Sarah Meth has been one to not only watch but be fascinated by. The way she releases music so so interesting, often tethering it to bigger multimedia projects, and then sometimes, just releasing a truly gorgeous track, like this one.
‘Bromance Is Dead’ is lush and romantic while also being cutting and sharp. Capturing the feeling of being let down in cinematic depth, it’s a perfect listen for when you’re tipsy, on the way home and in your feelings. Put out alongside a re-release of ‘Sister You Said’, listen to that one too purely for the geniusly savage lyrics, “I was like a sister you said / But it seems wrong to me / To give your sister head.” [4.5/5]
Must-Hear: Curated by Goldheart
Passing the mic to London’s must-see disco unit to give us their own must-hear picks of the week.
EERA – ‘I’ll stop when I’m done’: Evocative kosmiche synths that perfectly accentuate EERA’s powerful new anthem. A catchy chorus and dream-weaving that never ceases to amaze.
Olafur Arnalds, Talos – ‘west cork, 12 feb’: Written in the process of Eoin’s final months, this song captures a devastating lament of home and childhood, holding a deeply profound euphoria just behind its last beating chords.
Silver Gore – ‘All The Good Men’: Ethan & Ava strike a gorgeous balance of loose and dreamy songwriting that brings the psych wave of 2000s bands right to the fingertips. Love the throwaway delivery of the vocals and heavy replayability.
Green Gardens – ‘Nobody Wants To Die’: A groove and chord progression that breeds addiction in me the moment it starts. Coupled with longing, heartache and lyrical content to wrench even the coldest soul, this song is truly a winner.
Geese – ‘Trinidad’: Smoky and drunk on a delicious texture, this track is like the first hit of a long-lost bong that takes you straight to the jungle and abandons you there. Cathartic and just what my weekend craves.
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – ‘Gush’: Nothing can stop me from putting Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith in every playlist I make. Listen to her vocal production and tell me differently, like fighting out of a broken cage and catching all the rusty cuts to prove that you survived.
El Michels Affair, Shintaro Sakamoto – ‘Indifference’: If a song could be made for me, this was it. Shintaro guesting on El Michels Affair is the dream of salted hope. Spoken word, flute, big backbeats and a wonky synth that flushes the corner of this song-woven pillow.
The best new music of the week:
Etta Marcus – ‘Girls Are God’s Machine’: Leaning into a rockier sound, Etta Marcus’ typical whistful sound is heavier here and ten times hookier. [4/5]
Green Gardens – ‘Nobody Wants To Die’: Green Gardens’ second album, Thistlesifting, is shaping up to be something gorgeous. With each teaser, the band unveil new layers and new depths, and this new one is full of fascinating textures. [4/5]
Leith Ross – ‘Stay’: With a voice that just hits right at the heart, Leith Ross could move a listener to tears just by singing a shopping list, but with lyrics this moving too, there’s no holding the waterworks back. [3/5]
Dodie – ‘I Feel Bad For You, Dave’: As she announces her second album, Dodie reminds the world of her compositional prowess and knack for luxurious melodies and sounds paired with storytelling and witty lyrics. [4/5]
9Million – ‘Forever Sweet Sweet Same’: Set to support Ethel Cain on her upcoming tour, 9Million’s new album is as cinematic as you’d expect from Cain’s favourite band. [3.5/5]
Trip Westerns – ‘Alive’: This one is a lot of fun. Brighton’s own cowboys are back, and the pure rock-and-roll energy is infectious. [3.5/5]
Daffo – ‘Dagger Song’: The opening guitar on this track is so thick and angsty that you’re instantly intoxicated. From then, ‘Dagger Song’ dives into tricky dynamics and poignant hurt with lyrical sharpness. [4/5]
Sofia and the Antoinettes – ‘Overwhelming Fear’: “There’s no beautiful way to try to say ‘I feel alone'”. One line and you’re hooked into this devastating track sung so angelically. [4.5/5]
Off the beaten track: Left-field sounds, curated by Ben Forrest
The Kevin Fingier Collective – ‘Comin’ Home Baby’: A new floorfiller enters the world thanks to Argentinian producer Kevin Fingier. This Acid Jazz-released single offers a fresh new take on the mod jazz standard ‘Comin’ Home Baby’, blending its old-school jazz styling with the infectious rhythms of Latin and Afro-Cuban influences to create something which cannot help but get you moving. [5/5]
Jeb Loy Nichols – ‘Step In’: Wyoming-born, Wales-based songwriter Jeb Loy Nichols exercises the comforting quality of his soulful storytelling on this new single, produced and backed by Cold Diamond & Mink, the house band of Finland’s infallible label, Timmion Records. [4.5/5]
El Michels Affair – ‘Say Goodbye’: Another masterful release from Big Crown Records, this time from Leon Michels’ outfit El Michels Affair, alongside Ghanian vocalist Florence Adooni. With a particularly compelling funky bassline and the brilliance of Adooni’s feature, what is there not to like? [4.5/5]
Lady Wray – ‘Hard Times’: Big Crown Records continue to gear up for the release of Lady Wray’s upcoming record, Cover Girl, with ‘Hard Times’ marking the sixth single release from the album. Taking its cues from circa-1970s soul and disco, Wray’s voice suits the danceable groove of the single perfectly. Roll on late September for the full album release. [4/5]
Johnny Burgos – ‘Look At You’: Cambridge-based LRK Records harks back to the golden age of lush, soulful heartbreak anthems with this newly unveiled single from Johnny Burgos, the second to be taken from his new record due out in Autumn. A blending of retro styling and neo-soul sensibilities, the single is sure to resonate with any lonely hearts out there. [3/5]
