The Big Indie Playlist: The best new music of the week
In this one week alone, over 700,000 new tracks will be added to streaming services. Each seven-day period brings about more minutes of music than there are in a week. It would be an impossible task to hear it all, meaning that some greatness falls between the cracks. The Big Indie Playlist is here to make sure that doesn’t happen.
From artists of all shapes, sizes and genres, the Far Out team scour the length and depths of New Music Friday to cut through the noise. Delivering a must-listen list of the best new releases of the week, we’re on a mission to make sure the most interesting tracks don’t get missed.
This week saw the return of a strong cast of major players. Los Bitchos, Willie J Healey, Nilufer Yanya and more all returned, kickstarting new eras with strong opening statements. Elsewhere, up-and-comers like Human Interest, Pem and Ha Vey delivered tracks worthy of your attention.
If you’re looking for your new favourite album, head to our weekly Alternative Album Chart for the best of the long plays. But right here, we’re delivering a quick fix of the best new hits. All in one place, all you have to do is hit play.
The best new music of the week
Track of the week:
Los Bitchos – ‘La Bomba’: Los Bitchos are back! The instrumental four-piece made a glorious return this week, just in time for the (hopeful) race towards summer days. Ready to soundtrack festival fields, afternoons spent drinking in the park and all high-vibe gatherings, their energy is hypnotic as always.
With their signature merge of Western, psyche rock and international strains of cumbia sounds, ‘La Bomba’ is as addictive as ever. High-octane and genuinely hooking, Los Bitchos always nail making instrumental music that you actually want to listen to, and we’ve had this on repeat since it dropped. [4.5/5]
Instant Classics – The biggest new songs of the week
Laufey – ‘Bored’: Laufey finally shared the deluxe edition of her Grammy-winning album, Bewitched, and it seems she’s been hiding treasure. ‘Bored’ continues her legacy of merging jazz tradition with modern sentiment, writing another standard for the new era. [4.5/5]
Willie J Healey – ‘The Apple’: Willie J Healey also made a return this week with a new nostalgia-dripped track. But if his 2023 album Bunny was the 1960s, this cut has the cool swagger of the ‘70s. [4/5]
David Byrne – ‘David Byrne Does Hard Times’: Released as a special track for Record Store Day, David Byrne’s take on this Paramore track is addictive. Full of fun and not taking itself too seriously, it’ll cheer you up in an instant. [4/5]
Christine and the Queens – ‘Rentrer chez moi’: Christine and the Queens presents another cinematic and deeply moving French cut. Letting their vocals lead in this ballad, it’s a moment of genuine beauty. [4/5]
Ezra Collective – ‘Ajala’: The Mercury award winners are back with their first track since their victory, and it’s a great one. Another song to part the clouds and coax the sun out, their blend of jazz and afrobeats is moreish. [4/5]
On The Rise – The new songs you need to hear this week
Nilufer Yanya – ‘Like I Say (I Runaway)’: This new one from Nilufer Yanya is a clear reminder that she’s an exciting talent to be keeping an eye on. Wading into rockier territory with a PJ Harvey feel, it’s a toe-tapper and a head-banger. [4/5]
Ha Vey – ‘Angel! Wild! Superstar!’: Ha Vey’s merge of pure folk tradition with indie-pop sensibilities is hooking as her angelic vocals soar and dance over the instrumentals. This is main character music. [3/5]
Amanda Bergman – ‘Cities’: Bergman’s music always exists in a vividly cinematic world and this new track is no different. Produced to perfection and sharing another amazing vocal take from the singer, what is there to not like? [4/5]
Porij – ‘Don’t Talk To Me’: Porij delivered their long-awaited debut album, Teething, this week with this track being a clear standout. As they exist somewhere between the club and the studio, making alternative music with a distinct dance flavour, ‘Don’t Talk To Me’ would play at the moodiest rave ever. [3.5/5]
Femur – ‘Watch Me, Watch You’: Sheffield’s psyche rock staples have delivered another rage. As a cornerstone to the scene for years, it’s clear that the band are on a real mission to spread their wings beyond the steel city now. And with this huge track, it shouldn’t be too difficult. [4/5]
Fat Dog – ‘Running’: Fat Dog had a strange entry to music as they were being heralded as the Next Big Thing without even having a song out. But with each single, they’re proving their worth. ‘Running’ is another energetic effort with the air of a Prodigy classic. [3/5]
Pem – ‘Grips’: A hauntingly beautiful track, Pem will make your brain shut up for a second as you surrender to her stunning vocals. Poetic, tender and rooted in real folk tradition, it’s lush. [4/5]
Sham Family – ‘Community Service’: One to blow the cobwebs away, this new cut from Sham Family is high octane from start to finish. Never letting up for a second, it’s a rip-roaring punk tour. [3.5/5]
Pearl Charles – ‘Smoke In The Limousine’: Imagine the tight harmonies and foolproof melodies of the early Beatles, merging with the trippy air of the late-stage band. That’s what Pearl Charles seems to have been going for here and it works a treat. [3/5]
Fraulein – ‘Pruning’: Fraulein get better, bigger and more interesting with each new release it seems. ‘Pruning’ is packed full of gripping and interesting melodies as the band make good old-fashioned rock music with a genuine fresh air to it. [4/5]
Human Interest – ‘Shapeshifting’: One of the most exciting acts in the East London music scene, Human Interest’s rock duets are deliciously textured. ‘Shapeshifting’ welcomes a new era for the band, but with the same high quality. [3.5/5]
Vanity Fairy – ‘Top Of The Pops’: This is a marmite track that you’ll either love or hate. With the maximalist energy of ABBA meets the Bee Gees, it’s a campy little number that gets stuck in your head either way. [3/5]
First Spin – Debut single of the week
Imogen and the Knife – ‘Mother Of God’: This track came out two weeks back, so we’re a little late to the band wagon but certainly glad to be here. This opening statement from Imogen and the Knife is razor sharp, full of building tension, seductive spirit and lovely textural details. We’re hooked in. [4/5]
Off The Beaten Track – Left-field cuts and global sounds
Soundwalk Collective + Patti Smith – ‘Pasolini’: The sound art collective have returned to their extended collaboration with Patti Smith for another unique soundscape, nestling a beautiful spoken word piece from the punk poet. Dedicated to the Italian poet and director, Pier Paolo Pasolini, it’s an incredible ode to an important figure from another one. [3.5/5]
Yu Ching – ‘The Song Of The Summer’: Taiwan-based artist Yuching Huang’s new album The Crystal Hum is well worth a start-to-finish listen, but this atmospheric number is a clear standout. With so many layers all delicately placed and perfectly balanced, the merge of shoegaze, grunge, garage and the classic ballad is uniquely haunting. [3.5/5]
