The Big Indie Playlist: The best new music of the week
Another week has passed, which means another mass of tens of thousands of songs has entered the world. Born from artists of all shapes, sizes and genres, it would be quite literally impossible to keep up. But from our team to your ears, The Big Indie Playlist is here to make sure the best of the bunch don’t slip down the cracks.
As May comes to an end, it feels like festival season is getting underway. Plenty of bands are putting in their bids for the songs that are set to soundtrack your summer. Designed to be played loud out of industrial sound systems, this week saw its fair share of utterly anthemic offerings.
The return of Amyl and the Sniffers feels primed and ready as the clearest signal yet that summer is here. Elsewhere, tracks from Lip Critic, Stone and Lice are high-octane outings ready to please the crowds. For more intimate sounds, Clairo made her long-awaited comeback, along with Katy J Pearson and her new alt-pop offering.
But beyond the big names, new artists also had a strong week. Father Arcadia entered the music industry with a strong debut, while up-and-coming names to note, like Ha Vey and Sweet Unrest, both shared beautiful love songs.
Whether it’s indie, rock, folk, pop or beyond, all songs are considered here. For a new favourite album, head to the weekly Alternative Album Chart. But for a quick hit of the best new music, simply click play.
Our track of the week:
Amyl and the Sniffers – ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’: Melbourne’s premier punk outfit have returned with a blistering new single. There is something about Amyl and the Sniffers that screams summertime. They’re a band for big, sweaty crowds with hands clapping and throats sore from screaming along. As they make their long-awaited comeback, ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ is the energy boost needed to kick start the season.
Expertly building tension with each verse, they more than deliver on the characteristic style and swagger fans have come to know and love from frontwoman Amy Taylor. As the rest of the band plays out a chugging instrumental, built to be a swelling vehicle for the vocals, this track is fantastically captivating. [4.5/5]
Instant classics – The biggest releases of the week
Clairo – ‘Sexy To Somebody’: Making her long-awaited return, Clairo’s comeback track feels like a perfect lovechild of her latest record, Sling, and her early bedroom pop works. Merging more considered, elevated details with an infectious groove, it’s an introspective banger. [4/5]
The Hives – ‘Hooked On a Feeling’: The cover version that nobody asked for but nobody is complaining about. Everybody’s favourite Swedish garage rock outfit have reimagined the Mark James pop classic, popularised by Björn Skifs, as a retro-inspired, rip-roaring punk rollercoaster ride. [3.5/5]
Katy J Pearson – ‘Those Goodbyes’: The introduction to Katy J Pearson’s new era is a bold one. For her third album, she’s gone unapologetically alt-pop for this high-production romp. [4/5]
STONE – ‘Save Me’: As they race towards the release of their debut, STONE are churning out anthem after anthem. They feel like a band tailor-made for festival season, always sounding like that kind of arms in the air, beer in hand euphoria. ‘Save Me’ is no exception. [3.5/5]
On The Rise – New music to note this week
Abby Roberts – ‘Idea Of You’: On her second EP, Obscura, Abby Roberts has well and truly found her sound; soft, seductive but with a rocky undercurrent. ‘Idea Of You’ feels expertly made as it manages to be more bedroom pop-y and unexpectedly adventurous, yet utterly polished. [4/5]
This Is Lorelei – ‘Where’s Your Love Now’: A lo-fi Bontempi-like sound provides a shortcut to indie nostalgia. This bed serves to provide an emotive backdrop to vocals so laid-back you picture them being sung while lying down on the grass. [4.5/5]
Lip Critic – ‘The Heart’: The stand-out track from Lip Critic’s newly released debut album ‘Hex Dealer’, this song is an effortlessly infectious, adrenaline-fuelled introduction to an incredibly promising new band. With a sound somewhere between Henge and Snapped Ankles, I doubt this will be the last we hear from the New York electro-punks. [4.5/5]
Pom Poko – ‘Growing Story’: Reaffirming their ability to not change the tempo and mood of a track on a sixpence, ‘Growing Story’ represents a maturing in sound for the Norwegian art-punks. Giving audiences their first glimpse at the newly announced, long-awaited third album, the track is sure to build excitement. [4/5]
LICE – ‘Red Fibres’: The first track to be taken from the upcoming record ‘Third Time At the Beach’, this single sees the Bristolian post-industrial rockers build upon their dark, brooding sound. This song will be particularly noteworthy for fans of old-school rock and roll drumming. [3.5/5]
Gaffa Tape Sandy – ‘Dead To Me’: A new release from the Brighton-based garage rock outfit, following a similar theme to their previous two singles. While the group have always remained true to their distinctive sound, it does not seem overly at risk of growing stale. [3/5]
Sweet Unrest – ‘Falling For You’: An all-out, anthemic and utterly devotional love song feels hard to come by these days. It can often feel like rock music has lost the timelessness that used to exist in its chords. But on ‘Falling For You’, London troupe Sweet Unrest seem to have written a track that feels like it will sound as perfect in 30 years as it does today and likely would have sounded as great 30 years ago. [4/5]
Ha Vay – ‘Pretty Baby’: Ha Vay makes music for witchy girls, with love spells in jars, tarot cards on the bedside and an unapologetic romantic streak. ‘Pretty Baby’ is lush with a slightly spooky edge, so it remains perfectly on brand. [3/5]
Chloe Slater – ‘Price On Fun’: Manchester-based Chloe Slater is swiftly establishing herself as a major new name to know. Her spoken word and political verses scratch your brain just right, never dipping into preachiness to instead remain anthemic and catchy. Perhaps a big singalong indie chorus is the future of protest music? [3.5/5]
First Spin – Debut single of the week
Father Arcadia – ‘Dark Star’: Sheffield locals will know Father Arcadia from his role in I Set The Sea On Fire, one of the most dynamic groups to have graced the city’s scene. But as the frontman launches into his solo efforts, ‘Dark Star’ captures the band’s ability to create huge sounds but laces it all with a more intimate edge. [3.5/5]
Off The Beaten Track – Left-field sounds
Esy Tadesse – ‘Buna’: An inventive and euphoric celebration of the Ethiopian musical tradition, spearheaded by the infallible guitar stylings of Esy Tadesse – the new identity of composer Etsegenet Mekonnen. One of two new tracks to be released ahead of her debut album ‘Ahadu’, this song has already cemented Tadesse as one to keep your eye on. [5/5]
Oruã – ‘Real Grandeza’: A hazier shade of Rio comes roaring forth from Oruã. With a down-tuned rumble, the four-piece reflect centuries of political defiance in a manner fit for a cool skateboard video. [4.5/5]
