The Big Indie Playlist: The best new music of the week
Another week, another huge batch of new releases. From artists of all scales, sizes, sounds and levels of seniority, all tracks are considered here on the Big Indie Playlist.
For the final week of May, some of the biggest and best names came out in their droves. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds returned with the second taster of their upcoming 18th studio album, proving that artists can still evolve even decades into their careers. Elsewhere, some musicians took their very first steps into the industry as Luvcat made her debut with the instantly infectious, ‘Matador’.
In the world of hot new acts to note, there were high and low moments. Our hearts go out to Feet, who had every band’s nightmare come true when their car was broken into and their gear was stolen. They did, however release a great new track in the form of ‘Goodbye (So Long, Farewell)’. Sophie May almost ran into disaster, too, but was saved by none other than Brian Cox for a track named after the man himself.
Elsewhere, there were stand-out tracks from the likes of Emma Bradley, Annie-Dog, Honeyglaze and more. Across indie, rock, folk, alt-pop and beyond, there was greatness from all corners of the music world this week. However, with hundreds of thousands of new songs each week, it would be impossible to keep up. To help make sure no hit is missed, we’ve boiled down the best of the best into one neat playlist; all you have to do is hit play.
If it’s albums you’re after, head to our weekly Alternative Album Chart to find your new favourite record. Right here, we’re focussing on the quick hits and sharing some of the best singles released this week.
The Big Indie Playlist: the best new music of the week
Track of the week
Nick Cave – ‘Frogs’: Any Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds release is going to be big, but ‘Frogs’ feels bigger still. It feels sublime even as the group unleash one of their most life-affirming and cinematic tracks to date.
Taking everything they’ve been working towards on Skeleton Tree and Ghosteen, mixed with Cave’s musing on spirituality and gratitude from his writing and Carnage, and the result is this. As the lyrics ponder the majesty of love, the full band and orchestra swell around their leader’s messianic voice. It’s the sort of song that if you were listening to while walking around or on a bus at dusk, watching the sun slowly set all golden and pink across the sky, it would bring a tear to the eyes. With each song, it feels like the group’s capacity for beauty is only growing, leaving us excited for what’s to come on their upcoming album. [4/5]
Instant classics – The biggest new releases of the week
Orlando Weeks – ‘Good To See You’: Years on from the end of The Maccabees, Orlando Weeks has more than established his own sound. ‘Good To See You’ hears him continue to expand that into whimsical, synthy territory. [4/5]
Katy Kirby – ‘Headlights’: “The closer the God, the higher the stakes,” Kirby begins by singing on another stunning lyrical effort. Throughout the track, she’s exorcising the everyday demons of normal life, making glorious art out of common suffering. [4/5]
King Hannah – ‘New York, Let’s Do Nothing’: King Hannah settle into their murkier, more mischievous side with ‘New York, Let’s Do Nothing’, a stand out from their new album. Here, they’re turning snippets of conversations into a swirling slice of art. [4/5]
Bat For Lashes – ‘At Your Feet’: Bat For Lashes earned our album of the week crown for the beautiful The Dream Of Delphi, but ‘At Your Feet’ stands out as the most stunning of the pack. A cascading melody shows its importance for over half the track before Khan permits her choral verse to adorn the close with poignant vigour. [4.5/5]
Hiatus Kayote – ‘Love Heart Cheat Code’: Hiatus Kayote have always been a dynamic beast, evolving album by album. But they can always be relied upon for delivering high vibes and delicious energy in each track. ‘Love Heart Cheat Code’ is no different. [4/5]
On the rise – Releases to note this week
Honeyglaze – ‘Don’t’: Honeyglaze return for the first time since 2022 with this post-punk track that bubbles with a rage that threatens to boil over and scold. As the guitars finally kick in, it’s red hot. [3.5/5]
Feet – ‘Goodbye (So Long, Farewell)’: It’s been a rough week for Feet, who had all their gear nicked, which is the nightmare for any blossoming band. But on the flip side, they released a great song. That might not be much of a consolation to them, but it’s a treat for the rest of us. [4/5]
Femur – ‘Die Trying’: The darlings of the Sheffield scene return with another high-octane track that will shake off the cobwebs of the week. It’s a song that demands you dive deep into the mosh pit or at least headbang at the back. [3/5]
Sophie May – ‘Brian Cox’: Sophie May nearly got sued over this song as she tried to use a clip of Brian Cox chatting in an interview. But as the man himself came to her rescue, the sample of him speaking is merely a cherry on top of this beautiful lyrical effort. [3.5/5]
Pem – ‘Gut Health’: Something about Pem’s music seems to make the rest of the world go silent. For four minutes, you can focus on nothing but her uniquely emotive vocals and this tender new track and forget all the woes. [4/5]
Emma Bradley – ‘My Little Butterfly’: There’s maybe no feeling quite as bittersweet as growing up and growing apart from an old friend, with the distance being no one’s fault at all. Emma Bradley captures and articulates that experience with such nuance here. The sentimentality is held in perfect balance with sharp observation and the specificity of her own memories. With a hooking chorus as its wings, it floats and soars over your heart. [4/5]
Delights – ‘Two Times Over’: This indie track is so catchy you can almost taste the beer and feel the sun of a perfect festival day. It’s a track that demands to be played loud and seems to pull good memories towards it as it marches towards ‘anthem’ status. [3.5/5]
Gregory Ackerman – ‘Luckier Still’: Would it be enough to simply say “lovely” and move on? Probably not, but this new cut from Ackerman is just so lovely with its delicious blues guitar licks and sweet storytelling lyricism. [3.5/5]
Annie-Dog – ‘Fish’: After releasing her debut single in February, Annie-Dog has had us locked in ever since. ‘Fish’ is the final piece of her debut EP, continuing to expand her boldly experiential sonic world with this glitchy, textured piece. [3.5/5]
First Spin – Debut single of the week
Luvcat – ‘Matador’: After gigging around the London and Liverpool scenes for a while now, Luvcat has been the worst-kept secret of new music. But as her debut single ‘Matador’ is finally unleashed, the world is finally being let in on the might of the artist. With bratty, characterful verses that burst opening into a big, instantly hooking chorus, it’s the sort of song that you hear once and then will be singing along to all day. We know from experience… [4.5/5]
Off The Beaten Track – Left-field sounds
Keaton Henson – ‘Even’: With the release of his new album, Somnambulant Cycles, Henson is proving that emotions sometimes need no words. As each paints a sonic picture, ‘Even’ stands out as a pulse, almost living, piece amidst a full album of stunning efforts. [4/5]
Metronomy, Faux Real, Miki – ‘Contact High’: How can you even describe this track? The simplest way would be to say that ‘Contact High’ is packed with incredible, infectious vibes. As the catchy indie of Metronomy meets the alt-pop power of the hot new duo Faux Real, the addition of French and English lyrics makes for a busy but hooking release. [4/5]
Lau Ro – ‘Ensolarade’: Brighton by way of Brazil, Lau Ro combines the musical energy of the two. It has the psychedelic, folky sounds that rule the roost over by the seaside but the glorious rhythms that Brazilians dominate. [4/5]
