The Big Indie Playlist: The best new music of the week
Another week has come and gone, meaning that a new massive hoard of tens of thousands of tracks hit streaming services, with artists of all shapes, sizes and styles vying for precious ears. It would be literally impossible to hear every single song, meaning that some golden tracks end up slipping through the cracks. That’s where the Big Indie Playlist comes in.
From our team of music obsessors, each with distinct likes, dislikes and preferences, we’ve scoured the lengths and depths of the new release pile to pick out the best of the best. No matter how new or old the artist may be, whether they’re fully established or only just launching, all tracks are considered here.
This week saw a bumper crop of singles, with plenty of artists putting in their entries to soundtrack summer. Stone are still racing towards their debut album, dropping another anthemic single ready for festival fields. Picture Parlour‘s debut EP delivered hit after hit. Florence Clementine, née Flo Morrisey, made her highly anticipated return to music with a beautiful track. Elsewhere, Hinds fully embraced their mother tongue for their first fully Spanish-sung track.
In the world of up-and-comers, names like Lou Terry, Gretel, Etta Marcus, and First Day Of Spring caught our attention with tracks spanning folk, indie, rock, and shoegaze. Nell Mescal even managed to turn a musical theatre track into a stunningly cinematic indie-pop hit; trust us, you’d never guess it was made for the stage.
All placed in one playlist, all you have to do is hit play…
The best new music of the week:
Track of the week
October and the Eyes – ‘Til The End’: PJ Harvey’s swelling, seductive tension meets Patti Smith’s outright punk power on this new track from October and the Eyes. There’s no holding back here. ‘Til The End’ is a rock song on a mission to grip you and keep you there, with an infectious guitar line that spirals and dances around October’s perfect rock vocals. There’s a lot going on, but each element is balanced in a way that doesn’t need any reduction. It’s big and bold and exactly how it should be.
That probably comes from the fact that October herself has clawed back full control of the sound. Written and produced by her, the song benefits from the tunnel-visioned view. It proves her power better than any other track heard from the artist so far and is the clearest statement yet that they’re one to watch. [4.5/5]
Instant Classics – The biggest releases of the week
Hinds – ‘En Forma’: Spanish act Hinds have always been a multilingual act that dips between their mother tongue and English to delicious effect. But on their newest track, they’ve delivered their first fully Spanish offering, able to delve fully into the sunshiney, upbeat energy of the Madrid scene that made them. Even if you can’t understand, you can still enjoy it. [4/5]
Hamish Hawk – ‘Nancy Dearest’: In the build-up to his upcoming album, A Firmer Hand, ‘Nancy Dearest’ is the latest teasing offering, promising big, anthemic things are to come on the full LP. [4/5]
Picture Parlour – ‘Ronnie’: Every single track from Picture Parlour’s debut EP deserves a spot here, but ‘Ronnie’ just races ahead of the pack. Full of expert melody switches, Katherine Parlour’s best vocal performance yet and angsty lyrics that draw you right into their musical world. [4.5/5]
Florence Clementine – ‘Transformation’: It’s been a few years since the world heard from Florence Clementine, previously known as Flo Morrisey. But as she returns, ‘Transformation’ tenderly deals with the way creativity floats in and out with time, and the artist simply must be patient with themself. [4/5]
Stone – ’Queen’: As they work towards the release of their debut album, Stone deliver what could be their finest track yet. ‘Queen’ is frontman Fin Power at his anthemic best, going full Oasis on a song that could be just as timeless or anthemic as any of their greatest hits. [4/5]
Charli XCX – ‘Guess’: The deluxe tracks for Brat include an absolute meeting of the party titans as Charli XCX pairs up with New York’s favourite new indie sleaze reviver, The Dare, for this track that’s sure to be soundtracking clubs worldwide for a long time to come. [4/5]
On the rise – New releases to note
Nilufer Yanya – ‘Method Actor’: Yanya’s unique melodies and rhythms have never been as luxurious as right here. ‘Method Actor’ is another stellar addition to her discography that deserves way more attention than it gets. [4/5]
Etta Marcus – ‘Death Grips’: Following her stunning EP, The Death Of Summer & Other Promises, Etta Marcus returns with this beautifully cinematic track that bursts from folk intimacy to Bond-theme-like greatness. [4/5]
Gretel – ‘Far Out’: OK, maybe the song title grabbed our attention, but Gretel deserves it. ‘Far Out’ is a high-octane indie outing primed and ready for your summer soundtrack. [3/5]
Nell Mescal – ‘Drive’: If Mescal hadn’t revealed that this is actually a cover from a musical theatre soundtrack, no one would have guessed that it wasn’t one of her own intimate and characterful lyrical efforts. Her voice sounds better than ever as she turns the theatre into a cinematic indie track. [3/5]
Fidlar – ‘Get Off My Wave’: If you need a track to blow away the cobwebs of the working week, hit play on this. Fidlar are back to their ear-drum-shattering punk origins with what is perhaps their loudest song to date. [3/5]
Hard Life – ‘Tears’: Hard Life, formerly known as Easy Life, deal with their recent legal battles outright on their comeback single. “Give me air miles or a fair trial,” they sing, throwing a middle finger up at Easy Jet as they rise from the ashes. [3/5]
Heartworms – ‘Jacked’: Produced by Speedy Wunderground’s beloved Dan Carey, Heartworms returns with this gothic cut that combines the ‘90s electro energy of New Order with the poetic edge of PJ Harvey. A lovely mix. [3.5/5]
Bored At My Grandmas House – ‘Moving Slow’: As Clairo moves onto slower things, Bored At My Grandmas House feel primed and ready to take her crown as the new bedroom pop star to know. ‘Moving Slow’ proves that better than ever. [3/5]
First Day Of Spring – ‘You’re Blue, I’m Blue’: It’s all angst all the time for First Day Of Spring as they return with this vast track, rich with vocal layering and shoegaze-meets-grunge sounds. As a clear levelling up from their 2023 EP Fly Over Apple Blossom, their upcoming sophomore effort, Be My Hospital, promises bigger things. [4/5]
Victoria Canal – ‘June Baby’: Sunshine is bottled in this gorgeous new track from Victoria Canal, co-written with The 1975’s Ross McDonald and George Daniels. It’s the sort of song to stick in your head, but with a track this sweet, we don’t mind. [3.5/5]
Lou Terry – ‘Canyon’: With co-signs from John Cooper Clarke and Black Country, New Road, Lou Terry has won over high-flying fans. And with ‘Canyon’, he’s won us over too, thanks to his unique, jangly folk-rock. [3/5]
First Spin – debut single of the week
Cairo Station – ‘Menace’: If you said this was an early Paramore cut, we’d believe you. But it’s not. It’s the debut single from Belfast rock outfit Cairo Station, led with a vocal so strong that it should be sung out in arenas. [4/5]
Off The Beaten Track – left-field sounds
Witch – ‘Ain’t No Body’: A deliciously unexpected cover of the Chaka Khan classic from Zamrock progenitors, Witch, with help from Theresa Ng’ambi and Hanna Tembo. It’s the perfect summer party song. [3.5/5]
New Regency Orchestra – ‘Mambo Herd’: Classic big band meets global sounds in the form of this London-based Afro-Cuban troupe, New Regency Orchestra. Their latest album is an expansive musical ride from start to finish, but this track is a clear stand out. [4/5]
