The Big Indie Playlist: The best new releases of the week
Another week has come and gone. For anyone in the UK, it was a teasing week where spring seemed to appear and then retreat back into its cave. But hey, at least there is new music to lift the spirits as we try to coax the sun back out again. All the best gathered into one place, welcome back to the Big Indie Playlist.
This week has a big week for comebacks. Haim made their return, getting fans excited for what they’ve declared to be a ‘Haim girl summer’. Alexandra Savior also made her long-awaited return with a gorgeous new track reminding the world of her vocal and lyrical power. In the world of independent talent, too, Sheffield’s I Set The Sea On Fire released their first new track since 2019, and it was worth the wait.
But across all genres, from gentle folk to raging punk, there is new greatness to be heard. Eliza Niemi continues to be as charming as ever while Jacob Alon continues on their run of truly beautiful folk. Lucy Dacus is keeping excitement high for her upcoming record, while Chappell Roan finally gave the people what they want as she released queer country anthem, ‘The Giver’.
It was also a big week for great albums. If it’s a new favourite record you’re after, you can find all the best LP releases of the week in our weekly Alternative Album Chart. But that’s not our business here. On the Big Indie Playlist, we’re delivering a fix of the best singles and songs.
The best new music of the week
Track of the week:
Bon Iver and Danielle Haim – ‘If Only I Could Wait’: This week marked the start of what is being deemed a ‘Haim Girl Summer’ as the trio of sisters returned. However, in the same week, Danielle Haim offered up something else too.
Collaborating with Bon Iver, this track shows Danielle in such a different light. Pausing on the all-out sunny indie, the influence of Justin Vernon’s singularly recognisable sound and his more experimental edge makes for something really interesting. While worlds different from her own band’s new song, this isn’t one to be skipped. [4/5]
Instant Classics – The biggest new releases of the week
Haim – ‘Relationships’: Returning with their first new music in a few years, Haim are back to reclaim their crowns as indie’s finest. This is so endlessly catchy and yet feels so effortless despite being so fun and instrumentally rich. [4/5]
Chappell Roan – ‘The Giver’: It’s finally here. After ‘Good Luck Babe’ shot Roan to a whole new level of fame, she’s back with her first song since the blow-up, and it’s a good one. A cowboy country track for lesbians – it’s as campy as you’d expect. [4/5]
Lucy Dacus – ‘Talk’: Lucy Dacus is yet to put even a toe out of place in the build-up to her upcoming new album later this year. Each new track has been golden and ‘Talk’ is no different, offering up something more sombre and moody. [4/5]
Marianne Faithfull – ‘Burning Moonlight’: A post-humous EP from Marianne Faithfull was announced this week with this gorgeous track as the first taste of it. A deeply emotional listen but one beautifully reflective of her talent. [4/5]
Lauren Mayberry and Joe Talbot – ‘Sorry Etc Etc’: Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry teamed up with Idles’ singer to reimagine one of the tracks from her 2024 solo album into something altogether more high-octane. Had a bad week? Get your rage out with this one. [3.5/5]
Alexandra Savior – ‘Unforgiveable’: Alexandra Savior returns and the whole indie crowd cheers. It’s been a long wait, but ‘Unforgiveable’ is more than worth it as Savior’s talent is back and sharper than ever. [4/5]
Must-Hear – New releases to note this week
Eliza Niemi – ‘DM BF’: There is something so infectiously and gorgeously charming about Eliza Niemi’s music. Lately, she’s been making that more certain than ever with some of her best tracks to date and ‘DM BF’ is no different. [3.5/5]
The Man The Myth The Meatslab – ‘Infinite’: If you like your music to make you feel wistful, The Man The Myth The Meatslab should be on your radar. ‘Infinite’ sounds like an old, folky Bon Iver cut and somehow makes the enduring cold weather feel better. [3.5/5]
Cleopatrick – ‘Heatdeath’: Cleopatrick only needed one song to hook you into their album as ‘Heatdeath’ is a gorgeous opener, nailing the interplay between softness and impact. [3.5/5]
Fin JSP – ‘Truth Be Told’: The frontman of Stone is going it alone. While in the band, Fin Power is giving it his all as the ultimate frontman, here, he’s softer as he transforms into a folk star and pulls it off. [3/5]
Oslo Twins – ‘Tresor’: The whole of Oslo Twins’ new EP is worthy of a listen, and its title track makes that obvious. Like a manifesto for an alternative society, it feels like the soundtrack for a film we’d want to watch. [3/5]
Florence Road – ‘Heavy’: After emerging from a shed in Wicklow when their TikTok blew up, Florence Road are one of those perfect examples of talent being spotted and nurtured. Lily Aron’s vocals have the making to take them to greatness, and they’re on full display here. [3.5/5]
Lando Manning – ‘Pray For The Priest’: The perfect coming together of a gorgeous voice and a moody instrumental, Lando Manning is moving away from his earlier folk form into something altogether more dreamy here. [3.5/5]
Yaang – ‘Speed McQueen’: Need something to blow the cobwebs of the week away? Look no further than this Manchester synth-punk. Their whole EP will help shake you back to life, but ‘Speed McQueen’ is a stand-out that demands to be played loud. [3/5]
Whitehorse – ‘Doesn’t Come Close’: Rising from the ashes of the now dead The Blinders, singer Thomas Haywood is back with a new band and a new song. It’s great. Clearly refreshed from the overdone polish that dogged his last band, this opening number is simple but better that way. [3.5/5]
Jacob Alon – ‘Don’t Fall Asleep’: The beauty of Jacob Alon’s music is so visceral that it stops you in your tracks. With only four songs out, each one is as good as the last and ‘Don’t Fall Asleep’ sets a new gold standard. [4/5]
Tamara and the Dreams – ‘Successful Bisexual’: “I want to be a successful bisexual”, don’t we all. While Chappell Roan feds the lesbians this week, Tamara and the Dreams are delivering a new anthem for the bisexuals to use as a manifestation song. [3.5/5]
Independent Spirit – The best unsigned track of the week
I Set The Sea On Fire – ‘Blunderbuss’: It has been too long since the world heard from one of Sheffield’s finest. Way back in 2016, the band released Sleep Now Suburbia, a truly great eclectic indie record. They followed it up with a few singles but then, in 2019, disappeared.
Finally making their return, ‘Blunderbuss’ feels like the powerful fruition of those years away, rebooting their creativity. Another track designed to be played loud to blow the cobwebs away, it keeps all the fun and instrumental nuance the band had before while putting it into hyperdrive on the punk side. [4/5]
