Hi there, here’s another wonderful week of song recommendations for you below that also feature on our much longer Essential Music Playlist (see Spotify link) 3 and a 1/2 hours of new tunes! So, here’s a curated roundup of what we think are the best new releases worth your time, as always focussing on emerging and forward-moving artists.

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Eels “Cap In Hand”

Mark Everett. E. The King Eel returns ahead of the bands new album Cookie Happened. This is a bouncy song that’s lyrically and vocally bruised and defeated. Exactly what you want from the band staring down the release of their sixteenth album. Of course there’s humour too but it’s tempered and even poignant now as it reflects on life gone by.

Penelope Trappes “Thou Art Mortal (Julia Holter Rework)”

Julia Holter transforms Penelope Trappes’ haunting meditation from A Requiem into something even more spectral, stretching its shadows into luminous new shapes. “Thou Art Mortal” drifts between dream and disappearance. It’s a mesmerising reimagining that slowly pulls apart the original in ways that feels infinite and yet intimate at the same time.

Lily Seabird “Election Day”

There’s a quiet profundity in everyday uncertainty here, pairing Seabird’s compelling vocal range between country tinged confession and squalling emotional precision. It’s beautifully observed reflection and it’s also shot through with anxiety and hope.

Arab Strap “Fighting For You”

Aiden and Malcolm continue to fly the flag for indie slowcore and post rock layered with dense, darkly poetic epithets. It’s a sadly realistic look at Britain now, clinging to fictitious past glories, a country divided and broken at the hands of the richest. There’s an eager riffing guitar blaring throughout and the whole song’s hurrying off the end of the cliff.

Ebbb “Side On”

Ebbb continue to blur the boundaries between industrial tension and dancefloor propulsion. “Side On” floats but is densely layered. Textures and grooves simmer with intensity and then fall away, combining into a thrillingly unpredictable track that feels completely absorbing

Sweeping Promises “Cocoon”

This song crackles with nervy urgency and energy. Angular rhythms collide with irresistible refrains. This is tightly would and exhilarating post-punk with melody that rushes by and buzzes in your ears long after it ends.

Haringey Medium Wave “Shy”

This is a track new to me but released a little while ago. Named like a fictional or nostalgic pirate AM/Medium Wave radio station broadcasting out of North London. Heavily leaning into 80s synth textures, lo-fi filters, and static hiss. It builds in the latter half and that’s what grabbed us!

The Fall “30 Degrees”

Mark E. Smith died in 2018, very sadly. He was The Fall. Guaranteed this music wouldn’t sound like this, if it even saw the light of day, were he still alive. That said the sound is initially bold and droney, before the tweedly dee happy sounding chorus anyway. It’s great to hear his voice, not so much the garbled slurring bits, the brighter Mark moments. There’s an album – Post Script – due out soon if you want to listen to more.

Basht. “Keira Knightley”

With wiry guitars, sharp-eyed lyricism and a knowing sense of humour, “Keira Knightley” captures the restless energy of Basht.’s modern indie rock. They balance swagger, noise and vulnerability beautifully, delivering a song that’s hooky and feels disarmingly human.