Listening To This Week Playlist 1 December

 

29 songs this week  Diverse as always, whilst not forgetting what our strengths are. 

The weekly playlist is largely for submissions, not just the usual stuff that we dig out ourselves. The song order is not about song preference, but how the playlist flows.  All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about the artists who appear here. 

Le Corbeau - Black Lightning In The Eyelid's Shade

Sweet Nobody - Making It Right

Pantomime Horses - Everyone's A Ghost

Lone Wolf - High All The Time

The Legal Matters - Everybody Knows

Hand Gestures - Why Try

Dodgy - Hello Beautiful

Ojahara - The Days. 

Vanilla.6 - LAST DANCE

Doing Juliet - W**

Doing Juliet · W**

Hospital Radio - L.A.

Hospital Radio. · L.A.

Livingmore - Away Away Away

Train Conductor - Sad Man In The Moon

Sunshine Lust - Mellow Blue

Sunshine Lust · Mellow Blue

Ted Morris - Wrong To Be Right

Mercy Kelly - Out In The Night

The Notwist - X-Ray

The Empty Page - When We Gonna Run?

SilverHorizon - Going Too Fast

Wesley David - Silent Rides

Alex Hellcat - Kids From Broken Homes

Jeremy & The Harlequins - Thunderbolt

Neil Soiland - Think It Twice

T. G. Shand - Levitating The Knife

T. G. Shand · Levitating The Knife

Bikini Test Failure - When Your Heart's Not In It Anymore

Video Store - Sleepless

Pocket Lint - It's Very Relaxing

Pocket Lint · It's Very Relaxing

First Day Of Spring - PARTYZEIT!

Invisible Joe & The Mushroom Gorilla - Fate

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December Calls

 

Bailey is our lurcher and like anyone who has a dog will tell you, he has an hilarious personality. The trouble is, he is frightened of his own shadow and so has been the mean reason that nowhere near as much as was needed has been posted here in November. He celebrates his 6th birthday on Tuesday.

November in the UK means dark nights and constant Fireworks. I have no problem with people celebrating Bonfire Night. Letting Fireworks off on 5 November or organised displays at the weekend are all part of the tradition. 

Trouble is, that there are idiots who let them off at all times of night for three weeks. Bailey's bionic hearing means he spends most of the month shaking and being consoled which means less time can be spent here.

That has to be remedied because the popular Best Albums Of The Year in early January only contains albums that we have reviewed and there is a backlog. So the catching up begins in earnest after tomorrow's Listening To This Week playlist. It is an absolute corker and was completely overwhelming to prepare. 

So much so that we are well on the way with the following week's offering. I've said it before, but the popularity of here gobsmacks me. It was set up as a small thing to react against those who said all new music was rubbish.

Likewise, Listening To This Week was started as a platform for singles and has gone ballistic. As our name suggested, we didn't intend to cover individual songs, but so many great songs that didn't appear on albums or EPs were getting missed. Our focus though as always remains on Album Reviews.

So as we approach our 10th Anniversary next year (something special is planned), it is remarkable that November's posts had over 125,000 views. We are not over celebratory, quite the reverse, we like to remain in the shadows and let the music speak for us. But there is something satisfying in showing critics of new music to be completely wrong.

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The Chemistry Set and Custard Flux

 

We don't normally write about single songs. The Listening To This Week Playlist handles the sounds and time constraints mean writing is dedicated to Albums and EPs. However, we make an exception for these videos. It is a one off we are not becoming MTV, although it would probably be VH1 if we were that way inclined.

With our love of Psych Pop, we had to tell you about them. On 15 December, the magnificent Fruits de Mer label release a limited coloured 7 Inch Double A Side from The Chemistry Set. The pair go all UK Beat on The Magic Fridge Magnet, but the Psych Pop takes over on STP. The songs are as hypnotic as ever. You can find further details of both songs and 7 Inch purchase details here.

Custard Flux - The Floating Chamber

Our adoration of Curvey's Custard Flux followed on from our fanboy tendencies with The Luck Of Eden Hall. Custard Flux mix Psych with Prog, but allow the melody and catchiness to flow. The Floating Chamber is the closing track on the splendid Enter Xenon album. It isn't that often that we get a Custard Flux video. Here is all 12 minutes of it.

You can read our review of the album here. You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download.

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Lone Wolf - Dark Thoughts

 

Rotterdam quartet have a great back catalogue and Dark Thoughts may be their best album yet.  It sounds a little, dare I say it, Pop Rock at times, although that would be Rocked up Pop Rock. I hope I don't upset a band noted for being Punk.

They still have their Indie Punk credentials, most notably on Rip It Apart, Take Me Outta Here and Silence. But they are so damn melodic. The album is beautifully produced and arranged and in the days of drenching Indie and Punk in distortion, the instrumental track is sonically perfect.

Songs are built on massive riffs, Guitars at 11 and a rhythm section absolutely locked in, wonderfully so. They are also such catchy affairs that you find yourself singing along whilst shaking your fist furiously. Dark Thoughts is a real album to find release in.

People have compared them to Garbage, but they are far superior. None of the posing and preening, much more about the song and far more accessible. Newcomers may prefer to start with the likes of High All The Time with that cracking Intro Riff or the cranked up New Wave of I Don't Wanna Fight. 

But in truth, any of these 11 songs could be embedded. Lone Wolf don't come up for Air and you don't want them to. Any of the 10 songs could be embedded, but I've chosen my 3 faves. Inexcusably loud, but a real gripping listen, this is top notch. It is a long time since I've been to a Punk Festival, but Manchester in April sorely tests me.

You can listen to and buy the download here. You can buy it on Vinyl or CD from the label Stardumb Records in Europe here. In the UK here. In the US here. In Australia here.

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Hand Gestures - Hand Gestures

 

Brooklyn 5 piece, Hand Gestures have released a debut album that crosses genres, but remains a superb listen. It is extremely jaunty and contains some wonderful arrangements whilst moving across the musical spectrum. A little Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da at times.

The feel good factor and the life affirming arrangements make the album such a great listen. You might call the results Pop Rock, but there is Guitar Pop, Classic Rock, Indie Rock and much more on show. The mellow vocal betrays the pure joy of what is inside.

If You're Watching is very near Americana with a wonderful Organ sound. Stephanie Told You sounds a little Paul Simon, again beautifully arranged. Stuck Like This goes all Country, yet Indication Signs is much rockier. 

The Summer Pop sound of Why Try is totally engaging, but Blacked Out is like a cross between Sharp Pins and Wilco. The album is bookended by two singles, both very different. Closer, Label The Labelmaker is a brooding almost Folk song packed with words.

Once It Starts To Kick In is a crackerjack of a song. An all together now sort of thing that adds a surprise new wave synth run. The whole album though is special. Laidback, but drawing you in, splendidly produced, arranged and written.

 

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl and as a download.

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Tigers & Flies - Expanded Play.

 

At the beginning of September, we reviewed the Smashing Scene EP here. Until recently, it has been at the top of our 10 most read posts, unheard of here for such a new band. Those 4 tracks have had another 4 songs added now on the Expanded Play.

I love 'em. It is the type of Angular Intelligent Indie that I adore. Left field unexpected arrangements with the addition of Brass. It is an intoxicating mix. I mentioned at the time that they reminded me of early versions of four bands.

Early XTC, particularly the Angular Guitar and Rhythm, there is a real Colin Moulding feel from the Bass Playing. Early Blur, vocally and lyrically. The Sugarplastic, production and arrangement wise and The Futureheads for the vibe.

The four additions are just as top notch as those on the EP. Talent oozes from this Manchester Five Piece and they seem to be having such fun. At times, a Talking Heads without the stern faces. I can't wait for the next chapter.

You can buy the album here and listen to the four songs from the EP. You can listen to the whole album on You Tube here. The album is available on Vinyl and as a download.

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Them Elephants - Quattro

 

I'm a big fan of Alex Charlow's Them Elephants project. We've covered the previous two albums, Come Calling actually featured in the Best 100 Albums Of 2024 and now we have a new one and it is a splendid listen.

Come Calling offered great genre variety and was our introduction to Charlie's talent. Sugar concentrated more on Indie Rock and Guitar Pop, now Quatrto goes full on West Coast Power Pop. It wasn't debatable that the man could play and write great Pop songs, but this highlights the strength of vocals,

This is full on Power Pop, built on killer riffs, big choruses and big harmony vocals. These vocals underline what a great Pop Rock affair this is. The riffs hook you and then you get an unexpected killer heavier solo. It works perfectly.

Calculated may be the song of the year, Power Pop goodness with a Beach Boys style harmony take. Give Or Take is very early Weezer with a side order of 80s New Wave synth. Satellite is part Club Anthem, part Electro Pop, very different to what else is on display.

The majority here though is Power Pop joy. Right Way is the 80s US Version, Have Some Fun is slightly Slacker, slightly Surf and Where We Go is all vocal harmony. Get Out My Way is anthemic Pop. Four albums in now and not a duff song on any.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Joint Pains - Ouch

 

Typing in Joint Pains on your search site will probably bring up tons of advice on how to manage your pain. No Pain listening to this. This trio are from Newcastle in Australia and they specialise in high energy Indie Rock, evolving a sort of Power Trio.

I hear a lot of this type of stuff that follows a formula, but these three are different. That energy and the out of ordinary riffs that they come up make Ouch! a really interesting listen. Those riffs allow entry to different genres. There is a great guitar sound.

The intro and guitar sound on Submarine sound very Alex Lifeson and they even add a Geddy Lee type keyboard run. Yet, Sandra Dee gets more 90s Rock, but is still jaunty rather than how Po Faced that genre can be.

Sweet Tooth is more Pop Punk, all pace and none of that robotic vocal nonsense.  You've heard Everything Considered on the current Listening To This Week Playlist. That sounds a s great here and is one of two slightly longer songs. The other being Something To Say which steps wonderfully well into Modern Prog.

This is a beautifully put together album. At times, the trio sound like a Rockier Feeder with certainly more variety. The three are interlocked musically and happily Rock you without getting in your face. A cracking listen, I can't wait to hear more from them.

You can listen to and buy the album at a bargain price here.

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Listening To This Week Playlist 24 November

 

26 songs this week  Diverse as always, whilst not forgetting what our strengths are. The rest of the month will be about Album Reviews. I can't believe December is around the corner. This week also confirms the end of our 8 month trial with Spotify.

We have never been admirers of the platform, but tried it to aid artists. However, we see constant subscription rises for users with none of this money going to the type of artists we cover. We are also very Anti how AI dedicated Spotify has become. Many of the songs on the playlist will be on Spotify, so if you are a fan and want to listen there you can head over there.

The weekly playlist is largely for submissions, not just the usual stuff that we dig out ourselves. The song order is not about song preference, but how the playlist flows.  All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about the artists who appear here. 

Swive - Headlights

Them Elephants - Calculated

The Salt Collective - Waiting For The End Of Time (Feat. Jason Falkner)

Reno Bo - Undefeated

Joint Pains - Everything Considered

The James Rocket - Even Our Closest Friends Are Distant

Factheory - Bird Of Time (Feat. Michael Sordinia)

Certain Things - Holiday

Certain Things · Holiday

Horse Chops - Salt In The Baltic

Little King - Catch And Release

Haysop - Give All That You Can

Linear Television - Stay Strong

Nadi - PSYKANIKO

Gee Whiz - Mr Dinosaur

Mister Zach - Me And My Shadow

Donovan's Brain - Not A Home

Melvic Centre - First To Know

Tired Of Fighting - Death Wish

Archi Deep - Violent Storms

Pierce Alexander - Esmerelda

The Chemistry Set - STP

The Spitters - Don't Be Stupid

The New Tigers - Off The Wall

Smear - L.A. Chess

White Noise Lovers - Feedback Romance

Caitlin & Brent - Pleasure In The Pain 

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Sharp Pins - Balloon Balloon Balloon

 

Sharp Pins is the solo project of Lifeguard's Kai Slater. This third album is the Chicago Starlet's follow up to the wonderful Radio DDR (review here). The new album is very different to the last. Radio DDR was a kind of statement from someone who wanted to be Doug Gillard's grandson.

Balloon Balloon Balloon is like a collection of earlier demos, it isn't, but sounds like it should be. That shouldn't put you off because there are a thousand ideas here, but they are incredibly lo-fi, it appears deliberately so.

The main question should be, how can someone so young have all this musical history in his head. He is an incredible talent. I mentioned in the previous review of a likeness at times to Rick Corcoran's Orgone Box and some of these songs do sound like Orgone Box demos.

But there is also an adept take on 60s Beat Pop and Jangle Pop. Some of the songs could easily be from the 60s, but then Fall In Love Again could be The La's. In A While (You'll Be Mine) is ace Psych Pop of the highest order.

Takes So Long mixes UK Beat with UK New Wave, Maria Don't even sounds like a Lennon Demo and Crown Of Thorns gets very Cleaners From Venus. Queen Of Globes and Mirrors is more Jangly and even starts with a Hard Days Night opening chord.

(I Wanna) Be Your Girl still sounds wonderful and remains an Orgone Box doppelgänger, but although these may come across as ideas, just listen to the quality of the songs. Kai Slater belies his years and I can't wait for what comes next from his multiple projects.

You can listen to and buy the album here. UK buyers should also support  the likes of Norman Records (here) who do such a fantastic job supporting the physical releases that we love. The album is available on Vinyl, CD, Cassette and as a download.

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The Webstirs - High Up In The Trees

 

There is a point when Pop Rock and Indie Rock meet when the results are just spot on. Chicago's The Webstirs reach that place with their second. You might term the album Pop Rock, but it is much more than that and the five piece have the energy and gusto of a much younger Indie Rock band.

In a way, they are veterans. Preston Pisellni and Mark Winkler are joined  by The Redwalls' Jordan Kozer, The Slugs' Gregg Juhlin and Doug Bobenhouse from our beloved The Sun Sawed In 1/2. At times, the feel is Rocked up Power Pop, at others, a little more AOR, but they also show they can be whatever they want to be.

You'll have heard When It's Gone on a recent Listening To This Week Playlist and it still sounds as great here. There is an ability to change direction in the one song, Roulette being the best example, a song that sounds like Andrew Gold fronting a crack band.

Throw Away is Rockabilly at a furious pace. Reached An Understanding matches 80s IRS with 90s College Rock with added vocal harmony and a mouth organ solo. King Of Distortion is top notch UK New Wave built around a killer riff.

The Guy For You heads towards Rock and Roll territory. Dancing In The Sky is ace Power Pop with a vocal akin to Dave Edmunds. Here We Stood is a little Cheap Trick with another killer riff of which there are many.

High Up In The Trees is a beautifully produced album. Wonderfully loud and without the distortion that digital mixes can provide. The Webstirs have it made, the Guitar kids may get it, the Power Pop crowd certainly and the Dad Rockers can show they are hip. A splendid listen!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Jumbo Chords - Throw Away (Buy Another One)

 

We covered Jumbo Chords debut album, 2023's Saturday Night, Sunday Morning. It made our 100 Best Albums Of The Year. You can read the review here. Since then they have been regularly releasing singles and at last we have the follow up album.

I love them. I think many know that our forte is Intelligent Indie, but throw in Psych Pop, Indie Rock, a touch of 90s Indie, Brit Pop and variety and I melt. Four of the singles have appeared on Listening To This Week Playlists, not out of favouritism, but because of the ultra consistency that the band come up with.

This Leeds quartet are largely a collaboration of friends from 90s band and if I look at all the Indie that I fall for, these seem to throw in bits of all. At times they can be like West Coast Music Club and the vocal is similarly laconic, but they add a simplicity mixed with some wonderful harmonies.

The mellotron on All I Want is hypnotic, a very 60s sounding affair. Sleep is 6 minutes of magnificence, it just overwhelms you, drags you in. The vocal is part Guy Garvey, part Danny McNamara. Rollercoaster is jaunty 80s Jangle Pop.

Dennis Wilson, as you might imagine, is great West Coast Pop Rock, beautifully arranged both instrumentally and vocally. Twilight offers up my beloved Psych Pop with a riff that just sticks in your head and adds a solo that mesmerises. Very 60s in feel.

Throw Away (Buy Another One) adds a social message in the style of UK Beat. The whole album is a great listen. Deliciously Lo-Fi as is the current trend. Inventive and laidback, the songs are allowed the space to breathe whilst gently gnawing at your musical brain.

You can buy the CD here and here. You can listen to the album here and on other Streaming Sites that I avoid.

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The Medium - Sports EP

 

Quite a few mine 70s Pop Rock, but few do it as splendidly as Nashville's The Medium on this short, but incredibly sweet 4 Track EP. It does sound very Retro and is a nod to American Boyhood and the connection that Sport provides to it.

We've Got A Winner is wonderfully mellow, very 10CC, but with a slight Psych Pop feel. It demonstrates the joy that the genre brings. The Guitar solo fits those years perfectly, essentially Piano Pop and very smooth. A really easy listen.

Me And My Glove is fine Bubblegum Pop and is like a jaunt though a Monkees show, trumpets, easy listening and a slight raiding of the Instrument cupboard. A jaunty march through Smalltown America, you don't get to see the marching band and cheerleaders.

Feel The Dream is very Andrew Gold with almost Barrel Piano with a Sports commentary part way through, which is probably obligatory. Tap your feet, swing your pants, sing along and marvel at the joy. An Easy Listening joy of an EP.

You can listen to and buy the EP here.

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Eye Eye

Just taking a break for a couple of days after a second eye Op. It is nice not looking at screens. Both are now done and dusted, so I can stop walking into doors and see everything that you are all up to. Back tomorrow evening and cracking on through the rest of the week. There is a lot to Review.

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Listening To This Week Playlist 17 November

 

28 songs this week  Another example of how we can be eclectic and yet serve what we are known for. That is the value of independence. No one tells us what to cover and we don't march to anyone's tune. We support the new artists that we like and hope that you'll like them too. Our growth was in the time before we gave Spotify a try. We will delete the Spotify account at the end of the month.

This week is the last of our dalliance with Spotify which has lasted around 8 months. It was included solely for the artists and have come to realise that no artist that no Artist that we traditionally cover benefits from that platform.  Great music falls down a big black hole. Spotify is not about new music, nor Indie, it is solely about the dollars. It also doesn't distinguish what is AI.

The weekly playlist is largely for submissions, not just the usual stuff that we dig out ourselves. The song order is not about song preference, but how the playlist flows.  All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about the artists who appear here. 

The Spotify Version  (3 songs are not on the Spotify Version)

Link To Spotify

Buddie - Antartica, 2005

Log Flume - Get The Picture

The Wind Ups - Ants On The Table

Credits - thiscityisadeathtrap

credits · thiscityisadeathtrap

The Family Club - Mushie Season

Norman Bisley And The Trousers Of Satan - Being Beastly To Terence

Endless Talking - Waste My Time

Drew Friel - High Class Fugitives (Don't Spin The Wheel)

The Lucky Shots - Jump Start

The Whips - Together In Agony

My Life As A Moth - Time Thief

Ms. Cool - Beacon

Cynthia Sadler · Beacon

Cashell - Said And Done

Me & Munich - Drainings Of Your Tree

Me & Munich · Drainings Of Your Tree

Soft On Crime - Summer Fix (Not On Spotify)

The Successful Failures - Guts

Your New Parents - Gone For The Holidays

I Love My Friends - Ginny Starpepper And The Great White Gibbon

Unburnt Green - Skies Of The Tatacoa

Mark Tovey · Skies of the Tatacoa - Unburnt Green (Debut single – 14 Nov)

Failed Auditing - I'm Not Sure If I'm A Loser Or A Modern-Day Philosopher  (Not On Spotify)

Strange Men - Under The Compass Rose (Not On Spotify)

Thief Motif - Bones

Sam Wood - Comfortably Falling (Reimagined)

WEREME - August

Idle Ray - Airport

Phil Bonanno - No Direction (Revisited)

Clamsterdam - Solitary Song

Hollow Star - Seconds

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Winterpills - This Is How We Dance.

 

Our connection with Winterpills has been throughout the two decades of their career. In fact, it goes beyond that to Price's The Maggies with their ace Power Pop.  I personally think Philip Price is a musical genius. Mick covered his career to 2019 in a lengthy interview here. 

Nine years on, it is as though they have never been away. The five piece are in outstanding condition. Superb songwriting, wonderful arrangements and a sustained laidback gentleness that id totally affecting. Proof that you don't have to blow the bloody doors off to be completely engaging. 

Hi is a song that just completely draws you in, the combined vocal of Price and Flora Reed matches perfectly in a song that is essentially Acoustic Folk, but very affecting. How We Dance reveals that the band are not the ethereal.

It is much more Pop Rock, built around a killer riff that bursts into something more Psych Pop without ever losing sight of the song. Black Fly continues that Pop Rock, a little Fleetwood Mac in places, Price and Reed become Buckingham and Nicks.

I Am The Defect is darker, almost gentle Psych Folk, mesmerising and haunting. Predelugian is almost Americana until the chorus which gets a little Fleetwood Mac again, Tusk this time adding wonderful wistful Guitar.

It really is great to have them back. I can think of no other band that can draw you in so well. This Is How We Dance is an atmospheric joy revealing a band totally connected and at ease with itself. Please please don't make it nine years to the next one. Splendid stuff!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download.

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Citrus Citrus - In The Belly Of The Eternal Draw

 

Citrus Citrus are a five piece from Padua, Italy and the review of this wondrous album is a testament to why we value our utter independence. We can cover what we want, when we want, no genre holds us back if we like it and think you will.

It is fairly well known that I adore both Prog and Psych, but I only ever introduce it when I think that you will get why. In The Belly Of The Eternal Draw is a master of the hypnotic and the melodic. Beautifully arranged and played, it travels in many directions with inventive arrangements that can change throughout any particular song.

I understand why the mention of Prog can put people off, some bands do get wanky and many that are lauded, especially King Gizzard, appear more mellow Pop Rock or release three albums a year that gives the impression of a lack of quality control, plenty to be fair is.

This lot are the real thing. These songs are soundscapes, but don't fall into the trap of being too long. The band are not frightened of showing their influences, but largely stick to originality. The whole album is totally engaging. I've picked two selections, but this is an album to be listened to in one go. Dispatch your prejudices and have your musical mind nourished.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download.

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