Fazerdaze - Zero SCS

New music for me but in reality coming up to two years old is this little wonder: Zero by New Zealand based Fazerdaze. From their 2014 self-titled EP which seems to have gone largely under-rated, Zero comes with a melodic garage tinged guitar line which is offset with the straight up angelic and subduedness of the lead vocals. It takes till the chorus for me to understand how well these two sounds work so well together and help craft a great track. Judging from the SoundCloud hits they are getting, their fan base is ever increasing alongside my excitement for the hopefully soon to be released LP. Enjoy!

Wichita Recordings - July Podcast SCS

This initially may seem like a grab bag of tracks and a bit of an easy way out instead of picking just one standout song, but after you listen to this months release of the Wichita Recordings Podcast you will hopefully realise it is so much more. They pack the best of the best tracks from their signed artists like the immense cover of The Night done by Frankie & The Heartstrings, Globelamp, Fidlar and many more plus a great little interview with the talented Meg Bairdwhich inspired me to hear more of her work (incredible). It was also really satisfying to hear a bit of Los Campesinos again before their imminent album release. So if you can spare an hour, give this a listen. Enjoy!

Wesley Fuller - Melvista SCS

Following the relaunch of 1965 Records last year, they have quite the selection of talent on their roster, amongst others: Coves, Black Peaches and one Mr Wesley Fuller. His track Melvista may not be the newest of the new music (a few months old or something) but it is a damn fine song and that is why I have chosen to share it. Straight outta Melbourne, Wesley has made a crackin' pop rock single which I think shows signs of great quality music to come. Make sure to check his Soundcloud on the regular for updates. Enjoy!

Weaves - Coo Coo SCS

This week so far has been a bit of a fun one for me, a few great shifts at work and last night I had a brilliant time watching Bruce Springsteen on his The River tour with my old papa. It may have rained the entire time but the music shone through (boy that sounds cliché when I hear it) And another layer of icing on the cake is this beauty of a track by Toronto 4 piece Weaves. Coo Coo is about as wacky and crazy as the title suggests, quirky vocals and lyrical content with the controlled madness that is the guitar, drums and other electronic effects. They are coming to the UK in June and supporting Beach Slang in Manchester so definitely check them out if you get the chance, I sure will. Enjoy!

Modern Pleasure - Messina SCS

This new Modern Pleasure track has got summer festival vibes written all over it. Messina which was released by the Leeds 5 piece just a few days ago is full of jangly guitars and breezy vocals that are perfect for a June afternoon sitting on the sunny grass at Isle Of Wight festival (or wherever) with a cold fruity little number in your hand. Alternatively it is great to listen to sitting at home on a miserable tuesday day and just dreaming of a warmer climate....either or. Enjoy!

IYESAYA - Monster SCS

This song totally surprised me when I was going through my SC feed the other day. Monster by IYESAYA is such a unique and brilliant take on song-writing and lyricism, in my head he has created a niche genre to call his own. Occasionally in my head I try to compare songs or artists to other similar people to have something of a reference point (which I know can diminish from the artist themselves) but he has a such a strong individual sound that it sort of expanded my previously child sized mind, *queue Explosion sound effect* The track is definitely powerful and has the raw quality that I seemingly always bang on about and I am looking forward to more great tracks from the kid. Download his track and more great music at the Art Is Hard Records website artishardrecords.limitedrun.com and enjoy the song below!

E S T R O N S - Drop SCS

SoundCloud Song

Estrons are back in a big way with Drop. Back as in 5 months of quiet since Make A Man was posted on their SoundCloud, so more just a short period of time. Anyway Drop has everything I loved from their prevoius release: thrashy, relentless guitars, constant driving drums & bass and the in your face vocals that refuse to be ignored. On top of all that, this track has an extra level of darkness similar to early Queens Of The Stone Age (maybe it is that killer bass line) that feels like a punch to the gut in the nicest way possible. These guys are destined for big things, I can see their name in big lights. Enjoy!

DICE Podcast - Episode 6 SCS

SoundCloud Song

This post I decided on not so much of a song but more a particularly interesting podcast. Specifically The DICE Podcast episode 6. In this episode, the brilliant Jen Long (below) takes the trip to Australia to go to the Laneway Festival. She talks with East India Youth, a chap from Health and one of the creators of the festival: St. Jerome. The festivals history is it started way back in 2005 and in a similar way to festivals like The Vans Warped Tour, they take the artists around to different cities each week to perform. The festival has finished for this year but by the sounds of it, it was a pretty magical time had by all. Looking at the line up I would take the trip to see Fidlar and Chvrches alone and just go where the wind takes me for the rest of the festival becasue there are so many good bands playing. Laneway currently runs mainly around Australia with spots in Detroit and Singapore but I hope great festivals like this get the support they deserve and continue to get better and better. Amazing podcast which I hope you take the time to listen to. Enjoy!

Bleached - Sour Candy SCS

SoundCloud Song

Just over 3 weeks to go till we all get the brilliant gift of an LP full of new Bleached tracks. Until then, this appetiser of 'Sour Candy' will hold us all off perfectly. I have been a dedicated fan of these guys since first hearing their initial album and EPs way back in 2013ish. They know how to cut the line of dreamy pop rock backed with a punk base, be that lyrics, ethos, just a spiritual feeling or anything that sounds less like a pretentious nobber. The track below has everything that first warmed me to the band with a slight sprinkle more grit for added catchiness. If you weren't hooked on these guys before, you will be (or should be) now. Enjoy!

The Story Of Milk Records SCS

SoundCloud Song

This week is a bit of a different hit. Not a musical track so much as a short episode posted by Double J Radio about the independent record label that is Milk Records. I extremely enjoyed this feature and how it delved a bit deeper into the Milk Records history, learning more about how the company was initially founded by Courtney Barnett and how it grew larger with getting more artists onto the label. It was also nice to here chat from Fraser and Jen (alongside Courtney Barnett) artists that are on the label. Even though they are currently not greatly large, they are one of a few labels that I hold in high reputation and am behind everything they produce. Now I am just waiting for the TV special and official hardback biography to find out even more. Enjoy!

The Joy Formidable - The Last Thing On My Mind SCS

SoundCloud Song

Yet another single from a highly anticipated album. This seems to be the time for great new releases. On this occasion it is from the rockers The Joy Formidable (or FormidaaBleh however you want to say it). The Last Thing On My Mind which is from their March release titled 'Hitch' is 6 minutes of magic. The psychedelia tinged guitar coupled with the basic complimentary rocksteady drums are a winning formula to work with the intense but beautiful vocals from Rhiannon Bryan. Other similar length tracks in this genre have at times seemed forced, dragged out and leaving me losing the will to live but this track does a brilliant job fighting my stereotype and making the longer track something to be excited in again. Enjoy!

Spookyland - God's Eyes SCS

SoundCloud Song

New release from these Sydney boys Spookyland, God's Eyes brings the downbeat stadium ready rock music to the listeners. The lyrics emphasise how even the most perfect people make mistakes every now and then, and at the end of the day it is all just part of being human. I honestly hear an Oasis like epicness to the track and can picture the crowd at a sell out show singing the verses and choruses back to the band on a beautiful summer evening. I need to make sure I get a ticket. Enjoy!

Tacocat - I Hate The Weekend SCS

SoundCloud Song

We are now well in to 2016 and what better way to banish those January blues than a song about hating the weekend. That's right, the latest track from Tacocat which comes off of their upcoming third album is about dislike for Saturday and Sunday. The reason being because they have to share it with all of the ghastly weekday workers who rain on Tacocats parade when the Friday clock out comes around. I like Tacocats charm, bouncyness and upliftingness that comes with this song and many of their other songs. I'm expecting great things from their new release in April. Enjoy!

Phoenix - Alone on Christmas Day SCS

SoundCloud Song

To keep the Christmas feeling going is this cheery number from Phoenix. As part of the guest heavy Netflix special A Very Murray Christmas with Bill Murray, Phoenix performed Alone on Christmas Day with Murray throwing in a bit of backing singing and Jason Schwartzman on the drums for extra goodness. The great thing about this track is how they spin an ultimately sad story about being alone into a happy and positive. It is a song that I would happily have as part of the Christmas playlist in the backgroung when I am tucking into my turkey and stuffing. Enjoy!

The Aquadolls - Girl Riot SCS

SoundCloud Song

This new track from The Aqua Dolls sounds so much like a lost punk rock track from an early 80's Blackhearts album it is really surprising that it was released just slightly earlier this month. With clear links to earlier genre defining sounds, it is great that The Aquadolls are bringing the sound back around for the latest generation to fall in love with all over again. I love this track because the use of catchy, short verses and repetitive without being tiresome guitar lines which makes for a song that hasn't left my head for a long time and I wouldn't want it to for the foreseeable. Plus promoting rebellion is always fun (for the right cause) Enjoy!

Green Buzzard - Hollywood SCS

SoundCloud Song

Boom! Yea this is the second post in one day, ain't no big deal. Great musical releases don't sleep so why should I. Today has been a day of blitzing my SoundCloud feed and there have been loads of great releases including this Tobias Jesso Jr cover from the Green Buzzard boys. The thing that I like the most about this version is how they up the pace of the song, making it slightly more frenzied track (compared to the slow ballad style of the original) whilst keeping the sound as a whole, lo-fi and mellow. I also think the addition of guitars really adds to the overall piece, making it more hooky. Enjoy!

Animal House - English Girls SCS

SoundCloud Song

I'm really excited to hear new music from Animal House. It has been 6 months since their last SoundCloud release and a year since the classic song Sour, so English Girls has been a new pleasant injection of goodness. The track reminds me of the great 00's rock and roll/indie tracks by artists such as The Cribs, Strokes et al, so they have clearly great influences. If their début album ends up being more of the same style, I will be one happy guy. Enjoy!

Estrons - Make A Man SCS

SoundCloud Song

I have totally fallen for this track Make A Man by Estrons. It is the bands first single released from the soon to drop EP (Whoever she was) which should be available on December the 11th. What I love about this track aside from it having all of the standard great rock'n'roll hooks and pounding guitar/drums is the vocals from lead singer Taliesyn Kallstrom. I am not certain of how old she is but she has a way of singing the lyrics that makes her seem older than her years. Like she has lived a past life and is back to recapture the best bits for us to hear. Really powerful singer. Enjoy!  

MAINLAND - Not As Cool As Me SCS

SoundCloud Song

My pick this time is the latest from NYC boys Mainland. Not As Cool As Me is a beautiful blend of guitar, drums, vocal and little flickers of what I guess to be some kind of electro keyboard thing. It gives me a scuzzy feel that I want out of all of my young rock bands whilst keeping a classic catchy sing along chorus that wont be leaving your head any time soon. Enjoy!

Seth Pettersen - Me N My Cutaway SCS

SoundCloud Song

The song that is killin' it this week is Me N My Cutaway off of the 2015 album (Sweet Reaper) by Seth Pettersen. It is one of the more fast paced and scuzzy tracks from the album which is one of the reasons it is one of my favourites. When I listen to it I am reminded of my teenage years skating through the town centre with my group of mates and being generally unruly little boys. I think I get this from the song having a cutting punk rock kinda sound with the high screeching of the guitars the style of vocal that the song is sung in.  Also the fact that it seems to fly by just leaves me wanting more. Enjoy!