Gnome – I Like It

Talk about an homage to retro 60 rock ’n’ roll…especially The Kinks!  Glorious effort here from Gnome out of Frankston,  Australia. These chaps say they recorded the I Like It EP in one day, all original songs, all in mono, contact them if you want the stereo mixes. Gnome are available on Goblin Records where you’ll also find the delightfully named, Scab Breath along with The Mudmen; Gorilla Men; Swampidelic; Luke Skywalker And The Eggs; Semon Demons and more. Thumbs up for the retro sleeve artwork.

Split Dogs – And What?

We stay in serious real rock ’n’ roll mode with Bristol’s Split Dogs. Known for their signature gut-punching, fast-paced sound, rock n rollers  have hit the ground running since the release of their self titled debut album in 2023. Split Dogs are not here to make 15 second viral videos, they’re not here to sell you a lifestyle, they’re here to destroy. Born from the frustration of seeing music become commodified and soulless, vocalist Harry Atkins and guitarist Mil Martinez had the idea to form a band as far back as 2015, with the name Split Dogs pulled from the classic zombie film ‘Return of the Living Dead’. It wasn’t until 2022 that Split Dogs officially arrived on the scene with bass player Suez Boyle joining the band in 2023. Already a prominent figure in the queer punk scene. Suez played the first ever Rebellion Festival at the tender age of 16 with her band The Walking Abortions. Chris Hugall, an old friend of Martinez and former member of ska punks Mouthwash joined the band full time as their drummer in 2024. The four-piece make a name for themselves among the punks of Bristol, a scene that has always welcomed LGBTQ+ and marginalised people. Their LP, Here To Destroy was recorded over three days, all tracks were laid straight to a 16 track reel-to-reel tape machine, no autotune, no effects pedals, no computers. “We wanted the album to have a raw bones feel,” Martinez says adding,  “We’re not beholden to the digital age, we don’t want to get famous on social media, we just want to show the world that rock’n’roll is alive and well”. 

Jasmine 4.t – Guy Fawkes Tesco Dissociation

Jasmine 4.t – You Are The Morning

This artist’s album,  You Are The Morning intrigued me so much I had to include two cuts in this volume. Trans singer-songwriter Jasmine.4.t (Jasmine Cruickshank) sings about the tangled joy, heartache, camaraderie and isolation of transfeminine life. Based in Manchester, she is the first UK signee to Saddest Factory Records. She originally considered releasing DIY, and submitted demos only to Saddest Factory Records after touring with Lucy Dacus. It was Dacus who broke the news: “Okay, I just played your demos for Phoebe [Bridgers] in the car,” Jasmine recounts. “She’s on the phone to her manager, trying to work out how she can sign you.” Jasmine combines performance with activism and uses her platform to advocate for trans rights and marginalised groups. “Being signed by Phoebe Bridgers is immediately going to open me up to a wider audience,” she says. “I take it seriously, just to be a visible trans woman role model in music, because there aren’t that many, and there should be more.” Backed by an all-trans-woman band and a label full of friends and supporters, her vivid and intimate stories cannot be overlooked. I’m impressed.

Florist – Have Heaven

Florist are Emily Sprague, Rick Spataro, Felix Walworth and Jonnie Baker who say they are a friendship project from the Catskill Mountains, now based in Brooklyn. Their excellent Jellywish LP is on the Double Whammy imprint. Make sure you check out the delightful animated video that accompanies Have Heaven. There is a genteel familiarity about the work of Florist. Yet, I’ll certainly stop short of using the well-worn label of “sounds-like”. Curiously satisfying music where I discover a little more on each listen.

Goldenstar – Sevenscore

Now we come to that debatable area of using genres such as Slowcore to describe a band’s sound. It always seems unfair to me to lump a band in with a certain genre as this can lead to dismissing a song or album if a particular genre does not appeal to you, (yes, it’s a pet peeve of mine). So, Markus Stahl, Chris Steward, Nick Castonguay, and Zac Macarthur as Goldenstar do engage a languid musical arrangement, often described as narcotic induced, although I hesitate to head in that direction with these folks from Montreal. This is an area of music that you’ve got to be good at to make it work and Goldenstar succeed flawlessly. The cool album art by Sid Maurer may indicate how seriously these people consider about their music. Goldenstar are on Lettingo Records.

Marlaena Moore – Unfaded

By coincidence we stay in Montreal to hear from Marlaena Moore with her Because You Love Everything album. It maybe me, but as Marlaena sings Unfaded there is a hint she could go on into territory I may consider clichéd. Still, as it happens she stays on course and presents a well-crafted song. I do insist you indulge in all the cuts on Marlaena’s LP, for example, Right To Your Love shows more of ghetto artist’s qualities as a songwriter and performer. This is a good ‘un.

Kercha – Chase Me

Give me couple of days and I would still not be able to catch up with the astonishing amount Dubstep releases. Here is a standout, from Russian producer, Kercha AKA Kirill Nosikov who has released a steady run of quality platters. Kercha says, “There are only a handful of those who really understand what Dubstep is. Nevertheless, across Russia, the sound is becoming popular, with many talented producers springing up”. Listen to the Chase Me EP at volume 11 in a darkened room and enough space to let your body react accordingly. Available on DNO Records.

Belum – Twins (feat. Horace Andy)

Twins is from Fleece the debut album by Belum who are Tal Eshel and Nitzan Oppenheimer hailing from Tel Aviv. Here we have reggae legend, Horace Andy best known for his wrk with Adrian Sherwood and of course Massive Attack. Andy share in the writing credits for Twins and the vocalizing duties with young English newcomer, Amalia Small. The emotive trombone is courtesy of Ariel Leykin. This is an album you must not overlook and be sure to keep a watchful eye out for Belum in the coming months.

Sacred Pools – Reflections

Producer Damian Eox & vocalist Ada Sever are Sacred Pools. I believe this duo are from Georgia, the country, not the state. Ada Sever was I understand, once in a punk type band from Tbilisi. She is also responsible for interesting artwork and the cover for their debut EP Side A. Pop on over to the Sacred Pools’ Instagram to catch a couple of short videos. Since this EP arrived on my desk a couple of days ago it has been on repeat play. That should be a prompt for you to search out Sacred Pools.

Flora Hibberd – Remote Becoming Holy

The minimalist beginning to Remote Becoming Holy captured my immediate attention. What a stunning cut. The Paris-based British songwriter uses her experience to explore the nuances of language, decoding the slippages where English and French intertwine. These linguistic intersections become moments of strange poetry, revealing hidden threads of life and deepening our understanding. Listen carefully to Hibberd’s album Swirl and discover the secret codes, non-verbal signifiers, and intricate musical layers. The artist sees Swirl as meditation on communication, particularly the transmission of songs as ephemeral, time-specific art. It’s an exploration of how music democratizes voices, capturing fleeting moments that might never occur again.

Maisie Marra – Blood In My Veins

A possible conundrum here. Is Maisie Marra Maisie Minx or Elvira Depressedly or perhaps Eve Collins on guitars, bass, keys, programming, vocals? In the sleeve notes to the EP 1991 you’ll read the following, “Maisie Marra is a work of fiction and any resemblance to real persons or events is 100% on purpose.” And, “Maisie Marra grew up in North East England. These are some songs she wrote hope you like them.” Intriguing music, so perfectly delivered. Another collection of songs that arouse searching questions. There is anguish here. Honesty and desperate love, perhaps. Another Irish singer-songwriter from years gone by was known for his sometimes revealing but often mysterious odes to love – and life. (Mr. Morrison has stepped away from allowing his emotions on display in recent years). Maisie Marra deserves your appreciation.

Dub Skankin, Juju Planet Dub – Astral Steppa (New Sitar version)

A delicious helping of Dub from Dub Skankin, Juju Planet Dub with Astral Steppa (New Sitar version) by way of  the DFTG label out of Slovakia. Two versions to aid you in a chilled journey while the world grows darker. Apologies, but after a week into the new regime it has to be paramountly clear, now more than ever we all have a responsibility to do the right thing – be nice!

The photograph is by Wendell St. Armes 1971 – 2021 “Birthday cake” 1997 Kodachrome print on poster-board 25” x 23” courtesy of Norman B’s collection