NoNewWaveNoFun

  Perhaps it's indicative of the times that we live in. Perhaps it's indicative of our tribal need to reconnect. Perhaps it's a sign of things to come. However you frame it, that question we ask each other frequently - almost the first thing we ask - continues to remain as important to our sense of empathy as ever.  You okay?  It's a question that lurks at the centre of the new E.P from London Electro Punk duo Shelf Lives. The band are comprised of Toronto-born vocalist Sabrina Di Giulio and guitarist/producer Jonny Hillyard, who originally comes from Northampton. The pair met in London after Di Giulio came over to study Music Business at ACM Guildford ,  Hillyard had enrolled to do a Music Production course. I'd imagine one of the first things they said to each other was that very question. 📷 Zac Mahrouche Despite knowing each other for several years by this point, it wasn't until 2020 that the duo started writing music together and it seems to hav

Back once again with the ill behaviour, D for Damager, Power to the People.  That's my way of saying we have a new episode of our (soon to be) award-winning podcast to inform you about. Yeah, Episode 3 of  The Partisan Contingent is here and I can't wait for you to wrap you ears around this audio delight.  Fot those of you joining us for the first time: welcome to the madness! Let me answer a question that most bands HATE being asked - Why the name  The Partisan Contingent?  Well, I just like a good syllable combination; the meter is important y'all. Also, as passionate - often fervent - fans of music, we should unite and take over the means of the production studio before there's some sort of McCarthy-esque Muso purge.  📷 Misha Warren  Also, I just like talking out of my behind. Episode 3 is called  'Far too romantic for this band'   - for reasons that will become obvious if you listen to the bloody thing. You can listen on Spotify(above) or Mixclo

  📷 Daniel Blake As summer draws close to ending for another year and Autumn creeps it's way into our consciousness, we begin to retreat to our homes to escape the cold. Spending her time watching films and catching up with new music this time of year, Niamh Rowley took the time to listen to the new single from Scottish band SPYRES  as she battens down the hatches for the inevtibale drop in temperature around the corner. Glasgow-based four-piece SPYRES  return with new single 'The Thing' off their forthcoming EP Karaoke Sellout, due to be released on Novermber 24th. Having already released two singles off the EP already - entitled ' Money' and ' Sleep Forever' - I can't wait to see what else they have to offer.   Taking an indie pop approach to their music, the band are starting to move out of their Glasgow comfort zone and seem to be succeeding after their recent 7-date tour. With angsty vocals and kickass melodies that worm their way into your head, t

  We're back baby! Yeah, Episode 2 of The Partisan Contingent has taken a lot longer than I possibly could have imagined, but we got there in the end. You have applaud the persistance if nothing else. Let me answer a question that most bands HATE being asked - Why the name  The Partisan Contingent?  Well, I just like a good syllable combination; the meter is important y'all. Also, as passionate - often fervent - fans of music, we should unite and take over the means of the production studio before there's some sort of McCarthy-esque Muso purge.  Human Interest  (📷 Lola Stephen) Also, I just like talking out of my behind. Episode 2 is called  'Empathy and Pineapple Pizza'   for reasons that will become obvious if you listen to the bloody thing.  So what can you expect from the  The Partisan Contingent ? I've decided to make a part new music radio show, part interview, part re-occurring playlist  Frankenstein's Monster  of a Podcast wh

Legendary Punks mclusky  have today announced their first material in 19 years, with a - as yet untitled - new album to follow in 2024. The band   split up in 2004 in acrimonious circumstances with frontman Andrew Falkous  going on to form  Future of the Left  with drummer  Jack Egglestone  and former  Jarcrew  frontman  Kelson; more recently he has been releasing solo material under the guise of   Christian Fitness.  Announcing the new material with his usual sardonic wit, Falkous (aka Falco) released this statement to coincide with the band's new songs: people-persons-guys-girls-australians... here are four mclusky songs, newly recorded and flattened into shape - the first release since 2004 (you can use the calculator on your phone to find out that's nineteen years, which is the lifecycle of four haircuts). the first two songs, 'unpopular parts of a pig' and 'the digger you deep' should make the album we are releasing next year (we're hopefully finishin

  📷 Emma MacDonald The summer is nearly done and dusted for another year, but Niamh Rowley isn't letting that get her down. With the help of new single from The Velvet Hands, she's reliving it time and time again. Niamh telles us more about the London indie rockers and why ' Meet Me In The City' might just be the song of the year. Calling out to the lovers of all things' music! We have a bundle of excitement to wade through here from tours to albums and music videos; there’s no shortage of content to unpack . So, join me as I introduce you to what could possibly just be your new favourite obsession. Originally hailing from Cornwall before heading over to make a breakthrough in the London scene, The Velvet Hands are beginning to turn more than a few heads. Having dropped their second album sucker punch in February this year, The Velvet Hands aimed to please. It saw them successfully rocket their way onto festival lineups such as Truck Festival, headlining the

The notion of personal taste should be very much like this wonderous and deeply mysterious universe; ever-expanding and shifting as the agents of change take effect.  It should be, but it isn't.  Such are the limitations of the human brain, our tastes in subjective matters are often crystalised at key points in our life; rarely shifting. Evolution rewarded those could survive, not those who expanded their horizons and our brains are not wired much beyond that. Music taste is no different. We may see subtle changes over time, but research has indicated that 14 is the average age where our tastes are formed. We also tend to be drawn to personalities that we identify with. That recognition of patterns and structures that is often shared by the music we love is what keeps us coming back for more.  Hailing from Brooklyn in New York, Two-Man Giant Squid  make lucid and tight Indie Rock that flicks the switch in whatever part of my brain deals with such things. Intially starti

📷 photosbyjrd August is a slow time for releases - with festival season well underway - it's perhaps understandable that the industry comes out of promotional mode. There are several releases however that find their way of grabbing the attention this time of year, despite the slowing down of the process.   One such release is the new in the flesh E.P from Manchester-based artist Nxdia, who moved the U.K as a child after being born and growing up initially in Egypt. Their early memories growing up in Cairo are of living near to a cinema, which provided early inspiration to their storytelling skills. A love of drawing and poetry gave them further creative influence and it's clear we're dealing with a multi-talented artist here. We got Niamh Rowley to take a listen to the E.P and share these thoughts.   Releasing a six track EP this month Nxdia provides numerous nods to their Egyptian-Sudanese heritage by including lyrics in both English and Arabic. With beautifu

Being the non-religious type, I hasten to use the word 'pilgrimage' to explain what a visit to Glasgow means, but for me it seems the necessary noun. I've never been to Glasgow, in fact I've never made it to Scotland before - such is the cities' influence on indie culture - it's long overdue. So where better to go and see an indie pop festival paying homage to the music that flourished here more than most other places?  Glas-Goes Pop is the second edition of the festival, after last year saw the likes of Close Lobsters, The June Brides, Mozart Estate and Rachel Love grace the most unlikely of stages. Amongst the campus and surrounding buildings of Glasgow Uni is the GUU Debates Chamber; a building that has graced some of Scotland's brightest minds deep in intellectual conflict since the 19th Century. It has long been speculated that J.K Rowling  modelled parts of Hogwarts on Glasgow and this opulent building could certainly be the ideal host to some form