Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions. All entries in alphabetical order.
The Conspiracy ‘Dungeness’
EP (Metal Postcard Records) 23rd November 2025
The Conspiracy are back with another fine EP of post-punk art rock; a band that are as British as watching cricket on a summer’s day. The Fall, The Kinks, The Only Ones are all lovingly stroked and warped into a mesmerising shuffle of old man’s fancy. This is the sound of modern-day England as seen through the eyes of middle-aged men who can remember when rock ‘n’ roll had a meaning and need to the young, and soundtracked young rebellion, and was not just something they streamed from their phone as they nip down to Nando’s to ignore their friends as they watch videos on tic tok together but apart.
I Am Hands ‘Lastings’
Single 5th December 2025
This is the debut single by I Am Hands and it is no hands, feet and bumps a daisy but a lovely sail down the river of peaceful tranquillity, a song of the supreme confidence of knowing that your supreme confidence has never been painted in such a blue shade of subtly. It really is a rather lovely track that fans of the first Trembling Blue Stars album might clutch to their cardigan encrusted breast.
The Last Sound ‘All That’s Missed’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) 28th November 2025
This is the sound of candy filled sugar pop, the kind that you might see on Top Of The Pops in the glory madness days of the 80s when Strawberry Switchblade seductively swooned from your transistor radio and pop could be both wonky and bliss like and whisper sweet nothings into your ear like an ethereal Green Gartside. All That’s Missed is an album that really is not to be missed. It’s yet another off-kilter pop wonder released by Cruel Nature Records, a label that certainly specialises in releasing off-kilter pop and or just plainly the off-kilter.
The Lounge Bar Orchestra ‘E.N.D.A.N.G.E.R.M.E.N.T. & The Room of Wrong Reflections’ Album (Self-Release) 26th November 2025
E.N.D.A.N.G.E.R.M.E.N.T. & The Room of Wrong Reflections is a collection of the tracks that made two-vinyl only releases on The Heavens Lathe label. The Lounge Bar Orchestra, who I have written about a number of times in the past, make a magical concoction of easy listening splenditude. The sort of thing one may hear on old sixties spy thrillers or takes you back to the golden age of seventies tv: you can easily imagine Bruce Forsyth willing on contestants on The Generation Game as they attempt to mold a mug in the shape of Anthea’s backside as “The Girl with Golden Hips Plays”.
Once again, The Lounge Bar Orchestra magically transports me back in an aural time machine to the days of Texan chocolate bars, Saturday night bath time, and watching Cilla duet with Marc Bolan as my dad eagerly awaits Starsky And Hutch and Match Of The Day. Yet again The Lounge Bar Orchestra proving why music is the most magical of all arts.
The New Tigers ‘Off The Wall/Butterfly’
Single (Soliti) 21st November 2025
These two tracks are a catchy foray into indie rock/pop, sounding not unlike The Bluetones with just a hint of what Teenage Fanclub might have produced during their heyday. All semi fuzz guitars and delightful melodies, and there is nothing wrong with that, let me tell you.
Origami Horses ‘Scenes’
EP (Metal Postcard Records) Released 23rd November 2025
I do not know if this EP was released to prove that post punk, garage rock, prog and psych can be melded into a hardy brew of rock ‘n’ roll finery. If not, it should have been as in fact that is what this EP is; one wonderful sparkling concoction of all the aforementioned, and track two, ‘Access Denied’, is an eight-minute gem that proves the point, and really needs to be heard by all, and takes one back to those hot summers days in 1989 when Madchester ruled the airwaves. The Scenes is another gem to be added to the aural crown that is the criminally ignored Metal Postcard Records label.
Sir Robert Orange Peel ‘A Man Dressed Up’
Single (Metal Postcard Records) Released 22nd November 2025
‘A Man Dressed Up’ is a beautiful Christmas symphony of seeing the magical time of the year through children’s eyes. A track filled with memories and nostalgia and an innocence to life that we all at one point in our life will lose. The perfect song to soundtrack sipping a sherry and watching the Christmas lights reflect from the baubles hanging from the tree and wishing you or your kids were young again.
Toxic Chicken ‘Quirky & Perky’
Album (Earthrid) 7th November 2025
Toxic Chicken is insanely brilliant and brilliantly insane. And Quirky & Perky is a fine introduction to his crazy world.
TC takes dance electronica and game music to new and unexplored levels of madness, and quite wonderfully tuneful melodious instrumental shenanigans are oozed from one’s speakers.
I would love Toxic Chicken to have made an album with Jim Morrison as for some reason his keyboard skills had me thinking this is what The Doors may have sounded like if they were brought up with the Game Boy and not the blues. A truly great fun listen.
Vlimmer ‘Hintersommer’
Album (Blackjack Illuminist Records) Released 21st November 2025
Ah yes, Vlimmer is back to offer all those lovers of Gothic Euro disco with a hint of post punk synth shoegazery a new Vlimmer of light. Those who’ve never tasted such a shot of pulverising gothic industrial tuneage since members of Fields Of The Nephilim, Smashing Orange and Depeche Mode were chased through the streets of a rain paved Wigan by an angry mob of spotty faced chavs on undersized bikes all holding out for sponsorship by the North Face clothing company whilst waving knocked off vapes into the air like an ancient Greek Olympian wielding his flaming torch. Yes indeed, Deliveroo has never witnessed such a wave of free advertising.
Hintersommer gets around the snag of being sung in German by both Vlimmer being German and myself not really giving a fuck as the tunes are blissfully dark and encouraging enough to imagine that what he is singing about is a worthy subject. So yes, an album I entrust will soon be in the collections of all you old and young goths who still roam this earth.
For those that can or wish to, the Monolith Cocktail has a Ko-fi account: the micro-donation site. I hate to ask, but if you do appreciate what the Monolith Cocktail does then you can shout us a coffee or two through this platform.
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions. All entries in alphabetical order.
Joel Cusumano ‘Waxworld’
Album (Dandyboy Records) 24th October 2025
I like this album. I was expecting the typical power pop tuneful bombast, which it does to a certain extent have, but with a slightly tattered heart that at times reminds me of what Blondie might have sounded like if they were fronted by Pete Perrett instead of the lovely Debbie – especially on “Through A Darkened Glass“. Waxworld is an entirely enjoyable listening experience, one I would recommend to all those power pop aficionados out there, as Joel Cusumano performs like he is Joel Cusumano and not a stars in the eyes Mathew Sweet.
John Howard ‘Kid In A Big World (The Prof Stone Remaster)’
Album (Think Like A Key Records) Released back in August 2025
Autumn is upon us and is the perfect season to discover or even rediscover this 50-year-old classic debut from one of Britain’s finest hidden treasures. Yes, John Howard‘s excellent debut has been remastered by Prof Stone, available from Think Like A Key Records Bandcamp as a download only.
Do I need to pontificate about the magic of this much written about debut. Probably not, but I will anyway. If Elton John was as good as people think he is, he would sound like this album. And John does not feel the need to sing in a phoney American accent or share Dame Edna’s stylist. Why he never made it as a chart regular and enlightened the screens of Saturday night tv in the seventies can only really be put down to the homophobia that existed in the 70’s especially in the upper offices of The BBC and as John never felt the need to hide the fact that he was gay (as Elton wisely career wise did).
Kid In A Big World is a wonderful record and should a hold a place both in all music lovers record collections and hearts … and if I was Amazon or Spotify or Youtube I would say if you enjoyed this album you might enjoy Hunky Dory, or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road or Year Of The Cat. And it deserves mentioning in the same breath.
The Legendary Ten Seconds ‘Ricardian Churchward’
Album – Released 2nd October 2025
I love Musical British Eccentrics (it takes one to know, so they say), and here we have a wham doozy of a release by The Legendary Ten Seconds. Imagine if you will, that Julian Cope had not taken drugs and only read Horrible Histories books and was influenced by The Monochrome Set, then he could well have made this album.
This is the kind of album that could one day (if enough people get to hear this gem of a release) become a bit of a cult classic. For it is a fine collection of psych folk Medieval indie-pop (is there such a thing). The only bad thing I can say about this release is that it’s not available as a CD, as it is one that I would happily add to my collection.
Legless Trials ‘American Russ Never Sleeps’
Single (Metal Postcard Records) Released 13th September 2025
More post punk glory from the Legless Trials. American Russ Never Sleeps pt 1 and pt2 is two tracks of Public Image Ltd styled smooth discord with an air of dubby splendour and chaotic lyricism that once again pokes holes into the flimsy facade of shittery that currently engulfs the world: like a bedtime story read to you by Michael Myers.
Picniclunch ‘snaxbandwitches’
Album – Released 13th October 2025
snaxbandwitches is an album of supreme post punk noisery, experimental fun and undoubtedly surprisingly tuneful. Think the Fall, early Pavement, Morphine (the band not the drug) and early Talking Heads but only if they had been in the pub since opening time and David Byrne had been replaced with someone less annoying.
This is the sound of the true alternative; the sound of a band who would not use a Rickenbaker guitar but an old Woolworths copy battered and played through a borrowed amp. Yes, this is the true spirit of the garage band; the true spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. This is a band who should join forces with The Legless Crabs and do a double headline tour of all the dives in America, and influence the current American underground. If I had a record label, I would sign them up.
Edward Rogers ‘Astor Place’
Album – Released 10th October 2025
I love warm sounding timeless, slightly unusual sounding pop albums and Astor Place is an unusual sounding pop album. Unusual in its joyful mash of psychedelia and rose tinged eloquent nostalgia, at times sounding like a true English gentleman narrating over a backdrop of a huge love-in from ‘67 and believe it or not, sadly it’s not ‘67 and that’s what is so unusual about this album that it would not sound out of place if it was, but not in a retro way just in its feeling and atmosphere, screaming guitars and cucumber sandwiches is it seems a match made in heaven. Hippy heaven even.
If Noel Coward made a psych album, I believe this is what it may have sounded like. And me being a huge Noel Coward fan and a lover of the whole fairytale of the summer of ‘67 I love it. He also name checks Tommy Steele in the lyrics, which for me makes this album slightly more fabulous than it already is.
Smash Palace ‘87’
Album – Released 10th October 2025
87 was supposed to be the second album from Smash Palace in 1987, but their label Epic dropped them before they got around to recording it and releasing it. So, what we have here is a strange beast: 5 of the songs have been rerecorded by the original band and the other five songs are the original studio demos recorded in the 80s. The five freshly recorded songs are bright and chirpy covered with an old MTV sheen, with guitars that jangle and guitars that strut like they are going out on a date with Keith Richards; songs, at times, that remind me of The Hoodoo Gurus and the Smithereens and other bands from the 80s of that ilk – the kind of bands VJ’S with mullets would introduce wearing shiny leather jackets and being all hip to go.
The other five are the real deal from the 80s recordings, not as shiny and bright but have the advantage or disadvantage, depending on how you feel about 80s major label production values, of having the atmosphere of that strange decade. The five 80s tracks one can imagine not being out of place on the Pretty In Pink soundtrack or The Breakfast Club or The Lost Boys…yes indeed, an album to soundtrack Molly Ringwald looking gorgeous.
Striped Bananas ‘Eternity Forest’
Album – Released 3rd October 2025
I always imagine that the married couple that make up the Striped Bananas live in a thatched cottage just outside some enchanted forest in upper Connecticut and spend their time weaving magic. For their music has a fairytale cartoon quality to its Psychedelia; it’s as if Lou and Nico had discovered and became addicted to candyfloss instead of Heroin.
Eternity Forest is a joyful beatastic trip of wonder and delight, an album full of melody, invention and fun; an album where guitars, Hammond organs and Theremin weave together to make one heavenly cartoon album of pure adventure. It’s like going on a daytrip to the fairground with the Banana Splits while having a playlist made up of Buffalo Springfield, The June Brides, The Velvet Underground the Archies and Strawberry Alarm Clock playing in transit. As the Beach Boys once eloquently put it: “it’s Fun Fun Fun”.
Vexations ‘A Dream Unhealthy’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) 17th October 2025
Vexations could well be your new favourite band. “A Dream Unhealthy” is a rather impressive beast of an album, five tracks of pure post psychedelic rock n roll, off kilter as hell and probably as hot, with almost spoken screamed vocals surfing on an explosion of noise frenzy. This album is worth hearing for the drumming alone, which is not to say that everything else about the band is not as equally as wonderful. They produce such a cavalcade of cavernous hypnotic spine-tingling beat poetry.
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea and the Shea family house band, the Bordellos, have a new single out on Metal Postcard Records this month called ‘The Village People In Disguise‘.
If you’ve enjoyed this selection, the writing, or been led down a rabbit hole into new musical terrains of aural pleasure, and if you can, then you can now show your appreciation by keeping the Monolith Cocktail afloat by donating via Ko-Fi.
For the last 15 years both me and the MC team have featured and supported music, musicians and labels we love across genres from around the world: ones that we think you’ll want to know about. No content on the site is paid for or sponsored, and we only feature artists we have genuine respect for /love or interest in. If you enjoy our reviews (and we often write long, thoughtful ones), found a new artist you admire or if we have featured you or artists you represent and would like to say thanks or show support, than you can now buy us a coffee or donate via https://ko-fi.com/monolithcocktail
Our Daily Bread 646: Alien Eyelid, Eamon The Destroyer, Frog, Pelts…
September 15, 2025
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions. All entries in alphabetical order.
Alien Eyelid ‘Vinegar Hill’
Album (Tall Texan) 5th September 2025
Psychedelic country-soul is a rather beautiful thing, especially when performed with such heart and soul. Alien Eyelid have a wonderful laidback all-consuming warmth with a hint of baroque-ness that at times remind me of the wonderful Left Banke, especially on beautiful psychedelic ballad “Blue”. The title track “Vinegar Hill” could have walked straight from Basement Tapes with its Dylan and The Band feel, until it goes all early King Crimson on us, and is one of those rare things, a ten-minute track that does not overstay its welcome.
This Alien Eyelid debut is a gem of an album, and one of the finest things I have had pleasure to listen to this year.
The Beths ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’
Album (ANTI-)
I seem to be writing a lot about indie guitar music at the moment; there has certainly been an influx of the stuff appearing in my inbox and long may it continue if it is all of the quality of this quite lovely album of guitar indie pop/rock. The Beths of course write songs of verve and heart, and this new album is no different. Straight Line Was A Lie is an album ram jammed with catchy choruses and heartfelt lyrics all wrapped in fine melody and radio friendly hooks and jangly guitar chimes, as all good indie pop/rock should.
Eamon The Destroyer ‘The Maker’s Quilt’
Album (Bearsuit Records)
You can never be disappointed when a new release by Bearsuit Records appears. There is always a tinge of adventure, as you know it is going to be a trip hop and skip and a jump of musical exploration. The Maker’s Quilt is no exception; an album that brings together dance, psych, 60’s like spy soundtracks with a tinge of folk and rock/pop… all sometimes in the same song. At times it reminds me of what the Wicker Man soundtrack might have sounded like if it was set in the late 80’s early 90’s in a village just outside Manchester when the acid house explosion was happening. There is a joy and a magic and a melancholy madness that is just impossible to resist and resist you shouldn’t.
Frog ‘Bitten By My Love Version XI’
Single taken from Album The Count (Audio Antihero) 19th September 2025
“Bitten By My Love” is a rather lovely single, but what else could you expect from the marvellous Frog. Six minutes of undiluted late summer breeze love, a heavenly stroll through the textures of late-night radio; a song that sends my mind spinning back to the days when songs like this would haunt and confuse and engross in equal measures. A sexual healing for the social misfit.
The Jack Rubies ‘Are We Being Recorded’
Single (Big Stir Records) 19th September 2025
I don’t think I have written about any releases on Big Stir Records for a while. So here I am putting it right, for here we have the new single by The Jack Rubies, a band that once again takes me back to my youth. The days when I spent the hours of 9 to 5.30 working (or not working) in various record stores, and I remember The Jack Rubies album Fascination Vacation being unloved and unsold in the record racks, which is a shame as I remember it being not a bad record. And thirty-seven years down the line here I am listening to the latest release by same band. And how little changes for once again it is indeed not a bad record and sounds like it could have well been released back in the days when the pubs shut at eleven o’ clock. It has the air of a record that thinks a lot of itself, and that always appeals to me…call me strange. Link (no examples available yet to hear).
Ike Goldman ‘Kiki Goldman In How I Learned To Sing For Statler And Waldorf’
Album, 10th September 2025
I love this album so much that I’ve just bought a copy on CD: do I need say more. Well, I will, apart from it having the best album title I have come across in a long time, it’s such a lovely beautifully happy/sad album full of melancholy and magic. It may be the closest one can get to rediscovering the joy of The Beach Boys Friends and Smiley Smile era without actually listening to the said albums. Plus, anyone who mentions Stephen Sondheim in his influences is certainly someone who deserves giving a listen to, and once you have given a listen to downloading or streaming or buying his CD.
Noisy ‘Grenadine’
Single
“Grenadine” is a song that is swathed in a beautiful melancholy, a melody that will haunt and play bellringers pontoon with your heart; a pure and unadorned example of why pop music can save your life and make even the bad times bearable. One of the only plus points about growing old is that you have the joy and innocence of your youth to look back on, and this single brings that joy flooding back with a tearful smile and fading caress.
Pelts ‘Swimming’
Single (Fika Recordings) 10th September 2025
Here we are again with a track of post-punk indie-guitar-pop: Am I becoming a man who only reviews indie post punk guitar meanderings? Am I revisiting my teenage years of being totally enamoured with the indie scene of the 80s, or is it just that I am being sent loads of fine new alternative guitar pop/rock? Well probably a bit of all the aforementioned. For the Pelts ‘Swimming’ is indeed a fine tuneful guitar thrust of angular melodious alternative pop skew wifferty (not to be confused with 60’s psych cult band Skip Bifferty). Yes indeed, another fine track and one you will find on their forthcoming 4-track EP, released on the excellent Fika Recordings label. So, seek and buy my old chums or forever hold somebody else’s codpiece.
SCHØØL ‘I Think My Life Has Been OK’
Album (GEOGRAPHIE)
There are a few questions this debut album throws up. One, are they a French band that sings in English? So do they, in rehearsals, talk to each other in French and then sing the songs in English or to get in the mood? Or do they talk in English? Also, when they play in France, do they sing the songs in French or English? Apart from those burning questions this is actually a quite catchy album of alt guitar rock/pop and very late eighties and early 90’s indie rock: early Blur, Ride, Chapterhouse and the like all spring to mind. I would certainly advise any indie guitar music fans out there to give this a listen, as it is very good indeed.
If you’ve enjoyed this selection, the writing, or been led down a rabbit hole into new musical terrains of aural pleasure, and if you can, then you can now show your appreciation by keeping the Monolith Cocktail afloat by donating via Ko-Fi.
For the last 15 years both me and the MC team have featured and supported music, musicians and labels we love across genres from around the world: ones that we think you’ll want to know about. No content on the site is paid for or sponsored, and we only feature artists we have genuine respect for /love or interest in. If you enjoy our reviews (and we often write long, thoughtful ones), found a new artist you admire or if we have featured you or artists you represent and would like to say thanks or show support, than you can now buy us a coffee or donate via https://ko-fi.com/monolithcocktail
Our Daily Bread 644: The Cords, Fat Concubine, Ali Murray…
August 4, 2025
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions. All entries in alphabetical order.
The Cords ‘Fabulist’
Single (Skep Wax Records) Released 22nd July 2025
‘Fabulist’ is a fine jingle-jangle indie pop rush of pure young person want; a sonic three chord extravaganza of the sound of young Scotland relishing the first flush of summer romance; a song to make an old man sit and weep at the loss of his youth and memories of the days when C86 was where it was at.
Fat Concubine ‘Empire’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) Released 12th September 2025
Empire is the sound of falling out of a nightclub worse for wear, staggering the dark cold streets, queuing in a chippy and ordering something with chips and covering it with gravy or curry sauce or both and then sloppily eating it spilling it all down your going out clubbing clothes while standing in someone else’s sick as you wait for a taxi not to show up. It is getting home and fumbling with your key to get into your abode and wondering both where did you put your phone and where on earth is the tv remote. You then pass out on the settee as your cat alternates nesting your chest and gently pawing your face. It’s great to be young.
Headless Kross/Poundland
Split Album (Cruel Nature Records) Released 12th September 2025
I have to admit to being a pop music lover. I’m a man who’s reduced to a quivering wreck by the sound of Billy Fury singing a song by Jimmy Campbell; a man who has to wipe a tear from his eye when a blast of 70’s pop nostalgia sneaks unexpectantly from the radio/tv. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love the sound of sludge rock, a little metallic evil blackness to avail itself to my inner soul. Nor does it mean I cannot get excited by one of the most important bands in the UK at the moment, that being Poundland doing what they do best in soundtracking the state of the UK with its pounding experimental punk rock attitude and noise, but with the right amount of melody to make it commercially viable to the general public: and the more people who get to hear their blast of wanton grinditude the better the good old jolly UK will become.
This split album by Headless Kross and Poundland delivers both the charming brooding sludge-like metal of Headless Kross and Poundland doing what they do best. And if you are so inclined to have a step away from middle aged men wanting to be Roger McGuinn, then this could well be worth your time and trouble and cash.
The Last Of The Lovely Days ‘No Public House Talk’
Album (Gare du Nord) Released 19th August 2025
This debut from The Last Of The Lovely Days is a rather lovely jangly guitar pop beast of an album; an album that once again evokes not just the golden days of indie pop but also has a rather fetching undercurrent of 60’s girl group panache – just like those two fine bands from the 80’s, The Shop Assistants and The Primitives, did so well. Songs that deal with the never grows old subject of love lost and found. And these fine songs are wrapped lovingly with charming melodies and hooks that will linger and help your day be a much more enjoyable experience.
Ali Murray ‘The Summer Laden’
Album Released July 1st 2025
It makes a rather pleasant change to receive an album from an artist from Scotland that doesn’t sound like Teenage Fanclub. Not that I may add, I have anything against Teenage Fanclub, I find them rather spiffing, but a change is as good as a rest or so they say.
The Summer Laden is in fact a rather lovely pop album of breezy mostly mellow pop songs. Indeed, it is “Laden” with the sound of summer, and has a melodeon sway that is quite bewitching, and could be Celtic cousins with that Welsh wonder of verse and catchy chorus, Armstrong (Julian Pitt).
Occult Character ‘Butterfly’
Single (Metal Postcard) Released 24th July 2025
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” Muhammad Ali once famously said, and that would be a perfect description of this short new track by Occult Character, funnily enough called ‘Butterfly’, as it floats with an uneasy synth pop sway fluttering away in an eccentric manner, pulling one in with its gentle experimental charm only to be knocked out by the sucker punch of the dark brooding lyrics.
Oopsie Daisies ‘As If’
Single (Metal Postcard) Released 18th July 2025
Synth pop boogie at its finest. Yes, a song of charm and home recorded warmth that could have easily emerged from a demo tape from a budding new romantic dreamboat from the early 80s; a song that fills me with a quirky nostalgia of the days when there were three weekly music papers as well as the pop twice weekly No 1 and Smash Hits pop glossies. And it could well have been featured in all five: maybe not Sounds, As If would maybe a little too on the frivolous side for them.
Scotch Funeral ‘Ever & Ever’
Album Released 30th July 2025
If rumble tumble grunge fuzz-soaked guitar is heaven to your ears, then this fine album by Scotch Funeral is for you; an album of true indie rock ‘n’ roll. “New Found Happiness” is a melody pop punk delight worthy of Ash in their glory years; the closer, “In Dreams“, is a fine mishmash of Daniel Johnston like poetry and Nirvana like grunge; and “She’s A Writer” could have stepped straight off a K records compilation album. If Scotch Funeral were on K Records or a similar label of such acclaim, they may well get the attention they deserve, for they have that special something you cannot quite put your finger on that separates them from 99 per cent of all the other indie punk pop rock ‘n’ rollers out there. Ever & Ever is certainly an album that deserves your attention.
Alexei Shishkin ‘Tiki Taka (2006)’
Track taken from the upcoming Album, Good Times (Rue Defense) Released 5th September 2025
Is this the best song recorded about football or soccer for our American readers? I think it could well be. It has a wonderful semi slacker psych vibe; it’s like being drunk and on your settee hazily watching the beautiful game unfold until you lose your will to live or you’re too drunk to reach the remote. A song of laidback excellence.
The Striped Bananas ‘Vampire of Mine’
Single Released 25th July 2025
Psych Grunge now there’s a thing for you. Imagine if you will that Kurt Cobain had worn velvet pantaloons and love beads and had hooked up with a disco dolly from a Matt Elm film in a nightclub scene instead of Courtney Love and appeared in an episode of the Banana Splits. Nirvana could well have sounded like this. A fine and dandy cartoon pop song, in fact two fine cartoon pop songs as the B-Side ‘Venus Die Trap’ is pretty nifty as well.
Tiberius ‘Sag’
Single (Audio Antihero) Released 18th July 2025
I thought for the first twenty seconds of this fine single that it was Lloyd Cole causing a commotion, but then it soon shifted into a Jeff Buckley guitar alt rock melodramatic bombast, the kind that hasn’t been heard since the days Buffalo Tom walked the earth. And while I am mentioning other artists, I will mention Oasis, not because it sounds like them, but because it doesn’t and that is another point in its favour believe you me.
Tugboat Captain ‘Pest Control’
Single
‘Pest Control’ is a fine slice of extremely British boutique pop art; a singalong song of arch darkness; a calling card into an exclusive quaint drinking club frequented by Neil Hannon, Ray Davies and John Howard, and every playlist must include Shorley Wall by Ooberman. This track has been culled from their album Dog Tail, and maybe worthy of further investigation.
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions. All entries in alphabetical order.
Nash Albert ‘Kingdom Of Love’
Album – 6th June 2025
Now then my dearies what do we have here…well, an album by Nash Albert, an artist I admit I’d never come across before, and his third album called “Kingdom Of Love”. It sounds to me like the kind of album that would have been released in the 1980’s by a major label pretending it was an indie. It has a mixture of 80’s rock bombast with a slight tinge of goth and folk and psychedelic goodness and AOR pop. And all in all an enjoyable listen for an album that could have been released anytime in the last 40 years.
Armstrong ‘Handicrafts’
Album – 1st June 2025
Armstrong (or Julian Pitt) as I have mentioned so many times in my past reviews of his work has a God given gift for melody that is rather quite a rare and marvellous thing, and one that really deserves to be heard by more people and hopefully these 43 songs that make up this double CD comp of his wonderful gift for melody will go some way to putting that right. For we have 43 slices of home recorded sunshine pop, from the Housemartins meets Joe Meek Pop Splendour of “Sunday Walking” to the seventies Bacharach and David late tv shine of “Cosmos World” fed through the mind of Brian Wilson circa “The Beach Boys Love You” sessions.
So many aural delights: “The Wonderful Sweetest Girl” is a fine 4 track wonder of lo-fi post punk jangle pop and “Yesterdays Over” is a rather sweet piano ballad worthy of the Zombies, or the mid to late sixties magic of the Hollies or the Smiths like “Let’s Be Decisive”. I could honestly just go on and on listing the tracks and writing about how beautiful and wonderful they all are, so instead of doing that I just advise you buy the CD, and you will not be disappointed.
Dragged up ‘Blakes Tape/ Clachan Dubh’
Single
Ah, more indie guitar rock to tempt me with. I admit, I get sent way too much indie guitar rock to listen to, but when it is as fun and as well done as this I really do not mind. What we have here are two tracks of sublime indie chuggery: is chuggery a word? And if so, have I spelt it right? Anyway, Dragged Up do it all very well and hopefully will find themselves on the BBC6 music playlists and maybe even one day finding themselves guesting on Jools Holland (if so, please kick him in the groin for me), as I find the distant whispers of the mainstream calling their name.
Half Naked Shrunken Heads ‘Let’s Build A Boy’
EP – (Metal Postcard Records) 16th May 2025
Metal Postcard Records is becoming the record label to go to if you require some discordant post punk in your life. Not only do they offer us the Neon Kittens, The Salem Trials and the Legless Crabs but now their latest band of jagged angular post punk the wonderfully named Half Naked Shrunken Heads. This their debut ep is four tracks of Public Image Ltd /Bow Wow Wow extravaganza, experimental mixture of punk, dub and rather fetching kicking your heals downtown filthy art filled rock ‘n’ roll…. yes, another gem. One day Cherry Red Records are going to release a series of box sets of Metal Postcard releases and people will marvel how they never heard it first time around.
Heavenly ‘Portland Town’
Single – Digital Release 6th June 2025
The first new single from Heavenly in 20 years, and a fine single it is as well, all charming indie guitar strum and melody filled harmony bliss. A beautiful ode to Portland Town, a song that captures and enraptures and makes me want to pop on a plane with my guitar and busk away till my heart is content. A lovely summer single.
Majken ‘A Siren’
Single – (Sing A Song Fighter) 12th June 2025
“A Siren” is a rather beautiful atmospheric unusual ballad filled with rising sunsets and falling dew drop, a journey into the life and minds of a wistful muse. For Majken has a rare and sweet musical talent that emits warmth and tenderness.
Novelistme ‘Fabulous Nonsense’
Album – 10th June 2025
I like this album. Novelistme is obviously a talented songwriter and musician, and “Fabulous Nonsense” is a fine album made up of good songs and some fine melodies and some great guitar riffs; an album that will appeal to all lovers of indie rock legends GBV and Graham Coxan’s solo recordings. But there is a something that I have to mention, that I find the production and sound of the album just a little to clean and clinical for my tastes, and lacking a little warmth; the same problem I have with XTC, which is my problem and not Novelistme, and is the only thing that is stopping me loving the album, but really is a good listen.
Swansea Sound ‘Oasis V Blur’
Single – 6th June 2025
Oasis Or Blur, now that is a question that really needs to be answered even after all these years. Obviously, I am well known for my hatred of Oasis, so Blur is the obvious answer, and this lovely blast of indie is good fun with its Fall like riffage and radio friendly melody. If I was on jukebox Jury I would be holding up the Hit card…. I would probably be wrong, but it’s all good fun.
The Twirlies ‘Think That I Am In Love’
Single – (Café Superstar Recordings) 23rd May 2025
This single is a rather beautiful summery pop song. The word charming was indeed invented to describe this charming slice of indie pop. The Twirlies could well be a band worthy of further investigation; any band that can remind me of both the Zombies and Belle and Sebastian doing a summer shimmer is indeed a band worthy of further investigation. I Think That I Am In Love with this single.
The Wants ‘Bastard’
Album (STTT) 13th June 2025
There is something quite Go Betweens-ish about The Wants, but a more experimental Go Betweens, a more jagged angrier experimental colder sounding Go Betweens. I think it might be the Grant McLennan-like vocals. Although I could be completely wrong about this. If so, please ignore my opening sentence. It might be because my wife is listening to the Go Betweens in the other room and there might be a cross contamination of musical genius.
Anyway, I like this gang of post punk musical miscreants. They have a lovely 80’s psychedelic undercurrent to their sound that combines with the coldness of their post punk energy, and the whole album is an enjoyable emulsion into darkness and angular sadness. A fine album.
If you’ve enjoyed this selection, the writing, or been led down a rabbit hole into new musical terrains of aural pleasure, and if you can, then you can now show your appreciation by keeping the Monolith Cocktail afloat by donating via Ko-Fi.
For the last 15 years both me and the MC team have featured and supported music, musicians and labels we love across genres from around the world: ones that we think you’ll want to know about. No content on the site is paid for or sponsored, and we only feature artists we have genuine respect for /love or interest in. If you enjoy our reviews (and we often write long, thoughtful ones), found a new artist you admire or if we have featured you or artists you represent and would like to say thanks or show support, than you can now buy us a coffee or donate via https://ko-fi.com/monolithcocktail
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions
ALL ENTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Tristan Armstrong ‘Lonely Avenue’
Album (Self Release) Already Out There On Bandcamp
Power Pop, Power Pop, Power Pop…I get sent so much power pop that I despair. Not that I don’t like power pop: I do. But only when it has a touch of adventure and thrill, and songwriting talent, and so much of it is so bloody average. They all know how to make power pop records; they just forget to write good songs: it’s all shit lyrics and borrowed melodies and crunchy guitars.
But this album by Tristan Armstrong succeeds where so many other fail, as he has the crunchy guitars but he has also songwriting talent and remembered that music is an artform and there is more to life than The Beatles, Big Star and Bad Finger. Tristen adds Americana, and I can hear just as much influence of Gram Parsons and Whiskeytown and Wilco than the usual three B’s, and so this has a lovely subtle urge of mild experimental warmth and texture that lesser artists would not consider. And when he does venture into the Big Star territory with “Queen Of Diamonds”, he does it with a natural flowing charm.
Yes indeed “Lonely Avenue” is a fine pop rock album and one that I would recommend to both power pop lovers and those who just love and enjoy a bloody good album.
Fran Ashcroft ‘Box Harry Day’
Album 30th May 2025
Box Harry Day is the third album from Fran Ashcroft, and anyone who has been lucky enough to enjoy his last two gems will indeed enjoy this his third foray into his own whimsical and darkly dour comical view on life and the characters he comes across in this not-so-Great Britain.
The twelve tracks on this album are split between six wonderful written vignettes and six beautiful orchestral instrumentals composed by Fran using AI, but in this case Fran being an extremely talented producer and musician has composed some rather beautiful pieces of music and they fit in well with his more lo-fi lyrical gems, and proving in the right creative hands AI can be used to make some quite beautiful art. Box Harry Day is an album of warmth, beauty and songs of lyrical accuracy of everyday British life that stands alongside the works of Coward, Davies, Dury and Haines.
bigflower ‘Something Appears’
Single – Already Out There On Bandcamp
Bigflower is back with his usual blast of monthly excellence, this time with a sonic endeavour of synth excellence. Yes indeed, “Something Appears” is a monster of a track, part Giorgio Moroder part Manchester rave; a track so buoyant that if Shelly Winters had this on her iPod in The Poseidon Adventure she would not have drowned and would have lived to swim another day: you could say she was raving not drowning.
Cody Brant & Diumal Burdens ‘A Panacea Nurtured Gurgles’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) Already Out There On Bandcamp
An aural montage of madness is maybe how one can describe this mixture of found sounds, drumbeats and samples. For “A Panacea Nurtured Gurgles” and albums of this ilk are really works of aural art best enjoyed when trying to escape the mundanities of life; finding escape in the subtle humour and the strategic placing and overlaying of sounds to create a painting of sound: a painting you can close your eyes and lose yourself in.
Fir Cone Children ‘Gearshifting’
Album (Blackjack Illuminist Records) Already Out There On Bandcamp
This album is very good – now there’s a review for you. But I’m not lying, it is very good. It sounds like the Shop Assistants, Ride and the Olivia Tremor Control getting together to gatecrash the local school indie disco to impress nobody but themselves. It has melody, charm and a not so deadly danger. It has what everyone wants from their indie album: pop suss, experimental joy mixed in with the usual post punk bass extravagancies and chiming flange melodious guitar with some rather fetching vocal harmonies – and I can even hint a subtle influence of Syd’s Pink Floyd in the mix. Can I say anymore to convince you to give this fine album a listen… if not, then bugger you. It’s your loss.
Mama Oh No ‘The Mutant’
Single Already Out There
I have more than a soft spot for 60’s Garage Rock, so this wonderful blast of riffery is indeed a blessing to the ears; a track that could have walked off any of those wonderful 60’s garage rock compilations I used to spend my teenage years rifling through in the old Prope Records in Button Street in Liverpool in the 80’s. Yes indeed, ‘The Mutant’ is blessed with a rather wonderful walking bass riff, fuzz guitars and an organ sound that would make the organist from the Fuzztones weep with joy. As you will need not telling, I await the album.
òrain ‘Hanging Fruit’
EP (Practise Music) Already Out There
This four-track EP is a rather lovely warm sounding thing of indie pop splendour; an EP of wonderfully written songs that has one’s head spinning in a slow like carousel waltz of melancholy and pure bliss. Songs that lovers of Belle And Sebastian and the Sundays will grab and hold to their hearts and play until they are paisley etched shadows of forgotten dreams and half remembered fantasy wishes.
St Johns Wood Affair ‘2’
Album 23rd May 2025
The swinging sounds of the 60’s are plundered and rediscovered in this gem of psych tinged poptitude; all original songs all steeped in the love of all things 60s pop. “Center Of Your Universe” the opening track is all “Last Train To Clarksville” guitar jangle and tells you what to expect from the rest of the album: all in your mind’s eye lyrics and the spirit and love of 1967. If an album was made to come with a cardboard cutout Kaftan, it was the St Johns Wood Affair’s 2.
Byrds like harmonies and backward guitars abound on “Hoping On The Train In Vain”, and “Magic Carpet Ride” haunted by the ghosts of the memory of late 60’s Small Faces. My favourite track, the lovely “Secret Garden”, is a kiss of pure psych pop bliss.
2 is an enjoyable and fun listen, especially for us who are still in love with the 60s sound and the 60s dream that will never fade.
Sister Wives ‘YnCanu’
Single (Libertino) Already Ou There
There is something rather beautiful about the Welsh language, and this fine single “YnCanu” by Sister Wives is a rather dark and gothic psych-Grunge gem sang in their native language. Imagine if you will The Feminine Complex being transported twenty years into the future to Seattle and told to make their mark on the local rock scene. If you can imagine that you may have some idea what this single may sound like. If you can’t imagine that just give it a listen…you will not be disappointed.
Smashing Red ‘Dark Eyed Girl’
Single (Metal Postcard Records) Already Out There
The ‘Dark Eyed Girl’ is a 60’s tinged guitar pop song that could have appeared any time over the last 50 years. It could have been performed equally by The Honeycombs (have you heard their stunning flop single “Eyes”, a forgotten dark masterpiece), The House Of Love or even Luke Haines’s Auteurs in a less narky moment. Yes, the ‘Dark Eyed Girl’ is indeed a fine guitar pop song, one that weaves a sensual sinister magic that is strangely attractive like a 60’s Mick Jagger in a floral dress.
Hi, my name is Dominic Valvona and I’m the Founder of the music/culture blog monolithcocktail.com For the last ten years both me and the MC team have featured and supported music, musicians and labels we love across genres from around the world: ones that we think you’ll want to know about. No content on the site is paid for or sponsored, and we only feature artists we have genuine respect for /love or interest in. If you enjoy our reviews (and we often write long, thoughtful ones), found a new artist you admire or if we have featured you or artists you represent and would like to say thanks or show support, than you can now buy us a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/monolithcocktail
Our Daily Bread 635: Gentles, Cindy, Expose, Uri Rubin…
January 16, 2025
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP – INSTANT REACTIONS.
Cult favourite, anointed as the “king of no-fi”, Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea continues to contribute to the Monolith Cocktail in 2025 with his idiosyncratic irascible and aphorisms, his unique take on the music we send him each month to review. An artist in his own right, part of the family band The Bordellos for an age but releasing music sporadically under his own name and various guises, his latest release, a split contribution with Dee “Persian” Claw and The Neon Kittens, is due out on the 21st February, released by Cruel Nature Records.
Cindy ‘Saw It All Demos’
Album (Paisley Shirt Records)
The title of this album does not lie. It is indeed Demo’s and released on a cassette, and is a pretty nifty little album. Seven songs mostly recorded in a bedroom, and which we all know is one of the three best things one can do in a bedroom. There is a beautiful warmth and tenderness about these seven tracks; softly strummed guitar, hushed vocals, simple keyboard and percussion – apart from track 7 “The Violins”, which features the full band in a simply charming little indie pop number but doesn’t actually feature a violin at all, It’s still my favourite track on this album as I’m always a sucker for some velvety like guitar. Once again, another fine release from the wonderful Paisley Shirt Records label.
Divorce ‘Pill’
Single
I like this. It’s experimental. It’s catchy. It’s quirky and funky, all the things one wants from pop singles. It has a quite beautiful slow melancholy piano solo part which I can picture Yoko Ono opening curtains to in a large white room. And can I offer higher praise than that…I don’t think I can.
Duckie Mr Poetry ‘Miami Vice’
Single
Now, there are two reasons I like this track, and I will be honest, I’m in no way an expert on hip hop or rap and very rarely write about it, but this is rather good. It’s short, it is funky, there is plenty of hop in the hip and plenty of hip in the hop. Plus it also mentions Guinness in the lyrics and I have never come across another Hip Hop track that mentions that fine Irish brew in its lyrics: you don’t get NWA mentioning it, they are too busy fucking the police.
Expose ‘ETC’
Album (Quindi) 24th January 2024
Discordant Jabberwocky noise explosion erupts from the mouths of Sonic Youth’s long lost ill-mannered cousins, who sprout melodious pop misadventure whilst listening to the greatest guitar hits from the last 50 years on a vintage Ronco cassette and amp, surfing to pass the time of day and attract yearning looks from passing strangers who long to be the band. Do I like this? Of course! It is frivolous, it is fun, it is what rock n roll should sound like. It is both experimental and pure pop for now people. It is sexy. It is noisy. It has the appeal of cutting off a sticking out tongue from an annoying clown and cello taping it to a rocket ship so it can lick the stars.
Gentles ‘Gentles’
Album (Metal Postcard Records)
There is nothing gentle about Gentles. They are in fact a slam bam refuge of post punk disgust, an angular riff of ferocious quantity and quality part Fall part Swell Maps part Syd Barrett Pink Floyd after downing a gallon of turps. Yes, there is a subtle 60s guitar vibe that the band themselves probably have not noticed lurking underneath their arrogant angst.
Gentles are everything it means to be young angry and free to do whatever they want: if they can be bothered getting around to it.
Ike Goldman ‘Newt And Lovers/ Bowling Green’
Single
This double-sided A-side single is rather ace. Imagine if you will re-found unreleased tracks from The Beach Boys circa Smile…need I say more. If the answer is yes, you have no right reading the Monolith Cocktail as we all know late 60s Beach Boys is as perfect as it gets, and music obviously influenced by the late 60s Beach Boys done with such love and warmth is also as pretty much darned perfect as you get. Why is Ike Goldman not a household musical name? He should be.
The Neon Sea ‘As I Wonder’
Single
I like this. It has a nice early Stone Roses type jangle, and melody wise reminiscent of Blur in one of their melancholy moments: sweet, sad and mournful wrapped in a warm wash of guitar serendipity. A lovely single.
Penrose Web ‘It’s…The Penrose Web EP’
EP(Gare du Nord)
This EP is the debut release from The Penrose Web and it is rather spiffing in a good old early 80s Garage Rock way; an EP that takes me back to the days of visiting London to take in the great garage rock scene, days of the Bigfoot and the club on Camden Lock – whatever it was called – and myself and my girlfriend at the time having to share a taxi with a dodgy French man back to the Hotel because we missed the last train. The magic of music and the magic of the Penrose Web and the memories they inspire. This EP is really rather good indeed…I hope they do an album.
Lucy Philips Arts Foundation ‘I’m Not A Fucking Metronome’
Compilation Album
I’m Not A Fucking Metronome is a rather excellent compilation album to raise money for the Lucy Philips Arts Foundation, which is a foundation started in memory of Lucy Philips who was drummer and a regular face around the Leicester arts scene who sadly, suddenly, passed away in May of 2024. All money raised will help support Leicester creatives.
This Comp is actually a bit of a rarity as all 12 tracks are rather very good indeed. And I can imagine all the tracks appearing on the much missed and never replaced John Peel show: from the punk/post-punk opener by Boilers “Looking Good” – a song written by Lucy herself – through to the beautiful psych folk-tinged ballad “Heroes/Villains “by Chris Cottis Allan and the short sharp all wrapped up in one and half minuets pure punk of the excellently named Potato Legends.
As I have said, an album where all 12 bands need congratulating in adding 12 really wonderful slices of alternative pop/punk/rock to a great album and a fine cause.
Uri Rubin ‘The Way You Are’
Album
The Way You Are is what you call a grower, an album that sneaks up on you and gently wraps its arms around you and gently rocks you into submission with its lyrical tales of life and love. Uri Rubin has a lovely relaxing laidback vocal styling, part Smog, part Leonard Cohen and part Lambchop. He really does have a quite lovely voice, which he uses to good effect on these well written songs; songs that don’t stand out individually – they are not made to be radio smashes – but flow into each other to offer you 45 minutes or so of pure escape.
Our Daily Bread 632: Hornorkesteret, The Muldoons, The Salisman Communal Orchestration…
November 18, 2024
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP – INSTANT REACTIONS.
The Conspiracy ‘Tick-Tok’
Single (Metal Postcard Records)
What I like about The Conspiracy is how bloody artfully British they are, like the Kinks or The Fall or Billy Childish or Comet Gain or the much-ignored Wonky Alice were artfully British. In fact, very much like Wonky Alice as The Conspiracy, like the aforementioned Wonky Alice, are criminally ignored, for The Conspiracy release songs of pop wonder that are maybe too clever to appeal to the common everyday white bread and I cannot believe it is not butter Oasis indie rock salivating radio X listening imbeciles.
Yes, The Conspiracy release songs filled with art pop and sublime arched melodies matched with pithy knowing lyrical commentaries on life today. They should be celebrated not locked away like the hidden treasure they truly are.
Empty House ‘Dream Lounge’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) 29th November 2024
Dream Lounge is a two-track instrumental album of pure dream inspiring glory. The first track, and title-track, is a 15 plus minute journey of subtle dance dream adventure that at no point ever grows boring and keeps you enrapt. It has the same hazy magic as The Smiths How Soon Is Now but with Morrissey’s vocals being replaced with Doug Ingle like organ virtuosity subtly weaving its way in and out of the track.
The Second track “Red Door” is a much more subtly rambunctious affair with throbbing synth bass and John Carpenter like soundtrack feel if written by Coil, and once again a long instrumental that never loses your attention.
Hornorkesteret ‘Dans fra dalstrøka’
Album (Panot)
This is marvellously unhinged. Its instrumental Norwegian folk music performed on string instruments made from Reindeer antlers accompanied by percussion, bass and mandolin: need I say more.
Well, it is all rather strange and quite wonderful and best described as ideal music for sploshing through snow to whilst making your way to the tavern over the hill. At times I keep expecting the dulcet deranged vocal stylings of Tom Waites to emerge; he really should consider making an album with Hornorkesteret,it would be rather beautiful indeed.
The Muldoons ‘We Saw The View’
Album (Last Night From Glasgow) 29th November 2024
Guitar pop jangle, don’t you just love it. I do when it is the coating to such bittersweet songs as these; songs that deal with life as you move on from your younger years of your early twenties of college and the excitement of first love to the problems that come with responsibilities. The boredom that can happen and slowly growing apart in a long-term relationship (“27 Year Itch”), the lack of joy in fulltime employment (“Same Old Same”), looking back at what could have been (“The Hill”), all subjects done with a warmth and melodious guitar strum. All is not lost though, “Lost Without You” is a song of true love and respect, and “We Saw The View” is a heartwarming and enjoyable listening of extremely well written snapshots of life wrapped in a pop glory the Pale Fountains and The Trashcan Sinatra’s would be proud of.
St James Infirmary ‘All Will Be Well’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) 29th November 2024
All Will Be Well is an album made up of six long tracks of psych-tinged extravagance and 60’s ambience beauty that will appeal to all those who enjoy the Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Velvets and their ilk. The opening track “Fingertips” is a seven-minute jaunt of Velvet Underground-like inspired beat and guitars, which finely carries into track two, the excellently named “Tremelo Voxstar”.
My favourite track on the album is a nine-minute instrumental of wonder, part Spacemen 3 part The Lounge Orchestra, a relaxing float through the nostalgia of 70’s TV testcard heaven.
The final and title track is over ten minutes long and starts all psych folk and ends up being a church like ode to heavenly discovery and cultdom. All Will Be Well is indeed a beautiful and lovely sounding album of bewitching subtle musical genre shifting originality.
The Salisman Communal Orchestration ‘A Queen Among Clods’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) 29th November 2024
If I remember correctly I gave The Salisman Communal Orchestration’s “Of The Desert “ EP a rather marvellous review earlier in the year, and rightly so as it was a fine beast of a EP. And this album is also of the same quality.
I love the psychedelic otherworldliness of SCO. I love the way the lead vocalist phrases his words. He sings with the soul of an sad imperfect empathetic angel, you actually believe in what he is saying, “[If I Wasn’t ]So Godam Blue” is so goddamn beautiful, and with some pretty wonderful lyrics: “remember those days when I pissed in the street, well that is not my style anymore”. Pure heartbreak poetry at its best. The following track “Rum Punch” is as equally beautiful, a psych country-tinged beauty full of sadness and pathos.
I really do love this album SCO have the perfect blend of magic and tragic, and “A Queen Among Clods” is defiantly one of the most impressive and heartfelt original sounding albums I have had the pleasure to write about this year. A true stunner.
SASSYHIYA ‘Take You Somewhere’
Album (Skep Wax Records)
“Take You Somewhere” is a rather wonderful pop listen. 12 songs in 35 Minutes and each minute blessed with a charm of post-punk indie pop magic that is quite lovely to behold.
For those who love the sound and feel of the output of the likes of the Fall and early Orange Juice and The Raincoats and Modern Lovers. Jangly guitars, post-punk basslines and quirky lyrics are all wrapped together to make a highly enjoyable album of perfect indie pop. SASSYHIYA have provided us the lucky listeners with a debut album of pure pop suss.
The South Hill Experiment ‘Silver Bullet’
Single
“Silver Bullet” is a rather fine pop single. Quite Beck like at times, it’s all clockwork rhythms and mantra choruses: “I think I’m getting over it” is repeated hoping to convince the poor soul that he is getting over, although obviously not, but the simple beauty of this song is in fact the simple beauty of “it”.
The South Hill Experiment have the same magic that can be found in the best of Hall & Oates, but with a slightly more alternative darker curve.
Tremendous ‘Slipping Away’
Single 13th December 2024
“Slipping Away” is a rather catchy slice of FM/AM pop rock that one of a certain age might remember lighting up the radio in the 70’s early 80’s, all Raspberries guitars and the second-hand glamour of hi heeled glitter boots floppy hats and velvet trousers. Tremendous are a band steeped in the nostalgic pull of how slightly underground mainstream rock sounded, arching the same bow as Redd Kross and The Darkness and doing it with a supreme confidence and love.
Unicorn ‘Shed No Tear The Early Late Unicorn’
Album (Think Like A Key) 6th December 2024
“Shed No Tear The Early Late Unicorn” is a compilation of the first and final recordings of the 60/ 70’s British Pastoral rock band Unicorn, and any lovers of country rock will no doubt love this fine laid back stroll through the British countryside. The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Eagles and even at times Crosby Stills Nash and Young and The Byrds in more of their country days all spring to mind when listening to these lovely warm sounding laid back well written songs of soft rock excellence.
Without sounding like a Ronco advert from the 70’s “Shed No Tear” may well be an ideal Christmas gift for your Eagles loving relative, for country rock is for life not just for Christmas.
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP – INSTANT REACTIONS.
PHOTO IMAGE: THE TULIPS
In Alphabertical Order::::
Armstrong ‘Future In The Present Tense’
Single (Self-Release)
Armstrong usually deal in producing quite beautiful pastoral pop, and to be honest Julian Pitt (aka Armstrong) has a god given talent for writing quite sublime melodies, and “Future In The Present Tense” has all the usual heavenly pop wonder he usually releases. But this time he has swapped the acoustic guitar for a synth and instead released a sublime synth pop single, one you could imagine buzzing around the charts in the early to mid 80’s. Once again naggingly catchy and rather beautiful.
Aiden Baker/Jack Chuter/Ryan Durfee ‘Laika World’
Album (Cruel Nature Records)
“Laika World” was made as a tribute to Laika the soviet Space dog, the first animal to ever orbit the earth, on November the 3rd 1957. How many other animals have since orbited the earth I do not know: I suppose if you have the burning need, just Google it.
This album is a strange sonic but relaxing adventure of floating in space ambiance, a totally relaxing and dreamlike set of instrumentals that is all reverb guitars and floating soothing synths and the far in the distance echoes of drums and tinkling keyboards with the occasional treated and cut up vocal, which on “Night Capsule Demand” sounds like a countdown to entering heaven.
“Laika World” is an excellent and rewarding listen, and is the ideal accompaniment for when you need that time to yourself to drift off into semi consciousness and enjoy your own thoughts.
bigflower ‘The King’
Single (Self-Release)
Another new track from bigflower; there really is no stopping the man. “The King” is a sonic escapade of ambient guitar and swamp jazz, a song that deals with having a dream of entering Graceland and finding Elvis dead on the floor; an atmospheric musical tale of ethereal sorrow and tragedy set in a mist like state of transient bliss and soft focus solitude.
Bloom De Wilde ‘The Circular Being’
Album
I love the muse and the music of Bloom de Wilde. It has a tender all-consuming innocence and hope that calmly plays Rock Paper Scissors with a wistful sadness and melancholy.
Bloom writes songs that offer hope against all the odds; songs that embrace the eccentrics and outsiders, all the underdogs in life. Maybe that is why I feel a connection to her music and at times find myself totally engrossed with her beautiful tapestry of pop, jazz, folk and psychedelia, which she has woven with great love and skill to make great art.
Bloom is a fine songwriter, which may sometimes be overlooked due to the wonderful eccentricities of her personality and is a quite an accomplished and original lyricist, as this fascinating eleven song album of love, hope and magic shows.
Empty Cut ‘Allens Cross’
Album (Cruel Nature Records)
Allens Cross is a leftfield album of derision and distorted beauty, music that incorporates electronica, hardcore, dub, jazz and industrial shoegaze and punk rock to quite magnificent affect. At times reminding me of the latter work of the Godlike genius of Scott Walker, and at other times like Throbbing Gristle – sometimes difficult to listen to but ultimately always rewarding.
There is a darkness and granite slab graininess that celebrates the everyday mundane life but fascinating in its unique perspective on their childhood growing up in Birmingham that inspires this fine album. “Fidget” is Black Sabbath like in its heaviness and desolateness, and “Spleen” is a sludge heavy dose of modern-day psychedelia with whirring synths and cut up spoken samples. All eight tracks on Allens Cross take you on a fascinating aural trip, and it really is a journey worth taking.
Ex-Vöid ‘Swansea’
Single (Tapete Records)
What we have here is another enjoyable romp of indie guitar rock. Yes, more of it. But unlike a lot of the indie guitar rock I’m hearing lately “Swansea” has a melody and fine Dinosaur Jnr like guitars, quite lovely male female vocals, which are almost folk-like but not in a way of old tin whistles and feeding the whippet the last of the bacon kind of way. I suppose this just gives it something slightly different feel to the other 1001 indie rock tracks I’ve heard this week. One that floats to the top like a becoming jellyfish with a sting in its tale. [if Jellyfish had tales].
Fun Facts ‘Apartment Rock’
Album 22nd November 2024
There is a lovely warm heavenly wonkiness to this album I very much appreciate, it has a certain dreamy like pop/psych experimental charm that comes on like Stereolab discovering the age of Aquarius in the local bar where hipsters hang out. Yes, it has the same slightly off kilter but straight-ahead pop that I so admire the great Schizo Fun Addict for. They have the same love of melody, and supply music that could soundtrack an angel licking ice cream from a cone whilst you wait in the dying embers of the day for your future true love to walk by and catch the glint in your eye and return it with honey wrapped heartfelt kisses. A fine album of pure blissful pop music.
Jamison Field Murphy ‘It Has To End’
Album (Tomato Flower) 11th November 2024
Ah yes this is more like it. At last, an album with warmth, soul experiment and beauty. Just when I was beginning to think that it was a thing of the past James Field Murphy turns up with this home recorded gem, an album that combines all the things I love about the magic of music: songs with melody, “That Boy” could well be an outtake from The Beach Boys Smiley Smile album, and “It has To End” has a wonderful bonkers McCartney feel to it [remember McCartney was the most experimental of all the Beatles], and this track combines pop with experimental to a beautifully short and wistful degree. “Hate” is another beautiful song; yes indeed, a hate that is alright to love and love it I do. I love the tape pops in the background: you really cannot beat recording on tape.
It Has To End is a rare thing, an album you do not want to end. It’s an album I will be returning to on a regular basis over the coming months as James manages to balance off pop/psych beauty with experimentation perfectly.
John Howard ‘If There’s A Star/ Little Prince’
Single 8th November 2024
I love the music of John Howard as it is just so elegant and eloquent. There is a timelessness to his songs; he writes songs that could have graced the stage in the days of Coward and Berlin, or, in the days of Ray Davies or even McCartney in his genius Ram days, or, in even more recent times, Neil Hannon who waved a stylish wand over the lads and birds debauched Brit Pop era whist arching his eyebrow and sipping a dry sherry.
John Howard has the same qualities of all these genius composers and with this fine single he supplies us with two short and sweet pop songs of baroque poptitude that most of us really do not deserve. If only life was like a John Howard piano ballad.
Humdrum ‘Every Heaven’
Album (Slumberland Records)
Humdrum must have a death wish, or a band with a massive amount of confidence. I mean, fancy calling yourselves Humdrum and then making an album of out and out pure jangle. Yes, need I say more. We all know what it sounds like, nothing that really steps out of the indie pop jangle. But it is a fine jangle album, at times reminding me of a jangly Cure but without the uniqueness of Robert Smiths voice: actually, the instrumental “Every Heaven” could well be a Cure backing track.
Yes, the usual influences; I’m sure every member of Humdrum have the complete collection of Sarah Records 7-inch singles and every edition of the C86 Boxset and own a Pastels badge. But that is what we love about jangle bands, their out and out passion for jangle. And this album I’d recommended for all those jangly guitar fiends.
Neon Kittens ‘Trick’
EP
The Neon Kittens are back with a 4-track EP to celebrate Halloween with four horror themed songs. The EP is called “Trick” and it is actually a bit of a treat for myself and the ever growing army of Neon Kittens fans. The obstreperous guitar wizardry once again all tangent shapes of misguided ridicule and delight taunt and encourage the ice cool aloofness of the no wave Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward into some quite deliciously salacious tales of horror and misadventure.
The Neon Kittens are not just a band worthy to write home about but are actually worthy enough to leave home just so you can write home about them.
Occult Character ‘Don’t Come To Mars’
EP (Metal Postcard Records)
The second October-released EP from Occult Character is here, and as I wrote in the review of their earlier Swifties EP, he is not always the easiest of artists to listen to but always fascinating. Once again these three tracks are not just fascinating but also highly enjoyable, especially the dark comedic and spot on lyrically “Cyber Cult” and “Jupiter Cellphone Survey”. All three tracks on this EP capture all the madness and darkness of modern life. Occult Character is an artist I recommend that you the listener get acquainted with.
The Tulips ‘Stars Dream Of You’
Single
“Stars Dream Of You” is a rather beautiful little pop song; a lovely sedate musical stroll down the winding paths of the totally besotted. Yes, a song that captures the first throes of love and yearning; a song that will remind you what it is like to feel that special feeling once again.
Author of this spread, Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea and his lo fi cult maverick band, have recently released a clutch of “Lo Fi Misses” , via Metal Postcard Records, on both Bandcamp and Spotify.
Our Daily Bread 624: August Darula, Beauty Stab, Neon Kittens…
September 3, 2024
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP – INSTANT REACTIONS.
Beauty Stab ‘Bring Me The Boy (MAX EMRG REMIX)’
Single (Self-Release)
The new single from the art dance duo Beauty Stab is now upon us, and what a tune, what a banger -as you can see, I have slipped into modern terminology hoping that the kids of today may take notice of it. Along with Man /Woman Chainsaw and Bridget Calls Me Baby, Beauty Stab could be one of the new breed of Alt pop to actually drag the music from the underground into the mainstream.
‘Bring Me the Boy’ is a dance floor gem. It is the ghosts of Bronski Beat, Soft Cell, The Associates and Dead Or Alive all getting together to dance, party and talk teary eyed nostalgia about when singles with glamour, sex and seduction would light up daytime radio. And this is where this single belongs, on daytime radio blasting out pure joy bringing a smile to one’s lips and a thrust to one’s hips.
August Darula ‘What I Live Without’
Single (Self-Release) 13th September 2024
“What I Live Without” is a beautiful and sad touch of melancholy, an alt pop/folk Lo-fi ballad with a great deal of heart and soul and quite touchingly refreshingly fine lyrics: “Just wanna get stoned and be alone, scroll on my mobile phone/ Just wanna say I love you, and hear it back/ Just wanna keep the knife in my hand, and not in my back”. Alt folk poetry at its best. A song that could have strolled off the wonderful Micah P Hinson And The Gospel Of Progress album from way back in 2004: and that is high praise indeed, believe me.
Neon Kittens ‘Those Damned Dirty Tapes’
EP (Metal Postcard Records)
This is a special release and not just because it is the latest in a long line of releases by the prolific Neon Kittens, but because it is the record label Metal Postcard Records 500th release. Yes, 500 releases and still going strong.
It is probably apt that the 500th release is by the Neon Kittens as it captures what Metal Postcard is all about: releasing strange yet commercial and rewarding art that deserves to sell and be heard by the masses but are only heard by the lucky few. This is mostly down to the lack of adventure from the music industry in its current state. But if bands like the Neon Kittens keeping making music with art in mind and not commerce and labels like Metal Postcard are still willing to release it there is still hope.
The Phantom Handshakes ‘Sirens At Golden Hour’
Album (Self-Release)
The Phantom Handshakes are a Dream Pop band or duo, but whatever they are they are dream pop. And as Dream Pop music goes it is very good: all the normal shimmering reverb guitars and soft lilting female vocals. All very nice and Dream Poppy; all very mellow Cocteau Twins like with a touch of The Sundays and The Pale Saints; and all very Dream Pop. If you are a fan of Dream Pop this will be right up your shimmering glaze of succinctness.
Trust Fund ‘ ‘Leaving The Party Early’
Single (Tapete Records)
“Leaving The Party Early” is a rather beautiful jazzy acoustic blessing of a song, a lovely nip and tuck into the art of breezy pop writing; a song I have become rather attached to over the last few hours, a stroll into the psyche of nostalgic bliss in fact. A summer awakening of longing that also reminds me a touch of Momus in his acoustic days: without the darkness and filth, which is both a good and bad thing, but I have room for both in my life.
Wings Of Desire ‘Shut Up & Listen’
EP (WMD Recordings)
In the mid to late 80’s I used to work in a record store that was a chart return store, and this EP by Wings Of Desire reminds me of the kind of bands record reps used to turn up with trying to sell and get into the charts by offering free copies to the store so they could sell them cheap, or, by offering bribes to the manager. They were always released on a major record label offshoot that was pretending to be an Indie and would very often sound like this, well produced and anthemic alt rock, a bit like Simple Minds and U2. Who remembers Then Jericho and Cactus World News out there? Two prime examples of the airbrushed alt rock brigade. But this is actually quite good: in a shiny alt rock 80’s kind of way. And the third track, “Same Old Place I Used to Know” is a pretty good song, quite JAMC like in fact.
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