Monolith Cocktail Blog

Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions. All entries in alphabetical order.

The 1981 ‘Soft Goodbye’
Single (Dandy Boy Records) Released 29^th August 2025

‘Soft Goodbye’ is an example of the jingle-jangle joy of a fine guitar riff, and it really is a fine guitar riff and well worth giving a listen just for the joy that the magic of the riff emits from your listening device.

James Brett ‘Torrential Rain’
Single Released 15^th August 2025

I’m not really a fan of the hot weather, but I’m a fan of Torrential Rain, and as I write this it’s pushing 29 degrees. This blast of indie dance is indeed refreshing; it comes across like I imagine what a Shaman demo may have sounded like in the late 80’s or an EMF demo. There is a somewhat home recorded slightly off-centre quality about it that I feel very appealing indeed.  

The Jimmy C ‘Refreshing’
Vinyl Album Edition (Think Like A Key) 5^th September 2025

Refreshing is an album of mostly extremely short pop songs performed with so much vim and vigour that a 70’s tv advert would be embarrassed by its vigorous vim.  And indeed, it is a fine album of home recorded power pop, Americana and indie rock n roll that at times reminds one of both Red Kross and Jellyfish. And I’m sure it will find itself in the record collections of all those sun-hugging guitar loving power pop aficionados out there. 

The Cords ‘I’m Not Sad’
Single Released 13^th August 2024

How on earth could anybody be sad when this under two-minute rambunctious slice of indie guitar pop reverberates into your jolly old lugholes; sounding not unlike The Primitives when they were young and carefree and did not have mortgage worries, and whether you were too old to wear denim shorts that did not reach your knees…ah those where the days.

Flea ‘Sick Bake’
Single, released 1^st August 2025

‘Sick Bake’ is a fine single. It has the sound of 80’s Manchester before Baggy took over. It’s all grumbled vocals and harsh guitars: a little like that fine, and now rarely mentioned band the Inca Babies. It reminds me of the days of trawling around Afflecks Palace shopping for clothes, records and whatever else grabbed our fancy back in the day. Great days, great music and ‘Sick Bake’ is a great single. 

Four Day Beard ‘Stay’
Single (Dark Fur Records) Released 23^rd July 2025

There is no need for me to proclaim not to be confused with Rhianna‘s ballad ‘Stay’ because it is a blinking blimey cover version of the blighter. And a lovely charming, beautiful cover version it is as well, all deep yearning and heartfelt vocals performed no doubt by a gent with a fading twinkle of fond memories and lustful regrets, as sweet as a young child dipping their licked finger into a bag of their older sisters Sherbert. 

Hyacinth ‘In Heaven’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) Released 1^st August 2025

Have you ever drunkenly danced in the early hours of the morning to the soundtrack of the Teletext music on the television, if not why not? Obviously, that only applies to people of a certain age when teletext on tv was such a thing…those who probably remember the Hitman and Her, or hazily remember it anyway. Why I hear you probably ask yourself, as you think what is this old duffer pontificating about now. Well, it’s because that is what this quite enjoyable forage into the midstream of ambiance dance reminds me of. The warm bewitching sound of the blissful memory of youth entwining the thought of only hours before sharing time with your friends and old lover over more than a few bottles/pints of the demon brew, and as you both sway in a staggered like out-of-it-Travolta way (or in my case an out-of-it-Jarvis Cocker) you gently sway in the memory of the laughter and goodnight kisses. 

Monogroove ‘Popsicle Drivethru’
Vinyl Album Edition (Think Like A Key) 29^th August 2025

I wonder if Monogroove have listened to an album not made after 1966, as Popsicle Drivethru is an album of 60’s beat music, all very poppy and jangly like, the kind of thing you hear on a documentary about The Beatles made by a cable tv station that can’t afford to license the actual music by The Beatles so have music by a band playing in the background with a similar energy. Monogroove indeed are full of pop energy 60’s Beat style with songs of borrowed melodies and a certain charm. Popsicle Drivethru is indeed an enjoyable album especially if you are all consumed with the British beat pop between the years of 1963 and 1966. 

The Neon Crabs ‘Drop It On Ya!’
Album (Metal Postcard Records) Released 28^th July 2025

The cold steel flash of post-punk genius is once again wafted in by the rather excellent Neon Crabs. Iggy and The Stooges, Atari Teenage Riot and early Adam and The Ants collide in this misadventure of dark humour influenced by the world and the ridiculous life we are all living.

It is only a matter of time before the Neon Crabs are blasting on a daily basis from BBC 6 Music and getting write ups from the Blogs that people read, and being name dropped by influencers, and Matt is being touted as one of the great lyricists in modern underground music today (which he indeed is), and Andy supplies the ideal soundtrack with his incendiary shrapnel chord meanderings. The Neon Crabs are the ideal band to soundtrack life in a not ideal world. Also, every time Matt says, “Lets Rock”, it makes me grin from ear to ear.

The New York Salsa Company ‘This Machine Won’t Stop’
Single (Bad Soup Records) Released 27^th August 2025

If sinister Garage rock Psych is the bag you are carrying, then this rather fetching blast of noise plumage is just for you. Short and sweet and sensual like a sexy primetime Fuzztones but with artier leanings; like a strawberry dipped in chocolate with imagined lipstick yearnings. 

Soft Speaker ‘Rippling Tapestries’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) Released 1^st August 2025

Rippling Tapestries is an album of hazy psychedelic indie rock songs covered in a warm blissed out sadness. Not unlike the first House Of Love album Motion Sensor (it could have stepped right off it in fact), the Soft Speaker have the same qualities as the afore mentioned band but with very subtle Americana undertones – but that could well be because they are indeed American and in fact they do produce Rippling Tapestries of songs: so a band that live up to their name in a very good way.  

Some Brian Bordello News:

If you are currently suffering from Oasis hyperbole derangement, and need the antidote, then you can purchase our Brian and his dysfunctional family band The Bordellos’ Liam Gallagher EP diatribe via Bandcamp now:

The very same label, Metal Postcard Records, will soon be releasing the latest single ‘Village People’ in due course (no link or pre-order as yet, but keep checking out the label’s bandcamp page). However, the band showcased the track at the recent Preston Pop Festival jamboree, and you can now view that performance below:

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