Our Daily Bread 645: James Brett, Hyacinth, The Neon Crabs, The New York Salsa Company…
August 25, 2025
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions. All entries in alphabetical order.
The 1981 ‘Soft Goodbye’
Single (Dandy Boy Records) Released 29th 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 15th 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) 5th 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 13th 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 1st 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 23rd 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 1st 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) 29th 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 28th 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 27th 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 1st 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
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.
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