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.
Unless stated otherwise, all releases are available to purchase now
Aiden Baker & Stefan Christoff ‘Januar’
ALBUM (Cruel Nature Records) 25th October 2024
Januar is a five-part suite of heartfelt improvised musical interplay, a heart play if one likes; an album of minimalistic experimental ambience; a conversation between piano and guitar electronic tonal seduction. Importantly Januar was recorded live in the studio, so capturing the emotion and power of Baker & Christoff‘s performance.
The five tracks weave a becoming slow dance of meditation lulling one into a dreamlike state and letting the waves of pure bliss wash over you leaving you mesmerised and in awe of the fragility and beauty of the music. Januar is an artful bewitching delight of improvised brilliance.
Bell Monks ‘Watching The Snow Fall’
ALBUM (Wayside & Woodland) 1st November 2024
Is slowcore-indie-hipster-post-jazz a musical genre? If not, it doesn’t matter as that is how I am describing this rather beautiful album of, well…slowcore-indie-hipster-post-jazz. What does slowcore-indie-hipster-post-jazz sound like? Well, it sounds like the Bell Monks. Okay, imagine The Cure and Low and the Postal Service and Red House Painters having a cravat wearing competition, or party even, and sipping on a sherry in dimmed lights and recording whilst their wives and kids are sleep. Yes, it is all hushed tones, hushed deep vocals and general blue moods.
How could it not be beautiful, it’s called “Watching The Snow Fall” after all. And is indeed an album to close the curtains to and lock yourself away from the cold and the outside pressures of life.
Broken Candles ‘Falling Asleep In The Sky’
ALBUM (Cruel Nature Records) 25th October 2024
I wonder, does the ghost of Elliott Smith roam this land taking hold of the imaginations and musings of the wandering minstrel, the heartbroken troubadour, as I feel he certainly means a great deal to the life of Broken Candles as this album contains ten songs of supreme sadness steeped in a melancholy prose that Elliott Smith would be proud of.
I’m not saying that Broken Candles is a Smith copyist, just that he walks the same winding path of sadness and hope. Both have beautiful voices and the gift of writing sublime melodies.
“Falling Asleep In The Sky” is an album of pure stillness and beauty.
Cosmopaark ‘Backyard’
EP (Howlin’ Banana Records)
The Backyard EP is five tracks of extremely easy on the ear catchy indie pop/shoegaze, and of course nothing that one has never heard before, but there is nothing wrong with that. Cosmopaark do this shoegaze business with enough enthusiasm and aplomb that lovers of this kind of soundtrack to looking at your shoes business will no doubt lap it up and enjoy it so much that they’ll be heading down to Clarkes to get themselves a new pair of sandals to stare at whilst listening.
Ex Norwegian And Friends ‘Sing Wistle Tunes’
ALBUM
Sing Wistle Tunes is a tribute to the late John Entwistle, of course former bassist with The Who. And this is an album of his songs written by the great man, performed by the wonderful Ex Norwegian and friends.
I must say I’m not a huge Who fan. I loved them from 1965 up until Tommy (1968) and then I found them a bit hit and miss [never really got on with Roger Daltrey and his vocal histrionics]. So, I’m not a man who is too precious about the band and their musical output. But saying that, I find this an enjoyable romp through songs I’m not overly familiar with, taking in melody filled tracks of psych-tinged power pop and alt rock. Highlights there are many, and I must point out one of them is the quite wonderful drumming on all the Ex Norwegian tracks [somebody buy that drummer a drink]. John Howard performs with almost Beach Boys like beauty the song “What Are We Doing Here”, which is all harmonic 70s like filled grace, and “When I Was A Boy”, where Ex Norwegian is joined by Fernando Perdomo, which is a self-celebratory delight of psych pop wonder. There are many gems on this album, and I’d recommend it to you if you love The Who, or don’t really care, as it’s an album of fine pop.
High Wasted Genes ‘Skatepark’
SINGLE
I like this single. I like the 80s like synth power chords and the beguiling nostalgia of the lyrics; it paints a picture of the happier trouble-free times of your youth, hanging out with your friends in the sunshine and trying to unpeel the apple of your eye. A song steeped in heartfelt pop wisdom.
The Junipers ‘Imaginary Friends’
ALBUM
The Junipers…now then, if I’m not mistaken my band The Bordellos once appeared on a compilation album alongside these lovely lads. The Future Is Bright The Future Is Cloudy or vice versa. Anyway, a fine compilation from many years ago. But I digress once again.
What we have here is the fourth album from the group, and what a cracking little pop gem it is. An album of pure pop, the kind Macca and Gilbert O Sullivan used to make in the early seventies, with a touch of pure 60s pop harmony magic that The Zombies would no doubt write home to their mothers about, and playful psych undertones that yearns for the day when London used to swing and Russ Sainty used to loiter outside the Bag O Nails with that bunch of dandies The First Impression. Imaginary Friends is a wonderful album filled with quite wonderful songs. And is really made for your record collection.
The Loved Drones ‘Live at Atelier Rock HUY’
ALBUM
Welcome to the live sonic space rock world of the quite wonderful Loved Drones, a band that takes psych, post-punk and space rock to new and cosmically dizzy heights.
Recorded live in Belgium this year it’s a perfect introduction to anyone who has not yet had the pleasure to lay ears on the band.
The album kicks off with the quite excellent “Dirt & Leaves”, which is all Fall like lead guitar riffs, sonic ambiance and Julian Cope like 2 car garage like rock ‘n’ roll [I told you they were good].
The Loved Drones have a power and an all-round likability and uniqueness that all the great bands have. They are a band who plough their own furrow through live casting off tangent animal shapes at the sun, raising two fingers to the lack of talent and originality that currently is forced upon us by the mainstream radio and press. The Loved Drones are quite wonderful.
“The Hindenburg Omen” is a instrumental that a blockbuster film should be made just so it can be included on the soundtrack, and “Human’s Can’t Compete” once again is brimming with a Cope-like magnificence. These eight live tracks show what a great band we have in our mists and really should be heard and appreciated by all us music lovers who love mind bending space hopping cosmic musical delights.
Occult Character ‘Swifties’
EP (Metal Postcard Records)
There is a darkness about this EP that I find quite enlightening. Four very short tracks that capture the slight unhinged mess of the times we find ourselves in. I have written about Occult Character many times over the years and the more I hear, the darker and twisted his music seems to become.
He is a modern-day musical folk anti-hero: part Woody Guthrie part Walmart Eminem. He is a one off, and he captures the mood of America; not always in what he is saying, but how he is saying it, and with the atmosphere that surrounds his music.
Occult Character is a very important musical artist and one day he will be discovered, receiving the acclaim he richly deserves. He may not always be easy to listen to but is always fascinating.
Pound Land ‘Live At New River Studios/ Worried’
ALBUM (Cruel Nature Records) 25th October 2024
This new album by Pound Land is a double whammy of an affair. The first side recorded live, captures the band without guitar but with a rather fetching squelching punk rock synth suppling the health out of the watching masses.
Pound Land are of course a punk and post punk rock outfit of political magnitude. A band that captures the atmosphere of living in this divided land we call the United Kingdom and make a hell of a fine racket while capturing the atmosphere as the live side of this cassette magically proves. The second side is taken up by the thirty-one-minute track, “Worried”, which is a fine sonic journey of sadness, horror and experimental splendour that takes in dub, punk, and electro soundscapes; a dream of a nightmare track that really needs to be heard by all.
Salem Trials ‘Big Bad King’
SINGLE
The Salem Trials are back with a fuzzed distorted post-punk slice of punk rock. Yes, two tracks of pure unadulterated alternative pop frenzy with melodies bathed in menace and slightly gone off honey. Yes a honey larynx explosion of pure spite and delight, in that order.
The Smashing Times ‘Mrs. Ladyships And The Cleanerhouse Boys’
TRACK
I really like this track. Imagine if you will the early Go Betweens deciding to go all 60s: just pre psychedelic pop. It’s all 12-string guitar chime but played by someone who is slightly down on life, a melancholic haze of happy memories and flat beer. If this song was a girlfriend, it would be a keeper. But I bet your mum would not approve, but your dad would.
Juanita Stein ‘Mother Natures Scorn’
SINGLE (Agricultural Audio)
What I really like about this little beauty of a song is the stripped backline of it. No drums, no bass, just electric guitar and beautiful harmony, it gives the song room to breathe and to draw you into the soundscape fragility, and to bask in the fading sun quality of the song. A lovely little thing indeed.
The Striped Bananas ‘Flowers In The Air’
SINGLE – 25th October 2025
“Flowers In The Air” is a bit of a gem, all sixties Hammond organ prose and garage flower beat, the sound of Neil Young Jamming with the Strawberry Alarm clock in the hope of making the perfect single to spread the message of free love and discotheque flashback ecstasy.
Swansea Sound ‘Toxic Energy’
SINGLE (Skep Wax (UK), Formosa Punk (Germany) and Sm. Craft Advisory (US))
“Toxic Energy” is an imagined duet between the late great Terry Hall and the ‘I have no idea what his time keeping is like but there is nothing great about him apart from what a great nasty piece of work he is’ Elon Musk.
And a fine single it is too. A song full of vim and vigour and annoying urgency and indeed energy, and the energy is indeed toxic as I am currently doing laps around the living room trying to lasso Reilly the cat. I’m sure “Toxic Energy” will be lighting up the alternative airwaves over the next few weeks. It should come with a health warning.
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