Into Music Reviews: More New Music February 2022
February might only have 28 days (so does every month to be fair) but the output of new music this month I suspect will be difficult to surpass. Over here at Into Creative towers, we’ve been listening to loads of new tracks and bring the best of that to you now.
Artist: Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band
Single: Kismet
There are few if any cities that can rival the musical quality that Liverpool has delivered over the years. The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Cilla Black, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The La’s, The Zutons and Ladytron to name but a few. Another who could be added to that list is the supreme talent that is Michael Head, a fellow who has been delivering classic songs for over forty years via The Pale Fountains, Shack, The Strands and The Red Elastic Band.
The Liverpudlian Bacharach is back with new single Kismet (released on Modern Sky UK), a forerunner to the new album Dear Scott which lands later this year. With Bill Ryder-Jones (ex of The Coral) on production duties, the track is a well-polished, confident piece that combines shimmering guitars, an easy vocal and the cool style that Head is known for. The artist said of the track “Kismet’s about being stranded, the kindness of strangers, love and destiny”.
With an upcoming tour to promote the album, 2022 is shaping up just great for Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band. Keep up to date via their website here.
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Artist: Fatherson
Single: Dive
The Glasgow based three-piece are back with a stunning new single, Dive which is lifted from their new album Normal Fears which is out now on Easy Life Records.
The track showcases elements of alt-rock and electronica, driven by pulsating drums and synths and is sure to be a crowd favourite when played live, as the song builds up nicely before the chorus explodes and takes the track to another level.
Singer Ross Leighton is in fine form, his vocal range perfect to help this sonic blast of rock to keep rolling on. Leighton said of the track, “Dive is a song about taking chances and diving into a relationship head first. You never know if it’s going to work unless you dive in with both feet. And even if it doesn’t work out you know that you gave it all you had.”
Touring to promote the new album, including a date at Glasgow’s Barrowland in May, you can find out more by visiting the Fatherson website here.
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Artist: Daytime TV
Single: Side By Side
The new single from Daytime TV is at times bombastic but conversely, quietly reflective. Telling the tale of lost love, the lyrics are absolutely written from the heart and that comes across in spades as the band produce a beautifully crafted, three minute masterpiece.
Taken from their newly released album Nothing’s On But Everyone’s Watching (produced by Romesh Dodangoda), Daytime TV’s mix of rock and pop will see the Edinburgh band go from strength to strength. Vocalist Will Irvine said about the track “It’s a painful thing when you love someone to pieces but there are circumstances that are driving a wedge between you. Sometimes you’re not around to put things right or to say or do the thing that would make that person feel better. We’re all at different parts of our journey at different times and sometimes they don’t match. It’s heartbreaking but it’s the fact that we’re all different that makes us human…. It’s a very raw song for us and one that tells a very real story”.
Having already played venues such as Murrayfield Stadium and Glasgow’s O2, Daytime TV are a red hot live act and go out on tour in March (including a show at Glasgow’s Garage). To find out more check out their website here.
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Artist: Blue Violet
Single: Poster Girl
Blue Violet are an Anglo-Scottish duo who make shimmering pop with hints of Cocteau Twins and Mazzy Star-esque musical notes. New single Poster Girl is out now on Me & My Records and is sure to be on many top ten lists when 2022 comes to an end.
The track allows for space and silence, the guitar and drums in the background are the perfect accompaniment to showcase Sarah Gotley’s confident yet brittle vocal. The arrangement here is spot on and as the song develops, it pads out somewhat yet still retains that feeling of being cast adrift sonically, such a great technique to pull off.
Blue Violet guitarist Sam Gotley said of the track “Poster Girl is a song about fighting back. The character it centers around resists objectification, defends herself from evil and keeps whatever company she sees fit – in the chorus she finds herself the leader of a group of drunken sailors that accompany her on her voyage… As the writing process went on we felt that a dystopian, Orwellian setting was perfect for the female protagonist: weary traveller, fighter, lover & saviour all rolled into one.”
You can follow Blue Violet via their website here. Their new album Late Night Calls will be released in April.
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Artist: We Are Joiners
EP: Liquorice
Post punkers We Are Joiners have been busy of late and have just released a new three track EP with headline song Liquorice the pick of the bunch. It’s just over 2 minutes lo-fi rock with a little nod to The Ramones as the bass driven song skips along nicely. Couple of plays in and I’m singing along which is always a good sign, unless you have the misfortune to hear my tone deaf attempts at singing of course!
Love Electric is a more standard rock and roller with pounding drums and a cool guitar intro before the EP draws to a close with the track Cold AF.
The Dutch rockers continue to deliver inventive, melodic guitar based indie music and I for one will be keeping an eye out for what they do next.
Keep up to speed with all things We Are Joiners via their Bandcamp page here.
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John Welsh
@welshjb
Links:
@michaelheadtreb
@fathersonband
@DTTVOfficial
@weareblueviolet
@Wearejoiners