Into Music Reviews: New Music March 2022

March already – where does the time go? – and new releases this month include some heavy hitters announcing their return with top tunes as well as lesser known artists who don’t pack any less of a punch. So read on and find out what Into Creative are currently listening to….

Artist: Spiritualized
Single: The Mainline Song

Spiritualized don’t do things by half measures. Sonically, it’s all or nothing and the musical dosage here is to take your drugs – medicinal of course! – tune in/out and enjoy the psychedelic consequences.

J.Spaceman, aka Jason Pierce, has made a welcome return with a belter of a tune setting the scene nicely ahead of the release of their new album Everything Was Beautiful, out on 25 February via Bella Union/Fat Possom records.

At times atonal and drone heavy, the track is essentially split into two with the first half purely instrumental before Pierce comes in with vocals on the second part. The sound of a train and associated level crossing bell rings out before the music kicks in and quickly soars with Pierce contributing a staggering sixteen different instruments to the mix.

Spiritualized head out on tour towards the end of March including a date at Glasgow SWG3 on 5 May. Keep up to date via their website here.

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Artist: Belle and Sebastian
Single: If They’re Shooting At You

Of course the current situation in Ukraine is as depressing as it is appalling with war crimes evident by that Russian bastard, Putin, and his brutal army. The scenes on TV screens of bombing and the displacement of ordinary Ukrainian families are gut-wrenching and heartbreaking in equal measure.

Belle and Sebastian have released a new song If They’re Shooting At You with all proceeds going towards the Red Cross in support of Ukrainians fighting for their democracy with the U.K. government matching donations via Bandcamp through to 18 March – shame those same ministers continue to pay little more than lip service to the Ukrainian refugees but that’s a debate for another day.

So in many ways the song is secondary – as it absolutely should be – but for fans, the early release of the track is welcome news ahead of new album A Bit Of Previous which is due to be released 6 May on Matador Records. A typically cool Stuart Murdoch vocal complements a laid-back track with accompanying choir in the background. The video includes a collage of photos taken by photographers on the ground in the Ukraine.

You can support the Ukrainian campaign by buying the track via the band’s Bandcamp page here or alternatively you can contribute to the Red Cross appeal here.

Belle and Sebastian will be touring extensively through 2022 including dates at Doune The Rabbit Hole, Motherwell, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Visit their website here for further details.

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Artist: The Hanging Stars
Single: Radio On

The new single from The Hanging Stars has all the right ingredients; jangly Postcard style guitars, swathes of Americana with a hint of Laurel Canyon and countryesque ’70s psychedelic folk.

The guitar/pedal steel is prominent but for me, the rhythm section is the glue that holds the track together. An understated organ and laid-back vocals from Richard Olson all add up to a track that is quickly establishing itself as one of my favourites of the year so far.

The song precedes new album, Hollow Heart, which is out on 25 March on Loose Music. Interestingly, the new album (their fourth) was recorded at Edwyn Collins’ Clashnarrow Studio in Helmsdale with Sean Read (Dexys, Soulsavers) on production duties.

As I mentioned at the start, some lesser-known artists and maybe I’m doing them a disservice but I’ve only just discovered The Hanging Stars. With three albums and a fourth on the way, I suspect I am going to be busy acquainting myself with their work, they have a new fan!

You can check them out too – visit their website here.

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Artist: Ashinoa
Single: Disguised In Orbit

Ashinoa are a five-piece band based in Lyon, France and are due to release their second album L’Orèe on 25 March via Fuzz Club Records.

The single Disguised In Orbit is out now to help promote the album and this slab of electronica is at times disturbing, claustrophobic yet triumphantly and intensely exhilarating.

Early on, its bass heavy, shards-of-glass like music creeps along before mini-explosions and sonic bursts turn the track into an almost cinematic noir trance. There is a clear pathway here from Ashinoa’s debut release with the band exploiting wider soundscapes and exploring a more transcendent sound with elements of nature, scope and feel really coming through in the end product.

I can imagine the best underground bars and clubs in Prague, Berlin, Lyon and goddam anywhere else, will have this spinning as we speak. Do yourself a favour and give it a listen, I promise you won’t be disappointed.