The Dunwells - Colour My Mind

1. Who are The Dunwells? 

The Dunwells are an indie folk/indie pop band from Leeds, England. They have been making music since 2009 and have two albums. Colour My Mind bursts off their latest E.P. Colour My Mind (Dec’17). The Dunwells combine elements of both American and British music traditions.

2. What kind of song is Colour My Mind?

Colour My Mind is an indie pop song that builds into a big, chest beating, chorus. With hints of gospel the song is saccharine, middle of the road pap, but ultimately irresistible.

3. Who do The Dunwells sound like?

Mumford & Sons, Bronze Radio Return, and Fleet Foxes.

4. What has the music press said about Colour My Mind?

“A band that blend together to deliver some stunning harmonies”- Indie Band Guru. 

“Stellar vocals” – Indie Obsessive. 

 “Pure joy” – Flick Of The Finger. 

5. Which bands have influenced The Dunwells?

Bob Dylan, Motown, Crowded House, Foy Vance, and Elbow.

6. Why should I listen to Colour My Mind? 

Because the song has an interesting blend of musical traditions. Because you love heart warming, singalong, indie pop with soaring choruses.

7. Do the band have any more bangers?

Hey Now, Fire Down and Battling Life.

8. Any more?

Nah.

The Family Crest are an orchestral indie folk/rock band from San Francisco, California. They have been together since 2008 and have recorded two albums. The Family Crest are similar to Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear. Sparks is the lead single from the E.P. Prelude To War (April'17). Paste Magazine described Sparks as, “A thunderous opener with a galloping, racing pace.” The song is breathtaking and emotional.

Ezra Furman - Love You So Bad

1.    Who’s the dude?

Ezra Furman is an indie rock musician from Chicago, Illinois. He has been making music since 2006. Love You So Bad (Nov'17) is the lead single from his seventh album Transangelic Exodus (Feb'18).

2. What's the tune about?

Love You So Bad is alternative Americana. Slightly quirky, orchestral, homeland rock.

3. Who does Ezra Furman sound like?

Lou Reed/Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, and John 'Cougar' Mellencamp.

4. What have the sycophants in the press said?

“Just a good song” – Spin.

“Retro” – AV Club.

“An upbeat song of unrequited love” – Homework Horse.

5. Which bands float Ezra's boat?

The big influences are Green Day, The Sex Pistols, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, and The Strokes.

6. Why should I give Love You So Bad a listen?

Ezra Furman's star is in the ascendency and this song is part of the reason why.

7. Does he have any more bangers?

Suck The Blood From My Wound is another great one from the latest album.

8. Any more words?

No.

“Sneaking cigarettes under the football bleachers baby, so bad”

Andrew W.K. is famous for (quietly intelligent) hard rocking party music. He is a classically trained musician and has worked as a motivational speaker and as an advice columnist. I Don't Know Anything (March'18) is from his fifth studio album and Punk News thought it sounded like Europe's Final Countdown meets Bruce Springsteen.

“I don’t know the truth, I don’t know the way”

Goodnight Lenin - Portrait Of Youth

1.    Who are Goodnight Lenin?

Goodnight Lenin are an indie rock band from Birmingham, England. They have been together since 2011 and have one album in the bag. Portrait Of Youth (March’17) is a standalone single. 

2. Is Portrait Of Youth any good? 

Yeah. A slow, ponderous piano intro sets an epic tone to a melancholic build up to a furious strum out. It's a special kind of guitar driven indie heaven but if it's you, it's you. Try out Portrait Youth. 

3. Who do Goodnight Lenin sound like? 

The War On Drugs, The Airborne Toxic Event, and (an Irish) Bruce Springsteen. 

4. What is the word from the press about Portrait Of Youth? 

“Authentic and raw” – And So She Thinks.

“A rock anthem in the making” – Counter Act. 

“Splicing alt-country DNA with an almost punk spirit” – The Hearing Aid.

5. Which bands inspired Goodnight Lenin? 

Some of their main influences are Neil Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bob Dylan, Father John Misty, and Fleet Foxes. 


6. Why should I give Portrait Of Youth a spin?

Because you like a bit of Irish. Because you like an epic. Because you won't hear this on the radio. 


7. What are Goodnight Lenin's best songs?

Desire is good. 


8. Any more words? 

Legs.

“The greatest weight is a heavy mind”

Bonaparte is the Swiss indie rock/electronic musician Tobias Jundt who lives in Berlin, Germany. He is similar to Frizka Viljor and I Heart Sharks. Fuck Your Accent (April'17) is a single from his fifth album The Return Of Stravinsky Wellington (June'17). Bonaparte is an eccentric musical genius who produces quirky pop gems and if you don't like the instant, but disposable, charm of FYA try the maudlin slow burn of Melody X. 

“Don’t understand half the words you say,

I love how you say it anyway”

The Charlatans - Plastic Machinery

1. Who are The Charlatans? 

The Charlatans are an indie rock band from Northwich, England. They started in 1988 and were part of the Madchester scene of the late eighties and early nineties. Plastic Machinery is the first single from their thirteenth album Different Days (May'17). 

2. What kind of tune is Plastic Machinery? 

The guitar riffs keep Plastic Machinery grounded as the vocals float in the ether. A perfect throw back to a distant era. 

3. Who do The Charlatan's sound like? 

The Charlatans sound like The Stone Roses, The Happy Mondays, and The Courteeners. 

4. What have the press said about Plastic Machinery? 

“Crunching, soulful” – Clash. 

“The much loved outfit continue in their rich vein of form” – Tenement TV.

“Sounding as fresh as day one” – YouTube Comments.

5. Which bands influenced The Charlatans? 

The Charlatans main influences are Bob Dylan, The Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, The Rolling Stones, and Joy Division. 

6. Why should I listen to Plastic Machinery? 

Because you like to pay your respects to English rock'n'roll royalty. Because the lads sound fresh as a daisy. 

7. What are the best Charlatan's songs? 

The Only One I Know is the classic, Stones Rosey, tune from their debut album. Come Home Baby has a joyous singalong chorus and is the stand out track from their last album. One To Another is a Happy Mondays-esque tune from the 1997 album Tellin' Stories. 

8. Any more words?

Johnny Marr (The Smiths, The The, The Cribs) and  Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) played guitar on Plastic Machinery. Pete Salisbury (The Verve) is on drums. 

Different Days is co-produced by Jim Spencer (Oasis, The Cribs, The Vaccines). 

Davey Dynamite is a punk/folk musician from Chicago, Illinois, playing since 2010. Old school punks love his latest album Holy Shit (2016). Davey Dynamite is similar to Against Me! and Frank Turner. He is influenced by Neil Young, Frank Turner and The Clash. Friends Not Fans (2012) is a heartfelt tribute to the punk scene and a stinging rebuke to bands who treat fans as consumers (and a catchy-as-chlamydia punk tune).

“Let’s make one thing fucking clear,

I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t here”

Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam - 1000 Times

1.    Who are the chaps?

Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam are an indie rock band of convenience from NewYork. Leithauser is the singer from The Walkmen and Rostam Batmanglij is  the multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter/producer from Vampire Weekend. They have both quit their bands and struck out on their own. 1000 Times (Aug'16) is the first single from their album I Had A Dream That You Were Mine (Sept'16).

2. What's the fuss? 

1000 Times has a catchy chorus that get's milked until they've sucked that tit dry. The vocals move from whimsical to crazed, desperate, and impassioned. It's a classic. 

3. Who do Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam sound like? 

The Walkmen, Bob Dylan and Rod Stewart.

4. What have the fawning press said about 1000 Times?

“Vagabond soul” – Rolling Stone.

“Fantastic single” – Paste Magazine.

“A pained piano driven pop track” – Spin.

5. Who are they influenced by? 

They are both influenced by Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and American roots music. 

6. Why should I give 1000 Times a listen? 

One listen to the chorus and you'll know why. Leithauser's plaintive wailing is more addictive than deep fried heroin. 

7.  What are Hamilton Leithauser +Rostram's best songs? 

1000 Times is the best. 

8. Any more words? 

No.

 “I had a dream that you were mine”

Biffy Clyro are a very successful indie rock band from Kilmarnock, Scotland. Started in 1995 they have recorded seven albums. Biffy Clyro are similar to Twin Atlantic, Feeder and Foo Fighters. They are influenced by Metallica, Nirvana and Rush. Re-Arrange (Nov'16) is the fourth single from their album Ellipsis (July'16) that entered the U.K.charts at number one. Re-Arrange is a quirky rock pop ballad.

“Cause I would never break your heart”

Whilk & Misky- All By Myself

     1.    Who are these bohemians? 

     Whilk & Misky are an indie electronic duo from London. The chaps have been releasing music since 2014 and have a short player and a handful of singles on their resume. All By Myself (July'16) is a standalone single.

     2. What is All By Myself about?

     All By Myself is an acoustic, foot tapping, clap-along tune with a brass assist that is all about getting your groove on with no fucks given. Just get your snout in the trough; this tune is more contagious than a cheap Thai hookers sausage smuggler at sun up.

     3. Who do Whilk & Misky sound like?

     Milky Chance and Vance Joy say the folk at Indie Shuffle. 

      4. What have the muppets in the press said about All By Myself?

“Anthem of the summer” – NME. 

     “Infectious groove” – Abduction Radiation.   

     “Uplifting and catchy” – Chrome Music. 

  5. Which bands have put the dance in Whilk & Misky's step? 

  Some of the Whilk & Misky influences are Bob Dylan, Grizzly Bear, Jon Hopkins and Shiba San. 


  6. Why should I give All By Myself a lash?

  All By Myself brings catchy indie pop to a dance beat. Impossible to dislike.


  7. Do Whilk & Misky have any more of these treasures?

  Babe I'm Yours is the one you want.


  8. Any more words Chief?

   Nah. Jog on.

“All by myself I came to party”

Krrum is a music producer from Leeds, England, and an electronic pop musician. Evil Twin is from the man's debut E.P. Evil Twin (Jan'16). Krrum has smooth soulful vocals and with a sticky loop courtesy of the lady, and some slamming brass, Evil Twin is a knockout tune. Clash Music called Krrum “an avant pop prodigy” and Stereogum praised Evil Twin's  “absurdly catchy beat.” Get in to it.

“Looking like a Hitchcock scene,

I’ve been sleeping under trampolines”