The four piece Glaswegian band Holy Esque were formed in 2011 and released their self-titled debut EP the following year. The praise that followed the EP’s release earned them spots on the bill with The Raveonettes, Haim, Augustines and in 2013 at Glastonbury. The release of their new EP Submission on 17th July 2015 through Beyond The Frequency Records follows on from the success of their single releases ‘St.’ and ‘Silences’, and looks to be another triumph for the band.

Holy Esque have a unique sound which sets them apart from others, which as with other unique bands that have gone before, not everyone gets their individual style, causing them to become a Marmite band. Submission showcases their unmistakable sound with impressive rifts which carry you through the songs, a strong emotional backdrop, the superb use of all instruments and distinctive gravelly vocals from frontman Pat Hynes.

The slow build intro of the EP’s opening track ‘Fade’ has the feel of when a band first takes to the stage, with the anticipation of what’s to come. The track highlights the ensemble of everything that makes Holy Esque such a great choice and even promises “I’ll give you more.” ‘Gulf’ plays with different sounds that can be created when you don’t follow the crowd and choose instead to make more fascinating music. ‘Strange’ focuses on the emotional side of the band’s music, letting you get lost in the track and is accompanied with very a strong guitar intro and solo. The final track, ‘Thrones’ emphasises the interesting vibrato in Hynes vocal style which adds another layer of lyrical expression. The track builds throughout to a strong finish to the EP, leaving you wishing there are more than just the four songs you have just heard on the EP.

Holy Esque have two shows coming up in London (August 4th at The Social and August 5th at Old Blue Last), which will be well worth a listen, as the new EP is a great addition to their repertoire and shows they are going from strength to strength.

Submission EP is available from Amazon and iTunes.

Hyde & Beast’s latest EP lives up to the hippy like reputation the band have built up, with acoustic beats accompanied by the tambourine, the whole EP has a ‘70s hippy feel to it, with smoothing vocals and honest lyrics to back it up.

The opening track ‘Hard Times Good Times’ is engaging and intriguing with a heavy guitar and trumpet melody, an unusual combination, but one that works well to create the ‘70s nostalgic vibe. The melody is very “loud”, giving the impression that for this particular track the lyrics were there to support the melody, not the other way around which is most common. It’s a good and engaging technique that sets the tone of the EP and band well.

In contrast, ‘Everything You Want’ is a more lyric led track, with lyrics such as: “When we were together / You would leave me every night” but with an upbeat melody creating more of a “better off without them” message than a sad one.

In addition, there aren’t any “sad” tracks on the EP, which both ‘Never Get To Heaven’ and ‘Get Up’ have the potential to be. ‘Never Get To Heaven’ has an overall message of never leaving your loved one’s side; and ‘Get Up’ containing lyrics like “Everyone knows you’ve been dancing around” but with a tambourine/guitar melody that makes the listener want to get up and dance.

Overall, it’s a brilliant EP that has the potential to be a big success in a time so obsessed with nostalgia and particularly hippy lifestyles.

Hard Times Good Times EP is available from Amazon and iTunes.

Reverieme has released her debut EP Or Else The Light, and my God, it’s good! After an interesting start in music, originally teaching herself how to play the guitar with her nose, she has developed into an incredibly talented artist, who is definitely one to watch.

Each track has its own story, strong enough for each track to stand alone, yet they still flow flawlessly into one another.

The opening track ‘Venus’ sums up the style of this EP and Reverieme well. It has a lovely, calm, acoustic melody opening leading into soft breath-taking vocals, accompanied by beautiful imagery in the lyrics, this track has you swaying along without even realising it. She does the happy calm song well, ‘Golem’ being another example, yet her strongest tracks are heavier.

There are some right out heart-breaking songs like ‘Outside’, which haunts the listener long after it’s finished; and ‘Nocturnal Babe’, a heart-wrenching tale of the pain of losing a baby shown through lyrics such as: “Cling to the hope that life could be fairer.”

That being said, without a doubt her strongest style is heart-breaking lyrics contrasted with a happy melody, which features heavily on this record. ‘Plankton’ starts with a happy melody but is meet with the lyrics “Good afternoon sir / I’m sorry to be sharing this news” leading into a more upsetting tone. As does ‘Datun’, a very emotional story-led track with heavy lyrics such as: “Safety wasn’t easy to come by / With no family” and “He’s never known love / All he’s ever known is how to fight back”, that has a light acoustic melody.

Overall, this EP is incredible, a true credit to her talent, and I can’t wait to see how far she will go.

Or Else The Light EP is available from Amazon and iTunes.

Bubbling under Brighton’s vibrant music scene for some time, The Meow Meows are now rightly getting more exposure. Formed from a collection of local ska and punk bands, this 10 piece band is much loved, and is now known locally as Brighton’s 20 legged groove machine.

South coast ska and soul is their tag line for what is an assault, both musically and visually. They have developed from a collection boys and girls who used the band as an excuse to drink, to becoming a cohesive collective of fine musicians.

This three track EP, entitled Friends On Benefits, has the added bonus of being produced by legendary Brighton producer Prince Fatty. Having used Fatty’s talents previously on their album Somehow We Met, the band have again turned to the reggae maestro.

’Friends On Benefits’, the EP’s title track, describes the working habits, or lack of them, amongst the band’s peers. The drudgery of office life for meagre pay is measured against the life on the dole. As with most of The Meow Meows’ tracks, it’s fast paced, and a cracking jump up number.

’London Road’ is a track about an area of Brighton. For those unfamiliar with the London Road area, this tune attempts to describe the scummy, unspoken area of Brighton. The lyrics name drop local areas like The Level and the Hobgoblin pub. It brings a knowing smile to anyone who has had the misfortune to stumble across this area. Slightly slower than most tracks, it allows the band’s musicianship to be displayed along with Prince Fatty’s production methods.

‘Tits and Hatred’ is an unashamed jump up ska number with punk lyrics. It is an all-out attack on the right wing media which does not pull any punches:

“We don’t need no education / All we need is tits and hatred”

A simple message that aims to convey how some sections of society are happy to be spoon fed their media without so much as a challenge, or thought to the vicious undertones of the media moguls. However, as with all of The Meow Meows work, this is all done with a wry smile and a chuckle. The band does handle some serious issues, but it’s dealt with in a cheeky nodding way.

All in all, a three track EP is a little short, and like the cat that’s had its cream whipped away from under its nose, we are happy we saw it, but now we want more.

Friends On Benefits EP is available from Amazon and iTunes.