A month til Christmas and our very own Captain Stavros builds up the Winter cheer with some great tunes to warm the blood.

 

Bria

‘Where Have all the Cowboys Gone?’

Country Covers 2 out February 24 via Subpop Records

Bria’s got questions and she wants answers.  We all do.

 

Fazerdaze

‘Winter’

Break! out now via Section 1

Another new track from Fazerdaze, another bullseye hit.

 

Le Junk

‘Some Monkeys’

Alt-pop gone mad! Caught the Old Blue Last show and it was great, enjoy this new single and an upcoming gig at the Shack January 28, 2023.

 

JW Frances

‘Dream House’

Dream House out January 27 via Sunday Best Recordings

I can’t tell if this dude is wearing a wig or not in the music video but who cares with these Mac Demarco vibes. Who the hell even cares?

 

Jen Cloher

‘Mana Takatapui’

I Am the River, The River is Me out March 3 via Milk! Records

Here’s a song name I cannot for the life of me pronounce, even though I hear her singing it, but loved the opening licks/lyrics and I’m sure you will too. Vibe on your crazy diamond.

 

Sorry Girls

‘Breathe’

Out soon via Artbutus Records

As someone that’s recently been on an air balloon, for the first time can you believe it? I dig these floaty vibes. I’m also a huge supporter of breathing.

 

Ist Ist

‘Stamp You Out’

Protagonist Out March 31 Via Violence Records.

Adulty post-punk sounds, we dig those who age gracefully and can still rock a jam.

 

The Pearl Hearts

‘More’

Love Chaos Out Soon via Double Bang Records

We can’t help hearing a Rage Against the Machine/Slaves/Royal Blood mash-up here. Sold-Out show this week at Blondie caught our attention, glad it did.

 

Patrick Watson

‘Ode to Vivian (Rework)’

Better in the Shade Out Now via City Slang Records

Just some good ole Pianie.

 

Laveda

‘Fuck’

Single Out Now via Paper Cup Music

Promoted as a ‘night drive window down’ tune in the press blurb. I’m listening to it in the day with the rain, must have range cause I haven’t combusted….yet.

 

Blossom Caldarone

‘Fridge Space’

Always a sucker for storytelling tunes and horns. Poppipty pop track.

 

Italia 90

‘Tales From Beyond’

Living Human Treasure out January 20 via Brace Yourself Records

 

Weird Nightmare

So Far Gone

Out Now via Sub Pop Records

A slightly more relaxed vibe from Metz frontman Alex

 

Softee

‘Red Light Green Light’

Out soon via City Slang Records

Throw Backs, lyrics, jams for days, enjoyable.

 

Angelica Salvi

‘MOL’

Habitat out now! Via Lovers & Lollypops

Not our typical format but we got distracted whilst this was on in the background and it hooked us as much as it’ll hook you. Make a cup of whatever and chuck this on, you’ll see.

 

Bonnie Trash

‘Lashies on Fire’

Molochio out now via Hand Drawn Dracula Records

Another hauntingly beautiful track by Bonnie Trash.

 

Pretty Happy

‘Boots’

Pretty Happy - Echo Boy out now Via Foggy Notions Records

These Boots were made for listening, and they’re going to listen all over you.

 

Alice Low

‘Show Business’

Alice is back with their David Bowie everything to drop another easy to listen to track.

Via CLWB Records

 

Civic

‘End of the Line’

Taken By Force out February 10 Via ATO Records

Civic has the kind of chaotic energy we condone around here.

 

Bnny

‘Breaking Up’

Everything out now Via Fire Talk Records

A low-fi melody with a familiar message that never gets old.

 

Kate Davis

‘Consequences’

New Single via Anti- Records

Darkness dressed in Poppy-clothing. We can get behind this.

 

Prima Queen

‘Butter Knife’

Out now Via Big Indie Records

Folky story telling, feels like we’re eavesdropping. Check-em out at the Lexington on the 28.11.22

 

Grandma’s House

‘How Does it Feel?’

Out now Via Brace Yourself Records

March 23, The Victoria, London, be there.  

 

Metronomy x Panic Shack

‘It’s Good to be Back’

Small World out November 28 via Because Music Records.

This is like peanut butter and chocolate’s debut.

 

H. Hawkline

‘Milk For Flowers’

Milk For Flower out March 23 Via Heavenly Recordings

A sing-songy-piano masterpiece.

 

Flossing

‘Switch’

Word of Mirth out now Via Brace Yourself Records

Stacato darkwave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H Hawkline is cool. Really cool. The Welshman has relocated from Cardiff to L.A. via Lundy Island, he has cheekbones and hair to die for and celebrity friends who include Sweet Baboo, Gruff Rhys and Cate Le Bon. It is the latter who is on the knobs producing his debut long player for Heavenly – how cool is that? Very, in case you were in any doubt. The momentum is well and truly behind H Hawkline in general and In The Pink Of Condition in particular. Great things are forecasted here… but are not delivered.

Well not in full at least, as this record feels strangely unengaging and underwhelming at times. It is monochromatic in sound and outlook; 50 shades of grey and only a few of them titillating. H Hawkline describes his work as “strange pop” suggesting it is otherworldly, odd and absurd. Not quite. Strained pop would be a little closer to the truth on occasions. In reality the sound is an effective re-tread of new wave musical poses delivered with a knowing wink. The atonal guitar sound needles away, the rhythm shuffles, the vocal is flat and buried deep in the mix most of the time. At its worst it goes nowhere and offers little of interest. As a piece of work it seems curiously content with itself; never straining to extend itself beyond self-imposed limits, rarely taking risks. In The Pink Of Condition is overtly self-absorbed, gazing out of the window at the constant drizzle, burbling away to no-one in particular. To mangle a phrase it will say little to you about your life.

This is a shame as there is clearly something going on which suggests this man has ability and knows his way round a tune. ‘In Love’ is a chugging pean whose shimmering guitar vibrates in aching contrast to the melancholic vocal and bittersweet piano, wants and needs out of kilter leaving a keenly felt yearning. It is the clear highlight of the record. ‘Moons In My Mirror’ opens out into a fine chorus with a trim phone like guitar motif which is irritatingly catchy and stays with you long after the song has moved on. ‘Ringfinger’ is notable for lifting the pace and scurries along entertainingly. (This in great contrast to the majority of the songs on offer here which pass by at a rate which a hearse would consider pedestrian.) More than anything ‘Ringfinger’ is the catchy, spiky post-punk that you feel H Hawkline is seeking to emulate here. Influences like Wire, Magazine and The Only Ones seem clearer and more to the fore and the song is the better for it.

Aside from ‘Ringfinger’ it is an album that curiously bends time, slowing the passing grains of sand to stretch seconds and minutes – this is not a compliment. ‘Dirty Dreams’ is a dull dirge. ‘Spooky Dog’ is tiresome, plodding away like a grey Sunday with the WiFi down. Similarly ‘Back In Town’ has little to say or do and greatly outstays it’s welcome. As these final two songs come at the back end of the album it does make you wonder if there was some kind of pressure to get the damn thing over and done with. H Hawkline’s flat vocal does not help a lot of the time nor do the lyrics which set out for some wilful need for the mundane. “I am a moronic morose” runs a line on ‘Moons in My Mirror’ and you can’t help but agree. The point of the mundaneness is surely ironic, a tongue in cheek downplaying of rock cliché. But the comedy just doesn’t come off. There can be magic in the celebration of the ordinary and this can be funny if, crucially, there is a sincerity there. Sadly this seems absent. 

Overall this is an underwhelming record which does not stay with you after you have played it or begs you to play it again. H Hawkline will go on to create much better pieces of work as he clearly has talent. The need is for him to stretch those creative muscles, shake off some of the greyness and let some sunshine in. Contrast and difference are needed, something that lifts the torpor that is all too evident here. H Hawkline may well be cool, but the likelihood is that In The Pink Of Condition will leave you cold.

In The Pink Of Condition is available from amazon and iTunes.