The Nite Songs Singles Bar June 2021

 

Blimey, is it that time again already? Welcome to the June instalment of the Singles Bar where, much the same as last month, we've got a good mix of concoctions on offer from all across the alternative spectrum. Take a chair, pull up a glass and let's sup...

Anyway, we've got a genuine legend kicking things off for us this month in the form of Charlie Harper & The Sub Machine and their new single Panic (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑). A lurching ode to the imminent environmental collapse with its swirling Stooges guitar and drums, this is a good effort from the UK Subs frontman and proof that old dogs very much can be taught new tricks. B-side, Post War Punks is nearer to the choppy punk rock of Harper's day job and is also well worth a listen. Bandcamp link here.

Charlie isn't the only UK Sub to have a single out away from his day job this month either - Alvin Gibbs & The Disobedient Servants, fronted up by the Subs bassist, also have a new release out in the State of Grace EP (🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑). The pop-punk of the title track reminds me of the Undertones for some reason which is no bad place to be while the sinister Too Bad She's In Love and the more melodic Brother Sister are decent B-sides as well. Not bad. Bandcamp link here.

I feel we owe Ryan Hamilton a bit of an apology in this column - due to the fact that the Singles Bar normally goes live a couple of days before his 1221 monthly release we seem to have missed a couple of his releases due to timing issues. Babies (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) which was May's release, isn't a cover of the Pulp classic sadly but it's still an enjoyable slice of melodic angst aimed at the "me me me" consumerist generation. Meanwhile, this month’s effort Shots Fired (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is a satisfyingly speedy break-up ode which reminds me a bit of a spikier take on the old Foo Fighters nugget Learn To Fly. Ryan's been on a good roll with these new songs of late, hopefully he can keep this form up. Bandcamp link here.

It's always a pleasure to get a new release from The Speedways round these parts and the five track covers EP Borrowed & Blue (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is no exception. Containing two previously released efforts in the form of their covers of Kirsty MacColl's They Don't Know (a great version if you missed it first time out) and Billy Ocean's Love Really Hurts Without You (which works way better than it really has any right to), the group also put in worthy covers of Hanoi Rocks' 11th Street Kids (no mean feat), a rocked up take on Abba's SOS (I was dreading this after hearing Fozzy's club-footed metal cover of it a few years ago but they invest it with the necessary quiet-loud punch to carry it off) and Roky Erikson's Starry Eyes which they embue with their wide-eyed power-pop sound to excellent effect. Good stuff all round. Bandcamp link here.

We should have a review of Penfriend's new album Exotic Monsters up on Nite Songs any day now (the dreaded review backlog strikes again...) but in the meantime, I'll Start A Fire (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗) was released as a final taster single the week before the album came out and might just be a strong contender for Laura Kidd's best song yet in this guise taking the slacker-rock of the Breeders and imbuing it with a paranoid aggression which works nearly perfectly. Heartily recommended. Bandcamp link here.

South Londoners Dignan Porch are a band who've sort of been on my radar for a bit after I heard their rather good album Nothing Bad Will Ever Happen on the back of it being recommended on Robin Ince and Michael Legge's excellent Vitriola podcast. Similar to Ryan Hamilton, they're releasing a single a month this year and the most recent two are certainly worth a listen - Mezmerized (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is an angular but surprisingly tuneful slice of introspection while Walk (🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 ) is a quick one minute burst of choppy post-punk riffage which recalls Wire. Not bad...I get the feeling this lot will be featuring in this column quite a bit as the year goes on. Bandcamp link here.

Primitive Soul are signed to R*E*P*E*A*T records (first new band I've seen from them for a while actually) and their debut single Void (🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑) is a rough 'n' raw slice of Idles-indebted post-punk. Rough around the edges (it's definitely got that old school "recorded in the cheapest studio we could find" feel to it which is actually quite good to see in this age where even new bands are Pro Tooling their sound into oblivion), it's the sound of a band who arguably need a bit of room to development but the furious political conscience bubbling away here definitely hints at potential. Bandcamp link here.

It's good to see Bradford goth veterans 1919 back on the trail following their excellent Futurecide album from a couple of years ago. Singing To The Universe (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is a nervy string-drenched slice of paranoia which owes a slight nod to both the Sisters of Mercy and Bauhaus but not so much so that it's blatantly obvious. 1919 have been on a good run since reforming a decade or so ago and hopefully the new album will see them keep this up. Bandcamp link here.

Now here's a name I've not seen for a bit - Steve Conte, guitarist with both Michael Monroe's band and the 21st century incarnation of the New York Dolls has a new single out and I'm pleased to report that Recovery Doll (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is a fine swaggering slice of Noo Yoik attitude and almost rockabilly style rhythms. Conte is one of those guys who seems to have a knack of making nearly everything he turns his hand to seem effortlessly cool and this single is no exception. Bandcamp link here.

Finally, it wouldn't be a Euro championship summer without at least one football based single and Alcopop records have duly obliged with the debut single from the mysterious Harry & The Kanes, England We Are Dreaming Now (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) Mixing some World In Motion style electronica with some spoken word vocals which are oddly reminiscent of Eddie Argos from Art Brut, it's an enjoyable effort which is well worth a curiosity effort for the footy fans amongst you. Bandcamp link here.

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Anyway, with that slice of footy based electro-rock, we should probably close the bar and put the match on, aye? Hope you've found something that's piqued your interest at the Singles Bar this month - we'll see you again in a few weeks for July's instalment.