Nite Songs

  Well, as with last year, we're doing a Christmas Special for the Singles Bar. Although disappointingly given that we had to add a whole extra section on to the column last month to accommodate all the festive stuff, this year the pickings have been a bit slimmer. Still, we've stocked up on the mulled wine so pour yourself a glass and let's see what's turned up in Santa's sack this time around. Starting with some non-festive stuff first though in the form of the Kut   and their new single Animo (🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑) marking their return to the fray after a couple of years away. A chugging slice of pop-punk, this is a decent effort only let down slightly by the use of vocoder'd vocals on the chorus which is a bit painful on the ears. Not bad overall though and hopefully the second album will be along soon. We've been anticipating  the Scaramanga Six 's new album Worthless Music  for a while now and a review should be incoming any day now but in the meantime, Big ...

  So I think this is what they call sod's law - having started this column under the impression that August was going to be the "quiet bit of the year" and therefore a good opportunity to catch up with some stuff we'd missed in previous months, muggins 'ere promptly got sideswiped by a sudden avalanche of new releases the week before the thing went live and thus it became a two-parter. So here you go...a few more singles and a couple of mini-albums thrown in just because we're dead nice like that...  Anyway, kicking off the Singles Bar part 2, here's a name I've not heard for many years as Aussie garage rockers The Chevelles  return with their first new music in over a decade. Steve McQueen (I Wish I Was)  (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) shows that the time hasn't changed them much but when you've got the right mix of pop-punk tunefulness and upstart snottiness that this has, that's no bad thing. Good to have you back with us gents. Bandcamp link here Speakin...

  Signed to Alcopop Records, Dream Nails are quite possibly one of the most exciting new bands (well I say new, they've been going since 2015 but it's only just recently that they've been brought to my attention) out there. Self-proclaimed "feminist punk witches", think a 21st century X-Ray Spex or the early '90s riotgrrl movement with better tunes and you wouldn't be a million miles off. When they scream "You are not your job! Work is not your life!"  on Corporate Realness , you can't help but nod along in solidarity. However, this lot have a sense of humour to go along with the fierce polemic (something which a lot of groups just seem to forget) as evidenced on the tale of being ghosted that is Text Me Back . The ferocious polemics of Vagina Police  and DIY  show that this is a band who can definitely walk it like they talk it with the latter's call and response slogan of "Do it yourself!" being an anthem for all those who wan...

  The original plan this month was not to have a Singles Bar as, let's face it, there's usually very little out in terms of new releases in January (as the fact that pretty much all the albums we've reviewed this month came out in November/December last year probably testifies). However, upon investigating the inboxes we did manage to find just enough stuff to merit doing a smaller-than-usual column hence this one-off Singles Mini-Bar. Feel free to help yourself... The biggest name on our review list for this month is Tyla's Dogs D'Amour   with their new "Powder Dry EP"  (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑). I think most people know that Tyla is one heck of a prolific songwriter and it's led to times in recent years where it's felt a bit as if quantity has sometimes taken precedence over quality for Mr Pallas. However, this mournful ode to old friends who've left this world far too soon is a good effort from the guy and you may find yourself with something in yer eye ...