On The Stereo #2

Neil Young: burned through a set of songs that went on to form the classic album, Tonight’s The Night

This week’s selection includes Neil Young, The Magic Numbers, Forth Wanderers, Skylar Fri, Cosmos Sunshine and Jealous Of The Birds

NEIL YOUNG
ROXY: TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT LIVE
Warner Bros
In 1973, two years before Tonight’s The Night was released, Neil Young and his band burned through a set of songs that went on to form the classic album. That inaugural performance at The Roxy is captured here and those tracks take on a celebratory tone which reveal further hidden depths. A surprisingly essential addition for any Young fan.

DH

KIDDO
DANCING ON YOUR OWN
Kish Records
Sometimes you just need a slice of feel good pop. With clear disco vibes and an infectious beat, KIDDO has absolutely nailed the perfect floor filler. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been playing this loud and dancing around my bedroom like a teenager!

FD

FORTH WANDERERS
NOT FOR ME
Sub Pop
Taken from from their self-titled Sub Pop debut LP, Not For Me is the sort of indie-pop gem we’ve come to expect from this brilliant band. We spoke to Forth Wanderers in the Spring 2018 edition of our digital magazine, and you can find out the secrets to their melodic songwriting there.

DG

THE MAGIC NUMBERS
RIDE AGAINST THE WIND
Role Play Records
Massively feel good summer tune. Makes me feel like the sun is shining even when its raining outside. looking forward to hearing more from this new album. [Check out our recent interview with The Magic Numbers’ Romeo Stodart]

FD

COSMOS SUNSHINE
THE BOMB
Self-release
Strung out like Jason Molina, but skilfully contained within three-and-a-half minutes, this slice of alt-rock deserves to put Cosmos Sunshine Heidtmann on the map. A gentle flute is the perfect counterpoint to his shaky vocals on a song that is both beauty and beast.

DH

SKYLAR FRI
WITHOUT YOU I’M JUST A BODY
AntiFragile Music
Danish songwriter Skylar Fri begins this number in haunting, deep tones, with her voice swimming in a throbbing bass. Without You I’m Just A Body has been marked for FKA Twigs, Lana Del Rey, and BANKS, and if you like those artists then you’ll adore this song.

DG

THOSE UNFORTUNATES
TWO SONGS ABOUT FOOTBALL
Gare Du Nord Records
This pair of tracks will delight fans of both the beautiful game and jangly indie alike. Hornsey Automatic FC is the more immediate of the two, whilst King Of The Lane rewards repeat listens. They’re both packed with lyrical references that’ll raise a smile from every football hipster.

DH

JEALOUS OF THE BIRDS
PLASTIC SKELETONS
Hand In Hive
Jealous Of The Birds, AKA Naomi Hamilton, has been a hot ticket in the indie-rock for couple of years now, with her debut album, Parma Violets, causing quite a stir. Her latest song begins with a winding riff before breaking into crunching chords. If you like your pop washed with distortion, then this is a must listen.

DG

ARCTIC MONKEYS
TRANQUILITY BASE HOTEL & CASINO
Domino Record Co
Unfortunately, this is a disappointing latest offering from the Arctic Monkeys. After waiting nearly five years since the acclaimed AM, we see Alex Turner push himself to create new sound that just doesn’t quite work. But is it not better to try and fail than to not try at all?

FD

Words: Damien Girling, Duncan Haskell, Fern Dunn

Listen to these songs and other On The Stereo selections on the Songwriting Magazine SoundCloud, YouTube and Spotify ‘New Music Reviewed’ playlists.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.