On The Stereo: October 2022

Sunny War, BANNERS, Courtney Marie Andrews, Lime Garden and Haru Nemuri are among the superb songwriters of this month’s playlist

More new music here

PERFECTLY BROKEN BY BANNERS
You really can’t beat a ballad done properly and Perfectly Broken by BANNERS certainly knows what it’s doing. With a vocal melody that sticks closely to the opening piano chords before taking flight, we’re happy to be swept along.

THINKIN’ ON YOU BY COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS
Thinkin’ On You is a weightless and soulful pop effort that suggests a stylistic shift from Courtney Marie Andrews. Daubed with bold strings, questing slide guitars and layers of percussion, it’s a thrilling change of pace.

THE PEAK BY MOVULANGO
On The Peak, Belgian musician Movulango introduces a guitar sound miked so close that you feel it’s been played inside your brain. That proximity only heightens the force of the drop when the beat kicks and things get a little freaky.

MEDICINE BY FITZROY HOLT
Building on a seriously promising year thus far, Wolverhampton’s Fitzroy Holt returns with new single Medicine. A bluesy slow jam, the song cleverly expands around its central guitar riff, bringing in new elements with each passing moment.

WHITE DRESS BY BRADEN LAM
“I might still love you, despite trying not to,” sings Braden Lam on new single White Dress. A tale of unrequited love and letting go, it’s a shame the Canadian indie-folk artist will be dancing alone to this wistful waltz.

SING! BY LUA TRILOGY
Sounding like a robot replica of Jonathan Donahue fronting a sci-fi tribute to My Bloody Valentine, SING! is the other-worldly new single from Lua Trilogy. Words tumble out before being shot into space on a kaleidoscopic joyride.

LITTLE BIRDS BY AUGUSTA
Toronto-based alternative rock outfit Augusta have dropped their latest tune, Little Birds. With a bassline dragged from the belly of the beast and horn blasts sounding the battle cry, this is seriously rousing stuff.

REAL & FANTASY BY ARIEL BUI
The title track from her upcoming new album, Real & Fantasy finds Ariel Bui at the peak of her powers. Alt-rock with a foot in both the everyday and magical, the blistering performance of her band adds a febrile energy.

Sunny War: No Reason is more than just a showcase for her fleet-fingered guitar playing. Photo: Joshua Black-Wilkins

SOUL OF ALBION BY MAN THE LIFEBOATS
Soul Of Albion by Man The Lifeboats was partly written on the same piano that Oasis wrote Don’t Look Back In Anger. An atmospheric and searching saga, it has a depth that will appeal to fans of Dan Michaelson.

IKIRU BY HARU NEMURI
With a singing voice that elevates both the gentle verse passages and more bombastic choruses, Japanese singer, songwriter and poetry-rapper Haru Nemuri gives a captivating performance throughout new single Ikiru.

ADELEINE BY CHAMPS
With a rhythm section lifting the song out from its pastoral surroundings to take it somewhere universal, and hypnotic production choices adding an element of intrigue, Adeleine marks the welcome return of Isle of Wight duo CHAMPS.

SLIDE BY HANNAH THURLOW
Incorporating manipulated “found sounds” and influenced by walks through London, Hannah Thurlow brings the ebb and flow of the city to life on Slide. An electronic producer of serious pedigree, she’s able to find comfort amongst the clutter.

BITTER BY LIME GARDEN
Bitter is the thrilling new single from Brighton four-piece Lime Garden. With synths, bass and drums providing the rhythmic fuel and flecked guitar lines adding that extra special something, this indie banger is one explosive drive.

WITCH’S BACK DOOR BY TULA VERA
Witch’s Back Door is the appropriately-titled new song from New Jersey outfit Tula Vera on which the bluesy swing of the rhythm section combines with the diaphanous vocals of Claire Parcells to cast a bewitching spell.

NOVEMBER EVENINGS BY TERRY EMM
Hertfordshire singer-songwriter Terry Emm returns with November Evenings. With a beautifully meandering guitar part that leads you through crisp autumn leaves, there’s also some cinnamon-spiced Americana jangle to warm any cold hands.

NO REASON BY SUNNY WAR
More than just a showcase for her fleet-fingered guitar playing, No Reason is a catchy indie-rock song that only increases our excitement for Sunny War’s new album (due next year). We’ll just have to keep this on repeat in the meantime.

More new music here

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