These Fresh Faves were picked by our readers over the weekend – and reviewed by Fresh On The Net’s Ola Szmidt this week. You can hear all these tracks in a single Soundcloud playlist here.

AUCTION FOR THE PROMISE CLUB – Instincts

Auction For The Promise Club’s Instincts was popular with our public voters. Everything is crafted to perfection: the intro is reminiscent of the Manic Street Preachers, Zoe’s vocals are powerful and evolve nicely all the way through the song. The band has played live across the country, taking in festivals like Bestival, Boardmasters, Y Not, Lodestar, Leopallooza and the Olympic Park during London 2012. They gained support from NME Radio, XFM, Absolute and Amazing Radio. They have been featured on magazine websites such as Rolling Stone, Classic Rock and Loaded, as well as MTV Hive. Their debut EP, The One, was recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios. Let’s see where the future will take this trio!

Official | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | MusicGlue

BRYDE – Oh Tender

The music, beautiful artwork and photograph of Sarah (aka Bryde) hiding inside her white roll neck jumper meant I had to listen to more on her Soundcloud page later on! I was intrigued. I could sense a humble, extremely gifted songwriter instantly. It’s not often I press the replay button. I did! Oh Tender revisited my ears several times. I’m loving the intimate atmosphere she created with just a guitar and her voice. There is so much beauty in Sarah’s voice: the huskiness of Gemma Hayes, lightness of Laura Marling and sensitivity of Jeff Buckley — beauty that is hard to define, which is a big compliment. She’s emerging as a solo artist and currently supporting Jake Morley on tour. I highly recommend you check out her music live. Well, I will for sure!

Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | Songkick

ESTRONS – Make A Man

Big up to Wales! One of my personal favourites in last week’s submissions, so happy it ended up in the Faves (as many people voted for the band obviously — hurray!). Would I take Estrons on a bike ride? Oh yes! I would not mind hitting a tree with this delicious noise in my ears! Totally blown away by the tight, powerful and ass kicking production! What else to say? Well, here is the fact that not was I loving this, but my other half and daughter were jumping to it, so it does work with different demographics very well!

Quoting from their Soundcloud page: “ESTRONS, meaning ALIENS in their native Welsh, the main premise was to gather a band of general misfits and outcasts that never quite belonged to any country or nationality, being of mixed and international ancestry.”

They release their new single Make A Man on December 4, followed by their debut EP Whoever She Was… on December 11.

Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Bandcamp

IIRIS – Iridescent Love

Pure pop gem and huge potential in this beautiful lady! Why do I think of elves when I listen to her? Her vocal carries innocent, childlike qualities. Personally I found it adorable! If you like Grimes, Stina Nordenstam and Bjork, this will be up your street! Iiris’s music will make you feel light as a feather too — therapeutic and filled with love!

This is what I found out about this angelic creature! She is from Estonia, currently on her last year at Goldsmith College of Music in London. Iridescent Love is a love song about liberation and nature. You can watch the video for the song here. She also talks about her inspirations insightfully here. Geek further and you are going to find her playing solo piano at her winning performance for Female Aritst in Estonia in 2013. Let’s see what next two years will bring for her. I’m curious and wish her best of luck!

Official | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter

LEWIS & LEIGH – Heart Don’t Want

I have to confess I am a big fan of serendipity and this duo is one of the examples of this phenomenon! Al and Alva met through a mutual friend from Nashville in London. Alva comes from Mississippi side and Al is Welsh. They began to jam together and writing music happened naturally through entwined musical chemistry. Seriously, I cannot complain! 🙂 It’s crystal clear once you listen to Heart Don’t Want that their voices are stunning together. I will be looking out for Lewis & Leigh’s shows as after checking their music online and watching a couple of videos I’m totally sold. They are currently touring the UK, so make sure to check their Facebook page to see if they will be somewhere near you, if you like their music and you’re happy to get out for a pint and listen to some bad ass Americana! Here is the video for the song.

Official | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | MusicGlue

LIU BEI – Philip Seymour Hoffman

The best time to listen to this is when you just waking up or ready to drift into the sleep. I chose late at night and I believe this is the perfect time to be introduced to Liu Bei. The song is dreamy, cinematic and slows you down. It gradually takes you to the other side and you are holding Morpheus’s hand. This is what Richard Walters says about working on the release: “When Liu Bei started it kind of felt like we were tweaking a radio dial, searching out our place in things… where we’re at now is just a clearer, more focused version of where we began… it’s like we just came out of a reverb fog.”

London duo Liu Bei have announced the release of a new double A­-side 7” single, Mind Over Matter / Philip Seymour Hoffman, out September 25 via new London imprint, Famous Friends. They are receiving positive feedback across various radio stations and blog zines all over the internet universe. I’m sure we will hear about them again.

Official | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Bandcamp

LOIS – Sid James

First reflection after playing this song twice: I’m not in the UK, I’m in California and it’s 40 degrees in the sun — breezy and summery! I like how their music transfer me to the places. Totally adding this to my future car mix tapes! Catchy and old school! Where they are from? Lois are a four-piece rock and roll band from Nottingham comprising John Selby, Rich Spencer, Lee Matysiak and Adrian Maguire. Influenced by some of the greatest British and US bands of the 60s and early 70s, Lois have crafted a characteristic sound all of their own that blends a retro-tinged coolness with a fresh and exciting modern edge.

Official | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Bandcamp

MOONRACER – Otherside

I listen to lot of contemporary classical piano and I always loved Ludovico Eunaidi, Nils Frahm and Goldmund. MoonRacer’s composition is asking for the repeat button for sure. It’s soothing and and being just over 1 minute does not take away its beauty, it’s like a breath you catch when you finally stop crying or like a hug, when needed. We get a lot of submissions with instrumental, soundtrack music, but this one was pure-hearted and ended up in my favourites this week. I wish to hear more and hope we will. He’s looking for the vocalists to collaborate, so get in touch if you are interested. I was trying to find more information, the only thing I suspect is that MoonRacer is a dreamer and late night owl. I’m glad he shared his music with us.

Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter

ONEGIRLONEBOY – Glitch

OneGirlOneBoy are an electronic duo from Leeds. Their music goes right into the spine leaving shivers. The song? Sexy! Production? Tight! Lyrics are well-crafted and vocals ultra-seductive. Indeed it makes me think of Sneaker Pimps, Goldfrapp, Nine Inch Nails. Great influences! While playing Sherlock, I can’t find much about them on the net, so what? You can check out their music on Bandcamp.

Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp

THE VELVET HANDS – Games

I’m reviewing The Velvet Hands at 2am and oh boy! This is so energetic! Wonderful mess and a soundtrack for a demolition! I could happily stick this tune on the full blast in the war frequency against my neighbours playing far too much of Chandelier through the wall! I don’t want to write lists of the bands they remind me of, because you should totally go out there and check out their music life; it might be sweaty and full of people jumping around and possibly somewhere in London, but wouldn’t you love it! I DO!

Official | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

PS from TR: If you’ve submitted a track that hasn’t made the Listening Post you’re welcome to re-submit it another week. If your music has appeared on the Listening Post but not in our Fresh Faves, feel free to send us an even stronger track another week.

But if we’ve recently featured you in our Fresh Faves – or on my BBC Introducing Mixtape – please wait three months before sending us another track, so we have space to help other deserving artists… For more info see Robinson Has A Good Old Moan.