These Fresh Faves were picked by our readers over the weekend – and reviewed by Andy Von Pip from The Von Pip Musical Express this week. You can hear all these tracks in a single Soundcloud playlist here.

APACHE DARLING – More Than Me

Nice to see Apache Darling getting some Fresh on the Net love with their debut offering which was a firm favourite with voters this week.  I featured them myself a few weeks back on The VPME and described them as “a brand new electro-pop collective who it appears deliver the same sort of sky scraper razing pop monsters as Lauren Mayberry and her chums.”  And I guess comparisons with Chvrches are inevitable given that both bands hail from Glasgow and deliver high quality electronic pop that whilst having an 80’s influence doesn’t feel particularly retro. Fun fact – apparently, their name was inspired by singer Stefanie’s Dads love for The Shadow’s hit ‘Apache.’ Look forward to hearing more from them in the future.

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DAISY JEAN RUSSELL – Only You

Another debut release this time from Brighton singer songwriter Daisy Jean Russell.  If I were to get all poetic, I could perhaps compare Daisy’s delicate vocals to confetti drifting on a gentle summer breeze…  or something. It would certainly tie in nicely with the songs back-story, as apparently Daisy wrote ‘Only You’ for her parents when she found out they were marrying after being together since they were thirteen. Of course this could, if not handled with skill enter the realms of extreme cheesiness but rest assured Daisy eschews camembert instead favouring genuine emotion.  It’s soothing consoling and possibly just what the doctor ordered for those poor exhausted mud splattered souls returning from Glastonbury trying to adjust to reality.

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DOREY THE WISE – Rise & Fall

And from the calm of Daisy Jean Russell we plunge head first into the effervescent relentless bounce of Dorey The Wise with ‘Rise And Fall’ the title track from their latest EP. It’s a track that barely pauses for breath and manages to be spirited, uplifting and energising without ever crossing the line and drifting into ‘jaunty’ territory. It rather feels like mainlining ‘Red Bull’ ( other high-caffeine energy drinks are available)

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JOE INNES+CAVALCADE – God Only Knows I Tried

I can’t think of too many songs that boast of attempting to rip off Brian Wilson.  However, Joe Innes & The Cavalcade manage to do just that with some style.  ‘God Only Knows I Tried’  from their ‘Brian, I’m A Genius Too’ Ep is full of whip smart lyrics, reflective melodies and radiates a warm self-effacing wit which make this song an absolute joy. “Why don’t you rip off Brian Wilson?  /Because I already did/ I spend  the day in my pyjamas it’s the only way to live” sings Joe and you’d have to be the ultimate Grouch not to be won over by Mr Innes and Co’s offbeat observations and joyous melodies.  Sublime

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POHL – Eraser

POHL, pronounced ‘pole’ are Will Pearce (guitar/vocals), Hugo Morgan (bass) and Jamie Thompson (drums) and they add an infusion of raw visceral power to this week’s listening post.  ‘Eraser’ is a driving riff heavy alt rock beast that fuses melody and power with a nod to the Queens of The Stone Age and classic grunge.

Official | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp

THE VILLAINY – A House In The Sky

Is hard to believe that Anglo/Swedish band The Villainy only formed in 2013.  They certainly have the spit and polish of a band who’ve been together rather longer than just over a year.  Classic song writing skills with echoes of Matt Berninger and even a dash of Springsteen are very much in evidence here and imbue ‘House In The Sky’ with an epic crowd-pleasing lighters aloft at a festival kind of vibe.

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THE WICKED WHISPERS – Chronological Astronaut

This tune doesn’t so much sound as if it’s been influenced by the sixties more so that it’s arrived via the sixties by way of some sort of tripped out time machine or psychedelic Love-Tardis.  Perhaps part of The Wicked Whispers charm is that despite their retro vibe and authentic vintage sound, they neatly avoid pastiche due to the quality of their songwriting.  This track featuring a rather splendid brass section is taken from their forthcoming debut album ‘Maps of the Mystic’, which is released on Monday 22nd September 2014.  Cosmic baby 😉

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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.