WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR?

Every week Signal Committee present an Eclectic Picks playlist. All tracks are selected from the full inbox of 200 tracks that are submitted each week to Fresh On The Net. This week, however, all the credit goes to our guest curator, SEMITONAL.

Our playlists are orientated to the alternative music fan. Lyrics are not essential, abstract ideas are embraced and the fusing of different genres is encouraged. If you used to write band names on your pencil case at school, you’ll probably like our playlists.

INTRODUCING SEMITONAL

SEMITONAL first came on our radar in Feb 2021 when he submitted his IDIOTS Handshake Mix here on Freshonthenet. Having a dark, atmospheric, NIN vibe probably got our attention and what followed could be a prime example of the ‘less is more’ philosophy on how to write a BIO. Put simply, if we see ‘Massive Attack collides with Mogwai’ in your BIO, this will either affirm our suspicion that we like what we hear, or at the very least demand that we give your track extra attention before making a decision.

In SEMITONAL’s case, back in Feb 2021, his track made the Eclectic Picks in what was a ridiculously strong week. He immediately impressed the following week with DYSTOPIA Hindsight Mix – which made us chuckle because, amidst the chaos, we couldn’t help but think the melody reminded us of the music from Rick Dangerous II on the Amiga. Apparently COMATOSE Drift Mix also made the Eclectic Picks – and there may be others.

As for SEMITONAL’s picks this week, consider the playlist well and truly endorsed with our seal of approval. We implore you to give it a blast!

A FEW WORDS FROM SEMITONAL

Thanks to Signal Committee & Fresh On The Net for passing the torch to me this week: it’s a privilege to be invited to curate fresh unsigned music. Eclectic Picks is a distinct space for genuinely alternative artists, and I’ve kept my selection suitably eclectic, focusing on tracks which display ‘difference’, either through an unusual approach or the inclusion of unexpected elements. Above all, though, it’s all about connection: the music had to move me in some way. I hope you enjoy listening to this leftfield playlist as much as I enjoyed putting it together. PLAY LOUD!

LISTEN

You can listen to this weeks playlist using the player below, or click here to open the Soundcloud playlist in a new window. For the best listening experience… crank up the volume and immerse yourself in the music!

 ARTISTS SELECTED THIS WEEK

1. BROKEN CIRCUITS – Always (feat. Cholly)
2. A LESSER VERSION – He Was Not There
3. BLEDIG – Misericorde
4. EMPTY TRAINS – The Missing
5. THE PAPER WAITS – On and On
6. INVISIBLE SQUIRREL – Nicholas Bl#*dy Parsons
7. CARAPACE – Ushanka
8. TASH – Hurricane Man
9. MATT MEREPORT – Bast
10. WIVES OF FARMERS – Life-sized Village
11. LES COOPER – Stranger
12. NEIL FOSTER MUSIC – Trawalua
13. LEOPARD HUNTERS – Aryl
14. SIX FOUR ZERO TWO – He of Ebony
15. ATTIK-ATTAK – Growth
16. BAD MAN PARTY – Philly D X Flokih
17. KAYBLE – Thorns In A Glass House
18. QUEEN CULT – Woman That I Know
19. HAPPY SCIENCE – The Last Goodbye
20. PAUL MORRISON – Anxiety
21. JOSEPH LAWRENSON – Largo

RADIO OPPORTUNITIES

We all have ambitions to get on national radio, but in the meantime there are loads of great, independent radio stations that are always looking for new music of the alternative variety. They offer no promises, but the following hosts tell me they that, if you made this list, they’d like you to get in touch to be considered for their show:

• Chris Watts, presenter of “In The Moog” online on NCCR (UK) (Twitter: @chriswatts1965.  Electronic/synth-based tracks (mp3 &/or WAV) to chrisinthemoog@gmail.com, together with artwork &/or band pic and your Twitter handle).
• Lucas Gil, presenter of Supernova on Glitterbeam Radio (Twitter @lucasgil, apply by his website here)
• Joe Figueira of North Manchester FM (Twitter @moretonguy, apply with MP3, short bio & twitter handle by e-mail to joefigueira@yahoo.co.uk)

POLITE REQUEST TO ALL ARTISTS

If you’re on Twitter, IG etc make sure you put a link to your social media pages on your soundcloud profile. It’ll save curators, moderators, radio folk etc lots of time letting you know you made the cut. On the other hand, maintaining anonymity might lead to a cult following in a remote location that you don’t find out about until someone from Svalbard FM hunts you down 20 years later to do a Searching For Sugar Man-esque documentary.