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.

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR?

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 A KNIFE BALLET

Mokadelic, Mogwai, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Explosions In The Sky, Fly Pan Am…. and A Knife Ballet. Our regulator curator, Arpraxis, stumbled on A Knife Ballet a few weeks back with his track, Scattered Red, Blue & Black, and we were blown away. Listen to A Knife Ballet. Listen to his picks this week for the Eclectic Picks….

A FEW WORDS FROM A KNIFE BALLET

Divisions – Island States
This is really, really happening. London five piece ‘Divisions’ have pulled some masterful charlie kaufman esque trickery with their new single ‘Island States’. Having somehow inflitrate the deep recesses of my exhausted cynical mind, the band pull the amazing feat of not only nail my exact musical tastes (haunting, cinematic, uncompromising) but also capture a perfect soundtrack to these troubling times. As twitchy glitchy Radiohead Hail To The Thief Era electronic rythmic percussion builds in swathes, a hypnotic almost Krautrock groove kicks in. The musical trance then kicks up a gear as the beautifully arranged double tracked Yorke esque harmonies of Matthew Moore kick in transporting the arrangement into another otherworldy realm. It seems the band have already drawn smiles since 2015, winning the band two semi-finalist placements in the UKSC songwriting competition. Its not difficult to see why after hearing this sonic masterpiece. With more music on its way in March, this brooding atmospheric & enimagtic
music is destined to win further hearts and minds.

Pet Twin – Wondering
The opening vocal passage delivered by Oxford based James Gallagher ‘Pet Twin’ left me “Wondering” how I had missed on the back catalogue of this incredible artist until now. Clearly there is something in the water in Oxford, Pet Twin being further dark, melancholic earphone candy by a hugely talented artist with a bright future. Descending acoustic guitar lay glistening foundations as Kevin Sheilds shaped tremolo guitars & buzzsaw synths envolope the deep rich impassioned voice of Gallagher. Gallagher pushes the envolpe further by experimenting with vocal effects that never detract from the strong vocal melody. This beautifully arranged and produced track demostrates a deft hand at powerful songwriting. With a debut album on the way, consider this news very exciting indeed. Time to invest in some expensive earphones!!

Rudimentary Paste – Ed 209
Fans of Paul Verhoeven & Jesus Lizard will find much to rejoice after blasting out this absolute balls to the all banger from UK based and self proclaimed ‘Foamcore’ act Rudmentary Paste. I’m so old, I remember Rudimentary Paste was the fake food brand Murphy chomped down to protect the public trust in 1980’s classic Robocop. Sadly I am also so old I have no idea what Foamcore is. Pay no mind though, as music is emotion. The emotion being served here comes with a side order of intense noise rock, a chaotic sonic visceral assault as discordant guitar riffs wrestle against bass pulsating through twelve fuzz pedals.
We live in times where social media works to reduce music to mere content, but it will never succeed in reducing powerful music performance. Rudimentary Paste are a stark reminder of this. The idiots…arent winning. Check out the whole EP “Octopus Milk & Other Tales” on Bandcamp now folks. Or Buy it..for more than a dollar.

Stella & The Dreaming – The First Time
Vulnerable & wounded single “The First Time” showcases an emotional gut punch courtesy of Stella Renee Hennessy’s double tracked hushed vocals and close mic’d skeletal piano. Beatuifully recorded, some musicians just have the knack of making heartbreak seem cool. Enigmatic and mysterious, this track melts hearts displaying an emotional maturity beyond her years. Stark intimate confessional vocals reminiscant of maybe Julien Baker or Julie Byrne, sometimes you dont need a band to kick a hole in the heart, all it takes is a well aimed arrow, razor sharp vocals and a creaky old piano mic’d with a stereo pair of AKG’s.

Tom B – Lavender Water
Who says electronic music has no soul? You’ll be wondering the same as this tranquil 1.30 ripples through your body. A masterclass in mixing and production, London based Tom Berry states he is influenced by The Books & has totally nailed a similar vibe. Minimalist vocal loops by Lucy Wroe break into trip hop filtered drums as dancing vocals cascade and seep naturally across the stereo soundfield. A mesmerising sound collage that absolutely nails its namesake. After a long week at work, this music is what the Dr ordered, step into these lavender waters for temporary bliss & escape the memories of yesterday. The track is pulled from his debut EP “Little Songs” which is now in my collection, and should soon be in yours.

Fred Hills – The Ground
Utterly unpredcitable and full of surprises this. Super busy drums underpin merticulously recorded instrumention, including live strings, synths, acoustic finger picked guitars, walking bass and multi tracked vocals. All tied together in a beautiful package that somehow is not a sonic mess. Brighton based Drummer & composer Fred Hills has a well earnt musical reputation, and with tracks like this its no surprise. This track is like a having a cold bucket of water thrown at your face on a warm summers day, shocking at first but uttely invigorating. Stick that quote on the insta ad! Music so good, words fail to capture its perfection. Just stop reading and listen please.

Lozenge – Precious
Shoegaze is back in case you hadn’t heard. Its back cause a whole of great bands are making amazing music in its style & Leeds based Lozenge are one such band. Precious has the flange guitars and downtuned Fuzz set to stun, but all showcased in such a banger, Greggs are on the phone trying to bake it. Don’t fight it man, resistance is futile.

Adam Weikert – With My Love
Adam Weikie is a pivitol member of Her Name Is Calla, one of the greatest live bands the UK has produced in the last twenty years. So should come as no suprise that his solo ventures are no less vital & potent. Hailing from Leciester, multi instrumentalist & songwriter & producer, Weikert has slowly been building an ecelectic solo neo classical back catalogue the last few years. With My Love is a showcase of his continual inventive instrumental prowess. Waves of a tide wash over solemn autoharp as oblique lyrics shard over mounting dread. Droning synths suddenly break for a beautiful piano string & piano interlude as Adam’s mounrful voice declares “the past is in my hands.” There may be “gaps in every gallery”, but there certainly arent in his discography. Stunning.

Alexandra Leaving – Bite
Shropshire’s Alexandra Leaving reignites the seattle flame with her altrock cracker ‘Bite’. Reminiscent of early Wolf Alice, this 3.20 mins rocker would be on heavy rotation on MTV if it wasnt obliterated by bloated reality tv. Deceptively simple, this track is a huge ear worm, burying deep within your brain with more hooks than your average Shropshire fishing trip. No surprise she has won support from the BBC. Fingers crossed I get to catch her thunderous commanding voice live some point soon.

Hemes – Fire
Ever hear something & just know its gonna blow up? Well yeah one listen in to Welsh artist Hemes, and the fierce electro chorus is so sharp its left me bleeding over the keyboard. Its got obvious mainstream appeal but I’m gonna be a bit of a music nerd now and point out there is some really interesting musical influences on display in the production. Some non typical/western chord progressions that utterly elevate this way, way beyond your normal radio 1 pop plop. A vocal performance that is clearly first class but also very unique. If I listen to this alt pop it makes me feel young. Which is worth the price of entry alone. Also a total miracle man. Have you seen my face lately?

ARTISTS SELECTED THIS WEEK

1. Divisions – Island States
2. Pet Twin – Wondering
3. Rudimentary Paste – Ed 209
4. Stella & The Dreaming – The First Time
5. Tom B – Lavender Water
6. Fred Hills – The Gound
7. Lozenge – Precious
8. Adam Weikert – With My Love
9. Alexandra Leaving – Bite
10. Hemes – Fire

STEP 1 – LISTEN

Listen to this weeks Eclectic Picks playlist on Soundcloud here.

After 7 days, the playlist will be updated with the next batch, and this week’s picks will be added to the 2024 playlist below.

STEP 2 – SPREAD THE WORD

Do you ever think, or hear people say, “there’s no good music any more”? Maybe they aren’t looking in the right places. Prove them wrong:

• Subscribe to the playlist
• Listen in each week
• Tell your friends
• Shout on social media

The more people listen to this playlist, the more exposure unsigned artists receive. So spread the word!

STEP 3 – MUSIC VIDEOS?

Music is great. Music videos are better. Keep the momentum going, send any music videos our way and, if we’re in a good mood, we’ll add the best ones to our music video playlist here.

ARCHIVE PLAYLISTS

The playlists above are updated weekly, then added to the annual playlists below:

2024 Playlist: Soundcloud

2023 Playlist: Soundcloud | Spotify

2022 Playlist – Soundcloud | Spotify

2021 Playlist – Soundcloud | Spotify

2020 Playlist – Soundcloud | Spotify

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:

• AsonicA Radio, send an MP3 to hello@asonica.co.uk, or via their website
• Joe Figueira of North Manchester FM, apply with MP3, short bio & twitter handle by e-mail to joefigueira@yahoo.co.uk)
• Del Osei-Owusu, aka Platinum Mind and fellow FOTN moderator, is happy to consider submissions for the Songbird Sessions, a 1 hour show for The Songbird HQ on Islington Radio. Just email Del with a bio and MP3 to del.owusu@gmail.com
• Neil March, Trust The Doc Radio Show (5PM BST, Exile FM). Submissions to trustthedoc@demerararecords.com

If you are are radio presenter/DJ and want to be added to the list above, just give Signal Committee a shout!