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

Hey everyone! Welcome to another exciting week of faves, and what a strong week again! Thanks to all the artists that submitted tracks last week. I’d like to ask a favour of those who have made the faves. While you cannot submit a track for 90 days please do come and support your fellow artists at the weekend, and check out the listening post. They’ll love you for it!

As always, if you’d like to be featured on my Islington Radio show, send me an audio file and a bio to my email, clean radio edits only!

To the faves.

I’d like to welcome Chris Ingram!

HAPPY MONDAY FOLKS!

It’s been a sweet age since I last wrote the reviews so bear with me whilst I drink strong coffee and dwell on the finer intricacies of these ten amazing tunes.

Let’s get into it…

ATTICOMATIC – Wait

AtticOmatic are a 5 piece from the salty fresh city of Brighton. This track speaks of their alt/electronic and hip hop passions.

Taking us by the hand it leaps off the pier into the timeless oceans asking us listeners “Do you see my soul, do you see my soul, but lover don’t”. There’s something real lazy and husky about the lead female vocal here which is then met by the male counterpoint who chants ”describe how we feel this life should feel like”. It’s mellow, it’s high, it’s harmonious. Then at the 1 min 30 mark it ramps up a notch again and I’m absolutely compelled to jump up and punch the air with joy.

What a brilliant start to our top ten.

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BETH GLADEN – Re-Birth

Beth Gladen hails from Miami, Florida in the U.S.A. Another wonderful artist from a coastal region, I feel a nautical energy in todays faves folks! So close to the Spring Equinox and a partial eclipse over the weekend the energy of the ocean and the moon aligned to bring us this tastey morsel.

There’s a bright snap to the drum intro overwritten by some sax and horn as our main protagonist asks “who are you?” in an echoing universal tone. Beth possess an etheral quality to her voice which adds gravitas to the piece as a whole. Imagine her a top a cliff facing the raging seas smashing the rocks and challenging us to believe in ourselves and join her on a mission to just make things better.

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BLIK – Twist It

Drum and bass MC Blik blends cunningly sampled looped piano samples that echo down the ages and like the modern sage he clearly is smashes his lyrical avocados onto his lightly toasted home baked goodies. It’s delectible, delicous, devious and fun.

A three minute ripper of a track with hooks all over the show. “Twist it light, lets get it right, let’s get right in the zone, see I come through smooth like butter”.His eloquent delivery has me imagining Blik in full on lounge lizard mode, surrounded by haze of celebratory cigars as he makes plans from HQ for his next bars. “Get me on a stage get your phone out”. He’s also not afraid to have stabs at Putin and Diddy, I love when an artist isn’t afraid to pull punches. I expect to hear more from Blik in future.

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ELISA ZOOT – Clever Crow

The introduction to this song is eery with seriously sinister electronic tingle tones. Even the artwork is quite evil in its themes and I mean that in the coolest way possible.

Eliza Zoot personifies the clever crow in the song as she beckons us to join her on the other side, to fly, to live to die. “If you’re stuck I’m going to get my beak out, I’m gonna get you home. I believe I’ll get us to a next life, you and me alone”. It’s haunting and alluring like the old tales of sailors at sea being called away by the sirens. Eliza has a voice and lyrical style to back up her musical talent so here’s to another new music discovery I’ll be keeping tabs on.

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EMILY MERCER – Better

There’s something vulnerable and emotional at play here as Emily Mercer sings of loss and things needing to start again. It’s a journey we’ve all travelled – “Is it worth it on the other side?”. They do say never go back but then THEY say lots of things and whilst the melancholy undercurrent to this song could seem sad it’s refreshing to hear truth and hear honesty in a love song. It isn’t all hallmark holidays and big padded valentines hearts.

Emily knows this and isn’t afraid to mine the pain and share her feelings. Turning something difficult into a lovely song and therefor a positive experience. This in turn helps her and the audience she has brought onto the journey see the positives through the darkness. Which is why this song is so good. Oh and did I mention her voice is class.

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JEWELIA – Here’s Your Life, Enjoy

JEWELIA real name (Lulia Tache) is based in London and has a real pedigree over the last decade or so including work receiving multi-plays across lots of BBC platforms. Her material has been used in an award winning mini-series set in Romania her home country and she has built a strong following online through her You Tube and Spotify channels.

So it comes as no surprise, to this listener at least, that her submission here is finely produced. It shares her principles and passions in taste such as Kate Bush with powerful electric guitar riffs and lush vocals. Clean lyrics evoking playful thoughts such as “It don’t matter either way, it’s all ending the same way”. This main refrain reaches a quite glorious climax at the end in a cocophany of joyous crashing waves of drums, vocal and guitar.

Tidy stuff.

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NINA HUDSON – Timebomb Of Isolation

Nina Hudson is a star turn from Hackney in London who seems to be building a nice back catalogue of work judging from her page on Soundcloud. Nina is a regular collaborator most notably with The Flames Collective where she has worked on a number of artists there.

A singer and songwriter with talent and a lush voice asking us “never give up, never give up” set to a smoky and funky keys riff. I think you’ll hear notes of jazz, roots and soul which layer up like a fine bottle of expensive whisky. Lean back, add ice and let the warm waves relax you as your ears drink in the goodness.

Another splendid find.

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PARCS – Red Lines

I live in North Wales but I’ve hear about this band from pals. They are from Newport in South Wales and it’s seen as one of those underdog towns, unglamorous, working class and crispy round the edges. BUT the arts and music scene there is thriving because people need creative outlets and this nu-disco vibe captures this.

It’s “Sad synth pop you can dance to” in their own words reflects my point perfectly. There is joy and gold to be discovered in the darkest of moments and in adversity comes the finest moments. PARCS are a celebration of that expression. Sensitive synth pop needs more love and I hope I get to share that soon at a live show.

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TILLY VALENTINE – Buzzkill

London based British artist Tilly Valentine is certainly having a great time at the moment! Celebrated and played across BBC from Introducing to 6Music to BBC RADIO 1. There’s also plays across Jazz Fm which speaks of her adapability and the range of her practice as a refined artists hailing from the BRIT school.

Buzzkill absolutely deserves multiple listens with its hip shaking introduction where she celebrates time away from a relationship and having more fun on her own! “Sorry I can’t make it to the phone right now, I’m busy on my own doing nothing right now”. The following line “Message failed to send”. This is a laugh from behind hands moment with a lyrical raised eyebrow mocking the complete lack of s***s given for the person clearly doing her nut in. It’s cerebral, cheeky, witty and funny. The music’s punchy and certainly enjoyable and always there as a tasty garnish to compliment the main course of Tilly’s voice and lyrics.

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WRITECREATE – Under The Thunder

I am complicit and in complete agreement that this should be the final song of this weeks list! Under the Thunder hits the mood perfectly as we emerge into spring and look forward to the storms passing and the sunshine warming our faces with smiles and hugs and kisses and cold drinks. Uska Gill evokes all this love and more as her tones doff their caps to Erykah Badu and Lauren Hill.

Subtle roots and reggae feels come not just from her voice but the celebratory trumpets and freshly picked beats from the orchard of goodness. A timeless place we should spend more time in with loved ones away from our screens. Uska shines authenticity and I promise when the suns peaking round those clouds again I’ll be dwelling on this number again and again.

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