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

Hey everyone, welcome to another week of faves, thankyou very much to everyone who voted over the weekend, as well as artists who sent us tracks! You may notice that I’ve made a slight tweak to the layout of the faves, now you can find the artists listed below on streaming services if they are there. Please show them your support on those services as well.

As always, if you want to be considered for my Islington Radio show send me an audio file and a bio to my email.

Over to you Neil and Sherry!

Sherry: We’re already deep into mid-2025, and here in London the weather has been absolutely brilliant. Sure, it gets sweltering at times, but after the endless grey months, this sunshine is exactly what we needed to get out there and soak up some proper summer vibes. There’s something about this heat that just makes everything feel more alive and creative. I can’t wait to dive into this week’s favourites. We’ve got some real bangers. The quality of submissions keeps getting better, and this week’s selection really shows the incredible range of talent hitting our inbox.

Neil: Wow, it’s the middle of June, less than a week to the official first day of summer [although the weather over the past week suggests we are already there]. In less than three weeks, Sherry and I will take our little band [The] Music Of Sound out on a short summer tour that was not so short in the organising! Hopefully our audience figures will be proportionately better than a certain US President’s $45 million embarrassment! We certainly won’t be paying people to attend! In the meantime, the new music continues to pour into the FOTN in-box. It has been another strong week, reflected by a diverse Listening Post and these ten gems chosen, as always, by our amazing readers.

ALEXANDRA LEAVING – The Wall

Serial fresh fave Alexandra Leaving was one of a number of highlights at day one of 2024’s Fresh On The Net Live festival in London. Now the London-based West Midlander returns with The Wall. It has been a busy year for Alexandra. That has included being played on Chris Hawkins’s show on BBC 6 Music and John Kennedy’s Xposure show on Radio X, appearing on BBC Introducing, gigging in new places and generally continuing to build her reputation both as a purveyor of quality Alt Rock and as a compelling live performer. Once again our readers have emphatically shown their love with a big vote of confidence.

SHERRY: Right from the first moment, this song hits you with powerful guitar and drums that feel like a majestic entrance . When Alexandra’s singing kicks in, it’s just as commanding as that opening blast. Her voice is absolutely incredible, leaving you completely mesmerized. There’s something about the way she delivers each line that just grabs hold of you and won’t let go. The chorus is catchy; the kind that gets stuck in your head for days and you don’t even mind. You’ll find yourself hitting repeat without even realizing it because Alexandra’s powerful vocals combined with that infectious melody creates this perfect loop that keeps pulling you back in.

NEIL: I agree with Sherry. As soon as the single snare beat announces the opening fuzztone guitar riff and Alexandra’s distinctive voice comes in, part sung, part spoken (with echoes of Kristin Hersh in a mash with Lia Metcalfe) you know what you’re getting. Energetic, explosive Alt Rock laced with bits of sarcasm but building to a killa chorus. We get some cleverly configured rhythmic shifts in the middle of the song too. This is joyful and invigorating.

Official | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

ALICE OFFLEY – Is It Because I’m A Woman?

Oxford’s multi-instrumentalist and established Fresh on the Net favourite was also a serious highlight at 2024’s Day One of Fresh On The Net Live where none other than our founder and legend Tom Robinson was up and dancing to her live set and duly declared himself to be a fan. Hailing from a family of musicians (and we had the pleasure of meeting her lovely parents), Alice Offley is an extraordinary talent. She has received support from BBC Introducing, has been featured in the Swindon Advertiser and Music News and was played on BBC 6 Music by Tom when he stood in for Steve Lamacq. With Alice, the hard work never stops and the quality never falls below excellent.

NEIL: In some ways, Is It Because I’m A Woman? is trademark Alice. It is funky and full-on with shades of Prince in a jam with Janet Jackson but it has a rock undercurrent too with distant echoes of Lenny Kravitz or even Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The vocals are soulful but with a sting in their tail and, as we have come to expect, the musicianship is top-notch in every department. Do I even need to add that it has a cool hook too?!

SHERRY: I had the chance to see Alice Offley perform at Fresh on the Net Live, and honestly, you could tell just by watching the crowd how incredible she is as an artist. Everyone was completely captivated. This song “Is It Because I’m A Woman?” has such a funky vibe that immediately gets you moving. Alice’s vocals are so cool and smooth, they flow perfectly with the groove. There’s something infectious about this track that just makes you want to dance. It’s impossible to sit still when it comes on. The funky rhythm combined with her amazing voice creates this energy that spreads through the room.

Official | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | YouTube | Bandcamp

FLAKEBELLY – Nightspiders

Making regular Indie, Acoustic and Psychedelic music from his home in the Western Isles off the North West coast of Scotland, Flakebelly has become quite a favourite with our readers over recent years. This is at least his third appearance in the fresh faves. His Instagram post about his last album suggests he has put his back up against streaming and taken a more traditionalist approach to releasing music. So you won’t find him on any of the major streaming platforms but you can order his music via Bandcamp or on CD/Vinyl.

SHERRY: This song kicks off with someone talking, and before you know it, you’re pulled into this trance-like state that’s completely mesmerizing. Flakebelly’s vocals are so soft and hypnotic they just wash over you like waves. There’s something magical about the way his voice floats through the track that puts you in a dreamy headspace. The whole song feels like it’s taking you on a journey into a psychedelic dream world where anything can happen. It’s the kind of track that makes you close your eyes and just drift away from reality for a while. If you’re into music that takes you on unexpected trips and explores different sounds, then this track is absolutely essential listening. It’s pure escapism wrapped up in beautiful, flowing melodies.

NEIL: The track starts with some disturbing heavy breathing and a reference to the place stinking like piss! Then a shuffly 4 – 4 beat accompanies some unusual electric piano noodlings, fluid bass and spy movie guitars. The vocals are sung in a breathy, slightly sinister manner while wah-wah guitar adds a nice touch. It all feels a bit creepy and unsettling but, you know, it is a song about night spiders! So pretty appropriate to the mood he clearly aims to create. The strings add a subtly cinematic element as the track develops.

Official | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Bandcamp

HAROLD NONO – Sketch For Faro

Edinburgh-based Harold Nono is an accomplished composer whose output spans a spectrum from the ambient to the cinematic to the classical. He records for Bearsuit Records and he has been featured on The Freak Zone with Stuart Maconie on BBC 6 Music just a week ago. He has also been on Resonance FM and he has had music reviewed in past editions of Trust The Doc.

NEIL: Sketch For Faro begins quietly and builds patiently through the creation of notable textures. As it builds dynamically and more sounds are added to the strings, synths and ambience, the sense is of waves softly overlapping and crashing against the shore while a subtle siren is fired off. Cymbals rumble and distant voices add to the ethereal atmosphere. Beautiful and carefully constructed.

SHERRY: This track has this ethereal essence with tones scattered all throughout that create something really special. There’s a magical vibe that runs through the whole track. It feels like you’re listening to something from another world. The way the sounds float and blend together is absolutely beautiful. Harold has created something that feels both dreamy and mysterious at the same time. The magical atmosphere he builds with these scattered tones is incredible. It’s like being wrapped in a warm, shimmering blanket of sound. This track has that rare quality where it can transport you somewhere completely different just by pressing play.

Official | Facebook | Bandcamp

LITESLEEPER – Hertz

Hailing from Northampton in the English East/East Midlands, Litesleeper were formed in 2023 and a year later Hertz became a BBC Introducing track of the week which makes it interesting that they have submitted it to FOTN in 2025, a year later, something industry influencers frequently advise artists to do when they know they have a banging track. This year’s itinerary has so far included appearing at the Music Barn Festival as well as The Musician and other cool venues.

SHERRY: This song starts off with simple piano music, and honestly, I thought it was going to be just an instrumental track. Then bang the beat drops and these cool vocals come in, completely changing the whole vibe. It’s such a nice surprise that catches you off guard in the best way. The song has this perfect summer feeling, like something you’d play on a yacht while cruising around on a sunny day. I swear I can almost feel the salty sea air and warm sunshine on my face when I’m listening to it. There’s something so relaxing and breezy about this track that instantly puts you in vacation mode. It’s the kind of song that makes you dream about being somewhere tropical with a drink in your hand and not a care in the world.

NEIL: Hertz kicks off with a series of extended chords before an electronic four-to-the-floor kick drum takes the song in a more dance-driven direction. The female vocal has a sliding jazzy aspect that reminds me a little of Angela Jaeger in a mash with Yazmin Lacey. The arrangement is imaginative. Stops and starts in the beat, ‘fairy light’ synth figures dancing atop the solidity of the piano chords and expanses of reverb all add to the track’s aura. It has a Trip Hop undercurrent laced with a Jazz-Soul sensibility. And the production is superb.

Official | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | YouTube | Bandcamp

PORCELAIN MOON – Sugar Rush

South African duo Porcelain Moon, from Cape Town, are regular fresh faves and this latest release will amply demonstrate why this is the case. This husband and wife team (Emma Goode – Vocals/Piano & Gerry Matthee – Production/Multi-Instrumentalism) met at High School, studied at Uni together and have been delighting us with their bright sparkling synthpop for about seven years now. They have opened for some of South Africa’s biggest acts and are a staple of radio there. How nice it would be if that success could be repeated here in the UK. Here’s hoping.

NEIL: Sugar Rush is characteristic of all Porcelain Moon’s singles in so much as it is not merely catchy and well executed. It has a genuinely striking melody and the impact of the hook, burrowing into my head, is instant from the first listen. Emma’s voice, agile and buoyant as she flickers and floats above the mix, is irresistible. The pair combine to create a shiny, immaculately produced track. Absolute quality.

SHERRY: Real appreciation for this track. It’s absolutely brilliant both lyrically and melodically. The song has such a cool retro vibe with a lovely girly touch that makes it feel both nostalgic and fresh at the same time. Emma’s vocals are perfect for this style, giving it that sweet, dreamy quality that just draws you in. There’s something about the way they’ve crafted this song that feels like it could have been a hit from the 80s, but with a modern twist that makes it feel completely current.The retro vibe sound combined with that feminine charm creates this irresistible combination. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to turn up the volume and sing along, even if you don’t know all the words yet. Pure ear candy from start to finish.

Linktree | Official | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | YouTube | Bandcamp

PORTNOVA – Tollman

Manchester’s Portnova are described on Instagram as an ‘electronic music duo’ of Matt Hindley and Ben Parsons. We will return to the fact that Tollman seems a long way from that description. Anyhow, recipients of rave reviews in A&R Factory, this feels like a new project with only a small number of social media posts and an album released in May called Fossa from which Tollman is taken. The Bandcamp blurbs tells us that ‘Between the forests of Rivington and an industrial estate in Manchester, Portnova meld electro-pop, driving techno, with the occasional flicker of goth’.

SHERRY: This song kicks off with a really cool bass line that immediately grabs your attention and pulls you in. The vocals are super catchy and stick with you long after the song ends. The lyrics have this memorable quality that makes you want to sing along, even on your first listen. There’s something addictive about the whole combination that keeps you coming back for more. It’s one of those tracks that gets better every time you hear it.

NEIL: Tollman kicks off with a classically Post-Punk bassline before drums kick in with a slightly shuffling beat and a distinctive [though uncredited] female vocal that takes centre stage. The production has a Trip Hop aspect although not so much the style of the music itself which has a sparse, semi-industrial aura. A synth figure plays a melodic theme against the driving bassline and then the vocals are back, repeating the same four lines. They keep the arrangement simple. In terms of feel, this nods heavily to the more electronic spectrum of the ‘Madchester’ era. It certainly struck a chord with our readers, sailing into the faves this weekend.

Linktree | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Bandcamp

STRESS DOLLS – Close Enough

Stress Dolls are the brainchild of Chelsea O’Donnell from Buffalo, New York who describes her sound as ‘Angry Girl Music’ which is also the name of her label although we think she may now record for Sun Pedal Records. Her Instagram page reveals she is playing some cool venues. She has been front page on The Big Takeover magazine and is blazing a trail with her brand of Alt Rock.

NEIL: A melodic guitar riff and catchy melody are the twin towers of this infectious construct of jangling Alt Rock. Chelsea sings in an alto range over a mostly descending bass, solid beat and decorative guitar. The hook is bolstered here and there by harmonies and a brief call and response BV. The mid-section with its guitar extensions and wordless vocals adds a nice, additional touch too.

SHERRY: This song by Stress Dolls is amazingly built with stunning vocals and guitar riffs that sound both dreamy and ambitious at the same time. Chelsea’s vocals are deep and really impressive. There’s so much power and emotion packed into her delivery. The guitar work creates this atmospheric sound that feels like it’s floating around you while still hitting hard when it needs to. Her voice has this captivating quality that draws you in and holds your attention from start to finish. The way she combines that dreamy guitar sound with her strong, deep vocals creates something really special. It’s the kind of track that shows serious ambition and talent, leaving you wanting to hear what she’ll do next.

Official | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Bandcamp

THOSE FUCKING SNOWFLAKES FT. TOM ROBINSON – Straight Pride Month

Yes folks, you read that correctly. It is THE Tom Robinson, OUR Tom guesting on this track. If you know anything of the history of Those Fucking Snowflakes (including the obviously sardonic band name) with Tom and Fresh on the Net, that may surprise you less. He has always been a fan of their no-holds-barred politically infused Punk-Metal-Hardcore sound mash. Formed in Preston in the English North West, they have performed with Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson and recorded for founding member of The Membranes and accomplished journalist John Robb’s Louder Than War label. They say they are spending 2025 releasing a bunch of singles.

SHERRY: This song is a literal anthem that hits you like a thunderbolt. The blasting vibe is absolutely incredible and will leave you completely in awe from the very first note. There’s so much raw energy packed into this track that you can’t help but get swept up in it. The chorus is so powerful and catchy that you’ll find yourself loudly singing along before you even realize it. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to shout from the rooftops and gets your blood pumping.

NEIL: The title is probably pretty self-explanatory as TFS rage against the moronic moans of the homophobes about why the LGBTQ+ community needs its pride celebrations. The guitars roar and the band fuse their hard-edged but highly accomplished punk-core sound with terrace anthem vocal passion as they blast their message out. This will wake you from your bleary-eyed Monday morning slumber!

Official | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Bandcamp

TORA LUNA, DOMINIC JOHNSON, ANELIE – Venus, Temptress

We cannot pretend to know what the precise roles are of the three people named on this track but Tora Luna’s Instagram posts show the trio having fun together and enjoying the love this track has already received including a review in Vents magazine. Dominic Johnson has a studio down the road from Neil in Camberwell, South East London which offers a possible clue about their location.

NEIL: Venus, Temptress is a sunny jazzy slice of summer pop in a tradition that goes back to the sixties with a Latin-esque aura. Female and male vocals sing in unison octaves apart with a looseness that suits the organic approach while major 7 chords abound and a catchy tune hangs in the air. It reminds me, in moments, of cool 80s bands like Dislocation Dance (once Kathryn Way joined them on vocals) and The Marine Girls but they take any influences from this lineage in their own direction.

SHERRY: I really love the female vocals on this track. It is cute but incredibly powerful at the same time. The song starts with this playful, fun vibe that draws you in, but then suddenly the vocals kick in and it’s completely unexpected in the best way. The combination of both female and male vocals creates something really unique and special. The way they blend together adds this beautiful layer that you don’t hear very often. The lyrics are simple and sweet, which makes them so easy to connect with. There’s something charming about how the track surprises you with that vocal entrance. The mix of cute and powerful vocals, along with that unique male-female combination, creates this perfect balance that’s hard to resist.

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PS from Del: If you’ve submitted a track that hasn’t been picked for the Listening Post, our team has definitely listened to it and there’s no need to send it again: feel free to send us an even stronger track another week. The same goes if you were picked for the Listening Post but didn’t feature in our Fresh Faves.

But if we’ve recently featured you in our Fresh Faves – 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.