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

A word from Del: Hi everyone, this is our last fresh faves before summer break! Thanks to everyone who’s come to support artists so far this year, we’ll be open again on 8th September. There will be articles and interviews going out over the summer break so keep an eye out for those.

We would love to see more people supporting independent artists, so if you have any friends that might be interested in what we do and can spare half an hour on a weekend to pick their favourite 5 tracks please spread the word. Over to you John!

CANNED PINEAPPLE – Ain’t It Strange

CANNED PINEAPPLE, a 5-piece scuzz-pop and slacker rock outfit from Brighton, serve up a jangly, rough-edged gem with Ain’t It Strange. Bursting with classic indie guitars, angular lead licks, and energetic, swaggering drums, the track rumbles with an attitude that feels both chaotic and charming.

It is like a cross between classic Blur and Libertines all rolled into one. The vocals are instantly magnetic, charismatic and energetic.

Already making waves on BBC Introducing Live Lounge, BBC Radio 6 and Radio X, Canned Pineapple are definitely an act you need to keep your eyes on.

Linktree | Instagram | Official | YouTube | Bandcamp

CHEERBLEEDERZ – I Deserved Better

CHEERBLEEDERZ are a three-piece indie rock group from London. Channelling what I would describe as a garage rock sound with a Britpop twist, I Deserved Better pleases in all the right ways. Locked in tight by crisp and refreshingly understated drums, the track rocks with tight yet unfussy guitars.

The whole brisk momentum of the arrangement seems determined to sweep you away into a mosh pit with a can of Red Stripe (Other alcohol and soft drinks beverages are available). What makes the track really special is the melodic and energetically punkish vocal. Laced with attitude and snappy hooks the performance truly makes I Deserved Better a real ear worm.

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

CRUSADERBEACH – Your Echo

CRUSADERBEACH is the musical project of Adrian Webster, a self-taught pianist from the North West of England. His compositions have found a home in film, TV, weddings and also at the good old BBC Introducing.

Your Echo is an elegant, contemplative composition that unfolds with warmth and grace. Not only is this piano music that is emotionally rich, fluid and complex, you also soon find yourself being immersed into a sense of calm introspection. Every note is beautifully resonant and given space to breathe. Your Echo is a soulful and soothing listening experience that will be enjoyed by any music lover.

Official | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

DJ COUNSELLING – Breathing Underwater

South London’s DJ COUNSELLING, aka Ash Arnold, delivers the goods with an absolute banger with Breathing Underwater. The track is his first drum & bass release in over a decade and the second single from his upcoming new album Speaking in Code. From start to finish the track pulses with a hypnotic, trance inducing energy that makes me think of my misspent youth or hanging out in Camden Market.

Hypnotic, absorbing synth textures and eddying ear-candy float and bubble up over the fast-paced beats. It is 100% immersive and you will easy get lost in the slick execution of all the elements. DJ COUNSELLING comes with a résumé that includes Spotify’s Best Electronic Songs of 2021 and fans like Tom Ravenscroft and Jungle. Breathing Underwater is for those who love to get lost in a communal groove whilst wearing muddy wellies.

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

DM ARTHUR – Tenement Tragedy

Scottish singer-songwriter DM ARTHUR knocks us off our feet with the sentimental, slow-burning epic Tenement Tragedy. Opening to intimate fingerpicked acoustic guitar and an immersive low padding hum, you may be forgiven for thinking that we are only in for a few minutes of quiet reflection.

Soon the composition grows into something far more widescreen. Bristling with energetic drums and piano chords that feel like they are reaching out for the line on the horizon. With a touch of spidery, John Squire-like guitar and a large dose of emotive, heartfelt vocals, DM ARTHUR captures something that feels truly cinematic.

Instagram | Facebook| Bandcamp

MAYSHE-MAYSHE – Moss Glow

MAYSHE-MAYSHE is the solo project of Yorkshire-based artist Alice Rowan. With Moss Glow we are instantly transported to an experimental electropop world that will please all fans, like me, of the pre-Art Angels work of Grimes. The composition is soothing, intimate and completely otherworldly. Layers of dreamy keys, tapping rhythms and nature sounds float and dance radiantly.

All whilst excellent uses of delay and reverb propel us upward to the cosmos. Playful, ethereal vocals, rich in harmonies, deliver the lyrics with a deceptively simple, nursery rhyme-like quality. The melody floats above the music with a vivid, airy lightness. Moss Glow is a magical, hypnotic and heartfelt track.

Linktree | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

SCOTT IS OKAY – Life Adjacent

SCOTT IS OKAY, from somewhere on planet Earth, takes us on a woozy, slick, genre-warping ride with Life Adjacent. Laid-back from first to last note, you will soon be bopping your head to the pulse of the lo-fi beats.

The tight sound scaping of the track is one of the most striking things. Hazy synths, lo-fi piano, and lashings of daydream-like ear candy hypnotically swagger through the arrangement in such a way that it would make Damon Albarn green with envy. Like a surreal lullaby this is bedroom pop at its absolute best.

Instagram

SOCK DRAWER – Bored

Brighton-based electronic pop duo SOCK DRAWER, win our hearts with the vividly textured, genre-bending soundscape Bored. One thing I can assure you is the track is not boring and I am quite frankly jealous as a musician as I could never create anything as good as this! Laid back, dusty drums gently push us along as chilled guitar lines dance with ease. Hazy pads and pixelated synth motifs unfold expansively and atmospherically.

As we push into the last section, rounded trumpets swell as the beat morphs into a club friendly groove. Full of unexpected, genius level twists and turns, brilliant yet tastefully understated vocals that remind me of TV On The Radio, this is one of my favourite numbers I have heard so far this year.

Linktree | Instagram | Twitter/X | YouTube

TELOMIC & TRAVIZWILDE – Silent Treatment

London-based acts TELOMIC & TRAVIZWILDE have joined forces on the sublime new drum & bass track Silent Treatment. This is 100% sleek, crisp drum & bass that will please all fans of the genre. We have the traditional rolling rhythms, colourful, glowing immersive synths coupled with soulful, introspective vocals.

Despite the frenetic beat, the track never feels rushed with TRAVIZWILDE acting as a calming figure guiding through with his effortless vocal performance. Silent Treatment is a thoughtful slice of drum & bass that is full of heart.

Telomic: Linktree | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X

TravizWILDE: Linktree | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X

VALESKA AND THE RIVER – Let The River Run

VALESKA AND THE RIVER, from Berlin, presents an intimate composition with Let The River Run. This instrumental is a thoughtful, haunting, delicate piece on the piano. Through the sustained, resonant notes and higher register melodies the composition guides us into a state of quiet introspection.

Unhurried, gracefully ebbing and flowing, Let The River Run would not feel out of place at the end of a film or TV drama. It is the kind of composition that plays when the story has been told, truths revealed, a memory reflected on, the emotion lands.

Official | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Bandcamp

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.