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:
Thankyou to everyone who submitted a track to the inbox last week, we had quite a lot of different genres and a few surprises! I hope you all enjoyed the summer break, I know I certainly did – new radio show now at Exile FM on Sunday nights 6:30pm-8:30pm. If you want to submit a track please do so by sending me an email with a bio and audio file here. CLEAN radio edits only. Thankyou!

Over to you John!

ALICE OFFLEY – Don’t You Mess With Me

From London, ALICE OFFLEY struts onto the scene with Don’t You Mess With Me, a swagger-soaked indie-pop gem that is destined to lodge itself in your head as soon as you hit play.

There’s a seductive pulse running through the track, a slow-burning groove that makes you want to move and cut shapes on a dance floor. Offley’s vocal delivery radiates a velvet charm. It’s equal parts sultry and playful, dripping with a confidence that recalls the funkier corners of pop’s golden past. The is 100% a sublime earworm so watch out!

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BALLERINA BLACK – Rosegold

BALLERINA BLACK, the electronic-post-punk project of Portland’s Bobby Moynahan, serves up a shimmering slice of brooding indie with Rosegold. Shifting around on a restless, propulsive drumbeat, the track unfurls with jangling electric guitar and cascading synth arpeggios. Even a lush German spoken word sample thrown in for good measure.

My German is a more than a little rusty so I won’t try to translate. There’s a slight 1980s British indie rock edge to its atmosphere as the music shimmers like neon lights against midnight rain. Cinematic, haunted, hypnotic and a total banger!

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CAROL JARVIS – I Want You To Stay

A multi-award-winning trombonist, keyboardist, arranger, orchestrator and voiceover artist, CAROL JARVIS has shared stages and studios with the likes of Sting, Queen, Seal, Amy Winehouse and Bon Jovi to name but a few. With I Want You To Stay Carol delivers a track that pulses with a hypnotic EDM big-room energy.

Opening to piano, which for some reason makes me want to draw comparisons to Children by Robert Miles, the song soon propels forward with a thick kick drum. Percussion, immersive synth layers, slick splashes of brass all bathed in delay and reverb swirl and groove like they are riding a relentless wave of sound. It is the type of track that is tailor-made for late night highway rides and festival fields alike.

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CATBEAR – Darkness

CATBEAR, the London and Brighton duo of best mates Zoe and Sarah, woo us with Darkness. The song is a lush, moody, glossy indie-pop track brimming full of hooks and widescreen retro shimmer. There are hints of acts like HAIM but also Tears For Fears in this slick composition.

Over a steady, mechanical rhythm, the track soon wraps us up in immersive melodies and warm synth layers. The music is the perfect blend of intimacy, heartfelt vocals and a touch of cigarette lighter anthem. You cannot help but slowly sway to this one! Darkness will be a real treat for those who are fans of the indie pop genre.

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CYRANO – Heavy Dust

Scottish-born, London-grown artist and producer CYRANO, fresh from performing at Glastonbury, unveils Heavy Dust. This composition has it all. Intimate, immersive and rewards with each play. It is incredibly striking the attention to detail in the mix with tender layering of piano, acoustic guitar, synths and emotive, almost vulnerable vocals.

All the while you’re being hypnotised by an EDM infused drum groove. CYRANO also really takes us on a journey allowing the sounds to shapeshift from surging feelings of euphoria to reflective ambiance. Heavy Dust is nothing short of a widescreen vibe.

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LOST CHIMES – Man Mother Boy (Radio Edit)

LOST CHIMES, from London and already earning nods from BBC Radio London and our very own legendary Freshnet mod Neil March, deliver a radiant slice of pastoral indie folk-pop with Man Mother Boy (Radio Edit). Opening to the enchanting tones of fingerpicked acoustic guitar the music unfurls vividly.

Percussive flourishes built into an infectious, rousing groove whilst strings cinematically sweep in with textural sophistication. Hints of Talk Talk’s Colour of Spring as well as Kate Bush can be detected in the sunlit sounds. This song is a real mesmerising gift to all those who press play.

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NATALIE HOLMES – Alone Time

From Bristol, NATALIE HOLMES comes with an impressive CV. Already catching the ears and impressing BBC Radio 2, BBC 6, Clash, EARMILK, and the one and only Tom Robinson, the latest track Alone Time certainly proves why. This is dreamy, melancholic dream pop at its best. Immersing you into weaving patterns of warm, vibrant synths that pulse around a skipping kick drum heartbeat. Steady, mesmeric, it is easy to get lost in the beauty of the refined arrangement.

Natalie uses her voice almost as a textural element as the thoughtful, intimate lyrics are delivered. Layers of harmonies tenderly develop stacking on each other to enhance the rhythm, melodies and ambience all at once. Theres a real depth, movement and ethereal quality to this performance which is beautifully spellbinding.

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SIR-VERE – New World Order

From London, SIR-VERE unleashes riotous dance floor energy crossed with indie rock swagger in New World Order. Pulsing with kinetic, shuffling, rave era energy and a menacing bass, you are slapped with lush splashes of jaggered electric guitar and reflective padding from start to finish.

It is the chaotic charm of a warehouse party compelling you to cut shapes and surrender to the beat. With a punkish, spoken-cadence and rhythmic phrasing, the vocal complements the track perfectly as it oozes detachment and menace. This one is for those who want to delve into the hedonism of Madchester coupled with a contemporary edge.

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SUSY WALL – Last Meadow

Welsh singer-songwriter SUSY WALL, now based in the Black Country near Birmingham and featured on BBC Radio 2’s Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio Wales’ Welsh A List, and Iain Anderson’s BBC Radio Scotland show, spellbinds us with the captivating Last Meadow.

The track is a tender, reflective indie-folk gem, built around delicate fingerpicked acoustic guitar, soft layered strings and beautiful ambient uses of piano and what sounds like a subtle pulsing synth pad. These layers unite in a reflective elegance to create a rich enveloping atmosphere that reminds me of the more tender moments on Madonna’s Ray Of Light. Warm and emotive, SUSY WALL’s vocal glides through this instrumentation with a breathy intimacy. Supported by dreamy harmonies, Last Meadow is an enchanting, magical composition.

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THE COVASETTES – Such A Dream

“Four heartthrobs making tunes in a basement in Manchester,” THE COVASETTES burst with upbeat melodies in “Such A Dream.” From start to finish this is a gleaming slice of upbeat indie rock that wears all of its hooks proudly.

The track bounces along on easy grooves and rhythmically twangy electric guitars… and those guitars have one hell of an ear worm motif that you will find hard to get out of your head. The vocals are also nailed, effortlessly melodic and irresistible catchy. This is feel good indie pop-rock at its best. It’s pure, sunny escapism, built to ride along like a carefree anthem.

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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.