Every week the team individually pick tracks that make up the listening post but there are always “ones that got away”.

These are the alternative picks and some words by our moderators on each one. You can find the tracks in one playlist here.

The picks this week:

VALESKA RAUTENBERG – The Art Of Being Unhappy
PARAGON SEA – Limbs
KIFFIE – Spider Silk
Gareth Donkin – Out here
SISTER WANZALA – Winter Dominos
THE LIGHT SHOW – Pavel
ADAM WEDD- For U I’ll Cross The Sea
TOM LEONARD- stay gone
CHRISTOF R DAVIS – Lunar
TIM EVELEIGH – Timeline
MAT THORPE – Jaded
ROBERT QUIGLEY – Sad House
JENNI NOYES – The Pioneer
RODEO TERRORIST Minneapolis
KAR STANTON – The Lamps Have Gone Out
BROKEN BEAR – Sirens

Alan Dreezer

VALESKA RAUTENBERG – The Art Of Being Unhappy

A cool mix of electric – electronic & cinematic  that’s slightly unhinged in a good way.

PARAGON SEA – Limbs

This moody slice of electronica wouldn’t sound out of place on an early James Blake album.

DEL OSEI-OWUSU/PLATINUMMIND:

KIFFIE – Spider Silk

I have it on good authority that Kiffie is revisiting his extensive back catalogue and giving them a fresh sound, this is a track that is packed full of synth goodness – piano and analogue combined along with a drum machine. It’s all sparse and his vocals are up front which I appreciate. If this is the new journey he’s on then that can only be a good thing.

Gareth Donkin – Out here

The funk is strong with this one! Lots of soulful goodness, as well as great harmonies, there’s an album due out in April I can’t wait to hear it now this is the standard.

JOHN MICHIE

SISTER WANZALA – Winter Dominos

This one rides on shimmering surf-soaked guitars that glint like sunlight off the sea. Nostalgic, in places slightly trippy especially at the end. Also, with awesome harmonies throughout.

THE LIGHT SHOW – Pavel

This track comes in loud, driven by classic electric guitar tones. Punchy rhythms are abundant oozing unpolished vibes in the best possible way. There is also a slight hint of classic rock bravado in the later sections. Confident, strutting and swinging!

MIA WILKS:

ADAM WEDD- For U I’ll Cross The Sea

I really love the song’s stripped-back instrumentation- it gives everything room to breathe. The violin that comes in after the chorus is a perfect touch, adding emotion without overpowering the track. The lyrics complement the vibe beautifully, and his voice brings a raw, honest quality that ties it all together.

TOM LEONARD- stay gone

I love the instrumentation and chord choices in the song. The stacked vocals create a rich atmosphere, adding depth and texture throughout. When it shifts into the verse, man of the instruments drop out, which really lets the lyrics stand out.

NEIL MARCH:

CHRISTOF R DAVIS – Lunar

Depressingly, after my comments about Grace Tanner last week, again the only truly ‘contemporary’ classical track in the in-box missed out. Why do people want ‘new’ pop music but then expect classical composers to write like it’s still 1850? Anyway, Christof delivers once again; such a consistent, versatile and talented composer. He was very pleased that I compared parts of it to Delius in my review in Trust The Doc although the style is definitely modern.

TIM EVELEIGH – Timeline

Tim always makes interesting and thoughtful music and Timeline offers an intriguing hybrid of influences, part Folk, part Psych, part organic Singer-Songwriter fare with a clever contrast between electric and acoustic sounds and an engaging vocal delivery.

SHARON PEARCE

MAT THORPE – Jaded

Jaded has a dark and eerie vibe, and I really like the overall mood it creates—a track that would fit right in on the TV show The Traitors.

ROBERT QUIGLEY – Sad House

Sad House, as the title suggests, is a heartbreaking song about a home that’s lost its joy, filled with memories of happier times. The song’s sadness is aptly brought to life by Lizz Soren’s incredible vocals.

SHERRY SAHAYARAJ

JENNI NOYES – The Pioneer

This track is lyrically very expressive ..flowing melody build on a simple guitar strumming that feels raw and intimate. (One of my favourites from the inbox this week as it goes. Del)

RODEO TERRORIST Minneapolis

“Minneapolis” carries a heartfelt sadness that feels honest and deeply human. The vocals perfectly mirror the emotion.

TONY HARDY:

KAR STANTON – The Lamps Have Gone Out

Dundee native, and now Manchester-based, Kar Stanton brings a rare sensitivity to bear as she shares her reflections on the damage of war, the suffering it causes and how easily it could be brought to a halt. There is a touch of Suzanne Vega about how Kar delivers her lines while the guitar work and bass syncopations are a total delight.

BROKEN BEAR – Sirens

The Surrey alt-rock pairing of Laura Callaghan and Paul Smart aka Broken Bear take aim at the danger of extremism being mistaken for hope in this slow-build, darkly etched tale. Populists who operate like sirens luring sailors to their doom are suitably dispatched by Laura’s plaintive verses and the contrasting fuzz guitar driven choruses