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.

Featured artists:
MAYA KALLY
MOLLY RYMER
RICHARD PIERCE
THE STOMP BOX CHOIR
SHRUBE
FENRA
SHY PLANT
VERLEENS
GHOST BISCUIT –
PERSON ATOM
BUTTNESS
FEATHER HOUSE
ROWAN FLACK
ANGELS OF LIBRA
SE7APHIC & LAURA T
LONG ISLAND

ALAN DREEZER:

MAYA KALLY – LIGHTHOUSE

Maya’s stripped back arrangement here puts the story front and centre and it’s beautifully told. Just missed out on my Top 5 this week.

MOLLY RYMER – CITY HALF AWAKE

Molly’s emotional vocal performance is impeccable. Simply gorgeous.

DEL OSEI-OWUSU/PLATINUMMIND:

RICHARD PIERCE – Somewhere, Fairytale

Richard always comes up with the goods when it comes to spoken word, and that doesn’t diminish with this track which gives you a modern day fairy tale – but there’s a plot twist. There’s no happy ending.

THE STOMP BOX CHOIR – Magnifier

The name intrigued me enough to want to write about this one, It combines an electronic flavour with dreampop, I like the adlibs towards about halfway though – overall the melancholy could easily place this song in the late 70s early 80s when synths were still quite experimental.

JOHN MICHIE:

SHRUBE – Flat Battery

Colourful number with great guitar and electric piano all riding over the top of one hell of a funky bass line.

FENRA – When We Dip CHICAGO (Oliver Schories Remix)

Atmospheric EDM with trance inducing, glowing synths gliding over a hypnotic groove.

NEIL MARCH:

SHY PLANT – Passing Ships

I came so close to putting this jangling spacy slice of Shoegazey Alt Rock in my top 5 at moderation. Shimmering synths and guitars recall Ride and early Lush but also with an 80s Indie Pop sensibility that has echoes of Friends Again and Close Lobsters. Love this.

VERLEENS – Hold On

Polyrhythmic rap mixing in with dark synth elements resulting in a refreshingly individual futuristic Hip Hop style while the lyrics dig into the dysfunction of the modern world.

PAUL KERR:

GHOST BISCUIT – Mr Capitalist (Mr Trump)

Glasgow’s Ghost Biscuit grabs techno by the pulse and shoves it through a post-punk voltage spike, landing somewhere between warehouse rave and full-blown PIL style tantrum. The beat doesn’t drop, it barges in mid-argument, a pulsing piston-throb, industrial yet mischievous. It’s like an illegal rave staged inside a The Guardian opinion column after closing time. This doesn’t just take the biscuit, it nicks the whole tin, smashes the lock, and hands the crumbs out to the crowd like revolutionary rations.

PERSON ATOM – Do The Right Thing, Baby

Wow, this sounds like a sun-faded demo cassette from Orange Juice discovered behind a dusty radiator at a student union bar. With its jangling guitars, and crooning dual male & female vocals it’s romantic but self-aware enough to smirk at its nudge-nudge wink-wink lyrics. Somewhere between the woozy longing of Lovesick and the lovelorn poetry of Rip It Up, Do The Right Thing, Baby finds its own sweetly skewed erotic orbit.

SHARON PEARCE:

BUTTNESS – Nature Knows

A gentle, reflective song about our connection to nature. Soft melodies and emotional vocals create a calm mood, while the lyrics remind us to respect and protect the world around us.

FEATHER HOUSE – Let The Light Pour In

Warm and uplifting, a song with a hopeful message.
Its gentle melody and honest lyrics make it easy to connect with, creating a calm and positive feel.

SHERRY SAHAYARAJ:

ROWAN FLACK – Nap On The Sofa

There is a clear jazz folk feel, carried by vocals that shift naturally and never feel forced. The song stays calm and grounded throughout. The vocals feel intimate, makes us get lost in the moment.

ANGELS OF LIBRA – Lie To Me Feat. Nathan Johnston

The song has a gentle, soulful feel, led by warm vocals and interesting melodies. It’s easy to listen to and carries a thoughtful, relaxed mood.

TONY HARDY:

SE7APHIC & LAURA T – Echoes

The combination of songwriter/producer SE7APHIC and Norwich based artist Laura T has produced a gem of a song which puts a positive spin on the loss of a loved one. The euphoric extended coda amplifies a message of hope while Laura’s vocals add beauty and poignancy.

LONG ISLAND – Special Place

I love the way Long Island describes itself as your favourite indie band from the north. It could well earn that accolade judging by this wonderful song. Anxieties are beautifully voiced with fragility and meaning while the song’s exhilarating ending sets the seal.