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.
Artists featured this week:
STUART WILLS
EMINGTON SUPER 60
OLI ROCKBERGER
KERRY JK
GURRY WURRY
UNSTOPPABLE SWEETIES SHOW
DAVE SHURR
WIOO
TJ TUCKER
UNIT 4
IN THE AFTERGLOW
SMERSY
CARWYN ELLIS & RIO 18
ARDENTJOHN
BELLA CUTTS
GRICE
ALAN DREEZER:
STUART WILLS – The Feeling
This hypnotic cut reminds me of Massive Attack at their very best!
REMINGTON SUPER 60 – Time To Breathe
It’s the driving bass reminiscent of Talk Talk’s It’s My Life that’s the star of the show here.
DEL OSEI-OWUSU/PLATINUMMIND:
OLI ROCKBERGER – We Are The People (feat. Laura Mvula)
This track was my track of the day last week, and it has all the elements of the trademark Oli Rockberger sound, great synths, fantastic lyrics, and the icing on the cake is Laura Mvula, this track is pure gold.
KERRY JK – Shake It And Break It
Kerry JK, a former FOTN mod can always be trusted to make quirky music, and this is no different, this combines a bit of rock n roll, blues and even a little bit of cabaret with 80s synth flare.
GRUBBY:
GURRY WURRY – Have you
One of the most unique vocals I’ve heard in ages. Not only that, this is a strong, atmospheric song that feels like it could be from any decade.
UNSTOPPABLE SWEETIES SHOW – Dr Nose Hands
Crazily inventive – like operatic jazzy rock – this one has to be heard to be believed!
JOHN MICHIE:
DAVE SHURR – Divided
Warm, upbeat acoustic driven track that leans into mood more than spectacle. Accompanied by rich electric guitar, glowing organ, driving drums and a deep bass, the song is definitely an ear worm with a catchy chorus.
WIOO – Static Ends In Colour
Very atmospheric track that is widescreen and cinematically ambient. The composition feels like a slowly unfurling and moving piece of sound design. At the half way mark drums enter creating a mood that lands close to the Acid Casuals.
NEIL MARCH:
TJ TUCKER – Sve Yourself
Shades of Nelly in his melodic semi-sung rap style plus echoes of De La Soul’s thoughtful laid back take on Hip Hop but he has his own nonchalant style that is cool and fresh.
UNIT 4 – Depart
Paul Briggs is Unit 4 and, on Depart, he brings cool electronica with contrasting breaks, catchy tunes and some interesting and ambient sounds.
SHARON PEARCE:
IN THE AFTERGLOW- Hollow Words
A powerful anti-war track driven by female vocals and a dense, driving wall of sound that really pulled me in. Lyrically rich in bleak imagery, it builds a world of broken promises and conflict and emotional overload. Recurring lines add a haunting, hypnotic edge, making it feel urgent and unsettling in its impact.
SMERSY – Goodbye Alcohol (The Rock and Roll part 2)
A deeply personal track with acoustic guitar, soft beats and subtle strings, where the outstanding Scottish vocals and delivery feel raw and heartfelt. Written six months into sobriety, the lyrics paint vivid scenes of temptation and inner struggle, while the chorus lands with emotional weight and determination. Honest and reflective, it’s a powerful listen that lingered with me long after it ended.
Sheena Cameron
CARWYN ELLIS & RIO 18 – Bella Estrela
A gorgeous, softly flowing, sultry salsa with 60s/70s Latin influences that sound truly authentic. I’ve enjoyed listening to Carwyn Ellis and Rio 18 for a few years now, and I’m still amazed by this fusion of Carwyn’s rhythmic Welsh vocals (often multilingual) with popular Latin musical styles-it just works! It’s all about the feeling of the music.
ARDENTJOHN – Hey Boy
‘Hey Boy’ is a warmly nostalgic reflection on young aspirations. The band’s folk/rock roots really drive the catchy optimism, and there’s a 60s West Coast feel to those harmonies that I really like.
TONY HARDY:
This was such a strong Inbox that there were many songs that didn’t make the Listening Post but deserve their place in the sun. It’s great that we have Alt Picks to shine light on a selection of them. Here are two that particularly resonated with me but I could have chosen at least six this week.
BELLA CUTTS – Run Little Child
Singer-songwriter Bella Cutts brings a certain worldly wisdom to her writing that belies her years. The song is beautifully paced and sung with clarity and quiet emotion. Bella’s command of the high register is impressive and this is as good a debut single as I’ve heard in some time.
GRICE – Love Me Out
It is easy just to lose yourself in all the spacey loveliness of this song but underlying it is something really profound and humbling; the struggle of simply being set against the greater cosmos. Prog fans will be delighted to hear a mellotron in the suite of instrumentation too.
