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

A word from Del: Well that was a strong listening post yet again! My. hat is off to all the artists who submitted in the last week, and to those who made the listening post and faves. You all have my gratitude. Fittingly this inbox is called 606, it’s a musical reference in two ways – 606 is a famous jazz club in London, I played there sometime in the early 2000s with a gospel choir, it was a good day! Neil reminded me of this when the submissions came through we had some jazzy flavours in there. We don’t usually do this but make sure you check out the full inbox here.

Over to you Tony!

ABS – BREATHE!

We begin this week’s Fresh Faves journey with a new arrival here in the shape of Sheffield native Abi Hall aka abs who brings an individuality to her music, drawing influences from neo-soul, R&B and electro-pop without settling on any one particular label. She put a band together in late 2022, releasing a debut self-titled EP a year later and undertaking her first UK tour the following February, with the support of Help Musicians.

“Breathe!” is from abs’ second EP, Learning To Know Myself, released just last month. The sing-speak opening verses take their cue from hip hop rhythms as abs lists all the things weighing on her mind, questioning why she is even getting out of bed. The song takes a left field turn midway with a dreamy dose of scat singing which seem to resolve those voices in the head, leading into a jazz trumpet-driven coda and the repeated questioning chorus. It ends abruptly and appropriately on a short breath.

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ANYA VINCENT – Closer

I reviewed Anya Vincent’s inaugural appearance here in December last year and it is no surprise she is back among the Faves. A native of Paisley in Scotland, Anya is still a relative newcomer as “Closer” is just her third single officially as solo recording artist, although she released music collaboratively while at school, aged 16. Anya cites pop and R&B influences from the likes of George Michael, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill and Stevie Wonder together with the traditional Irish music scene in Glasgow she grew up with.

With her last single, “Money”, Anya took a pop at the culture of greed. “Closer” sticks to the politics of relationships, hinting at the downsides of a controlling relationship in the language which builds through the song to reach a conclusive declaration: “I can’t let you get closer / No you’ll only bring me down.” Vocally Anya has a smooth, soulful delivery with a sweetly toned topline; layering and choice harmonies give the track added polish.

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CELLO – We Do What We Want (When We Want When We Want To)

To Brighton next where we find Cello, a post-punk songstress who once studied as a cellist at the Junior Royal College of Music in London and now appears to have put the instrument away to focus on her own brand of original music. Away from music, Cello is also credited with cultivating beautiful organic vegetables! Earlier this year, she hit the indie music scene running with her debut single, “Vitamins.”

The follow up single from Cello’s forthcoming album, Kung Fu Disco, is perfect for anyone who loves brackets in a song title: “We Do What We Want (When We Want When We Want To).” It does what it says on the can, opening with a rebellious scowl: “Yeah, we ain’t coming back to the shack, out the back” and racing along for 2 mins 18 seconds of a rallying call for defiant youth. Loud, proud and unapologetic with dynamic vocals, the timing is spot on throughout and all the beats are roundly hit. I reviewed the song a couple of weeks back for Fifty3Fridays and was delighted to see it prove a hit with Fresh On The Net readers too.

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KIDSMOKE – I’m Always Getting Carried Away

Wrexham’s 80s inspired indie outfit Kidsmoke are no strangers to Fresh On The Net. I almost ran out of fingers trying to count how many times the four-piece made the Faves from 2016 through to 2020. Indeed, the band was very active up to 2021 since when it appears to have been on a hiatus. Comprising Lance Williams and Sophie Ballamy (both on vocals and guitar), James Stickels on bass/vocals and drummer Ash Turner, Kidsmoke is now firmly back on the block.

“I’m Always Getting Carried Away”, the comeback single from Kidsmoke was in part inspired by Lance’s visits to a dementia support group which brought into focus just how precious yet fragile memories are. Opening with bright, fast strummed guitar, the song maintains a brisk pace throughout with fleeting moments captured in a delicate bridge and endorsed in the choruses, while the vocal layering adds colour and warmth. The song serves as a reminder to hold those moments and memories close while we can

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KITTY O’NEAL – Can I Let This One Go?

Previously featured as a Fresh Fave under the moniker of March, London-based singer-songwriter Kitty O’Neal seems to have reverted to her birth name now as she works towards the release of a debut album, to follow two impressive self-released EPs over the last four years. Her alt-folk sound shares some common ground with the Laurel Canyon inspired storytelling of the 70s alongside more contemporary influences. Kitty’s music is hallmarked by versatility in songwriting, reflective lyrics and her instinctive feel for melody.

“Can I Let This One Go?” is the lead song taken from Kitty’s forthcoming long player. It takes her from the intimacy of her early acoustic material into folk-rock territory with electric guitar stings very much the dynamic counterpoint in the song. There is a palpable sense of catharsis in the lyrics which is mirrored by the instrumental punch and given meaning by Kitty’s captivating vocals. Indignation rarely sounds as sweet as this.

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LARLIN – Sondheim

First time Fresh Fave, Larlin maintains a fairly minimalist presence in regard to online bios: “Larlin writes your diary entries so you don’t have to” it says on their Spotify page and Linktree. Fair enough. Further digging reveals that Larlin is a band rather than a solo artist, formed in Brighton in 2024 and fronted by Sheffield-born songwriter Maryann Hoar. “Larlin craft music for overthinkers with volume knobs, emotionally intense and built for the stage.” Yes, I’d go with that too, although I prefer the verb to be singular.

Without anything else to go on, “Sondheim” is an intriguing song title. Lyrically the song seems to be about detachment from self, of being unsure about your own identity and place in the world. Maybe the late Stephen Sondheim suffered from this as emotional detachment plays a role in several of his stage characters. Whatever, the song is infused with great dynamics from its brittle guitar opening through to its muted verses and explosive choruses. Maryann’s vocal mirrors this tension, mixing vulnerability with strength.

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RICHARD NEUBERG – Everything Dark Is Light

Like Larlin, Richard Neuberg is also here for the first time as far as I can tell. Based in Oxford, he fronted the band Viarosa who created a considerable buzz around its music in the mid to late noughties. The band’s music drew parallels with dark Americana though with a distinctive edge which was peculiarly English; “outstanding”, as Uncut magazine pronounced it, “like The Birthday Party doing Johnny Cash.” After a 16-year hiatus, during which Richard carved a niche as a producer but also battled a debilitating illness, he is back as a solo artist.

“Everything Dark Is Light” is the opening track from Richard’s forthcoming album, The Vine, due out at the end of this month. He describes the song as being about “finding some light in the darkest of times”, sentiments which ring true from the very first listen. The notion of seeing past the pain of loss to a point where you are ready to embrace the light will resonate with so many. Richard’s warm, tender baritone will bring Richard Hawley to mind while the delightful string arrangement wraps itself around the song, never swamping, always complementing the vocals.

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ROE – Adrenaline

Over to Northern Ireland now. Derry singer-songwriter Roisin McDonald aka Roe goes back a fair way with Fresh On The Net. First faved here in 2018, Roe was interviewed on the site a year later. She was just 18 when she played Glastonbury on the BBC Introducing Stage and went on to support Snow Patrol on its 2018/19 UK arena tour, subsequently releasing a debut album in 2022. Roe describes herself as “an emotional car crash with free will and an impulse to write”, a phrase that seems to fit well with her dark imagination.

“Adrenaline” plays out like a conversation in your head and seems to resolve itself with a decision to ignore the self-doubt and embrace the future, summed up in the refrain “I know I’m going places.” It is a nicely constructed song with a touch of Alanis Morissette in the alternating soft and loud passages of the song. Roe’s sweet tone carries conviction with an undernote of susceptibility which strikes the right balance; seize the day and it could be the sound of your summer.

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SONNEN BLUME – Crying In The Ibis

The next song topped this week’s poll. Sonnen Blume is a duo comprising a songwriter/musician and a singer now based in Staffordshire who purposely maintain an air of mystique around their music – German for sunflower, but certainly not shrinking violets when it comes to releasing music. This is the third time Sonnen Blume has been fresh faved, a number which matches its output since November 2025; a self-titled debut album, followed by a second just 4 months or so later and now an 8-track EP entitled Home added to the canon of work.

The band’s flurry of releases is the summation of a decade’s worth of songwriting with the new EP including more recent songs which didn’t quite fit into the first two albums. “Crying In The Ibis” opens at the end of an affair with the narrator stranded in Paris, presumably at the Hotel Ibis. The saddest of songs is conveyed by the softest vocal caress this side of a David Lynch soundtrack, aided by a steel guitar. However, for anyone feeling lonesome tonight, there is a touch of down-to-earth reality awaiting you: “All I need is a packet of crisps.”

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THE KASHBUK – Sunset

We conclude this week’s Fresh Faves with first-timer, The Kashbuk; a great name for a firm of accountants (Thanks Tony, this made me chuckle way harder than it should have – Del)! If you thought Sonnen Blume was enigmatic try finding out anything about The Kashbuk. Visually a male/female duo, they have two tracks on Spotify including the Fresh On The Net entry, “Sunset”, which was recorded at Eve Studios, Stockport which might be a location clue.

“Sunset” makes you think of hitting the road, heading towards the sunset; maybe more Sunset Boulevard than the road to Edgeley Park. The guitars coalesce like a meeting of Lindsey Buckingham and Keith Richards over a slice of Americana while the harmonies come in to lift the song at precisely the right moments. The end with fleeting echoes of guitar is a nice touch too, suggesting the road disappearing from view.

Instagram | 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.