LISTENING TO…

RUNDOWN OF SOME OF THE BEST NEW RELEASES

THE CLAUSE – POP CULTURE

Everybody’s current favourite indie support band, The Clause have only gone and released their debut EP. Being taken on UK wide tours with the likes of The Reytons, DMA’s, The Enemy to name but a few only demonstrates the universal respect this young Birmingham band have gained. Storming on to the English indie scene back in 2019 with the sensational In My Element, the four piece have only continue to grow their talents and fan base.

Of course, every track is worthy of this edition of ‘Listening To‘, however, title track and latest release Pop Culture just edges it for me.

This song is everything we wanted a Clause song to be. A real groover with big riffs and a fat chorus. Lyrically, it’s kind of about that Culture that surrounds this mad digital world we live in, everything done for someone else’s, often a strangers, approval. Kind of like a playful social commentary. That was kind of the theme of the whole EP.
The Clause

Pop Culture captures everything that The Clause are. Catchy indie pop riffs composed to be played and sang back live. Drawing inspiration from across early naughties indie revival that saw bands like Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs dominate the scene (and charts), The Clause find themselves a critical player in this current emerging scene. It’s not particularly different to anything they they’ve done before, but that’s not a bad thing. The Clause take what works best and give it arms and legs to develop into something special. Not a band you want to let slip by you.

ARCADE STATE – PAPER HEART

The second single release from the Glasgow bands announced 2024 debut album, Paper Hearts sheds a further layer on what to expect from this new era Arcade State.

Described as ‘our darkest and heaviest date’, Arcade State aren’t messing about. Absolutely everything about this track is perfectly placed. From the omniscient first few bars to the powerful punch from the percussion, this detail sets an anticipating tone. Lyrically, songwriting front man Ciaran gets it spot on again. Reflective and deeply personal but always rawly relatable. There’s not many bands who can get away with chanting repetitive melodic oh’s in place of an actual sang choral hook, but this one makes the song what it is. Big anthemic energy, this chant will become as notorious live as 2022’s now retired fan favourite Hard To Grow.

Paper Heart conveys a strong balance between catchy, melodic, hook driven alternative music and downright dirty heavy rock. Just listen to the guitar breakdown at the 2 minute mark. This is beautiful stuff. The layers upon layers of crunchy guitars erupts with downright filthy noise hinting at the strength on offer. For fans of Biffy Clyro and Twin Atlantic, Arcade State deserve all the recognition debut album Life Is Not Linear which ultimately draw when it’s released in March next year.

BETH KARP – ROOTS

‘Genre Chameleon‘ Beth Karp has this month released their first new track since March’s EP Bloom. Roots, which will feature on Beth’s upcoming album expected in the new year, is an introspective ambient track which reflects Beth’s diverse talent beautifully.

Speaking on the meaning behind the song, Beth shares,

Roots is about trying to figure out the ignition point of decisions/thoughts/feelings. Essentially untangling and tracing backwards why we think or feel something, in a bid to understand ourselves better, to grow forward.
Beth Karp

Stripped right back to just Beth and her acoustic guitar, the offbeat vocal delivery intertwine seamlessly against the soft strumming of her guitar. Where Beth takes a breath, the guitar fills that space as if they are one instrument building tension as it grows. The ambient added orchestral elements provide a comfort to ease the intensity being built, grounding the track to it’s very own ‘roots’. Music which conveys raw emotion like Roots does isn’t always easy to come by. It takes a unique talent to sustain that level of atmosphere but Beth Karp manages to make it sound easy.

LITTLE STRANGE – HARD DAYS HARD TIMES

What can I say? I can’t resist a good fuzzy earworm and as soon as I heard the opening riff for this next ‘listening to‘ track, I was hooked. Hard Days Hard Times is the latest release from Manchester’s alt rock band Little Strange.

Talkinh about the meaning behind the new track, singer Jamie tells,

The cool answer would be to describe this one as, ‘the little bastard brother of Arctic Monkeys’ AM, raised by Hunter S. Thompson on a diet of B-movies’, but truthfully, that isn’t what this song is about. It’s about being in your own head and doubting yourself.
Jamie – Little Strange

A relatable theme to listeners which when combined with the guitar driven loops just takes off. A timeless rock’n’roll sound, Little Strange have the potential to take their music far. Avoiding trying to fit into any current trend allows the band to let their creativity flow. Hard Days Hard Times is nothing groundbreaking to the genre, but it’s a bloody good addition and if they continue with this level of roaring rhythm and hook laden riffs they won’t ever go wrong. With a full release schedule in place for 2024, this Manchester rock quartet have a lot to look forward to.

POPCLAW – STOCKING FILLER

Finishing up this listening to segment is something a little different. A little less critical and more charitable addition is the latest offering from new rock duo Popclaw. Having never met in person, Dan and Chris have spent 2023 creating music from their bedrooms and have so far released 5 singles this year.

In aid of The Trussell Trust, the pair have released and recorded the one minute festive punk song Stocking Filler. Now, it’s fair to say – and I’m sure the guys won’t object to my brutality – it’s not their strongest track this year, however for a one minute charity single it packs in a bit of a punch. Typical pop punk, fast paced americana styling, Stocking Filler sounds like practice shed demo flung together for pure fun. Worth checking out the duo’s other releases and if the song brings awareness and fundraising towards The Trussell Trust, then it’s earned their spot on Santa’s good list.

Stocking Filler is available exclusively on Bandcamp with listener’s encouraged to make a donation for the track where all proceeds will be paid to The Trussell Trust.