Five Fresh Tracks for the Week #20

A milestone, of sorts.

We’ve reached the twentieth edition of ‘Five Fresh Tracks for the Week’. It is a small milestone in the grand history of music journalism, but one that deserves marking nonetheless.

Hurrah!

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Celebrations complete, let’s tuck into this week’s tasty tracks.

Let’s go!

Good Ships - Dark Souvenir

The Good Ship was a fine live music venue in Kilburn until it was sadly forced to close in 2017. Alas. However, the name can still align with rock and roll virtues thanks to Good Ships, a four-piece band hailing from Leeds. ‘Dark Souvenir’ is the excellent opening track from their debut album, ‘Gain, Distortion, Sustain’. Beginning with soaring strings and acoustic guitars reminiscent of Richard Hawley, there are touches of I Am Kloot to the verse and Mercury Rev to the thrilling chorus as the song progresses. It sets the tone for an electric record that veers from earnest ballads (‘Please Don’t Go’) to post-punk bangers (‘Nowhere Fast’). Listen on your streaming service of choice here.

Reid Anderson - My Dearest Friends

Busy day? Looking for something to soothe your worldly woes? Well, let me introduce you to ‘My Dearest Friends’ from Reid Anderson. It’s a beautiful, acoustic number, with traces of The Beatles or Simon & Garfunkel in its blueprints, with moving instrumentation built upon by gorgeous, double-tracked vocals. Ideal for a sunny afternoon. Last year, Reid also released the fantastic single ‘We Would Have Noticed The Moon’ which is well worth a spin. Listen on your streaming service of choice here.

Yazata - People Are Saying

Yazata’s Rob Gibbon openly proclaims to making ‘weird music’, combining his eclectic electronic, jazz and indie influences. But when the chorus of ‘People Are Saying’ kicks in with its propulsive, stuttering drums, shimmering synths and hooky vocals, you could certainly see the track being played far and wide. With changing time signatures, alternative drum beats and expansive instrumentation, there’s a lot to take in, and it makes for a truly engaging listen. ‘People Are Saying’ follows on from a flurry of recent single releases so there’s more to dive into if this tickles your ears. Listen on your streaming service of choice here.

Peri Rae - Small Talk

Sometimes I prefer small talk to big talk. You know where you are with the weather at least. I’m also a big fan of ‘Small Talk’ from Cornwall artist Peri Rae. Taken from the recently released ‘i moved to the beach’ EP, it’s a heartbreaking, fuzzy indie rocker about reluctantly engaging in small talk with a past partner. There’s a real fresh energy to the track (and the whole EP), with acoustic guitars merging with heavier elements to offer some wonderfully dynamic moments. Listen on your streaming service of choice here.

Unxqly Dan - Waste No Time

Let’s waste no time in getting to the heart of the matter with our final track of the week - ‘Waste No Time’ by Unxqly Dan. Top stuff. Pronounced uniquely Dan, he’s an Afro RnB artist blending African and Western influences, with pop sensibilities at the forefront. ‘Waste No Time’ is a smooth and strong declaration of love, and in fact goes as far as asking the song’s protagonist to “be my wife” in the closing moments. It’s got a lovely laid-back summer vibe, whilst a rap interlude by Kelvin Tutu mixes proceedings up nicely - all crammed into just under two and a half minutes. Listen on your streaming service of choice here.