I suppose by listing five songs on a weekly basis, New Sounds Union is a listicle-based publication…perhaps. Although, by their nature songs are there for the listing - hence those little things called albums and playlists (they might just catch on).
But the same thought had me pondering what happened to the mother of all listicle sites, Buzzfeed. A decade ago the site was huge, on the lips of the public and the pulse of pop culture, plus with ambitions to move into more serious journalistic territories. Surprisingly, it is still a going concern - although visiting its homepage felt like stepping into a backroom of discarded shards of HTML, flecked with stale AI.
The message of this intro? God knows. But life, especially on the internet, is fleeting. So, why not enjoy some fine music while you can.
Visions of Albion - Avenues
We begin by stepping back in time courtesy of Visions of Albion, who are draped in late-60s psychedelia and pop influences, from The Doors to the warming tones of the Laurel Canyon scene. The Liverpool-based duo create a gorgeous sound on luscious new single ‘Avenues’, blending vintage instrumentation with modern production and a rich vocal performance.
Listen on Bandcamp or via your streaming service of choice here.
Vona Vella - Brand New Boy
Another retro-leaning track now with the sweet ‘Brand New Boy’ from Vona Vella. Taken from their new record ‘Carnival’, this has a timeless feel to it, with hushed, almost whispered vocals sitting on top of a clean guitar line. The group are signed to Peter Doherty’s label Strap Originals and look to have a bright future ahead of them. If you like this, the whole record is a lovely experience and they’re heading out on a UK tour as we speak.
Listen on your streaming service of choice here.
Velvet Lies - Willing Fool
If listening to the new Morrissey record doesn’t sound particularly appealing, then let us direct you towards the latest single from indie duo Velvet Lies. Combining the infectious bass grooves of early Smiths with the pop know-how of The Housemartins, this is a joyous way to spend three minutes and is highly likely to get your feet tapping.
Listen on your streaming service of choice here.
Gordy Murphy - Wash
We take a little jaunt now to the US east coast to listen to ‘Wash’, the contemplative new single from Boston multi-instrumentalist and one-man-band Gordy Murphy. This is a thoughtful, yet uplifting slice of indie rock that “reflects on memory, identity, and the quiet fight against life’s monotony”. Full of emotive 90s, alt-rock guitar lines, it’s a compelling track that has you reaching for the repeat button.
Listen on your streaming service of choice here.
Tooth Gore - Song For The Birdman
We end the week by welcoming back Tooth Gore with another hit of delicious pop punk in the form of ‘Song For The Birdman'. No idea who the birdman is, but this is jam-packed with hooky guitars and catchy melodies, and I have no doubt will sound delightful blasting out of stereos this summer. You can also read our interview with Kobi, aka Tooth Gore, from last year here to learn more about his creative process.
Listen via your streaming service of choice here.