Track Of The Day: Desperate Journalist – ‘Personality Girlfriend’

Having been charming us for a number of years now with their hypnotic, ’80s-reminiscent indie soundscapes, London’s Desperate Journalist have now announced a new album, set for release next month. Ahead of the album, the band recently shared new single ‘Personality Girlfriend‘.

Reflecting on society’s obsession with “putting women into boxes/on pedestals...”, ‘Personality Girlfriend’ flows with jangly, scuzzed-out hooks and a swirling, shoegaze-tinged allure. Building with a fizzing energy as the distinctive, honey-sweet vocals of Jo Bevan soar with a subtle power, it glistens with a shimmering anthemic grace and reverb-strewn splendour. Whilst harking back to the grittier Britpop of the early ’90s, here Desperate Journalist once again manage to create something that is entirely their own – exquisitely fusing together their influences, whilst adding their own unique, captivating majesty and immersing the listener in the track’s poignant subject matter. Expanding on the song’s meaning, Bevan explains:

“The stupid idea that we are either gorgeous airheads with no inner life, or Plain Janes ‘with a great personality’, is exhaustingly pervasive in the way people talk about relationships, and both ‘categories’ are negging, nasty excuses for not granting respect to the person in question… The song is also a riposte to the tired old cultural trope that in order to be worthwhile or interesting a woman has to be incredibly strong and some kind of paragon of virtue and/or intrigue, when men are rarely held to the same standard… I’m a real person with needs and desires and interests and I fucking dare you to discount me.”

Watch the new video for ‘Personality Girlfriend’ here:

Recorded entirely in Crouch End during lockdown, Maximum Sorrow – the upcoming album from Desperate Journalist – is set for release on 2nd July via Fierce Panda Records. Pre-order here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Nick JS Thompson

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LISTEN: Twin Pixie – ‘Firestarter’

Having formed in Montreal, Philadelphia-based hyper-pop duo TJ Cole and Aiv Rubino – aka Twin Pixie – are inspired by the likes of SOPHIE and Grimes and explore themes of queerness and the supernatural in their majestic, ethereal soundscapes. Having just announced their debut album, set for release next year, they have now shared an immense new single.

Propelled by glitchy beats, ‘Firestarter’ races with a sweeping cinematic allure as poignant spoken-word vocals soar, tearing into the sexist norms of society. A swirling, pulsating soundscape, it oozes a seething, haunting power that allows you to completely immerse yourself in its captivating cacophony and empowering drive.

Listen to ‘Firestarter’ here:

‘Firestarter’ is available to download from Twin Pixie’s bandcamp page. From now through June 24th, 30% of bandcamp proceeds will be donated to GLITS Inc. (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society), a “grassroots organization dedicated to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community on a global scale.”

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Girl Ray – ‘Give Me Your Love’

Following the success 2019’s album Girl, London trio (and GIHE faves), Poppy, Iris and Sophie – aka Girl Ray – have now shared a buoyant brand new offering.

Propelled by a jangly, playful energy, ‘Give Me Your Love’ is filled with funk-fuelled beats and swirling synths, alongside the distinctive soothing allure of Poppy’s vocals. Produced and mixed by Joe Goddard and Al Doyle from Hot Chip, the track offers a more electro-driven sound than previous releases, whilst maintaining the band’s knack for creating lilting sonic delights, fizzing with plenty of vibrant, uplifting vibes and even some twinkling steel pans. A perfectly colourful summer anthem oozing some much needed optimism, ‘Give Me Your Love’ will leave you longing for summer nights dancing in fields to the endearing, shimmering charm of Girl Ray live. Of the track, the band explain:

“With all the awfulness of 2020 in our heads – it was important to us that it sounded optimistic and hopeful; a song for future summers where people can dance and enjoy music together once again.”

Directed by Alex Cantouris, described by the band as “a queer Midsummar Night’s Dream”, and filled with a dreamy romanticism, watch the simply beautiful new video for ‘Give Me Your Love’ here:

‘Give Me Your Love’ is out now via Moshi Moshi. Catch Girl Ray live at End Of The Road Festival on 3rd September.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Alex Cantouris

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Track Of The Day: IDestroy – ‘G.O.D’

Having received acclaim from the likes of BBC Radio 1, BBC 6Music and Radio X for their debut album We Are The Girls, Bristol trio IDestroy are back to blast into our ears with an immense new single.

Reflecting on the complications of social media, ‘G.O.D’ is propelled by a seething energy and fierce raucous power as frenzied beats and swirling, riotous riffs race alongside the gritty, raging vocals. An empowering rock anthem that fizzes with a ferocious, angst-driven majesty, it’s a totally infectious offering that demands multiple listens. Of the track, the band explain:

“G.O.D was inspired by the disconnect between people’s online status versus reality. It represents the conflict of exaggerated or elaborated attitudes and behaviours through social media, which is a juxtaposition against their lived experiences.“

Watch the new video for ‘G.O.D’ here:

‘G.O.D‘ is out now.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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