Track Of The Day: Claire Pitt Wigmore – ‘Words’

Having received acclaim from the likes of BBC Introducing for previous singles, ‘Dreaming (Where Did You Go?)’ and ‘My Nostalgia’, Margate-based multi-instrumentalist Claire Pitt Wigmore has returned to charm our ears with a brand new single.

Oozing a soulful, impassioned energy, ‘Words‘ is an open letter to Claire’s younger self – reflecting on times when she was bullied and sadly experienced LGBTQ+ hate-crime. As twinkling guitar hooks shimmer alongside her rich, emotion-strewn vocals, it oozes a mellow grace; interweaving a jazz-infused musicality with elements of trip-hop and pop, it’s a beautifully heartfelt ode to carrying on in the face of adversity. Exuding a sparkling allure, with ‘Words’ Claire has showcased her ability to create truly stirring ballads, resonating with a poignant sentiment that so many of us can relate to.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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ALBUM: ME REX – ‘Megabear’

Megabear by ME REX is easily one of the coolest and most ambitious albums to come out this generation.

It is comprised of fifty two short tracks, most of which last a little over thirty seconds, with a total album length of around half an hour. Each track has a corresponding tarot card designed by artist Jono Ganz. This is so you can shuffle your tarot deck, play the tracks in whichever order the cards decide for you and experience the album in an entirely new way.

You’ll have a perfectly enjoyable time listening to the songs in the order they appear automatically on bandcamp, but you’ll miss out on the layers that make this experiment so special. These tracks are designed to be played in near infinite possible combinations. They are designed to be able to flow from one to the next, regardless of which songs might get paired. To me, this sounds like it should be impossible. But ME REX have made it work. Particularly if you listen to it on their purpose-built website – free of the risk of Spotify ads to break your immersion. It’s easy to let the site automatically shuffle the tracks for you and listen to the looping, flowing music for hours on end. If you want to look for the seams between songs, obviously you can find them. But it takes no effort at all to sit back and let them wash over you in their shifting uncanny beauty.

The music itself suits being attached to a tarot deck so well. It is clearly influenced by the movement of nature, with lyrics referencing rivers and refrains that evoke that feeling of being carried along gentle eddies through a glittering natural wonderland. There is a gorgeous dance between the keys, strings and drums. ME REX have crafted something genuinely special, forging a unique sound for themselves that is distinct, original and stunning.

The thought and effort that has gone into creating a piece that makes you think about not just the music you’re listening to, but how you consume music in the digital age is astounding. It is a thoroughly well executed experiment that deserves to be remembered for sheer ambition alone.

Megabear is out now. Buy the album, plus your very own special deck of tarot cards, on bandcamp.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

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Track Of The Day: Wet Leg – ‘Wet Dream’

A sultry indie pop tune that’s “enough to make a girl blush,” Isle Of Wight duo Wet Leg have shared their latest single ‘Wet Dream’. Following on from their infectious debut track ‘Chaise Longue’ released via Domino earlier this year, the band have created another witty, playful anthem, this time exploring the feelings left behind by unwanted attention from an ex after a break-up.

Formed of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, Wet Leg began making music together in the summer of 2019 and in the space of two short years, the pair have garnered a loyal and excited following. Their refreshingly laid back attitude, dead-pan humourous lyrics and memorable guitar licks provide their listeners with instant gratification and new single ‘Wet Dream’ is no exception.

“’Wet Dream’ is a breakup song,” Teasdale explains. “It came about when one of my ex’s went through a stage of texting me after we we’d broken up telling me that ‘he had a dream about me.’” Teasdale has put a mischievous spin on this situation in the track’s colourful accompanying video, which she directed herself, featuring Salvador Dali-esque lobster claws and pillow & food fights.

Watch the video for ‘Wet Dream’ below.

Follow Wet Leg on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo credit: Hollie Fernando

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Queen Cult – ‘Show & Tell’

Following acclaim from the likes of BBC Introducing for their debut single ‘Shindigger‘, Cheshire band Queen Cult have now shared a raging new single. Consisting of front person Maisie Johnson and bassist Leila Jacklin, as well as Brodie Carson on drums and Piers Jarvis on guitar, the band pride themselves on their LGBTQ+ identity and sharing their queer, politically-charged messages with the masses through their riotous pop-rock anthems.

Propelled by the soaring, impassioned power of Johnson’s soulful vocals, ‘Show & Tell‘ builds with a gritty, swirling energy and raw riffs to an empowered call to arms; imploring us not to turn a blind eye to the injustices rife at the hands of our government. With shades of the fierce spirit of Bang Bang Romeo, it races with a relentless, searing force, resulting in a compelling plea to come together against the forces seeking to oppress us.

Of the track, the band explain:

“’Show & Tell’ was written in such unprecedented times during the pandemic, when we were feeling the most physically and mentally tested by the world – not only from our own point of view, but everyone around us too. The song details our struggles and our perspective on the government’s response to the pandemic. Living in a small town, we watched nothing get done by the floppy haired twit. As Mary Antoinette once fed brioche to the poor…we sat hopelessly watching the news and thought, “why don’t we just eat some cake?”

‘Show & Tell’ is out now. Catch Queen Cult live at London’s Queer Off on 29th October, tickets here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Debbie Ellis / A Supreme Shot

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