Track Of The Day: Pretty Happy – ‘Sudocrem’

A frantic, witty, cathartic burst of art punk noise, Cork trio Pretty Happy have shared their latest single ‘Sudocrem’. Taken from their recent EP Sluggers Bridge, released via Art For Blind Records, the track ricochets between manic vocals, spoken word verses and whirlwind guitar cacophonies to reflect the irritation of the characters the song is based around.

Formed of Abbey Blake (guitar), Arann Blake (vocals, bass) and Andy Killian (drums), Pretty Happy have been busy cutting their teeth on the DIY Irish music and arts scene over the last few years. Abbey is a founder of Angry Mom Collective, a movement set up to challenge the gender imbalance in Irish arts, whilst Arann and Andy are keenly involved in the local drama and film scenes. Together, the trio combine their talents to create their distinctive sounds and ‘Sudocrem’ is another of their riotous, tongue-in-cheek offerings.

Centered around the Cork-centric story of a girl who is suffering from alcohol poisoning in the Mercy Hospital whilst her partner sits across the road in the Franciscan Well pub, ‘Sudocrem’ kicks and screams with the kind of frustration, panic and anxiety that can’t be soothed by the childhood medicinal staple it’s named after. Speaking about their new EP which the track is lifted from, the band explain: “With Sluggers Bridge we have attempted to capture our live theatre-influenced, art-punk sound. We wanted to make this EP as interdisciplinary as possible, taking as much inspiration from the Irish stage as we do the Irish music scene. This EP is uniquely Cork, influenced greatly by the people and humour of the city.”

Listen to ‘Sudocrem’ below.

Follow Pretty Happy on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Photo Credit: Nicholas O’Donnell

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Moor Mother – ‘Shekere’ (feat. lojii)

Having released her debut album Fetish Bones back in 2016, musician-poet-artist-workshop facilitator Camae Ayewa – aka Moor Mother – has since been wowing fans with 2017’s The Motionless Present and 2020’s innovative project with Swedish musician Olof Melander, Anthologia, which raised money for disability justice. Now, following much critical acclaim, she has announced her upcoming new album – Black Encyclopedia Of The Air – an exploratory reflection on modern life, recorded last year, once again with Melander.

Taken from the album, latest single ‘Shekere‘ features Philadelphia rapper lojii and is propelled by a stripped-back, jazz-infused musicality as it oozes a swirling, stirring allure and immersive, soulful drive. As its poetically poignant lyricism is set against the captivating flow of the instrumentation – soaring strings providing the backdrop for the hypnotic vocal refrain of “Shekere” – a truly bewitching haze is created. With this latest offering, Moor Mother offers an exquisitely enthralling, and undeniably necessary, battle-cry: a compelling taste of what’s to come from the album.


Black Encyclopedia Of The Air, the upcoming album from Moor Mother, is set for release on 17th September via ANTI-.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Bob Sweeney

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Track Of The Day: Witch Prophet ft. Stas THEE Boss – ‘MUSA’ (Remix)

“’MUSA’ Remix produced by SUN SUN is a reflection on the current state of the world,” explains Ethio jazz-hip hip fusion artist Witch Prophet. Taken from the deluxe edition of her Polaris Music Prize nominated album DNA Activation, which is set for release on 23rd July, the track is a smooth rumination on how the voices of black artists and their communities are constantly undermined or overlooked.

“[The song is] named after my grandfather. It’s a critique on culture vultures, police, and those that do not recognize the influence of Black people within their lives.” Through her steady, distinctive vocals and hazy beats, Witch Prophet pays homage to her past and explores the issues that continue to affect her future, accompanied by the slick rapping of Stas THEE Boss.

“I’ve been a friend and a fan of Stas THEE Boss for over a decade and decided to reach out to her to see if she would bless the track,” Witch Prophet explains. “She said yes and within a day had the verse written, recorded and sent back to me. I literally screamed with amazement when I played it and heard her confidently rap ‘You drink the juice up / I Black up / you blue hug’. It was perfect.”

Listen to the ‘MUSA’ remix below.

Follow Witch Prophet on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Francesca Nocera

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Tropical Fuck Storm – ‘New Romeo Agent’

Following recent single ‘G.A.F.F’, Australian band Tropical Fuck Storm have now announced their upcoming new album, Deep States, set for release next month. And, ahead of the album’s release, they have now shared another characteristically kooky new single.

A reflection on human-alien relationships, as inspired by Octavia Butler’s short story Amnesty, ‘New Romeo Agent’ oozes a mystical, other-worldly allure as glitchy beats pulse alongside the sweeping, sultry vocals of Erica Dunn. Offering a whirring cacophony fuelled by a quirky, colourful charisma, it flows with a sparkling, ethereal splendour, creating a welcome break from reality. A swirling, spellbinding sonic tonic.

Of the track, the band Dunn expands:

“Our love & death tragedy-ballad kicks off in the aftermath of Octavia Butler’s short story Amnesty where a translator for the human race infiltrates an alien community Cold War Romeo agent style. Sent to collect secrets and glean intelligence, against all odds, the undercover spy falls in love. As our human/alien inamorates connect in an intimate new language, they decide to make a run for it. We glimpse an oasis of hope in defiance of the violence and backstabbery of their masters. We imagine a tropical island of romance in an icy sea devoid of solar warmth. We look back on the spinning wheel of progress and feel that all the desperation, despair and heartache of the past could finally be worth it for this moment, a conquest of love! A clock striking for a new age! But, they get murdered. The end.” 

‘New Romeo Agent’ is accompanied by a wonderfully trippy new video directed by Oscar O’Shea which sees the band performing in an alien dive bar. Oozing a perfect fusion of eccentric energy and enticing psychedelic charm, you can watch it here:

Deep States, the upcoming album from Tropical Fuck Storm, is set for release on 20th August via Joyful Noise. Pre-order here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Oscar O’Shea

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