Track Of The Day: Pansy – ‘Where There’s Smoke’

Self-described as “late-bloomers forming sounds to garden, cry and dance to,” Chicago-based indie rockers pansy have shared their latest single ‘Where There’s Smoke’. Taken from their upcoming album of the same name, which is set for release on 2nd of April, the band blend laid-back vocals with energetic riffs and frenzied percussion on this fuzzy, melodic guitar tune.

Formed of vocalist & guitarist Mat Hagger, bassist Benjamin Abid, guitarist Danny Sein and drummer Cameron Frank, pansy began working together and creating music in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before relocating to Detroit and Chicago. The band spent three days recording the 6 tracks on their upcoming album, with new single ‘Where There’s Smoke’ being one of the first songs they wrote for it.

Described by Hagger as a “cascading sand avalanche, slowly turning into glass,” the track gently ricochets “somewhere between catharsis and boredom,” which is fuelled by “A thunderous eruption of driving rhythm and chugging guitars” according to drummer Frank. Following on from their previous singles ‘Buried’ and ‘Pity Party’, pansy’s latest offering is designed to break the monotony of everyday life and provide listeners with a lush piece of musical relief.

Listen to “Where There’s Smoke” below.

Follow Pansy on bandcamp, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Jeremiah Bulkowski

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Spike Pop – ‘So Mysterious’

A shadowy synth-pop tune inspired by the soundtracks to early video games and the search for a magic eye, London-based musician Spike Pop has shared her latest single ‘So Mysterious’. Released via independent Birmingham label Ezi Deth Rekords, the track is a glitchy, infectious blend of beguiling vocals, buzzing synth textures and dancing beats.

Spike Pop began writing, recording and producing her own music predominantly from her bedroom in Berlin in 2014 after an email correspondence with her musical hero, Stephin Merritt. She reached out to The Magnetic Fields songwriter & vocalist for advice about using drum machines, and since then she’s been creating and producing her own electronic music.

Spike Pop began performing her soundscapes live when she relocated to London, captivating crowds with her lo-fi blend of trance, hardcore, classic new wave and synth pop. Her latest offering ‘So Mysterious’ ripples with mystical intrigue, manifesting into a “sonic synth storm” of vocoder fx, dreamy vocals and distinctive dancing beats. It’s an intriguing slice of darkwave-inspired sound that offers listeners the opportunity to escape their reality and enter into Spike Pop’s murky, fascinating world.

Listen to ‘So Mysterious’ below.

 

Follow Spike Pop on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram & Facebook for more updates

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: The Kobras – ‘Fuck Boy’

A lively guitar tune that takes down the contemptible behaviour of the men it’s named after, London-based duo The Kobras have shared their debut single ‘Fuck Boy’. Taken from their upcoming EP which is set for release in June, the track is a burst of playful cynicism designed to help listeners laugh at their painful memories of being messed around by men who don’t deserve their time.

Formed of Bulgarian-born vocalist Dessy Baeva and London-bord guitarist Harry Thacker, The Kobras started making music together in 2020 when the world began falling apart due to Covid-19. Inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Moon Duo, Gil Scott-Heron and The White Stripes, the duo blend punchy lyricism and infectious guitar riffs with their love of Bulgarian eastern mysticism and British stiff upper lip cynicism to create their energetic sounds, with ‘Fuck Boy’ providing the first dose of their tongue-in-cheek song-writing style.

“We wrote the lyrics to ‘Fuck Boy’ one evening after having a few drinks and talking about all the crazy dating experiences we’ve had in the past,” the band explain. “Some of them were absolutely comical, so we couldn’t help but write something satirical just for the fun of it. It started as a joke, but everyone we showed the song to seemed to love it and found it relevant for a certain period of their life. We recorded it with our friend Harry Chambers in his studio in Woolwich. We hope the listeners find the humorous side of the track and take the message that even if you’ve been played by someone there is still something to laugh about in the end.”

Listen to ‘Fuck Boy’ below.

Follow The Kobras on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Victoria Rodriguez

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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PREMIERE: Hockeysmith – ‘Down Love’ (remix)

Ricocheting between a piano ballad, a dancefloor anthem and an industrial pop track, producer and songwriter Hockeysmith has shared a new remix of her single ‘Down Love’. Taken from new compilation men an toll, released today (12th March) via Cornish indie label EEL Collective, the remix is one of fourteen new tracks that showcases the eclectic talent of the local underground electronic music scene in the county.

“The remix is actually the original demo of ‘Down love’,” Hockeysmith explains. “Produced by me and my live bandmate Martin Pease, AKA seamouse within the eel community. I originally wanted the song to sound like bubble-gum black metal, starting off on the piano, how it was written, and ending up in gabba territory after jamming at Martin’s with all his elektrons!” Fusing these unusual musical elements together with her sugar-sweet vocals, Hockeysmith’s remix has become an intoxicatingly fun floor-filler, making listeners yearn to get back on the dancefloor again.

Run by Łukasz & Annabel (aka Hockeysmith), EEL collective describe their new compilation album as “a musical postcard from us to the world.” The record is named after the ancient Cornish standing stones of men-an-tol, which were once believed to cure ailments, ward off witchcraft and see into the future. Shrouded in this beguiling folklore, each artist on the album has contributed an original piece of music, spanning the experimental, ambient, techno, IDM and UK Garage genres.

Listen to the remix of ‘Down Love’ below.

 

Listen to new compilation album men an toll on bandcamp

Follow EEL Collective on bandcamp, Instagram & Facebook

Follow Hockeysmith on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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