PREMIERE: Dream Phone – ‘Bad Girls’

Having been completely blown away by Oxford duo Dream Phone when they played live for us supporting Me Rex last month, I was thrilled to hear they’ll be releasing their debut EP in May. Counting BBC Radio 6Music amongst their fans, and sharing stages with the likes of Cheerbleederz and Supermilk, the duo started off as a pop-punk guitar and drums duo, before transforming into the wonderful auto-tuned glitch-pop sensation that we know today – ready to unleash more of their utterly unique sonic delights to the world.

Taken from the EP, new single ‘Bad Girls’ offers a joyous ode to Buffy and Faith (from best TV show ever, Buffy The Vampire Slayer), celebrating friendship and discovering your “bad side” as Jenny Bell and Hannah Watts’ sparkling charisma and vibrant energy shine through. Showcasing the duo’s ability to combine quirky voice augmentation with infectious, synth-driven glitch-pop soundscapes, it harks back to the innovative layering and sampling of Kathleen Hanna’s solo Julie Ruin record; oozing a euphoric riot grrrl inspired drive, whilst maintaining Dream Phone’s trademark playful allure. Of the track, Jenny explains:

“Bad Girls is about the excitement of making a new friend who has a big influence on you, and finding your partner in crime. When we’re not jumping around in Dream Phone, we spend a lot of our downtime watching Buffy – and in the ‘Bad Girls’ episode I love that Buffy is able to cut loose with her new friendship with Faith. We originally wrote the song as a simple guitar and drums pop punk song, and recently transformed it into this new glitch-pop sound”.  

Since the immense excitement of seeing them live last month, it’s in no way an exaggeration to say that I have not stopped thinking about Dream Phone (aka my new favourite band)’s wonderfully wacky and truly original offerings, and will be hitting repeat on the glorious hype-pop tenacity of ‘Bad Girls’ for the foreseeable future.

So, don your knee-high boots and wooden stakes, watch the new video for ‘Bad Girls’, and feel instantly better about life!

The self-titled debut EP from Dream Phone is set for release on 19th May via Divine Schism.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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LISTEN: Sweeping Promises – ‘Pain Without a Touch’

An irresistible slice of punk-infused synth-pop, Kansas-based duo Sweeping Promises have shared their latest single ‘Pain Without A Touch’. Released via Sub Pop and Feel It Records, the track is a rush of brooding riffs, punchy electronics and crystalline vocals, designed to get listeners moving on to their next adventure.

Formed of Lira Mondal and Caufield Schnug (and live touring drummer Spenser Gralla), Sweeping Promises came to life in a “disused and reverberant concrete laboratory” just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The pair released their debut single ‘Hunger for a Way Out’ in 2020 – which was mixed in mono and with their “self-devised single-mic technique” – and now they’re back with the vibrant ‘Pain Without a Touch’. With shades of Le Tigre and Yeah Yeah Yeahs thanks to Mondal’s clear-cut vocals, the track fizzes with a euphoric energy, driven by infectious beats and chant-worthy lyrics.

Sweeping Promises will be touring the UK and Europe in 2022, so make sure you catch them live in a city near you. Listen to ‘Pain Without a Touch’ below.

Follow Sweeping Promises on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Sweeping Promises UK Tour Dates 2022
Tue. May 24 – Brighton – Hope & Ruin
Wed. May 25 – Bristol – The Exchange
Thu. May 26 – Glasgow – Hug & Pint
Fri. May 27 – Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club
Sun. May 29 – Manchester – YES (Basement)
Mon. May 30 – Birmingham – The Hare and Hounds
Tue. May 31 – Portsmouth – Wedgewood Rooms

Photo Credit: Jackie Lee Young

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: th’sheridans – ‘Awesome Summers & Kate’


Following a decade on the scene, indie pop duo th’sheridans have now announced the release of an epic, career-spanning compilation – Piece Of General – combining both old favourites and some newer treats. Accompanying this announcement, they have shared an uplifting new single.

Propelled by scuzzy hooks, jangly drum-machine induced beats and a swirling, danceable energy, ‘Awesome Summers & Kate‘ reflects on the tentative anticipation of possibilities as restrictions start to lift. With shades of the stripped-back hype-pop/dance-punk of Le Tigre, it offers a perfect smattering of effervescent euphoria – something that is much needed in these uncertain times. Oozing a shimmering sense of nostalgia and quirky colourful spirit, ‘Awesome Summers & Kate’ leaves me harking back to certain ‘awesome summers’ I’ve had – floating around the fields of Derbyshire in an enraptured haze, accompanied by the dreamiest of tunes from my favourite bands (at Indietracks Festival).

Of the upcoming release of Pieces Of General, the band comment:

“We never expected to be able to give these tracks this kind of treatment. We’re proud of our output to date, but the chance to remaster these songs and put them together as a compilation that works as an album has really been wonderful. This album is who we are, who we’ve been, and a glimpse of who we’re gonna be.” 

Pieces Of General is set for release on 10th September via Reckless Yes. Listen to more th’sheridans on their bandcamp in the meantime.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Bait Bag – ‘Safe Word’

A riotous drop-kick to one of the worst years in global history, US riot grrrls Bait Bag have shared their latest single ‘Safe Word’. Full of sardonic lyrics and punk-infused riffs, the track is a vigorous farewell to 2020 and more specifically, to the last four years of tyrannous American politics.

Formed in the summer of 2018 by North Haven Island-based pals Fiona Robins, Claire Donnelly and Courtney Naliboff, Bait Bag are inspired by the sounds of Sleater-Kinney, Blondie and Le Tigre. They’ve channeled their collective energies into new single ‘Safe Word’, a track that encourages listeners to dance and swirl around in the ashes of this “dumpster fire” of a year.

“This is the song to blast at midnight with a glass of champagne and all your friends on Zoom,” the band explain. With its crashing percussion, energetic guitars and relatable lyrics – “Hey man, stop the world I wanna get off!” – it’ll be hard not to bop along with the grrrls as they enthuse about the exhaustion that came with the continuous flow of bad news this year.

With songs intended to “empower and excite, or at least give other frustrated people something to flail around to,” Bait Bag’s latest single is a strong opening track for the soundtrack of 2021.

Listen to ‘Safe Word’ below.

 

Follow Bait Bag on bandcamp, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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