Track Of The Day: Alien Chicks – ’27 Stitches’

Written on the same day as their single ‘While My Landlord Sleeps’, ‘27 Stitches‘ solidifies South London band Alien Chicks’ distinct creative style. The new song follows similar structural beats in a way that pairs with the first song to establish the band’s unique musical and narrative sound.

’27 Stitches’ starts off light and playful – bright, twinkling strings dance over an upbeat rhythm, as soft vocals tell a slice-of-life tale about buying a second-hand television at an ideal rate. The track soon launches into a louder, more rambunctious chorus as the story takes a turn for the worse.

Growling guitars, rapid drums and aggressive vocals grab you and throw into the sudden tension in the scene; it’s impossible not to get caught up in the abrupt sense of danger. And then the song ramps up into an intoxicating cacophony of strings and horns that captures the chaos of the climactic moments of the story with a funk-fuelled musicality.

Alien Chicks are evidently hugely talented on multiple levels. ’27 Stitches’ is a brilliantly constructed song; as well as being so much fun to listen to, the instruments tell the story as much as the lyrics do. The track as a whole leaves you with a complete sense that you were there in the excitement of it.

It is no surprise that Alien Chicks are rapidly generating a dedicated following in London’s live gig spaces. ’27 Stitches’ exemplifies their creativity and skill, and shows exactly why so many people are excited to see what they do next.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

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Track Of The Day: Gemma Cullingford – ‘New Day’

Having received praise from the likes of BBC 6Music’s Steve LaMacq and Amy Lame, as well as Radio X’s John Kennedy for previous singles ‘Tongue Tied’ and ‘Wide Boys’, Gemma Cullingford (of GIHE faves Sink Ya Teeth) has now shared a brand new offering ahead of her upcoming album release in September.

Reflecting on night terrors that we can all experience even as adults, and the optimism that the morning can bring, ‘New Day‘ delivers a blissfully shimmering soundscape evoking a nostalgic energy, with shades of the danceable hits of the ’80s. Flowing with glitchy, synth-driven hooks as the subtle stirring power of Cullingford’s vocals oozes alongside a whirring, twinkling drive, a truly euphoric summer anthem is created.

Watch the beautiful new lyric video for ‘New Day’ here:

A special remix of ‘New Day’ by Rodney Cromwell is due out on 8th August. And Tongue Tied, the upcoming second album from Gemma Cullingford, is set for release this Autumn. To celebrate its release she’ll be playing a joint headline show for us with Alice Hubble and support from Yay Maria at The Shacklewell Arms on 10th September. Get your tickets on DICE now!

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Venus Grrrls – ‘Violet State Of Mind’

Having received acclaim from the likes of BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders for their 2021 EP Potions, Leeds rockers Venus Grrrls have now blasted into our ears with the perfect “hot-girl-summer anthem”.

Coming in at just 2.20 minutes long, ‘Violet State Of Mind‘ is an explosive track that deserves full head-banging energy from start to finish. Opening with a fuzzy bassline and thick distorted guitars, Venus Grrrls blend ’90s riot grrrl energy with ’80s synths creating a colossal wall of sound. It’s no surprise they are inspired by bands like L7, Veruca Salt and Bikini Kill.

The formidable vocals sit clean and crisp against the gritty, raw musicality and are really the centre-piece of the track. Lead singer GK’s vocals are seriously impressive; the climactic power note at 1 minute 36 totally blew me away.

The chorus is catchy and the group vocals offer a sense of fun and unity. With lyrics like “our egos are losing, the bar is closing”, it seems that Venus Grrrls aren’t trying to be profound – it’s simply a song about the chase and playing hard to get on a night out. And, as the band explain: “we want this song to be on your get ready playlists and allow you to reach into those inner deities that we know you are.”

‘Violet State Of Mind’ keeps us captivated with moments of quiet between the loud, and the chaotic feedback-swamped guitar panning left to right in the outro was a nice touch for the song’s climax.

You can check out Venus Grrrls this weekend at Truck Festival or on 28th July if you are at Kendal Calling. Otherwise, keep an eye out for gigs from this dynamic and energetic 5-piece!

Ella Patenall
@ellapatenall

Photo Credit: Tash Koziarska

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Track Of The Day: Stud Count – ‘Give Me Time’

Pairing their signature light, catchy vocals with a heavier sound beneath, Philadelphia band Stud Count’s latest single ‘Give Me Time‘ examines – in their words – the “emptiness of surface level friendships”. The frustrations of such a situation are reflected in the music from the very first bars: the drums and guitars blend into a high-energy roar that echoes the sheer depth of emotion inevitable when you’re confronted by a noticeable lack of depth in your relationships.

The simplicity of the lyrics captures those moments of realisation incredibly well. It quite bluntly calls out the superficiality of the connection early on with the lines “There’s not a lot goin’ on here / Baby, that’s the truth”, in a way that it’s often not easy to call out when “right now you feel fine”. There is weight to the vocals that, despite Norelle Green’s naturally bright and upbeat tone, feels almost resigned to the disappointment of the situation. The lyrics are weighted by the sense of reluctant acceptance you need to reach before you can vocalise the dissatisfaction of a shallow, unfulfilling friendship. This complements the rage in the music itself wonderfully. The aggressive thud of the drums and the scream of the guitars throughout the track reflect everything that comes before and beneath that acceptance – the pain, the disappointment and the loss. The music is fuelled by a driving post-punk energy, reflecting all those feelings you have to process to get to the moment of acceptance.

The track ramps up and reaches its peak with an immense, howling guitar solo; it feels like the frustration has finally reached breaking point and bursts out in a scream of riotous strings, before winding back into the final verse.

The bouncy vocals make this song catchy and upbeat in a way that doesn’t detract at all from the rich, gritty power of the instruments beneath. It blends the raw energy from different stages of a long emotional process in a way that encapsulates the whole in a few short but expertly crafted minutes.

‘Give Me Time’ is out now. The eponymous debut album from Stud Count is set for release on 22nd July via Smartpunk Records.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

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