Track Of The Day: Aphty Khéa – ‘Alerta’

An unflinching, powerful stand against the police brutality in her homeland of Greece, Aphty Khéa has shared her new single ‘Alerta’. Accompanied by a self-edited visual piece, the track blends frantic vocal samples recorded in anti-fascist protests and relentless beats to raise the alarm and shout back against the state’s abuse of power.

Currently based in Kreuzberg in Berlin, Aphty Khéa is a half Greek, half British artist who combines sonic and visual elements to create her stimulating, exciting electronic music. On ‘Alerta’ she uses traditional tsifteteli (τσιφτετέλι) rhythms, which are a part of the broader rebetiko (ρεμπέτικο) Greek music subculture, known for its anti-authoritarian history. Her mixing of the old and the new is what makes the single and accompanying video so poignant.

All the Bandcamp proceeds from the track will be donated to the Legal Aid Team, a solidarity initiative of pro-bono activist lawyers based in Athens who take on the court cases of detained protesters and victims of police repression. Watch the video for ‘Alerta’ below.

**Trigger Warning: Images of Police brutality and violence**

Follow Aphty Khéa on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: MJ Guider – ‘FM Secure’

Murky, industrial sounds permeate ‘FM Secure’, the latest single from MJ Guider. Lifted from her upcoming album Sour Cherry Bell, which is set for release on 18th September via Kranky, Guider’s shadowy electronics smoulder alongside her atmospheric, beguiling vocals.

Based in New Orleans, MJ Guider (aka Melissa Guion) blends elements of shoegaze, gothic pop and industrial sounds to create her hypnotic music. On her upcoming album, Guider explores power dynamics, musing about the notion of “lost and found, corporeal and cerebral, harnessed and exploited, of one and many, in this reality and the next.” This musing extends to ‘FM Secure’, its ominous glow intensifying with each listen.

Speaking about her upcoming record and the tools she used to create it, Guider explains: “I was curious to see how far I could go with them, even if that meant reaching the ends of their capacity to do what I wanted. But I never exhausted them and they never exhausted me.” Listen to ‘FM Secure’ below and follow MJ Guider on bandcamp and Instagram for more updates.

Photo Credit: Craig Mulcahy

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Winter Gardens – ‘Tapestry’

Having previously charmed us live at The Finsbury, Brighton band Winter Gardens have now announced that their debut EP is set for release next month.

Title track and latest single, ‘Tapestry’, oozes a euphoric ethereal haze as twinkling, shoegaze-inspired hooks whirr alongside the soaring vocals of front person Ananda. Flowing with a rich anthemic emotion, it’s an utterly captivating slice of other worldly dream-punk, highlighting Winter Gardens as definite ones to watch.

Commenting on the forthcoming record, the band explain:

“The EP epitomises our shared love for the beauty in the world, both obvious and hidden. ‘Life’s Rich Tapestry’ is how we perceive nature, art, and world affairs.”

Tapestry, the debut EP from Winter Gardens, is set for release on 25th September via socially conscious independent label Austerity Records.

Mari Lane 
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: KIN – ‘L.O.V.E’

After a compelling and emotional debut single, ‘Sharing Light’, London trio KIN follow up with a spunky second track titled ‘L.O.V.E.’ Inspired by the great British festival, KIN celebrate the euphoric feeling of being in a loving and freeing environment with good people and open spaces.

In conjunction with their previous work, ‘L.O.V.E.’ seems to set the mood of a boosting “bounce back” that follows a trying time or hardship. This song’s energy almost reflects the first night out after a break-up (or worldwide pandemic), where seeing your favourite people is equally as therapeutic as it is surreal. 

With a simple dance-infused beat and laid back sophisticated vocals, KIN’s jangly guitar parts seem to spin across the track with a unique funk-fuelled energy that is catchy and encouraging. Sun-strewn indie-pop riffs and quirky rhythms pull listeners in for musical fling, for a glistening cathartic couple of minutes. 

It is hard not to bop along to ‘L.O.V.E’ as it truly inhabits its lightweight and restorative “walking on a cloud” essence, both sonically and lyrically. Its twinkling uplifting energy an invite for some well deserved solace that we all should accept. 

Watch the homemade, festival-inspired, video for ‘L.O.V.E’ here:

‘L.O.V.E’ is out now. Listen on Spotify or buy on Bandcamp.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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