Track Of The Day: Shannon & The Clams – ‘Year Of The Spider’

God, I love Shannon & The Clams. Channelling the playfulness – and the beehives – of the B52s, along with the sweet and spiky harmonies of the best ’60s girl groups, the Bay Area garage-rockers offer a fresh, fun take on rockabilly, delivered in a beautifully badass 21st century way.

With ‘Year of the Spider’, the second single from their upcoming sixth album, they retain their sense of fun, but there’s a real melancholy too. Underneath the big, bold choruses and cheeky rock ‘n’ roll posturing, front-person Shannon Shaw laments the serious illness of a family member. “Bad news called me on the phone…” – she sings – “The one you love; he needs a doctor. There were signs, I should I have known.”

Shaw’s strong and soulful voice soars, and is boosted further by the Clams’ woozy, psychedelic harmonies and raw, dirty production from the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. It’s a poppy, powerful song that’ll hook you in and break your heart. I love it.

Watch the fun-filled new video for ‘Year Of The Spider’ here:

Shannon & The Clams’ upcoming sixth album, also entitled Year Of The Spider, is set for release 20th August via Easy Eye Sound / Concord. Pre-order here.

Victoria Conway
@thepicsofvic

Photo Credit: Kristin Cofer

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Track Of The Day: Maria Uzor – ‘Innocence’

Having been massive fans of Norwich duo Sink Ya Teeth for a number of years now, we were excited to hear that vocalist and songwriter Maria Uzor has now announced her debut solo EP. Written in a corner of her living room during the winter lockdown last year, it is set for release next month and fuses together an eclectic range of influences, aiming to ooze only the most positive of vibes.

Taken from the EP, new single ‘Innocence’ offers a sweeping, other-worldly soundscape propelled by glitchy electronic hooks and drum ‘n’ bass reminiscent beats. Interweaving a whirring ethereal splendour with shades of the likes of Grimes with a unique soul-fused drive, this poignant sonic fusion is held together by the soaring majesty of Uzor’s distinctive vocals. Oozing a blissful, euphoric energy, a stirring soundscape is created that glides into the ears with an exquisite, bewitching allure.

Of the writing process of the EP, Uzor explains: “Lockdown afforded me the space to step back, and I realised how suffocated I’d become in a world that I felt didn’t see me, to the point where I couldn’t breathe. So I took loads of time out to be gentle with myself. I wrote nothing for most of the year until about December when I started writing the EP. Innocence And Worldliness is about the tail end of a journey, coming out of the dark and into the light. A gradual return to self and to joy.“

‘Innocence’ is accompanied by an immersive new video, animated by Ben Dawson. Reflecting the themes running throughout the EP, it’s a stirring ode to change and transformation, oozing a glistening sense of hope. Watch the new video below:

Innocence And Worldliness, the upcoming EP from Maria Uzor, is set for release on 20th August via Hey Buffalo Records.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Joon – ‘Orqod’

Having survived a life-changing car accident, Maltese musician and producer Joon decided that making music was a necessary part of recovery. Now, over ten years later, she has announced her debut album, which is set for release next week.

Taken from the album, latest single ‘Orqod‘ is her first and only song written in Maltese, and is a heartfelt ode to letting go; telling the tale of star-crossed lovers who come together in their dreams. With a captivating energy, it oozes a shimmering, majestic splendour as lilting uplifting melodies flow alongside the celestial grace of Joon’s twinkling vocals. With the title meaning ‘sleep’, it’s a perfectly soothing lullaby glistening with an immersive, euphoric grandeur. A truly exquisite and instantly spellbinding soundscape.

On her upcoming album, Joon comments: “There are always running themes of love, hope, and positivity in my songs… Even if I’m sad or heartbroken, I remain optimistic. I want to grow old with no regrets.”

Dream Again, the upcoming debut album from Joon, is set for release 9th July via Italians Do It Better.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: all cats are beautiful – ‘thought i saw u in the shop last nite’

‘thought i saw u in the shop last nite’, the new single from all cats are beautiful, arrived earlier this month on London label 0800-MOSHI-MOSHI. It’s a blissed out track, perfectly suited to the summer months, which drifts along in its own groove – acoustic guitar melded with occasionally glitchy beats, synths and a vocal delivery equally intimate and detached.

The duo (comprised of Elena and Kyle) describe themselves as “two queer best friends making dance music but for sad people”, and the happy/sad dynamic comes across not only in the lyrics – which describe the sense of loss when someone close isn’t there anymore – but in the music and production. The self-produced band use minimal arrangements – the texture of the song is made up of just a few key elements – but still create a rich, warm sound which complements the vocal perfectly.

There’s a touch of early Hot Chip (whose first album was released on the same label) here in the band’s comfort with experimenting with pop, indie and electronica, bending the forms of multiple genres to their will, seemingly at ease. Similarly, the reference within the lyrics to Frank Ocean handily signposts another influence and another musical world that the band draw from. But perhaps attempting to classify this ‘post-pop’ group through comparisons and genres is besides the point. Their upcoming EP, from which this track is the second single, is titled the things we made, and there’s a pleasing simplicity to that which reflects something in the music – it sounds like exactly what you suspect it is: the sound of two talented people who care about each other a lot having a good time making music.

Watch the charming new video for ‘thought i saw u in the shop last nite’ here:

the things we made, the upcoming debut EP from all cats are beautiful, will be released via 0800-Moshi-Moshi very soon…

Gregory Metcalfe
@gregorysparty

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