Scrawl - Your Mother Wants to Know

No nonsense lyrics and a brutal and bleak honesty in this one. Packaged up super nicely in a catchy 90s indie soundscape - with just the faintest hint of grunge attempting to creep on through. It's from 1993 and Sprawl's fourth album 'Velvet Hammer'.

Major Leagues - Someone Sometime

Very glad to have seen Major Leagues play support for The Beths on the weekend - the two bands proving a very suitable fit for an evening full of lovely indie-pop sounds. Noticeable that it was the early-era tracks from Major Leagues that really got the crowd nodding appreciatively. This one - Someone Sometime (2015) - getting the loudest cheer of them all. 
 

Marika Hackman - I’m Not Where You Are

Hard to classify this one but it's all a bit 'alt pop synth new wave' and is definitely reminding me of Australian singer songwriters such as Stella Donnelly and Alex the Astronaut (even though Marika is absolutely English). Seems to simply float along the surface but repeated plays bring out a moodier, lonelier edge that is never that far away...

The Terminals - Edge of the Night

Dark noise, distortion and driving drums feature heavily from New Zealand alt band 'The Terminals' on the track 'Edge of the Night' (2017). Core members Stephen Cogle on vocals (shades of John Cale) and Peter Stapleton (drums) have both been around for a while - they released the band's first ep way back in 1988. Moody, rough, raw goodness, even after all these years...

Still Corners - The Trip

Just get in your car and keep on driving, to the end of the world and beyond, windows wound down low, while the shimmering dream-pop of 'Still Corners' keeps you warm, against the chill of the late night and as the early morning beckons...

 

Lush - Nothing Natural

Melancholic and fuzzed-out shoegaze teamed with the haunting vocals of Emma Anderson and Miki Berenyi pretty much sums up early 'Lush'. The single Nothing Natural, from their second album 'Spooky' was released in 1992 on well known indie label 4AD. A bit of a harder jangly edge to this one when compared to most Lush tracks.

The Gooch Palms - We Get By

A very DIY feel in this one from the Gooch Palms (Newcastle - the Australia one), dating back to 2013. Part garage punk with killer pop melodies that even a suitably raw track recording can't hide.

Stella Donnelly - Lunch

Such a lovely and lush vocalist, Stella Donnelly is the latest Australian singer/songwriter becoming quietly known for her social and political discourse - in this case delivered in a beautifully melodic and alt folk style. The single 'Lunch' may be less topical than earlier releases capturing day-to-day life on the road as an aspiring and likely struggling musician but it's a gorgeously layered and textured track. A suitably lo-fi video works perfectly, with mandatory sub-titling fun. 

The Beths - Future Me Hates Me

Yes, it's a really interesting mix of smart lyrics and hook-filled indie power-pop that's been released by New Zealand quartet The Beths. Chords flow like warm honey in the track 'Future Me Hates Me' - lyrics (Everyone that I know is broken) provide the sting in the tail.