Buzz or Howl Roundup 11/2
Some music I've enjoyed from the last few weeks and some music I've seen live. And any other business, old school blogging style.
Songs
‘6 Hour Flight’ - llondon actress
I am totally onboard with llondon actress, especially after this new single - it’s janky, fun and danceable and it’s been stuck in my head more than anything else recently. The staggered drums/bass reentry at 1:10ish is genius. His production is always super upfront and rousing – it’s why his song ‘country’ from last year feels like a genuine national anthem. I will back this guy to the top.
The first new music from Evelyn Gray, following the end of tapir! last year. Evelyn’s new project - titled ‘I Am Building A House’ - is inspired by the imagined former inhabitants of an abandoned apartment block, this song is gorgeous and groovy – the drums & percussion sound amazing, as should be expected from drummer/producer Yuri Shibuichi.
‘PLAY MY TRACK’ - username, Marsh crane
This track from username & Marsh Crane’s new album ‘Overtime’ is a quirky footwork banger, it slaps but I think there’s also something really pretty & moving about some of the sounds, especially the big synth pads – kind of an ambient thing maybe, works bizzarely well with the manic vocal sample.
I wrote about this tune for DIY’s neu bulletin, here’s what I said:
“This new track from RIP Magic, produced by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, develops the dance punk chaos of their 2025 double single ‘Loot/Dox’ into something more epic. ‘5words’ starts with a fried and noisy swagger, motorik drums and bass cut through by electronic wails. Then, around the halfway mark, singer Marco Pini’s mantra of “I said 5 words, I’m living in it now” starts to take on an anthemic quality, as jangly guitars and glittery synths propel the song towards a soaring climax. RIP Magic are renowned for their explosive live sets, but this song feels like the strongest showcase yet for their prospects as a great recording band.”
A return to music after a decade away for the Danish artist Majke Voss, who previously released an album called ‘May’ in 2014, under the artist name ‘Broken Twin’. It got great reviews at the time, and lots of comparisons to Cat Power. She’s returned at a time when everyone is completely in love with music from Copenhagen, and her new single ‘Coming Down’ fits very nicely alongside all the great music that’s come out of Denmark in the last few years – it’s delicate, spiralling and glassy. (she plays SJQ in London tonight!)
Really nice indie pop song, there’s some great synths and country-flavoured guitars, and the harmonies in the chorus remind me of Fleetwood Mac. Love the drums too, it’s a straightforward part, but played confidently - it’s hard to make something so simple sound so good.
‘Ground Scores’ - Dutch Interior
Also wrote about this one for DIY, and said the following:
“We are still in a boom period for country-inflected indie rock, and Dutch Interior remain one of the most consistent and interesting bands operating within this new wave. Their latest single ‘Ground Scores’ - about ‘stumbling through the end times into something good’ - foregrounds a romantic vocal melody, backed by a dusty instrumental which shifts gently, like slow changes in a landscape seen through a car window. The band are unafraid of leaning into their country influences: this track features wistful pedal steel and the unmistakable ‘boing’ of a jaw harp — but they’re equally willing to innovate: a flamenco guitar periodically surfaces, and the track is underlaid by a dreamy keyboard bed, hardly noticeable until the very end of the song.”
Asha from Sorry is one of my favourite vocalists, I love her voice - partly, I think, because she pronounces the ‘th’ sound in words like ‘clothes’ softly, the same way I do. She’s great on this track, which is lots of fun all round - with a great disco beat and some rapid, interesting harmonic changes.
New track off Ninush’s debut EP ‘The Flowers I see You In’, really sweet folky/chamber pop. Great bed of plucked strings, flutes etc - rising into something medieval sounding by the end - bit like Richard Dawson’s ‘Peasant’ crossed with the Juno soundtrack. Also does that great thing where the lyrics mention the name of the project in a lowkey way.
Cool alt-country band from Oakland CA, this new song was produced by Jack Ogborne (aka Bingo Fury) and is the first single from their upcoming debut album. Lots of nice guitar tones, distortion and harmonies - they’re a band of 4 songwriters, and every part of their sound feels well thought through & essential - similar to Dutch Interior.
‘Can I Have You For Myself?’ - By Storm
First song off the raw and beautiful new album from By Storm - while much of the album sees the members of By Storm coming to terms with the passing of their former bandmate, this first track instead focuses on the arrival of new life, as RiTchie works through complicated feelings towards the arrival of his first child. Musically, there’s a kind of working-out happening as well, as fragmented rhythms and harmonies weave in and out and eventually resolve.
Live Music and Life Musings
I have been out and about lots since the last blog post, IVW was very fun – I saw 3 very special headline sets from Little Grandad, TTSSFU and Dove Ellis at the Windmill, Martial Arts supporting TTSSFU were also particularly great & seem to have really beefed up their sound recently. I’ve also been working more on the bar at the George, and the Private Life night last Saturday with Camille! , Any and Gyeongsu was especially good – I haven’t been able to find out much about the openers Camille!, but they were amazing - reminded me of Stereolab, or All Natural Lemon and Lime Flavors. The DJ who played between sets was great as well, at one point he transitioned a Moin song into Cocteau Twins. I sold merch for Safe Mind at MOTH Club which was an incredible show, packed and bouncing. Shoutout to the support, Spike, who ripped an amazing solo on some kind of electric bassoon.
I’m looking forward to the Femcels show at Vespers on the 26th and a very special currently top secret show at the Deptford Junction on the 28th from hot london promoters Ants in the Pants. Also I turned 23 last Monday, and had a lovely day with friends and family.
Lots of Love, David