Gigslutz Tracks Of The Week 25.10.13

Having received acclaim from BBC Radio 1’s Ally McCrae and supported the likes of Ben Howard and King Krule, Scottish singer songwriter Michael Cassidy is set to release his new single next month. ‘Everybody’s Scared’ is a charming folk-pop ballad with twinkly melodies delivered on strings and brass, sitting alongside Cassidy’s warm, smooth vocals. Reminiscent of the folk world’s heart-throb Johnny Flynn, Cassidy’s new single is delicately lovely, a perfectly pretty tune that will see you humming along in no time.

‘Everybody’s Scared’ is out on D Set Records on 18th November, with Cassidy’s debut album – ‘My Electric Heart’ – being set for release early next year.

No, they’re not a newspaper from days gone by, Ancient Times are in fact a fantastic, new indie band hailing from the thriving Brighton music scene. I’m a bit late to the party on this one, but their double A-side release ‘Night School/Hieroglyphic’ from last month has most definitely been my radio-highlight of the week. With whirring guitars, smooth vocals and pretty melodies, both songs are classily catchy indie-rock ditties. Whilst ‘Nightschool’ is strewn with brit-poppy riffs and frontman George Smale’s deep drawl, ‘Hieroglyphic’ is a grander tune with an extremely Smiths-esque tone and theatrical vibe reminiscent of early Editors tracks.

‘Night School’ and ‘Hieroglyphic’ were released on 16th September.

Chris TT is by no means a newcomer to the music scene; known for his unique brand of ‘urban folk’, he has released eight albums since 1999, played alongside the likes of Bellowhead and The Divine Comedy (amongst others) and has been responsible for inspiring a new generation of folk artists, such as the teen’s favourite, Frank Turner. His new album ‘The Bear’ is the first to be recorded with his consistent live lineup ‘The Hoodrats’ and proves to be a beautiful slice of folk, filled with delightful melodies, sweet harmonies and lyrical storytelling. New single ‘Gulls’ is a heartbreakingly emotive ballad in which TT’s vocals tingle the spine and entrance the soul. A chillingly captivating folk song sung with an affecting subtle emotion that will leave you moist around the eyes, yet unable to stop listening.

Chris TT And The Hoodrats’ new album ‘The Bear’ was released on 7th October via Xtra Mile Recordings.

Blackpool teen trio, Darlia, are to release their debut EP ‘Knock Knock’ on Monday, and I for one am pretty excited about what this young guitar band with their thrashing, melody-driven rock songs have to offer. The latest single, ‘Choke on Bones’, is the heaviest track on the EP and bears a strong resemblance to all your grunge favourites – with raspy, raw Cobain-esque vocals along with all the eerie guitar fuzz and impending doom that one would have expected from Staley’s Alice In Chains. However, that’s not to say this band haven’t harboured their own, youthful take on rock n roll, with booming bass lines and vigorous, catchy refrains. It is a refreshing blast of raucous rock set to reassure that real music is not dead, after all.

‘Knock Knock’ is released through Ignition 45s on 28th October.

https://soundcloud.com/darliasounds/sets/knock-knock-ep