Music Reviews: May 2024

Grain Mother
Let Down (Single)

Let Down, Grain Mother’s latest single, had me hooked from the start. The gorgeous, mesmerising vocals that open the track are captivating and they maintain that way throughout, as the drums and guitars begin to swarm around them. It has been the perfect sound for the colder winter months we have just experienced: mellow, soothing and comforting to the soul. When the song comes to a sudden end with the softly spoken line “take deep breaths, think one, two,” you’ll find yourself rewinding right back to the start for another dose. Gemma Cockrell

Wilf Spiv
Might as Well Lie (Single)

Might as Well Lie is a subtle jazz-infused piece of very well-produced indie. "It's like half-truth, you might as well lie," sings Wilf, over laid-back yet impactful guitar rhythms and shimmering keys, as the instrumentation comes to a crescendo on the punchy chorus. Duff notes are charmingly left in, and these loosely played instruments jockey for position, and the song is all the better for it. Soulful, real and emotive vocals and lyrics, with the fantastic saxophone performance being a highlight here. As winter is gradually replaced with spring, this is a song to enjoy with the sunset dropping over a tropical view, a cheap cocktail or a joint, and a confusing and hazy love life, or lack of... Richard Wilkinson-Smith

Bad Milk Blood Robot
Manners Cost Everything/Merry Go Round (Singles)

The debut double A side single from Bad Milk Blood Robot has hit the streets and they are looking for you to join their Herd. Too many influences to mention here but this upbeat bouncy grunge and whacked out psycho sound is a must for everyone. Manners Cost Everything and Merry Go Round are both a debut release and a statement of how this band will continue....fast paced, energetic and uncompromising. BBC Introducing recently described them as 'Gritty, Earthy and Brilliant', they are committed to a busy year ahead with gigs all over the region, now go out and catch them live. Bassey

Josie Beth
how do you tell your mother? (Single)

Heartbreak often leaves us haunted, filled with hurt as we watch our harmer become the hero. Josie Beth’s latest single how do you tell your mother? (the first of five that will be coming this year) points the finger at the newfound pain after a break up; the seeming peace your ex is feeling while you’re screaming in the shadows of what was and what might have been. This acoustic single is gentle and damning, capturing the essence of raw emotions. After a promising 2023, in which she released her debut self-produced single Meadows, this single sets the tone for a successful 2024. Charlotte Gould

Seven Dark Lords
Ghost In Here (Album)

This album has had a couple of months since release and in this time, it has sunk in just how good it is. Twelve original tracks of Americana music to dance to and music to drink to; who said country and Western sounds can not be this cool? Heartfelt ballads and a tight performance have made this a must listen album for 2024 - play the track Counterpoint and tell me you're not moved! Other stand out tracks for me are Glad Ghosts, Love From This Bottle and Mexico, but I could give the album several more listens and come up with a completely different list because each song hits a different nerve and emotion, depending on how you're feeling that day. Bassey

Katie Keddie
Last Weekend (Single)

The sad girl genre has a substantial stake in the current musical landscape, and Nottingham’s offering comes in the form of singer-songwriter Katie Keddie. However, Katie subverts expectations with Last Weekend which opens with a surprisingly twangy banjo melody as the singer dips her toe into country-inspired waters. Don’t worry though, the Katie we know and love hasn’t strayed too far, as her signature, breathy vocals whistle through those plucky strings, treading the fine line between yearning and defeat, between moving on and letting go. Maddie Dinnage