LeftLion's Latest Listens #7: Notts music we're currently spinning

EP: Bored Marsh - Idiot

(Photo (left): Paul Mason-Smith)

I had the pleasure of watching Bored Marsh at one of their early gigs and knew instantly that they were capable of releasing an debut EP this good. Post punk-influenced sounds that patiently build and develop into a wash of melancholic darkness. It's no surprise these guys started the band during the national pandemic lockdown. Consisting of four tracks, Alright OK, Idiot, Come Around and Honest Day's Work, this is a massive sound. Haunting beats but also space in the music to breathe... just! Folks from Nottingham will get the name, folks from the UK will get the message, folks from Earth will get the music. @boredmarsh (Bassey) 

Single: Dorothy Ella & Gordon Parma - Thunder

Fresh from opening The Quarry at YNOT festival for Dean Jackson, Dorothy Ella is back with a new song, this time teaming up with Gordon Parma. This song is beautiful. I loved it from the first listen. Known for her sparkly, upbeat blend of funk and soul, this song shows the soulful side to Dorothy’s voice, the harmonies between Dorothy and Gordon add richness to the performance, enhancing the song's impact. Thunder seeks to capture the experience of living in awe of someone, whilst constantly feeling overshadowed by all that they are. It captivates with its emotional depth and powerful imagery. The lyrics resonate with themes of resilience and the tumultuous nature of relationships, creating a sense of urgency and passion. Dorothy will be playing at Rescue Rooms on 13th October supporting Master Peace. @dorothyellam (Faye Stacey)

EP: Malin Hill - Four Track Trad Folk

Jenny Beaumont and Gary Barwell - Nottingham folk duo Malin Hill - say they set out to produce an "honest" record. You couldn't get more honest than this: four tracks on an EP, each recorded on four tracks with no digital editing or effects. The songs are all traditional folk classics, performed with vocals, a guitar and a violin. It's heart-warming, timeless stuff, just the remedy for colder, darker days.

The EP opens with The Fisher Lad of Whitby, sounding stripped back with open guitar chords and Jenny's chiming vocals, but given presence with plenty of reverb and the tale wends its careful way. Prickle Eye Bush has a well-judged, merry lilt with Gary taking the lead on vocals, and is followed by Salcombe Sailors' Flaunt: pure, salty sea shanty imbued with East Midlands spirit. The Closing track is Leave Her Jonny, a poignant, heart-rending ballad rich with harmonies.

Four Track Trad Folk is a refreshing, analogue gem, bringing humanity and folk community spirit right to your ears, wherever you are. The robots may be getting smarter, but they can't come near this. @malinhillmusic (Phil Taylor)

Single: Jake Greener - Roll On Back

Jake is an indie musician from Derby but based in Beeston; his new song was sent to me a couple of weeks ago and I have been listening to it quite a lot. His voice reminds me of Kelly Jones at his raspy best: think Handbags and Gladrags, But this isn’t a Stereophonics sound. This song is about the feelings of loss as you notice everyone that you grew up with has up and left your hometown. The feeling is also a hypocritical one as you realise that you have done the same. Many of the things that held value for you in your youth have grown old and tired; they don't exist as they were, and the connection is lost. @greener_jake (Faye Stacey)

Album: Jake Bugg - A Modern Day Distraction

This record is the latest instalment in Jake Bugg's catalogue of full-length LPs, in which he channels his early career sounds through gritty societal commentary (you can read more from Jake in our interview here). His previous album (Saturday Night, Sunday Morning) was a more pop-leaning record, whereas this has the verve and flow of an early Jake Bugg project. The first three tracks are explosive both sonically and thematically. In particular, the second track, All Kinds of People, covers the struggle of creating your own individuality within a world full of saturation, highlighting the repetitiveness and mundanity of life (which gives slight hints of Blur's Modern Life is Rubbish).

The mid-section of the album has a slight shift in tempo with tracks which feel more personal to Bugg’s life rather than relating to the wider population. And, to end, this album has a feel of optimism. The final track, Still Got Time, propels a sense of belief in the listener by suggesting they shouldn’t give up on the world because of its shortcomings.

Seeing Bugg shine light on an earlier sound is refreshing, after experimenting with his music within his previous two albums. @jakebugg (Tyler Kay)