Sound check: Oct 14-20

Sound Check is an internet radio show I created to shine a little more light on just released bangers from unsigned, indie, and indie-adjacent bands and artists. It airs Tuesdays at both 4 am and 4 pm British time on Daz in the Hat radio. Since recordings aren’t available after the fact, I follow episodes up with these recap posts.

ALL SONGS FEATURED HERE WERE RELEASED BETWEEN October 14 and 20, 2023.

YOU CAN HEAR ALL OF THEM – AND MANY OTHERS THAT DIDN’T MAKE IT INTO THE EPISODE IN THE SOUND CHECK: Oct 14-20 PLAYLIST.

I Can Be Your Man – Pip Blom

Biiiiig sound synth pop and a charming carefree attitude prevail on this number from the Dutch indie trio’s joyful new album, Bobbie. It’s a change of direction for the indie pop rockers, with fewer guitars, but it’s very becoming of them. The group have been bopping about the UK doing in-stores and will be back in the UK for some proper shows in the UK starting in February.

As She Grows – cruush

Singer Amber said she was obsessed with fairies as a kid (wore her wings everywhere) and drew inspiration from Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairy Poems while writing this dreamy, fantastical, shoegazy number. It’s the Manchester newcomers’ first release since their debut EP, Wishful Thinker, dropped earlier this year. It’s a light-hearted and nostalgic tune by design, with no dark undertones.

Turn the World On – Bombay Bicycle Club

The London quartet’s sixth album, My Big Day was released Friday. With a slew of impressive features, the album is an eclectic genre-spanning blend of experimentation. This particular track sticks out to me for its comforting message about not being afraid of chasing dreams and optimism renewed. The band said they hope when people listen to this album, they hear the sound of four best friends finding joy in making music together. The band are currently on a slew of in-store dates before heading off to tour in Europe in November. They have a string of UK dates starting in February.

Lonely in the Sun – Fragile Animals

Described as gloomy yet sparkling shoegaze from down under, it’s the Queensland, Australia-based group’s first single in over three years and what a welcome back! It comes from the band’s forthcoming debut album, Slow Motion Burial, and is paired with artwork by illustrator Katherine Hardy. Gotta admit, I really don’t know much about this band. I’ve never come across them before but will most definitely be looking out for the new album and keeping an eye on them in the future.

Hard to Love – Better Joy

Saw this Manchester band open for Andrew Cushin in London last week and I recall front woman Bria introducing this song by saying that everyone is hard to love and anyone who thinks they aren’t is bullshitting. This song is about appreciating those who loves you despite your flaws and put up with you. She says “love is messy and so are people”. Next up the band have a show at Esquires in Bedford on November 3 supporting FEET.

Imperial Minds – Crook on the Wall

From one Manchester group’s debut single to another… this one is made up of literal teenagers. It’s a well-developed sound for a first effort, especially from such a young band. I especially appreciate that the lyrics venture into thought-provoking territory, which is frankly, really cool to see from such young guys. Really looking forward to see what they’ll do next!

Trapdoor – Paper Scenes

Ok, there was something that felt oddly familiar about this song from the first time I heard it (in a way that endeared it to me), but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It took me longer than I’d like to admit that it was the Lilacs it was bringing to mind, specifically their tune ‘Red Flags and Warning Signs’. It’s not the songs’ melodies that sound the same to me. I think it’s more about the clipped, almost choppy style of vocal delivery, with moments closer to spoken than sung, punctuated and reinforced by punchy guitar and drum bursts. This is the Manchester-based four-piece’s third single. 2023 has held a lot of firsts for the bands- notably, they’ll play their first hometown headline show, a sold-out affair at 33 Oldham Street this Friday.

Delta Shakedown – The Heavy North

Impossibly cool (“filthy”) bluesy garage rock! This is the title track from the Liverpool-based band’s second album, released last Friday. Front man Kenny told Urbanista magazine he wanted a Doors vibe while maintaining “that sleazy dive-bar blues sound”. He thinks they nailed it with this one and I’m certainly not about to disagree! Drummer Mark said it has a little bit of everything that makes up the band’s sound and it was immediately earmarked as the album opener. Last weekend was stacked with stripped-back in-store performances and album signings. Now the band is gearing up for their upcoming 12-piece (!) band show at the Camp & Furnace in Liverpool on December 1.

Attention – Shambolics

The way Shambolics have entered dangerously close to “can do no wrong” territory in my mind! Perhaps it’s premature to say they’re in the process of earning indie legend status for themselves when their debut album won’t even be out for months yet, but goodness gracious! The influence of The View’s Kyle Falconer is certainly evident here in more than the background vocals (which are great), and the overall effect makes my neurospicy brain very happy. At the moment, I’m so ridiculously excited about seeing them live (tonight! one of their stops as special guests to Little Man Tate) that I, too, am genuinely feeling like “you’re never gonna bring me down”.

Detonate – Crystal Tides

Am I just a full on synth girl now? This banger did not have to bang that hard! But oh, I’m glad it does. The song is eminently relatable, even if alcohol isn’t your self-destruction weapon of choice. The lyrics sit heavy on the chest, capturing difficult feelings over lost potential and opportunities (including time) that can never be recovered. Yet they also hold an air of hope, which is inflated throughout the song by the peppy, euphoric energy of the music. Very, very glad I had the opportunity to hear it live when I caught the band in Leeds a few days before the tune was released. Crystal Tides are now among a special subset of bands whose dynamic live performances have pushed me from casual listener to confirmed fan. The band have a number of support gigs through December, with Andrew Cushin, The Sherlocks and most recently announced, Sundara Karma.

big fish – Snarls

I just love what singer and guitarist Chlo shared about this song being “a tribute to the simple subject of manifestation”, based on her journey from a lifetime of feeling undeserving, to no longer being afraid to want more out of life or wish for dreams come true. I had the privilege of seeing the Ohio-based band open for the first five dates of Louis Tomlinson’s North American tour, and I loved seeing how they continued to blossom on stage under the open and loving embrace of new audiences (Montreal in particular felt special). There was something about it that felt healing for my inner child, so I can’t even imagine what it did for theirs. I’m glad that there’s more music on the way. Can’t wait to hear what they’ve been cooking up!

Root Canal – Lowertown

This is the second single off the Georgia, USA-based duo’s new EP, Skin of My Teeth, due out on October 27. It’s got a satisfying melodic moodiness that still somehow provides contrast with the emotional lyrical content about a toxic past relationship. At least one good thing came of it, because this song is a gem! The band plays London, Brighton and Bristol before the end of the month and then they’ve got a few mainland European dates before returning to the UK in November.

Ambivalent Peaks – Bad Books

I can’t say as I ever heard the original album by this indie-rock side project featuring Andy Hull of the Georgia, USA-based band Manchester Orchestra and folk artist Kevin Devine. But the comprehensive reimagining II: Revisited has made its debut. There’s a quiet, clinging intensity lodged in the vocal harmonies, and the arrangement with simple piano and sparing effects allows this to take center stage.

Here We Are – Apollo Junction

Ok, but the lyrics (in general but) of the bridge, specifically?! Another stellar example of the Yorkshire band’s uniquely reliable ability to craft simple, meaningful and uplifting lines that will surely feel relevant to scores of people in very different circumstances. As a whole, the song travels familiar thematic territory, that of togetherness, mutual support, hope, and optimism in the face of challenges.

With a buoyant arrangement and mellow instrumentals that stand in clear contrast to some of the more driving tunes on the album ‘Here We Are’, is imbued with a calm, quiet confidence. A conviction that need not be shouted. This inspires trust and confidence in the promise “I’ll be in your corner if it falls apart/Always in your corner”. It does the same for the assertion “Here we are”, while the repetition without the full-send vocal soar that is a staple of so many Apollo Junction choruses subtly suggests an expanded sense of self-assurance. It’s what makes “Here We Are” a poignant statement of belief and intention, rather than a rallying attempt to convince oneself.

‘Here We Are’ is the title track of the band’s third album, which is on track to be their first official UK charting album. It ranked #33 at mid-week and the guys have been slogging desperately long hours to try to keep it in the charts by week’s end. Without the marketing resources and mass streaming numbers of major labels, independent artists and labels often struggle to keep pace and drop off after the existing support base has been exhausted.

There are just a few hours left to make it count, so please consider supporting the final push:

https://linktr.ee/apollojunctionband