‘Guess Who’ is the latest single from Londoners The Shakers. Taken from their second EP, it follows the ridiculously titled 'Banana Tsunami'; a song which sticks in the head for it’s unforgettable moniker as well as the light breezy funk that is part Dodgy and part Spin Doctors, as long as we are doing ‘90s references.

The Shakers play a light funk infused brand of rock 'n' roll with influences of Prince, George Clinton, Red Hot Chili Peppers and, most prominently, The Rolling Stones. Jack Hawkins sings with a Jagger-like swagger and the triple guitar attack has the sharp Fender snap of Keith Richards. For a modern reference point, look no further than Monaghan’s Nix Moon.

On ‘Guess Who’ the influences move further north of the capital. The John Squire wah guitar that, first teases and then crashes into fruition at the 30 second mark is pure ‘Fool’s Gold’ and the post-chorus solo does nothing to dismiss the notion that The Shakers have made a southern tribute to the reunited Stone Roses. Hawkins’ vocals are the only indicator that this isn’t a gem recovered from the cutting room floor of the Mancunians', John Leckie produced, debut album. Add in some B-52’s style party sound effects and you’ve all the ingredients for a summer classic. It’s an unfussy tune in an unvarnished package.

South London alternative rockers Wallflower are certainly living on cloud nine right now, the five-piece have been making waves across the UK, playing festivals including Download, and they are just about to embark on a tour with Milk Teeth. Having had some major attention since releasing two singles last year; ‘Mas Eu Quero Mais’ and ‘Sleep Forever’, the huge anticipation lies with the follow-up EP to 2014’s Summer Daze, Where it all fell apart which is due for release in August.

Have no fear though, as Wallflower have just dropped the phenomenal ‘Splintered’ to sate your appetite until then, and it’s obvious that the boys have been working their arses off to drop one of the hottest releases of the summer.

It’s evident from the opening, which consists of an eerie guitar, a beating drum, and haunting vocals, as well as an equally haunting video, that you are in for one hell of a ride. As soon as the chorus hits you are already sold; the thrashing of the guitars, the smashing of the drums and the astounding talent of the vocalist lead to ‘Splintered’ possibly being one of the biggest tracks of 2017. It is a heavy wave of intense raw talent which leaves the listener feeling strangely euphoric and proves that Wallflower are one of the leading bands to watch in 2017. 

Check out 'Splintered' via iTunes. 

Leeds/York based post-punk foursome Crumbs certainly know how to get your feet moving with their latest track ‘Cha Cha Feels’ taken from their debut album, Mind Yr Manners. The track is a pop-infused jam with a funky bassline that would have Les Claypool himself nodding his head in approval.

Despite its name the song doesn’t quite give you the cha cha feel, however, it certainly makes you want to bop and hand jive like it's 1955. The repetitive lyrics which, sung by Ruth Gilmore, carry such strength and confidence that you don’t even care that they are repetitive. Lyrically the song isn’t strong but it does mean that you find yourself singing along to it after one play, a dead give away is that the track is then trapped in your head. Whether this is intentional or not, it works to Crumbs’ advantage.

The originality heard in their demo EP sadly isn’t as apparent on this track, and the underwhelming production could be the reason for that. The vocals sit slightly above the instrumentation giving a sense of a separation of sound between the vocals and the rest of the band. However, it is clear that the track would be phenomenal to watch live. Despite the flaws in the production, the debut track from Mind Yr Manners is a post-punk party that brings summer vibes that make you want to grab yourself a cheeky pint and a burger in the sunshine. 

Check 'Cha Cha Feels' out via their Bandcamp.

Croydon grungers Bellevue Days have been making a bit of a name for themselves lately. After the success of previous EP Sad Boy and a string of support slots for Counterfeit and The Story So Far, their social media following is growing and growing.

‘Faith’ is the second track to be taken from the soon to be released EP Rosehill. This marks a change from the usual line up as frontman Alan Smith steps aside to allow Dan Lukes to show off his vocal talents as he takes centre stage. Dan, who originally wrote the song over a year ago as an acoustic number said of the track, “It's about the way religion is sometimes used as a tool to abuse and degrade people.” Which is a clear message in the song as Dan uses his powerful voice to scream “I don’t need your faith to get me through”

The honesty of the lyrics is one of the high points and also a personal touchstone for Dan who wrote the song about a friend. He said “I wrote it after a friend of mine who grew up in a very religious community was trying to open their mind a bit, but the way they grew up and the people around them were making life hell.” Whilst the lyrics may come across as an attack on religion, Dan wanted to make it clear that isn’t what the song is about. He said “It's not a dig at any one religion or religion as a whole, just the way some people use it to justify abuse.”

‘Faith’ takes you on an unnerving rollercoaster ride, with a skittery drum beat easing you into the raucous punch of the chorus. Dan’s vocals shine through, teasing with soft ease through the verses before releasing his inner aggression and equally impressive set of pipes during the chorus and climatic ending. The song is heavier than previous Bellevue Days tracks as they and Jason Wilson, who has also mixed and mastered previous Bellevue Days EPs, You Me At Six and Don Broco, decided to take a more aggressive approach for Rosehill. The angst and rawness leads to an original and one heck of a memorable sound, proving that Bellevue Days are ahead of the game.

Rosehill is out on 4th July and 'Faith' is available on iTunes now.

Catch Bellevue Days live:-

6th July: 2000 Trees festival, Cheltenham, Upcote Farm

3rd August: Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge

4th August: Nottingham, Chameleon Arts Café

5th August: London, The Old Blue Last

4th October: Southampton, The Brook

5th October: Sugar-free & Saviour Management Present, Brighton, Sticky Mikes Frog Bar

6th October: Coventry, Kasbah