Scruff of the Neck Presents ... - 20160118
- Written by Dave Beech
So here we have it then - the first one in our new column tie-up with Scruff Of The Neck Records. Five hand-picked tracks from the forefront of the indie scene for your listening pleasure at the start of the week.
The Beautiful Game – 'These 4 Walls'
Forming in Camden in 2008, five-piece The Beautiful Game build on a foundation of classic British indie whilst managing to keep their sound wholly contemporary. The band's latest offering 'These 4 Walls' is three minutes of upbeat freneticism that could easily fill the floors of indie clubs.
GLUE – 'Blood Red'
Ambient vibes says the soundcloud page of Manchester's GLUE, hitting the nail squarely on the head. Epitomising the band perfectly, 'Blood Red' is an understated dream-pop number that rumbles moodily through its verses, before spreading its wings and floating in to the ether during its ephemeral chorus.
Góða Tungl – 'Shabba'
Whilst the name might mean good moon in Icelandic, Góða Tungl are distinctly Manc in their delivery. 'Shabba' is the opening track from last year's EP and is built around bouncy beats and an apathetic drawl from vocalist Scott Brown and is arguably this week's biggest ear worm.
Shoals – 'A Girl Called She'
In the three years they've been together, Reading-based Shoals have managed to create a decade spanning amalgam of motown-influenced psych rock. Both melodic but suitably groove-filled, 'A Girl Called She' benefits from a rhythmic push and pull; a trippy, understated ebb and flow that's never in danger of really losing its mind.
Red Light Effect – 'Phosphorus'
From its outset, the rumbling bass and moody '80s aesthetic of 'Phosphorus' immediately brings to mind fellow Mancunian's Slow Readers Club. Driving guitars and impressive vocal range make Red Light Effect one of Manchester's hottest prospects, something the wider music press are finally beginning to cotton on to.