WUT: Mingling with the Thorns

Vancouver indie pop trio WUT show strength on their new album Mingling with the Thorns, slowly moving away from their signature cuddle-core sound. They took a bit from Maureen Tucker's solo albums, added a dose of Belly and the Kelley Deal 6000, and presto: a can't miss recipe for admirable lo-fi DIY music.

It all may sound sunny-side up, but lyrically it can be another story, telling men to shut up for once (Quiet Quiet, showing appreciation for an outsider artist (Beuys Oh Beuys) or showing relief when the partner finally fucks off (When I'm Gone). The trio can sound pretty ramshackle at times, but it never falls apart. They know that a clicktrack can kill a track and that is all about the swagger and swing. Fans of Riley Riley (Artsick, Burnt Palms) will rejoice when she comes in with a bit of raucous guitar in Alleys with You.

Boeije: Uit Gewoonte en Bijgeloof

Dutch singer-songwriter Boeije can't get away from the polders in Zeeland on his new album Uit Gewoonte en Bijgeloof ("Out of habit and superstition"). Now living in Rotterdam, he looks back on his youth in a rather strict religious environment. He does it with a lot of empathy, now that he realizes that it also provided a safety net. He reminisces about riding his bike in the dark as a kid - he ended up in a ditch one time, tries to deal with the fact that his body will end up in a grave some day and is a bit jealous about people who have faith.

Using lo-fi folk, Americana and occasional outburst of noise Uit Gewoonte en Bijgeloof is an autobiography set to music. Boeije's use of poetic license mixed with a seasoning of fire and brimstone gives album an edge that comes to fore at a leisurely pace.

Librarians With Hickeys: "Spying By The Numbers" video

Power pop quartet Librarians With Hickeys have made a video for Spying By The Numbers, a track single from their new full-length How To Make Friends By Telephone: "Latching on the perennial themes like falling in love, heartbreak and road trips, the duo have managed to add a fresh layer of paint to melodies that sound familiar. It is a trip to memory lane, but there a plenty of sights along the way to keep listeners entertained and in awe of their guides".

» Librarians With Hickeys on Facebook

HCTF review of How To Make Friends By Telephone.

HCTF on Bluesky

Bye bye Twitter/X. Find Here Comes The Flood on Bluesky. See you there.

Steven Wilson: fourth show in London

Steven Wilson has added a fourth show in London at the Palladium on May 20th as part of his European tour next year to coincide with the release of his new album The Overview.