Westside Cowboy: Pin Up Boys

Mancunian indie quartet Westside Cowboy have been playing in Up Boys at pretty much every show for year-and-a-half, but never got around to recording it properly in the studio. They tried and tried, but it never really gelled. A semi live take should have salvaged it, but even that take on the classic loud-quiet-loud approach stumbled and fell flat on its back. That is a pity, but rest assured: they will get it right on stage.

Martyrs: Drowning Days

Welsh synth duo Martyrs have proof that you can feel sad and overcome by grief on a glorious day, even when they are in their favourite city Barcelona. With Drowning Days they are trying to come up for air after being swept on their feet by a tidal wave of emotions. They describe the song themselves as "saddest banger of the summer", which is an accurate description for this mix of old school early techno and electronic pop.

» Martyrs on Bluesky

HCTF review of the Church Street EP

Mandrake Handshake: En Vol

photo: Sebastian Garraway

London based psych collective Mandrake Handshake's fascination with being able to fly continues on their new single En Vol, a dreamy trip to the great beyond, with elements of 60s pop and 90s trip-hop working in unison for a successful lift-off. Is it escapistic? Yes? Naive maybe? Sure, but it can't hurt to dream of exploring the universe as Earth itself is not a particularly fun place to be right now.

Tugboat Captain: Reliance

English baroque-pop band Tugboat Captain sing about having trust issues after a breakup on the lusciously orchestrated single Reliance. A subtle repetitive keyboard part act as the backbone for a safe space for lead singer Sox to bear his soul, who can also count on the 22 singers of the Ctrl P Community Choir to help him out. The anger, doubts and fears aren't gone per se, but they sure as Hell are easier do deal with.

The Cyrkle: "Revival" comes to vinyl

To tie with their 60th anniversary as a band The Cyrkle's comeback album Revival will be released on vinyl via Big Stir Records on July 10th: "Their voices have aged well, but don't try to go for the high notes anymore. Using a lower register enables to weave intricate harmonies that sound instantly recognizable. The Cyrkle still wants you to dance - in fact most of the new songs are about trying to get a lady to partake in this celebration of late 60s power pop. The 21st century versions of their hits from yesteryear are a nice touch, but it is songs like Dance With Me Tonight, We Were There and Center Of The World, an ode to San Diego that can serve as exhibits that they are not a just a bunch of men in matching suits once again chasing a dream that they woke up from a couple of decades ago".