THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #1

Welcome to the Real Gone Singles Bar, a new feature where we explore some of the digital tracks that have been sent our way. We’ve always shied away from single coverage in the past, as the art of appreciating a full album is special, but listeners’ habits – and the way a lot of bands are releasing music – has changed. We’re now constantly finding ourselves with an inbox full of individual MP3s that fall by the wayside. Rounding up some of the best seemed like a good idea, and its something we’re hoping to take forward in tandem with our usual coverage. We hope you enjoy it and find something special enough to follow up!

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RUSSIAN BATHS – Done And Dead / Rise Again

Russian Baths first appeared on the alternative music scene back in 2016 with a two track release pairing their shoegaze anthem ‘Ambulance’ with the slightly more melodic indie/goth workout ‘Ghost’. It was immediately clear that the Brooklyn based duo were well versed in some great retro sounds, since the tracks conveyed a massive love for Jesus & Mary Chain, as well as slightly more melodic 4AD fare like Cranes and Slowdive. They were the kind of band that older indie fans could take to heart with immediate effect, but although their sounds drew strong links with a shoegaze past, they also seemed like a band who – much like A Place To Bury Strangers – would be able to take such heavily distorted drones seem wholly relevant in the present.

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WEST WICKHAMS – Consider Her Way EP

Following the release of Dead Wolf Club’s excellent ‘Healer’ EP in 2013, the band’s vocalist Jon Othello launched a more goth and new wave inspired side project, West Wickhams. Before the year was out, the new band shared a demo online, but then seemed to disappear. Jon resumed duties with his DWC bandmates the following year, and they seemed to tour relentlessly before calling it a day prematurely in 2015. Their demise left a massive hole in the world of noisy indie rock. For a time, they seemed to have a hugely reliable presence as a support act, and ‘Healer’ had very much promised bigger things to come.

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KEELEY – Echo Everywhere EP

Keeley’s debut EP ‘Brave Warrior’ proved that it was possible for a band to have a retro sound without sounding like a complete throwback to the past. Its four songs had a 90s electronica/dreampop heart, but there was enough about its feel and song writing that felt very contemporary. In terms of alternative pop, it was broad in its appeal, and the praise gained from high profile industry faces like Stuart Maconie and Steve Lamacq was more than deserved.

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