At the beginning of 2025, funk and pop duo DIZZY! released the ‘Hot Mess’ EP, sharing four tracks of well produced, soulful material that really captured a mood that seemed set to soundtrack the summer. The music, drawing influence from various corners of 70s and 80s soul and pop, was pin-sharp, but the material really came into its own when shining a light on DIZZY!’s vocal blend. David and Izzy Gruner’s vocals were obviously a natural fit with each other, with Izzy’s brighter tones sharing an especially pleasing tone. Despite featuring just four tracks, the EP was genuinely varied: the DNA from Lenny Kravitz’s ‘It Ain’t Over ’It’s Over’ could be found on the stand out cut ‘Bitter’; a great blend of pop and soul showed off the duo’s more buoyant side on the brilliant ‘Mess’ and ‘Crybaby’, while ‘Too Late’ even teased with lounge jazz.
No Matter Where You Go: Silver Dollar Room (2024-2026)
On 16th January 2026, Silver Dollar Room announced the upcoming release of a new single. The same day, they broke the news to their fans that this would be their final recording.
They might not have reached the status of a band that were selling out big venues, but over a few short years, they made their mark on the Scottish underground rock scene and would certainly be missed by those who’d taken note of their work.
THE MORNING LINE – 90s Pickup / This Lens
Across two enjoyable releases, ‘North’ (2019) and ‘Scene’ (2022), San Francisco’s The Morning Line celebrated a very 90s brand of pop rock, with an array of songs driven by jangling guitars and harmonious vocals. Often sounding like a cross between peak Connells and the lighter elements of Soul Asylum circa ‘Candy From A Stranger’, their best songs had the power to uplift, and in the case of ‘Looking Right At You’ and ‘Make Believe’ (very much highlights from ‘Scene’) even shared a nostalgic quality, despite being newly written.
Listen: Silver Dollar Room share final single ‘Black Widow’
Scottish rockers Silver Dollar Room had a very busy two years with their release of their ‘Gilded Echoes’ album and its acoustic counterpart in 2024, and the almost equally enjoyable ‘Can’t Rain All The Time’ and a piano-based reworking of the entire album both appearing in 2025.
With the announcement of a brand new non album single ‘Black Widow’ coming just two weeks into 2026, it appeared on the surface as if the band were setting themselves up for yet another busy year. However, the announcement was coupled with the news that the band were to split soon after, making ‘Black Widow’ their swansong.
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #141
As we head even further into a new year, submissions for the ever popular Real Gone Singles Bar continue to be very interesting. This time around. We’ve got a perfect homage to those 90s classics from the 4AD label, the return of a great retro goth band, some British skacore, and even a lo-fi oddity that proves surprisingly effective. With a couple of rocky tracks along the way and some well played Americana, we hope most people will find something new to enjoy.
*