Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the recent individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the past few weeks. This time around, you’ll find a several familiar names returning to “the bar”, but with their best tunes to date. Stylistically, it’s a pleasingly mixed bag, drawing from indie rock, Americana, soulful singer songwriter fare, and choppy guitar sounds that very much tip the hat to Arctic Monkeys. As a varied selection, it’s interesting, but certainly works. We hope, as always, that you’ll find something new to enjoy…

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The second single to be released from David Luning’s upcoming album ‘Lessons’, ‘It Ain’t Easy To Love Me’ has a wonderfully rootsy feel. Despite everything centring around a fairly jaunty, rhythmic shuffle, his chosen style and tones convey something very “easy” throughout. From his welcoming voice, to the busy finger picked guitar work, to a huge harmonious chorus, everything here advertises a perfect Americana sound. A strong folky element underscores a country infused melody, always conveying a pleasingly retro quality, but if anything stands out, it’s Luning’s vocal. His slightly “twangy” approach adds just enough of a country heart to the semi-acoustic backdrop to keep things interesting, and the way he wraps that around the number’s core melody – wherever ir chooses to go – lends an already great number a very friendly and natural tone. This is the kind of track that suggests this singer songwriter will bring more greatness from his soon to be released full length disc.

Although it has been tipped by her promo team as “a dancey summer hymn”, to describe the new track by Veronica D’Souza in such a way is to sell it short. Yes, ‘Peaches In My Halo’ shows off some of the rhythms and electronica elements that would sit at the core of a dance track, but rhythmically, it’s just too slow to capture the dance market. What we have here is some fairly sophisticated electro based pop, on a mid tempo tune where heavy chords emanate from a bank of synths, and a steady handclap-infused rhythm sets up a solid groove. It’s not flashy, but its certainly strong enough a base to carry D’Souza’s slightly distorted, slightly deep voice as she croons her way through a melody that makes the best of her off-kilter, distinctive tones. The end result sounds like a strange hybrid of a pop fuelled Nico meeting with Jess Glynne. and in some ways, it shouldn’t work, but the fact that it does is testament to how much weight a strong hook can carry.

Sounding like one of Joy Division’s more melodic numbers with a vocal by Echo & The Bunnymen’s Ian McCulloch applied, October Drift’s ‘Tyrannosaurus Wreck’ is a track that’ll instantly appeal to fans of a classic retro alternative sound. The influences may sometimes come through strongly, but that never stops this song sounding incredibly impressive. The huge guitar sound wielded throughout really grabs the attention, and the flowing indie-goth melodies that bolster a massive chorus hook never sound less than amazing. This is the kind of single that’ll appeal to fans and new listeners alike, and more than shows off a band very much on the rise.

Johnny Hunter’s big comeback single ‘Frustration’ didn’t hold back when presenting cold sounding, very 80s synths. Its pulsing heart created a great backdrop for a fairly theatrical sounding post punk vocal, making it very clear that the Australian band were still very much into sounds that would confront as much as invite. A couple of months on, ‘Hot Mess’ shows off the band with some even sharper edges. The vocal remains very recognisable in the way the lyrics are spat with a post-Devo ugliness, but the music is even more interesting than before. The beats are harder, working tough, clanking rhythms that often push against the keys, and those keys spend three minutes gleefully layering up angular sounds whilst channelling the more affronting sounds of a post-punk/new wave past, but with a sharpness that really works in the present. With ‘Hot Mess’, Johnny Hunter aren’t just back, but back with a bang.

On the heels of previous recordings showcasing a superb soul pop sound, Casii Stephan’s ‘Without A Box’ captures the US singer songwriter in a very different mood. A piano ballad, the track harks back to similar 90s far from Sarah McLachlan and Chantal Kreviazuk, but naturally remains unmistakably the work of Casii’s own hand. Sharing a slow melody throughout, the track works a strong chord progression augmented by mellow percussion, creating a strong, heart-wrenching sound. Musically strong despite its simplicity, the single is a great reminder of how a stripped down arrangement can create something with a timeless appeal, but its the vocal which truly shines. From the very start, Stephan works a huge, soul oriented sound driven by an obvious vibrato, but as the melody rises, her voice grows accordingly, eventually reaching a peak cry that shows her to be an unquestionably great performer. It mightn’t uplift in the manner of her earlier tracks, but this is clearly Casii’s finest four minutes to date.

As the first taste of ‘A Cornucopia: Victory’, The Speed of Sound’s second album for 2024, ‘Underground’ brings an upbeat number that, musically, has a vast amount to recommend it. The hard jangling guitars and steady rhythms that run throughout the number bring back memories of a late 80s/early 90s Manchester based indie sound, and with a warm, pumping bass and consistently hard groove, this puts the veteran band in a position of great strength. However, the dual vocal might take a little adjustment: John Armstrong counters the music with another of his finest Bob Dylan impersonations which, at first, feels very much at odds with the music in hand, and Anne-Marie Crowley fills the main hook with a slightly flat melody that feels more akin to older post-punk sounds. This gives the track a definite imbalance and a feeling that this song has been created from two or three very separate influences. However, since the 60s infused guitar work is peak Speed of Sound and the chorus melody has a strength despite the vocal, there’s every chance that, in time, this strange indie rock tune will work its way under the skin.

Bristolian indie rockers Adult Leisure sound better than ever on ‘Borderline’, a taste of the new sounds on their upcoming EP. The track has rhythmic qualities and a bottom end that calls back to 80s goth redressed with a shinier post-punk ethic, but listen closely, and you’ll discover something more interesting. It may not be obvious at first, but the ringing guitar notes that occasionally cut across a soaring vocal during the second verse share an Andy Summers inspired quality. These very different nods to a retro sound lift the arrangement considerably, but that’s not to say the rest isn’t great. Neil Scott’s vocals, in particular, have a strong presence throughout, and he conveys power in a very melodic way, and bassist James Laing straddles a fine line between darkness and warmth throughout. With great melodic hooks and a very strong musical frame, ‘Borderline’ is streets ahead of everything on the first Adult Leisure EP, and very much the kind of tune that deserves to be heard by indie rock/melodic post punk fans everywhere.

The youngest band to take the stage at the Kendal Calling Festival, Rivivalry make the early Ash look like rock veterans by comparison. However, what these musicians lack in years, they make up for with a strong, assured sound. Their current single ‘Two Sips’ works a hard, jangling riff where garage rock elements are occasionally augmented by a stoner-ish buzz on the track’s slower moments, and a natural vocal adds a great tone. The accented delivery often makes this sound like something from the Arctic Monkeys’ middle years, but anything Revivalry might have recycled here has been reworked with love and a huge confidence. All of the musical elements fit together brilliantly, and the lyric concerning the uncertain outcomes of alcohol consumption brings a universal theme before the track delivers a rousing and sweary hook that’s bound to stick. This is a great track.

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August 2024