Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the previous few weeks. This time out we bring you a synth based banger, a strange and trippy singer songwriter, a cheeky 60s throwback, some big rock sounds from a rising band and more besides. Hopefully, there’s something here that will entertain, and encourage you to dig just a little further.

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Taking a melody that, in part, sounds like an old Ibiza throwback from the 90s, and an electronic beat that sounds a little more contemporary, Zkeletonz apply a “go hard or go home” attitude to their synth based pop on the brilliant ‘Lonely’. It literally takes seconds before this single unleashes a genuinely infectious quality, and the arrival of a slightly treated vocal increases its fun feel. By the end of the first verse, it asserts itself as the kind of song that fans of big sounding electro-pop will love, but after exploding into life with a very retro chorus that carries a soulful feel beneath the beats, it’s set to reel in an even bigger audience. Genuinely infectious in the best possible way, this is a superb track.

With its combination of buzzing guitar work and driving rhythms, Petch’s earlier single ‘9 Volter’ made it very easy to understand why and how the young singer-songwriter had caught the ear of Placebo. The bulk of the number didn’t sound so far removed from their own ‘Black Market Music’. Moving forward, the equally cool ‘Ultraviolet’ works a huge post grunge sound. Absolutely loaded with chunky sounding guitars, there’s a superb late 90s feel at work here, but it’s not just a retread of the past. Petch’s youthful, clean vocal style adds a swathe of alt-pop that provides a terrific contrast throughout, and her huge gift for a melody really works in tandem with the heavy-ish sound. Like a welcome mix of Halestorm, Tremonti and Hammerbox, this sounds like a hit from the very first listen.

Their name might not be familiar, but their sound is classic. Pop rock band TV Pins work a superb muted guitar part to convey a great energy throughout their current single ‘Daisy Saturday Night’. The main melody borrows from both a 70’s inspired retro pop and early 80s power pop influence, whilst a contrasting vocal fits more with a contemporary indie pop feel. This feel good sound is quickly built upon to create something massively catchy. The explosion of the main hook further indulges the band’s love of old power pop, and although the broadening of a melody may be brief, it does just enough to suggest that there’s something greater on the horizon. Then, true enough, the middle eight shares a purer love of adult themed power pop, presented in a timeless style. A few plays of this will remind you of the early years of US MTV, output from Lojinx Records and a whole world of other great stuff. This is an unexpected treat.

Following their collaboration with The Mission’s Wayne Hussey, Beauty In Chaos have returned, this time, teaming up with The Awakening’s Ashton Nyte. ‘Made of Rain’ is a musical treat from the outset. Over a mid tempo drum beat, a mix of swelling string sounds and clean guitar sets a retro goth mood in place, and augmented by a David J-esque bassline, this creates a huge, yet simple melody. As the tune gathers momentum – though without increasing the tempo – the music builds to accommodate a chunkier guitar which brings a lot of gravitas without resorting to heaviness. The real star here, naturally, is Nyte. He unveils a huge croon that values atmosphere over bombast, and he gives the dark lyric a superb send off, especially when using his partly theatrical approach to bring a bigger sound to a great chorus hook. This is classic rather than obviously contemporary, but between a great production and a hugely professional feel, it’s a track that really works.

Not content with the state of things, there’s a pure anger running through the centre of ‘R U OK, UK?’, the new offering from Minas. A preview of an upcoming EP, the track works a deep drone which automatically sets a very negative feeling in place. Over the intense sound, a spoken vocal spits various thoughts, ranging from nights out with a lost ID, a fuming parent, a country sliding off the rails and a possible altercation at a bus stop. Like a grime ridden version of The Streets, Minas revels in a bleak honesty, never holding back. The slam poetry elements are likely to be considered the most vital element of the track by many, but it’s the building tension and arrival of an almost industrial like groove that ultimately provides the biggest thrill. Never easy listening, always brutal; this won’t be taken to heart by everyone, but those who enjoy the more performative elements of this track will love it.

In 2023, British rock band Wolforna released ‘Amandolyn’, a track that introduced many to a talented band via a set of riffs that shared influence from Soundgarden at their most trippy/melodic. The brilliant ‘Chains’ also has a slightly grungy undercurrent, but comes with a very different tone. It’s mix of chunky guitars and waltzing time signature carries more than a hint of ‘Sweet Oblivion’ era Screaming Trees, but a solid hard rock vocal gives the number a much older heart. It’s the kind of recording that only requires a couple of spins before it makes a definite impression, further suggesting this band are going places, but if anything really stands out, it’s a slow burning, almost rootsy intro where Wolforna value atmosphere over bombast. There’s a lot packed into these three minutes, but ‘Chains’ is definitely the kind of single that’ll win Wolforna new fans.

Shamelessly revisiting the mood of the early sixties and the sounds of Gold Star Studios, The Amplifier Heads serve up a superb retro sound on ‘That Girl Betty’. Ideal for re-promoting their ‘Songs From “They Came To Rock”’ concept album, the track serves up an authentically old school banger that’s immediately familiar in the most knowing way. Part of its familiarity comes from an obvious love of Phil Spector, but the way this blends a Ronettes sound with the guitar tones from The Searchers’ version of ‘When You Walk In The Room’ makes this feel extra cheeky. As with other Amplifier Heads numbers, there’s a musical strength that really works here, but this single’s jewel is its guest vocal performance. Supplied by The Shang Hi Los’ Jen D’Angora, the featured voice truly soars, with Jen turning in a great melody throughout. For those who love it when bands pay tribute to a musical past but have a little more imagination beyond turning in a couple of cover tunes, this is a must-hear.

There’s a love for both old style psychedelia and 90s indie rock on the current single from Finnish band Us. ‘Paisley Underground’ shares a huge sounding verse. Howling lead guitars and blues drenched harmonica sit atop a busy riff where electric rhythms deliver massive grooves, and then, when the chorus hits, its all change for a pop-ish hook. Here, the vocal soars to share a melody that sounds as if its been transported straight from 1968. Although none of this song’s individual elements are especially original, Us recycle their sounds with such conviction that this everything still feels massively exciting. Almost as if The Hives collided with ‘Oczy Mlody’ era Flaming Lips, this should please a broad spectrum of indie rock lovers and retro rock fans.

September 2024