Following their very promising demo from 2022, which shared eight tracks of blistering hardcore punk, noise-making Texans Mugger sound a little more polished on their first “proper” release. It’s clear, though, within a few bars of the first track, that any actual polishing is relative. Yes, their ‘Get A Clue’ release (being touted as an EP, despite only featuring two tracks) sounds bigger and a touch more professional, but it really doesn’t present the band in any more of a commercially viable manner.
Monthly Archives: June 2025
RUDIMENTARY PASTE – Six Examples Of The Wilhelm Scream EP
Affiliated with the independent Socks On Records, Rudimentary Paste are label mates with brilliant noise makers Das Kapitans, Get The Fuck Outta Dodge, Al Pacinos Sister, and Soviet Films. That fact alone will give some listeners a reasonable idea of what to expect from the band’s ‘Six Examples of The Wilhelm Scream’ EP before even going in. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but even though this band actually features a couple of faces associated with other Socks On acts, the Paste sound isn’t just a carbon copy of their peers.
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #107
With two singles that practically scream “IT’S SUMMER!”, a weird hybrid track that pushes a psychedelic angle into new territory, a slice of atmospheric Scandinavian melody, and something with a dance core, this selection of singles is certainly varied. Regular visitors to the Singles Bar will, of course, find something of interest as they uncover tunes that highlight some of the musical underground’s more vivid talents, and in the case of one of the singles, possibly even discover an instant hit! Sit back with a cuppa – it’s quite a ride…
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EMILY SAUNDERS – Moon Shifts Oceans
On her 2011 release ‘Cotton Skies’, jazz vocalist Emily Saunders applied her talents to something fairly traditional. On that album’s selection of (mostly) extended arrangements, she sang beautifully over smooth piano, evoking a smoky late night bar, or allowed her strong vocals to soar over some very melodic, more rhythmic fare, coming across like the missing link between Stacey Kent and Gretchen Parlato. 2016’s ‘Outsiders Insiders’ very much followed suit, cementing Emily’s talent and suggesting she’d be worth keeping an eye on, despite only releasing new material on a sporadic basis.
Premiere: Rattle Bones share new video for ‘Desert Heart’
When Rattle Bones released their debut single ‘Silver Bullets’ in January 2025, they immediately made a strong impression with their combination of hard edged guitar riffs and lyrical hooks. The band’s sound had a very retro appeal; there were moments during that number where the riffs took on a blues-edged swagger akin to Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Oh Well, Part 1’, but dropping into more of a hard rock bluster, the band conveyed even more of a fiery edge that suggested that these lads had been inspired by the legendary pre-grunge acts that ruled the hard rock airwaves between 1989-1991.