THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #117

Every visit to the Real Gone Singles Bar uncovers new treats, but as we start to pull towards the end of a UK summer, this selection shares a couple of really special tracks. A new offering from a UK born/Dubai based soul singer could be one of the best things you’ll hear before the autumnal weather sets in; a couple of legends provide the basis for a near perfect reggae banger, and an underground electronica musician really stretches out on his current single. We’ve also got a piece of fairly traditional sounding country, a loving tribute to a classic grunge sound, and a huge alternative rock tune from a band making their debut. As always, we hope you find something to enjoy.

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DUCK & COVER – EP

In 2022, US band Duck & Cover released the ‘Attention Economy’ EP, a short listen that hit hard and fast with a world of trashy riffs that blended a love of garage rock with The Replacements, and even added a tinge of 80s glam to a few of the vocals. The tracks have since appeared on streaming services as three digital singles, but whether heard together or apart, the material retains its appeal. 2024’s two track ‘Trash Fest’ showed off a little more melody around the edges – particularly noticeable in the vocal approach taken on the massively hooky ‘Girl From Nowhere’ – but the band’s love of a wonderfully retro sound held firm.

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THE LEN PRICE 3 – Emily’s Shop / I’m A Fake

Within garage rock circles, the Len Price 3 have become a hugely popular fixture. Between their high energy live shows and some superb recorded works, the Medway lads have continually given the UK scene a kick up the arse. Despite not being the most prolific act in terms of studio work, they’ve been remarkably consistent, and the best bits of 2022’s ‘Ip Dip Do’ and 2023’s ‘Chinese Burn’ are every bit as powerful as the band’s earliest works. With such a high quality threshold, it’s no wonder that, despite hailing from a corner of Britain that isn’t exactly renowned for its musical heritage or wealth of live venues – it seems to have always been Billy Childish against the world – the LP3 managed to attract the attention of the Wicked Cool label in the US.

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PUSH PUPPETS – Tethered Together

Chicago’s Push Puppets are a pop rock band who think a little bigger than most. There are moments during their second album ‘Tethered Together’ that hark back to the alternative boom of the 90s, moments that celebrate power pop, and there’s even a touch of melodic prog within some of the guitar work. It’s to main man Erich Specht’s credit that he has the creative vision to make everything fit together so well, but since he’s given sole credit for writing the songs and creating the album’s string arrangements, alongside being the band’s vocalist and guitarist, and being the co-producer of this record, he obviously has a very clear understanding of the direction he wishes the music to take, despite everything being drawn from different influences. What this creates, of course, is the kind of album that encourages its audience to listen closely.

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