Tag Archives: alternative

CHARLIE NIELAND – The Ocean Understands EP

Posted on by

He might not be a genuine household name, but Charlie Nieland has had a busy career. He’s written material with Rufus Wainwright, Scissor Sisters and Blondie, and produced a number of albums for some lesser known indie rock bands, but – familiar name or not – one look at his extensive credits on Discogs shows him to be a man in demand.

‘The Ocean Understands’, a four track EP released in June 2025, puts Nieland even more in the spotlight. The solo recording finds him playing a variety of instruments (everything except the drums, and a featured guitar on one track), as well as handling all vocals. The material really showcases someone with a broad array of talents, even at times where his own songwriting mightn’t aim for that immediate hit.

Continue reading →

Watch: Orchid Symmetry share new video for ‘Like The Sun’

Posted on by

Formed just before almost the entire world went into a pandemic related lockdown, Orchid Symmetry have released a steady stream of digital singles and a couple of EPs since 2020. The best of the singles, 2022’s ‘Monsters and Demons’ eschewed most of the band’s heavier tendencies in favour of an ominous sounding riff that reworked alternative sounds from the 60s for a contemporary hard rock crowd. Parts of the melody sounded if they were distantly related to ‘House of The Rising Sun’, whilst other elements conveyed the all round moodiness of The Doors and the strange paranoia at the heart of Love’s ‘Forever Changes’. Despite taking various older elements and throwing them into a blender, a very natural vocal and occasionally abrasive guitar tone provided a more contemporary sound and also a very strong link with prior Orchid Symmetry tunes.

Continue reading →

THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR SUMMER SPECIAL 2025

Posted on by

During the first half of 2025, our weekly Singles Bar feature went from strength to strength. The daily submissions piled up, and in keeping with the second half of ’24, no matter how many great tracks we highlighted, there always seemed to be a few that slipped through the cracks. This Summer Special shines a light on some of the greatest tunes and more interesting bands that didn’t make the cut. These shouldn’t be considered leftovers, though – everything here is of a hugely high standard. We’ve got blues, country, metal, a couple of interesting twists on a pop sound, a couple of off kilter indie bands…and far more besides. Grab yourselves a cuppa and turn up the volume: these twenty selections are all worth hearing in their own right, and when experienced together, act as a reminder of why our Singles Bar has become one of Real Gone’s most popular features.

*

Continue reading →

THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #110

Posted on by

Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the more interesting individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the past few weeks. In this rather mixed bag, you’ll find old school balladry with an obvious love for Roy Orbison, some great roots rock from the UK, a noisy and slightly avantgarde comeback track, all sitting alongside something clearly inspired by the mighty Mercury Rev. With a folky tune, a solid slab of metal and a number with a light prog influence also present, we hope there’s something here for almost everyone.

*

Continue reading →

THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #109

Posted on by

There’s an obvious theme of “crossover” for this visit to the Singles Bar, with half of the featured tracks comprising two jazz fusion tracks, a blend of punk ‘n’ roll and alternative metal, and an unexpected noise from a French band that are really pushing the boundaries. With a great post-punk track and a familiar melodic punk act also sharing recent material, there are also a couple of very familiar touchstones here too, making it a very strong mix of material all round. As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy.

*

Continue reading →