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 around, we bring you a superb light indie track, a really intense slab of metal, an 80s star continuing to forge ahead with a solo career, and more besides. As always, the SB continues to mix future classics with the unexpected, and we hope you’ll find something new to enjoy…
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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 past few weeks. It’s a proper mixed bag this week, with the return of a multi-million selling singer songwriter, who is contrasted by a sharp edged alternative metal track; something that leans towards country rock, the return of a favourite pop vocalist and more besides…
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When Casii Stephen released her single ‘Can’t Handle Me’ in March 2024, it was immediately clear that the world was about to encounter a performer with a huge talent. It was also clear that in the two years since she recorded ‘Trust Fall’, the singer songwriter’s primary influences had changed. Whereas ‘Trust Fall’ – great as it was, and still is – played like a mellow variant of the 90s songwriters associated with the Lilith Fair festival, ‘Can’t Handle Me’ looked even farther back when searching for a groove. With a soul-pop backdrop and massive vocal, that three minute track was as big a homage to a soul fuelled past as an on form Amy Winehouse’s work, and Stephan’s vocal was almost as strong. Her voice also sounded about ten times bigger than its younger self. There was no doubt, this single would be the precursor to great(er) things.
With two gigs taking place at the Dreamland venue, it’s a busy night in Margate. Most people are assembled at the Scenic Stage to witness a double headliner between Orbital and Leftfield, marking the end of this year’s big outdoor shows for the summer. A more select crowd have chosen to spend the evening indoors at the Hall By The Sea welcoming Ocean Alley, visiting heroes from Australia.
This two track release from The Half-Cubes is, in power pop terms, pure gold. Its pedigree is assured thanks to two different aspects. Firstly, as their name suggests, this band are made up from half of power pop legends The Flashcubes and, secondly, the tracks featured are both re-workings of classics from the Eric Carmen catalogue. Although neither track has been drastically rethought, both sound great with a brighter production sound than Carmen’s original recordings were ever afforded. ‘My Girl’, in particular, plays like a genre classic for 2024, despite its mid 70s vintage.