Tag Archives: retro

Listen: Pearl Handled Revolver share new track ‘Space Invader’

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Back in 2016, British rock band Pearl Handled Revolver released ‘If The Devil Casts His Net’, an excellent album of dark rock tunes taking in influence from past greats The Doors with a swathe of riffs from Queens of The Stone Age and a pinch of early Deep Purple. They’d released material prior to this, but this record is where their brand of retro rock really came into its own.

A lot of time has obviously passed since then. The band have played a huge number of gigs – even appearing on the bill for the A New Day Festival in 2023 as support for Caravan, Ozric Tentacles and System 7 (the electronica duo featuring the legendary Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy) – and released a couple more albums.

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THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #91

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Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the individual tracks that have been sent our way over the previous few weeks. This selection takes in a couple of familiar acts – a massively cult Australian band, and someone making yet another return to the SB. As usual, the selection of tunes also explores a few slightly less familiar avenues. You’ll discover a slice of jazzy, downbeat singer songwriter fare, something with a strong soul bias, and even a new offering from a cult post punk act. As with the best previous Singles Bars, we’ve given no bias towards any particular genre, and feel that this particular selection really highlights how much good music has started to emerge now that 2025 is properly underway. Enjoy!

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THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #87

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This week’s Singles Bar is a rock-centric affair, but we’ve attempted to pull together a selection of tracks that really capture a wealth of different moods. There’s a track with 90s dream rock/shoegaze flair, a slab of Finnish metal with thrash elements, a classic sounding and very 90s influenced tune, and something with light prog leanings. Those hoping for something highlighting other genres should also find pleasure within some great power pop and a timeless sounding country-pop number marking the return of a great singer-songwriter. January is often notoriously quiet for new releases, but there should be enough here to pique your interest as usual!

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MUCK AND THE MIRES – Zoom Breakup EP

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In the summer of 2023, Muck and The Mires released the ‘Cool Imposter’ single. With a blend of 50s kitsch, late 60s garage rock guitar and one of the most repetitious hooks ever, it quickly marked out a place as one of their strongest tracks to date. Their 2024 EP ‘Zoom Breakup’ doesn’t quite summon the same fire – although always enjoyable in their own way, it would’ve been a tall order for its six numbers to reach the same heights of shameless infectiousness – but the release is certainly a more than welcome addition to the veteran band’s catalogue.

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IAN BLURTON’S FUTURE NOW – Crimes Of The City

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Ian Blurton’s 2019 album ‘Signals Through The Flames’ presented nine tracks of well crafted melodic hard rock and metal. The performer’s old soul brought a classic sound to the fore, with tracks that took influence from Black Sabbath (‘The March of Mars’), Blue Oyster Cult (‘ICQ’), ‘The Cage’ era Tygers of Pan Tang, and most notably on album standout ‘Days Will Remain’, a hefty nod to the vintage sounds of Judas Priest from 1978.

‘Crimes of The City’, the second release under the band name Ian Blurton’s Future Now (following 2022’s ‘Second Skin’), owes a similar debt to various classic rock and metal influences, but if anything, is even more effective. Delivering ten riff filled numbers in a little over half an hour, it leaves nothing to chance and no room for obvious filler.

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