Joshua Zero – Barbed Wire Eyelashes

An incredible debut. This song captures the frustrations and tenderness of those weird relationships where you’re not sure what’s going on and aren’t even sure if you want it to work but hey, you’re here now so you might as well try and have fun? When the strings swell over a the swirl of distortion towards the end of the song my heart lifts and makes me want to put the song on repeat.

Tugboat Captain – Be Strong, Smoke Less

A gentle reminder that, it’s okay not to be perfect delivered with soothing vocals and some lovely spacey synths. There’s a Frank Turner lyric where he shouts “We can get better, because we’re not dead yet!” Tugboat here capture that same idea but with a greater degree of empathy for our failures and how they shape us as people even as we try to get better.

Leo Cosmos – Take My Chances

Another incredible debut. Coming from a wonky Jazz background Anthony Phelan is back with new music in the form of Leo Cosmos, infectious pop al-la Tom Misch and Rex Orange Country. Leo Cosmos brings together some of the best in Leeds.  Jed Bevington on the violin stands out on this track but contributions from the likes of Mamilah’s Freddie Ricketts and Tight Lines’ Will Lakin help tie the whole thing together make this one of the most exciting projects to watch in Leeds in the next year. We’ve got an interview with Anthony coming out in the next couple of days so keep it locked…

Tranqua Lite – Hassle Heart

A softer outing from Tranqua Lite. This song takes a step back from some of the math-rock influences that can be seen on their earlier releases while still maintaining the complex rhythms that make them stand out. Polished, clean and easy to listen to without being basic: it’s a Tranqua Lite song. We’ve got an interview with the band coming out in the next couple of days so keep it locked…

If you like the Tugboat and Joshua Zero Tracks you can catch them at Book Club on the 28th, tickets here

There’s a little Spotify playlist here if you just want all four songs right now…

The post March 15th – Release Selections appeared first on Pretend.

Laura Misch – Hibernate

As the title suggests, this track is pretty chilling with its clean-cut beats and Laura’s slightly ghoulish vocals, which swirl and echo. All proceeds of the bandcamp release go towards UK homeless charity Crisis too, which is pretty nice. – Safi Bugel

Eerie and mysterious, Laura Misch’s Hibernate is a tantalising mix of heavy synths and dreamy harmonies, all set to her signature low-fi beat. “It’s cold out here” echoes throughout the track; a coldness that can almost be felt through Misch’s chilling vocals. It’s dark, it’s hypnotic and it’s even raising money for charity, so therefore definitely worth the listen. – Becca St Vincent

Oscar Jerome – Misty Head/Sunny Street

This is the first I have heard from Oscar Jerome, and it’s pretty pleasant. A tight, jazz-soaked instrumental awash with honeyed vocals and wah-ing guitars, ‘Misty Head/Sunny Street’ is like the hip younger brother of a Jamiroquai track. A treat for Tom Misch fans or LCoM students, I imagine – Safi Bugel

This is also my first engagement with Oscar Jerome, but upon first listen I found myself surprised by how much I enjoyed this song. Inoffensive but ultimately charming, Misty Head/ Sunny Street is a groovy infusion of jazzy and electronic beats, brought together by the effortless elegance of Jerome’s vocals. However the relaxed, summery vibe feels slightly out of place in the midst of the January blues, but maybe I’m just being picky – Becca St Vincent

Shit how have you guys only just come across Oscar Jerome? – James Ward

WhenYoung – Never Let Go

It is almost commendable how hard Never Let Go tries to cement itself as a uplifting and empowering indie anthem. I can already envision it playing during the climax of some corny Netflix coming of age teen movie; the chorus kicking in right at the moment where the protagonist FINALLY has their first kiss with the ‘love of their life’. It’s the sort of thing I probably would have enjoyed aged 14, but sadly now that I’m older and wiser I can see that it’s nothing but an overly keen attempt at tugging on a younger generation’s heart strings, lacking any real depth or actual feeling. It is pretty damn catchy though – Becca St Vincent

This is simple, anthemic and fun. WhenYoung were one of the hype bands of last year among the indie press that really really wishes that indie was still the dominent force in UK music and this song is going to please that crowd no end (See Jack Saunders for example of the type I describe here). I played it the end our show this week because it’s always lovely to end on something uplifting. One you can see the Truck and Y Not crowds going insane for – James Ward

The post Single Reviews – 11.01.2019 appeared first on Pretend.