Our moderators listened to every track we were sent this week and have picked their favourites for your listening pleasure this weekend:

Listening Post: Batch 532

Lullaby

Suburban Electro

Debut LP from Dublin based band Bird Alone.

06 Cold Winter Soul

Belterz, the new album project by Conscious Route is a social exploration of his personal experience of a changing society and culture, highlighting the insights of an ageing person living life and being an artist in the music Industry. 

Taking the perspective of an independent artist, the album features a host of top flight artists bringing different styles and perspectives as they share insights from their own journeys within the culture of the Scottish music scene.

The album musically and lyrically navigates a range of sounds and social topics, uniting the introspective with social observation, as we have come to expect from Conscious Route. Most of the production is handled battle rapper/ producer MacKenzie, with just two tracks (‘2 Guys’ produced by Tzusan and ‘Essence’ produced by Vagrant Real Estate) produced by others. Guest musicians, Chris Greive & Scott Bathgate also appear across 5 songs. With Scott Bathgate adding subtlety to ‘Ducks in a Row’ and an eerie edge to ‘Underground’, while Chris Greive brings extra trombone to the subtle style of ‘Late’, nuance to ‘Heart on Sleeves’ and a a mix of Jazz influenced keys and trombone with the track ‘2 Guys’. 

The feature-heavy project boasts guest appearances from some of Scotland's finest, with tunes featuring Empress, YBxgtown, Kryptik, Lynzie Dray, Milles Better, Gluco, Jennifer Anne Todd, One Oz, Mistah Bohze, MacKenzie, JabbaThaKut, Wends, Becci Wallace, Solareye, Queen of Harps and Pro Focus.

Conscious Route draws upon years of experience in the music industry as he casts an eye over the state of hip-hop culture and the trials of getting noticed as an underground artist. His vocals mesh perfectly with those of his guests, bringing an array of vocal styles and accents as the music flips from hip-hop head-nodders to a UK Garage throwback, some soul-tinted melodies, dub, and beyond.  

Continuing to push the culture while keeping an eye on its roots, ‘Belterz’ shows why Conscious Route has long been regarded as one of the foremost names in Scottish hip-hop. Release Date 10.11.2023 


The Skinny Magazine “Belterz” Album 4 Star Review ****
 
“But if anyone’s earned the right to be so bold, it’s Conscious Route. For over two decades, the London- born, Edinburgh-based rapper has been honing his craft, emerging from the underground as one of the finest hip-hop artists in the Scottish scene.” (Chris Sneddon) 






Tracklist:

01. Amorphous Shape ft Empress 
02. Pretentious ft YBxGtown
03. Carry On ft Kryptik 
04. Ducks in a Row ft Lynzie Dray & Milles Better 
05. Sugar Coated ft Gluco
06. Essence ft Jennifer Anne Todd
07. Day Ones ft One OZ,  Mistah Bohze, Mackenzie & JabbaThakut
08. Late ft Wends 
09. Underground ft Becci Wallace 
10. Original ft Solareye
11. Hearts on Sleeves ft Queen of Harps & Lynzie Dray
12. 2 Guys ft Pro Focus 


Music Credits: 
All tracks produced by Mackenzie, except ‘Essence’ produced by Vagrant Real Estate
and ‘2 Guys’ produced by Tzusan 
Scott Bathgate: Guitar on ‘Ducks in a Row’, guitar and keyboard on ‘Underground’
Chris Greive: Keyboards and trombone on ‘2 Guys’ and trombone on ‘Hearts on Sleeves’ 
Tracks mastered by Forest DLG @ KMJ45
Editorial Tom Clover 
Pictures by Ben Glasgow 
Artwork by John Dyer @DigitalDyer

Belterz (Radio Edit Version)

04. Ducks In A Row (Radio Edit) by Conscious Route ft, Lynzie Dray & Miles Better

Produced by Joshua Rumble
Mixed by Caesar Edmunds

Follow Coming Up Roses:
Website: https://www.cominguprosesband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cominguprosessg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cominguprosessg/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cominguprosessg/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cominguprosessg

‘Let Yourself Cry’ is a heartbeat to hold close to yours when you feel alone and desperate. It’s a song for everyone who’s experienced grief, pain, suffering. It’s words offered in solidarity and comfort.

Let Yourself Cry

Campfire

There's That Sound

Hardball from my debut EP 'An Exorcise in Anger' 

Written by Alexandra Leaving
Produced by Michael Smith at RYP Recording Studios
Mastered by Andy Baldwin at Metropolis Studios


Lyrics:

I guess you always had the vision
While I was cursed by indecision
I play guitar and you play hardball

Then you called me crazy
Well that rhetoric’s just lazy
I’m unhinged at my best
And the rest floats in fragments.

And no more going down to the movies now.

As a matter of fact you can have it back,
All the good, the bad - it’s for you.
And as a matter of fact I don’t even feel bad.
It’s just that sometimes I’m a little blue.

We decorate the silence with some light chaotic violence
You’re out on the field, I still wanted to be your home run.
But then I saw your colours and I don’t wanna be another,
Just another thing you step on.

As a matter of fact you can have it back,
All the good, the bad - it’s for you.
And as a matter of fact I don’t even feel bad.
It’s just that sometimes I’m a little blue.

I don’t want anything but the way I know,
And I know now this is the end.

As a matter of fact you can have it back,
All the good, all the bad - It was for you
And as a matter of fact I don’t even feel bad.
It’s just that sometimes I’m a little blue.
It’s just that sometimes I’m a little blue.

Hardball

Music and lyrics by Seoul Metro.

Vocals, backing vocals, electric guitars, bass guitar, keys, synthesizers and drum programming performed by Chris Gibson.

Recorded in Stretford, Manchester.

Produced, mixed and mastered by Chris Gibson.

Released via Orbital Perspective Records on 1 June 2024.

Lyrics:

Light falls across your face
I don't have the words
To tell you what's in my head
Just what I'm thinking
And maybe I'm a champagne socialist
And maybe I believe I was born for this
And baby, I'm a hopeless optimist
And everybody knows now

I've been in love with you forever
And I've been losing track of time
I've been in love with you forever
And you're forever on my mind
I've been in love with you for ages
And it still gets me every time
I've been in love with you forever
And you're forever on my mind

Light fades, your eyes are closed
You're still here beside me
Your finger brushes mine
I feel the electricity now
I told you I'm a hopeless optimist
And I really do believe that we're born for this
And every time you touch me I can't resist
So tell me do you feel like this?

I've been in love with you forever
And I've been losing track of time
I've been in love with you forever
And you're forever on my mind
I've been in love with you for ages
And it still gets me every time
I've been in love with you forever
And you're forever on my mind

Forever
Forever

I've been in love with you forever
And I've been losing track of time
I've been in love with you forever
And you're forever on my mind
I've been in love with you for ages
And it still gets me every time
I've been in love with you forever
And you're forever on my mind

Forever

Lights On

Bloom by amilost. 

Written by: Sigrid A. Zeiner-Gundersen, Ross Leslie Craib & Mark Elliott
Produced by: Mark Elliott & amilost 
Mastered by: Mastering The Mix
Artwork: Glide Photos

Lyrics:

Why am I frozen
Waiting for the buds to bloom 
Ground is overflowing
I’m running out of room

My body’s aching
I don’t feel the heat 
Subconsciously screaming 
Light me up

I don’t wanna come down
I don’t, I don’t, I don’t
I don’t wanna come down
It took me forever to get this high 
High
High
I don’t, I don’t
I don’t wanna come down

I watch the air that I’m breathing 
Waiting for myself to thaw
Draw with my fingertips
I don’t need to be in love

My body’s aching
I can feel the heat 
Subconsciously screaming Light me up

I don’t wanna come down
I don’t, I don’t, I don’t
I don’t wanna come down
It took me forever to get this high 
High
High
I don’t, I don’t
      
I don’t wanna come down

When I’m up here I want to feel it No limit, no limit 
When I’m up here I want to feel it No limit, no limit 
When I’m up here I want to feel it No limit, no limit 
When I’m up here I just wanna feel

I don’t wanna come down
I don’t, I don’t, I don’t
I don’t wanna come down
It took me forever to get this high 
High
High
I don’t, I don’t
I don’t wanna come down

Bloom

The second album by BarrelHaus. 

Marc Challans: vocals, guitars, bass, drums, percussion, recording, mixing & mastering.

Ian Mitchell: vocals, guitars & bass.

Tracks 1,3,5,7 & 9 by Marc Challans.
Tracks 2, 4, 6 & 8 by Ian Mitchell.

Special thanks to Grace & Alice.

The Ballad Of The Former Mariner

Congratulations - Amelle Rose

The latest EP from synth-pop Duo, Prawns!!!

Cracker

Lavender

I have stage 4 breast cancer and quite often people don't believe me when I tell them that I'm great. We have all have a personal scale of really bad to really great, and having cancer does not change that. Whilst living with cancer I often feel great, so when you ask me and I say that I am great - I actually mean it.


[VERSE 1]
Some days obstacles stand in my way
Casting their mist of pure grey
But I see the light of sun rays
I have to choose my attitude before I get up
Will I face the day ahead of me with cheer
The hope in my soul tells me that I have nothing to fear

[PRECHORUS]
I’m being honest when I say		
How I am feeling today

[CHORUS]
I’m great
I know life’s not perfect, ok
I can’t help feeling this way
Every day 
When I walk in a room with a smile on my face
My heart is singing
Coz I’m great

[VERSE 2]
The warmth of sun on my skin makes me sing
Knowing what this life will bring
Adventures and wonderful things
I get to travel round the world and see its beauty
With all my favourite people next to me
Not asking for much I’m content with how my life will be 

[PRECHORUS]
I’m being honest when I say		
How I am feeling today

[CHORUS]
I’m great
I know life’s not perfect, ok
But I can’t help feeling this way
Every day 
When I walk in a room with a smile on my face
My heart is singing
Coz I’m great
I’m great
I’m great
I’m great
I’m great

I'm Great

Heavenly

Flight Path EP

Flight Path

OH! CD

Stream / download: https://samredmore.lnk.to/Home

Sam Redmore drops Home – a truly special track featuring afrobeat icon Dele Sosimi.

Sam tells us, “Dele is a massively respected name in the afrobeat world, and somebody whose music I have been following for a long time - well before I started making music myself. To collaborate with him on a track really is an honour, with his contributions and influence on so much music that I love a huge deal to me.

Receiving the vocal recording for Home it immediately elevated what was something I was already proud of to a new level. You can hear the emotion in Dele's voice, and listening back to the track now I can't help but feel that emotion. There is a melancholy there but also hope and uplift - things that are important to me both in music and in life”.

Artwork by Lee Hodges.

Home (feat. Dele Sosimi)

Fresh On The Net is a music blog hosted by Tom Robinson and Team Freshnet, offering independent artists an open door and a level playing field for their music. Our inbox is open at http://freshonthenet.co.uk every Monday to Thursday morning - if you share a track with us there it will be heard by every member of our moderation team.

IMPORTANT: 
Only send ONE track, and make sure the dropbox says "OPEN".  Sorry, but tracks sent while the dropbox is closed - or shared drectly with this Soundcloud account - will not get heard.

Listening Post: Batch 532

freshnet