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 551

Be my first, worst, gut-wrenched love
Hell or heaven sent crush
Turn my walls to dust
And break my heart for fun

Sucker punch, one swing and I’m hitting the floor 
At breakneck speed, reluctantly
Spinning out, last round
Till I’m tapping the ground beneath my knees 

But when it’s you
Black melts to blue
You’re tongue tied too
I’ll let you choose 

Be my first, worst, gut-wrenched love
Hell or heaven sent crush
Turn my walls to dust
Break my heart for fun
Jaw drop, fist clenched love
The clouds part with your touch
And when you rain, we’ll flood
Break my heart for fun

Dumbstruck, one touch
And I’m checking the locks upon my doors, compulsively 
Punch drunk, bad luck 
If gravity works harder for you than me

But when it's you, light floods the room
If you're scared too, what's left to lose?

Be my first, worst, gut-wrenched love
Hell or heaven sent crush
Turn my walls to dust
And break my heart for fun
Jaw drop, fist-clenched love
The clouds part with your touch
And when you rain, we’ll flood
Break my heart for fun

Never call me up
Tell me it’s not love
Make me lose my trust 
Break my heart for fun

Be my first, worst, gut wrenched love
Hell or heaven sent crush
Turn my walls to dust
Break my heart for fun
Jaw drop, fist-clenched love
The clouds part with your touch
And when you rain, we’ll flood
Break my heart for fun

Break My Heart (For Fun)

‘Deadly Sins’ is the second full-length LP by London/Devon indie-pop quintet Lemonade Sin, based around the songwriting partnership of Lee Friese-Greene and Simon Aldous.

Each song was inspired by one of the Seven Deadly Sins: wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, pride, lust and envy.

Musically its eclecticism is in keeping with previous Lemonade Sin releases, described by the Other Side fanzine as “an ever-changing style, wandering from grunge to pop, folk and indie-rock” as well as some forays into a more electronic dance style– but united by the common threads of Lee and Simon’s interplaying vocals and lush harmonies.

“You hear the word ‘sin’ and most people probably think of lasciviousness,” says Simon. “In fact we probably did too when we had the initial idea. But you start to delve into the different sins and if anything it’s more about human frailty in its many difference guises.

This is particularly the theme of “Having A Better Time” which deals with social-media-inspired fomo; and “Plenty in the Pantry” which begins as almost a celebration of gluttony before looking at why someone might feel the need to overindulge in this way.

Other songs act more as defences for sins. Album opener “Clutter” makes the case for sloth, a spoken word section listing the vast number of songs, videos, books and podcasts created every day “the vast majority of which is entirely unremarkable”. With such an abundance of stuff, it suggests, isn’t doing nothing a greater contribution to the world?

As with previous releases, Lemonade Sin have enlisted the production talents of Lucy and Matthew Board (of the band Pale Blue Eyes). The band recorded the first seven songs in Lucy and Matt’s Devon studio but ended up being the last people to record there as the studio was then packed up and moved to their new base in Sheffield, with resumption of recording delayed while they constructed their new studio.

And there is a noticeable difference in the feel of the two sets of songs with the Sheffield tracks featuring more electronic drums and synths and being very much studio creations while the Devon recordings make extensive use of Lemonade Sin’s live band, Simon and Lee being augmented by Charlotte Beale (bass and backing vocals), Jennifer Denitto (drums) and Robin Morgan (keyboards).

I Want It All

The world is about to be infected by the debut single from post-punk artist Third Arrow. "Hyperparasite" is set to be released on August 15th, offering a fresh take on the genre with post-ironic punk lyrics and a driving industrial soundscape.
Third Arrow, the solo project of an unnamed ex-session musician, aims to breathe new life into post-punk. "Hyperparasite" is a response to the dire need for meaningful music in today's world.
Inspired by the struggle to survive in housing conditions reminiscent of the Victorian era, "Hyperparasite" delivers an in-depth structural critique of capitalism. The track combines upbeat dance rhythms with industrial sounds, showcasing creative use of new technologies to craft a unique listening experience.
Third Arrow draws inspiration from the latest wave of post-punk, blending elements of hip-hop and dance music to create a sound that is both contemporary and deeply rooted in the genre's rebellious spirit. Think IDLES meets slowthai meets Sleaford Mods.
"Hyperparasite" will be available on all major streaming platforms. Fans are invited to presave the single on Spotify to be among the first to experience this groundbreaking release.
For more information, to request an interview, or to receive a review copy of the single, please contact themthreearrows@gmail.com.

Hyperparasite

Figure It Out

I wrote this song when I was experiencing a prolonged low period. I felt like nothing good would ever happen and I found myself repeating the same scenes over and over. When I talked about it with people I was told the same things 'it'll be fine' 'it won't last forever'. Now, being autistic and unable to fully understand the hidden meanings in people's words I find phrases like this really hard, I need to know exactly what you mean, I need to know when 'the end' is. So I turned to music. This song was written in about five minutes, it just poured out of me. It's very vulnerable and it's scary to put a song out that is 100% my sadness. I know if you listen to the words you'll learn a lot about me and that's scary but also exciting as I think I'm finally letting people in with my music.

Babylon - Mollyxo

Inspired by Floyd Patterson and Karl Jaspers

Motivation

Mementos

Nightmares

Unbreakable

When the worst of things has happened, 
And the rain goes on and on, 
Still the kids play cricket in the rubble all summer long… 

Fella with his bowler hat on, 
Says we’re bold and brave and strong, 
And the kids play cricket in the rubble all summer long… 

It’s the 1940s Britain, 
I don’t mind admitting that they went through hell and back, 
I guess that I’m proud of that… 

I guess we just remember what we choose,
And paper over things with glue… 

The world is something like a baby bird just hatched in spring, 
How I love to hear that little bird sing, 
Love to hear that little bird sing

Now the best of things has happened, 
And the war we fought is won, 
And still the kids play cricket, they play cricket, the kids play cricket… 

It’s the 1940s Britain, 
I don’t mind admitting that there’s a lot to feel good about, 
To never forget and to sing about

If only we were brave enough to tell, 
The stories of our gory deeds as well

The world is something like a baby bird just hatched in spring, 
How I love to hear that little bird sing, 
Love to hear that little bird sing

Ooh la la la, 
Ooh la la la, 
Ooh la la la ooh

And when we muddy the waters, 
We sell out our sons and our daughters, it’s true 

The world is something like a baby bird just hatched in spring, 
How I love to hear that little bird sing, 
Love to hear that little bird sing 
And the world is something like a baby bird just hatched in spring, 
How I love to hear that little bird sing

Little Bird Sing

Salthouse

A couple of new songs. First one was written in September there, the other one in October. All parts written, recorded, performed and mixed by Josh Healy.

Both tracks home recorded to 4 track cassette tape using a tascam portastudio 7, with some digital overdubs added later to both tracks.

Are You Listening

Tongue Tied

Prayer to the Year, a song from the forest, out midwinter, 21st December, online only.
Taken from Nightjar, my first solo album, out March on CD, available for pre-order from the website lizovers.com

Liz Overs: vox
Neill MacColl: marxophone, guitaret
Ben Nicholls: banjo, double bass
David Tomlins: acoustic guitar

December gigs:
7th December with Goblin Band, The Mint House, Pevensey
13th December In performance for The Folklore Society, London
21st December opening for The Copper Family, Hailsham

On instagram, twitter, bluesky @overslizzie, facebook @chalkhorsemusic

Prayer To The Year

Une Tristesse Briiliante

Andrew Lincoln

Written by Gon von Zola. Released on Before Sunrise on the 16th August 2024. Streaming everywhere.

Game Over!

A sunny and impressionistic song about yearning

Lizard In The Flowers

shauna Mc Ardle Music-Sequences

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.

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Listening Post: Batch 551

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