Any artist is welcome to send us a track via freshonthenet.co.uk anytime between Monday lunchtime and Wednesday evening (or when we receive 200 submissions, whichever is sooner) - and all our moderators, including Tom Robinson, will listen to every track. This is our full inbox from the week beginning Mon 13th March 2023: from Friday afternoon you'll be able to hear our shortlist and pick your favourites on this week's Listening Post which will appear at freshonthenet.co.uk/batch481

If a track you submitted does not appear in this list, it’s probably because another of your tracks appeared in our Fresh Faves or on the BBC Music Introducing Mixtape during the last three months — we ask that artists featured on either wait three months before resubmitting to give others a chance. 

We also don’t accept short previews or SoundCloud Go tracks that can only be heard as 30 second previews, and tracks made private after submission, which cannot be included in playlists. You will be able to resubmit the track in future. Tracks (and remixes of tracks) that have been previously submitted, and tracks from banned artists will also be removed.

ENTIRE INBOX: Batch 481

Jamaica - Kama Ipo Ipo (What's Yours Is Yours) - (DJ Firmeza Remix)

Sometimes we all find it hard to hold on to people we love for whatever reason and never show our true feelings when it comes to it. This one is a song for anyone you love, tell them you need them.....

I Need

A Perfect Dream

Only Girl in the World

Only Girl In The World (feat. Eva Layne)

Self Portrait

Star Catalogue

Nerve Agency

Recorded and produced by Marten Hurley in Salford, England, and Matthew Boswell in Cardiff, Wales.

Available on limited edition cassette tape and digital download from Ramber Records (RAM_024): https://ramberrecords.com/releases/ram024-emperor-zero-nights-of-the-hunter-ep

Photography © Philip Andrew Hunter, 2013
Music © Emperor Zero, 2023

Absalom

Level Sedentary is a song about staying in. In stark contrast to the previous single, Dry Ice (released Nov 2022)which was all about going out, vocalist and songwriter Kel says this contradiction sums up her personality perfectly:

“I think people assume I am an always-on extrovert but sometimes, the last thing I want is to move from a prone position, never mind actually speak to anyone. Level Sedentary is about those days when, for whatever reason, you are just saying ‘no’. I got the name from a fitness tracking app, which seemed to delight in ridiculing me for my off days. Telling me the ‘level’ I had achieved was ‘sedentary’ as opposed to ‘active’ or ‘highly active’ or ‘performative fitness influencer’ or whatever. 

“I also heard John Cooper Clarke say something like, you need two things to be a writer, a pen and idleness. I want to celebrate idleness in this song although it does have an undercurrent of poor mental health too. I suppose you need a pinch of that to be a good writer, which is why I reference some famously depressed writers as well as fictional characters in the outro: 

‘I’m Vonnegut, I’m Plath, I’m Proust, I’m Bonnie Grape, I’m Charlie Brown’”

The second single released from The Empty Page’s upcoming second album was again produced by Morton Kong who is on the tools for the whole new LP. The track was recorded within the chaos of Kong’s vintage gear wonderland: Eve Studios, Stockport.

Guitarist and songwriter Giz tells us about the recording process: “Level Sedentary is another track we took apart and put back together in the studio. There are loads of pianos at Eve, and Kel started banging out doomy, droney chords on them, it sounded great as another layer to add to the track. 

“The original guitar ideas were inspired by 90’s alt and college rock bands like Pavement, Sonic Youth and The Flaming Lips. We were going for a bit of a post punk Gang of Four type vibe although I think the recording has turned out more cinematic and art rock sounding. The middle section or ‘freak storm’ as Kong called it is a really important part of the track for us, everything descends into chaos for a while, it’s uncomfortable, manic and noisy. 

“Working with Morton has encouraged us to play around with ideas we might not have gone for before, we’re not just a band tracking simple songs, we’re taking time to play with our ideas more. It’s been a lot of fun.”

————————

Background info for editors:

The Empty Page’s debut album Unfolding was recorded with Gggarth Richardson (RATM/Biffy Clyro/Skunk Anansie) in Vancouver Canada and gained them a dedicated fanbase. 

The band released three 7-inch singles in 2019 including the breakout track When The Cloud Explodes. WTCE was spun by multiple DJs on BBC 6 Music, chosen by Chvrches singer Lauren Mayberry from the BBC Introducing archives for airplay on BBC Radio 1 and stayed near the top of Spotify’s Punk List for months. 

Level Sedentary Ice is the second single to be released from The Empty Page’s second album due out in 2023.

Socials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify

The band is available for interviews/features for this single and in advance of the album.

——————

Praise for ‘Dry Ice’:

“Fizzing with energy, not to mention a fantastic earworm of a chorus." A Model Of Control

“Nothing short of a triumphant return” Vanadian Avenue

“It’s pop music but fuelled on MD2020 and pheromones.” 3 Songs and Out

“Sinuous bass bounds, pummeling drums and a cavalcade of riffs and synths. Spasming on singer Kel’s visceral crescendos” God Is In The TV Zine (tracks of the week)

“Buzzily scuzzed and riot grrling post punk” Screaming For Years

“‘A mind-blowing, post punk, fuzz rock explosion” Last Day Deaf

Current band references: Dry Cleaning, LIFE, Squid, Phoebe Bridgers, Remember Sports, The Lovely Eggs, Billy Nomates

Older band refs: Pavement, Dinosaur Jr, Manic Street Preachers, Sonic Youth, Pixies, Blood Red Shoes, Peaches

Level Sedentary

The Empty Page - Level Sedentary

Sour

Ride This Train Out Now
Listen: https://acanthalang.os.fan

Written by Acantha Lang & Bradley Kohn

FOLLOW ACANTHA LANG
► Follow on Spotify  http://open.spotify.com/artist/6WrjOt...
► Instagram: https://bit.ly/AcanthaLangInstagram
► TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@acanthalang
► Facebook: https://bit.ly/AcanthaLangFacebook
► Twitter: https://bit.ly/AcanthaLangTwitter
► Sign up for updates: https://os.fan/acanthalang/SignUp

{Lyrics}
Mmmmm, mmmmm
Yeah
Come on now

Got my ticket 
I’m on my way
I know today’s gonna be a good day
I close my eyes
A smile on my face
Something’s telling me don’t be late 
Ooo, my dreams are waiting
Ah, they waiting on me
I know the time has come
It’s gon’ be so sweet
I’m tired of all the talk
I’m tired of standing still
Mmm, it’s a time for me to live, yeah

I’m gonna ride this train all the way to the end 
I’m gonna ride this train all the way to the end 
I’m gonna ride this train all the way to the end
And when it stops
Yeah, yeah, I’m gon’ start all over again, yeah
I’m gon’ start all over again

Don’t need no money
Oh, this ride’s for free
Stop wasting time and come along with me
Ooo, we’re going somewhere
We’ve never been
There’s a ﬁre burning deep within

I said a don’t you wanna go somewhere
I said a don’t you wanna do something
Oh, I said a don’t you wanna go somewhere
Ooo, I said a don’t you wanna do something
Yeah!

We’re gonna ride this train all the way to the end 
We’re gonna ride this train all the way to the end 
We’re gonna ride this train all the way to the end 
And when it stops, ooo
Oh, I’m gon’ start all over again 
Yeah, yeah

Oh, we’re gonna ride this train, ride this train
Yeah, yeah 
(We’re gonna ride this train all the way to the end)
Come on with me, we’re gonna ride this train
(We’re gonna ride this train all the way to the end)
Yeah, all the way to the end, yeah
(We’re gonna ride this train all the way to the end)
(We’re gonna ride this train all the way to the end)
We’re gonna ride this train and when it stops
Oh! We’re gonna start all over again and again and again
(We’re gonna ride this train all the way to the end)
We’re gonna ride this train
(We’re gonna ride this train all the way to the end)
All the way to the end, oh yeah
(We’re gonna ride this train all the way to the end)
Oh oh, and when it stops
Oh! We’re gonna start all over again

Ride This Train

Ride This Train (Single Version)

Recorded at the Courtyard Studio, produced by Ian Davenport, master Emily Lazar at the Lodge studio

Hamelin Lullaby

Tom Bright got off to a bang in 2023. By the end of January, he'd already performed to a sold out Shepherd's Bush Empire, Celtic Connections festival, toured the UK with Ed Cosens (Reverend & The Makers) and been live in session on Radio X.

Friday 10th March sees him unleash his second single of the year, 'Somewhere Anywhere', produced by long-standing collaborator Ed Harcourt. It tells the tale of a gambling addict trying desperately to change his ways to win back his partner’s love. To mark the release, he’ll be headlining John Kennedy’s night The Remedy at Signature Brew in Haggerston on Thursday 16th March. 
 
Since the release of his much-lauded second album ‘Legacy’ back in 2021, Bright has toured relentlessly, supporting the likes of Declan O’Rourke, William Prince, Richard Walters & Callaghan, and performing at Glastonbury Festival & Secret Garden Party along the way. 

In a career that’s seen him work with the likes of Mick Jones (The Clash) and Matt Johnson (The The), he can be found in Spotify’s Most Beautiful Songs in the World playlist and counts Guy Garvey (BBC 6 Music), John Kennedy (Radio X), Gary Crowley (BBC Radio London), Dean Jackson (BBC Introducing) and Lilian Smith (RTÉ Radio 1) as supporters.

“THE EXCELLENT TOM BRIGHT” - GUY GARVEY (BBC 6 MUSIC)
“ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. HE ALWAYS DELIVERS!” - JOHN KENNEDY (RADIO X)
“A STAR IN THE MAKING” - DEAN JACKSON (BBC INTRODUCING)
“UNMISTAKABLE” - GARY CROWLEY (BBC LONDON)
“A FEARLESS ACOUSTIC TROUBADOUR WITH A VOICE LIKE SANDPAPER AND A HEART LIKE GOLD” – LOUDER THAN WAR

Somewhere, Anywhere

Tom Bright Somewhere Anywhere

Outrageous Love is Mary's first release for 2023. Written by Amy Berry and Mary, between 2 countries, 11,000 km apart, from hearts seeking to learn to love & to love well, singing that Love seeks out not only a few good and elite, but even the messiest of us, whatever state of heart, mind & soul we are in. Hope this song brings out the best of 2 cultures, & the message of outrageous, unconditional Love.

Outrageous Love

Alien Grace

Alright

Faint Line - Cherish

Chasing Rainbows

People You Love

The Fight Machine

Fight Machine

Winter - from the new album POLARCHORAL by GRICE
Album Release date: 4th November 2022

As Winter descends...'look to the spring'
A song of renewal and hope - from the darkest hour just before the dawn.

'an artist of rare refinement - an album of exquisite beauty' - PROG magazine

Grice: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, sonics.
Robert Brian: Drums. 
Al Swainger: Double Bass. 
Alan Burton: Jillian pipes
Luca Calabrese: Trumpet
Jack Lawrence: Autoharp

Grice Peters (GRICE) is a British Art Rock musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer from South London and currently based in the Southwest of England.

Website: www.gricemusic.co.uk 
Bandcamp: https://grice.bandcamp.com/album/polarchoral
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gricemusic
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/gricemusic/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gricemusic
Youtube: www.youtube.com/gricemusic

POLARCHORAL

Winter

Winter (Radio Edit)

Mind the gaps, don’t fall through cracks and leave all stones unturned.
There’s truth in lies, you won’t always get what you have earned.
Wandering in the wilderness will get you nowhere slow
if you have no place to go.
This isn’t how it is, this isn’t what we do.
The laws of gravity push down on your youth
and for every bad hangover there’s another sober thought.
Love can’t be taught.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Space and time make children of us all.
The universe holds each of us both big and very small.
From up above we look like love, lonely and so blue
and almost true
with action and purpose, subtlety and poise
but when decency fails, honesty annoys.
When only trivia prevails after all is said and gone 
truth hangs on.

High Street Ruminations

Overcoming Adversity

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.

ENTIRE INBOX: Batch 481

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