February 2023 - best new alternative, punk and indie tracks

Eyes Open

Babe & The Devil

Making History

Why scream at people 
Just to let it all out
All the fighting and yelling 
What’s it all about
Kill em all
Rise and fall
It’s not your fault
Ego death kult
Always shit talking
What you on about
Try say nothing
Listen to what it’s about
Close your eyes baby
Let it all out
Sit in silence
And let it all out
Let it all out

PAWS

Ego Death Kult

Sydney indie rock three-piece Crystal Cities are back, this time with the title track and second single from their forthcoming 3rd LP, I Should Have Known That This Was War. The song reveals a more experimental approach to the band’s songwriting this time around, both in terms of instrumentation and arrangement. Geoff Rana’s first lyrics echo this sentiment of change also, “Hold my cigarette, yeah, I think I need a break from the same old song and dance”.

The synth pads underlying the track create a spacey, cosmic bed which instantly take the listener somewhere they’ve never been whilst listening to a Crystal Cities track. Rana delivers the verse vocals with swagger before the song opens up into a spacious and uplifting chorus. The track then takes a Bowie-esque turn, relaxing into an almost free-time bridge where a haunting theremin-sounding synth provides most of the harmonic support. 

"It is a song about the polarising experience of life; when the universe and all the things that encompass it seem to coalesce in such a way that life appears to be your ally, but then quickly turns and appears to become your enemy; when life seems to gracefully surrender to your will, but then in an instant throws everything it has at you. It’s about the unexpected wins and losses that life can deliver at any given moment. The song takes some unexpected twists and turns to reflect this sentiment."
⁣- Geoff Rana (vocals/guitar/keys)

Lead vocalist and guitarist/keyboardist Geoff Rana has been spending days on end in his self-made studio where he’s been writing, producing and engineering the band’s latest material.

While the band’s previous effort - their sophomore album Hold Me Close Hold Me Tight - was an exercise in hard-hitting alternative rock that could rattle a live audience, the band’s third LP, I Should Have Known That This Was War, feels more explorative and colourful (at least from the two singles released from the band thus far, the first being “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”). 

This new single happens to be the last Crystal Cities song previous drummer Daniel Conte performs on, with new drummer Neel Shukla taking over the drumming duties for the remainder of the tracks on the upcoming album.

Long-time Crystal Cities collaborator Paul Lani (David Bowie, Prince) was once again tapped to handle mixing and mastering duties for the recording.

SInce the band’s formation in 2016 they have released a highly praised EP - Who’s Gonna Save Us Now (2017) - and two critically acclaimed albums - Under The Cold Light of the Moon (2019) and Hold Me Close Hold Me Tight (2021). There is no scheduled release date for the band’s forthcoming third album. 

The band consists of Geoff Rana (lead vocals, guitar, keys), Jared King (Bass, backing vocals), and newest member, Neel Shukla (Drums).

I Should Have Known That This Was War

delirious

Christopher's Halo

Slogan

When You Say

I Want I Want I Want

Following the release of their highly playlisted success 'Like a Ghost',
Manchester's Saytr Play come back with the second single from their
anticipated EP this spring.

Crowded Room, written and self-produced by Fred Farrell and Callum
Hignett, is an indie-pop record set to please fans and newcomers alike.

The track mixes heart breaking lyrics which Farrell describes as 'an honest diary entry' about a 'classic case of self sabotage', with a refined 80s influence. 

Crowded Room is perfect for dancing with your friends and belting in the shower. A song to soundtrack this year.

Crowded Room (Radio Edit)

Berlin techno punks Data Animal go stark raving mad on their new single “Human Resource.”

There’s gold out there in them hills and on “Human Resource,” Data Animal stake a claim in this lawless austerity-stricken frontier armed to the teeth with serrated drum machine beats sharper than a bullwhip’s crack cut with acidic fuzzed-out power chords more electrifying than a tongue across the terminals of a 9v battery. It’s Data Animal’s world—we’re just trying to survive in it.
 
Catch Data Animal on the run in Berlin w/ APTBS on Feb 8 and on Feb 25 w/ The Brian Jonestown Massacre. East coast cyber freaks can jack into the program in NYC when Data Animal disrupts The New Colossus Festival March 8-12.
 
Implant “Human Resource” by Data Animal directly into your consciousness via streaming on February 28, 2023—only on Dedstrange

Data Animal - Human Resource

Leaving

Cast Away

Better Way To Think Of It

Discovering and sharing unsigned & small label indie gems (mostly) plus occasional bona fide classics

Post-punk, new wave, punk, garage, alternative rock, dream pop, electronica, reggae, world, psychedilia, folk, surf, blues and classic soul: if it has an indie vibe or beautiful vocals I'm there for it.

Reached limit for following, can't follow back but message me with new indie tracks you think I should listen to.

Making History

The Utopiates

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