The Indie Scene

May it be artists you already know and love that are gearing up to release a much anticipated album, an artist you've yet to delve into but have heard plenty about, or an artist whom you have never heard of before, this list should - and hopefully will - be an accumulation of the sorts.  This past year has been, well, a shit one and it's only getting worse as 2021 gets into full flow. Throughout the dark, dreary and lonesome days of 2020 there has been one constant, and that is the music we have been treated to in light of such a devastating time. With some spectacular albums from many different artists, to comebacks, and to albums that provided us with some light-hearted entertainment, it leaves a lot for 2021 to live up to. With the recent dismissal of the arts from the Government (obviously, the Tories have never consumed a bit of media in their life and, when Matt Hancock said he listened to Grime , that was clearly nothing but a fabrication) and the recent Brexit revelatio...

Since I was first introduced to the rock outfit hailing from Swansea, I've been hooked on their incredibly good back catalogue so, naturally, I was pretty excited to hear they would be releasing a new song and a re-recording of an old favourite of mine.  'Rainbow Sands' is a step in the right direction, showing exactly why Taxi Rank are one of the most exciting young bands to come out of Wales since Stereophonics came to prominence. Not only is it a tangible, easily digestible alternative rock song, it goes hand in hand with the b-side: a re-recording of 'Handprint'.  The production level with the re-recordings and the brand new songs are impeccable; where you could perhaps notice tiny flaws beforehand with previous recordings, they've smoothed them over and showed their progression by giving 'Handprint' a crystal clear new spin.  It's not just the songs that are captivating, but the striking and vibrant artwork that goes along with it. However, thi...

After the release of their debut album ‘Dogrel’ last year, Dublin based indie rock band Fontaines D.C. had a lot of expectations to live up to with ‘A Hero’s Death,’ which they released on July 31st. Having studied at BIMM in Dublin, the five-piece band have gone on to achieve some incredible things, not to mention releasing two full-length albums and now being nominated for a Grammy (which, by the way, is quite a big deal, especially for these guys). First up is enigmatic and powerful ‘I Don’t Belong,’ that sets the mood for the rest of the album - it’s unforgiving, the statement they’re trying to display doesn’t struggle to be conceived. In my opinion, this is the perfect opener to the album and they couldn’t have chosen a better song to begin with. The music video to go along with it captures the dynamics of the song perfectly and leaves you wondering if there's anything this band can't do. Guaranteed, if you haven't already, this song will be stuck in your head by the e...

Taxi Rank are a four piece alternative rock band hailing from Swansea who first released their debut single back in March, which proved to be a huge hit and showed their audience what to expect from their new EP, ' The Butterfly Effect '. If you haven't already listened to their massive first single 'Pier' and their shockingly brilliant cover of King Krule's 'Dum Surfer,' then you're missing out on some seriously good tunes. The first song off their debut EP, titled 'The Only One,' may just be my favourite out of the five - however 'Monophobia' may just challenge it to the top spot in my opinion. As well as the electrifying guitar, the lyrics are intriguing to boot. With lines like "I switched all the lights off / To try and hide my face" capturing the audience alongside their impeccable layered instrumentals. Second up, the aptly titled Smoke & Mirrors starts off with Lukas Kelly's raw vocals alongside some asto...

Clearly a talented singer and all around musician, George Hennessy is a bright new talent on the Northampton music scene. His debut album, 'Whatever,' vocalises that with ease. The album starts with 'Walking On Sunshine' (not to be confused with Katrina & The Waves tune of the same name), a song that hits all the right notes in terms of an opener. An opener has to be special, memorable and set the tone for the rest of the album that follows. 'Walking On Sunshine' does this almost effortlessly. 'Weekend' depicts, well, a weekend with a fast beat and engaging lyrics - the chorus is catchy and will stay stuck in your head. 'Won't You Stay' shows a more vulnerable side to the album; a slow paced song that is perfect for when you want to sit back and relax. 'Will Never Care' is reminiscent of The Smiths' attitude; hazy guitar carrying the song as the last one on the 9 track album. 'Weather' has to be my favourite out ...