The mid 90s Brit pop revival lives on in Lapels new single The Life and Times. The slow build of this arrangement brings cinematic appeal. On the outset it’s a bare acoustic novella, but as it progresses every movement brings a new iteration on the rhythmic idea to grab you. The deal is paid in full with the mid song introduction of a vibrant head-turning guitar lead. The textured distorted guitar lead is the one detail pulled from the modern indie palette, recalling furious sonic guitar tones employed by bands like War On Drugs. Tonally, everything else is vintage 90s Brit, but with more energy akin to The Hives and the Vines.
Just three years removed from their debut, Lapels has all the youthfulness and energy of a group still enjoying their grace period. Their joy shines through the record, with sharp execution Lapels are completely in sync. Backed by true rock purveyors Marquee Records, they aim to reclaim some of Rocks lost glory, wrapping this fun arrangement in Brit Pop nostalgia.
Lapels also released a music video to promote the single. Featuring the group wandering the city and jamming out in a local park, aesthetically it displays their awareness of this place and its treasured history. They’ve got the secondary school style to match their whimsical charm, as if they’re just discovering this sound for the first time and have immersed themselves in it. That genuine innocence keeps things fun and fresh, as Lapels display a natural penchant for catchy melodies and sweet licks while keeping it fun. They’re just happy to be in the mix, it’s their secret weapon.
Enjoy The Life and Times now on our Best New Rock playlist.
Gideon Foster caught our attention with his new single Fatal Kiss. Embracing indie rocks post punk roots, Foster’s emotive single sways with black leather swagger and velvet city aesthetic.
“I know what you’re thinking, a black cat crossed my room,” Gideon admits. He cleverly references a culmination of inspiration and influence. Bowie and the Velvet Underground first conceived this vibe before it was adopted by 80s post punk romantics like The Cure. Foster tweaks it with a bit of Billy Idol’s proto-punk rebel edge and a variation on the Iggy Pop inspired croon. Gideon updates this classic sound with the indie sensibility of Arcade Fire and The National. He litters timely adlibs and subtle harmonies around the main vocal, utilizing every inch of the stereo offering to lift this cinematic vibe.
The genius of Fatal Kiss is really in its minimalist design, as Foster’s calculated guitar voicing’s create dreamy atmospheres above a driving bass. The thoughtful guitar work, dirty tones played carefully to accentuate the natural harmonious overtones, recalls the guitar ingenuity of underrated icons the Replacements.
Gideon Foster has been prolifically releasing singles for the last four years. Fatal Kiss might be his best yet. Hear it now on our Best New Rock playlist.
Madrid rockers Edgar Allan Hoes get a lot off their chest with their new single hate this city. They combine everything they love in one compact package, and they do it elegantly. Punk rock drums meet shoe gaze guitars with and indie emo vocal mix to bring it full circle. Layered chorus heavy guitars contrast the phase distorted tones underneath, as EAH recalls the trademark dreamy fuzz known to shoe gaze pioneers My Bloody Valentine. The double hi hat pop and drop drum pattern is rooted in punk, but also appears regularly in indie rocks first movement, when bands like TV On The Radio and Bloc Party employed it regularly.
The dry vocal mix recalls breakthrough emo band Thursday, but more measured in the vein of indie pioneers Doves. EAH hits all these marks and more, as their influences shine through their sound without becoming derivative. You can hear where some of this might have came from, but there’s no doubt this sound is entirely theirs.
The new single was born out of a break up. It’s got teenage angst mixed with melodic appeal that made emo undeniable. They tweak it with a proper fuzz tone update, ready to push emo’s slacker approach to new sonic heights. From here they leave room to evolve in magnificent ways. Fans can get caught in both their sonic appeal or the raw draw of the bare honest vocal. It’s an intriguing alternative to the over produced vocal mixes in rock today. With only 3 singles to their name, the future looks promising for Edgar Allan Hoes.
Check out hate this city now on our Best New Rock playlist.
Francis James “Memphis” Stone is the real thing. Artists like The Black Keys and Jack White aim to capture the essence that runs through Stone’s veins. Originally from LA, Stone cut his teeth in Detroit Rock City. Just a student in an era of decadence, little did he know rock and soul were in their final movement.
James was a follower of the stalwarts of Rock, legends who took Stone under their wing and showed him a version of the music industry that now only exists in theaters and biographies. Some 40 years later Memphis Stone remerges, resurrecting his 90s band The Elevators and injecting authenticity into this new era of blues rock.
It was a chance meeting in a country pub with bass player Tom (Weaver) and session drummer Lenny (Bonetti) in late 2019, that encouraged the legendary singer back out of retirement. Fans of Gary Clark Jr’s Bright Light phase will enjoy how Stone’s new single Serious injects soul and blues into a catchy 60s pop arrangement. The raging guitar solo recalls the sweet sustained tones of vintage Slash, performed smooth and effortlessly.
Stone and his band have picked up a few tricks in the decades since he first sang support vocal with some of Rocks greats. Now the legend returns to reclaim his rightful positions as soul rock’s keynote singer. Enjoy Serious now on our Best New Rock playlist.
The Wild Is Calling 