Charlie Ashcroft’s Musosoup Round-Up September 2023
Charlie Ashcroft: Presenter @amazingradio, DJ @SomebodyTM_Club. Also a @QPR fan, a @RecCollMag columnist + #Spotify Playlist curator with @music_gateway
Hope you’re keeping well! As ever, September flew by and I still have a longing sense of unfulfilled autumnal yearning within me. Despite that, here are ten recent discoveries which have lit up my world over the past month.…..….….
We’ll start with the psych-influenced brilliance of The Crystal Teardrop. ‘By The River’ is the Stoke-on-Trent outfit’s second official single, and provides a wonderful slab of 60s-leaning nostalgia. They have gigs in Manchester, Leek and Birmingham over the next few weeks!
It’s always a pleasure to have new music by Fond of Rudy. ‘22’ is a pulsating example of a band at the peak of their powers, with its infectious blend of shimmering guitars and synths.
Last month also saw another teaser get unleashed from the upcoming album by The Heavy North. ‘Give A Little Love’ is another riff-laden, soulful colossus, whetting the appetite superbly for their ‘Delta Shakedown’ LP release on 20th October.
On current form, Mimi Pretend never disappoints. She’s no stranger to this column! Her September release ‘God Damn’ is a beautiful, cinematic slow-burner, with shades of Mazzy Star and Alexandra Savior coming to the fore.
I was thrilled to discover The Alpines here on Musosoup a couple of weeks back too. Based in Salt Lake City, the duo have various influences across the spectrums of folk pop and indie rock. ‘Heading North’ is a glorious jam, complete with a suspense-filled breakdown halfway through and a pulsating, rousing conclusion.
Callow Cal is a talented Scottish songwriter with roots in Glasgow. ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’ is his latest slice of sunshine-soaked indie pop - I’ve been humming the refrain to this record repeatedly since first encountering it. Look forward to hearing more from him!
Over the Channel in France, we find Draumr. The alter ego of composer Gabriel Cheurfa, Draumr deals in hazy, melodic dream pop. A few ago back we were treated to new track ‘Slowly Burning Feelings’ and the results are stunning.
Back in the States, let’s bring you the latest release by AK Stella. ‘Bloodsucker’ is a crunching piece of hard-hitting alternative pop and, with half an eye on the end of this month, it’s perfect for any Halloween playlists you’re making.
Excellent post-punk collective Teleforme also returned in September with a fittingly dark, dystopian single called ‘Crisis’. It’s their first new material since they put out ‘Empty Faces’ back in May, and will appeal to fans of bands like Thus Love and The Murder Capital.
We round things off this month with a beautiful track named ‘Lucy’, composed by Thomas Bernard Howard. It’s a delicately-crafted ambient hymn which, despite its sense of poignancy, feels ready to soothe the soul and transport the listener towards a place of calm.