Stream: Buried Alive - Me Not You

Me Not You are a New York City outfit who dub themselves as ethereal garage pop. If you are wondering what that means, it means they combine dream pop melodies with layers of distortion and reverb. Can you imagine what Chvrches’ songs would sound like if they were played by The Jesus And Mary Chain? Then you are there…

…And ‘there’ is a pretty great place to be. Buried Alive is a sharp and brittle pop record that sounds like it’s being put under pressure. It’s a record seemingly about seeking solace through company, the sense that things may be going wrong but it will be okay if you are by my side. Describing the song, the band cryptically said:

”What lies ahead? And what came before? Are we nearing the end, or is this a new beginning? Either way, I want to be soothed, I want to be sung to sleep. I want you to stay by my side and hold my hand. Whatever's next, I want you with me."

Stream: Like I Used To - Julia Knight

Like I Used To is the second single from musician Julia Knight, who first appeared on the scene with her debut single Ghost Of You back in September 2016. Two years is a long time, but Knight chose to use that time to perfect her follow-up, focusing on every element of this new song.

The lead single to be lifted from her forthcoming EP Love Is A Hoax, Like I Used To is about being able to step back and view a relationship with perspective some time after it ended. It is about being able to miss certain elements of a relationship without actually wanting to be back in it.

The melody, percussion and soft keyboards here create an intoxicating atmosphere that blends with Knight’s vocal performance beautifully. Those vocals feel a little lost in sad introspection, and you can really hear the loss in the way she sings. The chorus manages to create the sense of moving on out of necessity - the little “Oh na na na na” vocal hook sounds almost sounds like a deliberate form of distraction from what Knight must be feeling.

Stream: Show You - Kasperg feat. Moli

Kaspberg is the alter ego of Finnish electronic music producer and DJ Kaspter Granroth. Here on Show You he creates a deep sounding piece of Garage & R&B influenced electronic music.

Show You is a tribute to feeling like you are in a good place when someone else is feeling negative about it. Rather than create further negativity, it’s about offering to help show people how you got there - provided they are willing to listen.

The subject gives the song a cool swagger that informs the confident vocals and effortless hooks. There is a nice slight looseness to this track, a slightly analogue sounding sloppiness that comes through in the easy swing of the rhythms and bass. Kasperg has managed to perfectly capture the easy feeling he wanted to convey.

Stream: Highschool - Pizzagirl

I’m caught up in a dream by the new track from Liverpool musician Pizzagirl, Highschool.

The hooks here are just breathless - this is pure 80s beauty, very reminiscent of Prefab Sprout or the soundtrack to a John Hughes movie. Earnest vocals and melancholic keys give this a sad and introspective feel that I love.

Real name Liam Brown, Highschool is the first track to be taken from Pizzagirl's forthcoming sophomore EP Season 2, due in November through Heist or Hit.

Stream: Weather - Ralph

Weather is the latest track from Toronto pop star Ralph, and it’s another lovely record that feels both modern and timeless.

Blending soft chords and gentle vocals, Weather paints a picture of someone who is lost in the uncertainty of a relationship that is still in its early days. Sometimes it’s hard to know whether a connection will endure and outlive its initial environmental triggers… The summer sun may make love burn hot, but will it still be warm as winter sets in.

Appropriately, Ralph’s debut album is due this Autumn. Check out Weather below, and look out for her on tour over the next few months - you can find tour dates at the bottom of this post.