NO BS, just decent tunes. This week's rotation spans pulsing electronic reworks, raw post-punk, hushed bedroom indie, sun-drenched chillwave, and top-tier UK underground hip-hop. Hit play on the playlist below and read our verdicts on why these five need to be in your heavy rotation right now.
1. Gigamesh, Elohim, Thomas Adagio – "Everything In Its Right Place"
Taking a sacred Radiohead classic and turning it into a pulsing, dancefloor-ready electronic cut is dangerous, but Gigamesh and crew absolutely pull it off. Hypnotic basslines and ethereal vocal layering breathe fresh, late-night dance energy into a masterpiece. I have this one On HEAVY repeat!
2. The Itch – "Space In The Cab"
I get 'Killer Instinct' inspired synths that give me a nice sense of nostalgia for the free cd I got with my super nintendo game. CSS style accompanying vocals keep you hooked in. Jagged, urgent, and dripping with attitude. This is angular post-punk that refuses to sit still, driven by a relentless rhythm section and sharp, biting lines that echo early dance-punk royalty.
3. Alice Costelloe – "How Can I"
A gorgeous, lo-fi indie stunner. Fuzzy bedroom guitars and hushed, confessional vocals make "How Can I" feel like an intimate secret shared in a smoky, dimly lit room. Beautifully understated songwriting. Reminds me of the intro to the theme of the tv show community but don't let that colour the track, it surpassess any association to such in such a gorgeous way. Great track!
4. Mild Orange – "Searching For"
New Zealand’s Mild Orange serve up the ultimate sun-drenched, chill-wave vibe. Built on shimmering, reverb-soaked guitars and a rhythm section that instantly lowers your blood pressure, it's pure audio escapism. The way the track develops is almost seemless and before you know it you're wrapped in layers of buttery instrumentation waiting for the crescendo!
5. Cult Of The Damned (feat. Black Josh, Lee Scott, King Grubb, Salar) – "SAPNIN"
The Cult of the Damned syndicate delivers absolute gold on "SAPNIN". Backed by a heavy, lo-fi grit loop, the track allows each artist to trade razor-sharp, nonchalant verses that define the pinnacle of modern UK underground hip-hop. I've been a long time personal fan of both Lee Scott and Black Josh so it's great to hear them both as sily smooth and as technically gifted as ever. Always nice to hear a shout out to the Wirral posse and Wallasey!!! I JUST WISH THEY'D PLAY LIVERPOOL!
