Huw Stephens=Legend (2nd Feb)
By Tania C
“We love Huw Stephens and his team here at Run That Again. So much so that his tracks from BBC Introducing are all personally reviewed here. No, really- we’re obsessed. This is each track reviewed in the order it was played on Sunday night’s show. Stalkers, right?”
1 Sea girls – Ready for more
This indie band, formed in 2015, usually impress. But for us, this track, cruising nicely at 415,000 streams since its recent release, doesn’t have the memorable tune that their other tracks do (See ‘All I Want to Say’). But you know what, maybe the track is a grower?
2 Orchards-Sincerely Overwhelmed
Clash says behind their “whip-smart math-pop” is “a complex rhythmic engine”-that may well be true- but for us, this band is peppy and fun. There’s a cool sample of a telephone ringing in it -like something from a Blondie track- and this made us smile. Check out their track ‘Peggy’. We’re a fan of their lyrical energy.
3 Hak Baker - Venezuala Riddim
We love Hak Baker here at RTA; he’s a rising star and a wicked artist; this track has got a fast flow to it which honestly makes it such soothing ear candy, with its jazzy infusions. He’s playing The Roundhouse on 4th March-check it out.
4 Joey Maxwell- Fresh Air
Yep. Instantly hooked. The lyrics are great and it’s got hooks left right and centre-it’s even unexpectedly jazzy in places. Why is it always the people you’ve never heard of that turn your head? He’s got a brand new EP. One to watch.
139 Likes, 5 Comments - joey maxwell (@joeymaxwell_) on Instagram: "yo natureland is out now, make ur way thru it ! this ep means a lot to me, i hope it can mean..."
5 Dry Cleaning - Spoils (Eurosonic 2020)
Huw played their track, recorded live at Eurosonic. Edgy. This song shouldn’t be good but it is? A four-piece South London post-punk and new wave pop band. Check them out.
6 Brooke Bentham -Control
She’s got a lulling tone to her voice. Reminds us of Woodstock a little. She’s on a host of Spotify playlists from All New Indie to New Alternative with her track ‘Oliver’ hitting over 2 million streams. Championed by Introducing in the North East.
7 Westerman -Blue Comanche
Gotye vibes. Remember Gotye? This guy is championed by Introducing, though not sure he needs it with 317,000 Spotify monthly listeners…
8 Sega Bodega -Salv Goes To Hollywood
This is a head spin. Think robots. Think the future. Think the past. Think it all.
9 Be Charlotte- Rumours Don't Work
Soft pop. A lovely tone to her voice, a great range and some fab lyric work. Pretty great songwriter, it’s hard to imagine she’s just in her early twenties. She’s championed by BBC Introducing in Scotland.
10 Blossoms -Adore You (Radio 1 Live Lounge, 30th January 2020)
They played this lovely Harry Styles cover last Thursday on Radio 1-but they threw in a bit of Fleetwood Mac-what a lovely surprise! As Huw said “cheeky little Blossoms”, are great live. They’re on track for a 2nd UK Number 1 album. Check out Fooling Loving Spaces, released 31st January.
11 Ghum -California
This band hail from Brazil, Spain and London; singing in various languages with a really cool grunge, cold wave and post punk feel. It’s a bit gothic and angry.
12 Porridge Radio –Sweet
Dana Margolin has a really cool vocal tone but this track is a bit noisy. Like, noisy. But you might love it-it’s for the post-punk lovers out there. Rock’n roll. Although, Huw thinks their ‘really really special’ so we’re happy to reconsider.
13 -Rosehip Teahouse Summer Sleep (BBC Music Introducing Session, 11 Dec 2019)
Check last week’s review for our views on Rosehip Teahouse. Gorgeous voice. Gorgeous song. Great band.
14 Bad Sounds –Permanent
These two are brothers, which makes sense given their musical chemistry. Cool retro production vibes; relatable lyrics, easy listening. They’re playing Lafayette, London on 12th May.
15 Ragz Originale -4am (feat. ELIZA)
Ragz Originale is from London; he produced a lot of the Skepta tracks including Shutdown. That’s a mad find. The song is for late night drives with your mates after a big night out. It’s chill R&B/ Pop. For us, ELIZA makes this track-her voice is a neo soul joy to listen to.
16 Leif Erikson -Question Time
A five-piece band whose lead singer Sam Johnston deals in writing “socially conscious lyrics”-there’s a subtle danger to the track, which is infused with a Tame Impala feel to it.
17 -The Magic Lantern -Family Affair
This feels like something lovely out of the 1970s. Can make you cry without realising why. Jamie Doe (The Magic Lantern) is an artist “dedicated to remedying the anxiety and fear present in everyone”. Isn’t that just lovely!
18 Max Rad -Flesh and Blood (BBC Music Introducing Session, 1st December 2019)
Catchy song. Written performed and produced by Max Rad; betraying some incredible skill. Side note: this guy has some cool cover art. Beautiful performance.
19 Barny Fletcher -Bozo (BBC Music Introducing Session, 1st December 2019)
Hard to think this was recorded live-feels like the original track itself. Cool production, cool flow, great beat.
20 Talk More- Vaara
Lovely voice. Classic BBC Introducing band-having only released their first tracks in 2019.
Only criticism is the production, which leads to an uncomfortable clash of sounds in certain select places. But that doesn’t detract too much from the song itself, which is lovely.
21 Poppy Ajudha -Low Ride (Winter Jazz, New York, 2020)
Championed by Introducing in London. Gorgeous, absolutely easy listening with a slight hint of Amy Winehouse peeking through. The RTA team had a good old dance to this-you should to.
22 Sorry -Mash Up Right Round The Clock / Mad World (Radio 1 Session, 28 Jan 2020)
BBC Radio 1 track of the week is by this band. A sick mash up of Mad World mixed with Right Round. A wonderful madness.
23 Cosima- Who Do You Love
A very unique voice and a catchy ballad-feel. She has a couple of tracks cruising around the 700,000 stream mark-check out ‘Hear From You’ and ‘Dreams’.
24 The 1975 -Me & You Together Song (Radio 1 Session, 16 Jan 2020)
Played for Annie Mac recently in Hottest Record Live- they launched the track on the show. The track is classic 1975 goodness.
25 Sinéad O'Brien -Roman Ruins (Eurosonic 2020)
Played live at Eurosonic. Dark tones. A bit crazy. A bit Adam and the Antsy in the vocal flips she does. You can tell she’s a poet in the strength of her performance.
26 Jetta- Livin’
She sings, writes and produces all her own material and has an RIAA Gold Disc to her name. With 620,000 odd monthly listeners and over 100, 000,000 streams-why wouldn’t you check out her cool brand of electronic?
27 -Sharna Bass –Nobody
For classic R&B fans. She’s been championed by BBC Asian Network. She’s collaborated with Clean Bandit at just 13 years old, and is still churning out great tracks in her early twenties. Worth a listen.
28 Nayana IZ -How We Do
Very cool. M.I.A vibes.
29 Sfven –Flowerbeds
Cruising nicely at 100,000 streams, championed by Introducing East Midlands.
30 Lizards -Plastic Dream
A band from the West Midlands. The production in this track is really cool and gives a desert feel to it-you can see why they’re called Lizards.
30 Mathilda Homer -Too Much
Just a lovely track. G O R G E O U S vocals.
31 Inwards – Flowers
Experimental electronic dance music. Not our thing, but might be yours.
And that’s all from us, join us next time for Huw Stephens=Legend.