Huw Stephens = Legend
Credit: image-Huw Stephens (Twitter, 2018); angel graphics: Anna T.
“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 every week. No, really- we’re obsessed. This is each track reviewed in the order it was played on Sunday night’s show. Stalkers, right?”
1. Celeste- Stop This Flame
Celeste is doing bits right now. For anyone who doesn’t know who Celeste is, you really should. Not necessarily because of her tracks, but because of her rising stardom; fresh off of winning the BBC Music's Sound of 2020. This new track’s got a cool retro feel in keeping with Celeste’s neo-soul vibes; the experience alone makes it worth a check out.
2. Weyland McKenzie- Navigation is a surprising entry onto the list, with the track currently only on 10k Spotify streams. But it deserves far more attention; he’s got a sick flow and is definitely one to watch.
3. Dead Celebrities - Easy Life is cool: their recent EP Junk Food in general is great; and is expected to be, given its their longest feature-length release since they were signed by Island Records in 2018. We’ve always loved the alternative group though, and we’re convinced front-man Murray Matravers is in fact, The Kook’s Luke Pritchard.
4. Lauren Hibberd - Bang Bang Bang is soooo 1999; but in absolutely the best way possible. The kinda track you expect Julia Styles to be driving to school in her car whilst listening to in 10 Things I Hate About You. For teenagers with angst. Loud and peppy at the same time? Like hearing colours. Lots of pink. Her better known track is Call Shotgun, which demonstrates Hibbert’s Marina and the Diamonds-eque tone, mixed with that of Joan Jett and The Blackhearts.
5. Walt Disco-Dancing Shoes.
What is this song? These guys surely get their inspiration from Dead Or Alive, right? Not for us but it’s definitely a track worth checking out if you’re into alternative indie; they’re doing bits in Scotland right now.
6. The Orielles- Space Samba (The Disco Volador Theme)- Funky. Earth Wind and Fire but Indie rock. Funky. Funky. Funky. Ohhh the reverb. We can see why BBC Introducing in Manchester loves them so much.
7. Natty Wylah- Feel U Right. Stop what you’re doing. Get your phone out. Go and STREAM THIS. What lovely ear candy to fall in love to.
8.9.10 Rosehip Teahouse (Huw Stephen’s guest)
I Meant What I Said. (BBC Music Introducing Session)- It’s a good song for a long night-time drive- easy to get lost in. But in any other context you might forget you heard it. Much prefer their cool track Small Sky-go stream that lovely tune on Spotify. It’s got a really lovely introspective feel to it and is highly emotionally-charged.
11. Fake Laugh –If You Don’t Wanna Know
This track is well-written and has some really cool guitar hooks in it. You think it’s gonna go the classic alternative indie way, but it’s got some stand-out moments of original out-of-genre production. Fake Laugh’s new album ‘Dining Alone’ is out March 13th.
12. Banshee-Talk Show
A bit shout-y. A bit angry. Not sure what’s going on. The melody itself is quite nice; very very indie and very angry. Did we say that already?
13. Yazmin Lacey-Not Today Mate
Damnnn, we’re loving her gorgeous tone. It’s jazzy R&B neo-soul goodness. Reminds us a bit of Lauryn Hill merged a little with the lulling tones of Shingai Shoniwa (Noisettes). Lacey’s playing Omeara on 6th February-you should totally check her out.
14. The Velvet Hands-Don’t Be Nice to Me
Peppy. The kind of track Warner Sync should definitely be giving to Simon Pegg for some form of a British comedy montage scene. It’s annoyingly catchy.
15. Skinny Pelembe-Dreaming is Dead Now.
The opening has a wicked hook. Eclectic stoner Vibes. This track is enchanting if not a little weird. But we can’t stop listening? It’s very George Harrison with Ravi Shankar 1970s, but mixed with robots. Dreaming sure ain’t dead-we’ll be having some odd ones tonight. We’re confused but, like, we like it?
16. The Snuts- Fatboy Slim
Bit cheesy, but there’s something in that, isn’t there. It has something ‘Let Me Entertain You’ by Robbie Williams about it whilst obviously being a song about Fatboy Slim-we think? We’re not sure. But no-one said that was a bad thing. After-all as one of the lyrics say ‘if you want that old school beat” you better get it from The Snuts. A little adage- we really like their recent Firepit session of Bruno Mars’ ‘When I Was Your Man’, it’s a tear-jerker. Brb just gonna go grab the tissues.
17. Brand New Friend- The Letter A.
The song gets catchier as you go along. If you want a good in-into this band; we suggest you check out their track ‘Girl’, going steady at 126k streams on good old Spotify-really reminds us of ‘Stacey’s Mom’; love the dynamic between both singers. We think their Spotify press shot is just adorable (the entire band are holding ice-creams; do you realise how cute that is?) It makes us nostalgic for our youth.
18. Snoopy-Outside
Now this is a real BBC Introducing track; picking out up-and-coming talent. This guy hasn’t even hit 1k streams yet; but he’s got so much potential to go somewhere. A rapper and singer doing Lo-Fi right. We suggest you check out his track ‘Stress’; catchy, relatable. Excited to see where he goes. Though with an adorable name like Snoopy, not sure there’s much room for wrong.
19. Jarki Monno-Coffee & Rain
Smooth. Oh so smooth. Smooth like jazz, distinctly modern though. Omg that guitar, that flow-yes indeed, mmhmm we’ll have us some of that. Help us get this track to 10k streams-share it, stream it, love it just like we do.
20. Mali Hayes (feat. LayFullstop) - Oceans
Honestly, a voice as sweet as Corinne Bailey-Rae. LayFullstop also has such a unique tone. For Neo-Soul lovers.
21. Matilda Mann (feat. Lucy Lu)- Nothing At All
It’s always the hidden gems that are the best, isn’t it? What a LOVELY duet. Such incredible chemistry. For all the daydreamers out there. Huw says “so good that”- WE AGREE HUW.
22. Joe By The Book -A Little For My Sake
Too soon to tell. We like it but it’ll be interesting to see it grow. We see a little Led Zeppelin (Black Dog) as an influence within this track, a bit of Tame Impala and a healthy dose of LSD. (Trust us, it gets trippy towards the end). It’s honestly it’s quite cool and is the Introducing record of the week in Yorkshire.
23. Lucia & The Best Boys- Good Girls Do Bad Things
The lyrics are the best part of this song.
24. Rachel Chinouriri - Adrenaline
BBC Introducing Track of the Week. This track was released nearly a year ago-it’s taken its sweet time to get to Introducing, but boy was it worth the wait. The VEVO vid has over 27k views. She’s only 19- how is she so talented. Okay, we’re going down the rabbit hole now. Firmly obsessed.
25. Clive Mercury -Apple N Henny
One of the only rap tracks on Introducing this week. Oh-such-a-fast-flow, catchy; worth a listen for any hip-hop and rap fans out there.
26. Working Men's Club -Teeth
What is this title? Teeth? That’s crazy. What. Teeth? Ok. This lot were named The Guardian’s ‘One to Watch’ recently in November. Their music is known to be political at times and they’ve got an bite to them (see what we did there?). They’re signed with Heavenly Records, as are a lot of the artists played this week on Huw Stephens-got that classic alt. indie madness about them. You might love it or your ears might be assaulted; but that says more about you than it does about them.
27. Caro- Fall Apart
We heard this track ‘Fall Apart’ when it was released and haven’t been able to stop repeating it since. They just have this addictive quality to their music, and this track in particular honestly is one you will repeat, like, a lot. We also love ‘Closet Lunatic’; it’s badass.
28. Home Counties -Redevelopment
EP on the way. Lots for your ears to get stuck into with this one. We’ll leave it at that.
29. Blackaby -Sweet Lemonade
Oh, this is so lovely and nostalgic. Like a trip to the 1970s where you will be greeted by Mama Cass and she will hold your hand and take you for an ice-lolly. Dreamy.
30. Khazali-Stories
Latest track from Slow Dance Records-catch it on Soundcloud. Calming, lulling; for the Bedroom Pop/Lo-Fi and even House lovers.
31. James Organ - Moral Panic
Not our cup of tea; but it might be yours. For Tech-House fans, he’s one to watch.
That’s it for now-catch us here again, next week.