Into Music: New Albums July 2025
We focus on the long-players in this article, aka the good old 33″ RPM vinyl album and/or that new fangled Compact Disc technology (Ed – wait until he discovers streaming) and there are some beauties to tell you about. So sit down, read on and get on to these cracking bands.
Artist: Moon
Album: The Green Lilac Park
Label: Velvet Records
Featuring an illustrious cast of Liverpool legends, including Michael Dolan from Windmill and David Palmer from Mongoose, Windmill, Shack, Space (and involved with almost everyone from the Eric’s era).
Surprisingly, this navigates away from Liverpool’s post-punk past and into Liverpool’s ‘other’ sound – melodic, acoustic-led classic pop. It’s chock-full of nuggets that most other bands would kill for; top-tier sparkling pop songwriting with a slight undercurrent of dark melancholy. There’s a fine bit of extra class with the inclusion of contributions from the ever wonderful writer and poet, Jeff Young.
This debut album is a joy to behold, a psychedelic trip that you’ll want to play again and again and again. The Green Lilac Park by Moon is released on July 25th and is available via the Bandcamp link here.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Artist: Will Sergeant
Album: Weird As Fish
Label: AV8 Records
Entirely at the other end of the spectrum, this is a vinyl issue of the Echo and the Bunnymen guitarist’s extremely limited 1978 tape. On one level this is a remarkable ‘what if moment’ What if Will Sergeant had not formed Echo and the Bunnymen and continued along this path?
From this release there’s strong evidence that he’d be regarded as a highly accomplished experimental composer, or movie soundtrack superstar. This is post-punk musique concrète made with DIY ingenuity and it’s very, very fine indeed. But of course, as he did form the Bunnymen (to which we are forever indebted), this also gives a remarkable, deeper insight into what he brought to the band. Much of the tonality and soundscape that would elevate the Bunnymen above their peers has its DNA here.
The magic is how cinematic this is – not in a U2 widescreen sense but in a true sense, painting pictures with sound. It is dark and chaotic but has an aura of beauty. I could certainly see this is a companion or predecessor to the first Bunnymen album Crocodiles and I’d also love to hear further ‘what if’s’ for each of their albums as the mood, timbre and pictures change and expand with each release.
To order Weird As Fish by Will Sergeant, head to the AV8 Records website here.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Artist: SheBeat
Album: From Liverpool to Leith
Label: Last Night From Glasgow
Another excellent set of songs, this time from Liverpool’s Jodie White who, as the title suggests, now lives in Leith. A really compelling sound which mixes rock, shoegaze and indie, all underpinned with strong songwriting and lovely vocals.
Earlier single Rock and Roll Witch is thankfully included – as it is excellent – and has some superb on-point influences and references. A nod should also go to ex-Wendy’s Ian White’s production that gives this a wonderful set of dynamics. Highly recommended.
To order the SheBeat album From Liverpool to Leith, head to the LNFG website here.
Grant McPhee
@GrantMcPheeFilm
Links: