Crikey, summer is fast fading and here we are already in September, how did that happen? Well, fear not as we have some top tunes and artists to bring you so do read on and check them out, there are some belters here!
Artist: The Bluebells Single: No Pasaran! Label: Last Night From Glasgow
They say history repeats itself and that much is true. The worrying rise of right-wing parties and governments across Europe, the spread of mis/disinformation, the demonization of minorities and migrants and the rancid rhetoric spewed by fascists, racists and their ilk is hard to stomach. Solace however is often found in music and once again The Bluebells step up to the mark with their new single No Pasaran! The Glasgow band have never shied away from writing about political and world issues in the past with the likes of South Atlantic Way, their take on The Patriot Game and Beautiful Mess all lyrically biting.
No Pasaran! is a welcome addition and is the first track from their next album, This Is The Bluebells which is due for release 27 March 2026 on the Last Night From Glasgow label. The title comes from the Spanish anti-fascist slogan which translates as “they shall not pass”, and originates from the Republican forces who railed against Franco’s fascists in the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. Since then, the phrase has been used across the world as a symbol of resistance and defiance against fascism and far-right ideologies.
The track is written by band members Ken McCluskey and Campbell Owens and the lyrics capture the issues at play right now while the music is laden with subtle guitar hooks, harmonica and a rhythm section that is as tight as a glove. The music video features actual footage from 1937 when the International Brigadistas were captured at Jarama and held at Talavera de la Reina, including the Scottish political activist James Maley.
So here we are, history still repeating itself but The Bluebells have produced a song of protest that delivers hope and light when the world needs it most. No Pasaran!
The single is released on 26th September. More details on the new album can be obtained on the LNFG website here and details of forthcoming gigs by The Bluebells can be found via the band website here.
When Schiller wrote his eponymous poem, Ode To Joy in the summer of 1785, it’s not too far a stretch to think it could easily have been about Armstrong’s music and this album in particular. Irreverent, at times whimsical and always melodic, these are tunes to drink in, lose yourself and to remind us all that joy (and heartache) exist, there are good people out there and there is a reason to look forward.
The album contains two CDs, disc one covers tracks recorded during the period 2019 to 2024 while disc two goes as far back as the mid 1990s to the present day. There are forty-three songs in total and whether you are familiar with the artist or not, there is plenty going on and not a duff effort to be had which is testament to Armstrong aka Julian Pitt.
On balance, disc one is more polished, recorded on a 12 track digital recording machine whereas disc two was mainly recorded on a 4 track tape machine. Highlights include Sitting In My Own Backyard which is so achingly simplistic in its execution yet nonetheless leaves the listener enthralled at its musical beauty. You and I is perfect pop which dreams of California with its Laurel Canyon vibe while the melancholic piano intro to Maddison swiftly switches as the track diverts into a warm groover, the vocal delivery akin to peak Michael Head.
Emotions feature throughout and especially on the trio of A Feeling Called Lonely, The Wall Of Love and We Could Stay Friends. Pitt seems at the top of his game, at times a songwriting masterclass is in our midst. Elsewhere, there are more up tempo tunes to mix matters up and these stand easily side by side with those more longing tracks. Indeed, Future In The Present Tense sounds like a futuristic dancefloor filler that New Order would be proud to have written.
Disc two is more experimental, musical notes at times partly complete and fully fledged tracks are all in there. There are surprises, notably the gothic feel of Interlude 1: Spotlights, the unworldly dreamscape of Interlude 2: Synths and the scuzzy glam rocker I Like You Too Much. But it’s on tracks like Slow Down and Art Is On Quicksand where Armstrong returns to familiar territory, the latter a song that is as good as anything in his extensive back catalogue, turn on, tune in, drop out. Oh yes!
A sublime record that deserves a place in your collection. To order HandiCrafts, head to the Armstrong Bandcamp page here.
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Artist: Aug Stone Single: Rachel On The Rooftops
Aug Stone is a busy guy, a very busy guy. A writer, comedian and musician, he has packed a lot in and fortunately for you (and me) he is currently riding a musical wave following the release of his first solo single, Rachel On The Rooftops. Stone, from Connecticut has played in a number of bands in the past including H Bird and The Soft Close-Ups, has written the critically acclaimed novel The Ballad Of Buttery Cake Ass , the short story collection Sporting Moustaches, the Young Southpaw stories plus the memoir Nick Cave’s Bar. If that wasn’t enough, Stone has written extensively for a number of magazines (including The Quietus and Shindig!) and performed as a stand-up comedian and perhaps may still be ploughing that furrow exclusively if it wasn’t for the pandemic. That resulted in somewhat of a reset with the writing taking centre stage and music grabbing the attention once again.
Music is cathartic to Stone, kick-starting the day by playing guitar and the good vibes settle in which helps the creative juices. Early in January this year, Stone picked up his guitar and recalling a dream about an old friend, the genesis of Rachel On The Rooftops began to emerge. The descriptive notes of the lyrics lend an element to imagining the song in film or pictures, almost cinematic in texture and feel. Speaking of the track, Aug says “the song seemed to be a direct message from my subconscious telling me ‘you can do this on your own, you have what it takes and you need to’.
The track is a bold, ballsy belter. Steeped in indie rock and roll sensibilities, Stone provides a captivating vocal with the music dominated by fuzzy guitar and an enticing backing vocal by Rachel Love of The Dolly Mixtures which really does provide the cherry on top to elevate a great track to become an absolute earworm.
For more, head to the official website here and to order Rachel On The Rooftops head to the Bandcamp page here.
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Artist: The Sexual Objects Single: Here Come The Rubber Cops Label: Creeping Bent Organisation
Hot of the heels of a splendiferous show at the uber-cool Glas Goes Pop Festival a few weeks ago and with another sold out show at The Glad Cafe, it’s fair to say the long awaited return of The Sexual Objects has piqued interest far and wide and no wonder. A welcome single release in the shape of Here Comes The Rubber Cops cements their reputation on a track that offers much and delivers much more.
The hypnotic bass and drums intro is quickly joined by a yearning guitar that solidifies and brings everything together while the vocal is equally giddy, endearing and woozy. The added “la la las” on the outro tops it all off perfectly. With Davy Henderson (Fire Engines, Win) and Douglas MacIntyre (Port Sulphur, The Bluebells) in the band, the musicianship was always going to be tip top but the song has to stand on its own two feet and it does. It feels like glam-rock for the now, conceptualized in Berlin and played for the radicals in the best underground Prague clubs by the louche house band. That’s how I imagine it came together! Anyway, I defy anyone to listen to the track and then immediately not play it again – you simply can’t!
The track was produced by Boards of Canada and is taken from The Sexual Objects career compendium album, Orangutang which is out next week. To order, visit the LNFG shop here.
