Neu The Neu Bulletin (Jim Legxacy, Chalk, piglet and more!)

With his latest single — and his debut with XL Recordings — Jim Legxacy sets the stage for his highly anticipated mixtape ​‘Black British Music (2024)’. A powerful fusion of modernity and nostalgia, ​‘aggressive’ draws on Chip’s iconic ​‘Oopsy Daisy’ sample, effortlessly blending melancholic dancehall beats with Jim’s emotive, melodic vocals. It’s a signature cut that highlights Jim’s ability to craft deeply personal yet universal anthems; his evolution as an artist is clear, with his vulnerability translating into the music with unmatched honesty. ​‘Black British Music (2024)’ is poised to be a reflection of Jim’s journey through South East London’s socio-political and musical landscape, blending R&B, grime, and emo. With his ever-expanding sound and unwavering commitment to truth, Jim Legxacy is shaping up to be one of the UK’s most essential voices in modern music. (Gemma Cockrell)

Belfast’s Chalk have been working hard at perfecting the fine art of pairing pulsating electro-synth patterns with rich, heavy beats and melancholy, doom-laden vocals. On their latest offering ​‘Tell Me’, that hard work pays off big-time. It’s a thrilling concoction, slamming into your ears with an initial jump scare and winningly ominous lyrics; you couldn’t get much darker than ​“Blood / Stained my sheets…” to set the scene. The track develops with compelling energy, shooting off in unsettling directions to become pulsating and danceable — without the lights on. There’s not a guitar in sight here, but that’s made up for with those pounding synths and, of all things, a harsh flute adding shrill ferocity. This is post-punk taken somewhere radical; you won’t be able to look away, and it will haunt your dreams. (Phil Taylor)

Irish songwriter and producer piglet is a vital voice within his community, using his music as an activist force for good. Dedicated to his late friend Frank (aka Trib), the title track of his upcoming EP ​‘for frank forever’ is an oscillating account of realisation, pain, and frustration, held within a wall of melodic electronics. There’s an apprehension that hangs within its lyricism, directed towards a social system that repeatedly fails marginalised groups, and this anger reaches its apex in the track’s poignant, chillingly anthemic climax: ​“So a chemical imbalance — really? / Not the pain that death leaves with the living? / I don’t believe it in the slightest / Every trans suicide is a murder when you think about it.” It’s enraged, expressive, and deeply personal — ​‘for frank forever’ shows piglet pushing forward despite socially-imposed barriers, advocating for those who demand to be seen. (Kayla Sandiford)

Holly Macve​’s world is one of knee-high socks, heart-shaped bathtubs, bouncing blonde curls and vintage birthday cakes — of a vaguely nostalgic, romantic kind of glamour. ​‘Almost A Miracle’, a track from her latest project ​‘Wonderland’, is drenched in that aesthetic, reminiscent of Mazzy Star and touched with shades of existentialism. ​“You say nothing lasts forever, not even the stars above the clouds,” Holly sings in honeyed vocals, floating above bending guitar strings and swaying drums. The overall effect is a cinematic lullaby fit for a Hollywood classic. (Caitlin Chatterton)

Understated, squeaking electric guitar brings the namesake grunge to this track, a new cut from West London’s TYSON. Her delicate vocals cut across this melancholy backdrop, taking stock of a relationship headed for the rocks, while the outro comes courtesy of a feature from Wu-Lu, eulogising the ​“massive mistake” of a doomed romance. Its accompanying video, meanwhile, is an up-close, distorted patchwork of TYSON and Wu-Lu’s own faces, stitched together with scenes of London and pop culture artefacts – including an unexpected, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Numberjacks cameo. (Caitlin Chatterton)

Plugging you directly into the mains until your limbs fizz into pogoing action, South London’s Hot Face return with their new single ​‘17 Day Migraine’. On this hair-raising concoction of lysergic, spunky garage-psychedelia, the trio pay tribute to an assortment of pioneering influences such as the 13th Floor Elevators and Wire, bristling with all the musty, seductive nostalgia of their forebears. Swaggering ruggedly into a smoky dive of fuzz laden vocals and riff-driven guitars, here Hot Face affirm their position as ones to keep your eye on, raising the figurative roof until the glassware rattles on the countertops. (Hazel Blacher)

Tags: Neu, Neu Bulletin, Chalk, Holly Macve, Hot Face, Jim Legxacy, Piglet, TYSON