Neu The Neu Bulletin (Cliffords, Keo, mary in the junkyard and more!) 

We all have that one person that we just can’t help but hate, and Cork’s brightest new guitar band Cliffords tell this story masterfully through their soulful latest single ​‘My Favourite Monster’. Combining Iona Lynch’s softly syllabled yet soaring vocal, huge folk-rock choruses, and sumptuous trumpet details, it’s a track that weaves a universally relatable narrative across a backdrop that paints the true feeling of just really, really hating someone. It provides the perfect bridge to their eagerly anticipated ​‘Salt of the Lee’ EP, showcasing the powerful poise that has caused such buzz around the band. Calm yet cutting, fun yet frustrating, Cliffords sure know how to write an instant-classic tune. (Ciaran Picker) 

Coinciding with the announcement of their debut EP ​‘Siren’, the arrival of anthem-esque effort ​‘Thorn’ only serves to solidify the immense hype building around Keo. It’s similar fare to last month’s ​‘I Lied, Amber’; classic rock tendencies married with modern day emo, which equals a song that has longevity stamped all over it. Finn Keough’s melody is the standout here, as it plays with tonality and brashiness to unleash the track’s full emotional release. (Peter Martin) 

‘Drains’ is the latest in a string of mary in the junkyard singles which have seen the London trio re-establish their reputation as one of Britain’s most exciting new bands. Scuzzy guitar lines and driving 4/4 drum rhythms let Clari Freeman-Taylor’s endearingly languid vocals lull you into a false sense of security — then she screams, and you remember that this is mary in the junkyard, and you should have been paying attention. Huge, grimy, and deliciously disgusting, it’s another easy bullseye. (Ciaran Picker) 

Fresh from standout slots at The Great Escape and Dot to Dot, Nectar Woode is keeping the momentum high with the radiant ​‘LOSE’, the second single and title track from her upcoming EP. Penned during a trip to Ghana — her first time visiting her father’s homeland — it’s a slice of pure sunshine: vibrant rhythms, soul-soaked melodies and that signature dose of joy that’s fast becoming her calling card. Bursting with charisma, the British-Ghanain artist is on a roll, and ​‘LOSE’ is her most infectious move yet. (Gemma Cockrell) 

Ahead of their first headline set at Leeds’ beloved Brudenell this weekend, Bug Teeth return with ​‘Topiary’, which finds the band contending with grief over precise rhythms and pointed strings. Led by the ever-distinctive and dreamy vocals of frontperson PJ, this new single trims and tidies Bug Teeth’s already tight sound into something impossibly complex, each element of the instrumentation purposeful and poised. Distorted guitars rise up against an unrelenting synth line, while the addition of a cello brings a new gravitas to the band’s sound and underscores the beauty in PJ’s descriptors of life and death. ​‘Topiary’ contains all the hallmarks of a Bug Teeth track, but sees them newly refined, giving a shimmering look at what’s to come. (Elle Palmer)

With their new EP ​‘SIRENITY’ just weeks away, rising alt-pop force King Isis has now unveiled ​‘LATELY’, a slow-burning burst of catharsis co-produced with Bartees Strange. Starting in soft, confessional territory before erupting into a full-throated rejection of perfectionism, it’s a raw, emotionally charged moment from the California-born artist. Blending grunge textures with indie-pop instincts, ​‘LATELY’ digs deep and comes up fighting. (Gemma Cockrell) 

Following on gallantly from last year’s self-titled debut EP, maverick Stoke trio Formal Sppeedwear charge towards a weird kind of retro-future on latest single ​‘Wait (Hatchet Gets A New Hide)’. Proudly staking their sonic allegiances in that precious section in every record store marked something like ​‘Bowie/​Eno/​Roxy Music/​Talking Heads’, the track is a slinking, unctuous energy shot of new wave and mutant disco. With the most intricate mechanisms winding themselves deep into the music’s every crevice, it’s almost as if Formal Sppeedwear have secretly employed dozens of tiny robotic musicians to beep, click and whirr, with Swiss-watch levels of precision, at just the right moments. It’s as mesmerising as it is heroically fun — and no, auto-correct, I did NOT mean ​‘Speedwear’. (Elvis Thirlwell) 

Experimental to the core, the first offering from Portsmouth/​London quartet Web is a blistering definition of what post-punk can be. Inspired by the intensity and fear of the 10 o’clock news, they come in strong with alternating polyrhythmic drums and blistering minor guitar progressions, which are hauntingly contrasted by the eerie flute line that daintily floats above the chaos beneath. Web are a band that have to be seen to be believed, so go ahead and do so — if you’re ready. (Peter Martin) 

Elusive London trio Night Tapes are back with ​‘pacifico’, a dreamy new cut lifted from their just-announced debut album ​‘portals/​/​polarities’. Inspired by stories from a friend’s trip to San José del Pacífico, the track drifts through soft synths and hazy trip-hop beats, capturing a tangible sense of place with remarkable ease. It’s an atmospheric, slow-burning gem that showcases the band’s talent for turning memories and imagination into sound. (Gemma Cockrell) 

Birthed by Cardiff’s thriving music scene, MORN are the latest in a legendary line of bands to drop a single via cult label Speedy Wunderground — and, much like their Brixton-based forebears, they’ve delivered a masterclass in fantastical post-punk. With ​‘Modern Man’, they hone in on their originality with a versatile instrumental performance that shines with technicality, as well as an impressively catchy riff that will be bouncing round your head all week long. A band of siblings (two sets, to be exact), these Welsh teens are the antithesis to the ​‘twee family band’ archetype, and we await their next move with bated breath. (Peter Martin)

Tags: Neu, Neu Bulletin, Bug Teeth, Cliffords, Formal Sppeedwear, Keo, King Isis, Listen, mary in the junkyard, MORN, Nectar Woode, Night Tapes, Watch, Web