New music guide The Neu Bulletin (Col3trane, Tender, Yoke Lore & more)

DIY’s essential, weekly guide to the best new music.

24th May 2017

Neu Bulletins are DIY’s guide to the best new music. They contain every single thing that’s been played at full volume in the office, whether that’s a small handful or a gazillion acts. Just depends how good the week’s been.

Alongside our weekly round-up of discoveries, there are also Neu Picks. These are the very best songs / bands to have caught our attention, and there’s a new one every weekday. Catch up with the most recent picks here.

Passion Pusher – Sauchiehall Street

Smashing together the slacker rock of Mac DeMarco with some delectable Scottish eccentricity, Passion Pusher (aka Edinburgh native James Gage) makes super short yet sweet bursts of sludge pop about everything from social isolation and mental health to pizza. He’s about to release his new album, ‘Aquarium’, in June, a collection of tunes that barely reach the three-minute mark but are still jam-packed with ramshackle charm and pop sensibilities.

James’ latest single ‘Sauchiehall Street’, written while he was working in a bar off the Glasgow high street, fully shows off his blend of rambling lyrics and scuzzy yet poppy riffs, all wrapped up into a succinct minute and a half. While the track may be about trying to avoid human interaction, after this burst of lo-fi goodness more contact with Passion Pusher seems essential. (Eugenie Johnson)

Col3trane - New Chain

Already a favourite of Dua Lipa, Jorja Smith and more, things are moving quickly for 18 year-old London newcomer Col3trane. Debut single ‘New Chain’, a collaboration with producer Lauren Ralph - many of Col3trane’s early demos saw him link up with friends and producers from London and Birmingham - quickly justifies the hype.

The first comparison that immediately jumps out is to Frank Ocean, and Col3trane’s vocals gain and lose pace with the same frightening accuracy as on much of ‘channel ORANGE’, making ‘New Chain’ an unpredictable listen, but one that’s nothing less than enthralling. (Will Richards)

Yoke Lore – Goodpain

Yoke Lore, better known as Brooklynite Adrian Galvin, grew up alongside his director mother and his father, an actor and sculptor. After dabbling in the art world and doing a spot of ballet, Adrian now makes vibrant, neo-psychedelic alt-pop in the vein of M83 and Animal Collective.

His latest single ‘GOODPAIN’ shimmers with reverberating synths and Galvin’s soaring vocals, tied together by fuzzy electronic beats. It’s sweeping and atmospheric with a charming lo-fi sheen; this one’s definitely good and not painful. (Eugenie Johnson)

Puma Blue - Soft Porn

OK, so South Londoner Puma Blue isn’t the Neu-est of the Neu, having already released superlative debut ‘Want Me’ earlier this year, but ‘Soft Porn’s hazy, sultry slow grooves are good enough to warrant a second slice of the pie. Two-and-a-half minutes of woozy beats and jazz inflections, it doesn’t bother with anything as trite as a chorus, instead unfurling slowly with all the warm languor of a post-coital cigarette. (Lisa Wright)

Tender - Nadir

Mysterious duo Tender specialise in marrying polarising elements. The tinny, traditional melody that opens newie ‘Nadir’ points at something to fill nightclubs, and the message is hammered home even more when joined by shuddering bass.

Lyrically, though, it paints a bleak picture to contrast with the bright, colour-drenched backing. I hate it when you touch me but I kept it under wraps / Get bored during foreplay and I think we’re getting fat,” they sign, with a defeated tone. “Tried to go the distance but we’re only wasting time / Who’re we kidding?” For a track so defined by dull, drawn-out heartbreak, ‘Nadir’ could well soundtrack parties as well as the loss of love. (Will Richards)

Tags: Col3trane, Listen, Features, Neu, Neu Bulletin