Neu The Neu Bulletin (Folk Bitch Trio, For Nina, Nectar Woode and more!)

After an introduction so soft you’ll be checking your headphones, the first lyrics of ​‘Swallow’ emerge like dim lights from mist. Vocalist Holly Owens shows incredible restraint before opening up her chords as the song subtly shifts gears. In this follow-up to the in-your-face ​‘Hounds’, For Nina deploy their power with care and precision, exploring the boundaries of their post-rock sound and adding elements of soaring, rich shoegaze. Holly really lets go towards the end of the track, bringing to mind the sweeter side of Ellie Rowsell. With ​‘Swallow’, the Dublin trio have set themselves apart as a versatile and very exciting proposition. (Phil Taylor)

In the run-up to their debut album ​‘Now Would Be a Good Time’, Australian group Folk Bitch Trio have arrived with a scant representation of unrequited love on their stripped back second single, ​‘Moth Song’. It’s a thin and delicate lament, sewn together by a cloudy guitar melody as singer Gracie Sinclair breathes over the top. As she creeps through the song, her voice moves into a wail: ​“I’ll fall into an abyss when I reach the end of you”. Smothered in deep feeling and reflection, this song wraps its arms around you in a tight hold. (Sophie McVinnie)

Anglo-French artist Matt-Felix has been building a steady reputation with a sound drawn from his dual nationality heritage. His latest single, ​‘Wounded Little Soul,’ is a captivating cut with a genuine cinematic edge. The opening riff immediately sets the tone — dark and atmospheric — while his powerful vocals carry what is a propulsive track. Fans of ​’90s and ​’00s alternative rock should find plenty to like here, but with a slightly poppier sheen. It’s easy to picture this going down a storm at live shows, and it definitely whets our appetite for further releases. (Chris Connor) 

Nectar Woode​’s vocals have marked her out as the latest neo-soul star to emerge from the UK; her sunny sound has already drawn comparisons to fellow Brits Olivia Dean and Corinne Bailey Rae. Her latest single, ​‘Ama Said’ is another strong showcase; there are shades of trip-hop in the drumbeats that initially accompany the vocals, but it gradually integrates more of a pop feel, showing how Woode can shift between styles with ease. At under three minutes long she manages to cram a lot in — never overbearing, it once again really demonstrates the strength of her vocal range. (Chris Connor)

Jaunty and chaotic, Westside Cowboy​’s newest single is an explosive burst of raw rock’n’roll. Taking influence from country music’s vivid tale telling tradition, ​‘Alright Alright Alright’ shares the story of a cowboy on the road via layered slacker guitar screeches and trills of rolling drums, which bring to life the image of an outlaw on the run. Westside Cowboy marry a blend of sounds that really shout summer — perfect timing, really, given their Emerging Talent Competition-winning slot on Glastonbury’s Woodsies Stage is this weekend. (Millie Tempo) 

Cardiff quintet casual smart continue their rise with new single ​‘cranes’, a striking indie-rock ballad that captures the messy, earnest intensity of young love. Expanding on the lo-fi fragility of their earlier releases, ​‘cranes’ builds with graceful restraint before spilling into a full-blown emotional climax — a swirling, surging outro that marks their most ambitious effort to date. Still in their teens, the band have already carved out a space in the UK indie scene, and ​‘cranes’ is a powerful statement of what comes next: it’s a perfect collision of anti-folk honesty and bedroom-born ambition, delivered with a confidence well beyond their years. (Gemma Cockrell)

Like the thrilling sound of summer, Hartlepool-born foursome Champ are here with their breezy debut single ​‘Taste to Run’. It’s a bouncy, guitar-led track with all the serotonin of a feel-good seasonal anthem — certainly one for the ​‘sunny road trip’ playlist. Frontman Jonny Bee sings about his big-time dreams from his small-town life, while bandmates Will Hamilton, Tom Southeran and Luke Cowley jam along with a sense of undiluted optimism. One thing’s for sure, this track is made for festival season. (Sophie McVinnie)

Perfectly coinciding with a nationwide heatwave, this quartet’s newest release bathes in breezy sonic major chords backdropping a commentary on Luigi Mangioni and Trump. Here, Whitelands find expressing their concern for world events easiest when they have euphoric guitar riffs and fuzzy pedals to counteract the malaise, as the band expand on their lucious shoegaze sound. It’s the perfect tune to play in the park, but Whitelands work hard to make ​‘Heat of the Summer’ more than just a seasonal banger; it’s also a well-thought critique of the mad world we live in. (Peter Martin) 

After a hugely successful few years for Aussie indie outfit Royel Otis, they’ve now returned with a glimpse of their hotly anticipated sophomore album. ​‘car’ really picks up from where they left off with their last release; it has the same wry sense of humour often found in the duo’s work, but also shows a growing maturity to the group’s sound. With their second LP coming so soon after their debut, fans might feel it’s rushed, but on this evidence it promises to be another must-listen. (Chris Connor) 

Tags: Neu, Neu Bulletin, casual smart, Champ, Folk Bitch Trio, For Nina, Matt Felix, Nectar Woode, Westside Cowboy, Whitelands