Neu Bulletin The Neu Bulletin (joan, MICHELLE, Eades and more!)

Arkansas duo joan are back, equipped with a snazzy new signing to Photo Finish Records, and a brand new pop bop. Channelling 90s-esque boy band vibes, ‘Love Me Better’ is a euphoric ode to calling out your shitty S.O. “I love you, but, right now you suck,” the duo - made up of Alan Benjamin Thomas and Steven Rutherford - sing over the R&B-flecked backing. If you’re looking for the 2020 version of N*SYNC’s ‘Bye, Bye, Bye’, joan have got you covered.

NYC collective MICHELLE first released ‘The Bottom’ back in 2018 as part of debut LP ‘Heatwave’, but it seems fitting that the track’s low-slung summer grooves are now getting a second shot courtesy of their recent signing to Transgressive. Bringing to mind the joyful sparkle of late-’00s faves Black Kids, but packaged in a cooler, more refined and restrained package, there are nods to the shimmering synths of that time or, edging closer to the present, an eclectic, albeit distinctly less grating Superorganism. But really, it doesn’t matter what scene or sub-era MICHELLE remind you of; on this early taste, they’ve distilled the feeling of carefree sunshine-filled youth into three-and-a-half minutes, and for that – as we sit inside and stare wistfully at the world - we must be grateful.

Made up of half the members of Far Caspian, Leeds five-piece Eades have shared their bubbly new cut ‘Same Guy’. Inspired by the precise sounds of Talking Heads and Velvet Underground, as well as an unexpected intrigue for Bollywood music, the coming-of-age track reimagines that NYC-vibe with a disco twist, layering fuzzy guitars and New Wave hooks backed by the group’s sunny self-production. A perfect one to enjoy while cracking a cold one open this weekend while midway through your fourth existential-crisis of the day, it’s a glistening tune for getting your groove on.

On first listen, ‘Adam’ – the latest from Kent-born, London-based William Blackaby – strikes a subtle piano chord; a slow, tender lament crooned over with almost childlike vocals, you could put it on quietly in the background and have a perfectly pleasant dusky soundtrack. But, like Matt Maltese, Jerkcurb and a small clutch of other recent favourites serving a darker undercurrent to their seemingly sweet offerings, it’s when you get a little closer that the track comes into its own. Populated by a host of uncomfortable characters – Joey with “food all over himself”; Alex who “won’t eat his potato skins” - there’s something insidious about the way Blackaby gently intones the problems of his motley cast. Add a video cribbed from old shopping channel footage of Chucky-eyed dolls, and all is certainly not as it seems.

South London artist Oscar Jerome has released his thought-provoking new song ‘Your Saint’, the first glimpse into his forthcoming debut album ‘Breathe Deep’ which is set for release on 10th July. Inspired by the dismay he felt seeing the sight of homeless Syrian families in Paris, the jazzy politically-charged single hits home, emphasised by a stunning spoken-word segment from London-based Sierra Leonean rapper and poet Brother Portrait. With brass and percussion courtesy of Oscar’s KOKOROKO bandmates, the soaring new song is both striking and stunning, and exciting look at what the exciting artist has in store for the future.

If a haunting scene from Disney’s Fantasia came to life and stomped its way into an East London rehearsal studio, then you might end up with something in the vein of the warped’n’wonderful latest from elusive new outfit TTRRUUCES. ‘Evil Elephant’ dips its toe equally into nostalgic fairground waltzes and altogether-less-innocent lines about doing, well, lines in a limo. It’s an intoxicating combination that adds another layer to their slowly-building, evocative, hyper-imaginative world; by the time their full-length debut lands in June, the duo’s off-kilter pop universe should be a fully immersive one to dive into.

Yes, there’s a post-punk urgency to ‘Lolita’, this second release from the Dublin-based outfit, but where most of late have opted to pair this with spoken prose, so far Blushing Boy’s calling card is frontwoman and chief songwriter Ella Naseeb’s luscious vocal, both dream-like and emotionally raw at once.

With pulsing synths and haunting vocals, ‘Stain’, the latest from quartet Lo Rays, is a dark electro-influenced sizzler. Pairing ominous bass-sounds with vocalist Laura Takala’s rich vocals, is equal parts dark and delicious.

Inspired by orchestral music and the London club scene, North East London’s Fran Lobo has shared her latest track ‘Brave’, reminiscent of mesmerising FKA TWIGS numbers. The title track of her forthcoming EP due for release on 19th June via Slow Dance Records, the slow-burning new one blends Fran’s magical vocals with delightful experimental sounds, creating an all-encompassing song about facing the world and the struggles it brings.

Tags: Eades, MICHELLE, Lo Rays, Oscar Jerome, Blackaby, Fran Lobo, Blushing Boy, joan, TTRRUUCES, Neu Bulletin, Features, Tracks, Neu