Listen The Neu Bulletin ( Momma, Deadletter, Emumclaw and more!)

Momma – aka Brooklyn duo Allegra Weingarten and Etta Friedman – said that with her song ‘Rockstar’, they wanted to write “a song about making it big, and becoming rock stars.” On the unashamedly huge, anthemic track, they force their wish into existence. Using classic loud-quiet dynamics from past rock heroes, the track’s enormous chorus and the pair’s air of effortless cool means they’re well on the way to becoming the rockstars they dreamed of being. (Will Richards)

With a chorus that brings to mind the stabbing urgency of ‘00s indie heroes TV on the Radio’s seminal ‘Wolf Like Me’, the latest from South London-via-Yorkshire’s DEADLETTER is actually far more suited to the dance floor than it might want to admit. Of course, the vocals are spat out in a mardy speak-sing tumult; of course there’s some added sax parping (because what is an alt-guitar track in 2022 without some added sax parping). But actually, stick a cheap double vodka mixer in its hand, and ‘Hero’ could be somewhere in 2008, getting off with an inadvisable boy with an asymmetrical haircut. (Lisa Wright)

Tacoma, Washington four-piece Enumclaw made waves last year with their debut EP ‘Jimbo Demo’, and enter 2022 by throwing it back 20 years. On ‘2002’, their first song since signing to Luminelle Recordings, frontman Aramis Johnson pens a sarcastic take on “how I wake up everyday and try to be the worst possible human.” Aside from its deliberately narcissistic lyrics, ‘2002’ is a brilliant slice of raw, untamed indie rock that cuts through the noise. (Will Richards)

“I had a dream I fucked your ex, what a weird side effect,” gglum sings as she opens her latest single ‘Tangled’. All about “how one thing can cause a chain reaction that spreads into weird corners of your thoughts and behaviour”, gglum’s latest is a delicate dream-pop-leaning number led by her soaring vocals. A magical new ear worm, Mura Masa and Karma Kid hopped on production duties to add even more sonic goodness. (Elly Watson)

Is the big-hearted, unashamedly anthemic US indie-rock of the mid-2000s, made by bands with an exhaustive list of members, on its way back? In 2022 already, we’ve had Black Country, New Road taking a distinctly Arcade Fire-like turn, and Pennsylvania seven-piece String Machine are cut from a similar same cloth. The band have been floating around for a few albums now, but imminent third record ‘Hallelujah Hell Yeah’ (out February 25th via Know Hope Records) is set to see them enter a whole new realm, and justifies its title. Highlight ‘Soft Tyranny’ is a perfect taster of their anthemic, invigorating sound. (Will Richards)

Tags: Momma, Listen, Features, Neu, Neu Bulletin