New music guide The Neu Bulletin (Pom Poko, Pardoner, Boniface & more)

The latest in a long line of excellent finds from Father/Daughter Records, Pardoner make gritty, uncompromising punk, fronted by a voice that sounds like a demonic Andrew Savage from Parquet Courts. ‘Uncontrollable Salvation’, the title track of the band’s recently-released debut LP, fits in a frightening amount of hooks atop its sludgy base. Vocals are spat at and almost spoken rather than sung; it’s a full-on assault that’ll also make you dance. The whole album is also well worth a listen. (Will Richards)

Despite the jangly guitars and sweetly sung lyrics, it’s actually quite difficult to pigeonhole the new track from London-based Holy ’57. The cascading, intricate picking and his own sing-song, free-flowing vocal style are reminiscent of Vampire Weekend, yet it’s all set to a skittring, almost R&B beat and there’s a blast of jazzy brass that takes centre stage at one moment. They all combine to create something that’s naturally, effortlessly lilting and laid-back. Don’t be surprised if that tumbling hook weaves its way into your brain. (Eugenie Johnson)

Norway’s Pom Poko are making strides at the moment, appearing everywhere across the summer and making yet another step forward with new single ‘You’ll Be Fine’. Its summery melodies career beautifully into wonky, awkward verses that are just on the right side of managing not to fall apart. (Will Richards)

‘I Will Not Return As A Tourist’ is the debut offering from Canada’s Boniface, and quite an introduction at that. The single’s artwork sees a car filling up at a gas station, and it’s an appropriate picture to paint - the track feels like a melancholy day-long trip down empty roads, enhanced by probing drums. That is, until a huge, shimmering synth riff takes the track onto the dancefloor with zero warning. A multi-faceted beginning, it’s anyone’s guess where Boniface goes next. All we know is that it’s a seriously exciting prospect. (Will Richards)

The video for C.Macleod’s new single ‘Kicks In’ is set on the idyllic Isle of Lewis in off Northern Scotland, where the singer lives. It’s a surrounding that completely absorbs the singer, and seeps into every facet of the new track. Rolling along with ease yet undercut by clear anxiety and dissatisfaction, it’s a perfect picture of isolation and a want for better. (Will Richards)

Brighton-based Veiga Sanchez – better known as Salt Ashes – clearly has a great fascination with dark electronic pop. On ‘Wilderness’ she channels the glacial tones of Scandi-pop singers like MØ, but while there’s euphoric elements that could fill any dancefloor, she also puts her own little twist on it. While the hook might soar, it still nurtures a pitch-black, pulsating heart underneath, and with the guitar strums and echoed fret scratches she adds a deeply organic and earthy element to the genre. Salt Ashes might not be left in the wilderness much longer. (Eugenie Johnson)

Few debut singles come as polished and accomplished as this one from Australian Future Jr. ‘Suburbia Blue’ is a towering synth pop cut that paints a well-travelled picture - breaking out of the confines of suburbia and into something altogether bigger. With this debut single under his belt, Future Jr shouldn’t worry at all about reaching higher plains. (Will Richards)

Miss World - the new project from Natalie Chahal of Shit Girlfriend - wastes no time in stating its intentions. Debut single ‘Put Me In A Movie’ is unapologetically sweet. Its lyrics might not quite be poetry - the repeated line of “my life is so groovy, so put me in a movie” could end up being grating - but when it sits above melodies so irresistible, it just becomes brilliant. (Will Richards)

Jae Tyler’s new single ‘Life As A Wall’ begins a little like a psych-pop song, before embracing the dancefloor, and breaking through the often-murky barriers that said genre restricts bands with. As gloriously retro and unashamed as the track’s brilliant video, ‘Life As A Wall’ is a real earworm. There’s even a bit of the Elliott Smiths about his whispered vocals. Looks like the whole package, then. (Will Richards)

Tags: Boniface, Listen, Features, Neu, Neu Bulletin