New music guide The Neu Bulletin (Savoy Motel, Alex Lahey, The Hour & more)

Savoy Motel have the same impact as someone huffing a kazoo in your ear to wake you up - only it’s a much more charming experience. Loopy and fuzz-lined, the Nashville group make twisted rock n’ roll, the kind David Byrne could make if he formed a band in 2016. They’ve just signed with What’s Your Rupture?, early home to Parquet Courts.

If The Hour fall on hard times, at least they know Adele’s their biggest fan. Once the multi-million selling star pointed followers in this enigmatic troupe’s direction, their fortunes changed. But sorry Adele, we’ve been banging on about The Hour for ages. Their shadowy, soul-dusted take on pop could deserves to turn heads in the thousands.

Opting for open-ended guitar lines and endless reverb is a fool’s game, right? Surely anyone can do it? Few pull off the tricks like Chicago four-piece Deeper, a group bringing to mind Women and early DIIV in their anxiety-ridden pomp.

Ex Cops’ Brian Harding has an eye for the ‘70s with his slick new project Blond Ambition. With the kind of strut to light up any dancefloor, he gives nods to Air and Serge Gainsbourg, pristine pop defining his every move.

“Remember that time we slept together, and we just slept but your girlfriend dumped you anyway? I don’t hold that against her” is one of Alex Lahey’s best lines, but each of the Australian’s lyrics could be expanded into their own story. ‘Let’s Go Out’ is the Melbourne musician’s ode to being broke, bored and apathetic.

LA newcomer BoyBoy knows how to sharp electro-pop with cutting honesty. It’s tempting to stick to rhythm and sweet, synthetic ingredients when making this kind of music, but his deadly pop could cut through any environment. ‘Vices’ is a subtle glimpse into the mysterious songwriter’s reality, and it also packs some of 2016’s sharpest hooks.

One of this weekend’s must-see new acts at Field Day, Stevie Parker ditches the ‘earnest songwriter’ stereotype. Avoiding the trap of being ‘just another musician with a heartfelt message’, she balances emotions with genuine invention. Few newcomers know how to stand out in a crowd with their first step, but Stevie Parker has already hit liftoff.

Tags: Alex Lahey, Listen, Features, Neu, Neu Bulletin