Neu The Neu Bulletin (Spencer., Ziyad Al-Samman, Rainn Byrns and more!)

Pulling influence from the worlds of R&B, hip-hop, funk, indie, jazz, pop and soul, NYC’s Spencer. is gearing up to share his eagerly-awaited debut album ‘Are U Down?’ and first single ‘Lonely As I Ever Was’ is the perfect teaser of what’s to come. Driven by Spencer.’s magnetic vocals and inspired by Erykah Badu’s ‘Next Lifetime’, the sunshine-soaked bop explores the feelings of unrequited love over a velvety indie-infused R&B backing, and is bound to get you hyped for what’s to come. (Elly Watson)

Hailing from Jordan and now living in London, this week saw Ziyad Al-Samman make his introduction with theatrical debut solo single ‘Dark Horse’. Combining a bit of Baxter Dury grit with psychedelic licks, and packaging it all into a compelling ballad ready to pull on the heartstrings, the romantic track swells with feeling as Ziyad reflects on a troubled friendship. And if you need a new addition to your emotional drunk bus ride home playlist, look no further than the “How can I prove this love?” chorus. (Elly Watson)

Full of toe-tapping, finger-picked acoustic guitars, ‘Country Living’’s affably laid back vibes could sit happily on a playlist alongside the likes of Mac DeMarco, but there’s something far more British and ‘50s-leaning at the heart of its country-tinged twangs. Essentially, if Jake Bugg was a more tolerable, less self-serious proposition, you might end up somewhere close to the latest from London-via-Swindon’s Rainn Byrns. (Lisa Wright)

Like a shot of indie-fuelled adrenaline, the striking opening chords of Wooze’s latest will instantly have you hooked. Part glam-rock, part psych-riffs, part 80s-infused wonk-pop, ‘Tu Es Moi’ is an infectious gem from the British/Korean duo that’ll have you bopping along instantly. Described by the duo as “another pun-based fun chasing song that riffs off the French ambiguity between the phrases ‘you are me’ and ‘kill me’”, what more could you want, eh? (Elly Watson)

Taking LCD Soundsystem’s knack for a cyclical, propulsive dancefloor groove, Squid’s brass-parping eccentricities and throwing in the near-obligatory sneered Mark E. Smith vocal, the first half of Fake Turins’ latest is like Alternative 2021 potted into 180 seconds. It’s in its second portion, with gang shouts, falsetto trills and a closing minute that nods to ‘Antidotes’-era Foals, that ‘Talking Prophets’ gets interesting, however. Stick out the journey: by the end, there’s gold. (Lisa Wright)