Neu The Neu Bulletin (Witch Post, Rosie Alena, L’objectif and more!)

Synergistic duo Witch Post have shared newest single ​‘The Wolf’, a tantalising preview of their upcoming debut EP ​‘The Beast’. The brainchild of Alaska Reid and Dylan Fraser, Witch Post are making waves with their undeniable magnetism, and this latest cut is a prime case in point, transporting listeners into a nocturnal dreamscape charged with transformative, wild-eyed intensity. Reid and Fraser’s lyrical exchange — tinged with a sense of reverie and smoky languor, respectively — flows over jagged, smouldering guitar and punchy percussion, scoring an untamed twirl under the twilight. Possessing a captivating sound that both haunts and exhilarates, their chemistry and craft guarantee a debut worth waiting for. (Kayla Sandiford) 

Beginning with subdued vocals set against a haunting backdrop, Rosie Alena​’s ​‘Billboards’ — lifted from her just-dropped EP ​‘Everyman’ — is immediately striking, an eerily beautiful exploration of a ghostly relationship. Gradually introducing more electronic sounds before building to an impressive chorus, it’s a track that sees her come into her own as both a singer and songwriter, possessing all the intimacy and immediacy of music’s great storytellers. (Chris Connor)

Leeds quartet L’objectif are continuing their ascent with ​‘Burbank’, a punchy new track that follows January’s ​‘Goth Kids’ to be the second instalment in a trilogy of releases. Exploring the disillusionment of a character chasing fame in America, their latest spirals through themes of identity, addiction, and ego, wrapped in the band’s signature alt-rock energy. With a debut album in the works, ​‘Burbank’ is another thrilling step forwards, solidifying L’objectif as a band unafraid to evolve while staying true to their dynamic, storytelling-driven songwriting. (Gemma Cockrell)

Blessing our mid-week with a surprise release, Bristol art-punk fiends MOULD cause havoc throughout their newest single, our next delicious taste of their upcoming sophomore EP ​‘Almost Feels Like Purpose’. ​‘FRANCES’ sees lead singer Joe Sherrin tussle with frustration and, supposedly ​“the ironic ghost of a killer bird called Frances”. It might not be clear whether that’s a metaphor, or whether he really did have a run-in with an avine poltergeist; either way, there’s no denying the musicianship on display here, as the band pack multiple expressive ideas into a compact, sub-three minute track that gives you just enough time to soak in their abrasive technical glory. (Peter Martin) 

Having whipped up widespread excitement online and IRL, Keo​’s first studio release has finally arrived via AWAL. A certified sucker punch, both instrumentally and emotionally, it marries the sonic influences of historic grunge artists with a fresh, modern approach. ​‘I Lied, Amber’ tells the tale of mistrust developing within a relationship — a complex emotional mess which vocalist Finn Keogh poignantly illustrates through his impassioned, impactful upper range. They may be young and very new, but Keo’s debut single is not only a fantastic first impression; it’s a statement of the soaring highs the band are now primed to reach. (Peter Martin)

A tense and tightly-wound track, Speedial​’s latest single ​‘Tourist’ sees the London four-piece at their most raw and unfiltered, pairing intricate instrumental interplay with stark, confessional lyricism. Here, vocalist and guitarist Serena Garrod channels an ​“exaggerated ​‘evil’ version of [herself]” in a cathartic expression of guilt and spiralling self-perception, stripping away the band’s usual poetic obscurity to lay its themes bare with bleak, matter-of-fact honesty. Produced by Joseph Futak (Tapir!, lilo), the single encapsulates Speedial’s signature blend of post-rock, shoegaze, and math rock, drawing from influences as varied as Deerhoof, Big Thief, and Bowie’s Blackstar. Dual vocal harmonies from Garrod and vocalist/​bassist Millie Kirby float over Monarch Vavrechka’s expressive saxophone and drummer Joe William Killick’s precise, shifting rhythms, creating a sound which is in equal parts intricate and urgent. In all, ​‘Tourist’ offers a glimpse into Speedial’s evolving artistry — introspective, complex, and, as ever, impossible to pin down. (Gemma Cockrell) 

Marking the way-too-long-awaited announcement of a debut EP — ​‘Bohemian Clutter’, due in May — the new single from dust-swept, tear-jerking romantics pencil offers their most compelling recorded statement to date. Epic and grandiose, and pregnant with a poetic profundity akin to closing the last page of a novel that actually changed your life a tiny bit, ​‘Silent Corners’ somehow still remains grounded, clung to an earth-whipped humility. Yes, in spite of the track’s shattering crescendos and cinematic violin sweeps — deadly enough to burn holes in film reels as they turn — there’s something intensely vulnerable and real to everything this quintet executes. One-of-a-kind and impossibly special. (Elvis Thirlwell)

The stunning final track from their upcoming debut album, ​‘we’re having a barn dance’, lavender​’s ​‘harlequin/​los días azules’ is a reflective yet triumphant number that looks back on a transformative year with fondness, while stepping forward with optimism. It promises to be a fitting conclusion to an album that will chronicle love, loss, and self-discovery, lyrically offering some hindsight-shaped final musings on such themes: ​“I’m on the other side, it’s no surprise / When all is said and done, what’s decided is decided.” Balancing electronic textures with indie sensibilities, this single cements the duo’s growing reputation for emotive, genre-blurring songwriting, offering another welcome glimpse into lavender’s expansive and ever-evolving sound. (Gemma Cockrell) 

Tags: Neu, Neu Bulletin, Keo, L’objectif, Lavender, Listen, Mould, pencil, Rosie Alena, Speedial, Watch, Witch Post