Friday’s Finest is back on ICM once again. The weekly feature alongside It’s All Indie, Turtle Tempo and Nexus Music Blog, highlights the latest tracks we’ve been digging albeit old or new. This week’s features A.R.T, Jools, I See Rivers (pictured above) and Banfi. Find out more below…
A.R.T
Turtle Tempo: A.R.T – ‘Interior Design’
If there’s one thing that you should know about A.R.T, is that they really do put on a memorable highly energetic live show, their sound is big enough to entertain rooms in the 1000s and you can bet that’ll be happening at some point.
New single ‘Interior Design’ does not disappoint, the charismatic vocals is aided all the way along with a saxophone before a sax solo erupts, truly a perfect mix of jazz and the indie elements we all love. Check out these South London lads because they are something special!
Jools
It’s All Indie: Jools – ‘Spineless’
Jools last month unleashed their furious new single, “Spineless”, which is the first piece of music from the Leicester based outfit in 2020 and follows on from their well received debut single “Hysterical Starving Naked”. With the song being very political there will be some people who’re put off by it, but as a punk lover this track has everything that I love. The outfit’s latest track is a real treat to the ears, with soaring guitars aplenty, furious drum fills and thick as sludge basslines, combine that all with the angry vocals and you’ve got yourself a Socialist anthem for the masses. As the title suggests ‘spineless’ the tune is about politicians who shaft over the people they represent, with the vocalist delivering some true emotion throughout the track. From what I can tell is that the band are looking to emulate fellow Leicester band Kasabain, and by the sounds of it, they are going to be as big as them if they keep on creating massive tunes such as “Spineless” and “Hysterical Starving Naked” – YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THEM NOW!
I See Rivers
Nexus Music Blog: I See Rivers – ‘How’
Something a little slower paced, a little more relaxing and incredibly well put together. Having covered I See Rivers in the past, we enjoy highlighting the unique sound of the band. With the release of ‘How’ being no different. The three piece continue to climb to new heights. Seeing continued support by BBC Radio 1, Radio 6 and a host of other reputable sources, it’s easy to see why ‘How’ has gained traction for the Wales based trio. So do yourself a favour and kick back, relax and have a listen. You won’t regret it.
ICM: Banfi – ‘So Bright / Always Goodbye’
Banfi today announces the upcoming release of new album Colour Waits in the Dark with the release of the summertime-reckoning pop-hooks of ‘So Bright’ and the hypnotically addictive ‘Always Goodbye’.
Having relocated from North West England to South Wales via Edinburgh, Cornwall, Sheffield and six years in London, Joe Banfi has settled amongst the stark beauty of the Gower Peninsula. He entirely self-produced and recorded the album which is due out on May 22nd.
Talking about these tracks and the album, Joe explains: “Time and natural landscapes in relation to how I feel… I’m just trying to weave these things together for the listener… love and the passing of love among ancient things. Time and love entwined with the blood in the sky blessing my heart and the shells down on the beach that will go on sighing without me.
“I’ve tried to voice a kind of void-fear amongst hope… John Keats’ gravestone (“Here lies one whose name was writ in water”) evokes a dread of time leaving each moment behind in a centreless dark, like goodbyes written on pages that’ll one day float away.
“But then there are no real grounds for believing that an afterlife, or lack of one, is any more eternal or real than the fact that you have once existed and always will have, forever in the past. We tend to project our linear view of time onto death, and maybe that’s a mistaken view of the world. For me these answerless trails of thought create a flowing, bird-in-the-wind feeling of surrender to the force of time that I’ve tried to capture”.
