You waited a long time for Mayhem’s single collect and then three arrived in just two weeks! This is the third for 2023, including fourteen great songs that have either been passed on to me or recommended over the past weeks and months, there are some great songs. It features three bands that have appeared on the Mayhem page before. All three are from York, proving that the music scene in my wonderful adopted city is thriving. Let me know what you think of this awesome collection of songs! You’ll find a YouTube link to each song in the title (or a link to the audio track) and a link to the artist’s website or one of their social media pages when you click on the artist’s name. You can also find links to Spotify playlists of all of these songs by clicking here.
“Rebellion” – Skylights
York’s Skylights’ angrier song, possibly their most punk song to date. So this is the coolest, and the maddest, but is it the best? I’m sure it’s true! A band that lights up on all cylinders and really lights up! Turnbull’s guitar work on “Rebellion” is sensational!
“Black And White” – City Snake
These kids took the fast track from good band to great band. This is such a perfect and wonderfully produced song. Bass, guitar, drums and of course vocals turned up to 11. Great tip for classic rock. You need to see this band live.
“Jackie The Know It All” – The Corsairs
This is the follow-up to last year’s classy single “B-Side” and it’s a song that sticks with you. It has the feel of everything from Kooks, Pigeon Detectives, Arctic Monkeys, and classic British post-punk. All of that rolled with a first-class pop sensibility
“Soda & Lime” – Jonny Payne & Lightning
This sounds like a classic US west coast song, but Jonny is based out of Oxford in England. If you want a song that will make you feel good and make you sing along, replay “Soda & Lime”. This will be added to my summer barbecue playlist.
“Time to Rest” – Juniper Night
The soft, acoustic rock style is reminiscent of Travis at his peak. It has some dark indie guitars but for me what really makes the song is the vocal performance, particularly the harmonies.
“Talk To Me” – Robot Partners
This place is far from Long Beach, California. They claim to have started making music to bring Fellow Robot characters to life through music. Robot Fellow is a 140 year old robot who is the main character of the WIP novel ‘The Robot’s Guide to Music’ written by frontman Anthony Pedroza. I really enjoy listening to good rock music like this from a great band while waiting for the book to arrive. Their album is due in May and on the strength of “Talk To Me” it’s definitely one to look forward to.
“After Midnight” – Ryan Brown
Ryan Brown is a very talented teenage singer-songwriter from the United States. “After Midnight” is a hopeful pop anthem for these dark times and will give Taylor Swift a run for her money. The backing harmonies and counter-vocals are haunting and add real depth to a great tune.
“Louder Now (For Love)” – Indra
What a roaring song, Senses from Coventry have perfected it with this single. A little bit of 21st Century Small Faces with some Paul Weller thrown in, it’s really good.
“I Need You Tonight” – Shortwave Craft
The beauty of the song is multi-layered with some excellent samples. If you like Moby, Portishead, Air and others like them, you’re sure to love this near-perfect track created by Dominic Owen and Tom Carr. I could listen to this for hours, and I probably will.
“Makes Me Happy” – Wesson
Some might say that not a lot of great music has come out of Milton Keynes, if they did, then point it straight at Wesson. The song starts out like a 60s psych-folk song by Traffic. But then it turns into an amazing pop-rock anthem that has occasional hints of 1970s Scottish band Pilot, especially the sound of the guitar. The ‘Tron’ inspired video is fun too.
“Out of Town” – M. Byrd
The German singer-songwriter knows his way around beautiful melodies and some often dark lyrics, but this song also has a hopeful side. The song is about someone who has to flee from a war with their daughter. I can picture myself contemplating life to this song, maybe over a cold beer.
“Wendy” – Holly Henderson
It has a 60s girl group vibe and vocals that Rumer would be proud of. The instrumentation is classy and occasionally strays from the simplistic tone. A song that stays in your mind long after it’s finished. A real lesson in how to produce songs that are uplifting and sometimes sad. I’ll be playing Holly’s new album ‘The Walls’ now I think.
“Villains” – Alexa Dark
Alexa is Spanish/American and grew up between Barcelona, Munich, London, Paris and NYC. Influence from all of those places is evident in this expansive and cinematic track, both in scope and ambition. “Villain” is more than worthy of being a Bond theme.
“Lost” – Hanna Ögonsten
Spotify biography Hanna Ögonsten from Sweden says, “I’m glad you found your way to my goofy little world of music in this big virtual world! Here you will find my reflections and memories dressed up to danceable alt-pop beats.” I think he’s so much better than goofy and small, his universe is kinda big and pretty smart. He was right in describing his work as a danceable alt-pop beat, and “Lost It” is a prime example of a song that is both danceable and infectiously memorable. Check out his incredible EP from last year, ‘Bby Boo, Ögonsten & You’
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