Buí - Something Else to Talk About

The Belfast-based group Buí first came to our attention back in 2017 off the release of their album "Eugene", and particular its lead track, "People Don't Think", which was a lovely chunk of lo-fi gooeyness.

They've since signed to a label run by producer Julie McLarnon, and the first release to come from this is "Something Else To Talk About", which if you've never heard Buí before is a great introduction to them, and if you have, it's a good continuation of their already established sound. The song is very much indebted to 90s American alternative rock, with its use of analogue synthesizers and slacker-esque sensibility calling to mind the sound of Grandaddy & early Fountains of Wayne, with a little bit of Pavement thrown in for good measure. It's not often we hear bands from here embracing this kind of lo-fi sounds here, so it is quite a refreshing track.

Just as refreshing is the music video for the song, which is an 8-bit animated extravaganza, which sees the band walking past some of their favourite places around Belfast, including McHughs, the Duncairn Arts Centre, The Empire, and of course Boojum (because there is is a rule in place - if you are from Belfast and you enjoy Boojum, then it is your duty to tell everyone who is not from Belfast that when you come to Belfast, you have to visit Boojum).



"Something Else To Talk About" is out now as a 7" vinyl, backed with "People Don't Think", on Analogue Catalogue Records.

Looks - Back to the Fire

After our two week hiatus here at The Metaphorical Boat, owing to a trip Stateside for musical and non-musical reasons (pro tip - there is no finer environment to enjoy a War on Drugs gig than a crowded Nebraskan bar), it's only fair that our first tune back after such a gap is a real humdinger of a track. Thankfully, we have a real aural treat for you, courtesy of London based group Looks.

The trio picked up a little bit of blog traction earlier this year following the release of their debut single "Everest" (not to be confused with other songs of the same name), the band have put out "Back To The Fire" for human consumption, which is a great mix of synths, rock guitars, drums as deep as the Atlantic Ocean, and that ever  present love of an anthemic chorus. It's as if The Big Pink never went away, and ain't that a great thing indeed.

"Back To The Fire" will be released on 20th October.

The Ghosts - Enough Time

London based quintet The Ghosts (not to be confused with the band responsible for "Stay the Night") was formed by singer/songwriter Alex Starling after the tragic end to the band he played keyboards for, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. The quintet make psychedelic synth-pop that treads the line between Pet Shop Boys and Empire of the Sun.

Their debut single, "Enough Time", is a great introduction to the band's sound, with the soaring falsetto of Alex Starling acting as the perfect foil for the cacophony of electronics that overpower the song. The music video for the track is a bit of a mind melt, but thoroughly enjoyable

"Enough Time" will be released on January 15th, with a debut album to follow in April.

The Ghosts - Enough Time by The Ghosts

Dead Social Club - This Painting Is Cursed

If the success of The Horrors' channelling of Simple Minds is anything to go by, then the world is desperately crying out for more 80s inspired synth-rockers to break it out of its collective doldrum. Thankfully, there are bands out there more than worthy of stepping up to the mark, such as London sextet Dead Social Club.

Their track "This Painting Is Cursed" begins with a massive Gary Numan-esque synth line, which morphs into a post-punk stomper with The Cure inspired miserabilistic vocals. If this track's anything to go by, then there may be milage in this New Wave revival yet. Just promise to leave the funky hair and make-up in the 80s, where it belongs.

"This Painting Is Cursed" is available as a free download, and is taken from Dead Social Club's "Syrian Kisses EP".

Letting Up Despite Great Faults - Teenage Tide

Shoegaze inspired music has never been as popular as it is at the moment. Bands of the past such as My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus and Mary Chain are revered with an almost fanatical following, while the influence of the movement can be heard in the music currently produced by Maps and Deerhunter. Not bad for a genre that started out as an insult.

One band that could be classified as 'nu-gaze' are the Los Angeles based group Letting Up Despite Great Faults. Their song 'Teenage Tide,' taken from their "Paper Crush E.P", is a bittersweet wall-of-sound barrage, that mixes the production value of M83 with the melodic songcraft of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Oh, to be young and in love (or alternatively, to be even younger and more in love)

The "Paper Crush E.P" is available now in America, and will be available from September 26th in Europe. Until then, "Teenage Tide" is available to download.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Tomorrow Dies Today

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are perhaps one of the more prolific bands currently out there. Not just content with releasing one of the greatest albums of the year in "Belong," the band now have a new track up for streaming, entitled "Tomorrow Dies Today."

The song itself is not as synth heavy as some of their recent songs, but it is a very strong piece of melancholy indie pop, the sort that Pains... have turned into a fine art.

Is it just me, or does the chorus does sound a little bit like "American English" by Idlewild?



The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Tomorrow Dies Today by PIAS Entertainment