Swansea Sound: Pre-post-truth

Jangling pop quintet Swansea Sound cover a lot of ground on their new album Pre-post-truth: the tech-bros (20mph), the demolition of beloved live music venues (On Our Own), but also the weirdness of claiming to be cool and independent by buying albums and assorted paraphernalia after the gig is over (Merch Stall). All members have been part of the underground than they care to remember, but no one is showing signs of ageing gracefully. Why should they? There is plenty of shit going on to be pissed off about.

With their amalgam of post-punk, New Wave and power pop they might be preaching to the converted, but anyone with a craving of sardonic wit and catchy melodies can pick this album up without thinking twice. Being out of step with what is fashionable makes it timeless. They proudly proclaim that they might be The Band That Brought Back Rock N Roll. In hindsight that may become a reality some day and if not, it is fucking endearing to come up with such a statement.

underdown: No Room For Love

Over the years Welsh singer and piano played Rhys Underdown grow his solo project turn into a sextet that could turn his vision of becoming a crooner fronting a band that can handle the wall-to-wall arrangements of Harry Nilsson and Elton John in their '70s heyday. The new EP No Room For Love celebrates sarcasm and disappointments in a stylish and sometimes even joyous way.

On the surface the songs might come off as a collection of snarky love songs, but there is an extra layer: finding his bearings in the Big Smoke and all the hassles that come with it. He is not giving in though. Backed by his band he attacks and caresses the piano in art rock meets Rufus Wainwright fashion. No Room For Love is an act of deviance, delivered with panache and gusto.

Stick Men: free download of 2026/09/30 La Rosa, Tucson, AZ

Avant-prog improv trio Stick Men have posted a recording of their show @ La Rosa, Tucson, AZ on September 30, 2026 on Bandcamp. Pay-what-you-want for this unedited board mix made by F.O.H. engineer Robert Frazza, so it sounds rather splendid. As per usual there are plenty of King Crimson tunes - check their treatment of Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part I - carefully arranged for this power trio format, as well as quite a few tunes from the upcoming new studio album Let's THRAK Again.

The John Sally Ride: Stranded After Touring Stranded

Power-pop band The John Sally Ride have unveiled Stranded After Touring Stranded, another track from their forthcoming new album For Sal, a tribute to their their bass player Sal Maida, who died in 2025.

He was on board for the Roxy Music tour to promote the release of their second album Stranded in 1973 after he was thanked for his service. His former Roxy bandmate Phil Manzanera pitched in with a subtle guitar part. Could have done with little less wordplay, but it works as a snaphot of a shortlived dream job.

Things We Built: Looks Like You

Melbourne-based adventurous pop band Things We Built are not an optimistic lot. If anything they could be labelled as realists who are still dreaming, but a better or different future is not in the cards. Their Looks Like You EP deals with trying to get away (One Horse Town) and lamenting missed opportunities and still being jealous many years after the fact (The Boy Who Kissed You First).

Only in Daddy's Gone Disco a character pops up who can regain his freedom for a short while, when he goes all out on the dance floor. Hell, he might not even come back to the grind. While it be sort of depressing to realise that being stuck is what it is (We Cannot Change), they have an outlet for their frustrations through their music. Combined with a sense of humour they created a safe space for themselves and for anyone who might be feeling the same way.