Given the recent space of sun we've been enduring here in the UK, it seems only fitting that this weeks first band, Bristol-based Why We Love, are upholding a degree of summer whimsy in their personal brand of indie pop. Their music is both understated and romantic though never wholeheartedly strays in to twee territory the way it could do. The combined vocal efforts of guitarist and bassist (Joe and Rachel respectively) assert a deeper set of textures than would be possible with single sex vocal duties; indeed, Rachel's vocals particularly make 'Blisters' as catchy and accessible as it is. Why We Love are without a doubt a band with potential, and their infectious melodies will appeal to fans of bands as diverse as Voxtrot and early Foals.
Calm as the Colour
Scottish four-piece Calm as the Colour are a band whose music is steeped in nostalgia. Combining elements of shoegaze, britpop and rock and roll has allowed them to formulate a sound that's as refreshing as it is familiar. In different hands, this amalgamation of genres may come off as forced or mismatched, but with Calm as the Colour, it works perfectly as traditional britpop verses feed effortlessly in to walls of noise that are purposefully never quite realised. Rather than allow the sonic evisceration of shoegaze acts of yesteryear to permeate and eventually erode other, more delicate, facets of their music, the band chose to understate what could overpower, and their music is all the better for it. Brilliant stuff.
Other Dogs
Despite their only being one song on their SoundCloud page, Walsall's Other Dogs are hinting at almost limitless energy and enthusiasm. Their début track 'After Party Blues' is soaked in both beer and self-deprecation and pretty summarises gritty indie-pop anthems in three and a half minutes. The youthful exuberance that emits from the band has its feet firmly planted in punk influences just as much as indie, with the gang chant chorus a sure-fire live favourite, providing the energy translates from MP3 to stage. If any of Other Dogs forthcoming tracks hit as hard as this then you can be sure to see them in the pages of the music press soon.
Beartown Zodiac
Whilst their not strictly an unsigned band (though so few are these days) Beartown Zodiac are a band who have been on my radar for several months now, and whose music is far too summery and far too infectious to put off including any longer (the only reason I haven't included them thus far is because they're signed, albeit to an indie). There's a distinct diversity in the lyricism and composition of the band's music, as tracks range from folk numbers to shoegaze outings without even trying. Ultimately, there's far more going on with Beartown Zodiac than you would find from your average folk group; Mumford and Sons they are not (you can breathe your collect sighs of relief now). It's hard to pinpoint just what it is about the band that make them so utterly irresistible, but if you think of the older and more mature brother of Misty's Big Adventure with some 90s influences thrown in for good measure, then you're probably about halfway close to getting just what it is the band are about.
Icarus
Despite their seemingly young age, Leeds-based quartet Icarus' entire sound is underpinned by a maturity and verbosity similar to that exhibited by band's such as Little Comets. Similar to Little Comets again, the band obviously have a penchant for jangly indie-pop guitars and an ear for melody; even though their SoundCloud page only has two songs uploaded, both 'Venice' and 'Try' suggest that there's much more to come from Icarus, and I personally can't wait to see what they have to offer in the coming months.
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