Charlie Ashcroft’s Musosoup Round-Up May 2024
Charlie Ashcroft: Presenter @amazingradio, DJ @SomebodyTM_Club. Also a @QPR fan, a @RecCollMag columnist + #Spotify Playlist curator with @music_gateway
A month which has flown by, peppered with public holidays, city festivals and warmer weather around Europe. Here are ten discoveries from my Musosoup submissions list, all released in the month of May. Enjoy!
Let’s start with Brooklyn punks, Rat Palace. ‘Woman of the Year’ is a brilliant, sub-2-minute cacophony, setting the tone superbly for the June release of their ‘Dust Free Home’ album.
Next we have Jerichos, the alter ego of Oxford-based musician and producer, Julian Wagstaff. ‘If You Want It Now’ is a soulful slice of funk-leaning pop, perfect to soundtrack the warmer, longer evenings.
Over in Australia we find some timeless R&B courtesy of Emalia, whose recently-unveiled ‘Supreme’ EP is absolutely glorious. Soak up the title track and discover a star in the making!
Last month also saw the latest single emerge from Los Angeles-based artist Nolo Grace. From quiet beginnings, ‘Mother’ builds into a shout-from-the-rooftops late-night anthem. Stirring electropop power-balladry at its finest!
May is of course, the month of Eurovision, so it makes sense to take a trip to mainland Europe, to uncover a total belter from Belgian trio, Fortress. ‘Holding On’ features the band’s typical blend of electrifying beats and Hanne Torfs’ trademark compelling vocal.
Changing direction quickly, from a stylistic point-of-view (as is often the case in this column), I also want to give a shout out to Ben Scott for his dreamy brand of atmospheric folk pop. New song ‘Home, Alone’ is simply wonderful.
Earth To Cheska unleashed a massive record a few weeks back called ‘Girls Gone Wild’ which is worth your attention as well. It’s characterised by catchy hook after catchy hook, alongside some undeniably big riffs.
I was pleased to see Floodhounds on the radar again recently, with ‘Near-Life Experience’. Their first single release of the year is a guitar-laden road trip of a song, with amazing energy throughout. Great to have them back, after an excellent pair of singles in 2023.
Uppo are a genuine tour de force. The Italian outfit deal in the kind of dark, high-octane post-pink realism that’ll appeal to fans of the likes of The Lounge Society, Preoccupations and other such contemporary luminaries. Definitely a new band to watch. Latest single ‘All Vanishes’ is a real treat.
Finally we sign off this month’s round-up with the ace new collaboration between K $tone and Bang. Fusing rap with their various electronic influences and some brooding percussion, ‘On The Run’ is a colossal track.