

The first singles review night in the pub for 2025 was an interesting evening, the photographer and I were joined by my daughter Daisy who appeared to be channeling the spirit of the late great Hunter S Thompson. The evening involved more beer than usual as there was an act on that we didn’t know about so we had to keep stopping reviewing when he played and stayed out for a lot longer than usual, the final lot of reviews on this page were written by quite tipsy people. We also raced Brussel sprouts and laughed an awful lot. Listen to and read about the music we have bought, found and been sent below and feel free to argue with us.
Bob Mould – Here We Go Crazy
You just know it’s him, slow, steady and great, I really want to hear the album. The photographer says that it’s interesting late period Bob Mould, I think it’ll be much better in the album context. Daisy says it’s like Green Day never broke up.
Mogwai – Fanzine Made Of Flesh
This is from the brilliant new album that just came out, it’s a pop song and that in itself is odd and strange, vocoder vocal but the guitars are still there. Fits as part of the album, not sure about the single. It gets better as it goes on. The photographer says it’s a lighthearted one, not quite as intense as some of their stuff and it’s got the electric kazoo, the vocals sound like a kazoo. Daisy says that the intro sounds like a soundtrack for a montage in a coming of age film. Makes me want to listen to Mogwai though.
Adam Beyer & Vintage Culture – Lift Me Up feat. Kyozo (Original Mix)
This is Wibbly techno, repetitive and cool, l;oads of synths, drops and a spoken bit, I like it. The photographer says it’s a Superstar DJ doing horrible edm. Daisy says it sounds like I’m in the queue for Berghain . Sounds like when we got lost in amsterdam and were doing the devil’s nose powder on the dancefloor of the free club…
Venamoris & Dave Lombardo – Animal Magnetism
Nice chugging metal groove and breathless female vocal, it’s okay. The photographer says that he likes the idea of it and he like the church bells and the guitar intro and then the vocal spoils it a bit, he should stick to drumming with the Misfits. Daisy says that the intro made me think I’d like to fuck the band and then the vocals start and I definitely do! The longer I listen the more I think it could be on the Twilight soundtrack.
Youth lagoon – Speed Freak
This is a nice freaked out synth bass buzzing track with a great laid back vocal, it’s a good song. The photographer and Daisy both make faces. The photographer says that he quite likes the fuzzy start and there’s lots of tinkly bits, it’s alright. Daisy says I can’t hear it very well but I’m glad about that as she starts singing along to the chap playing guitar and singing in the pub.
XIXA – Xola de Galaxia
This is Latin tinged pop, with nice wonky spaghetti western guitars and sweeping synths. The photographer says it’s a bit middle iof the road latin american. Daisy says that they should either know how to sing ot not but don’t sound like your under water because the autotune is too high, the tune is good but voice wants to make me drown myself.
Andrej Meyer – Fall
This is fast nasty techno, vocal underneath all just banging head off fridge music. The photographer says that it’s terrible EDM – get off my land! Daisy says Fuck me Berghain again.
Noisepicker – Chew
This has a discordant guitar, off the groove drums, chugging riffs, and is alt rock a go go. The gravelly pissed off voice adds to it, it’s nice noisy bollocks. The photographer sums it up as three minute metal pop, it’s alright. Daisy says that the vocals feel like your fifty year old boss who wants to be your friend but then gets sexy.. ugh noo!!
Laibach – I Want To Know What Love Is
I put this on as although it’s a new release it will really wind the photographer up – i think it’s ace. The photographer says.. you put this in to piss me off and it worked!!! I really don’t like this band. Daisy looks up and just says that it’s like a scene from Shrek.
Edvard Graham Lewis – Switch
Wire chap with excellent oddball track – the albums great too. The photographer replies with it’s not great. Daisy says Eww, it’s called switch I want them to switch it off.
The Limiñanas – Où va la chance (Françoise Hardy Cover)
A gentle warped cover of Francoise Hardey classic done really well. The photographer says it’s alright, it’s lovely sexy and French and she’s got a great lovely husky voice. Daisy says that it’s everything that me and my house of girls in uni would listen to at the sea front.
Goat + MC Yallah – Nimerudi
This is Goat and MC Yallah doing Public Enemy excellently with ace wiggly guitars too. The photographer says that Goat on record are okay, Goat live are brilliant. Daisy says that this is the first song I have liked on Spotify, I want to put my baggiest jeans on and kiss everyone around me!
Maud the Moth – Despeñaperros
A Despairing vocal with frantic piano, it’s okay. When the strings and drums come in it’s better, a desperate sound to match the vocal, she’s holding on by her fingernails, huge guitars now, better and better, it is nine minutes long though, goes to tiny sounds to finish. The photographer says that it takes about two and half minutes to get going then it gets really interesting, then smashes it at the end it’s a proper rollercoaster of a track I like it a lot. Daisy agrees that it’s a rollercoaster that I would pay the entry for when I have minus £1223 in the bank..
Bria Salmena – Stretch the Struggle
This has a funky groove, low voice, it’s a great alt pop song that gets progressively more angry and unhinged as it goes. The photographer says I can’t remember listening to this on Tuesday which is not a good sign.. I’m listening to it now and its low poppy punky. Daisy says that it’s something special to me and a very specific group of friends it sums up some very special nights, me and some very special mates.
Sandwell District – Hidden
I like this, it’s nice squelchy techno. The photographer says that it’s just a bit average, it’s okay. Daisy merely says No. I need to point out that this section was reviewed after two acoustic guitar and singing sets in the Brewery, we are all very drunk.
Jean-Claude Vannier – La Horse
This is a French organ led bonkers track, it’s got a great groove, I like this a lot. The Photographer says that it might be 50 years old but its still fucking brilliant. Daisy says that I’m not going to lie, it feels like a man who googled me on line and tried to spoon me and the answers no, a little bit later I got really into it and I quite fancy him when looking over my shoulder..
CocoRosie – Cut Stitch Scar
This has bleepy synths and sweeping sounds with a resonating trembling vocal, shoegaze indie and cool, too long though. The photographer says that it is terrible Bjork but it isn’t. It’s not great, and if it was Bjork we’d say it was a rubbish record. Daisy says that it’s powerful and my uni friends would think its powerful, It’s a nice mix between the friends who would love ait and the ones that take warming up to, her entire friendship group would come together for this one
HotWax – One More Reason
This is great guitar led punk pop, they were rubbish live though. The photographer says that it’s Brighton middle class neat and tidy over produced punk, I don’t like it. Daisy says that it’s the embodiment of all the songs I used to listen to when I was 16.
Glazyhaze – Forgive Me
Wobbly shoegaze guitar and dreamy vocal, then great big shoegaze riffs, this is a great song, does loud quiet loud very well. The photographer says that he likes it a lot. Daisy says that it’s gold, it’s not my kind of thing but I worked the Reading Festival so I know indie music and that is incredible, it’s gold dust.
Tim Hecker – Sunset Key Melt
An atmospheric soundscape of a track that is delicate and rich, it rises to overwhelm you and at extreme volumes would be fantastic, needs to be longer. The photographer says that you can’t put this in a singles review, but I love it. Daisy says I feel like I’m fucking avatar.
Jasmine 4t – Guy Fawkes Tesco Dissociation
This one has an Alt country crooning groove, not really my thing, cool guitars though. The photographer says I think it’s a little bit country and a little bit folk and I don’t like country or folk. Daisy sums up with what do you want me to say other than the fact that I’m really happy.
Wendy James – The Shape of History
I Liked Transvision Vamp but this just isn’t very interesting at all sorry. The photographer says that it sounds like Wendy James from Transvision Vamp, it’s okay. If you liked Transvision Vamp and Wendy James you’ll love it. Daisy says I zoned out for a minute and I zoned back in and not a lot happened in between.
Bonnie Trash – Hellmouth
It has a battering groove and low epic vocal, heavy metal for the cool kids. The photographer says that I’d zoned out from this and i’ve not changed my opinion it’s a bit blandl and a bit nothing. Daisy says that it sounds the same the entire way through, I’m very open to everything but it’s the same the whole way through, i think my opinion is boring but in fact the music is boring
Sumac and Moor Mother – Scene 1
An excellent noise and chanting deep voice, then Moor Mother, livid, a voice of power, words have power, this is brilliant. The photographer says it’s a great big slab of weirdness. Daisy says that it’s really powerful, genuinely powerful.
FACS – You Future
A cool post punk track, very angular and hard edged. The photographer says I like this sort of post punky wire type sound, it’s not a dancing record more of a listening record, would like to see them live. Daisy sighs, it sounds like when a guys trying to win you over but its not working.
Jesus Lizard – Westside
It’s just the Jesus Lizard innit? Just brilliant, do I need to tell you why? The photographer says that it’s just great musicians with Yow, who is Yowling! A great Jesus Lizard record thirty years on, slightly less mental than normal. Daisy says I’m baffled.
So, there it is, single of the week? Well from what I can remember we agreed on Jean-Claude Vannier – La Horse just because it’s brilliant. We didn’t go on to the Pool Hall with Daisy on account of not being able to see anymore, I think the photographer went for a curry, I went home.
As always, if you disagree with us, let us know. Until the next one then.
All words by Adrian Bloxham, Martin Ward and Daisy Bloxham.
Pictures by Martin Ward and Daisy Bloxham.
Beer by Twisted Barrel Taphouse in Coventry