SKREEN B BLOG

Do you remember, The Perfect Woman, that British comedy film from the 1940s? No?! That's just me and my odd viewing habits, then! OK, well, Elise Trouw has a new single out with a similar theme, only maybe more of a Frankenstein approach, in which she's talking about taking the best body parts from several female sources to make the ultimate girl. Naturally, the single is called 'The Perfect Girl'. In truth, the song is a satirical take on how people are judged, more specifically how women are judged by men. The idea for the track was drawn from Elise's schooldays memory of when a group of boys made a “hot or not” list ranking all the girls in class. Elise explains "It was one of the first moments I realized how girls were being seen," she says. "It wasn’t much about who we were. It was about how we looked. That never really left me." The piece is presented in a highly upbeat and jovial manner with a casual pop feel, but behind that make-up lurks...

Walk with me into the shadows, it is goth time again and I was completely entranced by 'La douleur (des mortels)', the latest single from Montreal’s The City Gates. From the first thunderous bassline, I felt like I was transported into a cathedral of gloom - where post-punk, shoegaze, and darkwave converge in a glorious, melancholic tapestry.  The decision to deliver the lyrics in French adds a layer of mystique that’s both intimate and epic. The baritone vocals resonate like a sermon from the abyss, especially when intoning lines like "On the paths of darkness, a fiery cross in the sky, eclipses the light of Eden, and exalts the sorrow of mortals". It’s poetry wrapped with drama and when accompanied by the spidery instrumentation, it rolls out splendidly. The production is robust and immersive - shimmering guitars swirl around pulsating drums, while the bass anchors everything with a brooding elegance. It’s a sound that recalls the grandeur of vintage goth, yet remai...

I just received 'The Letter' from Golden Hours and let me tell you, it’s not junk, it is a first class recording. It’s a sonic parcel packed with fuzz-drenched guitars, deadpan vocals, and lyrical weight that feels robust and compelling. 'The Letter' is the first dispatch from the band's upcoming sophomore album, 'Beyond Wires', and it’s addressed straight to the heart of anyone who’s faced life’s return-to-sender moments. The song’s themes: refusals, unwanted bills and obituaries, pile up like brain-blocking communiqués on a kitchen counter of despair. But instead of wallowing, Golden Hours sort, shred, and riff their way through the mess with the strength of desperation. Bassist/vocalist Wim Janssens describes the song as “a punch feeling so good that some would say it was most welcome” and I couldn’t agree more. This track doesn’t just deliver - it stamps its authority with every beat. Golden Hours, the Berlin-Brussels collective of seasoned post-punk cou...

Not to be confused with those Manc dullards, this is Osis with a track called 'Flies'. Taken from the recent self-titled 8-song EP, Osis, the Boston four-piece present themselves as a formidable and explosive punk rock outfit. The song, which is about mental illness, is pretty good on several counts. Firstly, Osis seem to take their influences from genuine old school, European punk sources, rather than the sanitized, latter-day commercial (spit), American pop-punk - and secondly, that in a fairly male-dominated genre, they are fronted with a female-lead on vocals (Katie Ghoulish). The result is a pleasingly chaotic sub-ninety-second blast of snarling guitars and narky vocals. A cool debut - great for newbie punk fans, but equally should find appreciation from the die-hard purists. LINK:  osis1.bandcamp.com Osis (8 song EP) by Osis

I always enjoy some well placed voice samples within a recording, I suppose I have built a career using the same approach. Commonly voice samples tend to be found within electronic music, so it was interesting to hear The Galley Project's 'The Cautionary Power'; as the technique is applied throughout a rock track. Actually, it is super-charged rock, with the instrumentation built around frenetic drums and heavy guitars, occasionally even feeling a touch bluesy. Like a sub-three minute burn-out, the tune rips along with great energy; the vintage voice drops providing substance in an attempt to remind us that "the struggles we face today (militarism, division, and short-sighted thinking) were already being called out generations ago. The song connects past warnings to our present reality". The Galley Project is a one-man band from Canada making "instrumental music you can groove to in the background of whatever life has to offer". 'The Cautionary Power...

'Wisdom Spit', the latest offering from Lana Del Rabies, is one of my more abstract picks - and proudly so. It’s a jagged, disorienting collage of noise, anchored by a rambling spoken-word monologue that veers between sermon and tortured recollection. The surrounding soundscape is a barbed-wire shroud: industrial hammers clatter, strangled angelic wails rise and fall, and festering swathes of electric static drone relentlessly. At times, the mangled layers are pierced by pleading voices from the abyss. In totality, it’s a brutal, hell-hole of undulating sonic shards. This track is not an easy listen; it is challenging. Its sheer intensity will alienate many - but that’s part of the thrill with experimental music: it polarizes. And for a few of us, that extremity is precisely what makes it exhilarating. That's why I love it. 'Wisdom Spit' is taken from Lana Del Rabies’ new release 'Omnipotent Fuck', a joint venture between Phage Tapes and her new label, Feral...

Singer-songwriter, Belle Blue, slaps your face and tugs at your ears with her new single 'Needed You More'. The Brooklyn-raised teenager, shows her fiery side whilst extending two welcoming arms to her contemporary take on alt-rock. With the song, produced and co-written by Nate Campany and Tommy English, she brings a spirited snapshot of life; combining pin-point vocals with snarling guitar licks, in a manner which reminded me of ground-breaking acts like The Breeders. There are also shades of the angry tenderness of Alanis Morrissette, both in words and delivery - not bad footsteps to follow, in my view. Belle herself cites Blondie and David Bowie as influences and that certainly shines through in her approach to the craft of song-writing - the drive is there, the intensity is there - and most importantly, the necessary pop sensibility is there. 'Needed You More' brings some much required energy to the commercial table, providing a green-shoots glimmer of hope that th...

Slinking in like a gang of street cats with baseball bats come Trendsetter, Magnus Deus & Katty G with 'Cyberstep', a track from the recent album 'Vanguard'. Presented as an experimental hybrid of dark synth, dubstep and cyberpunk, the recording is a feisty mash-up of sounds with a bright, but menacing vibe. Deftly punctuated with taught beats and some glitchy spikes of electro, the creators have also positioned a combination of spoken word commentary within the mix to bring characterization to the whole scene. Making this much more interesting and listenable than instrumentals with a similar approach. Away from music, Trendsetter, also known as "DJ Trendsetter" and "Mark Holiday", is known for his mission to help stray animals and no-kill animal shelters. He donates a percentage of his royalties to fund his "ARTCATS" project, which aims to feed and provide medical care for stray cats.  Why not get your paws into a copy and support thos...

Grace Turner pushes her way to the front of the queue and crashes the party with 'No Sleep', the latest release from her solo alt-pop project, City Builders. It’s a shamelessly hedonistic anthem, driven by her provocative vocals, super-sized synths and clattering beats that don’t so much walk in as kick the door down. Speaking about the inspiration behind the track, Turner explains, “My best friend and I turn into absolute demons on a night out… There’s nothing like giving into your intrusive ideas with a best friend, and I needed to write something that sounded as chaotic as our nights out.” Co-written with Maia Davies and soon instinctively developed with producers Zach Zanardo and Al P, 'No Sleep' is a chant-heavy, floor-filling with a distinct late-night pop vibe at its heart. It straddles deliciously between danger and frivolity, all packed with more sweet-spots and hooks than a candy-shop abattoir. An all-killer thriller. Dial 666 and see if you can handle it. LIN...

Time to hit the dancefloor, albeit the alternative one, with this banger from GRIMBO. The track, 'I Am Person', was recorded in a couple of days using tools such as Maschine and Ableton - and that quick turnaround has created a relentless electro stomp which does the job well. The only real shift is an occasional inclusion of a text-to-speech type voice sample, otherwise it is all beats and hedonistic synth sounds. I would suggest that it is not the type of tune which will change your life, but more of a sweaty five minute work-out. All nicely done, though. Good, clean fun with a drop or two of perspiration.

Oh yes, Digital Ghost, the act with the cool name, has just released a new recording called 'Safe Room'. Inspired by the the Resident Evil series, the piece is a sonic delight; combining elements of jungle, breakbeat and other electronic genres into a fully formed tune. I say "tune" with a look of happiness on my face, as the main melodic motif sits above all the contemporary styling, like a mothership casting treats to the universe. The melody is terrific, it incorporates the type of hook that could easily be the theme to some classic tv sci-fi series. Style and substance - a super track to fill your ears with. Released by Lost Tapes, 'Safe Room' is a place where I am more than happy to reside. LINK:  Digital Ghost

It can be quite hard to make an impact with an instrumental, but Astro Brat have managed to do that with their latest release 'White Lies'. The track is a right, royal foot-tapper and the mix of rocking guitar with cosmic augmentations reminded me a little of the wonderful, Man Or Astro-man? The solid percussive engine keeps everything bright, in reality, the whole thing is simply done, but there's enough going on to make it great fun and the arrangement has plenty of variation to maintain your attention. The less is more approach works splendidly and that's not something very easy to accomplish without vocals. I have no information about the act to impart, I suppose they just like to let the music do all the talking. An unexpected joy and a good tune to add to your mixtape for a road trip. LINK:  astrobratband

As a casual lover of anything remotely sci-fi, my imagination was instantly hooked by the title of Mi6’s latest offering, 'The Mind Machine', and its wicked artwork—which reminded me of the odd brain/eyes sculpture perched above my desk. From the very first beat, my appreciation sparked to life like a neuron fired from the depths of the band’s motherboard. I was pulled into their hypnotic circuitry - a dark, mesmerizing blend of post-punk grimace and electronic precision, delivered with a mature, brooding lilt. Vocally, it’s more Leonard Cohen than the shouty industrial fare we’ve all endured. Honestly, it’s like hearing Cohen front Kraftwerk—imagine that! The subtle female backing vocals add a layer of elegance that softens the machine’s edge, making it feel even more sassy.  The rhythm pulses like the inner workings of a sentient robot, while icy synths shimmer and slice through the mix with calculated intensity. It’s unsettling in the best way - like stepping into a cybern...

Looking for some relaxing music to help you through another week? Well, if that's the case, give Jellyfish by Metropolitan Project a go. Taken from Late Night Demos II , the track is a beautifully crafted recording, based around a simple, repeated guitar motif and interplay - it is gentle as being softly fanned by a butterfly in flight. Minimal, with not a harsh sound or beat to be heard, this piece is s really pleasurable listen. So, put aside all those tasks and troubles for a few minutes - and let this ambient wonder soothe you. LINK:  MetropolitanProject Late Night Demos II by Metropolitan Project

Breezing in again with some more of their laidback Americana are masked-duo Bad Flamingo and their latest recording 'The Fruit'. This time around they have picked a song which is succulent and delicious, and they somehow continue to impress, making the song-writing process seem almost effortless.     'The Fruit' is softly sung, sweet but not sickly - the production is smooth as silk, smoky as camp-fire; their stripped-back approach working wonders as they gently pluck, twang and charm. Once again, Bad Flamingo have released a track which sounds perfectly ripe and fully-rounded. Hats off to them! LINK:  Bad Flamingo

As raw and rough as a tiger's tongue, garage rock 'n' roll duo Cannibal Daydream's recent release 'Baby, Can't You Feel My Sickness?' is a veritable slug in the guts. I loved the honesty from them that it sounds like it was "recorded on a TI-83 calculator" and that endearing comment made me enjoy it even more.  Mikey Isaac Peregrino and Miguel de Santiago formed Cannibal Daydream, in the Fall of 2025, after a chance meeting when they noticed both were wearing matching Danzig shirts. They say "A demo tape was recorded, lives were ruined, and now here we are..." The band say the song itself is about "a scorpion woman who sucked the soul outta my body and it hurt" - and they certainly convey that with the stabbing percussion and stinging guitars. The last time I heard the lyrics "I wanna hold your hand" it came out of the mouths of the wearisome Fab Four. This time it seems that Cannibal Daydream have taken the sentiment ...

With 'Your Voice In My Ear', multi-dimensional artist, producer, singer and songwriter, Kat KIKTA, has created an absorbing spoken word recording which highlights just how wonderful experimental electronica can be when done with style and refinement. The single has shades of Blade Runner and O Superman era Laurie Anderson, embracing futurism in the context of an interaction between a human and a machine. It is like eavesdropping on an intensely intimate conversation, richly backdropped by a glistening expanse of ambient synths and environmental sounds. Sexy and slightly sinister, the track challenges that notion of whether love and human emotion can freely exist between a person and a non-person - a subject which I expect will receive even more discussion as the rise in the development of artificial intelligence impacts society. 'Your Voice In My Ear' is not just a song - it’s an immersive experience, a shimmering, sensual transmission from some liminal space between th...

Minimalism takes hold on Uniah's new release 'Hallucia' with a combination of orchestral swirls and ethereal vocals. With words conveying unease "you caused me / you caused this / wreck of a delusion / hopelessly hopelessly / i breathe…" the piece contains both ghostly and tender tones. The Norwegian act's piece is inspired by lucid dreams and sleep paralysis, transporting the listener into the unreal and surrounding them with an aural vision which hints at disturbance and dark forces. Released via Re:memory, 'Hallucia' is a dramatic and compelling first single from Uniah's forthcoming debut album. Please give it a spin! LINK:  linktr.ee/uniah Hallucia by Uniah

The Martyr’s latest single, Lament In Black, is a deliciously grim (in a good way!) offering from the Los Angeles post-punk outfit whose sonic palette draws from industrial rock, gothic rock, new wave and existential dread. The track pulses with a drumbeat that feels like a hurried funeral march, while the guitar riff slinks through the shadows like a black cat with eyeliner. It’s darkwave at its finest: moody, magnetic and perfect for the goth club floor, where the despairing go to find joy. Expect lots of lace gloves and flailing arms, where you're not sure if the clients are dancing or spiralling - possibly both. The lyrics are nightmarish paranoia: "Wrestle with the mirror. I don’t like what I see. All my greatest fears. Play out in my sleep". A sentiment a lot might of people might have felt deep in their spider-web-lined souls. With "It’s all so sad. I can’t help but laugh" practically being a mantra for anyone who’s ever worn sunglasses indoors to hide th...

Death Drive are back with a new single ‘Don’t Hide’ and having loved their previous one, Volcano, it was no surprise for me to appreciate this latest recording. I have always been a fan of electronic music with a dark edge, especially when it is well-constructed and performed, and this London duo know exactly how to twist the knife. The track is a brutal meditation on identity, corrosion, and the desperate need to belong. It is pulsing electronica with a relentless tempo, driven by industrial EBM rhythms and the shadowy ambience of modern darkwave. Carine Fierobe’s vocals adeptly cut through the mix, at times there's a slight ethnic intonation to some of the phrasing, adding a haunting texture that works well alongside all the precision. Sanchez’s synths don’t just soar they pound, scream and rupture. Co-produced with Jack Milwaukee, 'Don’t Hide' continues the path carved by the act's previous repertoire, and it doesn’t flinch. Out October 23rd via Gasolina Recordings. ...

LAMIA’s 'Angel' drifted into my headphones like a whispered invocation - heart-breaking, beautiful, and utterly spellbinding. From the very start, I felt submerged in a soundscape that mourns and longs in equal measure. It’s ambient, yes, but haunted too - and the synths are sublime, bleak and droning with delicate tones flickering around the gloom like fading fireflies. Her voice, fragile and front-facing, carries the weight of a lament, a love-letter edged in black. “Behind the iron sky I see you… And when it’s dark I need you”. Lines that hint at a certain sorrow and anguish shrouding the song. LAMIA’s artistry really engages the listener. A graduate of Goldsmiths and a student of Leeds Conservatoire and The BRIT School, she’s carved a space where experimental electronic meets post-trance and deconstructed club. 'Angel' feels like a portal into that world - a spectral guide through sorrow. She describes its creation as “a light that appeared and guided me through the...

Right from the very off, Psych-O-Positive rev-up the engine and spin the wheels like they are driving on a tank full of gasoline. Pushing the speed limit to the max, thrusting passed all the slow-coaches, there's almost an urgent, bluesy AC/DC vigour to the rock-heavy instrumentation. That all sounds fine and dandy, however, at the helm, on lead vocals, there's a certain wild child spirit, taking this song into a more alternative terrain. That makes the ride all that more fun and exhilarating.  The band, who claim to be a universal donor of sonic psychedelia, say that the song divulges "an authentic and relatable story about a night out gone wrong. It’s a sharp contrast, pitting dirty streets against a monolithic monument in a sonic landscape that defines and deifies rock ‘n’ roll". Lost & Found needs you to claim it and play it loud.  LINK: psych-o-positive.com

As many of you will know, I am always looking out for oddball Japanese acts - the kind that make you question your reality, your taste in music, and occasionally your digestive system. So when I heard Japanese duo XAMIYA were dropping their food-related fifth single, 'GG', I picked up my knife and fork (I'm rubbish with chopsticks) and braced for impact. XAMIYA, aka KAMIYA and XANSEI, blend Alternative/Indie Rock, UK Garage, Drum & Bass and French House like a Tokyo vending machine that dispenses anything from emergency undercrackers to luminous drinks. Their sound is steeped in Japan’s street culture, but it’s also something entirely new - at times seeming like Harajuku style gate-crashing a London post-punk warehouse rave. 'GG' short for 'Garlic Gang' is an electro-punk taste-sensation. It’s bold, intense, and yes - pungent. The beat, courtesy of XANSEI and Decz, is a crunchy, percussive relish that chomps beneath sugary sweet vocals. Pitched as almost...

Although it starts with a gentle rhythm, once Human Intrusion’s track 'Collider' fired-up, it hit me like a high-energy particle smashing through a cloud chamber - sparky, precise and strangely magnetic. As a science nerd with a soft spot for industrial guitars and synths, this track felt like it was engineered in a lab just for me. The Naarm/Melbourne-based duo Lewis O’Brien and Penny Walker-Keefe channel the ghost frequencies of The Cure and Depeche Mode, but manage to splice in strands of more contemporary influences. The result? A sonic isotope that’s both retro and radiant. Taken from their 'Fission' EP, Collider honours the Large Hadron Collider with a sound that’s equal parts mechanical and metaphysical. In some ways, it reminded me of Curve, with that divine rumbling, rollercoaster bass and appealing vocals performed with gothic lustre. A production which plays out as both elegant and powerful. Amusingly, the EP is available in a limited edition floppy disc form...

Finnish alternative metalists Darevolt have just released a scorching new rocker called Cut Loose. From the very off, like a champion greyhound exploding from the trap, the recording is a firecracker of feisty guitars and bang-away drums. At times, the vocal line has a slight feel of Rage Against The Machine, but with more of a grunge delivery. The band are "inspired by the swagger of Queens of the Stone Age and the primal punch of Royal Blood" but they have plucked away all the flab and slimmed it down to the bare bones. The song certainly pops from the speaker cabinets, like a savage beast trying to escape its cage to run free through the grass. Nicely done.