- Sounds of Summer 2020 - The Strange Brew

Rogers & Butler‘s new album Poets & Sinners continues their signature melodic rock aided by some of New York City’s best known musicians. There are echoes of Ian Hunter on ‘Roll The Stone’, George Harrison on ‘Writing To The Moon’ and Tom Petty on ‘Jump Like Alice’ but the LP has a distinctive sound. Lead video ‘Olde Store Fronts’ showcases how Rogers & Butler highlight current issues by reflecting on the past: facebook.com/RogersButlerMusic

Lincoln quartet It’s Karma It’s Kool‘s new album Woke Up In Hollywood follows up last year’s EP Hipsters and Aeroplanes. The dozen tracks here are expertly crafted with opener ‘Our Love Is An Amplifier’ embing and flowing like Pulp’s ‘Sunrise’. Other songs include the reflective ‘Back in ’78’ recalling The Connells and the classic pop/rock of ‘Wooden Buddah’. Highlights also include the REM-esque ‘Healer’s Leap’, glam ‘Ghosts Of Rome’ and epic ‘Battle Of Burnt Out Bliss’: itskarmaitscool.bandcamp.com and facebook.com/itskarmaitscool

Oxygen, the new nine song album by Custard Flux, bring a tapestry of delights from prolific songwriter Curvey. ‘Quarantyne’ is a fitting track for these times, touching on distancing from people and loneliness. Mars Williams (Psychedelic Furs) plays saxophone on the album’s opener ‘Oxygen/Gelatinous Mass’, a track with an early prog feel. The production is as well crafted throughout with acoustic guitars and harmonium emphasising Curvey’s unique psychedelia: custardflux.bandcamp.com

The Sunchymes‘ The Sands Of Time album sets their direction towards 60s psych in this harmonious collection. Standout songs include the Nuggets emulating ‘Lost In Valley Way’, Beach Boys themed ‘Telepathy’ and ‘In A Century’s Time’ and The Move-type gem ‘Meet the Seeker’: thesunchymes.bandcamp.com/album/the-sands-of-time

The Muldoons‘ debut LP, Made For Each Other recalls better days of indie of yesteryear. A memoir of “growing up, getting drunk and falling in and out of love every week” in the band’s hometown of Paisley, the LP is preceded by the release of the superb single, ‘In Love Again’: lastnightfromglasgow.com/products/the-muldoons-made-for-each-other-black-or-red-vinyl

Tremendous‘ debut album is a glam laden hook fest characterised by ‘Like Dreamers Do’, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Satellite’, ‘Bag of Nails’ and ‘Copycat Killer’. Music for the heart: facebook.com/TremendousMusic

OK Go, best known for their elaborate one-take videos such as ‘Here It Goes Again’ have released ‘All Together Now’, a fitting track in response to coronavirus as part of a campaign to raise money for health care workers: okgo.net/alltogethernow

Cruel Hearts Club‘s ‘Blame Me Too’ is a pop-grunge tale of heartbreak from sister’s Edie and Gita Langley and drummer Gabi Woo. With backing from Iggy Pop, Sting and The Libertines the trio are making waves: facebook.com/cruelheartsclub

Kairos 4tet frontman Adam Waldmann releases his music in seven years with ‘The Body Keeps the Score’. A moving ode to his grandmother, it features Emilia Mårtensson on vocals: kairos4tet.com

Hailing from Tacoma, Washington, Strangely Alright bring a modernist take on Floyd and Bowie with ‘Psych Film’, a vital glam-indie-psych hybrid: strangelyalright.com

The Brothers Landau – David and Daniel Landau cast a spell with the superbly written and produced ‘Haven’t Got A Name’: brotherslandau.com

Fronted by brothers Lee Stevens and Stevens, The Swagger are a North London group whose latest single is a powerful indie rocker. With an equally stirring music video they echo Liam Gallagher but with a social conscience: theswagger.bandcamp.com/track/loaded-gun