review – Page 19 – Bread Records

Just The Crust 25/12/23: Keddy Sowels – Knives and Thieves 🙌

25th Dec 202325th Dec 2023artist, bread, just the crust, local scene, new music, review, videoLeave a Comment

our feature for today’s Just The Crust is the brand new single from Keddy sowels music “Knives and Thieves“!

we’ve known Keddy for a good while now, having performed across Manchester over the past year or so on the regular, playing at gigs and open mics across the city, after moving from Newcastle

his down-to-earth songwriting ability, mixed with his intricate and melodic guitarwork, proves him as one to watch on the North West scene, this new single is a real indication of his talent – writing about the social cliques and balance within industries, and the barriers that are put in place for new faces within said industries. this can be said of a larger societal structure, the imbalance between people within our culture – and Keddy’s comments on it are apt and needed, showing his maturity beyond his age. balanced with a lovely musical soundscape, he’s been able to create not only a track that is informative, but also catchy, upbeat and dynamic – real proof of his talent.

you can find the track on all streaming services, including Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/album/6IzJmpadKrpXdW6p4ROIva – well worth a listen!

all of our reviews, features, music and more on our website at www.breadrecords.co.uk

The Wrap: November 2023 ✨

21st Dec 202321st Dec 2023artist, bread, local scene, new music, review, The Wrap1 Comment

we’ve got our next edition of The Wrap for you all, covering a load of incredible releases from November! there’s so much incredible music being released, we love to see it – we’ve written a bunch of reviews for some of our favourites, and you can find all of them below ⬇️

Sheffield’s own alternative rockers Sweet Beast have just released their new EP “Good Times“! Full of luscious guitar riffs, huge vocal harmonies and a driving rhythmic backdrop, it’s an incredible release. Lots of old school rock inspiration here, it’s full of energetic and upbeat ferocity, and with gorgeous guitar solos, their ability to write bangers is proved in full. With anthemic choruses, lovely guitar tones, a real chemistry between the band, they’ve proved themselves as ones to watch – we can’t wait to hear more! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)

We’re huge fans of Jacob Reddy, with him making incredible waves in the North West scene over the course of the year, performing a headline set at The Deaf Institute and playing at Glastonbury, releasing a bunch of incredible tracks, and he’s returned with a brand new single “Breaking Me Down“! Taking a more heavier, alternative rock feel compared to his previous singles, it feels as if his maturity shines right through this tune. An intimate and passionate lyrical context throughout, over a lovely guitar progression – the drums and bassline only accentuate the quality of this track, giving it a lovely flow and space, which Jacob utilises extensively with his performance. Well worth a listen! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)

We had Abi Rose Kelly perform for us during the Summer, and we’ve been waiting so long to have her play for us – she’s an absolutely incredible talent, we love her tunes, and this new single “Startin’ 2 Panic!” is real proof of her ability. Her unmatched ferocity, and ability to write down-to-earth and relatable lyrics, puts her as a real talent to keep an eye on in the North West. The force behind this track, with the production, instrumentation, and prolific vocals really bring the track to life – the layers of distortion, the power that’s embedded in the song, they all come together to make a really incredible tune. We can’t wait to hear even more! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)

We’ve had Aurora Rays on our radar for a good while now, and her innate ability to create a gorgeous track is incredible – her new single “Saturday” here with Claudio Filippini is evident of that! Opening up with a lovely, almost synth-pop feel, there’s a luscious production element here, and with the pianowork as it opens up it really unfolds into a massive sound. Her vocal over the top is encapsulating, really drawing the attention of the listener, and the rhythm is spot on to keep the track flowing expertly. There’s lovely vocal harmonies throughout, and you can listen to the track over and over and still retain the feeling you had when you heard for the first time. It’s well worth checking out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)

We’ve had Cal Murphy perform for us a bunch – the Manchester-born songwriter has a real ability to convey a story within his lyricism. We’ve been in awe of his live performances for a good while, always a great set – and this new single “One More Glass Of Whiskey” really proves his talent. The storytelling in this track is top-notch, conveying the socio-political elements of corruption, you can really hear his influences of traditional music and folk singers throughout. There’s a lovely melody that repeats right from the get-go, referenced by the violin later in the track, and the groove of the track is accentuated fully by the rhythm, balanced with the guitarwork. Fantastic stuff! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)

We covered Zara Smile‘s previous single “Human” on our Just The Crust feature earlier this year, and their brand new tune “Spotlight” is out now! A lovely, indie-folk-inspired tune; reminiscent of songwriters like Elliot Smith and Julien Baker – it’s a real delicate track full of emotion, about finding the right path, in a world that feels like it’s against you constantly. Their ability to convey such intricate and deep-rooted issues through music is inspirational, really proving their songwriting talent; and the downbeat and intimate nature of the instrumentation in the song really lends you to take a real good listen to the lyricism. It’s a gorgeous release and well worth checking out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)

We had BARDS perform for us back in October at The Castle Hotel, and their raw power, ferocity and ability to wow a crowd really sets them apart from the rest – we’ve caught them live a bunch and they always smash it! Their new single “Roast” came out in November and it’s one of our favourites – getting going right from the start with huge anthemic guitarwork, massive drums and a powerful bassline, giving a real ferocious backdrop for the vocal to shine through. This is one of our favourite choruses, it’s catchy, driving and powerful – and the parallel atmosphere compared to the verse really makes it stand out. It’s a huge track, with so much going on, working perfectly in unison to create a huge soundscape – and the psychedelic nature of the bridge is a perfect break, yet also a brilliant precursor to the final chorus. We love it! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)

The Rolling People have had an incredible 2023, performing at prestigious venues across Manchester and the North West, gaining over 100k streams on their single “Better Man” – and their new single “Grateful for Nothing” sounds absolutely fantastic. The Stockport-based indie outfit open the track with an anthemic, dreamy state, with luscious guitar lines throughout, only for the main vocal to come in and take direct command of the track. It’s a down-to-earth and conversationalist tone lyrically, almost as if you’re in the pub with your mates – and with a proper singalong chorus, it’s a track that will see The Rolling People go far. (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP)

yet another incredible month of music, there’s been so many fantastic releases, and there’s a whole plethora of talent out there, that we didn’t get to cover! thanks to everyone who has checked this out! 🤘

Make sure you head on down to open mics, gigs, support local music and arts and keep your scenes going! 😊 all music, videos and images remain copyright of their respective owners. 🍞

Just The Crust 18/12/23: Sip of Milk – Morning Song 🎶

18th Dec 202318th Dec 2023artist, bread, just the crust, local scene, new music, review, videoLeave a Comment

our feature for today’s Just The Crust is the brand new single from Sip of Milk “Morning Song“!

after their formation in South Wales, they’ve made waves in the Manchester music scene with their intricate brand of indie rock, moulding pop harmonies with indie melodies to create a real unique brand of americana-infused songwriting. they’ve been performing across the city over the past year and really making their impact on audiences and building a name for themselves.

this is their second single, a relaxed and intimate offering, showcasing their prolific lyrical capabilities, with a real sense of down-to-earth writing and a gorgeous musical balance between the band. they’ve created a lovely track that feels uplifting, and touching at the same time, it’s a fantastic track from the band and an incredible follow-up to their debut.

you can find the track on all streaming platforms, including Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/album/0Y9IjhZOf3qGxJFw8BxM2X and there’s an acoustic video on YouTube available to watch at https://youtu.be/BAT4GsV5V44 too!

you can find all of our features, reviews, music and more on our website at www.breadrecords.co.uk

Just The Crust 11/12/23: Chest – Waterslide 🙌

11th Dec 202311th Dec 2023artist, bread, just the crust, local scene, new music, review, videoLeave a Comment

our feature for today’s Just The Crust is “Waterslide“, the brand new single from Norwich-based indie outfit Chest!

fusing indie-rock, punk and grunge elements, they’ve created a real unique sound to their music, with inspirations from post-punk and anthemic alternative rock; culminating in a lo-fi, atmospheric soundscape, chock-full of guitar melodies and riffs that encircle the listener, and with vocal harmonies laced throughout the entire track – all locked into a firm foundation with a driving and strong rhythm from the drums and bassline. an incredible tune, well worth a listen!

you can find the track on all streaming sites, including Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/49zkEvPxz2hSzcRGIJXSe4 – give it a spin and add it to your playlists!

find all of our features, reviews, music and more on our website at www.breadrecords.co.uk

REVIEW: The Empire Police – The Human Condition 👊

10th Dec 202310th Dec 2023artist, bread, local scene, new music, reviewLeave a Comment

Lancashire heavyweights The Empire Police bring their prolific year to an end with a bang, with the release of their brand new single “The Human Condition“. After performing across the North West, at venues such as Night and Day, The Ferret, and putting on their own festival Rock AM River in Preston at The New Continental, they’ve established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the North West, and ones to definitely keep an eye out for in 2024.

We were massive fans of their previous release “Northern Bones” earlier this year, a track that blended grungier and punkier elements with intricate storytelling and poetry from lead singer Jordao – whilst maintaining catchy hooks, infectious melodies and huge soundscaping; just some of the class qualities that we’ve come to expect from The Empire Police’s offerings. Their songs are laden with accurate, yet often bleak descriptions of society and the modern climate, written with passion and expertise – and their musical capabilities behind the lyrics give the songs a huge impact on the listener. Every element of the track works in perfect unison with one another to ensure that the music has just as much power and impact as the lyricism does.

This new tune “The Human Condition” not only is another classic from The Empire Police, but sets a real standard, it’s an incredible track from the fellas. Opening up with a wavy, dream-like soundscape, the track gives a strong backdrop for Jordao to command the listener’s attention – and his lyricism throughout is quality, taking a real look at the nature of humanity, a real reflection of the society of today. His rhyming pattern throughout is lovely, always maintaining freshness – and the tight rhythm section behind creates a real foundation on the track. There’s a gorgeous guitar tone within the verses, picking lovely riffs and then opening up to a huge wall of sound in the choruses, giving such a ferocity to it. The breakdown is a short breath of fresh air, and calm, within the track – and the build up to the final section is huge, with a real sense of power and command throughout it all.

Just The Crust 04/12/23: Andrew Bradley – Magic ✨

4th Dec 20234th Dec 2023artist, bread, just the crust, local scene, new music, review, videoLeave a Comment

our feature for today’s Just The Crust is the brand new single from Andrew Bradley “Magic“, out this coming Friday 8th of December!

we’ve covered Andrew’s music before, with his album release last year – a real lovely collection of tracks, well-crafted and upbeat throughout, a fantastic introduction to his music! The Newcastle-based songwriter set himself apart with this one, and proved his songwriting ability effortlessly.

this new single is taken from his upcoming album, and follows the first single “Fortune Teller” – this track sounds superb from the get-go, with a real ambient soundscape setting the scene, a relaxed and luscious atmosphere that precedes Andrew’s vocal coming in, alongside a lovely guitar pattern, soft and delicate pianowork – it’s a lovely and intimate track, and you can hear the passion and intricacy that he has put into it, with production elements throughout that only solidify the beauty of the track. an incredible listen! we can’t wait to hear the album!

you can find the track in full on all streaming sites this Friday, but in the meantime there’s a full lyric video available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/A90J7AhcYZ8 – check it out!

all of our features, reviews, music and more are available to find on our website at www.breadrecords.co.uk

Just The Crust 27/11/23: Chris Tavener – The Daily Grind ☀️

27th Nov 202327th Nov 2023artist, bread, just the crust, local scene, new music, review, videoLeave a Comment

our feature for today’s Just The Crust is the brand new single from Chris Tavener “The Daily Grind“!

we’ve known Chris for a real long time now, he’s a staple of the Manchester music scene having performed here a plethora of times over the past few years, and his witty and comical music always stands out – his ability to capture any audience in his grasp is inspirational!

we’ve been big fans of his music for ages, his EP “Easy Ways To Be Happy” last year was sensational and he’s returned with another incredible track! continuing with his usual satirical style, he’s taking a playful swipe at the cost of living crisis of today, fueled by the consumption of coffee by the current society – mixed with an upbeat, jangly-pop musical backdrop give a real sense of urgency behind his lyrics. there’s the usual sense of humour that we’ve come to expect with Chris, and his originality is paramount throughout, he’s created a track that you can definitely tell is his own; another fantastic release!

you can find the track on all streaming sites, or the full video is available to watch on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNaSk2Pd1zo – well worth checking out!

all of our features, reviews, music and more are available on our website at www.breadrecords.co.uk

ICYMI, our latest edition of The Wrap ✨

22nd Nov 2023artist, bread, local scene, new music, review, The WrapLeave a Comment

in case you missed it, our The Wrap feature for October was proper boss

with an incredible bunch of releases from the talents of Sam Scherdel Spooky Goose Sad Sells Issy Sutcliffe Maxwell Varey Bridget. Taurine and Emma Taylor and the Wall Flowers – it’s well worth checking out for a dose of new music!

you can find the reviews in full on our website at https://breadrecords.co.uk/2023/11/14/the-wrap-october-2023/ – check it out and let us know what you think!

The Wrap: October 2023 ✨

Just The Crust 20/11/23: VALA – Fishes 🙌

20th Nov 202320th Nov 2023artist, bread, just the crust, local scene, new music, review, videoLeave a Comment

our feature for today’s Just The Crust is the brand new single from VALA “Fishes“!

we’ve been huge fans of VALA for a while now, having reviewed their past few singles which sound mega, a real lovely atmosphere to them and such a feel-good sound. we caught them at The Deaf Institute on Friday and they were class – well worth heading to one of their live shows!

this new single only extends to their already-fantastic discography, with a gorgeous guitar melody laying the foundation of the song, a tight rhythm holding it together and the main vocal utilising the space of the track superbly, especially with the use of the autotune to bring a more synthetic sound to the song – it’s still got the upbeat elements of their previous releases but brings all of their different influences to it, which is brilliant to see.

you can find the track on all streaming platforms including Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/26tcWRMjTwUJks8fvo4JIs – well worth a listen!

all of our features, reviews, music and more can be found on our website at www.breadrecords.co.uk

The Wrap: October 2023 ✨

14th Nov 202314th Nov 2023artist, bread, local scene, new music, review, The Wrap1 Comment

we’re back with our next edition of The Wrap – covering a bunch of our favourite releases from October! there’s so much incredible music being released, we love to see it – we’ve written a bunch of reviews for some of our favourites, and you can find all of them below ⬇️

Sheffield’s own Sam Scherdel returns with his new single “R.E.T.R.O.“! We’ve covered his music a bunch in the past and his indie-rock styling sounds fantastic, with so much energy behind it; reminding us a bunch of 70’s rock like Springsteen! This new single is a testament to his songwriting ability, and his talent to be able to write an intricate and personal track, conveying his words in a real lovely manner, whilst maintaining a lovely upbeat feel to it all. It’s a real class tune, and well worth checking out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)

Manchester indie-punk outfit Spooky Goose have returned with a bang with their first release in two years “Conjure You“! We’ve had these guys perform for us a bunch over the past few years that we’ve known them, and this tune is a real culmination of the progress that they’ve made since being in Manchester. With great dual vocals from Will and Joe, their individual styles complimenting each other superbly, and maintaining their original unique storyteller songwriting ability – plus with intricate rhythm, gorgeous guitar tones and walls of sound alongside their harmonies, it’s a fantastic tune! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)

New Manchester indie-folk band Sad Sells have just put out their debut single “Between The Covers“! Already gaining a bunch of traction, having performed a headline set at Night & Day, being played on BBC Radio 6 – it’s a real show of their talent. We’ve known many of the band for a good while, and they’re all incredible musicians in their own right – performing together on this track, they compliment each other so well and create a gorgeous soundscape for the track. It’s intimate, yet inviting – there’s a gorgeous country-esque feel to it, and an incredible debut release from the band. We can’t wait to hear more! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC)

We’ve been a fan of Issy Sutcliffe for a good while now, her debut single was an incredible way for her to burst onto the scene, with punky and grungey elements throughout, a real no-holds-barred release. She returns with her next single “Drugs Can’t Fix Me” – continuing with the heavier sound, albeit opening softly and delicately, showing her prowess as a songwriter, and the groove behind the track is super lush, allowing the track to flow smoothly through to a massive chorus, where Issy’s vocals shine, demanding the listener’s attention and ensuring you’re listening to every word as she bares her soul out in her music. (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC)

We had Maxwell Varey perform for us last year, at our Toasted event and he absolutely smashed it, we knew from then he was gonna go far. The Wigan-born songwriter has just put out his brand new single “Ain’t It Funny” – an indie-rock anthem laced with alternative inspirations, it’s got gorgeous guitar melodies throughout, and Maxwell’s vocal commands attention right from the get-go; his lyricism is on point here, proving his ability to write a relatable and catchy track – plus, the production on the track is lush, giving him so much space throughout, and every instrument perfectly in place to work in unison. Well worth checking out his discography! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)

We were massive fans of Bridget. after the release of her previous single earlier this year, and she’s returned with a brand new single “Reason“! Her grungey, 90’s alternative inspired tracks are fantastic, with gorgeous guitar tones, huge rhythm sections and luscious lead lines throughout, and her vocal is ferocious in every part of the track – fantastic stuff. There’s a real power and intensity behind this song, showing that she’s a real force to be reckoned with for the future – we’re super looking forward to what’s coming next! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)

We covered Taurine‘s last single on one of our previous features, and they’re back with their brand new single “Starv” – a huge anthemic banger, kicking off in a real mellow manner, and it opens up ferociously, with a gorgeous guitar melody that gives a perfect compliment to the intensity of the main vocal – as it comes into the chorus it explodes into a huge wall of sound, distortion and chaos, with a massive burst of rhythm, the guitar riff taking control yet giving so much space to the vocal; it’s a real political anthem about the climate of today’s society, with hard-hitting lyricism and pure passion and rage put into the track. Well worth checking out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP)

Over the past few years, Emma Taylor has been making waves on the North West scene, performing in her hometown of Blackpool and beyond – now she’s moved to Manchester she’s formed her band Emma Taylor & The Wallflowers, and her brand new debut single “Fade (Stripped Back Version)” is a gorgeous introduction to her music. With a lovely intimate atmosphere, her vocal and guitar being solely on show, it proves her innate natural creative ability, her songwriting talent and ability to capture the listener’s attention right from the start. It’s a lovely tune, and we’re super looking forward to hearing even more from her in the future! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP)

another incredible month of music, with so many fantastic releases, and this is just a taste of what’s been out – there’s a whole plethora of talent! thanks to everyone who has checked this out! 🤘

Make sure you head on down to open mics, gigs, support local music and arts and keep your scenes going! 😊 all music, videos and images remain copyright of their respective owners. 🍞