Each week we like to champion the music scene with ten songs in our playlist that all have a connection to the RaW (Reading and Wokingham) area and sometimes beyond. This week’s three additions are very much at the rock end of the spectrum, though each with their own distinctive flavour. As always, we have a wide variety of musical styles, but we think they’re all worth a listen and we hope you find something new to enjoy as well as maybe getting out to experience the thrill of live music.
1. High Regard – Mirror Glass –
Marisa and the Moths were the home-town headliners on the first night of Reading Rising, and most excellent they were; we’ll undoubtedly be featuring tracks from them again in the future. The rest of the line-up over the weekend was of a high standard, too, and one of the most talked about was High Regard – this is the their recent single, which has had well-deserved airplay on BBC Radio 1 already, and has emotive vocals and a lyric that alludes to the problems of dealing with the consequences of past actions. They’ve already got several gigs lined up from early next year; we’re certainly looking forward to seeing them live again! https://linktr.ee/Highregardpop
2. Red Tape Resistance – How I’ve Wanted You –
This is the latest single from the Bracknell-based alt rock three piece. They played a set recently at the Acoustic Couch in Bracknell, which has been a great grassroots music venue where a lot of local bands have got their start. The current location is due to close late next year, but the volunteers running it are looking for a new venue; we hope they’re successful as places like this are essential for emerging acts. The track has more of a mellow vibe than some of their rockier numbers, and meditates on the state of a relationship, which seems to be a common theme in this week’s selections! https://linktr.ee/redtaperesistance
3. Lake Acacia – Broken –
Another band that impressed us at Reading Rising, the duo of vocalist/bassist Tim Groethe and percussionist/vocalist Joe Homer are back with a new track they developed from a riff they played as the intro to another song at a live show. Broken was developed into a song with producer Glen Robinson; the band explained “The song is about trying to rekindle a broken relationship with somebody you were once so close with. They’ve become distant and it’s killing you not knowing why.” Lake Acacia differ from the other two new entries this week in featuring no guitar, relying on bass and drums augmented by electronics, which gives them a distinctive sound as well as onstage appearance. https://linktr.ee/lakeacacia
4. Rila’s Edge – Pimlico Road –
Rila’s Edge are back with a new single, Pimlico Road, which is a lovely slice of indie rock about how being with the right person can transform your experience of a place into something magical. We look forward to seeing them going on to even greater success in the New Year! https://www.facebook.com/rilasedge
5. A Better Life, Holly Taymar – Under The Setting Sun –
This is the first single from the latest album, The Light. Phil Daniels is the producer based in Berkshire who works with a collective of musicians to produce music which promotes a feeling of calm and tranquility. The vocals on this track are by Holly Taymar who also featured on a previous track we selected by A Better Life, and they add to the uplifting and calming mood of the song. https://www.facebook.com/abetterlifemusic
6. Danny Lampo – Fear No Man (FNM) –
Danny Lampo is a Ghanaian born in Italy, and now living in Reading, which suggests his music is influenced by an unusual combination of factors. We’ve featured a couple of his tracks in the past, and here is his latest single, just released, another prime example of his Afrobeat style. If you’re intrigued, you can catch the Lampo Experience performing live at The Butler in Chatham Street on Saturday 7th December. https://www.dannylampo.com/
7. Ez Dickens, Tanti – Take a Breath –
This is Ez Dicken’s latest single, recorded in Spain with DJ and producer Tanti, and it’s a mellow reggae hip-hop number suggesting that we should take a moment to look around, step back from the rat race and appreciate the good things in life. It’s a little slice of Summer to brighten your day as the evenings close in! https://www.facebook.com/ezdickensmusic
8. Eric Street Band – You’re Living A Lie –
This track from the album The Word on the Street showcases the guitar of Gordon Vaughn and harmonica of Dave Raphael, alongside Dennis Siggery’s distinctive vocal rasp. https://www.ericstreetband.com/
9. Mammoth Toe – MaybePG –
Mammoth Toe are a three-piece from Bristol who played at The Purple Turtle recently, and we were impressed by their instrumental progressive post-rock stylings. This track is the single taken from their recently released album, Ok, Well Done. https://linktr.ee/mammothtoe
10. San Demas – Stay Forever –
Another great track from their EP, Love Sick, and the band played as part of Reading Rising at the Face Bar. https://linktr.ee/sandemas
