FUTUREPROOF PICKS 12-03-26

Hello world,

Here’s your latest FP Picks update with another great mix of killer cuts fm Rosellas, The Institutes, Aldous Harding & lots more. If you like what you hear please follow and share this playlist, it helps us keep doing our thing by getting the algorithms on our side. Also please support the artists featured in any way you can!

Until next week

Helen (Futureproof) x

Lip Critic – Legs In A Snare

NYC-based electronic punk outfit Lip Critic recently dropped their single Legs In A Snare, taken from the upcoming album Theft World. Described as a “A love song twisted into a horror story” the track’s convulsing bass lines and punchy vocals give an exciting taster of what’s to come. “Theft World is an ode to the power and pervasiveness of stealing,” says the band of the album. “It’s about taking something ugly and using it to make something cute. It’s about eating an absurd world and falling in love with it as you digest.”

The Institutes – The Mountain Song

Coventry indie-rock outfit The Institutes recently shared their vigorous new single The Mountain Song and it’s a bold statement of intent — blending groove, atmosphere and that unmistakable “Stompgaze” sound the band are carving out as their own. Vocalist Andy Hall states: “The Mountain Song is about that feeling of momentum you don’t quite realise you’ve surrendered to. You start out chasing something that feels elevating but at some point the path disappears beneath your feet. No matter how different the reasons or the promises feel at the start, the journey always seems to end in the same place.” It’s a banger for sure.

The Clockworks – Magnificent Seven

The Clockworks recently shared high-octane new single Magnificent Seven, taken from their forthcoming new album The Entertainment. Frontman James McGregor states: “Lyrically, I’d had this idea for ages of using the ‘Wild West’ as a metaphor for writing a song about technocracy in the modern West, using the criminals that control so much of our daily lives as cowboys. Then I overheard an economist refer to the biggest companies in tech as the ‘Magnificent Seven’. It was one of those ‘eureka’ moments, the comparison between these companies, and the characters in the film ‘The Magnificent Seven’. Not only the fact that it’s a Western and that they’re cowboys, but that the film is about the cowboys coming to save this village.” Great songwriting on this powerful track.

Basement – WIRED

Basement have announced their upcoming album WIRED with lead singles WIRED and Broken By Design. Vocalist Andrew Fisher explains: “WIRED is about how sometimes it feels that we are set up to feel and behave in certain ways beyond our control. That no matter how hard you try to hide it, eventually it will come out – either by choice or by force. This song was almost lost – a few of us were into it, but it sort of lost traction for a bit. Then one day it cropped back up and we put it at the forefront of our minds and it ended up being one of my favourite songs to perform and record.” Of the album, which is noted as “a bold swing that people will either love or hate”, guitarist Henery notes: “I never thought Basement could sound like this. But in my head, it’s what I’ve always wanted Basement to sound like.”

Rosellas – Beautiful Lonely

Manchester band Rosellas serve up this first taste of what’s to come from their upcoming Shadow Dancing EP – a masterpiece in fluidity with no rough edges, it flows beautifully as intricate guitar parts weave in and out effortlessly painting a densely packed sonic picture. Touches of Brian Adams in both the vocal delivery & guitar playing hark back to a nineties vibe while the lyric, seemingly about self doubt, disillusionment & the image we all project out into the world on social media & alike, places it firmly in a modern context. Excellent musicianship throughout and a smooth production give this song a mainstream quality that may well help it reach a bigger audience than this already popular outfit are enjoying on the UK live circuit.

Magi Merlin – POPSTAR

Montreal artist Magi Merlin has shared her new single POPSTAR, co-produced with Funkywhat. Magi states: “After writing this song and thinking about it with intention, I think I can see the true responsibility of a popstar. It is to be a messenger, to influence and to inspire change in the people listening. I don’t think the point is to single-handedly change the world; it’s to remind all of us that we can, if we do it together.” Magi Merlin [pronounced Mahd-j-eye] calls her sound ‘Broken R&B’, but really, it’s whatever she feels like breaking down and rebuilding in the studio. From indie pop and ’90s house to R&B, hip-hop and jazz, it’s a collage where the glue often is a masterful use of harmonies and a clever juxtaposition of lyrical lightness and depth.

Pulp – Begging for Change

Pulp‘s raw & primal track Begging for Change is their contribution to War Child UK’s charity album Help(2). “Thirty years ago we gave our Mercury Prize (and the prize money) to War Child,” frontman Jarvis Cocker said in a recent press release. “This year we have given more. How much more? You’ll have to wait and see…” The slow, distorted electric guitar intro makes way for a raucous, upbeat instrumental, and a chant from Cocker and his choir: “B-E-G-G-I-N-G/ Begging for Change!” The track is an intense cut that finds Jarvis Cocker and co. in a stripped-back, urgent and unapologetic form. The frontman enlisted the same children’s choir that featured on Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten and Kae Tempest‘s Help(2) track Flags recently.

Aldous Harding – One Stop

Aldous Harding has dropped edgy new single One Stop, taken from the upcoming album Train On The Island. It’s a stripped-back track built around a singular piano motif and Harding’s multi-tracked vocals that has a wiry and enigmatic aura. There’s a stream of consciousness lyrical style as she recalls meeting Welsh music icon, John Cale. ”I met the real John Cale. He had no words, but I don’t mind. I packed the stage while he ate rice.” The album has been co-produced by Harding’s long-time collaborator John Parish (PJ Harvey, Dry Cleaning) at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, where they worked together on all of her previous LPs.

Loraine James – In a Rut (ft. Sydney Spann)

London electronic producer Loraine James has shared new single In a Rut (ft Sydney Spann) and announces new album Detached From The Rest of You. In a press release, Loraine James refers to Detached From The Rest Of You as her “IDM popstar album” and says, “I’m using my voice a lot more, and putting it higher in the mix than I usually would. I guess I’m growing some confidence.” The LP includes contributions from artists like Alan Sparhawk, Tirzah, Anysia Kym, and Cibo Matto’s Miho Hatori. The muted, evocative single In A Rut features Baltimore-born, New York-based singer and sound artist Sydney Spann.