First in a series of ragtime pieces (yes, you read that correctly, ragtime in 2025) forming the EP 'Fancy a Drink?', out on January 31st, Tea Leaf Rag is a fun, cheery tune that evokes images of flickering black and white film with whimsical quotations between scenes. A fan of Scott Joplin (The Entertainer would be his most famous work), Ellie researched the ragtime genre and set out to compose pieces with the   INTRO AA BB A CC DD structure, consistent with the majority of Joplin's pieces. The result is a fun collection of jaunty tunes, each encouraging the listener to help themselves to a hot drink, as is customary in British society. Ellie wanted to bring ragtime music and growing up in the UK together and no name could be more apt for this introductory track than referring to a nice cup of tea. Alongside prolific writing, Ellie is also a sound engineer in the local area, and has recently started a new venture called 'Mad Hatter Presents' - focusing on providin...

  Vocalist Shelle Luscombe and producer Richard Bignell have been creating gorgeous tracks together since 2019 as Desire Path, and this recent release re-works a song from the their debut album, removing the drums to create a more ambient vibe throughout. Featuring seductive whispers and ethereal vocals, Language of Love would not be out of place in a Lord of the Rings movie - it gives me those Enya vibes. When I listen to songs for review, I have them on repeat and often get to the point where I've had enough - but not so with this track. It's quite happily spinning for perhaps the seventh time! This is testament not only to the beautiful vocals, but also the masterful production which has created a fully finessed sound; a feast for the ears. 

  Brigadé Junk don't hide their feelings in this cut-and-dry debut EP, touching on subjects such as politics, snowflakes and religion in a way that rejects societal norms. I have to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of these kinds of songs unless they're being played live and everyone's joining in, in a rowdy 'we agree' kind of way (I can imagine the la la las in Realpolitik Blues go down well a storm with a crowd). However, there are some moments on this EP that catch my attention, primarily because they remind me of sounds created in the late 20th century. There are so many songs and artists that come to mind as I'm listening, including The Jam, The Clash and even the vocals of Paul Heaton. Self confessed 'post-modern has-beens', this band are comprised of three guys who came together to pay homage to bands they have enjoyed over the years, without professing to offer anything new (we ain't reinventing the wheel, they say) but rather taking th...