Snuttock – ‘Stay’

A band with an odd sounding name will stick hard and fast in your memory. If their music is incredible as well, then that stickiness will be even more so. Snuttock are one of those sorts of bands. They’ve been around for two decades, and during that time they’ve endlessly experimented, and been inventive with their style. They’ve explored dark industrial sounds, wigged-out experiments, synth meltdowns, and the bleakest of mechanical imaginings, that nearly take you over the edge into madness. Their latest single, ‘Stay’, which is the first and title track from their upcoming album, is one part super-lavish Depeche Mode, and one part OMDs passion. The other parts are all the property of Snuttock alone.

David Haerle – ‘Go Do That With Sharon’ And ‘Romy and Michele’

We’ve written about David Haerle a lot here on Essentially Pop, reviewing the releases from his 2018 debut album, ‘Garden Of Edendale’. Now he returns with his second album, ‘Death Valley’, which is a glistening blend of So-Cal sound with classic British Rock. The first two singles, ‘Go Do That With Sharon’, and ‘Romy And Michele’, are just a taste of what’s to come from the rest of the album, which tracks his search for a renewal of his spirit, and finding beauty in the minutiae of everyday life.

Alex Sparrow – ‘Let’s Stay Home Tonight’

It’s that time of year when we would ordinarily be gearing up to watch European music’s night of nights, The Eurovision Song Contest. Alex Sparrow competed for his native Russia in the contest in 2011, when it was held in Dusseldorf, finishing in 16th position. There’s no Eurovision this year because of Covid-19, but there’s an Alex Sparrow song – the singer, composer, actor and producer, now based in Los Angeles, has released his most recent single, ‘Let’s Stay Home Tonight’, and although it’s no compensation for the Eurovision, it’s a fun song with an equally upbeat music video.