In this week's expanded edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Keane Baldwin, KALIKO, Pretty Windows, No Setting Son and Dusty 4 Track...
EP: Keane Baldwin - In Spite of Everything
"Die with memories, not with dreams," the spoken word ending of the introductory track calls on the listener. Nottingham native songwriter Keane Baldwin tells a story of power and purpose found amongst an unpacking of grief in the six-track EP, In Spite of Everything. Absorbing the lyrical qualities of this synth and chamber pop work, these words serve as a mantra, the conceptual record demanding his battle through many odds to sit before us, exhibiting his loss and it’s transcending of the summerland to manifest into this concise project.
The piano-backed title track constructs a sound stage immediately, with reverb-soaked, striking major piano chords meeting us at the sonic pearly gates. It slowly meanders into a repeated refrain, succumbing to a spoken outro suspended beneath fluctuating chords, purgatory before seamlessly entering the next track ‘Atmospheric Decline’, a soaring song interpreted as being a look back from just beyond the grave, questioning and pleading with oneself to understand if you could have been better.
Similar themes can be heard within, What’s Next to Unexpect, which wouldn’t sound out of place on Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto as a buzzing piece of synth and electro-pop underpinning a tragically relatable tale of losing your self within your grief, and pre-release single, all-lowercase my biggest fan, which is a call-and-response séance between the narrator and someone beyond the afterlife, casting out gratitude and being showered in encouragement; I was taken to When I Get There from P!nk’s latest project; Keane is never afraid to wear his inspirations on his sleeve, and I think the project is even more successful as a result of that.
Final track, The Farewell Man, opens minor and mellow, before it too expanding into a sunset stadium-filler, pleading with a reaper-like apparition to let your transition beyond the grave happen peacefully, "Please let me say goodbye".
However, the EP doesn’t just succeed due to its darker themes; there is also a real sense of earnestness within the tracks, and it’s clear Baldwin has a newfound hope. "In Spite of…" and evident huge loss, there is inspiration, always a perfect cadence, and a real pride stemming from his working class upbringing. If or when In Spite of Everything makes it big, he’s taking everyone with him, whether they are still here or not. @thekeanebaldwin (Tommy Robertson)
Photo credit - Sarah Bray
Single: KALIKO - Move Along
The sound of Nottingham’s summer last year, KALIKO’s debut single Red Sky was a certified indie bop that ended up as one of our favourite tracks of 2024. Now second single Move Along is just as instantly infectious, with the band showing a knack for crafting math-rock-influenced indie jams that would rival the likes of veterans Foals and Two Door Cinema Club.
The perfect song to soundtrack the recent sunny days we’ve been experiencing, the band ride a blissful wave of danceable guitar grooves, before erupting into some fierce, mosh-ready rock riffs in the final 30 seconds. Quickly earmarking themselves as the next indie band to breakout in Nottingham, they have moved themselves along to the top of our “to-see live” list in 2025. @kalikoband (Karl Blakesley)
Single: No Setting Son - Old Foes
Turn it up, because No Setting Sun are about to shake the walls with their latest single, Old Foes. A full-throttle, adrenaline-pumping track, this song is pure, unfiltered rock energy from start to finish. With a fast paced rhythmic and an anthemic chorus that begs to be screamed at full volume, Old Foes conveys a powerful message of friendship and resilience in the face of adversity. “We wrote this song to highlight themes of loyalty and strength,” says singer Mike Hardy. “At a time when it’s too often about dividing and conquering, together we can overcome even the most daunting obstacles.” The band will be performing at Nottingham's Tap and Tumbler on 19th April. (Faye Stacey)
Single: Pretty Windows - Zimmerman Standing
Zimmerman Standing is the new single from Pretty Windows, released on 4th April. If this is a taste of the new album due to arrive in May, then we are in for something very special. The single and B-side Colorama both have a strong wash of Electro Pop sounds but the Pretty Windows beats still dominate the mix. Rhythmic and simple drum beats allow the guitars to deliver powerful lines along with some interesting synth patterns.
The song references a Bob Dylan trip to Nottingham many years ago and an overall message of hope for a future both now and then. Superb backing vocals from Nottingham's own singer songwriter Lace Thief gives this a strong 11/10 Spinal score!! @thisisprettywindows (Bassey)
Single: Dusty 4 Track - The Cross
Already a live favourite on the Nottingham music scene, it’s great to see the folk-rock duo of Will Jeffery and Ben James drop their first release of 2025 under their evolving Dusty 4 Track project.
As soon as those twinkling guitars chime, before a gentle shuffling of drums and some stark piano chords, you know you’re in for something special. It only gets better from there, as the contrasting deep and high-pitched harmonies begin to stir over the intricately crafted instrumentation. Finishing on some signature bluesy riffs, we already know it’s going to sound even better in a live setting – if you get chance, catch them at Dot-to-Dot festival in May! @dusty4track (Karl Blakesley)
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