LeftLion's Latest Listens #44: Notts music we're currently spinning

EP: Bloodworm - Blood and Lust

Bloodworm were born out of the chaos of Covid during lockdown, honing their art in a garden shed belonging to drummer Euan Stevens. From those early beginnings, the band have come a long way, with over 100 shows now under their belt. The band have developed a style uniquely theirs, which might be defined as post punk with definite Gothic overtones, and this four track EP showcases their talents admirably, hinting at greater things to come. 

Chris Walker’s deep and dark bass riffs announce the intro to Bloodlust, before George Curtis’ jangly guitar and gravelly goth-tinged vocals hold court with some addictive hooks thrown in throughout. Alone In Your Garden would be an ideal number for their Rescue Rooms Halloween show with its bittersweet atmosphere of reminiscence and decay. The Cure are convincingly channelled in The Crown, with some excellent guitar work and relentless drumming, before the last track, the slow and moody Clairvoyance, makes for a glorious finale. @bloodwormband (Claire Spencer)

EP: No Peeling - EP2

Variety is the spice of life where No Peeling are concerned on their second EP... or should I say “slice”..? Each of the seven slices on this EP lasts for around a minute; altogether clocking in at 8:54, but these snippets of modern life tell stories with as much detail as one song the same entire length. The tracks range from themes of localised hooliganism on Mascot Fight to youth hi-jinks on After School, to toxic work environments on Stationery.

Headed by local poet Sophie Diver and JT Soar Tsar Phil Booth, the band's knack for creating musical montages is no mean feat with this barebones approach to music as radical as cut-up literature and Soviet montage cinema of the 20s. No Peeling’s second EP feels like a simple menu at a cafe where instead of a meal, we are given the ingredients. But the ingredients are the most delicious part. Instead of making an egg punk omelette, they've taken the eggs out and hummed them at the wall in a matter of seconds which is the most egg punk thing ever (literally). @nopeeling_band (Lewis Oxley)

Single: People Laughing - Suffocating

They may only have a couple of singles to their name so far, but there is a reason why People Laughing have plenty of hype surrounding them already. Their latest single Suffocatingis a perfect example, filled with vibrant, jangly guitars and layered harmonies, it’s a hook-laden anthem that lands somewhere between 60s power pop and 90s alt-rock. Familiar yet unique, the track glides through themes of obsessive infatuation, as Matt Grocott’s lyrics are complimented by the urgent and melodic energy of the instrumentation. Built to connect with the masses, there is no doubt that this will sound glorious in the fields of Wollaton Park when the band play Splendour this summer. @peoplelaughinghq (Karl Blakesley)

Single: Cathedra - Justified

Out today, Cathedra is the new alt-electronic project from Ian Cunningham, previously of local outfit NOVA. It seems him join forces with the gorgeous soft vocals of Lilly Sphire for their first single Justified, a blissful synth-driven track that blends atmospheric production with emotive songwriting. An immediate, very dreamy earworm, it combines the duo’s shared love of 80s bands like New Order and Depeche Modewhile exploring the tension of feeling unheard in a relationship. Blending minimal electronics with gothic songwriting and Sphire’s passionate vocal delivery, it’s one hell of an opening statement. Already building buzz in the Notts electronic and underground scene, you can catch Cathedra performing live at The Big Shed next Friday supporting Depeche Mode tribute act, Enjoy The Silence. @wearecathedra (Karl Blakesley)

Single: Paytron Saint & Emzae - 7 Stories High

Built from a live jam session, this collaboration between Derbyshire rock outfit Paytron Saint and DIY singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Emzae feels like a match made in heaven. Perfectly capturing the anxiety, over-stimulation and quiet dread of modern life, it’s a slow-burning alt-rock track about the need for some escapism. These themes are emulated in the song’s colossal sonic backdrop, as gentle guitars steadily build before erupting into a towering wall of distortion and pounding drums. However,it’s the dual vocals of Emzae and Nick from Paytron Saint that are the star of the show, their contrasting styles wonderfully bouncing off each other, merging in the back end into a compelling and cathartic harmony. With the band and Emzae clearly having a strong creative chemistry together, here’s hoping this isn’t the last collaboration we get from these two local artists. @paytronsaint / @emzaemusic (Karl Blakesley)