I'm catching my breath: W.H. Lung are here
Every so often new tracks stop you in your, well, tracks. Sometimes on the radio, sometimes on Spotify’s Discover Weekly (I selfishly refuse my kids to meddle with my account, should the algo be messed with) or through music reviews.
Step forward W.H. Lung, a Mancunian band named after a Chinese supermarket in their home city, or perhaps poet Auden. This quintet came to my attention after a small review in The Times last weekend. There was the whiff of 80s synth within the paragraph and that is enough for this melancholic hack these days.
Their new album Every Inch of Earth Pulsates is full of retro joy, energy, synth indie-pop and post-punk. There is purpose and a sense of fun - and that much is realised with a deeper dive into their back catalogue.
This was when their standout track from 2019, Second Death of My Face, came to light.
Go on, set yourself up for the weekend...
“The glacial synths of Second Death of My Face evoked New Order at their finest, with an anthemic chorus oddly reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen,” wrote a review in 2019.
Add in OMD, The Maccabees even and W.H. Lung seemingly have it all. Added to this, lead singer Joseph E exudes charisma and confidence with his live performances and takes on some Jarvis Cocker sudden jolts for good measure.
“They don't just sound like their forefathers, they have the potential to scale the same dizzy heights,” a review in The Times from 2019 also wrote.
The pandemic may have curtailed this rise. Five years on from their first album, it is a mystery why W.H. Lung, as a British indie band, aren’t breathing life into the mainstream at a time when solo artists are making hay.
I’ve curated a playlist of their best work here. It’s rarely been off my stereo.
What’s new:
Dance to the beat
This is also fresh out this week… Andrew Meller - In The Name Of
Breakthrough artist
BBC 6 Music revealed CMAT as one of its artists of the year. I had never heard of this Irish singer songwriter before this week, but there’s no doubt she has something about her.
She also sounds an absolute blast…
@bbc6music “That’s absolutely insane!” 💚#CMAT unknowingly became MawaanRizwan’s secret fee good song ✨ Listen @BBC Sounds tonight from 9pm 6 Music’s #LoudandProud season celebrates LGBTQ+ voices throughout June | Link in bio to listen 🎧 #pride #pridemonth #bbc6music
♬ original sound - BBC Radio 6 Music
Deep electro vibe of the fortnight
Joseph Ashworth - Dominika
I'm coming across more and more tracks which were conceived out of being holed up during the pandemic. This is one of them, Mr Sosa's Psychedelic Jungle...
80’s sounding vibe of the fortnight
What’s on the jukebox
While Music Dr awaits awaits news of Underworld's next tour dates, patience arrives in the shape of a marvellous, uplifting and unplugged string version of Black Poppies.