2026, week 34. 5 singles

It remains so fascinating how different the music is that I am sent from different sources from around the world. Add to that, the songs I still discover myself every once in a while. The most weird being the band mentioned first in the first review below. Anyone who cares to follow the line up of today, will notice the extreme differences between the songs, that without a doubt are very worth while to listen to or explore, as that is the better word in the case of 'Nicolas' Cave'. No artist is even closely the same today. It's time to go exploring, enjoy!

Nicolas' Cave. Fence

Yesterday, I wrote about Angine de Poitrine and, no, it does not get that weird, but Belgian band Fence does give the listener quite some changes in exchange for sharing his/her time with Nicolas' Cave. Things may kick off with a recorder in a quite relaxed way, that is also about where normalcy stops. Fence uses every opportunity to push the song in another direction, to come back to the recorder accompanied by an acoustic guitar at the end, as if nothing happened in the four plus minutes in between. In 2023 I wrote on the single 'King To The Blind'. Based on my words there, there's not a lot to compare to. Fence jumps as it were the fences in between back gardens to find a completely other one with each jump and reports back on each one. If anything, it makes for very interesting listening and at times even good listening. Album 'Nobody Gives A Fuck' will be released this fall.

Unstable Neighbour. Railcard

The second single from the upcoming Railcard debut album 'Two Steps At A Time' (18 September), presents me with a dreamy alternative pop track, with a trumpet that hovers between parts of the tune. With the organ and the way of singing, it is part of the dreamy part of the song. The other part is about as direct as songs come. There's nothing dreamy about the drums, bass and guitar work. Railcard may be a new band, it's members have all been around for quite some time as members of Heavenly, Death in Vegas and Dolly Mixture. The members met at a live show and decided to start working together. The recorded EPs were glued together to 'Two Steps At A Time', which the world can hear next month.

Carry On Without Me. Reluctant Bob & the Lonely Lovers

Due to my summer break I missed a single, but Reluctant Bob & the Lonely Lovers is becoming a fixture in the singles posts on WoNoBlog. Although not entirely identical, the set up of the music is comparable to DYI Dutch artist The Slow Clock and the deadpan delivery (and female vocals singing in the exact opposite way) of Gruppo Sportivo. Two references that ought to make any lover of alternative pop music prick up their ears and speed to their favourite digital outlet to start listening. Carry On Without Me has a kind of class that is also found with an artist like eels, but that is all offset by the female vocalists. This song may seem like a hodgepodge of influences, but that should come with quality that makes it interesting on its own accord. Believe me Carry On Without Me has just that, abundantly.

Nous Deux EP. Foglights

Nous Deux is Foglights' debut EP. The duo exists of Eva Cords of The Cords and Archie Ingram of Stone Anthem. Both have released their debut albums within the past 10 months and already venture out as a(nother) duo. The songs on Nous Deux are all slow and of a dreamy psychedelic nature. I think that fans of the band Mazzy Star would refer to its music as a comparison. As it mostly passed me by, I'm not certain if I can. For me I'd keep it to the dreamy pop songs of The Velvet Underground, like 'Sunday Morning', 'Candy Says' and 'Jesus'. You'll hear guitars and an organ, but no bass and no drums or any other percussion. It sets the music of Foglights apart from almost all other bands. Still, put on Nous Deux a few times and you'll discover the addictive qualities of the duo's music. A string section might be added for special effects. It remains uncanny how a song created from fairly minimal effects can get to you in a serious way. The music and voices are mixed in such a way that a very full sound is created, with voices coming from all sides, like Eva Cord's pa pa pa's do in 'The Day The Light Stayed'. I had not heard of Archie Ingram, but based on Nous Deux, it might be worth my while to check out his debut as Stone Anthem, 'Solux Rex'. It took me more than one listen session to warm to Nous Deux but after that there was no holding back.

Anhedonia (Start Again). The Morning Line

The Morning Line, yes, the band's been on the blog before with two singles in 2023. At the time I thought the band to be from Boston, but it isn't (any more?). It's from northern California. At the time it released its record on the Red on Red label of the late Justine Covault, in 2026 the upcoming album will be on Big Stir. The sound has not changed. This is American rock with a countryrock flavour. Familiar in sound, yet can go down so well. The band around Stephen Smith does things very right here. A golden melody twists itself around the gently rocking sound, in a way many bands aspire to. So, don't expect music that is original in sound, instead enjoy something new with a familiar sound.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

Angine de Poitrine live on KEXP

Somewhere this year photo's of a duo in polka dot costumes, make up and attire/masks began popping up in places. Later the name Angine de Poitrine started registering with me. I never got around to listening to music. And then my music magazine of choice, 'Oor', had an article, no interview, as the duo doesn't really give them, on the band.

Everything boiled down to a referral to a show recorded by KEXP during a festival in Rennes in December 2025. Based on what the author, Jacob Haagsma, was writing, I did not have high expectations, but decided to give it a try anyway, just to see how weird it would be. The show has already been viewed well over 18 million times, which is a lot for music as weird and freaky as Angine de Poitrine's is.

The duo consists of a drummer and guitarist/bassist/pedallist. The guitar is a double-necked one of guitar and bass, with both having far more and smaller spread frets than regular guitars have. It implies microtonal notes can be played, without bending the strings. The music is not standard western music, as the tonalities are eastern in nature, played in a western alternative rock way, creating stranger sounding melodies, both nervous and erratic in nature. Like African music often is. The way the drums and guitars blend is totally fascinating.

Both musicians are in total control of their instruments, and that includes the looping and effects that come with the guitars. There's so much to switch on and off that besides playing, it also becomes a balancing act. On the side, there's some heavy distorted unintelligible singing involved, at times with what for lack of a better world involves a chorography of simultaneous arms waving.

The costumes do distract from the music at first, but fairly soon being in awe of what is happening starts to take over. Yes, this is so far removed from what, I think, most of the 18 million plus viewers will listen to on a daily basis. Certainly me. It is so far out there and at the same time very good to listen to. It gets to me like some of the rhythmically complex pieces of Frank Zappa that got to me decades ago. Listen to 'Inca Roads' e.g. Angine de Poitrine does it with two and a looping station. I doubt whether I can play this for long on record, for that it is too esoteric for me, but enjoying myself at a live show or playing this show on TV, sure.

Finally, can you make a mask look female with just black polka dots on a white surface? Yes, this band can. I have no idea who is hiding in there. The call themselves KHN and Klek de Poitrine and come from Québec in Canada. Intriguing it all is.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can see the show here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ssi-9wS1so

 

You can listen to and order Angine de Poitrine's albums here:

https://anginedepoitrine.bandcamp.com/album/vol-ii 

Unmade In Minutes. Pastel Blank

Listening to Unmade In Minutes for the first time, in fact opening song 'Sweet Nic' to be more precise, I ran out of time to recognise all the influence in there. Clinic popped up first, followed by Field Music, the older Split Enz came next, then Talking Heads and a host of other bands from the first half of the 80s. Little elements of all these artists pop up in this single song and then there are bands that gained popularity (or less so) from the early 10s onwards playing this kind of music, Django Django eg. That puts Point Blank on two sides of musical time, like so many bands are today, with Pastel Blank in the more funky equation of it all.

It doesn't stop there, as you will find a little Zappaesque rhythmic madness, some Astrud Gilberto style bossa nova, soft late 70s style disco and some soloing worthy of Steely Dan further on on Unmade In Minutes. In short, this is an album that keeps the connoisseur on their toes, while driving an unsuspecting average listener to sheer madness. Unmade In Minutes is more than just a record, it is an experience as well.

Pastel Blank is the Canadian musician Angus Watt, who surrounds himself with different musicians, that what a song takes. Watt describes his music as “dance music for people who don’t know how to dance.” It seems like a long haul to me, but some of the don't know how to dance people may not get noticed as the rhythm at times is so complex, even the dancers may get into trouble at some point.

Yes, I'll admit to not being able to follow Pastel Blank in all its moves and corners. I like certain songs better than others, but overall Unmade In Minutes stands out. The adventure Angus Watt takes me on is infectious, which makes me quite forgiving when the soft disco of the 70s come by. If I have to, I can even listen to Champagne's 'How About Us' in 2026, so Pastel Blank's 'Venitians' is a piece of cake.

For many people Unmade In Minutes may be far more than they can chew. If musically you like to surprised by the song, if not within the song, this is your album. Take a seat and let the musical adventure start right away with 'Sweet Nic'.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Unmade In Minutes here:

https://pastelblank.bandcamp.com/album/unmade-in-minutes 

Signs. Charlie Marie

De Amerikaanse muzikante Charlie Marie woont tegenwoordig ver weg van Nashville, maar heeft met Signs een geweldig album gemaakt, dat zeker moet worden opgepikt in de Amerikaanse muziekhoofdstad.

Het eerste dat opvalt bij beluistering van het album Signs van Charlie Marie is haar stem. Het is een stem met heel veel kracht, maar de Amerikaanse muzikante zingt ook met veel gevoel en souplesse. Het is een stem die is gemaakt voor countrymuziek en die maakt Charlie Marie dan ook, al is het geen countrymuziek die makkelijk in een hokje is te plaatsen. Signs bevat invloeden uit de traditionele countrymuziek uit het verleden, kan af en toe lekker stevig klinken, maar het album klinkt ook eigentijds. Het is de stem van Charlie Marie die de meeste indruk maakt, maar in muzikaal opzicht staat het album als een huis en ook de songs zijn van hoog niveau. Mis dit geweldige album niet.

Ik was ruim vijf jaar geleden heel enthousiast over Ramble On, het debuutalbum van de Amerikaanse muzikante Charlie Marie. Het is een album dat vaak klinkt als een wat traditioneel countryalbum van vele decennia geleden, maar je hoort ook wel dat het een album van deze tijd is. Charlie Marie laat zich op haar debuutalbum begeleiden door een fantastische band en maakt indruk met prima songs, maar ze imponeert met haar buitengewoon krachtige stem, die af en toe met orkaankracht uit de speakers komt, maar ook fraai kan doseren. 

Ondanks mijn goede ervaringen met het debuutalbum van Charlie Marie, viel het in juni verschenen Signs bijna tussen wal en schip. Dat was een misser van jewelste geweest, want het tweede album van Charlie Marie is nog een stuk beter dan haar debuutalbum en misstaat zeker niet tussen de beste rootsalbums van het moment. 

De muzikante uit Warren, Rhode Island, heeft de tijd genomen voor de opvolger van Ramble On. Na de release van haar debuutalbum reisde ze lange tijd door de Verenigde Staten, waarbij ze werd omringd met heel muziek uit het verleden en het heden. Het leverde heel veel inspiratie op voor haar tweede album, dat voortborduurt op haar debuutalbum, maar ook stappen zet. 

Charlie Marie maakte haar tweede album met een compacte band, maar ook Signs klinkt weer geweldig. De ritmesectie speelt degelijk, de steel gitaar zorgt voor mooie accenten, maar het geluid op het album wordt vooral bepaald door de geweldig spelende gitarist Nick Mercado. 

Net als Ramble On is ook Signs een album dat ver verwijderd blijft van de countrypop zoals die momenteel in Nashville wordt gemaakt. Ook op haar nieuwe album laat Charlie Marie zich beïnvloeden door countrymuziek uit het verleden, maar het klinkt geen moment als retro. De Amerikaanse muzikante beweert op haar bandcamp pagina dat ze “classic country music for the modern world” maakt en dat is een mooie omschrijving. 

Het is muziek die anders klinkt dan de gepolijste countrypop van het moment, maar ik hoor ook niet meer dan wat invloeden van de traditionele countrymuziek uit het verleden. De muziek is soms lekker stevig, maar de band van Charlie Marie laat ook veel ruimte over. Die ruimte vult de Amerikaanse muzikante ook dit keer met haar imposante stem. 

Ook op Signs valt op hoe krachtig de stem van Charlie Marie is. Ze kan stevig uithalen met haar stem, maar ik vind de zang op Signs nergens over de top. De zang knalt af en toe uit de speakers, maar Charlie Marie kan ook meer ingetogen en met veel gevoel zingen. Het is knap hoe ze binnen een paar noten kan doseren van orkaankracht naar een subtiel briesje, zonder dat het gekunsteld klinkt. Ook als ze vol uithaalt is de zang van Charlie Marie zuiver en dat is knap. Het is een stem die is gemaakt voor wat traditioneler klinkende countrymuziek en voor wat stevigere countryrock en honky tonk, maar ook als Charlie Marie gas terugneemt met haar stem, maakt ze makkelijk indruk. 

Ik kan er nog steeds niet bij dat ik dit album bijna over het hoofd heb gezien en begrijp ook niet dat er tot dusver vrij weinig aandacht is voor Signs, want wat is dit een topalbum. Charlie Marie opereert ver van de spotlights in Nashville, maar ze verdient haar plekje in deze spotlights absoluut.

Erwin Zijleman

 

Je kunt Signs hier luisteren en bestellen:

https://charliemarie.bandcamp.com/album/signs

Prisoner. Prisoner

There is no limit to the number of bands that are influenced by music from the past and do their utmost to sound just like the bands from the past, with a quality of recording equipment those past bands could not even dream of in their wildest. French punk, garage and what not outfit Prisoner is no exception.

The question is what does Prisoner want to be, because there is a plethora of influences that shine through in the Mulhouse and Bordeaux based band. Songs have the attack of punk, the wildness of garage rock, the psychedelics of the 60s, the weird frivolousness of 1960s movie soundtracks and even a more out there version of the strangest music the makers of 'Star Trek', as in the original series, could imagine for a party on board of the "Starship Enterprise" on star date whatever. Listen to 'Borné Pour Obéir', I can't point you to the right episode of 'Star Trek' though. I suggest to copy/paste it over there in 2026. It all comes together on 'Prisoner' and it works.

The fact that most songs are in French makes it hard if not impossible for me to understand what the songs are about. It does not hinder me to enjoy the music and the vocal melodies. They come across in the same way Feu! Chatterton's previous album caught me a few years ago. The surprise of how Prisoner uses its instruments, like the the trombone that comes through at surprising moments. It has the same positive effect on me as the saxophone in DEADLETTER's songs has. The organ with its sharp sound creates an even more 60s vibe. Many songs have a surprising edge, making them fairly unique. At times over the top, yes, but always just right.

Prisoner was formed by singer Susanne Pemmerl and guitarist/singer Philippe "Philos" Simon Gerard and joined later by Sébastien Grienti on bass, Marcus Hett on trombone, Étienne Meyer of drums and Lucas Gentilhomme on keyboards. Together they are responsible for a sound that besides all the aforementioned influences, also holds a French component, as some songs dip into the French sigh girl era as well. Most songs are a mix of punk and 60s movie soundtracks like John Barry wrote for tv series 'The Persuaders' for example. That sort of dreamy, happiness as if everything will be alright and for the Curtis-Moore duo it always did in the end of course.

What more can I write to convince you to listen to this near unique mix of musical styles? Hearing is believing, I'm sure. Prisoner caught me immediately with the opening song and single 'La Femme Qui s’Était Faite Toute Seule' and manages to keep my attention on the ball for the full 16 songs that follow it. No matter what turn the band takes, I'm right up there with it.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght