A run through of January’s new releases
Fountain
Dog
Fountain return with Dog, the exhilarating lead single from the band’s new EP Big Bag Of New Nothings, released early this year. A lean, snarling slice of alt-rock, it trades polish for bite — stalking bass, wiry guitars and a vocal simmering with pent-up frustration. The chorus tightens rather than explodes, ratcheting the tension another notch. Abrasive, hooky and unmistakably theirs.
Utopia Development Corporation
Art Deco Tesco
Utopia Development Corporation unleash the third track from their upcoming debut EP Industrial Area Swimming Centre. Art Deco Tesco is a raw, noise‑infused post-punk blast. It draws on local influence from band’s such as 72% and No Music, as well as further afield with Ireland’s Naked Lungs & Chalk, and Rhode Island’s Nick Sadle. The track thrums with single-guitar, bass, drums and shouting, captured analog for a natural double-tracked grit. Lyrically it skews darkly witty, riffing on drug economics, 1930s architecture and corporate takeovers.
The Vandervalls
Be Mine
The Vandervalls turn up the glossy alt-pop on Be Mine, the latest single from their debut EP Taxi, released this month. Twinkling guitars and buoyant synths frame lyrics that explore desire, hesitation and the thrill of pursuit, delivered with effortless cool. Infectious yet introspective, it glides between the heart and the dancefloor, showcasing the band’s knack for emotive, hook-heavy storytelling. The EP will also include fan favourites I’ll Follow You, Tangerine, Smiling Like I Should, and Come Over from their live shows.
Torus
Ruby Red
Torus lean fully into their darker, heavier side on “Ruby Red,” a brooding blast of desert-rock weight fused with a modern grunge bite. Churning riffs and sand-blasted tones underpin lyrics that circle between obsession and emotional fallout, all delivered with simmering intensity. Produced for their upcoming EP, it feels purposeful and unflinching, while the self-directed video from Harry Quinn amplifies the track’s stark, unsettling pull.
Maddox Jones
No More Ghosts
Maddox Jones returns with a fresh take on familiar territory with No More Ghosts, a reimagined single of the standout track from his 2020 EP Headspace. Sleek synths, pulsing beats and shimmering textures push the song into new, cinematic territory, while the haunting melodies of the original linger beneath. Atmospheric, immersive and meticulously crafted, it’s a remix that honours its roots while boldly stepping into the present.