Neu Bulletin The Neu Bulletin (Oscar Browne, Dumb Buoys Fishing Club, Trout and more!)

For their second single, Dumb Buoys Fishing Club treat us to a polished, groove-infused cut of classic hip hop and 21st century swagger. This time, founding members DanDlion and Havelock are joined by Brockhampton’s Merlyn Wood, and joe unknown, for an inciting, inviting melee of steady beats, lush SFX and ridiculously fun oddball storytelling. This time, the Dumb Buoys rhyme “come and jump off the boat with us” with “take a ride on the octopus”, which is a silly bit of genius from rap’s favourite breakthrough. (Ims Taylor)

flowerovlove floats through ‘Coffee Shop’ on a cloud, dreamily longing for the little get-to-know-you moments in early dating that feel so mundane and magical. Coffee shops, grocery stores, and anywhere but home are the scenes on which flowerovlove’s story plays out, above buoyant basslines and wistful, subtly cool instrumentation. It’s not quite laidback, but it’s certainly relaxed, packed with puppy-dog excitement and cautious, hazy optimism. (Ims Taylor)

The latest in a so-far stellar trio of singles from Chess Club’s newest signing, ‘garden’ is a masterclass in merging indie with lo-fi electronic flourishes. “Been thinking that I don’t know what else to try / Now that you’re under my skin,” sighs Trout - aka Cesca - as they wander amongst wildflowers in the track’s DIY video. Combining melodic riffs with understated vocal delivery à la Sorry, fingers (or fins) crossed that Trout is gearing up to release an extended project at some point very soon. (Daisy Carter)

There’s a distinct Father John Misty-ness that rings through the dusky swagger of ‘Winter Coat’ - the debut offering from Scottish duo Holy Fool. Much like Papa John’s ‘Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings’, it’s a prowl that comes with a biting undercurrent; less ‘lothario lad on a bender’, more ‘stranger sipping whiskey in the shadows’. Pair it with a subtle Scottish twang, and it’s an enticing first move from the pair. (Lisa Wright)

Warm and lo-fi, with a cracked backing vocal howl that nods to King Krule, ‘Nested’ has a natural intimacy to it that feels like a suitable soundtrack for long, meditative solo walks as the sun goes down. The production is purposefully unpolished, while Jossle - aka Cork-born Joshua O’Leary - is an inviting narrator, who’ll likely find kinship with fans of Puma Blue, Yellow Days and the like. (Lisa Wright)

“I just bought a ring for my middle finger / So it shines when I say fuck you” - not the most verbose of lyrics, perhaps, but one which you’ve got to respect for its tongue-in-cheek front. Brought to you by hip-hip outfit Insincere, new cut ‘halo’ marks a slight shift away from the more pensive introspection of the trio’s previous singles, and it’s all the better for it. Punctuated by Loyle Carner style ad-libs, ‘halo’ is an ideal kickback summer track. (Daisy Carter)

A founding member of London-based folk collective Broadside Hacks (whose alumni include Katy J Pearson, Naima Bock, and Gently Tender), Oscar Browne is stepping into his own as a solo artist. Only his second single, ‘Cut Me Off’ explores the loneliness of a relationship’s end via sweeping strings and raw, vulnerable vocals. It’s a scream into the wind expressing frustration, hurt, and most of all sadness - and it’s beautiful. (Daisy Carter)

Okay, buckle up. Nine-piece band? Check. Ukrainian folk? Check. Mediaeval hymns? Check. On ‘Stella Splendens’, London group Bishopskin cover all these bases and more. Founded by vocalist/artist Tiger Nicholson and guitarist James Donovan (formerly of HMLTD), their music has a knack for making the listener feel part of something bigger than themselves. With Latin hymnal lyrics and a rousing suite of instrumentation, ‘Stella Spendens’ is unexpected, immersive, and utterly brilliant. (Daisy Carter)

A member of the Loud LDN collective (which also counts Piri and SOFY amongst its ranks), Molly Burman is something of a pop polymath. ‘Potential’ merges a Wolf Alice-adjacent hook with R&B tinged verses and hip-hop beats to create a frustration-fueled sonic eye-roll about dating someone who might one day start working on themselves. Maybe. When pigs fly. (Daisy Carter)

The project of ex-Blaenavon drummer Harris McMillan, ‘Organ Morgan’ are a trio whose music recalls that of MF Tomlinson or Bill Callahan - think richly textured arrangements and heart-wrenching vocals. New single ‘Mood Swings’ (taken from their forthcoming debut EP ‘Figurehead’) perfectly epitomises this vague sense of melancholy; all twangy guitars and gentle percussive flourishes, it feels like a deep exhale after a long day. (Daisy Carter)

Tags: Dumb Buoys Fishing Club, flowerovlove, JOSSLE, SNOOPER, Trout, Listen, Features, Neu, Neu Bulletin