Words by Kate Johnson

AXE & THE IVORY – ‘WHEN I WAS A SHELTER’

‘And I learned that you were the storm all along / And I’m the avalanche that needs moving on,’ is a reoccurring rumination in Axe & The Ivory’s latest single, ‘When I Was A Shelter’. It’s a refrain that cuts to the heart of this track, a reminder of how it feels to shield someone you love from the pain and pressure of their world. Yes, it can work. But sometimes, you’re left with wounds from their shard-like, emotional exterior. Conflicted feelings are met with the five-piece’s signature alt-folk sensibilities and intricate banjo strums, encouraging listeners to let go and grow. Most of all, this song matches the mood of a rainy day -- add it to your autumn playlist stat.

Listen here.

SATIN SUN – ‘DANCING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON’

The title ‘Dancing To Keep The Lights On’ makes us picture two people waving their arms in the air to keep a sensor light active. Their gesticulating limbs refuse to let that light dim – like that musical jam you don’t want to stop or that romance you don’t want to quit. Sound familiar? This is a love song about a spark that’s left an indelible mark on your life, a twin flame type of thing. No matter the circumstance, distance or conversation, there’s just something about this person that draws you back in. Satin Sun’s sound matches this vibe. Simple yet vibrant, the cruisy noise washes a sense of calmness over us that leaves us feeling very, very good. The vocals are giving early Spacey Jane, and we love the angelic harmonies. Two big ticks in our books!

Listen here.

ELPH – ‘NOTICE’

If we could attribute a song to the weird, spacey feeling of looking through a window and watching the world go by it’d be Elph’s ‘Notice’. ‘I’m not sure if you notice / I’m right here,’ the vocalist sings in the opening verse, as gentle sounds swirl and pop around the tender lyrics. Someone may be writ-ing a song about you, and you might not even know it. Mismatched strings, minor notes and drums swell to compete with Elph’s anxiety-tinged train of thought before the song gives way to a series of sounds that remind us of a broken slot machine. Wherever you sit on the confidence scale, Elph’s ‘Notice’ is an anthem for those late-night, spaced-out, slightly sad thoughts.

Listen here.

SLEEP TALK – ‘SPITE LINES’

Screaming it up a notch on this one! Some say that heavy music can be calming as it reflects our cha-otic world and can even increase productivity. Careful, Sleep Talk will shred, bang and growl you into oblivion in their latest track, ‘Spite Lines’. Admitting that they’ve ‘stayed in bed like half a week' gives us an idea of why they're expressing multitudes of rage. ‘Spite Lines’ is the first track on Sleep Talk’s latest EP, Go Be Happy. They say the work was born from a thrust of anger, frustration of spite. However, even they say it’s full of optimism. Listen to Sleep Talk’s four-track EP now!

Listen here.

JAYNE DOE - ‘USER’

Stretch your necks, Noters! We have your headbanger of the week! Jayne Doe have us thinking about ‘what goes around comes around’, and how it’s all part of the story when they shout, ‘My abuser / Fade away over time’. A breathable bridge is differentiated from the heavy beginnings with a soft, whispered and repetitive mantra of, ‘Send me downwards’. If you like DZ Deathrays, then ‘User’ sounds eerily similar. Pantera, too – with a grunt sounding like a younger version of Phil Anselmo. Play Jayne Doe through your speakers to give you answers on when it’s time to move on.

Listen here.