Music / best of 2024
Bristol’s top releases of 2024
It’s been a big year for Bristol music, with new records spanning the musical spectrum.
Established acts have gone from strength to strength, new scenes have emerged and artists continued to push the boundaries.
Here’s a snapshot of the releases that have caught the eye of Bristol24/7 in 2024.
is needed now More than ever
Freddie Lewis took his cabaret tour show to the Old Market Assembly in October, celebrating the release of single Sundays – photo: Renata Felia
The Fauns, How Lost
January 19
The city’s premier shoegaze outfit’s much-anticipated third album, released after a ten-year hiatus. It ranges from intricate guitar-driven sounds to industrial compositions and pulsing electro-beats. “This album is less about the melancholy associated with the genre and more about getting our audience dancing,” they said.
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The Menstrual Cramps, Abortion
January 24
A typically visceral single with a personal story and universal message from the queer punk quartet that have been described as ‘compellingly confrontational’ and aren’t afraid to smash taboos, represent and tell it how it is.
It’s been a good year for The Menstrual Cramps who successfully spearheaded the Bands Boycott Barclays campaign which resulted in the bank being dropped as a sponsor by Great Escape festival – photo: Zombieteeth Clothing
MP3 Chainsaw, Clydecore
February 21
The debut single from the cheeky post punk bunch that tell gritty real-life stories with a nod and a wink. It’s a tale of coercive control that becomes ‘a dance of freedom and rage.’ The group has gone onto release two more singles this year and will be performing at Ritual Union festival in 2025.
Ali Austin, I Can’t Breathe
March 1
A smooth, introspective pop number that showcases Austin’s effortless and emotive vocal power.
The Schmoozenbergs, Mouse
March 15
It’s straight up swing-jazz but played with eyecatching aplomb and endearing humility. The quartet say they ‘conjure up the mood of 1930s Paris, fused with flavours of Eastern Europe and a liberal sprinkling of high energy folk’, and on this release Songlines picked up on the ‘classy’ musicians’ sense of fun.
Oh, the Guilt, Deadnames and Deed Polls
March 29
The debut album from the self-defined ‘dream punk’ act that have released a steady stream of singles since inception in 2018. It’s a heady sound with post-rock and shoegaze sides alongside beautiful ambient instrumentals and brooding, evocative vocals, tipping a hat to many of their named influences including Cocteau Twins, Emma Ruth Rundle and Mazzy Star.
Hangover Square, Rewire
April 28
Americana meets electronica from this duo that combine intricate soundscapes with expressive vocals. BBC Radio 2’s Paul Jones called them ‘highly accomplished musicians’.
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Hunny Buzz, Welcome to Our Garden
May 2
Up-and-coming indie-pop that, the band say, deals with young love, mental health, and the duality of human nature. Electrifying guitars and melody-driven vocals with attitude.
Stevie Toddler, Last Time Forever
May 3
Nu-jazz bass-playing band-leading sensation Stevie Dooley has been backed by 6 Music and Jamie Cullum on Radio 2. The album draws on pop, jazz and classical sounds to craft songs of love and belonging that are slick, stylish and relatable.
HAAL, Back to Shilmarine
May 10
Synth-rock that could be filed under post-industrial; the EP’s bleak vocals and heavy guitar sit above a haunting undercurrent of doom. Experimental with electronic elements, recorded in the studio in the basement of The Louisiana.
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Beak>, >>>>
May 28
Geoff Barrow’s last, it turns out, with the Bristol-centric experimental ‘cosmic rock’ trio that he co-founded in 2009 and that has more in common with jazz than with the pop sensibilities of his former act Portishead. The trio recently gave Barrow a hometown send-off at SWX that was playful yet musically well honed.
Dr Meaker, Simple Complications
May 31
Stapleton Road is the star of this single from drum and bass stalwart Clive Meaker, with effortless vocalist Celestine a close second. It’s taken from Dr Meaker’s third album, Distorted Sun, released in November this year.
NGAIO, Four Quarters
June 6
DJ extraordinaire, Booty Bass founder and former B24/7 music editor NGAIO’s first full-blown foray into songwriting and self-production resulted in this thoughtful EP that deals with personal challenge but serves to uplift and draws on her wide-ranging cultural and spiritual influences.
Dog Daughter, Be Good
July 2
Delivering the raw essence of grunge and alt-indie, Kerry Ann Jingle’s project comprises a dynamic journey that reflects her trad folk roots and heartfelt take on contemporary ideas.
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Freddie Lewis, Sundays
August 18
“It’s about figuring out how to fill up my own life in the wake of a significant relationship ending.” says Lewis of the single. The artist’s autumn tour was a glamorous cabaret spectacular with drag and burlesque as well as live music. Lewis’ next single, He’ll Never Be Alone, is out on January 29 2025.
Pocket Sun, Mirror in a Blue Light
August 28
Dreamy alt-pop with ethereal vocals, squelchy synth and jazz influences.
‘Microcosmic worlds of emotional potency’: Mirror in a Blue Light is available on vinyl as well as online – photo: Pocket Sun
Ishmael Ensemble, Rituals
September 6
Led by saxophonist Pete Cunningham, with vocals from Holysseus Fly, the cutting-edge collective that garnered national acclaim as part of the ‘new jazz’ zeitgeist released a dancefloor-filling album that they say goes ‘bigger, louder, bolder’ than previous records.
Maxime Elliot, October
October 7
A post-summer heartbreak tune, French-born Elliot’s crooning pop-soul sound has been supported by BBC Introducing. FFO Olivia Dean, Omar Apollo, and Christine & The Queens.
Mammoth Toe, OK, Well Done
October 18
The debut LP from the progressive post-rock trio that appear to compete onstage to take home the ‘heaviest instrumentalist’ title. Yack mag praised their “primal power”, calling them a “monstrous force of myth”.
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Kid Carpet, Icarus D’Icarus
October 25
It’s a return to music after 15 years for the much-loved, self-proclaimed ‘witchdoctor of wonk’ who combines his typical leftfield humour, tongue-in-cheek silliness, lo-fi production and catchy hooks with social commentary in this release that he says is full of “angry and joyful punky poppy bangers.”
MĀDŁY. The End of Me
November 13
Serving up smooth neo-soul, tight nu-jazz and irresistible French flows, MĀDŁY’s band is made up of members of Cousin Kula, Waldo’s Gift and Yetii who she says she’s comfortable to “get weird on stage with,”
MADLY hit stages with her band at festivals this year, including Shindig in Somerset – photo:
Grandmas House, Screw It Up
November 13
The latest from the post-punk outfit is their biggest, loudest and most self-assured yet. The trio became a quartet this year and are enjoying what “four brains and an extra guitar” has done for their creative process. The next EP, due for release in January, is – they say – their best music yet. A debut album is also planned for 2025.
Snazzback, Within and Without
November 20
Exploring themes of conflict, the latest EP from Bristol’s pioneering ‘new wave dancefloor instrumentalists’, features MC’s and vocalists from round the world, including Rider Shafique and GROVE. It’s the fourth they’ve put out on the Worm Disco label.
Tlya X An, Don’t Belong
November 27
Unabashed alt-pop sensation TXN has been releasing eyecatching singles all year. This November issue will be followed up by Lovers Without a Faith at the end of January and Loosing on February 12.
Big Chip, Run the Track
December 1
A reggae release full of earworms, featuring stars of the scene including Kiko Bun, Cornerstone Horns, Aziza Jaye and Shniece McMenamin. It’s produced by Sam ‘Chip’ Huelin of Run Come Down.
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Binbag Wisdom, Pour Me
December 16
Another future classic from the dynamic rap duo that combine playfulness, lyrical wizardry and catchy choruses to perfection. The video for this tongue-in-cheek cry for help is set in a favourite Easton boozer.
Main image: Ishmael Ensemble
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