Our favourite tracks from October 2023, featuring: The Vaccines, IDLES, Yard Act and more.
Welcome to the latest edition of our blog that counts down the best new songs from the month that's just been.
In this article, we count down eight indie tracks worthy of attention from October 2023...
7. Kaeto – 'No Body'
Scottish-born, London-based singer Kaeto is not an artist I knew too much about until 6 Music started giving plenty of airings to her new single ‘No Body’. Her bass-heavy new track is a mesmerising listen with an ominous groove. It explores social media addictions and modern vanity via our relationship with our smartphones. The new single follows on from last year’s debut song ‘Good Morning’. After winning over new fans in her recent support sets for Lauren Mayberry, this is a name I reckon we’ll be hearing a lot from over the next few months.
6. Enola Gay (ft. Mount Palomar) - 'terra firma'
Belfast noise punks Enola Gay have been making quite the racket within the UK indie scene lately and little wonder. Their new track ‘terra firma’ has been getting a lot of attention on 6 Music recently and was so captivating I have Shazammed it three times within the past couple of weeks. Their new EP Casement came out on 4 October and begins on the frenetic noise of tracks like ‘Leeches’ and ‘PTS.DUP’. Later on, ‘terra firma’ arrives in two parts, taking the EP on complete left turn in speed and style – an eerie track mixing folk and shoegaze electronica. Its a collaboration with Irish electronic producer and Berghain veteran Neil Kerr, Mount Palomar and is the sound of a band demanding we pay them attention immediately.
5. The Libertines – 'Run Run Run'
The day we never though would come finally arrived in October. Yes, we were finally been blessed with new music from The Libertines! Eight years have passed since underrated third album Anthems For Doomed Youth and the indie icons have dropped ‘Run Run Run’. The song is the first preview of new record All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade which is set to arrive next March. With opening lines like “It’s a lifelong project of a life on the lash”, references to Camden, hangovers and possessing an infectious chorus, their new single couldn’t sound more like The Libertines if it tried. “It’s about being trapped, and trying to escape your dismal life” explains Carl Barat of their new song. Another one fit for jumping about sticky indie dancefloors without a care in the world.
4. The Vaccines – 'Sometimes, I Swear'
Following on from the release of ‘Heartbreak Kid’ last month, The Vaccines have released their second preview to Pick-Up Full Of Pink Carnations, which is set for release on 12 January 2024. ‘Sometimes, I Swear’ is another explosive indie banger from the London band, this time tackling the topic of isolation. “It’s something many of us struggle with on a daily basis,” admits frontman Justin Young, “but I hope when people hear this song they’ll feel less alone in that struggle".
3. Bombay Bicycle Club – 'Just A Little More Time'
For all the mainstream acclaim they’ve received over the past 14 years, I still think you can make a claim for Bombay Bicycle Club being one of the most underrated bands out there. And their latest album My Big Day shows exactly why they deserve the acclaim: a fantastic eclectic 11 track collection of warm, occasionally subdued and hooky indie rock tracks. It features an array of guest appearances ranging from veterans Chaka Khan and Damon Albarn to newcomers Holly Humberstone. “Just a little, little, little more time” repeats frontman Jack Steadman on this lyrically simplistic, yet musically intriguing opener. ‘Just A Little More Time’ is a total departure for Bombay Bicycle Club, setting the out of comfort zone tone for the rest of the record.
2. Yard Act – 'Dream Job'
Leeds post-punkers were another band previewing new music this month. They also announced that second album Where’s My Utopia? was set for release on 1 March 2024. Having received a whirlwind of acclaim following the release of debut album The Overload, including a Mercury Prize nomination, Yard Act’s new music wrestles with feeling “very privileged but also struggling” to be in a successful band. ‘Dream Job’ is a danceable single featuring an earworm chorus, a funky bassline and lyrics which reflect on frontman James Smith’s feelings about the music industry. An excellent first taster to whet our appetites.
1. IDLES (ft. LCD Soundsystem) – 'Dancer'
Everyone’s favourite class-conscious punks are back! After a couple of quickfire lockdown releases (2020’s Ultra Mono and 2021’s CRAWLER were released within 14 months of each other), IDLES announced their fifth studio album TANGK was set for release on 16 February 2024. With the announcement of a new “transgressive” record, they also dropped ‘Dancer’: a scuzzy track which has singer Joe Talbot looking for love on the dancefloor. As well as the typical heavy bassline and singalong chorus, their new one features backing vocals from LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy and multi-instrumentalist Nancy Whang.
You can hear the above songs and more on our regularly updated Blinded By The Floodlights 2023 indie recommends playlist.