From Manchester
Recommended if you like Pavement, Ezra Furman, Guided By Voices
Up next: Debut EP out August 8
Westside Cowboy calls their sound “Britainicana,” and it fits. Winners of this year’s Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition, they emerged from Manchester’s growing underground scene but began by covering Hank Williams and Bob Dylan in drummer Paddy Murphy’s bedroom. While their vocals root them firmly in the UK, their music carries a distinct country and rockabilly edge.
That said, “Britainicana” feels like an awkward label for music this raw and spontaneous. Their recent single Alright Alright Alright races forward with fuzzy, feedback-drenched energy, guitars veering from riffs into bursts of noise—like a live recording teetering on the edge of chaos.
Their debut EP, This Better Be Something Great, offers a mix of moods. I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You) channels laid-back slacker vibes, while Shells starts as a quiet ballad before erupting unexpectedly. Both tracks share a scrappy, inventive spirit that sets them apart from polished alt-rock.
The band’s name nods to 19th-century American horse riders who kept trains from speeding—ironic, given how fast Westside Cowboy seems to be moving.
This week’s best new tracks:
– Flock of Dimes – Long After Midnight
Jenn Wasner (of Bon Iver fame) delivers a haunting acoustic meditation on helping others against your better judgment.
– Kieran Hebden + William Tyler – Spider Ballad
Four Tet fractures Nashville guitarist William Tyler’s playing into shimmering, tense fragments, evoking eerie half-light visions.
– Confidence Man x Jade – Gossip
A sharp, icy collaboration where gossip becomes a weapon, complete with unexpected acoustic guitar and a bold South Shields accent.
– Joanne Robertson – Gown
A stirring opener from her new album, blending Sinéad O’Connor’s hymnal grace with Grouper’s misty atmosphere, featuring Oliver Coates on cello.
– John Also Bennett – Ston Elaióna
Leaving Ohio’s noise scene behind, Bennett crafts serene, flute-driven ambience inspired by his Athens home.
– Daniel Avery – Rapture in Blue ft. Cecile Believe
Canadian singer Cecile Believe shines on this expansive, pop-leaning track from the British producer.
– Chuquimamani-Condori – LRC with Pueblo De Dios Capo E DJ edit
A hypnotic standout from a 24-track edit collection, where whistles and chanted vocals clash with relentless production. (Not on Spotify—listen [here].)
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