Year In Review: Simon Opie's Top Sunday Selections Of 2013

on Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Words: Simon Opie


We started to nominate a weekly Sunday Selection from the Altrock inbox in February 2013, which was posted to facebook.com/fadedglamour and the FG Twitter. Some of the Sunday favourites have been featured here already. Overall, it’s been quite a voyage of discovery with a very international flavour. Bring in the new year with my definitive playlist of 2013, as provided by the very best of the Sunday selections...

Honningbarna – 'Klart Blikk'


Norway’s finest rock and roll band with Hives overtones. This track is not actually from the latest Pelle Gunnerfeldt produced album but it’s really good and the video is fun. Enjoy.


Sharkmuffin – 'Foul Play'
Sharkmuffin are three New York City girls making an edgy racket in the finest Riot Grrrl traditions. They were kind enough to give us an interview and this track is the buzzsaw opener to their new EP '1097'.


NARCS – '19'


Leeds alt rockers released their debut album this year with this terrific track celebrating the remarkable fact that a total of 19 British Prime Ministers have come from Eton. Lucky for some I suppose.


Cocos Lovers – 'Emily'


Cocos Lovers are a Kent based alt folk ensemble, with running record labels and festivals all part of the day job. This superb track about love and loss is the first single from their recent album 'Gold Or Dust'. Why it wasn’t a massive success I couldn’t rightly say.



Moodoid – 'Je Suis La Montagne'


Some excellent French psych rock now – as endorsed by Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker. Melody’s Echo Chamber guitarist Pablo Padovani is the creator behind this ambitious musical project and the video is pretty intricate too.


Margot And Flash – 'It’s Washed Away'


This track was our last Sunday Selection of 2013 and it’s a first fruit from a Brighton partnership that I hope we’ll hear more from in 2014. A solid 80’s influenced electro beat underpins the rather lovely vocals of Kayla Bell. Great lyrics as an added bonus.



Beastmilk – 'Love In A Cold World'


From Finland, Beastmilk continue an 80’s tinged interlude with their psychish post punk that might be the soundtrack to a black Scandinavian movie. Debut album 'Climax' is excellent, produced by Converge’s Kurt Ballou, and worth checking out.



Saint Agnes – 'Old Bone Rattle'


Back to London for our closing track from this duo comprising Jon from The Lost Souls Club and Kitty from Lola whose debut EP 'The Good Fight' has a spaghetti western taste to it. Perfect to accompany a sipping Bourbon as we watch the red sun setting on another year.


I wish every success in 2014 to these and all the other Sunday Selections from 2013, and of course to you too gentle reader. Find me at @nxgater.

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