Album Review: ‘It Goes On’ – Westside Cowboy
Album Review: ‘It Goes On’ – Westside Cowboy A technically brilliant and creatively fantastic piece of art By Cara Rawson 25 August 2026 Westside Cowboy, a band hailing from Manchester, have recently become the acclaimed indie band of the city. An opinion which has now only been expedited by the release of new album ‘It Goes On’. ‘It Goes On’ is the kind of album that makes you fall in love with the beauty of music again. The melodies are concise and filled with Aoife Anson O’Connell’s unique vocal harmonies. The guitars sound fresh and warrant a modern touch. The album is an ode to feeling too young for the world but tired enough to know where you are. The lyrics of ‘It Goes On’ don’t focus on being poetry; they don’t need to. They feel like an echo of the world, there is no grandiose meaning hidden between the words. They are exactly as they appear on the tin. It’s an honest expression from a band wanting to make something nice to listen to. It’s a clear, well-spoken album. Photo by Clementine Schneidermann ‘It Goes On’ is a marker of change for indie music in this decade. The fuzz and muffled sound of the rhythm section has moved to the bass while the guitar has become polished and melodic. The album holds its genre of alternative indie without trying to prove it. The drums maintain a soft percussion which works incredibly well with the driving bass. The guitars lead the build-ups and vocals accentuate in all the perfect places. All instruments play their part and converse with each other. It’s an album that entails a sense of togetherness. The soft intro of ‘Kick Stones (The Boys)’ with the electric guitar, vocals providing a catchy melody and Aoife Anson O’Connell showing her voice in perfect detail. The drums iconic rolls and fills create a song that nearly requires clapping along to. It’s a big sound that feels like you’re in the room with the band and an audience. Westside Cowboy have well and truly proven that they deserve every single one of their flowers within this album release. They have created a technically brilliant and creatively fantastic piece of art. You Might Also Like Recent Posts
Single Review: ‘Pugh’ – Troutflies
Single Review: ‘Pugh’ – Troutflies Candid ruminations drift from one thought to the next, not settling for too long By Eli Callingham 16 August 2026 ‘Pugh’ begins with a simple premise of a church-turned-nightclub in York and a loose connection to the singer’s surname before dissolving into something more hazy and surreal. Over a bed of jangly guitar and warbly melodica tones, Reuben Pugh’s stream-of-consciousness lyrics drift between fragments of memory, observation and seemingly disconnected thoughts. What begins as an anecdote becomes something closer to a captured reverie. York-via-Leeds duo Troutflies, comprised of Reuben Pugh on guitar and Guy Godivala on melodica occupy a whimsical corner of DIY outsider pop, steeped in the eccentricity and dry humour of British folk and psychedelia, constructing their own strange little world. Photo by Rhani Mahabir-Stokes Having recently shared stages with American home recording pioneer Linda Smith, alongside fellow experimentalists Glasshouse Red Spider Mite and MPTL Microplastics, the duo now turn towards their second album ‘Wild Troutflies’, out 23rd via Leeds’ emerging powerhouse label Private Regcords. Speaking on the record, Reuben says: “This album is a collection of songs that act as a placeholder for the year I’ve had. I was working a job that meant I had to be up at 6 AM, often with no sleep, so it’s all about working, being tired and missing people”. This sentiment bleeds into ‘Pugh’, where candid ruminations drift from one thought to the next, not settling for too long. You Might Also Like Recent Posts
The New Folk
← Back The New Folk Listen to some of the best new tracks from some of the greatest up and coming folk artists. {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }} {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }} {{ options.labels.newReviewButton }} {{ userData.canReview.message }} You Might Also Like Recent Posts
Video Interview: Truthpaste
Video Interview: Chatting Music with Truthpaste Alternative,Folk And Acoustic We caught the gang from Truthpaste after their set at our TGE stage. We chatted about who they wanted to see at the festival, what they’ve been listening to and the artists they think deserve more attention. Full playlist of their suggestions here. You Might Also Like Recent Posts
Truthpaste Recommends
. ← Back Artist Playlist,TNAM.UK Playlist Truthpaste A playlist featuring artists chosen tracks and our TNAM staff picks from the experimental folk group Truthpaste. Alternative,Folk And Acoustic {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }} {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }} {{ options.labels.newReviewButton }} {{ userData.canReview.message }} You Might Also Like Recent Posts
TGE Presents Truthpaste, Bert & Ninush @ The Old Blue Last
TGE PRESENTS TRUTHPASTE, BERT & NINUSH PHOTOS By Elijah Callingham 27 April 2026 Thursday 26th March marked the third of The Great Escape’s pre-festival showcases and consisted of an indie/alt/folk focused lineup. Lots of guitars, gentle vocals and beautiful songwriting. You can view the photos we took, listen to the artists, and read our thoughts on them below. Ninush Nina Lim has played with some of the best British artists out there as a violinist but her solo project Ninush explores a more gentle sound, reminiscent of Regina Spektor. Bert Brighton artist Bert played his recently released track ‘Bump’. On the night we spoke to him about it as well as his other favourite songs, which you can view over on our Instagram. Truthpaste Headliners Truthpaste have really been making their way up in the world recently. They work beautifully as an ensemble, ending the night on a high note.
Beth Jones Recommends
Artist Playlist : Beth Jones Folk,Folk Pop,Indie A playlist featuring music made or selected by folk singer Beth Jones, plus some related suggestions from the TNAM team. Watch the full interview over on our Instagram! TNAM.UK Playlist {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }} {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }} {{ options.labels.newReviewButton }} {{ userData.canReview.message }} You Might Also Like Recent Posts
Artist Playlist: hey, nothing
Artist Playlist : hey, nothing Folk,Folk Pop,Indie,Indie Pop,Rock Music from/selected by/inspired by hey, nothing – with help from the TNAM team. Find our original interview from Pitchfork festival over on our Instagram! TNAM.UK Playlist {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }} {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }} {{ options.labels.newReviewButton }} {{ userData.canReview.message }} You Might Also Like Recent Posts
Kiss From a Siren
Kiss From a Siren Beautiful songs and otherworldly voices. The type of music you’d imagine a fairy may sing to draw you into it’s circle. Featuring a variety of up and coming artists from the UK, including recent Mercury prize nominee Jacob Alon and the ethereal Florence Rose. For those times when you wish you could close your eyes and vanish into a fairytale. People’s playlists by: Caitlin Taylor Instagram Alternative,Folk,Folk Pop,Folk Rock {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }} {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }} {{ options.labels.newReviewButton }} {{ userData.canReview.message }} You Might Also Like Recent Posts
The Garden – NEW UK FOLK
The Garden – NEW UK FOLK Alt Rock,Alternative,Folk,Folk Rock,Indie,Indie Rock We’re happy you’re here. The Garden brings the best in new UK folk. Including Ugly, The New Eves, Truthpaste and more. Plucky strings, wandering vocal passages, take a walk and return to a summer daze. We hope to See You Around. People’s playlists by: Callum Lidington Instagram Instagram You Might Also Like Recent Posts