W/e 13/02/26 - Puma Blue, Alice Costelloe, IST IST, Mandy, Indiana, Bloc Party

Congrats to IST IST, our winners this week as well as having our TOTW. They sit at #3 for the year. Langkamer are now 3 weeks at #1.

Mandy, Indiana were polarising for sure but can take some satisfaction for receiving the first 9 of the year from Phil J.

No surprise then that Phil has the 😀 this week.

On the flip side, it’s Guy’s first ☹️ for almost 3 years, and drop the mic, this was the week in May 2023 when we reviewed Mandy’s debut. Spooky.

Congrats also to Bloc Party for a very credible spot just outside the classics top 40 on same score as Moby and Hard-Fi. Their follow up is 40 places back, but 2 in the top 100 is good going and has them in some pretty good company.

Guy

Puma Blue – Hmmm. Hard to pick a tune out of this one. Had that hint of Ross from Friends (the real one not the dance act) experimenting with sonic soundscapes. - 5

Alice Costelloe – Nothing offensive in this but it was a bit vanilla. It’s got a shoegazey indie pop feel but there’s nothing that really stands out - 6

Ist Ist – The suggestions of Editors and Joy Division from Justin was pretty damn accurate. ‘Makes no Difference’ has a bass line that Hooky would be proud of… Since I like both those bands I enjoyed this albeit it’s not in the same league - 7

Mandy, Indiana – If Puma Blue was a bit experimental, this is off the charts. All-in-all an extremely tough listen and an example of where being ‘different’ isn’t necessarily a good thing… - 3

TotW – Ist Ist – I am the Fear

Bloc Party – Was never a super-fan but this is a great album with a number of top bangers on it. - 8

Phil OG

Alice Costelloe 6.4

I saw Alice Costelloe at the Great Escape a couple of years ago, when she was trading as Al Costelloe. She was OK-ish. This is more of the same. The second half of the album (or side two, as we used to call it) shows a slight uptick in quality but the “ish” remains.

Ist Ist 6.8

Listening to this, I felt like I’d been transported back to the 80s! There are definite echoes of New Order, but also A Flock of Seagulls in places. It sounded better on second play but I reckon twice is probably enough.

Mandy, Indiana 9

I can’t remember the last time I listened to a new album and, after just a couple of plays, thought “this is one of the best things I’ve ever heard”. That’s what I felt listening to this album. It’s like they’ve taken some of the best bits of Gilla Band, Mogwai, mbv, Radiohead even and created something better than all the parts. The rhythm is visceral and relentless and even the quieter tracks ooze menace. It’s as scary as Joy Division’s Closer and very nearly as good.

Puma Blue 7.4

This sounds a bit like Portishead reimagined as a post-modern lounge act. Sleepy, narcotic vocals and mostly brisk arrangements create a schizophrenic but not unpleasant vibe.

TOTW – Mandy, Indiana – A brighter tomorrow

Classic

Bloc Party 7.2

I remember being fairly unimpressed by their sophomore effort when we reviewed it a year or so ago. I think I might have been a bit harsh – either that or this is a much better record. Certainly a more enjoyable one.

Phil New

Alice Costelloe 6

Played well as dinner background music, but nothing to get excited about

Ist Ist 7

Echoes of lots of bands, particularly Editors. Bass forward driving rock with attitude, enjoyable listen if a bit one trick pony

Mandy, Idiana 7.1

My eleven year old trys to get me to listen to Phonk, this was a similar experience, heavily distorted industrial sounds, better suited to a video game soundtrack. Some of it was just nuts, but I really liked Sevastopol and Sicko! Cursive was the stand out track.

Puma Blue 6.5

This took a while to get into as it is has a sleepy dreamlike quality that I needed to be in the mood for. Enjoyed it much more on a second listen loud through speakers rather than headphones, lots of bass character was missed otherwise, but probably won't return.

TOW - Mandy, Indiana - Cursive

Bloc Party 9.6

One of my favourite albums. Fantastic drumming, punky bass, soppy in places. Almost doesn't set a foot wrong all the way through, just tails off a little at the end otherwise would have been a ten.

Simon

Alice Costelloe: reminded me of Julia Holter, particularly the vocals, and whilst it has some pleasing quirkiness in places it seemed rather reserved overall - enjoyed it but a stronger sense of adventure wouldn't have gone amiss. 7

Ist Ist: the opening track is decent enough but it's mostly overly portentous sub-New Order/Editors fodder after that - add into the mix some truly naff lyrics and it leads you to the inescapable conclusion that it's just not very good. 5

Mandy, Indiana: certainly one of the more challenging albums we've had for a while, it's a bit unrelenting at times but there's clearly method in the madness and Cursive is a banger - not an easy album to enjoy but you have to admire their conviction. 6

Puma Blue: an intriguing and thoroughly beguiling mix of Portishead-style trip hop and lo-fi jazz, perfectly accompanied by Jacob Allen's intimate vocals - tracks like Desire and Cocoons are impressive enough but the undoubted highlight is the dense, clattering title track, which wouldn't sound out of place on Kid A. 8

TotW: Puma Blue - Croak Dream

Bloc Party: think this may be the first time I've ever listened to this - anyway, can now see why it's got such a good rep, it's high quality smart and spiky indie. Good choice. 8

Sam

Alice Costelloe: nice voice , and although we have heard a lot of this stuff it was above most of them . 6.5

Ist Ist : I liked this a lot . Strong voice and full of dark energy. 8.3

Mandy, Indiana. Some of this was jarring but bits were less annoying and more fun . Mentalists . 6

Puma Blue : a bit all over the place . Not sure . 6

TOTW: Warning Signs by Ist Ist, what a banger

Bloc Party : great album . Banquet is one of my favourite songs. Ace choice . 8.8

Andy

Alice Costelloe - Pleasant listening without doing anything particularly thrilling 6

Ist Ist - Sounds like Editors could be a whole separate genre these days. This is a decent stab at the milieu though 6.5

Mandy, Indiana - Very interesting and a nice break from our usual selections. Occasionally it gives off Sleigh Bells vibes and sometimes it’s a hard listen but overall a good one with the opening and closing tracks the standouts 7

Puma Blue - All a bit too jazzy and low key Radioheady (with a late trip-hop appearance) for me. Not to mention how confusing he is to file 5

TotW - Sevastopol by Mandy, Indiana

Bloc Party - This is a good ‘un indeed. 3 or 4 absolutely huge tunes and the rest is decent too 8

Jim

Alice Costelleo 6

Pleasant, occasionally charming folky pop, Couple of really nice tracks near the end

Ist Ist 8

Really enjoyed this – cracking set of darker synth pop numbers, as if New Order replaced Bernard with Marilyn Manson

Mandy, Indiana 7

Mon Dieu. Most songs have a least a burst of, if not a few minutes of cracking techno which on first listen I did not really pick up over the batshit craziness. There’s a trio near the end that are really good.

Puma Blue 6

Decent dollop of trippy electronica that was very easy on the ear

TOTW: Ist Ist – Warning Signs

Bloc Party 9

Excellent stuff. Packed full of classics and a spikey sound that stands the test of time. Sits nicely with Franz Ferdinard and Hard Fi as a trio of top-notch mid-noughties UK indie debuts

Mark

Alice Costelloe - the only one of this week's set that I managed to play through twice, and I'm glad I did, lovely quirky thoughtful pop, a bit Lola Young, some were like those gorgeous slowies Damon Albarn does with Gorillaz - 7.5

Ist Ist - as well as the obvious Editors / White Lies comparisons, this also put me in mind of the Sisters Of Mercy with its doomy effects laden guitars and low register vocals. Musically I quite liked it, but put off a bit by the mundane singing and lyrics - 6

Mandy Indiana - Cursive is a decent industrial banger, the album also has a Billy Woods feature although I didn't go a bundle on his album the other year either. Fair play to them, it's certainly "challenging" but not always in a good way - 4

Puma Blue - Portishead / Massive Attack moody trip hop, to be admired but not enjoyed, some interesting textures but he seems to have forgotten to put any tunes in so it ends up a bit of a grind - 6

TOTW - How Can I, by Alice Costelloe

Paul

Alice Costelloe (6)

Pleasant enough but largely forgettable

IST IST (7)

Interesting, struggled with this at first but grew on me with a couple of extra listens once I’d tuned into the vocals.

Mandy, Indiana (4.5)

Not an easy listen. Tried but couldn’t really get on with this. Enjoyed Cursive though.

Puma Blue (6.5)

Didn’t mind this too much, first few tracks sounded quite Trip Hoppy, but struggled to hold my interest after a while.

TOTW - IST IST Encouragement

Block Party (9.5)

What a debut, loved it. Strong throughout with a good number of bangers. Particularly loved the drumming!

Erol

Alice Costelloe - dreamy and floaty folk pop. Nice enough but not quite enough to blow my skirt up. 6

IST IST - this was spot on. Think a synth-laden version of the Editors/ White Lies with a Gothic overlay. I loved its dark energy. Would be great to hear in a smoky, sweaty club. 8.5

Mandy, Indiana - apart from a few banging industrial techno moments, this mostly made my ears heart. I (genuinely) had to remove my hearing aids while this was on. No more please. 3.5

Puma Blue - genuinely novel and inventive. Portishead, Kid A soul-laden class with a jazzy touch. The vocals were top notch as too were many of the tracks, Croak Dream and Cocoons to name but a few. 7.9

TOTW - Makes no difference by IST IST

Bloc Party - great stuff. A powerhouse exemplar of early 2000s indie rock. Helicopter and Banquet are ace tracks. 8

Annette

Alice Costelloe: 6 5

IST IST: 8

Mandy Indiana: 5

Puma Blue: 7.5

TOTW: Makes no difference by IST IST

Classic: Bloc Party 9

Justin

Alice Costelloe - Hard to describe but found it an interesting and enjoyable listen 7.2

IST IST - It is not as good as the stuff it is derived from but equally it stands on its own and I love a bit of dark synth and bass heavy indie. 7.3

Mandy Indiana - If you are going full bonkers then I like it loud and wacky 6.7

Puma Blue - Again a bit hard to define but also a good listen that got plenty of spins. 7.1

TOTW IST IST - Warning Signs

Bloc Party - There are some absolute era defining classics but also a bit of meh. 7

Matt

Alice Costelloe - 5.5

IST IST - 7.8

Mandy Indiana - 7.4

Puma Blue - 7

TOTW - IST, IST Encouragement

Carlo

Alice Costello – 6.1

Likeable background music. Nothing particularly special stood out and blurred into one a little, although better on second listen.

IST IST – 6.9

Yep, definitely a bit of Editors in there, perhaps with a slightly softer voice. Enjoyable.

Mandy, Indiana – 6.1

A little shouty for me, mixed with some EDM. But OK.

Puma Blue – 6.1

Pleasant enough, but I’m in no rush to put it back on.

TOTW: IST IST – Ambition

Classic Bloc Party – 6.8

Shockingly, I can’t say I’ve ever listened to them before. Nice rough sound – I bet they’re great live.

Adam

Alice Costello 7

IST IST 7

Mandy, Indiana 5

Puma Blue 5

TOTW: Alice Costello - How Can I

Classic 9