Music Reviews – Most Wanted

PENNY – Shadow Dancing

ByLuke BottomleyInMusic ReviewsOn30/12/202530/12/2025

Sugary and chill, “Shadow Dancing” is a warm window on a cold night – self-conscious in the best way possible. The sweet, poetic, and slightly obsessive lyrics about watching a boyfriend’s window and wondering what he’s doing are painfully relatable – and the soft melodic vocals deliver them in a comforting dose of reassurance.

“Shadow Dancing” also happens to be a bop – just as fitting in a club as in a pair of earphones under a blanket. The soft piano drones, snap-click beat, low-key bass, and electronic bleeps make it seem a second “Dancing On My Own”

Do you feel sad sexy? Well, “Shadow Dancing” certainly does.

Find it out more – https://www.instagram.com/sadpuppypenny

rusH|Holme – dontrusH

ByLuke BottomleyInMusic ReviewsOn30/12/202530/12/2025

Desperate and clawing, caught between hopeful and hopeless – “don’tRUSH” is a deeply moody experience. The broken vocals bouncing between speakers and rumbling bass contribute to a tangible dark ambience that meshes seamlessly with the uplifting choral harmony, perfectly conveying the conflicting joy and fear of love, and the contradictory euphoria of it.

Thumping percussion, shredded vocal stings, and driving rhythms make “don’tRUSH” a sensory delight, evocative of nighttime drives and pounding hearts. The aesthetic of “don’tRUSH” is immaculate – laden with resonant symbolism and raw emotion.

“don’tRUSH” is definitely going to “stay with me tonight”

Find out more – https://www.instagram.com/rushlholme/

Ruby Wood – Superstar

ByLuke BottomleyInMusic ReviewsOn30/12/202530/12/2025

Smokey and sensual, with a groove straight out of the 70s, “Superstar” is a collaboration that works on every level. The low vocals provided by Ruby Wood swirl into the smooth, bubbly bass and trumpet accents to make a rich sound that’s the audio equivalent of red wine.

“Superstar” is a song about the fantasy of dating a superstar, and the lyrics are filled with a sort of quiet awe that speaks to the head-spinning notion of that premise – though given Wood’s extensive touring and sellout Wembly Arena and Manchester Apollo performances, it’s fair to say she’s the superstar in the relationship.

“Superstar” is R&B at its finest – an easy-listening jam that’s hard to dislike.

Bobus – Socialism

ByLuke BottomleyInMusic ReviewsOn30/12/202530/12/2025

Thumping, bleeping and grand – “Socialism” is an incredibly varied track with a grand journey through various instrumentals including acid bass, cowbells, and one Daft Punk’s worth of synth.

With a minimalist style that focuses on maintaining a constant mood, “Socialism” is never overwhelming to listen to, but it carries an undeniable momentum that never loses your attention. It also isn’t afraid to be grandiose, using every tool in the kit, and when those moments hit, it feels like the unveiling of a space pope.

A hype builder through and through – “Socialism” earns its spot as Bobus’ introduction in their 2025 Live Set LP

Find out more – https://www.instagram.com/bobuselectro/

Savvy – Where We Come From

ByLuke BottomleyInMusic ReviewsOn30/12/202530/12/2025

The gritty rhythm, bouncy bassline, snappy drums and dual vocals make “Where We Come From” an instant earworm – and that’s before Savvy starts rapping. The cold flow of the verses, lamenting the growing rifts between the local community, is a stark but raw display of pain presented in his trademark “Savvy” lyricism.

Wood’s vocals provide a beautiful contrast that cleanly segments the verses from the chorus, as well as emphasising the soulful instrumental with her melodic vocal pads. Community spirit is evident not only in the non-judgmental lyrics but in the sharing of this deeply personal track with another, creating something which transcends both artists individually.

“Where We Come From” is the unifying anthem that all local communities deserve.

Find out more – https://www.instagram.com/iam_savvy

Leo Brazil – Perhaps I Have The Power

BySaving Grace MusicInMusic ReviewsOn30/12/202530/12/2025

Heartfelt and soulful, “Perhaps I Have The Power” is a sweet and simple folk ballad and a plainly raw acknowledgement that things will be better. Brazil’s low and thick vocals and honestly hopeful lyrics make for a powerfully uplifting core, and the bassy guitar strums and thumping percussion coalesce into a pleasantly soulful sound to accompany it.

Brazil’s love for music is evident in the deceptively strong production – including background choral vocals, warbling Mellotron, and subtly mixed bass – which compliment the core song without tainting the simple, folksy sound. That, and the heartfelt declaration that “music is always around when you’re feeling down.”

I can’t think of a better example of that sentiment than “Perhaps I have the Power”

Find out more here – https://www.instagram.com/leobrazilmusic/

Erlina Lily – Cold Regret

ByLuke BottomleyInMusic ReviewsOn30/12/202530/12/2025

Melancholic from minute one, “Cold Regret” is a stark encapsulation of the sobering feeling of lamenting how things have turned out. The mood is introduced by the sharp guitar chords and cemented by the melodically harsh harmonica, and by the time the softly sombre vocals come in, the coldly tragic atmosphere is set.

Simplistic in its composition – with low-key bass and a slow thumping beat – “Cold Regret” is hummable to no end, and the sensational quality of lyrics like “I hate the way it wraps around my neck” make the song endlessly relatable.

There’s nothing to regret about listening to “Cold Regret”

Find out more – https://www.instagram.com/erlinaxlily/

Zero and the NoNos – I Scream Headache

ByLuke BottomleyInMusic ReviewsOn30/12/202530/12/2025

The surfer vibe is well and truly at home in “I Scream Headache.” A crowd pleaser through and through, with moments clearly made to be screamed in a live audience, this tongue-in-cheek song is pleasantly energetic and irreverently fun – made even better by the surf-rock warbles and pitch bends.

The lyrics are particularly evocative, telling an urban-legend-style tale of a demon ice cream man trading souls for “sweet, sickly” ice cream that makes “everybody lose control”. The manic, train-rattle guitar riffs are hard to resist tapping your foot along to, as are the crashing symbols of the chorus – and the song gets bonus points for using the word
“saccharination” in a completely fitting way.

The reverence Zero and the No-Nos has for the 50s rings loud and clear with this spooky, fun track that’s as sweet as ice cream but without the brainfreeze.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/zerononos

Deaf Romero – Charlie Sheen

ByLuke BottomleyInMusic ReviewsOn30/12/202530/12/2025

The first thing you’ll notice about “Charlie Sheen” is that killer hook sang against a choral melody that’s immediately inviting. Then, the blaring bassline comes in, riffing like a punk-rock “Walk Like an Egyptian”, you start humming the punchy vocals, and suddenly, you have a brand new earworm.

“Charlie Sheen” was featured on BBC Introducing (Leeds and Sheffield), and it’s easy to see why. Thumping, bassy, and ever-shifting – “Charlie Sheen” is an unapologetic riot with a very crunchy guitar. The lyrics – a declaration of being flawed but perfect – are snappy and memorable, complementing the hard riffs especially when the dual vocals kick in.

Gritty and gratifying, “Charlie Sheen” is an instant mood lift for alt-rockers and begs to be heard live.

Find out more – http://www.instagram.com/deafromero

Easy Stride Band – New Day (Live)

BySaving Grace MusicInMusic ReviewsOn30/12/202530/12/2025

“New Day” is a song defined by two things: an uplifting message of perseverance and hope, and the jazzy, head-bobbing brass melodies which take you most of the way there. Catchy and heartfelt with a uniquely Reggae spin – “New Day” is focused, purposeful, and powerful in both its message and its delivery.

Praised by BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank, Easy Stride have been mastering their unique sound since 2015, and “New Day” is their version of Soul down to a fine art. The triumphant brass instrumentals, the smooth bassline, the sharp vocals, and the hypnotic piano all come together to make a sound that transcends and uplifts in equal measures.

A perfect vibe – it’s hard to find anything to dislike about “New Day”, especially during that teasingly killer bridge.

Find out more – https://www.instagram.com/easystrideband