'Red' by CHEEKY LEASH

 

 

A single released on February 14, 2025.

Classic Aussie Surf Rock, from the South Coast, New South Wales.

Missed this one from the beginning of this year, and right now have not found anything interesting in the new releases for Friday 19 December, 2025.

This came up on a Spotify generated Australian Indie Mix play list so, hey, gotta learn to stop knocking those. 

There's a frankly beautiful rolling guitar solo before the last verse.

Their last single Burning Up, released on November 6, 2025 made my November play list, only for some unknown reason I did not feature it here.

Great group.

'Luke De Loop' by The Reytons

 

 

From the album Roll The Dice - Released December 5, 2025.

Released December 5, 2025

Missed this one from last week - had on my weekly playlist that got distracted by Christmas crap.

Great rock song from this South Yorkshire, UK band.

But really, you just gotta love these lyrics!

Best I have heard in ages, and sort of sums up how many feel about life in general at the moment.

'Wicked Game' a dance cover by Mansionar.

 

 

A single released December 4, 2025.

This was, is and always will be a beautiful song, so it's hard to F it up, and these guys with their just released dance version certianly do not.

Not the type of song, as played, I would normally feature, only it's sort of dance season time.

Hard to belive that the orginal song by Chris Isaak has over a billion plays on Spotify since it's release in June 1989, and that it really did not become a hit until it was featured in the David Lynch film “Wild at Heart” in 1990.

It has been covered many, many times by a whole bunch of artists, with one of my favourites, in the more traditional sort of cover, being this version by Lusaint, released in June, 2021.

The only issue I have with this Mansionar dance version is that it's too short and cuts out just as the song really breaks out.

But hey, a half decent DJ can sort that out easy, and make the floor go wild.

My Spotify Wrapped 2025

 

Everyone is doing it, so here's mine.

Some, but not all, are on this blog, which I suppose is a good thing?

The curiosity is that I use another search/web site to track my Spotify listening habits, and that gives a different "Number One".

The site: Stats for Spotify 

Spotify Wrapped: Beau Monde by the Dead Bolts (featured here).

Stats for Spotify: Change by the War on Drugs, from their October 2021 album 'I Don't Live Here Anymore'.

Slightly weird but hey, AI!

'The Twelve Days of Christmas' by The Futureheads

 

From their album "Christmas" released on 21 November 2025.

We are getting close to what many in the English world call the 'Silly Season', that is Christmas.

Silly because basically anything remotely sentimental from dressing up to food, is more or less permitted.

So, and as a break from the usual tired dirge churned out by big name stars, doing perfect takes of [insert crapy Christmas carol], here's something different.

Of course it's a Christmas song!

Only one that has been turned into a lively punk rock sort of tune, virtually guaranteed to get the guys in the pub shouting out "ONE TWO" between the fifth and forth days!

Ah ha ha! Great!

'Feet Don't Fail Me Now' by Rationale

 

 

From the album "Metanoia" released 7 November 2025.

Having done all my schooling it what is now Zimbabwe, I was exited to come across the UK based, Zimbabwean born artist back in 2015.

He released the really excellent EP "Fuel To The Fire", which the title song was one I listened a lot that year, especially as it coincided with a return visit to the country. The lyrics seemed to apply a hope for better things to come. 

Fat chance.

Having listened to each of his new releases since then, I posted this on an internal chat group two days ago:

"A decade on from his initial hit single 'Fuel To The Fire', and having followed and listened to most of his releases since, finally a song I can recommend. From the UK artist called Rationale (real name Tinashe Fazakerley), born in Zimbabwe and raised in the UK. From his new album 'Metanoia' released 7 November. "

Enough said.