{"id":2378994,"date":"2026-04-18T14:44:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2378994"},"modified":"2026-04-18T14:44:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:44:02","slug":"add-to-playlist-the-sweaty-unvarnished-electropop-of-punchbag-and-the-weeks-best-new-tracks-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/add-to-playlist-the-sweaty-unvarnished-electropop-of-punchbag-and-the-weeks-best-new-tracks-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Add to playlist: the sweaty, unvarnished electropop of Punchbag and the week\u2019s best new tracks | Music"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>From<\/strong> South London<br \/><strong>Recommended if you like<\/strong> Charli xcx, Confidence Man, Klaxons<br \/><strong>Up next<\/strong> UK tour starts 21 April<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If this was April 2008, Punchbag, AKA south London siblings Clara and Anders Bach, would be headlining an NME tour alongside Alphabeat and Frankmusik, while the Popjustice forum would have hailed them as the new face of \u201cwonky pop\u201d. The sonic calling cards of that ramshackle iPod-era micro-genre \u2013 off-kilter, unvarnished electropop piled high with myriad other genres \u2013 were streaked across Punchbag\u2019s debut single Fuck It. A sweaty riot of 90s rave, maximalist bass and Clara\u2019s spit-soaked vocals, it felt tailor-made for soundtracking an awkward snog on Skins. Last May it was joined by three other frantic bangers on the duo\u2019s debut EP, I\u2019m Not Your Punchbag, the highlight of which, You Used to Be So Sexy, sounds like a GarageBand-produced the Veronicas had they grown up in east London as opposed to Brisbane.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"9a140a16-0671-47e6-a46e-c706dac0cbed\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.VideoYoutubeBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-component=\"youtube-embed\" class=\"dcr-13aa88h\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/L05hHUvMNcE?wmode=opaque&amp;feature=oembed\" title=\"PUNCHBAG - I Am Obsessed (Official Video)\" height=\"480\" width=\"854\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This month\u2019s follow-up EP, I Am Obsessed, takes that neon palette and adds a few darker hues to the mix. Lyrically, the pair have said they were keen to zoom in on the scabby surface of our current reality, with the dry ice balladry of Playing God ironically dedicated to the men in power. It\u2019s a sonic palette cleanser that also acts as an example of the duo\u2019s musical evolution, with its atmospheric unfurling and rich melody leaning towards arenas rather than headache-inducing squat parties. However, if you\u2019re like me, and only a glorious racket will suffice, then the shouty, nu-rave adjacent I Love This!, which channels both Sucker and Brat-era Charli xcx, is the perfect antidote to mainstream beige, while the frazzled sugar rush of What\u2019s in My Bag (\u201cunderwear in case I stay\u201d) keeps Playing God\u2019s crafted musicianship but spikes it with something spicier. <em>Michael Cragg<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"this-weeks-best-new-tracks\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">This week\u2019s best new tracks<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"c9643fa1-8fc6-4983-99bc-2f1ff36e3a3a\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Beguiling \u2026 Tara Clerkin Trio.<\/span> Photograph: Peter Eason Daniels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Tara Clerkin Trio \u2013 Silently<\/strong><br \/>Gauzy synths, a low-slung beat and Spanish guitar evoke a dusky, lapping shoreline in this utterly relaxing song that never blurs into wallpaper: the curious vocals and piano breaks are too beguiling for that. <em>LS<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Babyfather \u2013 Slumpz<\/strong><br \/>With EsDeeKid\u2019s go-to producer Wraith9 on the corroded-symphony beat, Dean Blunt\u2019s steady, faintly amused flow is ever welcome, as his rap project with James Massiah returns with the excellent EP Icl. <em>BBT<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Thistle. \u2013 Pylon<\/strong><br \/>The Manc trio catch a giant wave of pondwater surf, riding this wobbling mass of noise through two and a half minutes of gorgeous grungegaze before suddenly wiping out. <em>BBT<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Katseye \u2013 Pinky Up<\/strong><strong><br \/><\/strong>Avoiding the controversy surrounding Manon Bannerman\u2019s hiatus, the girl group lean into brat-pop party anthems: chant-along chorus, upbeat tempo, hyperactive production and an unexpected lyrical hat-tip to Socrates. <em>SA<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/music\/2026\/apr\/16\/massive-attack-boots-on-the-ground-ft-tom-waits-review-first-single-in-a-decade-is-a-dark-hymn-for-our-times\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Massive Attack \u2013 Boots on the Ground (ft Tom Waits)<\/a><\/strong><strong><br \/><\/strong>Wheezing breath, mournful piano, clattering drums, eerie wailing: Massive Attack make their long-awaited return. Waits\u2019 part would sound like a lost blues recording \u2013 were he not playing a brash, unrepentant warmonger. (<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/music\/2025\/sep\/18\/massive-attack-remove-music-from-spotify-to-protest-ceo-daniel-eks-investment-in-ai-military\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Not on Spotify<\/a> \u2013 <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/massiveattack.bandcamp.com\/album\/boots-on-the-ground\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">buy it at Bandcamp<\/a>.) <em>LS<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Disgusting Sisters \u2013 Weirdo Magnet<\/strong><strong><br \/><\/strong>Excellently named band and single: the real-life sisters split the difference between Smerz, Brat-era Charli and debut-era Billie Eilish, with succubus-style vocals prowling around playfully creepy bass. <em>LS<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>PPP \u2013 Wisco<\/strong><br \/>DJs Piezo, Plead and Python unite for a steamy, syncopated track that recalls the harder end of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/music\/2025\/apr\/04\/dj-koze-music-can-hear-us-review\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">DJ Koze\u2019s most recent album<\/a>, and makes summer feel tantalisingly near. <em>LS<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Subscribe to the Guardian\u2019s rolling Add to Playlist selections on Spotify \u2013 or transfer it to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/118249\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Apple<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/support.tidal.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360004689717-Import-playlists\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Tidal<\/a> or other services<\/p>\n<figure id=\"ced1f868-0ef8-4e4b-9281-3b8b217a152b\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.SpotifyBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><gu-island name=\"SpotifyBlockComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;embedUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/48kgn15Mrg6XC859pVtZj5?utm_source=oembed&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:352,&quot;width&quot;:456,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Add to playlist: the Guardian\u2019s favourite new tracks&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:10,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:3},&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Spotify&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;isTracking&quot;:false,&quot;isMainMedia&quot;:false,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;Spotify&quot;,&quot;sourceDomain&quot;:&quot;open.spotify.com&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/48kgn15Mrg6XC859pVtZj5?utm_source=oembed\" title=\"Add to playlist: the Guardian\u2019s favourite new tracks\" height=\"352\" width=\"456\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.theguardian.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From South LondonRecommended if you like Charli xcx, Confidence Man, KlaxonsUp next UK tour starts 21 April If this was April 2008, Punchbag, AKA south London siblings Clara and Anders Bach, would be headlining an NME tour alongside Alphabeat and Frankmusik, while the Popjustice forum would have hailed them as the new face of \u201cwonky [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2378995,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2378994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Add-to-playlist-the-sweaty-unvarnished-electropop-of-Punchbag-and.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2378994"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2378996,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378994\/revisions\/2378996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2378995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2378994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2378994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2378994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}