The Format: DOWNLOAD / STREAMING COMPILATION ALBUM

The Release Date: MARCH 10TH 2017

The Vibe: ‘fierce panda: singles ‘16’ is a collection of the 12 one-off digital singles the label released over the past year.

The Truth: So in January 2015, after a gazillion year hiatus, fierce panda records tiptoed back into the minefield of one-off single releases. Never ones to do anything by halves (especially Amstel) the label promptly launched a year-long singles club with 12 releases by 12 different bands on 12 different beermats over the course of 12 months, all backed by the kind hearts at Arts Council England. Some of those acts had names like Whistlejacket, Fake Laugh, Doe and ALMA, and at the end of the 12 months we hauled those 12 tunes together to form the finely-balanced ‘fierce panda: singles ‘15’ compilation.

All of which was such tremendous fun we decided to repeat the experience for 2016, albeit without the beermats the second time around. Another 12 new releases by another 12 different acts have duly appeared over the past 12 months, and this flirty dozen has been corralled into a compilation called – wait for it – ‘fierce panda: singles ‘16’. Some of these tracks are debuts. Some are side projects. Virtually every song was embraced by the blogosphere and received bearplay from nice people like Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq and John Kennedy. And all were carefully chosen for their pizazz, their panda panache and their way with a handsome melody, rather like this…

1. ALPHADUKA ‘I’ll Follow You’ (March 2016)
Lush dreampop from South London which reminds us of The Lotus Eaters.
2. CAVALRY ‘Everything’ (April 2016)
Epic pained musical sadness from Liverpool fivepiece.
3. COQUIN MIGALE ‘Grindie’ (May 2016)
Grunge + indie = Grindie according to rocking Geordie quartet.
4. HUSH! ‘Teenage Weekends’ (June 2016)
Lovely old school indie melody-gazing from West Country wonder.
5. CHALK ‘You’ve Fallen Into That Trap’ (July 2016)
Tightly wound retro action slackerpop from Brighton combo.
6. 485C ‘She’ll Lie’ (August 2016)
Racketing skinnyfit indierock from the far east of the Central Line.
7. WHITE GIANT ‘Keep The Lights On’ (September 2016)
Kinetic alt.rocking from Leicestershire trio.
8. AFFAIRS ‘Life Of Leisure’ (October 2016)
Emboldened stadium synthpop from Mancunian quintet.
9. JOEY FOURR ‘Uhmericka’ (November 2016)
Timely commentary on the U.S. of A from flamboyant gender-manipulator.
10. A LILY ‘Shadow And Me Makes Three’ (December 2016)
Broodingly introspective alt.pop intrigue from Yndi Halda frontman.
11. NATIONAL SERVICE ‘A Little More Time’ (January 2017)
Tense, nerveless leftfield guitar rattlings with killer build from North London fourpiece.
12. PARK HOTEL ‘Gone As A Friend’ (February 2017)
Thrillingly supple dance pop from exotic London-based trio.

www.fiercepanda.co.uk