Led by Carrie Schoenfeld, Arsenal of Democracy brings together confrontational electronic rhythms, sharp synthesizers and politically charged songwriting. There's something particularly appealing about turning serious subjects like corruption, consumerism and technological control into music with genuine dancefloor ambitions. Tracks such as “Pretty Sparkly Things” and “Bunker Man” approach modern society with dark humor, while the title track makes an urgent case for politica

Bash Co. transforms a visit to Prague into a heartfelt love song with a fascinating historical dimension. “Velvet” brings warm acoustic guitars, gentle folk-rock melodies and increasingly dramatic percussion into a composition inspired by the Velvet Revolution and the emotional intensity of INXS. I particularly like the idea of using a city's political history to explore the power of love during difficult times. The marching drums give the second half an additional sense of p

TRAPPS bring Britpop melodies and old-school punk attitude into one gloriously confrontational debut. “Eat Me” turns romantic insecurity into something built for a sweaty little venue.