Manchester's TerrorBird crashes in with a debut single that turns toxic attachment into a sharp, handmade indie rush. 'Crawling' has the energy of finally blocking the number, changing the lock, and walking out with your best outfit on. TerrorBird, the Manchester project led by vocalist and songwriter Alicia, does not tiptoe into debut territory here. She kicks the door open, laughs once, and lets the...

Sam Ostler’s new single, “Lights,” then. It unfolds less like a sudden, intrusive glare and more like the slow, determined burn of a really good stage light finally finding its mark after a prolonged blackout. It’s pop, yes, vibrant and undeniably contemporary as advertised – clean lines, clear intentions. Yet, there’s a certain satisfying heft beneath the melodic uplift, a feeling that these notes...