I’m probably not the only one that likes a bit of a lie-in on a Saturday morning. But, I’m not exceptionally great at sleeping for long spells and so I often use that time in bed to listen to the weekly ‘listening post’ on Fresh On The Net.

Fresh On The Net is a fabulous blog, developed by Tom Robinson. There’s a team of people involved within it who all demand the utmost respect for the way that they support and encourage new music to prosper.

The weekly ‘listening post’ runs from Friday to Sunday afternoon (though you can always listen to old editions). The very best tracks that ‘Fresh On The Net’ has received in that week are published for all of our listening pleasures in a ‘Soundcloud’ playlist. The challenge (should you choose to accept) is to pick your five favourites out of these 20+ songs. It is always a challenge to pick just five because the standard is ridiculously high.

Last weekend, one of the stand-out tracks from the list was by a band called Rope Store. After picking them as one of my five, I was delighted to get an E-mail from Jason, a member of the band. He told me, “we’ll soon have the live band up and running. It’s mainly me and Gemma on the recordings, but the live band is a 7 piece, with a brass section.”

According to the Band Camp link that Jason sent, Rope Store are from Norwich. They make 1960s inspired songs in a disused nuclear bunker, recording straight onto 8 track with one ribbon mic. The four songs that are on Bandcamp at the moment are all gems; I love the speed with which Jason and Gemma write and record. The song I first heard of theirs was ‘Get Me Out’, recorded on New Years Day evening and released on January 2nd. Rope Store’s music is so perfect to me because of the rough and ready imperfection. The songs here are so immediate that they don’t need polishing towards blandness.

Somewhat oddly, barely 24 hours before ‘Get Me Out’ was recorded, I was also in Norwich, deep in a grumpy malaise and uttering similar words. But, I was asking to leave the New Years Eve party at the Waterfront after spending a few hours hearing the standard indie fodder that probably gives new music a bad name.

And that brings me back to Fresh On The Net. This isn’t about the promotion of standard indie fodder and that’s what I love about their site. I’m off to listen to this weeks listening post and to revel in the delights of some new discoveries. See you there.

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