ALBUMs
- Album Reviews
This Halloween, Nina Lovelace’s new band Darla & The Blonde release their debut single and video Hexenhammer.
Whilst Scowling Owl are on a break, Nina has written the song after taking inspiration from friend and author Sally O’Reilly’s novel Dark Aemilia, and it's a gothic beauty full of moody strummed guitars and precise drumming over the dual female lead vocals. The song bounds along gorgeously, even if the theme is dark. Apparently the Hexenhammer is an ancient book on the subject of witchcraft, hence the Halloween release I guess.
Closest touch point for me is All About Eve with their dreamy, floaty style and I have to say it’s pitched somewhere between folk and prog rock.
A really lovely introduction to this band, and I’m looking forward to hearing more from these guys.
Keith
7/11
- Album Reviews
The new single out Monday (27th October) on itunes, from South London based band Northern Light Exposure is called Embers. This is a piece of power pop that is both modern and nostalgic at the same time. Yes, there are elements of Doves, especially with singer Andrew Glen’s vocals, and some guitar work closely aligned with Editors, but for me it brings back memories of the 90s with bands like Then Jerico or even It Bites.
It’s an anthemic, mid paced piece of storytelling about one guy’s realisation that there’s no turning back, and the story is told against the background of chiming guitars and keyboards leading into a genuine sing along chorus. In my head I can see a video of the band playing this on a windswept coast somewhere whilst singing out to sea.
A pleasant and accessible single, and will be interesting to hear what this promising band go on to release, especially if they evolve an edgier, darker side.
Keith
7/11
- Album Reviews
This has been a highly anticipated release in many circles for many months and I think any expectations or hopes have been fulfilled on the release of this masterpiece.
From the opening pitch of Scott Walker’s baritone vocals on ‘Brando” followed by the unmitigated menace of Sunn O))) guitars, keyboards, FX, percussion, trumpets and feedback you can sense the ears are in for a treat.
Four years ago there was an intended collaboration between Scott and the band on 'Monoliths & Dimensions'. That didn’t happen but that loss is the gain of ‘Soused’ Indeed to hear Scot singing “No Raindrops on Roses, whiskers on Kittens” over the sheer power bed of Sunn O))) on the second track, the frighteningly brutal sounding ‘Herod 2014’, is quite mind-blowing just on it’s own. This is no jolly song by the way!
‘Bull’ shows Scott Walker’s vocals at their repetitive best, indeed, is there anyone else that sounds vaguely similar? This really is a very special collaboration indeed.
Fifty minutes of seminal drone, that could surely power a small city growls from the speakers. Depending on your mood may depend the volume you play this record at. Playing it in a dark room may require a special warning message before, you switch the lights out.
Rumours persist that Scott may even finally return to the live stage to play this music. So fingers crossed. In the meantime immerse yourself in ‘Soused’.
Pete
10/11
Brando
Herod 2014
Bull
Fetish
Lullaby
- Album Reviews
So if you happen to be looking for an EP that will blow more than your socks off then, five piece Essex based hardcore quintet ARIZONA - ‘The Hunter. The Gatherer’ EP could just be for you.
The band formed in 2011 and have been earning their spurs on the road ever since. This is their debut EP. Four tracks that when played at any sort of volume would blow the walls out of any building. Not in a Royal Blood sort of way, but more the traditional heavy metal, growling, mosh pit frenzy type of way.
“The next year is hopefully going to be a busy one for us.” explains frontman Jacob “We are well into writing our full length debut, and I don’t think we will stop until that has been torn apart and meticulously analysed from every angle.”
A very impressive debut for the genre, ‘The Hunter, The Gatherer’ was recorded by Empress AD’s Alex Loring and is self released on 20th October.
More details on the band's facebook page HERE
Pete
- Album Reviews
Black Lion is a three-track offering from indie outfit The Fuse, released to coincide with a short UK tour in November.
Title track ‘Black Lion’ is clearly penned by singer Alex Lato to reminisce and vent on the frustrations of industry politics to get your music published and heard by the great and good. With good reason too as this is an exceptionally well-written and very catchy offering.
With dark biblical references delivered over a festival chant style guitar riff it has "don't stand there...Bounce!" written all over it. No mean feat when you're writing about Roman soldiers discussing their mortal value with St. Peter.
Second track, ‘Airspace’ is my personal favourite. It has a strong Kings of Leon feel to it and again will play to the crowd regardless of venue size. As before it is pleasingly anthemic and instantly memorable.
Final track ‘Reload’ is a nice compliment to the others a little more relaxed showing off the bands melodic range and certainly not filler.
With the band planning a full album release in March next year, this is certainly going to get the punters checking them out at the various tour dates. Part of the tour will be linked up with rising rockers EofE so anyone attending is guaranteed a vocal audience.
@docswallow
Black Lion EP 8/10
Tour dates
06th Nov London - Dublin Castle
14th Nov Cheltenham - Subtone (Supporting EofE)
15th Nov Birmingham - Temple Room (Supporting EofE)
17th Nov London - Borderline (Supporting EofE)
20th Nov Salford - The Eagle
21st Nov Sheffield - Cremorne
- Album Reviews
2.28 minutes of reverbed guitar, spikey vocals and the driving drumbeat of ‘Don’t Wanna Lose’ announces the arrival of ‘Rips’ the debut album from Ex Hex via Merge Records.
Ex Hex front woman is Mary Timony, whose musical lineage stretches back to the Nineties with Autoclave, Helium and The Spells was, most recently part of the short lived Wid Flag with Carrie Brownstein, Rebecca Cole and Janet Weiss.
The band hails from from Washington, DC where Mary found drummer Laura Harris (The Aquarium, Benjy Ferree) then Betsy Wright from Virginia. The album was recorded over the span of two weeks in North Carolina with Mitch Easter (Let’s Active) and in the basement of Mary’s home with frequent collaborator Jonah Takagi and Bobby Harlow (The Go, Conspiracy of Owls).
The result of all that chemistry is a classic Garage Rock album that has you reaching for the volume with one hand, to turn it up whilst, pulling the ‘Nuggets’ album off the rack to play next!
Ex Hex - Rips, is twelve songs, the longest 3.59 the shortest 2.06. In the car you will find you have it on a loop as it just drips American rock n roll for any road trip in 2014!!
European live dates look like February with Leeds Brudenell Social Club already announced for 11th Feb. In the meantime, just set that volume switch to high and enjoy!
Pete
9/11
Rips by Ex Hex is released on 13th October, 2014
- Album Reviews
A marvellous 14 track debut offer from the latest band out of a seemingly everlasting Devonshire enclave. These Reigning Days are very much a melody lovers dream, lilting guitars over a Hurts, White Lies style vocal.
The entire album screams Sunday playlist with a reflective coffee, but has an underlying power that can be turned up to power a heartfelt and anthem laden festival performance.
Tracks like ‘Stand Down’ and ‘Thrones’ are going to be staples for their future audiences and charming vocal explorations on ‘I Need Time’ show a soulfully crafted songwriting skill that seems so simple but is so rhythmically multilayered that it is a haunting delight.
There are tracks, such as ‘Living it Up’, that are clearly chart influenced, no bad thing but not the wow of tracks like ‘Satellite’ which punch and stand out as potential singles.
I have not been as impressed on a first run through of an album in a longtime. No filler tracks just a wonderful album packed with differing emotion and festival performable anthems.
It's a guarantee for my top ten list this year
Iain @docswallow
10.5/11
- Album Reviews
The opening track from Norwich quintet Wooden Arms’ debut album, or indeed EP, Tides, is called December. It only has 5 lines of lyrics and 23 words in total. It also has mournful violin, piano, brass, a choral section, male & female vocals and (eventually) a pulsing drumbeat. It’s beautiful. Just beautiful.
The band’s website describes them as an alternative, chamber music band, and I don’t see any reason to argue with that. The closest band comparisons I can think of are Hem or Sweet Billy Pilgrim, or a mixture of the two.
Second track Vicenarian (someone in their 20’s don’t you know), is a playful song about youth, again violin led, and again stunning.
Title track Tides is up next, followed by Waiting, and lyrically the mood changes. The subject in Tides is asked “were you born this way, or did you choose to be such an arsehole?” while Waiting asks repeatedly “Is This All ?” Both good questions.
Noah for me is my least favourite on the album, but with the standard this high, this is a minor concern, especially as the album closes with my highlight, the stunning False Start. A touching, delicate yet anthemic love song, full of brass and strings, and with echoes of Tuung or, The Accidental about it. I’ve had this on repeat since I bought the album.
And that's it. 6 songs with a running time of barely 28 minutes or so, but Wooden Arms have created a thing of genuine beauty. The emotion it evokes in me makes me want to stretch out in front of an open fire, whilst mourning the passing of summer.
Thank you Mark Radcliffe and 6 Music for playing them, and literally stopping me in my tracks. Please play in Leeds soon.
10/11
Keith @kjsmith4082
LIVE IN OCTOBER
10th Norwich Sound & Vision festival, Octagon Chapel
11th Cambridge Junction 2
12th -Brighton, Green Door Store
17th London, St Pancras Old Church
- Album Reviews
Another beautiful album drifts through the speakers from Ólöf Arnalds; 'Palme' represents Ólöf´s fourth LP following 'Við og Við' (2007), 'Innundir Skinni' (2009) and 'Sudden Elevation' (2013).
Included on the album are Gunnar Örn Tynes (founder of múm) and once more by long-term musical foil, Skúli Sverrisson (who has also worked with Laurie Anderson, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Blonde Redhead).
As ever Ólöf's vocals have a unique style, so very much like Bjork, some people can tune into the voice and others can't.
Instrumentally the album moves from sparse to full band with ease and programmed electronics and the digital manipulation of some of the instrumental parts take the music to new boundaries for this artist.
The album was performed and recorded simultaneously which gives it a very 'alive' feel. Recorded over a six month period you do get a winter to spring feel abounding from the turntable.
Overall though Ólöf's distinctive vocal is the key. Sit back, relax and let it sweep over you.
Pete
8/11
Palme is released via One Little Indian Records on 29th September and her UK tour dates are below.
28-Sep Brighton Komedia Studio Bar TICKET LINK
29-Sep London OsloTICKET LINK
01-Oct Bristol The Louisiana TICKET LINK
02-Oct Manchester Cornerhouse TICKET LINK
03-Oct Liverpool Leaf TICKET LINK
04-Oct York Fibbers TICKET LINK
05-Oct Glasgow Mono TICKET LINK
- Album Reviews
Second album from Avi Buffalo (alias of Avi Zahner-Isenberg and his band) a follow-up to his self-titled 2010 debut (the one with the wonderful 'What's It In For').
The overall sound is of laid-back, floaty West Coast American pop with Elliott Smith-style falsetto vocals. Avi himself commented that “There are a lot of elements I've always heard, loved and wanted to put into a record such as : distorted guitar, piano , juicy bass and some light orchestration ...” , there are echoes of mid-70's Steve Hackett (kids, ask your dad) in Avi's very skilful guitar playing, particularly on the exit solo in 'Memories of You' and 'Oxygen Tank'.
But don't think Avi's on a floaty, hippy, vibe ride because the lyrical themes are going catch you out; “Couple nights ago, I ran over two dogs, then I ate them after.”, “I had a dream that you were acting normal. It made me wake up feeling like a stone ...If every dream I have betrays me like this ..”. The simple piano-driven 'She is Seventeen' , “Cower beneath it with your siren sticking needles in your arm”!
The mix of the light and the dark is particularly effective on 'Oxygen Tank', which starts by cheerfully informing us that, “A man carrying an oxygen tank is gonna come and kill me and my family too if I don't stop seeing you”, then proceeds to talk about his head filing with “..the guilty clouds and sounds of babies screaming, coughing, breathing poorly in the back seat”, before finding himself “ One more chance and I'll be strung up in a tree, off a bridge or worse”. As Avi described these songs as “..a collection that I felt articulated important moments or feelings in my life”,you wonder if there's a help-line number you should pass onto him?
Fortunately, it's a quite wonderful collection of songs ; 'Memories of You', and 'Think It's Gonna Happen Again' on their own make this album special and well deserving the praise being given to it by Rough Trade, Lauren Laverne, NME etc.; best not to dwell too long on the contents of the lyrics though.
Alisdair Whyte
10/11 (a place in the Top Ten of 2014 is now taken)
UK Dates:
03 Oct Manchester The Deaf Institute
06 Oct Glasgow Broadcast
08 Oct Bristol Thekla
10 Oct London Islington Assembly Hall
Tracks
So What
Memories of You
Can't Be Too Responsible
Two Cherished Understandings
Overwhelmed with Pride
Found Blind
She is Seventeen
Think It's Gonna Happen Again
- Album Reviews
“ Bo Bar, ba-ba-ba-bo; Bo Bar, ba-ba-ba-bar” who can resist the joy of a big, fat sing-along? Fortunately not The New Pornographers as that's how the opening title track of the new album from the Canadian (mostly) purveyors of power-pop begins.
Main songwriter A.C. (Carl) Newman provides the usual selection of songs with more hooks than an episode of Extreme Fishing with Robson Green. Sex, Drugs and Rock and roll are covered ,'Another Drug Deal of the Heart' and 'Champions of Red Wine' chugs along with a lovely vocal from Neko Case. Dan Bejar contributes three tracks along with his distinctive almost croaky speak-singing vocals galloping through a rocking 'War on The East Coast' and ' Born with a Sound' in a duet with guest vocalist Amber Webber.
The whole album moves along with more pace and drive than previous with Kathryn Calder's keyboards providing little motifs and fills throughout adding to the upbeat , joyousness, sing-along feel of the whole album.
Along with the strength of the song-writing one of the distinctive features of The New Pornographers is that they have four lead vocalists so the sound and texture of tracks through each album never feels tired ; witness the contrast between the verse of 'Wide Eyes' and the chorus,
“And if I see no hope for me , I still see hope for you”, any number of the duets and the final track 'You Tell Me Where' which just might be one of my favourite by TNP . It starts with a sweet keyboard introduction accompanying Carl's vocal and by the end has morphed into a mass sing-along between Carl, Neko, Kathryn and another guest vocalist Kelly Hogan providing a huge wall of surround sound, “So you tell me where to be ,I'll be there” and we're back to where we started, with a big, fat sing-along with a killer whale size hook to finish.
Another great album from the (cliché alert) criminally-underrated The New Pornographers.
Alisdair Whyte
8/11
Please catch them on two dates in the UK as part of a European tour at the end of the year.
Monday 1st December , The Deaf Institute Manchester
Tuesday 2nd December , Shepherds Bush Empire.
Tracks
Brill Bruisers
Champions of Red Wine
Fantasy Fools
War on the East Coast
Backstairs
Marching Orders
Another Drug Deal of the Heart
Born with a Sound
Wide Eyes
Dancehall Domine
Spidyr
Hi-rise
You tell me Where
- Album Reviews
Released by the Groenland label to tie in with the book of the same name by Rüdiger Esch, this is essentially a musical snapshot of one of Germany’s major cities between 1969 and 1986. As such, it’s neither a complete history of Krautrock (other cities also produced krautrock legends, such as Can from Cologne) but nor is it just tied down to that particular genre. It charts not just the Cosmische Musik but also those it inspired both inside and outside the city. So as well as the familiar motoric drum beat there are some more varied moments - Wolfgang Riechmann’s Pink Floyd-esque ‘Wunderbar’ for example, or the electro-stomp of ‘Los Ninos Del Parque’ by Liaisons Dangereuses.
The album closes with possibly the most surprising track, a downbeat cover of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s ‘Electricity’. Performed in this way by MakroSoft you could absolutely believe that it had originated in Kling Klang Studios rather than in the bedroom of two spotty teenagers from the Wirral. It brings the whole thing full circle and adds a nice touch of closure to the project.
Overall the record is well sequenced and stands on its own as a good document of the music and the scene in Dusseldorf.
If you were hoping to read the book to go with it (as I was) then you’d best have more than an elementary knowledge of German as there is currently no English translation planned (I wonder if we can find an enterprising publisher to take it on…?). Even without the book the record is worth owning – you can buy it from 10th October via Norman Records
Russell @TheDJCull
8/11
