One to Watch :: GHXST

Darkly tinged, heavy, noise-ridden, distorted - yet with bluesy spaced-out vocals that in part will blow your ears off, while the rest gets under your skin and lodges in your head to sonically beat you into (willing) submission.

GHXST is a Brooklyn-based noise grunge trio comprised of Shelley X, Chris Wild and Nathan La Guerra, and with influences such as the Jesus and Mary Chain, White Zombie, and Sonic Youth, you know before you even hear them that this is going to be something that kicks a punch. And you won't be disappointed.

Following on from the release of last year's EVILWICKEDDESIRE (comprised of their first two EPs, EVIL'S WASTED ON YOU and NO REST FOR THE WICKED, GHXST have announced a UK tour in June and are giving away a free taster of their new material through London's Club.The.Mammoth and Tip Top Recordings, which you can hear below.

Doomgirl [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Given that Shelley has described a GHXST show as "commonly attended by Satanists, homosexuals, and other dangerous cults", be warned! But be there.

JUNE
15th – DJ Set at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen w/ CLUB.THE.MAMMOTH, LONDON
16th – DJ Set at Topman OXFORD STREET
17th – Green Door Store, BRIGHTON
20th – The Old Blue Last, LONDON
21st – Kraak Gallery, MANCHESTER
22nd – Birthdays, LONDON
23rd – Oakford Social Club, READING

Hot Weekend Special - Part Two

Part two of the weekend special of fifteen must-hear tracks.



Mary Epworth - Long Gone (Grum Remix)






Benin City - Baby






Kathryn Williams presents The Pond - Circle Round A Tree






Monument Valley - The Very First Alarm


http://soundcloud.com/partisanpr/sets/monument-valley-the-very-first/



Savages - Flying To Berlin






AM & Shawn Lee - Can't Figure It Out


http://soundcloud.com/amsounds/03-cant-figure-it-out-1?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=mshare&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/amsounds/03-cant-figure-it-out-1



Two Inch Punch - Paint It Red


http://soundcloud.com/twoinchpunch/paint-it-red

Hot Weekend Special Part One - May 25 2012

With so many hot new sounds out in the last few weeks - all worthy of your ears - here for this glorious weekend is part one of a blisteringly hot bundle of fifteen - instead of the usual weekly five - coming at you for the weekend. Enjoy!


Trim The Barber - Occupation


http://soundcloud.com/strummerville/trim-the-barber-occupation?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=mshare&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/strummerville/trim-the-barber-occupation



Rudimental - Feel The Love (ft. John Newman)






Visions Of Trees - Turn 2 U






Pond - Sorry I Was Under The Sky


http://soundcloud.com/pondling/sorry-i-was-under-the-sky?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=mshare&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/pondling/sorry-i-was-under-the-sky



Splashh - All I Wanna Do






Odonis Odonis - Busted Lip


http://soundcloud.com/odonisodonis/02-busted-lip



Swimming - All Things Made New


http://soundcloud.com/music-week/all-things-made-new-stand




Grimes - Oblivion (Baardsen Remix)

So that was...April

Okay, so it's mid May, I know. April seems a long time ago now - thankfully. Full of rain and bleakness. And more rain.

Somewhere amidst that, headed down to Hoxton for Strangers London date, which was also the single launch night for The Ghosts follow-up to 'Enough Time' - 'Ghosts'. Both bands went down extremely well to an appreciative crowd. Strangers playing their first gig after their Xfm radio session on John Kennedy's X-posure. Playing four tracks, although this had been pre-recorded, vocalist and writer David Maddox-Jones did get on the phone to JK live. He hadn't bargained on my sending John a message telling him to ask David what inspired one of the songs they were to play - 'It Was A Sin' - which you can hear below - as it is actually about the lady who is now his partner, but wasn't, erm, at the time...long story, sort of! It's one of the band's best songs. I think.




That was a bit of a full night, as there was a two-way clash with TOY and Savages at XOYO; arriving just in time at XOYO - after a fast dash from Hoxton's Bar & Kitchen - for the last few numbers of Savages set. Well worth it it was too. Jehnny Beth (resplendent in killer heels) and her fellow three-girl gang knock out a raft of stonking tunes with precision and stage savvy. Have a listen to a new song from them, 'Shut Up' - filmed just a few weeks ago.



Sadly, the night's headliners TOY I saw little of. One look at the gorgeous Tom Dougall and I came over all faint! Absolutely true. But apparently they played a blindng set, naturally drawing to a close with the epic that is 'Left Myself Behind'. Oh and yes, it rained that night as well...

It was also raining when Citizens! played the last of their three night residency at Ridley Road Market Bar in Dalston. A small little cafe/bar type affair (if you know The Shacklewell Arms, well this place is about half the size even of that) that has quite a nice vibe (even if the loos are somewhat lacking...). Caught up with Mike and Lawrence from the band for chats early on, and with the lovely Tomas from Man Without Country who were the evening's opener. Playing as a duo (sans drums) in the tiny floor space that is called the 'stage', they still managed to sound huge, synthy and ultimately glossy. Their long-awaited debut album finally drops in June which is going to be a treat to hear.

The mighty Clock Opera celebrated their debut album launch at Scala - and won over yet more hearts I have no doubt - and am sure Guy was in his element playing on the stage of the venue he so loves.

I think it rained too...

One To Watch :: Talk In Colour

London quintet Talk in Colour are set to release debut album ColliderScope on May 28. Both dark and uplifting, their music slips effortlessly between pure instrumentals and vocal driven tracks, bridging the gap between the electronica of early DJ Shadow and thepoetic song writing of Joni Mitchell. Together, Talk in Colour combine intricate and detailed soundscapes with a strong ear for melody.

First single Nightshifts, released as a free download in autumn 2011, gained considerable attention after its inclusion in the trailer and soundtrack of award-winning British feature film Junkhearts. Nightshifts takes its inspiration from a nocturnal no man’s land, caught between dreaming and lucidity. Musically, the track swells from hypnotic guitar and brooding analogue bass to moments of haunting celebration where euphoric vocals swirl over crisp live drums, harp and piano.

The Microburst remix of Nightshifts was voted track of the day on music blogs The Line of Best Fit and XLR8R,and was played by Rob Da Bank on BBC Radio 1.

Second single Rocking Horse (released last month)is a glitchy and throbbing number with swirling vocals anchored by a brooding bassline. Lyrically, the track explores ideas of place and belonging - seeking security in familiar spaces whilst simultaneously feeling trapped by them.

Electro swamp rock track Headlights tells the story of a one-night stand, being swept away by the moment and voting with your feet. The track layers drums, effects, harp, guitars and keyboards, breaking them down and reconstructing as the song grows. Broadcast and Ladytron are big influences here, referenced in the retro sounding distorted keys that run throughout.

Bones is an exposed and delicate affair, in keeping with its themes of loss and grieving. The song captures the moment of waking up to suddenly remember a heart-grabbing loss and learning to build a relationship with that grief. The stark instrumentation allows the vocal space to breathe, before building to a powerful close.

See Talk In Colour live on Wednesday May 23rd at Floripa London for their album launch show.

Listen to a mash-up of tracks from the forthcoming album below.

TiC ColliderScope Album Preview Mashup by Talk In Colour

One To Watch :: Two Inch Punch

Paint It Red (Ft. Mikky Ekko) --- by T.I.P

May 18 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Age Of Consent - Heartbreak



Seasfire - Heartbeat



Cheatahs - Coared http://soundcloud.com/user8564174/01-coared-press?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=mshare&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/user8564174/01-coared-press



The Neon Lights - Forests



MS MR - Hurricane

May 11 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Michael A Grammar - All Night, Afloat http://soundcloud.com/michael-a-grammar/all-night-afloat



Drop Out Venus - Love In Vein http://soundcloud.com/dropoutvenus/love-in-vein



Four Tet - Jupiters



My Tiger My Timing - Wasteland http://soundcloud.com/tracks/search?q%5Bfulltext%5D=my+tiger+my+timing+wasteland&q%5Btype%5D=&q%5Bduration%5D=



Milagres - Halfway

CLOCK OPERA - INTERVIEW

Midway through their first headlining UK tour and with their – already critically acclaimed – debut album ‘Ways To Forget’ set for release next week, Clock Opera, the London four-piece are a name figuring largely in minds, and, ears. Guy Connelly, the outfit’s frontman, lyricist and master of ‘chop pop’, tells us how it’s all going so far.

Guy, the early reviews for the album and reactions have all been very commendatory. You probably can’t do better than having your debut deemed a ‘masterpiece’ [Sunday Times Culture], can you.

Guy: Yeah…yeah. It’s amazing really. We’ve been working on it for such a long time that you…you just hope that people are going to respond that way when it finally comes out. It’s all very exciting so far!

Continue reading at God Is In The TV
http://www.giittv.manscared.com/2012/04/27/interview-clock-opera-2/

Five Hot Ones For The Week (Plus A Bank Holiday Special) - May 4 2012

Breton - Foam





Emmy The Great - Paper Forest (Dan le Sac remix) http://soundcloud.com/emmy-the-great/emmy-the-great-paper-forest



Sunless '97 - Body Weather

http://soundcloud.com/sunless97/body-weather-1



Southern - Where The Wild Are

http://soundcloud.com/thisissouthern/where-the-wild-are-mastered



White Manna - Sweet Jesus

http://whitemanna.bandcamp.com/track/sweet-jesus



Shinies - Pillow Talk