June 29 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Chapel Club - Sleep Alone






Unknown Mortal Orchestra - I'll Come Back 4 U






The Orb ft. Lee Scratch Perry - Hold Me Upsetter






The 2 Bears - Warm & Easy


The 2 Bears: Warm & Easy



Theatre Royal - The Story Of My Life

CHAPEL CLUB :: THE RETURN

After more than a year since the release of their debut album 'Palace', London indie five-piece return with not just a growth in hair, but a growth in musical style.

As was hinted at over the course of last summer, the first inklings of what took place in Los Angeles at the start of the year, have been released today, June 27, with the unveiling of four songs from their forthcoming follow-up album 'Good Together'.

Single and free download ‘Sleep Alone’, heralds the change in direction - and - shock, horror - one that even if you can't exactly dance to, then you can sure shuffle your feet a lot more to than the more downcast songs with which they made their name.

As vocalist Lewis Bowman explains:
"These four songs (like the album entire) are pretty different from our old stuff, and we realise that may disappoint some of our fans. We didn't aim to mess with anyone's hopes or expectations, but we also knew we couldn't keep doing this if we had to spend another 18 months writing and playing The Big Music. We formed and were signed so quickly that we never really talked about what kind of band we wanted to be. So while it was amazing that lots of people embraced the music, and while we knew it had its strengths, we also knew we wanted to approach the second record in a different spirit.
"This time around we wanted to create something fresh, for us as much as everyone else - something bright and playful and surprising. Looking back, the first record was kind of a comedown record, whether coming down from a drug or a relationship or the hopes of your youth or whatever. And I guess at some point I realised that, while I was singing like it was all over, actually it wasn't; it was just beginning. (Whatever 'it' may be.) So this time the band decided that, whatever the emotional direction of a song or a lyric - even if it was about feeling sad or scared or confused - we'd try to turn those feelings into something more active and productive than a grandiose whinge. That's what lots of my favourite pop songs do, and Good Together is above all else a pop record. It feels strangely thrilling to say that.
"So anyway, this is your first taste of the new album. The record has touches of the old romance and melancholia, of course, but much more colour and energy and fizz and sparkle besides (at least, it does to my ears). It also has songs you can dance to: finally some CC songs you can dance to! I've been waiting for that since before the band had a name.
"But this is really for you to discover and decide for yourself, if you're even interested."

For a first taste of 'Sleep Alone', plus three other songs - 'Jenny Baby' ("which is about J.Lo"), 'Scared' ("about growing up and feeling permanently rattled") and the album title track ("which is about making up, breaking up and dancing it all out to the point where none of it much matters anymore") - click below.

Sleep Alone

June 22 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Seconds - Tell Them


http://www.soundcloud.com/outpostmedia/sets/seconds-tell-them-baalsaal/s-qPhTf



Weird Dreams - House Of Secrets


Weird Dreams - House Of Secrets




Ideals - Eyes Open







Disclosure - Boiling (ft. Sinead Harnett)


Boiling ft. Sinead Harnett by Disclosure



Peaking Lights - Lo Hi


LO HI

June 15 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

GHXST - Black Camaro








Grizzly Bear - Sleeping Ute







Among Brothers - Keep


Keep by Among Brothers



Hey Sholay - Burning






Le Le - Drunken Cigarettes


http://soundcloud.com/outpostmedia/le-le-drunken-cigarettes-free/s-0yXZg

So that was...May

So May came...and went...with yet more - much more - rain.

It also brought the debut albums from Citizens!, Zulu Winter and Talk In Colour - all very fine things they transpired to be and well worth a listen.

The aforementioned Zulu Winter also embarked on their first headlining UK tour and played a mighty fine homecoming gig at London's Boston Arms. Using visuals for the first time, this was a show to be proud of. A few days later I caught up with their bass player Iain for a chat. Such a lovely person and a real fun interview to do. The results can be read here http://www.shout4music.com/features/the-dream-we-all-had-is-finally-coming-to-realisation-zulu-winters-iain-lock-reflects-on-winter-dreams-and-summer-stripping

Much good music came by my ears - not least Dope Body, which I feel sure surprised many given as they border on the 'heavy'! But Shook, from the new 'Natural History' album, is just, well...dope!




Caught the wonderful Splashh playing a fine hot and steaming set at an even hotter Old Blue Last, along with current hypesters Japandroids. Both names to watch out for. The Canadian rockers have just released their 'Celebration Rock' album.



And yet again, can't say how awesome the Brooklyn trio GHXST (pronounced 'ghost') are proving to be. My biggest success of the month being introducing them to Xfm's John Kennedy, resulting in plays of both 'Doomgirl' and the new single 'Black Camaro'.

June 8 2012 - Top Ten Hot Ones For The Week

Doldrums - Copper Girl






Hooray For Earth - True Loves







Summer Camp - Always







DINOWALRUS - The Gift Shop


01 The Gift Shop by DINOWALRUS



Tennis - Petition


Tennis Petition by garrettsorrels



Neneh Cherry & The Thing - Dream Baby Dream (Four Tet remix)


Neneh Cherry & The Thing - Dream Baby Dream (Four Tet remix)



The Beijing Gang - Dongdan


1 Zhoukoudian by vision music promotions



Two Wounded Birds - To Be Young






The Grand Gestures - There's No Place Like Home






Baio - Sunburn Modern

Zulu Winter: "The dream we all had is finally coming to realisation"

Calling an artist for a phone interview can be a chancy thing. Anything from no answer to crackling lines to complete cut-offs can all be par for the course. So it is that when I hit the dial for a chat with Zulu Winter’s Iain Lock at our agreed time, the call goes to voicemail. Five minutes later when I try again (having given him time to check my message and that the caller wasn’t an obsessed fan) and we begin a conversation – the line goes dead. As I sit wondering if it was something I’d said, the calls back, apologising for the ‘lead walls’ in his home that affects his mobile reception, and for the next hour we talk about this, that, and the other, and how the bassist is swimming along on the current crest of a wave as part of one of the last year’s most lauded bands.

With their debut album ‘Language’ having just been released, and after having seen the band play a majestic homecoming gig at London’s Boston Arms – as part of their headlining debut album release tour – a few nights before, my first question is what had he done to his leg, having noticed his tentative limping steps while navigating some stairs with the aid of a stick at the venue?

Continue reading at Shout 4 Music: http://www.shout4music.com/features/the-dream-we-all-had-is-finally-coming-to-realisation-zulu-winters-iain-lock-reflects-on-winter-dreams-and-summer-stripping

June 1 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Dope Body - Shook






Hideous Wheel Invention - Used British Postage Stamps


:h~w~inv: - USED BRITISH POSTAGE STAMPS




Cave Birds - In Love From Afar


Cave Birds - In Love From Afar




GHXST - Doomgirl


Doomgirl [FREE DOWNLOAD]




Swiss Lips - Danz