Seven Saturday Specials - Rounding Up December

Girls Names - Hypnotic Regression




Si Senor / Yes Sir - Polo Heart




Dems - Christabel




Roxie LS - Go




The Dirty Rivers - Black Heart / Filth




O.Children - Yours For You




Gray Things - I Want It To Live

December 21 2012 - Five Festive Ones For The Holidays

Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler - Zombie Christmas





PINS - Kiss Me Quickly (It's Christmas)





Tom Williams & The Boat - Christmas (So Much Better When You're Here)




Tracey Thorn - Joy




Bear Driver - Walking In The Air (The Snowman cover)

Everything Everything Kemosabe B-Ju Remix

German producer B-Ju has reworked Everything Everything's forthcoming single 'Kemosabe' - the second single to be released from the band's second album - both are out on January 14 2013.

Wave Machines Preview New Single

Following the 6Music and XFM play listed single 'll Fit', Wave Machines return with a new year kick-off with 'I Hold Loneliness' which will appear on January 14 2013 via Neapolitan / PIAS.

Produced by Lexxx, their new album 'Pollen' drops a week later. Recorded at his London studio and at the bands Liverpool hide out in the loft of St Brides Church, 'Pollen' was conceived with a deliberate focus on consistent sonic and musical themes. Where their debut album 'Wave If You're Really There' revelled in their first experiments with pop and its protagonists' misadventures in love and life, 'Pollen' lurks in the shadowy and contradictory emotions aroused by long-term friendship and unconditional love.

Wave Machines also announce a UK, including a headline show at Scala in London on February 6th.


January 31 BATH, Moles support Golden Fable

February 1 LIVERPOOL, Kazimier support Golden Fable

February 2 GLASGOW, Broadcast support Golden Fable

February 3 NEWCASTLE, The Cluny support Portasound

February 5 NOTTINGHAM, The Bodega support Portasound

February 6 LONDON, Scala support Golden Fable and Portasound

February 7 SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners support Portasound

Trust Announce New Year Single/European Tour

Trust, the electro project of Austra drummer Maya Postepski and Robert Alfons, announce the digital release of 'Heaven' on January 21 2013 via Arts & Crafts.

Like their earlier releases 'Bulbform' and 'Sulk' it is no less dark or hypnotically rhythmic, with Alfons' vocals interwoven with percussion and synth programming. The Petra Collins directed video focuses on the emotive side of the track, the feeling of isolation, as it cross cuts between Robert Alfons walking down the street in a dreamlike trance and various scenarios – in a dark club, trapped behind a glass wall, falling from a bridge, the rapidly altering scenes furthering the feeling of loneliness and Alfons’ self-imprisonment.

Having played with the likes of DFA 1979, Crystal Castles, The Faint and Glass Candy, Trust return with a string of live shows in the UK and Europe in the New Year.


LIVE DATES

January

4 – Queerbeat Festival, Vienna, Austria

5 – Queerbeat Festival, Munich, Germany

9 – Spot, Poznan, Polant

10 – 1500m2, Warsaw Poland

11 - Salon, Istanbul, Turkey

15 – Berghain, Berlin, Germany

16 – Uebel & Gefahlich, Hamburg, Germany

18 – Romandie, Lausanne,

19 – Palace, St Gallen,

21 – Le Sonic, Lyon, France

22 – Le Point Ephemere, Paris, France

23 – I-Boat, Bordeaux, France

24 – Pole Etudiant, Nantes, France

25 – L’Ubu, Rennes, France

26 – La Peniche, Lille, France

31 – Electrowerkz, London, UK



February

1 - Broadcast, Glasgow, UK

2 – Brudenell, Leeds, UK

4 – AB, Brussels, Belgium

6 – Trouw, Amsterdam, Holland

7 – Spillestedet Stengade, Copenhagen, Denmark

'Good Luck It’s Christmas' Tellison / Grigori Remix

Download the Grigori rework of ‘Good Luck It’s Christmas by Tellison for FREE from SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/naimedge/good-luck-its-christmas/s-Kh86O


Last year, cult alt-indie Londoners Tellison penned this surprise slice of Christmas melancholy, in support of CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – a leading British charity aimed at tackling the high suicide rate amongst young British males. Quietly pushed out through BandCamp with a ‘pay-what-you-feel’ vibe, it became a popular Radio 1 play.

Grigori is a musician and producer from London making soulful electronic music that is in equal parts Bon Iver and James Blake. This is his debut remix commission, after Naim Edge Records fell in love with his demos on SoundCloud.

Free Comett Download - 'Time For Departure'

Comett, the French electronic pop duo of Alexandre Canale-Parola and Julien Gauthier, offer another little foretaste of their 2013 alabum with a free downlaod of 'Time For Departure'.




Their brand of French indie synthpop, with a distinct love of art and anmation, has won them admirers on the continent since the release of their debut single 'Once upon a time/ The city of lights' last year.

Lumerians Unveil 'Mystic' Video For 'The Bloom'

Californian fivesome psych rockers Lumerians return with a brand new EP, ‘Horizon Structures’ released on on Knitting Factory Records, together with a psychedelic sprawl of a video to accompany the opening track ‘The Bloom’.

'The Bloom' is a long-fused charge of anti-apocalypse rock with evocative lyrics of mystical prophecies, ‘The sun will rise across the sprawl – a mark left on the wall, the weight of time on our remains - death behind the winds’. Cheery little number, then.

The video uses a nearly forgotten process called Chromadepth and was inspired by the works of filmmaker Kerry Laitala. "We decided to build an entire experience around the Chromadepth glasses with printed artwork and a video presented within an online 4-dimensional viewing portal. We also liked the look of the artwork without the glasses so the experience isn't limited to viewers with glasses."

Scandi Smörgåsbord Part 2

Continuing our look at some of the best Scandinavian musical delicacies that are likely to be whetting your aural taste buds in 2013.




SIN COS TAN (Finland)

Synthpop collaboration between Juho Paalosmaa and Jori Hulkkonen formed in late 2011. Recently played first show outside of Finland in London.






MATTISOGJONAS (Norway)

Electronica-folk/pop. What Leonard Cohen might sound like if he'd been Norwegian. Duo Mattis Myrland and Jonas Sjovaag make music that draws you in and transports you to other worlds via their means of electronica, programming, sampler, keys, drums, Casios, spoken word and raga drones.

y




JARA (Iceland)

Electro pop quirky miss in a Bjork-ish kind of way.The first single from her forthcoming album 'Hope' was released in September.






LCMDF (Finland)

Electro punk pop sisters Emma and Mia Kemppainen, whose debut single 'Gandhi' came out in November thru Heavenly Recordings (TOY, Stealing Sheep).






FRENCH FILMS (Finland)

Indie post punk quintet formed in 2010 and compared to Joy Division and the Cure. Name chosen by guitarist/vocalist Joni Kahkonen whilst discussing a French foreign film he had seen.






SIN FANG (Iceland)

Experimental folk/pop artist Sindri Már Sigfússonindie - aka Sing Fang - from Reykjavík. His third solo album 'Flowers' comes out February 19 2013 via Morr Music.






IMMANU EL (Sweden)

Gothenburg dream pop five-piece who are proponents of the five-minute-plus song. Playing SXSW in 2013. One of the biggest Swedish pop-hopes right now.






THE BLUE VAN (Norway)

Four-piece rockers who originally met while still at school. Back at SXSW this year after debuting there in 2005 and have just completed their 5th album entitled "Would You Change Your Life". The band name is derived from the "Den blå varevogn" - a van that collected mentally ill people in Denmark.







INDIANS (Denmark)

Recently toured extensively across US with Other Lives. Alter ego of Soren Lokke Juul. Signed to 4AD within months of first self-released single this year. Debut album planned for early 2013.







BIG WAVE RIDERS (Finland)

Five-piece from Helsinki who dabble in experimental rhythms. To quote: “Our music is not trying to fit into any certain genre. We make music without mathematics or accurate calculations. The songs are fast, slow, rhythmic and with variety”






NO FAVOURS (Sweden)

Indie garage/punk trio from Malmo. First single from their self-titled debut album released in November, 'Hands & Hearts'. Think Sonic Youth.






HIGHASAKITE (Norway)

Five-piece indie pop outfit from Oslo with the distinctive vocals of Ingrid Helene against noise rock guitars. Have been called one of the most exciting bands to come out of Scandinavia in recent years. Recently highlighted at Iceland Airwaves and will be in the US for SXSW in 2013.

WET NUNS ANNOUNCE UK HEADLINE TOUR

After picking up Video Of The Year at the Artrocker Awatrds, Sheffield's hellraising duo Wet Nuns end what has been a pretty impressive year with performances Reading & Leeds Festivals, Bestival, Liverpool Sound City, The Great Escape, and two riotous headline UK tours.

Now those purveyors of death-blues charge into 2013 with a UK headline tour, two huge support shows with Blood Red Shoes, the release of a brand new EP ‘Broken Teeth’, their first US trip and the launch of their very own festival in March, the irreverently titled ‘Detestival’.

The forthcoming EP ‘Broken Teeth’ was recorded with Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys, The Fall, MIA, The Kills) at McCall Studios earlier this year and is set for a February release, just as the band hit the road for a full UK tour starting in Newcastle on February 21st 2013.

Ahead of all that, Wet Nuns have also been invited to play two shows in the new year with Blood Red Shoes, at Norwich Arts Centre on January 21 and London’s Shepherd,s Bush Empire on January 22 2013.

Full dates for the ‘Broken Teeth’ tour are below.


WET NUNS UK TOUR 2013

Feb 21 – NEWCASTLE – Think Tank

Feb 22 – EDINBURGH - Electric Circus

Feb 23 – GLASGOW – Broadcast

Feb 25 – LEEDS – Brudenell

Feb 28 – LIVERPOOL – Kazimier

Mar 01 – STOKE – Sugarmill

Mar 02 – NORWICH – Arts Centre

Mar 03 - BRISTOL – Croft

Mar 04 – BRIGHTON – Sticky Mike’s

Mar 05 – LONDON – Birthdays

Mar 06 – BIRMINGHAM – Rainbow

Mar 07 – MANCHESTER – Now Wave @ Roadhouse

GHXST Release Doomgirl Video & Free Download

GHXST, the New York-based noise grunge trio, have released their new video 'Doomgirl' alongside a FREE DOWNLOAD of the track.

Influenced by the likes of the Jesus and Mary Chain, White Zombie, and Sonic Youth, GHXST - Shelley X, Chris Wild and Nathan La Guerra - released their debut single 'Black Camaro' on London’s Club.The.Mammoth and Tip Top Recordings and followed that by and extensive UK Tour.

"Our second collab with director Liudi Hara features a thrilling, 3-part running sequence (think 'Run Lola Run') with a Club Silencio-esque live performance.....crossing paths in the heart of NYC."


'Doomgirl' can be downloaded from the band's Bandcamp page here

December 14 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Milk Maid - Your Neck Around Mine





Jack Robert Hardman - Plymouth

"



London Grammar - Hey Now





Only Real - Backseat Kissers





Ryan Keen - All This Time

One To Watch :: London Grammar

Only an ice maiden/man would not feel icy tingles down their spine as London Grammar vocalist Hannah Reid starts reaching for those notes.

The London-based indie folk/pop trio upon releasing online late yesterday (December 12) this, 'Hey Now', their debut offering, more than one blogger was sent off into paroxysms of delight.



Formed two years ago, Hannah plus Daniel Rothman and Dot Major, have been quietly working on material based around their love of minimalist guitar melodies and melodic harmonising, and releasing a few demos online. 'Hey Now' combines these elements with, of course, Hannah's quite exquisite vocal.

2013 looks set to be the year that London Grammar come into their own. Seasick Steve is apparently a fan - and he should know.

First Listen :: Only Real

It seems a little incongruous, releasing something with as sunny and infectiously summery sound as 'Backseat Kissers', but with a midwinter drop Only Real - aka Niall Galvin- is getting us all warmed up.

“Baby music for babies” is how 21 year old West London's Only Real sums up his music: "guitar music for people who don’t like guitars”. With a few video releases - notably the beach-pop 'Cadillac Girl' and 'Cinammon Toast' bringing him to public attention earlier in the year, Only Real now returns with 'Backseat Kissers', his debut single release out on December 10 through ASL.


Encapsulating hip hop and a 90's pop vibe, with a laid over rap by Only Real, it is, he says, "an anthem I have made in my bedroom for the kids who roam all day and float all night. It is a product of the things I see and experience every day in West London.”

Only Real makes his live debut this Friday (December 14) at Birthdays in Dalston, London, with Sunless '97.

Scandi Smörgåsbord Part 1

Long gone are the days when Scandinavia was known primarily for its rather good-looking fair-haired populace, Abba and Norway's 'nul points' Eurovision ignominy. While debate still seems rife as to whether Iceland and Finland are now part of Scandinavia or not (more better known for the Denmark-Norway-Sweden triumvirate), what cannot be denied is there is a whole wealth of outstanding music emanating from these cold northern climes.

Here in the first of two parts we pick two dozen that we think are utmärkt - fremragende - flott - godur - ihana. Or in plain old English, bloody good - and recommend keeping your ears open for in 2013.




SHINY DARKLY (Denmark)

Very dark; very gothic gloom merchant. Copenhagen post punk/shoegaze trio signed to Crunchy Frog. For fans of Joy Division...Danish style. Seering and dynamic.





SANS PARADE (Finland)

Modern baroque chamber pop trio led by Jani Lehto, Markus Perttula and Pekka Tuppyrainen. Debut album coming next year, which will no doubt be characterized by their trademark infusion of orchestral arrangements and electroacoustic elements within an indie pop setting, a la Sigur Ros.






MØ (Denmark)

Signed to Sony in Scandinavia, Karen Marie Ørsted’s musical output may be small so far, but her blend of electronic soul/indie pop has been enough to call her Denmark's answer to Lana Del Rey.





OYAMA (Iceland)

Five-piece shoegaze/noise-rock from Reykjavík who created a buzz at the recent Icelandic Airwaves - which they look set to repeat with a 2013 debut album and further European live dates.





YOUNG DREAMS (Norway)

Symphonic pop psychedelia from Bergen, Young Dreams recently signed to Modular Recordings for the release of their debut album, 'Between Places', out March 4 2013.






HEXVESSEL (Finland)

Psychedelic folk-rock, founded in 1983 by Englishman Mat McNerney, who then moved to Finland in 2009 and was joined by a coven of musicians from Tampere that feature members of Galacticka and Dark Buddha Rising. Fusing late 1960s and early 1970s English folk and psychedelia. Playing SXSW in 2013.





SANDRA KOLSTAD (Norway)

Highly visual live performer of pop electronica, having recently released her second album, '(Nothing Lasts) Forever'. Oh, and the mystery man in the video? That's her dad.






IBERIA (Sweden)

The project of Alexander Palmestål and Maja Millner (of Makthaverskan), collectively known as Iberia, made their debut in November with the dreamy pop-electronica single 'An Ending (Ascent)'/'A Finale'.






THE FOREIGN RESORT (Denmark)

New wave/post rock quartet with a dark and moody sonic palette.New album 'Scattered & Buried' out now.






JEALOUS COWARDS (Sweden)

Four-piece punk/hardcore outfit from Malmo with a love of the F-word. Not an Abba tribute band, more the Swedish Sex Pistols. Released their debut EP 'Jajje Bula' in October.





REPTILE YOUTH (Denmark)

Wild and passionate psych rock/synth pop duo from Copenhagen, Reptile Youth released their self-titled debut album in 2012. Think Eddie Vedder and Bono, and add synths.





OLOF ARNALDS (Iceland)

Ethereal ice maiden and multi-instrumentalist with a beguiling voice. Releases new single 'A Little Grim' through One Little Indian in January 2013, followed by album, 'Sudden Elevation' in February.

Deptford Goth Releases Union Video

As with all his preceding work - 'Life After Defo' for example - Deptford Goth (Daniel Woolhouse) has a way with the intimate, heart-churning and downright blissful, and this video track for 'Union' in advance of his 2013 album release, is no different.

Sea, balloons, the lone wandering figure of Woolhouse/Goth himself; plenty of metaphor and read-in-between-the-lines stuff. You can't help wondering that the second take must have been a pain trying to get those balloons back at the end...

A work of heart.

Five Minutes With... JACK ROBERT HARDMAN

Hello Jack
Hello there.

Can we call you JR if we promise not to mention fish [JR Hartley] or Southfork [JR Ewing]?
If that is what you’d like to do, then of course. The Dallas link is fine too, I’m very interested in the acquisition of oil.

Who are you and what do you do?
I am Jack, I write and record songs.

What have you got to plug for us?
I am plugging my new track ‘Plymouth’ that is now available for free download. You can also buy my album from iTunes if you’d like, may as well add that to the plug list.

Acting as your own PR here, give us a short spin on Plymouth.
It’s an ethereal number, filled harmonies and washed with spring reverb. I think it suits the cold weather.

"

Have you ever been to Plymouth?
Yes, but only once. I went to the Aquarium with my friends Rowan and Cameron. It was pleasant enough, we saw a giant turtle and a few other aquatic animals.

Did you know Plymouth has a Hoe? Ho ho ho. But this Plymouth is a gentle wistful tune, not really full of Christmas hokum is it?
It’s not actually a Christmas song, I just wanted to give something away as a festive gesture of kindness. I might do a song about Christmas next year though, maybe John Lewis will buy it.

Your music has been described (by your PR) as 'quirky pop'. Agree or disagree? Does he stay or get the chop?
The PR has sadly been executed…I suppose I agree to an extent. I would say the music is a little leftfield and unusual in the way I produce it, but the songs I write are quite traditional pop. ‘Quirky pop’ just takes up less characters.

We understand that you record in your own home 'Aladdin's Cave' studio. Do you keep a lamp in there too? And a genie?
No lamps or genies I’m afraid, but I do have a fez in the cupboard. It’s my source of inspiration when I feel down. It’s my composition fez.

Who are your musical influences?

I’m influenced by all sorts of people, it really varies from song to song. The consistent element is always great songwriting though. That’s why I always come back to The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel. You can learn everything about songwriting from those three alone.

Ever listen to Girls Aloud? Which loud girl is your favourite [Jack's cousin is Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding]?
Yes of course! My favourite songs are ‘Call the Shots’, ‘Something Kinda Oooh’ and ‘The Promise’. My favourite member is probably Nicola.

Aside from Plymouth, which is the other track of your own you are most proud of?
That’s very difficult. I like ‘Lights of London’ a lot. I think it’s catchy with quite distinctive production. It has a lot of different parts that seem to go well together.

Go on then, give us a link to it and we'll stick it up.




Last word: spill your word or words of wisdom. Say 'pass' if you have none.
Your context won’t change your content. That’s my favourite saying.


http://www.jackroberthardman.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/jackroberthardman

http://www.twitter.com/jrhardman

Oxygen Thieves Apply The Maskara

Wirral alt/psych quartet Oxygen Thieves have been keeping the lid on as to when new material might be forthcoming. Although working in Liverpool's Parr Street Studio over the autumn, no release dates had been laid out.

Now they give a hint with 'Maskara'. Officially looking like a new year release, there's enough of Al Fewtrell's rawk-like vocals and those twanging guitars to whet the appetite for more.

Watch the band below in interview and performing 'You Remind Me Of Me' for Liverpool Soundcity Sessions earlier this year.

First Listen :: Flowers

It's rough, yes. Bad recording, well yes - but it was done via a phone. But strip that aside - as obviously did Fortuna POP! who have now signed the London trio.

Recorded at home on an iphone, 'Young' gives an idea that that revolve around minimalist fuzzy pop, catchy rhythms and the vocals which can be compared to Elizabeth Fraser.

Despite only having been together a mere eight months, the band (Rachel, vocals/bass; Sam, guitar; Jordan, drums) they have already toured Europe with The Pains Of Being Pure Of Heart and recorded with Stuart Moxham of
Young Marble Giants, whom they are now also supporting in February.

Singles on Cloudberry and Odd Box Records are due in the new year, along with a number of London dates and an East Coast tour of the US, where they have also been invited to record with Connor Hanwick of The Drums. A full length album is scheduled for release in Spring on Fortuna POP!

Live Dates:

Jan 26
George Tavern, London

Feb 10
Dingwalls, London with
Young Marble Giants

Feb 17 The Lexington, London
(afternoon show as part of The
Hangover Lounge's Lost Weekend)

Mar 1 The Grosvenor, London
(London Popfest)

May 4 Odd Box, Weekender

Debut Album Taster From City Reign

Oh, for those halcyon days of the Old Grey Whistle Test where record flogging bands took a backseat, as did the banality of presenters such as Jools Holland. Instead the show's focus was about the music itself, and quite often that which was non-mainstream. Engagingly the oft used inclusion of vintage film and animation sequences to accompany a song was one of its highlights.

So it is that if OGWT were still going they would no doubt love this video to accompany 'Retaliate', one of the tracks taken from the forthcoming album 'Another Step' by Manchester's warmly rich indie pop trio City Reign.

Who couldn't fall in love with this piece of gossamer fine footage of bouncing balloons and Fred Astaire with his own version of Strictly Come Dancing. That's not to forget the song itself either, which is also a rather fine affair.

'Another Step', produced by Sam Jones and recorded in Salford's Sacred Trinity Church, is out on February 25 2013 through City Reign's own Car Boot Records label. The first single from the work, 'Ahead of Ideas' was released last month.


City Reign - Ahead of Ideas (taster from debut album) by Ask Me PR

Bo Keeney Debut Release 'Don't You Worry'

‘Don’t You Worry’ is the debut EP from 23 year old Californian newcomer Bo Keeney.
Released on December 9 2012 on Stranger Recordsm, the EP consists of three tracks – the title track, ‘Ambulance’ and ‘Motivation’ - that meld alt soul and contemporary blues with smatterings of drum n bass while Bo’s honeyed vocals call to mind a young Stevie Wonder.

There are also two inspired remixes of 'Don’t You Worry’ from regular Skream and Magnetic Man collaborator Sam Frank and the much lauded south London art collective Breton.

Bo, named after his parents’ favourite guitarist, is a multi instrumentalist and music obsessive who grew up in Southern California and first got in to music aged 4 when his dad took him to see his mum’s band play. She was a hair stylist by day and a singer and guitarist by night who hung out with the likes of Kiss, Van Halen and Guns n Roses. She also sings backing vocals on ‘Don’t You Worry’.

After the gig Bo became fanatical about the drums and initially started practicing using spoons. His parents then bought him a toy drum kit, which he played with sawn-off drumsticks and when he outgrew that a full size kit.

When he was 11 the family relocated to Winchester in England and soon after Bo wrote his first song, then saved up his lunch money, bought a guitar and taught himself to play. A bit of a loner he became obsessed with instruments and went on to learn bass, harmonica and piano by sneaking into the music room at school and practicing on his own for hours on end. He spent the rest of his time absorbing music of all genres.

Age 16 Bo entered the British Academy of Songwriters and Composers under 18’s competition and rather than sending the required one song, he sent an album’s worth of self-recorded material – he won. Bo went on to co-write with Grammy winning songwriter Jimmy Hogarth who would eventually sign him to his publishing company.

With his advance Bo rented a shipping container on a trading estate in Winchester, turned it into a studio and recorded his album in isolation. The resulting songs are written, arranged and produced by Bo.

The rest, as they say, is history.

First Listen :: Tythe

With remixes for David Lynch and Crystal Fighters, new kid Tythe has been filtering through the internet ether for the last 6months. His new track 'Totem Poles' is a blend of the organic and electric, whipping up an addictive brand of hippie-house from his home studio in Epping Forest.

December 7 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Majical Cloudz - Turns Turns Turns




You Walk Through Walls - Not Like You At All




The Establishment - Fear No Man




JAWS - Surround You




Eugene McGuinness - Sugarplum