Live Review :: Tribes :: Roundhouse, London :: May 29 2013

Words: Harry Barnes

If any album needed selling this year, it would be Tribes' sophomore album, ‘Wish To Scream’. After releasing the album to much anticipation – Johnny having been promising from as far back as last year’s Reading and Leeds festivals that the next album would be out this past January – it’s fair to say it has not met critics' expectations upon its eventual release. This follow-up album is a more gentle paced affair, filled to the brim with idiomatic lyrics ("keep it together, and use this time", "I don't care for dancing, but thanks for asking”).

Superfood and Wolf Alice provided the support for this Roundhouse night which brought Tribes back again to Camden home turf - and support they did. Superfood are a band that everyone has heard about it seems, coming out of nowhere to fill our lives with indie music that we are in dire need of, obviously. Their lyrics verge on anthem-like, but their guitar sound is as quirky and sharp as your diamond cutter. Their ingenuously inspired song titled ‘Superfood’ was undoubtedly a highlight of the set; but to be hionest, there was not a weak one to be had in their 25-minute performance. Most definitely a band to look out for, with their debut EP out in September.

Ellie Rowsell may have been heckled to be "Tinker Bell" throughout the night, but her and the Wolf Alice's sound were far from it. Wolf Alice have an intricate guitar soundscape, backed by their incredible drummer who is one of the most impressive I have seen recently; his ability to keep a beat was playing secondary to his shotgun approach to every part of his drumming. The difference between the quality in Superfood and Wolf Alice was certainly marked by the drummer.

Then it was on to the main attraction, Tribes. They grabbed me at the first hurdle, with ‘When My Day Comes’ kicking off proceedings, followed shortly by the now 'old' fan favourite ‘Girlfriend’. Their consistency with always adding in this and ‘Not So Pretty’ to their homecoming gigs is high, and with a quick check, neither have been on the other setlists. A deserved bonus for the crowd.

It is undeniable that with the new album, there has been some fairly harsh criticism, which I myself am guilty of I confess. Johnny took a moment to address this, with a brief mention of this to the endearing crowd. After chanting from the crowd of "Who the fuck are NME!" he paused before the traditional encore number ‘Coming of Age’ to deliver his own personal statement…sort of: "We know some of you have been here from the start and we thank you for that, and want to let you know this: through the good times and the bad, Tribes will still be here, we'll get through." He clearly knows the reception to the album has been, from some, mediocre, and is looking to squash any fan fears.

As cliché as it is to write, as the final notes reverberated off the Roundhouse, the crowd left happier when they arrived. That is not to say Tribes fans are depressed, but you go to a gig to enjoy yourself - and the crowd certainly did. Crowdsurfing on the very first song was a highlight, and the continued pressure to get closer to the band reveals just how much they are loved. Along with their now much better stage prowess, Tribes have come far and should be going further in the future.

May 31 2013 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Ecstasy - Teenage Coma




Sivu - Bodies




The Streams - LemonHaze




FF Korova - Dali's Dream




Sunrise Over Europe - By Land, By Sea

Today's Hot Track :: Tigercub - Centerfold

Brighton trio Tigercub whip up some more QOTSA fuzz bass grunge in this follow-up to their debut release 'Little Rope' back in January.

The band play Brighton's Green Door Store tonight (May 30) as their inaugural headline show, and Amersham Arms. London tomorrow (May 31). Further dates lined up for July when they support Dinosaur Pile-Up on tour.

Dreamy Lo-Fi Download From No Middle Name

No Middle Name is the new lofi, dream pop solo project from David Bailey, one half of The Title Sequence.

Bailey has just revealed his latest teaser single, 'Feels Like The 90's Again', which takes us back to the days of making cassette mix tapes for school boy crushes, biker grove on the telly, kicker shoes and Ride and Teenage Fanclub on the turntable.

The track is the perfect introduction to the soft, dreamy qualities of No Middle Name, which are heavily influenced by the sounds of Wild Nothing and Youth Lagoon.

Stream 'Feels Like The 90's Again' below. The track is also available as a free download,

Today's Hot Track :: Bipolar Sunshine - Rivers

The latest from Manchester-based Bipolar Sunshine - whose debut EP 'Aesthetics' arrives on June 17 - 'Rivers' takes the artist on the video accompaniment through a heart-searching journey via with half-spoken lyrics, guitars and synths to make your heart weep.

Loom Drop Acid King City Download

Loom’s free download Acid King City is available now from here and was produced by John Coxon (Spiritualized/Spring Heel Jack) and Pepper Andnly.

Loom are set to play their longest tour to date, The Acid Cities Tour, plus a date with the Rolling Stones at Hyde Park and a show at Tramlines Festival (Sheffield).

Loom have released two highly acclaimed singles: Bleed On Me a cassette-only release on the Heart/throb label, sold out within hours of its release in December and I Get A Taste, which was released through Hate Hate Hate Records on March 25th and has also sold-out, picking up multiple plays at Radio One in the process. The band commence recording their debut album in the summer for release later this year.

Loom play the Queen of Hoxton, London tonight (May 29).

One To Watch :: Telegram

It is stated on a Wiki page that "None of the band members were previously in the band Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong." A fact that you might be forgiven for thinking possibly since they a) inhabit the same hipster regions of east London b) have links via friendships with members of TOY (who were formerly part of JL&TJJJ). If you want to add an unrelated c) they are being hotly touted by Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs (an association which led to Telegram's four song radio session last week on Marc Riley's 6 Music show), and d) they are pals with The Horrors, and er, e) they *could* just about to be a name that is soon to be on every tastemaker's lips.



That is, of course, as long as you don't confuse them with the Atlanta Telegram trio, or the LA Telegram. This particular Telegram are a psych-rock quartet from Haggerston , after quietly forming last year, played their debut gig in April this year. Now while it's all well and good having a famous friend to help you get your foot on the ladder, gig on the road or whatever, there's got to be something there that is worthy of the hype. Do Telegram have that special quality that draws punters in through the doors?

The video below of one track, 'Follow', whilst allowing for poor sound quality, would appear to show that they might well have: a band in its early stages that display plenty of energy, some particularly cool moves and a few grooveworthy motorik riffs. A long way perhaps from Roxy Music (a said influence), but not so surprising when two band members, Oli and Matt, are allegedly to have been in a covers band - Proxy Music; neither at times is it hard to spot similarities in some of frontman Matt Saunders' guitar flourishes to those of Tom Dougall.



Having still only played a total number of gigs that you wouldn't even require the fingers of one hand to count up on, now is probably a very good time to catch Telegram in their infancy. And if you should be in London this Thursday (May 30), then Dalston's Servant Jazz Quarters is the place to head for. They play an additional Dalston gig the night after (May 31) at Birthday's.

Telegram are: Matt Saunders - vocals/guitar, Oli Paget Moon - bass, Matt Wood - guitar, Jordan Cook - drums.

Today's Hot Track :: Chvrches - Gun

The much vaunted Scottish electro-pop outfit Chvrches reveal a new track taken from their debut album set for September release. Following on from previous singles 'The Mother We Share' and 'Recover', 'Gun' is set for a July 15 release.

As well as supporting Depeche Mode on several upoming dates, Chvrches have also lined up the following festiv als over the summer:

T in the Park - July 14
Latitude - July 19
Reading Festival - August 23
Leeds Festival - August 24
Electric Picnic Ireland - September 1

Meanwhile you can stream 'Gun' here:

Today's Hot Track :: All We Are - Utmost Good

Liverpudlian trio All We Are, are, to quote their Facebook profile, 'groove like the Bee Gees on diazepam" - which, when you think about it, sounds somewhat schizophrenic. But suffice to say, 'Utmost Good' is a bit...well, good.

Following on from their 2012 'We Hunt' EP, 'Utmost Good' - released as their next single on June 17 June via Obscenic - is light, uplifting and grooves along nicely with a hazy, lazy beat. Known previously as more of a nu-folk outfit, this is definitely popped them up a degree, with its catchy rhythm and engaging angelic chorus.

The band will be playing a single launch show on June 17 at London's Seabright Arms. In the meantime, watch the video below to 'Utmost Good' and look out for appearances from Steeling Sheep, Dan Croll and Jethro Fox.

Album Review :: Big Deal - June Gloom

Big Deal

June Gloom

June 4 2013 (Mute)

8/10


Words: Dave Beech

Following in the vein of various boy/girl combos such as The White Stripes and The Kills are London's modestly named Big Deal. Made up of duo, Alice Costelloe and Kacey Underwood, the band released their début album 'Lights Out' in 2011 to generally favourable responses and now, two years later, the 'anti-twee' troubadours are back with an expanded array of instruments at their disposal. While 'Lights Out' featured just two guitars (one acoustic, one electric), forthcoming sophomore effort 'June Gloom' sees the inclusion of a drummer and a bassist that ultimately fleshes out the overall sound as the band.

Having been produced by Rory Atwell of Palma Violets and Veronica Falls fame, it's easy to lump 'June Gloom' in with all manner of twee comparisons and on the surface they're true. Particularly the tracks featured on the first half of the album, such as 'In Your Car' which could quite easily have been lifted from the aforementioned Veronica Falls most recent album 'Waiting for Something to Happen'. However there's a much more pronounced undercurrent that runs through 'June Gloom'. It's not quite melancholy, more a sense of emotional indifference like that harboured by the alternative bands of the 1990s.

That isn't to say that their aren't moments of optimism found across the course of 12 tracks, 'Swapping Spit' in particular is as uplifting and full-sounding as Big Deal get, though the ever-present almost-apathy in the delivery of the lines on the part of both Costelloe and Underwood is still as prominent as ever. That said, without it the aesthetic created by 'June Gloom' would lack considerably. A further highlight is sample track, leaked last year, 'Teradactol', which features eviscerating riffs, rolling drums and enough reverb to make The Joy Formidable sweat, a far cry from the stripped down acoustic duality of their début. Interestingly enough, the heaviest song on the record is positioned next to perhaps the lightest. 'Pristine' is a slow a melodic affair that features ethereal backing vocals that see themselves offset by the rough of Underwood's voice.

Going off the back of 2011's 'Lights Out' might well lead people to dismiss this fantastic second outing far too early. The expansion of sounds at the bands disposal has allowed them to create an album that's harder hitting and more diverse than their debut. Various different moods perpetuate 'June Gloom' however all are underpinned by a distinct sense of stoicism; there's something behind these twelve tracks that swells beneath an 'anti-twee' veneer, something that neither Costello, nor Underwood want to bear to the world, at least just not yet. If dream-pop is in itself a genre, then 'June Gloom' is it's rebellious older sibling. Not quite a nightmare yet, but threatening to go that way once adolescence rears its ugly head. Brilliant stuff.

May 24 2013 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

No Joy - Hare Tarot Lies




Wolf Alice - Bros




Waylayers - S.O.S




The Anecdotes - Origami Waves




Decibels - Taksim

Grass House Announce Single Release & London Date

Latest signings to Marshall Teller Records, Grass House are set to release a new single on June 24.

‘And Now For The Wild’, recorded at Monnow Valley Studios in Wales with producer Jim Anderson(Cold Specks, The Twilight Sad, 2:54), comes backed with live favourite ‘Spinning As We Turn’ and is released on 7" vinyl and available to download.

The new single is a taste of what to expect from the band’s debut album which is set for release later this year on their new label. Cascading cinematic guitars with a hypnotic rhythm section, theband continue down a more sonic path with truly great results. Whilst Eno, The Velvet Underground, Joe Meek and The Walkmen still hold influence on the band, the Grass House sound is unique and very much stands alone.

Formed in London last year, the band line up of Liam Palmer, Steven Dove, Ross Hall and Nicholas Jones will play their brand of 'Outsider Pop' at a special London show at the Hoxton Bar and Grill on June 25 to coincide with the single release.

Today's Hot Track :: Palma Violets - Best Of Friends

If it sounds familiar, it's probably because Palma Violets are coming round for the second time with 'Best Of Friends'. Taken from their debut album '180', it is re-released on July 1 - five days before their Hyde Park date with the Rolling Stones - they have also made the above black and white shot video to accompany it.

Guards For New Single Release

Guards release their new single, 'I Know It's You' on July 8. It is taken from their debut album 'In Guards We Trust', which is out now through Partisan Records.

Listen to 'I Know It's You' below.

Following their recent explosive visit to Europe, New York City's Guards ready another reverb-heavy, fuzz-pop tune from their acclaimed debut album.

Arguably one of the most exciting live bands of the moment, Guards were one of the stand-out acts at Coachella and indeed this year's Great Escape in Brighton. They play London's Field Day festival on May 25.

The debut record itself erupts from the speakers, a whirlwind of Phil Spector atmospherics, stomping drums, hazy spiralling guitar lines, and harmony-drenched psychedelic pop vocals. The songs harness big hooks and choruses with enough fuzz-pedal to keep things suitably lo-fi, but with more melodies in each song than many bands manage over the course of an album.

Sheen Offer Free 'Lovelust' Download

London six-piece Sheen are streaming their brand new release 'Lovelust' and is also available as a free download. Take a listen below.

'Lovelust’ was recorded and mixed with Samantha Bennett (Boy Kill Boy, The Horrors) and mastered by Grammy nominated producer Mandy Parnell (Animal Collective, PJ Harvey, Bjork) in Black Saloon Studios. This will be the first track ahead of their first official single release later this year.

Echoing elements of The Smiths by mixing a Morrissey-esque jaunty gloom with light and delicate guitar work, ‘Lovelust’ offers a refreshing contrast between lead singer Aneta Wrzos’s sultry voice against the youthful carefree nostalgia of a track that has arrived just in time for summer.


Sheen have also announced the following live dates:

May 31
LONDON – Amersham Arms
Jun 14
LONDON – Old Blue Last
Jul 20
SHEFFIELD – Tramlines Festival

EP Review :: The Streams - The Streams

The Streams

The Streams

May 6 2013 (self-release + digital)

7/10

Words: Andrew Major

Stirling-based The Streams release their self-titled debut EP this month and they’ve got a thing a two to show us about how to make an impact. Complete with some beautiful artwork, the offering slams you in at the deep end with a collection of crunching riffs teamed with clever and thoughtful instrumentation that all in all makes for some in-depth and enjoyable listening; not bad for a band celebrating their one year birthday!

The EP kicks off with track ‘LemonHaze’. Drawing close comparisons to fellow Scots We Were Promised Jetpacks, 'LemonHaze' has you in a headlock within thirty seconds and doesn’t release its grip until the first line of uplifting and soothing vocals are delivered. A true four minute journey of textures and tones; the vocals really come into their own as “Time waits for no man, so I’m coming home” is repeated until the inevitable but still thoroughly gratifying outro of epic proportions finally pulls you back up for air. Not a bad start at all…

The band tell us that the EP was recorded in the apparently haunted Tolbooth in Stirling and track ‘Show Me The Forest’ certainly has no shortage of haunting strings and swirling soundscapes. Its delays and reverb all the way, offset with an interesting, creeping bass-line and another heavily accented and emotive vocal delivery. I was hoping for a slightly more drawn out, delicate intro before being immersed once more in layers distortion and hard hitting drum work, however ‘Show me the Forest’ is another good track from an increasingly promising band.

Finally, ‘Walls’ offers yet more distorted riffs and crashing cymbals from the off. Almost two tracks for the price of one, with some very clever marching snare work intersecting the song’s two main sections, ‘Walls’ makes for an intelligent and well thought out addition to the EP; despite this, some slight variations in structure and style would be welcome as the band progress and build their sound.

With support slots for artists such as The 1975 under their belt, you could well hear a lot from The Streams in 2013.

Today's Hot Track :: Teardrop Factory - Stolen Skull

Signed to the Brighton-based Faux Discx label, 'Stolen Skull' is taken from Teardrop Factory's debut EP 'Topshop', released on May 27. Lo fi fuzzy sludge that wraps around you with a cocoon of catchy, moody hooks.

[Video] Jagwar Ma - Man I Need

Despite cancelling their recent Great Escape appearance due to health issues, Aussie duo Jagwar Ma have unveiled the video to single release 'Man I Need'. Watch it above.

The track is the second single to be taken from their debut album, 'Howlin', and is is out now. The much anticipated album follows on June 10.

Cloud Boat Debut Live "Kowloon Bridge" Session

Cloud Boat presents their second live session at Trinity Church in Enfield. Beautifully orchestrated with strings and brass, Sam and Tom perform their song, "Kowloon Bridge," in an acoustic arrangement. The song will be in their upcoming LP, Book of Hours, on May 28 via Apollo/R&S Records. Preceded by a double A-side single for "Youthern" and "Hammerspace" which is out now.

Cloud Boat are slowly but surely carving out a distinctive path for themselves as purveyors of gorgeous, shattered-heart soul bar none. Their new double A-side single, "Youthern" "Hammerspace" continues that journey, combining majestic, choral soundscapes with alluring, fractured beats to devastating effect.


The band have also announced the following live dates:

May 29
The Lexington, London
Jun 02
The Golden Pudel, Hamburg
Jun 14
Beursschouwbiurg, Brussels
Aug 16
Pukkelpop

Today's Hot Track :: Battleships - As You'd Begun

Latest single from Battleships, the Oz indie rock/folk quartet from Sydney.

Following their debut 7-track mini album 'To You', and singles 'In Retrospect' and 'Your Words' last year, 'As You'd Begun' continues in the vein of atmospheric, intelligent musicianship that Battleships have become known for. With its catchy hooks and infectious beat, the self-produced, self recorded single could be the one to win them notice worldwide.

Today's Hot Track :: Drenge - Backwaters

Brothers Eoin and Rory Loveless, the duo from Derbyshire, known as Drenge, have announced a new single, 'Backwaters' to be released on July 1 through Mad Mark/Infectitious.

The swaggering follow-up to their debut single 'Bloodsports' is three minutes of relentlessly exhilarating aural drama which few other new bands would be capable of producing at the moment. Even though comprising of just Rory and Eoin, the noise they create dwarf most of their peers on the musical landscape, creating a jagged, insouciant blast of good old fashioned rock and roll as rousing live as it is gripping. Backed with the equally heady and bracing “Necromance is Dead”, this single is as invigorating as it comes.

Stream 'Backwaters' below.

Drenge play the following live dates and festivals over the next months:

JUNE

Sat 1st / SHEFFIELD / The Harley

Tue 4th / BIRMINGHAM / Hare and Hounds 2

Wed 5th / LONDON / Barfly

Thurs 6th / SOUTHAMPTON / The Joiners

Fri 7th / BRISTOL / Louisiana

Fri 21st / HILVARENBEEK (NETHERLANDS)

Sat 29th / GLASTONBURY Festival

JULY

Sat 6th / LONDON / Hyde Park with Rolling Stones

Sat 6th / WINCHESTER / Blissfields Festival

Sat 13th / HERK DE STAD (BELGIUM)

Sat 20th / SOUTHWOLD / Latitude Festival

Sun 21st / DUBLIN / Longitude Festival

Sun 28th / KENDAL / Kendal Calling

AUGUST

Sat 3rd / PIKEHALL / Y Not Festival

Fri 9th / NEWQUAY / Boardmasters

Sun 18th / SKIPTON / Beacons Festival

Sat 24th / READING / Reading Festival

Sun 25th / LEEDS / Leeds Festival

SEPTEMBER

Fri 6th / ISLE OF WIGHT Bestival

May 17 2013 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Low Moon Low - Calm Now




Prayers - Appear




Heavy Waves - Edward




Friday Club - Tropical




DogGone - Lilith

Album Review :: Tribes - Wish To Scream

Tribes

Wish To Scream (Universal/Island )

May 20 2013

5/10


Words: Harry Barnes

Just 16 months ago Tribes exploded further onto the music scene with their pounding debut album, 'Baby'. The cheeky cliched title let on to what was to follow - rock songs, British rock songs. Personally, it soundtracked most of 2012 - it made a real connection with me. They delivered live, and I was looking forward massively to their teased 'quick' second album that they wanted to release in January of this year, just one year on. After the record label refused, and testing their often poorly received new material on the road aside from 'Dancehall', they now release "Wish To Scream".

Forget what you may or may not know about Tribes, forget what you like and dislike about them, and listen to the album. Alarm bells ring instantly. I just don't understand why a band would want to release this clearly quickly made album so close to their first album - with a "change of direction". Critics who perhaps did not like their first effort will certainly not like this - and fans may not too. 'How The Other Half Live' has incredibly boring drumming, repeating throughout as if Miguel only has two or three parts to his drum kit; and the only change of pace comes at the solo - even then the drums continue the same.

They seem to have forgotten how to write that thing called a single. I am a personal lover of the category of music often labelled as "album tracks". Those that don't quite grab new fans' attention, but are still good; I don't however like "dud tracks", an awfully big category on this album. Failure-to-change-pace-syndrome, as it shall now be called, is coupled with same-repetitive-idea-syndrome on 'Wrapped Up In A Carpet', which particularly drags its heels along the basement floor of a battered, deep South American motel.

After recording the LP in Sound City, the much famed recording studio that needs no introduction, they left the door labelled "band sound" open on the Tribes tour bus. It seeps throughout the whole album, and does not benefit it at all in my opinion. Half-finished ideas scatter themselves over the table they must of drawn up of ideas, and thought: "this will do...?".

They've lost their identity after adding CJ to the line-up - increasing worries and doubts over their album, as piano distorts the rock image they try to give off. Are they just cartoon rockers dressed up to front a record label making scheme? I must make it clear I am a huge fan of their first album, but also at the same time feel hugely let down by this dull album.

'It Never Ends' marks the point of the album where I can safely say the album should of ended, and be scrapped entirely - almost. At least the track is varied, something the album often isn't. 'Graceland' is fantastic, and slap bang in the middle of the album - with the vibe they are trying to channel certainly working. Unfortunately, the praise stops there. The borrowed ideas and image haven't worn well on this album at all. For Tribes, a rethink may be in order, as Johnny states on 'How The Other Half Live', they are in "need of a change of direction". But please, please, get it right this time. Drop the hats, too.

Video :: Hey Sholay - WDYRWMTB

Hey Sholay have released a video for the lead track 'WDYRWMTB' from their forthcoming EP, 'Cloud, Castle, _______', both released on June 3. This comes ahead of next Tuesday's show at the Scala for Fierce Panda's birthday with The Crookes and The Heartbreaks.

Hey Sholay are a five-piece group of musicians, filmmakers and artists from Sheffield and Leeds, who play a breed of psychedelic independent pop with a hint of the Northern Lights captured in a jam jar. They have been described as imperious masters of the contemporary anthemic chorus, with bright vibrant tunes and a beat guaranteed to make you tap your toes. Named as BBC6 and Drowned in Sound's "Must See Band of 2012", they released their debut album ((o)) last autumn to critical acclaim.

Kodaline Release Acoustic Version Of Love Like This

Irish quartet Kodaline have released this acoustic version of their forthcoming single 'Love Like This'.- - which you can hear below.

'Love Like This' is released on June 2 and is followed up by their debut album 'In A Perfect World' on June 17.

The band can also be caught at the following shows at The Great Escape:

Thursday 16th May - The Dome @ 8.45pm (supporting Everything Everything)
Friday 17th May - Audio @ 2.45pm
Friday 17th May - The Warren @ 9.30pm

Their previous single 'High Hopes was top 20 in the UK for two weeks and topped the Irish charts for two consecutive weeks. Having already completed two sold out tours of the UK as well sold out shows in Europe and America this year, Kodaline will be playing Glastonbury (John Peel Stage), Radio 1's Big Weekend, Hard Rock Calling, Isle of Wight, Reading & Leeds and many more festivals this summer.

Embers Unveil Next Single

Embers have announced details of the release of their new single, 'Part Of The Echoes'. Released as a limited edition 7” through Killing Moon on July 8,  it features the B-side 'Digital Daze'.


Embers will be playing at this week’s The Great Escape Festival:

MAY
17th – SESAC Matinee above Audio @ 12.30pm
18th – The Mesmirist @ 5.20pm


Stream 'Part Of The Echoes' below:

Franz Ferdinand Reveal Fourth Album

'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action' is set to be the fourth studio album by Franz Ferdinand, they have announced.

The album, released by Domino on August 26, is the first from the Glasgow band since 2009’s 'Tonight'.

Recorded over the last year at Kapranos’s Scottish studio, McCarthy’s Sausage Studios in London, Club Ralph and a couple of trips to Stockholm and Oslo, the LP cements their status as a unique and adventurous British band: emboldened by a decade’s undreamt-of worldwide success, but still daring and defiant. It’s an ecstatic rejection of the drab conventions often accompanying that level of attention and expectation.

When asked for a quote, Kapranos came back with: “The Intellect Vs The Soul, played out by some dumb band.”* God knows what that means, but the lyrics do seem more poetic this time. There were a few interesting collaborations, but more of that later…

The ten songs that make up Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action take what propelled Franz Ferdinand from the incestuous Glasgow Art School world to, well, the entire world - painterly lyrical detail, heavyweight hooks, precise aesthetic vision and that uncanny ability to marry arch artistic sensibility with pop punch – and push it even further. The breadth of influence, musicality and invention on show here is enormous. If this is unmistakably a Franz Ferdinand record, it is as much by virtue of its sonic daring and perfectly patch-worked eclecticism as the timeless songwriting flair that has long been their calling card.

* He said something on his Twitter about being “The Last Bastard Of British Pop” which sounded better, but apparently he’s “bored of that one” now.

'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action' will be available on CD (WIGCD255), deluxe limited edition double CD (WIGCD255X), LP (WIGLP255), via digital download (WIG255D) and a Deluxe DomMart only double LP (WIGLP255X) - packaged in a hand numbered die-cut gatefold sleeve. The exclusive bonus disc in both the double CD and double LP, entitled Right Notes, Right Words, Wrong Order, is a document of a thrilling live session captured at the legendary Konk Studios in London.

In addition, Domino will be releasing 'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action - The Passport Edition'. Limited to 500 worldwide, The Passport Edition features a deluxe edition of each physical format of the album, all 7”s and 12” singles and access to the highest quality audio files possible

The tracklisting for the album is as follows:

Right Action

Evil Eye

Love Illumination

Stand On The Horizon

Fresh Strawberries

Bullet

Treason! Animals.

The Universe Expanded

Brief Encounters

Goodbye Lovers & Friends


View a trailer for the album below:

Today's Hot Track :: Drop Out Venus - Death Is Screaming

South London's Drop Out Venus released their 'Death Is Screaming' single last week and for which they have put out a video which can you can view below - wherein Iva Moskovich steams through Deptford with a variety of costumed characters.

Something of a musical departure from last year's 'Love In Vein'. 'Death Is Screaming' is full of edgy riffs and an even edgier lyric.

'Death Is Screaming' is taken from their upcoming 'Glitz' EP out on May 20.

Crushed Beaks Stream Debut EP Track

Crushed Beaks announce the release of 'Tropes', their debut EP, on September 16 thru ASL Records. The London duo are back with the raucous, noise-pop indie that blasts its sound in your face full on.

Listen to the title track below.

In addition the band have the following festival dates set for the upcoming months:

May 17
Brighton, The Great Escape Festival - Dirty Bingo Stage, 10 Below

July
13 Leefest, Warlingham, Surrey

August 09-10
Cornwall, Knee Deep Festival, Saltash

August 19
London, The Lexington

First Listen / Interview :: DogGone

Now we don't know a lot about DogGone, except they are from London - and their vocalist spends a lot of time on Twitter tweeting about football. So, since we had been fairly impressed by their two online tracks, ‘Lilith’ and ‘Romance’, we cornered vocalist Josh Esaw for a quick word.

Josh, what’s the background to DogGone, which I admit are a name new to me?Billy and myself started jamming together last summer and then Mary came in a few weeks later, Pete is our third guitarist after some toying around and line up changes, but this is probably the most stable line up of the band so far.

DogGone…interesting name, how did that come about?

It’s a Frank Black solo track. We all really love Frank and The Pixies; The Breeders are really cool too.

How would you describe the band's sound? ‘No Brow’! Yeah, No Brow. The songs speak for themselves: we've got something to say and we want to say it.

You have just the two tracks, ‘Lilith’ and ‘Romance’, online. But neither of these were a single release?No, we've never done a single as such, We're really keen to just let people have the tracks and get their teeth into them and find out what we're about. We would only ever do a single accompanied by a physical release because we're massive geeks about things like that and we're waiting for the right time.

Can you go into a little about what both songs are about?Well, ‘Romance’ is about being young and living in London, in all its glorious and not so glorious decadence. Once you turn 18 you feel like you've been given the keys to the city as it where and you can go out and party and do stuff like that, but there's always that moment on a dancefloor in a night club somewhere, where you're like ‘shit, is this it? Is that what I was looking forward to?’ You start to see through the neon lights and the cheap alcohol, and start to see that there isn't much depth or romance to the music or the experience; that it is shallow, and you repeat it and you just end up passive to what you dreamt about doing with your life when you were younger.
‘Lilith’ is about feeling insecure but wanting to fall in love with the world and each other; seeking that connection between each other and dropping the pretentiousness that you can sometimes accidentally get caught up; seeking that romantic idea of freedom and escapism in a Bruce Springsteen way, but in a South London sense and finding your own way into the world. It is hard not to be in a band and against the current government. We just want to reject that idea of living and do our own thing and make art we're proud of.

I see you were playlisted on Amazing Radio with ‘Romance’…Yeah. I honestly couldn't tell you how that happened. We just uploaded the tunes, and they listened. It just kind of came out of nowhere, with no real explanation.

Do you rely on any musical influences for inspiration to DogGone’s sound?We listen to a lot of stuff. I think we're influenced by anything that challenges us or somehow sticks to us musically. There's a wealth of great stuff out there, new and old, it's just finding it and working out who we are within that spectrum.

What plans do the band have at the moment? Right now we're in the middle of recording another track. This one is taking a bit longer than we usually take as we are really trying to get our head around what we want it to sound like. ‘Romance’ and ‘Lilith’ kind of dropped out of the sky in complete form, whereas with this one we're really excited by it, but I’s a slower process. Other than that we are just going to keep getting out and keep gigging.

And where might we see you live if we look closely?The ones we have confirmed at this stage are 1st June at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace Beer Festival; 7th June at Scream Lounge, Croydon, supporting Cane Hill Drive. Then 19th June we play the New Cross Inn, the Fuzzed Up! Alternative Summer Party.


Also, just for you – Little Indie Blogs - here's an exclusive track that’s not anywhere else anymore. It’s a cover we did of ‘Velocity Girl’ by Primal Scream, which you can hear here


Since we spoke to Josh, they have streamed a third track, 'I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You'. All three can be heard below.

DogGone are: Josh Esaw - Guitars/Vocals; Pete Jewkes - Synths; Mary Norris - Bass; Billy Allen - Drums.

London Grammar Unveil Video For Wasting My Young Years

Undoubtedly London Grammar's Hannah Reid has one of the finest voices you will hear not just this year, but any year. To accompany the release on June 16 of 'Wasting My Young Years', the London trio have unveiled this morning the above video.

Since we profiled them here as 'one to watch' last December, London Grammar have steadily built up a name for themselves both live and with their outstanding first offering 'Hey Now'. Shot in black and white, the 'Wasting My Young Years' film depicts humans defying gravity as they are shown statically in float form. But it is the song and lyrics themselves that bring a lump to the throat and a shiver down the spine. Mesmerising.

Today's Hot Track :: Vision Fortune - XVII

Vision Fortune are a London-based trio - brothers Austin and Alex Peru, and drummer Andreas Cuatroquesos - who make that droning guitar sound that rests somewhere between psychedelic and electronic.

Their eight track debut album 'Mas Fiestas con el Grupo Vision Fortune' (with all tracks being Roman numeralled), was released yesterday, May 13, as a limited 300 run (at present there are just 26 left) through Faux Discx and Gringo Records. Never a label that could be said to release a naff work, head man Dan Fisher knows what he likes and likes what he knows.

'XVII', the stand-out track, is a seven-minute-plus affair that is a work of pure beauty. Let the wavering guitars, punctuated compulsive drums that pound their way through in a way that is reminiscent of Led Zep's 'Bron-yr-Mawr' and keyboard lines that splatter droned sonic drops deep into your brain; that's before they intersperse with Austin Peru's vocal that holds it all together like a hypnotic shower of psyched up, blissed-out aural adhesive.

Waylayers Stream First EP Track

East London-based Waylayers have put out the first track to be taken from their 'Fault Lines' EP to be released next month.

Entitled 'S.O.S', you can hear the track below:



The band have lined up a series of festival dates for the summer, as below:

26 May 2013 - Osfest Festival, Owestry
31 May 2013 - How The Light Gets In Festival, The Globe, Hay
14 June 2013 - Koko, London
15 June 2013 - Isle Of Wight Festival, Isle Of Wight
16 June 2013 - Isle Of Wight Festival, Isle Of Wight
22 June 2013 - Beach Break Live Festival, Newquay
26 July 2013 - Wickerman Festival, Scotland
26 July 2013 - Kendal Calling Festival, Kendal
27 July 2013 - Redfest Festival, Surrey
02 Aug 2013 - Sugarmill, Stoke
03 Aug 2013 - Y Not Festival, Derbyshire

'Only 'Time Will Tell' For Glitches

Prior to their Great Escape festival appearance in Brighton (they play the Metro Hub stage on Thursday), East London trio Glitches have unveiled their new single for the Kissability label. ‘Only Time Will Tell’ is released on July 22.

As with their previous 'Warm Seas', there are plenty of glitchy guitar riffs and that soaring resonance that builds on big choruses and surging sentiment.


Glitches next play the Old Blue Last in London on May 23 with Feathers.

Listen to 'Only Time Will Tell' here:

Today's Hot Track :: Temples - Colours To Life

'Colours To Life' is the latest single release from Temples, the trippy neo-psych quartet from Kettering.

Released through Heavenly Recordings on June 24, the single has been produced by the band &amp, and mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer. It follows the release of their debut single, 'Shelter Song' (already a collectors item: recent copies selling for well over £100 on eBay) in September last year.

The band have also announced a number of headline shows in June, alongside festival dates shows over the summer.

The list of current dates is as follows:

MAY

17th Brighton The Great Escape

18th Glasgow Stag & Dagger

JUNE

19th Birmingham Hare & Hounds

20th London Boston Arms

21st Manchester Deaf Institute

JULY

6th London Hyde Park (with Rolling Stones)

7th Clitheroe Beat Herder Festival

21st Southwold Latitude Festival

26th Huntingdon Secret Garden Party

27th Stockton Stockton Weekender

AUGUST

17th Skipton Beacons Festival

23rd-25th Reading / Leeds Reading / Leeds Festival

SEPTEMBER

13th Portmeirion Festival No.6

The Great Escape: Who's Hot To See Beside The Sea?

If you're heading for the sea, sand and the bevy of hotly rammed rooms for the three days of live music that make up Brighton's annual Geat Escape festival, the one problem is probably who should you be seeing - and who perhaps can wait a little longer, when gig clashes are par for the course.

We take a few tips from our writers and some of the artists themselves playing there on this year's Brighton Hot Rocks.

For a full gig planner and the days, times and venues that all mentioned artists will be playing, see below:

GreatEscape



Adrian Dutt - Spectres

PARQUET COURTS - These guys make us very happy with their angular-slacker vibes. Many Howling Owl record constructing sessions have been soundtracked by their album, and we can't wait to see them live!

THE 80s MATCHBOX B-LINE DISASTER - There's not much I can really say here, what a band! I just want to lose myself in their dirty guitars. [ Sadly, neither Adrian or anyone else will be losing themselves in the dirty guitars of the Matchbox as their appearance is now cancelled it was announced today, May 13, due to the band's splitting up - again.]

HONEYBLOOD - We stumbled across this two-piece last year and emailed them, we never got a reply. Oh well. But I absolutely LOVE their garage-fuzz-snarl, they will be massive by the end of the year no doubt, maybe they'll email us back too....

DRENGE - Great visceral noise pop, most of my friends seem to be talking about them, so I'm going to see what the fuss is about!

THE NATURALS - Probably the best band in the world that not enough people know about, PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THEM NOW. They are from another planet and make experimental guitar noise that sounds like Health/Battles etc BUT BETTER

Howling Owl have a showcase at 'Above Audio' on Friday May 17, with The Naturals (7.45), Velcro Hooks (8.30), Spectres (9.15) and Towns(10pm).


Harry Barnes - Music writer:

HOLY ESQUE - Straight away the name grabbed my attention - and you're in luck that the music does do. Their latest single "St." features shivering vocals and great guitar too. After their first EP 11 months ago, they are back for more, and they mean business.

IN THE VALLEY BELOW - Sweeping guitars and rhythm are key to this band, with dual vocals too. Their latest single came out just this month and is set for the perfect summer soundtrack. Make sure you check out their other music too, as dazzling as this - as is their live show

GUARDS - "Ready To Go" is the latest single from the swooning Guards from New York. They have a bigger than life sound that really deserves an ear or two. The band features a dynamic sound, with huge choruses - but relaxed at the same time.

BOMBAY SHOW PIG - These are extraordinary. Boasting catchy lyrics, distorted guitar and energy behind the drums, they know a thing or two about songwriting. Once you've had a listen, try to digest that this is a two piece.

CURRENT SWELL - The most chilled music of the lot, they have a Canadian sound of relaxed acoustic guitar with slow and catchy rhythm. Their songs are super catchy with wonderful sentiment to the lyrics too.


Steven McInerney - Embers:

GOLDEN FABLE - Ethereal vocals and beautifully arranged songs.

HALLS - Played with them in Manchester at the end of last year. Incredibly engaging to watch and really enjoyed the album 'Ark'.

MELODY'S ECHO CHAMBER - we played with them last weekend in Leeds and they were great. Beautiful gallic synth pop.

Embers play Friday May 17 at 12.20pm at Above Audio and on Saturday May 18 at 5.30pm at The Mesmerist.


Simon Mannion - Promoter:

EMBERS - These create such a huge, unique, brilliant sound that I genuinely think this will be one of the most talked about gigs of the whole Festival.

CHVRCHES - Another act who have come a long way in the last 12 months. They play nigh on perfect electro pop with incredibly catchy songs to match.

THE ADELINES - Top of my ‘must watch in 2013’ list. They create such a brilliantly catchy sound I defy anybody not to like them. Expect perfectly crafted indie pop songs with ‘jangly’ guitars and a great vocal. This band will be very big, very soon.

BIRD - They have that 'edge' live that blew me away the first time I saw them. Expect hypnotic guitar sounds, brilliant vocals and, well, just some fantastic songs.


Adele Emmas - Bird:

TEMPLES - We saw Temples for the very first time at Liverpool Sound City and they blew us away live, they were so tight and in tune with the music, I think they're going to go really far.

CHILDHOOD - We played with these guys last year at a small gig in Guildford. They played a great, upbeat and energetic set so we'll look forward to seeing how they're progressed.

DAN CROLL - He's from our home town of Liverpool but we're yet to see him live yet but we've heard good things so we'll be going to scope him out!

PHOSPHORESCENT - I had his song 'Song For Zula' on repeat for quite some time, it's really beautiful so I'd love to see that live and catch the rest of his set.

EMBERS - I've heard some great things about Embers ... dark, eerie, shoegaze is what we in Bird love!

Bird play The Basement at 12.30 on Saturday May 17.


David Beech - Music writer:

BEAR'S DEN - Acoustic trio Bear's Den assert their influences as “wool and steel” and it's easy to see why. Their music has something delightful rustic about it; a stripped down, back to basics affair that's attraction lies wholeheartedly it's simplicity.

LONDON GRAMMAR - Their debut EP, 'Metal & Dust', was a swirling, grandiose affair that encapsulated listeners and took them with it on a monolithic journey throughout fluid and changing soundscapes. If their sound on record can translate in to a live setting, then London Grammar are definitely a band you don't want to miss out on.

TITLE FIGHT - Their fusion of New Found Glory style hooks, with lyrics even the most emo of listeners will be proud, makes for a truly nostalgic experience. Throw in some gang-chant breakdowns and you're on to a winner.

EYE EMMA JEDI - Hailing from Oslo, Eye Emma Jedi, are making math-rock for the masses, without the err, masses. Quirky yes, erratic definitely, but ultimately a band who look like they will be an absolute riot live.

LITTLE GREEN CARS - Falling somewhere between Mumford & Sons and The Maccabees, the band fully embrace their home countries folk traditions while managing to keep their sound somewhat contemporary and in fitting with their peers.


Paul - Dingus Khan

DINOSAUR PILE UP - As they're playing on our stage! Others we think will be hot are

KING KRULE
DRENGE
WOLF ALICE

Dingus Khan are at The Hope on Thursday May 16 (evening)


Linn Branson - Music writer:

SUPERFOOD - The Brum band de jour who with only a few support dates and one online track to their name, are managing to fast build a reputation and ram rooms wherever they play.

SPECTRES - Noise rock doesn't come louder than with this Bristol-based quartet who like to use volume as a tool. Expect a surprising degree of head-banging melody interspersed with the white noise.

THE FAMILY RAIN- The three brothers from Bath stamp it loud and proud on their live shows. Very much a current buzz band.

THE STRYPES - The four Irish teenagers have been winning fans all round, including the likes of Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher, with their blues repertoire. Hailed as the 'big thing' of the moment.

JAGWAR MA - Aussie duo with a debut album dropping in June and making their TGE debut. It won't be their last. [Won't be their first either; another TGE cancellation announced today, May 13.]

PARQUET COURTS - They recently set London alight with their three sell-out shows, now it's Brighton's turn to be in thrall to their energy, melodies and Brooklyn punk.


Andrew Major - Music writer / Musician

LULS - London based 3-three piece LULS have been causing quite a stir of late. Securing a tour support slot with Spector and already championed by NME who described them as “a band capable of creating huge, filmic anthems that wind up and skyrocket off into the stratosphere”.

KLAXONS - The years of Nu-Rave are long gone however Klaxons have cemented their name amongst the pioneers of electronic influenced pop music of recent memory and played a part in paving the way for many current indie electro bands. The band are currently working on a third album and are still a force to be reckoned with on the live circuit.

DINGUS KHAN - 3 drummers, 3 bassists, an electric ukulele and one of most charismatic front men ever created; overall Dingus Khan deliver a raucous live set crammed full of infectious melodies you’ll be whistling for days after.

IGGY AZALEA - Hailing from Australia her fresh brand of Hip Hop is sure to be a big hit this summer, with her outrageously catchy track “Work” currently all over the national airwaves it can’t be long before Iggy is launched into the realms of super stardom.

BEACH FOSSILS - Relative veterans to the dream-pop scene, Beach Fossils have been building a reputation on the live circuit in their native New York (as well as side project DIIV) and have received critical international acclaim. Mix with a bit of sunshine and a tie-dye t-shirt.


John Paul Beaumont - Towns

HOWLING OWL RECORDS - People need to see all the bands on the Howling Owl Records stage. VELCRO HOOKS are my personal favourites, scuzzy rock n roll, with ridiculously good pop songs. THE NATURALS don't sound like anything you would have heard before. Honestly the most original and innovative band out there. They sound like a K-hole. While SPECTRES are the loudest band you may ever hear, but they contrast it with these brilliant moments of tranquility.

EAGULLS - One of our favourite bands. We had the pleasure of playing with them in Bristol a few months ago. They're brutal live, incredible vocals. Modern punk.

MELODY'S ECHO CHAMBER - Love the album. They're like Tame Impala with female vocals.

TRIPWIRES - Had the pleasure of touring with these guys quite recently. Great band. Combine BJM and shoegaze influences. Emerald is a tune! Great bass lines and guitar parts.

CHARLIE BOYER & THE VOYEURS - They sound like two bands I love - Television and Modern Lovers. Roadrunner roadrunner...

Towns play Above Audio on Friday May 17 at 22.00.

Album Review :: Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs - Clarietta

Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs

Clarietta (Heavenly Recordings)

May 27 2013


In a slight change to the usual, for this review we asked two different writers to each give their appraisal. They say music is subjective and all a matter of personal taste, and here is a good example.


Review by Dave Beech
Rating: 5/10


Music these days is all about nostalgia, that doesn't stop newer releases from sounding fresh or exciting mind you, it just means that nothing can really be considered as ground-breaking any more. Even genre-defying, stomach churning sounds of stuff like dubstep has it's roots in genres that came well before it, no matter how much it's pushed as being completely original. As I said before though, this doesn't necessarily make contemporary music bad, far from it, it's just with so much musical history preceding them, how can new bands make anything that's never been done before? Charlie Boyer and The Voyeurs are one band plagued with such troubles. Their debut album 'Clarietta' is by no means a bad album. It's just there's nothing that really jumps out and grabs you. Sure there's the occasional song that will set itself apart from the others, but is that really enough in an industry as flippant as the music business?

In short the answer is no. Sure the quintessential guitar sound is present and ever indebted to the 1970s bands of NYC while off-kilter keys occasionally permeate the record's overt fuzz giving it that little bit more melody, but only just. Debut single 'Watch You' is the highlight of the record and comes across as the band Palma Violets wished they were. Frenetic keys move in between pounding drums and surging guitars all the while singer Charlie Boyer's voice shakes and warbles its way to the song's conclusion in a fantastic fashion. It's just a shame the rest of the record doesn't live up to this song's dizzying heights.

Tracks such as 'A Lion's Way' and the Bowie-esque 'Be A Complete Dream' are other saving graces that punctuate an album that is nothing short of beige, which is a shame as there are occasional moments of musical brilliance buried underneath formulaic layers of filler. With a bit of luck, the energy that's present on 'Clarietta' will transfer to their live sets, as there's certainly an abundance of it upheld by the band, it's just the music they make does nothing to grab your attention the way a record such as this should. There's absolutely no doubting the musical credibility of the band, but there's a distinct sense of deja vu that manifests itself throughout the eleven tracks featured. A good first effort from perhaps the next band to fall victim to the hyperbole of the music press, albeit one that certainly could have been built upon and refined before being released.


Review by Joseph Coward
Rating: 9/10


If anyone has earned his musical stripes over the past six years, it's Charlie Boyer. Slogging around the UK, Europe and Japan with his brilliant former group Electricity In Our Homes, Boyer has made a name for himself as one of the most prolific and talented songwriters East London has thrown up in a long while, and rightly so. It was with bated breath, then, that we anticipated the first outing of his new band, Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs. We weren't disappointed either, as their debut LP is exquisite.

Sexy, stomping, glamorous, wildly careening from the quiet to the very limits of the group's control, 'Clarietta' is a tour-de-force of an album. Given the band's affection for glam and the proto-punk of The Velvet Underground, it would be tempting, in the hands of a less capable producer, to attempt to make the record resemble the crackling, tinny sound of yesteryear but, under Edwyn Collins' supervision, 'Clarietta' thunders along like a juggernaut. Special notice should be paid to Sam Davies, a mere stripling at 19, whose shimmering guitar solos and well-aimed staccato stabs perfectly punctuate the blissfully melodic keys and tumultuous rhythm section that recall the very best of 1970s' guitar music from both sides of the pond: T-Rex, Patti Smith, Television et al.

In light of these references it is easy to dismiss 'Clarietta' as merely revivalist and derivative, as the former writer's rather poorly-lettered review demonstrates. However as a songwriter and a lyricist, among his indie label contemporaries, Boyer is peerless. It's clear to any listener not tone deaf that the album's arrangement is damn near perfect, proving that The Voyeurs are a group of young men who understand the value of the relationship between each instrument and care more about a coherent, cohesive piece of work rather than lamely attempting to make records for indie disco goers to dance to; not that the album fails on this score, though. On the contrary: the guitar shuffle and irresistible 4/4 pounding of 'You Haven't Got A Chance' have dragged even this two-left-footed writer out onto the dancefloor.

With arch witticisms and whimsical musings Boyer invites us into his often bizarre, sometimes sweet and always amusing literary world. Lines like “I'm a beautiful bear in the morning/I'm a beautiful bear in the Sun” from “' Lion's Way' often leave you wondering just what on earth he's going on about, but they are delivered with such panache in that distinctive tremulous voice that it hardly seems to matter.

We may be only halfway through the year, but I can say with some degree of certainty that 'Clarietta' is one of the best albums we're going to get in 2013, and that's putting it mildly.

Arrows Of Love On The Making Of 'The Knife' Video

Usually, making a video is more or less a straight 'lights, camera, action' job. However, when Arrows Of Love set about shooting their little filmic number to accompany 'The Knife' - which you can watch above - things didn't run quite to plan, as the band recount:


"The video shoot genuinely involved haggling, lying to priests, breaking the law, being chased by security guards, and encountering a supernatural scarey thing before running for our lives. No shit.

The first idea was to break into an abandoned chapel on a hill, which was owned by a corporation which meant going round the back to avoid the security guards. The director had been there and told us to go check it out. She didn't tell us she'd got caught by security, lied to them about her deceased grandmother dying there, and ended up being chased by the guards when they cottoned on. The first time our band went there was just to look...... we got up the hill, reached the doors, and a full blown snowstorm came out of nowhere - as we peered into pitch black rooms with a crappy phone light we felt like the stupid people that die at the start of a horror film. The place was creepy as fuck.

The next time we went it was all of us, in the dead of night. We broke in, crept up right up to the top, and walked along a pitch black corridor when we stopped, heard something, and then there was this irregular banging that was GROWING CLOSER AND COMING STRAIGHT FOR US. The whole episode was being filmed.....as was our decision to GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE and run for our lives. Blair witch eat your heart out. No one will ever see that footage. When we were outside we looked back and in the building there were no lights, no torches, no signs of humans. It was definitely NICK CAVE.

After a drink to calm our nerves we tried another church, which involved the director lying to a priest about how we were religious students at Goldsmiths making a film about Christianity. He almost rumbled us when it turned out he'd been on that exact course. I generally felt my soul slowly treading towards eternal damnation. The third church was where they filmed Harry Potter - I don't know how she managed that one for free - at this stage I thought it was best not to."

['The Knife' is released as a single on June 3.]

Today's Hot Track :: Teleman - Steam Train Girl

Teleman (fronted by ex-Pete And The Pirates Thomas Sanders, with Hiro Amamiya, drums; Jonny Sanders, synths; and Pete Cattermoul, bass)have announced that 'Steam Train Girl', produced by Bernard Butler, will be their next single release, through the band’s own Encona Records on July 1. The single will feature B-side ‘Please Kill It’ and follows their debut with ‘Cristina’.

Teleman are also set to support Suede on their UK tour later in the year.

Full dates:

May
18 –The Great Escape Festival, Brighton
24 –Dot to Dot Festival, Manchester
25 Dot to Dot Festival, Bristol
26 Dot to Dot Festival, Nottingham

June
14 The Lexington, London *Headline show*
18 Glastonbury Festival
19 Latitude Festival, Suffolk

July
21 Tramlines,Sheffield

August
16 Green Man Festival, Wales
30 End of the Road Festival, Dorset

October
26 O2 Academy, Leeds w/ Suede
27 Barrowlands, Glasgow w/ Suede
28 Olympia, Dublin w/ Suede
30 Academy, Manchester w/ Suede
31 O2 Academy, Birmingham w/ Suede

Single Review :: Low Moon Low - Calm Now

Low Moon Low

Calm Now

June 3 2013 (self release)

7/10


Words: Linn Branson


Having seen Low Moon Low live not long ago, my feeling afterwards was that it was not an experience I was in any hurry to repeat. Having been described as 'moody, wistful and beautiful' in their 'three and a bit minutes' songs that 'instantly transports...back to Doves’ 2000 debut album', translated on seeing as shuffling, laborious and 'get it over with quick, please'. Not overly impressed to put it mildly .

Maybe I was just unfortunate to catch a bad night, but my initial response when informed that the London-based quartet were releasing a new song and would I like to hear it, was lukewarm as you may probably have guessed. But seeing it as a duty to listen to new singles, 'Calm Now', their official debut single, was given the ear treatment - though not without a certain reluctance.

And, to my surprise, it is rather good; certainly sending Low Moon Low up in my estimation. With a catchy melody - and a lot different to their rather dreamy, folky previous offering 'Slow Train' that was streamed last year. 'Calm Now' takes things up a gear to a rockier pace, with a neat chorus and some nice guitar, and a radio friendly vibe which should see it picking up airplay. Ollie Pash's vocals, while I have to admit to still wavering on, there is something about the way he puts across the lyric that does keep you drawn to the song - which is the aim really, isn't it.

While Low Moon Low and me may never become a serious item, the moral behind this review is never to dismiss outright on first hearing. They could surprise you on the second.

New Single From Wolf People - 'Empty Vessels'

Wolf People announce their new single is to be 'Empty Vessels' out on June 17 through Jagjaguwar.

To coincide with the release they unveil the video, which can be viewed below.

Jack Sharp says of the track: "A storm is coming. Empty Vessels was written in fits and starts over a long wet summer under the spell of George Ewart Evans, an oral historian from Suffolk, whose books I was reading on trips to Dunwich, Blaxhall and Aldeburgh. The conditions of those trips were echoed when the song was recorded in Yorkshire, in the squally spring showers on the Dales."

The video was inspired by the artwork for the album (done by the band's guitarist Joe Hollick) which itself was inspired by a 1950s video for Poem Electronique by the composer Edgard Varese. Working again with director Phil Poole, the video takes imagery both from the band's artwork and their equipment and intersperses it with captured moments of the band performing.

In addition the band have also announced their first ever North American tour dates with Unknown Mortal Orchestra. The two week run will take them around the east coast, Canada and into the midwest. Currently announced dates are listed below with more shows to be announced soon, including more with UMO, plus some headline dates.

09 May: Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, UK
10 May: Sound Control, Manchester, UK
11 May: The Exchange, Bristol, UK
12 May: Blind Tiger, Brighton, UK
16 May: Holy Trinity Church, Leeds, UK
17 May: Think Tank, Newcastle, UK
18 May: Stag and Dagger Festival, Glasgow, UK
19 May: Portland Arms, Cambridge, UK
24 May: Kinski Klub, Zurich, CH
25 May: VK, Brussels, BE
27 May: Gebäude 9, Cologne, DE
28 May: White Trash, Berlin, DE
29 May: Molotow, Hamburg, DE
30 May: Doornroosje, Nijmegen, NL
31 May: Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL
1 June: Trix, Antwerp, BE
3 June: Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London UK
27 July: Cloudspotting Festival, Slaidburn, UK
8 August: Beacons Festival @Heslaker Farm, Skipton, UK
14 October: Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA *
15 October: Cabaret Mile End, Montreal, CA *
16 October: Lee's Palace, Tortonto, CA *
17 October: Magic Stick Lounge, Detroit, MI *
18 October: Ace of Cups, Columbus, OH *
19 October: Altar, Pittsburgh, PA *

* w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra