Sunday, 29 September 2013

Band To Check Out: Let's Buy Happiness & 'Run' official music video



Let's Buy Happiness are a five-piece from the North of England (Newcastle) who only recently reached my radar with their single 'Run' which immediately found me making strong comparisons between their haunting, melancholic, dreamy sound and that of two of my favourite English alternative/indie acts; Bat for Lashes and The XX.  Excitingly, the quintet recently announced that their long awaited debut album will go by the name of 'Chants For Friends' and that 'Run' will be the first single released from it on 4th November.

If the quality of 'Run' is anything to go by, we can't wait to get our hands on this record, and lead vocalist Sarah Hall has shared her thoughts on the album; “It’s taken four years to form our music in the way we wanted it to... Its inspirations vary from track to track as my thoughts & opinions have drifted over time, and together it works a collection of moments about a range of topics, from atoms to building a home. Single ‘Run’ was about that person you may know, friend or family, who has an inability to face up to truths and their destructive behaviours. I’ve seen this happen in my life & other peoples relationships but it isn’t about a specific person."


Check out the band's UK October tour dates and the intriguing, stylistically shot, official video for 'Run' below.

Let's Buy Happiness || Website || Facebook || Twitter



Video: Elyas Khan - 'Bells'



Elyas Khan is one of those dapper guys who you look at and instantly think "Damn, he's cool", and we first got a bit swoony over him over at our sister site  The Sound of Confusion when we reviewed his funky, avant garde, soulful single 'Bells'

We've just caught the video for 'Bells' which features Elyas Khan and Romain Vicente on drums , getting their groove on, doing their thing and are completely besotted! After watching the video, it would come as a surprise if you didn't want to be Elyas' friend as much as we do.


Elyas Khan || Website
Buy the single ||Bells

Saturday, 28 September 2013

Upcoming benefit compilation CD to feature unreleased tracks by Thee Oh Sees, Cave Singers, Elf Power & more





At three years old, Ryan Benton was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy,a degenerative and deadly condition that saw him given a life expectancy of late teens to early twenties at most. In the fall of 2008 he had to make the journey out of the USA to Costa Rica to be treated for the first time with adult stem cells; a natural treatment that then and now is currently banned in the USA. After receiving his first treatment and against the odds, Ryan began gaining back strength and has since gone back on seven separate trips for continued treatment.

With the help of Air House Records, Ryan has put together a second benefit compilation CD 'Coming Together for a cure, Vol 2' to help fund stem cell research and treatment in the US. It features fifteen awesome tracks, including previously unreleased material from Thee Oh Seas, Elf Power, Springs, The Wonder Revolution, Music Wrong, Golden Boots, Sleeping In The Aviary, Sunshine Dreamers, Bellafonte and Cave Singers. Proceeds will go entirely towards helping fund adult stem cell therapy and research in the US and the compilation is due to be released on October 29th.

Below, we have the track listing, a stream of one of our favourite songs from the compilation and a lovely video documenting one of Ryan's trips from Kansas to Panama for treatment. It also features interviews from Ryan, his family and his friends on how this treatment has changed their lives as well as his. Spread the word, support the cause, look out for the CD, help make a difference.

Coming Together For A Cure, Vol. 2 Tracklist:
01. Miracle Days – 'Miracle Days' 
02. Springs – 'Waste My Time' 
03. Thee Oh Sees – 'The Factory Reacts'
04. The Wonder Revolution – 'Cloud Wonder Sky'
05. Music Wrong – 'Clyde' 
06. Student Film – 'Facts and Values'
07. Shine Brothers – 'So Many People'
08. Elf Power – '1494'
09. Cave Singers – 'Ohio Nights'
10. Golden Boots – 'Be My Champ'
11. Gentle Ghost – 'Oblivion Tide'
12. Sleeping in the Aviary – 'Long Gone'
13. Sunshine Dreamers – 'Empty Nest'
14. Bellafonte – 'Sea of Trees'
15. Beau Jennings & the Tigers – 'Sweet Action'




Friday, 27 September 2013

Video: goodbyemotel - 'Set It Off'



We were introduced to alternating Australian/New York based indie-rock quartet, goodbyemotel almost a year ago when we shared our opinion of their EP 'People' over at our sister site, The Sound Of Confusion. One track taken from the EP has made a considerable mark on the Southern Hemisphere, and that's 'Set It Off' which has featured on the soundtrack of a Chrysler 300 TV advert aired in Australia as well as countless radio plays.

'Set It Off'  is a hooky,  anthemic, cinematic single that comes with an official music video directed and shot by Nicebike Productions. It features a simple, fun, natural set of clips following the band and their surroundings. Can we, in the UK, see goodbyemotel reaching mainstream, world domination? Hell yeah! Sit back and enjoy the vid below.

goodbyemotel || Website || Facebook || Twitter


Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Black Light Dinner Party stream debut album 'Sons & Lovers' on official release date



                                                     




NYC electro quartet Black Light Dinner Party are comprised of Jack Côté, (vocals, guitar), Zach Lipkins (drums), Joel Friedman (keys) and Dan Stevens - (vocals/ bass) and today has been an important day for them. Why? It marks the official release date of their much awaited debut album 'Sons & Lovers'. What's more, they've made the album available for streaming in its entirety via Soundcloud and you can get your dark and twisty groove on to it below.

Listen. Like it? Buy it! || iTunes

 
  




                                                                                                                 
 

The Intermission Project release 'Sorry' EP




If you've been following us you'll know that we've shared news on The Intermission Project a couple of times this year (if you're new to us, check our archives). Therefore, we are really pleased to hear that yesterday (Monday 23rd September) saw the release of The Intermission Project's debut EP 'Sorry'.

The EP features three remarkable songs, two of which have already received incredibly positive responses online.  Check out the title track 'Sorry' and follow up track 'I've Been Waiting' below and if you like what you're hearing, be sure to buy the EP through the purchase link! 

Buy || 'Sorry' EP || bandcamp

The Intermission Project || Website || Facebook || Soundcloud




Tour Dates
16th November Revelation St Mary's Ashford

Monday, 23 September 2013

Video: MyLyricalMind - 'Drop Me A Line'





MyLyricalMind is the wonderful solo project of Manchester based, acoustic/melodic /atmospheric/ nu folk/ who-cares-about-genres-anymore, artist Matthew Wood and lately we've been chilling out to his simplistic,nature-based, official video for his single 'Drop Me a Line'.

The track is taken from MyLyricalMind's forthcoming second EP 'A Quiet Hurricane' where his laid back acoustic sound, peculiar, husky vocals, and emotive strings makes for a delicately enjoyable listen. In terms of relatable contemporaries, MyLyricalMind will appeal in abudance to fans of the likes of Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Ben Howard, and fellow rising star Josh Record and we expect to be hearing a whole lot more from this soothing songster in times to come.



MyLyricalMind || Website || Facebook || Twitter
Buy || Single || 'Drop Me A Line' || iTunes

Video: Bwani Junction: 'Borneo'




Scottish indie pop band, Bwani Junction, will be releasing their infectious, anthemic, new single 'Borneo' on 4th November. 'Borneo' is the third single taken from their forthcoming second album, produced by Paul Savage (Mogwai, Franz Ferdinand, Delgados, Deacon Blue) and due to be released on Aksatak label.

We caught up with Bwani Junction via an email Q&A back in July here over at our sister site, The Sound of Confusion where the band informed us that autumn would see a busy few months ahead of them, but secretively couldn't tell us us about their tour plans at that time.

We now know they recently supported French superstar Matthieu Chedid on a series of arena shows in France and Belgium, culminating in a performance at the Strasbourg Zenith Arena. Currently, the guys are gearing up to headline City of Stars festival in Malawi (South East Africa) this weekend  before heading off for more international dates in Vietnam, with November shows in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Created by Kier Siewert of Breaking Point Flix, check out the accompanying tongue in cheek video to 'Borneo' below, that sees the guys taken captive, an escape, a recapture and  just for good luck, they've chucked in a very modern day, heartbreaking  love story of sorts (if you can even call it that). Enjoy!





Bwani Junction || Facebook || Twitter

Friday, 20 September 2013

Single Review: Jagga - 'Hold Me'



After releasing his single 'Out Of Control' at the start of the month, Jagga's already coming at us with his beastly new track, 'Hold Me'. Darker and more insistent than it's predecessor, Jagga's vocals plead emotion, fury and intensity amongst a powerful backdrop of noise that sounds a bit like Jagga's recorded the track clanking around chained up in a dungeon some place. Creatively and sonically speaking though, it's very good but has left us with only one parting question; What secrets are next to be revealed lurking beneath Jagga's luscious locks? Only time will tell.
 

For a better look at Jagga's hair please refer to the kaleidoscopic, animated video for 'Out of Control' below.



Jagga || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud

Video: Watch Nirvana play 'Scentless Apprentice' Live





Do you have documented footage of what you were doing on 13th December 1993? No? Neither do I. Either way, it probably wasn't as exciting as the live performance footage we have below of Nirvana playing ‘Scentless Apprentice’ originally recorded on that exact date that was released online yesterday. The band’s Live And Loud show recorded at Seattle's Pier 48 venue features the final touring line up of Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl, and Pat Smear in their prime, playing to a packed house.

This footage alongside several never-before-released bonus performances,(and The Directors Cut of the 'Heart Shaped Box' video) will be released in the super deluxe boxset and separately as a standalone DVD and digital download marking the 20th Anniversary of Nirvana’s polarizing third album 'In Utero'. Look out for the 20th Anniversary re-mastered re-issue featuring an all-new 2013 mix of the album alongside the classic 1993 version, plus bonus demos, B-Sides, previously unheard material and incredible live performances set for release on 23rd September via UMC.


 Pre-Order UK ||'In Utero' 20th Anniversary Edition  || Nirvana UK Store || Amazon
Pre-Order US|| Nirvana Website




Band To Check Out: Talk In Colour & 'Rushes' EP stream



London 'cinematic future pop' quintet Talk In Colour consist of (Kat Arney - Harp, Chris Bangs Cellist/Producer/vox,Mary Erksine - Vox and Keys, Dave Oliver- Drums and Nick Siddall: Guitar). After their critically acclaimed 2012 album 'ColliderScope', Talk In Colour got back into the studio to create their next EP 'Rushes' "more stripped-back, raw sound, melding together their trademark delicate vocal and harp melodies with glitchy electronics, off-kilter percussion and distorted guitar."

Catch what we made of the 'Rushes' EP and what we thought when we saw Talk In Colour live at Charlie Wright's Music Lounge earlier this month, over at our sister site, The Sound of Confusion. Meanwhile, the EP is available to stream below on a try before you buy basis! Enjoy.


Buy 'Rushes' EP || iTunes || Bandcamp || Amazon
Talk In Colour || Website || Facebook || Twitter ||



Psapp announces details of new LP 'What Makes You Glow' & 'Everything Belongs To The Sun' single stream.



I was first wowed by off-the-wall,  London-based, experimental/electronica duo Psapp, back in 2006 when I stumbled across their fabulously quirky track 'Hi', whose animated accompanying video is in my top 10 list of music videos you have to see at least once in your life!


 Psapp recently unveiled their new, highly energising, hand clappy, mummery, cat meowing, baby crying, tribal themed single 'Everything Belongs To The Sun'  with the announcement of soon-to-be confirmed details of their new album 'What Makes Us Glow'.  



Well chaps, 'What Makes Us Glow' is Psapp’s fourth full-length record and will be released through The state51 Conspiracy on November 11th. What can you expect to hear? In true Psapp style, "a vast hyper-colour psychedelic whirl of an album, with intricate orchestration, layered vocals and a pioneering spirit. These songs thrum, buzz and of course, glow." We can't wait to get our hands on it.

Tracklisting:

1. Life Hums
2. Wet Salt
3. The Cruel, The Kind, The Bad
4. Seven
5. That’s The Spirit
6. In The Black
7. Everything Belongs To The Sun
8. Bone Marrow
9. Your Hot Knife
10. The Well and The Wall
11. What Makes Us Glow
12. In and Out


Psapp || Website || Facebook ||Youtube || Twitter

Video: Steel Cranes - 'Moving On'





On the 24th September, California-based rock duo Amanda Schukle (drums) and Tracy Shapiro (guitar/vocals) of Steel Cranes will release their lively debut album, 'Ouroboros'. 'Moving On' is the super noisy, sonically scuzzy duo's "heavy as shit" second single taken from the album and has had us caught in a bad as, whirlwind of punky pleasure since our first listen. It's more than just boisterous noise though, as band member Tracy Shapiro gives her take saying; “To me, this song is about shedding. Shedding the beliefs and stories that one accumulates and uses to self-medicate. It’s about reaching a critical mass where these beliefs and stories can no longer sustain... 'Moving On’ was the Steel Cranes song where I knew that we had found our sound. That nasty bending-note guitar riff intro just kicks it off.” A guitar riff that Amanda Schukle agrees “That nasty bendy note makes me happy. Very happy.”

The track comes with a video shot in various locations around Berkley and Oakland (California). Big fans of the East Bay, Steel Cranes chose recognizable locations and those familiar with the area will notice an industrial stretch of 2nd Street, a piece of the San Francisco Bay Trail that crosses over Highway 80 and a scene set in front of downtown Oakland's Paramount Theater. In the ladies own words, "The video kicks off at the Albany Bulb, an odd place on the edge of the Bay where lots of people live in tents among graffiti-covered sculptures, structures, and huts. This appropriately strange place is where clip’s main character first wakes up and we see her covered in paper scraps.... They represent the various beliefs she has accumulated that are no longer relevant in helping her move forward... She begins a journey toward shedding them, but holds on to the one that’s actually important." Abtract, colourful and slightly dizzying, the video's a great watch to accompany a fierce song. Check the vid and Steel Cranes US fall tour dates below!

Steel Cranes || Website || Facebook || Twitter || Youtube || Bandcamp



Steel Cranes US Fall Tour 2013

09/20 Oakland, CA @ The Night Light Record Release Show
09/25 Sacramento, CA @ The Press Club w/ Musical Charis, Fudi
09/26 Eugene, OR @ Luckey’s w/ Small Joys, Paper Foxes, and Radion
09/27 Portland, OR @ Slabtown w/ The Greencarts
09/28 Seattle, WA @ Comet Tavern w/ Redwood Plan, Panama Gold
09/29 Olympia, WA @ Le Voyeur w/ The Redwood Plan, Full Moon Radio
10/01 Spokane, WA @ Baby Bar
10/02 Bozeman, MT @ Haufbrau w/ The Electric Sundays
10/04 Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge w/ DCTV, C’est Tra La
10/06 Manhattan, KS @ Auntie Mae’s w/ Couches
10/07 Kansas City, MO @ Czar Bar w/ Fake Fancy
10/08 Des Moines, IA @ The Gas Lamp w/ Rumble Seat Riot, Satellite State
10/10 Chicago, IL @ The Burlington w/ Eiffel Tower
10/11 Milwaukee, WI @ Frank’s Power Plant w/ Playdate, Forgotten Species
10/12 Madison, WI @ Mickey’s Tavern w/ Cribshitter
10/16 Detroit, MI @ PJ’s Lager House w/ All the Wild Children, The Walking Beat
10/18 Akron, OH @ Buzzbin Art & Music Shop
10/20 Providence, RI @ Dusk
10/23 Allston, MA @ O’Brians w/ Today Junior, Ghosts of Sailors at Sea, Idiot Genes
10/24 Brooklyn, NY @ Spike Hill w/ Highway, Son Boom, Caitling Mahoney
10/26 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung-Fu Necktie w/ John Wesley Coleman, Traumahelikopter
10/27 Washington, DC @ The Black Squirrel w/ Company Calls
11/05 Dallas, TX @ Bryan Street Tavern
11/06 Austin, TX @ The Parish Underground w/ The Dead Space, The Harms, Rescue Mission
11/08 Albuquerque, NM @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge w/ The Klondykes, St. Wolf, Port Alice
11/09 Santa Fe, NM @ Molly’s Kitchen
11/13 Phoenix, AZ @ The Trunk Space
11/15 San Diego, CA @ Merrowin w/ East of Sweden
11/17 Los Angeles, CA @ Origami Vinyl In-Store, 7PM
11/18 Los Angeles, CA @ The Redwood Bar w/ EZ Tiger

Thursday, 19 September 2013

Art Brut announce line up change just days before UK tour


Who is in the picture you might ask? Well, it's the new line up for Art Brut of course! With only five days to go until the Berlin-based English and German indie rockers begin their UK tour, they've just announced a change in line up with drummer Mikey Breyer and guitarist Jasper Future respectively retiring from the band.
But, as the old saying goes, "as one door closes, another one opens" and the band have welcomed Toby Macfarlaine (guitar) and Stephen Gilchrist (drums) into the fold to restore the band back to its original five-piece line up.

In regards to the changes, frontman Eddie Argos has said : "Being a classic rock band isn't all just laps of honour round the World, and photo shoots in Rolling Stone, it also involves personnel changes. So after 10 years and 8 years of playing with them respectively we say goodbye to Mike and Jasper. Press releases are not the best place for fond farewells but it's been a blast and we'll miss them...... It's now time for Art Brut Mk III. Hello to Toby and Stephen. Lets start ROCKING THE FUCK OUT. See you in September!"

Fancy seeing Art Brut live? Catch them at venue near you via the UK tour dates below:

UK TOUR DATES
September

Tues 24 Manchester Academy 3


Wed 25 Glasgow Broadcast 


Thur 26 Newcastle Think Tank 


Fri 27 Wakefield The Hop 



Sat 28 Hebden Bridge Trades Club 


Sun 29 Hull Adelphi 


Mon 3 Nottingham Bodega 




October

Tue 01 Coventry Kasbah 


Wed 02 O Gloucester Guildhall 




November

Sun 03 Bristol Fleece 


Mon 04 Tunbridge Wells Forum


Tue 05 London Village Underground w/ special guests Blast Unit Moscow 


Wed 06 St Albans The Horn 


Thu 07 Bedford Esquires 



Single Review: Gavin James - 'Remember Me'



Gavin James is already an exciting, well established, up-and-coming talent in Ireland whose debut EP 'Say Hello' (released only in Ireland) entered the Irish iTunes album charts at No.1, which then saw the title track of the EP go on to win Gavin the Choice Meteor Award (the Irish Mercury Prize) this year for Song Of The Year.
We discovered Gavin back in April and instantly impressed, made him one of our Artist's To Check Out over at our sister site The Sound Of Confusion. Won over by a combination of his exceptional, goosebump-invoking vocals and poignantly mature song writing skills in particular, we're counting down the days until the 21st October when we can get our hands on Gavin's UK debut 4-track EP 'Remember Me'. 

This month, Gavin unveiled the title track of the EP on Soundcloud for everyone's listening pleasure. It's a beautiful, uplifting, melodic track that has simple, yet catchy, guitar riffs, and brilliantly warming lyrics that linger long after the sound has stopped. If you're looking for wholesome, organic folk/acoustic music with heart, get to know Gavin James, you won't be disappointed.

Gavin James || Website || Facebook |
Pre- Order || 'Remember Me EP' || iTunes




Gavin James will be supporting Ryan Keen throughout the UK in October. Catch the live dates below:

 UK Ryan Keen Support Tour

5th October Plymouth University
6th October Brighton, The Concorde 2
8th October Preston, 53 Degrees Club
9th October Manchester, Academy 3
10th October Leeds, Cockpit
12th October Birmingham, Institute Temple
13th October Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
15th October Bristol, Fleece
16th October Swansea, Sin City
17th October Norwich, Waterfront 
18th October Southampton, Joiners
21st October London, Scala22nd October Guildford, Boileroom
24th October Stoke on Trent, Sugarmill
25th October Newcastle, Academy 2
26th October Glasgow, The Garage 2
28th October York, The Duchess
29th October Hull, Adelphi





Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Free Download: Sundays - 'Forces'


Vancouver based, experimental soul/electronic, singer-songwriter and producer Sundays is a new and exciting, enigmatic artist whose current single 'Forces' has got us very interested to see what wonderful things the future may hold for her.

The second single to be taken from her upcoming EP 'Of Eros and I' (due for release in October)  'Forces' is a down-tempo, minimalistic track with spooky synths, seductive vocals, smooth, spacious hip-hop beats, and lazy tribal percussion. The track  kisses and caresses like a slow, teasing, lover. We are absolutely enthralled by this single, and can't wait to get down and dirty with the EP.




Sundays || Website || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud

Pre-Release stream of Fenech-Soler 'Rituals' on Hype Machine




As the September 30th release date for Fenech-Soler's much awaited album 'Rituals' looms even closer, these four English electro-pop gents have decided to spoil us all by premiering a pre-release stream of the album in its entirety on Hype Machine.

Catch the stream and November UK tour dates below.


                                                   Fenech-Soler || Website || Facebook || Twitter




November Headline UK tour dates:


7th - Liverpool, East Village Arts Club
8th - Belfast, Limelight 2
9th - Dublin, Academy 2
11th - Aberdeen, The Tunnels
12th - Glasgow, Kings Tuts
14th - Newcastle, O2 Academy 2
15th - Manchester, Gorilla
16th - Birmingham, Institute
17th - Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
19th - Bristol, Thekla
20th - Brighton, Concorde
21st - London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Saturday, 14 September 2013

Single Review: TIDEUP - 'A Dance In The Dark'



A couple of months ago I reviewed 'In Curses You Came' the debut EP from experimental pop band TIDEUP and I remember my parting remark about the EP was that its slow dreaminess made it more of a quiet night by the fire listen than one you could throw into the party mix.

Well, 'A Dance In The Dark'  the first single from their up coming album changes that. Whilst Noelle Indovino's wonderfully dreamy vocal style continues to shine, the tempo of the track is much more upbeat. If this is a sign of the quality of the upcoming album I can't wait to hear it.

Single review by stephen@thesoundofconfusion.co.uk

TIDEUP || Website || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud || 


Wednesday, 11 September 2013

Video: iTCH - 'Homeless Romantic' (featuring Adam Lazzarra)



It's been a while since I've been this excited about a new release. Winning my heart right now is the announcement of a UK October 13th release date for  iTCH's incredible new single 'Homeless Romantic'. Why will I be shouting this from the rooftops? iTCH has teamed up on vocals with Taking Back Sunday's Adam Lazzarra to create a foolproof hip hop, post hardcore, rock/pop track that will appeal to a hugely wide audience.

There's this really important thing that some artists take for granted and that's the influence and the power their songs have over their fans. iTCH is very aware of the positive messages he sends out in his music and whether we like it or not, there is still a massive, ignorant divide between people's tastes in music and the scene associated with that kind of person.

These types of collaborations and combination of genres from artists are so leading in bringing different types of people and social scenes together that it shouldn't go unnoticed. iTCH is a current artist who is an appealing role model to the younger generation and respected by anyone older, and that's well and truly admirable. 

iTCH || Website || Facebook || Twitter

Catch the official video and UK tour dates below.




Tour Dates
Sat 16th Nov Warped Tour UK @ Alexandra Palace, London (w/ Enter Shikari, Rise Against, Billy Talent & more)

‘Kevin Says’ tour feat. iTCH, RDGLDGRN, The Hype Theory & Ghost Town:
Mon 18th Nov Cockpit, Leeds TICKETS
Tues 18th Nov Glasgow, King Tuts TICKETS
Wed 20th Nov Roadhouse, Manchester TICKETS
Thurs 21st Nov Ifor Bach, Cardiff TICKETS
Fri 22nd Nov The Underworld, London TICKETS

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Single Review: Laura Welsh - 'Undiscovered'




 Following on from her first single, 'Cold Front' released on Outsiders/Polydor in July,  Laura Welsh is set to release her second single through the label on October 28th. The track is entitled 'Undiscovered' and although it doesn't have the initial hold and mystery of its predecessor, 'Undiscovered' is an atmospheric electro-pop song that holds its own.

Written with  Dev Hynes, and recorded and produced in New York  by Emile Haynie (Lana Del Rey and Kanye West collaborator)  'Undiscovered' will feature on  Laura Welsh's forthcoming debut album, which will be released early next year. For us, this track is a grower, but what do you think? Check it out below.

Laura Welsh || Website || Facebook || Soundcloud || Youtube
Single 'Undiscovered' || Release date || 28th October 2013 (Outsiders/Polydor)

Video: Strangers -'No Longer Lost' (featuring Charli Rouse)



 London synth pop trio, Strangers launched a free track a month project this July that will continue through to Christmas. Last month they brought us their catchy, 80's electro-pop single 'No Longer Lost' featuring  the seductive, modulated vocals of Charli Rouse.

The track now comes with a cleverly filmed, glamour meets sci- fi, flashing lights-infused video, starring Adam Mcnab and Miss Mash Up; produced and directed by Leo Neelands and Jim Parsons, which accompanies the  fuzzy, dirty bassline, the optimistic, crisp synth hooks and the upbeat yet brooding vocals of the song perfectly. Check it out below!

Strangers ||Website || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud


Monday, 9 September 2013

Video: Fishdoctor - 'Atlantic'



Last month, Brooklyn based, six-piece Fishdoctor released the new video for 'Atlantic' the first track taken from their upcoming album. The intimate video is a really lovely compilation of a band member's family home videos, which sees the majority of the shots filmed on the beaches of Long Island NY in the 1940's.

Original and honest, the video is feel good, fun and full of nostalgia and the personal touch is a great insight into what the band stand for;  Grounded guys creating catchy, melodic, indie/psych pop songs that can't help but leave you with a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

Fishdoctor || Facebook || Twitter ||Soundcloud

Friday, 6 September 2013

Single Review: Beautiful Boy - 'Home'




Conceived in a bedsit on Holloway Road, North London, but currently based along the south coast of England, Beautiful Boy was founded by Singer Dane Etteridge, who began writing and demoing a handful of songs with the intention of starting a new band. Dane then teamed up with the common musical interest and intent of  Simon Goldring (drums), Joseph Heaselgrave  (guitar), Greg Bishop - (bass) and Tom Beck - (organ/keys) which leads us to the formidable quintet we have before us now.

Beautiful Boy's debut single 'Home' is an inviting introduction for these newcomers, who have only been in public existence since mid August of this year. With a painful, honest, vocal gruffness, bursts of ambient, cinematic swellings, anthemic melodies, simple guitar strums, and catchy lyricism, this is an influential indie/folk rock track that no doubt will solidly pave the way for a lot of well deserved attention towards Beautiful Boy's general direction in the very near future.

                                              Beautiful Boy || Website || Facebook || Twitter 



Video: Frank Hamilton - 'Summer' & UK Tour Dates


Frank Hamilton || Website || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud
Single 'Summer' || Released 7th October


2012 was a hectic year for Frank Hamilton ,which saw him write, record and release one song a week and there hasn't really been a dull moment for him this year either... What with recording an EP aboard the London Eye in the 28 minutes it takes to rotate once; releasing the entire 52 track #OneSongAWeek album, touring with Lucy Spraggan and Lewis Watson, a sell out show at The Borderline, slots at Belladrum and Secret Garden Party festivals and he's currently working towards a 17 date UK headline tour this September and October!

To coincide with the headline tour, Frank will be releasing his lullaby, love letter of a single 'Summer' on 7th October. The single is a revamped version taken from the #OneSongAWeek album and is produced by Richard Wilkinson (Adele, Bombay Bicycle Club, Lewis Watson). The track is also accompanied by an adorable, nostalgic, lovelorn video, filmed in Holywell near St Ives, Cambridgeshire where Frank grew up and you can catch the video and upcoming tour dates below!

Also, be sure to check out the interview we did with Frank back in June over at our sister site The Sound of Confusion.






September/October Headline Tour

25.09.13 - Plug - Sheffield
27.09.13 - Cockpit 3 - Leeds
28.09.13 - Sugarmill - Stoke
03.10.13 - The Garage - London
05.10.13 - Thekla - Bristol
07.10.13 - Komedia - Brighton

Thursday, 5 September 2013

Video: Phantom Runners - 'It Takes Me Away'

 

With an abundance of  generic start up indie bands floating around, sometimes it feels like it's getting increasingly harder to filter those who are worth getting excited about from the repetitious kind that leave you feeling lukewarm at best.  Fortunately, Brighton newcomers Phantom Runners are an exception who are developing a well deserved buzz about them throughout the UK with their wistful lo-fi/dream pop sound reminiscent of 80's English Indie Rock bands such as The Smiths, The LAs, and The Stone Roses.

'It Takes Me Away' is an airy, apparitional track thats contagious pop melodies, easy listening lyricism,  uplifting guitar hooks and refreshing bassline all fantastically fall into place in such a way that leaves you feeling rejuvenated, refreshed and revitalised. Check out the VHS tinged video that accompanies the track below.
 
 



Debut single ‘It Takes Me Away’ released through Stray Cat Records on September 23rd 2013.
Phantom Runners London dates
19th September at Tipsy (single launch party)
5th October at The Nest
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Wednesday, 4 September 2013

Music News: The 1975 stream their self-titled debut album in its entirety on Soundcloud


Just when we thought we couldn't be any more into The 1975, they go and do something completely brilliant like, oh, I don't know... Stick their whole highly awaited debut album up on the internet for free streaming!

The 1975 also had a little something to say about what the album stands for:
"This album is the soundtrack to our formative years. The culmination of our adolescence and the cornerstone of our material thus far. That's exactly what it is. I held the album in my hands for the first time yesterday. To physically hold something that you have emotionally and creatively invested so much in is a very rewarding and humbling feeling - but it's also twinned with a level of uncertainty and fear of exposure. I dunno exactly how I feel about releasing this album, the fact that it's such a personal statement and creation hinders me from having an objective opinion. All I know is that it's an uncompromising and honest depiction of who we are and what we're about  and I'm very proud that we've had the opportunity to make an album like that."

Nothing like a bit of unabashed honesty to make you smile eh?  Catch the free stream at the bottom of the page!






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Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Films4Peace celebrates World Peace Day, 21st September 2013, with a unique global film project



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Now in its third year films4peace is an annual, unique short film commission by PUMA , which explores the subject of peace via the medium of film for the purpose of forthcoming World Peace Day on 21st September. The project is curated by Mark Coetzee, ex-Director of the Rubell Family Collection, supported by PUMA and produced by Shooting People. and features some of today’s most innovative contemporary artists all of whom are asked to visually interpret the subject of peace.

 These short films are released annually, on World Peace Day, both physically at cultural and educational venues globally, and online via websites, blogs and media channels. The films are live screened at hundreds of cultural venues, from Human Rights Festivals to major museums public spaces, youth leadership conferences and new media centres, from Dakar, Senegal to Miami, USA to Kashmir, India - in 2012, screenings spanned across 23 countries.

  World Peace Day is an international United Nations day of ceasefire, and a day for individuals, organizations and countries to demonstrate acts of peace. This year, 6 acclaimed artists have been commissioned to create short films around the subject of peace. Each artist will visually interpret the subject of Peace to create a short film, which, in keeping with the spirit of the commission, will be gifted to the world, within public domain and free from screening fees, as tools for peace. By releasing these short films as broadly as possible, on multiple live and virtual platforms, the aim is to effect positive social change and broaden the discussions around peace globally.  

Here's a little bit of information about each of the artists:

Zanele Moholi is a multi-award winning, highly provocative and exceedingly in demand South African photographer. Moholi’s work is mostly about increasing the visibility of gay and transgender culture in the black community and she has drawn considerable attention to the practice of “queericide” – people who are killed via gender related hate crimes.

Fellow South African Athi‐Patra Ruga is fast becoming an exciting rising star in performance art. Ruga himself dresses up in a spectacular array of costumes, inserting himself, or rather the characters he is playing, into challenging situations. He pulls together film, fashion and photography to make thought provoking, striking pieces relating to cultural identity as a hybrid construct.

23 year old Wilmer Wilson (Washington, USA) is a recent photography graduate whose card was marked when the prestigious Conner Contemporary gallery singled him out as one to watch and invited him to debut his challenging first collection. In creating ‘Domestic Exchange’ Wilson found his 3D voice to make live sculptures using every day objects with low cultural value to make poignant points around freedom, choice, race.
Over the past decade, New York based Cuban American Anthony Goicolea has gained a reputation as the consummate storyteller. Having created a significant body of work which has gained great acclaim and found its way into numerous galleries both locally and internationally, Goicolea’s multimedia works are enigmatic, mysterious, ambiguous, humorous, unsettling, and provocative.

Brooklyn-based Englishman Rob Carter has a knack for exposing landmarks and iconic structures from above while using his often comedic but always thoughtful knife (literally and figuratively) to create collages of the original material. Whether its placing the unofficial Church of England (the home of footballers Manchester United) in Canterbury Cathedral, the home of the actual Church of England or placing imagery literally among plants and documenting its growth, his work is thought provoking and engaging.
First initiated by Brazilian-born artist Eli Sudbrack in 1994 as a professional tag, assume vivid astro focus is now a continuously evolving international group of artists known for creating multi-sensational mash-ups of graffiti, disco worship, gay porn and carnival in the form of large-scale installations and performance art. They are included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York and the Judith Rothschild Foundation Contemporary Drawing Collection.

If you wanted to check them out, the films created for films4peace in 2011 and 2012 are available to view via the project's Vimeo page here.  You won't be disappointed!


Everything Everything - 'Don't Try' (Brandt Brauer Frick Remix)

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Have you heard German experimental techno trio Brandt Brauer Frick's  wonderfully chaotic remix of Everything Everything's single 'Don't Try'?


Brand Brauer Frick explain their reworking of Don't Try better than we could:
"Everything Everything sent us really great material to work with. At first we didn't even notice that some of the vocal tracks they had sent us hadn't even ended up in their final version. So in our remix, you can actually hear some vocal parts that are not in their original song. As always when we remix, we played a lot of new instrumental takes. Here we recorded especially some additional drums, some Juno-106 chords and FX and some Moog bass parts. We wanted to do a more groove-based, dirty and melancholic version of Don't Try."


You can catch the  remix below and remind yourself of the official video for Don't Try, as directed by EE's frontman Jonathan Higgs, here.