Video: Tilapia - 'Crayon Brain'.

Alternative pop four-piece Tilapia (Ed Allen, Elliott Brown, Adam Dolby and George Wheeler) currently reside in South London and turned to rocking out (presumably with protective sheets up) in their own living room amongst (and then later on; splattered in) a selection of  primary school arts and crafts and party food favourites in their chaotic new video for current single, 'Crayon Brain'. By the end of the video they all look like demented participants in a very messy mad hatter/school disco/tea party /thing and you can't help but laugh!

Conceptually, 'Crayon Brain' deals with early memories of childhood anxiety surrounding your imagination and is the follow-on track  from 'Insteelworks'. 'Crayon Brain' is the second single to be taken from Tilapia's new 5-track EP 'School' which is out now through Disorder Recordings and can be downloaded via iTunes here.   

Tilapia || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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Single Review & Video: Beautiful Boy - 'Love Me More'.

It's safe to say Beautiful Boy has been the most lovingly typed name, ever-flowing from our infatuated finger tips, onto this blog, ever since we were first made aware of the band and their introductory track, 'Home' around 7 months ago. Having wowed us with every emotional multifaceted track they've thrown at us thus far, we were still slightly surprised at the diversity of current single 'Love Me More'. These guys have really let their hair down with this one and revealed their cocky, confident, fun side with this guitar driven indie rock offering.

As Etteridge's distinctive vocals croon over heavy riffs 'could you love me more than I love myself", we found ourselves smiling at the inconsistency of the lyrical themes of their previous tracks and pondering if perhaps a bit of tongue-in-check mischievous rock star parody is playing out within this song. Either way, Beautiful Boy are the type of underdogs you can't help but place a bet on because you know they've got what it takes to win.

'Love Me More' will feature on Beautiful Boy's debut double A-sided single alongside 'Home' and is due for release on Raygun Records on May 19th. The track also comes with a video that features a whole lot of nonchalance and turbulent drumming.  Check it out below.

Live Dates:

May
Wed 7th BRIGHTON, Spiegel Tent, Made In Brighton
Thu 8th BRIGHTON, The Great Escape
Fri 9th BRIGHTON, The Great Escape
Sat 10th BRIGHTON, The Great Escape
Fri 16th BANBURY, As Known As

Beautiful Boy || Website || Facebook || Twitter 

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Video: Ryan Vail - 'Free' ( Directed By Giles Labarbe)

                                        

Ryan Vail (Ryan Vail and Katie Cosgrove) are a Dark Melodic Electronica Duo from Derry whose single 'Free' was released on November 8th via Champion Sound Recordings. Combining experimentation and classical musicianship, Ryan Vail are a formidable duo creating ambient electronic at it's most enthralling, so much so that we are championing them as ones to watch for 2014.
 

Below we have the accompanying video to the track, which was shot by Belgian director Giles Labarbe, and  tells  a tale of loneliness and introspection. Enjoy!

Buy || 'Free' || iTunes

Ryan Vail || Website || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud

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Video: Smallpools perform 'Dreaming' on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Recently signed to RCA Records (also home to the likes of, Kings Of Leon, Everything Everything, Cage The Elephant, Kodaline and Imogen Heap to name but a few) Smallpools are an Indie Rock four-piece, based in LA whose dynamite debut single 'Dreaming' exploded its way to the top of the Hype Machine chart within a matter of hours. A track which may be familiar to you having featured on the FIFA 2014 soundtrack.



Check out the vid below that captures Smallpools making their TV debut performing 'Dreaming' on the Sony Indoor Stage on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'.

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Smallpools || Website || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud

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Video: Falling Off Maps - 'The Redeemer'

 'The Redeemer' is the second single to be taken from Falling Off Maps' forthcoming debut album 'A Seaside Town In Winter' due for release in January 2014. With a single release date of  November 4th, the guys have unveiled an official video to support 'The Redeemer' which makes up the second part of the storyline in Falling Off Maps' reverse chronology video trilogy. 

Picking up before the events of 'Honest', the intriguing video for 'The Redeemer' again tells its story backwards, asserting questions and culminating interest as the narrative begins to unfold yet leaving you anticipating the next instalment of the story. The video is at once as raw, fragile and as desolate as Dave Wright's vocal performance but in this vulnerability is a real strength.

Falling Off Maps have a coarse, organic, likeable sound whose frailty doesn't mean they will be easily quashed amongst other artists; instead it serves as a sharpness that should cut them a nice clean path through to an ever strengthening fan base. 

Falling Off Maps || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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Video: Beautiful Boy 'Begging The Moon' (The Clockwork Owl Sessions)

We decided we liked what Beautiful Boy were all about the second we heard their debut single 'Home' back in August. Our respect for these guys has sky rocketed towards a borderline obsession since we were given a gentle, but more than welcome nudge in the direction of the live recording of their single 'Begging The Moon' filmed for The Clockwork Owl Sessions that you can catch below.

With melt-worthy harmonies, powerfully emotive lyricism, spell binding strings, unobtrusive drum dusting and a strong piano melody, this is the perfect autumn track you should listen to curled up in a blanket, in front of a roaring fire, pondering the strange ways of the human heart. Although there's a lot out there at the moment that is similar in sound; Beautiful Boy are so much more than a bog standard, replica folk/acoustic five piece and if this live session isn't evidence enough in itself; what more could you people possibly want?!

           

Beautiful Boy || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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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

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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

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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

20.09.13 - The Cluny 2 - Newcastle

21.09.13 - The Arches - Glasgow

22.09.13 - 53 Degrees - Preston

23.09.13 - Rescue Rooms - Nottingham

25.09.13 - Plug - Sheffield

26.09.13 - Sound Control - Manchester

27.09.13 - Cockpit 3 - Leeds

28.09.13 - Sugarmill - Stoke

29.09.13 - Junction 2 - Cambridge

01.10.13 - Waterfront - Norwich

02.10.13 - Institute - Birmingham

03.10.13 - The Garage - London

05.10.13 - Thekla - Bristol

06.10.13 - Boileroom - Guildford

07.10.13 - Komedia - Brighton

08.10.13 - Joiners - Southampton

10.10.13 - Clwb Ifor Bach - Cardiff

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Video: Flyte - 'Over and Out'

Flyte || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud

Fancy a slice of alternative indie pop in the purest, simplest form? Meet Hackney four-piece Flyte (Will Taylor, Nick Hill, Jon Supran ,Sam Berridge) who are effortlessly making credible, catchy guitar-pop, pretension-free and with a modesty that makes us wonder if they are aware of how good they really.

 Set to release their 3-track EP 'Live' in the UK on September 16th, Flyte have recently made their debut video for their current single 'Over and Out' which was shot in their bedroom using green screen, the band and an egg. Catchy, chilled out and compelling, these guys have put the fun back into guitar music with a sound that washes over you like a gentle, warm, wave coming home to the shore.

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Video: Josh Record covers Lana Del Rey - 'Summertime Sadness'

 

 

 

 

http://joshrecord.com/ ||https://soundcloud.com/joshrecord

 

 

The enigma that is Josh Record strikes again with another unique cover. This time it's Lana Del Rey - 'Summertime Sadness'. Recorded by Josh in his studio, the cover is big on synth and electronic production, once again showing Josh Record's experimental approach to music, where he is seemingly boundary free and unafraid to mix it up a bit. Just what we like to see. Catch the video below.

 

 

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Video: The 1975 - 'Sex'

As the date is ever approaching for The 1975's highly anticipated, self-titled, debut album to drop, the band have now released the video for their new single 'Sex' accompanied with a really cool statement explaining the vid:

"The main idea behind the new video for “Sex” was centered around us wanting to incorporate a narrative that acted out the lyrical content of the song. It felt important for the narrative to be the true story of lyrics. So many of our tracks are based on real experiences, it was integral to have an honest portrayal of this. The make up of our music is centered around the juxtaposition of very honest often self deprecating personal stories set against uplifting major chord progressions. It is this dualism and notion of “sound tracking” our own lives which makes us cite John Hughes as such an important influence. Our love of cinematic music really drives us creatively and we wanted this represented in the video, we wanted to make a trailer to the movie of the song if you like.” “We really love the dualism in the video between the muted almost black and white performance shots of the band set against the cinematic colour of the narrative. We have used black and white for every other video to date so it seemed like incorporating colour would be a massive step for us to make, in reality the creative decision made itself as we liked the obvious separation that the colour provided for the narrative against the performance parts of the video. Our album and EP’s are totally separate entities, each EP is like a polaroid of a specific time and place, in regards to the visuals of the album, we want to make short films for our videos - like trailers almost, in the same way our songs are the narrative to our formative years the videos are the narrative to those songs. As a video “Sex” feels very un compromised, un predictable and from a artistic viewpoint very honest. That is always our main goal as a band. We are very proud of it. We found a true collaborative spirit with Adam Powell the director it was our desire to work with him and his passion and understanding towards our vision that led us to shooting in LA."

'Sex' is set for a August 26th release, a week before the album's out! Pre-order the album on iTunes here

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Video: Falling Off Maps - 'Honest'

 

'Honest' is the haunting debut single from Nottingham's Falling Off Maps; an alternative/rock five-piece consisting of Dave Wright (vocals / guitar), Dane Prewett (bass / electronics), Joe Watts (guitar), Tom Harrison (piano) and Jay Wright (drums).Their sound has been aptly described as "somewhere between Radiohead, Bon Iver, Wild Beasts and early Elbow" which means that their debut album 'A Seaside Town In Winter' due for release later this year is one we are highly anticipating.

Due for release on 12th August through Square Peg Round Hole Recordings, 'Honest' is backed by an equally arousing video which you can see below, filmed, wirtten and directed by band members Dane Prewett, and David Wright. This video is the first of three to be released by the band and ties into one storyline which plays out through the videos in reverse. This is more easily explained by Dane when he says:

“Each video can be viewed with its own storyline but the idea for each one to be open ended and evocative appealed to us massively. It gives the viewer a chance to get involved more than if it was just a straight music promo, to be able to draw their own conclusions from what they see"
"Our love of cinema and storytelling and the freedom of taking the music into other mediums is integral to what we do as band. It is evident lyrically through the album, lots of snapshots of lives and stories that have very strong imagery. It just felt right to continue with that through the videos."

With that being said, we like Falling Off Maps style, we like their focus and we love their sound; so give them a listen, we're sure you will too.

Falling Off Maps || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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Video: Everything Everything - Don't Try

Everything Everything || Website || Facebook || Twitter

'Don't Try' is the fourth song to be taking from Manchester based four-piece Everything Everything's second, critically acclaimed album 'Arc'. The single is set for release on June 16th and as front man Jonathan Higgs explains:

 "'Don't Try' is about letting go of control of your emotions. It's a celebration of feeling for good or for ill and a plea to let it show." 

 

The single is accompanied by a great, engaging video that once again  shows Everything Everything defying the cliches of what a typical 'indie' band from Manchester are supposed to be. Self directed by Jonathan Higgs, he explains the inspiration for the video:

 " 'Don't Try'' is about letting it out and this video is all about absolute abandon. You can keep it in inside but it always comes out in the end one way or another, or it destroys you. I was inspired by the way repressing a mind can often make a person wildly creative, and I thought lot of dark imagery in paintings of hell were especially direct. I wanted to try and bring classic paintings to life in as much colour and expression as possible. "

  You can watch the video and check out the bands upcoming October tour dates below:



October Tour (Buy Tickets) :

04/10 - 02 Academy, Newcastle

11/10 - Ritz, Manchester (SOLD OUT)

12/10 - Ritz, Manchester (EXTRA DATE)

13/10 - 02 Academy, Liverpool

15/10 - 02 Academy, Bristol

16/10 - Pyramid, Portsmouth

17/10 - University, Cardiff

18/10 - Institute, Birmingham

20/10 - UEA, Norwich

21/10 - Rock City, Nottingham

22/10 - 02 Academy, Sheffield

24/10 - The Forum, London (SOLD OUT)

25/10 - The Forum, London (EXTRA DATE)
 

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Video: The Flight - 'Hangman'.

One of the things I find most fascinating about the music industry is its anonymity. Often, it takes a whole bunch of people who are safely hidden away behind the scenes to make the records we know and love. Check out any album sleeve and you'll see the names of those involved whose contribution counts in making each track great. Unlike the artist pasted across the front of the album, these names belong to faces we wouldn't even recognise on an empty street, let alone be able to pick out in a crowd.
East London production duo The Flight are an example of this. We are informed that the duo have written and produced for some of the biggest names in the music industry; but shrouded in mystery (for now,)The Flight have opted to leave out their names and past achievements, presumably to launch their own career without the distraction of being linked to other achievements.


Flight's introductory track 'The Hangman' is solid  by anyone's standards.  It's dark electronic pop with haunting bass and passionate production that is heightened by the 'secret' guest vocalists chilling, pained vocals. The track serves as a modern re-telling of the infamous murder ballad 'Pretty Polly' and is supported by an equally eerie animated video, which combines digital and physical images, washed out colours and surreal, Gothic imagery courtesy of intricate motion graphics designer Jeremy Stewart.

The Flight || Facebook || Twitter

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