Video: Four Phonica - Sabotage + free track download

Have you heard 'Sabotage', the noise driven. new single from Berlin-based, Ukrainian electronic/alternative rock four-piece Four Phonica? 'Sabotage' is an energetic, rebellious, self-revolutionary song about inner freedom, expressing the inspirational message from the bands point of view to "live your life and ignore the labels that society will always try to tag you with. Be happy now, life is short.”





The track is available for free download via the band's Soundcloud page and comes with a music video shot at an illegal location in Ukraine by Ells Wake. Set on a car bridge with frozen construction works, the video is lively, unconstrained, empowering and has a scuzzy 90s grunge feel to it that matches the music perfectly. Four Phonica are a truly spirited example that defiant, experimental alt rock still lives on, so be sure to look out for the release of their self-titled EP on 28th February.

Buy|| Sabotage || Bandcamp || iTunes

Four Phonica || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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Artist To Check Out: Kimberly Anne

 

 Inspired by the story-telling qualities of Billie Holiday and Tracy Chapman and the narrative rapping of Lauryn Hill,  Kimberly Anne started out performing poetry nights accompanied by keyboard in South London. She then took a very resourceful turn and began producing live demos and events from her bedroom using drum kits made from £5 Ikea tables and condenser microphones taped to mops.

 

 2013 saw the unsigned, unpublished, independent release of her very well received debut EP 'Bury It There,' which was produced by Julian Simmons (whose credits include Ed Sheeran);  a string of UK shows that saw her share the same stage with the likes of The Rolling Stones, and support mainstream favourites such as Haim, Jake Bugg, and John Newman.

 

Now signed to Polydor Records, Kimberly Anne's new EP 'Hard as Hello' will be released on 24th March and should see her catapult further into the hearts of many new fans. The EP features four introductory tracks, fronted by the title track 'Hard as Hello'  which is described by Kimberly as "a personal battle of self-worth". 

 

Kimberly merges urban and acoustic music to create a genre that has been dubbed as "afro-folk" with her rich vocals, cutting melodies and  heartfelt lyricism. Check out the single 'Hard as Hello' below with its happy hand-claps, warm Caribbean vibe and quirky video that shows Kimberly being 'pampered' or in this instance, being made a mess of, and feed by several other hands of which do not belong to her!

 

 

 

Tour dates

25th March – The Social, London
1st April – XOYO, London (w/ Bipolar Sunshine)
3rd April – Think Tanks, Newcastle (w/ Bipolar Sunshine)
4th April – King Tuts, Glasgow (w/ Bipolar Sunshine)
5th April – Academy 2, Manchester (w/ Bipolar Sunshine)

 

Pre Order || 'Hard As Hello' EP || iTunes
Kimberly Anne || Website || Facebook || Twitter

 

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Stream: Get Scared cover Lit - 'My Own Worst Enemy' for Punk Goes 90s Vol. 2

Following on from the recent Punk Goes Christmas  album, Fearless Records are teasing the release of 'Punk Goes 90’s Vol. 2', with the lyric video to Utah, rock five-piece Get Scared’s cover of Lit’s ‘My Own Worst Enemy’. In 1999 'My Own Worst Enemy' was a huge track for Lit, spending 11 weeks at No. 1 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart crossed over to mainstream rock radio, hitting No. 6 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Nicholas Matthews (Lead Vocals), Johnny "Johnny B" Braddock (Lead Guitar), Adam Virostko (Guitar), Bradley "Lloyd" Iverson (Guitar), and Dan Juarez (Drums) of Get Scared have respectfully and successfully taken on the challenge of recreating such a well loved track. They've not strayed too far from the original concept, making sure it is just as catchy and relatable but clearly added their own mark with a faster tempo, heavier beats and conceptual vocals and screams. Check out the lyric video below.

Buy || Get Scared - 'My Own Worst Enemy' || iTunes 

Punk Goes|| Website || Facebook || Twitter

Get Scared || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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Single Review: Beautiful Boy - 'Mad To Live'

Caught the latest offering from Beautiful Boy yet? The song's called 'Mad To Live' and has a very 80's / 90's British guitar-pop feel to it. Dane Etteridge's vocals are both immediate and unmissable with distinctive, emotive indie twangs interjected with heartfelt 60's-feeling harmonies. 'Mad To Live' is a happy-clappy, anthemic, cinematic, up-tempo track which you'd be mad not to listen to.

As Beautiful boy are rapidly becoming a bit of an institution to us, be sure to also check out what we've had to say about their debut single, Home and the live recording of 'Begging The Moon' they did for The Clockwork Owl sessions. You won't be disappointed.

Beautiful Boy || Website || Facebook || Twitter 

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Video: Falling Off Maps - 'All My Fears'

Check out the video for  'All My Fears', the third and final instalment of the storyline Falling Off Maps have been sharing in their innovative, reverse chronology video trilogy. 'All My Fears' follows on from 'Honest' and 'The Redeemer' providing a dramatic conclusion to a tale of betrayal, friendship, money and power.

Of the three videos, singer Dave Wright says:

 "Overall, it was quite an undertaking, and something very challenging for us... t's great to have that last piece of the puzzle out there. The idea was for each piece to stand alone, as well as contributing to the overall story. This final part jumps backwards and forwards in time, before and after the events of 'Honest'. We are looking forward to people watching all three and piecing it together for themselves".

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. 

Buy  Falling Off Maps || Debut album  || 'A Seaside Town In Winter' || iTunes.
Falling Off Maps || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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Single Review: Charlene Soraia 'The Caging'

 'The Caging'  is the new single to be taken from Charlene Soraia's upcoming album 'Love Is The Law' and follows on from Charlene's optimistic track, 'Stepping Stone' with a completely contrasting sound. Released on iTunes on February 2nd,  and co-written with Jim Eliot, 'The Caging' is a powerful pop track with a deliciously dark trip-hop side, defiant lyricism and and hooky choruses. 

 Depicting the end of a toxic relationship, Charlene says; ‘ ['The Caging'] was written about the feeling of being caged, and the need to escape from that. If I can use music as a healing tool, then that’s a good thing. Check it out below.

Charlene Soraia || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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