Video: LVLS - 'Photographs'

Meet Manchester based guitar-pop quintet LVLS (pronounced 'Loveless') consisting of Jay Gibb (vocals/guitar), Paul James (guitar), Emily Jane Conlon (guitar/vocals), Charlotte Hughes (bass/vocals) and Gaylord Knott (drums).

With a sound strongly influenced by 80's melancholic electro - pop their track 'Photographs' is very Depeche Mode, with a pinch of The Smiths, and a little bit of The Cure thrown into the mix. They've got the image, the breathy, moody lead vocals, angelic female harmonies, classic hooky 80's guitar riffs, and the catchy easy listening lyricism down to a tee on this track. We're digging LVLS a whole lot, how about you?

LVLS || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud

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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!

The 1975 || Website || Facebook || Twitter || Youtube

Buy  'The 1975' || iTunes || iTunes Deluxe || Amazon || The 1975 store

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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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Band To Watch - Temple Songs plus new single 'Passed Caring'

Article by Stephen Wake

Manchester's Temple Songs are a 4 piece outfit who describe their music as "brilliantly crafted psychedelic pop tunes". Their official debut release, 'Passed Caring' written by front man Jolan Lewis takes it's influences from a blend of sounds including The Beatles, The Stooges mixed together with the likes of Pavement and Deerhunter.

The single and B-side (Dinosaur Alley) were recorded in the bands own studio where they predominately record to tape. Temple Songs aim to be touring before and after the release of their debut 7” single 'Passed Caring' released on July 1st which you can pre-order HERE

 

Temple Songs website: http://templesongs.bandcamp.com/

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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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Single Review: The 1975 - 'Haunt // Bed'

Not so long ago we shared with you that The 1975 had unveiled the new video and the stream of their lead single 'The City' from their new EP 'IV'. Well, they strike again and are now sharing 'Haunt // Bed' which takes a completely different direction from the aforementioned lead track. Synth- laden this is more ethereal, electro-pop than its anthemic, indie-rock predecessor that 'The City' is. You can listen to the impressive new stream below. Enjoy! 

The 1975 website

Pre-order 'IV' on iTunes (UK) here

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Band To Check Out: The 1975 & 'The City' Stream & Music Video

Having already released three acclaimed EPs 'Facedown', 'Sex, and 'Music For Cars', Manchester, four-piece The 1975 (Matthew Healy (vocals/guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums) and Ross MacDonald (bass)) are treating us to another new EP entitled 'IV' due out on the 20th May 2013 through Dirty Hit / Polydor here in the UK - and what a year these guys have had already!

With sold out tours both in the UK and the US, a support slot across Europe with Two Door Cinema Club, a successful set at SXSW, and top 20 hit in the UK's official single chart with track 'Chocolate' taken from their second EP - these dudes have already sould out their May UK tour and two huge shows from their September 2013's show (London's Shepherds Bush Empire and Manchester's The Ritz).

Originally formed as punk band whilst at school - their current sound is not set in stone, instead its an eclectic mix between angsty art rock, electronica, dance R&B, shimmering balladry and 80s gloss pop. Luckily for us, the anthemic lead track from 'IV' - 'The City' is currently streaming on Soundcloud and is also accompanied by a cool new black and white music video! Listen to the single and check out the video below.

The 1975 website

Pre-order 'IV' on iTunes (UK) here

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