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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Single Review: Nieves - 'Winter'.

The life of an independent music blogger generally means an inbox constantly overflowing with all types of high quality music submissions (and some pretty naff ones), often leaving you feeling like you have no new words or feelings to fully do justice to what you are hearing. With that in mind, it's truly a credit to a new artist when you know you're going to love a song even from just 3 seconds into the track. When you find yourself bursting with excitement and raw, unadulterated, rip-your-heart-to-shreds emotion at something so simple as some very well chosen words and a combination of sounds.

That's how I feel about  'Winter', the moving debut single from Glasgow newcomers, singer/songwriter Brendan Dafters and musician/producer Herre de Leur who make up the duo that is Nieves. From the gentle acoustic guitar lulls of the track opening, to the unexpectededly earthy, and poignant Glaswegian nuances of Dafters vocals that often twinge with all consuming intonations of emotion, to the sombre and solid piano notes, each instrumental arrangement serves a purpose, stands alone, becomes more than just a sound; it becomes a moment and a memory that you know you'll never forget. This is a spectacular debut from a folk-rooted act whose songwriting skills are a cut above the rest. Hands down the most beautiful single I've heard this year.

Nieves || Facebook || Twitter

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Single Review: Daniel James -'The Bridge'/ 'Stand With Me'.

For a considerable amount of time singer-songwriter Daniel James has been making great pop rooted music with soul/folk/gospel influences, earning him support from bloggers, radio personalities (including Zane Lowe), and more recently tour dates with the likes of Sam Smith and Saint Raymond -  two artists of whom his own musical styling's seems to be cut from a similar kind of cloth. 

The 21st April poses as an important date for Daniel James and his followers - it marks the release of his debut single 'The Bridge' via  Grey Sky Records, 'The Bridge' takes its source from a 1984 documentary about street kids in Seattle dealing with sex and drugs. By combining his own experiences, the bridge, in this instance has become a symbol of escape where two young lovers can embrace being young and innocent, if just for a moment.  The emotion of these moments can be found in the track's big indie anthemic choruses, its mature lyricism and its driving acoustic guitar notes.

'The Bridge' will also feature the B-Side 'Stand With Me'. A down-tempo track that begins sparsely, with cold, crackling electronics and celestial harmonies building up to soulful vocals, sincere lyricism and a cinematic beauty that serves as a reminder of a love song from an era long since past. Perhaps the early 60s,when Elvis was the King of rock & roll and just couldn't help falling in love.


Watch out for Daniel James. He could well be a contemporary pop game changer with a fair few tricks up his sleeve.

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Tour Dates
May:
Sat 3rd Leeds Live At Leeds at The Faversham
Sun 4th Canterbury City Sound Project Festival

June:
Tues 3rd London Tabernacle (with Hozier)
Weds 4th London Tabernacle (with Hozier)
Fri 6th Birmingham O2 Academy 3 (with Hozier)
Sat 7th Manchester Deaf Institute (with Hozier)
Mon 9th Glasgow King Tut’s (with Hozier)
Wed 11th Paris Nouveau Casio (with Hozier)
Thurs 12th Berlin Gruener Salon (with Hozier)

Daniel James || Facebook || Twitter || Soundcloud
Buy single || 'The Bridge'/'Stand With Me' || iTunes

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Band To Check Out: Human Pyramids - Free Download 'Tall Tales' & 'Relapse' Music Video.

Human Pyramids are an exuberant and eclectic orchestral post-punk ensemble led by Scottish born, London-based multi-instrumentalist Paul Russell, whose numerous handpicked accompanying musicians are scattered throughout the UK. With a soundscape perhaps as vast and culturally rich as the experiences, influences and spaces between the geographical locations of its UK collective, Human Pyramids are excitedly set to release their self-produced 12-track debut album 'Planet Shhh!' on  April the 28th via  Three Mile Town Records (UK) / Ricco Label   (Japan).

Album opener, 'Tall Tales' was the first track to be revealed from the record and is available for free download via Human Pyramids Soundcloud page. This is the kind of track that holds so much energy and positivity you find yourself transported into a magical land of  unicorns and rainbows, leprechauns and wizards, skipping through an enchanted forest with nothing in your heart but joy and happiness. The song features big swelling brass, beeping and booping electronics, gentle cinematic strings,  the chiming of a gong and orchestral arrangements so big and bold they become more than just sound. They become symbols of hope, and freedom, unifying and strengthening.

Follow up single  and lead track, 'Relapse'  has more of a post punk/ post punk drive than its predecessor. Featuring the voices of a 25-strong choir, swirling bass guitars, enchanting  female harmonies, weaving  electronics and rhythms with special attention to sweet percussion, fixed drum beats, plucky strings, and dynamic bass guitar lines.  'Relapse' is a wonderfully weird and magnetic track that shows Human Pyramids experimental pull is truly one of a kind. 'Relapse' also comes in the form of a beautifully made video, directed and edited by John Lynch and creatively  made up of over 5,000 hi-res still photographs posed individually to synch up with various parts of the song.




Live dates
10th May – The Great Escape Festival – Brighton
15th May – All Saints Church – Kingston
16th May – Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen – London
17th May – Gulliver’s – Manchester
29th Aug – Arctangent Festival – Bristol



Human Pyramids || Website || Facebook || Twitter
Buy 'Planet Shhh!' album || BANDCAMP || ITUNES | AMAZON || SPOTIFY

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Single Review: Oscar & The Wolf - 'Undress'.

Signed to PIAS recordings, Oscar & The Wolf are a Belgian four-piece comprised of Ozan Bozdag, Claudio Arduinim, Jasper Bullynck and Max Colombie, who have been working on their debut album 'Entity' with acclaimed English musician, composer, and producer Leo Abrahams. With 2 successful EP's under their belt (the ethereal folk tinged 'Imagine Mountains' and the more rhythmic and epic 'Summer Skin') Oscar & The Wolf have also played support shows for the likes of much loved artists such as Warpaint, Villagers, Ben Howard and Mogwai to name but a few.

As the album release date of April 28th looms ever nearer, Oscar & The Wolf are sharing their new single 'Undress'. Featuring dark, dripping electronics, shady, grooves, and the creeping, robotic ethereal vocals of Max Colombie, 'Undress' is an aesthetically pleasing track combining classical and electro-r'n'b influces that leaves you teetering on the edge of a hallucinogenic, out of body experience.

Oscar & The Wolf  || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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Video: Phantom Runners - 'Chasing The Feeling'.

Brighton lo-fi/ dream pop four-piece Phantom Runners (Adam Al-Hilali, Arron Cassidy, Sam Slattery , Josh Gill) return with their second single and production support from multi-platinum selling Huey Morgan of Fun Lovin Criminals - who more recently is known as a radio personality, hosting his own Radio 2 and 6 Music weekly shows.

New Single ‘Chasing The Feeling’ is the follow up track to the band's debut single 'It Takes Me Away' and was released through Stray Cat Records on March 23rd. The title of the track was inspired by a life experience that resonate with the band, as lead singer Adam Al-Hilali explains,

“We were by the Stone Circle at Glastonbury one year, and it got to about eight in the morning after a heavy night and my brother was still in search of something to keep the party going, and I just called out to him to give it a rest…. You’re just chasing the feeling”

The line struck a chord and Adam decided to write around its deeper meaning. The track features the same chilled indie energy and breezy nostalgic feel as it's predecessor but this time has an unexpected added rap twist courtesy of honorary band member, Titus Taylor. Phantom Runners aren't afraid to experiment and are full of surprises which we guess is part of the reason Huey Morgan fell in love with them as he explains:

“This is the one that you don't pass on. The band has it all. The songs, the drive and a unique combination of musical styles that I have not ever come across.”

The video for ‘Chasing The Feeling’ is just an intriguing and plays out as a short film, featuring young rip-your-clothes off lust, a little bit of smoking, a little bit of alcohol, a love triangle, a mannequin getting lucky, several of the band members (including Titus Taylor who remains constantly happy and smiley, seemingly oblivious to the strange occurrences surrounding him) and then lastly, a bit of brute violence and a body getting burnt alive. Brilliant! Check it out below.

 Live Shows:
11th April - Reading
12th April - The Finsbury, LONDON
25th April - The Hope (SINGLE LAUNCH)
1st May @ Sound City Festival, LIVERPOOL
8th May @ The Great Escape, BRIGHTON
26th June @ Glastonbury Festival, SOMERSET
4th July @ Wireless Festival, LONDON
5th July @ Hop Farm Festival, KENT
17th July @ Latitude Festival, SUFFOLK
24th July @ Secret Garden Party, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Phantom Runners || Website || Facebook || Twitter

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