Not Another Music Blog.: guitars

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Wednesday, 7 March 2018

Album Review: Haley Heynderickx - 'I Need to Start a Garden'

Haley Heynderickx has been making waves with her self-described 'doom folk' since the release of 2016's 'Fish Eye' EP. Growing up in Oregon, Heyndrickx now resides in Portland where she has honed her craft and musical style by mixing a love of jazz radio with 60s and 70s folk influences. Released through Mama Bird Recording Co, 'I Need to Start a Garden' is her debut full-length LP.

The album opens with the beautifully intimate 'No Face' where the delicate tone of the record is instantly set. The solitary acoustic guitar intertwines perfectly with Heynderickx's vocal. Second track 'No Bug Collector' is another finger-picked track but this time Heynderickx's vocals are double-tracked giving the song a fuller sound accentuated by baritone brass sections and deep rolling percussion. The instrumentation has an insect-like feel here, scurrying and snapping to wonderfully mimic the lyrics. On 'Jo' the vocals are centred once again to create that great sense of intimacy before the album's centrepiece 'Worth It' is introduced. Clocking in at just under eight minutes, the track is sprawling and twisting epic that ebbs and flows with great intensity.

On 'Show You a Body' and 'Untitled God Song' Heynderickx takes it back to her acoustic roots until halfway through the latter where the band take centre stage to produce a moment of pure attitude and grit. 'Oom Sha La La' is probably the most 'pop' sounding tune on the record. Lyrically the track seems rather nonsensical before Heyndrickx loudly screams the album title over and over. The album closer 'Drinking Song' is another relaxed folk number to make the LP come full circle.

Even though the album is achingly short (it clocks in at thirty minutes with only eight tracks), Heynderickx has created a beautifully concise and charming body of work that is easily one of the best folk records to be released in 2018 so far.

8/10

Best track - The Bug Collector

Worst track - Show You a Body

Listen to 'Worth It' here

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Tuesday, 6 March 2018

Track Review: Hum Fuzz - 'Act With Me'

At the end of last year, we introduced you to a young indie band from the South West of England called Hum Fuzz. They had just released their debut single 'Girl from the Bend' and for a first single we were pleasantly surprised. Now, the boys are back with their second single titled 'Act With Me' and it's as fun and well executed as the last.

The tune opens with upbeat rhythm guitar and vocals before the drums and bass are introduced to further accentuate the highly danceable groove. The song is packed full of catchy vocal melodies, lush, melodic instrumentation and lovely little breaks that show that the lads really know what they're doing. Once again Leo Nathan's vocals take centre stage and this time around they sound even better. There is more control and a little more restraint which shows Hum Fuzz have discovered a little bit more maturity in their unique sound.

The song is more concise than their previous effort and it sounds as if the boys have honed their sound and style even more. After this second teaser, we really can't wait to see how much the four-piece grows over the year.

Listen to the 'Act With Me' below.

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Thursday, 1 February 2018

EP Review: Heavy Lungs - 'Abstract Thoughts'

After a handful of shows supporting the likes of METZ and IDLES, Bristolian punk outfit Heavy Lungs release their debut EP titled 'Abstract Thoughts' on the 2nd of February. Forming in the Spring of 2017, the quartet's influences vary from GØGGS to Iceage and Iggy Pop to Tyler, the Creator. These influences amount to a sound of raw passion and heat worthy of any serious punk outfit.

Photo by Jamie E. Murray

The EP opens with the intense 'Poster Boy' which is a three and a half minute blast of complex drum patterns and simple but effective guitar riffs. Up next is the brutal title track that combines heavy beats and blues-influenced riffs. It's on this track where guitarist Oliver Southgate really lets rip with his experimental and noisily jarring solos.

In a welcomed move, the overall pace is initially slowed down on the Blur influenced second single 'Stutter' before the four-piece turn up their trademark ferocity in the final stages of the track. On 'Descend', Heavy Lungs take it back to basics with a four-note blast of a track as frontman Danny Nedelko manically screams the lyrics. 'Charmer' is the heavily distorted, bass-led closer that exudes darkness and passion. Nedelko performs with an energy that is hard to fully fathom and he doesn't let up on the final track. In the final stages of the tune, the band come together to create a riotous sound that can only lead listeners to want more. It's the perfect closer to a brilliantly strong debut EP.

On 'Abstract Thoughts' Heavy Lungs have set the bar high. The use of experimentation, raw energy, fantastic musicianship and unbelievable passion amounts to one of the strongest debut EPs we've heard in a long time. Guitar bands take note, this is how you introduce yourself to the world.

'Abstract Thoughts' is out on Bandcamp on the 2nd of February, in the meantime listen to 'Stutter' below.

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Tuesday, 9 January 2018

Track Review: yawwn - 'Partisan'

'Partisan' is the debut single from Wimbledon-based indie five-piece yawwn. The band have worked with producer and fellow Wimbledon native Lou E to craft a sound that blends psych-rock with indie-pop to great effect.

The track opens with a lovely drum groove that is brought to life by arpeggiated synth loops and a psychedelic influenced sample that sounds as if its been pulled straight off an American TV show in the 60s. The instrumentation is adventurous and daring with little moments of experimentation throughout the verses. In the chorus, the simple vocal hook contrasts well with the busy and exciting rhythm section. The chorus is very strong. The simplicity of the lyrics ('I have a feeling that I'll need you always') coupled with the catchiest of vocal melodies will have live audiences singing in droves in no time. The final stages of the track are a joy. The drum groove simplifies and the brilliant vocals and chord progressions amount to a triumphant pop influenced climax.

For a debut single yawwn have pulled off something really impressive here. The track is catchy, fun, experimental and overall the band show great musical talent. The tune launches on the 13th of January at the first of their 'CLUB YAWWN' nights in Wimbledon before the release of their debut EP later on in the year. It's exciting times for yawwn and 'Partisan' has definitely peaked our interest.

Check out 'Partisan' below.

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Wednesday, 29 November 2017

Track Review: Hum Fuzz - 'Girl from the Bend'

Hum Fuzz are an indie band hailing from the southwest of England. Leo Nathan (vocals & guitar), Alex Watson (lead guitar), George Lappin (bass), and Ollie White (drums) are self professed best mates and from the sound of their debut single 'Girl from the Bend', they sound like they 're having the time of their lives.

For a debut single from a very young band, 'Girl from the Bend' is fantastic. There's no messing around here as the band are all introduced as soon as the song opens. Nathan's brilliantly soulful vocals are complimented by a tight rhythm section with walking bass-lines, soft, jazz influenced guitar chords and the light touch of a Mac DeMarco-esque lead guitar section.

It's in the choruses where things become more straight-forward. Hum Fuzz's indie influences take centre stage here as the tempo is raised and the band blast through the choruses with contrasting tones to the verse. This shift in atmosphere is well implemented and the tight transition doesn't make it feel forced.

Unfortunately, there are moments in the track where it seems like the band lose focus. Clocking in at over 5 minutes long, it feels as if the overall vibe of the track is calling out for a more concise and focused structure. However, this is just a small criticism as the band are clearly still developing and this will come in time.

With their first single, the Hum Fuzz lads have created a unique sound with Leo Nathan's brilliantly passionate vocal sitting at the helm. Keep your eye's and ear's on Hum Fuzz, we definitely can't wait for what's next.

Listen to 'Girl from the Bend' below.

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Monday, 20 November 2017

Track Review: Sports Team - 'Stanton'

The elusive Sports Team have released their debut single 'Stanton'. You may be asking "Who the fuck are Sports Team?". Well, we don't really know a great deal. Hailing from Harlesden in northwest London, the six-piece have been spinning the rumour mill for a while, gaining a rather large live following around London. They sold out Birthday's in Dalston last month without having a single tune online. Pretty good going that. Their live performances are becoming the stuff of legend. Front man Alex Rice combines baggy, linen suits with Jagger-esque dance moves to keep audiences coming back for more.

'Stanton' opens with chugging guitars and sludging drum beats. The accentuated tambourine adds an element of groove to a simple rhythm section. There is a sense of darkness about the instrumentation and this becomes more apparent when the vocals are introduced. Rice's vocal sounds like a young Jim Morrison with added lyrical wit. It's not long before the song intensifies with the line 'I wanna buy you a flip screen Motorola'. From here on in Sports Team bring the noise.

Recorded at an old timber yard with Dave McCraken (Ian Brown, Depeche Mode), there is no set BPM as the tempos fluctuate. The rawness of the production is the most endearing quality here, and you can really tell what the band were going for. With such a great live presence, its paramount for Sports Team to inject that live energy into their recordings and this is exactly what they have done. The way the track builds to all out chaos towards the final moments is a stroke of genius.

Released through Nice Swan Records, 'Stanton' is a fantastic debut from a band with huge potential. We can't wait to hear what Sports Team have in store for us next.

Listen to 'Stanton' below.

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Friday, 17 November 2017

Track Review: Sleepovers - 'Good Sides'

Sleepovers are main songwriting duo, Alfie Smith and Elliot Crabtree (formerly of indie darlings Skallywags), brothers Tom and Ed Reynolds, and drummer Ashley Hodge. The London based five-piece arrive with their first single 'Good Sides' off the debut EP 'Heartbreak High'.

The slacker rock influences are plain to see from the start as Mac DeMarco-esque electric guitars open the track. This isn't a bad thing, the pretty guitar tones set the carefree, indie vibe of the whole track. Alfie's strong, cockney vocal is introduced in the verse which contrasts well with the US-indie influenced instrumentation. The attitude in his voice is excellent, especially in the choruses where reverbed guitars sprawl around in the background to add more sonic contrasts.

Overall the production of the track is well done. The sound compliments the aesthetic of Sleepovers, but there are moments when that reverb knob could have been turned down a little. The lead guitar parts are sometimes lost in the instrumental and could have done with a little more cleanliness and bite.

The music video has been collated using front man Alfie's actual phone camera roll over the last year, charting an ended relationship and the writing/recording of the debut EP. Alfie says, ''we chose to use the camera roll idea because although there may be a few bad photos, you never capture a negative moment for Instagram if you're miserable. Only the good sides make the story".

With 'Good Side' Sleepovers have delivered a fantastic tune full of catchy hooks, infectious lyrics and sing-a-long choruses. With the anticipation growing for their debut EP, the time of Sleepovers is now.

Check out 'Good Sides' below.

Sleepovers support Average Sex at The Shacklewell Arms in London on 20/11/17. GO!

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Thursday, 16 November 2017

Track Review: Sauce - 'What Feels Better (Than You And I)?'

Hot off the heels of a run of successful live shows up and down the UK, the Sauce boys return with their massive third single 'What Feels Better (Than You And I)?'. Based in Manchester, the band have gained a strong live following and from listening to the new single, its easy to see why. Band members Dean, Henry, Lewis and George took the short trip to record the new tune with Alex Quinn (Blossoms, The Coral) at Liverpool's Parr Street Studios garnering impressive results.

'What Feels Better...' opens with distorted amp noises before the drums blast through, bringing the rest of the instrumentation with. It's here that the groovy nature of the track really comes to prominence. With group backing vocals and distorted guitar riffs, the opening few bars are enough to make anyone wake up and pay attention. In the verse we are introduced to Dean Molyneux, this time taking lead vocal duties from Henry Lewis. The chemistry of both Dean and Henry (now on backing vocals) is excellent, creating a catchy 'call and response' sound which will be more than enough to get the fans singing along. The chorus is where Dean really comes into his own. His vocal is carefully controlled, but also shows a raw passion that is sometimes hard to find in rock music today.

The instrumentation throughout the tune is heavy and noisy. Compared to Sauce's previous two singles, you can really hear their musical progression. The sound of 'What Feels Better...' is more mature, with a clear song structure and consistent, well-rounded vocal melodies. The band's psychedelic sound is brought to the forefront in the middle-eight with warped, swirling guitar riffs and a booming drum section which builds to one final vocal part from Dean.

Sauce have come through with a fantastic, sophisticated and catchy third single here. It will only be a matter of time before the word spreads about the psychedelic rocking lads from Manchester.

'What Feels Better (Than You And I?)' is out on all good streaming services on 17/11/2017.
In the meantime, listen on SoundCloud below.

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Thursday, 9 November 2017

Track Review: Average Sex - 'Ugly Strangers'

'Ugly Strangers' is the new single from indie noise-rock outfit Average Sex. 'Ugly Strangers is the first release off their debut EP 'Ice Cream', which arrives on the 1st of December through Tim Burgess' (The Charlatans) own label, OGenesis Recordings. Hailing from London, the five piece consisting of Laetitia Bocquet (vocals), Sam O'Donovan (guitar), Louise Earwaker (guitar), Jamie Graeme (bass), and Finnigan Kidd (drums), incorporate heavily distorted guitars and high tempo beats to create an edgy alternative sound not too dissimilar from 'Blue Album' era Weezer.

The track opens with clean guitar stabs before harmonised vocals are introduced and it's not long before the rest of the band kick in. The intensity of the track is instantly increased with added drums and distorted guitars. The charm of the tune comes from the production value. The rough and ready guitar tones coupled with distorted, double-tracked vocals give the track a 'Wall of Sound' feel to it, but the band equally know how to utilize dynamics, allowing the track much needed time to breath in the verses. Lyrically, the song shines. 'Ugly Strangers' is about using alcohol to escape real life problems. The choruses focus on Laetitia's efforts to bury her mental health issues before getting treatment by drinking most nights at the Victoria pub in Dalston, where the rest of the song is about life being shit, hence drinking to 'be happy'.

'Ugly Strangers' is a gem of a track leaving us wanting to hear more. We can only hope the debut EP delivers on the 1st of December.

Listen to 'Ugly Strangers' here

Be sure to catch Average Sex on tour in the next few months.

Headline show:

20th November - The Shacklewell Arms, London

Tour (All dates supporting The Charlatans):

29th November - Rock City, Nottingham

30th November - O2 Academy, Sheffield

1st December - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

2nd December - O2 Apollo, Manchester

4th December - O2 Academy 1, Glasgow

5th December - O2 Academy 1, Newcastle

7th December, O2 Academy, Leeds

8th December - University Great Hall, Cardiff

9th December - O2 Academy Brixton, London

Wednesday, 8 November 2017

EP Review: Tempesst - 'Adult Wonderland'

Tempesst are fronted by London based, Australian-born twins Andy and Toma Banjanin. After breaking into the psychedelic rock scene in 2015 with a string of brilliant singles, they have arrived with their debut EP 'Adult Wonderland'.

The four-track EP kicks off with the dreamy 'Waiheke'. Lazily played drums lay the ground work for a song with layered vocals and swirling, reverberated slide guitars, not too dissimilar from an early Fleet Foxes track. This is a perfect opener for the EP and sets the relaxed tone for the whole record. Second track 'Tidal Wave' cranks up the momentum without deviating too much from the bands overall sound. The lead vocals are brilliantly backed by falsetto harmonies in the chorus before developing into a Beatles-esque middle-eight. The guitar solo towards the end of the track is a welcome addition, with dirty 60s tones and blues inspired licks.

Though the two opening tracks are equally great, it's on 'Feel Better' where Tempesst really come to life. This song has some serious #riffs. The guitar break before the first verse kicks in is a real 'fist pump' moment. Banjanin's vocals in the verses are reminiscent of Kurt Vile, but those trusty vocal harmonies return in the chorus to great effect. There are added moments of magic here with female backing vocals that could have come straight from 'Gimme Shelter' by legendary The Rolling Stones, and a developing guitar riff that builds throughout getting more distorted as the song goes on. The EP closer 'God Knows I Need A Muse' see's Tempesst crooning away to a 60s inspired psychedelic backdrop. The arppegiated synths and experimental guitars build to a noisy crescendo giving the EP the perfect ending.

With this debut EP, Tempesst have really set the bar high. A must listen for any flare-wearing, psychedelic-loving rock fans.

Listen to 'Feel Better' here

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Friday, 3 November 2017

The Worst and Best of New Music Friday (03/11/17)

It's New Music Friday and we're here to guide you through the worst and best tunes released today. Click the titles to listen!

Worst

Sia - Santa's Coming For Us

How anyone can enjoy listening to Sia's voice is a total mystery. The harsh sounding sleigh bell's coupled with Sia's whining vocal tone make this a Christmas song to forget. It's also November remember, November. By far the worst tune to come out this week.

U2 - Get Out Of Your Own Way

The 3rd single off U2's upcoming 14th studio album was clearly written for one thing, to tick that 'stadium anthem' box. Opening with sequenced drums and gang vocals, the track is clearly pandering to the massive live audiences U2 have accumulated over the years. The song isn't terrible, it just doesn't show much imagination or grit. Bizarrely, Kendrick Lamar pops up at the end to shout a speech about how blessed superstars are. No, we don't get it either.

Robbie Williams - Run It Wild

Your Dad's favourite pop star is back with another classic stinker. Admittedly, 'Run It Wild' isn't as bad previous single 'Go Mental', but it gives it a run for it's money. By now Robbie has clearly run out of ideas both lyrically and musically and this latest offering cements the fact. Robbie sounds like he's phoning his vocal performance in and the song structure leaves a lot to be desired.

OneRepublic & Kygo - Stranger Things

We're convinced this is just a marketing ploy to cash in on the success of Netflix's extremely popular TV show of the same name and the song bears no relation to Eleven and the gang. Kygo's signature cheesy EDM leads pop up in between a lazy vocal performance from One Republic's Ryan Tedder with generic chord progressions that sound like they have come from the Chainsmoker's School of Writing An Uninspired, Drab Pop Banger.

Honourable Mentions

Maroon 5 - Wait

David Guetta Feat. Charli XCX & French Montana - Dirty Sexy Money

Best

RAYE & Mr Eazi - Decline

Image result for raye decline

RAYE is back with another pop banger. The London based singer-songwriter has teamed up with Nigerian singer Mr Eazi to deliver a dance hall inspired R&B tune that's sure to get people grooving. Produced by Fraser T. Smith (who's credits include Stormzy's 'Blinded By Your Grace'), 'Decline' is an interpolation of Ja Rule's 'Always On Time' making the song feel like a throwback to the simpler times of the early 2000s.

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Spray Paint Love

The ex-lead singer of Gallows and garishly amazing suit wearing gentleman, Frank Carter has returned with a riff heavy, slow rocker titled 'Spray Paint Love'. The song sounds like a mix between an 'AM' era Arctic Monkeys track and Brighton rock duo Royal Blood. Carter's vocals get better by each release and it's in this song that his range really steps up a gear. A must listen for fans of hard rocking anthems.

Feist - Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye

Feist originally performed this Leonard Cohen cover during the 2017 Juno Awards and is also set to take part in the upcoming Cohen memorial tribute held in Montreal on the 6th of November. Feist's take on the Cohen classic is respectfully charming, building slowly with layered backing vocals and beautiful lead melodies.

Young Fathers - Lord

2014s Mercury Music Prize winners Young Fathers arrive with their new single 'Lord'. Gospel choir inspired vocals start the song, before low bass drones are introduced. Vocalist Alloysious Massquoi sings over a heavily distorted instrumental, contrasting with the light touch of the lead piano section. 'Lord' is the first single from their latest album.

Honourable Mentions

N*E*R*D & Rihanna - Lemon

Goat Girl - Cracker Drool

Wiley Feat. JME - I Call The Shots

The Staves & yMusic - Toruble On My Mind

Twin Peaks - With You
alt-J - Adeline (Shade/Code Orange Remix)
Tom Misch - Movie
Turnstile - Real Thing

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Thursday, 2 November 2017

Track Review: The Incarnations - 'Love Drugs'

Scottish four-piece The Incarnations arrive with their debut single 'Love Drugs'. Formed in 2014, the Aberdeen-based, guitar driven band consists of Fraser Bateman (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Ian Hay (lead guitar), Jamie Thomson (bass and backing vocals) and David 'Deco' Smith (drums). Released through Sound Hub Records, the track draws influence from both The Small Faces and 90s Britpop legends, Dodgy.

'Love Drugs' opens with a vintage sounding guitar riff not too dissimilar to 'Passenger' by American punk legend Iggy Pop. It's not long before the rest of the band kick in with an upbeat, groovy rhythm. The fuzzy guitar riffs, driving tambourines and walking-blues bass lines give the single an uplifting tone. Bateman's double-tracked vocals cut through the energetic beats, but it's in the chorus where the vocals really shine. The layered harmonies from both Bateman and Thomson compliment each other well. With 'Love Drugs' The Incarnations wear their influences on their sleeve, but for a first single the Scottish outfit have done more than enough to get their audience's feet tapping.

Go check out 'Love Drugs' here

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Wednesday, 1 November 2017

Live Review: SCARLXRD @ Camden Assembly, London (23/10/17)

Marius Listhrop aka SCARLXRD (pronounced Scarlord) is a trap rap artist hailing from the UK. Formerly a YouTube blogger known as Mazzi Maz, Listhrop had over 600,000 subscribers when he transitioned into his SCARLXRD alter ego. With three albums released this year already and with such a massive online following (he's also ranked up more than 50,000 followers on SoundCloud) there is an inevitably large amount of hype surrounding the young 23 year old.

The Camden Assembly show was a sell out, which is an incredible feat considering it was a Monday and also his first solo London show under the SCARLXRD name. The young, diverse crowd arrived in droves and there was an air of excitement around the room as SCARLXRD's DJ and hype man took to the decks. From here on in, the crowd were bouncing and the anticipation was growing. When SCARLXRD finally arrived on stage, the audience literally lost their minds. With seriously heavy trap influenced beats and distorted, warped production throughout, SCARLXRD's music is refreshingly original. His flow is odd, and sometimes he sounds like a young Oli Sykes (never a bad thing) but the passion SCARLXRD shows on stage is breathtaking. His energy throughout the extensive 90 minute set never dropped and this clearly infected the audience. With mosh-pits, crowd surfing and the metal genre stalwart, the wall of death, there was barely time for anyone to take a breather. At times you could have been forgiven for thinking you had walked into the wrong gig, especially when SCARLXRD tore through 'Lies Yxu Tell' with its heavy guitar riffs and screaming vocals, not too dissimilar to a Ho99o9 track. On break out track 'Heart Attack' the ex-YouTuber's rapping prowess really came to the forefront. The speed of his delivery on parts of the tune were fantastic and without taking a breath, he showed real control. The biggest highlight of the night came when SCARLXRD played '6 Feet'. The crowd went crazy as soon as the opening bars blasted through the speakers. This went down so well, SCARLXRD played it twice.

There were moments on the night that left a little to be desired. Unfortunately SCARLXRD performed along to the main recordings of his original tracks, which felt a little lazy at times. There were times when he was putting all his energy into his stage presence and sometimes this meant SCARLXRD's actual musical performance suffered - occasionally he seemed like a hype man for his own tracks. Focusing on how to distribute energy to both his vocal performance and stage presence is a must, and this will definitely come in time.

For a debut London performance, this was one of a kind and with a little more attention to detail when it comes to the live instrumentation, the young rapper's performances will have people queuing up to see him in droves. Watch out 2018.

Listen to 'Lies Yxu Tell' here

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Wednesday, 25 October 2017

Album Review: Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile - 'Lotta Sea Lice'

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile have joined forces to release their collaborative project ‘Lotta Sea Lice’. Both artists have experienced success in their respective fields, Courtney is known for her garage-rock musical style, with Kurt perfecting lo-fi, indie-folk infused rock. After jamming together earlier this year, the transpacific pairing decided to get together in the studio and create a record of slacker rock tunes packed with witty lyrics and soft intimate vocal melodies.

‘Over Everything’, the album opener and first single from the project, kicks proceedings off brilliantly. Kurt's bluesy guitar licks intertwine beautifully with Courtney's lazy rhythm playing. The vocal styles of both C & K set the tone for the whole record whilst the song slowly builds to a crescendo that sounds like it could have come straight out of a demo session for an old The War On Drugs record. The relaxed charm of the project is brought to the forefront with second track 'Let It Go'. With a lazy (rather too messily played) drum section from Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint and a call and response vocal from C & K, you can really hear the intimacy of the recording process. The dueted vocals are used to profound effect, but there are little moments here where the vocal takes really lack conviction and could have been performed better.

On both 'Fear Is Like A Forest' and 'Outta The Woodwork' the duo incorporate sludging beats, blues riffs and layered vocal melodies; it's on these tracks that Kurt's influences take centre stage. On these songs, the pair show how well they complement each other both musically and vocally by putting their own spin and influence on each other’s tracks; ‘Fear Is Like A Forest’ is a cover of the Jen Cloher (Courtney's wife), while Kurt takes the lead and puts a fresh snarling twist on Barnett’s original ‘Out Of The Woodwork’.

Courtney and Kurt's folk roots take the limelight on 'Continental Breakfast' and 'Peepin' Tom'. The delicacy of the finger picked acoustic guitars on both tracks give an organic sound that fits perfectly with each artist's aesthetic. With‘Continental Breakfast', and many other tracks here, the duo show a clear mutual admiration for one another’s talent by letting each other take the reins at various stages of the song. ‘Peepin’ Tom’ is Courtney’s take on an old Kurt classic titled ‘Peeping Tomboy’. This is by far Courtney’s best moment on the record. Her vocals complement the bright guitar sections brilliantly and her conversational, deadpan delivery really gets your attention.

Overall, ‘Lotta Sea Lice’ is a very strong record. There are moments of silliness, the lyrics on ‘Blue Cheese’ for example, (“I met a girl named Tina/That girl, that girl supplies the reeferina”) and there are times when some of the songs seem to drag (there isn’t one tune here that is shorter than four minutes), but the highs outweigh the lows. It would have also been lovely to have heard a few more original compositions from the pair as ‘Over Everything’ works so well. We can only hope this is the start of a long working relationship from C & K.

7/10
Best track - Over Everything
Worst track - On Script

Listen to 'Over Everything' here

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Wednesday, 18 October 2017

Album Review: St. Vincent - 'MASSEDUCTION'

'MASSEDUCTION' is the 5^th solo studio album from experimental pop pioneer Annie Clark, better known by her stage name St. Vincent. Annie comes from an eclectic musical background - after studying at Berklee College of Music she began her musical career as a member of the Polyphonic Spree, before leaving to join Sufjan Stevens’ touring band. In 2007 Annie released her debut album under the St. Vincent moniker, titled ‘Marry Me’. From then on, she has received widespread critical acclaim for her thought provoking and highly distinct musical style.

Contrary to what we may have expected from the album's first singles, the record opens on a rather subdued note. ‘Hang on Me’ sets an appropriate tone for what's to follow, filled with electronic influences, droning and distorted bass lines, and a warped double-tracked vocal, that slowly build alongside spacious strings and various other melodic additions. In the second track ‘Pills’ St. Vincent turns it up a welcome notch. The harmonized guitar solo is a definite highlight, bringing a nice, nasty contrast to an otherwise playful sounding pop composition. Clark's electronic experimentation continues on the title track ‘Masseduction’, which sees her wide vocal range take the spotlight. She moves seamlessly between falsetto and captivatingly low melodies, creating different sonics throughout. The second single off the album ‘Los Ageless’ is practical pop perfection. The chorus is as catchy as any other hit, but the middle-eight is on another level entirely. Dirty guitar riffs, distorted vocals and heavy kick drums come together perfectly, showing real emotion and setting Annie apart from her more conventional pop peers.

There are some real moments of intimacy on ‘MASSEDUCTION’. ‘Happy Birthday, Johnny’ is a piano ballad that makes a feature of an intriguing and beautifully textured slide guitar. The listener could be forgiven for wanting a break from the aggression of the preceding tunes and this track duly delivers. 'Savior' is another slow builder, that starts with a sparse instrumental before industrial beats and sound design kick in with significant effect. On the penultimate track, 'Slow Disco', the expansive orchestral arrangement builds slowly against Annie’s intimate vocal, drawing in the listener in a surprisingly soothing way.

For all its positives, there are still a few missteps. When Clark introduces more up-beat tracks she seems to lose intensity. ‘Sugarboy’ has influences of Donna Summer’s disco hit ‘I Feel Love’ with an arpeggiating bass line that feels completely out of place on an album with such industrial sounding percussion elsewhere. In ‘Young Lover’ the four-on-the-floor beat feels almost lazy and falls short compared to the rest of the track listing.

With ‘MASSEDUCTION’, St. Vincent has produced a challenging body of work. The incredible production and sound design throughout throw up unexpected surprises listen after listen. There are minor hints she may be aiming for a more mainstream pop record, but with such innovation throughout, this never detracts from the experience as a whole.

8/10

Best track - Los Ageless

Worst track - Young Lover

Listen to 'Los Ageless' here

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Thursday, 12 October 2017

Incoming: New Music Friday (13/10/17)

The albums we’re most excited about listening to on New Music Friday.

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile – Lotta Sea Lice

Tomorrow, Courtney & Kurt (slacker rock pioneers, not the King and Queen of grunge) release their collaborative LP ‘Lotta Sea Lice’ through indie label Marathon Artists, home to POND and Jagwar Ma. Expect to hear slacker rock with blues riffs and witty, conversational vocals throughout. This is a highly anticipated project and a must listen to fans of both Courtney & Kurt. If the first two singles, ‘Continental Breakfast’ and ‘Over Everything’ are anything to go by, we are in for a rare treat.

King Krule – The Ooz

Archy Ivan Marshall aka King Krule is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, producer and multi-instrumentalist. ‘The Ooz’ is King Krule’s sophomore album and follow up to 2013’s ‘6 Feet Beneath the Moon’. The 23-year-old has garnered much critical acclaim for his experimental sound which combines elements of trip hop, punk jazz, and darkwave.

Check out the moody first single titled ‘Dum Surfer’ from the new project.

St. Vincent – MASSEDUCTION

Experimental pop princess St. Vincent (Annie Clark) is back with her 5^th studio album ‘MASSEDUCTION’. The weird and wonderful musical pioneer, who has toured with Sufjan Stevens’ backing band and had a spell in Baroque pop group The Polyphonic Spree, has had massive success over the years and we predict her new effort will arrive with similar critical praise. Annie is a master of experimental rock and electro-pop and she constantly shows her eclectic music background, nurturing it into pop brilliance.

Listen to the witty ‘Los Ageless’ now.

Wu-Tang Clan – Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues

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Martin Shkreli can’t even keep the new Wu-Tang record from us. This new collection of tracks harks back to the classic sounds of 90s hip hop. Even with absent members such as GZA, this is a must listen for any hip hop advocate as the album promises an extensive 18 song track-list packed full of vintage sounding hits that we've come to expect from the legendary New York City rap collective.

Wrap your ears around ‘People Say Featuring. Redman’ here.

That's all for this week, let us know what you think in the comments and send us some new records we may have missed!

Cheers

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Track Review: Stillia - '4AM'

Stillia are are a four-piece indie rock band hailing from the Merseyside town of St. Helens.

'4AM' is the second single to be taken from their debut LP 'From Ground To Light'.

Released through Manchester's Beautiful Noise label, the anthemic track draws influence from the sounds of Catfish and the Bottlemen and Blossoms.

Front man Jack Bennett's vocals shine over catchy guitar riffs accentuated by glistening synths and an up tempo drum beat. The biggest highlight of the track is the vocal break just before the final chorus where layered harmonies take centre stage before the rest of the band kick in for the one last hurrah. Bennett's accent is easily identifiable, and it's not hard to tell the lads hail from the glorious North of England. This is the most captivating thing about the band. There are no gimmicks here, just a good old fashioned indie anthem that is sure to pull a big fan base and even bigger live following.

Stillia head out on tour in November supporting the legendary Ocean Colour Scene around Dubai, Australia and New Zealand before heading back to the UK for a headline run finishing at Camden Assembly on the 13th of December.

'4AM' is available on all good streaming services now.

You can also listen here.

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Tuesday, 10 October 2017

Album Review: Liam Gallagher - 'As You Were'

William John Paul Gallagher returns with his debut solo effort 'As You Were'. Liam was propelled to fame in the 90s as the lead singer of Brit Pop pioneers Oasis. After three line ups, seven studio albums, and hundreds of punch-ups with brother Noel, Oasis disbanded in 2009. Liam didn't waste much time before getting the band (partially) back together, forming new outfit Beady Eye a couple of months later. The Beady Eye dream didn't last long however, and after two studio albums they called it a day 2014. Now, after much anticipation, Liam is back with his first venture as a solo artist.

The album opens with 'Wall of Glass'; a rip-roaring, blues inspired banger. Produced by Greg Kurstin (Adele, Foo Fighters, Ellie Goulding), it appears that Liam is pandering to a new fan-base as much as his old one. The man means business with a strong vocal, dynamic drum beats and a gospel backdrop enough to make any LG fan well up with joy. Unfortunately, the pace and promise is instantly slowed down courtesy of second track 'Bold'. It is in these slower, down-tempo tracks where the strain of the years can be heard in Liam's voice. Third track 'Greedy Soul' is essentially a Beady Eye rip-off, whilst 'For What It's Worth' could have been a 'Be Here Now' B-side. Oasis fans will find their most nostalgic moments here, as well as potentially the best verses on the whole album.

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There are, thankfully, several moments of brilliance. 'You Better Run' gives us what Liam does best in the form of good old fashion Rock 'n' Roll. These more energetic tracks accompanied by heavier riffs (see also 'Greedy Soul' and 'I Get By'), allow his attitude and gravelly tone to take centre stage. The highlight of the entire record must be 'Come Back to Me'. Though his brother Noel could easily have written it, Liam's performance and vocal range remind us why he was lead singer of Oasis in the first place.

For a debut album, Gallagher has delivered something that's arguably a little obvious. Even the standout tracks sound a bit too familiar and its unlikely that the nostalgia trip will fully satiate fans. With influences appearing to come almost exclusively from past Oasis records and The Beatles (shout out to Helter Skelter popping up on 'You Better Run'), you could be forgiven for wondering where the originality is in Liam's songwriting. As the album title suggests, it's back to basics for LG x.

6/10

Best track - Come Back To Me

Worst track - Chinatown

Listen to 'Wall of Glass' here

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Thursday, 5 October 2017

Incoming: New Music Friday (6/10/17)

The albums we’re most excited about listening to on New Music Friday

Liam Gallagher – As You Were

The younger, slightly angrier Gallagher brother is back with his first solo album since the break up of his last project Beady Eye in late 2014.

With four singles already released, the album promises to be rammed with bangers, just like the first single 'Wall Of Glass'.

Coming off the back of a packed summer festival schedule (including a massive Saturday afternoon Glastonbury slot) and the announcement of a long awaited UK tour, we can only hope the album packs the attitude and swagger we have all come to expect from the snarling Manc, obviously with copious amounts of rock ‘n’ roll thrown in for good measure.

Rationale – Self Titled

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Rationale (Tinashe Fazakeley) is a Zimbabwe-born British singer songwriter with a killer voice. He delivers his self titled soulful r&b debut album tomorrow after the successful EP ‘Vessels’ released in early 2017 through Best Laid Plans Records.

The album promises to be packed full of indie synth influenced pop and, if the EP is anything to go by, this could be one hell of a debut.

Check out 'Loving Life' and 'Into The Blue' to whet your appetite before the full release.

Marilyn Manson – Heaven Upside Down

Absolute living legend Marilyn Manson returns with his first album since 2015’s ‘The Pale Emperor’.

The man literally needs no introduction, so just go ahead and check out the the brutal single 'WE KNOW WHERE YOU FUCKING LIVE' here.

The Darkness – Pinewood Smile

Grab your mums 70s spandex, The Darkness boys are back.

'Pinewood Smile' is the Lowestoft rock band’s 5^th studio album. The hilarious lyrics of Justin Hawkins and brother Dan’s guitar riffs can only be a recipe for hilarious success.

Check out 'Southern Trains' here – the brilliant ode to how shit southern rail are in London, oh and what a video!

That's all for this week, let us know what you think in the comments and send us some new records we may have missed!
Cheers

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