Not Another Music Blog.

Monday, 29 January 2018

EP Review: Sports Team - 'Winter Nets'

Sports Team are an indie-rock band from Northwest London. The suit wearing, hip shaking, six-piece have been slowly making a name for themselves on the London underground scene with their larger-than-life live shows. ‘Winter Nets’ is the group's debut offering and is released through the brilliant indie label Nice Swan Records.

The EP opens with ‘Beverly Rose’, a song full of twists and turns as the tempo forever changes and new melodic elements are introduced. Alex Rice’s vocals exude passion as his melodies are delivered with Jim Morrison-esque flair. The second track, ‘Camel Crew’ has the potential to be one of the best and most loved tunes of 2018. The upbeat tempo, catchy guitar riffs and anthemic choruses ensure the track has all the ingredients for a summer festival classic.

The title track ‘Winter Nets’ is a more laidback affair with a lead guitar part that could have come straight from the ‘Noel Gallagher School of Writing a Banging Riff’. It’s here though that Sports Team cement their ability to write a gloriously simple chorus. On ‘Back to the Point’ Rice’s lyrical humour and satire shines, and on the EP’s closer, ‘Stanton’, the six-piece bring the chaos reminiscent of those near-legendary live shows. We will never tire of the line ‘I’m gonna buy you a flip screen Motorola, it’s gonna make you happier than you think.’

With this debut EP, Sports Team have stamped their authority on British guitar music in a big way. The raw instrumentation, intelligent lyrics and catchy hooks all amount to a thrilling body of work.

Listen to the EP on Spotify below and catch Sports Team live at Peckham's Five Bells with YOWL and FUR on the 1st of Feb for Independent Venue Week.

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Thursday, 25 January 2018

Track Review: Lucky Girl - 'Awake'

Fresh from a recent name change, Lucky Girl have released their brand new single 'Awake'. The Hastings-based indie band, formerly known as Laura Palmer cite their influences to include The Maccabees, Fleetwood Mac and Dry the River.

The track opens with a simple, heavily reverbed guitar riff before thumping drums are introduced. The London Grammar influenced lead vocals then takes centre stage. The sparse instrumentation allows for the vocals to breathe and build with a delicate touch before the chorus finally kicks in. In the choruses, lead guitars harmonize with the vocal melody to accentuate and add another layer of dynamic as the drums and bass pick up the pace creating an unexpected but highly welcome groove.

'Awake' is a brooding epic of a track with dark themes and melodic tones throughout. The song plays on simple ideas to good effect but there are moments where Lucky Girl could have been more daring. The final stages of the song sometimes drag and it's here where a little more experimentation could go along way.

With 'Awake', Lucky Girl have carved out a musical style that feels unique and with the right amount of experimentation and a little more audacity, the four-piece from Hastings can really make a name for themselves.

Listen to 'Awake' below.

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Tuesday, 23 January 2018

Track Review: Geowulf - 'Sunday'

Australian natives and London-based dream-pop duo Geowulf have released their brand new single titled 'Sunday'. The single arrives prior to the release of their debut album 'Great Big Blue' on the 16th of February. Since 2016, and the release of their beautiful debut single 'Saltwater', Geowulf have garnered critical acclaim for their dreamy indie-pop tunes whilst racking up more than eight-million Spotify streams along the way.

The steady pace of the track is reminiscent of all Sundays (especially ours) and the warm, glistening production by Duncan Mills (Peace, The Vaccines) gives the track that extra sprinkle of magic. Star Kendricks whistful lead vocals are complimented brilliantly by the soothing backing vocals of Toma Banjanin to create beach-like imagery. The introduction of the lead guitar towards the end of the track adds another layer of gentle dynamics before one last rousing chorus.

'Sunday' is a melodic slice of hazy pop with catchy vocal hooks and dreamy synth work that is sure to get fans dreaming of the summer. We can't wait to hear the new album and we're expecting big things from Geowulf in 2018.

Find the track on all good streaming sites or listen to 'Sunday' below.

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Friday, 19 January 2018

The Worst and Best of New Music Friday (19/01/2018)

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

The Chainsmokers - Sick Boy

The Nickelback of the EDM world have returned to haunt your nightmares. This is easily the worst song of the year so far and unless Ed Sheeran churns out more vanilla shite, it'll probably hold that award throughout 2018. It's unadventurous, bland and lyrically drab. The Chainsmokers' attempt at attitude seems clumsy and falls terribly flat.

Kylie Minogue - Dancing

Let's not beat around the bush here, Kylie Minogue had some bangers back in the day. Unfortunately this new one is a shocker. The euro-pop finger-picked guitar combined with dated synth work and claps, all combine to create an awkwardly unadventurous attempt at sounding current. Also, it's time to ban the vocal sampled drop that's in every pop song now. It's so annoying.

Callum Beattie - Some Heroes Don't Wear Capes

This genuinely sounds like a song written by some kid who's just learnt his first four guitar chords. Beattie's voice is weak and all over the place, also please don't get us started on those awfully soppy lyrics. The whole tune is just one massive cringefest and we deserve better.

Example - The Answer

We genuinely thought this bloke had vanished into the pop ether for good. It wasn't to be. Your 'Carling drinking mate's favourite artist who saw him at a local festival performing on the back of a truck with a random DJ' is back and is worse than ever. The drop is boring, the vocal melody is monotonous and the rap is so bad it hurts. 'Go the distance like Mo does' is one of the worst lyrics we've heard.

Honourable Mentions

John Gibbons - My Reflection
Burna Boy - Heaven's Gate Feat. Lilly Allen
Justin Timberlake - Supplies
Tom Grennan - Sober

Best

Mouse On Mars - Dimensional People Part III Feat. Justin Vernon

German DJ duo Mouse On Mars have enlisted the help of Bon Iver's Justin Vernon to create a beautifully warped first single which is off their upcoming project 'Dimensional People'. The track is a soundscape of Vernon's beautiful layered vocals, saxophone notes and stringed instruments. It's one of those tunes where you hear a new element after each listen and we love it.

Gengahr - Before Sunrise

'Before Sunrise' is the latest single off Gengahr's imminent album 'Where Wildness Grows'. The track is fun, and brilliantly performed with a great groove that locks perfectly with the bass. The lead guitar riff is catchy and is accentuated by lovely synth work. 'Before Sunrise' is going to be a sure-fire summer festival hit.

Mount Eerie - Distortion

Phil Elverum is back with an eleven-minute epic of a track. Elverum is as captivating as ever with his storytelling as the song builds with vocal harmonies, pianos and dark guitar strums to create a musical atmosphere that's impossible to not get sucked into.

Jimi Hendrix - Mannish Boy

Jimi Hendrix's previously unreleased cover of Muddy Waters' 'Mannish Boy' was recorded at the famous Record Plant in New York way back in 1969. Accompanied by his Band of Gypsys, Hendrix sounds as timeless as ever. It's the first single from the new posthumous album 'Both Sides of the Sky' released in March of this year.

Honourable Mentions

Geowulf - Sunday
S. Carey - More I See
Young Fathers - In My View

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Wednesday, 17 January 2018

Track Review: Mitch Bullen - 'Distance'

Mitch Bullen is a London based singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia. He draws influence from artists that span different eras such as Ray Charles and Bon Iver. Performing regularly around London, his songs are inspired by life, time and relationships.

'Distance' opens with a rhythmic, finger-picked acoustic guitar part that sets the melancholic nature of the track. Bullen sings with a gentle tone reminiscent of Dallas Green that fits with the guitar brilliantly and his soft falsetto is controlled and calm against the pulsing instrumentation.

Bullen has a talent for creating textures that build throughout the song. The added bass pulses and layered vocal harmonies are a lovely touch that give the song depth and purpose. Unfortunately the drums in the track are mixed slightly too high and when they're introduced the harshness can be quite jarring. A little less compression here could have gone a long way.

Overall, 'Distance' is a well-written, melodic and dreamy slice of folk-pop. Mitch Bullen has delivered a song of captivating melodies that is sure to capture the imagination of many people to come. 'Distance' will be released on all good streaming platforms on the 19th of January but in the meantime, listen below.

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Monday, 15 January 2018

Album Review: Shame - 'Songs of Praise'

Shame formed three years ago in a practice space at the Queen's Head in Brixton. With three months of spare time ahead after completing their AS levels, starting a band seemed the best thing to set their minds to. Since their incarnation Shame have toured relentlessly with heavy weights like Fat White Family and Warpaint gaining a massive live following and earning themselves some well deserved hype at the same time. 'Songs of Praise' is the punk band's debut release through American indie label Dead Oceans.

The album opens with the dark and brooding track 'Dust on Trial'. Vocalist Charlie Steen performs with a grit and attitude that sets the album up perfectly. Second track 'Concrete' is a fast and powerful tear through trapped relationships and self doubt. The call and response vocals in the verses grow with intensity as the song progresses to the catchiest of choruses. The lead single 'One Rizla' is a fantastic take on embracing insecurities, and is also one of the most melodic cuts on the record. The guitar riffs, combined with heavy grooves and charmingly sloppy vocals come together to create one of the best tunes released in 2017. 'The Lick' is a brooding stomper of spoken word lyricism and sludging bass lines whilst 'Tasteless' and 'Donk' crank up the speed and intensity once more.

Shame's brilliant use of dynamics is brought to the table on slow builder 'Gold Hole'. The final chorus erupts triumphantly with Steen's vocals at their most passionate. Towards the end of the record it feels as if there could be a little more variation when it comes to the instrumentation and overall performance. 'Friction' and 'Lampoon' generally feel a little monotonous. All this is forgotten though as the final track 'Angie' is a closer of epic proportions. Clocking in at just under seven minutes, the track builds and drops throughout before transforming into a brash wall of beautiful noise.

'Songs of Praise' is an exceptional debut from a young band with a glowing future. The album itself was recorded in a mere ten days and with a total run time of thirty-eight minutes, the record is concise and to the point. The mainstream music world may not want them but Shame are the guitar band Britain needs.

8/10

Best track - One Rizla

Worst track - Friction

Listen to 'One Rizla' here.

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Friday, 12 January 2018

The Worst and Best of New Music Friday (12/01/2018)

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

Jack White - Connected by Love

Jack White is back and weirder than ever. This tune simply doesn't work. The track opens with some strange dubstep wobbles before Jack's crooney, off-kilter vocals are introduced. The whole thing just feels super awkward and the odd vocal melody is nothing but annoying. The organ solo is OK, but the track as a whole misses the mark completely.

Fall Out Boy - Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)

After being transported back to 2005 last night at an intimate Fall Out Boy show in Brixton, we could've been forgiven for expecting good things from the new FOB album. Unfortunately not. This track stinks. The dance/pop influenced instrumentals feel cringey and overblown and the 'Woah's' in the chorus are just plain lazy. Maybe it's time for a Greatest Hits tour? No-one wants this new stuff.

Vance Joy - We're Going Home

Australian ukulele playing troubadour Vance Joy has returned with his sickeningly drab single. The most boring chord progression linked with mundane melodies and predictable instrumentation makes this song one of the most forgettable singles we've heard in a long time. With the likes of this bloke and Mr. Sheeran clogging up the 'acoustic' space in the charts, it's no wonder the genre is at a low.

SKYGGE - Hello Shadow Feat. Kiesza

Most pop music nowadays sounds like it's been made by robots, but we don't actually want REAL robots making it. SKYGGE is an artificial intelligence experiment which consists of computers programmed to sequence music based on data and algorithms. This is pretty worrying for pop music as a whole and to be quite honest, the tune sounds terrible too.

Honourable mentions

Hailee Steinfeld x BloodPop - Capital Letters

Lil Skies - Big Money

The Hunna - Flickin' Your Hair

anton. - i need you here Feat. Folly Rae

Best

David Byrne - Everybody's Coming to My House

Talking Heads front man David Byrne returns with his brand-new single 'Everybody's Coming to My House. Vocally the track is wonderful and their are moments of real gold. The drum beat is driving but chaotic and the rest of the experimental instrumentation glistens throughout. We can't wait to hear Byrne's new album which his released in March.

Oscar Jerome - Smile on a Screen Feat. James Massiah

London-based multi-instrumentalist Oscar Jerome has been making a name for himself in the South London music scene recently. His new single combines attitude with punk, jazz, hip hop and funk to build a fresh and unique sound. A must listen for fans of Tom Misch and The Clash.

Sunflower Bean - Crisis Fest

American rock trio Sunflower Bean are back with their first single off their upcoming album 'Twentytwo in Blue'. The track is simple but catchy. The bluesy, 70s influenced riffs are a lovely touch. Expect big things from Sunflower Bean this year.

Jay Rock - King's Dead Feat. Kendrick Lamar & Future

Jay Rock has enlisted hip hop giants Kendrick Lamar and Future for his new track which is also the latest off Marvel's Black Panther soundtrack. James Blake also shows up for a warped middle-eight before the track transitions into a dark trap beat. Everyone is on top form here and it's a joy to listen to.

Honourable mentions

Kali Uchis - After the Storm Feat. Tyler, the Creator & Bootsy Collins

Hookworms - Static Resistance

Karen O - YO! MY SAINT Feat. Michael Kiwanuka

Finally, shout out to Shame and their debut album 'Songs of Praise', a full review will be coming in the next week.

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