Friday 28 August 2015

UK Premiere: The Old Adage - Red

Article by KevW


Brother and sister duo Mimi and Nino Chavez began making music together in 2012, but Mimi & Nino didn't sound like such a good name when they hooked up with James Humason, and so The Old Adage was born. Their first official release was the EP 'MATCHES' last August, and a year on we get new single 'Red'. The early tracks demoed by the The Old Adage were more acoustic, but their sound has evolved to become electric and more experimental with it. They call Detroit home, and that's a city with a long history of pushing music forwards, and a sizable portion of that has involved garage-rock.

There is a garage element to what they do, but as buzzing synths and snappy electronic beats kick things off, it's clear they're looking to take this somewhere new. Crisp and snappy, 'Red' seems like a natural progression, keeping to a more conventional structure, but swapping guitar riffs and 4/4 drumming for synthetic textures hauls their sound up to date, but not so much as to make it seem overly unfamiliar. Stark, sharp beats like this can often result in a cold, industrial sound, but the soulful lead vocal and teasing glimpses of piano (not to mention that ever-present buzzing synth) ensure that 'Red' is warm and accessible while remaining innovative with it. That's no mean feat, but it's achieved with aplomb.



The Old Adage's website

Buy the single





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Owl & Mouse - Departures

Article by KevW


Like twee indiepop? Well a band called Owl & Mouse scream that from their name alone. Australian songwriter (now living in London) Hannah Botting has released solo records in the past, but gradually the band formed, releasing their debut album this summer. Female Australian songwriter fronting London-based band might bring to mind Allo Darlin', well, that band include Hannah's brother Bill, so there is a connection. Proving that there's plenty of talent in the family is sister Jen, also a member of Owl & Mouse, whose line-up is completed by Tom Wade of We Are Aeronauts and Emma Winston and Dan Mayfield from Darren Hayman's Long Parliament. Yep, there's indiepop pedigree here.

With fringes, flowers in their hair, pretty skirts (not the guys, we should point out!) and Hefner records in the summery video, it all begins to seem a bit too twee and nice, but by the end you're smiling as much as they are. 'Departures' is a lovely track, and while it borrows from here and there (I assume they'll give Belle & Sebastian's brass section back at some point) it's still a very strong tune with great melodies and arrangements. You can point to stereotypes easily enough and make comparisons, but this is a song that would make any band of this ilk proud. The chorus is as cute as a picnic hamper full of kittens, but it's catchy as heck and makes you go back for more. Twee indiepop this may be, but it's of the highest standard, and is incredibly easy to fall in love with.





Owl & Mouse's website

Buy the album





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Fresh Snow - Proper Burial

Article by KevW


This quartet from Toronto have been around a few years now, developing their own blend of instrumental music (with occasional guest vocalists) based on post-rock, drones, electronica and other forms of sonic experimentation. It was in 2010 that Fresh Snow formed, and in 2013 their debut album made it on to the POLARIS music prize long-list. So they're not short of experience and their talents haven't gone unnoticed by the press either. With a new EP, 'Won', set for release on September 11th (and featuring a couple of guests, including Fucked Up's Damian Abraham), the group have revealed the spooky and nocturnal video to 'Proper Burial'.

Quaking drums and a meandering bass conspire with vintage organ and electronic pulses to give 'Proper Burial' an instant impact. Seductive (and oddly eerie with it) vocals come courtesy of Carmen Elle from DIANA and Army Girls, and things only get more intense and darker as more layers and clangs are added to the musical backing. Then suddenly the clouds part and strings appear momentarily to give a different ambiance, but it's only a brief interlude. Soon the screeching and thundering backing returns to close out 'Proper Burial' in much the same way as it began; robust, forceful, and almost confrontational. Fresh Snow aren't as clean and pearly white as their name may suggest...





Fresh Snow's website

Buy the EP





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POST LOUIS - 30m Pool

Article by KevW


It wasn't just us who were a little upset that Cajun Dance Party split after just one album, but things haven't turned out that bad after all. While a reunion for a group whose members are still young wouldn't be something we'd disagree with (but is probably unlikely), it seems there was enough talent in that band of teenagers to go on and produce some fantastic music with various other projects. The most prominent of these has been Yuck, but they have some stiff competition from POST LOUIS, a quintet originally formed by ex-CDP man Robbie Stern and vocalist Stephanie Davin who together act as the group's main songwriters.

Following a couple of well-received EPs, POST LOUIS now release '30m Pool', a song that's been a live favourite for some time. Quite possibly their most complete track yet, '30m Pool' uses Davin's vocal as a strong focal point, whilst also making sure that the music is high in the mix without things ever sounding too cluttered. This could have been made into a dreamy, slightly ambient number, but thanks to some gritty guitar it has plenty of edge which means it commands more attention than that. The continuous splashing of drums gives a smoothness as well which makes this a track with depth (no pun intended) and a wide appeal. We'll happily put any hopes of a reunion on hold for now.



POST LOUIS' website





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Get Me Free #44: Little Person - Living In A Silhouette City

Article by KevW


San Francisco band Little Person were formed by twin brothers Nicky and Max Weinbach, both of whom has previously worked in musical theatre, but a shared love of classic '60s pop music made them swap that branch of performing arts for one that involved electric guitars and the clubs of their home city. Now a quartet thanks to the addition of bassist Waide Hicks and drummer Junki Kawasaki, they released their debut EP late last year. New single 'Living In A Silhouette City' is the latest track taken from the self-titled release.

There is a certain traditionalism to what they do that does come from '60s pop music, but the end product is perhaps closer to the indie guitar-pop that took off a couple of decades later. They avoid any stereotypes such as jangle-pop or lo-fi production, instead offering a clean and clear sound that doesn't try too hard to be cool. The songwriting takes a conventional formula, but adds their own quirks, resulting in a lively, slightly kooky track. Along with previous (and maybe even better) EP cut 'Way Ahead Of The Apple', this track is available for free to anyone who gives them a like on Facebook. 


Download 'Living In A Silhouette City' for free by heading here

Little Person's website

Stream or buy the EP





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Thursday 27 August 2015

MetaQuorum - Midnight Sun

Article by Steve Boniface


A duo from the the North of England who delight in the unusual, MetaQuorum are an act who blend several genres to create something very different from the norm.

Accompanied by single 'North Sea Fret' (below), the album sees the pair pulling together electronic production techniques, sampling, a funk groove and an "alternative" mindset to create instrumentals which boggle the brain. Like the single below, which feeds off the bleak but oddly beautiful surroundings on the North East, each track has a specific inspiration - one idea which then develops into the sprawling tracks that personify the whole release.

But don't let the word "
sprawling" fool you. These aren't disorganised flights of fancy, but meticulously captured musical performances. Of course, it won't be for everyone. But you get the feeling they know that, and if you are the kind of music fan which enjoys a bit of strange then the album can be found on Bandcamp.





MetaQuorum's website

Stream or buy the album





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Vaadat Charigim - Hashiamum Shokea

Article by KevW


You can spend much of your life obsessing over new music, but it's not everyday that you discover a band, particularly one from a different country, when they're still in a relatively embryonic stage. It was lucky for us then, that we were contacted by Israeli shoegazers Vaadat Charigim back in 2012 and were able to see those demos progress to form a well-received debut album a year later. Not only did it gives us a new band to get excited about, it opened up our eyes to the previously overlooked (in the west at least) Tel Aviv music scene, something which Noisey have just reported on.

Already available digitally and on CD, Vaadat Charigim's second LP, 'Sinking As A Stone', gets a vinyl release on September 18th, and in support of this the band have released a new video to single 'Hashiamum Shokea' which was shot by drummer Yuval Guttman. Lyrically, the track is (apparently) about boredom and pointlessness, something that's echoed in the actions of the people in the video. Musically though, this is far from pointless, but it is a little slower and more expansive than some of their other work, yet it still shows off some wonderful guitar textures and is definitely in tune with traditional shoegaze, with a louder, more lofty and fuzz-laden chorus. It really is great to see Vaadat Charigim producing the goods and getting the attention they deserve on the world stage.





Vaadat Charigim's website

Buy the album





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Fine, It's Pink - Young Burns

Article by KevW


Unfortunately, we can't give you the story as to how Fine, It's Pink got their unusual name, but it's an odd moniker for sure. The Romanian group started in 2013 as a covers band (they even formed in a karaoke bar), but soon began getting a following and adding their own compositions to the set. It's lucky they did, because it turns out they're rather good at making their own songs, not just copying other people's. 'Young Burns' is the band's first video single and is taken from their debut album, also called 'Young Burns', which is set to be released at the end of September.

With a quiet start of vocals and minimal instrumentation, a certain tone is set, then the angelic voice slowly seems to build before heavenly sighs and synths bring in a dreampop vibe, but thanks to the deep bass and shuffling beat, more of a trip-hop sound takes over. You could even call this post-rock; it covers a lot of bases and condenses different attributes from different genres into one song. There's emotion, heaps of atmosphere, and it's all carefully produced to bring out the best of what it a relatively complex composition. They have an unusual name, and while their music may not be unusual as such, it certainly has a unique quality thanks to their blend of influences. You can see critics going wild for this lot, let's hope the public do too.





Fine, It's Pink's website

Buy the single





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Get Me Free #43: Dödens Dal - Det Som Följer

Article by KevW


Starting out with a trio of albums written about grief isn't necessarily the most cheery, not to mention commercial move you can make, but that's exactly what Swedish duo Dödens Dal have done. Rickard Jäverling and Henrik von Euler's first album was 2013's 'Gå Ensam Förbi Horisonten' (roughly translated as 'Walk Alone Past The Horizon') and was influenced by vintage electronics, soundtracks and repetitive music. Last year came the second, 'Korsa Jord Luft, Is' ('Across Earth, Ice Air'), and now the trilogy is about to be completed with the arrival of 'På Natten, Ovan Molnen' ('At Night, Above The Clouds') in October. New single 'Det Som Följer' ('What Follows') is out now and continues the cinematic, retro electronic vibe.

The concept may seem odd, but the music has been splendid, and this atmospheric instrumental is spacious and thoughtful, almost acting as a blank canvas for your own ideas to be painted on. A slow, deep bass and beat are the foundations for the track, and sound as though they could be from an early Massive Attack record, but the keys and synths that noodle their way through the song offer a lightness until it breaks down towards the end and the mood changes to one of a calm sadness. There is to be an EP made whereby vocalists from other groups (including Peter, Bjorn & John) add lyrics to these pieces of music, but they work fine as they are. After that? Well, Dödens Dal will apparently be writing an album about an artist who discovered an alien settlement on an island in Sweden. These two aren't taking the conventional route, that's for sure. and it's to their credit.



Download 'Det Som Följer' for free by heading here

Dödens Dal's website

Buy the single





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Wednesday 26 August 2015

The Mexanines – Rocket

Article by Steve Boniface


A Leeds four piece who have consistently grown their fan base since starting up eight years ago, The Mexanines have grown from a talented but predictable indie proposition to something genuinely fresh. Their new single, ‘Rocket’, is released at the end of September, and marks the start of a new string of songs which will presumably be followed by an album in the fullness of time. If ‘Rocket’ is any indication, The Mexanines have developed a great maturity to their new work, and a quality of sound which matches any indie band currently out there. By blending subtle electronic touches into their rock groove and screaming guitars, they add a new dimension to a trusted formula.

The melodies are subtle enough that they don’t immediately suggest themselves as earworms, but a couple of listens in they will work their way under your skin. The verse vocal, delivered in an almost throwaway low register, sets the table nicely for a more bombastic chorus. With support slots already under their belts with the likes of Embrace and Pigeon Detectives, The Mexanines are no strangers to big venues and large crowds. With more songs like this, they have the potential to headline in those same places in the relatively near future.



The Mexanines' website





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Hooton Tennis Club - P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L. P.I.E.R.R.E.

Article by KevW


Later this week, Liverpudlian quartet Hooton Tennis Club will be releasing their anticipated debut album, 'Highest Point In Cliff Town'. The following week sees their new single 'P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L. P.I.E.R.R.E.' being given a 7" and download release. The third track to be lifted from the album is perhaps their most conventional to date, but that's not to say it's in any way inferior, in fact, it shows that the group are perhaps a little more diverse than many people have thought. Recalling mid-period Blur at their grittiest, it should go down just as well with their ever-growing fanbase as past singles.

For several months now, these guys have been considered one of the UK's most promising indie/alternative type bands, and they're yet to put a foot wrong. Also, people should know by now that Heavenly Records don't sign anyone they don't fully believe in, so that's another sign that they'll deliver the goods. Slightly bouncy with wandering guitar that soon forms itself into the kind of scuzzy Britpop riff that the best bands of that era used, when you add a dose of US college-rock into the mix then it all comes together nicely. If you're thinking that the video looks a bit familiar, then you won't be surprised to learn that it was based on Hanna Barbera cartoons of the '60s. Hooten Tennis Club are shaping up to become a pretty big deal.





Hooton Tennis Club's website

Pre-order the album

Catch them live:

AUGUST
31st Liverpool - LIMF 
SEPTEMBER
5th Larmer Tree Gardens - End of the Road Festival
6th Portmerion - Festival No.6
12th London - On Blackheath Festival
OCTOBER
19th Bristol - Louisiana
20th Guildford - Boiler Room
21st Bedford - Esquires
22nd Stoke - Sugarmill
23rd Newcastle - Think Tank
24th Nottingham - Chameleon
25th Tunbridge Wells - Forum
26th Southampton - Joiners
27th Brighton - Green Door
28th Birmingham - Hare & Hounds
29th London - Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
30th Manchester - Soup Kitchen
31st Glasgow - The Glad Café
NOVEMBER
1st Leeds - Brudenell Games Room
2nd York - Duchess
3rd Hull - Adelphi
4th Sheffield - Harley
7th Cardiff - SWN 





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Dead Leaf Echo - Lemonheart

Article by KevW


The Sound Of Confusion favourites Dead Leaf Echo have been working on a new album with Jorge Elbrecht (Violens, Tamaryn). We have no confirmed release date for the LP as yet, but the press release hints that's just about (if not already) complete, so at a guess we can expect it later this year or early next. In the meantime, fans of the band can get there teeth into excellent first cut 'Lemonheart' which will be released on September 15th on limited edition clear 7" vinyl and download. If this acts as a signpost as to what we can expect on the full record, then we're in for a real treat.

You know how songs often build until they're soaring high above your heads? Well, 'Lemonheart' doesn't bother with the whole build part of that formula, unless you count about five seconds of guitar before the drums kick in. As soon as they do this song is up and flying, not in terms of it being particularly high-octane, it's simply grandiose enough to reach those heights in an instant, never coming back to earth until it reaches its end. Dripping with echo and chiming guitars, this is like dreampop on some pretty strong MDMA; a gorgeous, skyscraping number that seems not of this world. This is why Dead Leaf Echo are one of our favourites.



Dead Leaf Echo's website

Pre-order the single

Catch them live:

09.19 New York NY Berlin 7" Release Party + Desert Stars Pre-Party
09.25 Desert Stars Festival Pioneertown, CA w/ The Lemonheads
09.26 Desert Stars Festival Pioneertown, CA w/ Swervedriver
09.27 San Diego CA The Hideout
09.28 Fullerton CA The Continental room
09.29 TBD
09.30 San Francisco CA Hemlock Tavern w/ Cruel Summer & Sciflyer
10.01 Seattle WA Highline Bar w/ VibraGun & Black Nite Crash
10.02 Vancouver BC Hindenburg w/ Did You Die
10.03 Portland OR Doug Fir Lounge w/ The Prids & Daydream Machine
10.04 TBD
10.14 CMJ Festival
10.15 CMJ festival
10.16 CMJ Festival
11.07 Boston MA TBD w/ Magic Shoppe
11.08 Albany NY TBD
11.14 Mexico City Festival Ajusco
11.15 Mexico City





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Lionlimb - Turnstile

Article by KevW


There's been no getting away from the fact that One Direction are going on a year's "hiatus" any time now. Even the national news has reported it. A year? Some of our favourite bands regularly take two or three years between albums. By the time they return, many of their pre-pubescent fans will have grown up and moved on anyway. What would be really impressive, is if they made their return in a similar way to Nashville-born group Lionlimb, although it's highly unlikely anything other than sickly chart-pop will be on the cards. We could pretend to know about the first incarnation of Lionlimb, although sadly that's not the case, but according to reports, this new single shows a change in sound "including jazz elements and Bowie-esque guitar arrangements".

First conceived back in 2010 by Stewart Bronaugh, the project was soon put on hold as he worked day jobs around the US. A while later he began working with drummer Joshua Jaeger, and soon the pair joined Angel Olsen's band. Now though, with a new producer on board, Lionlimb return with new single 'Turnstile', an inventive and eclectic piece of experimental indie. Their are jazz elements, and also a touch of trip-hop, but that's mainly concealed behind the vocals and guitar that drive the track. The instrumental break brings this back in though, and is as much Neil Young as it is Bowie. It's a very strong and confident song from a group who clearly aren't short on ideas. Unless they leave it another five years, this is definitely a space worth watching.



Lionlimb's website

Pre-order the single





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Get Me Free #42: YOUTH MAN - Pigs

Article by KevW


These are exciting times for Birmingham punks YOUTH MAN. This weekend they'll be making their first appearance at Reading and Leeds festivals, and will also be heading out on a European tour in the autumn, before returning to the UK for a series of dates supporting Tigerclub. Their debut appearance on The Sound Of Confusion will beat any of those, right? OK, maybe not. Still, this is our introduction to the trio, and it probably won't be the last time we feature them. Punk bands haven't been in short supply for around forty years now, and there are more now than ever. The trouble is, many of them sound a bit... fake.

Copying your favourites is a trick that many groups have done, some of them very well, but it's always nice when people tackle a genre with a genuine passion for what they're doing. YOUTH MAN are another punk band, and they're not wildly different from some others, but you know that they mean it. There's a lust and a hunger about raucous new track 'Pigs' that's so often missing, or perhaps just not caught properly in a studio environment. No such trouble here, 'Pigs' is a seething and intense hunk of noise from the off, with pummeling drums, sharp guitar and vocals by someone who's not afraid of ripping the living daylights out of their throat, all weighed down by a bassline that gives an added weighty magnitude. I bet this will make your ears bleed live.




YOUTH MAN's website

Catch them live:

Aug 27th – Glasgow – Classic Grand (w/ Modern Life Is War)
Aug 28th – Reading Festival Aug 29th – Leeds Festival

October 2015 EU Tour Dates w/ Adam Angst + KMPFSPRT:
6th October - Trier, Mergener Hof 7th October - Leipzig, Conne Island 8th October - Kiel, Pumpe 9th October - Bremen, Tower 10th October - Munster, Gleis 22 11th October - Essen, Weststadthalle 13th October - Wiesbaden, Schlachthof 14th October - Munchen, Kranhalle 15th October - Winterthur (CH), Gaswerk 16th October - Jena, Kassablanca

November 2015 UK Tour Dates w/ Tigercub:
Nov 3rd - Newcastle - The Cluny Nov 4th - Glasgow - NICE N SLEAZY Nov 5th - Derby - Radar Love Nov 6th - Birmingham - The Rainbow Venues Nov 7th - Nottingham - ROCK CITY Nov 10th - Leeds – Oporto Nov 11th - Manchester - Gullivers Manchester Nov 12th - Wakefield - The Hop Wakefield Nov 13th - Doncaster - Diamond Live Lounge Nov 18th - Stoke - The Sugarmill Nov 19th - Milton Keynes - The Craufurd Arms (Live Music Venue) Nov 20th - Bristol - START THE BUS Nov 21st - Exeter - Exeter Cavern Nov 24th - Cardiff - Clwb Ifor Bach Nov 25th - London - Camden Barfly Nov 26th - Guildford - The BOILEROOM Nov 27th - Brighton - The Haunt Brighton





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Tuesday 25 August 2015

The Broken Heed - The Broken Heed

Article by KevW


To look at things in a rather simplistic way, some albums are collections of songs that vary in theme, some work on a set concept, perhaps even act as a journey, and others, while not necessarily being being based around a concept as such, consist of tracks that are influenced by a specific event or subject. When Johny Nocash, an experienced songwriter and musician who's released music under different guises including The Irony Board, Echolalia and Broken Down Lorry, and describes himself humorously as someone who's "consistently failed to make a career out of music", came up against writer's block, he struggled to figure out why at first ("something doesn't seem right, but I can't make out..." - 'I Once Had A Dream But I'm All Right Now'), before realising that it was down to a depression he'd fallen into. He describes this in a recent interview with In Bed With Maradona as a "trough", one which he's thankfully now come through.

During this period, he discovered the charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), a relatively new charity that supports men with mental health issues. The biggest killer of men aged between twenty and forty-five in the UK is suicide, and when you're in that position yourself you can feel isolated, helpless and misunderstood. After learning that an average call to this charity cost £7, The Broken Heed project was launched as Johny decided to document his own struggle by making "the most personally honest album [he's] written", and donate every penny made from its release (which was launched with a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to get the project off the ground) to CALM in the hope of helping them take more calls. In a week where the Labour party has criticised the Tory party for failing to deliver the mental health care they promised pre-election (the Tories deny this), and in which Morrissey talked candidly about his own battle with the "black dog" of depression on US TV, provoking a statement from the Samaritans in disagreement with his views that taking your life can be "admirable", 'The Broken Heed's release is a timely one.

If you're expecting a set of songs that are all doom and gloom then you'd be wrong. Yes, 'The Broken Heed' tackles a serious subject in an open and honest way, but it's not without humour and certainly not without beauty. Tender, piano-led opener 'The Felling Of The Oak' has a self-explanatory title, expressing the surprise that even the tallest and strongest of people can fall, even when no one, including themselves, saw it coming. 'Funny Little Things' sounds incredibly downbeat, but listening to the lyrics, it describes how, when in such a position, there are small and surprising aspects of life that can give you a lift, even if its minor and temporary; it explores the beauty of nature and life itself, as if it's almost obtuse that such tiny events can make a difference. Sonically, you'd likely call 'The Broken Heed' a lo-fi album, and this helps make the tunes that much more personal and quirky. 'Haemorrhaging Endorphins' sums this up well, with its playful piano and samples of a woman telling you that "smiling produces endorphins in your brain". It's one of the strangest songs here but also lightens the tone nicely, before more poignant and personal stories are told, and really, some of the lyrics are strikingly sad and will resonate with anyone who's been in a similar situation.

'Find A Hill And Climb It' is particularly heartfelt, with washes of synth and a twinkling piano giving a majestic quality to words that feel as though they're being sung by someone who's reached the end and can't even find the tunnel, let alone the light at the end of it. Yet it's a gorgeous highlight. Maybe the line that hits home the most is simply "all I need is someone on my side, who can unweave the mess on the inside" from the open-hearted 'This Song's For Us'. It's maybe the most personal number of all and encapsulates that feeling of loneliness and the difficulty of getting others to understand what's going on in your head. This is followed by the beautiful pop of 'How To Be A Man' which is maybe more accessible due to its relatively upbeat, melodic, indiepop nature, but every one of these ten tracks is touching and startlingly pretty considering the subject matter. The aforementioned 'I Once Had A Dream...' examines how relationships can be affected: "you don't know if I'm the person you want me to be... I don't know if I'm the person I wanted to be". It's gut-wrenching to anyone who's been in a similar position. 'North And South' explores the difficulty, and even the taboo nature, of such states of mind: "someone needs to talk but they can't let go" because people often have little sympathy for "what is just biology".

The Broken Heed isn't a fabulous record because it's for a good cause. Were it a regular release with no back-story, these songs are still achingly personal, soul-baring, tenderly beautiful and will contain lyrics that everyone can relate to to a certain degree. There have been many albums that deal with sadness and heartbreak, but not many hit the mark as accurately as this does, and even fewer are so genuine. If a four leaf clover brings luck, then a five leaf clover must be extra-special, but in the song of that title it just gets crushed by the hand that holds it, as overlaying lyrics capture the confused state of mind that can occur as thoughts rush back and forth in a frenzy as you fight to regain what you once had. Finally, 'Not Waving' is a haunting, reverb-heavy analysis of a "broken head" that once more manages to convey emotion in such a powerful and accurate way. It would be easy to give Johny Nocash a pat on the back and commend him for doing his bit for a charity that helped him, but he's done much more than that. Writing this music may have acted as a form of therapy as he battled his own demons, and listening to it could do likewise for others going through a dark period in their life. Rarely has raw emotion been committed to tape in such a way: 'The Broken Heed' isn't full of lush production and hundreds of musicians, it doesn't need to be. Adversity has given rise to some of the greatest music of all time, and while this may not be the best set of songs you'll ever hear, there's no denying that, regardless of motives or your own personal frame of mind, it's a wonderful, wonderful collection.







CALM's website

Stream or buy the album





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Younghusband - Better Times

Article by KevW


It's safe to say that Younghusband's 2013 debut album 'Dromes' found favour with us (and pretty much everyone else) and landed itself a spot in our albums of the year list. So they'll be looking to repeat, or better still, build on that success with follow-up 'Dissolver' when it's released in October. Before then they're hitting the road with Jacco Gardener, which sounds like a great night out. The live dates don't stop there, as after the album drops they're touring again throughout November in support of the record.

New single 'Better Times' is a little more introspective and perhaps less modern sounding than much of 'Dromes', but that's in no way a criticism. With west-coast harmonies and a gorgeous melody, they appear to be going all sunkissed and psychedelic on us, and it sounds wonderful. The gentle hum of electronics still lingers in the background though, so although this has a retro feel to a certain extent, its still Younghusband being themselves, not aping others. It could be argued that 'Better Times' is in fact one of their best tracks to date, as it's filled with a little more wide-eyed wonder. Really lovely stuff.





Younghusband's website

Buy the single

Catch them live:

UK SUPPORT DATES w/ JACCO GARDNER:
Thu 3 September @ London, Dingwalls
Tue 15 September @ Brighton, Sticky Mike's
Wed 16 September @ Bristol, Louisiana
Thu 17 September @ Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
Fri 18 September @ Coventry, The Tin Music & Arts
Sat 19 September @ Sheffield, Leadmill
Sun 20 September @ Nottingham, Bodega
Tue 22 September @ Leeds, Brudenell Games Room
Wed 23 September @ Stockton, Georgian Theatre
Thu 24 September @ Glasgow, King Tuts Wah Wah Club
UK HEADLINE TOUR w/ GRIMM GRIMM:
Tues 10 November @ Glasgow, The Hug and Pint
Wed 11 November @ York, The Basement
Thurs 12 November @ Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge
Fri 13 November @ Leicester, The Cookie Jar
Sat 14 November @ Sheffield, Cornershop
Sun 15 November @ Manchester, Eagle Inn
Mon 16 November @ London, The Moth Club
Tues 17 November @ Cambridge, The Portland Arms





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Coquin Migale - S O C O T R A

Article by KevW


It's great when you hear bands that aren't quite as one-dimensional as they might at first seem, instead throwing surprises at you and genuinely impressing. Formed at Northumbria University in 2013, Coquin Migale are one such group. There's no shortage of four-piece groups made up of blokes playing guitars and drums, and many of these can blend into one when you're bombarded by such bands so often. It takes a something a bit different to actually stand out, and these guys seem to have what it takes, with national press and radio play already under their belt.

'S O C O T R A' is the latest single from their current EP 'Feel' and begins in a mildly unassuming way despite a strong vocal, then they switch to a hybrid of math-rock (think early Foals) and something that wouldn't have sounded out of place on the first Klaxons album. It would be easy just to tag them as a good but typical British indie band, but then they thrown in a gargantuan blast of shoegaze guitars, splash reverb over the voice and add wind-tunnel production that, when played loud, will probably singe your eyebrows. They maybe an indie-rock quartet, but Coquin Migale are multi-faceted and ambitious, and that's what gives them the edge.



Coquin Migale's website





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Aircraft - Stick

Article by KevW


Even the title of Aircraft's new EP makes it sounds as though fantastical, psychedelic, shimmering, experimental pop magic lies within. The innovative Buffalo, New York quartet have impressed other high quality bands since their formation in 2012, landing support slots with Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall amongst others. That alone could suggest that there's a garage-rock side to what they do as well, and the new EP's first taster, 'Stick', confirms that fully, taking the familiar 'Nuggets' style psych and garage blueprint and bringing it up to date.

Yeah, 'Stick' will still remind you of a few '60s groups, that's for sure. But the sprightly riff and insistent drumming add a liveliness that's much more modern, and when they break for the harmonious chorus it does sound like a gem from a sparkling void. A contagious chorus is never a bad way to engage listeners, so for an introduction to '7 Gems From The Sparking Void' (out later this week) this is about perfect. Lyrically there's a certain philosophical edge, so if you want to delve in further then the option's there, but as top, pure alternative guitar music goes, this won't fail you either way.



Aircraft's website

Buy the EP





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Painted Palms - Refractor

Article by KevW


Last year was a great year in terms of music from San Francisco's Painted Palms. If you do a quick search of the site you'll find some very favourable words from us, and notice that they landed a slot in one of our end of year lists. The news that they have a new album due at the start of September can only be welcomed therefore, and we can only hope that it lives up to the standards they've already set themselves. Could we ever really doubt them? Not on the strength of 'Horizons'' opening track 'Refractor', that's for sure, and you folks in North America will be able to catch them live as they're soon to set of on tour with Small Black.

The press release, as these things always do, describes the new album as their best work yet. But then it would. We'd have to reserve judgement on that until the entire record is here, but 'Refactor' suggests that may not be a lie. Punctuated by synth power chords and combining indie with electro-pop, this single scores highly in both the writing and production stakes, and should also be noted for its attention to detail. It seems as though a multitude of different layers make up parts of the song and it has the kind of crossover appeal that could certainly make it their most successful work thus far. 'Refractor' sounds fresh and easy, so the transition from recording at home to working in a proper studio has been a smooth one. We might be hearing more about Painted Palms before long.



Painted Palms' website

Pre-order the album

Catch them live:

8/25 San Diego, CA @ The Merrow
8/26 LA, CA @ The Satellite
8/27 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
9/4 Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right
10/13 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl *
10/14 New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa *
10/16 Austin, TX @ Red 7 *
10/17 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada *
10/20 Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar *
10/26 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge *
10/27 Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret *
10/28 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile *
10/29 Boise, ID @ Neurolux *
10/30 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
10/31 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
11/2 Kansas City, MO @ The Tank Room *
11/3 Iowa City, IA @ The Mill *
11/4 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry *
11/6 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall *
11/7 Detroit, MI @ UFO Factory *
11/8 Toronto, ON @ The Garrison *
11/10 Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa *
11/11 Burlington, VT @ Signal Kitchen *
11/12 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *

* = w/ Small Black





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Get Me Free #41: The Late Call - Carry

Article by KevW


It was in April of this year that Sweden's The Late Call released their fourth album 'Golden', with 'Carry' being a perfect choice for a single. Essentially the solo guise of guitarist and singer Johannes Mayor, they expand to a full band for live performances. Having a prolific output (the project was only founded in 2009) can be a blessing but it can also be a curse. Some quality control can be required, but at least it means that writer's block can't be a common occurrence. Some bands grow with each release, whereas some just fade away. Everyone can name countless bands whose debut album has been their best work.

There are no problems of that sort here, as 'Carry' is a splendid indiepop song that pulls itself away from the lo-fi and twee elements so often associated with the genre, thanks to a strong, clear vocal and some playfully chiming guitar. Upbeat and catchy, it doesn't take long to get a hold of you either, which would make it perfect for radio play or as a general introduction to The Late Call as a whole. The piano adds a stately air too, and lyrically it talks of hope and helping someone overcome their demons. 'Carry' is yet another one of those songs that should be a hit but will remain the reserve of fans of this particular genre. But those fans should fall for this, hook, line and sinker.



The Late Call's website

Buy the single





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Monday 24 August 2015

Heroics - New Lovers EP

Article by KevW


Networking. It's always been a bit if a dirty word; the reserve of people who are famous for being famous and the uber-fashionable (in their heads at least), but since the internet went from being something people occasionally used in the days of d...i...a...l.... ...u...p... to the now universal tool that virtually everyone seems to use daily at much higher speeds, networking has changed completely. The ways it's changed the music industry are something you could write a book on, but what is increasingly apparent is that musicians from all over the world are now able to hook up and collaborate by discovering each other through a shared love of certain music online. In the case of many such collaborations, the people involved in the music haven't even met, they've simply sent files and ideas back and forth across the web and each added their own sections until a finished track or album is sounding just right.

London-based group Heroics haven't quite gone to that extreme, but they do admit that they were "born from the benefits of an Internet age", and a few members came and went before they settled on the current line-up fronted by Northern Irishman Graeme Wylie. They've been working on material for a while and released their debut single earlier this year, but their first EP 'New Lovers' is out later this week. The understanding they've built shows on these four songs, as does their shared tastes in music. 'New Lovers' is bold and comfortable, like a band in cruise control, they make it sound easy. Based around some nice harmonies and a solid and smooth rhythm section, the guitar is a little hypnotic and they also know how to change up a gear when needed. It may be the title-track and the lead single, but 'Worth Your While' is equally good and brings to mind The Postal Service (ironically, that was a long distance project before the broadband age when tapes had to be sent by mail, hence the band name) as well as other North American indie-pop groups. 'Ferrigno' continues the rich vein of form they've found here, keeping the standard of songwriting and arrangements high. It wouldn't have been out of place in the mid '90s either. Lastly, 'Break From Life' perhaps shows more ambition (not that they've been lacking in that department thus far) and experiments a touch more, changing time signatures and generally being that bit less conventional. For all its perceived faults and bad effects on the music industry, if the internet can be in part responsible for the creation of bands like Heroics then it's not time to throw away your expensive new tablet just yet.



Heroics' website





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Sunflower Bean - I Hear Voices

Article by KevW


New Yorkers Sunflower Bean have been on the receiving end of a fair bit of hype of late, and that can either be great for exposure, or can leave bands looking exposed if the music they have doesn't live up to media buzz. This trio are handling things pretty well if we go by the strength of new single 'I Hear Voices'. They sound confident and have every reason to be. Deep psych has been brought to the fore by bands like Tame Impala and Moon Duo producing hugely acclaimed albums, and Sunflower Bean take elements of both of those bands, but really, 'I Hear Voices' inhabits its own space and takes inspiration from a much wider musical gene pool.

The intro is weighty and heavy; it could be a modern update of Blue Cheer or Black Sabbath slowed down, it has a similar fuggy intensity. As soon as the tempo goes up a notch and the shared male/female vocals join in we're given a flavour of indie-punk. The chorus could be lifted from a C86 type indiepop single, but despite this almost DIY aspect, the music is rock solid right through, driving forward with a relentless beat that only pauses for the mid-section where they slow down again and delve back into stoner-rock. It's not long before there's a spring in their step again though. 'I Hear Voices' has something of a dual personality, but both are good and compliment each other well. With some UK dates lined up, we'll soon be able to see what other tricks they've got up their sleeves.





Sunflower Bean's website

Buy the single

Catch them live:

Tuesday 17th November - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton**
Thursday 19th November - Brighton Centre, Brighton**
Friday 20th November - Capital FM Arena, Nottingham**
Sunday 22nd November - o2 Academy, Brixton**
Monday 23rd November - o2 Academy, Brixton**
Wednesday 25th November - Corn Exchange, Cambridge**
Monday 30th November - Moth Club, Hackney  
**with The Vaccines





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FANS - Born Into

Article by KevW


For the past couple of months, Yorkshire trio FANS have been unveiling tracks from their first proper release, the 'Born Into EP' which is due at the start of September. It's easy enough to see where there influences lie, and it's refreshing that they're not afraid to admit what they are in a world where you find people denying they've even listened to another group they sound almost identical to. The lead-track from the EP gives two big clues. Essentially, FANS (who modestly but correctly describe themselves as "indie rock") have taken the sound of early Strokes records and mixed it in with '90s alt-rock, giving us a scruffy garage sound that's rough around the edges.

Vocally and melodically it's difficult not to hear the influence of Julian Casablancas, and the FANS Twitter page even posted this message yesterday: "Happy birthday to the real JC ". His main band may be a clear influence, but the fervent guitars are closer to post-grunge or shoegaze. The video is a good fit too, nothing to flashy, and the black and white, small space live performance seems apt for a band starting out on an unpolished road. Could the upside down guitar be a nod to Jimi Hendrix? Maybe. Comparisons are one thing, and FANS will likely have had several people citing the same ones, but when it comes to the crunch it's whether or not you've got the tunes that counts. 'Born Into' serves as enough proof that these guys have, so a good future may lie ahead.





FANS' website

Catch them live:

September 18th - Leeds - Nation of Shopkeepers
September 26th - London - Amersham Arms






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Presents For Sally - Wishawaytoday

Article by KevW


There are no two ways about it: Presents For Sally are ace, and they only seem to be getting better. Their second album 'Colours and Changes' is due on September 11th, so the proof will be in the pudding, but if you listen back to the gorgeous 'Anything Anymore' which we reviewed a couple of years ago and will also feature, along with 'Sing' which we posted not long after, and then add new single 'Wishawaytoday', they're already three tracks into what could be one of the best shoegaze albums of recent times. That might be a bold statement, but as a site that follows the genre quite closely, this is already on its way to being one of the singles of the year to our ears.

What's great about 'Wishawaytoday' is the total lack of pretense. Presents For Sally have set out to make a shoegaze track that sounds like it could have been made in 1991 and would have been a highlight of the career of just about any of the bands who first engaged in their passion for walls of fuzz, effects pedals, a little dreaminess and a soft vocal that sits right in the middle of the mix. This is lush, it's melodic, it's bristling with static energy and it's incredibly moreish with a chorus that soars. With such a huge amount of bands turning their hand to similar sounds it's becoming increasingly difficult to stand out from the pack, but on first listen, this jumped straight out. Bring on the album.



Presents For Sally's website

Buy the single





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Get Me Free #40: Husband Material - Bigger Man

Article by KevW


The latest installment of Art Is Hard's 'Hand Cut Singles Club' is this new track from Husband Material, the new band featuring Richard Board, formerly of Bos Angeles. Also part of this new venture are Charlotte Desborough on keyboards and vocals, Zac Harris on bass, and Bos Angeles' drummer George Rothman. As far as we can tell, 'Bigger Man' is just the third track the group have posted online since their debut release 'What Did I Do Wrong' earlier this year, the second being a cover of Mac DeMarco's instrumental track 'Hoso Boya' for which they added melody and lyrics. That cover showed both a pop sensibility and a sense of humour, but here they're a bit more serious. Well, lyrically at least.

'Bigger Man' is an almost desperate love song about giving up whatever is necessary to get with the person of their dreams. Musically it's quite slick, and could almost be considered a pastiche were it not so well done. Alt-pop and indie sounds give way to a retro electro-pop slowie; this could be a synth tune straight out of the '80s and even has a little Prince about its glimmering washes of sound and funk leanings, but its less fussy and achieves that sound using less instrumentation, relying on walls of synth and backing vocals to get what it wants. It's been difficult to shake off that decade for several years, and perhaps (if anyone still uses the phrase), this could be considered a yacht rock ballad. People can call it what they want, but I think we'll go for "guilty pleasure" - and that seems to be the idea of Husband Material as a whole. You have to say, they do it very well.


Husband Material's website

Buy the single





The Sound Of Confusion on Twitter and Facebook

Sunday 23 August 2015

Jesuits - Carpet Floors

Article by KevW


If this is your introduction to Jesuits, then perhaps you'll remember them by their previous name, Towns. Either way, 'Carpet Floors' is their debut single so they will be a new band to many, especially those outside of the Bristol scene where the collective have previously curated live shows, played house parties and DIY nights, all of which has led to them getting spotted by various people throughout the music scene and landed them slots supporting Ariel Pink, Moon Duo and Menace Beach - and all this without really promoting themselves as heavily as many new groups do. There must be something about them to have created such a buzz so quickly.

Talking of buzz, the guys got together over of a shared love of scuzzy guitar groups from the '90s, as well as the jangly pop of the '60s, and these attributes collide on 'Carpet Floors' which begins as a stripped-down garage track, before fuzzy guitars coat the verses, giving a classic alt-rock sound, but as the track continues they introduce a poppier melody and eventually get to the point where a Beatles and Byrds-influenced jangle joins in, turning this tune into a a punky yet poppy number that feels effervescent and a little sludgy with it. The combination works though, and with their list of achievements already looking impressive, we can surely expect future releases to be just as good.



Jesuits' website





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Monogold - Pink Lemonade

Article by KevW


There's a bit of a contradiction going on here. The artwork to Brooklyn band Monogold's first full album since 2011 shows a wintry scene (although they have coloured the snow pink, which kind of makes it feel a bit warmer), when their new single is made for summer, even mentioning "warm summer days" in its lyrics. The album, 'Good Heavens', is due on September 25th, so perhaps the overall theme will span the yearly cycle and feature more autumnal tracks as well (mind you, recent single 'Orchard Beach' is also of a similar style), but this is just aural sunshine that's so chilled it might as well have been waiting in an ice-bucket for you to get out of the pool.

Casual guitar strums and a simple beat offer a certain jauntiness to the music that keeps it fresh and light, while the vocals are harmonious and soft. They too don't sound urgent, but instead rather dreamy and welcoming. Perhaps the pastel shade that's been Photoshopped onto the cover serves as a different kind of clue as to what lies within. No, this isn't a song for that time of year, but it does feel as though its made of cosy pastel shades. If it's a glorious day where you are, then this is the soundtrack to it. So stick 'Pink Lemonade' on, maybe even pour yourself a glass of some, and then just relax and enjoy.



Monogold's website





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