If you need a new addition to your indie disco playlist for you to dance around to like no one is watching, then look no further. Island Apollo are back, and the new single from this Southern California band combines indie, surf rock and tons of 80s charm. Recalling Duran Duran with its heavy synths and funky undertones, it’s hard not to be compelled to dance by this infectious new song. This fun track also has a whole lot of heart, as lyrically it speaks of standing by those you care about when they are at their lowest. It’s a fantastic little number offering guilt-free good times, fun summery vibes, and plenty of loveable retro appeal. There’s a lot here to like so I urge you to give it pride of place in your summer soundtrack.
Live Review: Barn on the Farm Festival 2017
My favourite weekend of the year, bar none, has sadly been and gone. But in its wake it has left behind memories that will stay with me for many more years to come. The line-up for 2017 was a curious one. Though it was lauded as their most ambitious to date, there weren’t actually that many names I was familiar with. While previous festivals had gathered together some of my favourite up-and-coming artists, 2017 was all about adding new names to that list… as well as checking in with a couple of old favourites of course! I wandered around the pastoral paradise clutching my programme like some racing punter following his gut; the key difference being that Barn on the Farm kept up the trend of providing nothing but winners. Continue reading
Spotlight!: The Claxbys
One of the unwritten rules of being a music lover is to support your local scene. Not only out of principle, knowing that every great band started out at exactly the same point once upon a time, but also because you never know what gems might be hiding away just around the corner. In a world of polished and overproduced indie rock, it’s nice to find a local marvel like The Claxbys who aren’t afraid to go back to the genre’s roots and embrace a “rough around the edges” approach. ‘Just Another Day’ matches some superb bass tones with sharp riffs and skittering drum fills, while ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’ has built an indie anthem atop a subtle yet expansive atmosphere that makes the track stand out and worm its way under your skin. ‘Weezer Song (Photograph)’ shows the band at their most raw and features their most complex and emotive drum work, and ‘Alone in the City’ defies it’s lonesome lyricism by being the EP’s most buoyant and exuberant offering. The trouble with trios is that each member needs to meet the same standard, or the whole thing collapses. Thankfully here are three lads who are evenly matched and perfectly prepared to offer up some top-notch classic indie.
Fans of The Libertines, Razorlight, The Kooks and The Strokes should check out their debut EP Osnabruck.
Top Tracks: CC Smugglers – Dirty Money
Slick and soulful aren’t often terms used to describe folk music, but they are a damn good fit for the latest track from this Bedfordshire band. ‘Dirty Money’ brings together a classic Americana sound complete with twanging banjos and hints of wild west piano, but imbues it with a real sense of swing and swagger that is hard to put your finger on, but adds a fresh contemporary feel. Singing about the age-old adage that money doesn’t bring you happiness, CC Smugglers have nailed it with this foot-stomping feel good hit. Perfect for fans of Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers and Blackberry Smoke, ‘Dirty Money’ is one of the most fun and infectious songs I’ve heard all year. The kind of track you can listen to all day, keep singing all night, and still not get tired of it. Folking brilliant!
Top Tracks: Tamino – Habibi
The new track from this half Egyptian, half Belgian songwriter just makes time stand still, and demands your full, undivided attention. Tamino’s vocals are like the bewitching tune of a snake-charmer, leaving you hanging on his every word. The somber ‘Habibi’, lying somewhere between a tango and a funeral march, shows that the greatest beauty can be found in sorrow. Reminiscent of the late great Jeff Buckley, particularly in the angelic falsetto in the track’s final fading moments, Tamino has shown himself to be the finest new vocalist I’ve heard this year. With the captivating melancholy of this cut from his debut EP, his breathtaking talent shines through the gloom and reveals him to be a real one to watch over the next few years.
Album Review: Algiers – The Underside of Power
Algiers – The Underside of PowerSpotlight!: White Noise Radio
Photo by Rob Marsden
In a world where we have unadventurous and one-dimensional music forced on us everywhere we turn, it sometimes seeps into your system. It can leave you too quick to dismiss, and all too often you can end up underestimating bands. If, like me, you dive into White Noise Radio expecting a run of the mill alternative rock band, you will find yourself confronted with something far more complex and compelling than you anticipated. Just from the intricate opening drums of ‘Siren’, immediately reminiscent of Tool, it’s clear this Bristol band have a lot to offer. The fierce riffs of ‘Gone Inside’ hint at the band’s darker, more aggressive side, channeling Mastodon in its heaviest moments. ‘Dawning’ alternates between feral alt rock energy and soulful atmospheric sections, while the trippy ‘Wires’ has clear hints of Porcupine Tree as it shifts from shimmering psychedelica into full-blown metal territory. Equally adept at sounding both raw and melodic, and with the right level of technical wizardry to appeal to both prog and alt rock fans, White Noise Radio are perfectly poised to conquer the underground scene.
Fans of Tool, Karnivool, Alter Bridge and Mastodon should check out their new EP Cosmos out 1st July.
Album Review: Bent Knee – Land Animal
Bent Knee – Land AnimalInterview: Common Tongues
2017 is turning out to be a spectacular year for music, and it’s getting to the point where it’s hard to pick out favourites. I have no doubt in my mind however that Brighton band Common Tongues have released one of the strongest debuts of the year. Their eclectic album Divisions shifts with the greatest of ease between genres, providing a whistle-stop tour of everything from folk to electronica, indie to prog. Naturally I just had to chat to them about their fantastic new record: Continue reading
The Last Dinosaur – The Nothing
Belwood Music 