Khufu release Kings E.P.

The Kings E.P. by Leeds natives Khufu invokes atmosphere from the moment its backwards guitars give way to the driving piano on Links. These poignant piano’s are accompanied by minimalist percussion, seemingly giving a nod to the likes of SBTRKT and Mount Kimbie. Khufu push just how much can be achieved with so little as Links builds on the sparse piano and beats with non-lyric, almost whale song, vocals and reverb drenched guitars that promise for an interesting listen throughout the E.P.

Links is followed by Klangers, possibly named so due to a faint hoot stirring memories of the show Clangers. Thankfully the comparison ends there and what remains is upbeat hi-hats motivated by jazz piano phrases that gives way to a lifting melody that wouldn’t be out of place in the clubs where this E.P. takes its influence.

We are then introduced to the first live drumming on the record in the form of E.P. title track Kings. what we witness here is a more R&B sound from Khufu invoking theme’s to be found in Frank Ocean or the end of Outkast’s The Love Below. Kings again features Khufu’s fondness for piano but here it is not met with sparse reverb based guitars but a guttural strumming. Which, backed by high-flying strings, produces a larger fuller sound that breaks the tradition Khufu have created, yet shows the dexterity of the group to marvellous effect.

When closer Untitled Pt.1 comes around we must praise the production of the whole album for it explores different themes and genre’s whilst maintaining a strong narrative and cohesion. Untitled Pt.1 produces Khufu’s most luscious moments with skattered dub drumming smothered with manipulated guitars that swell and swoon around that full bodied piano that Khufu make us so fond of.

All that is left to say is a question. When can we have more?

Listen to the E.P. in full via the groups soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/khufuband

Walk release the Walk E.P.

Walk open their EP with the affirming “Walk” that sets the tone and outlines the blue-print that the band attentively follow. That is, the marriage of bluesy influenced guitar, subdued yet emotive vocals and off kilter beats that urge the songs forward. “Streetlight” provides the most engaging moment showing the duo delve deeper, introducing soft strings that give way to their best vocal and lyrical performance. Here we see a departure from the pre-established comfort zone and in this they produce a delicate and beautiful piece that stands elevated. Whilst this is a strong release one can't help but hope for less emphasis on making a progressive blues record and for more of the soaring strings witnessed on “Streetlight”, for here Walk truly shine.

Released via Libra Records

Listen via bandcamp:  http://walkmusic.bandcamp.com/

Temple Songs "Passed Caring" Track Review

Nothing represents youth more than a three minute pop song with a big hook about being completely void of care. All the above is captured to perfect extent by Temple Songs on their latest release “Passed Caring”.This song comes three years into the quartet's career and is as riddled with teenage angst as if they started popping spots last week. The release shares in a new wave of low-fi bands (see Brown Brogues and Splashh) that although they contain melody and hooks there seems to be a conscious effort to drag the sound through the mud and deface any clean sound. This is perhaps most evident on the “Coffee and TV” Blur-like guitar solo that sounds like the leads are rusted and the guitar has been put through a blender rather than an amplifier. Yet all the scuzz doesn't pertain towards racket, or noise pollution, it lends a warmth and a charm to the track.Temple Songs have succeeded in producing a catchy single that's distorted enough to deter unwanted outsider fans yet its character draws in those who share in the groups DIY ethos and hope they continue to drag their melodies through the swamp, for here it is done to brilliant effect.
Released via RIP Records
Listen via bandcamp:  http://templesongs.bandcamp.com/album/passed-caring

In Other News . . . FIDLAR collaborate with Funny or Die on new video

Los Angeles garage-punk group FIDLAR have released what is possibly the most controversial and very NSFW video of the year for their single “Cocaine” if you thought Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" was bad brace yourself. The video is a collaboration with Will Ferrell's “Funny or Die” website which features a variety of content from many famous faces (James Franco, Ryan Gosling, Mila Kunis etc.). The video opens with “Parks and Recreation” actor Nick Offerman, who plays Ronald Ulysses “Ron” Swanson head of the Pawnee Parks department, in a wood workshop, typical of Offerman's character. Offerman then receives word that he is fired, goes out for beers and spends the rest of the video exploring different locations of Hollywood whilst constantly urinating powerfully over all that stands in his way managing at one point to pot a golf ball with his bodily fluids.

The band, who are currently on tour in Australia, are not ones to shy away from controversy with their name being an acronym for F**k it dog, life's a risk and their name prior to FIDLAR being F**k The Clock. Singers Zac Carper and Elvis Kuehn also admitted in an interview with Pitchfork that the “We were really hungover, and we just said, “Let's just try to jam”. It seems that depicting and living debauchery filled lifestyles is the key to success as they continue to gain a global following.

After touring Australia FIDLAR will play Reading and Leeds festival before returning to tour America. Their self-titled début was released in January via Wichita in the UK and Mom+Pop Music in America.

Watch the video for "Cocaine" below via Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKotlAWXsyw

In Other News . . . Kings of Leon unveil new single

Kings of Leon have returned with the lead single from their new album “Mechanical Bull”. The single, entitled “Supersoaker”, was aired last night on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show where the band also revealed their interesting process for selecting singles. Drummer Nathan Followill explained “Every song Caleb hates is a guaranteed smash hit, a grammy or a BRIT award”. This selection process may have arrived from singer Caleb wanting to exclude “Sex on Fire” from 2008's “Only By The Night” the single that provided them with their first number 1 in many countries, the UK included.

“Supersoaker” shows the band looking back over to their shoulders to earlier albums with the song evoking a similar feel to “Aha Shake Heartbreak” hits “The Bucket” and King of the Rodeo”. This reflective sound is something the band were conscious of with bass player Jared speaking in a Q&A session with fans on twitter describing the “vibe” of the new album being more similar to their first two efforts 2003's Youth and Young Manhood and 2004's Aha Shake Heartbreak.

Mechanical Bull, Kings of Leon's sixth album, was produced by long term collaborator Angelo Petraglia and will be released via RCA Records on September 23^rd in the UK.

Listen to Supersoaker via Youtube below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64a15jJqFDk

In Other News . . . Phoenix unveil video in collaboration with The Creators Project

The French group Phoenix have released a video for their track “Trying To Be Cool” taken from their 2013 self-produced effort “Bankrupt!” The video was released as part of “The Creators Project”, established by Vice and Intel, acts as a platform to showcase “visionary artists across multiple disciplines who are using technology in innovative ways to push the boundaries of creative expression”. The directors on showcase in the video are the Spanish film collective CANADA who have also worked with JUSTICE in the past on the video for “New Lands”. The video shows the band passing through a series of different shots inside an Andy Warhol's factory style setting, with a countdown starting and progressing within each frame. The idea behind the piece was to show two film crews each taking turns for each shot with the countdown, reminiscent of the start of a cinema reel, indicating when the changeover will take place. When the countdown hits zero the film switches to the other crew whether they are ready or not, in the latter case the film goes to black.

Phoenix are currently undergoing a world tour that will finish on November 23^rd in Lille, France.
Watch the video via Youtube below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OePvsCfKHJg

In Other News . . . Franz Ferdinand release double A-side Right Action/Love Illumination

New music from Franz Ferdinand arrived today in the form of double A-side singles of “Love Illumination” and “Right Action”. Both tracks are taken from the soon to be released “Right Thoughts Right Words Right Action” the bands fourth album and their follow up to 2009's “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand” with production credits going to the groups label mates, Hot Chip members Joe Goddard and Alexis Taylor.

The singles show the band moving away from the synth dabbling sounds of Tonight and more so a return to the jolty angular guitars of the first two records. Speaking to NME frontman Alex Kapranos explains how the group “wanted to get back to the essence of being creative people” whilst they also “wanted to keep it pretty raw”. 

This raw sound is evident in the tracks, notably so in “Love Illumination”, where the band's enthusiasm for Edwyn Collins is heard in infectious fuzzy guitar lines. “Right Action”, containing the lyrics giving the album its name, displays a sound more characteristic of Franz Ferdinand not to dissimilar to the catchy riffing of hit single “Take Me Out”.

The singles, released via Domino, are available now for pre-order with an official release on 7^th July. Right Thoughts Right Words Right Action is set to be released 27^th August.

Listen Via Youtube below:

Right Action-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qZa-FHRmoGg

Love Illumination-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gWjN1GctWog#at=29