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

In Other News . . . Glatonbury Rumor Cycle Spins Again

With the festival period coming once again and after a year off Michael Eavis, alongside daughter Emily, host Glastonbury at Worthy Farm. After announcing head-liners Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones and Mumford and Sons, discussion drifted instead to blank spots on the line-up and the implication of these.

The much disputed “secret shows” have become a focal point of this years festival and as lacunas were left in the shapes of some very big acts spurring rumour after rumour of surprise appearances. The elephants in the room, or outside on this occasion, came in the shape of David Bowie, Daft Punk and Liam Gallagher's Beady Eye.

After Liam Gallagher posted a cryptic tweet 26^th June stating “11am Friday – BE there or BE square . . LG” it seems that Gallagher and co. are certain to be playing one of the festivals stages. Beady Eye who were 5/1 odds now seem definite to be airing their second album BE at Glastonbury. This may come as somewhat of a shock to Gallagher fans after Liam has famously said of the festival after appearing with Oasis, “I f***ing hate Glastonbury mate. I'm only here for the money”. Hopefully his performance with Beady Eye, their first at the festival, will inspire positive feedback.

In regards to Bowie and Daft Punk, many were expecting to see either topping the bill. This year saw both acts releasing new materials with Bowie releasing The Next Day and Daft Punk releasing Random Access Memories with both albums debuting at No.1 in the UK album charts. Bowie, having played the festival twice before in 1971 and later in 2000, has odds of 6/1 to appear whilst Daft Punk, commenting earlier in the year that they have no plans to tour their release, have odds of 6/4. It may also be that Bowie and Daft Punk may appear as guests in another acts slots with Bowie previously recording with Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones and Daft Punk previously appearing with Phoenix as they did at Phoenix's Madison Square Garden show in 2010.

Another hotly contested guest spot is to who will appear with The Rolling Stones with Jeff Beck, Bruce Springsteen and Adele being tipped.

In Other News . . . Bloc Party unveil new video for Ratchet

After announcing the release of a new E.P. entitled The Nextwave Sessions, Bloc Party unveil a video for lead single Ratchet. Although being played live on a number of dates up to five month ago the song received its first radio play by Zane Lowe as his Hottest Record in the World on 25^th June where singer and guitarist Kele Okereke confirmed reports of an indefinite hiatus, unfortunately for fans he adds that the band has “no plans as of yet” to follow their announced festival dates.

The video depicts a journey through the bands videos in reverse chronological order beginning with Octopus an ending with Little Thoughts with a slight detour through Helicopter. It also features moments where the band morph into monsters with augmented and replicated limbs with Kele's eyes being replaced by his eruptive mouth. This sort of camera trickery is familiar in director Cyriak Harris' other works who has made a name in the manipulation of creatures.

The song itself is an infectious dancey number and has more in common with Tenderoni, from Kele Okereke's solo effort, 2010's The Boxer, than the more electro influenced tracks of Mercury, Flux and One More Chance. The notable difference is the inclusion of Russell Lissack's guitar which features his often occurring pitch-shifting, this, combined with Gordan Moakes' bounciest bass-line to date, makes for a strong lead single.

The Nextwave Sessions were recorded with producer Dan Carey and will be released via Frenchkiss on August 12^th. Watch Ratchet via Youtube below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3EEaPj-5qs

In Other News . . . Laura Marling teams up with Secret Cinema for a new experience

Laura Marling continues to generate interest with her latest move. Rather than fall into generic promotion rituals on album number four, Once I Was An Eagle, Marling has instead spurred intrigue by collaborating with a collective of Cinema enthusiasts who operate under the moniker Secret Cinema. This group truly know how to create a unique experience for the viewer shying away from stereotypical means of simple cinema projection they attempt to air cinema in a new light instead projecting onto office blocks and presenting cinema in different ways. It is evident that they attempt to bring a new experience to every project they engage in. Which brings us back to Marling, in this collaboration they present to us The Grand Eagle Hotel, a fictitious creation affording the collaborators the perfect setting for their performance. They intend to recreate the environment of 1927 presenting The Grand Eagle Ball, and in attempting to do so request the audience attempt to immerse themselves in the era asking that they wear “vintage black tie”. But this is by no means the full extent that Marling and co. have gone to ensure a unique experience, they have also requested fans bring with them: a photograph of an old lover, flowers for the mistress of the house Lady Undine, a secret gift for a stranger, and a choice of either an old record, a bag of unwanted books or a case of unwanted clothes. Marling is by no means a stranger to new ventures opting to play a series of theatres whilst promoting 2010's I Speak Because I Can, she is used to playing grander settings but with this project she pushes the boundaries even further as to what a Laura Marling show consists of. It seems that in departing England and setting up camp in Los Angeles she has truly embraced life as an English eccentric. Although we can't be sure entirely what to expect from the shows, it seems that through this collaboration she has found a way to make the album cycle a special thing allowing people to once again be excited, truly a stride in the right direction.
The shows take place in London from June 13th - June 30th

Jagwar Ma @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 20/06/2013

Gabriel Winterfield is infectious, present tonight with Sydney based outfit Jagwar Ma, he has obvious intent, to play some of the best new music to be heard this year and to have fun doing it. Selling out Manchester's Deaf Institute, not an easy feat when the city's student population have decamped to lick their wounds for another summer, the crowd seem no less eager than the band to comply to their manifesto. The band, completed tonight by full time member Jono Ma twiddling knobs on synth and beats duty, and touring bass player Jack who moves with such splendour that he most definitely would have still been present on stage if he was instrument free. The trio open with "What Love" a track that first appeared as b-side to early single Come Save Me but now takes precedence on both the début album Howlin and the bands live set list. The throbbing synth line's of "What Love" give birth to Gabriel's soaring vocal lines which, aided by delays and loops, sound every bit as luscious live as they do on record. The extended versions of tracks, witnessed in the non-radio friendly edits, glow and demonstrate a band who have truly embraced a diverse range of influences. The result is an act who have enough vocal melody and pop credibility to break the mainstream but with deep grooves and the oft referenced baggy Madchester beats that wouldn't be out of place curating the Warehouse Project. This marriage is recognizable on "Let Her Go" where a dab hand at lyrics reveals Gabriel confessing “I've become undone I want my lips stitched back together”. The song balloons to a chorus every bit as much Beck as it is Chemical Brothers before the inevitable, but nonetheless desirable, lyrical decay and dance beat influx. The band drops "Come Save Me" and "Man I Need" to rapturous reception before closer "The Throw" demonstrates best where the Madchester acid house comparisons come from as the flailing limbs of the band are reciprocated by the crowd. It seems lazy to solely reference the acid-house scene from the 80's when writing about Jagwar Ma because for a post-hacienda Manchester resident they seem to speak to more than just that generation and with Gabriel's boyish good looks, confident stage persona and most of all the strength of the music, we may see them adorning the walls of generations to come.

Toro y Moi @ Parklife Festival's Now Wave tent, Manchester, 09/06/2013

With the calendar turning once again to festival season, and thus Manchester's ever growing Parklife festival, certain acts stood raised against a intriguing and varied bill. One of these being Toro y Moi, the alias of South Carolina resident Chazwick Bradley Bundick, why a pseudonym was needed one can only wonder. Achieving recognition in certain spheres (Rolling Stone, Pitchfork etc.) with début Causers of This, Chaz was hailed as a pioneer of an emerging genre chill-wave movement but has yet to have cross over success. His follow up Underneath the Pine offered a musician differing from his début with more emphasis on vocal melodies and introducing elements of funk to his sound destined to be the soundtrack to the connoisseur's summer. Appearing on the Now Wave stage on the Sunday of the festival Toro y Moi was a promising start to the second day which boasted a billing of diversity and quality throughout the day, commendation to Now Wave as always for enriching the quality of Manchester and the festival. Backed by a three-piece band Bundick demonstrates the strength of the songs of his most recent release Anything in Return, which demonstrates the great diversity of Chaz's song writing introducing a more pop-conscious sound on his longest release yet. In the live sphere the record is given room to grow providing a stage for unreleased tracks affording them a much deserved spotlight. “Living High” is given power through the chorus that one might miss in the sheen of the album's production standing as one of the strongest moments of the set. This added energy does however in no way detract from the subtleties of the album's production and tracks swell with as much quality live as witnessed on the record. Finishing the short set with Anything in Return's lead single “So Many Details”, Toro y Moi set the bar high for the tent's acts to follow with Chaz's reserved but confident stage presence not betraying the strength of the songs and being every bit as enticing as the previously documented performer. It seems that as his Afro grows, now at a respectable size, his following and reputation will continue to do so and soon he will receive billing and reception that reflects the quality of his performance and music.

Brown Brogues @ Bench Lunchtime Live Presents, Manchester, 09/03/2013

Free music, free drinks, free niggles of laughter emerging from those who revel in the knowledge that the band on show today are not usually ones suited to an acoustic set in an art gallery. The band in question are the Brown Brogues a scuzzy reverb sodden garage duo from Wigan and the setting is Bench Live Presents. . . Whilst the set packed with catchy tunes it is clear through the eccentric yelps and howls emerging from singer Mark Vernon that they aren't taking themselves seriously and in these boyish misdemeanor's is a real attraction to the band in the same way one wishes to be included in the humor of an in joke. But as Mark, and drummer Ben Mather, try to fog their nerves with chuckles the strength of the songs is unmissable, where the usual swampy mix makes it difficult to extract lyrics, in the stripped down set they shine through and it is evident that there is a dab hand at work. With one of the more amusing being recent single Don't Touch My Hair, which displays pleas of hair fondler’s to stay away and leave their hair in a narcissistic state of perfection, even after death. The stripped back sound also suited fan favorite Anyone But You allowing Ben to demonstrate a surprisingly delicate falsetto on backing vocals. Although it may have been an odd setting for the duo a strong performance riding on a set of very strong songs hopefully they won't think twice before attempting an event like this again for they appear more diverse than they may think.

Photo by Dom Varden: http://vivalifestyle.co.uk/brown-brogues-do-lunchtime-live/

Mac Demarco "Ode to Viceroy" track review

In a world of contradictions within which “slackers” like the Canadian Mac Demarco can act as functioning human beings we are introduced to his favourite brand of cigarettes by a dedicational tune named Ode to Viceroy. In this musical world which is so saturated with sonnets for smoking weed a nod to cigarettes is wholly unpredicted and existing in an un-paralleled field of one. The song opens with uneasy chords reminiscent of the introduction to Ghost Town by The Specials, if the track in question had its rpm decreased to 1rpm. It soon breathes into life as a sea breeze of a track that seems to hint to surf acts such as Best Coast, well Best Coast if they were endorsed by Marlborough Reds and fronted by a stoned Damon Albarn.  Add a sprinkling influence from King Kruel’s appreciation of obscure chord progressions and you have a humtastic piece of music. In a recent interview with Chart Attack, he discusses the inspiration for the track as a longing for his preferred ciggy’s whilst forcibly dealing with a lesser brand on tour. Whilst I have never experienced said longing, I personally opt for the sweet taste of my ventolin inhalers, this ditty certainly tempts me to trade my desire for asthma attack relief with a viceroy cigarette. Thankfully, I can treat this desire with another spin of this beautifully written Ode to Viceroy by the ever lo-fi scribble of Mac Demarco as he laments his separation to his cigarettes. This article is in no way a promotion of smoking, although the song concerned may very well be.

Listen Here:
http://soundcloud.com/capturedtracks/mac-demarco-ode-to-viceroy

Jagwar Ma "The Throw" track review

Recently Australia has truly shone brightly with stellar releases from DZ Deathrays, Cloud Control, Pond and obviously Tame Impala. Jagwar Ma has taken this baton and has developed an eclectic sound marrying 60's soul vocals with a dance edge evident on earlier release Come Save Me. They have since established themselves as a strong talent. Jagwar Ma, comprising of Gabriel Winterfield and Jono Ma, have continued in this creative vein on The Throw amalgamating dreamy vocals with tie-dye drenched synths that I'm sure is how a lava lamp would sound if its function was hit singles and not blob production. They begin the track with a refrained loop that introduces the optimistic summer feel of the track as an exhuberant guitar line sneaks in that develops into a sound not to dissimilar from how I imagine the rave scene at Manchester's Hacienda nightclub. The song seems to come to a natural close until Jagwar Ma ushers in a break that doesn't stop delivering swells of synths and even though we're far from Summer it certainly feels as though the sun is slightly closer. It won't be long until Jagwar Ma grow from NME darlings into a fixture in anyone's calendar.

Listen now on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/jagwar-ma

Brown Brogues @ Roadhouse, Manchester, 12/1/2013

 

 Scuzzy, reverb drenched and dressed as a pair of slutty sailors, Manchester's very own Brown Brogues take to the stage to launch their new album Born To Lose. The self proclaimed “noise duo” certainly do like to make a racket, with a set so sodden with spikey punk and sludgy blues that John Lydon wouldn't curl a lip at. The garage couplet have adopted a stripped back approach having only guitar and drummer on stage with the drums being only floor tom, snare and ride cymbal, almost as stripped back as the drummer himself flashing the flesh beneath his increasingly hot hot pants. The duo truly seem to give all and invite support band Queer'd Science onto the stage whilst singer Mark Vernon finds his way through the crowd pouring shots into the gaping mouths of the audience. Brown Brogues certainly are a spectacle and something with spontaneity and catchy tunes a plenty certainly evidence that Manchester has a vibrant scene that is certainly thriving underneath its rain strewn streets and all for under a fiver!

Everything Everything "Cough Cough" track review

Cough Cough is the lead single from Manchester's very own Everything Everything's sophmore album Arc (the track and band so good they decided to name twice). The track splutters into life with indecisive lyrics that pave the way for the staggered drums and smooth vocal melodies that blend effortlessly. The thing that is so special and hard to pin down about this band is their capability amalgamate the wonderfully angular with something seductively smooth, which is evident by the bucket load in this recent single with their static guitars, jumpy synth and drums beating their way through your lug holes all within the first 50 seconds but with a truly luxurious chorus. The unity and precision of the band is truly thrilling and when the verse does give way to the spontaneous soaring chorus we are greeted with lyrics of intrigue about personal compromise for profit, “There's something wrong but its okay if we're still getting paid” whistles singer Jonathan Higgins in his canary pitched falsetto. Something also notable is the pallet of atmospheres they draw into the song with the heavy bassline and repetitive lyrics chanted in the bridge making the bliss of the chorus all the more special showing completely dynamic sonic shift from a band who are truly clicking right now. All there is left to say is that hopefully the rest of the album, released on the 14^th of January, will be as interesting and vibrant as this single.

Listen now on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/everythingeverything