DATE ARCHIVES : October 2011

Introducing: Old Tapes

Old Tapes is a trio made up of frontwoman Lisa Kribs, her brother Michael and David McGinnis, from Rochester, New York. 

Together they craft synth laden, angular rock which alternates from sneering to the mellow and subdued, and back again. This ability to shift through a range of emotions, from seething to sweet, is captured beautifully on their recently released debut EP, This Is Goodbye. From the emotional debut single ‘Farewell’, brooding ‘Got The Time’ to the fervent ‘What I Need Tonite’ and ‘Queen’ it all sits well, none feeling out of place or contrived.

A very promising band with a very rounded and grounded sound – I’d be very surprised if this was the last we hear from this Rochester trio. 

You can get the 6 track EP at the band’s BandCamp.

Mp3: Old Tapes – Farewell [audio http://tympanogram.com/files/Old-Tapes-Farewell.mp3]

Mp3: Old Tapes – What I Need Tonite [audio http://tympanogram.com/files/Old-Tapes-What-I-Need-Tonite.mp3]

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Video: Jape – ‘The Oldest Mind’

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Following the success of 2008’s Ritual, Jape‘s new album was always going to be one of most anticipated Irish albums this year. While I have yet to find the time to delve fully into Ocean Of Frequency, his latest single ‘The Oldest Mind’ won me over straight away. As has Brendan Canty’s wonderful video which perfectly compliments the essence of the song.

Jape has a whole host of gigs lined up across Ireland & beyond. Check the dates here. 

Half Man Half Biscuit – 90 Bisodol (Crimond)

For over two decades Half Man Half Biscuit have inhabited a unique musical space where nobody else could possibly reside. Satirical, sardonic and sometimes surreal, always witty and sardonic, to dismiss HMHB as a novelty act would be doing them a massive injustice.

90 Bisodol (Crimond) is another album (their 12th in fact) full of acerbic wit and intelligence from the Birkenhead quartet. There is an air of darkness to frontman Nigel Blackwell’s grim humour who’s wordplay and rhyming are par excellence while regaling tales of a necrophiliac Betterware salesman ‘Excavating Rita’, scorned lover ‘RSVP’ and the dark themed ‘Tommy Walsh’s Eco House’ and ‘The Coroner’s Footnote’. There is also a well aimed attack on indie groups on Saturday morning Soccer shows with ‘Rock and Roll Is Full of Bad Wools’.

There are chipper moments too; the joyous ode to Korfball with ‘Leeuwarden (We Are Ready)’ or ‘Fun Day in the Park’, all wrapped up by the catchiest mix of pointed punk riffs, country folk tinged ballads and classic indie sounds.

It’s time this great band received the recognition they deserve and a rare genius realized. 90 Bisodol (Crimond) too, might be their most complete work yet. That’s saying something seen as they’ve had a more than distinguished 25 year career.

 Half Man Half Biscuit – Joy in Leeuwarden (We Are Ready)

 Half Man Half Biscuit – Excavating Rita

Roots Manuva – ‘Get The Get (Slugabed Remix)’

UK hip hop has been going through a fairly healthy patch recently, no better time to welcome the return one of it’s finest stalwarts, Roots Manuva.

He’s back with a new LP 4everevolution and single ‘Get The Get’. The single would be good enough on it’s own but Slugabed’s remix accompanying the release is superb – adding glitches and beats transforming this party tune into a hard-hitting dancefloor tune.

Get The Get is the first single from forthcoming 4everevolution LP which people are saying may be his best LP yet. 

4everevolution and ‘Get The Get’ are out now on Big Dada / Banana Klan.

 Roots Manuva – Get The Get (Slugabed Remix) via Ninja Tune

 Roots Manuva – Get The Get

Squarehead – ‘Yeah Nothing’

Dublin trio Squarehead received plenty of praise for their singles ‘Midnight Enchilada’ and ‘Fake Blood’, and rightly so. Those singles suggested Squarehead had a knack for three minute pop songs, something bornout on Yeah Nothing. They roll through a succession of snappy sun soaked indie pop songs, forging a balance between beautiful vocal harmonies and a rougher-edged garage rock.

Any of the 12 tracks could be singles. The feel-good nature and simplicity of the aforementioned singles and tracks like ‘Save Yourself’, ‘Tasty Fruit’ and ‘Fear Your Face’ illustrates their strength for 3-minute 60’s inspired guitar pop. It flips between the melancholic and beautiful with more ooh-ahhs than you can shake a stick at without ever feeling forced or misplaced. This while remaining ridiculously catchy and retaining the dreamy, laid-back vibes too. Lead singer Roy Duffy’s voice is the icing on the cake, the soothing and wistful vocal qualities make for a rather special listen.

If there’s a criticism, it is that they don’t step out they’re comfort zone often enough but it is a very assured debut LP which coming in at 36 minutes is charming, fun and most important of all it is likable. If Ireland had a summer, a season filled days and blazing heat, then Squarehead’s Yeah Nothing would be it’s unrivaled soundtrack.

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Squarehead – Fake Blood via IASCA

Squarehead – Midnight Enchilada

Matthew Jay – Dear Jane

The world of music is littered with tragic tales of talents taken before their time, talented songwriter Matthew Jay is one such case.

In 2001 Draw was released, an impressive debut and a taste of things to come. It turned out to be his only album however, a testament to his young life before his untimely passing at the age of 24 on September 25, 2003.

To mark the anniversary of Jay’s 33rd birthday his family has released ‘Dear Jane’, one of the last songs written before his untimely passing. ‘Dear Jane’ is a delicate acoustic number with Jay’s shy voice lending a gentle richness to the song which is both haunting and captivating.

‘Dear Jane’ is on sale today, Monday 10th October 2011, the anniversary of Matthew Jay’s 33rd birthday.

Matthew Jay – Dear Jane

A Quick Review of Hard Working Class Heroes 2011

Now in it’s ninth year, Hard Working Class Heroes hit venues across Dublin over the weekend (October 6th – 8th). As well as  many of Ireland’s best and brightest emerging talents playing there was a whole host of panels, talks and free shows but for me, it’s about the gigs.

On Thursday Sounds of System Breakdown kicked things off in The Button Factory with a solid set of genre hopping electro. Spies were next to take up the mantel. Even if the sound seemed a bit off to begin with, their was no holding them back. Epic is a much over used word these days but that is surely the best way to describe their brand of rock. Thursday’s high point was undoubtedly We Cut Corners. The Dublin duo are stunningly tight performers, what they lack numerically they make up with volume and excellence. It is indie-rock done right while flirting with post punk, hearing their new single ‘Leopard’ live is quite something. With an album due soon these guys are definitely ones to watch out for.

Friday began back at The Button Factory with Tenaka. Opening a perfectly tailored set of soft ambient beats and atmospheric sounds before taking things up a notch with bigger thumping beats from his stunning EPhemeral EP. Next up was No Monster Club a short distance away in The Workman’s Club whose lively to the point speedy punk sound draws quite heavily from The Strokes and The Libertines, but if they were much cheerier. You can’t help but love this Dublin trio and hearing the likes of ‘The Last Bottle In The World’ and ‘Electric Picnic’ is always a treat.

Staying put in the Workman’s we awaited We Are Losers. They have steadily grown into one of the best live bands in Ireland since their debut live show at last years HWCH. While that was a nervy (but impressive nonetheless) this was an assured and impressive show, proving bands need time to grow. ‘Cheerleader’ and ‘Sunset Song’ went down particularly well with the packed crowd. What makes Losers different to most of their contemporaries is they can take things to another level, and they aren’t finished yet.

Saturday and it was back to the Workman’s to see The Depravations who were the new discovery of the weekend. The soothing sounds of their rootsy indie folk had me gripped, echoes of ’50s/’60s masters at play with a touch of more modern acts like The Coral. It was back to The Button Factory for Ghost Estates where the Dublin 5 piece’s tight indie sound took things up a notch with singles ‘Paris’ and ‘Forever or Never’ being notable high points. They have presence and a well honed sound, it is going to be interesting to see what direction they take over the next twelve months or so.

Saturday was turning out to be a ever improving feast of new music and House of Dolls were it’s (and possibly the weekend’s) pinnacle. Their’s is a mixture of dark, dirty and atmospheric psychedelic rock played with a confidence and maturity of a world conquering group. Their set was stunning and with a debut album promised soon, expect to hear much more from these guys. Next it was over to the Mercantile sharpish to see Ginola who didn’t disappoint. Short, sharp and to the point punk with a serious bite is what they do – it’s loud, feisty and shout-a-long punk at it’s very best. If you get the opportunity to see these guys, do your a massive favour and do! A scintillating performance to bring the curtain down on another glorious HWCH.

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Us3 – ‘Lie, Cheat & Steal’

Us3 is the brainchild of London-based producer Geoff Wilkinson, formed in 1992 they returned with their 8th album Lie, Cheat & Steal on October 3rd.

Wilkinson’s hip-hop-jazz crew sees the introduction of two new MC’s, New York based rapper Oveous Maximus and all round UK hip hop genius Akala.

They have kindly previewed two tracks ‘You Can Run But You Can’t Hide’ and ‘Lie, Cheat & Steal’ on SoundCloud. As with anything Akala touches, this is pure gold. Sharp, articulate and powerful lyrics over a more unfamiliar but no less impressive old school jazzy sound, just wait for the epic crescendo of horns to kick in on the title track.

Lie, Cheat & Steal is out now.

Us3 – You Can Run But You Can’t Hide (ft Akala)

 Us3 – Lie, Cheat and Steal (ft Akala + Oveous Maximus)

Neon Wolf – The Good Life

Neon Wolf have release new single ‘The Good Life’, which follows up their wonderful debut single ‘All of its Yours’. 

‘The Good Life’ is another fine cut of infectious indie-pop goodness full of shimmering feel-good energy which the band have kindly made the single available for FREE on Soundcloud.

The Thomastown crew continue to impress and I’m looking forward to hearing more from them in the future.

Catch the band in Murphys, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny on October 29th and Flanagan’s Newbridge, Co. Kildare on October 30th.

Download: Neon Wolf – The Good Life

King Krule (Formerly Zoo Kid) – The Noose of Jah City

London teenager Archy Marshall, formerly known as Zoo Kid, is finalizing a new project under the King Krule moniker.

New track ‘The Noose Of Jah City’, taken from the forthcoming self-titled EP has appeared online. Pitched somewhere between Billy Bragg and Jamie T, ‘The Noose Of Jah City’ is warm yet melancholic, assured number with lush hypnotic guitars.

The King Krule EP is out 7 November via True Panther.

 King Krule – The Noose of Jah City via Good Bait