Cinema. – ‘Shapes EP’

 

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Newbridge producer Peter Fleming, one half of Effy and formerly Kalied, is now operating solo duties under a new alias, Cinema.

This name change is more than coincidental or a simple cosmetic exercise. This new guise is marked by a change of tact, with Fleming preferring an eminently brighter and sunnier sound with a less-heavy vibe than before. This fresh approach serves him rather well (not that his previous work was of a reduced quality) and was outlined by his self-titled debut EP, Cinema. He’s followed it up with a new EP, Shapes, comprised of two bright dance tracks; ‘The Journey’ a slinky synth meanderer and The Tale’, which reaches into the realms of Balearic dance sound. In short, two exemplary dance tracks.

You can stream the two tracks below or download the EP for free, from here.

Win Tickets to Springtime Carnivore @ Biltmore Cabaret , Vancouver :: November 17

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Springtime Carnivore, the creation of LA musician Greta Morgan, will play the Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, this Monday (November 17), with Generationals.

Morgan has bewitched us with several lush indie-pop gems this year and is out on tour in support of her marvellous eponymous debut album. Co-produced by Richard Swift (Foxygen, The Shins, The Black Keys), it is a wonderful collection of warm, slightly fuzzy, ebullient indie pop gems, with a soft psychedelic undercurrent that crackles, glows and swells amid off-kilter grooves. These tracks, mostly upbeat with big hooks and sun-kissed, are built around Morgan’s dazzlingly beautiful vocals that transfix you in all its gloriously smooth prowess. You can stream it here and see what all the fuss is about.

Springtime Carnivore have kindly offered readers of the blog a chance to go to the show on Monday night, with a pair of tickets up for grabs. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is answer the following question: ‘What is the name of Springtime Carnivore’s recently released debut album?’ Email your answer, along with your ‘name’ and ‘Springtime Carnivore’ as the subject title to barrygruff[at]gmail[dot]com, before 12:00 (UTC) Sunday, November 16th.

If you need any further convincing? Here are a few choice cuts from Springtime Carnivore’s sublime debut record. It should be a sumptuous show.

 

Monto – ‘Novemburrrr’

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Not quite sure why but it seems like an age since we’ve heard anything from Monto, well, until September that is. After a bit of a break the Wickow producer returned with a series of new tunes as a freebie EP, aptly called September.

Since then he’s been sharing new tunes on his soundcloud page, culminating with his new three track EP, Novemburrrr (aptly titled once again). The three track EP is quite heavily indebted to hip-hop, the beats in particular, as we’re taken on a tranquil head-nodding wander through rich and celestial sounds. ‘Möbius // Stripped’ kicks off this groove in style before making way for the pick of the pile, ‘Worlds Apart’. It is an uplifting and sparkling headnodder, fusing a rich blend of hip-hop beats, samples and a little bit of funk, before setting them to dance somewhere above the clouds. The fresh, feel-good vibe is kept alive to the end with short but sweet funked-up curtain closer, ‘NEED-ASSISTANCE’. An utterly fantastic three track collection from Monto, doing what he does best; making top notch tunes.

You can give ‘Worlds Apart’ the once over below and if that is to your liking, why not pop over here and download Novemburrrr? It’s free don’t you know.

Freedom Fry – ‘Blackmailed’

Freedom Fry 2014 singles

Los Angeles based indie pop duo Freedom Fry have been charming our ears for quite a while now, with the likes of ‘Summer In The City’, ‘Hanging With The New Crowd’ and ‘Home’.

The Franco-American duo, Marie Seyrat and Bruce Driscoll, have returned with another stellar single of similarly brilliant characteristics. ‘Blackmailed’ is a gentle and woozy number, with pair injecting an element of funk into their pop delicacy for what is ultimately a stylish piece of psych-tinged, sultry and soulful synth-pop. The gorgeous boy/girl vocals too, combine to beguiling effect, atop of a breezy vibe with some sun-kissed and melancholic tones. It is another tantalizing brilliant and utterly loveable track from Freedom Fry.

New single ‘Blackmailed’ is taken from their upcoming limited edition vinyl, Fan Club (The Singles 2011-2014), available to pre-order here. Failing that, you can stream ‘Blackmailed’ below.

The Joy Formidable & White Noise Sound – ‘Aruthrol B’

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Welsh indie-rockers The Joy Formidable continue their Singles Club ‘Aruthrol’; a series of limited edition vinyl releases that sees them sharing a double A side with a selection of artists from their homeland.

Aruthrol B, the second in the series, features the band’s latest single, ‘Tynnu Sylw’; a stunning six-plus minutes of cinematic, orchestral indie rock. Opening gently, the deftly intertwined layers of instrumentation unfurl with a silky sophistication to reveal Ritzy Bryan’s spectacular-as-ever vocals, sung in her native Welsh and topped off with a pretty epic guitar solo. ‘Tynnu Sylw’ feels very organic and natural, as it engulfs you in it’s moody brilliance. The ‘Aruthrol series’ seems to have reinvigorated the band, this is the sound of a band thoroughly enjoying what they are doing, and they’ve certainly got the bit between their teeth. That and of course it has provided them with an opportunity to shine a light on some of their Welsh compatriots. Speaking of which, joining on this occasion are Swansea drone rockers White Noise Sound and their single ‘Red Light’. Opening with some sawtooth-guitar, it expands into a sprawling mass of distorted riffs and effects with the hushed, whispery yet decidely no-nonsense vocals just about audible amid the emphatic din. Climaxing with a euphoric mix of reach-for-the-sky-guitars, brass and effects, it is a suitably epic companion to ‘Tynnu Sylw’. Another excelsior double a-side and long may this series continue.

Aruthrol B is out now (buy it here) and you can sample both tracks below. Also, The Joy Formidable have just announced that the third instalment, Aruthrol C, will be out this month featuring the excellent We Are Animal. One to definitely watch out for.

 

Attaque – ‘Future Earth (Feat. Native Young)’

UK producer Attaque has captivated us this year with his absorbing, intricate and lush sounds, having already treated us to the dazzlingly infectious ‘Only You‘ and the bliss-filled sounds of ‘Change Your Mind’.

Attaque’s second album Only You came out just last week, and to coincide with the release comes the utterly captivating single, ‘Future Earth (Feat. Native Young)’. A dynamic and hypnotizing gem imbued with a calm and tranquil energy, featuring the heavenly vocals Native Young which whisper and hush through lush orchestral arrangements, rich atmospheric textures, tribal-like percussion and groove that builds to a rich euphoria. Colourful, captivating and magnificent, Attaque’s sounds have been one of the electronic highlights of this year and his talent continues to relentlessly yield rather spectacular and captivating results.

You can sample ‘Future Earth (Feat. Native Young)’ below and the album, Only You, here.

Introducing: Globelamp

Listening to Globelamp, aka Elizabeth Le Fey, is a full on sensory overload as the free-flowing sound meanders here and there, through an imaginative kaleidoscopic world of bewitching splendour.

A myriad of genres and influences permeate this mystic, blissful and potent psych-folk. Le Fey’s sound is saturated by a dreamy, unpredictable and spaced-out quality, marked by a lo-fi hiss and an off-kilter, dizzying and disorientating quality. She has found perfection in imperfection if you will and in doing so, created some unbelievably special songs. Beneath Le Fey’s free-flowing folky psychedelia there are heartfelt and stirring tales of betrayal, pain and simmering sense of anger. Her words are given added weight through her spectacular and spellbinding voice which seamlessly slides through the gears from soft and gentle, to soaring and powerful, with what feels like the utmost of ease. None are more stirring or inspired examples of this style than ‘Breathing Ritual’. Sounding as though it was recorded in wind, the noise is snatched away before returning just when it seems it is lost as De Fey voice soars above this swirl of unpredictability. ‘Warrior’ offers a softer, more delicate yet just as magical trip. A gentle strum combines with a hiss of fuzz allowing her voice to take centre stage, and as with elsewhere on her debut LP, Star Dust, illustrates just how good a songwriter she is. A beautiful, spellbinding and serene-yet-altogether unusual collection of tracks.

Globelamp’s debut LP Star Dust is available from bandcamp and all you have to do is ‘name your price’.

Photo by Sarah Cass