Sweet Baboo – ‘Black Domino Box’ (H. Hawkline Cover)

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North Wales’ Stephen Black, AKA Sweet Baboo is gearing up to release his new record, The Boombox Ballads, the follow up to 2013’s marvellous LP Ships.

The new record is out on August 14th through Moshi Moshi, with a special launch show for The Boombox Ballads happening at London Fields Brewery (London) on May 21st. Joining Sweet Baboo on the night is fellow countryman and exceptional talent, H. Hawkline. To mark the occasion, Sweet Baboo has covered H. Hawkline’s classic ‘Black Domino Box’. Retaining the upbeat and bright nature of the original, he leaves a compelling mark in his own unique whimsical way – an utterly beautiful, sweet and charming rendition of truly fabulous song. The cover version will be available on a strictly limited cassette single version of the new single, ‘Sometimes’ and only available at London Fields Brewery show.

The cassette single is limited to 50 copies and available on a first come first served basis, but you can check both tracks below. Oh, you can download Sweet Baboo’s cover of ‘Black Domino Box’ from here too, ssshhh!

Heaters – ‘Mean Green’

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Heaters are Michigan based trio – Andrew Tamlyn, Nolan Krebs and Joshua Korf – who’s thing, so to speak, is loud, raw and highly addictive psych-meets-surf, rock ‘n roll.

To date they already have a handful of homespun EPs and split records to their name but have teamed up with Brooklyn-based psych label ‘Beyond Beyond is Beyond’ Records to release a 7” single, as well an expected debut LP. The 7″ is comprised of two tracks, ‘Mean Green’ and backed with ‘Levitate Thigh’. ‘Mean Green’ is a fast and furious, full-blooded and aggressive, fuzzy, distortion fueled wall of sound, that marks out the band’s intent and kicking the proverbial arse. ‘Levitate Thigh’ meanwhile, opens with a stuttering slow-rolling tempo before settling into a scuzzy, rock n roll groove, of snarling guitar, feedback and drums. If it’s groovy, surf-centric slabs of sonic stomp you’re after, look no further. Heaters are your new best friends.

You can check out ‘Mean Green’ &’Levitate Thigh’ below. The 7″ is out now & available from here.

Foreign/National – ‘The Hedonist’

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Melbourne five piece Foreign/National are back with a super new single, entitled ‘The Hedonist’.

Created in collaboration with Joey Walker (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard), it is grounded in the wonderfully colourful, sun-soaked and irresistibly warped aesthetic which marked their earlier work. Echo-y vocals, mildly distorted guitars, nifty percussive work and splotches of superb organ playing spill over for a fun, supremely engaging modern psych-pop tune, that will keep you grooving right along. A blissful, melody-filled and transportive slice of sun-tinged psychedelic pop music, somewhere between Jagwar Ma, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s and The Bees circa 2007 – things are more than alright.

You can pick up ‘The Hedonist’ here and there are rumours that a debut album and shows worldwide on the horizon. For now, check their latest single below.

SertOne – ‘Lost + Found (ft. Maribelle)’

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Released last month on Feel Good Lost, ‘Lost + Found (ft. Maribelle)’, is the first release from SertOne in a while, since his marvelous four-track Mouthful EP last year in fact.

The Liverpool based Irish producer teamed up with Aussie singer Maribelle for ‘Lost + Found’. It’s a pumped out and polished tune, featuring a footwork rhythm that we’ve heard him work before (the original instrumental version ‘Firewerks’ appeared on the aforementioned Mouthful EP) but Maribelle’s voice brings an R&B pop edge to proceedings. The layered warm textures, twitchy percussion and rhythms, stabs of synth and warped vocal whisperings, make for a wholly irresistible backdrop for the outstanding vocals from the young Australian singer. It all makes for a rather compelling listen. SertOne has long been one of Ireland’s finest producers – always fresh, original, innovative and thoroughly enjoyable – long may it continue.

You can check out ‘Lost + Found (ft. Maribelle)’ below, along with his GruffWuff inclusion ‘Seventeen’ – of which you can download here for FREE.

The BarryGruff Fortnightly Vancouver Gig Guide (May 12th – 25th)

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A fortnightly list of recommended events taking place in Vancouver. Here’s what’s caught my eye over the next 14 days!
Feel free to let me know if I missed anything of interest in the comments or you can always shoot me an email about upcoming shows.
Highlights: Kate Tempest @ Electric Owl (May 23rd), The Jesus and Mary Chain @ Vogue Theatre (May 13th) & Royal Blood @ Vogue Theatre (May 23rd).

Wednesday, May 13th

The Jesus and Mary Chain @ Vogue Theatre, 918 Granville St, Vancouver, (9pm, $49.50 – $55)

  • [Shoegaze/Indie Rock] Legendary Scottish shoegaze band The Jesus and Mary Chain tour marking the 30th Anniversary of Psychocandy. Their show in Dublin last year was ‘shambolicly brilliant’. Support from The Black Ryder.

Thursday, May 14th

Blockhead @ VENUE, 881 Granville Street, Vancouver (9pm, $15)

  • [Hip Hop/Electronic] Instrumental hip hop producer Blockhead returns to Vancouver with his downtempo/trip hop vibes.

The Rezillos @ Rickshaw Theatre, 254 E. Hastings, Vancouver (8pm, $20)

  • [Punk] Scottish punk/new wave band, on tour to support their upcoming album Zero. W/ Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds and Fashionism.

Friday, May 15th

Rent Cheque Presents: HIGH CLASS w/ The Prettys @ Hindenburg, 23 West Cordova Street, Vancouver (9pm, $5)

  • [Garage/Punk] Music from Vancouver retro garage/punk rockers The Prettys & ASAP Yamaha. For $5 you can’t wrong, now can you?

Talkies @ The Cobalt, 917 Main Street, Vancouver (9pm)

  • [Indie] Oakland foursome with a knack for ear-pleasingly pleasant indie tunes.

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Applescal – ‘Japanese Bubbles’

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Dutch producer Applescal will release his new album, For on May 18th through Atomnation and with a week or so to go till the album’s release, he’s revealed his new single ‘Japanese Bubbles’.

As ever with Applescal, the new single is of premium quality. Sitting somewhere between late-night after hours and the dance floor, Applescal weaves his magic with soft, floating melodies, flourishes of playful percussion, a light scattering of keys and warm production, creating a real sense of atmosphere. A lush, late-night lullaby, it sets a mood allowing you to drift into deep, contemplative thought as it trickles through your consciousness. We’ve already had a taste of the album with ‘Airports’ – a vibrant summery mix of floating dreamy synths, bright, airy dance beats and sunny chimes – add to that ‘Japanese Bubbles’, and the follow up to 2013’s rather brilliant Dreaming In Key, is shaping up nicely.

Check out ‘Japanese Bubbles’ below.

Disconcerting P – ‘Shakin’ EP’

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Disconcerting P AKA Padraig McCauley has impressed as much as any Irish artist over the past few years – prolific, passionate and prodigious – McCauley’s already amassed a pretty impressive back catalogue.

Disconcerting P continues this fine form, bringing the mellow, laid-back vibes with his new EP, entitled Shakin‘. Relying on a gentle and precise indie-folk sound with understated surf-rock harmonies, these are soothing, dreamy and jaunty americana/country tinged songs. Good old fashioned pop songs in fact, filled with sinuous melodies, organic arrangements and an assured sense of style that proves all too infectious. The bubbly and buoyant ‘Hey Man’, breezy ‘Binki’ and rhythmic guitar-pop ditty ‘Ain’t Working’ (full value for of an early Lennon/McCartney comparison) are all on the right side of familiar. However, the lyrics delve into melancholy on more than one occasion, as we are regaled very personal tales submerged in classic pop. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is McCauley’s finest work to date, it is an magnificent collection of homespun tunes. It’s been said many times before, but it is perplexing how someone with an abundance of talent and dearth of great tunes, can remain in the shadows for so long.

The Shakin‘ EP is available to download for however much you feel like paying over at Bandcamp. You can also check out Disconcerting P’s GruffWuff inclusion, ‘Treated You Rough’ – of which you can download here for FREE. Listen to it all below.

Sleaford Mods – ‘No Ones Bothered’

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Having provided 2014’s finest LP in Divide & Exit – a clever, often funny, foul mouthed and angry record, overloaded with attitude, vitriolic anger and righteous and infectious rantings that are as quotable as Half Man Half Biscuit – there was always going to be a high degree of anticipation for what came next for Sleaford Mods.

The Nottingham duo have announced its follow-up, Key Markets, will be out on July 10th. Ahead of their new album, Sleaford Mods have released lead track, ‘No Ones Bothered’ with the pair sounding as raw, vitriolic and gobby as ever before. That recognizable no-nonsense savagery; that brutal, precise and clever wordplay from chief rabble-rouser Jason Williamson, together with that delivery, stance and energy is strewn among a bass and drum heavy, punk sound – (somewhere between The Exploited and Citizen Fish, more the latter perhaps). Refreshing as usual, and top fucking class too. Who thought we’d be hearing from Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn quite so quick? Whatever the case, their return is most welcome.

Sleaford Mods have also teamed up with The Pop Group to release a split 7”, out June 18th through Freaks R Us. You can listen to their inclusion ‘Face To Faces’ & ‘No Ones Bothered’ below.

Tomorrows – ‘Free’

With an EP expected later this month, Dublin-based band Tomorrows, have unveiled their gorgeous new single ‘Free’.

Wasting no time in following up last month’s stellar debut track ‘Another Life’, the quintet featuring members from Biggles Flys Again, The Chapters, Jethro Pickett and Woodheart, have only gone and done it again with this, their sumptuous second-slice. ‘Free’ blends a gentle sway of wonderfully lush, shimmering and dreamlike textures, soft guitars, smooth vocals and sublime strings that will engulf you in a pleasant state of tranquility. It radiates a resounding aura of calm and peacefulness, taking you somewhere rather pleasant and idyllic where stress simply floats away into the heavens. Taking their inspiration from a broad mix of prog, psychedelic and folk music of the ’60s and ’70s, Tomorrows have refined their own sound. An astonishingly enticing affair and assured step forward, ‘Free’ like its predecessor ‘Another Life’, showcases why Tomorrows offer so much promise.

Don’t just take my word for it, you can check out ‘Free’ below.

Premiere: The Expert – ‘Da Wha?’

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Dublin producer The Expert has been has been crafting beats for over fifteen years and it certainly shows. Mostly his work has been as the production half of stellar Hip Hop duo Messiah J & The Expert but his solo output to date, consisting of beat tapes and EPs, has been nothing short of amazing too.

Possessing something of a midas touch and yet to put a foot wrong, he’s ready to share his debut solo LP with the world. Entitled Dynamic Drift, The Expert’s debut LP will be released next month and ahead of its release we’ve got an exclusive first listen to ‘Da Wha?’. This is gloriously upbeat and sublimely smooth psychy/soulful Hip Hop jam. Grooving along with some serious swagger and more bounce than zebedee; beats are spliced and diced with soulful samples that unite in perfect harmony for this head nodding, infectious and melodic groover. The Experts’ debut LP certainly promises to be quite a record. A supreme talent, an expert you might say.

Dynamic Drift will be with us next month but for now, behold the master class in sound manipulation that is ‘Da Wha?’.