DATE ARCHIVES : January 2016

Millions Like Us Podcast – Episode #8

We’re thrilled to share the first Millions Like Us podcast of 2016. It’s great to back and the latest, the eighth, of music podcasts hosted by Justin & I, in conjunction with Vancouver news & culture site 604now.

On a bi-weekly basis we aim to please, providing relief from all life’s toils* with lively and entertaining chat and eclectic selection of fabulous music from metro Vancouver and BEYOND. There’s plenty in there, well over an hour in fact, of new tunes, reflection on 2015, anticipation for the forthcoming year and more.

You can read more on it here and listen below, and the tracklist (with links) is after the jump too. You can subscribe to ‘Millions Like Us’ on iTunes & Podcast Republic or find us on Facebook & Twitter. Or you can email us at millionslikeuspodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.

Thanks for listening as always, enjoy!

Podcast #8 Tracklist:

Ulrika Spacek – ‘Beta Male’

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Ulrika Spacek have made quite a habit in blowing our socks off with stunning tunes, doing so on two separate occasions last year, with the discordant indie-rock of ‘She’s A Cult’ and pulsating psych rocker ‘I Don’t Know’.

Ulrika Spacek have kicked off 2016 by going even one better with news they will release their debut LP, The Album Paranoia on February 5th through Tough Love. Coinciding with this most excellent news, the Berlin based outfit have afforded us another choice sample from their forthcoming debut in the shape of ‘Beta Male’. It is highly-charged yet starry-eyed trip, blazing through six-plus minutes of exploratory psychedelia on the strength of one momentous, scintillating guitar riff. Another magnificent, melodic, masterclass in tuneage from Ulrika Spacek, which needless to say, should have you salivating at the prospect of a full album’s worth of material.

The debut LP, The Album Paranoia is out on February 5th through Tough Love and for now, you can check out the scintillating ‘Beta Male’, below.

 

Coves Return With New Album ‘Peel’ and Share Video for ‘Stormy’

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The new album announcements are coming thick and fast, being that time of year and all. Adding their name to an ever growing list of albums set for release in 2016, is Coves.

The English duo of Rebekah Wood and John Ridgard will release new album Peel on April 1st. It is the band’s second LP and follows the pair’s much vaunted debut, Soft Friday; an atmospheric, distinctive and very enjoyable blend of spectral vocals, swirling psychedelia met with sweeping grandeur and dreamy synths. To warm us up for the main event, Coves have shared ‘Stormy’ and its visual delights, featuring visuals from lead singer Beck Wood. Apparently marked by Coves’ shift from Leamington Spa to London, the new LP is seemingly “split between fury and misery”. Saying that, latest single ‘Stormy’ picks up where the pair left off, retaining the essence that made their debut so, so good. It’s a well honed, thrilling and intoxicating three-minutes where soaring riffs and vocals mingle amid flickers of shimmering psychedelic, some rampaging guitar heroics, rhythmic grooves and plenty of swaggering confidence to boot. An emphatic indication that we may be in for quite the second album from Coves.

Peel will be out on April 1st, via the newly re-vamped 1965 Records imprint.

New cut ‘Stormy’ is online now, and it features visuals from singer Beck Wood. Check Stormy’ below now.

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The Last Shadow Puppets Return With New Single ‘Bad Habits’

 

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Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner and Miles Kane have returned to their Last Shadow Puppets guise to release a second album, surely among the year’s most anticipated releases.

The pair’s last album together was 2008’s The Age Of The Understatement and like it, the new one is once again produced by Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford and Owen Pallett returns on arrangement duties. ‘Bad Habits’ is the first single from the album, and it’s loud, brash and urgent, with a spiky aggression to its slithering groovy core and insistent bassline, matched with Owen Pallett’s swirling Bond-esque string flourishes. It’s a pretty fiery return, alright.

An official release date for the so far unnamed second album has yet to be revealed, but so far all signs have pointed to a Spring 2016 release. The band are also playing Coachella so expect more live dates throughout the year. For now, check out ‘Bad Habits’ below.

 

Courtney Barnett shares new song ‘Three Packs a Day’ + Tour Dates

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Less than a 12 months since Courtney Barnett released her excellent Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit, she’s kicking off 2016 with new material.

The new track ‘Three Packs A Day’ features on her Australian label Milk! Record’s compilation, Good For You, alongside tracks from Jen Cloher, Fraser A. Gorman, Ouch My Face, The Finks, and East Brunswick All Girls Choir. In typical Barnett fashion, ‘Three Packs A Day’ is clever, witty and slightly dark. An instantly infectious, light jangle with a jaunty guitar line, meandering bass and folksy harmonica blasts giving the song its upbeat coat, as she sings about her addiction to instant noodles. A magnificent tune indeed and exactly the high standard we’ve come to expect from her.

With a couple of shows coming this month in her native Australia, the North American leg of her tour kicks off in April, including a show on April 19th at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom. Find her full list of dates below. Good for You is out on February 14 via Milk! Records. Listen to ‘Three Packs A Day’ below.

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Introducing: Honey Moon

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Honey Moon are four piece from London, comprised of Sam, Peter, Jack and Zack, they’ve a real talent for crafting 3 minute pop gems.

This aforementioned flair is patently obvious from Honey Moon’s recently released self-titled EP. It is an enchanting and whimsical illustration of classic pop-craft, brimming with sinuous melodies, lilting hooks and jangly guitars. It’s a laid-back, woozy, gentle and heartwarming brand of wistful alt-pop, like a perfect blend of Real Estate with Spectrals. From ‘Ellie’ to ‘Waiting, there is more than a hint of melancholy amid the enchanting haze of the subtle, undulating and ever-so-mild psychedelic tendencies. These are good old fashioned pop songs, pop in the old fashioned sense, played by a band, and with an assured sense of style and class. Not only do Honey Moon have a flair for 3 minute pop gems, they’ve got a right knack for creating tunes the right side of familiar.

You can check out some choice cuts from Honey Moon below or pop over here, to immerse yourself entirely in their lazy day – you won’t regret it.

 

Sea Pinks – ‘Yr Horoscope’

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With the release of their new album Soft Days only around the corner – Belfast trio Sea Pinks have afforded us another taster from the LP, in the shape of ’Yr Horoscope’.

Neil Brogan and company have proven thus far, to possess an innate ability for incredibly catchy indie-pop jams; and with ‘Yr Horoscope’ the trio have repeated the trick, and how! ‘Yr Horoscope’ is a sub-two-minutes of peppy, upbeat indie jangle, bounding along a bouncy bassline with a rambunctious energy, while cruising some surf-tinged riffs and cheerful vocals. Spritely, inspired and utterly magnificent lo-fi indie rambling from Sea Pinks. As has so often been the case with the Belfast outfit, we’re not left short changed.

Soft Days is out this Friday, January 8 via CF records and it follows 2014’s excellent Dreaming Tracks – a very nice way to kick off the weekend. Till then, you can stream ‘Yr Horoscope’ and ‘Depth of Field’ below.

Steve Mason returns with ‘Planet Sizes’ & News of a New Album

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Steve Mason is back and is set to release new album Meet The Humans next month.

Following on from the exceptional Monkey Minds In The Devil’s Time (2013) and Boys Outside (2010), Meet The Humans was shaped by Mason’s recent move from London to Brighton. Recorded with Elbow keyboardist and producer Craig Potter, the new record will reportedly move towards a more simple ethic; ‘an album where each song is a separate entity, where there is no great narrative running through it’, while swinging musically across dance, pop, folk, dub, and deep house influences. Coinciding with this most auspicious news, Mason has returned with a first taste of his new album, in the form of ‘Planet Size’. An introspective exploration brimming with optimism and a redemptive tone, ‘Planet Sizes’ slowly unfurls into a beautiful heavenly acoustic melody and climaxing in an enraptured euphoria – a perfect backdrop for his recognizable soft, lilting vocal. Mason delivers again, excelling as always but surely that was never in doubt?

‘Planet Sizes’ is accompanied by an animated video directed by Anna Ginsburg, which you can check out below. Meanwhile, Meet The Humans is out on the 26th February 2016 on Double Six.

Introducing: A C C Ü

 

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TRWBADOR were an act who occupied a unique place in the musical landscape between folk, techno and electronica. The duo’s original sound placed them firmly at the forefront the Welsh music scene but during the summer of this year, the pair decided to go their separate ways.

Since then, both Owain Gwilym and Angharad van Rijswijk have been working in their own respective projects. Having previously collaborated with Cornershop under the A C C Ü alias, Van Rijswijk has unveiled the first material from her latest venture, with a series of recordings from a session for C2 BBC Radio Cymru. ‘Noseweithiau Nosol’ is a breathtaking introduction to the new endeavor, delving further into otherworldly electronica, Van Rijswijk’s distinctive crystalline voice finds itself at peace among the winding, pulsating and throbbing synth line and shadow sounds. ‘Golau Welw’ is a much lighter and airy concoction, demonstrating the compelling power of her vocals, amid minimal crunchy beats and subtle synths/keys.

With A C C Ü, Van Rijswijk is continuing to forge something distinct and rather unique and while it’s certainly a shame that TRWBADOR parted company, on this evidence, A C C Ü has plenty to offer.

 

The Coral – ‘Chasing The Tail Of A Dream’

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While most of us we’re preoccupied with other matters, Wirral five-piece The Coral (now joined by guitarist Paul Molloy, formerly of The Zutons) signaled an end to their hiatus, delivering a tasty treat over Christmas.

This gift came in the shape of ‘Chasing The Tail Of A Dream’, a first taster from their forthcoming album, Distance Inbetween, their first collection of original material since 2010’s fantastic Butterfly House. It is a swaggering, muscular and rockin’ return, with snarling guitars, rumbling rhythms and their signature psychedelic flourishes cavorting and contouring around frontman James Skelly’s recognizable vocals. It is a compelling and captivating reminder of how fine a band The Coral and I for one, couldn’t be more pleased with their long-overdue return. Things are certainly poised nicely for the new LP, Distance Inbetween, which is released 4th March 2016 on Ignition Records.

Before then, you can sample ‘Chasing The Tail Of A Dream’. It is out now on limited edition and signed 7”, also featuring new track ‘Unforgiven’ on the flip side.

Distance Inbetween, tracklisting:

Connector
White Bird
Chasing The Tail Of A Dream
Distance Inbetween
Million Eyes
Miss Fortune
Beyond The Sun
It’s You
Holy Revelation
She Runs The River
Fear Machine
End Credits