DATE ARCHIVES : May 2016

Super Furry Animals – ‘Bing Bong’

 

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Super Furry Animals made their return last year, with a number of reunion shows supporting the 15th anniversary and reissue of Mwng. With loads of dates across Europe and North America this year, Super Furries are back with a sprightly new single, ‘Bing Bong’.

An unofficial Euro 2016 song to support Wales’ quest for European dominance, ‘Bing Bong’ marks the band’s first new offering since 2009’s Dark Days/Light Years. Inspired by ‘defeat, victory, cosmic disco and Buck Rodgers’, ‘Bing Bong’ is bouncy, jaunty and cosmic jam. Sang in Welsh, it’s upbeat, fun and so, so catchy. It’s a little bit mad, in a playfully mad way if that makes sense, but most importantly it’s a great tune with all the recognizable sheen Super Furry magic.

‘Bing Bong’ is out digitally today and will be released physically on 12”, June 17th through Strangetown Records. It also features artwork by long-time collaborator Pete Fowler – and a suitably stimulating video by Mark James and Ryan Eddleston, watch that below now.

 

Introducing: Bad Sea

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Bad Sea are Dublin duo Ciara Thompson and Alan Farrell (occasionally joined live by violinist Éna, from Tandem Felix).

Their sound flows from a rich well of influences and styles to produce a smooth, smokey, alt-country sound. The pair’s most recent release, single ‘I’d Want U’, is a simply stunning example of their prowess. It is intimate and sincere, with a slightly rough around the edges feel amplifying the wounded, raw emotion. Amid these gloomy, doleful surroundings and stark strum, Thompson’s rich, distinctive and emotive voice is buoyed by a swelling guitar, paired so well against a sparse, smokey backdrop. A smooth, tender and stunning, emotive little gem and if you’re anyway human, ‘I’d Want U’ should stir something in you and leave the hairs on the back of your neck on end.

Nothing concrete but Bad Sea are rumored to be recording more material but. if you’re back home, keep an eye out for them as they seem to busy on the gig front around Ireland. For now, sit back and enjoy ‘I’d Want U’.

Trails And Ways – ‘My Things’

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California foursome Trails And Ways have been pasting smiles on faces with their alluring, bright and joyous sounds for quite some time.

Having released their wonderfully infectious debut LP, Pathology only last year, the foursome are already prepping it’s follow up. While there is no concrete release date as yet, Trails And Ways have presented us with a taste of what is to come, in the shape of new single, ‘My Things’. It is yet another strong offering of sun-drenched, tropical-tinged indie-pop but with a shift towards a more rock and roll sound, while retaining their signature infectious, dream-pop air. ‘My Things’ is a simply sublime, joyful distillation of sweet summery vibes. Trails And Ways’ music is always particularly suited to summer, good on them for obliging us, and providing us with some early summery sounds.

You can listen to ‘My Things’ below and it is out now, and available free of charge, here. Keep an ear out for the forthcoming LP.

Rozi Plain – ‘Marshes’

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Rozi Plain’s Friend is an absolute treasure, and the album is one of 2015’s choice releases.

Following up from that, the Bristol songwriter and musician has compiled a collection rarities, session tracks and remixes for a new release, with new song ‘Marshes’ leading the way. A gentle and deftly-arranged distillation of folky, indie and ambient pop that utterly beguiles, as Plain’s voice punctures the gloomy aura fashioned by distant cymbals and ghostly atmospherics. A sleepy, whispering and otherworldly number that like the finest moments from Friend, discovers beauty in the most curious of places. A wonderful song, demonstrating perfectly what Rozi Plain is all about. A timely reminder, in that regard.

You can check out ‘Marshes’ below and Friend of a Friend is out now via Lost Map – listen here.

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Ghost Culture – ‘Multiply’

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It’s been just over a year since the release of Ghost Culture‘s self-tilted debut album – one of the finest releases of 2015 by the way – the London-based artist has emerged fresh from the studio with double A-side single Safe/Multiply.

Having previously shared ‘Safe’, it’s now time for ‘Multiply’ to utterly consume you. It is a direct, driven track that builds and builds, headed straight toward the dancefloor with precision beats, immaculate production and clutches of spoken word. ‘Multiply’ is a genuinely emphatic track and one that feels alive, and embodies all that is great about electronic (and dance) music. This of course, will come as little surprise to those who have crossed paths with Ghost Culture’s 2015 self-titled debut album. If you have not yet had that pleasure, now is as perfect a time as ever to get acquainted with it.

You can listen to both ‘Multiply’ and ‘Safe’ below, while you can check out Ghost Culture’s debut here.

Pictish Trail – ‘Far Gone (Don’t Leave)’ + New Album Due in 2016

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Scottish musician and songwriter Pictish Trail, aka Johnny Lynch, has unveiled a brand new single ‘Far Gone (Don’t Leave)’.

From his hideaway on the Isle of Eigg, Mr. Lynch has been working away on a third Pictish Trail album, which is due for release in the late summer. Our first taster lifted from the forthcoming record is ‘Far Gone (Don’t Leave)’, and it is a simply splendid return. Inspired by Fargo, it’s a song about paranoia, the fear of being caught, and how that pushes people into desperate situations. With that in mind, unsurprisingly it has a curious and mysterious cinematic quality arrived at as a wonky keyboard bassline conspires with a heavy hip hop beat, all soaked in reverb. A slightly darker side to Lynch’s DIY electronic-tinged indie/folk but in saying that, it isn’t any less impressive.

Ahead of a new album, there is plenty to keep us occupied while we await follow up to Secret Soundz Vol. 1 & 2. Pictish Trail will release a postcard single via his own Lost Map imprint. Check it out now.

Martha Ffion – ‘We Disappear’

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‘We Disappear’ is the brand new single from Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter, Martha Ffion.

Ffion’s third release through respected indie label Turnstile (Gruff Rhys, Cate Le Bon, Drinks etc.), in three minutes it sums up what has made her work so endearing thus far. Inspired by her adopted hometown of Glasgow, it’s a gentle and relaxed jangle, coated in a light sparing, wash of reverb, with her powerful croon cutting through the tender surroundings. There is something utterly compelling in the way Ffion sings, heavily invested emotionally, what she is saying, needs to be heard. A touching ode to Glasgow, it is undeniably a spellbinding experience, ‘We Disappear’ further cements Martha Ffion’s ever-growing rep.

‘We Disappear’ is out now and you can listen/watch it below.

 

Jay Arner to Release New LP ‘Jay II’ & shares ‘Like Dracula’

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Vancouver musician, producer and 1/2 of Energy Slime, Jay Arner has a second, aptly titled, LP Jay II coming on June 17, 2016 through Mint Records.

Arner’s got a proven, sterling talent for a tune, as clearly evidenced by his current, and previous work. The latest taste of his stellar pop-craft is ‘Like A Dracula’. It follows previously released ‘Crystal Ball’, equally as fetching, it certainly does not dampen our expectations for the new record. ‘Like A Dracula’ is similarly delightful, sun-kissed and glam-infused indie-pop as we’re greeted by, and treated to, an irresistible wave of hypnotizing synths, slinky grooves, shimmering guitars and oh so pleasant vocals. Based on the evidence so far, Arner’s forthcoming LP, is one to keep an eye out for.

While you’ll have to wait till June 17 to get your hands on the new record, Jay II, ‘Like A Dracula’ and ‘Crystal Ball’ are below for your listening pleasure:

Dan Amor and Huw Owen – ‘Mothers In Day-Glo’ + ‘Swooshed’ Compilation

 

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Cae Gwyn Records is an independent record label based in North Wales. As a label, it prides itself on its independence and has built a solid reputation for releasing all manner of interesting, creative and listenable, left field bilingual music.

The latest example of this comes in the shape of Swooshed; a new 10 track compilation album featuring some of Wales’ very finest folk, pop, ambient and psychedelic music. It picks up where previous free digital sampler Cynefin Cae Gwyn, left off – of which you may or may not remember but it is worth checking out, or revisiting. Swooshed is littered with gems but the pick of the pile comes from Dan Amor and Huw Owen’s ‘Mothers In Day-Glo’. Recorded in an old quarry man’s cottage above Tregarth in North Wales, it is a warm and inviting, woozy and mellow, sun-drenched psych-tinged folk sound. ‘Mothers In Day-Glo’ is sure to leave you all the better for listening (as can be said for ‘Swooshed’ too). Dan Amor and Huw Owen operate a strict ‘blank canvass’ policy when writing and recording together –all ideas and parts are thought up on the day – whatever the case, it works, and how!

Check out ‘Mothers In Day-Glo’ below and you can a hold of Swooshed here. Happy listening!

 

Pankhabilli Become Fauna Twin & Release new Single ‘Water on Mars’

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Fauna Twin is the new name for Wales based duo – Parisian singer-songwriter Claire Jacquemard & Hippies vs Ghosts‘ Owain Ginsberg – formerly known as Pankhabilli.

Under their previous moniker, the pair elicited much adulation and praise for their musical endeavors, and so far, all that has changed is the name. Recently signed to Crammed Discs Records, the freshly re-branded duo have released a new single, ‘Water on Mars’.It’s a dark pulsating synth alt-pop track. Unfolding with a brooding atmosphere and eerie sense of forbidding, growing at pace on the back intoxicating rhythm and some darker tribal beats, which conspire with Jacquemard’s gripping vocals to leave an indelible mark. What’s in a name huh? lot’s to look forward to from this talented duo.

‘Water on Mars’ is released on May 6th through Crammed Discs, with an EP to follow this autumn. For now? Check out ‘Water on Mars’ below: