DATE ARCHIVES : April 2017

Duncan Lloyd Announces New Album; Shares ‘Heads Of The Bastille’

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Duncan Lloyd is probably best known as the guitarist with Maximo Park but away from the day job, he’s kept himself busy with various side-projects including Decade In Exile, Nano Kino and solo work under his own name.

It is the latter which demands our attention, with the release of new album, I O U O M E, and follow up to 2008’s Seeing Double. The first single from the new record is ‘Heads of The Bastille’, and it’s a beaut! Lloyd’s hushed vocal has a tactile warmth and echoes through the melody and shimmering guitar, tempered with a mild coat of fuzz. Bristling with an nocturnal moodiness, it is permeated with a sense of intimacy, melancholy and understated optimism. A tantalising taste of what Lloyd is capable of and marvellous intro to the new record.

I O U O M E is set to release on 26th May, but before then whet your appetite with ‘Heads of the Bastille’.

Fuzzystar – ‘Telegraphing’

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Fuzzystar is the moniker of Edinburgh-based songwriter Andy Thomson and band, who have a flair for off-kilter indie pop, strewn with scuzzy, lo-fi melodies.

Andy Thomson has been playing solo and in various line-ups as Fuzzystar for years; starting in Edinburgh, with a stint in London, before returning to Scotland. The band name comes from an appreciation of the bands Big Star and Mazzy Star. Fuzzystar’s forthcoming album Telegraphing is due for release on April 28th and ahead of that, we’ve been gifted record’s title-track, and it’s a doozy. ‘Telegraphing’ is three-and-a-half-minutes of melodic lo-fi indie laden with dream-like fuzz, infectious reverb and strewn with hooks you could hang your hat on. Bristling with an unobtrusive moodiness, it is permeated with a sense of melancholy and understated optimism, as Thomsen’s droning vocal echoes through the shimmering haze. A tantalising taste what Fuzzystar is all about.

The album is due out on 28th April 2017 via Satellite Sounds, you can treat your ears to the marvellous drifting haze of title-track ‘Telegraphing’ below.

Morrissey & Marshall – ‘She’s Got Love’

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London-based, Dublin duo Morrissey & Marshall are readying the release of their second album, due for release on May 26th.

Previewing the new record, the pair have unveiled single, ‘She’s Got Love’. It’s a timeless, immaculately tailored, super catchy slice of and infectious indie-pop. Lively, bright and chipper, ‘She’s Got Love is enveloped by janglely guitars, uplifting harmonies and a giddy, bouncy rhythm. This is as close to a perfect three-minute pop song as you’re likely to hear, and it is an impossible to resist, feel-good jam designed to paste smiles on faces. The two friends appear to possess an innate ability for incredibly catchy indie-pop, and long may it continue.

‘She’s Got Love’ will be released on May 5th and followed by a new album on May 26th. Brighten up your day below.

Flora Cash – ‘California’

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Swedish/American duo Flora Cash are a pair worth letting into your life.

Shpresa Lleshaj & Cole Randall are preparing to release their debut album, Nothing Lasts Forever (And It’s Fine) on April 21st, ahead of which, comes their new single ‘California‘. The acoustic strumming of the guitar sets the tone for this brooding folk-inspired atmospheric cut. Utterly captivating, it brilliantly illustrates the power Flora Cash’s sobering, distinctive harmonies and ambient edge. A stellar tune charged with raw emotion, that effortlessly blends euphoric highlights with distinctively dark undertones. It will demand your full and undivided intention.

‘California’ is but one part of a 10 track patchwork that is their forthcoming LP, Nothing Lasts Forever (And It’s Fine), out April 21st. Tune in now.

Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist #1

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A brand new feature on the Gruff channel, a weekly 15-track Spotify playlist series featuring some of the finest new music to prick my ears.

Clocking in at under and hour, it’s an easily digested slice of new music, just in time for the weekend. There’s a nice mix of genres and styles too, allowing me to share more great tunes for your ears, so hopefully it can be a regular feature. We’ll see how it goes, I guess.

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Sweet Baboo Announces New Album ‘Wild Imagination’, Shares ‘Badminton’

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Two years on from The Boombox Ballads, North Wales native Stephen Black, better known as Sweet Baboo, is gearing up to release his brand new LP.

Due out on 2nd June Wild Imagination was penned as something of an antidote to our turbulent, worrying developments of 2016. In addition, Black has shared the sweet new single ‘Badminton’. Black is songwriter who has a clear vision, coupled with an unquestionable understanding of the melodies and rhythms that hits the sweet spot time after time. The outcome of which, is a some of the most wonderful, curious and eminently listenable music in recent recent years. These aforementioned qualities are found in abundance on ‘Badminton’. It is a gentle, bright and airy ditty with lilting electronics as Black’s peaceful vocals floating gracefully between gentle tones and the breezy, warbling synth. Just beautiful.

Wild Imagination is out 2 June via Moshi Moshi. Check ‘Badminton’ out below.

Jon C Butler – ‘A Little Misunderstanding’

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‘There has been a misunderstanding hasn’t there?’ sings Jon C Butler.

The brand new single ‘A Little Misunderstanding’ so clearly and concisely parades the endearing nature of his Americana infused jangle, it leaves no scope for misinterpretation.

Leicester-based Jon C Butler is a singer, songwriter and musician with over 25 years in the game, and it shows. ‘A Little Misunderstanding’ is reflective, profoundly stirring and intoxicating alchemy of life, love and spirit. It is a sweet song of melodic-pop with an indie-folk twist; a Dylan-esque jangle mingles with hints of Memphis country soul troubadours as Butler channels his inner Springsteen. A rather charming single that is deserving of a resounding thumbs up.

Butler’s album Universal Stranger is scheduled for release on 23 June via Strataville. While ‘A Little Misunderstanding’ is out on 14 April 2017. Have a listen below.

There is also free exclusive 4-song EP called Revelation Calling in return for an email address, not a bad deal at all. Get it here.

Introducing: Allen and Douglas

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Allen and Douglas are a musical duo from Birmingham, who together, have been crafting songs since their teens.

Strumming, singing and crafting songs in old railway stations and under canal bridges since their teens, the pair have developed a sound through a process of trial and error. While heavy on harmonies,there is something off-kilter or left-field about their brand of indie, exemplified by the magnificent ‘Eve’. The combined draw of scratchy guitar stabs (reminiscent of ’80s Billy Bragg) and reaching harmonies coupled leave a lasting, curious impression. Similarly excellent and distinctive are ‘Some Weird Armageddon’ and ‘My Head’s Talking Too Much’. With several hiatuses under their belt they record regularly in a small bedroom studio in Birmingham UK – their output is is both regular and rather astounding.

You can check out some choice cuts from Allen and Douglas below and they regularly share new jams on their SoundCloud too.

 

Dama Scout – ‘Paper Boy’

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Glasgow/London trio Dama Scout introduced themselves to us last year with two unforgettable singles, ‘Forget It’s Good’ & ‘All in Too’.

The trio are back with an equally enthralling third single, ‘Paper Boy’. Opening with a combination of hazy reverb-drenched guitars, floating vocals and fuzzy interludes of snarling guitars and harmonic modulations, ‘Paper Boy’ lulls you into a heady stupor before reaching tipping point – as everything free falls into an epic, climactic swirl of beautifully delirious noise. Once again, their sound pushes and pulls the listener. Rarely do polarising components feel so cohesive, but Dama Scout continue to impress and thrill. The future is a bright one for Dama Scout.

‘Paper Boy’ will be released on April 14th via RIP Records. Get a sneak peak below.

Safetalk – ‘Universal’

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From Paris & Berlin, the trio of two Parisian producers and Berlin-based British vocalist, David Harks, are Safetalk.

The continental trio have released their debut single, ‘Universal’ and this first transmission sounds like it was beamed directly from the cosmos. Safetalk’s first introduction is a wonderful piece of lush electronic-pop with soft-psych flourishes and transfixing vocals, that will leave an indelible mark on ones soul. It is a blissed-out love letter of uplifting positivity, it gently builds until a warm rapture envelopes you and everything else around you. At the risk of sounding rather corny, it exudes a cosmic vibe of birth, death, and rebirth.

Lots more promised from Safetalk this year and they’ve been holed up in Paris for the past 6 months writing, recording and getting their full live show in shape.

Tune in to Safetalk’s interstellar-pop now.