DATE ARCHIVES : April 2019

ALFFA – ‘PLA’

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Alffa are Dion Wyn Jones & Sion Eifion Land, a two-man riff machine from Llanrug, Wales.

Performing in their native Welsh, this pair have a massive sound and craft explosive tunes echoing the likes of The White Stripes, The Black Keys & Royal Blood et al. The self-dubbed “punk-blues” two piece introduced themselves with powerhouse singles ‘Creadur’ and ‘Tomos Rhys’ late last year, and Alffa are back with new single ‘PLA’ – provoing once again they are a force to be reckoned with. ‘PLA’ is every bit as muscular as it predecessors announcing it’s presence with a deafening combination of ferocious, serrated guitar riff, thunderous and propulsive drums and searing, biting vocals. It is a thundering three-minutes of gritty rock ‘n roll abandon as mammoth riffs crash into pulverising percussion for a dazzling and mighty whirl of noise.

You can listen to ‘PLA’ below – and if that is to your liking, there is plenty more where that came from here too.

 

The Urban Renewal Project – ‘Shake Those Hips’

The Urban Renewal Project is a sixteen-piece hip-hop collective (yes, sixteen!) based in Los Angeles.

Their sound can be loosely defined as hip-hop, but in reality their sound seamlessly blurs the boundaries between soul, funk, jazz, and hip-hop – utilising the old adage of power in numbers, they boast a big band horn section, singers and three MCs among their ranks. And like that, strutting its funky wares is new single ‘Shake Those Hips’, offering us an opportunity to fully realise the complete, irresistible power of the ensemble’s vibrant sound.

This is slick, grooving and funky slice of infectious hip hop; ‘Shake Those Hips’ is insanely catchy, extremely addictive and pretty brilliant. It is a syrupy brew; big, brassy and funk-fuelled hip-hop. Swaggering along with an irresistible groove, huge blasts of brass, infectious bars from three MCs and more horns than a randy goat – we’re treated to a fun-filled barrel-roll through positive vibes just begging to be danced to.

This is one of the most thrilling singes of 2019 thus far and one sure to leave an indelible mark on your soul.

‘Shake Those Hips’ is the lead single from their forthcoming EP titled Love Glory Duty Death, expected later in 2019. Listen to the single below:

Hugo Monster – ‘Can’t Believe In Miracles’

Hugo Monster is a rapper and hip hop artist from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Now, while he has been serving up hip hop tunes for a few years across the water, with a slew or releases to his name, new single ‘Can’t Believe In Miracles’ is our first encounter. Not only is it a fine opening introduction, but ‘Can’t Believe In Miracles’ marks Hugo Monster as a master for crafting classy, breezy and elegant hip hop tunes. A hazy glow sprouts from an irresistible soft wave of hypnotising jazzy vibes and warm, crackling beats, shimmering like a heat haze of scorching summer’s day. This beguiling, washed-out textured haze of dreaminess shifts seductively, slowly undulating and providing a perfect backdrop for Hugo Monster’s authoritative but laid-back brogue, and devilishly silky lyrical flow. Laid-back and grooving, it is irresistible and distinctive, and you will be powerless to resist nodding along to.

Check out ‘Can’t Believe In Miracles’ below:

False Heads – ‘Slease’

London trio False Heads – singer and guitarist Luke Griffiths, bassist Jake Elliott and drummer Barney Nash – have marked themselves as noisemakers supreme over the past two and a bit years.

During that period, the London trio have made it their business to blow us away with a blistering blend of grunge/punk through a slew of ferocious singles. And now, their latest ‘Slease’, is the first lifted from their forthcoming debut LP, and is no less thrilling than anything that’s gone before. In fact, it is a monstrous anthem of searing riffs, mighty bass lines, seething vocals and pounding, punk-infused beats, coming together to create one unified torrent of devastating noise – a perfect storm for Griffiths’ snarly and venomous vocals. An exhilarating, breathtaking whirlwind of rock ‘n roll fury.

Listen to ‘Yellow’ below – word of warning, turn it up LOUD.

Eugenia Post Meridiem – ‘Low Tide’

Eugenia Post Meridiem are an Italian outfit, who are something of a United Nations of sound, with the four-piece having been based all across Western Europe throughout its short existence.

However, continental exploration aside, Eugenia Post Meridiem have struck gold with their debut single ‘Low Tide’. It moves slowly, smoldering with wistful emotion as it goes amid a shifting mist of atmospheric, dreamy and psych tones, marked by a sparseness and dark mood. Waltzing as it does, ‘Low Tide’ is transfixing and truly captivating with the dilated space allowing room for Eugenia’s delicate, fragile (and at times trembling) yet warm vocals to breathe and add another layer of stirring emotion and deeply, majestic beauty. A dreamy, wistful and heart-strung whirlwind of emotion.

‘Low Tides’ is also the first taste of Eugenia Post Meridiem’s debut album In Her Bones, which is expected later this, and as far as first impressions go, they don’t get much better than this. If this single is indicative of what’s to come on the album, we may be in for quite a treat.

‘Low Tide’ is out now on Factory Flaws. Tune in below.

Touboura – ‘Awakening’

Touboura is an instrumental kraut/space/drone electronica outfit from Greece.

Revolving around the talents of Sofia Touboura, these are experimental, imaginative sounds imbued with of wonderment and awe, and none more so than latest single ‘Awakening’.

A three-and-a-half minute long hypnotic intrepid adventure in sound and space. Opening with an ever-progressing, relentless rhythmic surge, bouyed by a motorik beat, it gains in intensity before stopping abruptly, succumbing to the enveloping blissed-out airy synthscapes before rising again, amid a haze of hissing noise, distortion and fuzz which begins to fade as cosmic sounds cascade and chime, as rhythmic surge electrifies us once more. A heady brew of swirling psych, beautiful spaced-out noise and Motorik rhythms, it is a wonder of imagination and ideas that finds a home in your consciousness. An enthralling, intrepid and awe-inspiring experience.

‘Awakening’ is the second single lifted from (I died so many times that I became) Immortal EP released via To Pikap Records – you can find it here.

Listen to ‘Awakening’ below.

Heavy Heart – ‘Dowsabel’

Hot on the heels of sublime single, ‘Bed Bug’, released only recently, London outfit Heavy Heart have followed it up with an equally transfixing affair with ‘Dowsabel’.

Heavy Heart – comprised of Anna Vincent (lead vocals, guitar), Patrick Fitzroy (guitar, backing vocals), James Vincent (guitar, backing vocals) and Craig Brown (drums) – started as a lo-fi, bedroom project in a tiny flat above the main road in New Cross, south London, a few years back but has grown and flourished to yield some marvellous results – ‘Dowsabel’ is a case in point. ‘Dowsabel’ is an old English word for sweetheart, and this song is about a love affair, and graced by a mournful air. Sombre strings introduce the lament, as layers of glistening guitar tones and solemn basslines intertwine to create a dreamy tapestry tempered with sadness and loss. A heady and potent mix that is fragile yet powerful, melancholic but determined and altogether triumphant.

‘Dowsabel’ is the second of three tracks mixed and co-produced by Gabe Wax (The War On Drugs, Fleet Foxes and Soccer Mommy) which will form the basis of a new EP that is expected this spring.

Tune in below.