POST CATEGORY : Video

(Video) Tuff Love – ‘That’s Right’

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Everyone’s favourite Glaswegian scuzz-pop duo Tuff Love have previewed their forthcoming Dross EP with a brand new video for ‘That’s Right’.

Following on from ‘Slammer’, which was released toward the back end of 2014, Julie Eisenstein and Suse Bear once again reminded us of their endearing quality, and offer us some well needed new year cheer while they’re at it. Writing together in Suse’s bedroom and recording everything themselves, this musical pairing have already cooked up a flurry of addictive, perfectly formed alternative rock, and ‘That’s Right’ follows suit. Clocking in at just over two minutes, it’s a little fuzzy, distorted and rough around the edges, yet amid the searing, blistering riffs, fuzz and crashing drums, it is sewn together emphatically by their signature swoon-inducing pop harmonies and the beautiful breathy vocals floating over the top. Another absolutely brilliant two and a bit minutes of top notch indie/alt-rock from this increasingly promising and extremely exciting Glasgow pair.

‘That’s Right’ will feature alongside previous single ‘Slammer’ on the Dross EP, which is due for release on 10″ pink vinyl, via Lost Map Records on February 9th. Check ’em both out below.

(Video) Marika Hackman – ‘Drown’

marika hackman 2014

We were given a first taste of what to expect from the highly anticipated debut album* from Marika Hackman, We Slept At Last, with its first single ‘Drown’ back in October, and now to stoke the fires of interest further, it has been given the visual treatment.

The single itself is characteristically eerie and sort of rustles and flickers in the darkness, muffled drums and delicate strum create a suitably haunting ambience for Hackman’s whispering soft vocals to beguile us. It is this underlying layer of darkness which is eked out further to quite grim and unnerving proportions on the new video, as the songs title is taken literally. Unsettling it may be but visually it is pretty stunning. We Slept At Last will be released on February 16th 2015 and ‘Drown’ is timely reminder of her remarkable songwriting prowess, naturally intertwined with her captivating vocals. For someone still in the dawn of her career, she’s already got a pretty a tasty back catalogue to her name, of which ‘Drown’ is as good as any. It goes without saying but her forthcoming debut full length is one to keep your eyes peeled for in the new year.

You can check ‘Drown’ below and you can pre-order We Slept At Last here.

*Debut album proper following on from here splendid ‘mini-album’ The Iron Taste in 2013.

Favourite New Sounds of 2014: W/ Philip Neeson AKA Dukla Prague Away Kit

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As November draws to a close and the silly season of list making and roundups draws near, myself & Philip Neeson, who runs and edits one of my favourite and frequently visited Dukla Prague Away Kit, decided to get in on the action early. A blog swap whereby he & I pick our five favourite new acts from 2014 seeming the most apt. After all, I quite enjoy these end of year lists, both sharing mine and reading others to see what I`ve missed out on during the year, so this covers both bases nicely.

With that I shall leave you in Mr. Neeson`s capable hands as he outlines his favourite new sounds of 2014. You can also check mine out here.

(05) Nochexxx:

The boy Nochexxx (aka Dave Henson) actually released a couple of slabs back in 2011 but 1) I wasn’t aware of these, and 2) he finally put out a debut LP this year, so he’s new in every other sense of the word…ahem. ‘Thrusters’ is one fun-packed acid test of retro bleep and sample-heavy techno. (The tune included here samples the classic ‘The Fly’ movie). “Electro-funk freak beats” was how Boomkat described this release, and they’re usually not that wrong.

(04) Vomitface:

“Slimy-grunge post-punk disturbance” is how I winged the track ‘Sloppy Joes’ on the website upon first listen or three. I enjoyed it lots. And then a month or so down the line the New Jersey three-piece got in touch to tell me about their “completely reverent and irreverent simultaneously” video for the single, and I loved it– and indeed them– even more. The vid in question is music video of the year for me, and the tune quite possibly my number 1 single to boot. I’m looking forward to hearing more.

(03) Quirke:

Josh Quirke’s ‘Acid Beth’ is possibly my second favourite EP after the EP from my number 1 new act below ( I do like EP’s, you know). A dark release, that incorporates things like ghostly pianos in empty Victorian houses (the title-track) and restless, all-out industrialized techno attack (‘Break A Mirrored Leg’).

(02) CRUISING:

CRUISING are an Irish DIY indie supergroup. They’re also quite loud and raw. In fact, one can’t imagine them ever playing in a venue hat isn’t a spit-and-dust dive with graffiti scribbled in the toilets. I saw them play a venue in Belfast earlier this year that was a spit-and-dust dive with graffiti in the toilets. CRUISING also very good. And put out a cassette single this year on the excellent Soft Power label called ‘You Made Me Do That’. It sounds like Jack White playing The Fall circa 1980.

(01) M.E.S.H.:

My favourite new act award goes to M.E.S.H., who is from Berlin, a place that seems to produce no end of good electronic and techno. His debut release ‘Scythians’ is possibly my favourite EP of 2014.  It’s out on PAN, which also happens to be one of my favourite labels. I particularly love ‘Captivated’; it’s one cold and uncertain cave-dweller of a track. But M.E.S.H. loves everything from dub-techno to spacy hip-hop.

Photo by John Quintero

(Video) Beach Day – ‘How Do You Sleep At Night’

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During the summer Beach Day released Native Echoes, a collection bright and cheeky, lo-fi garage rock tunes. Inspired by nostalgia but powered by a fresh verve, it captured that hazy summer vibe and this bright blend of garage rock, surf pop and girl group sounds, sits comfortably alongside contemporaries like Cults and Tennis.

Needless to say, hazy summer days (and nights) are but a distant memory on this side of the world but doesn’t mean we must dispel the hazy, sun-kissed and cheery tunes. Beach Days’ latest single, ‘How Do You Sleep At Night’ provides an easy and breezy escape from the shackles of winter. It has a swooning, peaceful feel to it, aided by the sound of waves lapping a Holywood shore line. A gentle jangle accompanies Skyler Black’s wonderful floating vocals in tenderly piercing the soft fuzz that crackles with warmth and tingles with nostalgia. One of many loveable and inescapably brilliant tunes that festoon their latest album, Native Echoes.

You can check out ‘How Do You Sleep At Night’ below and if you’re liking that, why not give the album a whirl over here?

Freedom Fry – ‘Blackmailed’

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Los Angeles based indie pop duo Freedom Fry have been charming our ears for quite a while now, with the likes of ‘Summer In The City’, ‘Hanging With The New Crowd’ and ‘Home’.

The Franco-American duo, Marie Seyrat and Bruce Driscoll, have returned with another stellar single of similarly brilliant characteristics. ‘Blackmailed’ is a gentle and woozy number, with pair injecting an element of funk into their pop delicacy for what is ultimately a stylish piece of psych-tinged, sultry and soulful synth-pop. The gorgeous boy/girl vocals too, combine to beguiling effect, atop of a breezy vibe with some sun-kissed and melancholic tones. It is another tantalizing brilliant and utterly loveable track from Freedom Fry.

New single ‘Blackmailed’ is taken from their upcoming limited edition vinyl, Fan Club (The Singles 2011-2014), available to pre-order here. Failing that, you can stream ‘Blackmailed’ below.

(Video) Tuff Love – ‘Slammer’

Tuff Love 'Slammer' 2014

Scottish duo Tuff Love, Julie Eisenstein (guitar, vocals) and Suse Bear (bass, vocals), burst on to our radar earlier this year with their dazzlingly infectious debut EP, Junk, that left a rather lasting impression.

Writing together in Suse’s bedroom, and recording everything themselves, this musical pairing has produced a flurry of addictive, perfectly formed alternative rock – tied together by heart-warming harmonies, whispery vocals, direct guitar lines and sun-soaked dreamy melodies. The pair make a welcome return with new track ‘Slammer’, taken from their forthcoming new EP, Dross, which comes out 9th February 2015 via Lost Map Records. ‘Slammer’ sticks with the aforementioned successful formula, yet it is somewhat softer on the senses and exudes a rather airy ambience as the beautiful breathy vocals hover above the din of direct guitar lines, fuzz and crashing drums. Despite the infectious brilliance of their music, they’ve always come across in a slightly shy and awkward manner but on this occasion they sound assured and passionate, yet humble. An absolutely gripping three and a bit minutes of top notch indie/alt-rock from an increasingly promising Glasgow pair.

The video is pretty slick too, check it and ‘Slammer’ below.

Velvet Morning – ‘Green Whale’

Velvet Morning 'Green Whale' 2014

Velvet Morning and their self-coined ‘smooth psychedelia’ sound captured our attention this year, with a series of gently contagious, wistful, swirling and seductive bouts of psychedelia.

Having recently signed to RIP Records (good to know it’s not just me they’ve impressed), the Leigh-on-Sea quartet have shared their wonderful new single ‘Green Whale’. In doing so they continue to proliferate their dreamy slumbering wonderland as they conjure something hypnotically alluring, effortlessly cool and vaguely shoegaze on ‘Green Whale’. Washed-out, whispery vocals and a distorted melody line grapple for space amidst oceans of fuzz,as it bobs and bounds in and out of focus, in a woozy free-floating, undulating manner. Melodic, atmospheric and utterly brilliant – Velvet Morning continue to go from strength to strength.

Check out ‘Green Whale’ and its visual companion below.

(Video) By The Sea – ‘You’re The Only One’

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Wirral five-piece By The Sea return with ‘You’re The Only One’, the second single from their latest album Endless Days, Crystal Sky.

Released back in August, we found By The Sea sounding bigger and fuller than ever before, as they expanded and refined their wistful yet driven psych-pop undulations. It is a magnificent collection of melodic guitar pop songs, of which none are a finer example than ‘You’re The Only One’. Illuminated by drifting, dreamlike atmospherics, understated shimmering synth work, jangling guitars and bubbly bass, this scintillating piece of dreamy indie-pop is punctuated by world-weary vocals, imbued with an aching sense of melancholy, creating a great sense of both depth and warmth, a combination which characterises their LP. A simply gorgeous track, one of many from an equally magnificent album.

You can check out the video for ‘You’re The Only One’ below (it’s a rather lovely homage to the Merseyside coast).

Also, coinciding with the release of is news that they’ll play their biggest show yet, on November 29th at Liverpool’s historic Epstein Theatre (details/tickets here).

The Charlatans – ‘Talking In Tones’

The Charlatans Talking in Tones 2014

Last week The Charlatans unveiled a new single ‘Talking In Tones’, a first glimpse into their forthcoming, as-yet-untitled 12th album.

It is also the band’s first new material following the passing of drummer Jon Brookes last year, and will honour the late musician. Out through Quietus Phonographic Corporation as a limited edition 7″, ‘Talking In Tones’ sows together a subtle baggy rhythm, jangling guitars with Burgess’s recognizable vocals, some sublime and distinctive Charlatans organ sounds, acting as camouflage for a rather claustrophobic, haunting and mournful air (which is hardly surprising given the circumstance). This gently stirring track is the most vital The Charlatans have sounded for quite some time (bringing to mind a sort of hybrid of The Charlatans’ very own ‘Then’ and Ian Brown’s ‘Corpses In Their Mouth’). Yeah, they’ve hardly been in sparkling form over the past decade but their previous LP, Who We Touch was a solid step in the right direction. On the evidence of ‘Talking In Tones’, we could be in store for a treat when they decide to release album number twelve.

You make your own judgement on ‘Talking In Tones’ below, and the video, which stars Nico Mirallegro as a young Tim Burgess, was directed by Nik Colk Void of Factory Floor.

Electric Picnic 2014: Johnny Feeney’s 5 Best Acts

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t envious of all the people who made it to Electric Picnic this year, especially after last year’s festival, which was one of my favourite EP’s of all. It’s a small price to pay I guess for a new life over here in Vancouver. In my absence however, the trusty and reliable Johnny Feeney was down in Stradbally for this year’s festival, one of his favourites yet. His knowledge, diverse taste and appetite for music (gigs in particular) is astounding and always provides a refreshing and interesting take on whatever he chooses to write about. I for one really enjoyed his report from the weekend’s antics and hopefully you do too. So without any further hesitation, here are the five acts that impressed him the most at Electric Picnic 2014. Thanks as always to Johnny and I’ll leave you in his very capable hands.

Portishead, Main Stage, Saturday 30st August, 22:35

Trip-hop masters Portishead are not a band renowned for being overly prolific (they’ve released three studio albums in 20 years) or for their zealous touring schedule (they haven’t played in Ireland since 1997) so tonight’s performance on the main stage falls into the once-in-a-blue-moon category which you do not want to miss. The huge crowd at the main stage is recognition of this fact and thankfully they are treated to a very special show. The set opens with ‘Silence’ and its long, clattering intro before lead singer Beth Gibbons comes on stage to a raucous reception.

Gibbons is an enigmatic, mysterious, almost reticent, front woman. Clad in black jeans and black hoody, she delivers her angst-laden, blood-chilling vocals with her head bowed and eyes closed not acknowledging the crowd. As soon as her vocals are finished she turns away from the crowd and the lights, faces the drums and almost cowers in the dark until called upon again. From tonight’s set ‘The Rip’ is especially brilliant early on followed by the gorgeously languid ‘Sour Times’. Other highlights include ‘Wandering Star’, ‘Over’ and ‘Glory Box’. It may be bleak, it may be grim, but this is just magnificent from start to finish.

As the band wave their farewells after the encore there’s more than a hint of a smile from Gibbons. Has the Stradbally crowd won her over or is she just glad it’s all over? We’ll never know. That’s Beth for you, ever the enigma.

St Vincent, Electric Arena, Sunday 31st August, 19:00

On the other hand, Annie Clark, aka St Vincent, has no apparent problems playing to the masses. Drawing in a huge crowd to the early-evening slot on Sunday she delivers a blistering show to an ecstatic crowd. Drawing heavily from her self-titled latest album, Clark opens with ‘Rattlesnake’ before playing recent single ‘Digital Witness’, an infectious, joyous track with blasting horns and an incredibly catchy chorus.

This is an art-rock performance that will love long in the memory. Not only no slouch on the guitar with some crunching, squelching riffs, there are also numerous choreographed dance moves with her keyboard player. Later on, Clark finds herself writhing around on the raised steps at the back of the stage before playing ‘Cheerleader’ standing atop them. A late stage dive into the crowd finds a green mask placed into Clark’s hand. As she’s returned to the stage, she duly puts on the mask and finishes with ‘Her Lips Are Red’. A born entertainer, a wonderful show.

Metronomy, Electric Arena, Saturday, 20:00

People are ready to dance on Saturday night as an expectant crowd awaits Metronomy in the Electric Arena. The band emerge to a hero’s welcome dressed in white suits eerily reminiscent of Liverpool’s ill-fated 1995 FA Cup Final attire and deliver a barnstorming set of highly danceable electronic pop. Their latest record, Love Letters, may not attain the heights of their earlier albums but the title track, in particular, along with the soulful ‘I’m Aquarius’ and the instrumental ‘Boy Racers’ are well received.

The set highlights however come from earlier tracks such as ‘Corinne’, ‘the Look’, ‘the Bay’, ‘Holiday’, ‘Radio Ladio’ and ‘Heartbreaker’. The tent is hopping throughout as punters dance with abandon and the atmosphere is suitably electric. This was an incredible amount of fun and up there as a contender for set of the weekend alongside Chic’s fairly monumental headline show on the main stage later on Saturday evening.

The Altered Hours, Body & Soul Main Stage, Friday 29th August, 20:00

Having never heard of this Cork band before, stumbling across these guys early on Friday evening by blind luck and then being absolutely blown away by them was my very nice surprise of the weekend. Live, they play a really noisey, dirgey brand of rock somewhere between heavier psych-rock and the ear-bleeding shoegaze of My Bloody Valentine.

The mesmerising ‘Sweet Jelly Roll’, from the eponymous EP, has a real Jesus and Mary Chain feel to it. This is hypnotic music that draws you further and further in. Certainly a band worth checking out more of in the future, The Altered Hours play upstairs in Whelan’s on 14th of November. Blind luck can be a beautiful thing.

Benjamin Booker, Cosby Stage, Saturday, 15:45

New-Orleans based Benjamin Booker is only 22-years-old, but you wouldn’t think it from listening to him. Oozing cool on the Cosby Stage on Saturday afternoon and touring in support of his recently released brilliant self-titled debut album, his blues-rock is stomping, soulful and full of energy.

Accompanied by guitar and drums, Booker drums up a whirlwind of rousing rock along the lines of Black Keys or the White Stripes (Jack White was a big influence), but with bags more soul. In fact, the first pause for breath is about two-thirds through the show when Booker disappears off stage, quickly returns with fag in mouth which he proceeds to light up and explodes into song again before jumping off stage and running straight through the entire crowd. Set closer ‘Violent Shiver’ is a beast of a blues-rock track and finishes the show in suitably energetic fashion. Superb.