Gaz Coombes Announces New Album, Dublin Date & Shares ‘Deep Pockets’

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Former Supergrass head honcho Gaz Coombes will release his third solo album, World’s Strongest Man, on May 4 via Hot Fruit / Caroline International.

Produced by himself at his home studio in Oxford, the album is previewed by lead single ‘Deep Pockets’ – and it’s a peach! It propels itself on a rollicking, pulsating synth line and intense motorik rhythm intertwined with Coombes’ slightly fuzzed-out vocals and an injection of squalling, intense guitar riffs, and slick and infectious hook. ‘Deep Pockets’ provides a timely reminder, if one be needed, that Coombes has a rather special knack for crafting mischievously potent, catchy and hook driven guitar tunes.

The album itself is said to be inspired by Grayson Perry’s Descent of Man, Frank Ocean’s ‘Blonde’, Californian weed, British woodlands, unchecked masculinity, Neu! and hip hop (and a whole lot more besides). An interesting combination indeed and as such, it may prove to be Coombes’ most ambitious solo outing to date.

Speaking of dates…. Gaz Coombes has announced a show in The Academy, Dublin for Friday, May 25, along with a string of other tour dates, which you can check here.

Check out the video for ‘Deep Pockets’ below.

BarryGruff Albums of the Year (2015)

BGs Albums of the year 2015So it is that time of year again, lists, lists and more lists. Well, not be out done, here are my 41 (yes 41, and yes it’s a weird number) albums of 2015.

It has been such a good year for new albums, probably the best since I started the blog back in 2010. So much so that there is very little difference between the top 5, top 10, top 15 and so on. So without further ado, here are my favourite records from 2015:

There is also a Spotify playlist of the Top 20 albums, to save you time and hassle (it’s here).

41. Only Real – Jerk At The End of the Line’

40. Rozi Plain – ‘Friend’

39. Wildling – ‘Molecules To Moon’

38. The School – ‘Wasting Away And Wondering’

37. Sweet Baboo – ‘Boombox Ballads’

36. The Stammer – ‘Days In Between’

35. SexWitch – Sex Witch’

34. Faith Healer – ‘Cosmic Troubles’

33. Girl Band – ‘Holding Hands With Jamie’

32. Joanna Gruesome – ‘Peanut Butter’

31. Fort Romeau – ‘Insides

30. Soft Serve – ‘S/t’

29. Applescal – ‘For’

28. Zefur Wolves – ‘Zefur Wolves’

27. Hot Chip – ‘Why Make Sense?’

26. Drenge – ‘Undertow’

25. The Charlatans – ‘Modern Nature’

24. Gaz Coombes – ‘Matador’

23. Bill Ryder-Jones – ‘West Kirby County Primary’

22. Drinks – ‘Hermits on Holiday’

21. The Expert – Dynamic Drift

20. Boxed In – ‘Boxed In’

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BarryGruff’s Albums of 2015 So Far……

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I’m not exactly the best at keeping you and the site up-to-date with album reviews, to be honest, it’s the old enemy time. Discovering the hours to scribble some thoughts about this album or that has become rather elusive, but thankfully finding time to listen to albums, and music in general, is less of an issue.

Here are a list of my most listened and loved records of 2015 so far with Spotify links and playlists for overall albums of 2015. There are plenty of playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud and on the blog too. Oh, and with regards to albums *cough, cough*, you can still download GruffWuff, a 19 track compilation celebrating 5 years of BarryGruff, for FREE from bandcamp, *cough, cough*.

Top 24 albums of 2015 so far…

01. Czarface – ‘Every Hero Needs A Villain’

02. H. Hawkline – ‘In The Pink Of Condition’

03. Villagers – ‘Darling Arithmetic

04. Blur – ‘The Magic Whip’

05. Ghost Culture – ‘Ghost Culture’

06. Boxed In – ‘Boxed In’

07. Django Django – ‘Born Under Saturn’

08. Girlpool – ‘Before The World Was Big’

09. Stealing Sheep – ‘Not Real’

10. The Charlatans – ‘Modern Nature’

11. Courtney Barnett – ‘Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit’

12. Gaz Coombes – ‘Matador’

13. Hot Chip – ‘Why Make Sense?’

14. Applescal – ‘For’

15. Public Service Broadcasting – ‘The Race For Space’

16. Jamie xx – ‘In Colour’

17. Sen Segur – ‘Films’

18. Zefur Wolves – ‘Zefur Wolves’

19. Faith Healer – ‘Cosmic Troubles’

20. Mowbird – ‘One-Offs’

21. Joanna Gruesome – ‘Peanut Butter’

22. Fort Romeau – ‘Insides’

23. Rozi Plain – ‘Friend’

24. Pale Honey – ‘Pale Honey’

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Gaz Coombes – ’20/20′

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It is certainly that time when we’re inundated with news of releases forthcoming in the new year but to be honest, it’s nice to see what’s on the horizon amid all the lists taking stock and concluding 2014.

One such announcement comes courtesy of former Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes, who’s revealed he will release a second solo album Matador, in January. Recorded in both Coombes’ home studio and Courtyard Studios in Oxfordshire, it follows his excellent Here Come The Bombs from 2012. Having previously shared ‘Buffalo‘, Mr. Coombes has revealed ’20/20′, a second track taken from the forthcoming LP. ’20/20’ sees Coombes continue to embrace a freshly found freedom, allowing for an exploration of more imaginative ideas. Yet, that knack for crafting ear catching melodies remains a cornerstone of everything he does as a forlorn and eerie piano accompanies some heavenly vocal harmonies, before quickly giving way to an electro/acoustic arrangement of guitars, clicky percussion and blissful atmospherics. An absolutely magnificent return from the former Supergrass frontman.

You have to wait till January 26th for Matador but you can listen to ’20/20′ below, right now.

Gaz Coombes – ‘This Time Tomorrow’

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Earlier this summer former Supergrass head honcho Gaz Coombes stepped out with a delightful cover version of ‘This Time Tomorrow’ by – who else? – The Kinks.

Over the years Coombes has proven he’s good value of a tasty cover, or a few, most notably on his thoroughly enjoyable covers side-project band Hot Rats, with fellow Supergrass man Danny Goffey. He’s also had no aversion to ads in the past, having appeared in a Toyota Yaris advert a few years back, and what does this have to do with anything you may ask? Well, this song is part of a series of ads celebrating department store John Lewis’ 150th birthday, which is of little personal interest. Coombes’ version of ‘This Time Tomorrow’ on the other hand, yes please.  While largely remaining faithful to the original, this take is a brisk run through with plenty of Coombes’ traditional energy and distinctive voice, and he’s arrived at something that sounds utterly delightful, noticeably British and joyously nostalgic in the best way possible. Who ever said covers are a waste of time? Maybe no one did? But, anyway, they were wrong whoever they were.

Coombes is reportedly in the studio working on his second solo album, and follow up to Here Comes The Bombs. You can preoccupy yourself meanwhile with ‘This Time Tomorrow’.

Gaz Coombes – ‘Buffalo’

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For former Supergrass man Gaz Coombes, going solo it seems, has freed him up somewhat and allowed for an exploration of more imaginative ideas. Yet, that knack for crafting ear catching melodies remains a cornerstone of everything he does.  

While some latter Supergrass sounded tired and laboured at times, with Coombes now going it alone, the creative juices are certainly flowing and he sounds reinvigorated. His debut solo album from last year, Here Come The Bombs suggested as much, and his latest single ‘Buffalo’ does much to add to such an assumption. In fact, it sounds as though he’s flexing his muscles a lot more, as bleepy and spaced out electronics explode around his powerful impassioned vocals and solemn piano bursts, with a series of changing verse and chorus rhythms soar to epic heights. Coombes has found a balance between incisive songwriting, his ear for a melody and will to sail to new territory.

Currently tucked away in a studio, working on his second solo album, ‘Buffalo’ is a timely and emphatic reminder of just what a supreme talent Gaz Coombes is.

(Video) Gaz Coombes Presents… White Noise

White Noise’ is the third single taken from former Supergrass man Gaz Coombes’ debut solo album, Here Come the Bombs. 

‘White Noise’ is as it happens, one of the finest moment from what is a debut solo record that’s certainly more than alright. Coombes is in wistful and reflective form. Opening with a finger-picked acoustic intro, before hitting it’s stride with beautifully subtle synths, acoustic strum and melody before launching into a soaring chorus. This is indie balladry of the very highest order, something we’ve become accustomed to no matter what guise Coombes is under.

‘White Noise’ is out on October 22nd.

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Gaz Coombes – ‘Hot Fruit’

Gaz Coombes is prepping the release of his debut solo album, Here Come The Bombs, his first material since Supergrass announced their split in 2010.

We already heard ‘Subdivider‘ but the latest cut from the Supergrass frontman, ‘Hot Fruit’, adds an injection hi-energy to this more familiar catchy indie-rock. It sounds as though, if there were any lingering doubts, we’re in for a treat on May 21st when Here Come The Bombs hits the shelves. 

Coombes will be playing Camden Crawl Dublin (May 11 – 12) & you can give ‘Hot Fruit’ a spin below.

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 Gaz Coombes – Hot Fruit via TheSoundfull

Gaz Coombes – ‘Subdivider’ | Former Supergrass man debuts new material

Gaz Coombes is set to release his debut solo album,  Here Come The Bombs, his first material since Supergrass announced their split in 2010.

The album was produced alongside Sam Williams, the man with whom he worked with while in Supergrass and is said to have been inspired by the soundtrack works of John Barry and John Carpenter. Heralding this announcement we have ‘Sub Divider’, a taste of things to come perhaps. Broken essentially two distinct parts, beginning slowly before kicking into a climactic guitar driven finale, it sounds different yet very familiar at the same time.

It’s great to see the return of Coombes distinctive drawl and that famous love of melody that marked some of Supergrass’s finer moments. 

Coombes’ debut solo record, Here Come The Bombs, will be released on May 21st. You can stream his new track ‘Sub Divider’ below.

Gaz Coombes – Subdivider