Introducing: TERRY

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TERRY is an Australian super group of sorts – comprised of (deep breathe) Al Montfort (of Total Control and Dick Diver), Zephyr Pavey (Eastlink, Total Control, Russell Street Bombings), Amy Hill (Constant Mongrel, School Of Radiant Living), and Xanthe Waite (Mick Harvey Band) – who’ve announced their debut album, TERRY HQ, will be out July 1 via Upset the Rhythm.

Ahead of its release next month, they’ve kindly been previewing their debut LP with some sublime singles. So far it would appear their sound is a sort of throwback to that late ’70s / early- 80s era – with touches of punk, post-punk, glam and indie – and it is magnificent! The first glimpse was provided by ‘Don’t Say Sorry’, a nervy, scratchy and off-kilter stomper. It operates in the blurred lines between punk and indie, skittering along with an unhinged guitar until the midway point, where it careers off into a discordant, sonic self-implosion and never looks back. Their new single ‘Third War’ is an infectious, warped take on classic ’70s glam with punky tones. Unravelling at its own pace with a peaceful acoustic strum and vocals, it is offset by the constant drone of an electric guitar, and juxtaposed by melancholic musings surrounding a seemingly doomed world.

TERRY HQ, will be out July 1 but for now, get your ears into the jerky rhythms of ‘Don’t Say Sorry’ & the wonderfully infectious ‘Third War’.

Hyde & Beast – ‘Hard Times Good Times’

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Retro loving psych-rock duo Hyde & Beast have announced their return with news of a forthcoming new EP, Hard Times Good Times.

Released on July 24th, the EP is the first new material from drummer-turned-songwriting duo, Dave Hyde (The Futureheads) & Neil Bassett (The Golden Virgins), since their superb and emotionally heavyweight second album Keep Moving last August. Preceding the EP’s release is stunning title-track, ‘Hard Times Good Times’, and it’s a doozy. Fitted with ballsy riffs, a stomping beat, glam rock era groove and some stonking blasts of brass, it is topped off with some sweet 60s-style pop harmonies, for a sumptuous slice of retro rock ‘n roll stomp. As with all their work to date, ‘Hard Times Good Times’ really feels like a labour of love. Harking back to late 60’s / early 70’s classic pop, it bears more than a shade of similarity with some stellar names from those days – The Beatles, T-Rex, Wings & Faces to name but a few. Fairly decent company to be in, no?

Hyde & Beast’s new EP, Hard Times Good Times, is out on July 24th. Ahead of that why not get acquainted with the title-track below?

Albums Roundup : Teleman, Hyde & Beast and Gulp

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Notoriously shite at keeping on top of albums, or moreover, reviewing them – here are three albums that have been entertaining my ears over the past while.

Teleman – ‘Breakfast’

Teleman‘s debut album, Breakfast, is a charming yet bittersweet bundle of a indie-pop songs with a instantly loveable quality, which like all Saunders’ work (Tap Tap & Pete & The Pirates), has substance to match the immediacy. A master class in guitar pop, they eke out a sweet spot between pop and indie, in a not too dissimilar in class to Blur at their very best. From ‘Lady Low’, a limpid, loungey and airy number sporting a full on devilish saxophone solo, to the sparse and paranoid fuelled ’23 Floors Up’, with light, gentle almost floating melodies, accompanied by minimalist synth tones, this sublime standard never falters. Nor with ‘Steam Train Girl’, ushered in by pulsating guitars before the rest of band gradually filters in, layering psychedelic-tinged synths over rhythmic drums or ‘Mainline’, where colourful synths dance with ragged guitar riffs to stunning effect. Amid the beautiful sweeping guitar-pop, psych textures and Teleman’s splendid crystalline pop sensibilities, Sanders vocals are strikingly fantastic as ever. As is his dazzling knack for descriptive lyrics that effortlessly conjure of vivid scenes. It may be still too early to tell but perhaps Breakfast will help shine a brighter light on Saunders’ talent and provide him with the credit his talent deserves – third time lucky and all that jazz.

Hyde & Beast – ‘Keep Moving’

For their second album together Hyde & Beast, drummers Dave Hyde and Neil Bassett (of Futureheads and Golden Virgins respectively) have strutted back into view with a set of rootsy late-’60s/early-’70s inspired jams. Heavy on a retro vibe, it bears comparison with stellar names from those eras – The Faces, T-Rex, Wings & The Kinks to name but a few. Given that the pair have apparently endured a pretty rough time of late, you’d be forgiven for expecting album number two to be a maudlin affair on the back of bereavement and breakups. Yes the lyrical content is overwhelmingly tinged with sadness but it is strangely uplifting. At times heart swelling, blissful and almost psychedelic, ‘Like I’m Grass’, ‘Forever Your Own’ & ‘BA BA BA’ and at others harsh, gritty and rumbling, ‘Keep Moving’ & ‘Blue’, with bouts of gentle, classic pop ‘Open Your Heart’, ‘Blown Away’ & ‘A Dark Mistake’. The confidence and ambition of both the arrangements and songs, mean that Keep Moving a overwhelmingly joyous listen as they borrow from all the aforementioned bits and pieces, blend them together to create a stunningly diverse collection which vastly surpasses it’s predecessor. It should also go some way to dispelling all those drummer jokes.

Gulp – ‘Season Sun’

One of the upsides to Super Furry Animals’ hiatus has been the impecable side-projects it has spawned; Gruff Rhys has been in sparkling form as has Cian Ciaran. Not to be out done, SFA bassist Guto Pryce having teamed up with Lindsay Leven for side-project Gulp, has delivered a bewitching debut in Season Sun. A wonderfully charming mix of interesting sounds and textures, the pair distil flashes of psychedelic sunshine, shimmering pastoral pop and breezy psych-folk. In doing so they create a rather unique sound that, while quite summery in essence, you couldn’t quite say it’s ‘happy’ such is unease in the fabric of the music. Leven’s sultry vocals take centre stage, floating over analogue synths, woozy guitars and fuzzed up bass guitars through the waltzing ‘Game of Love’ and ‘Grey Area’, and spaced-out dreamer ‘Hot Water’. And steering the LP away from a potential course toward the sickly sweet, are the hypnotic ‘Clean and Serene’ and the rumbling, rambling bassline, hypnotic rhythm and Django Django-eque stomp of ‘Vast Space’. Two inspired moments of sheer brilliance that like the rest of the LP will grow and seep into your senses, and leave you better for it.

Hyde & Beast – ‘Blue’ + ‘Keep Moving’

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After a three-year absence, Sunderland duo Hyde & Beast strut back into view with some riffy new jams.​

David Hyde (The Futureheads) and Neil Bassett (Golden Virgins) last joined forces in 2011 and their debut album, Slow Down, was heavy on the retro ’60s/’70s vibe and had the feeling of two mates enjoying themselves in the studio, unperturbed with trends. ‘Blue’ follows suit, with a stomping riff and glam rock era groove reminiscent of T. Rex (or more recently The Black Keys), with Hyde adding some sweet, pastoral 60s-style pop harmonies to top things off. ‘Blue’ has been on constant rotation during my settling in period over here in Vancouver but with the long wait for new material over, a lack of internet meant this post had to be put on hold, till now. Every cloud has a silver lining though. This morning they shared their new single, ‘Keep Moving’ with the world. It continues with the glam-infused rock but slowed down, and zoned out into dreamier, psych filled pop pastures. No idea if and when a new LP is coming but for now there are two top quality jams to sink your teeth into.

You can download ‘Blue’ for free below while ‘Keep Moving’ is out July 28th. You can stream both below right now.