POSTS TAGGED : Krautrock

Super Extra Bonus Party Return with Scintillating New Single ‘Switzerland’

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Super Extra Bonus Party are a band that will always have a special place in my heart. Not only was their music the soundtrack to a lot of great times, SEBP gigs were always superb, thrilling and often chaotic, and the source of fun times and great memories.

Add to that, they were one of a few Irish bands who did things their own way, not playing the game (whatever the game is) and experimenting without any pretentious bullshit. Needless to say, it was more than a mild disappointment when SEBP parked the project, announcing an indefinite hiatus seven long years ago.

Oh, and in case you’ve missed it, Super Extra Bonus Party have called time on their break with their new single ‘Switzerland’ – and it is a sensational return. It’s not a million miles away from where they left off their criminally underrated second album from 2009, Night Horses. Embracing SEBP’s characteristic strength of live instrumentation meets electronics, it is propelled by a powerful, hypnotic pulsing synth and metronomic beat, injected with meaty guitars, an intense drum machine work-out and all manner of electronic wizardry. ‘Switzerland’ is instilled with an energy that feels electric as it charges forth to a cataclysmic wall of sound. Opting in favour of keeping vocal duties in-house with Gavin Elsted & Stephen Fahey is a revelation too – sublime!

SEBP were always one’s for pushing things, experimenting and avoiding the obvious, safe path. The same can be said for ‘Switzerland’, and I think you’ll agree when I say, it’s great to have them back.

You can get yourself acquainted with ‘Switzerland’ below & the single is out now on 045 Recordings.

Earlier in the week, the band at down with with Headstuff to discuss their feelings about everything that had gone before, read it here – it’s definitely worth some of your time.

Introducing: Maintain Mainframe

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“In the year 3046 a robot searches for the Alpha Key to unlock a cryptic sequence of code” – as far as back stories go, Maintain Mainframe’s is pretty different.

Unusual as it may be, it is pretty apt as this peculiar music outfit treat us to an unusual retro-futuristic fusion of classic rock, synth & psych pop and indie/alt-rock, strewn with science fiction influences. And aside from the imaginative sci-fi backstory, that’s the tale of their self-titled debut record.

Most recent single ‘The Mirror’ opens with a pastoral sounding strum and hushed vocals, before making way for a series of gritty riffs as it swaggers along a danceable groove., that sounds wonderfully gritty, dark and edgy. Similarly danceable is ‘Dreamphase’. Engulfed in layers of fuzz and eerie and menacing tones, muscular guitars and buzzing riffs up the intensity and ferocity, while propelled along an irresistible rhythmic groove and some sparkling retro-futuristic synth work. Meanwhile, ‘I Am A Robot’ channels the sound of The Flaming Lips for a colorful, melody filled and spaced-out spectacle.

This is without a shadow of a doubt, one of the colourful and imaginative creations for sometime. Combining everything from psych-pop, rock, electronica, krautrock and more, they do so with a supreme potency and in full Technicolor.

You can check out some choice cuts below, I assure you I’m not spoofing and you can listen to their debut album here.

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Datura Daydream – ‘Sea Six’

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Toronto based trio Datura Daydream – Kevin Robert Fong (vocal/guitar), David Larocque (bass) & Turner Roscoe Wigginton (drums) – have a flair when it comes to brewing cinematic psych/kraut inspired post-rock.

The trio have unleashed new single ‘Sea Six’ – and an accompanying video – the latest to be lifted from their recent album, The Lick Is In The Lisp and it is quite the epic. A sprawling, nine minute heady brew of swirling psych, hazy vocals and throbbing bass propelled forward by metronomic krautrock beats, ‘Sea Six’ flits between a beautiful, meandering dreamlike stasis and surging kaleidoscopic, cinematic crescendo. Which, by any standard, makes ‘Sea Six’ pretty damn spectacular.

The Lick Is In The Lisp is available to buy/stream right now from here. Before that however, you can check ‘Sea Six’ below.

Also, it is recommended you watch the video from beginning to end – it is well worth it – but be warned, there are lots of flashing lights etc.

Novella Announce New Album ‘Change Of State’ & Share Title Track

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London-based quartet Novella have shared details of their second album, the follow-up to their 2015 debut Land.

Change of State – recorded at producer James Hoare’s (Ultimate Painting, Veronica Falls) bedroom studio – will be released on 17th February via Sinderlyn Records. The group have signalled their return by unleashing lead single and title track, ‘Change Of State’. Equal parts ’60s Girl Group, catchy indie-pop and urgent krauty-psych, it opens with a gently wooing ’60s jangle, before quickly morphing into a spiralling cyclone of glorious Krautrock indebted psychedelia. Amid the dazzle of shimmering guitars, gentle melodies, energetic bursts and motorik thrust, the hypnotic, alluring vocals soar above- as close to perfection as you can get. ‘Change Of State’ serves not just as a title but is said to be inspired by the social and political changes occurring before them throughout 2016. We’ll find out next year what the full package sounds like, for now we’ve just got this sublime start to be getting on with.

Change Of State is out February 17th via Sinderlyn Records. Listen to the title track below.

CaStLeS Announce Debut Album, Share New Single ‘Amcanu’

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Having kept a watchful eye of North Walian trio CaStLeS for quite sometime now, it is really great discover they shall release their debut album Fforesteering on 18th November.

The trio have impressed at every given opportunity with a signature sound that sits somewhere between Django Django, the Beach Boys, Os Mutantes and Ennio Morricone. Recorded and self-produced inside a static caravan outside of guitarist and vocalist Cynyr’s home high up on the hills of Snowdonia, the album looks set to continue the themes of their PartDepart EP and take inspiration and comfort from the surrounding North Wales landscape. Preceding the release of their debut LP is new single ‘Amcanu’ (out November 4th). Splicing together psychedelic surf rock, blues and mildly dancey, kraut-rock grooves with sweet vocals harmonies, this swirling infusion sees CaStLeS craft a unique sonic brew of irresistible grooves laced with psych riffs and hypnotic reverb soaked melodies. An utterly brilliant single and sound – nothing new there!

CaStLeS debut album Fforesteering is out on 18th November but you can listen to ‘Amcanu’ & previous single version of the album’s title-track, below, now.

Amber Arcades shares ‘Turning Light’ TVAM Remix

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Amber Arcades is the moniker of Dutch-born musician Annelotte de Graaf.

Earlier this year de Graff released her sublime debut album Fading Lines, on Heavenly Recordings. If you haven’t checked out the album yet, you should do so – it is fabulous and you’re missing out – it is one of 2016’s finest releases. De Graaf’s musical vision works like a dream but it hasn’t stopped her from sharing a rework of one of the album’s many high-points, ‘Turning Light’ by producer TVAM, aka Joe Oxley, who has remixed the track. Harnessing all the power from the original’s beautiful blend propulsive beats, krautrock drums and shimmering guitars, TVAM expands the blissed-out Krautrock and Motorik rhythms, while enveloping everything in a cosmic cascading sequence of crackling, frazzled electronics, spirited synths. What we are left with is something rather special indeed. A six-minute kaleidoscopic wonder of imagination and ideas that burrows into your consciousness, building into an enthralling ride of euphoric rushes, whooshes and spiralling melodies. Awe-inspiring stuff, just wow!

If there are two things you do today, make them this TVAM remix of ‘Turning Light’ and Amber Arcades debut LP, Fading Lines – you will not be left disappointed.

Hippies Vs Ghosts Returns With Scintillating New Single, ‘II’

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Time after time, Hippies Vs Ghosts (aka Owain Ginsberg), has monumentally blown us away with his explosive and experimental union of kaleidoscopic, krautrock sounds. Needless to say, any signs of new material is cause for great excitement!

With that in mind, Hippies Vs Ghosts have returned with a brand new scintillating single, ‘II’, and it is SUBLIME! Possessing all the typical Hippies Vs Ghosts’ brilliance – part psychedelic, part krautrock – ‘II’ is thrust forward through a freewheeling and colourful kaleidoscopic world, with an irresistible groove, blistering instrumentals and scintillating guitars. A ferocious, exhilarating and imaginative four-and-a-half-minute trip; and yet another outrageously awesome tune. Such a unique and vital talent, under the careful stewardship of Ginsberg, this is something we’ve become accustomed to when it comes to Hippies Vs Ghosts – and long may it continue.

You can check out ‘II’ below and if you’re looking for more, why not pop over here and check out Hippies Vs Ghosts’ most excellent back-catalogue?

 

Introducing: Amber Arcades

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Amber Arcades is the moniker of Dutch-born musician Annelotte de Graaf.

De Graaf first started writing songs while temporarily living in Philadelphia back in 2010, and on her return to her native Netherlands, she released a first EP in 2012. Four years on and now signed to the ever reliable Heavenly Records, she is gearing up to release her debut LP. Produced by Ben Greenberg (Beach Fossils, The Men, Destruction Unit) and backed by a band comprised of members of Real Estate, Quilt and Kevin Morby, the album is a culmination of songs written over the years, and what we’ve got to go on so far, is ever so good.

The most recent of which, ‘Right Now’ is a dazzling piece of ‘60s inspired, meandering psychedelic pop. It simply drifts along, unhurriedly, over floating pop melodies, hypnotic, lush jangly guitars, frazzled electronics and punchy beats are coated with light layer of fuzz and an incandescent glimmer, as de Graaf’s dreamy, breathy vocals hover above majestically. This is flawless jangly fuzz-pop with an upbeat groove and distinct ’60s retro feel, but importantly while sounding familiar, it stays on the right side of familiar. ‘Turning Light’ meanwhile, is consumed by a similar luminescence. Harnessing a beautiful blend propulsive beats, krautrock drums and shimmering guitars, like ‘Primary Colours’ era Horrors, with a touch less distortion and the inclusion of de Graaf’s soft, soothing vocal.

De Graaf’s musical vision works like a dream and there you have it, two very good reasons to be excited about the forthcoming record. No definitive date for the release of the debut record but you can check out ‘Right Now’ & ‘Turning Light’, below.

 

2015 According to Seazoo

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One of my proudest achievements on the blog this year, or any year for that matter, is the release of GruffWuff; a 19 track compilation of new, previously unreleased and exclusive recordings from some of my very favourite acts over the past 5 years of blogging.

It was a truly fantastic way to mark 5 years of BarryGruff and I am incredibly grateful to everyone involved and the overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic response. As 2015 draws to a close, I have enlisted help from people who made the compilation what it was, to chat about their favourite moments and sounds from year, and up next is Seazoo.

In their relatively short life as a band – since April 2013 – North Walian five-piece Seazoo have impressed at every turn with their multifarious concoction of charming, sprightly indie-pop. Their music is a colourful, curious and smile inducing mix of guitar and keyboard noise, delightful fuzz and smiley melodies, filled with booning vitality; infectious doesn’t even cover the half of it. A band to be treasured and enjoyed.

Before we take a look at his 2015 sound selections, you should check out Seazoo’s sublime 2015 EP Car Deborah, and their GruffWuff inclusion, ‘Dig (Demo Version)’ – of which you can download here for FREE.

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Gwenno – ‘Patriarchaeth’

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Y Dydd Olaf, the debut solo album from Gwenno (former Pipettes front-woman, Gwenno Saunders), got its full release back in July via Heavenly Recordings after an extremely limited release on Peski Records last year.

The album, mainly sung in Saunders’ native Welsh and inspired by a 1970s Welsh sci-fi novel of the same name, is a revelation. Y Dydd Olaf is a subtle, spellbinding and intricately weaved mixture of moods and textures, soft-edged synths, blissed out Krautrock and Motorik rhythms; of which, her gorgeously hushed vocal sits atop of. Taken from said album, is latest single ‘Patriarchaeth’, spectacularly demonstrates all the aforementioned attributes perfectly. A cosmic cascading sequence of crackling, frazzled electronic tones combine with an undeniable groove that bubbles away amid an alluring mix of kraut-tinged synth pop. Gwenno’s smooth, light and mellifluous voice seems to breeze above all else. Magnificently catchy, ‘Patriarchaeth’ is one of Y Dydd Olaf‘s many triumphs.

The Ian Watson directed video is rather excellent too. Check it and everything else below.

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