POSTS TAGGED : We Are Animal

We Are Animal Return With New Single ‘Capoeira’

We Are Animal 2016

It’s been a quite a while since we’ve heard anything from We Are Animal – which is a shame by any calculation.

The North Wales band released their splendid debut album in 2010, followed by a number of singles and last we heard from them as a collective unit was a tour with The Joy Formidable in 2013. More recently the various members of the We Are Animal family have been concerning themselves with various side-projects Hippies Vs Ghosts, Fauna Twin & CaStLeS – until now – We Are Animal have released a brand new single, ‘Capoeira’. Gritty, dark and edgy, ‘Capoeira’ is engulfed in layers if fuzz and eerie and menacing tones. Cutting through this shadowy blanket of murky fuzz is the muscular, shredding guitars and buzzing riffs, upping the intensity and ferocity, while propelled along an irresistible rhythmic groove. Fierce, hypnotic and spooky, ‘Capoeira’ might just be We Are Animal’s finest and most complete work to date. And my, that is saying something.

Regards a new album, the band have established a ‘Pledge Music’ campaign to help fund the next record – all the details on that, are here. For now, get in on ‘Capoeira’ below. It does not disappoint.

Fauna Twin – ‘Edge Of The Coin’

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Claire Jacquemard and Wales’ Owain Ginsberg (Hippies Vs Ghosts / We Are Animal) are Fauna Twin, and the pair will release their debut EP next month.

Inventive, gently psychedelic and embracing a flair for the epic and dramatic, it is keeping with the duo’s excellent work to date. Building from a dramatic, chilling opening, ‘Edge Of The Coin’ thaws gradually to reveal a playfully energised blitz of beats, synth and percussion, cut through the atmospheric textures with an uncontrollable sonic groove. With Jacquemard’s crisp vocals soaring high above, it all builds and bubbles toward a rousing climax bristling with vitality, and one that’ll have you reaching straight for the repeat button. A sublime single; lot’s to look forward to from this talented duo.

The Hydra EP is released on 17 November via Crammed Discs. For now, sit back and enjoy all that Fauna Twin and ‘Edge Of The Coin’ have to offer.

We//Are//Animal Return with ‘Ideologies’ & ‘Set Your Beard On Fire’

We Are Animal 2015

Members of We//Are//Animal have been busy with their various and excellent side-projects (Hippies Vs Ghosts & CaStLeS) but we haven’t heard from them as a collective unit for a while now.

That’s all changed though, as the North Wales band have returned to the day job so to speak, unveiling two new tracks, ‘Ideologies’ and ‘Set Your Beard On Fire’. Information at this point is pretty scant but what can be deciphered from the band is: a new record is on the horizon, along with a Pledge Music campaign to fund it. Excellent news indeed. The follow up to their superb 2010 debut, Idolise, has been far too long in the making. So what of the new tracks then? ‘Ideologies’ marks an emphatic return.  An urgent, frantic and vital mix of oscillating guitar scuzz, disco punk rhythms and resolute stomp that demands your attention, and feels somewhat like a call to arms. ‘Set Your Beard On Fire’ is less frantic, preferring a low-key hypnotic drive, powered by chugging bass, rhythmic groove, jangly layers. As we’ve come to expect from We//Are//Animal. Be it irresistible hypnotic grooves, dancefloor juggernauts or primal anthems, it all feels extremely organic and marks a dynamic evolution of their sound. It’s certainly good to have them back.

There’s no more info on the new record as yet, but it is time to get acquainted with ‘Ideologies’ & ‘Set Your Beard On Fire’

CaStLeS – ‘Ar Agor’ & ‘Argau’

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CaStLeS are a three-piece band from North Wales. We//Are//Animal brothers Cynyr and Dion Hamer switch instruments and are joined by Calvin Thomas to complete the trio.

Performed in both English and Welsh, their music is an engrossing infusion of psychedelic rock, blues and potentially dancey grooves. The songs take inspiration from theie studio’s surrounding wilderness, which sits high up in the hills overlooking two castles. Early 2015 has seen the North Walian trio drip feeding singles, which combined, will form the bones of their forthcoming debut EP, PartDepart. The latest of which are ‘Ar Agor’ and ‘Argau’. From the irrefutably infectious reverb soaked melodies and jerking riffs of ‘Ar Agor’ to the organic meandering earthiness, infused with some shimmering jangly moments of ‘Argau’, and rounded off perfectly with a unique peculiarity and some melodious lilting North Wales vocals – both could be said to be instilled with the very essence of CaStLeS. Not only is it a joy-filled listening experience but it also reaffirms the musicality of the Welsh language, and the fact that music really does transcend language barriers.

There is no confirmed date for their PartDepart EP as yet but, all three CaStLeS’ singles are yours if you head over to bandcamp and ‘name your price’.

Hippies Vs Ghosts – Pin i’r Swigan E​P

 

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Since hurtling on to the scene close to two years ago, Hippies Vs Ghosts, the side project from We Are Animal guitarist & vocalist, Owain Ginsberg, has regularly and monumentally blown us away with his kaleidoscopic, instrumental Morricone meets krautrock sound.

It has been a fruitful two years, during which he’s served up numerous quality EPs, one off tracks and a sublime debut album, Mother Tongue (one of last year’s finest). It’s fair to say keep tabs on Hippies Vs Ghosts has been nothing short of breathtakingly exciting, and the first offering of 2015 is Pin i’r Swigan E​.​P. The EP captures the very essence of Hippies Vs Ghosts; krautrock indebted psychedelia, of epic proportions and recent single ‘Wazo’, leads the charge. Propelled onward by a chugging bass and persistent percussives, it hurtles along at breakneck speed with menacing intent, bending and contorting through a sea of swirling noise and scorching riffs. Urgent, catchy, and oh so irresistible! Title track ‘Pin i’r Swigan’ is sort of similar in that sense as it takes us on free-wheeling psychedelic journey through a fascinatingly imaginative, experimental and spaced-out world where Hippies Vs Ghosts’ krautrock indebted psychedelia meets early Joy Division. Closer ‘Hibou Calling’, meanwhile, is a much more tempered affair. A gentle acoustic strum, soft percussion and hushed repeated vocals fuse with some floaty sonic sounding atmospherics to soothe the soul and whisk ones mind away to a lofty transcendental plain. Truly exceptional stuff from Hippies Vs Ghosts once more, this is a creative talent that knows no bounds!

Pin i’r Swigan E​.​P is out now, for it be yours all you gotta do is ‘name your price’ here.

Hippies Vs Ghosts – ‘Wazo’

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Can you really have too much of a good thing? Well not in the case of Hippies Vs Ghosts, the side project from We Are Animal guitarist & vocalist, Owain Ginsberg, the gift that just keeps giving!

Since blasting on to the scene some 18 months ago, under this particular guise, Ginsberg has regularly blown us away with his kaleidoscopic, instrumental Morricone meets krautrock sound. During which time he’s already served up a number of quality EPs, one off tracks and a stunning debut album, Mother Tongue (one of 2014’s finest). In a parting gesture to a rather productive 2014, Hippies Vs Ghosts are signing off with a brand new 7″ single ‘Wazo’, out via Too Pure Records. ‘Wazo’ captures the very essence of Hippies Vs Ghosts; krautrock indebted psychedelia, of epic proportions. Propelled onward by a chugging bass and persistent percussives, it hurtles along at breakneck speed with menacing intent, bending and contorting through a sea of swirling noise and scorching riffs. Urgent, catchy, and oh so irresistible! It’s b-side companion, ‘Hibou Calling’ is a much more tempered affair. A gentle acoustic strum, soft percussion and hushed repeated vocals fuse with some floaty sonic sounding atmospherics to soothe the soul and whisk ones mind away to a lofty transcendental plain. Truly exceptional once again from Mr. Ginsberg.

You can listen to ‘Wazo’ & ‘Hibou Calling’ below. ‘Wazo’ will be released on 7″ through Too Pure Records & limited to 500 hundred pressings – although there’s no confirmed date for the release yet.

Introducing: Hippies Vs Ghosts

There is certainly no great secret regarding my affection toward Welsh experimental indie-rockers We Are Animal, and rightly so, they’re fantastic. So with that in mind, here is Hippies Vs Ghosts, a side project from We Are Animal guitarist & vocalist, Owain Ginsberg.

The project came together a few months back, with two EPs released in quick succession, entitled Hippies and, yes you guessed it, Ghosts. Hippies Vs Ghosts carries over the signature ear for a serious groove bestowed upon the fabric of everything We Are Animal does. Over the course of the two EPs we are treated to a series of fascinating off-kilter instrumental jams (by and large) augmented by alluring grooves and imaginative arrangements, taking in taking in parts ’50s surf rock, rockabilly, indie and mod, among others. Jams is very apt as there is an unrestrained organic flow to this, with the music feeling as though it is wandering freely wherever which way it can.

This is excellent stuff and you can check out a few choice cuts below or, if you fancy, you can check both EPs here. 

(Video) We Are Animal – ‘Royal Wolf’

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We Are Animal played their debut Irish gig on Saturday night with The Joy Formidable, whom they are currently on tour with. The show in The Academy was top class, as the 5 men from Wales pounded through a set of dark distorted experimental indie-rock (loosely speaking of course).

To celebrate the tour, We Are Animal have released new single ‘Royal Wolf’, which is available as a free download from their website. ‘Royal Wolf’ is dark yet alluring, as a combo of buzzing guitars, distinctive vocals and rhythmic groove suck you in. You can check the video above. 

The Joy Formidable + We Are Animal :: Academy :: Dublin :: Sat Jan 26th

Two of Wales’ best acts right now, The Joy Formidable and We Are Animal, on the same bill for €15. You can’t go wrong, right? 

Okay, it is a bit late in the day but if you’re looking for something to do this weekend in Dublin, I can’t recommend this show highly enough. I got along to the Liverpool leg of the tour on Tuesday in The Kazimier and it was immense, simply immense. 

If you’re not familiar with the acts here’s a short explanation. The Joy Formidable? Soaring riffs and rampaging guitar heroics meet to form an emphatic and epic wall of sound; a masterclass in how indie-rock is supposed to sound. We Are Animal on the other hand are a curious bunch,  sometimes dark and trippy, buzzing guitars and distinctive vocals are set to a rhythmic groove. If Tuesday’s show in Liverpool is anything to go by, this shouldn’t be missed.

The Joy Formidable & We Are Animal play Belfast’s Limelight tonight & The Academy, Dublin, tomorrow night (Saturday). Doors 8pm/€15.

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Welsh Wizards | Mixtape

This is a quite odd post even by my standards. This day ten years ago I upped sticks and moved to Wales, Wrexham to be precise, which explains all the Wrexham related tweets for anyone who follows me on Twitter.

Although I’m back in Ireland a few years now, it was one of my smarter moves & I retain a fondness for Wales as a country and the music it produces (although I don’t get over half as much as I’d like these days). Welsh music features quite prominently on the blog, something regular visitors are probably aware of. Apart from anything else it got me thinking and I decided to knock together a mixtape/compilation of some Welsh favourites from the past few years, with one or two older tracks thrown in for good measure.

So, without further waffling, here it is, some mighty fine weekend listening. Diolch. Mwynhewch.

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