PAST ISSUES - 2010
As session musicians, these guys have been lucky enough to share stages and play with some great people, including Florence and the Machine, Soko, Elbow, Mumford and Sons, Oli and Clive, the Sans Pareil, Kid Harpoon, Noah and the Whale, Unkle, Helsinki etc... But now, here they are, with their own brand new website, artwork, shows and material for everyone to hear.
There is not much written about the quartet, currently residing in London. The songs were collaborations between all the musicians in the band but based around songs previously written by the main signer Florian, who used to front F. Lunaire. The band have only played 2 low key shows, one at the Stags Head supporting the Good Shoes, and another at the Old Blue Last for the re-opening of the Vice pub.
Musically this band is very advanced, even though they are just at the start of what will hopefully be a fruitful career. Made up of 3 guys, and 1 girl (Gillian) who shares the lead vocals and keys with Florian. There is only one song recorded at the moment and we are lucky enough to have been given it by the band to play to you. I have also attached an old video of F Lunaire performing at the World famous Sarm Studios.
I wont try and describe the music, to be honest I don’t think it will do it justice, but do keep an ear out for this band as there is definitely something special there!
Electronic, rock with hip hop drum machine beats and an amusing album name 'The Satanic Satanists', this can only be mad prolific Alaskan based four piece Portugal. The Band
The band consists of John Baldwin Gourley, Jason Sechrist, Ryan Neighbours and Zachary Carothers. Gourley and Carothers grew up in Alaska, the former living in a woods in a log cabin for a year, fully off grid..
With two albums released last year, and one already in the pipeline this year, its amazing that any label can keep up with such a prolific crew, indeed, that may well be the reason they have their own imprint now, Approaching AIRballoons.
Anyway, they are making some excellent sounds, the mixture in genres deftly performed, drawing you in and full of originality, this song is about an insalubrious sort of establishment, where low life's have been known to hang around, The Dead Dog…
22th February - Douster
Thanks to a new extensive look at blogs such as “pejhy” and “You can call me Pelski”, I am coming across new music that I may not have given a second listen to unless I was in a club.
I have always been into a bit of italo disco, house and and quite a lot of electro, however now there is obviously dubstep – which is incredibly hard to create well. The best songs from this genre are exploring new sounds and new ways to piece together tunes. It’s a genre however that seems like its shooting itself in the foot.
There is also a lot of tropical beats happening at the moment. Mixing it all up at present is a style from Latin America and predominantly Argentina. It is called Cumbia. The Colombian musical style and folk dance is considered to be representative of Colombia. However acts such as Major Lazor (Diplo and Switch) have mixed it up with Afro beat, dancehall and electro.
This style has made them HUGE in the States, and they have even been up for an MTV award in the breakthrough Category. The duo has made this music accessible, and Thom Yorke is going to remix them for their forthcoming EP in April.
However this is not about Major Lazor, as many people have heard of them, rather this exposure is about one of the leading Argentinean DJs who is spreading the music over to Europe. In 2009 Douster came to fame through re-working the Lion King soundtrack – for which one of the songs you can stream here, (any Arsenal fans like myself, listen to the chant of “Arsne Wenger” I swear that’s what it says!). The track I have included has been cleaned up by Amsterdam’s “Homework”.
To hear something a bit more like what to expect from Douster and Digital Cumbia in the future check out the video attached. The song is very minimal, dancehall as well as tropical. Plus it’s a pretty cool video in its own right.
Have a listen, does it sound like a 3 piece to you? Me neither… somehow though not only do they manage to successfully fuse experimental, folk, electronic and world sounds, but they also do it whilst swapping instruments and constantly improvising....
Pretty amazing! And thats what their most recent album is too. Akron Family built their sound, and following in NY's creative hub of Williamsburg, mostly around their local cafe, Gimme Coffee, where they performed and laid on gigs. This was back in 2003. Now, they are onto their 5th release, with tours aplenty and support in the UK from the likes of Rough Trade. Its good to see all the hard work paying off!
Here is Everyone is Guilty, the first track from their new album Set Em Wild, Set Em Free...
She comes from Denton Texas, no cant say I've heard of it either, but it is (and was) home to the likes of Roy Orbison, Norah Jones and Midlake… a rich musical heritage that Jaffe's promise could eventually be added to.
Sarah is a musician who cites an intriguing range of influences (Cat Stephens, James Taylor, The Magnetic Fields and Broken Social Scene), and she isn't of the mark either in whats clearly a universally appealing sound. Her latest songs hint at major talent, a sultry texan voice with depth, you can hear her pulling the reigns in too.
If I was to pigeonhole her, I would say folk and country mixed with something resembling indie. Its uplifting and buoyant and its leaves me wanting to hear more.
Just 24, one EP release in 2008, a recording contract with Texas indie Kirtland and a tour with Midlake (subpop)…. its looking like a big bright future.
Ok time to get back to my roots. This was the first type of music I was into, and also the first band I ever booked. They are back, I have heard one or two of the new songs - which they are recording right now, and they sound great! Underground Railroad, originally from France, but moved to London to have as their base. You may not have heard of them but they have already released two albums on Bjork's label One Little Indian which were hailed as great feats by everyone from Stool Pigeon to NME and Zane Lowe. The band are very much championed by artrocker and have an incredibly catchy grunge sound that some how does not feel dated.
The trio have also been on tour with the legendary Dinosaur Jnr, and recorded at Death Cab for Cutie's studio in Seattle. The live show is where is really happens,
Raphael Mura plays drums, keys and sings - and often all at the same time! J.B. Ganivet looks like he was born to be on stage playing bass in a rock band, the ultimate French cool oozes out of him. Marion Andrau plays some great licks on the guitar whilst singing and screaming, reminiscent of the very best of Sonic Youth. The band have also added Anna Scott on cello, which provides a nice haunting edition to the stage show.
I have included a track that did not feature on the first album and wont be on the second either, it was an exclusive for the NME last year. The video I have put on is very basic diy grunge - recorded in their rehearsal room. The song is sticks and stones, and along with cookies and milk are my favourite songs from them so far, but I can tell there are a lot more to come! They have just come out of hibernating, writing new material for the past 6 months, which they be playing out on the 5th Feb at the Old Blue last.
I was scouring the Cookin Vinyl publishing website the other day looking for some new music for a film brief and I came across an amazing band that I'd never heard of before, their name? The Red Orchestra...
Crunchy beats and synths, filtered vocals, Its something of a mix between Archive and Spiritualized, specially with the indie guitar riffs and original electronica-ambient melodics, there is even a hint of Vangelis in there somewhere!
Not much is known about The Red Orchestra except that they are a Brighton based 6 piece fronted by Karl Sadowski and Tim Rowkins who formed as a kind of freeform writing duo. Gradually in their production a style began to present itself, which then took on the shape of an album that they released in November 2009.
Despite the relative obscurity this is a solid sound and definitely one which i would love to see live, buy yourself a copy of the album 'The Seasonal Distribution of Love in the City' (a bit of a monthful, yes).
ps they dont have any videos, so here is a classic bit of Blu....
I once described these guys as very modern cockney art/indie with a spoon full of Mary Poppins melody for good measure. But that was back when they were called Le Shark not La Shark. Now times have changed and we have a band that has blossomed and grown into a force to be reckoned with. They are making some of the most original POP. Yes, listen to the catchy melodies, the repeated lyrics in the chorus and a mix of dance beats which make you bounce; and are perfectly timed to quick waking speed. Their epic changes in their songs reminds me of Queen's Bohemian rhapsody, how it had about 3 powerful songs in one. Maybe the eccentricity of the front man Samuel may have something to do with the comparison as well. Baggy trousers reminiscent of MC Hammer and clown make up to compliment their circus Wurlitzer and horror train sounds. But its all the characters that make the band and their incredible musical skills.
I saw them for the first time in a year last week, and they got the crowd more hyped than any other band I have seen for a while. They had other artists in their own right, singing along and punching the air to the songs. Everyone else was dancing like Elvis must have done when he learnt to move his legs. La Shark have got a monthly club night down in Deptford, in a bunker and it gets very hot and sweaty, like an arty punk gig would be if it was in Rock and Roll Circus.
This song that you can stream is available from their website for free if you provide your email address, simples! The video is from the great Indie Ghetto which gets indie bands, comedians and actors to record cover songs in front of a green screen, so check out their youtube channel as its very funny.
La Sharks best song at the moment (cause they keep trumping their best songs) is Bones - that's one I suggest you look for. However they are still yet to do any proper recordings of any of their songs, so we have a lot to look forward to!!
Enjoy..
ps photo by: alexmhough@googlemail.com
Big choruses, jazz influenced rock with a indie lilt the four-piece that are Out Of The Afternoon are clearly not shy of experimentation and are generating something of a buzz, and not just in their South East London home…
Forming in 2007 it was clear at the outset that the fourpiece brought a huge range of influences, ranging from The Beach Boys, to Madness via Parliament and XTC. Anyway, within 6 months they had recorded and self-released their first 4 track EP, (produced by Pritpal Soor, who worked on The Loose Salute).
It will be interesting to see where the band go next, thanks to my friend Jo I've heard an album of recordings which has been getting some very positive feedback from BBC radio and drawing some professional attention, its quality stuff, demonstrating versatility throughout.
Maybe soon you'll even get a chance to hear it yourself, in the meantime, here is The Piccadilly of the South...
Hush the Many are a great band that unfortunately are no more. This is a strange exposure, but I was listening to my Ipod yesterday on shuffle and for the first time in ages up popped this beautiful hushed singing over extremely well crafted cello. I had to turn the song up as I was on a busy hectic train, and suddenly everything became calm like a perfect soundtrack to a film, where the protagonist reaches their equilibrium. I first saw this band at Spice of Life in Covent Garden, and was blown away by their friendliness and ability to quieten a drunk pub crowd at the right moment. I then followed their career over the next few years, to two UK tours, an EP a couple of singles and a recording of an album. That is where the story ends in July 2008, the album recording was at the world famous Hook End Studios (formally the Pink Floyd's recording Studio) but then the studio was taken over by Trevor Horn and updated for the likes of Radiohead, Coldplay and Morrissey et al to record many a hit.
This recording session was straining on a band with huge potential, and the band with four key members (two boys and two girls), Jo on cello, Alex on bass and vocals, Ruban on lead guitar and Nima main vocals and acoustic guitar. The guys were joined by Joantoni, one of many drummers over the years. They played many shows with many variants and additions but they always pleased a dedicated fan base, and very easily won over new listeners. They played every major festival including Bestival, Glastonbury and End of The Road; as well as most gig venues in London including the Barfly, 93 Feet East and 100 club. However a gig at the legendary Secret Garden Party has to be my favourite. The band packed out the second stage tent with people very eager to see them. Jo was stuck in traffic and the band had to start without her. They played a couple of slow ones and everyone was extremely chilled and enjoying the atmosphere. However Nima was looking around for the cellist and telling the crowd the situation. Suddenly a massive hard cello carry case came through the calm, and people who had never seen this band before were overcome with emotion and started cheering at the fact that the full band would play. From a relaxed vibe an energy rushed around everyone and Hush The Many played one of their more energetic songs and everyone literally started dancing around with joy.
They could compliment any mood and I believe their songs are timeless, and they will sound like classics in years to come. I would definitely recommend looking around the web to see what songs of theirs you can find. I have attached their only music video, a beautifully drawn by Angela Hooker and animated by about 5 different animators. Its definitely a work of art, as is this incredible track that you can stream. Its an early live recording of the band warts and all. I suggest putting on a set of headphones, sitting back and escaping for 4 minutes 34 seconds!
I thought I would showcase one of the fiercest examples of showmanship that I saw last year; as one of my major loves (as may be evident from previous exposures) is music in a live setting. I have put on a lot of shows during 2009, and many a French Band have graced the stage for the monthly French Revolution, however it seems as though I saved one of the best till last. I have been tracking I am Un Chien for a couple of years now, but wasn't able to bring them over until a couple of weeks ago, when they played with You, and Stuck in The Sound, for which all include at least one member of the other band. They have to be one of my favourite French bands at the moment.
I Am Un Chien in addition to their exploratory talents through musical genres, have an awesome name taken from the Pixies song Debaser which was about Salvador Dalí and Luis Buñuel's film Un Chien Andalou. The band have very fearsome guitar licks, reminiscent of some great Daft Punk guitar tapping arpeggios in Aerodynamic but unlike the rest of the Sister Sledge sampled track. The recording and writing duo become three on stage and have a hip hop electro cross over feel added to the high tempo dark dance sound. The live element brings out the teenage angst and aggression of their songs, none of which go over three minutes, most are much closer to the 2 minute 20 mark, no I tell a lie, they're 2 minutes 18 seconds.
I have attached the video of their signature Waves tune. The song that you can stream is Hologram, a much dirtier darker side to this energetic band.
I was going to write about the Kindness (a man called Adam Bainbridge, who lives in Berlin) he has a great funky disco track and low fi video called Gee Up, definitely check it out. However NME got their first, and they apparently have never been so excited. WHATEVER!
Anyway so I thought I would go against the grain and go for mainstream and to Major record label Virgin which is EMI which is Capitol Music Group (god the industry is confusing). Recorded at Q Division (so he is also signed to them) Mr Eli Reed (or Paper Boy to friends and press) reminds me of the type of feeling I got when listening to Robert Randolf and the Family Band 5 years ago, merging an old sound with a new cleaner modern production style. This guy is one of the best singers I have heard for a long time. He has a very Motown sound and was brought up in Massachusetts by a music critic with a huge record collection.
Self taught guitarist piano and harmonica, Paper Boy plays uplifting rock and roll, backing singers, brass section, rhythm section, all the trimmings! He and his incredible band the True Loves are coming over to London to play the 100 club. This is a just a small showcase, as I'm sure next time he comes over, he will have been written about by the Guardian, the Times and Music magazines attracting a wide range of people. From the people who saw this style of music the first time round, (the sound is very authentic) to people who loved the Blues Brothers films, and a new young generation who will see him play shows like Jools Holland, everyone can get in to Eli. I have attached a performance from that very show here as a video link, it gets me in the mood for dancing, as well as the song that is available to stream The Satisfier, hope you enjoy!
The Manchester group Egyptian Hip Hop probably have the best name ever for a band, they don't unfortunately do Egyptian Hip Hip although their sound is probably as unpredictable...
These guys instead have a very soothing electro pop tinge to them, relaxed and sexy like Sebastian Tellier but with more of a d.i.y punk ethic. I have attached one of the best songs of last year for you to stream, Rad Pitt, a charming guitar riff starts off an early 90s baggy acid tune.
