Something to add excitement to the dull state of modern life are a band called Loom. I’ve loved them since I heard Bleed On Me. I bought the cassette and it will be something I treasure for a long time. Much like their music. You see, they offer something that a lot of bands seems to lack. They’re not afraid to be loud and brutal.
Their new single, Acid King City is just as aggressive as previous releases. Tarik’s ferocious vocals are incredible; every element of this song is a brief glimpse into how powerful Loom really are. The beauty of the video is that it gives the fans an insight to just how rambunctious their live shows are. I think if you don’t leave one of their shows bruised and sweaty, then you’ve probably gone elsewhere. They are made for insane movements and liberal limb jolts.
Tarik’s shadow is casted over the hypnotic live clips in the background. You’re unsure where to devote your attention first, so the only thing you can do is have it on repeat.
“On the edge of the water where the ships pass by, And the sound of your laughter in the endless sky. Tips my head back, full of swimming thoughts. Beneath deep breathing.”
I wrote about Lissie’s Heart Murmur last year, or maybe the year before. I have no idea, I just really love Warpaint and I love writing about them. So anyway, I was walking (or hobbling) home from the gym this morning. It was really hot and I listened to Warpaint on the walk home; I played Lissie’s Heart Murmur a few times and noticed some things that I wanted to write down. I have no idea if any of it is going to make sense. I’m not for making sense, ever. That could be something else altogether though, but anyway..
I think it’s obvious one should play Warpaint through headphones. You pick up small details that make you fall even more in love with Warpaint; especially this song. When I listen to them I always find certain parts by each band member to fixate on, over and over. For the most part it is Emily’s delicate voice that just hypnotises me. I’m fully aware that when I see them in October I’m going to be left in a trance for days. I hope I never snap out of it.
The keys on Lissie’s Heart Murmur are so frail. The way they are played during the first few seconds of the song lures you, but at the same time you immediately imagine someone stood staring out to see with all their worries surrounding them. The keys are the worries falling out; then Emily’s voice comes in and you are soothed straight away. Are these things I have said before? More than likely. I don’t know if I could have a physical conversation with anyone about Warpaint because I’d just waffle on. Pretty much like I am here, but no one is telling me to shut up. But I’m writing this for those who are as in love with the band as I am. The ones who truly get it. Not the ones who just like one song and that’s it. The ones who have fallen asleep listening to Stars and it gave them the best sleep ever.
As the keys get lower; so does Emily’s voice. Then Jenny comes in with her stunning bass playing which merges so perfectly with Stella’s drumming. The drums sound like gentle crashes against the waves, and it is like the bass line is the life jacket to stop you getting out of your depth. In short, this song saves. Split yourself in two, and go with the part that is unsure. There’s a part in the song, I think it’s from 4.30 for 30 seconds where the song goes as wild as it can. It feels like a current in the water taking you over, then it becomes calm again towards the end and everything is alright. It is so beautiful.
Lyrically it is my favourite Warpaint song. The thing I love about their lyrics is that you have no way of being certain on what they are about. Of course you have the likes of say, Lou Reed and Morrissey for where the most part it is obvious about what they are on about. They go beyond being poets; but with Warpaint, they truly have lyrics where you can just make them into whatever you want. I know you can do that with Morrissey and Lou Reed, of course I do. Yet with Warpaint, maybe it is because of the trance they place you in with their music, you are gently carried into another world and the words are yours to take your own way. I’ve read the lyrics over and over, and you get the same feel as you do when you hear the song. It makes you feel as if you are floating on water- Warpaint are delicately pulling you along, who knows where you will end up. However, I’ve also realised that all Warpaint songs make me feel this way. They make you feel as if you are carelessly bobbing along, sometimes go under but when you go under it isn’t so bad. They’re there to get you above water again. You can call them a safety net.
I hate that I write personally, but this is the song I go to when everything seems a bit shit. I think it is mainly because Emily’s voice is so gentle on this song. I know it is delicate on songs such as Baby, but Lissie’s Heart Murmur has something else. It makes you feel like everything just might be okay; maybe not soon, but it will be. For the most part it really is, but the song is full of such reassurance and care; it is such a comforting song. When I was listening to it earlier I realised that this song, although it seems quite simple- there is so much going on. Like I mentioned above, you have to listen through headphones to really pick up on this. You pick up on the way the keys float through your ears so freely, and when the cymbal crashes it is like waves hitting the rocks. The way the bass is introduced after about 45 seconds is so beautiful. The bass resembles stones being cast into water; and the ripples that occur are like Emily’s voice. This could be the only song I ever hear for the rest of my life and I’d be completely happy with that; and I’d notice different parts to love. This song is like looking at the person you are in love with and noticing more things you love about them.
Warpaint are one of the very few bands I feel okay with taking their songs apart to talk (well, write) about certain parts in the song; certain moments that come to mean everything to the fan, the person listening to the song. The way in which Emily sings the word “sinks” is so clear and beautiful. Small moments like this are just beautiful. And the way “I’m in two”is sung and the drums kick in. Tiny moments that make the song. I’m fairly sure that Lissie’s Heart Murmur is my most played Warpaint song, and probably one of the most played songs I own in general. There is something about it that just makes you know that this is a song you’ll play in 10 years time and you’ll be taken back to when you first heard it, and how you will feel at that point will be exactly how you felt when you first heard it. I could have just summed this up by saying this is one of the most gorgeous songs of all time, I think that’s obvious. You just bask so freely in the tranquil atmosphere that they create, over and over again.
Last year I wrote about a duo from New York that were pretty much the opposite of everything I listen to. They’re not as heavy as bands such as The Jesus And The Mary Chain or Loom, but they have a dream-like feel to their music which is found in bands I love such as Youth Lagoon, Tamaryn and Warpaint. I like music that at times can be regarded as brutal and aggressive. Thrashing guitars and distorted vocals; that’s what owns my heart. But there is always room for delicate music. The true definition of delicate is found in the new Hooves EP, Luna.
Luna has the same beauty as Beach House’s music. The echoing vocals and the hazy guitar sends you into another world. A world free of any judgement and pain; and if you’ve been subjected to the news recently, you will understand how badly that is needed. Their gentle sounds and atmospheric mood is wonderfully soothing. I may have exhausted everything I could possibly say about Hooves when I wrote about them last year, but Luna is a stunning EP. With some EPs you always want more, and at times you wonder why a band even bothered to make one, but with Hooves this EP just fits perfectly. Luna is made up of four beautifully crafted songs that fit so perfectly; as the sun falls down this is the music you should be playing as you watch the day fade away and the cool, calm breeze of the night hits. Nothing else would be as blissful as this.
The tribal sounds in Animal Noises is my favourite off the EP, for now. I’ll no doubt change my mind as I listen to the EP on a loop; I rarely pick a favourite and stick to it, but I feel this may be one I can actually stick with. I adore the thumping drums and soothing vocals on Animal Noises. Doves is a song that is made up of ethereal vocals with a euphoric build-up towards the end. This is why it is so easy to fall in love with music. This is also why I believe duos to be the best. They give more of themselves, as do solo artists. In short, I just really do adore Hooves.
Hooves are one of the many reasons as to why I think it is easy to justify that New York is the home to such incredible talents. If you want to go way back in time, then you will find some true greats. But of recent years (I mean the past 5 years or so) bands like Sons Of An Illustrious Father to K-Holes have all produced insanely good music; both completely different from each other, but equally divine. Hooves are a prime example of what New York has to offer; you better take it.
Hooves is out now and you can get if off their bandcamp page: http://hoovesband.bandcamp.com/album/luna-ep Share it with the ones you love on a Summer’s day, that’s the best way to enjoy it. Or you can be totally selfish and play it through headphones and create your own piece of heaven. Both are fine; just listen. Oh and they also opened for Kaki King last December. That’s pretty important.
“Sacred hearts are bursting in the chest of every person that I meet.”
I came home from the gym. Threw my bag on the floor and was set to go through the daily gruelling process of looking for jobs and a reason to keep going at it. I checked my emails, what do I see? A promo copy of Crocodiles new record. Today is also my hero, Morrissey’s birthday. Today is a good day. These two things are just magical. I have things to do, and I don’t wish to do them. Not until I’ve written about the year’s best record.
Crimes Of Passion is Crocodiles fourth record. Each record of theirs has always had a lot of sentimental value to me. Summer Of Hate got me through a bad year, Sleep Forever summed up my life at that point and Endless Flowers just reminds me of my girlfriend. In short, I guess you could say Crocodiles music has dragged me through all the bad to finally someone, something good. That’s just how I see it. So what could Crimes Of Passion mean to me? Well to start with, everything.
The record starts with the glorious I Like It In The Dark. This is a song that should be played at all house parties, full of debauchery and the desire to commit some sins. I held no expectations when I pressed play; I knew immediately that I was going to hear a record that was going to make my tummy flip and my heart beat faster- this record is just like falling in love repeatedly with the same person, regardless of how long you’ve been with them, all over again. I Like It In The Darkis the start of a hazy journey through psychedelic bliss. The start of the week saw them give us a taste of their record by streaming Cockroach. The bold tones of this song remains throughout the whole record but there are some gloriously dreamy sounds on Crimes Of Passion. She Splits Me Upand Me And My Machine Gunhave such a beautiful daydream feel to them. They make you feel as if you are in the most secure of states; nothing and no one can touch you. Their first two records were quite wild, but since Endless Flowers their sound seems still rambunctious at times but being such a fan I am- I really really love this sound. They are like very few bands that are around who make different sounding records each time. Look at how drastic The Horrors sound was from Strange House to Primary Colours and to Skying. Look at how bands like The Kills have changed with each record. When I band keep repeating what they do, then it becomes a bore. I firmly stand by the Crocodiles being one of the most exciting bands around. Trust in Zoo Music kids, trust in it.
I’m in no position to tell you what the best songs are on Crimes Of Passion, I can only simply tell you that this is a remarkable record from start to finish. The songs are full of lust (Marquis De Sade– he was a French writer/philosopher who was sexually free with his words; a bit a genius for sure. Check out his work) and the songs are full of rage (Cockroach.) The songs are full of subjects many shy away from because they just cannot do it. The thing is, Crocodiles free you. They say the things you are too shy to say. Much like Morrissey has been doing for years. If you’re prone to drifting towards the dark things in life, then Crocodiles will be the ones who make music that just sums up those feelings and desires you try to hide.
Crocodiles make the weakest of people feel tough. Listening to them is a sacred experience. As you place your earphones in, strut down the street listening to them- you feel incredibly untouchable. I think this is how people felt when they first heard Velvet Underground. The posses the cool vibe of Lou Reed and the gentle poetry in their words which is found in the likes of literary geniuses such as Wilde, Verlaine and Ted Hughes. Basically, they are romantic with their words and how the music is equally as romantic. As I listen to Crimes Of Passion over and over, I can truly feel my heart being owned by Me And My Machine Gun. I want to say it is 2013’s version of No Black Clouds For Dee Dee but that song is in a different league. It’s the purest of love songs; the ultimate love song.
If you’ve ever seen Crocodiles live you will see that they play with such passion and fury. I’ve only seen them once, last year at Rough Trade. I was mesmerised by how Charles plays. You just watch this transformation happen, you see it in all of them. I remember my eyes being fixated on Charles when they played Mirrors. Certain moments kids, certain moments. Crocodiles are the trigger to a lifestyle full of rambunctious thoughts and the desire for something more. Excuse my language, but Crimes Of Passion is fucking incredible.
I cannot write how other Music Writers do. I cannot remove myself from being a fan, I really can’t. I don’t know if it is a good thing or bad thing. All I know is that, when you know a band have made a record with all they have it is important, if you’re going to write about it- you put your all into it too. There is so much more I want to say about Crimes Of Passion but to be honest, the record speaks for itself. If you want songs that make you want to be pure again, but knowing you cannot be (Virgin) or if you want songs to just wander the streets to (Un Chant D’AmourI’d like to add that this is the perfect song to just lay on the grass, close your eyes and let the sun beat on your eyes; and to just fall in love to) then Crimes Of Passion has it all. It is easy to adore every single song on this record. I’m beyond proud to be a fan of Crocodiles. Their music is like a cloak of armour, a badge of honour.
Crimes Of Passion is out 19th August on Zoo Music. Go to your local record shop and buy this record. The band is heading out on tour in the UK near the same time :
25-Aug UK Glasgow Broadcast 26-Aug UK Edinburgh Sneaky Petes 28-Aug UK Leeds Brudenell Social Club 29-Aug UK Manchester The Ruby Lounge 01-Sep UK Larmer Tree End of the Road 03-Sep UK Brighton Sticky Mike’s
Being a calm person, I like to listen to music that is aggressive and has the power to make me feel as if my face is going to melt, oh and to also make me feel as if my eardrums are going to explode. I like people to be quiet, I like music to have a message. These ideals cause me problems but when I’m sent music like I am regularly sent- everything seems alright.
Loomer are an Australian band that make music that makes My Bloody Valentine’s return seem almost non-existent. I’m alright with writing that because I love MBV, but I didn’t really fall for their return. I’m still holding out for The Jesus And Mary Chain. Whilst I wait (my patience is being tested) I find new bands to give me that feeling I got when I first heard The Jesus And Mary Chain. As you know, I compare most things to how I felt when I first heard them. It may seem quite strange, but my life revolves around not much- but mainly music for the most part. It’s a constant source of everything, so to me it makes complete sense. I think the only ones who understand are musicians themselves. I love music that feels quite haunting. Quite sinister and as if you are listening to something maybe you shouldn’t be. A sacred experience that sometimes you do not wish to share. But, as I’m stupidly kind I do like to share. So..what about Loomer?
Their debut record is about to come out. Their debut record is as menacing as Psychocandy was. We’re off to an excellent start here. Have you heard Savages debut record? It’s pretty much like that. I wrote about Savages debut here : http://www.musicbrokemybones.co.uk/?p=9270 I’m getting the same feeling. I feel like something quite surreal is happening, and any words to sum it all up would not do it justice. Loomer penetrate the mind with eerie vibes that you just do not seem to get. The end of every song leaves you speechless in the most pleasurable way possible. From listening to Ceiling, I can really understand how Loomer are influencing a new batch of bands in Brisbane who are making similar sounds.
What I’ve really fallen for here is the dreary bass and the hypnotic vocals. The way they go together is unreal. Then you have the drums blistering through and the guitar sounds create a sinister vibe alongside the bass. Everything works so perfectly to create such an intense atmosphere. It is euphoric build-ups galore on this record. Let’s call this one of, if not THE best debut record of 2013. Put it next to Savages, and nothing else is going to matter. Ignore all the hype lists, I’m telling you now that Loomer are the ones you need to pay such close attention to. But, the sad thing is we live in a world where reality shows are the platform for talentless acts to shine, so we miss out on what is truly stunning. Which is why you must always dig deeper. Go to the very core so you find some music that gets you right in the soul.
They have a song called French which lasts over 6 minutes. The last 2 minutes or so is a mind-blowing frenzy. Everything goes wild, and even the tamest of bodies will flail about in such a fashion that can only be described as free. This band will set you free. It may only be their debut, but it honestly has the power to cause the hysteria that The Jesus And Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine did when they came out. If any band can shake up how music is made and WHY it is made, then please please oh please just let it be Loomer.
Every song feels like a rush towards that dark, sinister feeling that you are told to never go near. Loomer rid you of the fear of going into the unknown and just self-indulgently make you completely fall about in it. There is honestly something truly special here that may remain an underground secret but I live in the hopes that someone, somewhere feels the same way I do about Loomer. Maybe in a few years they’ll go down in music history the same way some of the bands I adore have. I have high hopes for them, and maybe not much else. I’m alright with this; there’s power in music.
As the end of the record approaches, you feel as if you have been thrown about by some bloody great bruiser of a person. Audition sways you about; your bones are aching. You are bruised and bloody to the core, and all you feel is the remains of violence. A strange and wonderful experience that you will subject yourself to over and over. Pardon my language, but fucking hell this is brilliant. The record goes really deep and dark. The record takes you to a place no one else will ever take you; you don’t need to hold anyone’s hand for this, go it alone. Go with everything you have. The vengeance Ceiling ensues is hypnotic. Every song places you in the firmest of chokeholds and as you gasp for air, you smirk at how frightfully dark and brilliant these songs really are.
If you don’t feel alive after listening to this, then play it over and over again. Or just keep playing it over and over again anyway.
The debut record originally came out on CD back in 2010 but is being re-released on vinyl at the end of the month. Buy the vinyl. Play it loud. Play it ritualistically. Let out the demons and throw your limbs about. Let the catharsis begin, you know it is time.
When one of your favourite bands put out a new song, it certainly improves everything. By everything, I truly mean everything. My life revolves around music so this new song by Crocodiles has made me pretty happy.
Crocodiles pretty much make music that I wish I could make, however I am entirely musically null and void. I cannot do a thing but listen to music and write about it. That’s all I can ever do. So when Crocodiles put their new song up, I just had to write about it. It’s going to be rushed because I have to go out (I know, even I’m surprised I’m going somewhere other than the gym.)
Crocodiles have this ferocious and bloody brilliant rambunctious style that fills you with an Arthur Rimbaud style of rebellion inside. They make you feel as if you’ve discovered something menacing but gorgeous. Cockroach is a prime example of that. Their songs are a mixture of love, devotion, rage and despair. They’ve written some of the best love songs and they’ve also written the best “fuck you’s” of all time. They have a gang feel to their sound which is found in the likes of the New York Dolls to Wu Tang Clan- what I’m getting at is, they make you feel part of something. I’ve been a fan since the start, and how I feel in love with them was as I was trying to fall out of love with a person. They helped and they cured. They do this on a constant basis. They’re the first band I turn to. I play them when I have to walk through hell or when I just need to hear words that make a lot of sense. They’re not just a band.
I was excited when I saw the photos of Brandon and Charles in the studio recording their fourth record, but after hearing Cockroach I have every bit of faith that Crimes Of Passion is going to be the best record of the year. Last year Endless Flowers was the best record I heard, so I am more than willing to declare Crimes Of Passion the same.
They have their signature sound of making you wanting to thrash your body around. Making you nod your head so it looks like you’re about to snap your neck. You just have to play it loud and move in the most ridiculous way possible. Their new record is produced by one half of The Raveonttes (Last Dance is a beautiful love song, go listen) Sune Rose Wagner. Everything about Crocodiles is enough to drag you through the mundane to find your own piece of heaven. Cockroach is going to be an anthem amongst fans. Sung with everything we all have; it’s just excellent.
In a few days they are announcing a tour of Europe and the UK. I’ll be there. Even if I have beg, steal and/borrow-I will be there. Singing the songs that mean the world to me. Cannot wait.
This is the kind of song to make you not care for anything else in that moment. It will give you that tough attitude you wish you naturally possessed. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t mastered it, Crocodiles will give you the armour you need to act like someone nobody should ever fuck around with. There aren’t many bands who do this, especially now. I’d obviously quite happily write a thousand more words on how excellent this song is, but I think in 3 minutes and 1 second Crocodiles have pretty much justified why you need to pay even more attention to them.
This was meant to be an album review, but for some reason I can’t open the file I was sent. And if I’m honest, I feel uncomfortable reviewing records. I’d rather listen to everything a band/singer has done, and try to write something of worth. If they put everything they have into making a record, then who am I to dissect it and tell you why you should buy it? I’d rather just go through all they’ve done and tell you why they’re great.
Which has led me onto writing about a band called The Rich Hands, a trio from San Antonio who have only been going a couple of years. In some songs they remind you of very early White Stripes, but when you get past that (it isn’t a bad thing) you realise just how brilliant they are in their own right. A typical sound that I adore- full of heart and oozing with such pure rawness. A lot try to emulate this kind of music, but it seems so natural for The Rich Hands to make. They are pure Rock & Roll with a delightful Garage Rock backbone. Garage Rock is the kind of music that always makes you feel more confident than you actually are- much like Punk. It is bold and it is honest. The things we want to be is found in Punk and Garage Rock; they allow us to be tough even when we are the most sensitive of souls. Filling us with bravado as we strut to the rambunctious sounds- just for some time to be oblivious to our own thoughts. Music is the purest of escapes.
The Rich Hands are everything you want your favourite (new) band to me. Their music is delightfully wild and frightfully brave. Their sound makes you feel like you are anywhere but where you are and not in 2013. They take you to the dirtiest of bars and wash your soul clean with their rowdy scenes. Music to lose your mind to and music that just sets you free.
The Rich Hands are releasing their debut record DREAMERS digitally on the 28th May, on cassette on 4th June and finally on vinyl on 9th July all via Fountain Records. You can listen to previous released here on their bandcamp page: http://therichhands.bandcamp.com
This was a long time coming. This was much-needed; it was everything. As you know I’m a massive fan of Dirty Beaches. He manages to unleash every feeling you’ve ever had in his symphonic sounds without you even being aware you were feeling that way. There aren’t many who are this powerful but the humbling thing is, Alex doesn’t even know he’s this powerful.
As soon as Alex picks up his guitar you can see just how quickly he is transported into another world on stage. I was lucky enough to be right at the front, to witness this transformation so close was something incredibly special. It was as if he was taking you with him. For this 50 minute set it was just as if the real-world didn’t matter. Why should it ever matter anyway? We have musicians like Alex who have the gift of taking us somewhere else. Somewhere where it’s okay to harbour ugly feelings or carry an inch of self-doubt or the burning desire of lust. Everything seems alright and nothing seems important when in this world. Live music is sometimes more powerful than the record.
Alex now plays live with Shub Roy and Bernardino Femminielli (who was also support tonight and is hand on heart, on of the most entertaining singers I’ve ever seen. This guy is a character and you need to listen to his music.) I’d never seen Alex play when he was just on his own, this was my first time and it was mind-blowing. The bond between the three musicians is beautiful. Exchanging hugs after every song was just beautiful to watch- they weren’t just three people playing music to us; they are evidently a family unit. Blistering through the new record (double LP!) Drifters/Love Is The Devil, every song played (sadly they don’t play both records in full-but imagine if they did!) something clicks inside of you. You pick up exactly how and more importantly WHY this record was made. I think everything I witnessed at this gig is going to stay with me for as long as I’m alive. Like I said already, Alex has this power that is unaware of but the beautiful thing about him is how humble he is.
When I was stood at the front, I watched him set up- which is where my photo is from, and it was done with such precision. Even before he started his show, you knew something amazing was going to happen tonight. I’ve been to a lot of gigs, and I’ve never seen anything like this before. I’ve never been to a gig where the crowd (thankfully) just shuts up and stays silent. The silence is the backbone to the awe everyone feels as they stand looking at Alex. His fist-pumps to the music resemble someone who is passionately possessed by the music. Bernardio thrashes about on keys whilst Shub looks relaxed as he hits the drum machine, alternating with the guitar. All three of them drift off into another place; but you know they are heading there together. All in their own time, but they sure as hell get there.
Live music is a healing process. Not just for those who are on stage unleashing their furies, but those who stare on in amazement. I cannot tell you what I had going on in my mind as I watched this show, mainly because I was just in awe of everything before me. Nothing mattered, maybe nothing matters now. It’s about the specific moments that make everything alright. This was one moment where everything felt alright.
At the end of each song, you could see relief on Alex’s face like every song performed was just a release for him. Anyone who is a fan of Dirty Beaches will know just how important and possibly gruelling it was for Alex to make this double record. To see it live and to truly see how much it means to him was an absolute honour to watch. This cathartic experience is something I think anyone who was here tonight will treasure for a long time, I know I will. You see, Alex’s music goes beyond just being music to me. I didn’t really feel as if anyone else was around me at the gig. I felt like I was just stood in the doorway watching someone unleash all their pure emotions. They knew I was there, and it was as if they knew I felt exactly the same. The sheer power and devotion in Alex’s voice is insane. He can have the most ferocious voice but can break your heart in a delicate note. This happened at the end of the set where he was encouraged by us all to come on for an encore. Something which he didn’t expect, again reinforcing just how humble he is.
I’d waited years to see Alex live. Things always got in the way and it just wasn’t do-able. Having finally seen someone who I regard ever so highly as a true inspiration and probably the hardest working musician around, this gig at the Workingmen’s Club in Bethnal Green went beyond all expectations. I knew I was going to have my mind blown. I knew it was going to be like nothing else I had ever seen- I just didn’t expect the aftermath to fill me with a strange sense of hope. I like to think it is hope. It is hope of the unknown. You didn’t know what Alex was going to do next, and that is exactly why we need more musicians like this. Musicians to lure us in during their live shows in a way on record you may have missed. When I listen to his records (soundtracks included) my eyes remain closed. But live you have to keep your eyes open. You cannot tear your eyes away from the stage. I didn’t care for what anyone else was doing (although the guy next to me with curly hair was really getting into the music, he really felt it) I was just taking everything in.
I probably learnt more from this show than anything else. Put everything you have into something; that’s all you can ever do. It doesn’t matter if not everyone likes it because there will always be a handful of people who do.
My favourite twins (I don’t have a list of favourite twins, I just really love Say Lou Lou) have released the video to their new single, Julian.
Last night when I was on the long journey back from seeing Dirty Beaches, I listened to Julian on repeat. It made this lengthy tube journey less boring. I took in the dark sky that was fluttered with street lights. Everything seemed beautiful. This song is beautiful, and the video brings out the pain that is in the song and also the vulnerability in it. It’s a stunning love song. The video shows the song in a different light, but by no means does it take away the sentimental value of the song. It’s equally as gorgeous as the song.
The Bedroom Hour are from Hillingdon. I once got on the tube to Uxbridge rather than where I was meant to be going- I panicked and probably sent a dramatic text to my girlfriend who then told me to get off at the next stop and she’d get me. That stop was Hillingdon. I like to think this story has some importance. Maybe a lesson. Who knows. Always check where the tube goes. Although sometimes, it is nice to get lost. Speaking of getting lost….
I love The Bedroom Hour for many many reasons. The main one being their music makes you feel like you are getting lost in the comfort of your own mind. I can’t list all of the reasons, but most of them are found in their new EP which is called Themes and is out 17th May- a week today. As I listen to it, my love for them and music with such passion is recoiled. Everything about them is distinctive. Stuart’s vocals are unlike anyone elses- there is a lot of fragility in his vocals which makes you believe in every single word he sings. Personally the song that does it for me is Tyrannosaur; I love the purity of the lyrics. Lyrics are a huge thing for me which is another reason as to why I love The Bedroom Hour.
Last year I said that the EPs that came out seemed to be better than the full length records that came out. There is something quite sacred about an EP. Maybe it’s because the time you have with it is so short; you can either play it over and over out of frustration of wanting more or you remain patience. I cannot do the latter. I’ve never been able to do the latter, I never will. Themes is a perfect example as to why I simply cannot do that.
When I wrote about The Bedroom Hour last year I said they had healing powers. The healing is in every part of their sound. From the vulnerable vocals to the dreamy guitar strums. Everything is gentle. The bass line sways you. The keyboards ease you. Everything takes you on some kind of journey that is full of love. They portray the kind of love that most of us want; unconditional. X Marks The Spot is a prime example of this. It’s the kind of love song that Richard Hawley would enjoy. I say this because that man has written some of the greatest love songs ever. X Marks The Spot is one of their older songs, and I’m really happy it is on the EP because it is such a gorgeous song.
The Bedroom Hour make music that you wish to hear in awkward moments to make everything they easier. They are like a sigh of relief, a form of understanding in a world full of misunderstanding and judgement. They’re a delicate 5 piece who aren’t afraid to be so heartbreakingly honest with their music. If you cannot be true to what you do, then don’t do it- because no one will believe you. And we all want to be believed in any way we can. Fortunately The Bedroom Hour do it in a way that is so pure and magnificent. I’ve not heard many EPs this year, but they have Themes to seriously compete against. I compared The Bedroom Hour to a more gentle version of Spiritualized last year, I think Themes justifies my declaration. They do what Jason Pierce does- easing the heart and making you feel alright with what you feel.
Beat In My Bones. 