“I enjoyed my life when I had nothing… and kinda like the idea of just being happy with me.”
I’ve had this in mind most of the day. The rest of my thoughts aren’t as interesting, or as important. I’ve spent the day listening to and thinking about the Ramones. How time drags. How everything drags when it is bad. I’ve always idolised the Ramones; mainly Joey. I bought (fake) leather jackets because I saw how it made them look untouchable. I wanted to feel like that. When I wear it, I don’t. It’s going to take more than a jacket to make me feel like that. I look at old press photos of them all; they were a gang, a family. A force that could not be stopped and to even want to stop them would have been utterly foolish.
Punk went beyond being a genre of music. Ramones went beyond being just a band. I have a few of their records (vinyl) and when I play it, with the crackling in the background the excitement of discovering them for the first time hits me. They became instantly timeless didn’t they. They had something that is beyond words and will never be seen in any other band. You see, everyone is always “BEATLES OR ROLLING STONES.” No. Forget that. I’d choose neither (if I had to, I’d pick Rolling Stones because they weren’t overproduced and manufactured toss.) Ramones had EVERYTHING a band should have. They had raw energy, songs that felt like you were being throttled but they conveyed so much sensitivity in certain songs such as I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend and their cover of the Ronettes song Baby I Love You.
Joey Ramone will always be the greatest frontman of all time. His shyness and towering frame made him seem like a gentle giant. His distinctive voice and the way he thrashed the mic stand as he sung made you wish you could be like him. I will always wish I could be like him, and Patti Smith. There’s nothing I can really say about Joey that hasn’t been said by so many before. He was truly one of a kind.
I’ve been a fan of Deftones for as long as I can remember. I practically lived in a grey t-shirt I hado the band with a cassette tape sprawled across the chest with Deftones written across. I still have the shirt. That shirt holds a lot of memories. A lot.
When I look at it now, I know a wave of sadness will hit.
Chi Cheng was undoubtedly one of the best bassists ever in one of the best bands ever. The way he played was furious and passionate. The way he played was inspirational. It made you want to do something. Anything. Just..something. To know that will never happen again is horrible. Just horrible. Of course we still have the music he created when he was here. Of course we do.
I often play Deftones when I’m at the gym. For some reason I concentrate on music more when I’m there. Just the other day I was listening to them, and more than ever Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away) became more apt. That song just oozes all of my frustrations of being stuck where I am. Because I am stuck, with minimal hope of getting out. I listened to it and more than ever I saw myself in that song. Everyone has that one song where it just sums everything up for them; that song is mine.
I never saw Deftones play, but I know if I ever did it’d cause a lifetime obsession of just wanting to see them anywhere and everywhere no matter what. You can love a band all your life and never see them live. It’s not nice, but sometimes that is just how it has to be.
Utter sadness just fills me as I think about Deftones. More so Chi right now. Fortunately I can listen to them still. Sometimes this happens and no part of you can bring yourself to listen to the music. But at the end of it all, music is what we have. What they gave us.
And with the deepest respects and a lot of love; Rest In Peace Chi xx
Last year I wrote about a band called Sons Of An Illustrious Father, on the back of that quite a few bands from New York got in touch with me. Something which felt entirely strange. I live thousands of miles away from a music scene that speaks to me. I’m far away from it all, but when I listen to it- I feel like I am there. You create your own sense of belonging. Sometimes you won’t belong, that’s why nothing is permanent. If it was, we’d never do a thing. So a few bands got in touch, and I really enjoyed them all. This Tuesday sees the release of one of them releasing an EP.
Ghost Pal are a collective of incredibly talented musicians from Brooklyn. They have this massive sound to their music which is found in the likes of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. They create this friendly atmosphere to their music, as if you too could be a member of the band. I have a cowbell lying around if that’s any use…No? Didn’t think so.
Their new EP, God Save MCFK is just magnificent. When I’ve written about them before, I have always likened listening to them as some kind of spiritual experience. The last track on the EP, Raja’s Song (Hold On My King) is just so beautiful. The lyrics are so lovely, but there is one line that I just adore that goes, “I will love you through every single day.”There is something so pure and innocent about this line. Something so simple but so utterly special. It is just a gorgeous line. It is the perfect song to end the EP on, and I think (after playing the EP many times) that this is my favourite on God Save MCFK.
As so many have been in Ghost Pal, and still are, you get a true sense of community in the music. They don’t need grand vocals or over the top production to make their point. It is their simple lyrics and heartfelt passion that they play with that make them so easy to connect with. Everything comes from the heart with Ghost Pal, and that’s why you really cannot help but love them.
An EP just isn’t long enough to showcase how brilliant they are. I don’t dance, but songs like God Save Mama Coco’s is enough to make me want to move my limbs in a questionable fashion. I won’t though. I’ll just pretend I have. They make music for hazy summer days and hot nights. They bring out the best in you because you really feel the music; there’s no way that you couldn’t.
But, you’re going to have to wait until Tuesday to get that kind of feeling. But if you can’t wait that long, then you can just hit up their bandcamp page here: http://ghostpal.bandcamp.com
To write this with the care and respect it deserves may take me some time. I have the time, too much time. I’ll try my best. I’ve wanted to speak with Alex Zhang Hungtai (Dirty Beaches) for some time now. Many times I’ve read his blog and just thought “Email him..don’t be such a coward.” A month ago I stopped being a coward and emailed him asking if he would answer some questions. I always expect the worst. But, it is obvious that Alex is a good person who loves making music. I sent him some questions and now I am going to try type this up in a way I want it. As a fan; not as a Music Journalist/Writer. Even though I am one, I don’t really like them. They write in a way I don’t like. I’m not afraid to be a fan, so I might as well write like one.
All of Alex’s work is on his bandcamp page (http://dirtybeaches.bandcamp.com/) and for any emotion you are carrying around; there is a song there that will sum it up perfectly. More than likely it will be just instrumental. Sometimes words just don’t cut it. I was really intrigued as to how he manages to convey feelings of loneliness and desolation without using lyrics; how can you put across something so frail without using your voice, can it even be done? Of course it can.
“For better or worse, I’ve developed this way of making music as the only way I know how to make music. Instrumentals or not, it doesn’t really matter because it’s just a way of expressing how you feel. Like picking what type of brushes to use on canvas, for example. I am learning more techniques as we speak, and have developed some as well over the years.”
This is why it is so easy to love Alex’s music, because you know it comes from a treasured place. A place that is sacred, that not many can get into; the soul. The soul is deeper than the heart. It is easy to have a piece of music touch your heart, but when it really gets to your soul that’s it. The connection is firmly there. Irreplaceable and perfect.
Alex’s music has always sounded to me as if it was destined to be in a film. His music makes you feel as if you are on the run; escaping what has held you captive for so long. Last week I picked up a copy of the Water Park soundtrack. I’m not sure if I’ll ever take it out of the wrapper because it just looks so beautiful untouched and unopened. Or maybe I’ll just cave and listen to it later. I’ve heard the film scores he has done before, and have been left in awe of his talent. As I’ve listened to them, I was always curious as to how he went about it because music in films is all about capturing certain moments to reinforce specific things happening. I thoroughly recommend you listen to his music scores because they’re on a different level.
“I’m working with the directors research material and for me, first and foremost is to deliver the music that the director wants. I have my instincts too, but it’s usually over a lot of detailed conversations with the director to develop the pacing, rhythm, and mood of each scene where music is required. Sometimes they just background music, so I can write very simple non intrusive music that can be interrupted by dialogue any time. Kind of like furniture music. But every movie, every director is different, and it’s interesting to work with different people that intrigues you.”
His music is powerful, regardless of if it’s on his own record or if it is a soundtrack. It just touches you in a beautiful way. You can sense a lot of struggle in his music, that this is a pure way to release frustrations. Nothing ever comes easy, and you can tell Alex is one of the hardest working musicians around just by looking at his discography. We all have to struggle to get what we want, and if everything just happened instantly surely we’d never treasure certain moments or we’d just take everything for granted. Everything can be made up of false starts at times, it doesn’t work out. You stop to only start again. Usually it is the second time around that can make it all fall into the place the way it should. There is a beautiful sense of urgency in Alex’s music that makes you really believe in what he has created. You know it is everything to him, and I wanted to know what made him feel that he just HAD to make music, that nothing else would do:
“I quit music once in 2005, and worked in real estate. After 1 year, I quit my job and moved to Montreal and started all over. I think from that point on it was pretty serious. I quit a proper job to go work in minimum wage shit jobs just so I could pursue this dream. I got lucky. But I did work really hard for 7 years. Working countless dead end jobs, writing and playing on my spare time, playing to 5 people at some moody basement. This is the life of a lot of musicians in North America. I feel very blessed. Real glad to be here.”
I remember when I first heard Dirty Beaches. I honestly had no idea what I was listening to. I didn’t know if it was one person or a full band. I didn’t know, part of me at the time didn’t want to know because I created an image in my mind of what it was. I think part of me knew it was one person. I have a thing for duos and solo artists that have a “do or die” feel about their music. You just know that they work harder than most (that’s not a knock to bands at all.) It is like they have something more to prove. Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. But when it is just one of you on stage, you are a lot more vulnerable because you have no back up if it goes wrong. Same goes with duos, if one slips- you both fall. Yet you still carry each other. Anyone who knows me knows that The Kills are my favourite duo, and if they added more members it just wouldn’t sound or look right. It is quite voyeuristic in a way because the chemistry they have is just so rare. The same goes with powerful solo artists like Alex. He is pouring it all out, and we just take it all in. So why did he decide to go it alone?
“I moved to Montreal and posted “bass player, drummer wanted” ads for months, went to numerous meet ups with strangers and nothing ever came out of it. Out of frustration, I did everything on my own. My background is playing bass or guitar in the back of numerous bands, metal, noise, improv, indie rock what have you. I always like being in the back of the band just playing a guitar. But I didn’t find anyone that I connected with.”
You cannot force a connection, and life is too short to make compromises. A strong DIY work ethic may take longer to achieve what you want, but the end result is always worth more because you know you worked yourself to the ground to get it. The more you see and the more you expose yourself to; it just causes you to gain inspiration and to grow. When you listen to Alex’s work, you really get a sense of this. He has travelled and has lived everywhere from Montreal to his current location, Berlin. At the start of this year he toured Australia and Asia for the first time. Cultural diversity makes the world a better place. Although I love books, seeing things with your own eyes is a lot more powerful than reading about it. To experience it all for yourself can do so much for a person, only a fool would turn their nose up at us all being different and making our own contributions to society. No matter how big or small. As I read Alex’s answers to my questions, this was the one that really meant a lot. I’m trying to figure out why, but I suppose if I keep going over it the answer will just miss me. I asked him what stand-out moments there were on this tour:
“It’s mostly non music related, like swimming in the pacific ocean again was a huge thing for me as I was raised near the ocean in Honolulu. It made me realize how much I miss swimming in ocean water. Other things were food, predominantly food, and bizarre adventures like going to hang out with lady boys in Bangkok. That was rad. They were super cool. People in Thailand taught me a lot of things, as they are very peaceful culturally, and there’s no bullshit stereotypes of masculinity or femininity. The body and the mind seems to be separate over there. Trans gender people and homosexuality is not a taboo at all over there. It was cool to see and experience that.”
If we lived in a world where we all accepted each other, it’d make life a lot easier for most of us. But alas, that won’t happen. Not in my lifetime. I live in hope but you know. To be in such a peaceful environment like Thailand and to swim in the ocean- these are moments that will stay with a person forever. You have to travel around to find a place that you belong in. I remember a few weeks ago I was wandering around Oxford Street in London on my own. I think at one point I took a wrong turn and got lost. So I went in the first bookshop I found and spent an hour in there. No one knew who I was and no one wanted anything from me. I was just another person. It’s alright to spend time on your own to just be. To just be at peace and to just do what you want. It is important for people to spend time alone and to not talk. Silence is beautiful. Getting lost in a place is wonderful. You turn corners and you have no idea what is there; going into the unknown can be scary but it is also one of the best things you can do. Alex has lived everywhere. Places where he knows no one, places where he knows someone. Is it hard for him to find a place to settle? Does he want to? Why should any of us settle somewhere? I’ve never called a place “home.” I don’t know if I ever will. Some places you feel a connection to, other places can be quite soulless. You create your own state of mind and what it is to “belong.”
“Everyone has their own unique path, there’s definitely some places that made it harder for me to adjust to based on the language/culture barrier, but after a while, you get used to everything. I’m pretty open to new things. New food, new culture, new clothes, I don’t really care. I prefer to blend in with the crowd.”
I learnt a lot more about Alex just by asking him the questions I wanted to ask. Interviews can be boring and you can ask the same thing over and over. I love music, and I just wanted to know more about how he makes music and the places he has been to. There are some musicians that you can instantly tell are so passionate about what they do, and that is what draws you to them. When I look at the music that I own, every band/singer is someone who is truly passionate about what they do. That’s how it should be. If you’re not going to give it your all and do it with heart; then don’t bother. The last thing I asked Alex was about how he writes lyrics. Writing words down..the words that you feel at that moment are extremely personal and there comes a time where they are no longer private (this is why I never show anyone my lyrics/poems ha!) but if your livelihood is making music, you have to cast that fear aside and just expose yourself. I could quite happily listen to Alex make an album filled with his voice as I could just sit and listen to his instrumental compositions. Both are equally as beautiful, and filled with pure and raw emotion. You can just tell he has worked insanely hard to get it right. I love his lyrics because they are not filled with pretentious imagery or what have you. You don’t ever need to go over the top to make your point.
“I actually really loathe writing lyrics. Partly because I suck. Partly is also because it’s not really pure. I think music is pure in a way that it kind of just comes out of you. But the process of writing lyrics is a chore to me. I go with simple rhythms and try to stick to the impression of the mood of the music when it was first conceived, then try to find the words that match the music. I’m not a poet so it doesn’t come naturally to me. A lot of it is me sitting there for hours working my brain to death just to squeeze a few words out of it. Kind of like constipation, I guess.”
He doesn’t suck at writing lyrics, far from it. But like I said above, whether its instrumental or he uses words- he still manages to convey so much emotion. Alex was actually one of the very few musicians I heard that I loved based on just hearing an instrumental. I love words, but sometimes a piece of music can sum it all up much better. A key change can cover you in goose bumps more than a catchy hook.
In a few weeks Alex is releasing two records via Zoo Music. Drifters/Love Is The Devil. One is instrumental, the other is vocal. In January, the song Love Is The Devil was uploaded. I remember sitting and playing it over and over. Just through headphones. Nothing else could hold my attention. I just had to listen to it and over and over. I heard sadness and I heard hope in the music. It’s a song that will leave you with a lump in your throat because of how gorgeous it is. Without words we can say so much. When I listened to it (and it still has the same grip over me) I knew that these two records Alex is about to put out would be something truly special. I’ve listened to his music when I’ve been at a bad place and when I’ve been content. I wandered through a city and I’ve stared out to the sea as I’ve listened to his music. I’ve rested my head against the windows of a train as I’m transported from one place to another. I’ve said I’ve never felt at home anywhere, truth is..I found my home in music. In his music and a select few. We all have our own battles and fears to conquer, but music like this makes you feel less alone.
I just want to thank Alex for taking the time out to answer my questions. You’re a rare talent, and I honestly cannot thank you enough for this xx
“And in a while, You start a smile. The earth is wild, We’ve got no time.”
When something happens, I am fortunate enough to be one of those people who just let it go. My teenage years were made up of nagging thoughts that I was sure would haunt me forever; they thankfully leave in time. Those nagging thoughts were replaced with something else. They were replaced with just attempting to take it easy on myself. I have good days and bad days. My own worst critic. It’s alright. But something happened exactly two weeks ago at about 9pm. Something happened that just will not leave me alone. You know who is to blame? Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand. Beach House.
I’ve already written about seeing them two weeks ago in London. I can’t read it because I’ll want to add more and more. This is post-gig something or other. I need a word for it, but it isn’t happening. At first I thought it was just the gig in general that did something to me. Turns out it is one song in particular. One song which I didn’t expect to do anything to me. I was wrong, again. So bloody wrong.
I honestly thought Take Care or Myth would be the songs that would ruin me after the gig (during the gig, we don’t talk about it. They played them after each other. It was like they knew!!) Beach House opened with Wild. I’ve had a soft spot for this song, but over the past few weeks I have learnt that it is more important to me than any other song right now. I wish I knew why, but I think I need to let that go. I have to, because I will just sit and play it over and over trying to work it out. I’m pretty much doing that now as I type. Maybe I’ll get some answers after I’ve written this. Or the obvious will happen; I’ll stay frustrated with this thought and resign myself to the fact that Wild is a gorgeous song.
Victoria’s voice live is as perfect as it is on record. Her voice is equally as delicate and so perfect. People say perfection doesn’t exist, but I think you can make exceptions. Victoria’s voice is an exception. My girlfriend, who came with me to the gig, wasn’t really a Beach House fan- now she is. THANK YOU BEACH HOUSE! Anyway. Victoria’s voice on Wild for some reason holds something different to her voice on other songs. As she sings “Wild in our ways, go on pretending” towards the end of the song, it sounds like a plea. A plea to just cling onto youth and dreams. To cling onto whatever keeps you safe in your thoughts. The drums on this live were stunning. The felt like a gentle rumble within the soul and the way Alex plays the guitar just feels like you are watching the sun rise. Everything about this song is pure. It truly comes to life when you witness it live. I think two weeks ago I had some kind of epiphany but I really cannot work out what it was.
I remember when I bought Bloom when it came out last year. I just played New Year constantly. It was the song I really became obsessed with. Then I started to just playing the whole record over and over. I realised that every Beach House song has always summed up feelings that have no names. Maybe they do have names, but the way in which Beach House project it is much more beautiful. Part of me thought, maybe this feeling happened whilst witnessing Wild live was because I had the one I completely and utterly love next to me. Would I have felt this way if I went with a friend? Probably, because I did feel like it was just me and the band in the room. Sure I was aware that others were there, but that gig was one moment I wish I could relive for the rest of time.
Wild just evokes so much. I was walking home from the gym last night just playing it over and over. The sun was going down, and I was walking down this road that seemed to go on forever. When the drums kicked in, a car went past quite fast with its lights on full beam. It fitted perfectly with the song. Obviously the driver didn’t know I was listening to this song and probably didn’t even see me there. But when you wander around (I do this a lot) listening to music, you create scenes in your head. It didn’t feel like real life, and we all know that real life can be a drag at times. I felt like I was in a daze but at the same time- the full beam lights did something. As did the song.
I’ve not written this for any reason. I don’t think there’s a reason to it. You don’t need to justify everything. However, I am none the wiser as to what Wild did to me 2 weeks ago and what it is still doing to me. Maybe it has given me some hope. I need it. Maybe it has given me some secret form of strength. I don’t know if I need that. Wants and needs are so very different, but sometimes they are exactly the same. Maybe the song is saying its okay to be a bit careless at times and to just carry on. We grow up in our own ways. We don’t need to say “Well, I am *insert age* and know it all.” You know nothing, that’s why you’re alive because you are learning as you go. Make all the mistakes you can and learn. You don’t need to broadcast to all what you have learnt. Keep it to yourself. I advise you to listen to Wild. If it makes you feel like it has made me feel, please let me know. Maybe you have a word for it. Or maybe you just “get it.” I don’t know.
I think Wild is just going to be one of those songs that I will treasure for the rest of my life, and when I hear it everything will be perfect and pure in my mind and soul.
I’ve loved Foals from the very start. I’ve wanted to see them live from the first day I ever heard of them. No one I knew ever liked them enough to go with me to see them. Fortunately, I have a brilliant girlfriend who understands my love for them. So after waiting what seemed an eternity, this afternoon I finally got to see them. I didn’t think I could deal with the excitement after seeing Beach House on Tuesday because since then everything has been a blur, and I think it still is. I think this is the only way to solider on through life in general. Stay in a daze.
They came on stage. One by one. First Jimmy, then lastly Yannis. It was kind of hard to see Yannis as he’s only a few inches taller than me. I’m not exactly tall, but you learn to embrace being short. I suppose.
The set list is incredible. Who cares that Afterglow or Cassius or Balloons wasn’t played. They ended on Two Steps, Twice. Nothing can beat that. NOTHING. Oh maybe except for Yannis going into the crowd a few times. No big deal (it really was.) Mid-set he had sailed through the seating area with his guitar then into the standing. Greeted by roaring cheers. Fans anxious to touch and take a photo of their modern-day hero.
I want to talk about the venue briefly before I go on about how incredible this afternoon was. I’ve never been to the Royal Albert Hall, but I’ve always wanted to see something special. Even from the outside, you know you are about to walk into something truly spectacular. When I walked in, I was in awe of how many people were there. Everything from the stage set-up to the general architecture of the building was truly breath-taking. Then Foals came on and just blew my mind. The way they play is just so bloody tight, and with so much love. Jimmy jangles about the stage; his towering frame is difficult to tear your eyes away from. Jack’s drumming is just out of this world. Walter is the smoothest bassist around. Edwin is in another world on the keys. Yannis is probably one of the best frontmen around. He doesn’t need to engage in pointless talk to keep you hooked. The way he sings every single word- especially off their latest record, Holy Fire seems like some kind of much needed release.
I never thought, for some reason they would play Bad Habit live. But they did, and I really don’t think I can fully explain how badly I wanted to hear it. Holy Fire is a beautiful record, and lets face it; it is the best record of 2013 so far. On record it is just so stunning. How can it sound equally as beautiful live? Quite easily. When they played Moon it was honestly one of the best moments I have ever EVER seen at a gig. You don’t need me to tell you how gorgeous Spanish Sahara was too. You know that euphoric point in the song? Just after the intense build-up? If you’ve never witnessed it live, then you may not have experienced perfection.
I thought I couldn’t take anymore strobe lighting after Beach House on Tuesday, turns out everyone loves a strobe! The lighting at the Royal Albert Hall was just phenomenal. A lot of time and effort, and so much thought and care has evidently gone into playing their two shows today at the Royal Albert Hall. I’m not really sure if anyone else could pull off something so brilliant. The crowd was jumping up and grabbing the lights and just generally having the best time. For that hour and a half, nothing in the world seemed to matter. Nothing does matter when you’re in the company of one of your favourite bands really. How could you possibly have a care in the world when stood in front of one of the best bands this country has?! What was also lovely about the crowd was the diversity. There wasn’t a generic kind of person there. Foals fans love music, you can tell just by watching how they react to seeing them live.
What I really loved was looking around this gorgeous venue and just seeing everyone going a bit mental to certain songs. Songs such as My Number and Total Life Forever. Looking around and see everyone glow in the midst of everything was just gorgeous. I don’t have a strong memory, but this afternoon’s gig is something that is going to be permanently cemented in my brain for a very long time. You try your best to cling onto certain moments in life to get you through, I think this will be one of them.
From Jack stepping out from the drums to get the crowd to clap to Yannis’ vocals on Late Night, everything about this afternoon was excellent. More bands should do matinée shows because when you leave you feel you are in a dream world. Maybe you are. It’s hard to believe a band like Foals are real. I always knew they put on a brilliant live show from reviews I’ve read and clips I have seen, but to finally see it for myself is something else. Something that just makes you want to keep on seeing it. It may be the first time I’ve seen them, but I know it sure as hell will not be the last.
Like with Beach House earlier in the week, this show just proved that waiting is not really an issue, especially if it is for something as special and as magnificent as this. Not only did Foals reinforce my love for them this afternoon, but also for my love for music in general. It’s easy to just like a band or music out of habit, but this was out of this world. The way the lighting looked like ripples in water during Spanish Sahara to the ending of Inhaler, this show was just made up of special moments that I will always hold very dear to me.
I dislike a certain kind of Folk music. The kind where they stand on stage looking helpless slanting to one side telling pointless stories. I don’t need mention names because it isn’t nice.
It’s a good job Joe Innes actually has something to offer you in comparison to most. I fell in love with his music last year. He is nothing short of incredible and has supported the likes of She Keeps Bees and Sea Of Bees. Joe is the boss of the Anti-Folk scene, you may have thought it was dead, but you weren’t paying enough attention. It was being wasted on others. Oh how foolish.
His charm and wit truly shone on The Frighteners, and Fables is the first new release since last year’s record. Worth the wait? Yes, because there are mentions of dinosaurs and the killing of Jesse James. Fables is beautifully boisterous and just as charming as anything from The Frighteners. In his email to me, he said it is their best recording to date. Everyone says that don’t they. I listened to some of The Frighteners again just to see if he was right. You should always trust in the music, and that I did. Fables is nothing like previous releases and yes, it is the best he has done to date.
I’ve had Fables on repeat, and there is no way anyone could ever fault Joe’s songwriting skills. He tells tales in a way that you’ve probably been longing for. Fables makes you feel as if you are in some kind of Western, Joe’s the one that’s going to rescue you with his heroic lyrics full of wisdom and wit. There’s probably nothing else you really need. He is honestly one of London’s finest.
Fables is out on the 13th May, and you can listen to the brilliant track right here: https://soundcloud.com/joeinnesandthecavalcade/joe-innes-and-the-cavalcade-fables
Last year I wrote about an amazing band from Brighton called Birdeatsbaby. They had this brilliant cabaret feel to their music, something which I’d never really enjoyed before until then. More than likely because they had a dark vibe going on. It basically felt like Nick Cave at the circus, it was amazing. Now their lead singer has a solo record out, and it’s a lot darker and I think my ability to not be able to sleep means I’m going to ramble on more than usual. You take the good where you can.
Let’s just firstly appreciate that She Makes War feature on the song Raise The Bar. The guitar kicks in with haunting vocals and nothing else really seems to matter; it’s enough to melt your brain but you cannot help but listen to it intensely. It’s an intense song with a few dramatic build-ups and quiet moments that may spook you. It is bloody excellent.
The title track, Present Company is the perfect opener and just shows how strong her voice is. It also shows how deeply influenced by classical music Mishkin is. Her voice sounds so vulnerable over the piano, think Nick Cave singing Into My Arms. That kind of vulnerable. Then the drums kick in and she develops this attitude that is found in my idol, Patti Smith. A song that sounds so simple is made up of so much. I’ve had it on repeat, I should move onto the rest of the record. The drumming on this song is so furious, it is perfect.
My Body, A Bridge is incredibly chilling. It sounds so eerie and is just so beautifully sad. Some of the best songs ever written are sad. There are no other words to describe them, sad is the only word you can use. I’d probably cry if I wasn’t too tired (and I’m pretty sure I cried enough at Beach House on Tuesday to last a while!) Again, it is so simply composed but you know there is so so much more to it.
The constant vibe surrounding this record is dark. It is probably why I like it. I’m not really one for enjoying songs that are about sunshine and flowers. That isn’t for me. I want poetic words over haunting music. You pretty much get all that and more from Mishkin’s record. She sounds so fearless and in control of every element of this record. How many artists can you sense that from? Not many. She has that raw energy that is found in the likes of Shirley Manson and Courtney Love.
I love how cryptic most of the songs sound, especially on I Want This. Cryptic and slightly menacing, but you don’t really pay too much attention to that because of how strong yet delicate her voice sounds. And also, her piano playing skills are simply gorgeous. This is a person who truly believes in music, more importantly THEIR music, which is how it should be. It is nothing like Birdeatsbaby which is a good thing. Her solo record is a different side to her, but just as divine as the music she makes in Birdeatsbaby.
There can sometimes be beauty in heartache, Present Company demonstrates that in such a careful way with utter truth. Stitches is going to be the song that hits you right in the gut. It is phenomenal.
Present Company is out on the 1st May on Dead Round Eyes Records.
You have to wait for things you want don’t you. Sometimes you have to wait a long time, sometimes it just hits you when you don’t expect it to. Or someone can be really kind and help you. Patience is important. Waiting is an art-form. Could be the other way round. Either way, it still stands.
I cannot tell you how many years I have waited to see Beach House. I had tickets to see them about 2 years ago, but reasons led to me having to sell the tickets and unable to go. At the time I was a bit upset, but looking back- I’m glad it happened. Why see them in Manchester when I could see them in one of the best venues in London!
They opened with Wild. Pretty sure tears came immediately. I knew it would happen. It is like every time I have seen Morrissey live. He walks on stage and tears just fall. Alex and Victoria are delicate performers, but play with all they have. Their drummer (who I cannot remember the name of) is incredible. Watching these three perform was an honour. What made it special was that it was the band’s 20th show in London.
I want to talk about seeing Take Care live. When Teen Dream came out, this was the song that I played over and over. All I seemed to want was to just see this song live. I didn’t care for much else, I just wanted to see this song. Two years ago when my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer (she’s fine now) I showed her this song. When Beach House played the intro to Take Care, I could feel my eyes getting heavier and I felt like no one else was in the room. I was back to two years ago in my mind and I just cried. It didn’t help that they played Myth straight after. The thing is though, it felt like a healing process of sorts. Take Care broke my heart and Myth fixed it instantly.
The extreme strobe lighting kept the band in flickering darkness for the most part, and during certain songs the light resembled sunrise across Victoria’s face. he darkness made it all a bit more personal as you felt as if you were part of a world that no one else was aware of. I don’t think there is a better way to spend a (very) cold Tuesday evening to be honest.
Their set list was unreal. Even though Lover Of Mine wasn’t played, they played quite a bit of earlier songs including Heart Of Chambers. Quite early in their set they played an early track and within 5 seconds of the intro, a girl yelled “I LOVE THIS SONG!” The excitement in her voice was brilliant. I looked at the crowd a few times during songs, and all I saw were faces that looked really happy in that moment. Life can be dull and miserable, but for those 2 hours everyone in that room was in a perfect state of mind (if you excuse some of us crying during certain songs that is!) I could quite happily only ever watch Beach House for the rest of my life. Every feeling they evoked was nothing short of euphoria. Every song felt like some kind of spiritual healing and a lesson. It’s alright to be gentle, it’s okay to be unsure. The answer seems to be found in a Beach House song.
I would quite happily wait a few more years to see Beach House again (Victoria said tonight’s show was their last here for a while) because what you get out of it is the most gorgeous and blissed out feeling imaginable. I knew that seeing Beach House would be incredible, but I didn’t expect it to be this huge. I think it is beyond words how they make you feel when you see them. It’s one thing to fall in love with them on record, but to be in the company of them as they perform the songs that in a way saved you, honestly no words can do it justice.
Beach House fans aren’t dickheads (well, the ones here weren’t) and it was just a lovely environment to be in. They don’t speak to the crowd much, but that’s okay. Everything about this gig exceeded perfection. I developed more understanding and admiration for their song Real Love tonight. And seeing New Year live just blew my mind. Well bollocks to it, the whole thing blew my mind and it was one of the most perfect moments I can recall. They are a sacred band, and those that love them know just how sacred they are. They know just how important they are. I always thought Victoria had a strong voice on record, and that Alex was a brilliant guitarist. But after seeing them live, it’s hard to believe talent like that is real.
Beach House have lyrics for you to use as guidance, and when Victoria said she wished she could speak to us all, and then said “in a way we are” it all made sense. Their music isn’t just music, well, for me it isn’t. For me they are a lifeline and some kind of safety net. They’re not just a band, they are a massive source of comfort.
*Also, Matt Berry (The IT Crowd) was there..I just felt like mentioning that.
As a Music Writer (I hate the term “Music Critic” or “Music Journalist”) it is always really nice when a band reach out to you. It’s even better when they make music that you really really love.
I believe you shouldn’t use age or any of those factors when talking about musicians. It doesn’t take anything away from their music, but Evol are pretty young. But they are also pretty damn amazing.
The singer, Kevin emailed me maybe an hour or so ago. He’s from Burlington. It’s in New Jersey. You may or may not have heard of it. When a band on the other side of the world reach out to you, well, it’s a nice feeling. It’s nice knowing someone is paying attention to you. So you must return the favour. I had to return the favour, I couldn’t ignore such a band at all. The music Kevin and his friend Luke make is brilliant. Two people making a LOT of noise. You know how I love duos who make noise. The Kills started all that a long time ago for me. It is something that has stuck, and I’m glad it has. I can’t imagine not having that as one of my music based habits.
Evol make music that will gloriously melt your brain. They unleash a lot of fury, which is understandable. Kevin told me that where he lives, people are either into death metal or 2 Chainz. And I thought where I live was bad. We all face our own battles, right?! They are influenced by Sonic Youth. There aren’t many shit bands that are influenced by Sonic Youth. It is like Sonic Youth were put here to influence and bring out the best in budding musicians. I think, by judging Evol, they’ve filled their purpose and much more.
The thing that really sold me was that Kevin has only been playing guitar for just over a year. In such a short time he’s managed to create his own noise that you cannot help but want more and more from. There’s also one other thing that really touched me. Kevin is influenced by Punk Rock. The good stuff. The genre that taught a generation to speak up and take no shit from anybody. The genre that spoke to so many; and still does. It is not dead, a lot of band still carry that Punk Rock ethic with them. You don’t have to be in a band to do that, you can apply it to everyday life; to just keep on going. But, Kevin said something that I thought was truly beautiful about Punk Rock, and also makes me believe (and hope) that Evol go far with their music. He said this: “Punk Rock taught me that I don’t have to live up to African-American stereotypes.” It is sad that we live in a world where we have to live up to what is expected, but you know what? Thank goodness for Punk Rock to save our souls and teach us important lessons such as not giving in to those stereotypes.
You can listen to Kevin and Luke’s music here: https://soundcloud.com/#covert-bummer You should play it pretty loud. It’ll infect your brain in a good way. Always in a good way. They’ve done a brilliant cover of Sonic Youth’s Silver Rocket. Oh and their own song Solitude is beautiful also. They don’t just stick to one style of music. They mix lo-fi with ambient vibes and hints of Krautrock. I love them. I just love them.
(Oh and Kevin agrees with me that The Jesus And Mary Chain are better than The Beatles. Not many hold this opinion, but it’s good to know that someone else shares it. It’s a shame we live in a world where disliking them is wrong. We can all have an opinion, remember that. Be nice.)
Beat In My Bones. 