Category Archives: New Music 2016

THOMAS COHEN. Village Underground-25th January 2016.

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A few years ago I had a massive obsession with the band S.C.U.M. I thought the name was brilliant, I loved their mysterious sound and ended up with a collection of their b-sides/demos. They took you on some whirlwind and hypnotic trip. Then they broke up. My head can never get itself round a band calling time, so I sulked and played their record regardless. Quite a bit of time has passed since then, and this evening front-man Thomas Cohen took to the stage at the Village Underground for his first ever show as a solo artist.

Only a fool would compare his old band to what he is doing now. What he is doing now is ethereal, brooding and sublime. He manages to take you on this almost spiritual journey that’s hard to come by in others. There is something truly special here, maybe it’s because it’s his first ever show. Maybe he doesn’t know how great he is. Hopefully in time he will. As I gazed at the stage, I was in awe of the sound Thomas and his band were creating. This is the kind of music that HAS to be heard. Whether it be on stage like this or an intimate setting- on your own in your room, it is just a divine sound that has been born.
He has a gorgeous and delicate stage presence that almost makes you feel as if what you are watching isn’t meant to be in front you. It feels entirely precious, but you can really feel and sense what it means for Thomas to be on the stage with his band to perform these songs including the title track of his debut record, Bloom Forever which I believe was written the day his son was born. If you listen carefully to the lyrics, you can pick up on this. Whilst listening to these songs this evening, you can really feel the love in the songs and the devotion that has been poured into them. There’s no denying just how talented he is- not just as a singer and musician, but as a writer. His words are beautiful and they truly feel like poetry.
As far as debut live shows go, this is one I think a lot will remember. The songs really do take you on a mystical journey. The journey feels safe, although you don’t know where you are going. It feels familiar, but you’re still a little unsure. I’ve got every confidence that Bloom Forever will be one of my favourite records of the year and will be an utterly captivating debut record that I’ll treasure.

 

I firmly believe that when you see a band or singer live, it should leave you wanting to make something of your own or to even see things differently. Thomas Cohen did both this evening. A feeling you usually get from seeing a band you are in love with for the billionth time, Thomas has captured in an instance. This set what just a hint of what is to come. The songs make you feel like you’ve been dreaming all of your life, and you’re waking up to something better
Hopefully Thomas will tour his record, Bloom Forever which is out in May on the equally brilliant Stolen Recordings. The songs are delicate, open and simply beautiful. He allows you to take the words and make them your own. Entirely selfless and so far from indulgent, these songs will own a special place in your heart when you need to go some place tranquil and sacred.

PEACE AND LOVE BARBERSHOP MUHAMMAD ALI. Shacklewell Arms-23rd January 2016.

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The Shacklewell Arms is easily one of, if not my favourite place to watch bands. The drum kit is in a cave, it’s a small venue, it’s pretty sweaty and fortunately it is 10 minutes away from my house by bus. Oh and most of the gigs they put on are free. The night before I saw Tall Juan and last night I saw Peace And Love Barbershop Muhammad Ali.

PALBMA are one of my favourite bands to see live, and I think it’s because they make me want to start a band. I know a lot of what I listen to does make me feel that way, but it’s different with PALBMA. Maybe it’s because they make it look super easy. Besides, if Kim doesn’t leave you wishing you could play bass then you were probably watching the wrong band. I saw them live last year supporting PINS at Oslo in Hackney, but I think this set was better because of the venue. This is the kind of band you need to hear in that kind of venue. Their growling and gnarly sound matches the venue entirely.

Their split 12″ with Druggy Pizza came out late last year, and it consists of 12 songs by the bands that were clearly made to melt the faces off and fry the brains of anyone who listened to it. To get this across at a live show takes some guts, which is probably why PALBMA managed to do it so effortlessly. They were joined on drums by Sophie from PINS. If you’ve seen PINS live, you’ll know how fucking brilliant she is. But because the songs with PALBMA are completely different to PINS you get to see something else. It draws you in completely but Mark, Dale and Kim all have this about them so you’re really never sure where to look. Mark holds his guitar as if it is a machine gun and unleashes a fury upon us all. This is the kind of fury that makes you wish you could do it. Have a go.

The crowd were obviously having the time of their lives watching them, although it got a touch more rowdy when headliners Claw Marks came on. There was a lot of sweat. Sure London crowds do have a rep of being quite uptight, but this was so far from the truth last night. The crowd were delightful. PALBMA for me, are one of those bands who manage to mix everything I love about music and certain bands in particular to create something mind-blowing. Their live shows enhance the thought and care that goes into the music, and that alone sets them apart from other bands. The songs may be short but it’s enough to move bodies and deafen ears. They are gloriously loud, and it’s probably why they’re one of the best bands to watch. You kind of hope some 14 year old misfit finds this band, and is inspired to start their own band as a way of dealing with the world. The fuzzy sounds are ideally to be played as loud as possible, so your neighbour our can enjoy too. Going by their live shows alone, PALBMA deserve to be massive. Regardless of how long the band may last, I’ll probably be blasting out Pretend To Try when I’m 80 telling kids on the street, “In my day this is what we had….”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQP9Xvpv-6M

Manchester is lucky because they can see them play anytime, but I guess that’s what makes you treasure them even more. Especially when they play down here. PALBMA are supporting PINS on their UK tour and they’re also supporting the brilliant BC Camplight in April on his Manchester date.

TALL JUAN. Lock Tavern/Shacklewell Arms (21st & 22nd January 2016.)

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I’m pretty sure these are my first two shows of the year, and even though I’ve got a rubbish memory, I’m fairly sure I’m going to remember these shows in December. Certain gigs, bands, whatever just stick with you. You always know instantly when something is going to mean a great deal to you.

I wrote about Juan around Christmas time, I was bored at home and I accidentally found his music. I was hooked on his Ramones kind of sound and obviously instantly fell in love with what I was hearing. I caught his show last night at the Lock Tavern in Camden, I don’t think there was more than 30 people there. The stage was tiny. Perfect for a giant to flail about on stage, right? This evening he played the Shacklewell Arms which has a low ceiling. Fortunately Juan isn’t accident prone so no injuries occurred. You always (or you should) take something to treasure from a show. What I took from these two shows was that, Juan is more than just a guy who really digs the Ramones. He’s got a proper Punk sound, and his cover of I Wanna Be Your Dog is one of my favourite things I’ve seen at a show. He plays it in his own way but it’s a way that Iggy would be super proud to hear.

 

I’m not someone who ever takes the set list after a show but for some reason, I did tonight. I wanted to remember what was played during his first UK tour and there’s no way I could remember any other way. His set started with It’s True and went smack into Home. His cover of Chinese Rock  is played quite early on, and it’s one of those covers where you feel it is his song. You don’t feel like it is a Ramones song, and that’s when you know a cover is done right. My two favourite songs he plays (bar the covers) are Far Rockaway and Wake Up Daddy.Break It All is also a great one to watch as he seems to go a bit wild on that one

His energy on stage is what really sets him apart from most. He throws his body about on stage with his guitar firmly on him, knocking the mic stand in a way that makes you think someone is going to get a busted lip or black eye. His songs are gentle at times, and this is where you can hear just how great his voice is. He’s part Joey Ramone, part Buddy Holly. He merges two singers I absolutely adore and has created this sound that is evidently out of this world. The two shows he played in London were free, so I guess it is true what they say- the best things in life are free! The crowd were wonderful and you could tell  that the love was mutual. There’s this infectious passion that comes through when you watch him, and you cannot tear your eyes away. He’s got this way of making you wish you could make this kind of noise with an acoustic guitar. He plays as if his life depends on it, gripping the microphone in his mouth and you get lost in this whirlwind of sweat and fury. It could bring anyone to life. Metaphorically, of course.

 

On record you sometimes can’t imagine how it will come across on stage, but with Juan it is is so easy. He’s just like how you’d imagine him to be. He’s a pleasure to watch and you get a feeling that he can’t believe he’s  come all the way from Far Rockaway to London. Let’s hope it is the start of many more shows here, more people need to be turned onto this guy. I’ve got a few bands/singers I would happily watch live constantly, and Juan is most definitely one of them.

MILK DICK.

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Being off work sicks means being painfully bored. I live in London- if I’m not at work, I should be out doing stuff. Alas, it hurts to move. I had to go to the shop earlier and it felt like I had ran 12 marathons. It’s not even a 5 minute walk from my house. I’ve learnt that being sick doesn’t really bother me, it’s the having nothing to do that does. I’m hoping I feel well enough to go to work tomorrow because I’m tired of my own company and I want to use my brain. I’ve spent most of the afternoon asleep so now I’m using my time wisely to find some bands to go on about.

Milk Dick. A name that will probably bring up questionable results when you look for them- add “band” after their name when looking them up if you like to veer on the side of caution. If not, then enter as you wish.

Milk Dick are 3 pals from Brooklyn who make music that seems to fit anyone who is bored, unsure of what they’re supposed to be doing and those who aren’t really that fond of being an adult. In short, I guess they’re for everyone. That’s music all over- it should be inclusive. Milk Dick have a slight Punk feel to their sound. The songs for the most part are pretty fast and short. Sometimes you want songs that last a little longer than a minute and a half, but some bands just make it work. Milk Dick are one of those bands.

Their most recent release came out in April last year. Romantic Superstore is a beautifully angst-filled record that teeters on being a pissed off teen to someone in their 20s who has stopped caring about feeling constantly uncomfortable.

I’ve gone through their releases on their bandcamp page, and I think I’m settling with Bathroom Door as being my favourite song of theirs. I like the woeful sound and the reassurance in some of the lyrics. The lyrics hit on vulnerabilities we all face, and sometimes the ones we unknowingly cause.  I guess it’s about someone slowly losing it and losing a relationship in the process. It’s sad, but don’t let that put you off, perhaps Rhythm Rock is more your thing.

I think their slightly morose sound is what makes them likable and endearing. Some may get annoyed by it, but this kind of stuff is relateable for the most part. They’re a band that probably sound more rowdy on stage. You can imagine the drummer going a bit wild and the guitar being flung around in a rowdy manner. They need to be played quite loud, and you probably would be right in assuming that their live shows make them play a little quicker. Their songs are created with a wealth of passion and urgency, and that’s part of the charm that they have.

Milk Dick may have a name that most would turn their nose up at, but don’t be such an assclown. They’re one of the finest bands in Brooklyn right now. They’re made for dingy bars that have dodgy air conditioning and no security. Go see them, put your life in their hands (for an hour or so) and chant MILK DICK! at them. I think they’d like that.

Listen up:

http://milkdick.bandcamp.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUSTJOSEPH.

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Yesterday afternoon on my lunch break, I took a typical stroll through Camden. Normally I get annoyed by the amount of people who don’t look where they are going. The ones that stop right in front of you to take a photo of a bus. You don’t need a photo of the 253 bus, just get that off Google if you feel the need. But yesterday, I blocked it all out as I was walking past the station. I heard this sound. This heavenly sound. I felt like I was dreaming, like something had hit my soul and dragged something out. It was a strange feeling, and not one I’m used to on a lunchtime.

The sound came from a guy sat down just by Camden Town station. He had the guitar in his hands and was creating something truly gorgeous. I couldn’t stop for long as I had to do some things before I went back to work. I made a mental note of his name and made a vow to myself to find his music, and write about it. My only foolish act yesterday afternoon was not buying the CD he had with him. Joseph, if you see this- I am sorry and I promise if I see you in the streets of Camden again I will buy a CD.

JustJoseph was the guy sat outside the station making this gorgeous sound. It felt like Beach House but without the words. As calming as Boards Of Canada- I was in my idea of heaven. You can call his style ambient if you wish to label it. I wouldn’t know what to label it as, I don’t want to. All I know is that this guy is incredibly talented.

If you’re looking for music that you can escape to or to just free your mind to, then JustJoseph is the one to do it to. He makes the kind of music you would play if you can’t sleep and you’re unsure of what to do with yourself. Do you fight it or give in? If I could use one word to describe his music, I’d pick gentle. There’s a captivating delicate glow to his sound that really hits you in the heart and soul. As I’ve mentioned many times before, I am big on lyrics but with music like this-who needs words? If he or anyone sang over his music, they would take away everything you can possibly feel from his music.

His music feels like a journey you can only make on your own. This is the kind of music you play when nobody else is around. Ideally, play it through headphones and let yourself drift off some place dear to you. Create your own landscape and collapse into the perfect dream. Even the most miserable of persons could feel happiness from listening to JustJoseph.

For now, I think my favourite track is Vo. It’s just over 9 minutes long and it feels like you’re watching the sun go down, and you slowly lay down your head and fall away with the song. Where you go is all on you, keep it personal. I’d happily keep this song on a loop in my head.

At the risk of banging on about how great he is, I’ll leave it here. You can stream his sounds over on his soundcloud page:

DUSTY MUSH.

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A week or so ago I wrote about a band called Druggy Pizza. Druggy Pizza is Cédric’s other project. Where Druggy Pizza make you feel like you’ve taken something, Dusty Mush are the lead up to that. I’ll write this as if I’ve no idea that the two bands are unrelated so I don’t make any lazy comparisons.

Dusty Mush are a noisy French band. They’re the kind of band that would piss your folks off and would probably cause your neighbours to pack up and skip town. There’s slight aggression in their music but for the most part, it is really bloody loud. It’s wonderfully brutal in some parts, and for me that is part of the attraction. As a painfully shy idiot, I like to unleash it all by listening to music that is the opposite of how I am, for the most part. I like to think that if I was musically talented, I’d start a band that was weird and noisy to make up for everything I lack. Instead, I just write about it with no long term plan. Dusty Mush are perfect for you if you’re feeling a little helpless or weary. You can throw your tired limbs about to these guys without a care in the world. You can hope they come to your town so you can do this, or you’ll make do with playing them loudly in the comfort of your own home.

They’re not an easy band to get into. I mean I loved them with my first listen, but I can fully appreciate that some would listen to them and not know what the hell was going on. That’s another thing I love about music. I’m pretty sure they’re not for those who can’t handle a bit of gore in their lives. They’re a band you can only play loud in order to get into it, and I think because they are so obnoxiously loud (and I mean this is in the best way possible because it wouldn’t sound right any other way) that’s what makes them stand out. Yes there are other bands around who are loud and whatnot, but Dusty Mush are something else. Part of you feels like you’re entering a different world but another part of you feels as if you’re losing your mind. Maybe both at interchangeable moments.

Dusty Mush have this brilliant fuzzy Garage Rock sound going on, and I think that’s what makes it easy to really get lost in their music. You do feel as if something strange and beautiful is happening as you succumb to the music, but no good has ever come from fighting something like this off. I’ve said it a bunch of times before about other bands, but I reckon my hero Lester Bangs would be into these guys. Dusty Mush are one of those bands you play around this time of night, maybe a little later when everyone else has gone to bed. So you can launch yourself into whatever world you’ve created in your mind. You’ll feel like you’re in some made for TV horror film where the blood is obviously tomato sauce and the victim is being bludgeoned with again, an obviously foam hammer.

What I sincerely love about Dusty Mush is that you can’t tell where these guys are from and that’s part of the charm. They’re one of the most exciting bands I’ve heard in a long time, and I’m aware they’ve been around for some time but I get sloppy with actually writing stuff. After careful consideration and obsessive listening, I think I’ve said all I can about these guys.

Listen to their sounds and play ’em loud: http://dustymush.bandcamp.com/