Category Archives: New Music 2018

EMILY BREEZE: Rituals.

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A few years ago I wrote about a band called Candy Darling. I was in love with their dark and sordid sound. The band ended, and I wasn’t sure if I’d hear Emily Breeze’s beautiful voice ever again. Fortunately, I never have to think about that again. She never left, so I can’t say she’s back. We have new music from her, and if you’re ever wondering what Nick Cave would sound like if he was from Bristol- look no further.

Her single, Rituals, will be out next month and I am going to tell you just why you need to buy it when it comes out. I’m going to try put into words why she, along with Anna Calvi have (are about to) put out two of the best records you’ll hear this year.

I love music that sounds quite eerie and tests everything else that I’ve ever heard. I love musicians that just never stay with one sound. As I listen to Emily, one voice sticks in my mind- Shirley Manson. I’m very precious about comparing anyone to Shirley Manson. She’s my all-time heroine and absolute role model. Her voice has this power and fragility to it. Her voice is so dominant but meek when needed. I’ve never really heard many voices like hers. The only other voice I can hold this highly is Colette Thurlow’s voice (TwoFiftyFour) and now, Emily’s. Her voice reminds me so much of early Garbage songs- think Milk mixed with Queer. Those two songs show Shirley’s voice in a way that just hits you right in the gut- Emily does this also. Her debut record is just amazing. I feel it will be one I constantly go back to and use as roadmap of my mind. The lyrics are divine, the vocals are perfect and the production is out of this world.

I absolutely adore the song, Work. It is this dreamy journey into everything and anything you could possibly imagine. Its real life, but you also feel like you are dreaming. The way she sings, “Dead inside” is so hypnotising. Anyone would just take this as a negative, but Emily makes it sound like the most beautiful thing in the world. It’s a record that you cannot help but worship. It’s a religious experience almost listening to this. She’s already preaching to the converted here, but it is still one of the most magnetising records I have ever heard. I feel like I am walking up and down dingy alleyways in Paris during a misty, rainy evening when I listen to this record. There is something so poetic and romantic about this record. It just oozes everything I love about music, songwriters and poetry. It isn’t just a singer and her words- it is straight up poetry. Her words are so easy to get lost in, and the music puts you in this trance that you don’t want to ever snap out of.

I firmly believe that music should be a form of comfort, escapism and should make you feel less alone, and less fearful of what’s around you. Emily has made a record that does all of this. At times you are on edge, just because you do not expect what she is going to do next. With a voice this beautiful, and this powerful-anything is powerful. She creates this haunting world with her music, and you never want to leave it. You want to stay there and see the world how she does. Heaven’s Gate is a prime example of this. I mean the way she sings, “Drink the Kool-Aid” would sway anyone to get all Jonestown. The way she sounds so menacing but loving is brilliant. It’s a cult-like song, obviously.

It’s a real seductive and captivating record that honestly, you can’t get enough of. You listen to it once, and it just has hold of you. It grips you in this way that makes you want it to never let you go. The whole record sounds like a soundtrack to a film about a serial killer. Everyday A New Line is definitely one of the songs that really give this feeling off, especially the spoken word parts. It’s cinematic record that deserves as much attention as possible. It most certainly sounds like it is made for a film.

The record ends on the wonderfully titled, Love Song For Aileen Wuornos. It’s brutal, it’ll make you think and it is the perfect ending to this masterpiece of a record. If you’re looking for a song that’ll scare you shitless but also have this hold on you- then this is the one. It is an exceptional song that is so twisted and so clever. I love how she’s written this, and if you know anything about Aileen, you’ll probably appreciate just how well Emily has written this and the way she sings this song, my god it’ll cover you in goose bumps and freak you out. As hard as it is to pick a favourite song off this record, this is definitely my favourite lyrically. The way she’s done this is just amazing. Yes some may declare it as being twisted, but for me, it just shows how effortlessly gifted Emily is as a singer and as a writer.

The Queen of Bristol is a month away from releasing something that’ll terrify you, it’ll make your mind work, you may never sleep easily again after hearing this record and it’ll make you go on this spooky journey with her. It’s a brilliant record; it’s a real work of art and you can really pick up on the sheer love, passion, devotion and hard work that has gone into this record by everyone involved. On this record you will hear the best musicians around from Bristol- that alone makes it a phenomenal record. It’s a real seductive record that aims to scare and lure you in, but to what? Well, that’s all on you.

PURPLE HEART PARADE: Lonestar EP.

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If two bands I idolise collided and created a record together, it would sound like the new Purple Heart Parade record, Lonestar. They sound like The Stone Roses and Beach House all in one. Although my biggest love is Punk, hearing something this laid back and nothing short of ethereal is just beautiful. I’m going to do my best to explain why this is such a gorgeous record, and what makes it so wonderful.

Manchester is home to some of the best music that this country has produced. There’s this underlying sound within Manchester bands that give them this distinctive style. It’s something no other city could ever replicate, even though I am sure they try. I don’t blame them. In March this year, I finally got my shit together and moved to Manchester after waiting for a hell of a long time. Being able to call this beautiful city home makes me so happy. Listening to bands that come from this city is just as great. What Purple Heart Parade have done with this record is create the most daring and atmospheric record of the year. It just makes you feel really good. We all need something to take us away from real life for a bit, and Purple Heart Parade take you on this euphoric journey into another dimension. Everything you want is there, and more.

Lonestar is made up of four songs. Four songs that will rip right through you. Four songs that’ll make you feel ten feet tall. Four songs that will feel like a massive bear hug. It’s such a gentle and soothing record. I want to talk about the song, Butterfly House quickly. This song is just over six minutes long, and it is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. When I listen to this, I feel just like I did when I first heard Beach House many years ago. There’s this glow to this  song that just makes you so happy. The instrumental moments on this record in general just make you realise that everyone in this band is a genius, easily. Everything about this band is effortlessly cool and so slick.

The most important song of all on this record is Mission Hills. The bands explanation of the song puts it perfectly: “The song is about emotional distance in a relationship but also the loss of a close friend, a victim of the tragic Manchester Arena attack. The band don’t just capture the sound of their hometown but also carry a part of it with them in a very personal way.” I don’t know of anyone who lives here that doesn’t think of the Arena attack every day. It’s always at the back of my mind, some days it’s right at the front. It is such a stunning song, and although it oozes sadness you feel like you are watching a bunch of shooting stars soar right across the night sky as if they are sending you secret messages. You can take what you wish from it. It’s such an important song, and as I listen to it I can feel a lump forming in my throat. It’s just such a delicate and beautiful song. It may make you sad to listen to it, but my god it is a work of art.

Lonestar and The Room make you feel like you have fallen into a deep slumber. Everything around you feels like a dream. You have no worries and no fears. All is okay. There is a heavy feel of reassurance in this record that makes you feel okay, like it’s all going to be okay. It is such an emotional record, and Peter’s vocals are so relaxing. Purple Heart Parade just make you feel at ease with all that’s around you. For a band to give you this much comfort is a thing to treasure. It’s obvious that Purple Heart Parade are one of the best bands around. They’re the Kings of Manchester, that much is clear too.

My praise for this record isn’t enough, so please go out and buy it- and listen to it religiously.

#Bemoremartyn.

 

SKEGSS: My Own Mess.

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Finally, we have the debut record by Skegss. My Own Mess is a brilliant record, and I’m going to do my best to explain why this is one of the finest records you will hear all year.

As I write this, I can see grey rain clouds take over the Manchester skies but Skegss make me feel like I am elsewhere. I feel like I’m on some beach shutting the world off to these songs that are full of the things that sometimes make my mind work overtime. Infinity is one of the best songs on the record, especially the lyrics but truth be told- you can’t pick just one song here. It’s impossible.

This is a record that has surpassed any expectations anyone could have. It honestly doesn’t sound like a debut record; I feel like I am listening to a band I have been listening to for decades or something insane. They have blown my mind on this record, and it is nothing short of a joy to listen to. There are 15 songs on My Own Mess, and because I love this band so much-I want more songs. But what they’ve given us on this record is so great. It is unlike anything else you’ll hear this year or for a long time. It’s one of those records that will just stay with you. When you listen to it in years to come, it’ll make you feel like you did when you first heard it. It holds that much power in it, and I really hope they are proud of what they have done here because it is just remarkable.

Skegss make you make sense of carrying around a bunch of feelings that just make you feel jaded, and wanting to just escape for a while. They are just the ideal band to listen to and let the world be out of your sights for a little bit. They have this gorgeous comforting sound that isn’t always found in bands that make this kind of music. Usually the bands I listen to that have a similar sound just make me want to throw a bunch of stuff around. Skegss are different. Completely different. They just make me want to shut the world off and do whatever the hell I want for a little while. I love the song Paradise; it’s such a gentle song that I hope they put in their live setlist.

Something I really love about this record is that you cannot pick one band that they sound like or who has influenced them. It’s just so different. I mean sure they are a band I would gravitate towards anyway, but there is something about Skegss that is really unlike any other. This is a record to be fully enjoyed. At first, listen to it on your own and soak this record in. Take on board every lyric, fall in love with every element of this beautiful record. Then play it to those you trust will love this record too. Then, play it super loud so everyone on your street can hear. The song, Margarita is one you should definitely play the loudest and you know, maybe take their advice and have one.

My Own Mess is such an enjoyable record and just a real pleasure to listen to. It’s a fun record, and it just makes you feel totally relaxed, even if you find yourself identifying with a lot of the songs/lyrics- it’s totally fine because Skegss just make you feel at ease. I think this is definitely going to be one of my most listened to records for a hell of a long time. It’s just a glorious piece of art. The song Stop makes me wish I could skate; I’d have this song playing as I rip through the streets carefree as fast as possible. Oh, and Midnight Eyes has now just become my favourite. I’m in love with this song for sure.

Skegss are going on a pretty big tour in support of this record over the next few months. Come out and watch them, and let them just blow whatever is left of your mind.

My Own Mess is out RIGHT NOW via Ratbag Records!

IDLES: Joy As An Act Of Resistance.

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“If someone talked to you
The way you do to you
I’d put their teeth through
Love yourself.”

 

A band like Idles don’t need me or anyone really, to tell you how amazing they are. What you need to know about them is that they are the most important band in this country. If you’re looking for a band that will unleash all your rage, if you’re looking for a band that’ll expose what makes us all vulnerable- then you NEED Idles. You just need them. It’s all well and good to love a band, but when you get to the point of needing them- don’t ever let that go. Don’t be afraid of it either.

Joy As An Act Of Resistance came out on Friday, but I wanted to listen to the record a few times before I declared my love for it. I wanted to process everything about this record before I delved into this absolutely beautiful, brutal and powerful record. It’s a record everyone needs to hear and pay attention to. The lyrics need to be heard at all costs.

Idles are a band that are incapable of making songs that aren’t important or that do not need to be heard with urgency. Joy is a record that exudes everything I want from a record. You can call it Punk, you can lob this into any genre you want but first and foremost- call it honest. Every song oozes this truth that may make a listener squirm at time but the most part, you’ll see yourself in these beautifully honest songs. Take the song, June for instance. I can’t relate to it, but my god I can pick up on the pain there. That pain hits you right in the heart and just breaks you. The way Joe uses his words on this song are just…I honestly don’t feel like I have the right to touch on this song. All I can do is just admire his fragility in this song and the way he lays out his experience. I’m utterly proud of him, and the band.

There are so many important songs on this record. They all are, but we all know just how vital the song Danny Nedelko is (Danny is the lead singer of Heavy Lungs) which touches on immigration. The chants and the heavy guitar on this song just blow my mind- and I can’t get enough of how brilliant Joe is as a songwriter. He’s obviously one of the greatest frontmen of our generation. He is someone to just be in awe of with his words. I could easily write an essay on brilliant a writer he is. Maybe that’ll happen at some point.

Love Song is probably my favourite. I love the devotion in the lyrics, and how the band make it sound quite sinister. I guess if someone didn’t really know the band, they’d think they were a bunch of stalkers. But really, it’s just an excellent ode to the one you love. I love the way Joe sings, “Look at the card I bought. It says “I love you.” It’s definitely the way Joe sings this line that adds a proper comical value to it.

Before I wrap this up, I need to talk about Samaritans. The song reflects on how the notion of masculinity has become quite toxic. For far too long, men have been programmed to not cry or talk about their feelings. But what’s one of the biggest killers of men? Suicide. We cannot turn a blind eye to this. We cannot keep turning people away who need help- gender should not matter in this. We should all feel like we can talk about what is hurting us. The lyrics may be simple, but this is what makes them hit home. They don’t need to create something over the top to make a point. They do it in their way, and their way makes you bloody well listen. Cry To Me is a song that you need to play almost immediately after. Just read the lyrics, and you’ll understand why. It’s one of the best covers I’ve ever heard.

Joy is a masterpiece. It is a body of work that has songs that just need to be heard. I’m toying constantly with what song I love the most, and I should stop- I know. But I can definitely tell you that Television hits home a lot. My level of self-confidence and self belief is laughable, but this songs makes me feel alright. Just a little, and you know.. I can’t ask for more than that.

We spend far too much time pulling each other apart, this record is a form of reassurance that we aren’t alone. It’s a record that is just so vital. Play it to kids in school so they understand it’s okay to not always be okay. Play it in the workplace to use as a method to encourage people to talk. Play it to your loved ones so neither of you feel alone again. I could tell you to play it loud- but the most important thing to do, is to just listen.

I’m aware that this could have been written better or I could have touched on other things within the record, but that’s probably for others to do who do not have such a personal attachment. It’s a phenomenal record that everyone must hear. Not just because of how brilliant it is, but because of everything it represents.

SKEGSS.

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Hailing from Byron Bay, Skegss are one of the most exciting bands you’ll listen to this year and probably, ever. They make music that holds a sunny disposition that just makes you happy, even if you feel the total opposite. They’re definitely one of the best bands around who are making this kind of noise. It’s addictive Surfer Rock that just makes you want to have a good time, all the time.

On Friday, their debut record, My Own Mess will be released. I could have held off and just wrote about it then but this band is way too good for me to wait this one out. I cannot get enough of their feel good songs, and the way they just make you forget all your troubles. I’ve spent most of my morning at work with a migraine thinking I’m going to puke, but as I listen to Skegss on my dinner break- I feel alright!


Skegss make the kind of music that makes you want to just hit the beach and watch the world go by. They have such gorgeous songs that just make you feel so good, you know. Sometimes this is just what the mind, body and soul needs. I am so excited to hear the record on Friday. It’ll be a dinner break well spent writing about it. As I listen to them for the god knows how many time, I can’t get my head round the fact that their debut record hasn’t come out yet. They sound like a band who have been at this for absolutely ages and are about to release their fourth or fifth.
In November they’ll be touring the UK, and are playing one of my favourite venues in Manchester- The Deaf Institute, and get this- Dumb Punts are supporting them! That’s one of the best line-ups this year. Also, my birthday is in November so I’ll treat this as a belated celebration. I love how Skegss can just flip your mind inside out with their infectious songs that just make every part of you feel pretty damn great.
They’ve released a handful of singles and EPs, so if you’ve heard them then you’ll already have had a taste of how exceptional their debut record is going to be. I can’t wait to catch one of their shows in November. They give off such a DIY feel, and I’m pretty sure that their live shows are going to be just as wild as they sound on record. Australia sure knows how to hit us with amazing Surfer/Garage Rock. Skegss are a band that you cannot help but constantly praise. There is something about them that makes you really root for them, and hope they last a long, long time. We need bands like this. We need bands like Skegss to make us feel good especially when the world can be quite cruel at times. Their gentle and freeing sound is so consistent, and it’s definitely most apparent in the gorgeous song, Stranger. This is one of my favourites but to pick just one is impossible. Stranger is such a captivating song that I want to listen to on a loop. It feels like a soothing ray of sunshine. Then you’ve got New York California which is just a sublime song. This is the one that I cannot get enough of, and I really hope they play it in November because I’ve just GOT to see this one live.


I’m super excited to listen to the new record on Friday and to write about it. I’m pretty confident that it’ll be one of the best records we will hear this year. Sure summer may be over for most, but Skegss give us that summer mood in every song. Take some time out, and let Skegss provide the songs to watch the world drift by.

My Own Mess will be out this Friday on Ratbag Records.

Oh, one last thing- just listen to this song, and let it make you feel entirely free and let everything go:

THE DRACU-LAHS.

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Taking a break from my Costa Rican Garage Rock obsession, (please do feel free to send me more bands!) I’ve found a band from Indiana that make something that sounds like a cheap Horror film. I love them, and I hope you do too.

The Dracu-Lahs are made up of five friends who make scary music for us weirdos. They make the kind of music that would fit nicely in a horror film from the 60s. There’s this pretty cool atmosphere in the music that makes you think that maybe they aren’t real people; maybe we’ve dreamt them up and off they go into the night looking for prey.

Ooey Gooey is probably my favourite song so far, the title alone was enough to have me hooked. It’s a brilliant Garage Rock kind of song, but there’s something about it that makes you want to grab someone to make them learn the words with you, and you just shout the lyrics back and forth at each other. It’s a really great song, and it’s a pretty solid song to listen to whilst roaming the streets on your own just killing a bit of time.

Their bio states that their sound is, “Lo-fi horror garage fuelled by whiskey” which is a pretty accurate description of them. They sound like drunken vampires who feed off whiskey when there’s no more blood left to drain. It’s a perfect description of The Dracu-Lahs, and they really do have this solid raw sound that makes you feel you are watching them in their rehearsal room as they go absolutely apeshit. If you listen to the song Ants, you’ll get what I mean. It’s a completely wild song and you can sense how out of control they are when the music takes over, and I’m fairly sure that this is something that seeps into the crowd when at their shows. You can’t help but want this band to utterly possess you.

The Dracu-Lahs earlier songs are a bit louder and more brutal on the ears, and that’s something I really love about them. There’s this addictive angst in their earlier music, but don’t get me wrong- it’s definitely still there. This rage that comes out in the music just makes you want to break shit- even the stuff you probably shouldn’t break. Nothing is safe nor sacred when you start blasting out The Dracu-Lahs.

Never Have I Ever is one of their earlier songs that sound a bit like Wavves when Nathan was starting out. There’s this really cool Surfer Rock sound going on, but there’s definitely something Punk about the song. From their earlier songs, this is one I definitely love the most but honestly they’re just a great band who have such a big and mesmerising sound. I can’t get enough of them.

They make it sound so easy to play these kind of songs and to just take the listener deep into the underworld, and it’s most apparent on the song Succubus. They remind me of Misfits and The Cramps a little bit; brilliantly noisy and creepy. I just love them, and I love music that can freak me out a little bit. Their sound just gives off this real rowdy feel and you cannot help but let it all take hold of you. Again, they are a band that you’ve just got to play loud. The drums are ridiculous- so powerful and insane. I love how they dominate the songs at times to give off this sense of urgency. I love when a band does this.

The Dracu-Lahs are such an exciting band, and they have such a great DIY feel to their music. That’s just one of the many things I love about them. An absolute pleasure to listen to and write about!

LOS ESQUIZOIDES.

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My last band of the evening from Costa Rica are Los Esquizoides who have stated that The Mummies are an influence of theirs, so I am super excited to write about them.

There are three people in Los Esquizoides, and the way they scream on their songs and play with this boisterous energy makes you feel as if there is a gang of them. I love this big sound they have, and I’m just in awe of how great they sound. I love how they have taken all the elements of music that I love and have made something out of this world. The songs are fast and full of this energy that just grips you.

Goose is an incredible vocalist. He just lets his voice go out of control which is met with Paula on bass and Adrian on drums. Goose destroys the guitar also, and together they just have this amazing brutal sound that makes you want to join their band.

Something that I really admire about them is that they do not sound overproduced- they just let you hear them as they are. Utterly loud and unapologetically Punk. They have so much bite in their sound, and it just makes you want to make your own noise. I just love them and how they can truly take Punk and stretch it beyond our wildest imagination. They really have this ability to take something from the past and launch it into a time and place no one has been to yet. They are out of this world- are they human? I just fucking love them and how insanely talented they are.

I’m focusing a lot on their Mala Suerte, Es Viernes 13 record that came out in July. It’s a record that once you hear, you’re going to be hooked. You truly are, and once they get you- that’s it. The sound on this record is so good. It’s the kind of record that, if it was a person- you’d probably want to marry it or something. It’s got this sound that can shatter your bones and make you just want to move in wild ways. It’s just a record that you cannot get enough of. There is so much to talk about on this record, and I love that you can pick up on what influences them but by no means do they try and copy what’s been done before. There is something there that’s going to last longer than any of us on this planet. I love how Los Esquizoides just make you question everything you’ve ever listened to before and wonder why it took so long to find them.

Los Esquizoides are easily one of the most exciting bands around, and not just in Punk and Garage Rock. There is something about them that just makes you want to be totally invested in what they are going to do next. I’m totally enamoured by their sound and how brilliantly raw the songs are. It’s really obvious on the song I Know. I can’t call any of their songs as my favourite, every single one I’ve listened to has made me feel like I’ve discovered music for this first time. I just love them.

I love the song I Can’t Fit In. It’s got this real snotty Dead Boys feel about it, and maybe this could take the lead in being one of my favourites. I love the jangly sound with the fuzzy vocals. They’re just a band that make you immediately obsessed with them. They also have this hyperactive version of Surfin’ Bird that just makes you feel like you’re listening to someone who’s had way too much sugar. It’s a brilliant cover. Their demos are so good, and you cannot help but be in awe of these three people who make such incredible music- the demos are just as strong as their other songs. They’re just exceptional.

This is just the start of my love and obsession for Garage and Punk bands from Costa Rica. I know that there is more out there, and I cannot wait to delve further into it. But for now, wrap up your Saturday evening or start your day (depending on your time zone) by blasting out Los Esquizoides as loud as you possibly can.

LAS PYRAMIDES.

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Some of my neighbours are having parties and playing really awful dance music, but I’ve found some bands to block it all out with and play louder. Next up are Las Pyramides- an exceptional band to play whilst drowning out noise from others.

Of course, from Costa Rica this band are obviously great. They’ve been going around 3 years I think, and in July this year they put a really great EP out which I’m going to focus on.

The songs are strong Garage Rock songs that you’ve just GOT to play loud irrespective of if you have noisy neighbours. They make the kind of music you’d want to see at your local dive bar, they just give off such a beautiful energy with their music and I can’t get enough of it. I love how Fabian makes his guitar sound a bit like a chainsaw and unleashes his brilliant vocals at the same time. He makes his guitar sound like an intimidating weapon used to rip through the ears of anyone who listens to them. He’s an exceptional guitar player. Kevin has this really slick playing style which goes so well with Fabian, and you have Jose who just goes totally nuts on the drums. Together, these three have created something to truly move you and leave you wanting more and more.

Mente Perdida is my favourite song by them (I think it means Lost Mind) and it’s just under six minutes long. It’s a euphoric song that again, has this chainsaw guitar sound but the bass and drums are more relaxed here. I adore Fabian’s voice on this one, and like Kevin and Jose- this song truly shows how brilliant they each are as musicians, and together they just create such fascinating songs. Mente Perdida is the kind of song you’d hear in a bar when you’re just down on your luck and it unexpectedly makes everything alright. I love that then you listen to this song, you have no idea who it could be or when it is from. I really love when bands can make you feel like this because for me, it just shows how great they are and how powerful music really is.

There may only be three of them in the band but they give off this feeling that there’s about four others in the band. Their sound is huge, like really huge but not in an overwhelming way. They are exceptional musicians who make you just really focus on how well they sound together. I know I’ve mentioned it above, but Mente Perdida is a prime example of how effortlessly brilliant they sound together, and how great they are as musicians. Las Pyramides make music that goes beyond being Garage Rock and the style I love. They push themselves so much, and are unafraid to scare you with their sound or soothe you with their songs. They are a sheer joy to listen to, and again, I reckon they are a band that are just a pleasure to see live.

Las Pyramides are a band that just make your mind and body feel free, and like nothing matters- even if it painfully does. I love how they can just send you batshit wild with songs like Temprano En La Mañana- you just know that this is THE song that makes everyone go nuts in their live shows.

The band have this infectious energy that just makes you feel like you can’t enough of their wild sound. You can really sense the passion in their music and how they can just lead you into the unknown with their music.

LOS CUCHILLOS.

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Next up my Costa Rican musical journey are Los Cuchillos. If you ever wondered what The Cramps would sound like if they were from Costa Rica- listen to these guys.

Los Cuchillos have been going for well over a decade I think, and they still have this raw excitement to their sound. I love how their music just makes you feel good, and makes you just want to have a fun time. They have this great ability to make you feel like you could be anywhere in the world at any time with their music. They don’t sound like a typical “now” band, which is part of why I love them.

Just like The Cramps, these guys are ahead of their time. I did say they are like The Cramps, but I mean it in a gentler way sort of. There is definitely that haunting horror b-movie feel to the songs- you can sense a monster in slime about to emerge and chase you when you listen to Los Cuchillos, and it’s such a pleasure to listen to them.

Something I really do enjoy about them is their 60s Garage Rock sound. It’s a bit like The Count Five meets The Vagrants mixed with something else I can’t work out just yet, but I love it. Their song Monster Twist is probably my favourite right now. I love how the vocals are really gruff, but you don’t feel threatened at all, you just feel like you’re at some wild party where everyone is going bananas to the music. Los Cuchillos are definitely a band that you can totally let loose to and lose your mind to. I love their way of taking a style of music from decades ago and make it sound like something we’ve never ever heard before. You’ve just got to play these guys as loud as you can handle and let it go through you, and take over all of your senses.

For a band that a well into their career, they still make such exciting music and the kind of music you’d want to use as the soundtrack to your daily life. I love their record from 2014, Isla Macabro! It’s such a fantastic record and all eight songs are just so wonderfully performed and put together. You feel like you are right there with them when you listen to this record, like they are taking you by the hand or the scruff of your neck to go on this wild trip with them. I love the spookiness in this record (it came out on Halloween 4 years ago) and how it can creep you out in such a brilliant way. You’ve just got to keep on playing this one loud and let it take you out of this world. You really do. You won’t feel unsafe, but you’ll be pleasantly weirded out at times, and that’s just part of the charm of Los Cuchillos.

One song in particular I’m drawn to is Tarantino. It’s an amazing instrumental song that could have easily been used in Kill Bill vol.2 I love how their instrumental songs can really make you conjure up wild scenarios in your mind. I’ve gone back and forth with their discography, and I’ve really enjoyed hearing how their sound has evolved. I might be wrong, but I think Tony is the only original member of the band (forgive me if I’m wrong!) but don’t let that make you think that this isn’t a band without a vision. They truly do have a vision, and their music is a fascinating experience to have.

I love being able to hear how Los Cuchillos have grown with their sound, and although they’ve been going for around 13 years you just know that there is something else in them that we have not heard before. They are a band that are unafraid to really go for it and test themselves to create these Garage Rock masterpieces. Some bands you just cannot get enough of, and Los Cuchillos are 100% one of those bands.

Play loudly!

LAS YAKETS.

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I’ve been sent a few bands from Costa Rica to listen to, so my Saturday night is going to be spent listening to and writing about them. From the bits I’ve already listened to, I just know I’m about to write about some amazing bands who deserve to be heard. If like me, you’re scared of flying and have an out of date passport then let us both pretend we are at a Garage Rock show in Costa Rica watching the bands I’m going to write about.

First up are Las Yakets.

Las Yakets make 60s style sounding surfer rock that make you want to just totally lose your mind. Their sound is fast, annihilating and a joy to listen to. Their song Johnny Cash is so, so good. It’s one of the best songs that fall into that Garage/Surfer Rock sound. I hate the word, but Las Yakets make ‘fun’ music. They make you forget about your troubles and just make you have a really good time when you listen to them.

A couple of their songs are instrumental, and these songs are great. They make you feel as if you’re being hunted down in the desert and a gun fight is about to emerge. Before you know it, you’re being circled by a gang on horses pointing guns at you ready to take you out, or do some brutal damage. Then fight or flight kicks in, and you become the hero and you outrun them all. You stay on the run forever, however they will never get you. That’s what Las Yakets give you with their songs, especially the instrumental songs. This is where you can totally let your imagination go wild.

Las Yakets are another band that have been picked up on by Hero Records, and the music Hero Records has and is putting out is enough to bleed my bank account dry. I love how Las Yakets make every song sound like a drunk gathering. They make you feel like you’re at a dive bar surrounded by strangers but by the end of it, you’re best friends. They make you feel as if you’re out of control but in a good way. They ease any shyness or nervousness, and ease you in to this party feeling. You feel as if you’re in some dingy bar where closing time doesn’t exist and no one has any concept of time- it never ends. The music is enough to make you wish you could do this. Las Yakets are exceptional musicians and this most certainly shines on their instrumental songs, and definitely on the song Playboy (which is now my favourite because it’s just bananas!)

I’m not sure how long they’ve been a band but they do make you feel as if they’re a band that have been going for decades and are totally in control of what they want to achieve with their music. I love everything about them, and their music is make up of wild moments that just send you into a frenzy. Santananas is a minute and a half of screaming, which I just love and is definitely a great moment in their music for me. It’s a short song that just makes you lose your shit. Sometimes we all need that, and the screams help.

Their most recent release is the single, Dinamiat which came out just over a week ago. I think it’s taken from their new record which will also be out on Hero Records- I think. This song isn’t as nuts as what we were given last year, but you just know it is them and you know that this song live will be ridiculous. I love that they are a band that you know will put on a great live show; they create music that just needs to be blasted out in a live setting. You can imagine them just going crazy on stage, falling into the crowd and everyone being soaked in beer and sweat.

Las Yakets are such an exciting band, and one that is just a pleasure to listen to. If you’re looking for a band to sound track your social gatherings or to just trash your room to- Las Yakets are your go to guys. Their sound is wild, liberating and just so much fun to listen to. Scream the words with them and revel in their sheer greatness!