Category Archives: New Music 2019

BAD WEED: Self-titled.

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Back in 2015 I wrote about one of Vienna’s finest bands- Bad Weed. I fell instantly in love with their Garage Rock sound. Forwarded four years, and we FINALLY have their debut record.

Their debut record consists of 13 songs to get you through whatever it is that’s eating you. I’m playing the record at a nice volume- loud enough to drown out the awful sounds that are coming from the neighbours across the way. These songs were made to be played loud and often. They’ve got a summer feel to them, and with it being pretty hot outside- Bad Weed are the ideal soundtrack. Delete Me is one of the highlights for me; I love the self-deprecating feel to it and how sometimes, you just want to hide for a while. An entirely relatable song to go nuts to. I love how they have this reverb that is really subtle within the songs and the gentle fuzzy tones in the music just makes you feel like you’ve found your own sacred place to escape to.

 

 

Maybe it is because they’ve been around for a while now, but this really doesn’t feel like a debut record. They’ve really got their sound locked on this record, and if you go through their discography, you’ll hear for sure that Bad Weed are such a focused band with how they want to sound, and it truly shows on their debut record. By no means can I skateboard (but I follow it for sure and I adore Elissa Steamer a hell of a lot) but Bad Weed make the kind of music you’d want to skate to and just zone out. Or maybe you want to hang out at the beach doing a whole load of nothing. They’re such a perfect band to just waste the day to. I’m probably going to waste my weekend away by doing nothing and listening to this record over and over. I don’t feel bad for it, and neither should you.

The only downside of this record is that I want more songs. This is because I’ve loved them for ages so of course I want more! The only time I’ll ever indulge in greed is when it comes to music. The record only came out yesterday, but I cannot get enough of it. I honestly cannot throw any comparisons your way with this record; it’s really something else. Every song fits right into the next. I really hope with this record they tour the UK. Again, they’re the kind of band I’d use all my annual leave at work so I could follow them on tour. They’ve created this energy on this record that makes you feel like you are at their show. You can imagine everyone cramped in a sweaty room throwing themselves about to these songs. I love this raw energy they have, and how they can immediately throw you back into the throes of summer.

 

 

 

Their debut record is the soundtrack to lazing about and wallowing if needed. They make you content with doing a load of nothing, and just wandering around on your own with these songs in your ears for company. They give you time to reflect on this record, and it’s one of those records that you can just dedicate time for yourself on. It’s that record you go to when you’re by yourself and just want something to free you almost. It’s got all the elements of a Garage Rock record, and hints of Punk flowing through it. I love the relaxed feel on songs like Falling Down, but I also love the hyperactivity that is there on every song, and sometimes it is subtle but for the most part this record just pumps you up. Bye Bye Baby is one of the songs I keep going back to. I love this Ramones feel it has to it. It’s mellow yet hyper in all the right places. I love how it fits perfectly into the next song, Walking. Again, this record is honestly made up of songs that flow perfectly into each other. I can’t get enough of it. Poor Boi is only 59 seconds long, but it’s still such a brilliant song that fits so perfectly. You can just keep on hitting repeat constantly and not get tired of it. Bad Weed have most certainly made something effortlessly cool and different here

These 13 songs are nothing short of perfect, and just everything I’d want from a debut record that I’ve waited so long for. I really cannot wait to see what happens next for them, but for now I’m just going to enjoy this record, over and over.

DRAB MAJESTY + SRSQ: Soup Kitchen, Manchester. 19/09/2019.

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If ever there was a dream line-up, then this would be one of them: Drab Majesty AND SRSQ together. Playing a venue that I adore, even if it was an absolute sweat box last night. I missed the first song of SRSQ’s set because I am shit at catching the tram from my flat to town, but that’s irrelevant.

Kennedy (who is SRSQ) was part of a band that I was obsessed with; Them Are Us Too, and to see someone who was part of a band who have left a lasting impact on me live, was something to truly treasure. There is the same passion there, and it is just a beautiful thing to be immersed in. For me, the music Kennedy makes as SRSQ is so ethereal and so delicate. I adore her vocals so much, and how Kennedy has this impressive power within their vocals that are just a thrill to witness. The way Kennedy controls the room with this gorgeous voice and haunting songs just leave you covered in goose bumps. For me it is songs like Cherish that show us just how effortlessly brilliant Kennedy is, and how every fibre of their being is exposed on stage.

 

 

Kennedy uses her voice how a guitarist would create fury with their instrument. She does it all on her own, and you cannot help but be in awe. Her music has been a massive comfort for me recently, with my Grandma dying very recently. I have used her music to escape a little, and to see these songs live just got me. If it can hit you in the gut, then you’ve found a band worth holding on to. Kennedy tells stories and takes you off into another world with her music, and the way she does it in a live setting is just nothing short of beautiful, in its truest and purest form. Only One was the song that just moved me the most. It made me think of listening to Zola Jesus for the first time- they both have this power in their voice, and this tone that is just unlike anything else. It can make you cry almost instantly because it is that soothing and perfect. I hope she comes back to the UK and does her own headline tour because her set was just a joy to watch.

Now it is time for Drab Majesty to take to the stage.

A couple of months ago, Drab Majesty released the chilling new record, Modern Mirror. This is a record that is dripping in synth-filled songs to hit you right in the soul. The songs were made to hit you right in the pit of your stomach. So how do they do this live? Effortlessly. So easy. Deb and Mona D are two exceptional musicians who just have this stage presence that leaves you so intrigued and moved by what you are witnessing. Their songs are euphoric symphonies that make you feel as if you have found yourself in the underworld where Deb and Mona are your leaders.

As someone who has frequent panic attacks (and they are ever increasing) I find bands like Drab Majesty and SRSQ so calming. It is the relaxed tone in the vocals, and it is the purity in the sound. It just eases me. They open their set with A Dialogue, which kicks off their new record. The perfect opener to their set. I’ve waited a hell of a long time to see this band, and I can honestly say it was one of the most moving shows I’ve been to. Something I really admire about Drab Majesty is that their music feels like it could be in a film, and they make you feel like you are part of it. There is so much fragility in the music, and I love it so much. I love how they are unafraid to be gentle in their music. The Other Side broke my heart, but to see it live was just remarkable.

 

 

It was such a joy to see both bands last night, and to see them both command the stage in ways that show us that less is truly more. In an ideal world, I’d watch their sets every single day and be in a constant state of bliss. They all make you want to create this dark, moving music to release all that you’re carrying. You can see for Kennedy that there’s a fair bit of release when she performs live and Drab Majesty have this hypnotic and stoic stance on stage, but there is so much emotion within all of them when they perform their songs. You can truly see how much it means to them, and given that most of this tour is sold out- it shows us just how much they are loved. It was so good to see the venue packed for Kennedy’s set. There was just a lot of love and respect in the venue for both sets, and to see this was nothing short of wonderful.

I can only urge you to see both bands whenever you can. It will feel like the most perfect out of body experience, and you will feel like both bands are in control of how you move during the show. You’re their puppet, and in this instance it really isn’t a bad thing. As hard as it was for me to leave the house last night and go to the show, I’m so glad I did. This is what I needed at this moment, what comes next now I have no idea but I have this to hold on to for a little while.

I can only reiterate that you just need to see both bands, and allow yourself to be immersed in such beauty and ethereal synth magic.

 

KÜKEN: KÜKEN EP

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If you’re looking for five out of control and utterly loud songs to burst your eardrums to, then look no further than the new EP by Küken

The new EP consist of 5 songs to just fry you brain, and to lower the quality of your hearing by the time you have finished listening to the record. I’ve been writing about Küken for a number of years now, and every time I write about them I feel my love for music being restored and heightened. I love how rowdy their sound is, I love how they have this raw sound that just makes you want to trash your surroundings and forget what’s going on around you. And right now, I’ll grab any form of escapism that I can get. For me, Küken go beyond being a Garage Rock band or whatever you want to call it. They have this sound that is so ferocious and it has this hunger in it that just seeps right into your soul. Their previous full length records have been two that I have been religiously playing for some time. They are full of this really gnarly and snarly songs that just make you want to play them as loudly as possible. Can they do this on an EP? Of course they can.

 

 

With 5 songs, they fully open the listener up to this world of fury and a form of rebellion that’s missing in some music. The louder Küken get, the more intense the record becomes. That’s something I really respect about the band- they aren’t afraid to be intense with their sound, and to create songs for those who are a little off the wall.  This record just makes you want to cause trouble at a dive bar (obviously, don’t do this but you know what I mean.) They make you feel like you’re part of this almost sacred scene with their sound. For me, Küken are a brilliant band to listen to when you’re doing absolutely nothing and you’re just hanging out by yourself. You could be at home blasting this record out, you could be on a train headed to anywhere or nowhere playing this record, or you could just be wandering round the city with their music as your guidance. There is something chaotic and peaceful about Küken- the music is intense and the vocals are calming. Well, for me they are. For others it may just be noise, but it is my kind of noise.

Cold is the longest song on the EP at around 2 minutes and 14 seconds. Küken don’t need to create dramatic symphonies in order for you to listen and pay attention. They can blow your mind almost instantly, and that’s all part of the charm. The songs are short, punchy and to the point. They are fast, brutal and made for chanting along with. Joey Ramone would dig them. There’s a lot of attitude in their songs, and I think from this EP Cold is the song that has the baddest attitude of them all. You don’t mess with this song. On the flip side you’ve got Say My Name which is a fuck you to having your heartbroken but not giving in to acting how you’re meant to. Küken aren’t going to sit around and cry over it- they’re going to carry on as normal, and forget about it!

 

 

I wish they’d play more shows in the UK. I think they’ve only done one short tour so far. They’re the kind of band that you’d use all your annual leave at work for in order to follow them around on tour. That could be just me, but I’d be happy to do that. They’ve got something about them that just makes you listen to them in awe. They’ve got this wonderfully loud sound that you just want to annihilate your mind, body and soul.

This EP is way more than a Punk record. It’s a vital body of music that needs to be in your record collection immediately.

EZRA FURMAN: Twelve Nudes.

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Ezra Furman has finally made the Punk record that they wanted and needed to make. It is also the Punk record that we all need. Losing my Grandma just under 2 weeks ago, I’ve felt myself lose interest in most things, I have more panic attacks than I can count, I am crying at any given moment and obviously, I cannot cope. I spent some time today really REALLY listening to Twelve Nudes. Bawled my eyes out. It’s a record that sums up everything that is going on in my head, and I’m so grateful that Ezra has made this record. Ezra’s playing Manchester on my birthday. As much as I now no longer care for my birthday (and Christmas) I’m glad I’ll be spending it watching the person who is narrating my every thought. I sure hope my girlfriend is prepared to deal with me at my crying best.
Twelve Nudes opens with Calm Down aka I Should Not Be Alone. The title alone sums up exactly everything right now. The lyrics smack me right in the gut; it’s like a relief that someone else is saying how I feel because it is so exhausting to be honest at times. The sheer fury and passion in Ezra’s voice just makes you want to shout along with them until your throat bleeds. There is something so important about this song, and having it open the record just sets the tone for how fucking truthful and vital this record is.
I have been a huge fan of Ezra’s for so long, and to hear them make this kind of record is truly mind-blowing. I’ve studied Ezra’s records religiously, and I always claimed Day Of The Dog as my favourite (closely followed by Banging Down The Doors, which is a masterpiece) but what Ezra has done with Twelve Nudes is something we all hope for the musicians we love with everything we have- Ezra has made the record of the year, the record of his career and the record for those who really need something bigger than they can comprehend.

I’ve always been in awe of Ezra’s lyrics; they have the storytelling style of Lou Reed mixed with something that really goes beyond music. When I listen to Ezra, I feel okay and safe in my skin- I’ve not had that in a while. We battle with ourselves to be honest at times, and having people like Ezra vocalise these worries, insecurities and fears tames it all slightly. Ezra really hits you in the soul with this record, and they do it prominently on songs like Transition from Nowhere to Nowhere. This song is full of hope and finding comfort in the things that go beyond us. I truly hope Ezra plays this on tour.
The more you listen to this record, the more you see just how much we need this record. In a world that is still full of every ist and phobia, records like this are so crucial because they show us the struggle that so many of us face. You cannot silence a minority, and you can silence those who have been hurt forever. Trauma is a song that is just so heavy in every single way. The music is so rugged and raw; you can truly hear the passion and fury in the music, and of course, in Ezra’s voice. There’s this bbeautiful rasp in Ezra’s voice, and it just makes you really feel every single word that Ezra aims at you. You want to scream every word out just like Ezra as he narrates everything going on in your head.
The sheer tenderness on this record and the urgency in every song just gives you this unconditional feeling of security and comfort. I may be breaking down constantly and crying but this record is almost like medicine. Twelve Nudes is the record that you cling to and refuse to ever let go of. For me, it is one of the most important records of all time- not just for our Queer culture, but for society. There are songs on this record that reach every single part of you, and just pull out the things you’re meant to be afraid of feeling. When you let yourself feel it, you feel a bit freer. Sometimes, that’s just what you need. This record has come from the heart and soul, and you truly feel that in every song.
I could probably write a full-blown essay on this record, but I think the main thing for me to say here is that it is truly one of the most remarkable records I’ve ever heard. It’s a record that I know I’ll never get enough of. It’s a record I will constantly play and keep falling in love with. Ezra has that effect; you cannot help but go back and listen to all their records and finding new things to love about them. Every record Ezra has made has always been so important to me, but with Twelve Nudes, Ezra has gone beyond everything and anything you’d expect. The sheer openness on this record and that proper Punk feel and attitude is beautifully done. It is such a joy to listen to, and to find safety in.

Although I feel utterly lost and empty, I have found something in this record that I quite possibly cannot put into words. Or the words have yet to form. All I know is that I’ll be leaning on this record for a long time, and if by some strange stroke of luck Ezra sees this- thank you. Thank you for speaking up, for creating this record and for being unafraid in your art. Thank you.

TV CRIME: Metal Town.

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I have had a bunch of records I have wanted to write about, but just couldn’t bring myself to do so. I lost my best friend- my beloved Gran on the 23rd August. Since then, everything has seemed utterly pointless. I can’t make it through the day without crying or having a panic attack. I may write about music again soon, or I may not. I have no idea. Maybe I’ll use it as a distraction. I have no idea.  I’m attempting to push through it to write about a record I have been SO excited for; Metal Town by TV Crime.

TV Crime are fronted by one of the coolest human beings around- Shaun Hencher (he fronted VIRALS, and if you weren’t a fan of them- why the hell weren’t you?!) I’ve written about TV Crime a bunch of times, but I’m super excited to write about their debut full length record which has been released via the equally phenomenal Alien Snatch! Records (fun fact: they have never released a bad record!)

Metal Town is a record that you cannot help but play insanely loud. It’s got a strong 70s Rock feel to it, but there’s also this Garage Rock feel. I know a lot of bands fall into this category, and they don’t back it up. But with TV Crime, they make you feel like you’re truly watching this band rehearse in a garage or sweaty basement room, playing with all they have. The record doesn’t sound polished in an overbearing way. It sounds like a band who are sure of themselves, and have created something that they (understandably) are proud of.

 

 

As a huge fan of theirs, I am so proud of what they have created on this record. Take songs like Can’t Remember Your Name and Neo Waltz- they really have this 70s Rock feel that bands like Amyl and The Sniffers have given us. The two bands are responsible for some of the best music around, and have been for the past few years.

TV Crime aren’t afraid to absolutely push themselves on this record. If you want to compare them to Shaun’s old band VIRALS, then that’s on you. But just so you know, they sound nothing alike. Shaun’s vocals on this record are so strong, and there’s this beautiful roughness to it that just makes you want to try snarl out the words like him. Luke absolutely destroys the drums with no hint of an apology found- just how it should be. This is prominent on songs like Clocking Out and In The Gutter. The title track of the record though, shows us just how brilliant this band are. It’s under the 2 minute mark but don’t let that deter you. In that short time, TV Crime show you that they aren’t to be messed with. TV Crime are the kind of band that make you want to ditch everything, and just follow them on tour.

Something to just adore about this record is that the 13 songs take you on this voyage through the wonder of music. They have evidently put their all into this record, and every single song on this record justifies why this is one of the most incredible debut records I’ve heard in a long time. I knew that I was going to be blown away by this record, but the level of greatness on it is truly something else. At the moment, I think I am calling Television Crime and Never Been In Love  as my favourite songs on the record, but I’m likely to change my mind because a record this great doesn’t happen that often you know. I love how it just embodies everything I love about music, and it has this unfiltered Rock ‘n’ Roll sound. It’s an honest record with a Punk heart, and for me that’s more than enough to make me fall in love with it.

 

 

TV Crime are headed out on a tour of Europe in the next few weeks, so please go see them if you can. Hopefully they’ll make their way to Manchester soon. Until then, I’ll keep playing this record as loud as I can and as often as I can.

Metal Town is released officially tomorrow via Alien Snatch! Records.

THE MURDER CAPITAL: When I Have Fears.

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Some find beauty in things like flowers, sickly sweet gestures and the like. Others want the less conventional type. I’m with them. Within this darker side of beauty is this vulnerability and honesty that is found nowhere else. It makes us curious, and it can heal. I don’t want to get too personal, but I recently lost a friend. They took their own life and of course those left behind are constantly thinking “What if I did this…what if I said…” anything, everything runs through your mind. Every fucking day. It is so permanent, it is so final. There’s no comfort, so all you can do is think about them. What used to never touch you can cause you to cry at a drop of a hat. I’m too sensitive, but I won’t change that. Music has been something I’ve always leaned on, but the past few weeks I’ve not really paid much attention, I’ve not wanted to listen to anything at all let alone write about it. That was until, today.

The Murder Capital are one of the most brutally honest bands around. They are fearless, exposed and powerful with their music. What they have done with When I Have Fears is something truly special. It’s a record that gives you comfort, it will be scary and you feel every single word beautifully poured out in this hypnotising record. Is it the record of the year? Well, if you’re into making lists then it definitely is. I can just give you the straight up fact that it is. These Dublin lads show us how to be brutal in the most beautiful way possible, and James’ vocals will tear you apart but will also make you feel less alone, and vulgar.

 

 

When I Have Fears is a security blanket. It is safe yet unsafe. It will break you, then fix you. You’ll heal, then fall apart again. It is every emotion physically and mentally possible. James unleashes these hard-hitting lyrics in ways no one else could do. He spews them out as if he is ridding his body of venom and I am completely in love with it. I love the sheer passion that The Murder Capital have, and for me, with this record they have truly let us in on things others are afraid to dive into.

More Is Less is one of those songs that you just know will electrify their live shows. The way in which the line, “If I gave you what you wanted, you’d never be full” is brimming with this exceptional rage that just makes you feel so connected to the band. There is absolutely no denying just how phenomenal The Murder Capital are, and with this record they have done something that you don’t get from a lot of debut records. This is a band that WILL be heard- you simply cannot silence a band like this, and why on earth would you even want to?

There is something mournful about this record, and maybe it could be down to personal loss within the band whilst recording- either way, there is so much comfort in this record. For me, it couldn’t have come at a better time. We sometimes need something bigger than us to cope, for me it is music. For me it The Murder Capital. As the rain pours from the grey sky here in Manchester today, I can’t think of a better place to completely and utterly devote myself to listening to this record to. When I Have Fears is the kind of record I could write about constantly. It’s also a record I know I am going to find new things to be in awe of and fall in love with every single time I listen to (which will obviously be daily.)

Although I have made no comparisons here, I’d like to add that When I Have Fears reminds me of discovering The Birthday Party for the first time, and to then become further obsessed with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Poetic darkness and eternal wonder in the lyrics and music- it’s something I cannot get enough of. Every song on this record is easy to be obsessed with. I cannot get enough of Feeling Fades. Don’t Cling To Life is easy to just cherish and lose yourself in. Love, Love, Love closes the record and just makes you want to start the record all over again. Make it never-ending. Just keep this phenomenal record on repeat.

 

 

When I Have Fears captures every feeling we are conditioned to ignore or be scared of. The Murder Capital bring you in to feel every ugly feeling possible, and to own it. Let them break your heart and fix you with every listen.

BROKEN BRIDGE.

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Sometimes finding the will to write about music slips from me. I stare at the keyboard hoping something comes out. I’ve hit delete many times recently over anything I’ve written. But, I seem to have found some inspiration from a band from Geneva called Broken Bridge.

Broken Bridge have a heavy, Garage Rock sound that is found in my favourites Table Scraps. They just make you want to trash shit, start a band, stir up some trouble. Anything, everything. They really smack you in the kisser with their exceptional sound. They are one of the best bands around right now, and are probably the best band from Geneva right now also.

 

 

So far up on their bandcamp page is a Live From Geneva release. These live versions of their songs show you just how exceptional they are, and how they play like a band who were sent here to just deafen us with their magnificent sound. The three of them (although the recordings on bandcamp are from when they were a duo, or they could be a duo now? I don’t know!) just take you some really wild place with their sound. They have a typical Garage Rock sound, but there is something super slick about them. Honestly, if I didn’t know I’d have assumed that they were from the 60s. They have bits of The Gruesomes in them, bits of Count Five, bits of The Vagrants in their sound but they add something else. Their song Sugar has like a sped up feel of The Doors which I love. It’s a brilliant song, and to be honest with you- Broken Bridge should be huge. They are brilliant musicians who are utterly cool and fearless with their sound. For me, I’m putting them up there with my favourite French band, Dr Chan. Both bands have this beautiful energy and soul within their sound. You can’t get enough of it.

Broken Bridge aren’t afraid to give us that raw, lo-fi sound. That fuzzy sound that has the potential to burst your eardrums if played at the right volume. Everything about their sound has this elegant yet brutal tone to it. They aren’t afraid to be gnarly and raw, but at the same time have this clear and crisp sound that you just want to hear 24/7. For me, it’s heavenly. I love how they can truly move you, and how they make you feel like you’re falling in love with all those sacred music moments all over again. Get Away and Worst Shadows are two of the songs that you just need to blast as loud as possible, and really get how brilliant they are. Broken Bridge are such an exciting band to listen to, and to just really invest in.

With just a live release up on their bandcamp page, it is enough for me to know that are most certainly a band to watch. I really hope they come to the UK soon because they deserve to just take over the world in their own slick way. They remind me ever so slightly of The Pretty Things and I think this is evident on Don’t Go To The River which sounds like it has nods to Midnight To Six Man. Broken Bridge have a really together sound, and you can’t help but think you are listening to a band that have been around for decades.

 

 

If you catch them live, please go see them. Then demand they do a UK tour. Until then, play their music as loud as you can, watch their music videos and just fall madly in love with them like I have.

SUN SLAYERS.

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The bio for Sun Slayers reads, “Lo-fi Garage Rock that misses the beach” and to be honest, it’s pretty accurate. They are easily one of the most exciting bands around not just from Nottingham, but in the UK as a whole. They have this brilliant heavy sound that makes you want to just immerse yourself in everything they give you. I could easily sum up how great they are in a paragraph, but they deserve way more than that.

Sun Slayers have this sound that is found in say, Keep On Your Mean Side by The Kills. The heaviness that The Kills brought to that record is found in Sun Slayers new EP, Not Alone which was recorded on a TPS-L2 Sony Walkman, which is pretty cool. I love how Sun Slayer have this fearless approach, and on this EP they truly take you some place magical. I remember when I first heard Birmingham’s finest, Table Scraps and I’m getting the same feeling from listening to Sun Slayers. There is something really special about their sound, and how they aren’t afraid to posses a heavy sound. It’s a gorgeous EP that you simply cannot get enough of.

 

 

My Mistake is just over 5 minutes, and it has this wonderful yet bleak tone to the lyrics. It is dark, but it is beautifully put together. The vocals are soft, but once the guitar kicks in it brings this almost sorrowful sound. It’s so far, my favourite song I’ve heard by them. It is so sad and so fragile, but there’s this weight to it that really hits you in the gut. I’m all for songs that hit you right in the pit of your stomach. I love how the guitar takes on a fuzzy kind of sound when the chorus kicks in. In some ways, it reminds me of the Darklands record by The Jesus And Mary Chain. There’s also quite a Bluesy feel to this song, and it appears throughout a few of the songs on the EP. They may have missed the beach, but they’ve delved into something else with their sound.

I’m not quite sure how long they’ve been making music together for, but this solid sound is something to truly admire. They sound like they’ve been together forever, but time doesn’t mean a thing- they just sound phenomenal. I truly hope they become a band that people cannot get enough of. I have a feeling that their live shows are probably wild too. This is the kind of sound I love to get lost in, and I love where Sun Slayers take you with their music. You just want it to wrap you up and throw you into the unknown. Ever element of their sound is a reminder as to why I love music so much, and why I feel I need to write about what I’ve heard.

The EP ends on the glorious, Braindead. The echoing of the “I can’t feel anything at all” is so great. It’s the kind of song that you just know when they do it live, that part of the song is going to be screamed back. A simple phrase, yet easy to relate to. Sun Slayers not only have a brilliant band name, but they have this sound that makes you wish you were in their band making this noise with them. I love how they make you want more and more from them. This EP may have only just come out, but I am so excited to hear what else they do and of course, for them to tour.

 

 

If you like your music loud with a Lo-fi bite to it, then you’re going to fall in love with Sun Slayers, quite easily and obsessively too. Get lost in their sound, and let it consume you in the most wonderful way imaginable.

NIGHT SHADES: Dead Nerves/The Desert.

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Today I woke up to see that Night Shades had announced a new release, and I knew I was going to have a good day (I also had the day off work so that’s a plus *note- I love my job, but I do like to sleep!) Night Shades are making the kind of music I’d love to make if I was in a band. They are creepy and wild; they are just a phenomenal band that I cannot get enough of, and knowing that there’s a new release coming real soon is just great.

I’m going to give you a little breakdown into the songs- there’s only three so hopefully you’ll stick with this. It’ll be worth it, trust me.

DEAD NERVES: The first track on the record, and as Shaun counts in the band you get a sense of just how intense this song is going to be. He has SUCH a distinctive voice, and it’s the kind of voice you want to hear when you need music to just get your heart beating a little faster. The urgency on this song is exceptional, and I think for me, a large part of this is Niall’s drumming. Niall is a great drummer, and he brings this urgency to Night Shades that is backed up by Clare, Shaun and Vince on this song in particular. I guess you could sum it all up quite easily by saying Night Shades consist of some of the best musicians around. There is this bite to Dead Nerves that makes you feel like you’re the toughest person around. I love music that gives you this energy, and Dead Nerves definitely gives that feeling. It’s a real rowdy song that feels like a bar fight. If you’ve never listened to Night Shades before, this has got to be the one that wins you over.

KATIPO: To soothe your bones a little bit, Katipo is a beautiful instrumental moment on the record. Sure I love their loud and rowdy songs, but this instrumental is so gorgeous. It is delicate in some parts, but it picks up. The song twists and turns, and takes you on this trip. You stay on edge as you listen to it. One thing I adore about Night Shades is their effortless way to keep you on edge. As someone who has anxiety and can have a panic attack when I least expect it/probably at inappropriate times, Night Shades give you this positive anxiety- you’re on edge from excitement with their music. You know something is going to happen, and the butterflies are brewing in your belly- it kicks in, and all these euphoric moments occur. That’s, for me, one of the best ways I can sum up Night Shades and although there are no vocals on Katipo, it perfectly sums that feeling on edge feeling.

 

 

The Desert:  Hello song of the year! Clare and Shaun’s vocals on this are insane. Everything about this song oozes a real creepy feel and I love it. It’s like hearing The Cramps for the first time. The first time I ever heard The Cramps, it changed my life forever and I was in awe of every tiny detail. Night Shades give you that same feeling. You’re hearing something really incredible, and it just moves you in a range of ways. The way they deliver the urgency on The Desert is ridiculous, and it’s the kind of song that you know is going to be magical when they do it live. It’s a song that just makes you fall in love with them all over again. We had the instrumental in the middle, and we are smacked right in the face with The Desert. Although it ends on this song, it just makes you play it all over again. But, you’re going to have to wait until 26th July to do this.

This 3-track record was recorded live, and I think that adds some romanticism to it. The songs are perfect, loud, tender and raw. They will make you move and by no means will they make you want to rest. Night Shades make the kind of music that would fit perfectly in a eerie horror film, or a thriller. Something that messes with your head, for sure.

The launch party for the record will of course be held at The Shacklewell Arms on the 26th July. There’s no other venue that can do their sound justice nor can any other venue sum up the feel of the band. You can pre-order the record on their bandcamp page here. It’s going to be on hot pink vinyl, and will be released via El Beasto Records.

Buy it, play it loud and feel like the toughest motherfucker around.

GHUM: The Castle Hotel, Manchester. 15th July 2019.

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Of all the gigs I’ve ever been to, the show tonight was the hottest and most sweatiest. A tiny venue with no air con but who cares? One of the most exciting bands around played here tonight, and it was something truly special.

Their debut EP came out a couple of weeks ago, and it is one of the most remarkable and gorgeous records of the year. It is a euphoric dream of a record, and has the most intense sounds and ethereal feelings within the songs. It is perfect; so how does it come across live?  Divine. Absolutely divine.

Before I get into their more known songs, they played a new one called California which I am obsessed with! I wish it was on The Coldest Fire, but it definitely proves that they are pretty much the best band around in this country. For me, I got the same feeling I did when I first heard TwoFiftyFour and Warpaint years and years ago. They have that same dark yet euphoric feel to their sound.

 

 

Their live show is something else. This was their first time that they had played Manchester, and it honestly felt like a band that were “coming home” in a way. Everyone was just having the best time, even if it felt like we were in a sauna. For a band that have put out their debut EP, they just make you feel like they’ve been around forever. They are so sure of their sound, and that just makes them even more inspiring.

I loved finally seeing 1000 Men and Saturn. These are two songs I’ve had on repeat more than usual, and the live versions of these songs are truly mind-blowing. GHUM are band that you cannot help but fall in love with from your very first listen. They have something about them that just sucks you in, and nothing else comes close to it. They have this colossal sound and presence that you know means that this will probably be one of the last times they play such a small venue. They played the best venue in the world over the weekend, The Shacklewell Arms and honestly, it is the best venue for a band like this. But tonight at The Castle Hotel was something else. It isn’t a big venue, and it has a proper intimate feel to it. A rare treat to have such a band play here, and I think it has the potential to be one of those shows that in decades from now, you’ll be gloating that you were there. Like when the Sex Pistols played the Lesser Free Trade Hall.

The sheer passion in the way they play and deliver these songs is truly astounding and hugely inspiring- they are effortlessly haunting with their sound, and you just want it to consume you. Everything about GHUM just leaves you in awe. You cannot help but feel that you were part of something really special tonight. I hope it is one of those shows that this city talks about for years to come. The crowd were equally as perfect. It’s been known that Manchester crowds are the best, and tonight they really did prove that theory correct.

I think Get Up was the song that really got everyone going. I love how the song vocally is delicate, then the hook comes in and just smacks you in the face. There’s honestly no reason as to why GHUM won’t become massive and win over thousands, and thousands more fans. They are a band that have you hooked immediately and tonight, they fully exposed that notion in ways I’ve never seen a band do before.

 

 

For me, this show is one that will stick with me. When they play bigger venues, this show will still go down as being one of my favourites. The venue may have been a sweat-fest, but it didn’t matter because we were in the presence of one of the best bands around who will undoubtedly go and take over the world.