Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bauhaus.

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If I had any form of musical ability and decided to start a band my only influence would be Bauhaus. Why? Because everything I adore about music is found in this band. The are all too often labelled as Goth Rock. Personally, I disagree. I’d label them as fucking out of this world. Sadly, that’s not a genre. If it was, I’d throw a few in that genre.

Bauhaus formed in sunny Northampton (no idea if it is sunny there, I thought I’d be kind) way back in the late 70s. Their first album was released if I’m not mistaken, in 1980. In Flat Field will always be one of the most fantastic and inspiring debut albums of all time. Is it their best work? Well, Bauhaus NEVER made a poor record, EVER. Every album is just perfect. The production has always been tight and the musicianship just stunning. When the debut album was released, many just slated it. I have no idea why. I guess maybe they thought it was “cool” to slay a band that was doing something different. Thing is, they gave off negative feedback to the ones started for a genre of music that has inspired so many. More fool them. Every track on their debut grabs you by the fucking throat them just cradles you in a strange, comforting way.

I want to discuss the importance of their third album, The Sky’s Gone Out- more importantly the track Exquisite Corpse. Easily my favourite track EVER by the group. The way Peter Murphy sings “Life is but a dream” acapella at the start of the track, then the drums kick in HARD. Then we get everything else pouring in; it’s just mind-blowing. Then it goes quite a minute or so in- then it kicks in again with keyboards. It’s just so damn perfect. It’s over 5 minutes of sheer Heaven. I just want to listen to it over and over, all the time. I could never ever get bored of this song.

Peter Murphy is such a fascinating person on so many levels. He is a stunning front-man; totally underrated. I have no idea why this is so. He just delievers every single song with such passion, fury, lust and power. His voice is incredible and distinctive. He is the blueprint of what a front-man should be. Many have regarded him as the Godfather of Goth. Maybe this is the case. He is just the definition of a true front-man. Those cheekbones, his stage presence- he is a work of art. His solo work is wonderful too.

If it wasn’t for Bauhaus, I honestly have no idea what kind of music I’d be into. They introduced me into so many different bands. They didn’t just change my life, they inspired something. They still do now. Maybe I’d still be a lost cause if it wasn’t for them; or maybe I still am one. I have no idea, all I know is that Bauhaus are that glimmer of hope I cling onto when there isn’t much else to grip.

 

I’m not sorry for writing about Lana Del Rey….again!

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It seems a girl can’t post a video of herself singing without some fuckwit laying into her. It’s like, it’s cool to hate someone for no reason. Why? Why would you exhaust yourself in such a way? Why would you write such cruel, vile words about a person you do not know? What drives a person to do it? Probably the fact that they’re a twit or something.

Lana Del Rey has divided pathetic hipster blogs and credible (if any are left) publications. You have one side that see she is talented. Then you have the other side that just unleash so much hate. It’s extremely pathetic. They keep going on and on about her appearence and her mouth. Look, the only thing you should be concerned with in regard to her mouth is what comes out of it.

This week Video Games was released. Personally, I’m still obsessed with Blue Jeans and Yayo. I love the vulnerability in Lana’s music and voice. Her voice makes you tremble and just melt. Honestly, when I listen to her music I can’t focus. It’s like I shut down and I’m in awe of what I’m hearing. I know I’ve written a lot about her, but that’s because I’m one of the few who have NOTHING bad to say about her, and I believe everyone deserves a chance, y’know? Is she a gimmick? I don’t know nor do I care. To me, she’s evidently someone with so much talent and we’re just seeing the start of it. She’s going to be huge. You can ignore now, but she’s going to be huge. I don’t want to hear Adele bang on about her ex-boyfriend. It means nothing to me, it’s boring. We’ve now been blessed with Lana Del Rey. She’s got this presence that just draws you in; and you know what? I don’t think she realises just how talented she is. I hope she does, because she is truly wonderful.

It’s been a long time since a singer has had this hold over me. I cannot describe. Her music is like being in love. You feel it in your soul and nothing in the world can compare to it. I read an article recently where Lana said that the negative press does get to her and made her question why she put the videos up of her singing. This is just fucking WRONG. It shouldn’t be like this, but some people can only function if they are hating on someone else. I guess it’s because they are bored and feel the need to try shock others by being hurtful. Thing is, they’re not shocking anyone. They just come across as a massive wanker. Of course everyone is allowed their own opinion; but if you’re going to be negative do it about the music not what she looks like. It just proves that you’re an immature fuck who cannot form sentences when you focus on appearence rather than the sound.

There’s a lot of heart and soul in Lana’s music; that’s lacking in a lot of music right now. You may hate it, you may love it. Either way you cannot deny that she can bloody well sing. Don’t believe me? Check this out:

She’s the second most beautiful person my eyes have ever seen. Who’s the first? I can’t possibly tell you, that’s a secret.

The Thinking Men-Mirror Test.

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Remember, remember the 10th November; The Thinking Men’s EP comes out. Or, remember remember the 12th November IT WILL BE MY BIRTHDAY. 25 years old I shall be. Bloody hell. I’ve done nothing of worth in my 25 years. I can’t even swim.

Right, review.

I’ll be honest, I’m still in a daze from seeing S.C.U.M last night so this may well be all over the place. It usually is anyway. I like things to be all over the place, adds excitement doesn’t it. If it was possible for Tom Waits and The Kinks to have musical children they would create The Thinking Men. They aren’t all men, so that’s a bit misleading isn’t it. They are 3 wonderful people who by the names of Ronnie, Sarah and Johnny. They are incredible musicians, seriously; they are bloody brilliant.

I am currently having my ears blown off whilst listening to Don’t Do What I Do, Just Do What I Say. I swear I just heard Johnny growl at some point in the song. Who doesn’t love a growl in a song. Very very Tom Waits. Very very good. Personally, it’s my favourite off the EP. I will change my mind because that’s how I am. I can never stick with a favourite track off an EP/LP.

The trio come from Norwich. I know NOTHING about Norwich at all. Doesn’t Delia Smith support the football team and went a bit mental at one of their games? I could be wrong, I’m rarely right. If this is the sound that is coming from Norwich then bloody get me to Norwich. This is inspiring stuff.

If you read what I write (I’m sorry if you do) then you will know I love anything creepy and dark. This is probably why I instantly fell in love with The Thinking Men. It is creepy, dark and intense. Johnny’s voice is so menacing but it is balanced out with Sarah’s delicate tones. This is evident on the track  False Alarm, which I am now starting to think is my favourite.

In short, this EP is brilliant and you need it. You know those dark, cold, English winters we have that are so dull and full of menace? This EP is the soundtrack to it. I don’t feel like I’m in 2011 when I listen to it. I feel like I’ve gone way way back in time listening to this record, it’s just stunning. I’d like to give an honourable mention to Ronnie because he plays the Kazoo. Not enough bands have that instrument involved in their music. Underrated.

Their fusion of Jazz and the Blues is just perfect. When you can mix these two genres together and do it as well as The Thinking Men do, well, you’ve got yourself an amazing sound.

You can listen to the EP RIGHT HERE. CLICK HERE. NOW!

As someone who is a HUGE fan of the likes of Tom Waits and Townes Van Zandt, it’s no surprise that I adore The Thinking Men; and you should too.

Oh, and don’t forget to buy their EP on the 10th November.

The Cure-Seventeen Seconds.

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When I miss home, I just play The Cure. I’ve been playing them a lot recently; mainly Wild Mood Swings and Seventeen Seconds.

A lot of second albums are labelled as difficult to make. I listen to Seventeen Seconds and it just sounds so bloody effortlessly brilliant. I remember getting into The Cure and my stepdad telling me to start with the song A Forest. I played it, and ever since nothing has come close. The bassline, the guitar, the drums- so haunting. Robert’s voice, so perfect. It was one of the first songs I remember hearing and just connecting with. There’s something about A Forest that just screams out GENIUS. I’m not sure I could trust someone who couldn’t see how amazing this song is. It’s my favourite. Always has been, always will be. Nothing will come close to how I feel about this song.

I listen to Seventeen Seconds now, and how I felt when I first heard it is exactly the same how I feel now. I am still in awe of the production and the musicianship. It pisses me off so much when people automatically think of Boys Don’t Cry or Just Like Heaven when they think of The Cure. They need to be hit over the head with a copy of Seventeen Seconds and made to listen to it over and over again. Until they see that it is the most glorious album ever. Robert’s voice is one that will always amaze me and stir up feelings that I didn’t expect a singer to do.

Seventeen Seconds has a sound, a feel to it that has evidently influenced so many bands. That sound is still floating around today in brilliant bands such as Foals and Warpaint. The dreamy vibe that makes every single part of you sway. The picturesque lyrics that make you see the Universe and life in a totally different way. This is a record to lose yourself in. Maybe lose yourself and fall for someone. I have no idea, it depends on the kind of person you are. Or maybe it makes you wish you could fall freely for someone- without something or someone getting in the way. Let’s face it, there’s always something in the way.

At Night is one of the more harsher tracks on the album, the intro (if I could type a sound I would, but if I attempt it will look mighty strange) just reels you in. Then Robert’s voice kicks in with this fucking wonderful guitar. It’s just so bloody perfect. I know that perfection doesn’t exist, but it comes so bloody close on this record. This record was the soundtrack to so many peoples lives, it still is. It is utterly timeless.

The instrumental tracks on the album are brilliant too. See, with anyone else it’d be like an album filler. That isn’t the case with The Cure. The instrumental tracks are just as vital as the others. The album flows so beautiful. You listen to this all the way through. You explore the different layers of each track with every single listen.I listen to this album pretty much every single day, and I still notice something new with every listen. It just fascinates me in so many ways. The album starts with an instrumental (A Reflection)and it does create a somewhat sombre atmosphere, but I guess that’s why I love The Cure. They make you feel okay with feeling sad sometimes. You cannot escape sadness, sometimes you just have to allow yourself to feel it. Don’t be scared.

What I love the most about this record is how Robert’s voice always sounds like an echo. If you listen to the album through headphones, you feel it go from one ear to another in such a dramatic and haunting manner. It’s out of this world. The Cure created a sound on this album that was way ahead of its time, and in the process created one of the most influential records of all time. There is so much longing on the album (M, A Forest) and you can fully see why teenagers across the world found so much peace in this band and this record. Everyone knows that being a teenager is one of the cruelest things anyone has to go through, but with bands like The Cure; it makes it easier. I spent my teenage years listening to The Smiths and The Cure, and it gave me an insight to life that nothing else could. Their music taught me things no book could ever teach me.

S.C.U.M

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Alright, here’s the deal; I’ve just had my mind blown and I don’t think anything else is going to top what I have seen. Nothing or no one is going to ever make me feel like I did during the 40 minutes I spent watching S.C.U.M on stage. I mean, I welcome the challenge. Bring it. But, I don’t think it will match up.

Since I heard them in 2008 (Visions Arise just shook me) I’ve been hell bent on seeing them live. TONIGHT! My dream finally came true. In a room that had no more than 30 people. I stared at each band member, I was in utter awe. Let me tell you now, you are NOT going to find a front-man as majestic and delicate as Thomas Cohen. I’ve honestly never ever seen anyone on stage like that in my LIFE. I’m still in awe. I think my jaw is still dragging on the ground. I was in some kind of trance. My body swayed, my mind was in a trance, my eyes fixed on the stage. There was STROBES!! STROBES! And a SMOKE MACHINE! It was so fucking intense and inspiring. I cannot put into words the amazement of what I saw, I really can’t. When they left the stage, I couldn’t speak. I don’t think I can right now to be honest.

They ended their set of course with Whitechapel. It’s just a glorious, euphoric piece of art.

Tom came to the edge of the stage, lurking like a shy kitten. Unsure of whether or not to leap down. He didn’t. To be honest, if he did; he would’ve stuck to the floor.

Each band member is just exceptional. Melissa goes HARD on the drums, she fucking slays it. Huw is a beast on the guitar. He moves just like his brother Rhys (The Horrors) does on stage. Bradley and Samuel are demons on the synths and keyboards. Tom just captures you with his delicate hand jestures and angelic voice. His voice reminds you a wee bit of Brian Molko from Placebo, only a little though. Tom’s voice is softer.

S.C.U.M are the most exciting band I’ve seen live in a long long time. They left me speechless after the gig, that hasn’t happened in a long time. I honestly have no idea when this last happened.

Those who didn’t attend tonight’s gig at The Sugarmill in Stoke On Trent have well and truly missed out. Those that were there; consider yourself blessed to have seen a band like this play your town.

DZ Deathrays.

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Okay, so I’ve just come home from seeing DZ Deathrays and S.C.U.M play to around 30 people. I’ll write about S.C.U.M in a different post because I’ve got a lot of feelings about it and it will get intense (all positive I must say.)

Most of the music I listen to is quite aggressive. I’m not an aggressive person, but I love music that just feels like it is smashing your skull in and shaking your body to the very core. I mean, I listen to more relaxed stuff too; but I am quite fond of that brutal sound.

Allow me to introduce you to a fucking amazing duo called DZ Deathrays. They were originally called DZ but have now added the Deathrays part. They remind me of Jay Reatard mixed with Test-Icicles with a hint of Death In Vegas. Three acts that I adore- merge them together and you get DZ Deathrays. They will blow your eardrums, they will disrupt your world, throw you against the wall and scream in your ears in the most pleasurable way possible. Trust me, it can happen. Musically of course.

THIS! THIS RIGHT HERE is fucking exciting. Like, I’m super excited about this band. The kind of excitement that makes you want to stand on a roof and just declare your excitement as loudly as you possibly can. And fuck if you lose your voice in the process. This is amazing, honest, brutal music right here. If you want something different. Something to shake your damn soul; get the hell involved with DZ Deathrays at once.

They hail from Australia. I feel honoured to have seen them tonight in Stoke on Trent. I just feel bad that they had such a shit crowd to play to. It felt like watching a band practice, not that they need to. If anything, this is just a warm-up. This duo are going to blow your minds in the near future for sure.

Beach House-Norway.

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You know when you see a person so beautiful, and all you want to do is just look at them? By look at them, I mean take in their beauty; not gawp at them in a mental way. If people found that endearing, I’m pretty sure most of us would no longer get slapped and called a weirdo. This hasn’t happened to me….yet. I tend not to look, just because I don’t like being hit. Think of that person you regard as the most beautiful person in the world (I’ll do the same) and imagine them in the form of music.

How I feel about Beach House is how one would feel about a beautiful person. I just want to sit and listen to Beach House; just like someone would want to stare at a beautiful person. I know it’s a weird analogy, but it’s just how it is.

It’s one song in particluar by Beach House that makes me feel this way. Norway is such a stunning song. The harmonies at the start are just simply breathtaking. Victoria has THE most distinctive vocals around, there’s nobody else like her.  The song feels like a train approaching. It has a haunting quality about it. A lot of their songs do have that feel about it, but at the same time; so comforting. I’ve fallen asleep listening to Beach House so many times. Norway is the one though. It’s the one I always seem to have on repeat.

Her vocals are always atmospheric and so tranquil. You can easily fall into a dream whilst listening to Beach House; you can fall in love whilst listening to Beach House. Norway just evokes such wonderful feelings inside of you. It could be pissing down with rain as you go for a walk listening to this song; but you’d still feel the sun on your back.

Beach House are three albums into their career and each album is just a perfect work of art. As far as duos go, Alex and Victoria are one of the best.

There are so many layers in their songs, especially in Norway. It has that dream pop feel that although many attempt to shy away from; Beach House do it well.

TOY.

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For the past few months I have been looking all over the internet to find some tracks by TOY so I can link them on here and write about them. There’d be no point in me writing about a band and not having a piece of music to show you. Thankfully, TOY have uploaded a couple of tracks onto Soundcloud which you can listen to HERE.

If you love bands such as The Jesus And Mary Chain and Echo & The Bunnymen, you should love TOY. Yes they sound similar to The Horrors. Clock Chime sounds like something you would hear on Skying. Basically, TOY deserve to be your new favourite band. They have tracks that last over 5 minutes (this is one my favourite things about them) and they have hypnotising melodies that will stick with you all day, every day.

Tom’s vocals are haunting and just beautiful. His voice wraps around you, you feel yourself collapse into some kind of trance. This is what makes them great. This is what makes any band great; their ability to carry you of somewhere else. Left Myself Behind has a more relaxed sound of The Jesus And Mary Chain. That feeling I first got when I heard Psychocandy has come back alive and kicking thanks to TOY.

You can download Left Myself Behind for free from HERE.

They’ve supported the likes of The Pretty Things (a band everyone needs in their collection) and The Horrors (who they are currently on tour with.)

If you like your music to take you on some kind of trip and the vocals to send chills down your spine; then TOY are the band for you.

Dorothy Ashby.

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The harp. One of the most beautiful instruments to exist. Watch anyone play the harp and they just look so peaceful and content.

Dorothy Ashby is one of the greatest musicians to have ever existed, there’s no doubt about it. Listen to her records and you will realise that this magnificent woman was way ahead of her time. She created a sound that is STILL being sampled in today’s Hip Hop records. Many associate the harp with Classical and the like. Not Dorothy, not at all. She brought an element of Soul, Funk and Jazz to it.

Her 1968 album, Afro Harping is just wonderful. My personal favourite is Life Has Its Trials, it sounds like something you would hear in a film during some outrageous shoot out (think Pam Grier in Foxy Brown.) Her music is so stunning, and I really don’t understand how her name isn’t mentioned in lists of great musicians.

Just listening to this, it is easy to see that Dorothy should be regarded as one of the ones responsible for the start of Hip Hop. She’s the Godmother of Hip Hop, there’s no doubt about that. Her music back then was way ahead of its time, nobody was making music like this. Nobody is making music as moving as this right now.

My favourite record by Dorothy Ashby is The Rubaiyat of Dorothy Ashby. It has a less soulful feel to it than say, Afro Harping but her musicianship on this record is out of this world. Her music was essentially Jazz but she merged so many different genres together, you’d be a fool to label it with just one genre.

Noothgrush.

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No idea where to start with a band like Noothgrush. They’ve been going since 1994 and have been making incredible, brutal music since.

The band currently consist of Russ Kent, Gary Niederhoff and Chiyo Nukaga. I love them for their vicious and unapologetic menacing sound. It isn’t for the faint hearted at all. There’s so much tension in Gary’s voice, it’s so fucking powerful. I don’t advise you to scream along though, you could harm yourself. Actually, fuck it; it’s worth it. Scream along. See if you can go louder than him. I bet you won’t.

Noothgrush are THE greatest band that are part of the Sludge genre. They just have everything you could possibly want in a band. Go listen to their records, you may learn something.