Today was just another boring day. Then I came home from work and discovered that my favourites, Dee Dee (Dum Dum Girls) and Brandon’s(Crocodiles) single as Haunted Hearts was floating around on the internet. I’m having a moment listening to this. And by that I mean I am currently glad I am not deaf, or dead. This is truly brilliant. And I’m going to try tell you why.
It doesn’t take a genius to realise how important Dum Dum Girls and Crocodiles have been to me over the past few years. Crocodiles debut record dragged me through some shit times when it came out. Dum Dum Girls bring out the vulnerable side that isn’t so bad. Both bands have songs that ooze out any love and any frustrations you may carry around. When I hear No Black Clouds For Dee Dee I just automatically think of my girlfriend. When I hear Coming Down, I feel less shit about whatever I see. Although I’m 26, both bands are helping with the pain of growing up.
Brandon and Dee Dee are evidently the best couple in music. You don’t need to have a brain like Einstein to know how much they adore and love each other, just listen to their songs. So when they make music together, the love is still going to be there, right? Of course.
I cannot tell you enough how excited I am about them making music together as Haunted Hearts. I really can’t. Imagine if they toured together and brought it to the UK. I am writing that in the hopes they see this, and do it. It’d be like that time I saw Morrissey for the first time and felt life make sense for once.
Brandon’s vocals are caressed gently by Dee Dee, which are both hypnotically intertwined which just catapults you into a state of bliss, and of course ; love. The way they sing “tie me up” and “tie me down” is just so utterly divine.
There are so many things I could say about this song, but all you need to know for now is that it pours out the purest sense of devotion. Devotion in a way that most wouldn’t understand. Music is the foundation and glue to most of the best things in life. This is a beautiful moment in music, and I honestly cannot wait for the record. I think I’m going to just be a recluse for a while when it comes out. Just to deal with how beautiful it is going to be.
You’ve obviously heard Blank Girl by Dum Dum Girls and Brandon, right? It’s on the I Will Be record, and that again just shows how they make such beautiful music together. Not forgetting their Christmas song, Merry Christmas Baby (Please Don’t Die.)
The single is out on the 5th February on their label, Zoo Music. Which although is a bit after Valentine’s, would still make a good present (that’s a hint..a massive hint.)
I feel I should give you 5 reasons as to why this song is nothing short of perfection, so here it goes :
Their vocals together is like a dream. You know how some things in life are just meant to be? Well, that’s the case here. This had to happen, sure it took a while. But it’s happened. Proof that you’ve got to wait it out, and the good will come. So yeah, the vocals are stunning.
The guitar makes you feel like you’re on a trip. You’re floating off into the sun with the one you love with you and nothing really matters. And why should it, when you have the one you adore with you. It warms your bones.
You can keep hitting repeat and you find different things to fall in love with. I’m on my tenth listen I think. I don’t plan on stopping until it’s time to go to bed.
It’s an unconventional love song, and they are ALWAYS the best kind.
It makes you want to write your own masterpiece and dedicate it to the one you adore.
So there you have it. Another ramble as to why I love a song more than I love some things. I don’t care. This has brightened up my dull Monday. I know most are going to say this songs sounds a bit like The Jesus And Mary Chain, but to be honest it sounds like two people who are in love, making incredible music. And guess what? That’s exactly what it is!
The darkness is better than daytime. I don’t really like daylight. I don’t like things shining brightly in my eyes, yet I hate sunglasses and in the summer, I just squint and go partially blind. My eyesight is awful at the best of times. It makes everything much more interesting. Sometimes.
My thing about the dark, is for a while (when I was a child) I was terrified of it. Then I grew out of it, and it became something that didn’t trouble me anymore. I don’t mind it getting dark at 4pm, it doesn’t bother me. I think I enjoy it more than still seeing everything clearly at 8pm you know? Sure the summer is nice, but I just like the dark. I like listening to certain bands when everything is dark; inside and out. For example, I cannot walk about in the daytime listening to Burial. It has to be dark out. I have to either be on the bus home or just lying in complete darkness. The music he makes creates something in your mind like no other. Seventeen Seconds by The Cure (their best record) is not a record I can listen to during the daytime either. It has to be pitch black, just to get the true and tense atmosphere of the record.
I can listen to the likes of Beach House, Warpaint, Morrissey, Captain Beefheart anytime. It doesn’t have to be light or dark. It can be anytime at all. Warpaint aren’t a band I feel I can sit and listen to with anyone else around. Maybe because if the person didn’t like them or get it, I’d be a bit (a lot) distraught. Aside from Stars, I can listen to Warpaint anytime.
Nick Cave, I can listen to him constantly. Grinderman, The Bad Seeds, The Birthday Party. Any of it, all of it at anytime. Much like Bob Dylan and Townes Van Zandt. Most get lonely at night, but when you listen to certain songs you can feel lonely right there and then. Or maybe, you feel less alone. Music is such a powerful thing, and it can take you anywhere. It goes with you everywhere. I go to music before I go to a person. It is like a reference point or something. I’m not sure. This is so so badly written, and maybe I should say sorry. But I cannot say sorry if I am not. Do what you want.
The night-time is the perfect time to fix everything. Some fuck things up at night-time. You can do both. In whatever order you wish to do so. No one’s going to judge. And if they do? Whatever. Who cares. See, the night-time can also make you rant can’t it. Or maybe that’s just me.
I seem to be growing tired of writing. I have no idea why I do it. It’s not like any good comes from it, or anyone sees it or whatever. I do it, I suppose because a small part of me thinks I must. I probably shouldn’t. I’ll drag the writing about a bit longer. We can only go so far.
As it’s dark outside, thankfully; maybe these songs will indulge you in it a bit more.
So any band that has a song called, Can You Really Trust A Man Who Thinks Matt Damon’s Really Cool? must be special, right? Of course.
I’ve got a thing for Scottish musicians. It all started when I was 10 years old in 1996 and I saw Shirley Manson on my TV screen. I was hooked and obsessed. I still feel the same. I also feel the same way about The Jesus And Mary Chain and Camera Obscura. I don’t know how to just simply love music. It becomes part of me, and takes over my life. I can control it. For now. Thing is, if it spirals out of control, I won’t exactly care.
So, The Spook School. Again, another bloody brilliant band that arte releasing something through Soft Power Records. They’ve got a delightful 5 track EP coming out soon called I Don’t Know, You Don’t Know, We All Don’t Know The Spook School. Try saying that after a few glasses of whiskey.
What I was immediately drawn to was how delicate their vocals are. Sort of like The Moldy Peaches (I firmly believe everyone needs to experience Adam Green live.)
Take the song, Something. It is just under 2 minutes and it oozes so much sadness and vulnerability. Then you have songs such as I Don’t Know that are so bold. They have a unique way of luring you in. I’m not going to try to lob them into some genre because they go beyond that. All good music goes beyond being just another name to throw about in certain genres. I cannot find a word, there are no words. They make heartbreaking, beautiful music. They have the sadness (Something) of Camera Obscura and the innocence of someone who has never watched one of those dodgy films on BBC2 late on a Saturday night. You know the kind that I mean.
In short, and obviously it takes me a while to get there because I’m fond of a ramble, The Spook School are one of Scotland’s finest and for the life of me, I don’t get why they are currently unsigned. You know what, FUCK YOU X-FACTOR for polluting the masses with utter tripe. Shove it. I’m backing the underdog, at least I can believe in them.
That’s all there is to it really. That label are responsible for a lot of great music this year, so here’s another band that are nothing short of brilliant.
HUNK are another fine Irish band. They are three wonderful souls from Dublin that make a lot of noise. Except the noise creeps up on you. You see one of their songs, Hold Out starts quite tame. Then suddenly, not even halfway through, it just smashes you in the face. It takes you by surprise. So what you have to do is go back to the start again just to appreciate it- shock free of course. You wait for that drop to kick in just before it gets you right in the chops. It’s bloody wonderful, and from then on..well, that’s it really. Everything you knew before is suitably wank and this is all you need. Basically. I know I should be more “polite” with my words or whatever, but I had no idea. I just didn’t. And the word “wank” is a strong word to use to describe things isn’t it? I’ll stop before this goes somewhere I don’t want it to.
Dupe is another song by them that makes you want to dance. Now, excuse me, but when I say “dance” I do mean flail your gorgeous limbs about and just hope for the best. Be careful who you hit in the face. You may end up just hitting yourself. I’ve done that a few times. I don’t really dance. I like to sit and listen. I’m good at sitting and listening.
Their debut cassette is out on the 17th December through of course, the wonderful Soft Power Records.
With it being close to the end of the year, or end of the world. Depends on your stance on that theory. Personally, I’m fully expecting the end to appear on the 21st December; it’s also a good way of getting out of buying Christmas presents. Okay back to what I was getting at. It’s nearly the end of the year, and I guess most are recapping on the best bits, and the shit bits. Who made us crippled with disgust and those who caused us to fall over full of lust, love and desire. The songs that shattered our hearts, the bands that blew our minds.
For me, the best new band of the year was of course The Creeping Ivies. As much as I love them, they’re going to have to share my heart with the best new band from London : Loom. I think they were called Bloom to start with? That could just be another internet lie. But now they are called LOOM and they are fucking incredible.
Over the past few months are so I have read stories about their live show, and it’s made me believe without witnessing it- that they are one of the best new bands around. They’re not exposing themselves all over the internet like most bands. They’re building up a quiet storm, and it is about to erupt and fuck up your ears in the most pleasuring way possible.
Frontman, Tarik sounds like a man possessed. Just going by their single, Bleed On Me; you can tell he is the kind to stalk the stage like a hunter seeking out its prey. These are the kinds of bands we need. Playing with passion and putting a slight hit of fear into the audience.
It is out next Monday (3rd December) through Heart Throb Records. LOOM are going to be MASSIVE next year. You don’t have to trust me on this, but you should. Even if it is a tiny bit. They’re aggressive and passionate. Brutal and pure. Everything you want, and a bit more. Perfection does exist, you know. You’ve just got to seek it out.
You can pre-order the EP, which is out on cassette here : http://www.roughtrade.com/site/shop_detail.lasso?search_type=sku&sku=357417 it’ll be the best £4 you spend, and it’s limited to only 100 copies. I’ve just got mine. This is when having a tape player comes in handy, this is the only time part of me is glad that a small portion of me lives in the past.
You have good years and bad years with music, well life in general. Last year was alright but this year was pretty damn good. I bought more records this year than I did last year. I never have any money, but the money I do have spare goes on music. Rather on stuff I need. Such as clothes, as most of mine are a bit worn out. Or some new boots as my Docs are hanging on for dear life. They’ve been through a lot, but I think I can drag them through hell a bit longer.
This year for all reasons possible was rather good. Ignore all the crisis in the world and how society at times is fucked, then you’re okay. It’s been alright. And there have been some rather wonderful songs to go with it. Now, if this was a list of SONGS THAT MADE OLIVIA HAD A HERNIA WHEN PLAYED IN A VEHICLE, then Call Me Maybe would be my number 1 choice. Quite possibly one of the best pop songs to have been released in a long time. But did it come out last year? I’m not sure. But that song makes me happy, and I don’t even care. We’ve all made our own versions of it. Probably full of smut, but who cares.
So, here’s my list of songs that brought all kinds of joy and various emotions into my ears; and everywhere else. There are so many songs I know I have missed out, but I’ve got a really bad memory and I’ll want to change my mind after writing this. As always.
10. The Creeping Ivies- Ghost Train.Music should have elements that just freak you out. It should make you feel as if spirits are haunting you (I don’t mean a bad glass of whiskey.) It should fill you with sinister vibes that you just cannot shake, but the thing is- part of you doesn’t want to get rid of them. The haunting chills you get from Ghost Train are just stunning. My love for Becca and Duncan is ridiculous. They make me feel I am anywhere but in this time. That’s something that is entirely rare. I have woken up many a mornings where this song is in my head, and stays there for the duration of the day. That’s when I have my good days. The Creeping Ivies just make perfect eerie music that just reinforces my love for music.
9. Swim Deep-King City.I know I could have picked Honey, but King City mentions Jenny Lee Lindberg from Warpaint. That alone makes this song brilliant. It gives you a Summertime feeling, even if we are in the murky depths of November. I remember first hearing it and just being blown away. They have this gentle, euphoric tone to their music that just soothes you. It is like your being swayed. Your worries and troubles mean nothing when you listen to Swim Deep.
8. Jack White-Love Interruption.Anything Jack White does is just a piece of musical heaven. A stroke of genius. He has this way of creating something so insane yet pure. The lyrics to Love Interruption are mighty strange, yet you relate to them. You won’t let love corrupt you in any way, anymore. The music is so simple and stripped back but you can hear such frustration in his voice. A hint of longing just purifies the song. Ruby’s delicate and quivering vocals makes the song a lot more honest and vulnerable than it would be without. It’s just a gorgeous song that sums up everything love should be, and all you won’t let it be.
7. Ellie Goulding-Figure 8.This song pleasantly smacks you in the chops. I wanted to pick Only You, but that’s because I’m obsessed with the drums in it. A tribal feel to it, but I’ve gone with Figure 8 because there is something about this song that makes you feel a bit alive, yet sad at the same time. I think you can take the “And lovers hold on, to everything” in many ways I suppose. In a way, it is like Ellie is telling lovers to hold onto anything and everything. Or maybe she is saying lovers cling onto anything because they do not want to be without. Her second record is nothing like her debut, and that’s why I adore it and why I adore Ellie’s music. She still has such honesty to her songs, and the lyrics are darker; which is probably why I love them.
6. Beach House-New Year.Very nearly picked Wild, but I’ve gone with New Year because it means a lot to me. So does Myth. Myth just breaks my heart. New Year is 5 minutes of hope. In fact, the Bloom record is just a collection of songs that give you hope. It is like Victoria and Alex are giving you life lessons. Words to provide comfort and hope to those who listen. Everything about their music makes you feel as if they are cradling your soul. Soothing and swaying you as you face things you wish you could turn from. It is hard to turn away from some things and some people. Sometimes we can bring ourselves to do so; sometimes we can’t. I make life so difficult for myself (and probably others) but when I listen to Beach House, especially New Year, it is almost as if nothing really matters for that moment. New Year just makes you think about everything in a way you’ve never done before. It opens up your eyes and soul. It heals your heart.
5. Tamaryn-Heavenly Bodies.As Warpaint didn’t release anything this year, I’m declaring Tamaryn responsible for making the most ethereal song of the year, and the most tranquil record of the year also. Heavenly Bodies makes you feel as if you are drifting towards the most perfect and relaxed place possible. It makes you feel alive, even as your eyes become sleepy as you listen to this gorgeous song. You fall in love with everything surrounding it. You notice different layers to Heavenly Bodies as you listen to it through headphones. It is like a magical journey to something so divine as you listen to it. I adore the line, “She’s a fool but time is a thief.” I cannot explain why, but I just do. The song brings out a true sense of inner peace, and guides those gently, who feel slightly lost.
4. Crocodiles-Endless Flowers.The perfect opener to my favourite record of the year. I hold this song, this band and this record very dear to my heart. Their lyrics are romantic. Even when dark, they still have a romantic feel to it. No Black Clouds For Dee Dee is my favourite love song of the year. Yes, it reminds me of the one I love and adore. Endless Flowers is another song that gives you hope. I love the line, “I’ll bide my time swimming in your eyes, on some faraway screen.” It is easy to lose yourself in the one you love, and their eyes. Endless Flowers is a taste of devotion. A wonderful song that makes you wish you could create your own kind of ode to love.
3. Dum Dum Girls-Lord Knows.I’m going to try keep my ramble about this song as brief as I can. Lord Knows offers redemption and comfort in those who have hurt others. “I want to live a pure life” is such a vulnerable line. What I adore about Dee Dee is her vulnerable lyrics. She isn’t afraid to be so open with her words. That takes courage and strength that most shy away from. The intro to the song feels like the sun rising, giving you hope for another day. A chance to be better. The repetition of the chorus is like a chant, a mantra to stop you from hurting those you love. I love love love the line, ” ‘Cause every time you think of me, the black covers what might be.” Lord Knows offers so much solace, much like most of their songs. It is pure and truthful. It oozes out everything you wish you could. I guess next time you mess up, play this song. You’ll be alright. You always are.
2. The Long Wives-Judas Hex.I play this song nearly every day. I listen to The Long Wives a lot. Brandy’s voice is easily one of the best around. Discovering her music this year made everything a bit easier. We all have shit days, and how we get through them should make us tougher. I try to be tough, but I don’t think I have it in me. I don’t see it as a bad thing anymore. I’d rather be sure of how I feel rather than be emotionally numb. Judas Hex is so dark and simple. Just her voice and a guitar. Her voice is so so haunting. It isn’t overpowering at all. You don’t need a grand voice to be heard. Her voice is quietly powerful. I know it sounds like a contradiction, but she has something that no other will ever have. Or has ever had. Judas Hex evokes such devilish imagery in your mind, but they aren’t enough to scare you. You just embrace it, go with it. There’s no harm in it at all. Brandy’s voice lures you in, and once you are there- no part of you can leave. You just don’t want to. She is easily my favourite solo artist of the year. She’s just beautiful in all ways possible.
1. Saint Lou Lou-Maybe You.This song breaks my heart. This song makes me happy. This song is the best song of the year. It is gentle, it is delicate and utterly sad. I do like sad songs, but I don’t like obviously sad songs. Only when you pay close attention to the lyrics do you notice how heartbreaking this song is. What drew me in at first was the music. It felt like being on a bed of water, floating towards a state of bliss. Then I listened very closely to the lyrics and such sadness crept up on me. Since I first heard Maybe You, I have played it every day. I just have to always hear it. I have no idea what their record will sound life, but if it has the same elements as Maybe You (dreamy, blissed-out with shades of sadness) then they will probably become responsible for creating a sound that hasn’t been done before, and is of course, much-needed. I’ve mentioned before in previous posts the line I love the most in this song, but I adore “And if you’ve got an emptiness inside, you should let our worlds recollide.” The song offers reassurance and reconciliation. It’s just beautiful. There’s nothing else I can say about this song that I haven’t already said to anyone who may listen to me.
*I’d also like to add that Inhaler by Foals is bloody brilliant and I reckon their new record will be a massive highlight of 2013.
I was thinking about something earlier as I was leaving the house to go the gym. My days off are spent there in the hopes I can somehow change how I look and stop disliking myself as much as I do. Self-hate doesn’t leave you, does it? Or maybe it does. Maybe I am set to loath myself in my 20’s so I can learn to like myself from 30 onwards. I’ve got 4 years left of this, maybe I’ll go against this theory. Or maybe I’ll give in to it. It depends. I use my stubborn ways for the wrong thing. Always bad, never good.
So this thing about self-hate. I dislike it when people say things such as “I AM SO VILE. I AM SO FAT.” when they weigh next to nothing. The worst kind put this on certain websites. No one really cares about how much you hate yourself. You see, I dislike myself but I’m not going to announce it everywhere for attention. In a way, I’ve just “announced” it but no one I know or whatever reads this so it doesn’t matter. I’m not doing this for pity or for anyone to say “You’ve got a good face. You’re okay as you are.” I don’t want that. I don’t want any form of attention. Good or bad. If I get a hair cut, please don’t notice. Just don’t pick up on it. Go look at something else. Like a painting; that’s much more interesting.
I don’t dislike myself because I’m a miserable twat. I just do. There’s no explanation to it; but I constantly work on trying not to. I don’t dislike myself as much as I did when I was a teenager or going back a few years. You have to take baby steps with things like that. I don’t go to the gym because I want the body of a stick insect. Far from it. I have in my head, a goal. I’ve not told anyone nor will I ever. I know a person’s weight or appearance doesn’t define them, but we live in a judgemental world sadly. I get constantly told to stop wearing black all the time. Am I going to? Am I fuck. I’d go out in my superhero pjs if I could (one of the many brilliant presents my girlfriend got me for my birthday.) but they’re a bit long and I’d trip up.
I thought that, the older I get; the less dislike I’d have for myself. To an extent I’m right. I doubt myself a lot, especially with writing. I don’t do it because I want someone to say I’m any good. I do it because if I thought I was good, I’d stop. Self-doubt isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes it is the one thing that can make you carry on. It lasts longer than hope. I’ve never been good at much, and I don’t mean it in a bad way. Some part of me just doesn’t settle. Or maybe doesn’t want to. The thought of being in one place for the rest of my life makes me feel sick. Maybe this is because I’ve never really felt at home anywhere. Maybe I should work on that, or maybe it’s okay to carry on drifting through. I’m alright with being unnoticed. I don’t think my purpose in life is to be noticed. Why would I want that.
I think a lot of people think they’re not good enough, but surely if you surround yourself with people who make you feel inadequate then you are hanging around the wrong kind of people? I could be wrong. I could be right.
You’ll make friends and enemies on the way. You’ll have good days, you’ll have bad days. You’ll like yourself, you’ll dislike yourself. But NEVER any account must you let someone make you feel shit about yourself, ever. You can do that all by yourself, but it’s easier to understand and control. You don’t always have to walk with your head held high, sometimes the cracks in the pavement are much more interesting than your surroundings. You don’t stop learning. Time is a drag, and it seems like it is never on our side. Someone will love you even if you cannot stand yourself. You may not be able to understand how or why; but they do. It is there. They are there.
“He rides a dark horse. Crosses burned in its sides. He rides hooded in the dead of night.”
My love for Brandy’s voice is on a scale that not even I can comprehend. I seem to listen to a few of her songs a day. There is something about her voice and her dark lyrics that bring comfort. Her voice is just utterly perfect. You always find a singer don’t you, that just does something to your soul. Something that you cannot explain. Yet when you try to explain, words fail you. I guess all you can do is share the music in the hopes someone else understands and falls for the music too. In an ideal world, this would happen. Maybe it still can.
Brandy’s been working with Yeah Yeah Yeahs on her debut single, Dark Horse. It is produced by Nick Zinner and Karen O. Brian Chase plays drums, and Nick unleashes his guitar (slide and acoustic) and keyboard skills on this haunting song. You do get a Yeah Yeah Yeahs feel throughout the song, mainly songs such as Warrior and Sweets; the darker songs by Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Dark Horse is pure and open. It is the kind of song that you simply must have on repeat (I’ve done so over the past hour, I can’t listen to anything else just yet.) Brandy’s voice sounds as eerie and as divine as ever. It really does annoy me that someone with this amount of talent, how someone so gifted isn’t huge you know? We give out free passes to those who make arses of themselves on reality shows, yet those with such talent are overlooked. It’s wrong. So bloody wrong. This could turn into a rant, so I’ll stop.
Brandy’s words are poems of the soul. Her words are like a cleansing of the soul. When you listen to her, you feel purer. You feel as if you have erased all past sins and you can live again. Her songs feel like you are being redeemed. That although you feel like a terrible person stuck in a dark place, you are probably more alive than most. To be in touch with the side of life that most shun takes strength and courage. You’ll find strength and courage in a song by The Long Wives.
Brandy makes music that gives you hope that out there, someone is still making music with heart and soul. This is music for the soul. This is music that acts like a confession. A step towards a cure for what troubles you.
You can listen to the single here : http://thelongwives.bandcamp.com/album/dark-horse-la-vengenista-single and is available to download and ALL sales of the single go towards Hurricane Sandy Relief. Get yourself a copy. Make a mix CD for someone, and stick this song on it. Tell everyone and anyone about The Long Wives, they just need to know.
I could quite happily sit here and write an essay on Dark Horse, but it’s one of those songs that requires nothing but your attention because words aren’t good enough; they quite simply won’t do it justice.
When you’ve spent 8 hours travelling to a place to despise, it makes you feel ill. Physically sick. You want to vomit on the tarmac as soon as the plane lands. I get this feeling every time I make this trip. The journey leaving here however, is my favourite. Freedom. 27 days time I’ll do it again. It does hurt to leave the one you love for long periods of time, but it’s okay.
A long journey can drain you. I came home and just wanted to fall asleep. I have work at 9am tomorrow, so maybe I’ll be sensible and go to sleep before midnight. I don’t know. You see, when you feel utterly exhausted you need something to carry you off into some dreamland don’t you? It’s all well and good closing your eyes, but you need that extra push. This is where you’ll find it.
Ninetails are a fine band from Liverpool. Liverpool is the home to some delights such as Bird and Beach Skulls. Let’s place Ninetails up there with them. Ninetails make euphoric and blissed-out music that makes you sleepy (in a good way.) They launch you into a dream. So tranquil. Nothing and no one can interrupt you. As someone who has issues with sleeping, bands like this make drifting off less of a chore. They cancel out all the day’s thoughts and events, and just send you some place peaceful.
Ninetails deserve to be heard everywhere. In shops, alone in your room, in bars- everywhere. They have the power in their music to make anyone who listens to them; regardless of their music taste, to just stop and appreciate the moments Ninetails create with their music.
If you are looking for something beautiful and meaningful (in a Beach House kind of way) then you’ll find it in Ninetails for sure. They have the same mind-blowing aura like Foals, and with the same mindless drivel floating about; it is bloody good to have a band like this. The music comes from the heart, that is evident. So open yours up to Ninetails.
Their EP, Slept And Did Not Sleep is out 10th December through Superstar Destroyer Records. A gig to mark the launch of their EP will be held in their city, Liverpool and they will also be making their London debut on 29th November at the Bull And Gate in Kentish Town.
Some may regard Christmas as the highlight of December, personally I’m not a fan. The music addict in me always looks forward to the end of year releases that creep up on you, unexpected but much-needed. It happens every year, and it is the perfect end to the year. You’ve just got to seek it out.
My love for The Creeping Ivies is out of my hands, and deeply rooted in my head. It is ever-growing and cements my love for Scottish bands more than I even knew. Scottish bands just offer you something entirely more powerful and passionate than most.
With their previous EP releases, The Creeping Ivies have always left me wanting more and more. Frequently hitting repeat and knowing the words by heart after the third listen. You take the passion they play with and it fuels your love for them. Stay Wild is evidently going to be this year’s hidden treasure. With so much manufactured tripe around, bands like The Creeping Ivies offer you hope that out there are bands making music with such heart, and more importantly; making their own unique sound.
Stay Wild makes you want to dance as if you have no control over your limbs. It makes you want to lose your mind and no longer care for your current surroundings. Nothing matters as Duncan and Becca take you on an insane and dark journey. This journey will freak you out and it will make you feel as if your soul has been cleansed. The aftermath will of course leave you wanting more; that repeat button is going to get abused. Trust me. The title track is the kind of song you’d imagine to hear at the end of the night with everyone chanting back. Covered in sweat, various spirits being spilled over their leather jackets and their boots. It’s a pure record that deserves to be heard.
You are going to hear comparisons such as “They are just like The Cramps” and such. Becca’s voice is obviously going to be compared to the likes of Siouxsie, but she has the power of Patti Smith in her vocals. I’m not a fan of comparing bands to others, but on this fantastic debut record, Becca’s vocals truly have the strength of Patti Smith. Duncan is Duncan Destruction for a reason. He absolutely slays and beats the shit out of the drums. As much as I adore their EPs, this debut full length record is nothing short of perfection. The sound much more powerful and a hell of a lot more eerie. They have the power to freak you the fuck out and make you want to dance all at once.
Listening to this wonderful record, you can truly picture it being played in dark, basement bars with people looking a bit like zombies, shaking their limbs and staring deep into the underworld. Possibly coming for your soul. The Creeping Ivies are one of the very few bands that manage to stay true to the essence of Garage Rock, yet merge something wonderfully strange with it. Everything about Stay Wild is just a delight to listen to. The production is amazing.
Bands such as The Creeping Ivies fully justify my love for duos. Duos make more noise and work harder for your affections. The Creeping Ivies are rowdy and bold. The Creeping Ivies take you on a whirlwind trip that you don’t ever want to come back from. The songs are played in a frenzy sending you off into another world. Utterly divine. I think my world was far too boring without these guys. The Creeping Ivies make you want to lurk about in places such as desolate buildings or cemeteries. Finding sacred things, seeing things no one else would ever believe Part mind-altering, part mind-blowing.
Stay Wild is out 1oth December on US label, Dead Beat Records.
