BIRTHMARKS: …And Then The Rain Stopped.

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I always thought I’d find it difficult to write about friends I have in bands, but it turns out it’s pretty easy- especially when you love and believe in what they do. Little Death Machine were a band that I absolutely adored and couldn’t get enough of. That band ended, and from it Daniel formed Birthmarks with his pals- Jason and Jonno. As I listen to their debut full length record, I can hear parts of LDM but also a sound of bands/singers I love. It’s a brilliant record, and the fact that Kerrang Magazine have written about them is also a huge deal. Again, another thing to be proud of.

…And Then The Rain Stopped is out next Friday, and with all this painful doom and gloom surrounding us right now, for me, I’m finding comfort in music more than ever. The record starts with How Do You Rule Me which gives me feelings of Bjork (Army Of Me flows right through this) early Placebo and hints of Nine Inch Nails. Basically, this song and the whole damn record sounds like heaven. Daniel’s voice has never sounded so good and so powerful, and when you marry this up with Jason’s drumming and Jonno’s bass playing; you just get something that feeds your soul and beautifully consumes every part of you.

The lyrics will get you right in the gut, and if the song Breathe doesn’t move you then I really don’t know what will. The record is full of songs that will break your heart, but you won’t mind because it will also give you comfort. That’s all you can ask for. If something breaks you, chances are it can comfort you also. The vocals are as raw and as exposed as the lyrics, and because you can truly hear the honesty and feel every single emotion on the songs- you cannot help but connect with them. There’s something so haunting about the whole record, and the darkness on this record really does get you right in the gut. For some it may be uncomfortable but for others, it’s a lifeline. The record is a work of art. I knew it was going to be something truly remarkable, but it goes above and beyond what I or anyone else could ever write about this record.

 

 

The songs touch on everything from love to loss, and all that goes with it.  Daniel’s mentioned that this record took 5 years to make, and you can absolutely hear the hardwork and dedication from them all on this record. I’m obsessed with the drums on this record, and how they heighten the emotions on this record. You have songs like Wax which is such a stripped back and vulnerable song, and it is one of the more tender moments on the record. Again, you can hear the raw emotion in the vocals on this but then it goes right into You Are One which could very well be the anthem for the band. You can imagine the crowd going nuts to this at their shows, it’s got such a grand feel to it and you cannot help but get immersed in it. The way the synths and guitar go together on this is just fantastic, and the way the guitar and drums get heavy at the same time just blows your mind. This one really homes in on the feeling of loss and a sense of betrayal, and it’s a brutal listen but it’s just another reason as to why you cannot help but love this band, and this record.

As far as debut records go, it’s fair to say that this is nothing short of incredible. The production is flawless, and the way the songs sound is just remarkable. It’s hard to believe that this is their debut full length record, and like I mentioned, you can really hear the hardwork in this record. Charcoal is a fierce song, it sounds like it should be in some disturbing thriller, and to be honest I really do see Birthmarks creating the soundtracks for films. This whole record sounds like it was made for a film; it’s a very theatrical record, and the atmosphere on the record will just send shivers right through you. It’s a very dark record, and I love how brutal some of the lyrics are and how fucking honest they are. Charcoal is like a cut to the soul, but you keep digging at it. The record is like an open wound that you cannot help but mess with. It’ll disturb you, you’ll wince, and it will be the best thing you’ve ever heard. I adore this record, and I just respect anyone who is this honest with their art.

The record touches so beautifully on human nature and how we fuck up, how others fuck us up and how it can be a vicious cycle at times. I love how experimental the record is, and how it doesn’t fall into any genre or any sub-genre. It feels like a film, a work of art. If this is what we get from a debut record, then there’s no telling what else they can do. It’s obvious it’s going to be mind-blowing, but I’m just massively in awe of this record and how they’ve all played their part in creating this gorgeous record. Pale and Midnight Blue are prime examples of how talented the band are, and I love that every song on this record gives them all their own moments to shine.

 

 

…And Then The Rain Stopped is mixture of every human emotion possible, it is the beauty of carrying feelings and it is the burden of being a human in one. It is a complex listen, and I can only advise that you listen to this record the first time round on your own, and in order. Just soak up the record. Once you’ve done this, listen however you want. We’re all looking for comfort and the like in isolation, and this record is everything we could possibly need and more. Birthmarks have made the record that makes me want to write about it constantly. Bands like this are why I write about music, and why I refuse to ever do this for money. It has to be for the love of it, and I will only ever write about what I love. Birthmarks have truly made something special here, and I sincerely hope that anyone who listens to this record feels the same because it NEEDS to be heard.

Allow yourself to feel vulnerable, and just open your mind up to this record. It’ll be alright.

Pre-order the record here and you’ll also find their cover of one of the most beautiful songs ever written, True Love Will Find You In The End by Daniel Johnston.

AXETONE.

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AXETONE

If I had the money to buy all the merch and records of bands that I love due to shows being cancelled, I really would. It breaks my heart to see them struggle because of the virus; their music is their life. It pays their bills; it keeps them going. Their music keeps me going. All I can do is write about them- all I can offer is words, and it just makes you feel helpless. Then you have absolute selfish fuckers buying everything in the shops that they clearly do not need, and other have to struggle. Not to mention the government vocalizing zero concerns for homeless people. But why would the fuckers start caring now? If it doesn’t make you angry, then you’re part of the problem. And with this anger, it brings me to the wonder Axetone from Miami.

 I don’t know anything about the music scene in Miami, but if the Punk scene sounds anything like what Axetone give us, then sign me up! There’s this gnarly sound that just oozes pent up aggression and I love it. They’ve got this wonderfully brutal sound- it reminds me of Bikini Kill slightly. There’s a nod to Riot Grrrl here, but at the same time Axetone just give us something so heavy and furious. You absolutely cannot help but play this so loud you’ll feel as if your ears are going to bleed.

 

 

 Axetone haven’t been going long, and with only a couple of releases up on their Bandcamp page (with one being demos that are incredible!)  you’d think it’d be tough to get something meaningful out about them. Thing is, when a band is this good, it’s an absolute honour to write about them. Their newest release came out at the start of March, and these handful of songs are so powerful and the sheer urgency in the songs just makes you want to trash shit and jump around in your room, and probably annoy neighbours with your stomping. Here For You Here For Me is such a great record, and it’s perfectly made up of angst filled songs that will get you right in the gut. This is not for the faint hearted or for those who want awful, sickly love songs. That shit isn’t welcome here; give us this beautiful and unpolished noise any day!

 Michi has such a distinctive voice, and the way the vocals are screamed out just make you want to scream them right back. There is so much power and determination here, you cannot help but let it consume you. Take the opener, Emotional Dishes; it touches on mental health in such an unfiltered way and it then goes right into Hot Pocket which exposes just how fucked society is. This is band that are hugely observant of what is around them and their community. A huge community feel is what you get from this band, and their unity with each other is what makes their sound. There’s this tightness but not in a polished way, but in a way that you know that the band totally get each other, and the bond goes deeper than music. For a band to get that feeling across so early one is something to really pay attention.

 

 

 With one listen, I just became obsessed. I love the Punk feel. I love the Riot Grrrl tones. I love the way that they are so brutally honest with the lyrics and how annihilating yet freeing the music is. I just love everything they give. The force on Toxic Womb and Wolf/Sick Head is vital, and just reinforces why we need bands like this, and thank fuck they exist.

 Here For You Here For Me is out RIGHT NOW!

SPECTRES: Nostalgia.

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Today I had the day off work, and I’ve done nothing. Absolutely nothing, so it’s only right I try do something with my time. There’s a new record out today by Canada’s finest Post-Punk heroes, SPECTRES. They create intense atmosphere again on their new record. I wrote about Utopia which came out in 2016. Either on here or for Heatwave- I can’t remember. Either way, I’m a HUGE fan of theirs and I’m super excited to write about this record.

 Nostalgia is a sublime record, and for me I hold it as highly and as dear as I did with Utopia. I adore this dark and eerie sound that is delicately flowing through the record, and there’s a load of devotion too which you pick up in the vocals, and its devotion that just melts your heart. It’s the perfect record to listen to if you’re wanting to escape the news, and such. Or if you just want something to fill your heart up with something really pure and honest.

 There’s something about this record that reminds me so much of early Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy, which for me is nothing short of perfect. I love the moody sounds of the bass and the guitar. I love the urgency in the drums, and the vocals are delivered in a way that makes you realise that this band are not to be messed with. They are the best at what they do, and this record firmly shows us just how much they’ve grown and how bold they are in experimenting in their sound.

 

 

Songs like Pictures from Occupied Europe have this pace to it that make you really soak up the urgency and brutality in the songs. When a bad is this unafraid to show us what they are made of, you cannot help but adore it and respect it. This is my favourite song from the record so far, but like with Utopia, you cannot just pick one solid favourite. The whole damn record is divine.

 The 9 songs on this record were made to pause you in your tracks and to just make you really think about what you’re listening to. You cannot help but feel that the ideal setting for listening to this record is in the pitch black whilst the rain falls hard and taps at your window. The alternative is taking a walk on a grey, foggy day and just play the record over and over; clear your head and free your mind. Fate and Insurgence are the perfect songs to do this to. I mean, the whole record is but these 2 songs in particular just feel like they made for this. I just love the sheer strength in this record and how you can truly hear and feel the growth in this band. I love how they can channel Seventeen Seconds by The Cure (similar eerie atmosphere) and go spooky like early Bauhaus too. There are nods to Joy Division too I think- the rhythm section oozes it, and it sounds so wonderful.

 Nostalgia has songs that are made to be chanted back at the band with such passion and vigor. I love everything about this record, which I’m sure you can sense. The Call sounds like the song they’d end their set on, there’s something about it that feels like it could close the show in such a majestic fashion. Again, it’s another highlight on the record and it’s met with Along the Waterfront which closes the record. This has a finality to it that’s perfect to closing the record. When the record ends, you feel like you need to take a deep breath, and as you breathe out you start the record all over again.

 

 

 

If you’re looking for a sullen record, but also one that will be a source of comfort- Nostalgia is for you. From start to finish it is nothing short of exceptional, and so worthy of all of your love and attention.

 Nostalgia is out now via Artoffact Records.

DEAD MEAT.

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We have a super-group on our hands. Us filthy Punks/Punx have a band to really become obsessed with and to fawn over. That band is…. DEAD MEAT! They consist of members from the killer bands that are: The Speedways, Suicide Generation and The Cavemen and their first EP has been released by the always reliable and always great, No Front Teeth Records. This is gnarly London Punk at its finest. Strap in, kids! This is going to be loud.

The EP kicks out with I’m An Infection. Probably not something to yell given the state of the world right now but the song is great. It’s fast, loud and criminally short. That’s the EP in general though, but hey! Give it a listen and you’ll see that the solution is to play it constantly.

 

 

Leave Me To Die is their Ramones moment. As someone who is obsessed with the Ramones and will always worship Joey Ramone- this is a big deal. There’s a lot of Ramones flavour on this EP, but they also a huge dollop of Dead Boys. Basically, it sounds like my favourite bands in one. It doesn’t get much better than this! Also the intro to Leave Me To Die reminds me a little of The Stooges’ I Wanna Be Your Dog. It’s got that same filthy feel it, you can’t get enough of it.

Aside from the songs being incredible, it’s only right that I tell you how brilliant they are as musicians. Vince has this brilliant snarl in his voice that makes you feel like you’re watching a tiger attack its prey. Stalking it intensely and making it’s way to rip everything and anything apart. The energy he has is the kind that makes you just KNOW that their live shows are insane. Jake is a monster on the drums, he sort of eggs the band on to go faster and play louder. You can really sense this on the title track, Dead Meat. It’s just a joy to listen to and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he is someone younger Punks starting bands cite his drumming style as an influence. Fisher (bass) and Adrian (guitar) compliment each other so well. Adrian is an animal on guitar; no one plays like him at all. There’s something there that, and I know I keep saying it, but it really makes you feel like you’re hearing the Ramones for the first time. The aggression in the guitar is merged so well with Fisher, and how he adds this slick grooves and keeps up effortlessly. No one is leading anyone here, they all have this evident bond and it’s just another reason as to why it’s fair to call them a super group!

Dead Meat have released such a great debut record here, and it just makes you excited to hear more from them. Given the bands that they already play in, it’s pretty obvious that this band wasn’t going to be anything other than exceptional. I can’t count how many times I’ve played it whilst writing this. It’s an addictive record, and that’s something to really be in awe of.

 

 

Dead Meat’s debut EP is out now via the equally great No Front Teeth Records. Play it LOUD!

SIOUX.

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We all know that Manchester is home to some amazing places and bands. It’s an incredible place, and I’m happy to call it home. Part of what caused me to fall in love with the city was the music. It’s always the music. Some of my favourite venues are here (part of my heart still does belong to the Shacklewell Arms in Dalston though.) But Manchester has a scene that is so charismatic and evolving. Whatever you’re into, you’ll find it here and it’ll probably exceed your expectations.

 Tonight, I’m going to write about Sioux; one of Manchester’s finest bands, a band that are truly in their prime and are such a joy to listen to. With just three songs up on their Bandcamp page, you may think it’s a bit of a task to write about them, but it’s quite simple when you believe in what you’re hearing.

 

 

Sioux are a beautiful Psych band that make you feel like you’re listening to The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band mixed with the Electric Prunes. It’s every part 60s Psychedelic with a modern and Mancunian twist. If you’re looking for something to cause your head to go into a spin, and for your body to twirl repeatedly to the slick grooves your ears are being caressed with- then Sioux are the band for you. They have this beautiful relaxing sound, and as someone who can struggle to switch off at times- they really do give you the notion that you can just let shit go and breathe. You can almost picture a young William Miller in Almost Famous being handed this record by his sister, and he becomes totally enamored by what he hears. They’ve got something about them that makes you feel so alive, and just honoured to hear their music.

 Their latest release, Fickle is a sure-fire example of why Sioux are great. If you want to compare it to their other two songs- then go for it, but what you’ll hear is a band that are not afraid to expand their sound and to be utter daredevils in what they do. They have achieved something to be proud of in their sound and having the likes of Sour Grape Records back them is another thing to be proud of too. Sioux aren’t afraid to create mind-bending sounds that totally mess with your head. It’s how I’d imagine an acid trip to be. 2020 is going to be such a great year for this band, I can feel it. I just love how they make you feel like you’ve gone back in time and you’re discovering the likes of the Electric Prunes and Strawberry Alarm Clocks for the first time. That feeling in your gut they give you just makes you feel giddy, and in awe of what you’re hearing.

 Aside from their latest single, Fickle, they have a couple more songs for your listening pleasure. I adore the song Half-Eaten Songbird. It’s a poetic number that just eases the soul and in the same league as this is Hypnosis. The band are pros at creating music to escape in- they take you on a beautiful voyage, and you don’t want to ever come down from it. With the weather currently being ever so shit, it’s bands like Sioux that make you feel like you’ve got the sunshine hitting your bones and making you feel alright.

 

 

 

Like I said, 2020 is going to be a great year for them and I cannot wait to hear more from the band.

TH DA FREAK: Hola Todos EP.

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THDAFREAK

 

Right out of Bordeaux we have a brilliant lo-fi Garage band called Th Da Freak. They’re a big deal. A huge deal, and really are one of France’s bands. These guys along with Dr Chan and Dusty Mush are out of this world. They all make this exceptional lo-fi music that just speaks to you and makes the day easier.

 Aside from releasing their latest EP at the end of January just gone, Th Da Freak have a respectable collection of releases that are really worth investing in, and getting lost in. For me they’ve the same energy of say, Wavves. There’s this summertime feel to the sound, and if you’re surrounded by grey skies and the like, then this band are going to fix you right up and get you to ignore what’s going on outside. Twisted is a killer song, it’s got this beautiful energy to it and the sheer deliverance of this song just makes you want to trash stuff, waste the day away and do whatever the hell you feel like doing. In fact, the whole record and their songs in general have this atmosphere to them. You can imagine hanging out at the beach listening to this or wandering round late at night looking for something to do out of boredom, but their sound is anything but boring. Essentially, Th Da Freak is one guy but performs with a band. He does all this pretty much himself, and that DIY feel is throughout everything he does.

 

 

 Hola Todos EP is great record and if you’re someone who hasn’t really paid much attention to the band before then it is a great place to start. Work your way backwards and let yourself become invested in their music. The energy they have on this record is incredible and if you do go back and listen to previous releases, you will definitely hear the growth in their sound. It’s like they’ve had a huge growth spurt on this record. It just makes you really excited to hear more from them and to probably become obsessed with them.

 Fear is a 5-minute riot. It’s powerful and probably a song to really absorb given the state of the world right now. Find your safety net where you can. Take a nap. Take a load off. Right after Fear they go right into the fuzzy sounding Bumfuzzle which may be one of the best named songs I’ve heard in a long time. This one sounds like how I’d imagine an acid trip to sound in someone’s head. Everything being heightened and colours appearing in your mind, slowly turning to shapes that you can no longer make out. I’ve got an overactive imagination at times, and I think that shows it right there. Anyway, it’s a great song. It’s noisy and if you want to annoy your neighbours or whatever, play this one loud. They’ll think something weird is happening and maybe try to get involved.

 Th Da Freak are a pleasure to listen to, and aside from this EP they’ve got tones of releases to really spend time on. Their record from 2019, Still Freakin’ Out is so great! It’s Just A Trip has this sort of Beach Boys feel to it mixed with something out of this world, the whole record has this feel and it’s such a joy to listen to. It shows his vocals in a totally different way. Th Da Freak makes the kind of music to just lounge about to and to really enjoy. The music is more mellow prior to Hola Todos but don’t let that fool you; it’s all part of the charm.

 

 

Hola Todos is out right now! Get yourself a copy and beg Th Da Freak and his band to do a UK tour. But maybe after all the coronavirus stuff dies down first though.

KILLER KIN: Bad, Bad, Minds!

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Sometimes you need some pure smutty Garage Rock to get stuck in your brain and to seep into your bones, and just move you. I think… no, I KNOW that Killer Kin are that band. Earlier this year they released the exceptional Bad, Bad Minds! record and it everything you’d want from music and beyond.

 Killer Kin are an incredible band. They are exciting and all kinds of bizarre- they make the kind of music that Lux Interior would get excited over. The kind of music that John Peel would have been in love with. They’ve got a New York Dolls bite about them, and this attitude is throughout the songs on the record. The record reminds me of The Cramps mixed with the New York Dolls, and for me that’s the ideal sound. There’s this Glam Rock and Psychobilly feel to the record, and the vocals are ridiculous. They are completely off the hook and you cannot help but wish you could sing like this! If you’re looking for a band to make you happy, you’re alive- listen to Killer Kin. It’s totally wild record, and I hope it makes them HUGE! They deserve it. I don’t know how long they’ve been around or how many records they’ve made. This might be their first? I have no idea, but I do know that is it out of this world. They have a sound that I absolutely adore, and I cannot get enough of it.

 

 

Bon Vivant is the one to really melt your brain; it’s such a heavy song, and for me everything on this song just shows us why this band are truly the ones to watch. THAT guitar solo on this from like the 2-minute 15 mark is mind blowing. You can’t help but feel you’ve gone back in time but also stepped into the future with this band. I love them, and I love this record. Can you tell? Bottom Feeder Blues and Bad, Bad Mind just show us how phenomenal this band are- they’ve got this gorgeous aggression in the sound. It’s the snarliness, it’s the smuttiness, the pure filth that’s in every single song that has you hooked. I want to live in the world they’ve created on this record. Killer Is King may be an ode to Arthur ‘Killer’ Kane? Forgive me if I’m wrong, but its sure sounds like it. You can truly hear the New York Dolls influence on this record, and to have something specifically for Arthur is beautiful. Like I said, I could be wrong but, in my head, it’s all for Arthur and I love that. Afterall, Killer Kane was a King!

 

 

With only 5 songs Killer Kin have made a lifelong fan out of me. With only 5 songs they have really made an impact that most try to do within 5 records of their career let alone 5 songs. They have this feel to their sound that makes you instantly know that their live shows are probably beyond description and unlike anything else you’ve seen or heard before- much like how they are on record. I really hope we get more from Killer Kin because they are so talented and unafraid to tamper with what most shy away from. This sheer decadent sound is beautiful and hypnotising; you just want to be constantly immersed in it. For me, this is the kind of noise that makes me love music so much and makes me want to write about it.

 All that’s left for me to do is urge you to get your mitts on this record and lose yourself in it. So far, this is one of my favourite discoveries of the year and I cannot wait to hear more from Killer Kin.

 

LOS CRVELES!

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Get your ears round this- the new and completely unexpected release from Costa Rica’s finest Los Crveles! I wrote about them last year, and my obsession has never died down. It’s probably grown; in fact it has, thanks to this new release. It’s 6 noisy AF songs that will do everything in their power to leave you deaf and crying like a baby on the floor. It’s a real gnarly Garage Rock record, and it is loud in all the right places.

 The record came out yesterday and has been released via Istanbul’s Kafadan Kontak Records. They sure know their stuff, and it is worth checking out the releases on their Bandcamp page if you want more obscure and wonderful music in your life. These masked crusaders sure know how to wow you with their slick Garage Rock/Surfer feel, you can’t help but let yourself be thrown into the insane world they have created with their music. At times you feel like you’ve stepped into some Horror b-movie and you expect some odd creature with a slimy hand to grab you by the throat and launch you into the air. Basically, the creepy sound is incredible, and I love this band a lot. A hell of a lot. The scene in Costa Rica is something to really pay attention to, and there are several bands there who are making a beautiful noise and are worth devoting a lot of time on. Your ears will love you for it.

 

 

 These 6 songs were made to make you move, shake and throw things around. The instrumental songs on this record are completely off the wall and the songs where there are vocals? Even better. Even louder. The scream-like vocals sound like someone possessed and it just works so well. You step into this unknown world, and what you get from it is a lifetime of great music. There is no band out there quite like Los Crveles and they’ve this yet again on this release. They have a similar wild sound like The Mummies but there’s something else there, and it’s that something else that stops you in your tracks. I found this band by chance last year, and it was truly one of my favourite and best finds of the year. I just love everything they do, and how they have this unfiltered feel that makes you wish you could do it. But thank god we have Los Crveles doing it.

 Alvcarda Gogo sounds like it could be on a film- it’s such a perfect sounding instrumental number that has a Spaghetti Western feel to it, and you feel like you’re in that film and this song is the soundtrack to an important fight you’re about to take part in. As your enemy approaches in a cloud of sand and dust, you’re able to get a couple steps ahead and knock the fucker out- that’s what this song gives you, the attitude and freedom to be this tough person.

 

 

 

Get your ears round this ruckus record and play these heavenly songs as loud as you possibly can. And as often as you can, of course.

 

 

THE VUMMS: Count The Roses.

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I think I may have stumbled across one of the finest debut records I’ve heard in a while. As someone who is obsessed with Garage Rock, my mind has been blown by The Vumms. I know NOTHING about them but I know they are brilliant. This release is everything I need right now, so I’m going to use my lunch break wisely to talk about why I love them.

The Vumms are from Cleveland. I don’t know about the music scene there but I’m happy to say that The Vumms are the  best band from there right now. I had NO idea what to expect from this record, and I’m just in awe of how beautiful it is. I adore the artwork too. I love the colours used and how the photo used just lures you in- like you’re going to truly experience something that is good for the soul, and something truly poetic. I’m in love with this record to the point where I’ll be obsessed with it by the time my break is over.

 

 

The 5 songs on this record are nothing short of beautiful. The vocals on Crusader have a sort of Grunge like feel to it, and when it kicks in it definitely enhances that feeling. There’s a strong 60s feel to the sound, and there’s this beautiful romantic feel to the record even when you least expect it. Count The Roses is a gorgeous song; it feels like a real Summer anthem. If I could drive, I’d blast this out so loud with the windows down and just drive. No idea where to, but I’d just drive. Ideally to a beach in California. I think that’s where my heart lies because that’s where my mind takes me. I’ve never been though, and I’m pretty sure I couldn’t handle a long flight. I’d need to be in Business Class so I can have a bed and sleep the journey away. Otherwise I’d panic and want to get off!

I’m pretty open about my mental health and how crap it can be at times, and I can honestly say that this record makes me feel good. That’s something I’ve not had in a while, and I’m treasuring it more than I normally would because it is unexpected. I don’t know what it is about this record, but it just fixes your soul and calms your head down a bit, you know. Sometimes we need that and The Vumms do it so beautifully.

Count The Roses is only 5 songs but these 5 songs are just full of beauty. Even the song Can’t Sleep has this beauty to it. It touches on how the mind can get tired too from lack of sleep. The lyrics are accompanied by these beautiful sounds, and although the lyrics could be morbid for some, The Vumms make it sound anything but. There’s no way you can listen to The Vumms and not smile, and not feel happy. They have this power to just lift your spirits and sometimes you just need that.

 

 

The Vumms have created something truly delicate and captivating. I can only hope that  their sound evolves more and more, and they of course, take over the world (or do a UK tour- I could settle for that.)

Count The Roses is out now, buy it and play it on repeat!

 

 

DUSTY MUSH: Rainbow Creatures EP.

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Right out of nowhere we have a brand-new Dusty Mush EP! Totally unexpected but definitely needed. I’ve written about this Parisian band before, well I think it’s just Cédric on this, but irrespective of band members- this is one heavy EP.

 Everything about Dusty Mush demands your attention, and the Rainbow Creatures EP is no exception. It’s like a sped-up version of Sleep or some wild shit. Cédric is a phenomenal musician, and I always look forward to hearing what he’s up to, and with this EP he most certainly brings back that excitement. Although the EP is only 4 songs long, it’s a great taster for those who have never ever listened to Dusty Mush before.

 Rainbow Creatures doesn’t really last 10 minutes but you know how it goes- you just keep on hitting the repeat button and wait for the magic to hit you between the eyes all over again. I love The Fog and how unapologetically rowdy it is. For some it could be an uncomfortable listen, but for me it just shows us how fantastic Mr. Bottacchi is! The guy is out of this world, and I think The Fog just may be his best work to date.

 

 

 

Dusty Mush is the epitome of experimental and all that good stuff. There is glorious sound going all the way through these 4 songs, and it just makes you want to lock yourself away for a little whilst and blast these gems out. They really are meant to fuck with your head and posses your body; I’m all for it. Poison Oak is the only instrumental number on the EP, and it shows us how great a musician Cédric is. It’s a great way to close the EP but as you know, it just leaves you wanting more.

 The title track is an absolute monster, and it has this huge sound to it- this almost drone-like feel to it that’s found in the likes of OM and such. It’s got this unfiltered heavy feel, and it just stays with you. The song sounds like it could be some kind of folk tale told to scare people shitless. I love the eerie sound on it, and I love how that creepy feeling is apparent through every song on the record. It is a pleasure to listen. A real treat for the ears.

 Monterey is a quicker number. You can imagine someone fleeing in a getaway car listening to this, and not looking back on what they have done. What I’ve found with this EP is that is could easily be the soundtrack to a film. It’s got that bite to it that could easily make it the soundtrack to some wonderfully messed up film- you know the kind. The kind of film that stays on your mind for days, and every so often you find yourself thinking about it, so you have to watch it again and again. You can’t shake it. That’s exactly what you get from the Rainbow Creatures EP. It’s a work of art, a gnarly masterpiece.

 

 

 

If you’re after something that’s going to take you on some blissed-out psychedelic trip, then you need to get yourself a copy of Rainbow Creatures immediately and let Cédric whisk you off to some place truly magical. The EP has been released via Dirty Slice Records, and only 30 copies of the coloured tapes have been made. You know what to do.