Tag Archives: Debut

HEMI HEMINGWAY: Strangers Again.

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Sometimes we like to torture ourselves by listening to heart-breaking songs. Making up scenarios in our minds so we really feel every word, and cry because we feel that the song was made for us. I’ve done this a few times, and I’ve also experienced it in real life. I’ll take the dream version though ha.

I’ve written about Shaun Blackwell aka Hemi Hemingway before including previous bands he was in. There is no denying how gifted he is and what a wonderful storyteller he is. He’s got something about him that just makes you really connect with every song- with or without the hurt, you feel it. You feel every emotion. This is debut full length record as Hemi Hemingway; I’ve stopped myself from listening to anything he put out on the lead up to this record being released. I wanted to hear everything in full, and brand new.

The record opens with Alone in the Morning Alley, and it sets the tone for the record. A dreamy 60s Girl Group feel mixed with Nick Cave imagery all mixed together to create one of the most yearnful and vulnerable records of the year. Every song on this record could break your heart. There’s something about Dreamin’ of You that reminds me of Leonard Cohen mixed with Ezra Furman. What I’m trying to say is that Shaun/Hemi is an exceptional songwriter who can really put you in the midst of his songs.

Every song on this record is perfect for a lonesome dive bar at 2am when you’re debating if you need to go home because there’s nothing there. These songs would be perfect in a film, or maybe a film could be set to this record. That would be something else! At the moment, the song I’m hooked on is Green Envy. There’s something about this one that’s gripping me- it’s the way his voice just soaks up the sorrow and lets it all out in a way that you feel right in your gut. Every song on this record you feel right in your gut. This is the kind of record that makes you wish you could create a masterpiece, but could anything really top this? Probably not.

Strangers Again has beautiful whispers of 1950s/60s singers like Johnny Tillotson, Del Shannon and Bobby Vinton. The greats. The singers my mum would play to me when I was a baby, and I grew up to love and cherish. What Hemi has done here is truly create something that takes you back in time but not in a way that sounds intentional at all. It’s just natural for him to create something so thrilling, emotional and nostalgic. It’s honestly such an honour to listen to this record and hear how far he’s come with all elements of this record. I hope he finds a way to play these songs on a UK tour because we need it (mainly Manchester!)

When you find a record that causes your heartbeat to race, that’s when you know you’ve found something truly divine. There are so many beautiful songs on this record and the vulnerable moments you can’t help but eat right up. For me, the mood on Now That You Know (We Can’t Pretend You Don’t) is stunning- there’s a slight hint of bitterness, loss, and disappointment- especially in the line “This is happening because of you” just really sticks with you. Absolutely perfect and to the point. Hopelessly Dependant On You will rip you apart, and the intro to it sounds like the Twin Peaks theme tune (again, another reference to my childhood that I have my mum to thank for!) It’s soothing from start to end. When Hemi sings this way- in a crisp and fragile way, you really feel like he is stood next to you singing his heart out. It’s just such a gorgeous song, and the whole record feels like some kind of divine intervention.

When you’ve lost love, you feel you won’t ever find it again. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t- and it’s records like this that will make everything easier. There’s a harsh reality to the songs, and it’s that reality that makes you feel less alone and so connected to such a beautiful collection of songs. There is one truly special moment on the record, and it’s the song January Lake #3, and is sung in Te Reo Māori. To hear Shaun sing this is a real honour; it’s such a beautiful language and this song is so soothing. I could write a book on how beautiful the record is, and how much I love Shaun’s words. He’s something else.

As far as debuts go, there is no denying how magical this one is and how gloriously poetic it is. It will feel like a knife through your heart at times, but for the most part- you’ll know you’re not the only one to have ever felt that way. Feel those lonesome blues as much as you want and let Hemi hold your hand throughout.

BODY MAINTENANCE: Beside You.

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I think I may have found one of Australia’s most exciting bands around right now. Before I get into why I’ve fallen in love with them, I just want to let you know that the band are currently on tour in Europe and will be in the UK from this Friday- starting in Bristol.

Body Maintenance are one of those bands that make you feel like you’ve discovered The Cure, Bauhaus, Sisters Of Mercy- all that good stuff, for the first time. Honestly, if I could do the band justice with my words I absolutely would but all I can do is reiterate just how brilliant they are. I haven’t been to a gig in a long time, and I hope I can make the Manchester show next week because I feel they are a band that you just HAVE to see live. There’s so much to love about their music, but I’m going to focus on their debut full length record, Beside You. It’s what Post Punk dreams are made of. I’m besotted. Nothing and no one is going to come even remotely close. My god what a dream they are.

This is the kind of record you put on as the nights draw in. When daylight fades away quicker. A crisp Autumn day, stick this record on and go for a walk to wherever makes you happy and free. However, Summer seems to have passed the UK by so you’ll probably get the same feeling if you do this now! Why wait hey!

These 9 songs are perfect from start to finish- no filler here. Just pure Post Punk joy. Songs that’ll make you feel like a grey mist has cast itself over you, and you wander off into the night. Into the deep unknown. You remain a mystery, like everything and everyone around you. For me, the band remind me a little of Cold Cave- especially more recent Cold Cave sounds. That comforting Goth/Synth sound- it’s just out of this world. I cannot pick one song on this record to single out as my favourite. Every single song is a pleasure to listen to; and I think the best way to listen to this record to start with, is in order but then just let shuffle do it’s thing and let it throw at you these dreamy songs and let it take you up and away.

It’s Theatre is one of the most hypnotising songs on the record, especially the last minute or so- that instrumental ending is something else. Truly. You know when you hear a record for the first time, and you just want it to utterly consume you? That’s how this record will get to you. It’ll get under your skin, into your bones, your blood. Wherever it can go- it will. Let it. It’s one of the most exciting records I’ve heard so far this year, and it just perfectly combines everything I love about music. The production is something else too.

In just 9 songs, Body Maintenance show us exactly why they are one of the most thrilling bands around, and why you need to pay close attention to them. They have a rare sound, and that sound is one that will totally possess you, and you probably won’t mind. Their music would be perfect in a creepy Horror/Thriller where you are constantly on edge, but at that same time there’s this adrenaline that kicks in. The whole record is made up of moments in songs where you’re just taken aback in what you are hearing. I know I compare everything I listen to Seventeen Seconds by The Cure, and honestly to compare this record to the debut record by The Cure- I think it’s a fair comparison and compliment. Both records are so atmospheric, ethereal, creepy in the most beautiful way possible and gripping. There is something about this record that will stick with you for days on end, and I think again, that’s how you can tell that a band have created something so special and huge.

Body Maintenance just have this sound that you cannot get enough of; you feel like you’ve truly found something special when you listen to them. For me, it’s all I could want from a band. There’s this kick to their sound that just makes you feel like you’ve not heard anything like this before. Unreal, divine and perfect.

GRIAN CHATTEN: Chaos For The Fly

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It’s easy to feel a bit nervous when the singer from a band you adore releases a solo record. You immediately assume the worst and think it’s all over. You wonder why couldn’t they just make this record as a band. Why. Why. Why. Then you stop being an overdramatic idiot, and listen to the record. Then it clicks. It clicks that they had to make a different kind of masterpiece. Something brand new, something so mighty important.

The record opens with a sentiment that is always evident in Grian’s lyrics- openness and vulnerability. There’s no denying he’s a poet. He paints the world in a way that makes you feel safe and seen. He takes the greyness of the world and turns it into something beautiful, and full of life. The Score has an understanding within it that most can relate to, then it gently goes into Last Time Every Time Forever, and it’s got a slight folk feel to it but at the heart of it all- it’s something so pure that Grian has created. It’s unlike anything else you’ve ever heard. His voice is so distinctive, and the clarity in his voice makes you connect with the lyrics even more. Fairlies sounds like a 90s Indie song but lyrically it feels like something I can’t quite work out. It has a protest feel to it, and it has depth to the lyrics that you’ve probably heard in the likes of Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Grian’s name is mentioned in the future in a list of the best songwriters ever. I’d put him there now, but in 10/20 years his art will be even more mind-blowing.

Bob’s Casino tells the story of a gentleman who is obsessed with the casino but loses everything. You can hear the sorrow; you can feel the sorrow in the lyrics. It’s such a gorgeous song, and the sadness in it still warms you because Grian’s way of singing this just makes you feel comforted. I’ve been solidly listening to this record since Friday, and I’m currently going between two songs that I’m just in love with- it’s between All Of The People and East Coast Bed.

The lyrics to All Of The People may be up there as my favourites of the year. There’s something solemn about it, but at the same time this darkness feels like a safety net. There’s a line that just hits me right in the gut, and it’s one of those lines that you wish you could have tattooed on you: “They just wanna get close enough to take the final shot. They will celebrate the things that make you who you’re not.” The violin and piano on this just adds this extra emotion. As someone who will take loud Punk music over most, this still speaks to my heart. Lyrics are so important to me, and a record like this fully shows why. Grian- you are a bloody genius. There’s a lot released in this song, and you can really feel it.

I’ve read the meaning of East Coast Bed, and I don’t think I can ever listen to it without crying. In essence, it’s about death. It’s about the death of Grian’s hurling coach who was like a second mother to him. Songs about grief and death can be heavy and traumatic to listen to, but this feels lighter. I’ll never be at the stage where I feel lighter about my Gran’s death, but there’s some reassurance in this song that maybe it’ll be alright. It is such a gorgeous song, and the way it makes you feel like you are floating off into a gentle sleep is so soothing. It’s still one of my favourites, even if it makes me bawl like a baby!

I’ve unintentionally written about six of the songs on the record, but that doesn’t mean the remaining three mean any less. They mean just as much. I love the way Salt Throwers Off A Truck sounds like it could be the name of a novel. The song itself sounds like it could be the foundations of a novel or film. I Am So Far is a haunting and melancholic one, and it is heavy but as Grian has described it, the song sounds like water. I think I understand what he means here. There is something safe about water and watching it from afar (I can’t swim so….) Open bodies of water feel really calming for me, and maybe that’s due to growing up on the Isle of Man and having access to beaches easily, and just being able to breathe in the sea air and feel somewhat calmer. You really get this from this song, and the whole record feels like you’re slowly attempting to calm down. It’s music for the soul, and it hypnotises you in the most enthralling way imaginable.

The record ends with Season For Pain- a title that Rimbaud himself would love. It’s a perfect way to end the record. It’s about moving on, and you can hear the relief in Grian’s voice on this especially at the end where you feel that he’s at the right head space to move on. When you get to that place, it is the most freeing feeling. It’s shite beforehand but when you get there, you feel lighter and better.

Nine songs in just over half an hour. You want more, of course but this record is perfection. Every song flows beautifully and perfectly into the next. Everything is in its right place, and it’s just one of the most honest and captivating records of the year. It’s the kind of record you’d give to someone and say, “Listen to this…everything will make sense and feel better.” There’s reassurance and understanding on this record, and to be honest, what more could you want.

BRUISE CONTROL: Useless For Something.

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Ever heard a record and it immediately makes you so excited you just want to run around and tell everyone about it? Course you have! For me, that record is THE DEBUT by Manchester’s finest Punk band- Bruise Control.

Bruise Control blew my mind when I saw them support Amyl & The Sniffers at the Albert Hall. That gig was something else. The crowd went nuts and it felt like a joint headline show to be honest. Let’s bring it up to present day, and talk about why Useless For Something may just be the best Punk record of the year and to be honest, it dicks all over a lot of records and it is such a joy to listen to.

As someone who feels uncomfortable listening to music that is tame/quiet, Bruise Control speak to me on a level I feel I’ve been in search for for what seems like an eternity. I feel like I’ve heard Black Flag and The Birthday Party for the first time when listening to this record. The rage, the passion and the energy this record has it huge. You can’t just play this once and go about your day at all. You have to just keep on listening and by the second listen you’ve nailed down the lyrics and you’re screaming them right back.

What I adore about Bruise Control is that they make their songs so easy to relate to- songs like Taxman are just *chef’s kiss!* perfectly summing up how us working class are constantly being dicked over by scummy Tories and the like. They have such a big sound, and this being their debut is remarkable. It’s a record you’d expect from a band decades into it- they’ve perfected their sound. It was obvious from the jump that Bruise Control were going to be special and Useless For Something goes above and beyond what anyone could ever have expected.

Dead On Arrival may be my favourite at the moment, but the more I listen to this record (yes, it is daily) the more I find different parts to fall in love with and become obsessed with. There’s this really tight sound on the record, and Dead On Arrival smacks you with hints of Fugazi and Jerry’s Kids. Absolute monster of a record and I don’t say that lightly.

The record was produced by Niall (guitarist) and that truly keeps in with that effortless DIY Punk sound that Bruise Control have- every song is a beautiful smack in the kisser. HMRC is a prime example of that, as is Useless and Bottom Feeder. Every song is an anthem and by that I mean- every song is so important and NEEDS to be played as loud as you and your neighbours can stand. If you are looking for something to blow your mind, burst your eardrums- then this is the record you desperately need. You know it is going to be a riot of a record right from the start. Useless is the perfect way for the record to open- Jim’s vocals on this are so snarly and raw. A beautiful and brutal way to start the record. I was listening to it whilst on the tram to work this morning at 7am- it bloody woke me up!

Manchester will always be one of the best cities in the world for music- Bruise Control utterly back this up. Their energy, their message and their talent has an immediate grip on you- a bear hug, a chokehold. Whatever you want to call it. That grip they have is so rare and so enthralling. I just absolutely love them and this record. This band are the future. Our future. The world is theirs and all that’s left to do, is to play the record loud. Then louder. And maybe touch louder just to make sure.

CASUAL DRAG: Revolution Will Eat Itself.

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This should have been written weeks ago but we’re here now and that’s all that matters.

I’ve written about Casual Drag before, and my love for them is ridiculous. Now I get to write about their new one, Revolution Will Eat Itself and it’s a proper DIY Punk work of art. Do you need to play it loud? Yes. Will it make you want to trash your room and throw shit out the window? Absolutely. I wouldn’t expect anything else from them. They are one of the most exciting bands around and they are totally feral with their sound. This beautiful and passionate aggression in the songs is just a delight.

This record is one of those that make you wish you could immediately catch the band live. I know that they are well adored in their city of sweet, sweet Glasgow but the rest of us really need to experience the joy of a Casual Drag show. Until then, we play the songs as loud as we can and on repeat. Is there any other way to do it? Nah.

The record is made up of 5 songs to melt your face and ears- and you’ve got to remember that there’s only 3 of them in the band making this stunning racket. You can’t help but instantly love them with your first listen, and this record was so easy to love. Every single song is an anthem. An anthem for those of us who are fed up- and I’m sure there’s a lot of us out there! This record has a lot of attitude but you cannot compare it to anything else. The only other band I can think of that have the same bite are Bruise Control. Some of the songs you can scream along to, but don’t let that borderline Pop feel fool you at all- this band know exactly how to hit you between the eyes.

When you listen to the record, it’s hard to believe that this is their debut EP. They’ve nailed this sound, they’ve figured out their sound so easily and it just makes you so excited to hear more from them. Every single song on this EP deserves it’s place- no fillers here! Every song will move you and make you want to immediately go to a sweaty Punk show and throw yourself about whilst covered in your own drink and probably someone else’s!

Have a fun fact: Casual Drag were formed over a cigarette break by Richard and Dominic. They share a love for the Amazing Snakeheads (Dale Barclay forever) and IDLES; and you can hear it in their music- there’s this same ferocious sound that others may fear but it sounds SO good. It’s such a comforting sound. See, some people take comfort and safety in quiet and peaceful songs- I can’t do it. I’ve tried, and I can’t. When it’s as loud as Casual Drag- then all is okay. I feel I can focus. The songs are made to be blasted out live- those snarling and gnarly vocals, the slick bass and guitar and drums adding fuel to the fire- pure heaven.

I Like It is the one you probably have to play the loudest- the drums on this are wild. Matt is one incredible drummer, the way they play the drums is so wild. All 3 of them have this raw style and approach and I think I Like It is the song that really shows this. It’s just a perfect record all the way through, and sure you’ll want more- but we’ll get it soon enough!

This is one of the finest and loudest records you’ll hear all year; treasure it and let’s all hope they do a tour soon because lord knows we need it! I know I do!

NoSo: Stay Proud Of Me.

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Last summer a gorgeous debut record was released. I’m late in writing about it, but I have been listening to the record almost religiously for a few months now. Every listen just brings me such joy and even though my heart is probably with loud and rowdy sounds- NoSo’s voice is that necessary calm I need.

Representation matters and to have a non-binary singer echo the thoughts you can sometimes carry is such a relief. It’s more than a relief- it just eases the weirdness you can sometimes feel. That’s just my own personal experience, and a difficult journey I was on but I’ve reached a place of certainty now. These songs will take the doubts and fears you have and ease them in ways you didn’t think music could. In ways you didn’t expect a stranger could.

The record opens with the angelic Parasites and goes gently into the heartbreaking but beautiful Suburbia. This is one song I constantly have swimming in my head- the amount of times I’ve sang this in my flat when no one is around and usually when my cat is trying to sleep is ridiculous. I think Mary enjoys it. The line, “stay the same without me” is so haunting. The way in which they sing this is so delicate and you can hear the nostalgia and hope there. It’s just such a mesmerising song that’ll stay with you.

The next one up is David. Again, this is another that I’m constantly singing. NoSo wrote this song after they had a dream that they were a white man in a church pew. You can hear the longing in their voice of wanting to do the things that someone else does, and to be a mystery and serene. NoSo- if you by chance see this, you are divine the way you are but you probably know this.

I love and cherish the honesty on this record. I love how open NoSo is about their sexuality, their gender and who they are. This is the kind of record I’d want to have heard when I was growing up. That wish to be someone else so someone of your own gender would want you, to work out the feelings you had and what they meant, to let go of shame sooner rather than later. There’s a connection I feel to the songs that I absolutely cannot put into words. Not because it’s personal but because I simply do not have them. I’m just so grateful a record like this exists. I am so grateful that someone like NoSo exists and makes the kind of music that I can fully relate to.

To pick a favourite song off this record would be entirely foolish of me but at the moment my obsession is with Honey Understand. There’s something about this song that sounds like it would be perfect for a film. The chorus is beautiful, and throughout the whole song NoSo’s vocals sound darker than on other songs- not in a morbid way, but in a heavier way. I just think it’s a masterpiece. It reminds me a little (musically) of Sutphin Boulevard by Blood Orange. Which as we as we know, is one of the greatest songs ever made. It’s the bass. That bass and dreamy guitar just takes me right back to that song. You get hazy sunset colours in your head when you listen to this one. There’s no way I could get tired of NoSo’s voice, and this song fully justifies why.

The openness on this record is something that just needs to be treasured. The way they are so honest on Feeling Like A Woman Lately is beautiful. I’ll leave it at that because anything I write about this one will not do it justice. Just take in the honesty, take it all in. Man Who Loves You represents hearing someone you are fond of being spoken to badly by someone who apparently loves them. I think there’s an element to this where NoSo is a superhero and takes the person away from the ill-treatment and gives the person the love and respect they deserve.

The record ends with the gentle Everything I’ve Got, and the way they sing the chorus will just melt you. There’s this innocence to the chorus], but also a curse at the universe. Listen to it closely. It’s just a beautiful song that will break your heart in the most gentle way possible.

For me, this record is everything a Queer kid needs. It’s got the comfort, honesty and reassurance. These are NoSo’s words right from the heart and you cannot help but feel them right in yours. The instant connection and love I have for this record blew me away when I first heard it, and now I can’t go a day without playing the whole record in full. It is just a gorgeous work of art and I’m so glad that this record exists. We grow up in our own ways and we become the person we deserve to be in our own time- this record really expresses this. NoSo’s truth can be anyone else’s truth, and that’s why I have so much love and respect for this record.

NoSo will be playing two UK dates in March. 9th at The Lexington, London and 10th at YES (Basement) here in Manchester.

THE BATTERY FARM: Flies.

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I’ve been listening to The Battery Farm’s debut record for well over a month. I had something written, but I kept going back to it. Over and over. Then I decided to delete it and start again. Everything I wrote was done in haste and a record like Flies deserves so much more.

The record has been years in the making. It is a labour of love. It is blood, sweat, tears and fears. It’s brutal and gentle. It is vital. It’s the heartbeat of society. It’s one of the most important records of the year. Bands like this are rare and when you find them, my god you love them. Everything they release will always leave you in awe. You’ll feel every emotion possible when you listen to this record. There is hope on this record and there’s also despair. There’s fear and uncertainty but there’s also fight and determination.

From the title track/intro through to In The Belly Of The Beast and right into Everything Will Be Okay. The whole record is just a firepit of hard work and passion. There are zero compromises on this record; it’ll make you feel less alone. It’ll make you take every ugly feeling you own and make into something worth feeling and carrying around. That weight on your back will feel lighter once you’ve played this record. It truly hits you on the opener FLIES. The way in which Ben’s vocals sound possessed is just out of this world. That fury and passion is throughout the whole record from all of them.

The more I play this record, the more I’m in awe of the band. There is no bad song on this record but I wouldn’t go looking for that anyway. Every single song has the potential to be screamed loud in stadiums but screaming the songs back in small sweaty venues holds the same amount of power- if not more! It’s a proper Northern record. A band from anywhere else could not make a record like this- this record is Manchester and it makes me proud to call this city home. Wooden Spoon Number is euphoric. I mean the whole record is, but this one stands out at the moment for me.

Everything Will Be Okay will rip you apart. I struggle to listen to this one just because of how close to the bone it is. It’s so beautiful and vulnerable. If you’ve made it this far in the record without crying- this will be the one that breaks you. I’ve had to stop writing a few times to pull myself together listening to this, but it’s fine to not have it all together isn’t it. Why does it matter if you do or don’t? It’s such a reassuring song and the way you feel like the band are singing this to you and only you is so powerful. I wonder if they know how influential they are? Honestly, this is the kind of record I hope some lost kid in school finds and finds the band that speak to them, and they find their way. Maybe they’ll be a writer, maybe they’ll form a band- but this band will be the root of their influence. You can’t listen to this record and not be moved to do something. Anything.

The second half of the record (Poet Boy onwards) is loud. Unapologetically loud. The whole record is but it goes up a level on the second half. You can’t help but be stopped in your tracks like, “okay this is serious now. Really serious.” Honestly, they just know how to make songs that steal a part of your soul and become like the blood in your veins. I’m basically giving you all the descriptions of how important the band are and how their words are just so vital. I can’t think of another band who are creating music like this.

DisdainGain is a proper teeth kicker. Don’t play this if you’re scared of every losing your hearing. Bloody hell! The way this goes right into it is just insane. INSANE. It’s one of my favourites. I change my mind with every listen but this one is constant. I love the rage in the song. The rage in every element of the song- not just the vocals. Everything feels like a protest on this song and it’s unreal. I adore it. I love the unfiltered rage on this song. If any song sums up what the band are about- it might just be this one. I Am A Man shows vulnerability and stigma around men talking about their mental health. No one should ever (regardless of gender) feel like they can’t talk about how they feel. But unfortunately, it happens. I hope someone hears this and it gives them what they need to find the strength to just speak out and speak up about what’s going on.

Flies is a poetic Punk record from the gutter and poured into the universe for everyone to listen to. Everyone to pay attention to. To feel something, to stand for something and to not give up. This band are what we need. They just have something that stops you in your tracks, and before you know it- you’ve become obsessed. Nothing wrong with that.

I feel like there is more I could write about this record, but the main point is- this record is a lifeline. It’s urgent. It’s important. It’s what is needed right now. It’s what we’ve always needed. It goes beyond being a debut record. Way, way beyond.

GRAVE GOODS: Tuesday. Nothing Exists.

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This record came out just over a month ago, and I had something written in my drafts. Looked over it, and deleted it. How I felt about the record then and how I feel about it now is different. Not by much, but there’s a difference. This isn’t a bad thing; I’ve had the record on repeat and can safely say that it’s up there as being one of the most flawless and interesting records of the year. It’s everything you love about music, and more.

If you’ve never listened to Grave Goods before, then you are in for a treat with this record. Grave Goods are made up of members from three bands that I’m a huge fan of: PINS, Girls Names and September Girls. If you mix up their sound and influences, and style- then you’ve clearly got a perfect band haven’t you. This is such a fantastic record from that slick sounds to the way the vocals are delivered. It’s got so much excitement to it; there’s this pure thrill you get from every listen because every single listen feels like you are being exposed to something new every single time. I reckon the ideal setting to listen to this record is on the top deck of a double decker bus, in the pissing rain and watching the world go by.

These seven songs are powerful, and songs like Story are a perfect listen on a grey and rainy day in Manchester. The whole record is a huge comfort, and with just seven songs the band completely and utterly show you what they are made of. The songs are digs are what society expects, thoughts, feelings and unspoken narratives. It’s just a phenomenal record, and I honestly feel like it’s a record that just needs to be heard. There’s an urgency to this record that just gives you a kick up the arse.

Listening to this record full whack through headphones or in your room is such a great sensation. You can’t help but take in the lyrics- Miles is a perfect example of this. The storytelling on this is just divine; it’s dark and humorous. The whole record has a dark sound but the lyrics/vocals add this gentleness. It works so well. It’s a heavy record, but it’s done in such a way that leaves you in awe. That’s all there is to it really.

The record ends with Die, and although it’s probably a morbid title for some- it’s a bloody lively song. The last minute of this song is euphoric and it just makes you start the record all over again. That’s when you know you’ve found a record that’ll you keep going back to over and over. You’ll use it as a reference. You’ll compare everything you now hear to this. Every song on the record fits perfectly. They sound as if they are made for this moment and whatever Grave Goods create next will be another masterpiece like this. You just know don’t you, when you listen to a band, and you know that regardless of how much music they put out, it’ll always be mind-blowing. They evidently a band that could never ever make a shit record. They’ve got this ideal sound that I just want to constantly hear. I bloody love this record.

Tuesday. Nothing Exists. Not only is the title of the record great, but you know how Tuesdays are probably the most boring day of the week? This record adds excitement. Play this record every Tuesday on repeat to add some spice to your life. It’ll make waking up less exhausting.

DITZ: The Great Regression

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Well, here we are. Another phenomenal record to become obsessed with. Nearly 9pm on a Sunday- the perfect time to play some music that is hectic, beautifully loud and wonderfully aggressive. If like me, you know nothing about the band DITZ, then well, we can go into this journey together. This twisted and eerie journey. You might need to lie down after this one.

DITZ are brilliant, and that’s putting it lightly. There probably aren’t enough words to describe how great they are and how glorious this record is. I love writing about bands I know nothing about. This is their debut record, and with just one listen, I’m finding it hard to believe that this is their first record. I know you get snobs out there who are all “it takes a lot for a record to move me.” Stay away from those people. They’ll make you feel bad for enjoying the music you love. It takes a lot for me to really really obsess over a record. I can listen to something a few times, then I listen to something else and it’s stored in my mind for another day. But every so often, I’ll hear something and I just KNOW it’ll become part of my daily listening. DITZ are probably going to be added to that. I reckon playing this record tomorrow morning on my journey to work blasting in my headphones will set me up nicely for the day. I love my job so there’s no dread there at all. It’s just getting on public transport and some people not being aware of personal space. You know how it is.

DITZ are a band from Brighton, and they have hints of heavy bands like PIGSx7(they’re supporting them in Brussels in May!) , JOHN (John Newton does appear on two tracks on the record) , METZ and maybe a taste of Sly and The Family Drone. Their debut record is a mighty fine masterpiece that will melt your brain. In just 10 songs, they fast become your favourite new band. How could you not fall in love with this sound? I love the sheer chaos in this record, and I love how it really smacks you in the face- especially on Three. That song is something else. It takes on a different direction midway, and it just blows your mind. I reckon this live will be a mental experience. The whole record was made to be witnessed live. You can just feel the sheer intensity on this record, and you just know it’ll be even more intense live. There’s something about this band that just makes you zone out from your surroundings and all you can do is let the record completely take over your brain. I don’t want to listen to anything else right now. I just want to soak up this record and play it at any chance I get. Trust me- it is beyond all I’ve described. My words don’t do it justice at all.

The band have been together since 2015, so this record has been brewing for years. They do say that good things come to those who wait, and that is so apparent with this record. They honestly couldn’t have made a better record, it’s just glorious. You’ve got the stunning single, I Am Kate Moss on there and it sounds even better as part of a full record. That song was just a taste of what DITZ are capable of. The record just shows us in 10 songs what they are made of and why they need to be heard. They must be heard. The record ends with the No Thanks, I’m Full which is just under 7 minutes long. Again, this is another song that will be ridiculous live! It closes the record, but it also makes you smack the play button and play the record from the start all over again. With every listen, you’ll pick up on new things to love about the record and the band

Something I really love about the record is that each song gets heavier and heavier. Halfway through and you’ll be right in thinking your eardrums have burst. That heaviness is part of why I really love this band, and why this record is just a real gem. It’s definitely one to treasure and it’s one of those records that you know in years to come, people will be talking about how great it is. Everything from the production to the sound to the vocals to the artwork is just divine. A flawless record that you just cannot get enough of.

There’s something truly special about this record. Although it’s a record that is so easy to love, it’s definitely difficult to pick one solid favourite song. I think if you’re looking for something really heavy, the latter part of the record will appeal to you. I just adore the record. Every single song on The Great Regression is perfect, and it’ll make you wish you could join the band. Imagine being in a band like this, and creating music like this. The band may have gone through some line-up changes over the years, but this record is a solid statement as to who they are and why they deserve to be heard.

THE CARRION CRAWLERS: Covers EP.

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Say hello to your new favourite band that you’ll probably never know anything about- South Dakota’s The Carrion Crawlers.

A few days ago they released an EP full of covers, and it’s basically a handful of songs by bands I love. It’s a loud and chaotic record, and it’ll leave you needing more music from this band. The songs pack a healthy punch, and do every cover justice. All too often covers are bland and lack any creativity. And I know, I know some songs just shouldn’t be touched and there have been some really shitty covers over time. But, The Carrion Crawlers are here to disperse all these myths. Let them in. Play it loud.

On this glorious record, the band cover songs from Link Wray, Wavves, Bad Brains and Beach Goons. The record sounds like a bunch of friends dicking about in a garage or basement space, and trying to figure shit out. But, the thing is- none of it sounds like a practice run. The songs sound like they are theirs, like they did it all first. The cover of So Bored by Wavves is so good. This is such a stripped back version of the song, and you can hear the connection in the vocals to the song. If this is their first release (I think it may well be) then I’m pretty sure they are onto something really special here.

I love the raw sound on this record, and how it feels like it was all done in one take. I love how they make you forget that these songs are covers, and you just believe that they are their own. That’s just magical and a real indication of just how great they will be. There’s no imperfections on this record; my only gripe is that I want more songs. I can’t wait to hear what their own songs will be like, because this EP is just a delight to listen to. You want it to last forever. You want the band to narrate your day to day. Maybe you even want to join the band. I know it’s just one EP but they definitely give the impression that their live shows are probably brilliant. Have they even done a show yet? Who knows!

The cover of So Bored and the Bad Brains cover show the range of this band, and how they can take on any sound and at any pace. We all know that Bad Brains were one of (and still are) the best Punk bands to have ever existed, and no band will ever come close to them. I just love how fearless they are and how the can really go for it on this cover, and the whole record in general. It’s just a really refreshing listen, and such a joy to blast out super loud on an irritatingly hot day.

I’ll let the music do all the talking for this one, check out the record here: