Tag Archives: Drab Majesty

VR SEX: Hard Copy.

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There are some bands that just blow your mind every single time they release something, and VR Sex are one of those bands. Of course, if you’re also in the band Drab Majesty too- then you are only ever going to put out masterpieces, right? That’s what Andrew aka VR Sex has done yet again. I’ve had a copy of this record for about a month or so, and I’ve held off writing about it because I wanted to give myself time to obsess over it and figure out why it’s probably one of the most thrilling records of the year.

Now, I’ve never claimed to be good with words but hopefully you’ll pick up on how much I love this record and hopefully it will make some sense rather than utter nonsense. I’ve listened to Hard Copy enough times now to call it as one of my favourite records of the year. Definitely in my Top 3 if I was to make lists, but my brain hates organisation. The record smacks you immediately with the opener Dictionary Talk, and it immediately grabs you and makes you realise that this record is truly something else. The record is filthy, smutty, and just everything you’ve ever been warned against- it is a thing of beauty, and I cannot get enough of it. It is very easy to love this record and become obsessed with it. It’s dark, it’s creepy as hell and it is solid produced record that only a fool would find fault with. I want this record injected into my body.

Sure, the record touches on glue-sniffing escapades (Jenny Killer Glue; an absolute monster of a song) and if you’re of a certain age you maybe shouldn’t be listening to this record but whatever! You’ll find out anyway. What I adore about this record is that it sounds nothing like previous VR Sex records. You can hear something in this record that wasn’t in previous releases, and by no means is that a bad thing. It just shows how bloody talented this band are and having this fearless approach to the record truly makes it tower over anything else you’ve heard this year. I want it constantly playing in my ears, I want to fall asleep listening to it and I want this beautiful racket waking me up for work every morning. Utter bliss.

Hard Copy is the kind of record that would be perfect for a real smutty film that not even an arthouse cinema would show. There’s this enthralling weirdness to the record that hooks you in so quickly, and you cannot let it let go of you at all. For me, this is apparent on songs like Inanimate Love (the intro to this is SO good and the vocals remind me of The Cramps.) It’s a killer record, and I want everything I ever listen to to sound as heavy and strange as this. I love that the whole record touches on strange elements of lust, desires most would turn away from and in parts; isolation. The way this record has been produced is exceptional, and it’s probably the best produced record I’ve heard so far this year.

Most of the songs on the record hit the 5 minute mark, and this is another reason for me to love this record with all I have. Hard Copy is an exceptional record that is so easy to get lost in and let consume you in the best way possible. In some parts, the record feels like it could be a film soundtrack but at other times, you just know you are listening to something where everyone involved in this record hasn’t been afraid to really experiment with their sound and get a little strange, y’know? I feel the record gets heavier and darker on the second part of the record. Runaway Runaway kicks off the second part of the record, and it’s a heavy number that has tone to it that is unlike anything else on the record and honestly, unlike anything else VR Sex have done before. If you listen to their previous records before this one, it’s like listening to a different band- and by no means is that a bad thing at all. The band worked about 12 hours a day to make this record, and you can truly hear the dedication to their work on this record. You can hear the frustrations; you can hear the urgency. It’s just a dream of a record from start to finish.

There’s no point in wasting time on trying to find a genre to lump this record with- like all VR Sex records (and Drab Majesty too) it goes beyond that. Labels are useless anyway.  I think at the moment I am calling Jenny Killer Glue as my favourite on the record, but of course I will change my mind with every listen but this one has something about it that rather than play the record in order, I start with this and I then listen in order. It’s just such a great song and I hope they make a video to this because it would be wild. It might also get banned, but it’s fine!

I feel I could write thousands and thousands of words about why I love this record. And maybe I could have summed up how phenomenal the record is with just a short paragraph but when a band you love make something like this- you can’t help but ramble on. It’s a big sounding record with zero pretentiousness to it, and that’s so rare.

Hard Copy is one of those records that I know I’ll still be fascinated with in years to come, and I’ll keep finding new things to love about it. It is a proper work of art, and in every delicate and tough moments of the record- you find a home in it and that’s such a beautiful thing. It’s the kind of record you can play at any time of day and you’ll immediately be thrown in VR Sex’s world and you won’t want to ever leave. Let the record consume you in all ways possible.

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

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

 

DRAB MAJESTY: Modern Mirror.

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One of the most exciting duos around, Drab Majesty are releasing a new record in July. A record that will reinforce our love for them, and get us excited over their UK tour in September. Deb Demure and Mona D make exquisite music together, and I’m going to explore that with my take on Modern Mirror.

The record opens with the haunting yet angelic A Dialogue. The song is highly atmospheric, and I cannot help but feel this could be a song that they open their sets with. It’s got something about it that is stoic and something that just grabs you. It starts with these strong vocals, then it all comes together and it is this huge sound. The kind of sound that you’d probably hear at the end of the night in a dingy, dark club as you make your way outside. There is something euphoric yet final about it. It’s the perfect song to start the record with.

 

 

 

Drab Majesty have been a band I have leant on for some time, like Cold Cave. There is something about the lyrics and the way the music eases any ugly feelings, and lord knows I’ve been at my worst recently. Music is powerful, and music can heal. It can be that thing that just holds you together, and I hold Drab Majesty so highly- purely because of what they mean to me. It goes beyond being a band that evoke escapism; they have something about them that just makes me fall in love with them every single time I listen to them.

The Other Side is 6 minutes of sheer heaven, and it makes you wish you were wandering the streets of L.A. taking this song in, and ignoring the world for a while. There’s a lot of Garage Rock bands I love that come from L.A. but Drab Majesty are on the other spectrum of the music I love, and it’s this dark and intense sound. Some may call it “Goth” or “Darkwave” but I really don’t have a name for it. All I know is that their lyrics, and songs are so powerful and so wonderful to get lost in.

Only a couple of songs on this record are under 5 minutes long, which I adore. I love songs that last over the 5 minute mark and have intense and euphoric build-ups. Drab Majesty are pros at this, and knowing that they will be playing my favourite venue in Manchester (Soup Kitchen) in a few months, just makes me super happy. It’s the perfect venue for them and I cannot wait to hear the new record here.

There’s this devotion and passion in these new songs that shows how they aren’t afraid of experimenting with new sounds and pushing their sound further. Careless and The Demonstration are two perfect records, and with their third they do something beyond what they’ve done before. The best way to experience this record is to listen to Careless, then The Demonstration; then allow yourself to immerse yourself in all that Modern Mirror is. You’ll hear this subtle growth, but the beautiful darkness is there. Ellipsis and Dolls in The Dark are for me, their biggest sounding songs on the record. They take you somewhere new on these songs, somewhere no other record or song ever has. If you’ve never listened to Drab Majesty before, please invest in their previous two records in time for the release of this gorgeous record that is, Modern Mirror.

Modern Mirror may only be 8 songs long (as a massive fan, I could quite happily listen to triple the amount!) but it is a record to truly cherish and keep close. It’s the kind of record that’ll keep nightmares at bay, and allow you to soak up the darkness in order to be less afraid. I needed this record more than I thought I did. There’s something about it that is so soothing, and I think a huge part of this is Deb’s voice. It is so comforting and easy to just fall in love with. The songs tell a story, and that just makes you connect even more so with this stunning record.

Modern Mirror shows us exactly why Drab Majesty are one of the best bands around. Their sound is heavy, eerie and sublime. There’s no denying just how phenomenal the new record is. Buy the record when it comes out in July, and please come see them on tour.

 

 

Modern Mirror will be released on 12th July via Dais Records.

Tour dates are:

18th Sept – Dingwalls, LONDON

19th Sept – Soup Kitchen, MANCHESTER

21st Sept – Wharf Chambers, LEEDS

22nd Sept – Clwb Ilfor Bach, CARDIFF

They will be joined by the equally beautiful, SRSQ.

DRAB MAJESTY: The Demonstration,

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If I could name any band as having the “perfect” sound, I’d probably have a solid five. Perhaps. My idea of a perfect sound and yours are totally different. My idea of it is probably shit compared to someone else, but that’s fine. How awful it would be if we all liked the same thing. I’ve already called I See You by The xx as my favourite record of the year, but I’ve got another that creeps up closely.

Drab Majesty are on the Dias label. This label is a big deal, to me. They are the home to some of the bands that I quite simply, couldn’t do without. The main one being Them Are Us Too. Easily one of the best bands to emerge in a long, long time and Cash is never far from my thoughts. Drab Majesty have released their new record, The Demonstration today. With so much hurt and bleakness in the world, having a band like Drab Majesty make it easier. There’s something comforting about this sound, and sure some may declare this as nothing short of miserable- I can’t see it. I really, really can’t. Tonight I’m going to my first gig in a long time because my panic attacks are getting worse but I’m doing my best today to keep myself as calm as possible- The Demonstration is the perfect record to do this to. It’s an easy listening and my god it is good for the soul.

A bit of background on the band: Initially this was Deb’s solo project, but they are now a duo. This is their first record as a duo and it is braver than the first release. The Demonstration echoes influences of bands such as Them Are Us Too, Cold Cave and that early Depeche Mode sound. Heavy on the synths, even heavier on the imagery and feeling they give you. I’ve read some pieces on the band where they have named The Cure as a band they can hear in their music. To an extent I can hear this, but if anything it just holds the weight of records like Pornography and Seventeen Seconds. For me, that’s a solid sound to carry but Drab Majesty are their own band with their own sound, which is beautifully put together on this record.

They are currently on tour with my beloved Cold Cave. For now, there’s only one UK date and that’s in London in March. Drab Majesty are playing a load of shows across Europe in March and April. Including a show at Superbudda in Torino, which is a bloody great arts/creative space in one of the best cities you’ll ever go to.

Drab Majesty create this dark, wonderfully sinister yet gentle world with their music. The Demonstration is easy on the ears and rules the mind upon its first listen. It’s a record that when you listen to it, you’ll be left wanting to listen to it with more intense ears. Then you slowly find yourself relaxing more and more. It’s the perfect sound all over. I’m currently obsessing over Forget Tomorrow, but trust me the whole record is a grand piece of art. They take all you have known before then unleash you into a different universe on this record. The Demonstration is a gorgeous and elegant record from start to finish. Dot In The Sky and Not Just A Name may deserve your attention more than most, but trust me the whole record is absolutely fantastic and even if like me, you’re not into making lists, just hold this closely as one of the finest records that you will hear all year. It is perfect for the dark, cold days. It is perfect for sitting alone in your room whilst being comforted by Deb’s soothing voice. It’s just perfect, simple as.