Chillwave was a style that was apparently set out to bring out hipsters and pretentious oiks in full force. Music is music, and you cannot be a snob about it. I’ve been called a “music snob” more times than I can remember, it used to offend me but I’ve learnt not to listen to people. I’m just massively passionate about music, and to be honest I think it is the only thing that validates my music. Writing about music is one of the very few things that make me feel like I’m doing something of use. I do it for no one but myself, and I think if I did it because I had to/for others- I wouldn’t care. If you’re not going to put your everything into something, then please just leave it alone. So you can say Chillwave is only for certain people, that’s fine- but that makes YOU the daft one. I know to an extent a lot of it sounds the same, but you can find that in any genre. I’d rather listen to hundred of bands that sound like Youth Lagoon than be told Katy Perry is one of the best singers around. (I’m still mad at her UR So Gay and I Kissed A Girl songs.) So I should probably leave this rant alone and move on to what I intended to write about.
LUUUL is one guy who makes music that makes you feel like you constantly have the sun on your back. He makes you feel as if nothing in the world right now matters. For the most part, I guess not much does matter. It depends on your outlook. But as I listen to LUUUL’s music, everything feels like a dream and nothing really matters. Music can help you create beautiful moments in your mind. It doesn’t matter what they are, because no one can take them away from you. The Morning After is the perfect song to listen to as the morning sun hits your tired eyes. As sleep falls away from you, LUUUL’s music is the hope you find a new day. Everything in the moments his music creates is just perfect. His music is the picturesque sunrise you wish you could paint. It stays locked in your head, and gently falls down to the depths of your heart. The moments are kept safe for as long as you wish.
I’m not someone who seeks hot climates and wishes to laze about on a beach, but LUUUL has this gorgeous way of making you wish you were on a beach staring at the sun’s rays hit the glistening sea. What song by LUUUL is perfect for this? Beach of course. The beautiful moments never stop with his music. The bass-line to Beach sounds like how Warpaint would sound if they went in this direction. Both make entirely dreamy music to just lose yourself in, and it never felt so good. The best thing and the most beautiful thing about music is the feelings it gives you. Feelings you probably thought you couldn’t feel or would ever feel. Certain key changes in the songs you love or that one line in your favourite song of all time can just make your heart beat quicker and can just cover your body in goosebumps. Your favourite song is like looking at the person you’re in love with- nothing matters, just that moment. That’s how LUUUL’s music makes you feel. But of course, this is just my personal opinion.
For any emptiness you feel inside, there is always a band or a song to make it alright; you can find it in LUUUL for sure. His music is the sun on your bones, warming you up and just making you feel alright.
When I first wrote about London Grammar in January, I said they reminded me of Imogen Heap meets Youth Lagoon; this was based on just one song. I wasn’t sure if they would keep something like that up, that maybe Hey Now was just a taste of how ethereal they were going to be.
As I listen to their debut record, If You Wait it becomes more obvious that they evidently have made a bloody strong debut. If You Wait sounds like a record you’d expect from a band that are at least 5 years or so deep into their career. It goes beyond all expectations of a debut record.
At its best, If You Wait is a haunting catharsis. Everything about it feels like some kind of release and Hannah’s voice is just so so sad. There’s so much sorrow in her voice, and the fact that the lyrics are as equally as vulnerable as her voice just breaks your heart a little bit more than you anticipated. Wasting My Young Years makes me hate that I’m getting older. But hey, free bus pass! Although by the time I’m 60 I suppose they’ll have scrapped that idea. As I listen to If You Wait, I start to feel everything that London has eventually come to mean to me. Maybe it’s because I’m with the one I love (finally) but London feels like home. There’s so much security in London Grammar’s music, it feels like home. Hannah’s voice is as delicate as the likes of Anthony Hegarty and the music is as soothing as my personal favourite, Deptford Goth. London Grammar are London. They are that awful night bus journey home, they are that last tube home journey. As you gaze out into the night with nothing but the street lights acting as stars to guide you home. For me, I think Sights sums this feeling up more than most. Although it is pretty much constant throughout.
I’d imagine those that listen to London Grammar, and I mean TRULY listen to them will pick up on feelings that those who just skim through will miss out on. There’s innocence and fear on this record- two of the things that make us human. Having these vulnerable characteristics will cause you to pick up on every tiny detail on If You Wait.
As someone who is more delicate than tough (I’ve reached the stage where I no longer wish to try to change this) If You Wait is sort of like..well, it is almost as if London Grammar are telling you that it is alright to be a bit of a coward. To be a little lost, to be a little troubled. If I wasn’t so tired, I think I would have cried listening to this record. This is tugging at the heartstrings at its finest.
If You Wait is made for the shorter, dark days. It is made for solitude. It is made for inner peace. It is made for you to find pieces of yourself that you daren’t share with others; because they’d deem it as ugly. Music will never call out your traits or make you feel ashamed. That’s why I love music. That’s why I believe that If You Wait could possibly be one of the most ethereal records I’ve heard in a long time.
As the sky is now dark, I urge you to click on this link: http://www.londongrammar.com/ifyouwait and close your eyes. Close your eyes and go somewhere where nothing and where no one can disturb you. Find your inner peace and do not let go of it. Cry if you want; better out than in. Let Nightcall be the song that breaks your heart. Let this record be the record that breaks your heart in the most angelic way possible.
Those who struggle with their own reflection and for those who constantly feel uncomfortable in the skin they were placed in; there is an outlet for all of these ugly feelings. Sometimes you are not the one who gets them out, sometimes it is someone else with not just a gift, but a blessing to unleash everything you feel because sometimes, you just physically cannot do it.
At the start of 2012 I wrote about a singer that I accidentally found, proving that sometimes accidents are no bad thing. I became fascinated with Willis Earl Beal’s music because there was nothing about him floating around on the internet. Nobody knew who he was. Nobody knew really where he was. Those that found him were more than likely feeling the same as me; lost. And those that listened to him immediately felt as if they had found some kind of home in his music.
Willis posses the soul of Sam Cooke and the gnarly,raspy drawl of Tom Waits. Willis has soul, and it is infectious. It is the most beautiful thing. Willis had nothing before his debut record was released. He was homeless. He made posters with his number on for people to call just to hear him sing. Willis took it back to how it should have been done, how it always should be done. So what has he done a year on from his debut?
Well, his music is still as raw. His music is still as heartbreaking. Nobody Knows is a phenomenal record, and I sincerely hope this is labelled as a record of the year because it is seriously unlike anything else we’ve had in such a long long time. Chan Marshall (Cat Power) features on Coming Through; with her distinctive voice and Willis’ heartbreaking (it is the only way to describe his voice) just sounds so perfect. I can only hope that this is the start of something musically beautiful between the two. I hope they make a haunting Blues kind of record; enough to make you feel like you’ve experienced the worst kind of pain possible, but tough enough to pull through it.
Whilst his debut, Acousmatic Sorcery seemed to focus on dealing with isolation and despair- Nobody Knows seems to have slightly more positive tones to it. Yet, Willis has a voice that is just made to break your heart mainly because of how much soul is there and how you can tell every single word he is singing means the world to him. And because of this, his words mean everything to you.
I’m too young to have experienced the likes of Howlin’ Wolf first time round, but I can imagine those that were fortunate enough to do so felt like I did the first time I ever heard Willis Earl Beal. Nobody Knows is the kind of record you play when you’re searching for answers that nothing nor no one can seem to give you. Too Dry To Cry is a wonderful example of how strong his voice is. The production on this record is just as raw as Willis’ voice. I think if you listen to his music and you don’t believe him, you’re not listening to it right. I know I’m being entirely biased, but I really cannot understand how anyone could not fall hopelessly and helplessly in love with Willis Earl Beal.
One thing I’ve noticed (amongst many) is that Nobody Knows fits perfectly after Acousmatic Sorcery. Acousmatic Sorcery is the thunderstorm and Nobody Knows is that much-needed sunshine. Nobody Knows is another raw record that serves as a beacon of hope. Sure it may be a bit more positive than his debut, but there are songs on this record that will just bring you to the brink of tears; the song I have in mind that may possibly ruin you is What’s The Deal? It’s a song that resembles being the only person left in a bar and consuming too much alcohol. It is the realisation of being alone, even if you are pathetically told over and over again that you aren’t.
Willis sums up the best and worst feelings a person can have in his music, and that’s what makes him a source of comfort and an ounce of strength for when you really have nothing left. He’s my generation’s Townes Van Zandt, and I am so proud to be a fan of Willis Earl Beal.
The best bands do not have a distinctive sound. The best bands don’t want to sound like anything else you’ve ever heard. The best bands are fearless. The best bands posses a gang mentality to their music that makes them tougher than the rest.
The Savage Nomads are quite frankly, one of the best bands around. They’ve been around for quite a while and they undoubtedly one of the best bands in London right now, but let’s just ignore how big London is and say they are one of the best bands around, end of. Their sound is like nothing else, and I’m aware how horrifically clichéd that sounds. But I’ve really not heard a band like The Savage Nomads in a long time. Cole Salewicz’s voice is pure and angelic, but there’s a taste of urgency in the way he sings. His voice can break your heart and make you want to dance all at once. A charismatic front-man for sure.
The Savage Nomads are a band that are destined to be around for decades to come. With their unapologetic sound and unified stance on how they make music; you can tell it just means everything to them. When a band have this quality, it is so easy to believe in them. They’ve come so far in the past few years, and honestly there is no denying they are going to go further. A lot of bands seem to sound quite similar. I’m not knocking them because I’m a fan of some of them; it’s just how it is. Certain styles are more “known” than other. What sound do The Savage Nomads have? I have no idea. All I know there is a real essence of soul in each member of the band. Take the song An Empty Seat. It’s one hell of a song with a Funk based bass-line flowing through it. If you don’t feel the urge to dance to this, then you’re not listening right.
For those who are fans of Television, there’s a bit of a resemblance here. I can’t pin point exactly what it is, maybe it is the sheer genius of The Savage Nomads that’s really close to Television. I’ll go with that, it’s as close as I can get. I’d love to hear The Savage Nomads take on a song by Television. The relaxed and cool vibe within their music is freeing and just an absolute delight to listen.
I’d like to talk about their new single, Jaded Edges which is a glorious anthem of a tune. This is made for sweaty venues where your standing so close to strangers, you cannot help but move with them in a unified fashion. There’s something beautifully seductive about this song; for anyone who’s never heard of them before and this is your first time- this song is going to be the one that lures you. Head to those pretentious Indie clubs, and ask for this to be played. You’ll soon see those oversized spectacle wearing “bored” fools get up and dance. If they don’t, then they’ve probably bored themselves to death. The Savage Nomads are one of London’s finest and I can only hope that they just take the rest of the country over. The world is next, but start at home first.
Get on board with one of the UK’s most exciting bands; with a Psychedelic aura and a Soul backbone, The Savage Nomads are just made to be your favourite (new) band.
“I don’t have the time for a graveyard of the mind that they call shame.”
“Don’t meet your heroes” they say. Balls! I say. Meet them, and let it be known it’ll be the greatest moment of your life. I don’t want to say Crocodiles are my heroes, they are more like a guide. They are a solid music connection that in short, saved me from lord knows what a few years ago. I found their music as I was hopelessly walking around a music shop. I needed something to cease the aches and find my soul. Summer Of Hate changed my world. Yesterday I got to speak with the band who changed my world, for the better. Music is my guide and I guess it is my teacher. It is my everything. And the main reason as to why I never have money. I wouldn’t be able to live with it any other way.
Luke, their tour manager walked me over to Brandon and Charlie as they were having their photos taken and being interviewed. I watched and I had a brief moment where I thought my questions were shit. Maybe they were, but I told myself I was asking what I wanted to know. Turns out, I want to know a lot because I like to write a lot. I watched their shoot, and Brandon looked over and winked in what seemed like a reassuring way. I didn’t mind waiting at all. I’m the least confident Music Writer, so I had this panic inside that my Dictaphone wouldn’t record. Let it be known that Brandon and Charlie are the most genuine and loveliest guys you will ever meet, if you’re lucky enough to do so. If you want passionate conversation about books and music- go to these guys. They’re on the same level my uncle is on, which is why the interview immediately didn’t feel like an interview but just laid back chat with pals. Let’s get into it.
For anyone like myself, who grew up in a small place that just exhausted you of anything good/positive, you need to find something to be your outlet. You have to believe there is something better out there, or you will be stuck in a rut during your entire existence. I asked Brandon and Charlie if the frustration of being in a small place made it easy for it to be placed into their music:
“It’s apparent on our first record, but I guess that changed a bit with touring and that same frustration of kinda being stuck there was pretty stifling. It’s not to say that San Diego is a bad place you know. A lot of people we know and love are still there, so its nice to go back to. But in terms of spending every day there (especially when you’ve travelled) would just get a little bit old.”
I think to fully understand this, you must have lived somewhere which in a way sucked you dry but gave you the fight to find something to work for. Those that are familiar with the likes of Dirty Beaches, Cold Cave and Crocodiles will get this straight away from their music and in a way, inspires you to do the same. There’s always a way out.
Brandon lives in New York, and Charlie lives in London. Their bond is beautiful. The friendship they have is wonderful to witness. It is obvious by the way they are on stage, their sense of humour and generally how they look at each other. You can tell the other knows what one is thinking as they answer questions- it’s the ultimate bond. So with such a gorgeous friendship yet living miles apart- how do they go about writing songs?
“If we’re together in person, we might write a few things from the ground up. But more often than not, one of us will have a skeletal idea like a verse or a chorus. And we get together when we can, it’s expensive. Maybe once or twice a year I’ll come over here (London) or Charlie will come to New York and we’ll spend a couple of weeks or a month working on songs.”
By nature, I’m not a nosy person. I don’t care what someone does. Or who someone does. I don’t care for personal lives and things, but with musicians- the one thing I always want to know is what influences them, but for the most part I don’t want to know which bands influence them because I think sometimes that can get in the way of how you listen to them. You can sometimes pick up on other bands, and it drives you away. All too often I’ve heard Crocodiles be compared to The Jesus And Mary Chain. As someone who had The Jesus And Mary Chain played to them at a very young age, I really don’t hear it. I really don’t. The only thing I can pick up on is the fact they have dark lyrics at times and portray certain subjects such as love in all its dark and haunting glory. But musically? Not at all. If you pay attention to Crocodiles lyrics you can pick up on literature being a huge influence. Touching on this was really cool because we spoke about the sordid literature of Marquis de Sade. If you’ve never read anything by him, you’re missing out. But his work is pretty twisted.
“I think on this record, Jean Genet and Marquis de Sade. We like a lot of poets like Arthur Rimbaud, Charles Baudelaire, Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen. Richard Brautigan’s surreal take on things works its way in too. Sometimes it’s the spirit of a certain book, like, ‘how can I replicate that in the discipline of art that I do.’ Obviously we’re not trying to be as filthy as Marquis de Sade!”
There’s so many things we can take inspiration from, and I don’t think literature is given the credit it deserves when it comes to influencing music. Many want to hear the bands that influenced bands. Books are equally as powerful because they can set your mind off in so many ways. You are given a scenario by the writer, but you paint the picture in your mind with their words. Sometimes the darker the sound, the more apparent the literature influence is. Take Zola Jesus for instance.
Have you ever listened to a band and immediately could tell where they are from? Of course it is easy with the likes of The Fall, Morrissey, Arctic Monkeys- you can hear their accent in their music. Is it easy to cancel out where you are from so you don’t sound like you are obviously from there? Do Crocodiles try to not sound like a “typical” San Diego band? Do they feel they made a conscious effort to not sound like where they are from?
(At this point the interview was moved to an alleyway. It seemed pretty fitting to interview them in this spot!)
“San Diego has a weird music identity, the stuff its famous for is like Blink 182. It does have a really cool history of underground music too, and there was a point there was a San Diego sound that we didn’t want to sound like. We just write tunes we like.”
It’s good that Crocodiles never took inspiration from fellow San Diego residents such as Blink 182 or that one called Jason Mraz. Crocodiles, if you excuse the pun, have bite. They have a genuine raw sound that has that Punk DIY ethic firmly instilled in them, making them one of the hardest working bands around, Just looking at their UK/Europe tour schedule over the next few week, and also their tour of the states; but you can tell when they play live, that it is everything to them. And for the fans, it is everything to us too.
I was really interested to speak to them about this tour particularly because they are playing some really small venues and in some places where you wouldn’t think would know what to do with a band like Crocodiles with their delightfully rambunctious sound.
Their tour started in Chester. A quiet Roman town where I suppose nothing really happens. I’ve only been a handful of times. So how did they find it?
“There wasn’t many people there. I mean, I wouldn’t call it a turkey. There wasn’t that many people there but it was also our first gig so it takes a few you know. We played Manchester last night. And we wanted to play a few small places first. Chester is a beautiful place. We’ve played Wrexham before, and that was really good.”
Purely from a selfish point of view here, I got to speak to them about playing Italy. Crocs will be playing Turn soon, and that’s where my stepdad is from. A beautiful city that I think everyone needs to visit at least once in their lifetime. I wanted to know what made them want to play somewhere like Turin (why not of course!) And also, Brandon knew I had an Italian last name (my dad’s side.) Not many pick up on this/pronounce my name correctly. You give up after a while, ha!
“We’ve played Italy a few times. We’ve spent a lot of time there, and a few of our shows are there on this tour. Our main shows on this tour are England and Italy. And also it’s the first city you come to if you’re coming in from the North. We get chance to have a look round too, we come back for vacations. I got to spend some time in Naples which was really cool and different to other parts of Italy.”
FORZA ITALIA dear reader, Forza Italia!
What I love about Crocodiles is that they make it easy for you to just feel so free. When you listen to their music you can’t help but sing along and move your body about in a questionable fashion (it’s exactly what I did at their show at Sebright Arms.) It is like they just set something off inside of you. I looked around when I was at their show, and there were people who had come to watch them on their own but they didn’t hold back. It was like a sense of freedom just took the crowd over. It was truly beautiful to be part of something like that, you don’t get a band like this often, which is why fans of Crocs just treasure them. I wanted to know if they act the same way their fans do when they go to shows because they make their fans feel free with how raw their sound is.
“You’d be surprised, we played Norwich and they stood still! I would assume we have similar tastes to a degree to our fans. I’m a music fan first and foremost. It depends. Naturally..a bit shy.” -Brandon.
“It depends on how drunk you are. I saw The Stone Roses and of course I was cutting loose. You have to when they’re playing some of the best songs ever.”- Charlie.
“Big cities in general people are bit more reserved. New York crowds are similar to London crowds. The cities are quite similar anyway.”- Brandon.
Some people are afraid to let go at shows, some will just go for it. Sometimes though, it is the band you are seeing that just go for it. I mentioned seeing Alex (Dirty Beaches) a few months back at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, and when watching him it was like seeing someone unleash a wealth of emotion and also healing at the same time. I asked them if they have a similar way of performing, and sort of just letting go. I mentioned their set at Rough Trade last year where I first saw them, and it seemed like they had to hold back a bit because it was in a store.
“That’s what I love about him. His whole presentation is a complete 360; it’s just amazing. In terms of someone who has a record label, that’s the kind of thing I’m attracted to. We put out a record for a band called Punks On Mars, it wasn’t that successful. But they had their own look. They looked like oddballs but they just did their own thing. We love playing at record stores because they support us, but it feels weird. It’s bright and in an awkward environment. It does feel pretty cathartic on stage. Going forward and letting it all out.”
I asked Brandon and Charlie was about two of my favourite songs off their new record, She Splits Me Up and Me And My Machine Gun. I mentioned they had a “dreamy” feel to them, which I apologised for using that word because it is overused. I wanted to know what was behind these two songs (when I really love a song I do like to know what inspired it.)
“She Splits Me Up started with a chord production. It came together in bits and pieces. Charlie had the riff; and in soundchecks we played round with it.” – Brandon.
“We collaborated on the lyrics and one of us had the idea, about a girl who is mean to you, but you like it. Kind of like Marquis de Sade.”- Charlie.
“We wrote some of it in Mexico City and finished it in New York.”- Brandon.
The last question I asked was about I Like It In The Dark which sounds quite like early Primal Scream and possibly Happy Mondays. Was it an influence?
“The song came out with a Baggy influence, a lot more than we intended. We were really thinking like Hey Bulldog by The Beatles, the piano part. And soul music too. We started to do it, and it didn’t sound complete without a Gospel kind of sound. The song is about Atheism and we thought, how are we going to find a Gospel singer who’ll sing on a song about Atheism. My brother plays in a Soul in LA, so I asked him ‘Do you think Aphrodite will do this?’ Her full name is Aphrodite The African Goddess Of Love.”
So there you have it. I could have happily spoken to them about their music, music in general and dissected Marquis de Sade’s filthy literature with them in-depth. It was an absolute pleasure to spend some time with them; in an alley discussing what we did.
At the end of the show, as I was leaving outside I saw Brandon and he gave me a hug goodbye. I always said my interview with Warpaint was my favourite, but I think Brandon and Charlie surpassed that. This felt like talking to old friends, and as someone who is a bit awkward and shy; I felt perfectly at ease in their company. As I’ve said before, they are truly two of the most humble and genuine people I’ve ever met.
Meet the bands/singers you love and the next time you’re at a gig, let it all go.
I’d like to thank Nita and Luke for arranging this. And also to Brandon and Charlie for their time.
Last September I saw Crocodiles live for the first time. I’d been a fan since 2009, and I had been waiting many years to see then live. Seeing them in a record store playing for just over 20 minutes wasn’t how I imagined it to be, but it was better than what I had previously- which was nothing. Go forward to just under a year and I finally get to see them in an environment I feel comfortable with.
Earlier in the day I briefly hung out with Brandon and Charlie in an alley for an interview. I’ll type it up later if my dictaphone picked anything up. I bought it off Amazon from a dodgy seller. I never learn.
Sebright Arms is a wonderful pub that was just made to have bands like Crocodiles perform. A small, dark room with enough space for you to move your body round in any way you wish. I sure as hell did. They opened with Sunday (Psychic Conversations #9.) Immediately they launched the crowd into a frenzy. 150 sweaty bodies had been waiting for this. I think secretly my girlfriend who came with me, had been waiting for this too.
When I saw them last year it was a little after their record, Endless Flowers had come out but they still played older songs such as I Wanna Kill and All My Hate And Hexes Are For You (personal favourite.) These songs weren’t played last night, but to be honest, I didn’t care. I just wanted to see them play as a full set. Was my mind blown? Hell yes. I was stood right by a speaker so my eardrums are fucked too. I can’t really hear anything properly yet. Everything sounds a bit fuzzy; the remains of the night before are stuck. I’ll cling until 2nd October where it will happen all over again.
Each member of Crocodiles leaves you wonderfully hypnotised. I was stood directly in front of Marco, and when he plays bass you cannot help but fall into a similar trance. His eyes are shut, as if he is another world. You don’t know if you are meant to follow him or to slightly veer into your own way. You’ll probably meet midway anyway. Maybe at the encore. Lose your shit kids. It’s the best way to have a good time. Then we have Robin on keys who pretty much lures you in as soon as she plays. Rocking back and forth, harmonising with Brandon. You can see the enthusiasm so clearly when she plays. I cannot stress enough just how inspiring they are to watch. Robert unleashes unruly fury on the drums; I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t have abrasions after playing. He may be the newest member, but the family unity they have is still as pure as it ever was. Charlie is without a doubt the best guitarist I’ve ever seen live. He does something truly mind-blowing on that stage. You cannot help but stare. From the way he flung some beer around as he was playing the guitar to his jolting movements whilst he annihilates the guitar. The force he plays with seems so effortless; he makes you wish you could play the guitar and created your own creepy sound. Brandon’s vocals are just perfect. His yelps during Sunday to the way he sings “R-E-F-U-S-E” on the song Refuse Angels just leaves you in awe. He throttles the mic stand with frustrated force. You can tell that for him, and the others that music is everything to them. And that’s why their music means everything to their fans.
What I loved about this show was the sheer diversity in the crowd. From old guys coming to the show on their own to the lost kids finally finding a home (like myself)- this show was one of my highlights of the year. They played a solid mixture of all four records. I sang my heart out to every song, I swayed and my hearing is less than good right now. I had the best time ever. I’m not sure how to write a typical live review; all I can do is write about how the show made me feel and what I saw. I like to think I’ve sort of done that.
There were leaflets advertising their next London date which is on the 2nd October at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. Tickets are only £10 and you can get them here: https://parallellines.ticketabc.com/events/crocodiles-2/ I cannot wait to feel this way again in October.
I’d also like to mention that Virals were incredible last night. They played for a little under half an hour I think, but it was enough for the crowd to know that Virals are a brutal talent. And you know what? My girlfriend who likes Michael Buble (I know..I know, but I see past it) turned to me and said she enjoyed Virals. She’s a good one, I know.
In short, Crocodiles blew my mind (and eardrums) last night. To see your favourite band live is beyond words; it reinforced a lot of things for me. Things that caused me to love them the first time round. Crocs are for sure, the best live band you’ll see. They put their all into it, and you return the favour by losing your mind.
Time can be fascinating and time can be cruel. Time is everything and nothing. A hindrance and a healer. You choose. Sometimes time chooses for you.
I went for a run earlier; I ran for many reasons. I ran for the dislike of my body, and also in the hopes I could find the words to eventually write this. Then I realised, this isn’t being written with anyone in mind. I never care for who reads my words because I know for the most part- no one cares for my ramblings on music. This goes beyond music.
We experience things in our lives where we remember everything in that moment. You try to take as much as you can in; as more time passes you remember smaller details that never really held any meaning. Maybe they mean something now; but maybe they never will.
I was in my room when I was told that Aaliyah I had died. I was wearing my favourite red t-shirt. My close friends at that time knew I was a massive fan of Aaliyah’s- my phone kept going off. What I wished to be a lie turned out to be painfully true. I idolised Aaliyah since the very first time I heard her music in 1995. I wanted to be her. I wanted to dress like her; I guess it is why I was always a bit of a tomboy. Her music was the music relaxing and soulful sound I had ever heard. To never hear her voice ever again was something I couldn’t get my head around. To an extent, I still can’t.
It will never feel right writing about Aaliyah in past tense. I know it never will. I always lived in hope I’d see Aaliyah live and meet her to just talk about her music. I love interviewing musicians, and she is probably the one I will always wish I had the chance to interview. It won’t happen in this lifetime, but maybe in the next one.
A friend I gained through the death of Aaliyah who became like a sister to me, last year designed an Aaliyah tattoo for me. It’s on my bicep and around it is the Warpaint logo. The tattoo means more to me than my other tattoos I have; and what it means to me is something I’ll never have the words for. Sometimes, you don’t need words.
The music Aaliyah made changed R&B music; since her death many have tried to carry on what she did. It never worked. Why? There will never be anyone else quite like Aaliyah. One In A Million, always.
As much as I like music that was probably made to burst eardrums, sometimes it is nice to listen to something/someone who is beyond precious.
My love for Sade started at a very young age. A lot of people seem to regard Kate Bush as the ultimate UK female musician. As much as I like Kate Bush, she will never mean as much to me as Sade does. Sure both are similar- rarely release records, tour or do interviews. Both make very different types of music. Kate Bush can hit the notes; but I don’t really go for that. I want to hear someone with a smooth voice that eases the soul. Sade is that singer, for me. I cannot remember the first time I heard Sade, but I know I was very very young. It was No Ordinary Love that started my love for Sade. So far I had a healthy diet of music in my life by this point that consisted of Bob Dylan, Morrissey, Nick Cave and Muddy Waters. My mum and my uncle made it easy for me to be obsessed with music; it was treated as a normal thing. I’ve felt abnormal about most things in my life, but my love for music has always been the one thing I have constantly felt utterly secure with. When I heard Sade’s voice I remember this relaxed feeling taking over. It became something that I craved in other singers and bands. There aren’t really many I felt this way about. A few years later (1995 to be exact) I felt exactly when the same when I heard Aaliyah, to this day I still regard Aaliyah as my favourite singer of all time. I think the closest we can get to a modern-day Sade is probably Jessie Ware.
For me, Sade exposed the emotion of love in a pure way. When I was listening to her before I was aware of human emotion, I was just purely in awe of her voice. I wanted to be a singer who sounded just like her. I wanted the voice of Sade and the looks/style of Aaliyah. Truth be told, I probably still do. As I got older and developed a love for words, I studied Sade’s lyrics more and felt a deeper love towards her music. At times we may think love can be cruel and unkind. But for the most part, it is a vital thing to feel. And without it, there’s no point. I don’t just mean love in a romantic way. Love is vital. Regardless of its context.
Sade’s quiet nature has always been projected into her music. She posses such a delicate voice that instantly soothes your mind, body and soul. Her words go straight to your heart. She’s proof that sometimes; it’s not what you say, but how you say it that proves to have the most importance. Her angelic tones are perfect for the times where you want to shut the world off and be alone; and they also work when you need a feeling summing up. The way she portrays the innocence in most feelings is truly gorgeous.
What I love about Sade is the way she appeals to everybody. She is respected amongst most genres; especially Hip Hop. She’s an artist that is frequently sampled in Hip Hop, and when done right it is nothing short of brilliant. Her music is easy to fall in love with her. It doesn’t matter if you’re obsessed with lyrics or focus on the vocal range; Sade is on a different level. Always has been, always will be.
Her Jazz like atmosphere that is found in her music coupled with her divine voice is something that will always be influential. It doesn’t matter what style of music it is, you can always pick up a Sade influence in there.
About 10 years ago or so, I went to what can only be described as a junkyard, and amongst the crates of vinyl was a copy of her debut record, Diamond Life for £1. It was in perfect condition, fortunately I could afford it. It’s to this day still one of my most valued records I own. Hearing songs such as Your Love Is King (one of the best love songs ever) and When Am I Going To Make A Living on vinyl sounds so pure with the crackling background underneath. Perfection in what others would regard as an imperfection.
Although many have been (and still are) influenced by Sade, I’m not entirely sure a UK singer will ever be as vital as her again. But, that’s just my view and for the most part I’m told I’m wrong. Her voice brings a sense of comfort and ease; her music is the definition of love. In short, she makes you feel safe. I challenge anyone to listen to By Your Side and not have some kind of emotional breakdown. Again, it is another perfect love song by Sade. If you’re one of those people who bang on about never knowing what true love is, then go outside- by a copy of any Sade record and listen. Close your eyes and just listen. She sets the heart free and a wave of emotion just pours out.
The heart will want what the heart will want. To ever be swayed by something or someone is never really pleasing. To be comforted by words and a voice that unleashes vulnerability and security is always welcomed. As I listen to Sade now, I still feel 6 years old again; as if it is the first time listening to her. She is graceful and timeless. She’s a portrait of beauty in every single way. I still wish that when I sung I sounded like her; instead I sound like someone who has no regard for themselves and has poorly auditioned for one of them painful “reality” shows.
The way Sade carries herself is something not many have seemed to master, and because she is so rare; that’s why she will always be treasured. It doesn’t matter (okay maybe it does….) if she never releases another record, because what we have is enough to get by. Everything about her is just iconic. Her soulful music is the very core of feelings we wish another would place upon us. There’s always music. Always. But there will never ever be another Sade.
As you may know, last week I finally fulfilled my desire to see one of my favourite bands, Cold Cave live. It was something which I had been waiting for quite some time. Being able to wait this long for certain things seems to be a common theme running through my otherwise average life. Electrowerkz was the perfect venue for Cold Cave. However, I do believe it was the support act that pretty much set the atmosphere for the evening.
I’m one of those people who has to arrive just before doors open because I need to see the support band. I need to see them because for the most part, you are witnessing something nobody else has yet heard of. Sometimes it is the first time the band have ever played live. It’s a sacred moment on many levels; and equally beautiful.
A duo took to the stage, covered in black. I knew immediately I was going to fall in love with them. They stood, and the music started. The music started and it felt like some kind of outer-body experience. Live music does this to me most of the time, and I guess it was heightened last Thursday because of Cold Cave.
Natural Assembly are a mysterious duo who just captivate you in the most haunting way. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the stage as they played eerie anthems in a Thursday evening. The haunting synths with vocals that could freak the most stable person out was quite simply perfect to witness before Cold Cave took to the stage. I remember just listening so intensely to Natural Assembly. I felt my body move and sway to the synths. My eyes were firmly shut at times; I cannot remember what I was picturing, but I remember what I was feeling. These are the kinds of moments that stay with you.
I’m not really one for saying who a band are made for. Natural Assembly can appeal to anyone; but mainly those who want music that gives them an elated feeling whilst in the midst of darkness. A new romantic vibe surrounds them. They are just absolutely brilliant and are one of the most memorable bands I’ve ever seen live.
As I watched them I just wanted to hear more and more. I wanted the night to go on for longer than it did. The gig (including both bands) brought a feeling I’ve not had from a live show in a while. All I know is that Natural Assembly make music that has a sense of urgency to it. Sure their sound may take you on a freakish kind of trip, but it also has some kind of apocalyptic feel to it.
I’m writing this listening to them and the same feeling is taking over. This is when you know you have found a band that a worth everything you feel. They are totally worth investing in. I’d like to mention that Forever Falling is so far, their best song. If you want power and fury; you’re going to find it alive and well in this song. One thing I can tell you is that Natural Assembly have that wonderful romantic atmosphere to their music that is found in Cold Cave. Maybe they should do a split 7″ together or something. It’d become an essential collectable for music lovers like myself. Both create dramatic music that makes you glad your heart is still beating.
I bought a t-shirt of Natural Assembly as soon as their set ended. Something inside of me knew I had watched a band full of something refreshing and much-needed that night. There was something there that just set off a bunch of emotions I have towards music. I sincerely hope they become massive and gain a cult following like Cold Cave have.
However as much as I adore the band, I know I cannot make you feel the same as I do. So, maybe you should do the right thing and listen to their music here: https://soundcloud.com/naturalassembly
Enjoy and don’t be afraid to be afraid, and to feel.
I wear my Natural Assembly t-shirt with nothing but complete and utter pride.
My attention span at the best of times is borderline atrocious. I think the only thing that has ever held my attention is music. Last week when I saw Cold Cave, I really don’t think I tore my eyes away from Wes Eisold at all. Sometimes I’m able to find a distraction for a few seconds, but something happened. I’m not sure what. Maybe it was the dark atmosphere that just kept me there. It is hard to tear yourself away from music that pretty much sums your life up. Past or present; it is still part of you. The darkness that is in Cold Cave’s music is not as brutal as it is in some. By some I mean Little Death Machine
Little Death Machine are, for me, on the same level as Comanechi and Cold In Berlin. Passionately belting out words that send shivers down your spine. The words you wish you could say. So you stand in line and bite your tongue like the rest of them. You keep silent so bands like Little Death Machine can project wonderful noise into your ears and make your heart thump dramatically in time to the ferocious drum beats.
Daniel and Clare released their debut single, Hit Me last month. Hit Me is a thrashing delight that will make you want to lovingly throttle someone in time to the guitar. Or maybe it is safer for you to just throw your body about in time instead. It’s safer, and won’t resort in a prison sentence. Daniel’s eerie vocals remind you ever so slightly of Chris Corner (IAMX.) Clare is an INSANE drummer. She’s aggressive in a non-threatening manner. It is possible, trust me. The video to Hit Me is an epileptic’s nightmare, but brilliant anyway.
A raw and rambunctious energy moves in and out of Hit Me. In a way that makes you move around in a questionable fashion. Their sound is ideal for dark and dingy basement venues that makes sweat fall from every part of you. The sweat of others drips onto you as they shake their torso next to you, and you return the favour. An intimate form of movement, and those that are in the same moment as you understand fully what the music means, and the impact it immediately had. Having a grip like this is envious, I wish I could make music that was as powerful as this. One song. Just one song is all they have; but it’s caused something. Something beautiful beyond words. A quiet storm.
When I’m sent music that is this powerful, I wish I could write something equally as beautiful as what I’ve been sent to listen to. I struggle with words sometimes, but bands like Little Death Machine make it easy for the words to fall out. They are yet again, another band that fully justify my love for duos. Sure I could have just written about their debut single but I’d much rather go deeper and to the core of what music does. Albeit what it does to me, but I live in hope that someone out there will read this or something else I’ve written and feel that someone gets how they feel about music. I’m in awe that a band can be so brilliant with just ONE song. I’m excited for their future and what they do next.
There’s comfort in dark surroundings. There’s beauty in haunting music. Nothing must ever be typical or conventional.
Beat In My Bones. 