Tag Archives: New Music 2024

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS: Chewing Gum.

Posted on by

I guess to some degree everything I will every write about Amyl and the Sniffers will just be a repeat of anything I’ve said before. However, the love I have for this band just grows and grows. How could it not? They are easily one of the best bands. Ever. Not just now, but ever. There is something about them that captures every tiny and massive detail about music that I love. I feel they always seem to put something out when you just need it. There’s a handful of bands that I feel this way about, and that feeling is unlike anything else.

Chewing Gum gives fans of the band everything they could want and more. It will give new fans/first time listeners something to cling to and believe in, and to fall in love with. I’ve had it on repeat since yesterday, and the video? Oh man alive! That video is just top tier. The song is a gentler pace than a typical Amly and the Sniffers song but the lyrics? It’s the band at their best. There are parts of the song that just hit you in the gut, and for me it’s: “I’m the voice of my young self when I was just a childs,she sings ‘Hey hey girl, you are doing fine.’ “ You know when you just need something that can only be found in a piece of music? That’s it. This is it. Maybe it isn’t so bad? Who knows.

What I love about Amyl and the Sniffers is the innocence in their songs (some not all) and the way of seeing the world. It is so precious. If I was a teenager and I was listening to this band for the first time, I’d definitely feel like I had found a home. There’s something so beautifully safe about the band, and maybe it’s the words. Maybe it’s always the words, but the words mean everything. It doesn’t always have to be so tough and brutal, y’know? They’re more than a Punk band, they’re more than a band. And songs like this just reinforce that.  I love how they always stay honest to who they are as a band, and how hard they have worked to get where they are and I think it truly shines in the line, “I was dreaming of a dinner that would fill up my plate. I was doing the dishes, cleaning, but I never ate.” I love this. The power this line has is just divine.

Amyl and the Sniffers do not have any bad songs at all. You’d be stuck trying to find a less than average song by them. They just make it seem so easy, but there’s years and years of hard work in this. I remember hearing Stole My Pushbike years ago, and the song I think is no more than a minute long? I heard it and was hooked. That one minute turned me into a fan for life. I think it came out in 2016/17, and I wasn’t having the best time and I just solidly listened to them every day and I remember it feeling like a weighted blanket around me. I still get that same feeling with every time I listen to them. It’s in Guided by Angels, Balaclava Lover Boogie, Chewing Gum and beyond. Every single song.

I love so much that they aren’t afraid to be vulnerable with their songs too. The ending of Chewing Gum hit me right in the gut again: “I used to be oh so tough, but for love I’ll be dumb. Stuck on you, stuck like glue, stuck like chewing gum.” Write this on my forehead. Inject this lyric into my blood. Put it everywhere. I feel it more than I want to. It’s easy to be tough isn’t it, but keeping it up is exhausting (I say this as someone who can probably cry at anything!) It’s such a perfect line. It’s a perfect song.

I don’t really like writing about songs in general, but this one is special. Really special. The whole song feels like a letter to maybe Amy’s younger self? I don’t know, but when you have lines like “Don’t you get caught up in stuff you never had” you can’t help but think it’s maybe reassurance for younger Amy turning into an adult and teaching her all she needs to know about getting to where she needs to. Hard work always pays off. It takes time, always. Bands like Amyl and the Sniffers are a proper example of this.

Their 3rd (full length) record, Cartoon Darkness will be out on 25th October.

CROWS: Vision Of Me.

Posted on by

Sometimes the biggest comfort you can have is a band you love, putting out a song that just rips you apart. That comfort is found in knowing someone else gets it. The things we keep close are released by someone who doesn’t know our name or face. That feeling of anonymity makes it easier to absorb every feeling the song gives you. You weren’t prepared to have a little cry on the tram to work at 7.40 this morning, were you?

For me, Crows are a band that gently get to your soul. It’s all well and good finding a band that can mend or break your heart or calm your mind- but when you find one that get you right in the gut- that’s when you know you’ve found THAT band. Vision Of Me is the second release from their new record, Reason Enough. And in all honesty? This song should have come with a warning. No song should break you like that. Lyrically, it’s their best work. I don’t think I’m going to hear a song like this for a long, long time. I’m okay with that because A) It’s Crows and no one can ever compare to them and B) I don’t think I’m a tough enough person to handle it. I’d rather welcome being overly sensitive than be told to toughen up. Vision Of Me has this beautiful sadness and honesty to it. You don’t have to be wallowing in your own sadness to feel sadness at the moment. The world is absolutely cruel and sick at the moment, and it probably won’t heal in my lifetime. Vision Of Me is a beautifully written song and it reminds me of Healing and Room 156 from Beware Believers- it has that gentleness to it that comes naturally to the band. I think for those who love this band, they’re a safety net. I know they are for me. I want to avoid listening to Vision Of Me because it is painful but my god it is one of the most important songs I’ve ever heard.

The lyrics feel like a healing process. They are a healing process. There are lines in this song could break the toughest of humans, and by no means am I tough at all, so it wasn’t hard for this song it floor me so early this morning, and I keep getting teary eyed every time I try listen to it again. The video is a work of art too- my god the way it reminds me of Wonderful Life by Black is too much (Top 5 greatest songs of all time, irrespective of genre. Thank you!) There’s beautiful hints of bands like Interpol in their sound and that’s probably why I love Crows so much but honestly? Nothing can compare to this song. I just know that Reason Enough is going to be my favourite record of the year. I know their show in Manchester will heal and break and heal and break me. The best bands will do this to you.

I don’t think any line will get me in the gut like “I need a break from this reality, and it seems like you do too” or “It’s the staying alive that’s hard” do. There is so much hope in this song. It does feel sad, but as I force myself to listen without bloody crying, I can feel and hear the hope. And I get that a lot from their music, and that may just be why I love them so, so much. Their music is like a backwards hug from the person you love the most. When James sings “Peace is easy, and love is easy. It’s the letting go that hurts.” You might as well rip my heart out of my chest with rusty pliers (please don’t.) Bloody hell. A work of art. A painful and relatable work of art. Up to that line in the song, I’m alright but there’s something about that line that makes me just bawl.

The video fits the song perfectly- I won’t spoil it for you, but the last shot of the video got me right in the gut too. That last shot sums up the song in the most poetic and purest way possible. I always think I couldn’t love Crows as much as I do, but they then go and do something like this, and it just throws me. Surely it must be a crime for a band to be this great? I think with everything they do; they will always improve. And I know you cannot improve perfection, but this band do it every single time. I hate wishing time away, but I cannot wait for the next month and a bit to pass, so I can religiously listen to the new record over and over.

For me, I find listening to Crows are really cathartic process. I listen to them every single day- they’re my comfort band afterall, but sometimes, I step away from that and really take in how phenomenal they are. Vision Of Me is one of those moments. I honestly don’t get how someone could listen to this song and not be moved by it.

Most of their UK tour dates can be found here: CROWS Concerts & Live Tour Dates: 2024-2025 Tickets | Bandsintown

Reason Enough is out on 27th September via Bad Vibrations Records.

CROWS: Bored

Posted on by

I can safely say that whenever Crows release new music, everything seems okay. It doesn’t matter what’s going on- the second those notes kick in, the second I hears James’ sweet, sweet voice- everything is alright.

I must have played Bored about 10 times this morning as I was getting ready for work, then as soon as 10am hit- I was on YouTube watching the video. The video made me miss London slightly. That feeling sensibly left me. I think I was just overwhelmed with sheer joy because there is a new Crows song! On the back of this, there’s a new record and of course- A TOUR!

Bored is just over 2 minutes of Crows at their best. The sentiment of Bored hits me right in the gut. I don’t think I’m bored; I’ve just got a poor attention span. But they pick up on the mundane of daily life such as queuing, settling for less and wanting something to happen just to ease the boredem. “If there’s a lack of connection, I leave” YES JAMES! Sing that line with your chest and more. I felt that. I feel every single word on this one. It picks up beautifully where the Beware Believers record left off. For me, Crows are my comfort band. I didn’t know I could have one specific band that would be it. Turn out, that band is Crows. I’ll hold off going into detail about that- I’ll save it for when the record comes out in September. In the meantime, watch the video. Play the song as loud as you can. As often as you can- treat it like a prescription.

To quote James, “‘Bored’ came out of that cycle of waking up and not being able to shake the feeling of wanting to bang your forehead against a brick wall.” I think every single one of us can relate to this. Songs like this make that heaviness less so, and that’s why I love this band with all I have. There’s something about them that transcends words because maybe, words aren’t needed. Why use them if you don’t have them. Why the hell have I written this? I think I needed an outlet because who’d want to listen to me bang on about why I love this band! Anyway, watch the video.

The new record, Reasons Enough will be released on 27th September via Bad Vibrations Records.

Crows will be on tour from October, but are playing a one-off gig this week at Third Man Records/Blue Basement in London. Tickets for the October/November shows go on sale this Friday, and the dates are:

July
4 – London @ Third Man Records / Blue Basement
October
5 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
9 – Brighton, UK @ DUST
10 – Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
11 – Glasgow, UK @ King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
12 – Dublin, IE @ The Soundhouse
14 – Nottingham, UK @ Rough Trade Nottingham
15 – London, UK @ Village Underground
17 – Bristol, UK @ Exchange
18 – Hebden Bridge, UK @ The Trades Club
28 – Cologne, DE @ Yard Club
29 – Hamburg, DE @ Turmzimmer
30 – Copenhagen, DE @ Loppen
November
1 – Berlin, DE @ Urban Spree
8 – Kortrijk, BE @ Sonic City
9 – Luxembourg, LU @ Rotondes
10 – Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje
13 – Lille, FR @  L’Aeronef
14 – Paris, FR @  La Maroquinerie
15 – Tours, FR @ Au Temps Machine
16 – Rennes, FR @ Antipode MJC Rennes

LOST ANGELS: Away We Go.

Posted on by

A number of years ago I wrote about a band called The Creeping Ivies. I think I wrote about them a hell of a lot, and they’re a band that I loved so much and I was gutted when they ended. However, Becca is back and her new band is equally as great so I’ll evidently become equally as obsessed.

Lost Angels only formed last year, and have FINALLY put out 3 brand new songs which I’ve fallen in love with. Becca has SUCH a distinctive voice, and her guitar playing is something else. Massively underrated but maybe Lost Angels will change that. In just 3 songs, they’ve created something that I cannot wait to hear more of. There’s comfort in hearing Becca’s voice again and I cannot wait to hear what else the band put out but for now- these 3 songs are what I’ll play on repeat.

The 3 track EP opens with the title track, Away We Go which is a beautiful way to get us hooked on such a great band. The EP is currently available on Bandcamp only but I think it’ll be up on Spotify etc. on the 14th so there’s no excuse for anyone to not get hold of the record in any way. The hook on Away We Go is a simple Punk-esque chant, and you cannot get enough of it. Imagine seeing the band live, and just yelling this back at them and as you leave the gig-you’re probably still yelling it.

And we get right into Midnight In The Graveyard which reminds me so much of one of the best songs ever written- I Just Wanna Have Something To Do by the Ramones; it sounds like it but there’s something beautifully creepy about this song and it’s easily my favourite. It feels like a Vincent Price film in the form of a song- perfect in every single way. I could listen to this on repeat and find more things to love about it. Obsessed? Always. It has such an eerie feel to it, and I just want to have it on repeat. I LOVE Becca’s vocals on this and in some ways, it does remind me of The Creeping Ivies and that will always be a good thing. I love the loudness on this song, but I love how the EP ends on a gentler note too.

The Only One closes the EP, and if you love Johnny Thunders- this is the one you’ll fall in love with. I love how you can pick up on the influences on this record, and it makes you feel like you’re hearing the Ramones or New York Dolls for the first time. Imagine never knowing such perfection, then it just hits you. You accidentally listen to the Ramones or NYD for the first time. Is that what sheer joy is? It’s up there. The Only One is a beautiful Punk love song, and they are the best love songs. These 3 songs are a perfect introduction to what Lost Angels are about, and they are clearly one of the best bands around from Glasgow right now. I really hope that more music comes from this and a tour too because these are the types of songs that you need to see live, right? They were made to be witnessed in sweaty dive bar.

I love this EP a hell of a lot and I love that I can hear parts of bands I love in every song. It’s a glorious EP and again, makes me wish I had even a fraction of musical talent. There’s nothing pretentious or over the top here- just beautiful Rock ‘N’ Roll from the heart and gut. I can’t wait to hear more from them because I know it’s going to be insanely brilliant and just effortlessly slick.

DIIV: Frog In Boiling Water.

Posted on by

Everyone has a band that just eases their brain a bit. I’ve got a handful; some are really loud, and some have this sound that I cannot describe- but I know it makes life a little easier. DIIV fall into the latter. They have this sound that just levels everything out, and nothing can get in to disrupt that.

Their new record takes its name from a novel by Daniel Quinn and is a record that has a lot of conscious thought poured into it. You can really feel and sense every element of care that has gone into this record. No part of it’s been rushed, and that’s how you need to listen to it. Make time for YOU and just play this record. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to this record in the past week, but I can tell you that blasting it through headphones is the best way to really soak up this record. DIIV make music that makes the world a bit more tender, and we all know how brutally heavy everything is. When you play this record, everything feels lighter, and I get that every time I listen to them- it doesn’t matter what record; they just give you this reassurance.

The lead single, Brown Paper Bag is divine. It just feels like you are about to fall into the best sleep of your life. I could easily have the best sleep of my life listening to DIIV- they just give you this general ease once you listen to them and even though some of what they sing about is heavy, there is a lightness that makes it all okay. From Oshin to Frog in Boiling Water, DIIV have again proved themselves to be a band that just know exactly what they are doing. Sure, they have a certain sound, but it has grown so much. I remember hearing them for the first time in either 2011 or 2012, and it felt like the world stopped. I still get that feeling now when I listen to them. I can only liken listening to DIIV as that very light feeling of falling in love properly- there’s no weight, there’s no expectations- it just happens. A sense of freedom in your mind and heart.

For me, DIIV have never made a bad record and if they have- I refuse to acknowledge if they have of course! Songs like Somber the Drums and In Amber just show how incredible the band are, and you close the record with Fender on the Freeway>! Who gave them permission to make such a killer record! Come on now! It’s one of those records that fit perfectly, and of course some may call Deceiver as their best work so far- but when you listen to their records in order, you will see (well, hear) and how every record fits perfectly. Frog in Boling Water sounds perfect right after Deceiver. I just love this band, but you knew that.

To even attempt to pick a favourite song after a week of almost religiously playing it- I’m going between Everyone Out and Little Birds. I think Little Birds is my favourite lyrically and vocally, but I’ve spent a fair amount of time listening to Soul-net and it may be one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard this year. I can’t choose. The record is produced by Chris Coady, and if you’ve listened to anything Chris has touched- you will know it is out of this world. Which is why Frog in Boiling Water is DIIV at their best again.  You can really hear that DIIV are a band that will just keep going and going; but still with something to say. Some keep going and should perhaps either quit or take a break for a while, but DIIV are not that band. They are a band that just clearly get better with every record.

Frog in Boiling Water shows such growth in the band, and it also shows that they are absolutely nowhere near done. DIIV are band that always make you excited with what they’re about to do next, and they’ve been doing this for well over 10 years now- that’s going nowhere. Just like my love for them.

SPRINTS: Letter To Self.

Posted on by

Since its release, I have been quietly obsessing over the debut record by SPRINTS. It is easily one of the most beautiful records of the year, and honestly- I’ve not connected with a record like this in a long time. If I could personally thank them for making such a phenomenal record that has made my dumb brain feel less strange, I would. But alas, I’ll just rant about the record here.

SPRINTS have made a record that HAS to be played loud. But you have to play it loud whilst on your own so you can take it all in. Like really really ignore the world around you, turn your phone off or throw it in the bin- and play this record so loud. I plan on playing it a little bit louder when I go home later. I want to crawl inside this record and make it my home. The more I listen to Cathedral, the more I hear the absolute genius of this band. There is nothing else out there like them. Nothing before them and nothing after them- they are it. I liken it to falling in love with the person you’ve been waiting for and finally feeling at home. This record is a safe space and also, beautifully terrifying because you cannot help but click with every single word.

Letter To Self is one of those songs that make you feel like you’ve reached the point of self-acceptance and understanding. I reckon if someone ripped my insides open this song would start playing. But the whole record feels like the purest and biggest cathartic experience you can imagine. It’s just as if you’re hearing something life-changing for the first time, and my god this is so clear within seconds of listening to the record. It opens with Ticking which feels like a punch right in the kisser, but you go back for more because you actually feel something. The way Heavy is effortlessly next after Ticking- give this band every award, everything good in the world. I don’t care- fucking give them it. This record is IT. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow and this is the last record I hear- then I will die happy. It is perfect. My words don’t do this record justice; I hope anyone who listens to it feels the way I do because my god it is the most perfect record I’ve heard in a long time. Maybe years. I don’t know. I feel like I’ve never heard music before playing this.

There are records you will hear in your lifetime, and you know that they will change you. Or change parts of you. Maybe they’ll get to parts of you that a person couldn’t. They’ll say the things you couldn’t pull out- and SPRINTS have beautifully done this with the record especially on the song Cathedral. My god that song is lyrically a work of art. It’s just divine.

SPRINTS have everything I want from a band in their sound; the lyrics, the heaviness, the way you feel as if you’re having your head bashed into a wall whilst Karla screams out the words that just speak to you more than anything else ever has. Her vocals on Up And Comer are INSANE- you can hear every raw emotion on this song, and you just want it to take over your life. This record will. It’s absolutely done that with me, and I’m happy if I never hear anything new again because everything I’d want is in SPRINTS. They unleash hell in the most perfect and beautiful way- the chaotic sounds are a delight for the ears and good for the soul. I want it injected into my veins- would that even be possible?! It’s a record (well, band to be honest) that you cannot help but become obsessed with in the best way imaginable. I couldn’t imagine going a day without listening to them, and I’ve got a handful of bands that I love as much as this. Part of me wants to lock myself in a room by myself for the rest of time playing their music and the other wants every single person in the world to listen and love them as much as I do. In short, everyone should love this band. How could you not?

The record ends with the album title track, and it’s the most perfect way to end the record.  Again, lyrically it’s genius. There is not a bad song on this record. There’s not a bad lyric. Everything is so vital and delivered with such urgency that is so infectious. You want it around you all the time. 11 songs aren’t enough but it’s just the start- they are going to be one of the best bands we’ve ever been lucky to have. Let’s treasure them in the way they deserve.

I LOVE how SPRINTS have this energy that just makes you want to shut everything out and play their music as loud as possible. I love how their sound reminds me of a band I miss so much- Savages. Karla’s vocals has the same power as Jehnny Beth- that energy and raw emotion is nothing short of perfect. If I had even a touch of musical talent, this is the band I’d probably want to sound like. They’ve got this glorious way of giving you something positive when everything seems utterly hopeless, y’know?

I’ve just bought a ticket to finally see them in November; I’ve not been to a gig this year yet and I have no idea why, so if this show ends up being the only one I go to this year- so be it. It’ll be the best anyway.

MAD DADDY: Too Tough To Die.

Posted on by

Here comes record number 2 by one of the best bands to have ever come from my hometown (well, home country) the Isle of Man…that band is Mad Daddy. I’ve written about them before, and I stand by everything I’ve said. They are truly a fantastic band, and record number 2 fully backs that up.

Too Tough To Die came out yesterday, and it’s got everything you could possibly want from a rowdy Garage Punk record. You want songs that smack you in the face? Mad Daddy have got you covered. You want harmonica infused anthems that’ll have you feeling like you’ve discovered Iggy Pop for the first time? They’ve got you. Mad Daddy have grown on this record, and this massive sound that they are now gracing us with is purely divine. You’ll want this injecting into your veins and brain.

The record opens with the title track, and we are then smacked with Hot Chicks which definitely makes you feel like it could be a record by The Stooges. Iggy Pop is a fan of the band anyway, so it’s a justified comparison. He’s got good taste. It’s a wild ride of a record, and you can hear how they’ve really pushed themselves on this record and have made something that fits perfectly after their debut from 2021. In those 3 years they’ve had a journey and a half, and this record really shows it. They’re not afraid to be louder on this record. They’ve also gone down the road of only having singles available on streaming sites, so if you want to hear this record- then you’re going to have to buy a copy, and blast it as loud as possible.

Every song on the record feels like it was made to be played live. You totally get this from songs like Stoned, I’m An Outsider and Be Bad. The harmonica on Stoned (especially) feels like a freight train hurtling towards you at top speed ready to launch you into the throes of some gnarly world that only Mad Daddy have the keys too. I love that their sound also has a motorcycle chase to it, and maybe that’s influence of the Isle of Man and the TT Races we have there. You can imagine their songs being blasted out as racers take on the roads with every twist and turn. It’s a thrilling record, with songs that make you feel like life is coming at you a billion miles per hour but you don’t mind- especially with songs like Road Racer. Too Tough To Die is a perfectly sleazy Punk Blues infused record. Think along the lines of The Cramps going headfirst into The Dead Boys and Iggy Pop. You can hear hints of The Dead Boys on Be Bad. The vocals on this are snarly and smutty- absolutely perfect, and I think it may be my favourite on the record at the moment. Of course I’ll change my mind, but right now- this is the one I feel that needs to be played the loudest. You can just imagine how wild this one will be live.

It Ain’t Easy is another example of why Mad Daddy are probably a band you HAVE to see live in order to really get how great they are. There’s this urgency to their sound that is so hypnotising and just makes you want to listen to them on a loop whilst you go about your day. Mad Daddy are one of those bands that you just know that their sound truly comes alive when they play live. They deserve the world, and hopefully this is the record that hands them it.

Every song on this record is a real example as to why they are such an exciting band, and from their debut to now- they’ve really developed a strong sound that you cannot get enough of. The drums on this record feel like blows to the gut, and the bass and guitar add this intensity that is a joy to listen to. It’s such a great record, and you can’t tell if you’ve found something from 2024 or if you’ve uncovered a hidden gem of a record from decades and decades ago.

Check out the tour dates here:

OH, THE GUILT: Deadnames & Deed Polls.

Posted on by

With today being a very important day (Trans Day Of Visibility) it’s only right that I write about the new (and gorgeous) record by the finest band from Bristol; Oh, The Guilt. Their new record came out on Friday, and it’s one of the most important records we will get this year. It is dark, heavy, and vital. It is a solid work of art that hits you right in the gut.

Firstly, you should know that the record was mastered by Ben Chisholm (of Chelsea Wolf) so that alone is a sign that the record is unreal. This is the band’s debut record, and to have someone like Ben master it shows you just how well loved, respected and talented the band are. I hope this record reaches the trans kid in the middle of nowhere and realizes that there is hope and a future out there for them. Even though the media (and government) continuously try to erase the trans community on a daily basis. We have bands like Oh, The Guilt who are so important and records like this show it gets better and you can be who you are, and who you deserve to be.

Every song on this record is entirely dreamy, and it’s evident on (my current favourite) Blue. I love how it sounds like a 90s dreamy number with touches of Shoegaze. In a way, it’s like Beach House meets Mazzy Star. That’s the general feel I get from this song and in parts, a lot of the record feels that way. Jules’ drumming on this is exceptional. It’s like waves crashing into rocks, but it’s balanced out with the calmness of the guitar. It’s like a dream swimming round your head on a loop. It’s a gorgeous song, and the vocals will soothe your soul. It’s perfect, and I think it’s one of those songs you play through headphones and close the world out to. Blue features Elijah’s vocals pre-transition, and I touch on further down his vocals on the re-recording of Darkest Days.

It then picks up on Bella, and this is where the bands Grunge influences really kick in. I love how the band can give you this wave of calmness but they can also hit you with this beautiful rowdy sound.  I know I said Blue is currently my favourite but I’m putt Bella as a close second. You can just imagine it going OFF when they play this live. It’s got this feel to it that makes you want to just throw things around without a care in the world, and move your body around in a way that you’ve not done in a while.

I’m going to skip to the end of the record for this part. The record ends with the euphoric The Path and features the Phoenix Song Project- which are is a music therapy project run by and for members of trans and non-binary communities in Bristol. This is the most perfect way to end the record; it is full of hope and love. Again, it’s the song I hope a trans kid (or adult) in the middle of nowhere hears and knows that there is a community out there for them that will love and support them endlessly. It is honestly the most gorgeous and perfect way to close their stunning debut record, which has been a long time coming.  I hope Jules, Kit and Elijah are aware of the impact that this record will have. It’s a truly powerful record, and it exudes trans and queer joy- something that is so needed right now.

There is a new version of Darkest Days on the record, which has post-transition vocals from Elijah. It is again another euphoric song, and musically it reminds me so much of The Velvet Underground. That drastic build on the drums and everything just coming together is so powerful.  It all clashes with this build and you can hear just how exceptionally talented Kit, Jules and Elijah are. You can hear perfectly on this record in general just how phenomenal they are, but the re-recording of this song shows you how far they’ve come as a band and as individuals on their own journey.

What I love about this record is that you can hear the growth of Kit, Jules, and Elijah. You can hear this beautiful confidence in every song and in a way, this doesn’t feel like a debut record. They’ve been making music for so long together, it’s hard to grasp that we’ve only just got their debut record but my god it was worth the wait. This record really shows how far they have come and I think from keeping vocals on some songs that were pre-transition, it really shows the importance of the record and how powerful they are as a band. You can hear the confidence too; as a band and as individuals and it is so inspiring and wonderful to hear it. I could spend hours and hours writing about this record, but honestly? It’s probably best you take the time to listen to it. Shut the world off, and just get lost in this divine record created by 3 beautiful human beings.

Every song on this record is a journey. Every song on this record is for a community that are constantly being pulled apart every single day. So, if you do anything this Trans Day of Visibility; support organisations such as NotAPhase and you know- buy the Oh, The Guilt record!

VR SEX: Hard Copy.

Posted on by

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.

DRUUGG: Ride Me Down Easy.

Posted on by

I love finding something new to listen to by accident. Some of the bands I love and written about have been found this way. You spend ages trying to find something to listen to, and all of a sudden when you think you won’t get there- you find it. It hits you, and it’s the best feeling ever. Or one of them. I’ve just this minute found a band from Belgium called DRUUGG and they are unreal. They’ve got this heavy sound mixed with some serious psychedelic tones, and I cannot get enough of it.

Their debut record Ride Me Down Easy came out last week, and it’s one of the most electrifying records I’ve heard in a while. It’ll make you want to grab a guitar and make your own fuzzy sounds like sound like Melvins on acid times a billion. I’ve never done drugs, but I’d imagine that this is what it’d feel like, and what the inside of your head would sound like if you did. I love how for the bulk of their songs it is just sheer euphoric noise with the odd vocals creeping in. I absolutely do not know what is going on, and I love it. This is the kind of music I seem to gravitate towards- there’s no set genre or whatever; just sheer noise, talent, and passion. There are only 3 songs on this record, so I might as well go through each one and do my best to write down why they are glorious.

The first song on the record is Ride Me Down Easy. It’s over 5 and a half minutes long, and the start of it sounds like a motorbike being revved up to go give chase to anyone who dares gets in the way. This goes on for about a minute or 2, and it gets heavier and wilder as the vocals kick in. As soon as the vocals come in, you realise that this band are really onto something here. There’s this sludgey heavy sound that lures you in, and when it happens- when you truly get sucked in, you won’t be able to listen to anything else. I know it’s their first ever release but my goodness it sounds like something a band decades into their career would make. It’s a very organised sound, and it’s one that will leave you wanting more and more. More will never be enough; because they are THAT good.  I think they may have only been together for about a year, but they sound like they’ve been doing this for eternity. This is the perfect way to kick off their debut EP. It’s loud, it’s got all the reverb and fuzziness you could possibly want. Divine.

We then go into I Cried A River which was their first ever release. This is only 3 minutes and 6 seconds long- so feel free to have this one on constant repeat too if you feel like you haven’t got enough. This one is a proper Psychedellic number- you feel like someone has handed you something questionable throughout the whole record, but this one has the edge over the other 2 songs. The bass on this reminds me slightly of Warpaint- you know how Jenny Lee has that distinctive style? That’s something I’m picking up on the bass on this one. It’s such a great song, and you can easily see why it was their first single to be released. It’s got that something that grips you and fits nicely in the middle of the other 2 songs on the record.

The EP ends with You Want Me To Fall; a real headphones moment. It is one of those songs that you make time for purposely. You’ll listen to all 3 songs casually but something hits you with this one, and you know that you have to stop everything you are doing and take time out for yourself to really soak up this song. I love the distorted vocals, and I love how everything on this song just fits together perfectly. I’ll make you feel like you’ve found one of the best songs ever made. It’ll make you feel like you’ve listened to My Bloody Valentine for the first time. It’ll kickstart the dormant parts of you, and all will feel okay. It’s a beautiful song, and I feel like 6 minutes and 50 seconds of this isn’t enough. This whole record isn’t long enough, but I know that when they release their full length record, it will be one of the best things I’ll ever hear.

DRUUGG make exceptional music, and this is only the start. This 3 song taster is a perfect introduction to how great they are. It’s heavy in all the right places, and it just takes you off into a different world. Put your headphones on, shut the world out and give in to what DRUUGG have created on Ride Me Down Easy.