Tag Archives: Partisan Records

NoSo: Stay Proud Of Me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHUBBY AND THE GANG.

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Hello, I am an idiot. An idiot who has had a piece written about Chubby And The Gang saved in my drafts, and never finished it. I read over it, deleted it and now- I’m starting again. There’s nothing worse for me than having to read over what I’ve written. Awful. Anyway, now seems a good a time as any to write about one of the finest bands around- Chubby And The Gang.

Their most recent release came out on Valentine’s Day (Labour of Love) and if reading this is your first time hearing about the band- then it’s probably the ideal introduction. CATG are one of London’s finest Punk bands. They are loud and electrifying. They are the kind of band you find yourself seeking out so you can just become more and more obsessed with them. Even more impressive is that they are supporting The Chats on their tour soon! That’s a lineup to get really excited about!

CATG have that 70s Punk feel, and when you listen to them you cannot help but feel you are roaming the streets of London with them just searching for something to do in a time when there was nothing. That feeling of hopelessness and nothingness is something that’s been quite vocal in Punk, but it’s something that makes the listener feel less of a deadbeat. I love their sound so much, and although I didn’t write about their debut record in 2020 when it came out- let it be known that is is a phenomenal record and one I still play the shit out of! It’s way too good to not mention.

Their debut record, Speed Kills is made up of 13 proper Punk anthems. Play it in any order, play it loud and play it religiously. For me it captures the real spirit of Punk and I love the brutal tones on the record. These 13 songs will go down in Punk history as being some of the most rowdy anthems ever written. And of course, you can’t talk about their debut without mentioning how great their second record, The Mutt’s Nuts is. If you’re wanting something louder and more in your face- this is the one for you. This is a proper rowdy record, and you can really hear how feral their sound is on this record. It’s just as mind-blowing as their debut, but The Mutt’s Nuts has a little bit more bite to it.

Both are clearly magnificent records and you cannot help but play one after the other. I’m probably pissing my neighbours off by playing this stupidly loud. Their second record has hints of Black Flag and Dead Kennedys about it- fast, to the point and makes you just want to scream along. The band excel themselves with everything they do, and I think the song that really sums this up is the second track on the record, It’s Me Who’ll Pay. Pay close attention the lyrics. The Mutt’s Nuts consists of 15 songs that shout “fuck off” is different ways. Utterly brilliant.

CATG are that band that you just need to see play live- on record you can definitely hear the passion and pick up on the urgency in the music, but to see them live would be heightened beyond words! There is just so much energy in the music, and it’s the kind of energy that just makes you feel part of something that matters. If you’re moved by bands like Amyl And The Sniffers, The Speedways, The Chats- all that good stuff; then you’ll absolutely find a home in Chubby And The Gang.

FONTAINES D.C. : A Hero’s Death.

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In a few small hours, the world will be able to finally hear the new record by Fontaines D.C. I don’t say this lightly when I say it is truly one of the most heartfelt, heartbreaking and brutally honest records of the year. There will be no comparisons to their debut, Dogrel. The only fair comparison is that both records are phenomenal and show us exactly why they are one of the most exciting and exhilarating bands around. If you’re looking for a record that soaks up all of your anger, insecurities, fear, lust and all that goes in between, then this is the record for you. Treasure it.

Fontaines D.C. are quite frankly the best at what they do. We can all agree on that, right? With so much uncertainty in the world it’s hard to find any good in anything or in anyone. It’s totally okay to have a meltdown. It’s okay to feel like shit and not have the words to describe why. You can be as happy as a pig in shit one minute, then be a bawling mess the next. I get it. More than I wish I did. One of the few things that can get me out of a rut is music. Certain bands can drag me out when I can’t. We all look for a crutch in conventional and unconventional things. What they have done on A Hero’s Death is something that goes beyond words. It’s the record you’ve been needing for so long. You’ve been so desperate for this record. You will cling to it- day and night. It will be all you have at 3am when the world goes quiet, but your mind doesn’t.

Vocally, Grian has excelled himself. His voice on this record is that of someone who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable with their words and share them with you in a way you didn’t know someone could. Without being too personal, I’ve struggled since last August when my Gran died to find any joy in music. I didn’t want to hear anything new. I didn’t want to hear anything old. I got in this phase of just playing certain songs over and over. To the point where I didn’t want to listen to music. I cried myself to sleep many times listening to The Murder Capital. I blocked out bits of grief to Fontaines D.C. I was finding ways to cope. Nearly a year on, I’m still there. I’ve made peace with grief, fully not accepting she is gone at times. The poetry on A Hero’s Death is beautifully crafted, a sheer romantic record in all ways possible. The typical to the not so typical. One thing that is constantly constant is the greatness and honesty on the record.

A Lucid Dream is my number one obsession right now; I love the ferocious energy it has, and I cannot wait to see them perform this live (May cannot com quick enough.) There is something about the way it musically sounds like The Birthday Party but vocally, it goes beyond. I love everything about this song. You can just imagine it being played live, with the lights as dim as possible with the smoke machine going on overdrive, and everyone in the room just loses their mind to it. Heavenly. God, I miss going to gigs.

You Said is a gentle number, vocally. But don’t let that fool you. It is a monster of a song and the way A Lucid Dream flows right into it is just divine. I love how the songs flow into each other. The order of the songs on A Hero’s Death is sublime, and you cannot help but fall in love with this record within seconds. Their second record comes just around 18 months or so (a little less) than their debut. You can hear the growth and power in what they do. I’m all for music sometimes keeping me on edge/making me feel a little uncomfortable but A Hero’s Death is a safety net. It is such a comforting record that just soothes your soul. One of my favourite moments on the record is Carlos and Conor’s guitar on You Said. It is so gentle, but it is so powerful. Mix this with Tom’s ethereal drumming and Conor’s slick bass- you’ve got the most beautifully created song imaginable.

There is so much poetic imagery on this record, and songs like Oh Such a Spring feel like a lullaby and all of a sudden you are smacked in the chops again with the title track. It’s an effortlessly brilliant move, and the way Grian chants “Life ain’t always empty” just makes you feel less alone. The song is a mantra for those who are unsure or are struggling. It’s alright. It’ll be alright.

The last song on the record is just over 5 minutes long and I urge you to play No on your own, through headphones. The whole record should be played like this, but this song in particular just makes you feel like you need to go outside and find a place quiet/sacred and listen to it through headphones with no interruptions. Make this song yours. It is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard in a long time. I read somewhere that bands like Suicide and Beach House played an influential role to this record. As someone who adores both bands, I can definitely hear a nod to Beach House on this one. It is the most perfect ending to such a perfect record. I’m in awe of every single song.

2019 saw the band probably work harder more than most. Touring was relentless and their music was (and of course, still is) vital. A Hero’s Death is one of the few positive things to happen this year, and my god it is such a powerful and important record. It is one of those records that you hope some kid in a tiny village hears, and they scribble their thoughts in a notebook. They find like-minded pals and form a band which allows them to speak their truth and what they see/feel. It is such an inspiring record, and I honestly don’t think anything is going to top this record. I love the sense of community the band give off. You can feel it on the Facebook group, you can feel it intensely at their live shows. They are a band that just make everyone feel every single word, every note, every beat. Every single detail is felt right in your soul. And you cling to it.

With 11 songs coming in just over 45 minutes, Fontaines D.C. have given us something to treat as our reflection. Something that pulls things out of us that we may be afraid of. It’s comforting but it is also THE most exciting record of the year. My words don’t do this record justice. It’s out tomorrow- BUY IT!

IDLES: Manchester Academy. 4th December 2019.

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I apologise in advance for potentially how erratic and lengthy this will be. Last night’s show went beyond meaning the world to me, and although I may not be able to eloquently put into words what the show meant to me, I know that there is an incredible group of people who fully understand. That group of people are the AF Gang. Thank you.

Prior to the show last night Joe, Lee and Bobo walked past me. I stupidly (or sensibly) used my self-control to not go up to them and spurt out words of love and ask for a photo. I think part of me couldn’t believe it. Not that these real people walked past me, but because I was a couple of hours away from seeing them on stage. It hadn’t sunk in yet; the tickets were last minute (and I owe it to two complete strangers who have hearts of gold.)

Sadly, I didn’t make all the 45s set but what I could hear was truly wonderful and it sounded so energetic. But I did catch all METZ’s set. I think anyone who knows me, knows I love two bands a hell of a lot- METZ and IDLES. I saw METZ earlier this year when they played the Pink Room at YES (USA Nails supported, and again this was a dream line up.) I was blown away and I was left struggling to hear the day after. It was incredible. Second time around in a much bigger venue- they sounded the same. Full of this beautiful rowdiness that just makes you want to pick up a guitar and make a lot of noise. They are one of the best live bands around, and to see everyone else react the same was a beautiful thing too. Songs like Get Off and Acetate were sheer madness, and of course just made me fall in love with them all over again. If you ever get to see them, GO. In any capacity, just go. They’ll shake your bones and shatter your skull in the best way possible.

The main event. The bit where my heart beats faster in a good way, not from having a panic attack. The part where my life probably changes. Where it all kicks in.

IDLES take to the stage and open with Colossus. If you ever want to see a bunch of passionate, beautiful people rush to the front upon hearing the opening chords to an anthem- go to an IDLES show. This was the first time in a very long time where I was in the midst of the crowd. I normally stay back or near the side. I don’t do big venues usually. But I can safely say that I felt so fucking safe at this show. IDLES played 18 songs, and I’m pretty sure we would have begged them to stay longer and play them all again. They are a band that just make me feel so fucking happy and I honestly don’t know what I would do without them. They are a band that say the things I probably can’t, and just voice out my worries and emotions better than I ever could. They are my outlet and my safety net. I have never sung (well, shouted) like this at a show before. This morning my body hurts and my throat hurts in the best way possible. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Every single song is a highlight (we got QUEENS for fucks sake!!!) and I wanted to stay in the moment forever. Is this how someone feels when they see their child for the first time? I think this is probably better. From the crowd chanting IDLES prior to them coming on stage, from Bobo ending up in the crowd to Joe ending up with someone’s shoe on stage- this was truly the best gig I’ve ever, ever been to. Sorry Nick Cave, I think you’ve bene overtaken! The crowd chanting “Oh Jeremy Corbyn” to the mass sing along of Wonderwall and All I Want For Christmas Is You. It was the most loving and precious atmosphere; I just wanted to be immersed in it forever.

This was my first IDLES show and it won’t be my last. There is something about seeing them for the first time that just gives you that kick up the arse that you need. Everything that this band and us fans stand for is something to treasure and to pass on. There were kids at the gigs with their parents, and if it was their first ever gig then everything else in life has a lot to live up to! I loved that during Rottweiler birthday girl, Catherine got on stage to play guitar with them. To see a fellow AF Ganger up on stage with the band and just ripping the stage apart was beautiful. That’s how you do a birthday and close a show.

Slow Savage broke my heart. This was the only moment I cried during the show. There is something about the way Joe shouts, “I’m the worst lover that you’ll ever have” that rips you apart. It’s the sheer openness and vulnerability in their songs that lures you in and wraps itself around your heart. This song is a prime example of it. But there is something else about their shows that will wrap itself around your heart- the strong feeling of unity.

Danny Nedelko is sang like a football chant on the terraces. This song means a hell of a lot to me and so many. It’s a perfect example of what makes this country great- the people who come here to better themselves. Our beautiful immigrants. We love you and you are welcome here. Always.

I feel I am missing key moments from the show, but I’ve had 5 hours sleep and a bit of a migraine brewing. I don’t care. I have never felt so alive as I did last night. The atmosphere was safe and full of love- just how it should be. We got Queens for fucks sake! I’m still delirious over that; incredible. Last night changed something in me. I’m not entirely sure what just yet, but something will emerge I’m sure. It has to. Since losing my Gran 3 months ago, I’ve not had hold of any emotion I have; everything has been a downward spiral in my head but last night I had a glimmer of stability. I have to go with that.

There is also nothing more satisfying and therapeutic than screaming along to their song Mother, and yelling “MOTHER! FUCKER!” with a few thousand people. Nothing can beat that.

Keep fucking going, and love yourself. LOVE.YOURSELF.

FONTAINES D.C. : O2 Ritz, Manchester 19th November 2019.

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“A sell-out is someone who becomes a hypocrite in the name of money. An idiot is someone who lets their education do all of their thinking. A phony is someone who demands respect for the principles they effect. A dilettante is someone who can’t tell the difference between fashion and style. Charisma is exquisite manipulation, and money is a sandpit of the soul.”

 

Recently crowned by Rough Trade as being their record of the year, Dogrel by the mighty Fontaines D.C. is a record that you need to witness in a live setting. If like me, you’ve been playing it almost religiously since it came out this year you will know just how powerful this record is. It’s romantic, it’s brutal, it’s honest and it is powerful. There’s only one way to play it, and that’s loud. In a live setting, it becomes something else. I knew it was going to blow my mind, but my god it exceeded everything and anything I thought about this beautiful band.

Their set is basically Dogrel in full, and every song is performed with this ferocious energy that makes you believe in every single word that comes out of Grian’s mouth. He’s a poet yet he delivers the words in a way of a preacher, it’s absolutely hypnotising and such a great thing to witness. As I watch the band, I can’t help but feel that they have the same energy and presence that The Birthday Party had. Grian stalks the stage like a young Nick Cave; Carlos and Conor are like Rowland S. Howard and Mick Harvey/Blixa.

 

 

Fontaines D.C. are unapologetically loud, and they touch on subjects that most tend to shy away from. Their songs touch on the sexism in the workplace to dreaming of being big to black cab drivers. There is so much reality in their songs, and this reality is something that many would fear or try to shy away from. No one at the Ritz last night was shying away from any of this. Pints of beer were flying; middle aged men were screaming the songs at the top of their lungs and the kids at the front were no doubt soaking up everything Fontaines were giving us to create their own noise in the future. I sure hope they do.

Songs like Too Real, Sha Sha Sha and Liberty Belle see the venue absolutely erupt in euphoria. We all know that this is one of the greatest records of the year and beyond, but trust me it all changes when you see it live and when you are surrounded with people who love this record, and this band as much as you do. You feel at home and oddly secure. Chequeless Reckless was my highlight for sure, but I’m going to touch on the set closer Big shortly which was equally as powerful. So, Chequless Reckless goes beyond being a song; it is a vital piece of poetry that should be studied. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if, in the future their lyrics find their way onto syllabuses in schools. Fontaines are no doubt our future and are showing us a side that we need to be exposed to. You can see their world anywhere, but so many chose to ignore it. Don’t. Just don’t. I love the way the band just play with this urgency and dedication to make these songs be heard. Grian’s vocals takeover the venue, but when you see the sheer devotion in the way Tom beats the living shit out of the drums and how Conor treats his bass like a machine gun not to forget how Carlos and Conor thrash their guitars about with this sheer Punk energy that would make even Johnny Ramone proud if he was here. If you were at this show last night, chances are that like me, your love and obsession for Fontaines has gone through the roof.

The band end with Dogrel’s opener, Big. In a way, this has become a bit of an anthem. All their songs have done this. Fontaines could easily sell out arenas there’s no denying that, and maybe this will now be the last time we get to see them in a venue this size but their songs and the way they perform them do create a sense of intimacy and sheer devotion between the band and the fans. Big is THAT song that will inspire many to get out of their current town and to make it elsewhere. Anyone can do it, and the self-belief that Fontaines have, and had got them where they are now. Big is the song you play to pump yourself up or to just give yourself reassurance that you can make something of yourself, even if your beginnings aren’t grand.

 

 

If you’re looking for a band that will blow your mind, burst your eardrums and leave you covered in other people’s drinks- then go to a Fontaines show. It was most certainly one of those shows that you know people will be talking about in decades from now; it was memorable for so many reasons, and as time goes on those reasons will evolve. People will start bands because of this show, people will create their own poetry because of this show, this band and Dogrel. There is no denying just how brilliant Fontaines are and of course, they deserve to be big. Last night’s show went beyond proving that. Definitely one of my favourite shows of the year.

 

FONTAINES D.C. : Dogrel.

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This is a record that I should have written about the day it was released, but I wanted the record to really sink in before I even got started on this. It’s a heavy record- in both sound and lyrically. It isn’t a record to casually listen to. It is a record to invest yourself in, and to completely focus on. The past few weeks or so, Dogrel has been a record I have constantly listened to. Over and over. I think I’m now ready to put my thoughts about it out there.

I’ve not read any opinions on this record, but I’m assuming it is loved by so many. How couldn’t it be? It is one of the most important records of our time, and is an astounding debut. For a band to have this much power so early on is something to really treasure, and to keep a close eye on. Fontaines D.C. aren’t a band that are going to just fade away with what they have done on Dogrel they are likely to keep on doing. They have made songs that will last a lifetime and more, they are a band to hold dear and lean on. How did we get this far without them?

 

 

Big opens the record; a song that sets the tone for the record and how Fontaines D.C. are surely going to take over. They give hope for those for may have been held down, told they can’t do something and made to feel like they can’t get out of their situation. It’s a song for lost souls who know there is something more out there for them. Grian pours his heart out on this and it something that is occurs throughout the whole record. Too Real and Television Screens are the songs that you know are chanted right back at the band at their shows. Every single song on this record has the feel of an anthem. You can imagine crowds singing this on the terraces, in the pub, on a walk home from a night out or just being at home and shouting them out like your life depends on it. These songs are made to be heard, but also screamed along with. Grian doesn’t scream, but his voice has the same power as if he is. You cannot help but soak up everything he sings. The band are lovers of poetry, and that is something that is apparent throughout this record. They aren’t just songs. They are poetic symphonies that have so much heart and passion. There’s a Beat Poet style about them, and I am completely in love with it. It’s a style of poetry that is just stunning, and they have their own take on it that’s beautifully portrayed in their songs.

There have been so many astounding records this year. Records from bands that we have been in dire need of, bands who are just getting started but make you feel like you’ve had their music in your collection for all your life. Bands that have this urgency in their sound that makes you feel like nothing can touch you. Dogrel is the kind of record you would use as a shield to protect yourself from the world. There is so much nostalgia in this record, but Dogrel also has hope for the future. This record is the future, Fontaines D.C. are the future. I can safely say that I have not become completely obsessed with just one song on this record. It has been every song that I have been in awe of. As soon as it ends, I start the record all over again. However, to mention Television Screens again- I just have to say that the vocals on this are my absolute favourite as well as the drums. I love the gentleness on this song, but how the lyrics are so hard-hitting and get you right in the gut.

Fontaines D.C. are a band that we are in dire need of. They aren’t afraid to be painfully honest to be so open in the topics they touch on. They talk about their city (Dublin) in a way that makes you connect it to your own hometown. You connect with the frustrations, the passions, the struggle of daily life. They give it to you in a way that makes you feel like it is your own story.

 

 

Dogrel is clearly one of, if not THE most fascinating records of the year. It is rowdy, poetic and brutal. It is a bold statement that oozes charm and bravery; something that we are so desperately in need of.