Tag Archives: Soft Power Records

Beat Mark.

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I don’t know much about French music, but I did go through a stage of listening to nothing but French Hip Hop. I was 15 years old, and I’m not sorry. Even if you can’t understand French, their Hip Hop scene is pretty good. But if you want something else then maybe try Beat Mark.

Soft Power Records do not put out shit music. They’re like Art Fag Records, Sacred Bones Records and Zoo Music. They just put out music that MUST be heard. Music that is of worth, and by that I mean music that I love so this is obviously going to be biased. Thing is, I don’t write about what I don’t like because although I can be shit at times; I have my limits. Don’t slag someone off who is doing their job. Are you the one selling records and on stage singing your heart out? No. Then shush. I will sit down with you and tell you why certain “folk” singers/bands are toss though. I don’t have an issue with that. Anyway, Beat Mark.

Beat Mark are from Paris. They have captured the true feel of Shoegaze and have made something entirely dreamy. I don’t mean in a swoony kind of way. I mean that, Beat Mark make you feel like you are dreaming and judging by all the hate in the world, this is something that we all need. I can imagine living in a city to be quite exhausting at times (try living on the Isle Of Man, that’s a billion times worse) and possibly frustrating. Like a wild animal trapped; so you search for an outlet. Never judge a person’s way of unleashing how they feel, unless they punch you. Then maybe they need a cuddle. I’m convinced the world would be more gentle if we all hugged more. Anyway, tangent. Sorry. Beat Mark have a brilliant suave vibe to their music, and the female vocals that appear add a gorgeous delicate tone to their songs.

I think it is obvious that Beat Mark are my kind of band, and that’s why I’ve written about them. Purely selfish reasons, but it’s the only time I am so it’s okay. Beat Mark are the first new release of 2013 on Soft Power Records on the 15th February. Don’t buy into the Hallmark Holiday the day before, invest in Beat Mark’s EP, Move On instead. The release is limited to 100 copies on cassette, so be wise and purchase it ASAP.

You can listen to the EP here: http://softpowerrecords.bandcamp.com/ The title track is 6 minutes and 20 seconds of sheer bliss.

The Spook School.

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So any band that has a song called, Can You Really Trust A Man Who Thinks Matt Damon’s Really Cool? must be special, right? Of course.

I’ve got a thing for Scottish musicians. It all started when I was 10 years old in 1996 and I saw Shirley Manson on my TV screen. I was hooked and obsessed. I still feel the same. I also feel the same way about The Jesus And Mary Chain and Camera Obscura. I don’t know how to just simply love music. It becomes part of me, and takes over my life. I can control it. For now. Thing is, if it spirals out of control, I won’t exactly care.

So, The Spook School. Again, another bloody brilliant band that arte releasing something through Soft Power Records. They’ve got a delightful 5 track EP coming out soon called I Don’t Know, You Don’t Know, We All Don’t Know The Spook School. Try saying that after a few glasses of whiskey.

What I was immediately drawn to was how delicate their vocals are. Sort of like The Moldy Peaches (I firmly believe everyone needs to experience Adam Green live.)

Take the song, Something. It is just under 2 minutes and it oozes so much sadness and vulnerability. Then you have songs such as I Don’t Know that are so bold. They have a unique way of luring you in. I’m not going to try to lob them into some genre because they go beyond that. All good music goes beyond being just another name to throw about in certain genres. I cannot find a word, there are no words. They make heartbreaking, beautiful music. They have the sadness (Something) of Camera Obscura and the innocence of someone who has never watched one of those dodgy films on BBC2 late on a Saturday night. You know the kind that I mean.

In short, and obviously it takes me a while to get there because I’m fond of a ramble, The Spook School are one of Scotland’s finest and for the life of me, I don’t get why they are currently unsigned. You know what, FUCK YOU X-FACTOR for polluting the masses with utter tripe. Shove it. I’m backing the underdog, at least I can believe in them.

Alright, so my brief angst aside, you can listen to the EP here : http://softpowerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-dont-know-you-dont-know-we-all-dont-know-the-spook-school

It is out on the 17th December.

DIG.

HUNK.

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GOD BLESS SOFT POWER RECORDS.

That’s all there is to it really. That label are responsible for a lot of great music this year, so here’s another band that are nothing short of brilliant.

HUNK are another fine Irish band. They are three wonderful souls from Dublin that make a lot of noise. Except the noise creeps up on you. You see one of their songs, Hold Out starts quite tame. Then suddenly, not even halfway through, it just smashes you in the face. It takes you by surprise. So what you have to do is go back to the start again just to appreciate it- shock free of course. You wait for that drop to kick in just before it gets you right in the chops. It’s bloody wonderful, and from then on..well, that’s it really. Everything you knew before is suitably wank and this is all you need. Basically. I know I should be more “polite” with my words or whatever, but I had no idea. I just didn’t. And the word “wank” is a strong word to use to describe things isn’t it? I’ll stop before this goes somewhere I don’t want it to.

Dupe is another song by them that makes you want to dance. Now, excuse me, but when I say “dance” I do mean flail your gorgeous limbs about and just hope for the best. Be careful who you hit in the face. You may end up just hitting yourself. I’ve done that a few times. I don’t really dance. I like to sit and listen. I’m good at sitting and listening.

Their debut cassette is out on the 17th December through of course, the wonderful Soft Power Records.

You can listen to it here along with some other wonderful gems : http://softpowerrecords.bandcamp.com/

September Girls.

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Despite me looking like on of life’s most miserable buggers; it doesn’t take much to make me happy. Well, when it comes to music it may take a bit more because I’m really fussy. I’m only fussy because I am intensely passionate about it. You know how with some people, when they talk about what they’re passionate about and every single part of them lights up? That’s what music does to me. I get stupidly excited when I go to markets and find old 7″ singles of songs I never thought I could find. I sometimes can’t sleep the night before a record I’ve been waiting for is released because I want it in my hands. When I go to a gig, that’s when every single part of me comes alive. Music is everything to me. Someone once asked me, “Could you love a person as much as you love music?” I used to think I couldn’t, but I know I could. I can. I do.

I honestly don’t know much about bands from Ireland. Aside from The Undertones; that’s it. That’s as far as my knowledge goes. I’m sorry if this makes me small-minded. But you know most of my love is for New York and LA based bands. Obviously I know there is amazing music everywhere. I think most can agree that Sweden is responsible for some amazing bands right now. And of course the UK has some wonderful bands. But today, I’m going to write about a band that with first listen filled my ears with sheer joy and nostalgia. If you can do this, then I will regard you as perfect.

September Girls are a 5 piece from Dublin. I’ve been to Dublin, only once. I want to go back again. If anyone wants to take me there again; I’ve got a passport and a suitcase waiting to be packed. I think a nice whiskey trip would go down well. Whiskey talk aside, September Girls remind me of one of my favourite bands ever- Dum Dum Girls. They have managed to take the Wall Of Sound and added the purest sense of Garage Rock and have created something that makes you think, “Are we in the 60s?!” See, I love Dum Dum Girls because of Dee Dee’s delicate voice and their distorted but beautiful sound. September Girls do exactly that.

Their music gives you a true summer feel mixed with winter loneliness. But hey, don’t focus on the loneliness because you can cure that by listening to your favourite song. Or maybe by listening to September Girls. They’re the kind of band that would fit perfectly on the Girls In The Garage compilation (if anyone got me any of these, you’d have a friend in me for life.)

I’m not much of a dancer. Alright sure I have moves, but I only flail my limbs when whiskey has been summoned into my system. However, September Girls make you want to dance as if you are in a 60s girl group. I’m talking well rehearsed synchronised moves with a lot of concentration. Play their music, and conjure up a routine. Show your friends- if they mock you, find yourself a better social group.

The band only formed a year ago, and released a cassette on the amazing Soft Power label. Cassettes are brilliant, they need to be brought back. I used to make mixtapes when I was in secondary school for friends. I’d do my homework and make the tapes at the same time. Obviously the music had more of my attention.

You should head over to the band’s soundcloud page RIGHT NOW and listen to their tracks : http://soundcloud.com/septembergirls

They have haunting organs (instrument wise!) and exquisite guitars. The drums and bass make you want to move around in an insane fashion. It is fair to say that I am utterly in love with this band. I really cannot understand how you couldn’t be.

I know I shouldn’t tell you what to do and such things, but honestly- make sure you listen to them. They’ll blow your mind and move your soul in a way that no other could.

I guess if The Jesus And Mary Chain were female, they’d be September Girls. Takes a lot for me to say that because The Jesus And Mary Chain are my favourite band of all time. They have the same feel to their sound, maybe not as dark. But the general atmosphere is there. This is just a tame outburst of my love for September Girls; pretty sure I have more to offer.