Hello! Welcome to a new feature called Dream Streams, where its my aim to round up some streams of some of the best albums to have recently come out/been made available to listen to. Not sure if I'm going to carry on with conventional album reviews, simply because I don't think its a very interesting method in all honesty. Its tiresome to write sometimes and lord knows nobody reads anything lengthy unless theres a rating at the bottom (Not something I think should get in the way of an album you might enjoy).
So yeah, I've 3 recent albums to talk briefly about and share with you today so I hope you enjoy and have a good listen if it takes your fancy!
ALUNAGEORGE - BODY MUSIC
Yes, after such unending hype AlunaGeorge finally released their debut album Body Music last monday and if you dig well crafted Electronic Pop songs, you're in for a treat. As the title suggests, this is an album for the movers and shakers of the world. Not to say you can't enjoy it in the comfort of your armchair, but if your head doesn't start bopping I'll eat my beanie. The London duo, made of childlike singer Aluna Francis and Musician/Producer George Reid, put together old favourites like stomper singles "You Know You Like It" and "Your Drums, Your Love" with excellent new r'n'b tinged material like the alluring "Just A Touch" and smooth sailing album opener "Outlines" and somewhat ferocious garage-esque choons like "Lost & Found". Its a really enjoyable album and if chart success as well as collaborations with other UK upstarts Disclosure is anything to go by, its the first of many from a certified duo of pop legends in the making. Have a listen below...
POND - HOBO ROCKET
Now as anyone who knows my musical taste will tell you, I love Tame Impala. But its spinoff/other group Pond that have always lived somewhat unfairly in the shadows of Kevin Parker's main article. Indeed, former Tame bassist Nick Allbrook's group is a much more primitive affair in terms of song writing and production but for those into good old fashioned rock records, thats not a bad thing. Anthems come in full swing on the band's (short but sweet 7 track) 5th album Hobo Rocket with latest single "Xanman" sounding like George Harrison's "Wah Wah" had he co-written it with Kevin Shields. Similarly "Giant Tortoise" shares the weird 60's psychedelia meets 90s shoegaze sound that puts guitarist (and Tame synth player) Jay Watson in the spotlight he quite deserves. Elsewhere on "O Dharma" and "Aloneaflameaflower" the band seem to share MGMT's taste in the weird and whackier side of psych rock with slow Syd Barrett/Pink Floyd-esque jams. If that sounds like your bag, give it a listen below...
SWIM DEEP - WHERE THE HEAVEN ARE WE
It would seem, despite the great groups that still pour out of the West Midlands, that the 'b-town scene' is dying. Peace and their charming debut album In Love seeing the group explode into the world of nationwide adoration was the first bullet wound to the scene and Swim Deep's debut Where The Heaven Are We may just be killing blow. The hits that gave Swim Deep their name are of course still stellar pieces of pop songwriting with optimistic synth plodders "Honey" and "The Sea" and perfect album opener "Francisco" giving off the air of feelgood vibes (I know, I said it, puke). Its still, the band's first real hit "King City" that continues to steal the show with the perfect getmeoutofthismiserabletown lyric "fuck your romance I wanna pretend, that Jenny Lee Lindberg is my girlfriend". Elsewhere the album falls perhaps a little flat. The songs aren't bad, they just could have been so so much more. Still as album closer "She Changes The Weather" finishes off, you have to commend the boys from Brum for getting this far without trying all that hard. Blast it in your lugholes below...
And thats it! Hope that was interesting or something took your fancy. If you feel like having a look at some real reviews for the AlunaGeorge and Swim Deep albums, check out my girlfriend Kayleigh's reviews on Renowned For Sound here and here, she sums them up rather perfectly.
Otherwise see you soon, feel free to write in and hope you enjoy your not so frequent (I will improve!) dose of music. Be safe :)
www.alunageorge.com
www.pondband.com
www.swim-deep.tumblr.com
Showing posts with label new music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new music. Show all posts
Sunday, 4 August 2013
Thursday, 18 July 2013
New Choons: Yuck - 'Rebirth'
I know its been a month since my last post, something that I'm going to apologise for in greater depth in another post I'm working on later. Nothing to worry about, content is on its way, I just feel like this blog needs a bit of a rebirth. Speaking of rebirth, Yuck have just released the first single from their upcoming second album fittingly titled er... "Rebirth". Its a particularly poignant title for a band who have in the past year had their lead singer quit the group. Indeed Daniel Blumberg decided to focus on solo project Hebronix, a more self indulgent affair than any previous Yuck material. Listening to the album today I was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't too pretentious to enjoy. Still, I was eagerly awaiting what guitarist/new singer Max Bloom had to offer as it was his songwriting on Yuck's 2011 self titled debut, showcased on Bloom's only vocal track "Operation" as well as the captivating instrumental "Rose Gives A Lilly" and 7 minute album closer "Rubber", that had truly won me over. So today, after weeks of recording and mixing in New York, the band release "Rebirth", and as the saying goes, it does exactly what it says on the tin.
If Yuck's debut record could be (lovingly) accused of being an imitation of US Indie Rock bands such as Pavement, Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr, "Rebirth" would appear to display that Yuck have decided to cross back over the pond. Alas, the first thoughts of the new single I had were how it reminded me of a lot of UK shoegaze of the early 90s bringing to mind bands like My Bloody Valentine (Particularly the track "Blown A Wish"), Slowdive and The Verve's very early material. Ironic that the first record was made in the UK and the band travelled to New York to make this one! Anyway, comparisons aside "Rebirth" is an instantly enjoyable song for fans of 90s alt rock and shoegaze and is refreshingly different enough from the first album to escape any accusations of Max not moving on. "I don't want your love, I want you" Bloom sings with a dreamy voice that puts any doubts of his vocal abilities to bed. The last track Yuck revealed (though never released), "Chew" is actually a good indication that the band are choosing to go down a more psychedelic/atmospheric route. The lo fi production that characterised Yuck's earlier material is actually not too sorely missed on "Rebirth" with spiralling guitars and swirling synths elevating the song to epic new heights for the band. Hopefully the fans take to what is a well formed and enjoyably groovy song that bodes well for the upcoming album. Yuck reborn, "Rebirth" has me wanting more.
Available now, you can download "Rebirth" for free at www.yuckband.com
Saturday, 22 June 2013
New Choons: Arctic Monkeys - 'Do I Wanna Know?'
Don't you hate it when a really big band says something like "Keep your eyes peeled tonight, we've got something for you". Even worse when its like 11pm and you stay up waiting a silent forever for the new song only to find yourself falling asleep by the time its hit. Arctic Monkeys don't do that, the considerate bastards, they let you get a nice bit of sleep and have you wake up to a new song. Not only that, but a video and availability to buy this new single straight off the bat. Sure they happen to be the biggest band in Britain, they have a fanbase of millions that snap at every opportunity to buy into the group and they can afford to be risky with their promotion methods but that doesn't make "Do I Wanna Know" any less exciting. Its a sign of what to expect with the band's forthcoming fifth album and with last years' "R U Mine?" fast becoming one of the band's most popular songs, our tongues wag only harder.
The first thing I thought when the opening seconds of "Do I Wanna Know?" hit me was, "this sounds a little familiar". Indeed, the song's intro plays a bit like a slower version of the aforementioned "R U Mine?" with some fans describing it as the popular singles sister song. The ominously bluesy scale the guitars play is remarkably similar, however teamed with the punchy bass and almost r'n'b drum beat, the song is elevated into something altogether quite different. A musically aggressive tune when it really kicks in, it seems the Sheffield quartet have spent their new residency in LA wisely, most likely hanging out with close friend Josh Homme and his gang. Its in the lyrics that "Do I Wanna Know?" shines still, with Alex Turner crooning the words "There's this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow and I play it on repeat until I fall asleep, spilling drinks on my settee" detailing the unbearable feeling of wanting someone but not knowing whether to act on the feeling. "Do I wanna know if this feeling falls both ways?" and "Been wondering if your hearts still open and if so I wanna know what time it shuts" are lines that drip with the passionate wordplay that made Mr Turner famous. Despite everything that has changed with the Arctic Monkeys over the years, Turner's lyrical genius remains unmatched and its that which pushes a song that already rocks your ears into one that rocks your mind. If its anything to go by, the new album shall not disappoint the fans of the band's last albums Humbug and Suck It And See. Do you wanna know? Do I even have to ask?
"Do I Wanna Know?" is out now on Domino Records and is available to download on iTunes here: http://po.st/DoIWannaKnowSingle
Or watch the Pink Floyd style promo video below.
The first thing I thought when the opening seconds of "Do I Wanna Know?" hit me was, "this sounds a little familiar". Indeed, the song's intro plays a bit like a slower version of the aforementioned "R U Mine?" with some fans describing it as the popular singles sister song. The ominously bluesy scale the guitars play is remarkably similar, however teamed with the punchy bass and almost r'n'b drum beat, the song is elevated into something altogether quite different. A musically aggressive tune when it really kicks in, it seems the Sheffield quartet have spent their new residency in LA wisely, most likely hanging out with close friend Josh Homme and his gang. Its in the lyrics that "Do I Wanna Know?" shines still, with Alex Turner crooning the words "There's this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow and I play it on repeat until I fall asleep, spilling drinks on my settee" detailing the unbearable feeling of wanting someone but not knowing whether to act on the feeling. "Do I wanna know if this feeling falls both ways?" and "Been wondering if your hearts still open and if so I wanna know what time it shuts" are lines that drip with the passionate wordplay that made Mr Turner famous. Despite everything that has changed with the Arctic Monkeys over the years, Turner's lyrical genius remains unmatched and its that which pushes a song that already rocks your ears into one that rocks your mind. If its anything to go by, the new album shall not disappoint the fans of the band's last albums Humbug and Suck It And See. Do you wanna know? Do I even have to ask?
"Do I Wanna Know?" is out now on Domino Records and is available to download on iTunes here: http://po.st/DoIWannaKnowSingle
Or watch the Pink Floyd style promo video below.
New Choons: Sisters - 'Clearhead'
If there's something a blogger with a 'contact me' page should do, its probably work out how to read the emails in your inbox... don't judge! Anyway apologies to anybody who has sent me things to listen to over the past few weeks, I've literally only just read them due to a misunderstanding (gmail is new to me), so I will listen to as much as I can and hopefully get back to some of you/write some words. Anyway, one email that cropped up came from the upcoming indie label/PR company Gravy Records (artists include Wolverhampton's own God Damn) informing me of the new single from Ireland born but London based noise pop trio Sisters. I'd already familiarised myself with the band, the band's name was actually one I had in mind for my own band but alas, in discovering it was taken, google led me to Sisters and their charming debut single "Clearhead".
With guitars drenched in reverb, slightly fuzzy bass and thrashy drums, some would argue its a familiar formula of many bands emerging in the UK at the moment. In fact its safe to say "Clearhead" definitely wouldn't sound out of place with the jingle jangle musings of Palma Violets or Splashh, but by no means is this a bad thing. The song has an almost folkish feel to it despite the otherwise brash and fuzzy sounds, helped by singer/bassist Aoife's soft voice that opens with the relatable line "I'm a fighter not a lover, but I feel all soft inside". The song as a whole is actually quite a delightfully catchy tune that will have you humming along in no time. In fact, if Sisters remind me of anyone its of UK indie pop legends Comet Gain or perhaps Veronica Falls if they dug out a fuzz pedal or two, not necessarily for the female vocals but the great pop songwriting and the familiarity that comes from the oh-so-human lyrics. If "Clearhead" is a sign of things to come, I'm happy to amble down Sisters' road.
"Clearhead" is out now on Gravy Records and can be bought at www.gravyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/clearhead though you can listen to/watch the promo video below. Enjoy.
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