The Futureheads have released this video as the first taster of what to expect from their long-awaited and warm-welcomed return.
Taken from their forthcoming, entirely a capella album; Rant (available from 2nd April), The Old Dun Cow is one of the classic folk drinking songs. If this video says anything about what to expect from the rest of the album, then the boys have really outdone themselves and the risk of taking on such an abstract concept will definitely pay off.
The second single to be released from M83′s 2011 album; Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. Following the success of top 40 single Midnight City, Reunion showcases the bands ability to release solid pop music, without losing the super-cool personality they have built for themselves over the past 11 years.
The intro makes you believe you are about to hear the quintessential, epic 80′s pop track but when the vocals come in (sounding very Temper Trap/Big Pink) it is realised why M83 is now competing up there with the most recent of pop acts.
To be released 7th April. ilovem83.com
With Record Store Day 2012 fast approaching, the time has come to take a look at some of the exclusive records that will be available on the day.
UK independent label, Xtra Mile Recordings will be releasing three very limited edition 7″ records;
Frank Turner, with a double A-side transparent green 7” vinyl of – I Still Believe, plus a much anticipated cover of Queen‘s – Somebody To Love.
Future Of The Left – At Magnetic West EP 7” on black heavyweight vinyl.
Mull Historical Society, double A-side – Must You Get Low EP on clear 7’’ featuring a previously unreleased track from the Loss album sessions.
There will only be a small run of each release, so be sure to get in there early to snap up one of these amazing one-offs!
Let us introduce you to Peace… this may seem like a slogan you would have heard coming out of the mouth of the late John Lennon but let me make clear that this time, the phrase has far different connotations.
Peace is a young band from Birmingham, who have well and truly found their feet in their hometown and are currently playing shows up and down the country (see here). Their blend of pixies-esq guitar arrangements, midlands stamped vocals and foals-like soundscape choruses set them apart from a lot of new UK bands. Check out debut single; Follow Baby to hear for yourself.
With the festival season just around the corner, a lot of bands involved in this year’s festivities are releasing new material, giving their adoring fans enough time to get an earful before the big dates… and who can blame them for using the opportunity! It’s just a bit disappointing when a band like Blood Red Shoes, with mighty singles like; I Wish I Was Someone Better and It’s Getting Boring By The Sea, release something as slow moving and mundane as latest single - Cold.
Please don’t judge them solely on this release and if you can find it in your heart to forgive, then take the time to check out their back catalogue.
The official build up to Record Store Day 2012 was kicked off in style last night by Public Image Ltd. John Lydon’s band played to a couple of hundred people at a secret venue in London and debuted two of the songs from their new four track EP; One Drop, which will be released on the 21st April as part of RSD 2012.
More events are expected throughout the coming month, as well as, hundreds of releases to be expected from artists such as; Arctic Monkeys, The Clash, Laura Marling, Arcade Fire and The White Stripes to name only a hand full. Check out their official site here for updates.
Today has seen the release of Black White & Blue, the first single from Ladyhawke’s new album, Anxiety. The New Zealand born songwriter set the bar really high with her self-titled debut album back in 2008, making the phrase ‘difficult second album’ so relevant. It is clear that Phillipa Brown has put a lot of effort into making this release new and original, while trying not to lose her distinctive stamp but I wouldn’t say it’s up to par with the first album, boasting massive singles such as; Paris is Burning and My Delirium. In its own right, not a bad song at all but in the four years between her debut and now I would have expected something more powerful.
Last Wednesday we ventured down to The Rainbow, Birmingham, where we met up with British indie-synth-pop duo Summer Camp for a pre-show chat. “I expected it to look more like an actual Rainbow” commented Elizabeth Sankey, lead singer of tonight’s headline act on this unlikely, out-of-town venue (see video for her full description and diagram).
Summer Camp were born out of a happy accident when multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Warmsley created a fake MySpace page for the pair, posing behind the guise of a Swedish pop-group;
“We started making music together one afternoon just for a laugh…Elizabeth hadn’t really sung much before but we thought it would be fun to record a song…This blog called Transparent picked up on the MySpace page and within two hours we were getting record deal offers…it was really weird”.
Talking about their debut album; Welcome to Condale, the band cite film and television shows from a range of eras as their major influences. This is reflected in the visuals for their live show; a montage of scenes from Jailhouse Rock, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Breakfast Club and Footloose amongst others.
On pinpointing a specific era the band’s music is reminiscent of, Jeremy mentions;
“We did get a lot of 80s and chill wave descriptions thrown at us but I think we’re about a bit more than just that…some people say 50s, some say 90s, I think it’s more about a general reaching back and the older you are, the more it seems like it’s from a previous decade.”
Referring to more electronic tracks like I Want You and No One Knows You, Jeremy highlights an interesting basis for their sound;
“Sometimes I would be reading pitchfork and someone would mention Dub or Dub-Step, I’ve never really listened to any Dub-Step but I would kind of base the sound on the descriptions I read”.
Take a listen to the nostalgic Welcome to Condale and see what era it takes you back to.
We caught up with Maven Fiction after his show at Staffs Uni, Stoke-on-trent.
