The Murder Act - Polygon download

Experimental krautrock post punk band The Murder Act (London, UK) has added a new song for Soundcloud download entitled ‘Polygon’. Described as “Early Swans meets early Bad Seeds” the band have already released a highly respectable debut E.P. ‘Traum’ - available now from their bandcamp site at:

http://the-murder-act.bandcamp.com/

We took a listen to the ‘Polygon’ track and this is what we thought:

From a misty and tentative beginning grows a mucous filled chasm of despair. Thrumming and relentless tom-tom beats push out a gloomy pace as the morose vocals (almost spoken) hesitantly stew up an inexorable lather. The song seems to be stepping tremulously towards a milky-light horizon. Enmeshed within the coils of barbed guitars and sparkling riffs are festering unanswered cries for help and miserable reasons for release. This song grabs your soul, and it won’t let go till you are sunk into the depths. -- © Neil_Mach March 2012 --

http://soundcloud.com/the-murder-act/polygon

New Town Kings - new Vid

The 9-piece ska band from Colchester, Essex (UK) - the NEW TOWN KINGS - have released their second studio album entitled ‘Music of Jamaican Origin’ (M.O.J.O.) with an official video for ‘News Stand’ available to see now!

The video takes a candid look at the media’s perception of popular culture and has been chosen by the band to reflect the strength of tabloid media over the nation. Chris Watts of the band explains the motives behind the video, “News Stand is about the media not telling the full truth, we are basically saying you should look at things from all angles to get the full picture”.

‘News Stand’ is a ska-treat. With pliant elbow-flapping and neck-jerking rhythms, along with those smooth honey coloured vocals we have come to expect from the band. These are coupled with a feathery light and unhurried percussion. The fast-yapping hipster in the trilby is ska-reverend and New Town singer Chris Watts. The wise-man fronts up the shockingly tight band brimming with wobbling, foaming bright n’ juicy horns, and jerking lurching guitars, all whipped up into a viscous pith.

With an upcoming tour with the ‘Slackers’ in April, plus appearances at this year’s Boomtown Festival, Mighty Sounds in Czech Republic and separate dates with David Rodigan, Fishbone, plus tons of headline shows in the UK, 2012 is guaranteed to be hectic. Chris told us, “Summer 2012 is going to be big, the band is developing quickly and the feedback at our recent shows has been phenomenal”.

Catch the band on tour in the UK with the ‘Slackers’ in April. If you like trad reggae based ska, but you still like living in the 21st century -then this will be way up your street. Go grab it now!

http://www.newtownkings.com

Beacons Festival announces headliners Wild Beasts

Beacons Festival are pleased to announce that widely acclaimed, Mercury Prize nominees Wild Beasts will headline the main stage on the Saturday. This appearance is also a northern exclusive and the only opportunity people will have to see the band in the North of England this summer.

17th – 19th August 2012
Funkirk Estate, Skipton, The Stunning Yorkshire Dales

This means the line-up now looks like this with further acts to be announced soon:

WILD BEASTS / PATRICK WOLF / ROOTS MANUVA / JUNIOR BOYS / GHOSTPOET / ERRORS / JESSIE WARE / FRANKIE & THE HEARTSTRINGS / MAYA JANE COLES / FACTORY FLOOR / PEARSON SOUND / CASS MCCOMBS / WILLY MASON / D/R/U/G/S / PEAKING LIGHTS / XXXY / KWES / OUTFIT / STAR SLINGER / CLOCK OPERA / LUNICE / SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA / BOK BOK / 2:54 / JAM CITY / KING KRULE / MAZES / STILL CORNERS / STAY+ / GROSS MAGIC / BOS ANGELES / GRASS HOUSE / ARTHUR BEATRICE / HOOKWORMS / THE WAVE PICTURES / AU PALAIS

A very small number of early birds tickets are left at just £60 for the weekend, including camping (£55 for students). Once these have gone there will be a batch at £74.50 and then full price tickets will be at £84.50.

Tickets are available to purchase from the Beacons Festival website, HMV, Seetickets, Resident Advisor, Leedstickets.com, Jumbo Records and Crash Records.

Link:

http://www.facebook.com/beaconsfestival

Ellen and the Escapades - Live at Boiler Room, Guildford

The past two years have been an exhilarating journey for Leeds-based folk rockers Ellen and the Escapades. Blending the three elements of folk, pop and rock, the band’s distinctive and appealing sound seems to have everyone talking. After winning 2010’s Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition and playing BBC Introducing stages at both Reading and Leeds Festivals, the band has gone from strength to strength.

Ellen’s dusky, enchanting vocals and strikingly well crafted songs have already captured the attention of BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music and Amazing Radio listeners. Fans include Lauren Laverne and Steve Lamacq, and the band was recently play listed for ten weeks on Amazing Radio. Supporting the likes of Josh T. Pearson, First Aid Kit and Paolo Nutini have brought the band’s music to even bigger audiences all over the country.

We were fortunate enough to catch up with the band on their extensive UK tour- prior to the launch of the eagerly anticipated ‘All The Crooked Scenes‘ album. We saw the band at the superb Boiler Room venue in Guildford, Surrey.

Ellen (Smith) (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica) introduced Ben on the bass guitar. By her side was Jeff (guitar, backing vocals) and Chris (keyboards). James was on drums.

Playing the Surrey crowd a selection of titles from their new album, as well as old favourites, we enjoyed songs like ‘Yours To Keep’ which starts off with an intensely tinselly shimmer of cymbals, then the night-line beat whispers along. Helpful churchy piano helps to fill out the sound, as big bags of bountiful bass and pleasurable lines of southern electric vibe start to ease your troubled mind. All the while the soda-stained, hickory-smoked rusty voice of Ellen embraces you, coiling gently around the room. Seductive.

‘I’ll Keep You Warm’ is a tender love song that has syrupy shiny guitars cascading gently over ripples of lush percussion. ‘All the Crooked Scenes’ has an onslaught of savory beats, sizeable chunks of chunky pattering chords and those foggy vocals that loom like spectres from a moist moor. Eventually the song starts smashing and crashing with an intense energy and commitment not normally witnessed in a folk song. And there is more than a hint of wild west attitude corralled into this piece. Sizzling.

‘Coming Back Home’ - This song, about outstaying your welcome, is the most ‘Janis Ian’ sounding piece in the Ellen and the Escapades repertoire. With a rattle of drums and a slow rise to a flowering of lush sounds before the chorus takes a cheeky hold. This is enchanting stuff.

With imaginative guitar-work, old school-hall piano accompaniments and fragile, mossy, almost translucent vocals from Ellen, this was a sumptuous show filled with quality musicianship and stirring song-writing. I cannot wait for the album!

© Neil Mach. March 2012

Link:

http://www.facebook.com/ellenandtheescapades



Album Out 16th April

APRIL LIVE DATES

Sunday 15 April
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Monday 16 April
The Lexington, London

Tuesday 17 April
Buffalo Bar, Cardiff

Wednesday 18 April
Thekla, Bristol

Thursday 19 April
Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

BlackListers - UK March Tour

About to release their debut album in April on Brew, BLACKLISTERS is an unrelenting noise rock tour de force. Billy Mason-Wood’s skewed and often terrifying vocals with Dante Beesley’s sharp, distinctive guitar demand you undivided attention. Whilst underneath, Owen Griffiths’ marauding bass lines and Alistair Stobbart’s unrelenting drumming drive the songs with genuine menace. Taking cues from Leeds favorites Pulled Apart By Horses and label mates Kong, Blacklisters have drawn comparisons to 400 Blows, Shellac and early Glassjaw. With Dan Carter (BBC Radio1 Rock Show) likening them to noise rock giants The Jesus Lizard, Blacklisters pull no punches.



March Tour Dates:
- - - - - - - - - - -

Friday 16th - Birminham, The Rainbow

Saturday 17th - London, The Wilmington

Wednesday 21st - Glasgow, Bloc - Free entry

Thursday 22nd - York, Stereo

Friday 23rd - Hartlepool, The Clarendon

Saturday 24th - Leeds, The Library

Link:

www.facebook.com/blacklistersmusic

InMe UK Tour - March

InMe are an English alternative rock band based in Brentwood, Essex. They have toured with the likes of Nickelback, Limp Bizkit, Pendulum, Deftones, Serj Tankian, Staind, Feeder and Biffy Clyro; they have also played main stages and packed tents at respected festivals such as Reading, Sonisphere, Download & Summer Breeze. To date, the band has released 4 highly successful studio albums spawning a number of Top 40 UK singles. Their 5^th studio album, “The Pride”, was the first to be released via Pledge Music – allowing the fans to involve themselves in the release process, enabling the band to connect with them and help a cause of their choice. Having worked with Pledge Music on his debut solo album earlier this year, frontman Dave McPherson is in no doubt that it’s the best route to take:

"Pledge Music enabled me to take my solo music to a whole new level. It brought me closer to my supporters & helped finance the whole campaign whilst raising £2000 for Save The Children. I've been excited about InMe's Pledge Music campaign for far too long, it's like waiting for Christmas when you're a kid! We have around 70 incentives including 'The Pride' album, 'Elysium: Overgrown Eden Live' DVD, personalised songs, house party gigs, a massive merch range, handwritten lyric sheets & loads more. Mine & Greg's Grandfather passed away earlier this year due to complications from Alzheimer's Disease so we'll be donating a portion of the funds raised to the Alzheimer's Society to help combat this terrible condition for the future. Some of our management team have also had to deal with Alzheimer's first hand so it's a charity the whole team feels warmly about.”

March Dates
- - - - - - - - - -

Thu 8^th – SHEFFIELD, Corporation

Fri 9^th – LIVERPOOL, The Masque

Sat 10^th – YORK, Fibbers

Sun 11^th – MIDDLESBROUGH, The Crown

Tue 13^th – NEWCASTLE, Academy 2

Wed 14^th – ABERDEEN, Tunnels

Thu 15^th – DUNDEE, Dexter's

Fri 16^th – GLASGOW, Cathouse

Sat 17^th – BELFAST, Spring & Airbrake

Sun 18^th – DUBLIN, Whelans

Tue 20^th – LIMERICK, Dolans

Wed 21^st – CORK, Cyprus Avenue

Thu 22^nd – LEEDS, The Well

Fri 23^rd – HULL, The Lamp

Sat 24^th – MANCHESTER, Moho Live

Mon 26^th – STOKE, Sugarmill

Tue 27^th – NOTTINGHAM, Rock City

Wed 28^th – BIRMINGHAM, HMV Institute

Thu 29^th – GLOUCESTER, Guildhall

Fri 30^th – CARDIFF, Clwb Ifor Bach

Sat 31^st – LONDON, Islington Academy

Beacons Festival 2012

The cutting-edge Beacons Festival, a family friendly weekend, takes place from Friday 17th until Sunday 19th August 2012 at the delightful Funkirk Estate, Carleton, Near Skipton, in North Yorkshire. Proudly non-corporate and unsponsored, this independent small festival, set in an idyllic hillside in the countryside between Leeds and Bradford, show-cases some of the brightest and freshest acts from Yorkshire, the North and beyond- in six marquees.

The festival also offers a cinema programme, children’s entertainment, spoken word, theatre and more. The festival also offers easy access by rail ...

The first instalment of the sizzling exciting line-up has already been revealed, with more huge acts likely to be announced within the next few weeks. Beacons will host Rodney Smith, aka Roots Manuva, this year. After the release of last year’s ‘4everrevolution‘- his most powerful product since’ Run Come Save Me ‘- the UK hip-hop legend will bring his innovative sound to the Yorkshire crowds this year.

Other artists announced so far include:

Hip Hop doctor and experimental fusionista GhostPoet

Montreal based entertainer, chipped-to-the-max Lunice

Jet-jamming hypersoul spacer Star Slinger

Frantic Wymeswold indie-pop climbers the Wave Pictures

Funky is 'not techno-trance' Manchester mad MusicMan XXXY

Tender-goth sounding electropop duo Au Palais

Off-kilter electronic beat glitterballs D/R/U/G/S

Fuzzy, grungy Brighton based lo-fi spectacle Gross Magic

Leeds five-piece shoe-gazing cassette-tape freaksters the Hookworms

Check the full line-up RIGHT NOW on the facebook site at www.facebook.com/beaconsfestival

ROOTS MANUVA / JUNIOR BOYS / GHOSTPOET / ERRORS / FACTORY FLOOR / PEARSON SOUND / CASS MCCOMBS / WILLY MASON / D/R/U/G/S / PEAKING LIGHTS / XXXY / STAR SLINGER / SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA / BOK BOK / 2:54 / JAM CITY / KING KRULE / MAZES / STILL CORNERS / STAY+ / GROSS MAGIC / BOS ANGELES /GRASS HOUSE

Anison - Debut Album Release

Shimmering and glimmering they come, a cascade of synth and guitar heavy magic that -on one hand dazzles you with its depth- and on the other makes you swoon over its simplicity. Having already enjoyed slots on Radio 1 and the XFM play-list, the Kingston (UK) based quartet Anison have set themselves apart from the bands they list as influences ( including Radiohead and Blur ) through true originality. It’s musicians making the stuff according to how they feel it should be, rather than how they are used to hearing it. Their music is a rush of melancholy that engrossed through its many layers, ignited by a set of delicate intros that came as a calm before the proverbial storm.

Memory Flashes is the new Anison offering, produced by Steve Lyon (Depeche Mode, The Cure and Paul McCartney) it is a cascade of vocal, synth and guitar-heavy magic, on one hand dazzling with its depth and on the other instantly accessible in its simplicity.

Completed in the autumn of 2011 Memory Flashes draws repeatedly on the theme of time for it’s lyrical content. Reflective and considerate, Anison’s music is a rush of melancholy that engrosses through its many layers, ignited by the delicate intro that comes as a calm before the proverbial emotional and sonic storm.

Here’s what we thought of the tracks ‘Fluidity’ and ‘Sail Back to Sleep’ :

‘Fluidity’ - This track has chug-chug beats and coils of whimpering notes that wrap around the high vocals like a basket cobra. First, abrasive notes screech and rumble-tumble, then harmonies evoke a feeling of warmth and joy. The slightly discordant guitars fizz and bubble - creating a sense of growing unease. Drawn out and tortuously groaning pulses adorn the extraordinary vocal acrobatics whilst racking percussion trips and cobbles along. The fuzzy profusion of sounds completes this fallen angel symphony. Stunning.

‘Sail Back to Sleep’ is set to be the single from the Anison album. Imagine meeting Depeche Mode outside a nightmarish nightclub in a war torn city ... to get something like the idea of what is going on here. Darkly enunciated vocals are set against chaffs of chords, stitched together with some powerful harmonic imagery. Soaring, seething guitars rake and rail against the darkling sky. Native drums echo in the background and then the horizons are lit up by blazes of screaming and dizzying high notes. Awesome stuff!

-- © Neil Mach. March 2012 --

Link:

http://www.anison.co.uk

Clockwork Era - New Release

 
Clockwork Era ( Jason Lipscombe & Cat Gray ) create a cathartic noise that spits out bile through the disillusioned post-punk sensibilities that commentate on an imploding society through jagged riff-laden buzz-saw guitars, crunching drums and incessant repetitive mantra like vocals; war, social commentary, lies and paranoia are all delivered with vitriol, resentment and anger.

They release their new EP ‘Fear Inside’ on 23 April 2012, and we were lucky enough to get hold of the opening track. Here’s what we found:

This epicurean track from these high strutting punkster commandos, has sheets of frazzled guitars, wafered against the angular power, and the simple crunching tones of adolescent vocals set against a fierce cymbal serenade. Brief squelches of guitar mushroom out and glimpse the startling air before dying out in an arc of pure light. And always that relentless marching pace soldiers on. The ‘Open Up and Open Wide’ vocal cameo sets up the end-piece, bringing about a powdery and tumultuous crescendo of finely flumed guitar and quick-fire laser percussion. Moreish.
-- © Neil_Mach March 2012--

Clockwork Era - Live Dates

Friday 16 March 2012
New Pilgrims Club Launch @ The Silver Bullet, London N4

Thursday 24 May 2012
Kiss The Music @ Sebright Arms, London E2

Saturday 2 June 2012
Dog and Parrot, Newcastle upon Tyne

Saturday 9 June 2012
Kiss The Music Festival @ Sebright Arms, London E2

Friday 16 June 2012
Chamber @ Buffalo Bar, London N1

Link:

http://www.clockworkera.com/

Black Moth - New Free Download

Black Moth have recently been in the studio with producer Jim Sclavunos, (who is also the drummer in Nick Cave’s bands Grinderman and the Bad Seeds) to produce a hot debut album (out on 7th May on London label New Heavy Sounds.)

Freshly released from this highly anticipated recording, Black Moth are giving away the track ‘Chicken Shit’ for free from their Soundcloud page at:

http://soundcloud.com/blackmoth-1/chicken-shit

We checked the track out, and here's what we thought:

As awesome seesawing rhythms go, this is one hellish chain-saw yo-yo ride. Imagine a rotating blade menacingly swinging from a severed limb to roughly get the idea. Juxtaposed against this relentless to and fro danger is a guilt ridden corrugation of puckeringly juicy guitars- creating a bloodfest of guts and gore that seeps from the cracks gelatinously. Yelps add a sense of confusion and despair, but otherwise the voice of Harriet Hyde ( morphed into being from those Leeds scuzzmeisters ‘The Bacchae’) sounds far more punk orientated than stoner rock... if you think Grinderman you will not be far wrong. This blistering track elevates itself up from second-hand Pentagram style black schlock -rock to a far more orderly, more pervasive, sound based around the premise of darkly ironic punk.
-- © Neil_Mach March 2012 --

Upcoming shows:

5th May - Live At Leeds, Leeds

6th May - Camden Crawl, London

http://www.facebook.com/themothpit