When I first heard London’s Pet Scenes they instantly reminded me of New Zealand band The 3D’s; full of shearing guitar chords and alluring pop-punk melodies. But to be fair to the band, they’ve probably never heard of the NZ noise-punk pioneers, with influences more likely to have come from British Gothic groups like Bauhaus and recent punk revivalists The Horrors. Pet Scenes however have a heavier hardcore sound that differentiates them, delivering a wall of guitar noise with an attacking vocal style.
Imagine a Mozart party! Big curly white wigs, velvet and long socks, and piano jams? Perhaps. Anyway, I digress. 23-year-old Lake District by-way-of-London musician James Bennett definitely earns his extensive blog love of late with his project, Mozart Parties. Strong, defiant bass lines lead soft vocal melodies, crunchy distorted guitar and distant tin can drums, providing for very memorable dream pop with an edge. I was immediately taken with ‘Black Cloud’, which I found in a FMLY blog radio playlist.
This weeks round up of the tracks that I haven’t had the space to post…
Dreamy dance pop that makes you go all wonky at the knees.
There’s something about the whimsy and spontaneity of Total Slacker‘s fun-loving ethos and rocking out songs that makes a lasting impression. Their post-grunge pop, from shifty to boundless to creeping to outright thrashing songs, keeps the flame for energetic creation without necessarily having hordes of expendable energy. The New York trio come off as exuding both horizontally chilled out vibes and unrestrained enthusiasm. It’s a winning combo – they’re cool without even trying.
The countdown has started, the tree is decorated, the gifts are bought and, if you’re organised, wrapped and your probably on the verge of exhaustion. Well sit back with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie and enjoy Summer Camp’s cover of the Waitresses christmas classic courtesy of those nice people at Moshi Moshi.
4 blokes from London in a band called Wheels, influences ranging from Blur to Buckley, Verve to Pulp (obviously). I’m just quite confused about the identity of this band, they come complete with a psychadelic logo, and Feel About Me is such an amazingly catchy pop song, backed by an excellent video, but I caught a strong whiff of american alternative , with George Runciman’s switch in accent. Yet in Words, he swerves into Richard Ashcroft mode – nothing wrong with that, should be a compliment infact, but do we really need to revive britrock again? It certainly isn’t waning. Ask Liam Gallagher and he’ll tell ya.
All Pics courtesy of Stew RufflesGothic rockers Deathline (first featured on the Devil’s blog way back in 2007, Deathline) have taken time out from scaring the children and laying down tracks for their next, as yet untitled, album to share their thoughts with the Devil. To celebrate sharing their innermost thoughts they are offering free copies of the album to the first 10 reader who email them at list@deathline.co.uk with the subject "The Devil wants me for your mailing list". The first 10 readers to do so will all receive a voucher for a free download of a special edition of their first album (available for those who miss out from the bands bandcamp site for $5) with an unreleased bonus track and a video. How good is that?
After last night’s detour to the musical world of the Russian Federation I’m back on familiar territory tonight with Years Of Rice And Salt a five piece post rock, post folk, post everything band from dear old blighty. YORAS, presumably named after the Kim Stanley Robinson book, serve up beautiful, meditative, contemplative instrumentals occasionally supplemented by hypnotic vocals and eerie whispering. It’s haunting, dark and melancholic and I love it.
I was supposed to DJ in London with my friend the other night and Andy Weatherall completely hijacked our time slot, but how are you gonna complain to the man who helped make some of the best music of the last twenty years? This remix of Le Corps Mince de Françoise isn’t quite up to XTRMNTR standards (no sour grapes—it’d be worrying if it was, right?) but it’s still well worth getting your ears around, gliding along at diva pace, throbbing with erotic intent. The Helsinki electro-pop act’s original is out through Heavenly November 29.
British Intelligence are a 6 strong industrial hip hop group from North London who have just released their pugnacious new EP ‘Street Fight’ featuring remixes by Radiokillaz, Seax, British Intelligence producer Steve Lavers. They fuse hip hop with heavy guitars and dance beats to create a sound that is roughly 50% Public Enemy, 25% Nine Inch Nails, 25%, The Prodigy and 0% So Solid Crew.
Photos from a recent FOE gig - a friend of our friends Hold Your Horse Is - she’s gonna be big!!! Read the gig review after the jump.
Shots of North Carolina’s folk-rocking Avett Brothers’ stop in Glasgow - 22.08.11
Read the review of the gig here.
Take a look at the acts and art on offer at this year’s Latitude Festival in Suffolk. Included are the likes of Fight Like Apes, Lykke Li, Sea of Bees and Seasick Steve. Photos from our own...
Good time with Bad Guys. Photos from the May 29th gig at the Old Blue Last. Read the review by the Bad Guy himself, Stuart London after the jump.
Artrocker.com exclusive: for fans of White Lies and Crocodiles we’ve got some fresh pictures from their UK show at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire earlier this month, courtesy of Alessandro...
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