Having long desired to visit Iceland, Cyrus Reynolds' new video to his recent single Foraker fills me with great envy. Shot by Ben Simon Rehn from above, the vastly impressive landscape is captured in striking detail through the changing seasons tying in seamlessly with the theme and inspiration for the song. Take a watch for yourselves below.
Following on from their recent‘ 'Painkiller'’ EP – featuring lead single ‘Emily’, Clean Cut Kid return with news of a string of live dates in support of announcing their brand new second album PAINWAVE which will be out in Spring 2019. Speaking about the new album, Mike Halls (lead singer/guitar) said: "PAINWAVE is Clean Cut Kid reaching out to the listener and saying "ok lets talk about these things we're not meant to say out loud." It's the sum of everything we've experienced as people, produced with the sum of everything we've learned as musicians. An unpolished, uninterrupted tape-saturated 1970s journey through human vulnerability." Check out the full list of dates below for Clean Cut Kid's newly announced tour.
Wednesday 27th March – Hull Adelphi Thursday 28th March – Manchester Gorilla Saturday 30th March – Edinburgh Mash House Sunday 31st March – Newcastle The Cluny Tuesday 2nd April – Southampton Joiners Wednesday 3rd April – London The Garage Friday 5th April – Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
Released Friday, Welsh artist Skip Curtis (one third of Cardiff based outfit XY&O) unveiled his anthemic debut single Wild Love. Inspired by his desolate surroundings nestled in the Valley's, Curtis throws caution to the wind as he sets out to break the stereotype of his hometown. "I never wanted music to be a way of physically escaping the Valleys" he explains. "I love them. It was about escaping the stereotype. I was always trying to do something different; playing music and writing songs became my answer. They were and still are, my satisfaction." Take a listen below to the track's wholesome sound that explodes from its softly strummed intro, unearthing an aspiring songwriting talent in its wake. Wild Love is out now via Electric MVM.
Having hugely impressed back in April with their debut effort Desensitised, South London's Margot today return with their excellent new single Coffee Stained Scars. Masters in their art of dream-induced pop, the five piece deliver another hearty mix of spiralling guitar melodies and soulful vocal harmonies to pristine effect. "Coffee Stain Scars’ is a middle-aged man’s wet-traffic-ridden journey, and his partners anxiety regarding his mental fortitude." explains Alex "I’ve had experience with adults of that age stoically withholding information in regards to their mental health and I’ve seen how this can affect friends and family. It’s desperation, it’s unconditional love, and a hope that things can turn around." Take a listen for yourselves below.
Live Dates
January 25th – The Finsbury, London
February 15th – Off The Cuff, London
Few bands can sell-out a full run tour without a new release to promote. Not to mention in record time and most with an increase to venue size since their last trip on the road. Then again, few bands are on the same level of Courteeners. With each announcement, ticket's become scarcer than ever as demand outstrips supply in the fight to be amongst the rowdy crowds, teenagers and adults alike, all experiencing the best night of their lives. There's no denying the Courteeners have one of the most loyal fan
bases around, displayed so evidently up and down the country as
they pack out their shows - fans screaming back each and every word in idolising fashion. Documenting the latter years to my teenage youth
in immaculate detail, Liam Fray's songwriting speaks in no way any other
band could. From the partying and heartbreaks to all the late nights and early
mornings. This band have been here for the generation of my youth and it's clear to see how much they mean to the people in the room.
As the lights cut at 9pm sharp the band emerged to the anthemic Are You in Love With a Notion?. It's not long before the pints started flying. "I want you to lose yourselves tonight but can you please not aim them this way" Liam pleaded, their sound technician's job description now covering spillages on stage and ensuring their instruments remained dry. 10 years old and still as fresh as ever, Cavorting needed no introduction as the crowd's excitement toppled throughout the intimately packed venue, bodies crashing in to one another. Rattling through songs from their 2016 album 'Mapping The Rendezvous' and 2014's 'Concrete Love', The 17th, No One Will Ever Replace Us and Summer all got airplay, with the band still finding time to muscle in some of their older material. Track’s such as Lose Control that have become an almost iconic song for the Mancunian trio, in a live setting takes no prisoners, its chorus charging through the sweat soaked audience. There's even time for a Fray acoustic encore with Please Don't and Smiths Disco taking the electrifying noise to an all time high. Whilst touring a new record, a lot of pressure gets placed on a band to perform. It's the first time fans hear the new songs they've been listening to for the last few months live. It must be even more nerve racking to debut unreleased material. There's no uncertainty here though as Hanging Off Your Cloud's chiming keys and emotive lyrics show there's plenty more fuel left on their fire. Better Man alongside Heavy Jacket also get their live debut on this tour. Two track's that show they aren't ones to rest on their laurels as they take a departure to their sound, the latter's spacious swelling and siren effects adding to its crunching beat. Crowning the evening off in style it wouldn't be a true Courteeners party without Not Nineteen Forever back to back with What Took You So Long for a triumphant finale. It's safe to say by this point not a single soul was left standing still as the place rightfully erupted in to song and dance. Whether it's 20,000 plus in Castlefield Bowl (still my all time favourite show) or the thousand or so fans
packed in to this small sweaty room - the deafening roar from both choruses is
something everyone should experience at least once in their lives. Will I ever tire of this band? At 35 shows in and a 10 year following to boot, it's highly unlikely when they're on this roll.
Irish producer Daithi returned last week unveiling the official video to his latest single, Orange. With the help of director Lochlainn McKenna and staring Aoife Spratt (Locus Of Control, Trampoline) & Diarmuid Noyes (Blood, Killing Bono) the clip beautifully captures the early stages of falling in to and out of love, documented between a disintegrating modern-age romance. If anything, it reminds us of just how fragile it can be as we fall trap to the cycle of complacency and routine. Soundtracked by swirling synth pad textures and a pulsating electronic beat the track, whilst ultimately uplifting, delivers a sombre and emotive twist. "We wanted to make a story that could translate across the world, a story that would be relatable to anyone who has ever been in a relationship, anywhere" explains McKenna."Their relationship spans over 3 years with 50 scenes, all shot in one day. With over 80 costume changes, it was an absolute Trojan effort from our tiny crew". Take a watch/listen for yourselves below.
As vibrant as their cover art, Free Money unveil their flamboyant new single Moving On. Taken from their recently released EP the band bring a breath of fresh air to the regurgitated mush that's been plaguing the airwaves, and it couldn't have come at a better time. The EP is available now through a joint venture with Communion and Buff Records, a new label started by Dan (Tribes) and Blaine (Mystery
Jets). Take a listen for yourselves below.
Norway's Alexander Breidvik and Ida Knoph-Solholm returned over the weekend with their haunting and brutally honest new single Sleepwalking. The pair's vastly open space has long created a beautiful sense of detachment from reality, something that's needed often yet rarely achieved with our busy lives, and this latest effort only solidifies this. Under their moniker The Other End the duo intertwine prickly guitar strings with soaring icy vocals to maximum effect as the track slowly crescendos towards its solemn finale. "We chose to pick up where we left with the EP, and stay somewhat within the same universe," they explain. "The basis of the song was recorded live with guitar, drums and vocals, but we also experimented with other elements during post-production, trying to create a bit of tension" Take a listen for yourselves below.
