Creatures of Love #6 - Sutra Sweat

Facebook

Creatures of Love released their Boy Crimes EP towards the end of 2012, a release that went criminally unnoticed by many, full of dramatic chimes and shadowy beats it highlighted a massive progression to the London trio's otherworldly soundscapes.

Today sees the release of "Sutra Sweat" (accompanied by a suitably gross-out video), easily the most fucked up track on the EP, it fully deserves the limited release it's been picked out for (even if its subject matter hardly makes it fit for daytime radio - the most obvious track about sex since anything on Prince's Come album?).

If this beast of a track doesn't ignite more interest in the band then there really is something wrong in this world, as dark and menacing as anything you'll ever want to hear, industrial, mechanical beats couple with Bonita Mckinney's incredible set of pipes, here more chilly than ever, penetrating amongst a relentless onslaught of horrifying electronic drones and screeching backing effects. I think you've just found your perfect song to blare out loud when you really want to piss your neighbours off.

The single is backed with new track "The Balance of You & Me", a devastatingly beautiful antidote to the 'evilness' of "Sutra Sweat", a haunting mix of passionate vocals against a backdrop of gradually increasing metronomic beats and soft, restrained piano twinkles - it makes me think of Yazoo and that can only be a good thing.

The release is one you'll want to act quick on. Limited to just 50 copies the CD single comes hand decorated inside a recycled 7" features such beauties as Barry Manilow and Rod Stewart. Order via Bandcamp now.

Creatures of Love #5 - Vakkula

Facebook

It'd all gone a bit quiet in Creatures of Love land, a show at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen in the first week of January is the last time I remember hearing / seeing anything from the band so I'm glad then to see their return, even better though is that the track shared, "Vakkula" is all kinds of brilliant. I've featured the London based trio on numerous occasions since I discovered them via The Joy Formidable right at the start of 2011 and "Vakkula" will instantly satisfy any CoL cravings you may be suffering, it's every bit as dark and intense as their previous work, dramatic chimes and shadowy beats fill the track with an otherworldly, misty haze as Bonita Mckinney's eerie whispers build to booming choruses, big, bold and beautiful, three words that could be the perfect summation of Creatures of Love.

"Vakkula" is taken from the new Creatures of Love EP Boy Crimes and will be available via Creatures of Love's bandcamp page as a free download on September 24th.

Creatures of Love #4 - Black Elf

Facebook

I watched The Grinch this morning so it is somewhat fitting that the first festive track I'm featuring this year (even though I've been receiving Christmas based emails since October) is the anti-Christmas song 'Black Elf', from another of my shortlisted bands for the 'tips for 2012' posts, Creatures of Love.

Its theme a close cousin to the overall message in The Grinch, one of contempt to the excessive commercialisation and lack of Christmas traditions, though before all you Santa lovers reach for the humbug button, give the track a listen below because it's a brilliant song...

The accompanying video features four rather disturbing looking elf's, each with the bands faces stuck on (and their logo) ringing bells and 'dancing', for those unfamiliar with the London based trio the song is a fitting introduction to their sound, atmospheric, dramatic and absolutely enormous.

I've not mentioned CoL since The Joy Formidable tour, I think it went pretty well for them, certainly the couple of dates where I checked the merch stall on the way out they seemed to be out of stock and both of their extremely limited CD singles are now sold-out. I'm looking forward to their debut, whenever it maybe, I hopefully next year!

Creatures of Love next play in London on January 4th as part of the Poprox New Blood festival - tickets are £4 (or £10 for a season ticket for every night) - details can be found here.

Creatures Of Love - Black Elf by CreaturesOfLove

Creatures of Love #3 - Barbatos

Facebook

Creatures of Love return with a sparkling new version of a track I first mentioned back in February, 'Barbatos' will be the London trio's second release and for those of you who prefer quick a summary, the first word that comes to my mind to describe the track is enormous.

"Barbatos" is epic and dramatic, CoL are, and to forgive the pun, creatures of the night, a veil of thick, misty gloom shrouds throughout, an atmospheric current of doom-laden shadowy beats, echoey guitars and icy chimes. "Barbatos" is unashamedly melodramatic and sumptuous for it, Bonita's vocals striking, effortlessly conveying equal measures of beauty and emotion through her incredible voice. Creatures of Love music maybe dark and window shattering in proportion but it is also quite gorgeous.

I can't see the accompanying video being shown on MTV any time soon, it features two girls dressed in school uniforms and swimming costumes (and a whale) and features them in all manner of provocative and suggestive positions (not the whale), not one for the easily offended I guess.

For those of you coming to see The Joy Formidable over the next three weeks get there early because CoL are the first support, I've seen them a couple of times already and their live show is stunning, extremely loud and maintains this incredible intensity throughout, when I first saw them at The Borderline in January the room went silent as soon as they started - not bad for a support band. They've also the biggest light bulb I've ever seen. Alternatively, they headline London's CAMP on November 24th.

Like their debut "An Introduction to Creatures of Love", "Barbatos" will be released on ultra limited (just 66 copies) via Red CD in 7" vinyl packaging, assumingly on sale in their shop here and on The Joy Formidable tour. You can get the track as a free download from the band with a quick trip here.

Listen / Watch:
Creatures Of Love - Barbatos by CreaturesOfLove

Creatures of Love #2 - An Introduction to Creatures of Love

Facebook

I first mentioned Creatures of Love on the back of seeing them in January, besides the odd supporting gig slot they've since been quietly working away at getting their debut release ready, and lo and behold now it is...

The aptly titled 'An Introduction to Creatures of Love' is released 18th July as a free download and extremely limited (just 66 copies) single track CD in 7" packaging via the CoL musicglue site, go ahead and order, but you probably shouldn't dilly-dally.

The track is magnificent, chiming keys, pounding electro beats and edgy guitar create a brooding, otherworldly ambience whilst Bonita's powerful, dramatic vocal strikes a chord, it's a real statement of intent.

Do check out the demo of "Barbitos" and "The Book Thief" too, incredible tracks. I'm looking forward to hearing the next releases already.

The band have been announced as first support for a certain band called The Joy Formidable on their upcoming tour (full dates here), there is headlining single launch show at Dalston's Servant Jazz Quarters on July 21st, I saw Fanfarlo there early last year and the place is tiny, so get down early (Facebook event details).

Creatures Of Love - An Introduction To Creatures Of Love
Creatures Of Love - Barbitos (Studio Demo)

Creatures of Love - New Music "Introducing"

http://www.facebook.com/creaturesoflove

I'd heard of Creatures of Love through their Joy Formidable connections but hadn't listened to them before catching them support TJF at The Borderline last Saturday, I was suitably impressed.

The menacing intro and dimly lit stage set-up gave a strong signal that we were in for a gothic spectacle, that we were. Lead singer Bonita Mckinney was sporting a cape similar to one I've seen Zola Jesus wear a few times and the similarities don't stop there, an incredible vocal with a sound that sits somewhere between the aforementioned Nika, Esben and the Witch and the pop sensibilities of Florence Welch. Instead of the incessant pacing of Zola Jesus, we were treated to bewitching stares and a powerhouse voice from Bonita backed wonderfully by some pounding electro beats.

"Barbitos" might still be in demo form but it's a dark, electro masterpiece. Edgy guitars, witchy ambient synths and percussive beats create an brooding, atmospheric beauty. It is a real sign of intent.

Creatures Of Love - Barbitos (Studio Demo)

The band released a digital EP last year which you can get on iTunes. It contains six tracks very much in the same vein. Highlights include the haunting chimes on intro "Creatures of Love", "Book Thief" and "So Low". Check them out live, I was impressed, you will be too. Expect to see Creatures of Love back on here soon.

Creatures Of Love - So Low