September Girls #10 - "Veneer"

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Joining the ever-expanding, increasingly brilliant bands at Kanine Records (Fear of Men, Beach Day, Beverly) are September Girls with a new track "Veneer" (they're still on Fortuna Pop here). The first song taken from a four song EP of the same name due November 24th in the UK and the next day in the US.

Split label releases are something I can see increasingly happening,.. I know from first hand experience that postage price is killing off mail-order due to high costs - it costs £7.50 to ship a single LP from the UK to the US. Crikey!

Back to the music, "Veneer" is harder and darker than anything we've heard from the quintet before, taking their signature feedback soaked, distorted fuzz pop to the next level with aggressive guitars swirling and continually building around a furious rhythm section whilst sinister doo-wop harmonies and equally ominous vocals keep you firmly on the edge. Don't listen to this one in dimly lit alleyways folks...

The Great Escape - Friday Preview

The Great Escape 2014 - Five for Friday 9th May.

If you missed my introduction and preview of Thursday, head here.

French For Rabbits - TGE Page

VENUE / DATE & TIME

SPIEGELTENT

9th May 2014 1:15pm - 2:00pm

KOMEDIA STUDIO BAR

10th May 2014 8:00pm - 8:30pm

I will finally be catching up with New Zealand duo French For Rabbits. I can't quite remember why I missed them last time they were in London but in the famous words of Mcfadden and Whitehead, there ain't no stopping me (us) now...

The gorgeous, melancholia drenched dream-folk of their most recent track "Goat" gives a perfect example of what to expect from their performance, a beautiful hushed vocal and calming guitars combining to steal your heart. Sounds like the perfect start to the days music to me.

September Girls - TGE Page

VENUE / DATE & TIME

AUDIO

9th May 2014 1:45pm - 2:15pm

CONCORDE 2

9th May 2014 6:30pm - 7:00pm

Long time blog favourites September Girls are a must-see next week and are another act I've talked about at length here (and as such I'll keep this post short, you should have the idea by now).

Their cavernous vocals, reverb-heavy guitars and precise drum beats provide a buzzing mix of 60's girl pop and 70's noir, stir in some sweetly harmonies and nods of approval are sure to follow.

Esben & The Witch - Facebook
VENUE / DATE & TIME
SHIPWRIGHTS YARD
9th May 2014 4:10pm - 4:35pm (an Alternative Escape show)

Local Brighton trio Esben and the Witch will play an Alternative Escape show (they aren't on the main bill for some unknown reason), a short set (boo) but one that promises to be an essential inclusion for your Friday plans...

I hope recent single "No Dog" gets an airing, an uncompromising, frenetic and brilliant track which grabs you by both arms and begs you to listen as pummeling drums and guitars collide with Rachel Davies' haunting vocals, it's a jaw-dropping listen and one that could be even better live.

Lyla Foy - TGE Page

VENUE / DATE & TIME

UNITARIAN CHURCH

9th May 2014 7:30pm - 8:00pm

I've conspired to miss every Lyla Foy gig since her show at Komedia (then on the bill as Wall) at last years Great Escape, I'm promising to make amends and get my first live taster of her beautiful debut album Mirrors The Sky.

"Feather Tongue" highlights Lyla's sound perfectly, both understated and beautiful combining her heart-melting vocals with a perfect melody of gentle percussion and a bubbling synth undercurrent. The results is a gorgeous, dreamy atmosphere that is guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat or two.

Broken Twin - TGE Page

VENUE / DATE & TIME

UNITARIAN CHURCH

9th May 2014 9:00pm - 9:30pm

I still can't decide where I'll be heading at 9pm on Friday (and I probably won't until just before I need to) so I'm going to cheat and make my five picks for the day become six. A heart-wrenching clash sees Broken Twin and Sophie Jamieson play at exactly the same time (thankfully I'll be seeing both artists in London during next week to take away the pain of the clash for me personally).

Broken Twin's debut album May was released this week is already my most played record of 2014 (recently overtaking the equally magnificent July by Marissa Nadler), as intimate and arresting an experience as music can offer, bring your quiet shoes, turn your phone off and immerse yourself in Majke's beautiful, dark melancholia.

Here's one of my favourite tracks from May, "Sun Has Gone":

Sophie Jamieson - TGE Page

VENUE / DATE & TIME

BLIND TIGER

9th May 2014 9:15pm - 9:45pm

As I just alluded to, Sophie Jamieson plays at the same time as Broken Twin and as such I have a decision to make. Sophie is a prolific gig player around London but has never once let me down when I've seen her live, always a rare treat with her ever expanding band (now complete as a quartet?) adding extra depth, ambiance and beauty to her wonderful talents.

Last time I saw her play, she played "Dinah", "Ode to the East", "Stain", "Other", "Waterloo" and one more that I can't quite remember - that's pretty much as knock out half an hour set as you'll likely to hear. If you are thinking about heading to see Sophie, the one thing I can guarantee is that you will not be disappointed.



See Also. Las Kellies at The Tube (8pm), Sea Change at Neighbourhood (11pm)

September Girls #9 - Sister

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A little later than I planned after spending 24 hours unexpectedly in bed thanks to a lovely bout of sickness (in the same week that I'm running a marathon no less) I return to post about one of this blogs long standing love affairs, I think I've posted about every September Girls single to date so it would be rude to make an exception now...

"Sister" is the latest track to be taken from January's debut Cursing The Sea (out now via Fortuna Pop!) and takes the quintet's reverb-soaked noise-pop to darker streets. Paula's lead vocals are low in the mix perhaps hiding the tracks challenging subject matter amongst a sea of distorted, rumbling bass rhythms and echoey guitars which grow in strength throughout to a concluding climax of raw, gritty brutality far away from the bands garage-pop beginnings and sounds more like something you'd expect to hear from a newly found Joy Division out-take but with sweetly harmonies of course.

September Girls are back in London playing Hoxton Bar & Kitchen on April 18th and are also confirmed for May's Great Escape festival amongst a slew of other dates. You've no excuse not to get your dancing shoes on.

September Girls #8 - Heartbeats

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Following swiftly from an almost instantly sold-out cassette release September Girls return with new track "Heartbeats", their first single via Fortuna POP! whom will release the girls debut full-length in January next year.

"Heartbeats" is everything we've all come to love about the Dublin quintet all wrapped up within under three minutes, gorgeously ethereal, distorted harmonies entwined amongst fuzzy, reverb-heavy guitar jangles and rumbling rhythms combined with ominously dark undertones and infectious lyrics about unrequited love - perfect.

September Girls are back in the UK in a couple of weeks time including a London show at The Waiting Room on the 18th (details) and "Heartbeats" is released November 4th on Sea Foam Green vinyl (me neither - I guess it's a type of green!) - pre-order here.

September Girls #7 - Ships

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Last year I went on a road trip to Manchester with a friend with the sole purpose of having a few too many drinks and watching some great bands. The gig that made two London based folk visit what is easily the UK's second best music scene was a pretty great one, PINS with support from September Girls, two much blogged about acts here. It delivered a Saturday night show that was everything we wanted, we later had kebab and chips on Oldham St and I've no real recollection of getting back to the friends we were staying at - a real win-win night!

The reason for that waffle is simple, that evening musical friends were clearly made between the two bands and now we see September Girls lining up to release a limited edition tape through PINS' own label Haus of PINS for the forthcoming Cassette Store Day (something in itself I'm torn about - Have you ever seen a cassette store? Do we really need releases from major labels and re-issues on tape? Shouldn't the day be celebrating the bedroom run labours of love who tend to use the cheaper cassette format nowadays?).

Anyway, due on Saturday is the quintet's new single "Ships" and the title track is quite wonderful, where an extended intro of chugging bass and creeping guitar lines create a moody fog of swirling, ominous pysch atmosphere before the girls typically reverb soaked vocal harmonies enter, all fuzzy, echoey and somewhere in the distance "Ships" is perhaps the most un-nerving, darkest track from September Girls yet.

Three more dates are lined up with Pins in mid October (I can't make any of them this time - mid week and up north) but an as yet unannounced London show is planned for Oct 18th - in the diary.

September Girls have also announced their signing to Fortuna Pop and dated their debut album for January 2014 - that's something to look forward to indeed. One of my 'tips for 2013' becomes one for 2014 in the blink of an eye. 

September Girls #6 - Talking

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The welcome return of September Girls now with a rather awesome animated video for their new single "Talking" (which you can order on digital / 7" via Art For Blind Records), you'll want to do that as soon as you've finished listening below, playing to the quintet's paranoid, psychedelic side "Talking" rattles along with precise percussion, meaty bass and swirling keys whilst the girls alternating harmonies float around in a Spector Group gone psycho-stalker kinda way. The accompanying video really is great, as Powerpuff Girls they save the world from all sorts of monsters whilst playing a rather excellent tune, all without breaking sweat of course.

The flip side "Some For Me" isn't quite as dark and suffocating but still rumbles with spacey, jagged guitar and throbbing bass, here though the vocals are lighter, softer and the melody more bright and upbeat, it makes me wish it was sunny and that the September Girls had a London show soon. They don't yet but you Northern sorts can check them out at Manchester's Sounds From The Other City Festival on May 5th.

Tips For 2013 - Part Four

The final part of my 'Tips for 2013'. If you've landed on this page and are interested in the other parts, you can find them at the following links: Parts One // Two // Three.

Savages - Facebook

Perhaps one of my most predictable tips ever for Savages have been just about everywhere (to a degree, they are hardly One Direction) over the past nine months. I almost left them off because the band hardly need the added acclaim of a small music blog, but that's not the right thing to do as Savages are easily one of the most exciting in music today (a thing they first proved to me at the Shacklewell Arms some time ago). Who'd of guessed twelve months ago when we all did our tips for 2012 lists that three of the newest bands to come through (Savages, Pins & Haim) would have been completely unknown to everyone - it goes to show these sort of lists aren't exactly gospel, but I like to think they're a bit of harmless fun and give a bit of added press to great new bands, which is hardly a bad thing.

Savages sound has been much talked about this year from the lazy 'female Joy Division' often branded around. The ferocious post-punk soundscapes of the London based quartet feature the most blistering intensity and entrancement, Savages music makes you want to play it louder and louder, again and again. Savages live show is almost faultless, driven by uncompromising basslines and tom heavy ponding drums, with brutal guitar lines adding distortion and noise while Jehn's shrieking vocals command and possess their sound brims with repressed energy which explodes with a juddering climax on the searing "City's Full", it's hypnotic and terrifyingly beautiful.

They are currently recording their debut full-length and seem set to conquer in 2013. Surely a spot on Monday's BBC Sound of 2013 will be confirmation of that.

SeaWitches - Facebook

This time with my 'ones to watch' posts around I've gone with acts who I think are a lot closer to releasing an album than on previous occasions (the fact that five of my thirteen tips are actually re-appearing on my tips list points to me being a little premature), this could certainly be one of those cases but the band in question, SeaWitches are one of most exciting new bands I've heard this year and with any luck you'll all find that out in 2013.

My love affair started in the summer of 2012 with two early tracks which I got hot under the collar about, saying this: "Another Clown Fight" with progressively flamboyant swirling guitar twangs, unsettling bass lines and skittling percussion, I can guarantee the twisted rhythm of the melody will get in your head as bewitching vocals sing haunting, sharp harmonies. "Red Light" sounds rawer as breezy guitar echoes with distorted harmonies, part 60's / 70's psychedelia. Then a live set (their London debut) blew me away before another track had me salivating again.

That track "Space Gun" is eight and a half minutes long and almost made up of two parts (please listen to it as a whole) and I'm not just say this, it will literally blow your mind, easily one of the best tracks I've heard in forever. It is that good. Starting with deep, hypnotic bass, hollow drums and swirling guitars the addictive, rocking groove gradually quickens in pace as the song progresses and it takes until a small bridge and bass lead for Jo's vocals to actually start at around the mid point of the song. The captivating, theatrical nature of her vocals is bound to lead to Siouxsie comparisons being made (for it seems everything has to be compared to something else for some reason), I'd rather call it SeaWitches, for this dramatic, slightly disturbing take on pysche-pop is a sound very much their own.

When SeaWitches make their way to a town near you, make sure you go...

September Girls - Facebook

Another of my long time (relative blog duration) favourites are September Girls, with 2012 delivering two wonderful 7"s and some well received trips to the UK following up from last years rough around the edges fuzz-pop introduction, 2013 promises even more as the Dublin quintet record their debut album.

Their majestic lo-fi garage pop rhythms and heavenly harmonies blend hypnotic, swirling psychedelia with fuzzy girl group pop, spacey korg and rumbling guitars goodness. A soon sold-out debut cassette "Wanting More" and a 7" single Green Eyed" doing likewise a perfect summation of Dublin's finest increasing popularity with fans and fellow blogs alike. They deserve all of it and more. One of the first bands I wrote down in preparation for these posts I can't wait to listen to the album next year.



That concludes my tips for 2013. Sorry to the acts who came close and missed out, there are plenty of you. The blog will now take a few days off due to a family addition (I finished this post in a baby ward so sorry for the bad English, rush job - I'm sure you understand) and return with my favourite releases of the year next week.

September Girls #5 - Man Chats

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Dublin's September Girls are amongst an exclusive bunch of acts for me, I live in (near) London and I'm spoilt in so much that I really don't have to travel around the country to see artists that I want to see, instead I reserve that for gigs I feel I can't miss, one instance was earlier this month when the girls were playing a Saturday night show with Pins in Manchester. I decided to take the plunge and book advance trains, a decision I don't regret (although my head didn't like me much the following morning), after being treated to electric sets by two of the finest new acts around.

Following swiftly from the wonderful Green Eyed 7" via one of my favourite independent labels Soft Power Vinyl September Girls have announced another slab of wax for release via US label Matinée Recordings in November. A three track 7" coming out on milky clear vinyl, it features two tracks I'm already familiar with and I've talked about on here before, the infectious, rough around the edges, garage pop of "Wanting More" and "Hells Bells", so I'll concentrate on the third, a new track, "Man Chats", a short, sharp burst of driving paranoia, full of psychedelic distortion and echoey harmonies it offers the perfect compliment to the catchy power pop of the other tracks, darker and mysterious it sees swirling key, chiming guitar and energetic drums gallop around your brain. Ace.

The girls promised me they'll be back in the UK early next year, I can't wait. I stole the attached picture from their facebook, fingers crossed for an 'I Want to Break Free' inspired video to follow!

September Girls #4 - Danny Wood

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I'm guessing the general mood today is very 50/50, a bunch of people in the office will be as high as a kite after watching Europe win the Ryder Cup last night and the other half won't give a shit (vice-versa if you're reading this in the States) and are miserable because it's grey, wet and October. I fit in the later, it's currently 1am and I can't sleep so I'm doing what I normally do on such occasions, listening to music. To mark the exit of September I picked September Girls (yeah, I know) and as since I last mentioned their excellent new single "Green Eyed", it has been dated for release (22nd October - Pre-order via Soft Power now) and its B-Side "Danny Wood" made available to stream, I think it's a perfect chance for a revisit.

"Danny Wood" is going to get stuck in your head, I make no apologies for that, I hope that when you find yourself singing the choruses repeated refrain you are at least smiling, you should be, propelled by swirling keys, skittish drums and jagged, reverb-filled guitar the Girls' melodious fuzz-pop is here to make a shitty day better.

September Girls have announced a new London show for Friday 12th October at a new venue to me, Tipsy in Dalston with support by the great Fever Dream. I can't make that as I'm in Manchester where I might just happen to be see the girls with PINS the very next day - full dates.

September Girls #3 - Green Eyed

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Welcome news from my favourite fuzz pop girls September Girls who today released the stream to "Green Eyed", the title track from their forthcoming vinyl release via the wonderful Soft Power Records, coming some time in October on limited 7" the track takes pretty much everything I've come to love about the Dublin five-piece and wraps it up within three minutes of pounding drums, colliding keys, chiming guitars and dirty bass.

Their majestic lo-fi garage pop rhythms and heavenly harmonies are always highly melodic, often ferocious and on "Green Eyed" there's a hypnotic, swirling, scuffling melody which has imprinted itself in my brain after the half dozen listens I've give the track so far. Slightly dark, sinister and creepy, as I suppose a track about jealousy should be, "Green Eyed" takes the fuzzy 60's soundscapes the Girls first hit us with (on the wonderful "Hells Bells") and mixes in spacey korg / rumbling guitars goodness whilst still managing to be as catchy as anything.

I've included a couple of new videos too, taken around the time when I last saw September Girls play during their last UK tour at the start of July... One from Indie Tracks festival "Kevin" is sugar sweet sunshine pop perfection and the latter, another new track "Talking" (recorded on their return to Dublin after a night time ferry home) is a brisk psychedelic wonder that will leave you breathless and (pun time) wanting more.

September Girls are back in the UK in October playing a few shows (but not the Capital this time around), to make up for that I'm heading to Manchester to catch them play with PINS on October 13th at The Soup Kitchen (tickets). It's going to be amazing.

September Girls #2 - Tape

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Here's something you'll probably want to act quite quickly on, the debut tape released by Dublin's finest Caoimhe, Jessie, Lauren, Paula & Sarah, or perhaps somewhat easier to remember, September Girls, limited to just 100 copies and released via the good people at Soft Power today for a paltry £1.99 I doubt they'll hang around too long.

It's been some six months since I first discovered the girls and while this tape sticks with those initial demo tracks I'm still every bit as excited for the future of the band, their blend of sweet, harmonious girl-group vocals, and trashy, fuzzed-up garage pop is exactly the sort of music that should soundtrack your summer, be it outside drinking beers with friends or inside dressing up and dancing around your room like Ziggy Stardust (or maybe that's just me!). "Wanting More" is the perfect example of what the girls do, pounding drums, thick, over-amped bass and strong, catchy lyrics. September Girls, if they aren't already, are here to be your favourite new band.

The girls are over in the UK in July for Indietracks with hopefully some other dates coming at the same time, stay tuned for those.

September Girls - New Music "Introducing"

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September Girls are a five piece girl band from Dublin, who formed as recently as September (the girls previous incarnation went by the name of Talulah Does The Hula), they've a few demos to listen to on their soundcloud and I can't help but be excited; highlighting an infectious, dirty garage pop sound that you could easily mistake for coming directly out of the same Californian neighbourhood as Best Coast, perhaps not the massively polished tracks that came to make up "Crazy For You" but the retro, rough around the edges lo-fi fuzz pop that made Bethany's early EP's so appealing.

"Hells Bells" is the most recent track added to the September Girls catologe and its radiant noise pop of the finest order, guitars distorted, verses simple and catchy, drums energetic, it sure is sweet on the ears. "Secret Lovers" adds twinkling keyboards and doo-wop harmonies to make those 60's spector girl group comparisons ever more apparent, it's discoveries like this that keep the eternal bloggers new-music addiction alive and kicking.

They've a couple of Dublin dates coming up before Christmas, hopefully a sign of things to come, if the girls come to London, I'll be there.

Hells Bells - Demo by septembergirls
Secret Lovers - Demo by septembergirls