TOY #3 - Join The Dots

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One of the finest albums of 2012 in my humble opinion was last year's self-titled debut by London psyche-gazers TOY (indeed, I named it number four in my 'favourite albums of 2012' posts). Today's best news comes in the form that the London based quintet have wasted no time at all announcing the follow up to it, entitled Join The Dots it is dated for release on December 9th (a funny time to release an album perhaps, surely too late to feature in most 'critics' best of lists).

The title track has been available to stream and fans of that debut will likewise be salivating all down their tops, "Join The Dots" is instantly every bit as good as what came beforehand, epic sized in terms of length and scope (at some eight minutes in length) and full of the same type of brooding intensity too; throbbing bass, rumbling rhythms and shimmering guitarscapes all intertwine together here to devastating effect. As ever with a TOY track there are these monumental sized instrumental sections which kick on just as you think they are coming to a close and create these dark, widescreen pieces of nervy, claustrophobic perfection. In a word - awesome.

You can pre-order Join The Dots via Heavenly Recordings now - The band play at The Garage tomorrow with a Shepherd's Bush show for April 26th next year on sale later this week.

TOY and Natasha Khan - The Bride

toy-band.com/ / batforlashes.com

I'd be lying if I said I had any knowledge of the original here but TOY & Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes) have produced a stunning cover of a track re-titled "The Bride", originally by Iranian artist Amir Rassaei and entitled "Aroos Khanom" the collaboration is taken from a forthcoming compilation and is released on 7" vinyl via Speedy Wunderground on July 1st - limited to just 250 copies with a B-side dub version called “Here Comes Dub Bride" (pre-order at £10 delivered here).

After initially glistening with haunting piano keys "The Bride" soon becomes increasingly captivating as Natasha's vocals take a forceful hold on you, here more searing than perhaps ever before whilst shimmering guitars build to a blistering, powerful finale as Natasha's repeated wailing cries of "Now My Heart..." echo. Shivers ensue....

Just Music That I Like's Favourite Albums of the Year 2013 - Part Five

Just Music That I Like's Favourite Albums of the Year 2013 - Part Five

Previously posted: Part One // Two // Three // Four // Five

5. Fever Dream EP

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Another EP making my top album lists, this one, the self-titled EP by London trio Fever Dream is arguably long enough to be considered an album in any case, I've heard albums that were less than this 26 minute, six track wonder.

The lackadaisical haze of the opening track "Glue" sets the tone, where raw and rambling rhythms hypnotise, spiralling in tempo around Adrian's vocals before exploding in a whirlwind of beats and guitar abuse. An awesome blend of noisy dissonance and dreamy vocal harmonies.

 Earlier single "This Waste" follows, it remains all kinds of wonderful with its feedback-drenched, shimmering guitars and slightly ominous sense while newer tracks equally impress, from the pure noise thrill of the energetic "Suspense" to the beautiful closure "Alchemy", a melancholy pop song.

The highlight though is "Poyekhali!", with bumpy bass line and explosive, murky guitar, I'll come back to that awesome word again, this is awesome.

4. TOY - TOY

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This is the album I pick when I go running, I'm not sure if that's a glowing recommendation or not but TOY is a truly superb album nevertheless, it's good to run with because of its runaway roller-coaster melodies and the maelstrom of storming, metronomic beats that rattle along with bursts of adrenaline pumping energy and pulsing rhythms.

Summed up perfectly on the aptly titled "Motoring" with overloading fuzz-drenched guitars and gaudy keyboards making for a slick, infectious ride combining the best bits of psyche, krautrock and shoegaze in one glorious track. The same intoxicating mix is the formula for much of the album, at its gazing best on "Dead & Gone", hypnotic and driving or "Colours Running Out" where gorgeous shimmering guitars duel with the korg keys and consistent drum beats.

Toy is truly superb, hard, dense, melodic, exciting, brilliant. My top UK album of the year...

3. Wilsen - Sirens

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Wilsen, an artist completely unknown to me six months ago released her blow-away debut album Sirens towards the end of July with it's lead track "Dusk" as the most incredible prelude, a track that introduced an unbelievably talented artist and an album I've fallen head over heels in love with...

"Dusk" is deliciously sad and unbelievably gorgeous, Tasmin Wilson's ethereal whispers are soft and comforting and remain at the forefront of delicate, stripped back instrumentation throughout where gently picked chord patterns and light brush strokes combine to haunting, heartfelt results.

"December" commands your attention with thoughtful textures and melody, while the restrained title track shines brightly with soft instrumentation, "Paper Ships" even more so, beguiling in its beauty as Tasmin's pure vocal soothes amongst softened guitar twinklings, the near-folk instrumentation is radiant and blissful throughout, never more so than on Sirens opener "House On A Hill".

The highlight of Sirens though is "Anahita", the albums final song, a track which perfectly sums up the delicate fragility of Wilsen's songcraft and the intoxicating beauty of Sirens. Rising and falling almost Daughter-esque from soft, tender intimacy where Tasmin's heartfelt vocals showcase a range of shattered emotions with twinkling guitars providing a gentle backdrop before slowing increasing with a steady percussive beat to a raging crescendo of harmonies and powerful drums. Utterly stunning.

2. SoftSpot - Enso

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The proper debut full length album Enso by the incredible SoftSpot  is a continual ride of superlatives that I can repeat from my previous posts on the band (I've featured them here quite a lot!).

The Brooklyn based trio, primarily the work of Sarah Kinlaw and Byran Keller released Enso on digital / vinyl earlier this year and I highly recommend you give it a listen and then a purchase, the vinyl is limited to just 250 copies.

Enso continues with Softspot's "wonderful layered sound that builds up to a wave of sonic wonder, its atmospheric build-up punctured by precise percussion. It's a sound that seems so carefully crafted yet performed so effortlessly" with "the combination of Sarah's hauntingly gorgeous vocal with momentum building textured guitar riffs", both those from my Introducing piece back in January 2011 when I first fell for the band and then moving forward to September last year (in reference to album track "Slack Tide"); "engrossing layers of melodies, wonderful guitar shredding riffs and to die for vocals." or about an earlier version of album track "Holy Father" "...an absolute monster. It starts peaceful enough, Sarah's hauntingly beautiful voice hits you straight away, it's unique, stunning. Accompanied by the rat-a-tat of drum sticks, slowly increasing in intensity as Brian's textured guitars glisten on the edge simmering until finally it explodes, cumulating in a euphoric cataclysm of aural pleasure, heavy-hitting drums, guitar buzz and hard bass-line riffs". This is a band whose sounds has it all.

 More recently as the album launch came closer words about "The Cleansing Hour". "It's an absolutely beauty, slowly building upon mournful shades of melancholic guitar and a metronomic drum beat gently entwining around Sarah's softening vocals and bells until at the three minute point light is finally allowed to win and the track blossoms with Softspot's signature cataclysm of sumptuous, shimmering sounds which manage to induce just about every spine-tingling sensation possible before parting and finishing as it begun, with its stark backbeat outro" and most recent of all "Disciple Fix" "..building sumptuously with a fusion of fast paced tropical rhythms and eastern influences blending with Sarah's ethereal vocals, as sensual and gorgeous as ever...".

 "I've said it before, I'll say it again, I love this band."

1. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

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I'm honest enough to say for the first six months of the year I tried to stay out of the whole Lana Del Rey 'thing'. The sheer amount of hype and press around the release of her album, her 'authenticity' and 'back-story' put me off what really mattered, the music. I didn't get it at first, sure "Video Games" was a knock-out song, a voice so smooth and sultry on a slow, delicious track filled with emotion, but I'm instinctively adverse to following the majority.

It all changed at Latitude festival in early July when I was curious enough to check out Lana's live show, an oddity because what I had previous thought of as a middle class festival with middle-aged, middle income spectators politely sipping their inflated priced beers all over a sudden turned into an audience of rabid school-girls, the front rows were full of teenagers scrambling to get as close to Lana as they could whilst screaming (I'm not sure how much of the show they actually heard) - she duly obliged with a trip to the mosh-pit half way through the set. A set which was more than good enough to allow me to form my own opinion on Ms Grant, a world-weary voice with commanding presence and a collection of atmospheric songs on par with any I've heard in recent times. One I certainly wouldn't have expected to have earlier in the year...

Since that day Born to Die and later The Paradise Edition have easily become my most listened to record of the year, there's a couple of flops on the album, "Lolyta" for example, sure, but overall Born to Die is an album which oozes with class and sophistication with Lana's to-die-for vocals at the helm, it's dark and precise, out-pouring with richly melancholic melodies that tug at your heartstrings throughout. I read the words murder ballads to describe Lana Del Rey somewhere, I like that.

"Million Dollar Man" a sure highlight, like so much of the album it's bathed in production with adds the woozy ambience along with Grant's siren calls and haunting songs. "Lucky One" shines around around shimmering soundscapes and the immaculate tone of the vocal delivery while "Born to Die" with orchestral flourishes in simply radiant. I'm not going to sit here adding superlatives to the rest of the tracks I could quite easily instead I'll sum up. Born to Die is quite easily my album of 2012. Perhaps it's time to forget your pre conceived prejudices too?

End of the Road 2012 - Festival Preview Part Two

Without any further ado, part two of my End of the Road 2012 preview, this post concentrates on the rest of the weekend after part one's focus on the Bella Union Friday:

Savages - Facebook
Sunday - Big Top Stage 12.15

Savages, the band of 2012 for many, many people. Everything they've done has found plaudits glaore and they've been called the saviours of post-punk / guitar bands ever since the rumbling "City's Full" hit early this year, the single Husbands / Flying to Berlin did little to settle the hype.

With it's ferocious, blistering intensity the four piece are the very definition of entrancement, with dark rumbling bass lines, menacing drum rhythms and Jehn's venomous vocals which hit you like a ton of bricks, Savages music makes you want to play it louder and louder, again and again.

Dark Dark Dark - Facebook
Saturday - Garden Stage 15.00

Dark Dark Dark haven't been featured here for a while, since 2010's Wild Go came to my attention through its luscious pinnacle, "Daydreaming", a real treat of a track, where vivid landscapes created by the beautifully complex yet delicate and well-crafted instrumentation, soulful vocals and soaring melodies sooth your mind and transport you to a beautiful place, somewhere like a field in Dorset towards the end of the summer....

The band have a new album Who Needs Who due in October and I'm interested to hear that in a live arena beforehand.

Perfume Genius - Facebook
Saturday - Garden Stage 16.45

Another festival and another recommendation to see the wonderful Perfume Genius, his recent show at St Pancras Old Church an indication of his talents, simply sublime, it managed to leave the entire crowd in utter awe, bruised, plaintive and compellingly beautiful, just like his two albums so far. Those wanting an intimate, captivating experience to light up their Saturday afternoon / early evening should look no further.

First Aid Kit - Facebook
Sunday - Garden Stage 16.45

As with Perfume Genius, First Aid Kit and I seem to be sharing festivals this year, that's no bad thing at all as far as I'm concerned. I wrote a preview for the band about five weeks ago, so I apologise in advance for this mainly regurgitated post.

Another of the year's finest records so far is First Aid Kit's second full-length The Lion's Roar. The Swedish sisters have long been a favourite folk-leaning act of mine, since I first saw them at back at Glastonbury 2010. They've grown since and now backed by a full band have a full, deep sound that perfectly suits their breathtaking harmonies and (cliché time) mature-beyond-their-years lyrics. Sincere and heart-felt, latest single "Blue" the perfect insight to their beguiling balance of sweet voices and rich production.

Guaranteed to leave those in attendance spellbound.

Islet - Facebook
Saturday - Big Top Stage 13.00

Welsh noise-makers Islet treated us to an early year album highlight with their debut Illuminated People, single "This Fortune" is everything I've come to expect from the Cardiff experimental act, unconventional and shambolic (in a good way) melodies, propulsive rhythms and clattering drums.

The drums really are amazing, for the all the chaos the band bring to their records (and even more so their live show) they are incredibly tight musicians, I love the vocals here too, trademark yelps a plenty. This set is a must-see, Islet really do live up to their live show reputation, with totally bonkers on-stage antics, exuberant energy and also more importantly, some bloody brilliant tracks. It'll be sweaty, hypnotic and lots and lots of fun.

Toy - Facebook
Saturday - Big Top Stage 15.30

I've not got too much to add to what I've said a couple of times about Toy in the month or so, displaying almost as much hair as talent, the London five piece summed up the buzz with "Left Myself Behind", an eight minute runaway rollercoaster that combines the best bits of psyche, krautrock and shoegaze in one glorious track, gorgeous shimmering guitars duel with the korg keys and consistent drum beats, to keep it simple, it's one of the essential tracks of the last six months from one of the UK's hottest new properties. Truly superb, hard, dense, melodic, brilliant, just like latest single "Dead & Gone".

The album is due in September and promises to be one of the year's essential purchases.

The Great Escape 2012 - Preview (Part One) Thursday

The Great Escape Website

It's now just a fortnight until The Great Escape, I'm already excited, I said in my review last year that 2011 was the best yet (I've been to four) and 2012 has the potential to be even better with more venues, more lunch time shows and more bands than ever before, over 30 venues with over 300 bands crammed into three days in the wonderful city of Brighton.

Sounds fun right? It is. Running from Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th of May there are so many incredible acts that I've decided to preview in three parts, split by day, I'll pick what I think is the best of what The Great Escape and the Alternative Escape has to offer.I was going to limit myself to six a day but in the end I couldn't narrow it down so I've gone with seven a day, which still misses out a few bands I'd like to catch... So much choice for one weekend.

We Were Evergreen - Facebook
Komedia (Studio Bar), Thursday 10th May 13.30
Komedia (Studio Bar), Thursday 10th May 21.15
The Hub, Jubilee Square, Friday 11th May 16.00

This French/London trio will be the perfect way to get your Great Escape weekend going in fine fashion, with hopefully beautiful sunshine providing the platform for their bright and breezy male/female harmonies and tropical synth/ukulele/glockenspiel  melodies. Cute and bouncy for sure, We Were Evergreen are here to bring some their fun-filled, infectious songcraft to your weekend, one that will be all the better for it.

Shinies - Facebook
The Hydrant, Thursday 10th May 16.00 (Alt-Escape)
Queens Hotel, Friday 11th May 20.30

I'll be tipping a few Manchester bands in my previews, there is an undeniably excitement around numerous bands coming out of the North-West at the minute, more so than in recent memory. One of the reasons are Shinies who've been caught up in a whirlwind of acclaim since they released debut demo "Spent Youth" six months or so, with distorted noise-pop guitars, fast-paced drums and echoed vocals "Spent Youth" and its b-side "Shola" are good enough to make sure you spend your Thursday afternoon mingling with numerous A&R guys seeing if this trio are as good in the flesh.

Ren Harvieu - Facebook
The Loft, Thursday 10th May 18.30

An unusual timing for one of the days must-see acts, Ren Harvieu first featured on this blog exactly one year ago today and now a few weeks away from the release of her debut album she is ready to finally dominate the stereos of household around the world.

Armed with a voice to die for her melodramatic ballads soaked in sweeping string orchestration and nostalgia are simply sublime.I've said this before but Ren's cover of The Rolling Stone's "Sister Morphine" is spine-tingling good. A queen will be crowned, make sure you're in the audience.

Deaf Club - Facebook
Green Door Store, Thursday 10th May 20.00

Wales/London five piece Deaf Club are a bit different to the acts I've covered so far, their beautifully expansive guitar led sound is something I'm very much looking forward to catching over the weekend, I've flirted with seeing them before but this will be the moment I finally do.

Their sold-out tape via Kissability (who host their show at The Great Escape) highlights their beautiful soundscapes, soaring, shimmering guitars interwoven with forlorn drum melodies and the brooding vocals of Polly Mackey. Gorgeous.

Cut Ribbons - Facebook
Green Door Store, Thursday 10th May 20.45

Sticking at the same venue, the next band up are Llanelli ;based Cut Ribbons, whose punchy stadium-sized indie-rock will fill the small(ish) Brighton venue with glistening guitars and dual vocal harmonies.

Their pretty, melodious hooks are polished and will surely result in a few pints of lager being spilled as people bounce around with joy.

Hannah Cohen - Facebook
Unitarian Church, Thursday 10th May 22.00

Another of Thursday's not to be missed acts is Hannah Cohen, this will only be her second ever UK show (after playing in London the night before) from (as I said just a couple of days ago) one of 2012's best new voices.

Guaranteed to something quite spectacular, just like her album 'Child Bride', her sensational voice and elegant instrumentation will leave many hearts aflutter. A truly beautiful venue too. Can't wait for this one.

Toy - Facebook
Pavilion Theatre, Thursday 10th May 22.45

I've not got too much to add to what I've said a couple of times about Toy in the month or so, displaying almost as much hair as talent, the London five piece summed up the buzz with "Left Myself Behind", an eight minute runaway rollercoaster that combines the best bits of psyche, krautrock and shoegaze in one glorious track, gorgeous shimmering guitars duel with the korg keys and consistent drum beats, to keep it simple, it's one of the essential tracks of the last six months from one of the UK's hottest new properties. Truly superb, hard, dense, melodic, brilliant.

Camden Crawl 2012 Preview - Part Two

Following straight on with part two of my Camden Crawl preview, where part one concentrated on Saturday's acts, this part focuses on the final day Sunday. No beating around the bush, here are my six tips to watch. Venues and times currently unknown.

Evans The Death - Facebook

Another band I'm yet to catch live despite a few near misses are London based five piece Evans The Death, I'll aim to readdress that with their show at the CC, thunderous drums and urgent, scuzzy guitars make the bands blend of grungey power-pop some of the most intelligent and well crafted around at the minute and then when you factor in Katherine Whittaker's sublime vocals, both in terms of voice and delivery, you've got a band that really should be seen.

Lucy Rose - Facebook

Lucy Rose has already melted by heart and mind countless times, during 2012 she is set to do it many more (her debut full length is due later this year). I'm not the only person saying this and her show is (I imagine) set to be very busy, especially if her ever increasing facebook fan count is anything to go by.

If you've let Lucy pass you by so far, listen to her now, she has the type of voice that will soften even the hardest of souls and her beautiful, intimate acoustic songs are heartfelt, hushed and soothing, don't miss her.




Melodica, Melody & Me - Facebook

A new discovery for me (the band have been together for five years), the south London sextet Melodica, Melody & Me produce a charming and rich sound that flutters between nu-folk and roots influences but is very much their own.

What immediately strikes you are the beautiful vocal harmonies. The dual male / female voices perfectly compliment each other , soft and irresistible, it's not all about the vocals of course, the backing instrumentation is equally impressive. I won't start to attempt to cover all the instruments or sounds they make, just say if you've got this far reading this, then you're going to enjoy what lies below.

Novella - Facebook

Some of the bands I'm aiming to see are pretty straightforward choices and have been covered here on numerous occasions, one such instance is Novella. Another of my tips for 2012, I've been recently enjoying their debut self-titled EP (though the vinyl release has been delayed), the band, perfectly capable of producing dreamy, psychedelic guitar lines with luscious vocal harmonies one moment and then seconds later making a whole lot of noise, with sprawling, fuzzed out grungy guitars and big pounding beats. Novella are a great live band, see them for yourself.

Throwing Up - Facebook

If you want to see an act that will grab you by the balls (figuratively) over the course of the weekend may I suggest a trip to see Throwing Up. The London based trio are sure to deliver a show full of raw, blistering pop-punk energy with distorted guitar fuelled noise and fast, punchy drums.

To see what I mean, take a listen to their wonderful single "Big Love" below, leave the coat at home, this one could get sweaty.



Toy - Facebook

On of the bands of 2012 so far Toy heir first single "Left Myself Behind" summed up the buzz, an eight minute runaway rollercoaster that combines the best bits of psyche, krautrock and shoegaze in one glorious track, gorgeous shimmering guitars duel with the korg keys and the consistent drum beats, to keep it simple, it's one of the essential tracks of the last six months. Their second single "Motoring" is due April 16th (on 7″ and download via Heavenly Recordings) and confirms TOY as one of the UK's hottest new properties, aptly titled overloading fuzz-filled guitars and gaudy keyboards make for a slick, infectious ride. Truly superb, hard, dense, melodic, brilliant.



There we go, twelve acts to see over two days, I'm sure I'll manage to squeeze more into the weekend too.
You can view the full Camden Crawl line-up and purchase day / weekend tickets via the CC website.

TOY - New Music "Introducing"

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This blog has been a long time coming, a lot of people have labelled TOY their 'new favourite band' and over the past few months the London five piece have been on the end of all manner of glowing praise from beings and pages far more glossy and prestigious than these. For that reason this posting has been on the back-burner but I decided it was time to finally put something down, after all these pages serve as a journal of music taste and slowly but surely TOY have become one of 2012's essential new bands.

Most of you will probably know this information already, three of the members were previous in much hyped Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong who failed to deliver anything of merit a few years back, one of those is Tom Dougall who now finds himself as front-man and is the brother of ex-Pipette Rose Elinor Dougall. TOY have been regular tour partners of The Horrors for sometime, their slow development seems to have paid dividends, their first single "Left Myself Behind" summed up the buzz, an eight minute runaway rollercoaster that combines the best bits of psyche, krautrock and shoegaze in one glorious track, gorgeous shimmering guitars duel with the korg keys and the consistent drum beats, to keep it simple, it's one of the essential tracks of the last six months.

Their second single "Motoring" is due April 16th (on 7″ and download via Heavenly Recordings) and confirms TOY as one of the UK's hottest new properties, aptly titled overloading fuzz-filled guitars and gaudy keyboards make for a slick, infectious ride. Truly superb, hard, dense, melodic, brilliant.

TOY head out on their first headlining UK tour in April including a stop at XOYO on April 11th - full dates/tickets here. Expect lots of hair and if you are quick and head here you can help yourself to a free download of "Left Myself Behind / Clock Chime"