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.

Tips For 2013 - Part Three

The third part of my ones to watch for 2013. If you are interested in the previous parts, you can find them at the following links: Parts One // Two.

Let's Buy Happiness - Facebook

In my review of my tips of 2012 I said much of what I have to say about Let's Buy Happiness, so excuse me for repeating it again...

Let's Buy Happiness are a band I've been following for a while, I've been smitten with the bands shimmering guitar lines and Sarah Hall's heavenly vocal purr since I first saw the band at The Great Escape in 2010. I originally picked them as one of my 'Tips for 2011', a year which saw them releases a couple singles ("Fast Fast" and "Dirty Lakes") and play a few high billing sets. I expected 2012 to be the year the band released their debut album and fulfilled all the blog praise received from people much more in the know than me. However, it hasn't quite turned out that way, besides a digital only single in June it's been pretty much silence from the North-East quartet.

The track was actually a re-working of an old Let's Buy Happiness too, "Works Better on Paper" was originally released on the debut LBH EP in 2010, this version was pared back from the original version with a gentle, languid tempo and delicate instrumentation making Sarah Hall's soft, celestial vocal the main instrument. It worked to perfection, magically complimenting sleepy drums and guitar effects, "Works Better on Better" was just overwhelmingly beautiful.

As for 2013, the good news is that the album looks to certainly be on the cards for next year, a series of in the studio shots on facebook confirm as much, one (more) for the 2013 list then!

Three years in a row on my 'tips' lists, definitely time for an album!





Novella - Facebook

Another returning from last years list (sorry about the apparent lack of imagination, I'd rather call if faith in the bands I like) are Novella,one of the bands I'm most excited about seeing live again, I saw them plenty of times over the spring but their live performances dried up over summer until the autumn where our paths never crossed, I'm sure that will change in early 2013...

After a stunning self-titled EP released via Italian Beach Babes in March (now close to selling out its second pressing) and the aforementioned live shows I regard Novella as one of the best 90's influenced band in London today, the EP highlighted Novella's live sound, part dreamy psychedelia mixed with a whole lot of sprawling noise where sugary vocals buried in a see of hazy, grungy guitars and battering drums swirl around in your brain, it's all kind of wonderful, check out the excellent live video below if you don't believe me...

Latest single "Mary's Gun" hinted at more to come in 2013, a ferocious cocktail of pysch ambience with moody percussion and off-kilter grungy guitar fuzz, sure to get the adrenaline pumping and will (hopefully) lead to news of perhaps an album at some point next year. If you haven't already, make sure you check out Novella live.




PINS - Facebook

PINS came from nowhere to everywhere in the space of about a month earlier this year, a stunning double a-side tape which promptly sold out about three times catapulted the Manchester quartet to the quarters of pretty much every online music magazine. It's seldom I agree with enormous hype but on this occasion the buzz was definitely worthwhile with "Eleventh Hour" and "Shoot You" introducing an electrifying band with infinite potential around hard-hitting drums, brooding vocals and dark, echoey guitars.

The follow up was even better, more evolved and darker, “LuvU4Lyf” saw four raw tracks that were ferocious and perverse sound out a minimalistic, explosive treat. Led by the compelling Faith Holgate's howling cries the back-bone of Pins sound comes from droning guitar fuzz whilst the pulsating military like drum beat coupled with an equally powerful bass hits you in the guts like a ton of bricks, it was a stunning statement of intent which came on the aftermath of a signing to one of the UK's finest independent labels, Bella Union.

I've seen Pins live three times in the space of the past month or so, so where perhaps I might be now writing something the lines of I hope there's more to come, with Pins I know there is much more, with the highlights of their sets being some of the entrancing new tracks, "I Want it All" immediately comes to mind, I can't wait to hear them on record.

Tips For 2013 - Part Two

Here's the second part of my 'Tips for 2013' / ones to watch / 'new' acts I like lots and lots posts with three more acts I'm expecting to be listening to lots throughout the next twelve months, the first, posted yesterday, can be found here. Parts three and four follow over the next 48 hours...

Emily and the Woods - Facebook

I'm hoping that 2013 will be the year that Emily and the Woods (or Emily Wood as it's been the last few times I've seen her perform) finally takes to step from a favourite of those within the folk world to a nationwide treasure, without doubt Emily possesses the attributes to make the jump, a beguiling voice from the heavens and intimate, introverted songs that fill your mind with a calming, sweet air.

Whether it's a solo performance or Emily with her Brother or a full band setup she always delivers live, a show with subtle guitar rhythms and mesmerising melodies that is so beautiful it leaves you with a fuzzy feeling inside. 2012 has been averagely quiet with Emily (hopefully) recording new material amongst some London shows, a late UK tour with Hot Feet and a new song "Small Song" released in early November hopefully hinting at more to come next year, that track highlights Emily's melt-your-heart vocals perfectly, I can't wait to hear more...

Fear of Men - Facbook

I think the vast majority of my tips this time around are artists that I've been following for a while and shouldn't come as much of a surprise to long-term blog readers, Fear of Men are definitely one such case, a band I've been smitten with almost from day one and an act that I have continually posted about on here since "Phantom Limb" took my fancy as long ago as March 2011.

Since there has been a continual wave of singles from the four-piece with "Doldrums", "Green Sea" and "Mosiac" all highlighting a sepia-tinged, heart felt pop sound where shimmering hangle guitars and the gorgeous tones of lead songwriter-vocalist Jess collide with rat-a-tat drums to endearing, timeless effect. A band who do all the basic things right, produce perfect, pure melodies sung beautifully and wrap them up in fuzz and reverb.

A compilation album of those early single is due on 12" marbled wax via US label Kanine Records in early 2013 with, fingers crossed, Fear of Men's debut album due later in the year.

Haim - Facebook

When I band go from relatively unknown (pre SXSW 2012) to being the band on many peoples lips I have a certain element of natural intrepidation about them, Haim were definitely one such instance. Coming to my attention shortly before The Great Escape in May I was unsure what to make of them at first, three good looking sisters who gathered blog buzz from every quarter before I'd even heard a track, it could have gone either way. Shortly before the festival I checked out their debut EP Forever, it instantly put at ease any fears, gorgeous harmonies and tight rock guitars that whilst not exactly being the Fleetwood Mac meets TLC billing I was expecting blow me away and put Haim as a 'must-see'.

Prior to that debut show I said "perhaps Haim will be one of the acts who provide an 'I was there' moment like Warpaint's show of a few years back". I was right. Haim played two (I was only at one, so the other is on say-so) sensational performances, a world apart from their recorded sound the live show is loud and intense with booming percussion and hard-hitting guitar led rock, there's a natural cohesion and confidence about the sisters harmonies and jams, perhaps it's a sister thing, perhaps it's hours and hours of practise (or both) - either way, they produced the show of The Great Escape.

"Forever", a hot, funk-laden melody and jagged guitars has got bounce, style and substance while their second release, the Don't Save Me EP proves to those who haven't seen the live show that Haim are more than a one trick pony, with effortlessly smooth grooves and "Send Me Down" combines abrasive sounds and percussion not heard from the trio before with their trademark vocal-play, sumptuous harmonies and big production, killer.

Haim will be one of the breakthroughs of 2013, of that there is no doubt. I've every faith their debut album will build on the quality of what we've heard so far, my hope for after that is that the big-wigs let the girls be and Haim remain a borderline pop act, not a full on mainstream group. Those of us who are blown away by their exhilarating live performances (Haim really are a must see live band) want them to remain just as they are, incredible.

Tips For 2013 - Part One

The next four posts are going to be my Tips for 2013 posts, I know some people find these sort of posts pointless but I'm a geek at heart and geeks do love a list... I know many of you will feel the same, I'm limiting myself to a thirteen acts this year - well it will be 2013 -  which meant a few difficult decisions and the acts will be listed alphabetically, starting with four today and then three acts following in each of the next three posts.

As with last years posts, my tips aren't necessarily acts I'm tipping for stardom (though a few perhaps will hit / already are close to the mainstream) but are a thirteen new acts (I'm not tipping artists that have already released an album) that I believe you should follow over the year ahead, without further rambling...

Just Music That I Like's 13 for 2013 - Part One:

Alice Jemima - Facebook

I think I blogged about Alice Jemima more than any other artist in 2012 so her inclusion in my tips for next year is the logical next step, a year which has seen an increasing number of people become equally smitten with Alice and her sublime music ("By Your Side" taken from her recent, self-released EP All The Boyfriends has amassed some ten thousand plays in a couple of months), if you're not yourself, taken a listen below and you'll soon understand why...

Possessing a voice that defies beauty, Alice's calm, soft whispers will caress and charm even the hardest of souls as her intimate lyrics melt glaciers. We've been spoilt throughout the year with Alice releasing a number of tracks on her soundcloud page, tracks like the aforementioned "By Your Side", "Far From Here" and "First Love" are all as close to perfect as you can get, delivered with her trademark grace and elegance throughout, Alice's gorgeous, tender vocals and shimmering guitar patterns create the sort of music that can only become to backdrop to dozen (hundreds/thousands soon?) of people falling in love.

I'm sure 2013 will see Alice to continue to grow as an artist and performer, perhaps it's too soon to be demanding an album, she's still only nineteen, and I'll be here saying similar words this time next year in my tips for 2014 posts, still one thing I do know is that I'll be amongst those first in line to hear what Alice delivers next.

Bird - Facebook

Bird were guaranteed their place amongst my bands to watch after two recent live performances blew me away, firstly upstaging Tamaryn at the Lexington and then just a week later playing another stunning with the wonderful PINS.

The Liverpool three piece are led the celestial voice of songwriter/bassist/guitarist Adele Emmas with Sian Williams providing stunning guitarscapes and complimenting harmonies alongside Alexis Samata on the doom-laden drums. Those live sets saw the trio bring to life their recent Shadows EP with a live power and grace, equally dark and mystical with rich swirling guitar tapestries and superlative defying harmonies, it was like being transported to an otherworldly place of pure, spiritual beauty.

On record Bird offer the perfect combination of delicate ethereality and melancholy, the haunting "Shadows" will intoxicate while "Monsters" is another that hints at future greatness where intricate guitar plucks weave around repeating kick drums to create the chilly ambience in which Adele's vocals soar and entrance. Bird's music is dripped in emotion where ghostly harmonies and textured arrangement beguile in their beauty.

I'm very much looking forward to hearing more of their eerie fairy-tales in 2013.

Daughter - Facebook

'I almost picked Daughter in my 2011 tips, I did include them in my tips for 2012 list, when in-so-fact it's going to be 2013 when Daughter becomes a household name'. I said that just a few days ago on my review of 2012's tips. This time around I'm positive I'm right.

2012 saw Daughter sign to the mighty 4AD and sell out shows on both sides of the Atlantic while releasing just the one single (the incredible "Smother"), with an early 2013 UK tour similarly close to selling out two months in advance and various TV placements the trio are perfectly placed to make a mark as one of the acts of 2013 (this post was written prior to the announcement of the BBC Sound of 2013 poll but surely a place their beckons?).

2011's EP's The Wild Youth and His Young Heart highlighted Elena Tonra as a prodigious talent, possessing such natural beauty and grace with her breathy vocals and spellbinding songs, backed by deftly subtle instrumentation Daughter's haunting melodies, combined with some of the most intimate, remarkable lyrics of this generation that will, in my opinion,take Daughter as far as they want to go.

If Daughter aren't on the short-list for the Mercury album prize with their debut album (as yet unannounced but due in 2013), I'll eat my proverbial hat....

Embers - Facebook

Another act returning from last years choices (I did say they probably would) are Manchester's Embers, a band I've mentioned twice in the past couple of weeks so it's quite difficult not to repeat some of my words of gushing praise "a ground-breaking, a seven minute journey beyond comprehension that is truly, truly stunning". That's the sort of superlatives the quartet must have got used to after a few weeks of positive reactions to their incredible live video "Hollow Cage"...

I've read comparisons to Muse when they were good and Hope of the States time and time again, it's easy to see why but "Hollow Cage" isn't the only majestic thing these Northern boys have done. Exuding ambitions far beyond most of their peers their early demos "Days Turn Into Weeks" and "Without Fear of Favour" introduced dark aural storms capable of rendering you speechless, building and building upon unsettling atmospheres, ferocious, powerful and hugely complex. Their now sold out debut 7" Tunnel Visions added some studio polish to the terrifying soundscapes and through colossal crescendos of echoing sounds came across like the end of the world. Epic, cinematic and extraordinary.

Now "Hollow Cage" seemingly has given Embers some breakthrough from UK blogs to column inches in the sort of things that A&R guys look at and I'm pretty sure Embers have had more than a couple of availability inquiries recently. Will 2013 bring their debut album? I don't know, it may still be too soon, I do know that Embers are one of those rare bands that you need to embrace, physically moving, emotionally touching, I can't wait to sample their live show.

BLOG SOUND OF 2013

I try not to cut and paste emails received and pass them off as my own (you'd be surprised just how many blogs do) but on this occasion I think the accompanying fact sheet serves as a better introduction than I could possible do, so here goes. My own words will follow in a separate post.

The Blog Sound Poll was first published in 2011. The concept of the poll wasn’t to criticise the established BBC Sound of list, but simply an experiment to see if UK music bloggers could come up with its own list that was more representative of their community and give the artists that were nominated some extra publicity. 

Indeed the idea was to compliment the BBC list in many ways by providing an alternative to compare and contrast.

Last year’s final long list provided some interesting alternatives to the BBC list; most notably, it included Alt-J this year’s Mercury Prize winners, who didn’t feature on the BBC list at all.

The Blog Sound of 2013 poll has expanded with 49 UK blogs nominating their 5 favourite emerging artists. 33 blogs voted for the previous poll.

Just over 170 artists have been nominated during the voting process, which indicates the diverse nature of UK Music bloggers tastes and the amount of great new music available.

The most popular act obtained a vote from around 25% of all voting bloggers, with the second obtaining a vote from 20%.

The list contains acts signed to major labels, independent labels and unsigned artists.

The list contains artists from outside of the UK, but has a strong UK bias.

The participating Blogs who voted in the Blog Sound 2013 poll are

A New Band A Day, A Pocket Full Of Seeds, All Noise, Alphabet Bands, Both Bars On, Brapscallions, Breaking More Waves, Brighton Music Blog, Details Of My Life So Far, Don’t Watch Me Dancing, Dots And Dashes, Drunken Werewolf, Eaten By Monsters, Electronic Rumors, Faded Glamour, Folly Of Youth, Flying With Anna, God Is In The TV, Harder Blogger Faster, Howl, In Love Not Limbo, Just Music That I Like, Killing Moon, Kowalskiy,  Love Music : Love Life,  Mudkiss, Music Broke My Bones, Music Fans Mic, Music Liberation, Music Like Dirt, My Bands Better Than Your Band, Not Many Experts, Peenko, Real Horrorshow, Scottish Fiction, Skeletory,  Song By Toad, Sounds Good To Me Too, Storm’s Brewing, Sweeping The Nation, The Blue Walrus, The Electricity Club, The Mad Mackerel, The Metaphorical Boat, The Music Hoarder, The Recommender, This Must Be Pop, Von Pip Musical Express, 17 Seconds

The Nominated Artists For The Blog Sound Of 2013 (in alphabetical order):

AlunaGeorge - Infectious R&B influenced pop from London

Listen: Your Drums, Your Love

Curxes - Dark industrial-pop electronic duo from Brighton and Portsmouth

Listen: Spectre


Chvrches – Scottish electro pop trio formed from a variety of other bands

Listen: The Mother We Share


Daughter – Minimal / ambient sounding folk

Listen: Medicine


Haim – Classic rock from LA with pop sensibilities

Listen: Don’t Save Me


Laura Mvula – Jazz / soul singer hailing from Birmingham

Listen: She


MØ – Hip soulful female vocal electronic pop from Denmark

Listen: Pilgrim


Palma Violets – Raw and energetic indie rock band

Listen: Best of Friends


Pins – Edgily cool and raucous all female indie band from Manchester

Listen: Shoot You


Randolph’s Leap – Glasgow based indie folk pop with a twist of brass

Listen: Hermit


Rhye – Smooth and blissful pop duo

Listen: The Fall


Savages – Intense post-punk with female vocals

Listen: Flying To Berlin


Seasfire – Modern rock band from Bristol who mix electronic beats with guitars

Listen: We Will Wake

The Neighbourhood – Atmospheric Californian 5 piece rock / pop band

Listen: Let It Go


Tom Odell – Piano based singer songwriter originally from Chichester

Listen: Another Love