Tennis #4 - Origins / Tell Her No

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I originally had this post saved in draft form to mention Tennis' new (and now old) recordings, beautiful covers of The Zombie's "Tell Her No" and Brenda Lee's "Is It True", faithful to the classic originals in terms of composition and melody and faithful to the duo's own LP in terms of the bright guitar lines and sweet affection of Alaina's gorgeous vocals. Both tracks are available for free from the Tennis' website here.

More excitingly though, the Denver based husband and wife duo, expanded to a trio with drummer James Barone have annouced two new releases, their second album, due via Fat Possum on Valentine's Day 2012 and before that a new double a-side 7" single, 'Origins' which will be released December 13th via Brooklyn label Forest Family. Run by the guys at Gorilla vs. Bear they have an exemplory record of releases and sales too, as even in these tough times for records, every one of their releases is sold-out, this will be soon too.

"Origins" is equally charming, the vocals warms and welcoming, the key line bouncy and repetitive, for those who thought their debut was a little lacking and similar the instrumentation is expanded and beautifully polished. I'm certainly excited to hear the flip side and the rest of the album. You can pre-order now via Rough Trade.

I've only seen them once, at Primavera, it was bloody lovely. 'Cape Dory' possibly hasn't got the acclaim I expected it to, perhaps the blog hype they got around the time of "Marathon" last summer had waned a little by it's January release, or perhaps folk couldn't accept a nautical themed, fuzzy and warm love story in the cold, cold months. I've no idea, it's a great album anyway, check it out if you haven't. They play some US dates in December with hopefully a UK return on the horizon next year.

Origins by tennisinc
Tell Her No by tennisinc
Is It True? by tennisinc

Manflu - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / manflu.bandcamp.com/

The best named band I can remember, perhaps because I'm known to suffer from sporadic bouts of said ailment (only in severe form), Manflu are exactly what you need on a Monday, a perfect antidote to that back to work syndrome, over the course of nine tracks on soundcloud you are introduced to the five piece through loud and infectious post punk tracks that are equal parts aggressive, confident and fucking fun.

Manflu have been kicking around London for a while now but are pretty new to me, their abrasive no wave beats and fierce rhythms pay homage to a porn star on "Sasha Grey" (no, I'd never heard of her before either, honest) though they aren't so kind on seminal no wave figure James Chance, sure the brutal assault on the ear-drums isn't going to be for everyone, front-woman Aza screams through raucous, howling guitars, key tinkles, off-kilter rhythms and repetitive hollow beats, though "James Chance" offers such an exhilarating rush that I can't help but be blown away.

The sexual side of Manflu surfaces again on the scuzzy "Oral Sex", while "Holes" adds a jaunty organ showing off a wonderful bluesy side of the band yet "Wizard" is a full blown rocker, a deep bass-line, ramshackle guitar and chaotic heavy drums, throughout the band are tight and the vocal delivery is wild, ferocious, brilliant.

Manflu are impossible to pigeon-hole (though I guess I've done that enough above!) thanks to their wide ranging songs, experimental, rock, no wave, blues, post-punk, it's all there. One thing for sure, the powerful set of songs on offer make me wonderful how the fuck that I'd not heard of them before and why no one else seems to have either. Tracks can be purchased via bandcamp now. Add to your to see live lists now.

Listen / Watch below:

SASHA GREY by MANFLU
JAMES CHANCE by MANFLU
HOLES by MANFLU

September Girls - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / septembergirls.tumblr.com/

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

Islet #2 - This Fortune

isletislet.com/

Welsh noise-makes Islet have treated us (you can listen below and download via the band at this link) to a taster of their debut album 'Illuminated People', which is due early next year, "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 frenetic 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.

They play The Lexington in London next Wednesday, November 16th - tickets - you'll also be able to buy a limited tour only vinyl which contains "This Fortune" and exclusive track "Sound Collage #1". If you are free, go, they 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 hot, it'll be sweaty and it will lots of fun.
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Islet - This Fortune


Islet "We Shall Visit" from Ewan Jones Morris on Vimeo.

Fear of Men #3 - Doldrums

Facebook / fearofmen.bandcamp

Some bands appear to be universally adored by bloggers, which is nice, generally we're a nice bunch who've only got good things to say. Near the top of many bloggers favourite new bands lie Brighton / London four piece Fear Of Men, who first caused a snowballing effect of acclaim early this year with their 'Hanna Schygulla Demos', rightly so really because tracks like "Phantom Limb" and "Spirithouse" might have been rough around the edges but quickly established Fear Of Men as one of the UK most exciting new bands.

They followed up in August with the wonderful "Ritual Confessions / Spirit House" vinyl release which brought a more polished version of their immediately satisfying jangly fuzz pop - if you haven't already, you can buy the vinyl here. Now we have the first taster of a new demo tape, the 'Alice Munro Demos' which is released December 12th (the tape is limited to just 50 copies and won't hang around long, get one here).

"Doldrums" delightful melody is the polar-opposite of its title; shimmery, bouncy guitar lines lead the way with Jess's voice possible the most beautiful we've heard it yet back by gentle rat-a-tat drums. Like everything they've done so far, it's completely luscious.

Fear of Men head out on a UK tour who fellow blogger darling Bos Angeles in just over a weeks time and includes a stop at London's The Shacklewell Arms on Monday November 21st - full dates / tickets.

Listen:

Daughter #2 - The Wild Youth

Facebook / ohdaughter.bandcamp

Exactly a year ago today I posted an introducing blog on Daughter, I said this back then 'Daughter is a new incarnation of Elena Tonra, I don't know too much about her other than that at the moment'.

A lot has changed in twelve months, firstly I used myspace to link to an artists' music back then, though more specifically to this post, Daughter has managed to amass a following of almost six thousand fans on facebook and gain hundreds of glowing reviews thanks to her exceptional live show (I can faithfully say that after, finally, catching Elena and Igor's acoustic show at Camden Barfly last week) and a couple of EP's that show off this hauntingly beautiful voice and a personal, intimate song-writing talent that should lead to her topping a lot of "industry peoples" tips for 2012 lists, no more than her prodigious talent deserves.

Daughter's latest release 'The Wild Youth' will be released on November 21st via Communion Records (digitally available on bandcamp now), it showcases Elena's staggering development over the year and is definitely her best release to date, expanding upon the delicate guitar-work and sparse arrangements that led me to fall for her early demos, now backed by a full band who add textured drums, shimmering guitars and a pulsating heartbeat to her tracks, most evident on the spellbinding "Medicine" where electronic programming create this hazy, smoke filled ambient air while gentle piano strokes and a bewitching vocal add to one of the most gorgeous, spectral tracks of the year.

Elena's voice remains pure and beautiful throughout, it's probably one of the most emotionally affecting, gorgeous voices I've heard recently, listening to the opening verse of the heartbreaking "Love" with its wounded, confessional lyrics is a provides a genuine goosebumps moment. If you aren't amongst those 6000 followers perhaps now is the time to stand up and pay attention, I'm sure dozens of A&R guys already have.

Daughter plays a special show at one of London's most gorgeous venues, St Giles-in-the-Fields Church on December 7th - full details / tickets.

Listen:
Daughter - Love (taken from 'The Wild Youth EP')
Daughter - 'Medicine' (Taken from 'The Wild Youth' EP)


Communion presents: Daughter from BABYSWEET SESSIONS on Vimeo.