Velveteens #2 - Japanese

Facebook / velveteens.bandcamp.com

A thinly veiled motive of lacking the sufficient time to do the necessary writing for my 'albums of the year' posts this week means I'll bring you some new things that I've recently discovered instead, which is probably a good diversion and more in keeping with what this blog is about anyhow (saying that, the album lists will start next week).

I did an "Introducing" post on Velveteens a little while ago after two bedroom demos took my eye, the trio have now released another track in the form of new single, "Japanese", which continues Velveteens haunting, lo-fi ghost-pop where drum machine beats and elongated synth strokes meld beautifully with smooth cello orchestrations to make a melody rich and soothing. The best part of "Japanese" though are the gorgeous vocals, there are some heavenly vocal harmonies here, where the girls' dreamy voices perfectly compliment each other around the sparse instrumentation, a real muted gem.

You can download the track for however much you'd like via Bandcamp now. Stream below:

CURXES #4 - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Facebook / curxes.com

The second Christmas song posted in a matter a hours and another too good to hold off until after I've posted my 'albums of the year' (hopefully starting later this week, if I write the things in time!)...

Fresh from their inclusion in the 'Blog Sound of 2013' list CURXES have shared a song that sounds, ermm, very little like Curxes. Stripping away every ounce of the 'dramatic', 'crazed' and 'monstrous' tags the duo have previously been attached to their version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is bare, melancholic and stunning.

Subtle guitar textures and twinkling xylophone provide an intimate backdrop for this simple yet heart-moving rendition where Roberta's voice soars with such extraordinary emotive power. Staggering in its elegance and beauty, listen below and download (again for FREE) via Bandcamp now.

Alice Jemima #9 - Driving Home For Christmas

Facebook

Alice Jemima has put her own spin on a few cover tracks already this year, from Lana's "Million Dollar Man" to Strangers "Safe / Pain", each saw Alice add her own spin (and infinite charm) to the original version, often pared down to essentially Alice's exquisitely soft voice and her delicate guitar patterns, transforming cover songs to almost her own with an impeccable home recorded sound. Alice has now turned her attention to Christmas, with a beautiful version of Chris Rea's "Driving Home For Christmas", two voices about as far apart as can be, but the results are the same, instant love.

Gone are the sweeping orchestrations and the fast pace, instead we've got Alice with her signature Hofner plucks carried by soft programmed beats and later twinkling key strokes (with a nice little nod to Jingle Bells) melting your heart (of course). Her soft vocals turn the track into a sweet serenade, perhaps not the version you'll turn to as the Turkey is about to be served and celebrations are in full flow but later in the evening, when you've had your fill of after dinner mints and ample sherry, this version will make a blissfully conclusion to your day.

A free download is below, also check out the accompanying video too:

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.