Artist Spotlight: Jenni Green

Here are the tracks from our first ever recording session with local artist Jenni Green:

EP Review: Koala - Molecules

Molecules is the latest in a line of admirable EPs from the young Bradford quartet Koala. The band make upbeat and uptempo indie rock songs with influence from all corners such as math and alternative genres. The girl fronted four-piece's sound is certainly one of the most distinctive and unique locally, in a scene often inundated by wave after wave of below par pop-punk bands, Koala produce a blend of tight intricate drums, speedy riffs and floating female vocals which always stays interesting and compelling.

For fans of: Tall Ships // Everything Everything // Foals

The EP starts with 'Prefix' the mix of pleasingly jangly guitar riffs and thundering drums moving through the gears dynamically, shifting from from intricate stuttering math rock, to blistering guitar riffs and build-ups leading to euphoric high points; a great start. The EP then slips into 'Earth, Wind & Jack' joining powerful chords with with whirling riffs and muted guitar. The drums here are also very enjoyably stuttered and jittery. 'Molecules' the title track has some great riffs, perhaps the most catchy lyrics from the EP and exactly the right amount of cowbell. FAT is another highlight from what is overall a very strong EP and has some of my favourite lyrics; shouting "I've drowned that girl"; this combined with the stunning vocal work on the track and guitars centring around fast and furious chords results in probably the best track from the EP.

Overall the sound of the EP is very strong, creating an accomplished feel that can be both intricate and powerful and which belies their years. The vocals are strong throughout and give the tracks of focal point in what can often be quite a hectic mix of sounds and tempos. Likewise, musically the EP stays interesting and complex, often putting shame to many 4 chord generic bands around. Although some of the tracks possibly aren't as distinctive as Molecules and FAT or previous songs such as 'Josephine' and 'Lead Me From This Town' - download that EP here, the tracks are still strong and possibly tighter than earlier releases and result in another one in a great line of releases, here's to a full-length album in the future?

8/10

Tracklist:
Prefix
Earth, Wind & Jack (only available with a download of the album)
Molecules
FAT

Download the EP here

 Facebook // Youtube // Bandcamp

The band are also playing live in Leeds at The Cockpit on Tuesday 9th July for the Futuresound competition which give bands a chance to play at Reading and Leeds festivals; get along and lend your support!

Contact the band for tickets at: koalaband@yahoo.co.uk

Track Review: Witch Hunt - Crawl // Chairman

Witch Hunt are a Leeds based, two piece alt-rock band with a massive sound that belies their modest two guitar and vocal set up. With influences such as Thom Yorke, Portishead and Warpaint, coincidentally some of my favourite artists, the result is an impressive output of atmospheric rock, capable of more restrained and darker songs such as 'Crawl', as well as far more ballsy and rockier tracks such as 'Chairman'. The band first caught my attention as I was trawling through the depths of the 'Live at Leeds' lineup; a festival I was gutted to miss on account of bands such Witch Hunt, Savages, Peace and Everything Everything.

For fans of: Daughter // The White Stripes // Anna Calvi // Warpaint

'Crawl' is a real gem of a track and also the one that I heard first and caught my attention. The guitar-work is intricate and the tone is wonderfully atmospheric and shimmering. The atmosphere of the song is also brilliant, it's spacious, rich and  not completely overwashed by reverb (a tool bands like Foals often rely a little too heavily on) showing this song is also very well produced and also proving that rock bands do not need to rely on drums for a great track. Then of course there is the vocals; the lead singer Louisa has a real belter of a voice and this tracks allows it to reach its full potential, allowing her to hang on notes, complementing the vast echo of the track. The lyrics similarly are wonderfully dark and complementary to the feel of the track, also remaining the right side of relatable and compelling without straying into cliche territory.



9/10

'Chairman' is a slightly different beast, this track dominated by drums and a killer riff. The drums are very interesting and a little unorthodox on this track (putting me in mind of 'Stepson' by Foals) showing this is more than your average rock track. The dual guitars taking high and lower pitches provide solid riffs throughout, but these along with several subtle alterations to the riffs, song structure and fading in and out of drums in this song, do more than enough to lift it far away from mundanity and keep it interesting - a skill that has often become the trademark of bands such as Radiohead and certainly a welcome addition to this track. The vocals here are also different, slightly lower and grittier but just as capable of delivering a raw punch of volume and emotion into the lyrics.



8/10


The band are also playing live at the following dates:

08/07 Cockpit - Leeds - Future Sound Competition * - Tickets
13/07 DV8 Festival - York
21/07 Tramlines Festival - Sheffield
27/07 Fell Foot Sound Festival - The Lake District

* Here the band will be playing for a place to play Reading and Leeds Festivals, go along and support!

Website // Facebook // Soundcloud // Youtube

Contact: wearethewitchhunt@hotmail.co.uk

Album Review: The National - Trouble Will Find Me

Here it is, Trouble Will Find Me. My most anticipated and indeed one of the most anticipated albums of the year. The album was never actually planned as such, as the band were planning to have a four year break after the breakthrough commercial success of High Violet which placed The National near the top of the old guard of indie rock - this record however truly establishes them as at the top of their game, that very few bands can compete with. The relaxed composition of this album doesn't exactly break the mold of The National's style but refines it, showing a band slightly less ill at ease with their success. Having said that, the old insecurities still remain as Matt sings of the skeletons beneath his skin and the the trials of life.


For fans of: The Antlers / Sharon Van Etten / Interpol / St Vincent / Arcade Fire

This album in tradition with other National albums is a grower, you plug away at it and discover new aspects, melodies of the songs that resonate musically and emotionally the more you listen and before long are buried in the back of your head; there are no cheap singles or chart monsters that are separated by filler, this is start to finish the prime example of a great album.

The album starts with a good indication of what is to follow; I Should Live In Salt, contains Matt's  vocals straying higher than he has before and feels relaxed, sonically rich and lyrically more personal. On the subject of the album's lyrics, although they are not the best Matt has written, such as those on High Violet and Alligator and Boxer, they are certainly more personal and indeed more relatable - something the band is often targeted on, by writing about the day to day trials of middle aged, middle class men; however the lyrics can resonate with anyone and so often you can find a line that just captures a certain moment in your life then your own words never could. Here Matt's writing is at its peak in songs such as Pink Rabbits, Don't Swallow The Cap and This is The Last Time.

Similarly the vocal melodies are not as insatiably catchy as in High Violet but have a much greater variety such as coupling Matt's vocals with those of Annie Clark and Sharon Van Etten and the mass vocals of Sea Of Love which capture and energy not felt since tracks such as Abel or Mr November on Alligator. The versatility of Matt's own vocals is also tested more than in previous albums, showing its not just 'more of the same'; with his deepest rich baritone of Demons to the floating higher vocals of Pink Rabbits.

This album is all about subtlety, the overall timbre and feel of the record is a rich, dense and lush sound which seamlessly integrates electronic elements such as synths and drum machines with the natural elements of acoustic accounts and the intricate drumming of Bryan Devendorf. These lush soundscapes are best seen on the comparatively stripped down tracks of Slipped and the album's outro Hard To Find. The subtlety continues in the small changes to tracks that just lift them into something more interesting and compelling; for example the 7/4 time signature of Demons, the up tempo shift in Humiliation and also the mini outro of This Is Not The Last Time.

Many of these songs also draw from much of The National's previous work. For example; Fireproof could easily be on Boxer, This Is The Last Time has echoes of Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, Sea of Love has a big Alligator vibe and energy to it, and Pink Rabbits could sit among the best of High Violet. This gives the album not quite a compilation feel but one that makes this album possibly the most self-assured and coherent example of 'what are The National.'

Its clear this album is very good, not only does it have the trademark gravitas and class that The National have brought to their last three albums, its is still accessible to all National fans and indeed anyone who has just discovered them. This is not boring, middle aged man music but a down to earth, rivetting, intimate and at moments even sublimely profound collection of songs that are some of the best anyone could hope to hear.

What is perhaps most startling is that the National seem to be a band that can do no wrong, after the slightly lackluster debut, every album since has been very good, the last four albums of Alligator, Boxer, High Violet and Trouble Will Find Me have been exceptional, the antithesis of one hit-wonder indie bands and pop acts at the mercy of the music press. This album is a refinement of everything The National have done so far, drawing upon aspects of all of their best works to create an album which although admittedly is not their best album, it does not need to be anything groundbreaking and showcases exactly why the band is one of the best indie-rock bands of the 21st Century and how there is no one close to matching the consistently brilliant calibre of music that they do.

9/10

Key tracks: Don't Swallow The Cap // Pink Rabbits // Sea Of Love // Graceless

(To download: right click link > save link as > save MP3 to computer)




The National are also playing venues in the UK for touring the album. I managed to get tickets for the Manchester gig at the 02 Apollo which sold out in about 20 minutes! There are still a few tickets left for the London shows and are certainly worth the money. I will also do a review of the gig in Manchester in November.

News: Recording and Recruiting

We're back! And this time around we've got even bigger plans:

• We're pleased to announce that we will be branching out into recording basic acoustic/small scale demo sessions for local artists free of charge as well as providing producing and extra exposure for other bands. Its not exactly a record label but we hope to help artists put out material.

• We're also looking for more people to contribute to the blog in terms of music blogging and reviews - no previous experience needed, just a real enjoyment for music!

• Coming up soon we also have reviews of the latest albums from, The National and Savages, as well as a summer playlist and another review of this year's Latitude Festival.

If you are a local artist or band that would like to record some acoustic songs, or are interested in contributing to the blog, please contact: villainousfolk@outlook.com


And as usual we are always on Facebook // Soundcloud

Live Review: Night Beats + special guests @ Nation Of Shopkeepers

Let's get this out of the way; I've not died, exams have been whoring my time so no post have been coming. However I'll be 're-launching' the website so to speak on the 6th of June with some exciting news; In short, stay tuned...

On Monday I was contacted by the guys at Jonny Quits ( see a review of their debut EP here ) about coming to do a review of them and several other bands at Nation Of Shopkeepers in Leeds. Since its a nice change from staring at a textbook; So I went a long and this is what I made of it.

The gig was headlined by an American psychedelic band called 'Night Beats' and the other bands on the bill had a very psychedelic feel from Jonny Quits and The Glass Moths as well as the incredibly entertaining Rent Boys, more on them later...


The Glass Moths

There was already a decent crowd to see the night's openers The Glass Moths and with good reason, the effect-washed and atmospheric sound was tight, accomplished and a real indication of the night to come. The quality stayed very decent throughout but for me the band hit their peak with their last song (I think it was the one below) which had a feel reminiscent of The Doors, especially songs like 'The End' ( click here for a similar kind of feel ). Overall a very good start to the night and a definite band to see around Leeds if you can.

 Facebook

Jonny Quits

I've seen Jonny Quits before in Leeds ( review here ) where they really made a statement as one of the best new bands in Leeds. Their set tonight kept showing how they keep giving solid performances even when not headlining. Their set contains songs from their debut EP such as the belter 'Alice' and other material that kept the calibre high. Like the previous set, the last few songs were the best of the set and left a high benchmark for the next band.

Facebook // Soundcloud // Bandcamp

Rent Boys

This band really blew me away; not only was the music a compelling blend of psychedelic-punk-rock-something which sounded great, but the lead singer was a 6ft crossdresser with a red beret, smeared on lipstick and looked to be wearing some sort of swan, occasionally interrupting his howled and effect-warped vocals by downing god knows what from a two litre bottle. You don't see bands like this very often, so I implore you; go and see them live, you won't regret it.

Facebook // Bandcamp

Night Beats

This band seem to be causing a lot of talk about them, hailing the resurgence of a new wave of psychedelic rock bands like Temples (not that psychedelia ever went away) buoyed by the success of bands such as Tame Impala. Their set produced some great, tight, expressive music that shows why they deserve the buzz that they've been getting - worthy headliners and certainly a band to watch in the coming months.

Facebook





All in all it was a great night showcasing a lot of talent of a psychedelic scene that I didn't even know existed locally. Although all the bands put on solid performances, the highlight for me were Rent Boys, however if you ever are able to go and see any of the above bands, do so, all are worth the time, effort and money.

8/10

The venue must also deserve a mention; it had a great atmosphere, great bar and was busy all night, certainly a place to go on a night in Leeds or if you want to see some live music as they've played host some great bands; including the DJ set and after-party of the Foals gig I went to in Leeds earlier this year.

Visit their website

To round off; there will be no post for the next couple of weeks, however Villainous Folk will return bigger and better than ever,

Peace out

Live Review: Jonny Quits EP Launch

A few weeks ago I went to go and review Jonny Quits' EP launch gig with John. Sadly John's camera packed in and no photos were taken, all the ones on this post are from the bands' Facebook pages. I also did a short interview with the guys from Jonny Quits, the sound bite of which is available on Soundcloud now here (follow us on Soundcloud for new music from the bands we cover), the interview will also be typed up and sent to Leeds Music Scene and posted right here on Villainous Folk as well.

As always you can find Villainous Folk on Facebook and  Soundcloud

The night consisted of great music from AVACET, Test Transmission, Bad Names and of course Jonny Quits, as well as the DJ'ing and afterparty from Kaleidoscope:

AVACET:

Tight indie rock that felt genuinely professional. Seemed like the kind of band that could support a bigger band of its genre - akin again to Wild Nothing. Played songs that I hadn't heard which all sounded very good indeed. They also played a new track which soon after surfaced on their Facebook page called 'Play Your Cards' (listen below)

Facebook / Soundcloud / BandCamp

Test Transmission:

Very big sound, and in my opinion superior to the EP, by far saw the most energy on-stage of the night from the guitarists, the number of effects peddles were also dazzling. Played most of the EP as well as an sort of interlude which showed a new-found versatility possibly slightly hidden on the EP. A review of their EP by Villainous Folk can be found here and you can listen to the lead single 'With You' below:

Facebook / Soundcloud / BandCamp - Get their new EP here

Jonny Quits:

Next up were Jonny Quits, at the time I was confused why they weren't on last, not that it mattered, in my opinion the best band of the night. It was tight, expressive, professional and sounding close to an early Pink Floyd and if they keep up the way they're going then they will hopefully start to move towards that in terms of recognition. They definitely seemed like a band you would pay to see.

Facebook / Soundcloud / BandCamp - Buy their new EP here

Listen to the lead track from the EP 'Drive Around Him' here.

Bad Names:

Your classics rock band, of which there aren't enough getting recognition these days. A throwback to how rock music used to be, 4 guys having a good time on-stage  making loud, catchy music with as it seems a very devoted fan base, a perfect end to the night of bands.

Facebook / Soundcloud / Website

Kaleidoscope:

Unfortunately I didn't stay till the afterparty as getting back to skipton was a priority for the night, however enjoyed the choice of music between the bands including; Warpaint, St. Vincent, Jefferson Airplane and many other great tunes.

Kaleidoscope DJ monthly at the HiFi club in Leeds.

Facebook




All in all, it was a brilliant night and for me really highlighted how diverse the genre of 'Rock' can be, with four brilliant rock bands but all with distinctive and brilliant sounds in their own right.

9/10 This review can also be found at Leeds Music Scene - Here

EP Review: Test Transmission - Urgency

Test Transmission are a post-rock/grunge quartet from Leeds and Harrogate. They describe their sound as "Harsh, male vocals twin with melodic female vocals, soaring above a dark ambiance, brought about by effect-driven guitars, heavy undertones and powerful drum beats." and are influenced by bands such as 'Biffy Clyro' and 'Smashing Pumpkins', whist still having a very distinctive sound of their own. They have played venues all over Harrogate and Leeds and seem well on their way to larger venues and more high-profile gigs.

Their début EP ‘Urgency’ was released on 1st Feb, and is available for free download here

Before I start, there's one thing I need to make clear which is also present in other reviews of the EP, the mixing is very poor, the balance between the vocals, guitars and drums in particular makes the overall sound of the album lack a lot of dynamics and balls. In my opinion this should be overlooked when looking at the EP, poor mixing is always an issue for bands on a shoe-string budget and should not really be held against them, and I'll avoid bringing it up again too often. Now that's out of the way, on with the review…

Test Transmission - Urgency EP

The opening track ‘Collateral Damage’ gives the EP a very atmospheric opening, with a brilliant opening riff, being a good statement of intent for what is to come. It is also good to see that each track on the EP is individual, while still retaining a similar sound that keeps them together, something the band should be credited for. The single from the EP ‘With You’ provides a strong song with some nice hooks, good harmonies and intricate guitar parts, working together for a very competent song. ‘Coalesce’ gives a slightly heavier sound to the EP, with ‘chugging’ guitars at the opening, the Biffy Clyro influence prevalent here, however the track could certainly do with being a bit more ‘in your face’ dynamics-wise, something that I’m sure isn’t an issue live. 'Programme' starts with a droaning guitar, reminiscent of one of my favourite songs ‘There There’ by Radiohead. The vocals seem to be a bit out on a limb and isolated from the rest of the music, something that unfortunately does not work that well, unlike for bands such as ‘Joy Division’ where it is one of their most defining features.  ‘Our Promises’ is a more indie-rock ‘The Cure’-type song, a more toned down and tender end to the EP, the song itself is arguably the best on the EP, however the ‘drop’ or ‘break’ about half way through is disappointing, with slightly better mixing, it could sound massive, euphoric and really give the ending of the EP some charisma, rather than the lacklustre thing is it now.

There are a few other overall points I’d like to make; Firstly the vocals for some may be a bit of an acquired taste, while Louise’s vocals may not cause that much of an issue and personally I think suits their ambient sound slightly more, Connors are a lot more distinctive. This is in no way a bad thing, bands like WU LYF (who sadly are no more) had a lead vocalist whose vocals were sometimes painful to listen to and then bands such as Biffy and The Phantom Band which have distinctive regional accents for their vocals. EP’s are also all about potential; they are the tool bands use to get better gigs, radio appearances, festival slots and many more, as well as giving an indication of what the band is capable. The reason I’ve given the band a slightly better review than others is that I think that there is a lot of potential there, and I will be very interested to see where the band decide to go from here, whether ‘bigger rock’ like bands such as Biffy and ‘As I Watch You From Afar’ or more ambient post-rock like bands such as ‘Bon Iver’ or ‘Godspeed You! Black Emperor’, either way I’m sure there is only better come from them.

7/10

Here is the single from this EP, ‘With You’:

The band will be playing dates throughout February including this Friday at The Library In Leeds supporting Jonny Quits (which I will be reviewing – see the event preview here)

Mason

Villainous Folk Grows

Villainous Folk has started branching out, to provide a little respite from spamming Figurehead's Facebook wall, we've created a Facebook page for the blog, where all new posts will go. VF also now has a Soundcloud and Hype Machine account, so you can see what new music we are listening to at the moment.

Facebook

Soundcloud

Hype Machine (Mason's music)

If you want to contact us regarding any reviews of albums, gigs or contributing to the blog, send emails to this address:

villainousfolk@outlook.com

EP Review: Ghost Capsules - Inside

Electro quartet Ghost Capsules can trace their beginnings back to a Bomb The Bass gig in Vienna. Here it was that Tim Simenon, touring the ‘Back To Light’ album, met his support band that featured drummer Roman Lugmayr and keyboard player Georg Lichtenauer. The three hit it off, so much so that Tim relocated from Amsterdam to the Austrian capital. Here the missing piece for the Ghost Capsules jigsaw was found in singer Laura Gomez, who Tim had booked to play at one of his club nights. Proof positive that there’s no business as sociable as music.

Ghost Capsules make music for the night. Dark chocolate electro if you like, shot through with a dash of espresso, a twist of chilli even. Their beats and loops are cool and calculated, but emotion courses through each of Gomez’s lyrical statements, wreathed as they are in tales of pure fantasy. Singing of blood red shoes with killer heels, her verses are revealed under the sharply focused points of light conjured up by Ghost Capsules’ music.

Ghost Capsules - Inside EP

“When I count to three you will wake up, you won’t remember what happened”. So begins the Ghost Capsules song 'Inside', a vivid ‘reverie noir’, coloured with blood red lipstick and black satin dresses.

The remixes offer great musical flexibility. Ghost Capsules’ instrumental alias, The Third Mind, opt for a creeping sense of inertia, slightly acidic but confidently strutting forward. Makossa & Megablast bring cool, smoky house with touches of dub, developing their mix subtly to drape its tentacles round Laura Gomez and her ice cold vocal. Meanwhile Lupo uses sonic depth, the Viennese producer and DJ holding a long chord to the vocal together with animated synthesizer movement up top.

Complementing Inside are the hypnotic, probing off beats of 'Sleepless', again showing off Gomez and her crystal clear voice. Ken Hayakawa, a Japanese resident of Austria, produces a beautiful piece of nocturnal techno that unfolds under starry skies, structured to show off his classical Salzburg heritage.

Finally the Komaton duo of Sebastian Lehner and Tomá Ivanov, a big part of Austria’s burgeoning electronic music scene, take fragments of Laura’s voice to reach out like long fingers over crisply contrived beats.

Personally I think the sound of the EP is brilliant, full of character and accomplished sounds, however I would like to have seen more original tracks in lieu of the many remixes on the EP, however this is to be expected from a band who has its roots so firmly rooted in the Venetian dance scene. But all in all, the EP is incredibly promising  containing the dark beats akin with songs from Burial but still being catchy and commercial enough to make it in the ever-competitive music industry.

7/10

Links
http://www.ghostcapsules.com/
http://www.osolorecordings.com/store/ghost-capsules/inside-ep/

This is the lead single from the EP and in my opinion the best track on it:



Mason

Musings: Provocative Songs

Its that time of year again, that odd time when the long nights are slowly rolling back but winter still has a firm grip over you, an odd time which leaves many looking for comfort or solace in something. For some they find it in other people, family, friends, loved ones. For others things like art or photography. But for me I find it in my iTunes. The kind of songs that make you feel something beyond a catchy riff or a hum-able tune, songs that stir the emotions and memories, comfortable and uncomfortable ones. These aren't necessarily sad songs, but rather fulfilling ones, an intricate mix of the careful poetry of the lyrics and the music itself, which can stretch from vast soundscapes to one man and his guitar. Any song that can make someone feel something like that deserves a good amount of credit, and as a musician and lyricist, if I can ever make anyone experience anywhere similar emotions from a piece of work that I've helped create then it'll be a job very well done.

Quite often these songs find themselves on the end of albums, a closing statement of the work, and quite often a chance for the artist to bear some of their soul to whoever happens to be listening, something that artists do not get enough credit for in my opinion. Here are a few of my favourite provocative 'album closers':

re:Stacks - Bon Iver
Epilogue - The Antlers
Leave Me Alone - New Order
Cymbal Rush - Thom Yorke
Vessels - Tall Ships

Many of these type of songs also find themselves further back into their albums, and are no less as emotional and capable of raising the hairs on the back of your neck. There are dozens of these songs in my music collection but these are just a few of the ones that have been playing in my room of late:

Surprise Ice - Kings Of Convenience
Lippy Kids - Elbow
Woman When I've Raised Hell - Josh T. Pearson
About Today - The National
Champagne Year - St Vincent
Love Is All - The Tallest Man On Earth

Enjoy.

These next few days should also see a flurry of reviews coming soon, including EPs from Test Transmission and Ghost Capsules, as well as Foals' highly anticipated new album 'Holy Fire'.

Mason

EP Review: Jonny Quits and EP Launch Preview

Jonny Quits are an Alternative-Rock band formed in North London but the twin brothers in the band Jon and Chris Beagley soon migrated up North where their energetic live shows have given them another large fan base, rivalling that of their native London. The band now play live shows in both cities to great reception see here for a clip on NME's website of a show at the 360 Club in Leeds - a venue in which they played to Alan Raw from BBC Introducing, and have headlined venues in London such as The Buffalo Bar in Highbury and Islington.

They cite their influences as ranging from The Kinks to Tame Impala and Jack White, influences which certainly show in their eponymous EP, without seeming unoriginal in any way, giving a new twist to the sounds of the 60s, and incorporating genres from Blues and Psychedelic to Garage Rock and Folk. The band call the EP 'for the 21st century kids who wish they were born 50 years ago' and they certainly achieve that and when nostalgia is as good for bands as it is these days, you will be hearing a lot more of them.

Jonny Quits EP (Released 18th February 2013)

The EP starts with a great opening track 'Drive Around Him' which moves from a pleasantly jittery opening and shifts time to an up-tempo rock song with some great riffs and is catchy in all the right ways. The EP then moves into more psychedelic territory with 'I Don't Know' which has more fuzz than you can shake a stick at and towards the middle of the track takes a trip into some really surreal melodics before coming back down to earth. This psychedelic feel continues for the rest of the EP with the song 'Alice', reminiscent of the classic 'White Rabbit' by Jefferson Airplane and containing some lovely guitar tones. The EP closes with the song 'Oh You' which is very stripped down, laid back and almost eerie at times, drenched in reverb but a perfect end to the EP, rounding it off nicely.

The sound that this EP gives out is very accomplished, very faithful to its influences but still maintains a lot of originality and creative flare. This also is a nice change from the deluge of Indie-Rock bands (not all of which are bad by any means) that seem to be appearing all over Leeds and the rest of the UK. Another note is that the EP comes with a make-yourself origami boat, which is a really surreal, quirky touch that I enjoyed a lot.

8/10

The band can be found at:
Facebook
Bandcamp - Digital download of album

Contact: Jon Beagley - jonnyquits@hotmail.co.uk


Gig Preview: Jonny Quits EP Launch Party, Live at 360 Club Leeds + support and DJ set @ Kaleidoscope

The band are pre-releasing copies of their EP at a launch party on Friday 15th February (see address below) and will be joined by support from; ACACET, Bad Names and Test Transmission. I will be doing a live review of the gig and also will be having an interview with the band beforehand. It sounds like it will be a great night, get your tickets while their hot.

360 club is at:
The Library (upstairs venue)
Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 3AP
Doors 8pm - 11:15pm

Get tickets here -Jumbo Records

AVACET: Very melodic and atmospheric Indie-Rock that I'm looking forward to seeing live. They also remind me of one of my current favourite bands 'Wild Nothing'. This track is definitely worth a download.


Bad Names: Great Alt-Rock which is reminiscent of REM with elements of psychedelic rock, can't wait to hear more.


Test Transmission: Post-rock inspired music with a very effective two vocalist combination with very nice harmonies. They also have an EP out which you can listen to and buy here - which I will also be reviewing.


Mason

Track Review: The Vestals - Perfect Pain//Seventeen

The Vestals are breaking Indie-Rock band from South Wales with a euphoric sound that really establishes them as a band to look out for in the next few years. This AA-side 'Perfect Pain'/'Seventeen' released on Killing Moon Records, contains two unabashed, catchy, well-written songs that sound perfect for a summer playlist and this year's open air festivals.

Perfect Pain is a fast-paced, soaring statement of intent from the band and a perfect single to build up the hype for the emerging band. Seventeen is definitely cut from the same cloth but still adds something different, with a great guitar riff and massive chorus. The sound of these singles puts me in mind of the long line of emerging bands such as The Chevin and NME's beloved PEACE and more than earns the band a place among them.



For fans of: PEACE, Neon Trees, Wild Nothing and The Chevin
Playing locally: Deaf Institute - Manchester (6th February) Duchess - York (9th February)
Contact: joe@divisionpromotions.com - Joe Parry at Division Promotions

Rating: 7

The band have toured with bands such as Swim Deep and Bastille, meaning that this band are showing a lot of promise and are likely to join bands such as the above as the 'in' bands to get for this years festivals such as local ones for me such as Live At Leeds and Beacons Festival. And now they will be touring the UK with the band Pure Love, see dates below.

Album Review: Sharon Van Etten - Tramp

I first saw Sharon Van Etten in May of last year at Brudenell Social Club in Leeds (pictures above) and was really blown away by the raw sincerity and emotion that she put into her songs. Wanting to know if any of this translated into the recorded version of the album she was touring, I got her album from the merch stall at the back and waited to see if she'd come to the stall and sign it, sadly to no avail. However on the upside her album did very much mirror what I'd heard live, and I always feel the true test of how good an album is, is how well it is translated or changed for the road. This album also topped my albums of 2012 and this review should just about highlight why.



This is Sharon's third album and is far more accomplished and assured than either 'Because I was in Love' or 'Epic' and most people would agree its a step forward. This album is also heavy on collaborations  first and foremost is Aaron Dessner from The National who features on the album and also produced it at his garage studio, giving the album a semi-low-fi feel that suits it far more than any glossy over-production ever could. Other features include Beirut's Zach Condon, Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner and the drummer form The Walkmen. Far from giving the album a disjointed feel, all the collaborations not only add something different to every song and almost give the songs some assurance, a bit like friends helping Sharon through the process.

The album starts with three relatively rocky songs by this album's standards, Warsaw, Serpents and Give Out. All three are very solid songs, 'Serpents' providing a good lead single while 'Give Out' is one of my personal favourites from the album, however afterwards the album looses this assurity. It meanders, drifts and looses the structure and convictions of the earlier songs, but this is what makes the album great, the lack of the conviction and rigid structure, reliance on riffs or big choruses show how genuine some of the songs are. On the subject of how genuine the songs are, Sharon seems to tread the thin line between bluntness and artistic licence in her songs very well, songs such as  'Leonard' 'I'm Wrong' and 'Joke Or Lie' are obviously very dear to her, and it shows in the lyrics. The song 'We Are Fine' is particularly strong as it talks about a panic attack that she had, someone who can put so much of her soul into an album and then call it 'Tramp' is someone with guts, and someone to be respected. Each song on this album paints the picture of a destructive relationship, all the subtleties of the emotions perfectly documented, a whole album dedicated to one break up really shows the power of human emotions, and makes the subject matter unable to be dismissed as trivial in any way.

Musically, the album is a different story. It can be sparse at times, almost in danger of staying into blandness  but in my opinion, being just on the right side. This almost hollow feeling to some songs doesn't ruin it, the vocals and lyrics are the focal point and rightly so and more than carry the album. This album isn't perfect, nothing really is, but I don't think it's meant to be, this album is self-help, the chance to let someone lick their wounds and voice their grief and anger to the world, that deserves credit to bare your soul this openly to critical scrutiny, I doubt this, or any other review will change how Sharon Van Etten feels about her music.

9/10

Mason

2012/2013 Crossover

I thought with it being a new year and all this'd be a great time to do a nice end of year review of how last year was for music and for the band, as well as looking ahead to what the next year holds both for the band and in terms of new releases and bands to watch. (right-click and 'save target as' for mp3)

2012

Last year for the band was a little tough, line-up changes, cancelled shows and a forever delayed EP seemed to be the list of never ending woe that nearly all new young bands experience when starting out. But towards the latter half of the year with a new drummer in tow, new songs, a new drive to make the most of the coming year and now under the wing of a mentoring scheme by MAS records has given us a lot to be grinning about. And to top off the year nicely, our return to live performances after far too long - see here

As for music in general, it was a solid year, nothing amazing, a few good albums and some duff ones but on the whole nothing to sniff too much at. Here's some of my highlights and low points of the musical year:

My Top 5 Albums of 2012

1) Sharon Van Etten - Tramp - (review soon)

The third album from the American singer-songwriter and by far her boldest and most assured yet finding her worldwide acclaim. The album is somewhat of an acquired taste, with stripped-down soul-bearing honesty teetering on the edge blandness musically. Its a kind of genius that isn't immediately obvious, but its there. 

Sharon Van Etten - Serpents (mp3) - The lead single from the album.

2) Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

The début album from the local boys from Leeds, something different, interesting and most importantly, very, very good. Worthy winner of the Mercury Prize, lets hope they don't suffer from its curse and we never hear from them again...

Alt-J - Fitzpleasure (mp3) - wob wob wob

3) Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!

Post-rock masters return with this stunning epic and also my first listen to GYBE (as they shall hence be know) but very very impressive. Its grand, sweeping, dynamically brilliant and a marvel of music and archetypal of the genre.

BYBE - Mladic (mp3) - the 20 minute opener, you're best listening to the whole album though, its not really an album for picking tracks.


4) Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (III)

I must admit a bit of a change of heart here, after what was one of my favourite albums of all time (CC II) I expected more of the same, especially after 'Plague' was announced. It was different and has taken a lot of time to appreciate fully, but in retrospect it is a much grittier and mature sound, but still brilliant.

Crystal Castles - Insulin (mp3) - Massive, glitchy and destructive.

5) Tall Ships - Everything Touching

I reviewed this album a short while ago and was mightily impressed and is only one of two débuts in my top 5. To see the review in full see here

Tall Ships - Gallop (mp3) - The lead single from the album and a thumper of a tune.






Honourable mention: Plan B - Ill Manors: A brilliant protest album accompanying a gritty and visceral début film from Ben Drew. Its brilliant to see musicians airing the issues that people see around them with the new found voice and stage they have been given - BBC 1XTRA Interview

Track Of The Year: Grimes - Genesis (mp3): Bloody brilliant ethereal indie synth pop.

Worst Album of the Year: Mumford & Sons - Babel: Shite.

2013

For a new band a new year is always a good time to think 'fresh start'. Not for us, its pretty much business as usual in order to get our EP out (we're sure it'll happen one day..). We've only come to the conclusion that it can only get better, more gigs, more songs, more people.

New albums to look out for in 2013

Next year looks to be a good year for music, with some big names releasing new material. Here are some of my anticipated releases:

Foals - Holy Fire: Third album from Foals and it sounds great so far, only three songs are out in the public domain but they are sounding very promising. Check out 'My Number (Live On Jools Holland)'

Atoms For Peace - Amok: Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich, Red Hot Chilli Pepper's Flea and REM's Joey Waronker release their début effort. Atoms For Peace - Default

Hurts - Exile: Hurts return with a follow-up to last years 'Happiness'. They say it will be darker than the first which is exciting and worrying at the same time. I really love a band that takes them selves too seriously, and Hurts do just that.

The National - TBC: My favourite band have a new album coming out this may, the live songs previewed from 'All Tomorrows Parties' event sound brilliant. I for one cannot wait.

Empire Of The Sun - TBC: A dodgy wait after 2008's breathtaking 'Walking on a Dream' left many wondering if there would ever be a follow-up. Thankfully everything seems to be on track for the next album to be released this year.

New bands to look out for in 2013

As ever, new bands are breaking and exiting a lot of people and as ever NME calls it a 'music revolution'... indeed. Anyway, here are the bands getting me exited this year, 'viva la revolution':

1) Chvrches: Ignoring the groovy 'V' and 'U' switch, Chvrches are a exciting new Glaswegian indie synth-pop trio that sound somewhere between 'M83' and 'Little Boots'. They also found their way in at 5th on BBC's 'Sound Of 2013' poll, in which better acts were in the long-list than short-list, odd. Chvrches - The Mother That We Share (mp3)

2) Palma Violets: NME's bitch at the moment but that does not stop them being one of the most exciting new bands around with a belter of a track that unsurprisingly won NME's track of the year: Palma Violets - Best of Friends (mp3)

3) Savages: Punk rock that's a throwback to Siouxsie and the Banshees and the brilliant music scene of the time. Nostalgia has always been a big plus points for some bands and this all-female group certainly have it. Savages - Husbands (mp3)

Mason.