Dublin’s alternative rock band Motions have released their new EP, ‘The Late Night Calls’ is a superb majestic EP to indulge in. Title track ‘Late Night Calls’ flows in with a beautiful melody on top of cool flicking electronics. With ethereal guitars providing a breezy sting, it’s an airy richly textured track that packs in oodles of passion into a fluttering danceable number. The snappy ‘Back & Forth’ follows. It’s a catchy track filled with buzz swirling electronics while a sputtering rhythm injects between lush backing vocals. This track is dipped in darker tones as harsher vocals exude swagger and attitude. My favourite track on the EP ‘Back & Forth’ showcases a rich depth and musical proficiency that keeps the listener hanging on to every gripping note. Its sway like tempo and jangly guitar are just the icing on this delicious cake. It’s the sublime little gem of the EP. A trickling ‘Interlude’ breaks up the sticky intensity before final track ‘Waiting To Tell You’ reintroduces their mellow fluid sound. A creamy melody glissades upon a fluctuant beat while aerial guitars twinkle around with a sweet blissful tone that holds a sense of mind relaxing freedom. Its dreamy and light yet Motions mix a bit of grit into the mix for the bridge.
Motions prove that they can create a passionate wholly satisfying collection of tracks that submerge you into a universe created completely by them. Each track is catchy, intricate and well layered while maintaining its own identity. ‘Late Night Calls’ is a sublime listen.
Public Access T.V. are back to provide some infectious tunes to wrap your ears around with their highly anticipated sophomore album ‘Street Safari’. It’s an album that hones in on their sound, refines it, uncoils all the intricate details and arranges them in a neat matured compact production of finesse.
‘Safari (In My Head)’ brings on their chilled disco shift and introduces the album with a little touch of chicness. With its strut ready shuffle inducing rhythm and jungle like injection mixed with sharp jagged guitars subtly wailing and stinging behind the most mellow soundscapes this track introduces ‘Street Safari’ with class. Melodies are the secret ingredient in Public Access T.V.’s delicious brew and ‘Shell No. 2’ displays this perfectly. Luscious backing vocals coo the last word of each line while a catchy melody drifts upon vibrant guitars and an infectious buoyant rhythm. A fluttering keyboard feature hops along its merry way making this track instantly likeable and fun. With an intro that grabs you by the ears, fastens itself securely in your mind and entraps you, ‘Your God and Mine’ is the creme de le creme of the album. The intro alone has the aroma of Depeche Mode, New Order or INXS with a nice slap of Prince sass on top and that melty melody is just sublime. Their ability to surge swagger into a track without coming across over done is magnificent and they back this panache up with a healthy dose of slick laid back instrumentation which takes its time and glides with an unhurried sense of space. This album fleshes out the different groovy facets to this four piece. The funkadelic bravado of ‘MetroTech’, with its running elastic sensual bassline and rich jittery rhythm contrasts sharply to the brooding R&B- esque slow burner ‘Told You Too Much’ and displays the bands fine musicianship and rich musical depth.
From smooth melodies sliding and gliding on top of slicked back flaunty flamboyance to the exhilarating intensity and punchiness of ‘Rough Boy’, Public Access T.V. keep the album interesting. ‘Lost in the Game’ will lure you to the dancefloor for sure with its flaunty melody and buoyant rhythm. This shimmy ready number hits all the right spots. How can you refuse that funky guitar hook in ‘Wait it Out’? Each track whacks out another infectious melody, bass line or guitar hook for you to blissfully indulge in. ‘Meltdown’ has an 80’s power anthem feel to it while flooding you with youthful exuberance. With its thrilling driving bass line, breath-taking synth feature and golden guitar moments this is a powerful little gem. The band choose the dizzying electronic ‘The Quicksands’ which blinds with its hypnotic, revolving groove and spacy soundscapes to bring us to the end of the album and leave you craving more.
‘Street Safari’ is another smashing album from the four piece. The tracks are clearer, more crisp and confident. Public Access T.V. have defined their sound, its precise and is the soundtrack you need for strutting down the street.
Stream ‘Street Safari’ below
We had a chat with John Eatherly and Max Peebles about the ‘Street Safari’ album check out what they had to say below
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Strange Cages
Brighton trio Strange Cages have returned with a series of live dates and another dizzingly impressive new single ‘Hypothalamus Blues’, out now through Vallance Records.With a frenetic, snotty, psych-surf rock ‘n’ roll sound in the vein of The Cramps or Ty Segall, Strange Cages have already been making big strides in their short existence, quickly gaining support from the likes of Clash Magazine, NME, Q Magazine, The 405 and The Line of Best Fit, whilst tearing up stages in support of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Night Beats, and Boogarins. Having followed up their Theo Verney produced debut ‘Desert’ with the single ‘Pony’, Strange Cages went on to release their head-spinning EP ‘The Cracks’ last year, and now the trio return with ‘Hypothalamus Blues’.
‘Hypothalamus Blues’ is a feverous whack of dizzying psychedelia wrapped in a neatly bound concoction of krautrock and post-punk. This trippy mind melting number will lure you in with a smooth snappy effortless cool vocal line and western-esque twinkling guitar before submerging you in a swirling delusion inducing narcotic soundscape. The track begins dreamy and sweetly euphoric as a hazy melody melts upon soft laid back mellow soundscapes. It then builds into an electric shock of blinding shrilling distortion and heavy fuzzed psychedelia. Before settling again slowly easing the skull bashing mania only to build that frenzy back up again. This schizophrenic bewildering track is a thrilling and spine chilling experience which was carefully crafted for the perplexing trip of a life time.
Strange Cages will also head out to perform a series of UK live dates in support of the release catch them live at
Freeda are a five piece indie-rock band from Manchester UK, comprising of members Sean Rowles (Guitar + Vocals), Callum Hignett (Guitar), Cameron Meekums-Spence (Guitar), Adam Barton (Bass) and Adam Jackson (drums).Working with the production duo Sugar House (Glass Caves, Viola Beach) the band have released their debut single ‘Plug It In’ and are working towards recording their first EP. Fresh off a string of support slots at venues such as Band on the Wall and Manchester Academy, Freeda are aiming to establish themselves as a headline act in the Manchester area.
‘Plug It In’ is a blistering indie track brimming with razor sharp guitar stabs piercing through punchy drums and elastic bass slaps. This catchy track scorches with red hot intensity and scalding instrumentation. Its snappy rhythm provides a flexible foundation for the swagger soaked sizzling guitars to rebound off as they jangle throughout adding bright little stings between the infectious melody. With gritty fragments throughout these guys blend the sweet and sour perfectly creating an impressive exhilarating debut track to make them ones to watch out for.
Bio: Liverpool’s We Were Glue have released their new single ‘Stuck in Love’. The track was recorded with Mark Morrow (Vistas, Mt Doubt) and represents the first offering in 2018, the follow-up to last year’s singles ‘Birthday’ and ‘My Girl’.
Track: ‘Stuck in Love’
Why We Like It: It’s a tasty nibble of infectious indie. Sharp zesty guitars spiral around a dynamic vocal while punchy drums add a buoyant spring to this vibrant number. Luscious melodies playfully melt upon the busy instrumentation as We Were Glue perfectly blend biting razor sharp indie rock with delicious sun kissed indie pop.
You can follow We Were Glue on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/wewereglue/
Stream ‘Stuck In Love’ below
Voyages
Genre: Indie pop
Bio: Bath family of five, Voyages have released their new single ‘New Year’s Day’. Voyages is the creation of singer/songwriter, Will Walter whose work began in Spring 2017 in his home studio in the West Country. Enriched by psychedelic sounds, Walter’s journey started to create a modern alternative production and a new sound from everything he loved about his record collection before adding a band of brothers together for the ride. The band, who now perform and record as a 5-piece, are twins, Will and Tim Walter on vocals/keys, their brother Ollie Walter on guitar, alongside another set of twins in James and Lewis Woods who take care of the rhythm section on bass and drums.Their debut EP entitled New Year’s Day has been recently released on newly pressed limited edition vinyl.
Track: Godspeed
Why We Like It: It’s a twinkling retro 60’s flavoured track doused in trippy blissed out psychedelia. A dreamy vocal glides upon the sweet melody while swirling synths and tapping rhythm create the perfect mellowed out state of euphoria. The track builds into a crescendo with 16 layers of vocal harmony over a 3 round vocal pass forming a lush rich texture to wrap your ears around.
Bio: UK based blues rocker Philip Morgan Lewis has released a music video for his single ‘Sinner’ taken from his ‘Grief Harbour’ album which is released via Moonalizer Records. The London East End singer, songwriter, producer Philip Morgan Lewis combines alternative, blues, rock and folk influences. Philip writes and produces his songs playing most of the instruments. A nominee at the British Blues Awards, Philip features as producer alongside Gordon Raphael (The Strokes) on Elêphant’s album (RYP recordings).
Track: ‘Sinner’
Why We Like It: With a stomping rhythm forming the back bone of this darkly hued track ‘Sinner’ instantly grabs the listener by the ears, slithers and hustles its way into your brain. Infectiously catchy with steamy wailing guitars and smokey raspy vocals smothered on top of a sultry bluesy outfit it’s a cool swagger soaked rough and ready number. With a sing along friendly chorus backed by gospel like soul, this track makes for some hefty listening.
We Three Kings are a three piece blues-rock band based in Manchester UK, made up of Rich on vocals and guitar, Paul on bass and Pete on drums. Describing their sound as an original blend of rock, blues, fuzz and noise, they have been compared to bands including Rival Sons, Royal Blood and The Black Keys, with a riff-driven guitar-heavy sound reminiscent of Deap Vally, Wolfmother and The White Stripes. An experienced and high-energy live act with a massive sound. The trio have recently released their second five-track EP of new and original work titled ‘FIRE’.
‘Fire’ is a blazing five track EP asphyxiated in gritty meaty riffs and pummelling drums. Each track is a shamelessly melodic rock monster locked and loaded with enough angst, fury and infectious grooves to have you moshing and dancing in no time. ‘Sound Of The Radio’ kicks off the rough and tumble EP as their slick heavy sound stampedes in with frenzy inducing mania.‘The Barrel’ and ‘Bright Lights Of The City’ blast out heavy riffs which are laced in sensual grooves which hit through like a nail gun to the eardrum while ruthless drums savagely batter you around the head at neck snapping speeds. It’s a bloodthirsty assault and an invigorating listen. Swagger soaked vocals exude attitude into the tracks while the infectious choruses make sure these tunes aren’t leaving your head anytime soon. This trio don’t give you time to rest they whack out adrenaline surging energy track after track. ‘Uncontrollable Squeal’ continues this frenzy – bluesy and steamy with kick ass riffs that are sure to have a live audience in a dizzying moshing mess. It’s slick and cool with a bass line that holds a brawny yet elastic foundation for the hefty guitar to rebound off. ‘Invisible Man’ brings us to the end of the EP leaving you thirsty for more. It’s pumped, powerful yet extremely buoyant. The snappy rhythm is guaranteed to raise your blood pressure while a shredding guitar solo will have you on your knees doing air guitar.
‘Fire’ is a bold intensely sharp and rowdy EP from We Three Kings. It’s a speed shot of riff driven rock that is sure to be epic live.
Fears Chella are an evocative Stoke/Manchester based ‘Slackerpop’ band who cheekily blur elements of grunge and pop with sparkles of dreamy and chaotic 90s indie-rock. Forming in 2016 Fears Chella quickly gained support from Huw Stephens on Radio 1, Shell Zenneron Amazing Radio, Hattie Pearson, The Unsigned Guide’s ‘Artist Spotlight’, Ditto Music and BBC Introducing. The band have now released their new single ‘Polaroid’ which follows the success of their previous singles ‘Girlfriend’ and ‘Lush’ which have earned the band playlisting slots with Spotify, 150k streams and a plethora of blog and radio coverage. The new single ‘Polaroid’ is “A song about the intoxicating feelings of that freeze-framed teen abandon you get with new loves, and about the games people play when really everyone just needs to feel wanted”. Having spent 2017 playing shows like headlining stages at Dot To Dot Festival and slots at Threshold Festival and Sonder Festival the band have also been busy playing shows with the likes of The Big Moon, Get Inuit, Honeyblood, All Tvvins, King No-One and PINS. All of this has been in culmination for Fears Chella upcoming 2018 tour starting in March.
‘Polaroid’ is a fizzy luscious can of sugar indie pop bursting with sunny vibes and energetic youthfulness. Vibrant zesty guitars interweave between a foot tapping beat and an irresistible honey coated melody. This track explodes with sparkling luminosity as swirling adrenaline infused soundscapes deliver a sugar rush of bliss while jangly guitars add a refreshing spritz of sharpness to the sweet syrupy euphoric track. Its a peppy, catchy, sun kissed anthem bursting with oodles of youthful pizzazz and intensity.
Kingpins are a Brighton-based five-piece formed in May 2017. The band have already played a handful of gigs throughout Brighton including a sold out This Feeling night as well as featured on local radio stations. The band comprised of member Henry Foulkes on lead vocals, Chris Udell on lead guitar, Joe Simmonds on drums, Sam Glinsman on rhythm guitar and Hayden Prenter on bass have released their new single ‘Don’t Go’
‘Don’t Go’ is a blistering swagger soaked display from this quintet. With punchy drums and a boisterous bass laying down a rumbly elastic foundation for the crashing guitars to rebound off these guys have created an electrifying wall of sound that is both intricate and well layered. It’s catchy and explosive in all the right places with the fiery chorus erupting instrumentally while the cool vocals douse some effortless swagger on top. It’s a fine track from Kingpins and a confident panache driven offering. Keep an eye out for these chaps.
Four piece alternative rock band Vrillon have released their highly anticipated single ‘Find You’. The Bath-based lads have built up a solid reputation and a cult following in their local area playing sold out shows on a regular basis and their debut EP is set for release later this year with fans already eagerly awaiting its release.
‘Find You’ is a cruising indie track steeped in melancholic tones and a swayable wholesome groove. The track progresses steadily and fluidly as raspy vocals glide over a sweet luscious melody and sublimely subtle jangly guitar. The real thrill of the track is the emotional content and ethereal guitar moments. They touch the soul with a moody darkness yet soothe it sweetly and delicately. This track is focused and well thought out creating a slow jam that speaks to and can relate to everyone. A mellow warm guitar solo radiates glowing illumination into the track while adding a hazy tender glare over the cushioned beat. These guys have developed a mature sound that has ability to evoke the emotional life beneath their melodies.
New York City based alternative folk artist Tender Glue has release the first single from his forthcoming album ‘Closet Leftovers’, which will be released monthly over the coming year. Self-recorded in the closet of Tom Gluewicki’s studio apartment, the album is a delicate blend of indie rock, alternative folk and elements of post punk. As an active and passionate member of the artist community, singer-songwriter behind Tender Glue, Tom Gluewicki set up his own label ‘Don’t Label Me Records’ which has a main focus of building an integrated and like-minded community whose priority is to create genuine songs. Furthering that ideology, Tom set up his own live project ‘Smartphone Sessions’ created to support passionate musicians and artists by documenting live performances recorded by volunteers using their smart phones.With a passion for genuine music and the sole aim to create and experiment, Tom wrote the first single ‘With You Here’ in a five-minute burst of creativity before work. The single itself is a textural and ambient modern take on alternative folk. Following his DIY ethos, the track was recorded in Tom’s closet, leading to some challenges with static and interference along the way, all adding to the endearing and warming character of the single. Written, performed and recorded by Tom himself it gives a taste of what to expect from the forthcoming releases. Release dates of all next singles will be posted on social media throughout the coming months.
‘With You Here’ is a reverb laden track laced in sweet vibrant hazy guitar and a soft tapping beat. It’s tender and beautiful brimming with sun kissed vibes and luscious melodies. For me the golden zesty guitar lines which wistfully whine are the magnificent gem of this track, they flood it with such passion and emotion while lifting it to aerial celestial heights. Tom’s vocals exude emotion and tenderness while the sublime layering on the track creates a special unique experience. Its an ethereal majestic piece from Tender Glue and a sublime beautiful track to hold dear.
Stream ‘With You Here’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
