Leeds alternative rock band Fighting Caravans have released their new single ‘It’s A Nice Ride (To Be Fair)’ by cult label, Clue Records. After sets at Leeds and Reading Festival in 2016, band members Daniel Clark (Lead Vocals), Roff James (Guitar), Cinnamon Lees (Bass), Ali Fletcher (Guitar) and Joshua Hagzenberg (Drums) have gained a reputation as an explosive live band which is exemplified by the accompanying music video made up of clips from their most recent headline tour of Europe in October. The band have recently completed a stint recording at the renowned, The Nave, and plans are in place for an even bigger 2017 having already announced appearances at a number of Festivals, including Outlines and Blue Dot. ‘It’s A Nice Ride (To Be Fair)’ is a venomous attack cloaked in smooth eerie tones and a slick glossy flow. This psychedelic acid trip wails with shrilling distorted guitar and a bitter fierce lyrical sting. Soft lush backing vocals add a ghostly haunting quality while that razor sharp guitar shines with spine chilling flare and animation right into the kick ass riveting solo. The stirring malleable bass is shiver inducing-ly sinister. The track sweeps with their melodic yet vicious creepy territory with nods towards Nick Cave, The Walker Brothers and The Last Shadow Puppets. The track is lush and sublimely layered with dark tones and grippingly intense instrumentation. A chilling and thrilling must listen from Fighting Caravans. Watch out for theses guys.
Watch the video for ‘It’s A Nice Ride (To Be Fair)’ below
German rockers Odd Couple have released their new single ‘Gone Solid’ ahead of their second album ‘Flügge’ (meaning “independent” or “to spread one’s wings” in German) which is set for release April 21st. Odd Couple duo Tammo Dehn and Jascha Kreft’s modern approach to recording sound takes influence from hip hop and the kosmische musik experimentation of West Germany in the seventies. ‘Gone Solid’ is a blissfully brutal attack on the senses with a hybridisation of garage rock pummelling with ferocity and chilled with swagger filled vocals and waves of electronic psychedelia. With a beat that straddles the line between motorik rhythms and hip hop its a strut and display of effortless cool panache within the constraints and solid structure of the track. Infectious gritty chunky guitar riffs add brawn and a beefy punch. This track oozes attitude and slick swanky flamboyance all while packing a serious dose of heavy mosh worthy frenzy. The quality is on point ,richly layered and multi textured, you hear a new impressive feature of the song each time you listen. These guys are musical wizards. Its eccentric and retro while remaining fresh and original. ‘Gone Solid’ is the epiphanies and freakouts of decades past with hints of soul, garage rock, psychedelia and funk . You feel sure you recognise something to pin it down to a genre, but you don’t quite, hence mind blowing.
Stream ‘Gone Solid’ below
Future Lover has released a new single ‘Dead Soul Dagger’ Colin Lime is Future Lover, He writes, records, and produces all the music, with occasional contributions from far-out friends. Originally hailing from Indianapolis, and having spent more than a decade touring the country and living in New York, the sound of Future Lover reflects that journey. It evokes a psychedelic trip through inner and outer space, lighting up the darkness and rocketing out into the universe. He calls his sound “Psych-Wave”. ‘Dead Soul Dagger’ is taken from ‘Reverb Tales’, the forthcoming LP out May 2017 on Crystal Cave Records. ‘Dead Soul Dagger’ is a fuzzed kaleidoscopic prism of psychedelic rock swirling with trippy confusion. Opiate vocals sooth with a narcotic numbing effect while weaving electronics act as a wobbly wave like mirage causing a blissful daydream head trip. Razor sharp fuzzed guitar becomes the constant, keeping you from dangerously slipping into the enticing enigma. The shredding guitar riff is gritty and hypnotic with steamy flashes of disorientation. Strong punchy drums give the track a heavy sound that will cause your glazed head to mosh messily and uncontrollably while you become consumed in the dark bewitchment of this fascinating track. Haunting falsetto vocals echo in the background while the track swirls and weaves with liquid blurred fluidity. Let Future Lover dissolve your brain in trippy ecstasy.
Stream ‘Dead Soul Dagger’ below
MUX, a brand new electro-stoner band from London is to release at the end of March their EP entitled ‘Can you see who?’. MUX blend elements of electronica, stoner, trip-hop and punk leaving you in a twisted knot of thrilling euphoric disorientation. Comprised of members Tiz, Paul, and Jonas, MUX present an EP that is a gripping electrifying enigma fuzzed and gritty and smothered in obscure darkness. The band officially started in the summer of 2016 when Tiz and Paul (drums) met in Brighton, while shopping for souvenirs. They started fighting over a seashell ashtray and ended talking about Kendrick Lamar’s latest album. A couple of months later, the pair met Jonas (Guitar) at a Mac DeMarco concert in Camden. Jonas was headbanging harder than everyone else. ‘MDMA’ kicks off the EP with a creepy sinister shadowy tone. Raspy whisper-like vocals are hair-raisingly chilling while the gritty distorted guitar adds a rough round the edges sharpness. Its like a psychedelic trip that’s freaked you out but still feels good. A rapid elastic rhythm gives a sticky gooey glooping effect. The track becomes more dynamic as it progress with the intense electronics becoming more frantic while the shredding guitar pierces with shrilling ferocity. The electronic woodblock-like feature is a recurring element in the EP’s tracks and it adds a plump texture and unusual refreshing contrast to the dark psychedelic swirling surround. It acts like a conscious anchor keeping your mind from becoming completely engulfed by the musical whirlwind. ‘Gold and Prozac’ follows with shivering fuzzed guitar against a tapping rhythm. The track oozes lurid gloppy liquid- like electronics that seep throughout the track, broken only by hypnotic trance inducing psychedelia. Eerie dark vocals are ghostly with a theatrical tint of evil. Epic basslines travel through each track providing a weighty beefy foundation to sink your teeth into. ‘Teenage Father’ begins with the sweet request “Kill Me” building into a thunderous mighty headbanger. This frenzy causing hysteria is sticky mosh pit neck-breaking head banging ready. Snapping bass is teamed with a fantastic driving guitar that shrills with blissful ear-piercing capability. Its a blood pumping smashing monster of a track that is convulsion causing derangement but so good. ‘Stray’ finishes the EP with a sensual riveting all absorbing guitar feature, lusty crescendo and pounding rhythm mixed with electronic blurring perplexity, all bashed out and liquored up leaving you in a glazed mind boggled mush. Blending heavy turmoil with sensual steamy red hot piercing guitar and luring vocals, this track penetrates your skull with relentless soundscapes and acute powerful momentum.
Each track flows fluidly into the next as MUX take you on a riveting complex journey through their proficient composition and exquisite craftsmanship. Its dark, its gritty and fuzzed with narcotic effects. ‘Can you see who?’ is a swirling invasion into your mind showing you a shadowy kaleidoscope of abstruseness.
Watch a snippet of what you can expect below
London-based duo Ten Fé have released their much anticipated debut album ‘Hit The Light’.Recorded in Berlin, Ben Moorhouse and Leo Duncan’s stunning debut is an album to get lost in. The duo effortlessly blend blissful soft rock with psychedelic electronic rock ’n’ roll creating an album where each track warrants its place and has its own identity on the album while gliding fluidly into the next track. ‘Overflow’ kicks the album off with sweet nostalgia. Moorhouse’s warm mellow baritone soothes and cushions the listener from the bittersweet sentimental drenched track. It becomes instantly obvious these guys have a knack for irresistible melodies that lull in the back of your mind portraying perhaps harsh sombre tones but with a grace and a delicacy that is just beautiful. With longing tapping synths, lush harmonies and rich layered echo textures Ten Fé begin to introduce us to their enthralling sound that will transport you to a mind numbing journey into a swirling world of emotions. ‘Turn’ follows dripping in sonic 80’s infused soft rock, Duncan mourns a strained relationship.Its wistful with an afflicted tone but by no means doleful. Psychedelic “wah wah” on guitar ripples through the track like a wobbly warping mirage while the soft beat peps the track up adding a lively bouncy effect. Lush harmonies are what these guy do effortlessly and it adds such a rich elegance to the track especially when teamed with a mind melting melody.
Moorhouse takes on lead vocals on the dreamy ‘Elodie’. I must confess my favourite track on the album, ‘Elodie’ is the kind of track that you fall in love with. It reduces you to a liquid substance and really shows off the duos fine musicianship. The rich, daydream tone on vocals coo and lull with lavish qualities. Its heart on your sleeve raw emotion, tender and sweet yet radiating bright vibes. With yearning lyrics and lamenting “sigh-like” backing vocals, it swoons you into a bubble of nostalgic dreaminess. The rolling piano refrain creates a swan-like elegance while the steady tempo, warm feelings and heavenly melody make this track a perfect treasure. ‘Twist Your Arm’ flurries with loose floaty ecstasy featuring a propulsive strong beat and elastic bass teamed with a stinging slide guitar. The swirling electronics chilled with breezy natural tones add a psychedelic feel. The track builds into a massive full bodied chorus with hand clapping, swaying and almost Gospel- like crescendo. With smooth vocals reaching to a dynamic falsetto this track is dynamite. ‘Another Way’ is summer in a bottle. Open roads sunshine relax and chill. Limber dainty guitar adds to the bright luminous vibe while the washed-out keys flood the track with cool relaxed tones. Its mind easing bliss with falsetto vocals and rich harmonies creating the perfect backdrop to just let everything go. ‘In The Air’ jogs along again displaying Ten Fé’s knack for ear-worm indie pop. Zesty bright guitars interplay with a steady consistent beat while Moorhouse and Duncan’s vocal harmonies intertwine. Its effortless cool melody and vocals give the track a mellow bright free vibe. ‘Don’t Forget’ brings us a beat driven track with a darker tone. Flashes of sharp guitar add piercing scintillation to the track while soft backing vocals echo. The track becomes more electronically heavy as it progresses building to almost an 80’s rock balled classic. Its all fist pumping vibes by the shredding guitar solo. ‘Follow’ another delightful melodic banger. Smothered in uplifting vibes with nostalgic undertones and gentle vocals. With wistful synth swirls, its tear jerking stuff that still makes you feel good. ‘Make Me Better’ blast us with strings, sticky snappy beats and a The Verve vibe mixed with Roy Orbison-esque elements. Its dark dramatic and fantastically sharp.Its a rush of blood churning with bubbling emotions and flashes of blazing synths.Epic orchestral peaks create an anthemic explosion while a calm steady bassline grounds the track adding depth. Its larger than life and immense yet majestic. You will have stuck song syndrome with that hook on strings it will be in your head all day. ‘Burst’ bops with hopeful vitality. The use of reverb changes the track that would perhaps have been more country into a fusion with psychedelic trippy electronics. Its catchy fun and lively and twangs in all the right places.
Our journey with Ten Fé comes to and end with the tender emotional ‘July Rain’. Rich percussion perfectly placed throbs and kicks with a stomping beat.Light pitter patter adds a rain like quality while a beautiful piano feature adds grace and elegance to this emotional track. This duo are not afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve and its beautiful aching tracks like ‘July Rain’ that come to fruition because of this. Delicate backing vocals heighten the emotional vocals and raw lyrics. This stunning track brings the album to a heart wrenching yet satisfying end.
Ten Fé compiled a combination of impeccable songs that are a treasure. Each track flows perfectly into the next. Its an emotional journey that the band take you on with them. Giving a personal experience to every listener that makes you hold the album close to your heart. As expected Ten Fé knocked it out of the park with catchy melodies and well crafted musicianship, ‘Hit The Light’ is what we expected and more, majestic personal and larger than life.
Stream ‘Hit The Light’ below
Toronto-based garage psych trio Crazy Bones have released their new video for the single ‘Melting’, taken off their forthcoming debut EP ‘Cosmic Drips’. ‘Melting’ is a fuzz drenched mind liquefying heavy mosh worthy track. Easing us into their sound Crazy Bones begin with a psychedelic trippy gentle verse which leads into pulverising frantic heavy rock. Hefty drums pound through your skull with weighty abolishing force while shredding crushing guitar solos shrill with earsplitting intensity. Smooth sensual raspy vocals coax throughout the mania of this psychotic acid trip. Its foaming at the mouth bombardment that is deliriously good and thrilling to listen to.
Watch the swirling kaleidoscope colours of the video for ‘Melting’ below
Hailing from the deepest darkest Cornwall, UK band Flashes have released their new single ‘The Upset’. Consisting of members Jim (vocals/guitar), Peasy (guitar/laptop), Dan (guitar) and Graham (bass), Flashes have released 2 albums (Latency and Flashes) and a handful of one-off singles, receiving coverage from Consequence of Sound, Thought Catalog, Amazing Radio and BBC Radio 1.
New single ‘The Upset’ is a hypnotic psyched-out tale of perceived reality recorded in a run-down 19th century chapel where some of the band live. Its woozy dark pop at its best with a thick sticky beat the track oozes and glops surrounded by hazy dizzy psychedelia. Saturated in eerie shadowy tones teamed with haunting whispered vocals the track lures you into a wispy swirling dark abyss. The elastic luring bass adds a sensual quality to the trippy opaque track. The guitar glistens with sharp sparkles through the murky exterior of the track as it churns and sways around revealing light little melodic guitar glimmers. ‘The Upset’ is spine chilling and hair raisingly superb, a must listen.
Stream ‘The Upset’ below
Birmingham-based garage-psych-rockers The Good Water have released their new single ‘Mansaid’. The track comes hot on the heels of their previous single ‘See Your Light’ which received airplay with Steve Lamacq, Mary-Anne Hobbes and Shaun Keaveny at BBC 6Music as well as tastemakers at Amazing Radio and influential LA stations KROQ and Indie 1031). Since forming in early 2015, The Good Water have been busy. The boys quickly picked up loyal support from Brum Radio with their drone-rock debut single ‘Everything Is’, They have gained new fans at raucous shows around the Midlands and blew away audiences supporting Mercury Rev, Super Furry Animals and Bill Ryder-Jones at Lunar Festival. The duo’s brand of psychedelic rock grooves, obscure lyrics and nimble riffs is streamlined into tight garage-pop frameworks and press has been quick to spot their talents, with rave reviews from Soundsphere Magazine, Ear To The Ground Music, Slap Magazine, Diamond Deposits, Born Music Online and Mytacism Music amongst many others. ‘Mansaid’ is red hot fiery garage rock smothered in a gritty fuzzed mind trip of psych-pop. Its a strutting frantic rush of effortless cool puzzlement that exudes swagger and blistering slick flamboyance. Blazing riffs give the track a scorching intensity while the psychedelic pop harmonies soothe and cool the track down before it kicks into the shredding frenzied mosh worthy chorus. With verses that glide in with liquid fluidity backed by feverish flaming guitar riffs and a driving punch on drums its insanely addictive. These guys are ones to watch.
PALMAS have released their new single ‘Floating In The Dark’. The track is the second single from their upcoming debut album due for release this year, it follows their captivating 2015 debut EP ‘To The Valley’. Band members Kurt Cain-Walther (vocals, organ), Matthew Young (guitar), Adam Cantiello (guitar), Eric Camarota (bass), and Pat Degan (drums) take their sweet indie surf sound to darker depths with this new single. ‘Floating In The Dark’ is a scorching desert western-like tune complete with a pistols and dawn scene and a tumble weed sweeping across a dusty road as the horns introduce the track with a sombre and almost seductive motif. The distant warm melody on guitar glistens with sweet melancholic tones giving a solitary atmosphere. The trumpet melody runs throughout the track teamed with galloping percussion like a horseback chase. Showing fine musician skills PALMAS arrange their track with delicate instrumentation that is layered with tight precision and care creating subtle multi textures. Crooning vocals sweeten the song while flooding it with sorrowful tones and a sway like fluidity. ‘Floating In The Dark’ oozes sweltering delusions of desert heat cooled by the creamy coo on vocals. It is definitely a darker shift away from the blissful sunny vibes of their ‘To The Valley’ EP looking forward to what their debut album will bring.
Stream ‘Floating In The Dark’ below.
Scottish artist, Eugene Twist is back with his newest single ‘Stuntman’ from his highly-anticipated album of the same name. With a lyrical arena that boasts whistleblowers, extraterrestrials and self-consuming psychonauts, Scotland’s Eugene Twist is not your everyday songwriter. After two years in the musical wilderness, his second album ‘The Stuntman’ has arrived on the back of one mission, to let the storyteller run riot inside the song. Taking time to build a makeshift studio and learning how to record and mix allowed Eugene time to breathe with his arrangements. ‘Stuntman’ is a trippy funky flex of cool swagger teamed with dark bewilderment. With a slippery sway of greasy fluidity this track exudes panache with a hit of sleazy thrown in. The charming spoken vocals add a punk vibe to the verse as they flicker with shards of detest while they become velvety smooth for the chorus adding a luring melty quality. The slick shredding guitar adds a glossy enticing allurement before it builds into a distortion of psychedelic wobbly opiate perplexity. The deep elastic bass adds a tone of seduction and bewitchment that gives the track a fluid abstruse structure. ‘Stuntman’ is a shimmy and a sway of fun cloaked in darkened eerie danger that creeps with chilling mystery.
Watch the video for ‘Stuntman’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
