Adam & Elvis have released their new single ‘Hanging Tree’. Their thought-provoking, pull-no-punches style which is set to a musical backdrop of exhilarating wall-of-sound pop and primitive punk energy, unleashed by Patrick on guitar/vocals and Tom on bass/vocals respectively, with the aid of Juliet Styles (synths/saxophone), Steve Wraight (vocals/percussion) and Dan Robershaw (guitar). The Berkshire band have been championed by regional radio and performed their gripping live shows on the same bill as Fat White Family, The Zombies and The Correspondents, as well as numerous festivals across the south of England. ‘Hanging Tree’ is a sorry tale of a young intellectual who, despite his rationalism, loses his mind over unrequited love. Its peppy gritty alternative pop drenched in dark tragically comical tones. Deep dramatic vocals change from moody baritone to full-throttle tenor. The chorus breaks into a sweet bobbing melodious indie disco that bops and hops with elasticity and springiness coated in syrupy vocals. Jagged guitars gash as the rhythm blasts and thunders through the track with raw choppy wildness. Adam & Elvis perfectly make the dark gruelling gut-wrenching theme peppy and wacky while still expressing the pain dramatically with razor sharp saw-toothed instrumentation and deep vocals.
You can catch Adam & Elvis live at:
Sat 6 January 2017: Sebright Arms, London E2
Fri 24 February: The George Tavern, London E1 – Freak Power Records Residency
Fri 24 March: The George Tavern, London E1 – Freak Power Records Residency
Fri 26 May: The George Tavern, London E1 – Freak Power Records Residency
Fri 23 June: The George Tavern, London E1 – Freak Power Records Residency
Watch the video for ‘Hanging Tree’ which was shot by Balla Kingston, Craig Rogers and Antonio Pineda below. It captures the band in ebullient mood at UK Live Sound studios in Reading, where ‘Hanging Tree’ was produced.
Three years after breaking through with double-Platinum hit ‘Safe And Sound’ and releasing debut LP ‘In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery’, Los Angeles-based synth-pop duo Capital Cities have released a new single ‘Vowels’, via Capitol Records. The track will appear on both a forthcoming EP from the duo and the soundtrack to the FIFA 17 video game. ‘Vowels’ is a funky break up dance track soaked in honest good simple fun. Its that infectious track that comes on and makes you want to dance and groove with slick swagger filled guitar licks and accentuated brass dripping in playful bouncy beats and shimmering synths. Its a strutting down the street peppy ball of fun that rebounds with fresh energetic zest. The cool sway and spring gives a swanky flaunt and sensual prance and charm to the track while the creamy vocals keep it cool and effortlessly smooth. Lyrically the track is simple and therefore sing along ready with the chorus listing the vowels, it does exactly what is says on the tin. ‘Vowels’ is simple fun and effective, who needs a whisky drowned break-up ballad? Jam it out and groove to a funky uplifting sun soaked infectiously catchy dance anthem.
Ahead of a special seasonal tour, Sheffield’s The Crookes have released a new single ‘You Bring The Snow’, Lyrically the track longs for the magic and excitement that filled the Christmas season when you were young. The Crookes aim to recreate that childlike sense of wonder with fond nostalgia that warms the heart. With a sweet candy-coated infectious melody drenched in nostalgic sentimental tones the track succeeds in pulling on your heart strings and filling you with its touching dewy-eyed syrupy festive heart-felt cheer. Glittering riffs sparkle and twinkle with warm mulled wine mellow tones on guitar that sprinkles contagious merriment all around. The punchy rhythm bounces along frolicking in the joyful antics while Waite’s velvety smooth vocals lament with wistful longing. Its the perfect Christmas song with jolly jingles, warm tones and sombre sentimental themes.
The Crookes tour the UK this month performing a special festive set to celebrate the season you can catch them at:
12 – Nottingham, Bodega
13 – Bristol, Louisiana
14 – London, Camden Assembly
15 – Newcastle, Think Tank
16 – Leeds, Brudenell Games Room
17 – Sheffield, Queens Social Club
Watch the video for ‘You Bring The Snow’ below
Bad Sounds are a five piece indie band from Bath. They have recently released their new song ‘Wages’ which follows on from their previous single, ‘Avalanche. ‘Wages’ was debuted as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record In The World and the band recently supported Rat Boy on his UK Tour as well as turning heads at a variety of festivals during the summer. Despite the lyric of the song complaining about working hard but not being paid enough, there’s a feel good sound and groove to the track. This colourful vibrant track splashes exuberant instrumentals against dreary vocals creating a simple yet effective contrast. The sweep of lavish percussion and rich textures give the track a strutting prance and flamboyance that is infectious. Brimming with triumphal trumpet features, spring-like bouncing rhythms and even a bit of country twang,this soul-infused anthem is a joyous mixed delight of blissful euphoria. Bad Sounds lift our spirits as they give us a tune to strut down the street to when things are glum and you feel moody. So don’t sulk, groove to this infectious swagger laden deliriously happy track.
Watch the video for ‘Wages’ below
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From JAWS
Birmingham indie-outfit, JAWS, released their full-length sophomore album ‘SimplicIty’ on November 4. ‘Simplicity’ is JAWS first outing since their frenzied debut LP ‘Be Slowly’ in 2014. Opting for a short period of silence to re-calibrate, the band resurfaced with hazy new single ‘What We Haven’t Got Yet’. Band members Connor Schofield (vocals, guitar), Alex Hudson (guitar) and Eddy Geach (drums) formed in Birmingham in 2012, they were identified as being part of the Digbeth B-Town scene and were part of a group of bands from the Midlands that won wider acclaim. Their debut record ‘Be Slowly’ was produced by Oliver Horton (Swim Deep, Foals, Cymbals) and saw the band tour alongside Peace and Spector. In 2015 JAWS shared ‘Bad Company’ via Huw Stephens Radio 1 show. Reformed and re-energised the band are closing in with a second full-length release ‘Simplicity’ which was released in November. We have chosen ‘What We Haven’t Got Yet’ from the album to be our worth a listen track this week. ‘What We Haven’t Got Yet’ gives us a crisp fresh pristine track that delivers a forceful blow of bright juicy indie and raw edgy rock. Piercing guitar riffs cut through the track with chilling shrill and razor sharp laceration while the crashing pounding drums pummel and strike giving the track hard hitting energy. This anthemic song has an infectious sing along chorus which is set to have any live audience bellowing out in no time and intense frenzy causing energy that is mosh worthy and manic. Schofield’s vocals cool the track down with chilled velvety tones and smooth qualities giving silky ripple-less textures and a fresh vibe to the track. Jaws have stepped things up with this album and I would highly recommend giving the entire ‘Simplicity’ album a spin.
Watch the video for What We Haven’t Got Yet’ below
Originally from Huddersfield, now based in Manchester Arro Jones has released his debut EP ‘Middle of the Night’. After playing countless gigs in a duo for a couple of years Arro decided to write and produce some solo stuff at the start of 2016 and this EP is the start, with a lot more promised to come at the start of next year. ‘Middle of the Night’ is a mellow EP that captures the darkened shadowy atmosphere eerie tones and sensual quality that night time can inflict. Lit with flickering candle light this EP can be romantic and passionate however lying underneath are glimpses or flickers with darker haunting undertones. The sensually smooth ‘Fever’ kicks things off with a luring sway and steamy groove. Arro’s velvety vocals glide through the track with a boneless elegance that screams charm and be-witchery. Cushion bounce on percussion keeps the track light and fluffy while the zesty sting of guitar adds a refreshing breeze to the sticky clammy wispy track. Careful this track will swallow you up in its dark mesmerising spell of allurement. Title track ‘Middle Of The Night’ presents itself with an R&B feel, spoken vocals add attitude while the instrumentation swirls around with a misty opaque vibe keeping the vocals as the main attention and highlighting the lyrics. The whack beat gives a solid to focus on while the track sweeps and swirls in a hypnotic mind easing manner leaving you feeling relaxed and nonchalant. ‘Great Northern Street’ brightens the atmosphere a little. Its like cruising down a street with the soft illumination of the street lights flickering into the car as you pass each one. Soft backing vocals lull and sooth while Arro’s main vocals are whispery- smooth for the chorus and rap-like for the verse. The addition of warm sweet toned guitar gives the track a cosy feel which takes the chill out of the night time vibe. ‘One’ is a tender romantic dewy track. Soft whisper on dreamy vocals caress and sigh with a sombre yet hopeful hushed tone. Delicate instrumentation compliments and highlights the dainty track. Building into an echo-like uplifting atmosphere its delivery is more redolent of midnight-hour longing and emotional pain and wistfulness. ‘Give’ closes the EP with a positive vibe smothered in a dark sticky atmosphere. Thick gluey beat drips and drizzles with airy breezy instrumentation teamed with breathy haunting reverb vocals and catchy melody. Each track runs fluidly into one another while still maintaining their own identity and summing up the middle of the night perfectly.
Arrow Jones plans on a follow up called ‘Twilight’ which is currently in the making, and promises to be a slightly different vibe. So look out for that.
Stream ‘Middle of the Night’ below
Indie quartet RINSE have released their new track ‘With You’ . The Stoke-on-Trent lads have been featured on stations such as BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing and Kerrang they have supported bands such as Jaws, DMA’s and Palma Violets on their UK tours and are creating a buzz amongst a growing network of fans. ‘With You’ is dream rock at its best. RINSE masterfully pull off wild gritty rock coated and smoothed off by blissful dreamy melodies creating a brilliantly polished track with just enough raw edge and bite to sink your teeth into. Raspy crisp vocals add grit to the chorus while smooth almost haunting vocals coo for the verse with a soothing eerie quality. Reverb guitars have a sweet tone and add a hazy nostalgic atmosphere that you can loose yourself in. The track explodes with a massive chilling hair-raising bridge that is swoon worthy yet mosh ready, its noisy but perfectly delicately blusterous. Pounding drums and vigorous strident guitars bring the track home as the mellow honey tone on guitar plays throughout sweetening the piercing track. Its an ear-popping infectious track that mixes and blends candied melodies with kick-ass ruckus causing rock.
Stream ‘With You’ below
Electrifying Chelmsford four-piece Secret Company are back with their latest single ‘Lightning Parade’. The new single is a tease of whats to come from their debut album ‘The World Lit Up And Filled With Colour’ which is set for release on March 10th next year. Band members Scott Revell (vocals / guitar), James Patman (guitar), Kushal Gupta (bass) and Tim Reyland (drums) are highly ambitious by their own admission and since forming in 2012 have gone on to clock up hundreds of thousands of Soundcloud & Spotify plays, performed live tracks on Channel 4’s reality show Made In Chelsea and have appeared at some of the country’s leading festivals this year including Leeds Festival, Secret Garden Party and Isle of Wight. Having previously been praised for their ability to balance delicate touches with anthemic stylings, the quartet yet again prove that pop music doesn’t have to be faceless as their intensity comes complete with thoughtfully crafted leading lines which have led the likes of BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens to count himself a big fan. ‘Lightning Parade’ is a darkened melodic grim track that builds into a fiery juggernaut of intensity and emotion. Introducing itself with Revell’s velvety smooth vocals narrating the story in a tender delicate manner. The track springboards into hair raising acute intensity. Shredding shrill on guitars pierce through the sticky beat and muggy gooey atmosphere. The chorus explodes with ferocity and an relentless aggressive energy that is so tense you are on the edge of you seat. With jaw-dropping liquid-smooth yet sharp vocals that haunt and shock with a versatile range and chilling spine tingling qualities. Drenched in eerie bloodcurdling tones this track makes for an electrifying and thrilling ride.
You can pre-order the band’s debut album ‘The World Lit Up And Filled With Colour’ on iTunes now and get ‘Lightning Parade’ and three more songs instantly here https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/world-lit-up-filled-colour/id1176470765
London duo Bob Matthews and Catherine Pockson who form the band Alpines have returned with their new album ‘Another River’. Released via Metropolis Recordings the album is one of the most crafty and emotive R&B records of the year. Teased earlier this year with the slick intimacy of Completely, Alpines’ sophomore LP ‘Another River’ pares down the sound of their 2014 debut ‘Oasis’. This new effort is not so much the sound of a duo finding their feet, as it is an utterly standout performance from a couple of intrepid sonic experimenters subtly refining their craft. Their futurist brand of production renders Catherine Pockson’s R&B melodies into dazzling soundscapes, each thrumming with a life of its own. The duo’s application has fuelled various collaborations in the fashion world, including the likes of All Saints, Paul Smith and Urban Outfitters. The album is preceded by the release of ‘Heaven’, an anthem with towering vocal harmonies and a sly bass groove. The duo are masters in creating cerebral and inventive music without compromising on the simple unabashed joy of melody. ‘Another River’ is an emotive outpouring on love and life that will resonate with people everywhere. Starting with title track ‘Another River’ Alpines display an emotional pulling track that draws you into every word. With a delicate piano feature that builds into an explosive breezy electronic break. The sticky slap beat keeps the track elastic and malleable adding a wobbly sensual vibe. ‘Completely’ continues with their brand of classy soul-pop balanced on a knife edge with darkened tones and a retro vibe behind the sweet yearning coo on vocals. ‘ Stay’ follows with ease as does each track on the album coated in sensual tones and a hint of R&B. Its tightly layered and drenched in late-night sounds that add contemporaneity to the retro soul infused track. ‘Heaven’ brings us a rapid more prominent almost tribal beat without compromising the cool dreamy tone of the album. The track provides a subtle shift that you can groove to. ‘Mutual’ takes us back to the tempered and classic-sound of the other tracks with an itchy beat and shadows with a melody that is wistful and tastefully sweet. ‘How It Hurts’ is a piano dominated ballad packed with emotion filled soulful vocals that display a strength and depth through raw emotion and heartbreak. Its displays the power and courage through pain. Building into a dynamic crescendo that isn’t overpowering but empowering and beautiful. ‘Under The Sun’ closes the album with brighter tones and simple accompaniment to start that builds into sticky intricate soundscapes that weave in and out highlighting the immaculate and powerful soulful vocals that exude attitude and sass while still maintaining that subtle soft sweetness.
‘Another River’ is a smooth and unobtrusive, utterly emotionally convincing album while remaining refined and sophisticated.
You can catch Alpines Live at
Feb 14th – Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
Feb 15th – Leeds, Headrow House
Feb 16th – Glasgow, King Tuts
Feb 17th – Manchester, Soup Kitchen
Feb 20th – Bristol, The Louisana
Feb 21st – Oxford, The Cellar
Feb 22nd – Brighton, The Prince Albert
Watch the video for ‘Heaven’ below
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Sundara Karma
The Reading based quartet consisting of Oscar Lulu, Haydn Evans, Dom Cordell and Ally Baty have released their new single ‘Olympia’ from their upcoming debut album ‘Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect’ which is due out January 2017. From the very first note ‘Olympia’ makes you realise you’re listening to something special. Sundara Karma are coming into their own and putting their stamp on the indie music scene. These guys are the band you tell your friends “are going to be huge”. You can feel it through every fibre of your being with its melancholic-drenched melody, wrapped in anthemic adrenaline. It grasps your very soul and summons your inner youth to rise up and bellow out the relatable lyric and ear worm melody. Lulu’s vocals catch you off-guard, the power he has in those vocals while being able to maintain a velvety smooth texture is captivating, like a wizard he pulls you into every word, capturing every emotion every heartache and joy-filled memory you have felt and he does this with just his vocals alone. Your heart skips a beat in time with the song, as the guitar drives the track with an almost constant tantalising and uplifting riff. The elastic nimble bass teamed with the steady beat keeps a constant bouncy foundation acting as a boundary containing this passionate track. Before you realise it Sundara Karma have won you over with their carefully crafted musicianship. ‘Olympia’ is so thrilling, so painstaking in its execution and soul touching with a melody that is honey to the ears, it sounds like the future of new indie music being unmasked in all its glory.
Stream ‘Olympia’ below
https://soundcloud.com/sundara-karma/olympia-1
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
