It can make you sound like a bit of a crank, but there’s a certain type of pride to be found in discovering a band early doors, before fame, fortune and/or acclaim follows (though rarely the three these days, let’s face it). It’s a real trip seeing a band go on to bigger and better things after you’ve initially caught them in their infancy, playing some basement venue to a few in the know punters (or in the case of our first time seeing CRACK CLOUD, the equivalent of a shack on the side of a busy road in Leeds behind a petrol station).
Last week saw the Manchester debut of Mock Media, a Canadian supergroup of sorts, originally formed out of a small farming town in British Columbia, surrounded by the wonders of the earth – beautiful big lakes, tall trees and magical mountain ranges. Its four members have gained notoriety elsewhere, playing in the likes of N0V3L, CRACK CLOUD, Pottery and Painted Fruits, and we’d like to think we’ve caught at least three of these outfits during some of their early UK shows, in various sweatboxes throughout the North.
At SOUP (formerly Soup Kitchen) on Friday night, the room might not have been full, but history hints that the crowds will follow, after a wee bit of graft and discovery. We’d like to think that it’s inevitable people will soon start to take notice with these names involved. Bringing together some of our favourite players from each individual outfit, we didn’t want to miss the chance to get a glimpse of muscley CRACK CLOUD guitarist Garnet Aronyk Muhammad, nails N0V3L drummer Bennett Smith and wild-eyed Pottery vocalist Austin Boylan. It made sense that local promoters Grey Lantern were involved, forever with their fingers on the pulse.
On arrival, vocalist Boylan implored the crowd to come nearer to the stage. “Come, come, come come my lady“. Bursting into life on energising post-punk opener ‘Father Of That Crime‘, it was hard to take your eyes off drummer Smith, not least because he was the sharpest looking cat in the room in his shirt, tie and shades, giving it jazz drummer realness – like a groovy Agent Smith. A belter of a player, he remained stone-faced whilst his arms did the talking, whacking away but in complete control, without much of a shift in expression.
Having spun their quite brilliant new record ‘Mock Media II‘ a time or two prior to catching them in the flesh, I’d assumed it was the vocal chops of Boylan throughout, but was pleasantly surprised to hear everyone but Smith take it in turns up front (when they weren’t all stood tall, chanting in unison in a military fashion). On The Clash style ‘Louis Won’t Break‘, Muhammad took the Strummer-esque lead, joined by the others on backing, whilst on a funky wee number, Boylan dropped the guitar to bounce about on the spot, animated one minute, then arms held behind his back as he shouted into the microphone. The three guitarists would take up bass duties at the drop of a hat, each bringing an individual style to the role (Evan Aasen‘s playing a particular highlight, as he frantically jammed his neck, lost in the groove).
“We came from Canada two days ago.” Announced Aasen, Boylan quick as a flash adding. “Never going back…” Unexpectedly, non-musical highlights throughout the night came via the interjections of the drummer’s Dad down the front. “Vernon rocks!” He shouted out early on – testing the waters of crowd interaction, later asking for “more water bottle crunching” in jest at Boylan, which was received well on and off stage. The band informed us that Glasgow was a lot more jumping the night before, Smith’s dad loudly announcing “Fuck the Scottish” in response to much laughter.
Off the back of the Glasgow comment, the crowd warmed right up and there was quite a bit of dancing down the front, the build up of enthusiasm throughout the evening matching that of the band (though I get the impression they’d give it the same amount of welly with just the drummer’s Dad in the crowd, the quartet letting it all hang out on the night). Having been convinced to stay on stage past the final song, they announced they were trying out a new one, ripping into an unexpected, ‘Louie Louie‘ style rendition of ‘Super Freak‘, putting an energising full stop on the evening.
“Liverpool cancelled – fuck Liverpool.” Announced Aasen as they finally made their way off stage – or at least attempted to, as papa Smith climbed up to be with the band immediately after the final note, taking a photo with the lads. With a big Canadian smile on his face, he shouted into the lens “…Smells like sweat up here.“
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Remember the days of the old schoolyard? Remember when Myspace was a thing? Remember those time-wasting, laborious quizzes that everyone used to love so much? Birthday Cake For Breakfast is bringing them back!
Every couple of weeks, an unsuspecting band will be subject to the same old questions about dead bodies, Hitler, crying and crushes.
This Week: In the run up to the release of his new album ‘Pink Dogs on the Green Grass‘, Paul Jacobs takes on some of our inane questions!
How did you meet the people in your band?
Partying, skateboarding, dating, concerts. I’ve had a ton of ppl in my band over the years.
What’s the first record you bought?
First cd I bought was ‘Rancid2000‘, first vinyl might have been The White Stripes first one.
What was your favourite VHS growing up? The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford.
When was the last time you cried?
The other day listening to Ringo Starr haha its been a while…
Have you ever kissed someone & regretted it?
I don’t think so.
Best Physical Feature?
I don’t know, my height maybe?
Worst physical feature?
Probably my knees.
Reasonably ok/not bad feature that you’re not fussed about?
My lungs.
Do you have any pets?
No pets.
Ever picked up any injuries on tour?
Hangovers, really bad hangovers.
What did you do for your last birthday?
It was the other day, and Montreal has a curfew, so I got drunk with Meag and watched The Simpsons.
Name something you CANNOT wait for?
TOUR!
Do you have a crush on someone? Meagan Callen.
What’s the shittest experience you’ve had as a musician?
Being poor.
If you could go back in time, how far would you go?
I wouldn’t cuz then id have to go through covid again.
How do you want to die?
In my sleep, or else in an explosion.
What’s your favourite thing about pizza?
It’s quick to eat.
What are you craving right now?
Well I quit smoking 2 months ago, so a smoke. what a gnar addiction.
Have you ever been on a horse?
I might have, I’m not sure.
What did you dream about last night?
Getting ripped off at a restaurant with eddie. Then a guy told me to order something else but he was whispering and had sauce all over his face. The girl he was with looked embarrassed. He said get the sweet and sour beef sandwich.
If you could go back in time and kill the baby Hitler, would you?
Yeah, if it would save millions of lives. But then its like the butterfly effect, is there a movie about this?
Do you like Chinese food?
Yes I do.
Have you ever been on TV?
Yes.
Ever meet someone famous?
I saw the guy from Whos Line Is It Anyways (sic), I was like “Holy shit Bill Murray” it wasn’t Bill Murray.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A home owner.
‘Pink Dogs on the Green Grass‘ is out April 30th 2021 via Blow The Fuse Records! Pre-orders and all that gubbins can be found here!
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Top shout to Montreal native Paul Jacobs, using his time during lockdown productively rather than putting out a bedroom ambient project (don’t @ me, folks…)
Last seen on these very pages as part of a team effort putting out one of our Top 50 Songs of 2020 (‘Hot Like Jungle‘ from the tremendous album ‘Welcome to Bobby’s Motel‘), we’ve since been hypnotised by a solo effort from 1/5 of favourites Pottery.
Unbeknownst to us, drummer Jacobs has been ripping it up as a solo entity alongside Pottery all this time and he’s just announced details of his new album ‘Pink Dogs on the Green Grass‘, due April 30th 2021 on Blow The Fuse Records.
A cool little number that goes down smooth, lead single ‘Half Rich Loner‘ brings with it notes of The Fall, Frank Zappa, Fat White Family and – yes – solo Lindsey Buckingham here and there. It comes with a video produced by Jacobs himself – A colourful dose of mind-expansion that feels very much like leaping off the diving board and sploshing down into his brain. Sure enough, the artwork is super duper – the style previously plastered over all of Pottery’s stuff.
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Don’t worry, I get it – we talk about new music A LOT. With monthly playlists, endlessfeatures and reviews and whatnot, I can forgive you (just) for not sticking on top of things. We like to do the listening so you don’t have to, cut the wheat from the chaff and tell you about exactly what you should be listening to.
This TOP 50 brings together the choicest cuts from this shite year and is certainly worth every ounce of your attention. The second part is below, you can check our part one here!
As we’ve done previously, we’re talking alphabetical here – not in order of favouritism (as it wouldn’t be fair on all the other artists having Grotbags take the top spot!) Where possible we’ve linked you directly to where you can grab merch from the artist too, so dig deep and grab yourself something nice ahead of Christmas!
Gorgeous comeback single from Lianne La Havas, belting it out on this heart-stopper from her self-titled third album. You feel every beat and moment of pain as she hammers it out on that chorus.
Debut album time from Portland, Oregon-based quartet MAITA. Vocalist Maria Maita-Keppeler calls to mind Big Theif’s Adrianne Lenker at times, with the super ‘Can’t Blame A Kid‘ sounding like a bit of a timeless classic from the off.
MAITA talked us through inspirations ahead of releasing their debut album – Read all about it here!
We’ve always had a soft spot for Canadian trio METZ, but ‘A Boat To Drown In‘ really took things to another level for us. A real earworm, here they push through into anthemic territory whilst still keeping it LOUD. Stretching the closing section out to four minutes really builds up the euphoria and catapults it into one of the best tracks they’ve penned. Easy.
Hayden Menzies of METZ answered a series of unhelpful questions for us ahead of releasing their new record – Read all about it here!
This quite possibly had the honour of being the first new song I heard of 2020 (first good one at least…) Vivid memories of hammering this record at the start of the year when cleaning out our old gaff before moving into our new maisonette (la-di-dah). ‘Ego‘ is super-catchy stuff from the trio, leaning heavily into their misery-guts tendencies but sounding incredibly poppy at the same time. Goosebumps by the time that last chorus kicks in.
Moaning answered a series of unhelpful questions for us ahead of releasing their new record – Read all about it here!
If this doesn’t want to make you get stuck into it with a lively crowd of like-minded individuals, I don’t know what to tell you, pal! Invigorating, full-pelt and RAW, this cut from the latest No Age record very much caught us at the right moment just the other month, having us long for pounding drums and tinnitus inducing feedback.
Super-charged, face-melting stuff from the ever-changing, never-stopping OSEES (FKA Thee Oh Sees). Every announcement from them sparks off something inside us, and being gifted with this 90 second ripper earlier this year was an absolute treat.
As we suggested earlier this year ahead of release, “they’ve created such a lovely song (about shagging)“. A beautiful single from one of our favourites knocking about today, it’s heart-swelling, knee-trembling stuff from the outfit that are normally making us sweat in a different manner. That chorus is lump in throat territory for sure.
The invigorating KO of the 1-2-3 punch from the new Protomartyr record, following the equally brilliant ‘Michigan Hammers‘ and ‘Tranquilizer‘. A rager that could’ve easily fit onto their last record, the much loved, all killer ‘Relatives In Descent‘. Upon its release, you might’ve found me in our gaff shouting the album title in the same fashion of vocalist Joe Casey at the tracks tail end…
“I’m eating with my mouth wide open, fresh fruit and it’s Monday morning.” Brighton outfit Public Body haven’t put a foot wrong this year, releasing single after single and ticking box after box for us. Similar to USA Nails, they sing of day-to-day mundanities with such glowing results, backed up by razor-sharp post-punk instrumentals.
Seb Gilmore of Public Body answered a series of unhelpful questions for us this year – Read all about it here!
A nailed on ripper from the start of the year care of super-cool New York outfit Public Practice. Very much taking on the attitude and sound of their NYC forefathers, ‘Compromised‘ is a real danceable treasure, with the quartet dipping their collectives toes in post-punk, disco and new-wave pools.
Sam York of Public Practice put up with our silly questions ahead of releasing their new record – Read all about it here!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever work best when they’re putting out songs that move at a real clip, hardly letting up and singing of things that stir up all kinds of feelings inside. ‘Cars In Space‘ – the lead single from their latest record – does all of that and so much more, really getting under your skin across its rapid five minutes.
New to us literally within the last month, on ‘The Girls‘, German artist Albertine Sarges got us going with notes of Talking Heads and Field Music, putting out easily our favourite song released in 2020 that deals in the glamorous subject of dogs smoking. That flute part comes in just when you think you couldn’t love the song any more.
Certainly a contender for gnarliest album title of the year, it was ‘It’s Mutual‘ that first got us interested in SAVAK, who’ve not been slouching since their formation in 2015 – this being from their fourth full-length album in five years! Minutemen vibes aplenty on this total ripper.
SAVAK talked us through inspirations ahead of releasing their latest album – Read all about it here!
Ty Segall loves putting records out, eh? 2020 mates fest, before putting out the new FUZZ record, he was back in action with Cory Hanson of WAND, the pair having previously combined forces to put this two pronged behemoth together. Story goes that technically this was recorded around five years ago, but the pair only uncovered it this year. 100% of the first week’s sales went to Black Lives Matter LA – Can’t complain, eh?
Taut, mega catchy dark post-punk from Chicago outfit STUCK. We discovered this lot when they were scheduled to hit up a run of shows across the states with USA Nails (which didn’t end up happening, of course…) Bringing to mind their tour-mates that never were as well as fellow Chicago bods Meat Wave, their debut album has really gotten under our skin this year.
STUCK recently talked us through what made up the song ‘Wrong Question‘ from their debut album – Read all about it here!
A late AOTY contender in our gaff, I’ve been smashing the debut LP from Sweeping Promises these past few months. Infectious title track ‘Hunger for a Way Out‘ is just killer post-punk, recorded in such a way that it gives a nod to those who kicked things off decades ago.
Sweeping Promises recently talked us through what made up the song ‘Cross Me Out‘ from their debut album – Read all about it here!
Such is the impact the pandemic has had, this honestly feels like it came out about fifteen years ago, rather than as lockdown was just ticking over in the UK. A record put together by a 38 year old Jon-lee Martin and his eight year old son Louie, the sandwich filling of this EP, ‘Can You Tell‘, is everything we love about Then Thickens – delectable vocals and an instrumental that gets the hairs on your neck going (with a bit of unease bubbling underneath…)
Jon-Lee talked us through the inspirations behind the record following its release – read about it for yourself here!
“I may be covered in cat hair, but I still smell good.” Bass virtuosos Stephen ‘Thundercat’ Bruner smashed it with his latest effort ‘It Is What It Is‘ and whilst we were bowled over by the likes of heavy hitter ‘Fair Chance‘ and the funky ‘Black Qualls‘, there’s no getting past the hilarious ‘Dragonball Durag‘, as Bruner goes full on mega-creep and does his very, very best to get his end away (the video captures it perfectly).
It was a tough call picking a favourite from the latest USA Nails record. Early contender ‘I Don’t Own Anything‘ was certainly up there, particularly after we first heard it live back in February this year and it blew our arses off. It’s ‘Temporary Home‘ though that’s really got hold of us, and whilst they’re no strangers to singing of the mundanities of touring, never have they captured it in such a captivating fashion as this. Mega dance-y (as evidenced by the hilarious video).
Gareth Thomas of USA Nails answered a series of unhelpful questions for us this year – Read all about it here!
“Why does the chicken water float up to your head?” A proper left-turn from the Swedish punks with the great name, ‘Common Sense‘ comes out with a touch of 80’s pop about it, highlighting there’s more to them than debauchery and singing about sports (but we already knew that, didn’t we?) From an EP with the same name, it’s definitely an exciting snapshot of what’s to come from their forthcoming new album.
I’ve previously gone on record to express my devotion to synth-pop nostalgia peddlers. I was almost driven over the age via NOLA quartet Video Age and the tremendously catchy ‘Aerostar‘. Pop perfection with a chorus that just won’t quit, this sounds like it came out the year of my birth, rather than the year of our lord Twenty Twenty. This soundtracked at least one month of the pandemic.
Video Age talked us through inspirations ahead of releasing their latest album – Read all about it here!
Sharp and jagged, rapid-pace post-punk out of Australia from newcomers (to us) Vintage Crop. Our joint favourite band from Geelong (hello GONZO!), ‘Gridlock‘ sports a great unhinged, through-gritted-teeth vocal that compliments this unstoppable tune.
Tyson Harper of Vintage Crop answered a series of unhelpful questions for us this year – Read all about it here!
Genuinely heart-swelling stuff from the former Maccabees bod, now forging a path in his own right. ‘Milk Breath‘ touches on the recent birth of his first son and for those feeling a little bit broody (as our Ben was when he reviewed the record), this will certainly stir things within and might even bring a tear to the eye.
I’m a sucker for a tidy little riff, and this from Wife Patrol has just that, generating major Sleater Kinney vibes on the rager that is ‘Let’s Hang Out‘. A song that says let’s hang out and walk holes into our shoes rather than getting bogged down with the news of the world and everything going on.
From their self-titled debut album, one that will no doubt be lighting up the end of year lists for a lot of other people, ‘Valleys‘ brings the perfect New Order-esque house vibes to the table with exhilarating results.
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Well, what a month it’s been. Open the curtains, look out the window – chaos. Flick on the telly – heartache. But we’re still in this – we’re still coping and we hope you are too. We’ve put together yet another playlist for the month of everything we’ve been vibing off. 20 tunes, old and new, all good.
It’s not all doom and gloom after all. Christmas soon…
*UPDATE – Our playlist only sticks about for ONE MONTH before we move on. No regrets. You can listen to the latest playlist below!*
I still hold out hope that DUDS are going to get it back together but I think those days are long gone… Handle it is then, featuring former DUDS Giulio Erasmus and Nirvana Heire, with genderqueer multidisciplinary artist Leo Hermitt completing the line-up. The trio put out their debut album earlier this year via top tastemakers Upset The Rhythm and ‘Lifes Work‘ – one of its longest – is an energetic dose of hypnotising post-punk/no-wave/who-knows-what.
From their forthcoming double record ‘Dances/Curses‘ out this November, the ever-changing Hey Colossus have put out quite the opening gambit. Drafting in bassist Joe Thompson’s mate Mark Lanegan – the pair both put out books via the ‘Sleevenotes‘ series last year (though only one of them has had a Twitter spat with a Gallagher brother this year – so far) – ‘The Mirror‘ is an engaging bit of kit. The record is even out on Thompson’s own DIY label, Wrong Speed Records!
In true lockdown fashion, following the rediscovery of Deeper’s ‘Auto-Pain‘, released earlier this year, a recent joy has been working through the debut album from Disqand picking up where we left off in March (christ!) An album we described back then as “an extremely accomplished debut“, ‘I’m Really Trying‘ is an incredibly joyous listen from the quintet.
I was thinking about this the other day – How is it possible for a band to get better with each new release? So many bands struggle to rustle up the enthusiasm for a second album, most crash and burn at the sniff of a third album. Noisemakers USA Nails rarely sit still, putting out singles, EPs and new full lengths at an impressive rate (whilst doing their own side projects), each just as storming as the last. From their forthcoming fifth album, ‘I Don’t Own Anything‘ is a burst of raging energy dusted off in under 90 seconds. Bosh.
A new discovery to these ears from a band that called themselves “Three Weird Aunts“, Explode Into Colors were a trio out of Portland a decade ago, who whipped up quite a stir with the release of this EP. ‘Eyes Hands Mouth‘ is a proper hypnotising ripper.
From their new album out now (via Captured Tracks/Flying Nun), New Zealand outfit Wax Chattels give off a Preoccupations x Placebo vibe, with ‘Efficiency‘ hitting proper hard, the two-piece drum kit getting a proper battering!
Perfectly described by the folks at Post Trash (“you can almost see Pee Wee Herman dancing on the bar to this“), ‘If I Had My Way‘ was an early favourite from their brilliant new album. I say new, they’ve already announced its follow up at the time of writing (of course they have…)
Having almost ran my legs clean off back in August from the flip-side of this double single, on ‘Pray or Prey‘, New Jersey hardcore punks Ho99o9 bring the vibe down, whilst still hitting just as heavy in the lyrics. Proceeds from the split to be donated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Advancement Project and the National Black Disability Coalition.
A favourite from Thundercat’stremendous new record released earlier this year (copped the pink vinyl, you know!), ‘Fair Chance‘ is absolutely dream-like. Love the addition of Ty Dolla $ign and LilB, who probably take the best guest spot honours (after Zack Fox’s flight attendant, obviously…)
Having binged on Ty Segall over the past few years, it’s good to hear him back in full FUZZ-y glory with his mates Charles Moothart and Chad Ubovic. He’s even dressed up like a right little goth in the press photo! ‘Returning‘ is the aptly titled single from their forthcoming new album, engineered by Steve Albini, their first record in five years! A proper ripper, make no mistake.
Whilst it’s been a learning curve having to live and work in each others pocket every bloody minute of the day, one of the many benefits from working at home with my partner has been hearing Aldous Harding drifting in from the room she’s working in. The New Zealander’s third album is such a trip, perfect for the few remaining sunny days we’ve likely got this year. Always happy to hear H. Hawkline in the mix too!
From their killer new album ‘Atlas Vending‘ – out this month on Sub Pop – on ‘Blind Youth Industrial Park‘, Canadian outfit METZare relentless in their pummelling. Two songs into the record and already you’re putting your head through the wall!
RIFF! Lenners knocks it out of the park once more on his mini-LP ‘King Of Clubs‘, a record I must’ve listened to at least three times on its morning of release. ‘Sleep Mission‘ is a brutal bit of kit – difficult not to headbang!
Massive shout to Kiwanuka on winning the Mercury this year! Is the Mercury Prize a bit bollocks? Kinda… But it’s nice to see people like the North Londoner do well (and it was great seeing Cate Le Bon nominated last year). ‘Rolling‘ is a cucumber cool ripper from his latest award winning album.
Discovered via METZ drummer Hayden Menzies – who recently answered a host of our questions don’t ya know – Hannah Georgas is a new one for me, but it’s not like she’s not been grafting. Three nominations for the Polaris Music Prize and four JUNO nominations back home in Canada, hypnotising single ‘Easy‘ reminds us of that last Bat For Lashes album (which is good company to keep, we’d say!)
NEW from New Zealand leg-ends Die! Die! Die!, from a forthcoming single out via our friends at Buzzhowl Records. Their second release featuring newly-returned bassist Lachlan Anderson, ‘I Seek Misery‘ really sinks into your psyche, rolling along with the impassioned shouts of vocalist Andrew Wilson against the rumble of Anderson and drummer Michael Prain.
Filling a Minneapolis Uranium Club sized hole in our lives right about now, I’ve had to check and double check (and, well, triple check) that the Landownervocalist isn’t one of the Uranium Club bods (I’m still note sure to be honest). From their new album ‘Consultant‘, released via a label we keep seeing again and again of late – Born Yesterday Records, seen on these very pages recently via Cafe Racer and STUCK!
Bob on cover to finish up our playlist for the month, with the cucumber cool Mattiel Brown tackling the Beastie Boys at their brattiest for a recent Heavenly 7″. Brown sounds like she could easily slip into a Beastie Boys tribute, no danger.
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I appreciate that on their debut album – the exquisitely titled ‘Welcome to Bobby’s Motel‘ – Canadian outfit Potteryfucked off any notion of press release hyperbole in the build up, instead choosing to go completely left-field with it altogether. Titular character Bobby, we’re told, could be a pilot, a lumberjack, a stay at home dad or even “a disco dancer that never rips his pants“. He’s you. He’s me.
“…in essence, Bobby is Pottery and his motel is wherever they are.”
It feels at odds to be releasing an album right now, let alone going through the process of promoting it. True enough, the release date for the album – like many others – was pushed back, originally pencilled in to come out during the early lockdown stages of the pandemic. Who were they to know that circumstances would escalate dramatically in the coming months? Listen to ‘Welcome to Bobby’s Motel‘ however and you’ll soon forget we’re in the midst of a global crisis, for Pottery appear to be living in their own world, a tight knit gang leaning heavily into nostalgic sounds.
2019 saw the band release a mini-LP, ‘No. 1‘, chocka with jangly guitar post-punk, with a few oddball soft-rock numbers chucked in for good measure. Their new album sees them dive deep into influences from way back when, swimming away from the pack but moving forward as they look back.
The record certainly sounds like it was put together in the correct fashion – eleven tracks cooked up with the freshest of ingredients, serving up a taste of something new at every turn, to be consumed in one sitting. Opening on its title track, thundering drums kick off this 120 second introduction as the quintet race through the opening minute, settling the viewer in for the remainder as they slow it down with a bit of bleary eyed, old school psych rock. ‘Hot Like Jungle‘ puts the record to bed around half hour later, the sweetest of romantic bops – with a heart-sweller of a chorus – which could easily be my single of the year. Even though they’re deep on the ‘is this a piss take?’ vibe, with ‘Hot Like Jungle‘ they’ve created such a lovely song (about shagging) that i’ve had many a lump-in-throat moment listening to it.
The nine tracks in the middle? ‘What’s in Fashion?‘ sounds like a modern day nod to The Kinks, but for the most part, listening to ‘Welcome to Bobby’s Motel‘, my mind conjures up visions of bright lights, cheap beer, big concert theatres and a sea of screaming heads sporting haircuts of the time – the 70’s and 80’s. Calling to mind live films like ‘Stop Making Sense‘ on ‘Hot Heater‘ and the Zappa live series ‘You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore‘ on tracks like the hypnotising ‘Bobby’s Forecast‘. Vocalist Austin Boylan has that Zappa and Byrne quality to him, his strong vocal performance leading the charge, breaking off into passionate cries for the drums with a ‘Come on!‘ one minute, having the others back him up on every other line the next.
‘Texas Drums Pt I & II‘ is heavy on the infectious, with its hilarious gang vocal and blistering percussion, drifting past the three minute mark (with a ready-set-go ding) and into ‘did you slip something in my drink?‘ territory, soon morphing into a monumental wig-out of psych and disco rhythms, with arse-shaking the aim of the game. It’s one of the many highlights found throughout the record, the band showcased best as a unit when vibing off one another and locking in tight.
‘Welcome to Bobby’s Motel‘ is a really fun record. It’s a trip, a genre-shifting stand out that builds upon their debut and flips the script, making the listener long for rooms full of people and sweat dripping off the ceiling. But why spoil it with hyperbole when the band said it best themselves:
“It’s filthy and amazing and you dance, and you love it.”
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As someone else so eloquently put it recently, there are bigger things at stake at the minute and there are more pressing matters at hand.
Whilst our hearts go out to those impacted in matters of great pain across the world and our eyes are open and we’re listening intently, we’ve still been plugging away in the background, doing our best to champion new music as always. As we do every month, here’s our new monthly playlist – 20 tunes, old and new.
*UPDATE – Our playlist only sticks about for ONE MONTH before we move on. No regrets. You can listen to the latest playlist below!*
Finally managed to grab a copy of the in demand two EP’s spliced together! More blunt joy from LDN quartet Dry Cleaning and on ‘Goodnight‘, the opener from their debut EP, Florence Shaw reels out a stream of consciousness vocal on top of an infectious, post-punk backing. Nothing sets you up quite like “Have you ever spat cum onto the carpet of a Travelodge?”
‘Midnight Dipper‘ has long been a household favourite and the lords of Warmduscher have graced us this year with a 2020 remix, Soulwax style, stretching out the funk for a full six minutes to achieve eyes-rolling-into-the-back-of-the-head euphoria. ICYMI, we interviewed Lightnin’ Jack Everett of the band earlier this year – check that out here!
New to us via the never-wrong Static Shock Records, Powerplant just recently put out this EP of moody synth heavy, nostalgia laced post-punk that ticks all manner of boxes for yours truly. Solid little number.
Heart-swelling stuff from Cheshire based solo singer-songwriter Peaks. An early favourite taken from his much anticipated debut album released last April. In and out in just over 120 seconds, heartstrings well and truly tugged.
Sleazy sex-jams from virtuoso Thundercat, with the video for this single being a cinematic masterpiece. Many an afternoon spent this past month melting away in the sun, annoying neighbours by singing this in the back garden…
Romeo Void – Never Say Never (Benefactor)
When I was in college, I was still clutching onto a portable CD player, with a handful of CDs chucked in my bag for travelling purposes. The Queens of the Stone Age record ‘Rated R‘ was on heavy rotation during this time, with its bonus disc (including a cover of the Romeo Void tune ‘Never Say Never‘) hammered on the regular. Discovering Ganserrecently, it got me thinking about this song again – the original is such a super cool blast of new wave out of San Francisco.
Dead Kennedys – Soup Is Good Food (Frankenchrist)
From annoying the neighbours to annoying my (lockdown) partner, i’ve been hammering this song (and Dead Kennedys) all month, relentlessly singing the chorus of this. Quite apt right about now, eh?
XTC – Generals and Majors (Black Sea)
Bloody hell have I been rinsing this… Very much working my way backwards from listening to Field Music, this feels like the blueprint to a lot of their work. Further listening to ‘Black Sea‘ and vibing off Swindon’s finest – the chorus is earworm central.
The debut single from Manchester lot Blanketman, this is proper catchy, sun-soaked post-punk to rival the likes of contemporaries Working Men’s Club. Hit the ground running, make no mistake – big things expected! They were even gracious enough to answer a host of our daft questions – read all about it!
It’s daft how many times i’ve listened to this (almost as much as that bloody XTC song…) From their highly anticipated debut album ‘PAIN OLYMPICS‘ out this July, if you’re familiar with these pages you’ll know that I never shut up about Crack Cloud. Vital stuff.
Love Menace Beach. Love Post War Glamour Girls. Stick vocalists James and Ryan together with 2/5 of Leeds outfit Treeboy & Arc, swirl it all together and put it out with Bill Ryder-Jones doing the production and you’ve got a thumbs up from us.
Similar to Yard Act, in Big Softy you’ve got another Leeds favourite in Aidan Razzall of Weirds putting his full-strength vocals into another project. Not sure why it’s taken me almost half a year to cotton onto this one (given I spoke with Aidan about it ahead of release) but we’re fully on board with Big Softy now.
Off the back of return single ‘In Birdsong‘, Everything Everything knock it out of the park with their follow up ‘Arch Enemy’. Everything we’ve come to love from the quartet, with Higgs up front playing a blinder in the vocal stakes. Fair play to them on the video front too, embracing their weirdness with a video looking like a tripped out nightmare.
Another month, another dose of Pottery. Whilst it might not reach the heady heights/romance of previous single ‘Hot Like Jungle‘, new single ‘Hot Heater’ sees the Canadian bods lean into their influences for this arse-shaker of a teaser for their forthcoming album.
The opener from Thee MVPs debut album, ‘Ship Episode, Planet Episode‘ is the perfect introduction and wraps them up in one go – shout-y garage punk vocals and scorching, mind-melting wig-outs. Tuck into this!
From the Top 10 (!) retrospective that Sleaford Mods put out last month, ‘Second‘ was recorded around the time of ‘English Tapas‘, almost lost forever in the laptop of beatmaker Andrew Fearn. Chuffed it’s been unearthed, a vital sounding sprint from the Mods as vocalist Williamson questions everything from fashion choices to social classes and race.
Debut single ‘No‘ from Billy Nomates, mate of Sleaford Mods, is a bit of a delight on the quiet. From her forthcoming debut album, the straight down the line delivery of the vocal makes way for an engaging chorus tailor made for moving your feet and sweating it up in dimly lit basements.
The Fall – Bremen Nacht Alternative (The Frenz Experiment)
Catchy as fuck and completely engaging, even with its 9+ minute length. Stick it on, have a dance, put the kettle on, do a bit of work, come back to that hypnotising bass line and get back on it.
From their debut album out last week, Jonah Falco celebrated its release over the weekend by blasting it out from a portable record player on a canal boat going through London. ‘Yesterdang’ sounded beautiful as they drifted across the sun-soaked water. A true gem from an album that has been rinsed these past few months.
I remember USA Nails were supposed to go on tour with Stuck earlier this year, but current circumstances put an end to that. ‘Bells‘ was filed into our yearly playlist for future listening and has found its way into regular rotation. From their debut LP out in April, this is solid noise-rock – for fans of METZ and their should be touring mates USA Nails.
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As pitched by our Ben Forrester earlier this week, “Thank fuck for new music“. Our monthly playlist this time around came about between being free as a bird to being confined with the lockdown (kinda), finding musical inspirations from old favourites and new discoveries. A lot of it was enjoyed during government assigned exercise, getting out and about in nature and topping up ones Vitamin D.
If you’re finding it a struggle during these particularly tough times, i’d suggest getting out and about whenever you can and getting your head in order (maybe with help from the below playlist eh?)
*UPDATE – Our playlist only sticks about for ONE MONTH before we move on. No regrets. You can listen to the latest playlist below!*
More sun-soaked jams from one of our favourite Aussie outfits (what else!) Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever are experts in picking really long band names and knowing how to hit all the right spots and the first single from their forthcoming album is a mega jam. Love how their big singles seem to move at a right pace, propelling you through in heart-racing fashion.
A tip off from our Ben Forrester, Disq were a new one to me with the release of their new record ‘Collector‘. The undeniable hit that is ‘Daily Routine‘ has slacker pop and ‘the 90s’ written all over it and there’s even glimmers of Demob Happy towards the middle there. A total ripper on the quiet.
Fairly certain this was a “new one” from a session they did a while back. On hearing it, I was hypnotised. A frantic, revved up two parter of a song that is – yes, still hypnotic – I heard it again properly when I was cycling back from the dentist (how retro). From their proper debut album ‘Welcome to Bobby’s Motel‘, out this June (or even later, as it’s already been pushed back once…), it’s always good to hear something new from Pottery. The next single is even better than this one – more on that next month.
What better place to start than with a second album? Proper wonky-pop from LA Priest here (my introduction), from an album that came together whilst the LA Priest himself was working in isolation for more than two years between California, Wales and England’s south coast – like Cate Le Bon when she made ‘Reward‘ and a load of chairs at the same time. It got her a Mercury nom, so why not him?
Full disclosure – I had it in my mind that Real Estate were a hardcore band, so it surprised me to see they’d had Sylvan Esso guest on their new record. ‘Paper Cup‘ is understandably not hardcore at all, instead it’s a super heart-swelling pop jam. I’ve just discovered the video too which has to be seen to be believed – The tale of Chipper, a giant animatronic squirrel during his last ever performance…
Who’da thunk it eh? That band that we once described as sounding like “an easier to digest Pissed Jeans” have popped out an anthemic 80’s sounding pop jam, the title track from a surprise EP that dropped a few weeks back. Not a change in sound entirely, as track two on the EP is a rough punk song about caning the dregs of a bag of the happy stuff (we’ve all been there…)
From their forthcoming greatest hits comp, ‘Jobseeker’ is the one that put their name on a lot of radars. Love the fury and the bite – “I suck on a rollup, pull your jeans up – fuck off!” The Jools Holland clip is here, obviously.
Was rushing out of work a few weeks back (before we were locked in our houses – what a thrill it would be to rush out of work again!) when I decided to stick this album on for the journey and all the stress seemed to melt away. Pop smasher from the best live album going.
2020 started off really slowly for us gigs wise. Now it’s screeched to a disappointing halt. Instagram live shows just don’t cut it… The last show I personally attended was back at the start of March, c/o Castle Face Records lot Prettiest Eyes. Leading up to the show and for a number of weeks afterwards, ‘It Cost’s To Be Austere‘ was firmly planted in my nut. Proper catchy.
One of those that sounds like a classic radio pop smasher from the off, it’s no surprise given Katie Harkin (a.k.a. Harkin) has been rubbing shoulders/playing with the likes of Warpaint, Sleater-Kinney, Wild Beasts and Kurt Vile for years. First single ‘Up To Speed’, from her self-titled debut album as a solo entity, is a real gem.
Katie recently talked to us all about inspirations, which you can read about here – from Texas hardcore to the late Bill Withers.
2017’s critically acclaimed ‘Relatives In Descent’ took hold of us on release and we’ve been bitten by the Protomartyr bug ever since, beavering away through their back catalogue real horroshow. 2020 sees their return good and proper, with a full length scheduled for release once all this COVID-19 palaver is done with. ‘Processed By The Boys‘ is more stream of consciousness from vocalist Joe Casey, whilst the other lads play their nails blend of post-punk.
This came on shuffle a few weeks back and almost knocked me out for its six minute duration. Something about Girl Band that just burrows inside you and really takes hold, leaving you either fist pumping the air or delirious and on your back.
From a 7″ that arrived free with a recent USA Nails purchase, Mayors Of Miyazaki is a name i’ve seen referenced again and again but a band i’ve never listened to. I remember having to put the needle back on this one again and again, it’s so fucking good! Unsurprisingly a touch of of-its-time genius from – who else – USA Nails’ guitarist Gareth Thomas, who’s a dab hand at that sort of thing.
Given i’m having to spend a lot more time in the house, i’ve been rifling through records i’ve not listened to for a while. This has lead to getting bang into Menace Beach again, working backwards from later albums ‘Lemon Memory‘ and ‘Black Rainbow Sound‘ and into their past. ‘Tennis Court‘ was my first favourite Menace Beach number and that probably remains the case today. Love ’em.
Having been a massive Dutch Uncles fan for a number of years, I was eager to tuck into the solo output from bassist Robin Richards. A composer in his own right, he’s recently worked on the soundtrack to ‘The Earth Asleep’, a film about the 2011 Japanese Tsunami, drafting in Chris Illingworth of GoGo Penguin (on piano) and Michael Spearman of Everything Everything (on drums/percussion) for this particular number. End result? It definitely sounds like a Dutch Uncles b-side, which we’re more than up for!
An old favourite, we had this come on via some other not-as-good playlist whilst sat in the living room as we were “working from home” a week into isolation. It perfectly soundtracked the sun-soaked afternoon, though I think I might’ve fucked my knuckles drumming away on the table…
Sleaford Mods posted about this lot the other day and I was chuffed – fingers crossed it gets more ears pricked up! It won’t have harmed them going on tour with Dry Cleaning at the start of the year either, and we were lucky enough to catch both bands a few months back before lockdown kicked off. A foot-shuffling, eerie sounding post-punk number, it tells tale of being stuck on a motorway journey with someone chipping away at you with their bigoted views.
A bit of razor sharp yet wonky post-punk from the South, Home Counties evolved out of up and comers Haze and with debut single ‘Redevelopment‘ they spark off something that reminds us of DUDS and SQUID. A track to stick on again and again. Then once more before bed. Dead good.
NAILS new single from Flat Worms, taken from their latest album ‘Antarctica‘ – one which we suggested “isn’t just a flash in the pan punk set, it’s a fully formed rock record.” Building expertly to walls of fuzz and screeching guitar, it’s what got us hooked on this LA three-piece from the off.
Bloody love Once and Future Band – More poppy stadium-prog, please! ‘Andromeda‘ is an absolute delight and I dare any listener to not crack a smile during its four minute duration. We recently interviewed the quartet – get your chops round that here.
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2019 eh? You’d laugh if you weren’t too busy crying… Bloody good year for music though.
With it being the end of the year, we’ve joined the long list of your other favourite websites to compile the best songs released this year. 50 songs sounds like a lot to work with until you have to compile said list.
Here’s the second of two parts featuring a list of the 50 best songs released this year – part one here. Continued in alphabetical order mind you, as things are complicated enough as it is don’t you think?
Long awaited new material from one Toby Hayes (ex-Meet Me in St. Louis/Eugene Quell). ‘Humans‘ reminds me a bit of early Beck in a way (though he’s not spouting gibberish about microwaves and such) and is a super cool slice of where Toby is at in 2019 Brighton.
It was hard to choose a track from the latest Cate Le Bon effort, given the wealth of worthy contenders. We were head over heels for first single ‘Daylight Matters‘ on release – such warmth in the instrumentation and as per, a real shift put in by Le Bon to make hearts swell.
The Beta Band kinda passed me by (save for that scene in ‘High Fidelity‘), but I’ve had this single on at least once a fortnight since I first heard it on the radio mid-year. Ex-Beta Band vocalist Steve Mason knows how to pen a tune, eh? Chorus on this one is sublime.
I don’t know exactly how it happened, but the past 10+ years have had a Metronomy shaped hole in them for me. How did I miss out on the likes of ‘Nights Out‘ and ‘The English Riviera‘?! What exactly was I playing at? This all changed following the release of their latest effort ‘Metronomy Forever’, particularly the delectable ‘Salted Caramel Ice Cream‘. A pop gem, love the catchiness of it.
With an opening that sounds like a dog toy gripped between the jaws of a canine, ‘The Daily Heavy‘ is the first track from the exceptionally titled new Oh Sees album ‘Face Stabber‘ and one which sets the record up more than nicely. Each player firing on all cylinders, the rhythm is hypnotising as the vocals of JPD swirl around your head almost in a murmur. A driving psych journey that hardly lets up across its 7+ minutes.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Oh Sees lifer John Dwyer earlier this year – read that here!
We’ve been bang into OMNI for a few years now and have greedily lapped up everything they’ve offered thus far. Their Sub Pop debut ‘Networker‘ took a few listens at first, but it’s definitely a grower. Lead single ‘Sincerely Yours’ once again shows off the guitar chops of Frankie Broyles, with lovely little Television-esque flourishes, whilst bassist Philip Frobos’ smooth vocals are just the ticket.
The less quirky branch of the “multimedia collective“ Crack Cloud crew, N0V3L lean more toward moody 80’s sounding post-punk and ‘To Whom It May Concern‘ is a real sharp bit of kit. From a fantastic debut LP.
The sort of act that gets David Lynch hot under the collar i’m sure, Orville Peck has been on the old radar for a while but it wasn’t until a few months back that I got fully tucked into debut album ‘Pony‘. Now he’s on everyone’s radar and more power to him! The only country sounding artist on the list you’ll be surprised to hear, ‘Dead of Night‘ deals in romance on the dusty trail as two mean hombres travel through the Nevada desert.
Opener from the debut Pizzagirl LP, ‘Ball’s Gonna Keep On Rollin‘ is similar to label-mate Guest Singer’s debut in that we’re treated to a lot of moody 80’s tinged synth-pop with an Alex Cameron feel. Bright lights, big city vibes, it’s the sort of track that might’ve been your favourite on one of those ‘Now That’s What I Call Music‘ comps way back when…
I first heard this during a bit of downtime whilst we were on our jollies in Italy. When we landed in Manchester the following week, I caught them up the road at The Castle Hotel and it was one of the best shows of the year. The Quintet based in Canada put out a belting EP earlier in the year and ‘The Craft‘ is one of the best from it – spot on, energetic post-punk.
There was a 24 hour period when I first heard this song where I played it again and again and again. Absolutely obsessed. A song about being infatuated with your mobile telephone device. The album is a cracker too.
POZI talked to us about what inspired the LP not long after release – read all about it here.
Jangly, energised post-punk out of Brighton that calls to mind much missed Manc outfit DUDS – Public Body caught our attention back in August and we’re keeping a keen ear out for whatever they’ve got planned next.
A wonderfully warm yet heartbreaking number from the late David Berman. The uplifting instrumentation is backed by words of such sorrow, made even sadder by his death not longer after the album’s release. Love the vocal delivery on “It’s not the icy bike chain rain of Portland, Oregon“.
BODEGA picked the Purple Mountains album as a 2019 highlight – more on that here.
The raucous opener from Ty Segall’s latest LP, he hopped behind the kit for this and a number of songs from the album, with his drumset heard via the left speaker and the kit of Charles Moothart heard on the right side. Great B-Movie horror video too.
‘Flipside‘ was one of our top tracks last year and cut to 2019, we’ve got ‘Discourse‘ in the top ranks too – a passionate delivery from Williamson against some of Fearn’s best beats on the record. Honourable mention to the joyous ‘Big Burt’.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Jason of Sleaford Mods earlier this year – Check that out here.
Non-stop party power from that band dressed head to toe in shrubbery. ‘Tailpipe‘ captures the sound of Snapped Ankles perfectly – maximum speed, hypnotising rhythms that make the listener feel like they’re off their nut. Nearly impossible to not find yourself shouting ‘SUCK-A-SUCK-A-SUCK-A-SUCK-A-TAILPIPE‘ by the end of it.
Big year for Squid, eh? We’ve had the pleasure of catching them a few times this year and their live set-up gets better and better. ‘Houseplants‘ kicked it off for us in the first half of the year, a total rager – the unhinged, yelped vocal of Ollie Judge hard not to love. A proper good band to get on board with in 2019.
“Baby i’m feeling fucking worthless…” One of our favourite Leeds bands knocking about at the minute. It’s a bit horrible, like – our review of their new EP suggested they’re “a kind of demented synth-rock“.
More holiday adventures – I took our lass to Bordeaux where Uranium Club just happened to be playing (convenient). I picked up a copy of this record at the show when it was box fresh and still in the stages of getting proper artwork etc. More fast-paced garage-rock-esque fun from The Minneapolis Uranium Club, it revvvs along at pace with that trademark sarcastic vocal style.
THANK picked ‘The Cosmo Cleaners‘ as a 2019 highlight – more on that here.
Featuring one of the most killer riffs in the USA Nails catalogue, ‘Smile‘ is a rock-hard rager and deals in the mundanity of everyday life in ear-piercing fashion. The album might be one of their best (a big ask!)
Super cool EP opener from Glaswegian outfit Vital Idles – The slightly strange yelps from vocalist Jessica Higgins captivate as the bass line gets right under your skin.
A record that kept my attention a lot this summer, ‘Walkie Talkie‘ is a proper driving corker from Californian shape-shifters WAND. A real joyful racket.
More sleazeball antics from Warmduscher, ‘Midnight Dipper‘ is a real funky piece of kit from their latest LP. Sounds like you’ve heard it before but then again, not quite – Vocalist Clams Baker sounds exactly like the sort of person you don’t want to meet in the pub.
Dr. Alan Goldfarb (on behalf of the band) talked us through their musical inspirations as part of our What’s On Michael Portillo’s iPod feature – Check out his picks here.
A personal favourite of mine in 2019, WOOZE came to our attention late last year through their initial singles. ‘I’ll Have What She’s Having‘ is absolutely joyous – hyperbole description wise, we hit the nail on the head back then: “Incredibly invigorating bursts of art-pop, they both manage to sound washing-line-fresh whilst sounding as if they were produced and released about forty years ago.”
WOOZE answered a host of daft questions for us as part of our a/s/l feature – Get your chops round that here!
Working Men’s Club have come on a bit since their initial single (sold out over and over) haven’t they? They’ve shifted gears somewhat since their debut and players have come and gone, but ‘Bad Blood‘ was a total gem of a debut – an exciting bit of energised post-punk that sounds as sun-soaked as the single art looks. Calling to mind the likes of Gang Of Four and Orange Juice, hearing this it’s no surprise that they’ve been building a big fan base at a rapid pace.
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For those sorts who don’t read, you can listen to all of the above (and everything from PART ONE) in our handy Spotify playlist here!
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Having released their debut EP ‘No.1’ the Friday before (on Partisan records, home to IDLES and Fontaines D.C.) and with previous shared stages under their collective belts with the likes of Parquet Courts and Oh Sees, I fully expected people to be queuing down the street to catch a glimpse of Potterywhen they played Manchester earlier this month.
Following a week of eating bread and drinking wine in Southern Italy (bragging), I must admit that getting off the plane Tuesday afternoon, I didn’t much fancy a sold-out show in the reasonably tiny back room at The Castle Hotel. Selfishly, I was slightly relieved to find it wasn’t completely jam packed – especially given the unseasonably warm evening in Manchester – but this is not to say that the Canadian quintet didn’t give it both barrels.
“We’re good, Mr Soundman.” Announced frontman Austin Boylan, a vision with striking giant eyebrows and a bowl-cut, channelling DEVO in his attire. In fact, each band member looks like they’d each individually slot into a scene in ‘Freaks and Geeks’. Looking like the usual clientele throughout the Northern Quarter on a sunny day, true enough the band mill about throughout the evening, some looking at home sat at the bar or having a smoke outside.
“Welcome to where you are…” Says Boylan to the small packed in crowd, the band ripping into a Talking Heads-esque opener. I was thinking that there always seems to be a gap between audience and stage at The Castle and sure enough, we’re asked to move closer as Austin suggests we “…get comfortable with each other.”
‘Smooth Operator’, opener from their new EP, jangles into being with a 60’s tinge, the rhythm rumbling along and when the vocals kick in, keys player Peter Baylis is full on feeling it, taking a step back, eyes closed, running hands through his hair. Drummer Paul Jacobs is razor sharp, abs pulsing as it picks up to its frantic close. A total powerhouse, it’s hypnotising to watch his playing, as he keeps a keen eye on the other four up front.
We first discovered Pottery around the time of debut single ‘Hank Williams‘, one we originally called “a post-punk gem, skirting a wonky pop edge with lashings of psych for good measure.” It’s just as infectious tonight, its opening riff and guitar noodling getting the crowd moving. Follow up ‘Lady Solinas‘ – a satirical take on an assassination attempt on Andy Warhol – has a brilliant sense of urgency in its stop-start middle, reappearing later for a rapid, double-speed ending.
“Steam box in here, isn’t it?” One of them says, not long before that becomes the least of their worries – Austin’s guitar string hogging the limelight as it flies out every which way, him playing with a huge bowed string during a full-pelt, 80’s NYC post-punk disco dance-a-thon. The call out for a new guitar is greeted with zero response, so he’s off stage and right next to us, fishing around in his guitar case for a new string. The others kick into an impromptu jam before he’s up on stage sharpish, re-stringing and getting back into the swing of it for their latest (and possibly greatest) ‘The Craft’.
The aforementioned impromptu jam and frantic end sections throughout the evening are where Pottery really shine, displaying controlled chaos as each member of the band locks into one another. Closing wigout on final song ‘Lifeline Costume’ is invigorating, a pure strength, no messing about, fun time. We’re lulled into safety as the song drifts out of one section, before being pulverised with the shredding conclusion. There may not have been a queue of people down the road tonight, but there certainly will be next time – Keep your eyes peeled.
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As the world turns and burns, we take a bit of solace at the state of things via being able to wear shorts outside… There’s also the fact that our favourites Viagra Boys, Crack Cloud and N0V3L are making their way up Norf for the month of May, taking the sting off things somewhat…
There’s loads of places you should find yourself this month throughout Manchester and the Norf, but here’s our top five picks. You trust us, right?
Celebrating their big ‘Quindeccenial’ this year, the folk atSounds From The Other City have been championing the underground scene for the past 15 years, previously bringing the likes of Birthday Cake For Breakfast favourites DUDS, Anna Burch, Snapped Ankles and Vital Idles (as well as big names like Sampha and Alt-J) to various venues throughout Salford.
With its last five years selling out, this year they promise “special touches fans won’t find anywhere else”, including art direction from all five art directors of the past five years. This Sunday, we suggest seeking out the likes of Working Men’s Club, See Thru Hands and Manchester’s best boy band (with a woman), Grotbags!
Not content being one of our favourite discoveries over the past 18 months, a number of creatives involved in Crack Cloud splintered off into the dreamboats that make up N0V3L.
On one hand you’ve got the unfathomably brilliant Crack Cloud, making all manner of shit-eating-grin inducing post-punk that verges into oddball territories, with N0V3L a bit more danceable, adding a new-wave flavour to proceedings. No Manchester show, so it’s a trip up to Liverpool or Leeds to get your fill!
As part of a biggie UK/EU tour throughout May, Canadian outfit Potteryare highly likely to make you sweat if you manage to squeeze into this one. Have you been to The Castle? No room to breathe…
We’re up the road to Glasgow when our favourites OH SEES are in the UK, but it’s fine – we’ll be watching them whilst we’re there! Before that though, you lucky Northerners will have chance to catch the greatest band in the world (almost certainly) in Manchester’s best venue (quite possibly).
JPD and co. have been in the studio this year working on album no. 24492, so expect a barrage of face-melting new ones to mingle with the current crop, packed into 90+ minutes!
Whilst they will be up this way for Dot To Dot Festival a few days afterwards, we’ll be tootling up the road to catch Viagra Boys in Liverpool for a sweat-fest. What else might you be able to expect?
“Last week when we played in France, some old lady took her tits out and I started sucking on them.” That’s what enigmatic, tatted up vocalist Sebastian Murphy told us when we interviewed them last year. Will it be as raucous in Liverpool? Here’s hoping!
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Following on from our Top 50 list released earlier this year, we’ve had our thinking caps on and put together another 50 favourites that have had us hooked for the remainder of 2018!
Don’t be daft – Keep an eye on our lists to come and make sure you don’t miss out on some of the year’s biggest bangers!
Full list here and a handy Spotify Playlist can be found here!
A late entry from Canadian post-punk outfit Pottery, the bright and breezy ‘Hank Williams’ is an infectious blast of wonky-pop. Dust off your dance shoes and expect big things from the lads – they’ve already been linking up with the likes of Parquet Courts and Oh Sees! Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – ‘GNT’
(King Of Cowards, Rocket Recordings)
Whilst Newcastle’s Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs would make any End of Year list based on name alone, they’ve also got the musical chops to back it up. From the brilliantly titled LP ‘King Of Cowards’ comes this heavy, Sabbath-esque howler in a digestible (for them) running time. Brutal.
Pigs x7 talked us through inspirations on this record – read all about them here.
Dead Tenants – ‘Not Walking’ (LPII, Buzzhowl Records)
Album number two from New York City natives Dead Tenants,which we had the pleasure of premiering a few months back. ‘Not Walking’ reminds us of Chicago trio Meat Wave, if they were noisier and more unfiltered. Solid bit of noise-rock.
BMX Bandits – ‘Way Of The Wolf’ (BMX Bandits Forever, Elefant Records)
As much as the mere mention of them will cause some to roll their eyes, I really get a kick out of The Beatles’ output like ‘Ob-la-di ob-la-da’ and ‘Don’t Pass Me By’; harmless, upbeat and unashamedly catchy. For BMX Bandits and ‘Way Of The Wolf’, it’s really hard not to hear ‘Ob-la-di ob-la-da’, which is no bad thing. It bounces along and is so pleasing to the ears, with a chorus that’s super infectious.
To retain our street cred, Kurt Cobain is alleged to have said that if he could play in any other group, it would be in BMX Bandits!
The brass on ‘Pain Killer’, released earlier this year as part of the fourth album from Danish art punks Iceage, gives the song such a boost, giving it a proper big match feel. It’s nothing new to have a blast of brass in post-punk, but here it elevates it above and beyond. Kagoule – ‘Balance’ (Strange Entertainment, Alcopop! Records)
Old favourites of ours on Birthday Cake For Breakfast, with ‘Balance’ very much being a live favourite of old. This year saw them follow up their fantastic debut album with eagerly anticipated second album ‘Strange Entertainment’. Banger central – Kagouleare brill!
You Tell Me – ‘Incantation No. 1’ (You Tell Me, Memphis Industries)
The b-side to stunning debut single ‘Clarion Call’, You Tell Mesees Admiral Fallow’sSarah Hayes team up with Field Music’s Peter Brewis. Brother Brewis takes the lead on ‘Incantation No. 1’ and it very much feels like Field Music territory here, so we’re in hog heaven! Debut self-titled LP out early next year on Memphis Industries.
Protomartyr – ‘Forbidden’ (Telemetry at Howe Bridge, Domino)
Detroit’s Protomartyrrecently embarked on a run of American shows with the brilliant Canadian post-punk outfit Preoccupations. The thought of that pairing making its way over to the UK together suddenly made my trousers become very tight around the crotch… To placate us until then, Protomartyr have released a split 7” with Preoccupations, electing to cover ‘Forbidden‘ from the excellent S/T Preoccupations LP out in 2016. The outro has been extended much further to thrashed out, pulse-racing joy. Pom Poko – ‘My Blood‘ (Birthday, Bella Union)
It says wonders for this lot that I thought this was experimental, genre hopping Deerhoof when I first heard it! Box fresh out of Norway, ‘My Blood’ is getting the regular rotation treatment on BBC Radio 6 Music and with good cause – Full on energy and that mega riff is top notch.
BODEGA – ‘How Did This Happen?!’ (Endless Scroll, What’s Your Rupture?)
Straight talking NYC punks BODEGAhave been a constant in our house since our discovery of them back in July. Their brilliant debut LP ‘Endless Scroll’ has been on heavy rotation and it’s the opener from the record that first caught our attention. The Parquet Courts vibe runs strong with this lot, likely due to the record coming out on the Parquet Courts affiliated What’s Your Rupture? label. Strong Album Of The Year contender!
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