January 2011
133 posts
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The Whiteboard Band Of The Day .....
Name: Nikki And The Dove
Label: Moshi Moshi
A Swedish Zola Jesus? A Bat For Lashes full of goth tinged pop?
The above description could be apt of today’s Band Of The Day, Niki And The Dove. This band make an alluring goth tinged eletro pop, the vocal of Malin Dahlström echoing out like the call of a tormented siren. The music this band make is too commercially conscious to be...
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Live Review: The Vaccines
Venue: Kings College London Student Union
Date: 29th January 2011
The meteoric rise of The Vaccines has caused a lot of buzz. Last week they flew to America to play a string of dates, with members of Blondie, Arctic Monkeys, and Local Natives in attendance alongside the music press and the occasional film star (Jake Gyllenhaal). It’s unusual for bands to go (within weeks) from...
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Single: Cherry Ghost
Single: Only A Mother Could
Label: Heavenly
Release: March 7th
Rating: 8
Bolton 5-Piece ‘Cherry Ghost’ broke onto the national scene with 2007’s Thirst for Romance. The album earned a throng of positive reviews and charted at #7 in the UK. It was a blend of folk and deep-south Americana, which many felt revived the ‘indie-rock’ genre from its passive, mawkish doldrums of stale bands like...
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Track Of The Day - Einar Stray
Einar Stray. Truly exceptional talent. This young Norwegian is going places. Today’s Tack Of The Day is a winding musical journey.
When this 20 year old’s album drops it is going to cause a stir!
Einar Stray - Chiaroscuro by spoontrain
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Album Sampler: James Blake
Production wunderkid James Blake stands in a very enviable position at the moment. Ever since his cover of Limit To Your Love, music circles have positively glowed with praise for the potential of this new come. His self titled debut album is fast approaching and is expected to leave shelves at an alarming rate.
Fancy a taster?
Mr Blake has been kind enough to allow an album sampler.
Here is...
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Tour: Deerhunter
Halcyon Digest, the fourth studio album by Atlanta four-piece Deerhunter, took the industry by storm last year. Recorded in less than a month with Ben Allen, the eleven-track album is the follow-up to 2008’s Microcastle and feature singles such as Revival and Helicopter, both of which were named Best New Music by Pitchfork. The album gained Deerhunter a borader fan base and these fans...
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News Flash: Fleet Foxes announce Second album.
The seond coming is upon us. In hotly anticipated news, Fleet Foxes have this afternoon revealed a few details for their forthcoming album, the follow up to their self-titled 2008 debut. The record’s called ‘Helplessness Blues’, and it will be released 3rd May 2011 via Bella Union and Sub Pop. It was recorded over the course of a year at Avast Recording, Bear Creek Studios,...
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The Newly Singles : 31/01/11
Words & thoughts of Ollie Launn
Sketch drawn by Gemma Summons
Telekinesis! – Please Ask for Help – SINGLE OF THE WEEK
And now for something you haven’t heard before… or maybe you have and I’m just not on the ball with the new school of 2011 bands. Oh, what do you mean they’ve already had an album out? I hang my head in shame. As you can probably tell I have no prior experience of...
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The Whiteboard Band Of The Day .....
Name: Team Me
Refreshingly, today’s Band Of The Day have quite a childish approach to music.
Their sensible, cute, and quirky lyrics will touch your heart and make you smile. This band full of close friends and local musicians from Elverum have a genuine chemistry and use it put out songs which pulsate happy vibes. Team Me play warm and rich orchestrated pop comparable to Sufjan...
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Track Of The Day- Seams
James Welch ( Seams) first began gaining attention on Gold Panda’s You EP. He has a knack for creating beautiful remixes. His music is a type of post electronica that transcends any sort of genre and whispy enough to be compared to Gold Panda.
Below is today’s Track Of The Day, Hungmarkets.
Seams - Hung Markets by Pictures Music
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Tour: Animal Collective
We seem to always be comparing bands to Animal Collective. That is because they are a truly wondeful band. If you are a fan, your luck is in as they’ve confirmed a European tour which includes an extra UK date. Read about them all below:
May: 14 - Minehead, UK All Tomorrow’s Parties 16 - Eastbourne, UK Winter Gardens 17 - Amsterdam, Paradiso 18 - Brussels, Les Nuit 19 - Cologne,...
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The Whiteboard Band Of The Day .....
Name: Banjo Or Freakout
Label: Rare Book Room Records
Alessio Natalizia (aka Banjo or Freakout) has been tipped to make a big splash on the scene for a couple of years now.
About to tour with The Go! Team, Banjo or Freakout has worked tirelessley over the last couple of years to create a distinctive sound and quite a devoted following. The Turin-born artist seems a touch like Animal...
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Album: The Joy Formidable
Title- The Big Roar Released- 24/01 Label-Atlantic [2011] Rating - 7.5
I’ve been a massive Joy Formidable fan since 2009’s A Balloon Called Moaning. It was the archetypal ‘DIY done right’ record. Partly recorded in a bedroom, yet it had such arena quality that it wouldn’t look out of place on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. They had this amazing quality of producing a definitive...
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Track Of The Day : Exlovers
Today’s Track Of The Day goes to Exlovers ‘Moth Eaten Memories’ that will eventually make the B-Side of their upcoming single titled ‘Blowing Kisses’ that will be released March 7th on the wonderful Young & Lost Club.
Tour dates & single review to follow.
Exlovers - Moth-eaten Memories by Stayloose
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The Whiteboard Band Of The Day .....
Name: Jesca Hoop
Label: Vanguard Records
Jesca Hoop brings a sense of mischief to the folk scene.
This beguiling Californian ( now based in Manchester) has already developed quite the impressive list of admirers. One Tom Waits has been kind enough to go on record saying that the sound of Jesca Hoop reminds him of “going swimming in a lake at night”. In an interesting fact, Waits formerly...
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Album: Esben And The Witch
Title: Violet Cries
Label: Mattador Records
Release: January 31st
Rating: 8
Esben and the Witch is a Danish fairy tale. It’s a dark, harrowing tale concerning gothic horror and nightmarish fantasy, seen through the eyes of inquisitive children. That is also, interestingly enough, a rather adapt summary of Brighton trio Esben and the Witch’s debut LP ‘Violet Cries’.
Esben and the Witch...
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Single: Young The Giant
Title: Apartment
Label: Young And Lost
Release: February 6th
Rating: 8
Natives of California, Young the Giant produce the kind of music that reminds you of summer. The soulful vocals and the chord progressions used make the track Apartment stand out from other American indie pop. The five piece, who are currently touring the US and have a few dates in Britain, are re-establishing feel good,...
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Album: Katy B
Katy B has announced details of her debut album, ‘On A Mission’, which is released on March 28. The album features the singles ‘Lights On’ and ‘Katy On A Mission’, as well as production work by Magnetic Man Benga and Rinse FM founder Geeneus.
‘On A Mission’ Tracklisting: ‘Power On Me’ ‘Katy On A Mission’ ‘Why You...
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EP :Track Of The Day by Jack Hayter
Jack Hayter Track by Track Sucky Tart E.P release Jan 31st 2011 on Audio AntiHero
Just in case you didn’t figure it out; Sucky Tart is an anagram the name of of a famous sailing ship called the Cutty Sark that lies in dry dock in Greenwich. The Cutty Sark was a fast tea clipper; there was a need for speed in the tea trade between Britain and China in the 19th Century.
I Stole the Cutty...
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News Flash : Kate Nash Tour
Kate Nash is back once again, this time with a much more intimate tour around the country.
This all comes after performing in a string of festival dates including Glastonbury, V and Lilith Fair as well as a critically acclaimed, 20 date US headline tour, culminating in a sold out show at New York’s iconic Terminal 5 venue.
March 20 STOKE // SUGARMILL 21 NORTHAMPTON // ROADMENDER 22...
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News: Copy Haho
After taking time out from a busy 2010 to record their debut album, COPY HAHO are delighted to announce that their first show of 2011 will be as support for Two Door Cinema Club at Glasgow Barrowlands on 10th March. Details of the band’s debut album (due in May) and further live dates will be announced very soon...
COPY HAHO // Wrong Direction by TheArtOf…
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Track Of The Day : Kyla La Grange
Do grab a free download of pop’s Kyla La Grange’s ‘Walk Through Walls.’ This track is stirring-up all the right blogs and websites, most notably The Guardian, who labled her ‘one of those precocious talents that everyone secretly fears.‘
Kyla La Grange - Walk Through Walls by Stayloose
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The Whiteboard Band Of The Day .....
Name: ANR
Label: Something In Construction
ANR may seem like a new band on the scene, but this band are far from greenhorns.
Awesome New Republic are made up of Miami duo Michael John Hancock and Brian Robertson and they have been present on all the right blogs for quite awhile now. They have opened for bands such as Yeasayer, Animal Collective, Gang Gang Dance, Neon Indian and No Age...
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Album: The Go! Team
Title: Rolling Blackouts
Label: Memphis Industries
Release: 28th January
Rating: 8.8
It has been over three years since we last had a release from Brighton cross-over specialists, The Go! Team and I’m sure the vast majority of the band’s ever-increasing fan base will agree with me that these three years have dragged! But after years of twiddling our thumbs and passing the time...
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Single: Lets Buy Happiness
Title: Fast Fast
Label: Ghost Arc Records
Release: 28th February
Rating: 8.7
Sometimes a song comes along with an intriguing quality that forces you to sit up and take notice. It might be surprising lyrics, rhythmic inventiveness or an unexpected shift in melodic structure that captures the attention. In the case of ‘Fast Fast’, the latest single from Let’s Buy Happiness, an initial rally of...
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Single: Sleigh Bells
Title: Riot Rhythm Label: Mom + Pop Release: 14th February Rating: 8.5
Sleigh Bells are definitely not your average band. As soon as the angst ridden guitar chords of Riot Rhythm kick in, it is clear that you’re about to listen to something different and unlike any other band that you’ve listened to before. The mixture of distorted guitars and rhythmic clapping create a perfectly brisk and...
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Track Of The Day: Fair Ohs
Fair Ohs are as cool as they are rotund. They make some of the best summery music out there, their strongest song being ‘Eden Rock’, which I have discovered and played remorsely recently. They even covered Bidgette Bardot for the B side to prove how great they are. They make the sort of music that’s fashionable to make - 60’s revivalist/influenced surfer rock n roll, but...
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Tour: Dum Dum Girls
Super fuzzy girl group the Dum Dum Girls have announced they will be returning to the UK for a string of shows in May as well as an appearance at Primervera on 29th May as part as a wider European tour.
The girls will play the following:
13-May London Luminaire 14-May Manchester Sound Control 15-May Leeds Brudenell Social Club 16-May Lancaster Lancaster Library 17-May Glasgow Stereo 18-May...
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Tour: Warpaint
Warpaint couldn’t go on tour and miss London out, could they? In good news for Capital dwellers, this glorious quarter will float through on their cloud of harmony on the last date of their tour. The HMV Forum is the chosen venue. Tickets go sale from January 28th.
Here is the where and when:
May 11th – Cambridge, Junction May 13th – Oxford, O2 Academy May 14th – Manchester , Gorilla...
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The Whiteboard Band Of The Day .....
Name: Dry The River
Dry the River have carved quite the reputation by splicing together Americana and rattly folk rock.
Such a reputation that they are at the centre of quite the major-label bidding war, a situation most new bands can only dream of. In today’s market, only grime and folk-rock seem to be moving big units. Due to their rustic, rattly sound, it is clear to see why...
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The Whiteboard Band Of The Day .....
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Single: The Streets
Title: Going Through Hell
Label: 679/ Vice
Release: 7th February
Rating: 6
Is there anything left to say about The Streets? Mike Skinner’s tale of super-stardom kicked off a good ten years ago with the fabled Original Pirate Material, an album that was revered pretty much across the board. But it wasn’t just critical acclaim that was heaped on Skinner, he managed to creep into...
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Single: Cults
Title: Go Outside
Label: Columbia
Release: 21st February
Rating: 9.1
I always feel a bit aggrieved when I see bands taking off without any online presence. This is mainly because my band has never had the same amount of success and we were ignoring Myspace pages way back in 2006… Anyway, grievances aside, this whole ‘no publicity is the best publicity’ strategy seems to be...
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The Newly Singles : 24/01/01
Words & Thought of Sarah Sahim
Drawing by Gemma Summons
Track Of The Week - The Go! Team feat. Bethany Cosentino ‘Buy Nothing Day’
This song is a mash-up of America’s sunny seaside with England’s *coughs* sunny seaside. A lovely chirpy energetic delight, this zesty piece features the sweet vocals of Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino.
The Go! Team - Buy Nothing Day by...
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Track Of The Day - Echo Lake
After being not much more than a bedroom pop experiment being conducted by main songwriter Thom, the project has developed into one of the most sought after youngs band’s, complete with an emotional pull and an intensity reminiscent The Jesus & Mary Chain. They have got the songs – gorgeous yet gloriously dirty shoegaze pop – and the look – polaroid, fresh-faced Uniqlo models too go...
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Album: Cut Copy
Aussie ( Melbourne to be precise) synthpop quartet Cut Copy have revealed the follow up to 2008’s album In Ghost Colours. Due out in the UK on February 7 via Modular Recordings Zonoscope is the band’s third kaleidoscopic, understated full-length effort. The lads from down under have devloped quite a follwing through their innovative track arrrangements. The album promises to be a good listen.
...
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Tour : Esben And The Witch
In celebration of the release of the debut album of Ebsen And The Witch ’ Violent Cries’, the band will be trawling the country on a UK tour. Few bands are tipped any hotter than this group. Newly signed to Mattador Records, their futures look bright. The album is out on the 31st January. Certainly worth a purchase.
Tour Dates Below.
January 31st - The Louisiana, Bristol ...
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The Whiteboard Band Of The Day .....
Name: Baths
Label: Anticon
If the Toro Y Moi album floated your boat and you craved more of the same or wished that Washed Out had produced a long-player as much as you are eagerly anticpating the UK release of How To Dress Well, then LA artist Baths may just be for you.
Will Wiesenfeld is the man who records as Baths. He has a voice that cuts through you with the chilling abstract...
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Track Of The Day : Everything Everything- ...
Today’s Track Of The Day is another from the ’ slightly out there’ section. Art-popping, prog-rocking Everything Everything have taken on scantily clad body shaker Rihanna’s ’ Whats My Name ’ on as a cover and have added there own indisputable touch to it.
Have a listen!
Everything Everything - “What’s My Name” (Rihanna Cover) by...
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Tour: Crocodiles/ White Lies
Having released their sophomore album Sleep Forever last summer to huge acclaim, San Diego duo Crocodiles are readying their next single ‘Mirrors.’ In build up to that single release ( Which will be reviewed here) Crocodiles will be touring throughout February. Sure to infect all within a close enough enough radius with their summery melodies, the future looks bright for this twosome.. And as...
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The Whiteboard Band Of The Day .....
Name: Braids
Label: Kanine Records
“They’re like Animal Collective, only if they came from Montreal”
This is the common concensus when considering todays Band Of The Day. Montreal’s own Braids are a an experimental dream-pop quartet trading in a particular brand of shoegaze haze. This band are blessed with youth, all ranged from late teens to early twenties, and have put...
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Track Of The Day: Best Coast/ Jeff The...
Best Coast certainly enjoy making a split 7.” On the back of their recent work with The Wavves, today we can bring a split with Jeff The Brotherhood. We have championed Best Coast of this site since its inception and recently published a very complimentary single review for Jeff The Brotherhood, so news of this split excited us. Here for you is Best Coast’s Sunny Adventure and Jeff...
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Tour: Phosphorescent
Fronted by Matthew Houck, Phosphorescent’s last full-length Here’s To Taking It Easy was released almost over a year ago. Having toured relentlessly in support of their past record, the Brooklyn band are set to return to the UK once more for a smattering of live dates in the summer.
May 30 – Thekla, Bristol 31 – Deaf Institute, Manchester
June 04 – Stereo, Glasgow 07 – Heaven, London
...
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News Flash: Arcade Fire
Rumours are rife that Arcade Fire may perform a huge Hyde Park show in the near future. The huge outdoor show is reported to take place on Thursday June 30th, with tickets for the show set to go on sale next Friday (January 28th). That date might also add credence to rumours to the band’s potential Glastonbury appearance, with the festival set to take place a matter of days before...
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The Whiteboard Band Of The Day .....
Name: Still Corners
Label: Great Pop Supplement
Todays Band Of The Day bring back the sixties with a wafty ethereal dream pop shimmer. .
Sounding like a Brighton Beach House, Still Corners have burst onto the scene with a sound that strikes you as being fully developed. This bright young band tick a lot of boxes and stand within a group of bands who seem to be heralding a new golden age of...
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News: Johnny Foreigner Video
So Johnny Foreigner, as usual, are breaking the conventional codes of the modern day band by premiering their ‘Harriet, By Proxy’ to everyone, and not just the NME or DIS. In a world dominated by PR and the tightfisted, Johnny Foreigner seem almost detached.
Whether it be by handmade vinyls sleeves, or your picture on that sleeve, Johnny Foreigner are always doing the best thing...
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Single: Dinosaur Pile Up
Single: My Rock ’ n’ Roll
Release: March 14th
Label: FRIENDS VS RECORDS
Rating: 5.8
Sometimes music has that ability to push away all boundaries of realism and transport you back in time. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be chucked back into the swinging sixties for a few minutes after listening to a new record? Who wouldn’t want to be launched to the 1970’s when...
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Album Review: The Decemberists.
Title: The King Is Dead
Label: Capitol Records
Release: 17th January
Rating: 5.5
The Decemberists, probably my favourite band named after an 18th century Russian military revolt, are back with their third studio album on Capitol records: The King is Dead. Opening for Bob Dylan in September – and playing new material – should have been a clear enough indication that they had taken an...