Nova Drones - A Kiss Of Bliss

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

I'm sure most of you will be aware of the expression "too many cooks spoil the broth". Well, I wonder how many bands out there that could be applied to? We know that the classic reason for bands splitting up is "creative differences", and that can sometimes be true, or alternatively it can be a polite way of saying "we all f*&?ing hate each other!!". It can be excellent to have others to bounce ideas off, and you only need look at classic songwriting partnerships of the past for that (Lennon & McCartney being the most obvious example). Then there are people like Dylan or Bowie, people whose first name we don't even need to write and you'll know who they are. Solo artists can be amazing, the drawback is that, unless you're talking about stripped-back music, you'll need a backing band.

This isn't the case so much any more. Modern recording techniques and software mean that one person can make records that sound like a full band, all on their own with greater ease than ever. Nova Drones is the solo guise of Michael Grellman who writes and records everything himself, with just one other person on the EP: Molly Ponkevitch supplying backing vocals on 'Morning Sunlight', a song as soothing and magical as its title implies. It's like The Jesus & Mary Chain on a mellow day. Other than that, 'A Kiss Of Bliss' is just one man, and there are some fine shoegaze and drone-rock songs here that don't need any other input. 'My Doctor' has distant vocals and strange chimes, it's fairly typical of its genre in terms of sound, but above average in terms of execution. The start of 'False Eyes' tells you why the word "drones" is involved here, and combined with the guitar, this will have you thinking of Spacemen 3, although it soon changes into something more conventional but very good with it. 'False Eyes' manages to combine piercing noise with gentle strumming and a soft vocal, wrapping up a decent EP, and one that was made without any "musical differences".





Nova Drones' website

Stream or buy the EP





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Richa - In The Wolf's Clothing

EP review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

Sometimes you can listen to a band, and although they might not be perfect yet, you can tell that there's potential; that they have more to offer and that future releases are likely to see them grow in stature. This was the exact opinion we had of Hereford band Richa after hearing their debut EP 'Atlantic' last summer. At that point they hadn't even been together for a year, and already the music they'd recorded left an impression, but you felt like they would get better, that the best was yet to come. How far the band will go remains to be seen and will be down to many factors, but we now have a follow-up EP, 'In Wolf's Clothing', which will be released on March 3rd. Have they progressed like we hoped in the past six months or so? You bet they have. Their strong point on the first EP was songs, and these are, naturally, a crucial factor. What we have now is that same high standard of songs, but thanks to a longer period to gel and what seems like bundles of confidence, they're now close to becoming the great band they'd hinted at.

Everything sounds as though it's had a foot-pump rammed up its arse and been blown up into epic proportions. The title-track definitely means business. This is visceral and self-assured, but never cocky. The musicianship is more free-flowing, as though they have a better understanding of how they work together. The whole dynamic, from the powerful, crashing drums to the intricate layers of guitar, just have that extra zest. The vocals too feel that bit more vital this time around. But 'In Wolf's Clothing' isn't the best on show. 'YOUNG' takes influence from hardcore as well as indie-rock and isn't afraid to go all out and do its damnedest to burst your eardrums. You can pick out elements of math-rock, and they sing "it makes me feel alive!" you can totally believe it. It's a ferocious tour-de-force that refuses to let up. 'TAMED' also displays this lack of fear in showing what excellent musicians Richa are. It's another weighty alt-rock track with vocals that are urgent and sharp; almost deranged even. Buy the EP in a few days time and you'll get two other tracks as well; these guys aren't short on ideas. This is the sound of conviction, the sound of a band who have the determination to make you listen, whether you want to or not. On the strength of this, you probably won't take much persuading.







Richa's website

Stream or buy the EP





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Yuck - Another One

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

There's a certain irony to the title of this track. I wasn't the only one to worry about the future of Yuck following the departure of frontman Daniel Blumberg, but I was worrying about nothing. Their next album proved to be their best yet, and it wasn't made up of left-over ideas that needed a home. Just a few months after that record, no laurels were rested on, as the band dropped the brilliant 'Athena' from a forthcoming new EP, 'Southern Skies'. At the moment, Yuck are simply flying; throwing out songs with effortless grace and wasting no time in doing so. Following shortly after the first helping from the new EP, the band serve up another track that once again comes on a silver tray, sparkling in the sunlight.

Whether or not they chose the title 'Another One' as if to say - "thought we'd struggle? Well, let's prove you wrong, here's another one..." - is maybe unlikely, as it is part of the lyrics to the song and is more to do with love than letting the world no that they're refusing to die. 'Another One' is, once more, up there with the best they've made to date. They seem to have settled for a more shoegaze oriented sound, and this really suits them. The constant hum is beautifully offset by melodies that are sent down from on high. The chorus is blissful and contains some magical harmonies. Really, Yuck are making this whole thing look very easy at the moment, and I sincerely hope they continue to do so, I could happily listen to another one like this.



Yuck's website

Catch them live:

THU 27 FEB Ekko, Utrecht, Netherlands 
FRI 28 FEB Merleyn, Nijmegen, Netherlands 
SAT 01 MAR Yuck, Groningen, Netherlands 
TUE 11 MAR Independance Club, Madrid, Spain 
WED 12 MAR Sala López, Zaragoza, Spain 
THU 13 MAR Music Hall, Barcelona, Spain 
FRI 14 MAR Wah Wah, Valencia, Spain
TUE 18 MAR Imperial, Berlin, Germany 
WED 19 MAR Blue Shell, Cologne, Germany 
THU 20 MAR Hamburg, Germany 
SAT 22 MAR, Salon İKSV, Istanbul, Turkey





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Andy B - Those Were The Days/Cured EP

Album and EP reviews by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

I think it's safe to say you know what you're getting when you buy an Andy B album, and this is no bad thing. 'Those Were The Days' is his forth full-length, and in terms of quality it's immaculately consistent; there are no ups and downs. The music is, and unless there's any kind of epiphany will probably remain, very much in the same style as the previous releases, but this too is no bad thing. Fans will know by now that Andy B isn't on a mission to change the world or to build his own recording studio in the grounds of his platinum disc-lined mansion. Andy B is an indie artist whose music goes back to when "indie" actually meant something. He even goes as far as to cite C86, Sarah Records and a host of traditional guitar-pop bands as his influences.

Previous single tracks 'Let Me Out Soon' and 'I Can See Through You' both feature, and those two songs alone give a good snapshot of what this record is all about. It's almost ironic that the opening track is called 'Something New' when it sounds like it could be up to thirty years old, and this is by design. This might be a consistent album, yet this song does seem to shine a little brighter. The same could probably be said of 'Worth The Wait' which bears all the hallmarks that makes Andy's records such an enjoyable listen. What's interesting though, is that there is no lead guitar, backing vocals keyboards or overdubs on the whole record. Reading what Andy has to say about the it indicates that he was aiming for something new, but with an easily recognisable voice and songwriting style you probably wouldn't realise these facts unless you were told.

We've singled out the bass on previous records, and again it proves to be a plus point. There's no lead-bass or anything overly technical, but those simple, bobbing and melodic lines on songs like 'The Best You Can Do' and the chiming, contrasting (it's uptempo but oddly downbeat) 'Walking The Tightrope' are a joy and do bring some individuality along with them. Those lovelorn lyrics that have been found on past releases are still here. "It's time you tried to find someone new, you'll forget me in a week or two" is the parting gesture offered on 'No One Said This Would be Easy'. 'Exit Stage Right' comes to terms with a failed relationship too, offering a way out: "this is the final curtain, exit on stage right"; and 'Cursed' is sadder, more reflective ("it's just been harder than we guessed"). Again it's filled with bobbing bass and jangly guitars though, offsetting the pain. For classic, vintage indiepop the set the controls for 'Difficult Girl' and the summery 'Accessory'. The final bow is taken by the title-track; another look back at the past and the conclusion of another fine set of songs by someone who rarely offers anything but.

As a companion piece to the album, Andy B has released the EP 'Cursed' which features different mixes of four album tracks which have been done by June Brides drummer Andy Fonda - the man who was responsible for the full-length. This reimagining of a few songs is not just a bite-sized introduction to those new to Andy B's work, they also offer a fresher, more vibrant take. In fact I'd even go as far as to say that the extra touches, especially to 'Cursed' and 'Something New' mean the songs benefit from this different approach, the organ on the latter being a particularly nice touch. 'I Can See Through You' also has some electronic keys applied that give a new take, although perhaps the album version just about tops it on this occasion, and it's also a close call with 'Worth The Wait', both are great recordings, and separating them is a challenge. So for any newcomers out there, you can either jump in at the deep end and go for the album, or wean yourself into this world with the EP. Both yield fine results.








Andy B's website

Buy the album





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Cheatahs - Cheatahs

Album review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

Being the kind of site that we are, there was always a strong likelihood that our tips for the year list was going to include some shoegaze. Assuming that is, that there was a band or bands who were good enough to make the cut. There's an awful lot of new music out there. London group Cheatahs were a shoe-in for that list, they were pretty much the first name on the team sheet. There are two reasons for this, the first is because we'd heard more by them than many other bands, having already reviewed the double A-side single 'Cut The Grass'/'Kenworth', both of which feature here, and also having heard 'The Swan' and 'Fall', again songs that feature on the album. The second reason for their inclusion was that of all the new shoegaze-type bands doing the rounds, these guys were consistently great and probably the most likely to give us a full-length that could be considered one of this year's best.

Cheatahs (their spelling by the way) are the first from the aforementioned list to put out their debut album, and this is the bit where we find out whether we were duped and they only have the four good songs, or if they genuinely are as stupidly good as we thought. There are five tracks before we get to the ones we know already, so it doesn't take long to find out; the first half of the album is new to these ears. After a short intro they slam straight into 'Geographic', and it's a bit like being hit by a bus. This is a no-holds-barred onslaught of distorted guitars and crashing drums. If you think of Amusement Parks On Fire suddenly returning with their best song to date, then you'd probably think of a song like this. Melody is never far away and the sound has that wind-tunnel effect; it's just so fresh, breezy and powerful that it gives you a rush of energy and excitement. You can feel the serotonin levels rising, and if that's not enough they even throw in a short Pain Of Being Pure At Heart-style guitar solo. Off to a flying start is an understatement.

What may serve this band well, is their ability to adapt. 'Northern Exposure' is still guitars that are rammed through a few different filters and pedals, and it's still a heady rush, but there's the slight whiff of US alt-rock to this. Dinosaur Jr certainly spring to mind, as does the American-influenced debut album by Yuck. Giving us a chance to get our breath back and regain our composure, 'Mission Creep' allows the pace to drop but continues the general fuzz-laden sound; this is dreamier, floatier and a touch more laid-back, and the chorus, well, that's just sheer majesty. It's sounds like this that made The Radio Dept.'s 'Lesser Matters' such an acclaimed album. Whether it's smouldering away like this or firing out scorchers like the aforementioned pair, Cheatahs are on fire. We're dumped back into something heavier for 'Get Tight', perhaps the most crunching, grungy and gritty song on the album. It's the one time in your life that being dumped is a fantastic experience.

We finally start getting to the songs that wowed us last year, and truth be told, they haven't been missed. The quality as equalled and even surpassed them at times. However, 'The Swan' still sounds like a rampantly giddy example of its genre; 'Kenworth' the discordant wonder we remembered it being; 'Fall' recalls Ride at their early best and 'Cut The Grass' remains difficult to fault in any way. 'IV' is one we didn't know, and it again takes them down a more spaced-out and atmospheric route, but still comprises of shards of broken guitar and battered drums, and the sludgy feel works much better than it should; they opt for a vintage sound on 'Leave To Remain', a song that's very much in debt to the innovators who began making similar noises years ago. There's even the odd bit where Teenage Fanclub-style harmonies appear, and that's a nice surprise that mixes things up a bit. Lastly there's 'Loon Calls', with a quick fade in, more Radio Dept. vibes and soft melodies hidden behind those shards of crystal guitar. Have Cheatahs thrown us an early contender for album of the year? In this particular genre you'd have to say they have, and overall it might just be in the running too. 'Cheatahs' is a filler-free blitz of delight, and it's a more than a little bit breathtaking.







Cheatahs' website

Buy the album

Catch them live:

THU 27 FEB Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA, US
SAT 01 MAR Brick & Mortar Music Hall, San Francisco, CA, US
TUE 04 MAR Baby's All Right, Brooklyn, NY, US
WED 05 MAR Boot & Saddle, Philadelphia, PA, US
THU 06 MAR U Street Music Hall, Washington, DC, US
WED 09 APR Hafenklang, Hamburg, Germany
THU 10 APR Comet Club, Berlin, Germany
FRI 11 APR Klub RE, Krakow, Poland
TUE 15 APR Freakout Club, Bologna, Italy
WED 16 APR Lo Fi Club, Milan, Italy
FRI 18 APR Sala Stereo, Alicante, Spain
SAT 19 APR La [2], Barcelona, Spain
SUN 20 APR Festival MU, Dijon, France
WED 23 APR Witloofbar, Brussels, Belgium
THU 24 APR Pôle Etudiant De L'université De Nantes, Nantes, France
FRI 25 APR La Péniche, Lille, France
MON 19 MAY Melkweg, Amsterdam, Netherlands
TUE 20 MAY La Flèche d'Or, Paris, France
FRI 23 MAY Stereo, Glasgow, UK
FRI 20 JUN Best Kept Secret Festival 2014, Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
THU 07 AUG Beacons Festival 2014, Skipton, UK





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Eves - Zen

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

We're reliably told that Eves is a "HUGE talent", but that's on the press release from her manager, so we generally don't hold much credence to such statements, although this press release does seem a little more excited that most we receive. We'd better see what the fuss is about anyway. Eves is a solo artist from Brisbane, and is currently in the middle of a leg of dates on Australia's east coast, her first such tour. Being able to book gigs in cities like Melbourne and Sydney shows that there must be some interest building already, and it only takes one listen to the song 'Zen' to see why. On the strength of this, was I stationed down under then I'd be making sure I got along to catch her while her career is in its infancy.

Eves has been making music for a couple of years now, and maybe this is why the music we're hearing sounds so complete: she's allowed herself the time to get everything right. The reason for trying to see her perform now? Well, the press release isn't far off, in a couple of years she could well be filling bigger venues, so these more intimate gigs might not last forever. 'Zen' is a prime example of the way in which pop, indie, shoegaze and more styles are all being squished together. So this song is reminiscent of Mazzy Star at some points, but then throws in a bigger, poppier chorus, not to mention the nicely composed indie sound of the verses. This is a very fine song, we'll hold the capital letters, but we'll agree that Eves could well be a huge talent.





Eves' website

Catch her live:

Feb 27 Transit Bar, Canberra, Australia
Feb 28 Goodgod Small Club, Sydney, Australia
Mar 01 Rad Bar, Wollongong, Australia
Mar 06 Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, Australia





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Matthew And The Atlas - Pale Sun Rose

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

Being the project of Matthew Hegarty (with a little help here and there), we're left to conclude that the name Matthew And The Atlas is his experiences of life on this planet, but maybe we're reading to deeply into that. A debut album is set for April and the first single from it, 'Pale Rose Sun', is out this week. It's almost unavoidable to think of Wild Beasts when hearing this track, and that's in part down to his rich and inch-perfect voice, but also the clearly well-constructed instrumentation. Where Wild Beasts can take a few listens to get to grips with, Matthew And The Atlas don't suffer from the same problem, so maybe they have the upper hand, and maybe this new Wild Beasts album will have some stiff competition in a couple of months time.

It's not all about sound-alikes though, 'Pale Sun Rose' compares so well because of its intricacies and individuality. The jittery beat, the plucked guitar (or possible a different stringed instrument) and a variety of other sound layers make for playful backing, a backing that contrasts brilliantly to the lyrical nous and sometimes downbeat subject matter that almost seems to be about the trappings of loneliness and the puzzle that is life. The video is an intriguing watch too. Featuring actor Charlie Cox as a fisherman who works alone, it shows him on what appears to be a normal day, that is until a strange package washes ashore. Inside is a body, a live human body, and it's his doppelgänger who looks as though he lives an opposing life as a suited city worker. As you may know, a doppelgänger is said to bring bad luck or even death, so we wont give the game away. Watch and enjoy, the name Matthew And The Atlas will be much better known this time next year, we're almost certain of that.



Matthew And The Atlas' website

Buy the single

Catch them live:

Wed, April 2, Paradiso Kleine Zaal Weteringschans 6 - 8 1017 SG, Amsterdam, NL
Fri, April 4, Witloof Bar, Brussels, BE
Sat, April 5, Motel Mozaïque Festival, Paradijskerk, Rotterdam, NL





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Racing Glaciers - Moths

Single review by karla@thesoundofconfusion.com

Ever been in a situation where you are so completely drawn to someone it becomes a trapping, borderline obsession that's unhealthily and you just can’t bring yourself to walk away from, even though you know you should? That kind of complete infatuation that will only lead to danger and heartache, but for one reason or another, you're okay with it, it seems worth it.

Well, Tim Monaghan (lead singer/keys/guitar,) Danny Thorpe backing vocals/rhythm guitar,) Matt Scheepers (backing vocals/bass/trumpet,) Simon Millest (lead guitar) and Matt Welch (drums) of Racing Glaciers can tell you a little bit about that through their latest offering 'Moths'. Self-released, the single is out March 2nd and conveys a progressive indie-rock meets folk sound. It's a delicate, fiercely climactic and experimental track that will have you so entangled you can’t help but press repeat again and again… and again.



Racing Glaciers' website

Buy the EP

Catch them live:

Mar 22 O2 Academy 2 Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Five For Free #267

Reveries - Tip Of Your Tongue

Much has happened with Swedish guitar-pop band Reveries since we were lucky enough to discover them last summer. They have new material available and an exciting summer planned with plenty of gigs and festivals to help spread the word. If you're yet to hear their classic indie sound then you can download the first of two new tracks, 'Tip Of Your Tongue', for free.



Reveries' website

Buy the single





My Red Dress - Dream

Ah, another enigmatic band with the sound to match. 'Dream' is the perfect title for this fuzzy-headed shoegaze that fades into view and passes through you, drenched in what sounds like several different layers of soft noise, all converging to shroud the song in a warm blanket. They're called My Red Dress, they're a duo from California, and that's all we know.



My Red Dress' website

Buy the single






Calling All Astronauts - It Could Have Been Lust

London trio Calling All Astronauts are generally keen to push forward music while keeping a message intact, and this month the electro-rock group offer up the post-punk and goth-influenced track 'It Could Have Been Lust'. Both grating and melodic at the same time, this dark song of love has complexities that offer something more with each listen.



Calling All Astronauts' website

Buy the single





Dead Heart Bloom - Broken Babylon

'So It Goes' is the third in a series of EPs that New York band Dead Heart Bloom have released this winter, and if you want an easy entry point into their dreamy and majestic world, then they're offering the impressively fresh shoegaze of 'Broken Babylon' as a free download to help you do just that. The track was produced by Anthony Molina from Mercury rev.



Download 'Broken Babylon' for free by heading here

Dead Heart Bloom's website

Stream or buy the EP





Dödens Dal - Ingenting Förändras

We featured a few tracks from the first album by Swedish duo Dödens Dal just over a year ago. Well they already have their second album ready to go today. Titled 'Korsa Jord, Luft, Is' (across earth, air, ice), the album is more wonderful sound textures that merge the worlds of dreampop and electronica. Here's new single 'Ingenting Förändras' which translates as "nothing ever changes".



Dödens Dal's website

Buy the album





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

The Lucid Dream - Moonstruck/The Emptiest Place

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

Carlisle psych kings The Lucid Dream were one of the first of the new wave of British bands with a penchant for making music that's designed to have a strange effect on your brain, and they're currently at work on their second album following acclaimed debut 'Songs Of Lies and Deceit'. In the mean time, they're releasing this double A-side of pulsating noise and warped effects as part of the Too Pure Singles Club. Whether these songs will appear on the album we don't know, but if not, then these tunes provide us with proof that they still have plenty of gas left in the tank. There's nothing routine or half-baked about either track, and neither stands out above the other. Plus, both of them make a right royal racket, and that's always a bonus.

With a rapid, thumping beat and an extra helping of organ, 'Moonstruck' carries a sense of urgency that few bands can achieve so naturally. This isn't wafty, spaced -out psych, this is wide-eyed and alert; this is psych that's sharp and ready to pounce. Then it does just that, and the organ is joined by a huge wave of guitars that threaten to engulf the whole thing. Eventually they do and it all crashes away into nothing. There might be a slower start to 'The Emptiest Place', but that's only for a few seconds. Soon they're galloping off into the desert as though they're part of some acid-trip Western movie. A little more spacious, this time they do allow the pace to pause for breath, although it's still quite full-on and ends in a similar cacophony of noise as 'Moonstruck' did. You should probably set this as the wake up alarm on your phone. You'll be out of bed like a shot.





The Lucid Dream's website

Buy the single





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Let's Get High

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

We're supposed to hate hippies. The whole thing was just a load of student drop-outs getting stoned. Then they started making music and it eventually turned into really boring prog and folk-rock. This is why punk happened. The trouble is, some of the bands who made their names in those genres were actually quite good, and you'd suspect that the perpetually sunny Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros would have found many fans in that movement. This video for new single 'Let's Get High' (even their titles are painfully flower-powered) was filmed on their UK tour last year and shows their gigs being more like hippy peace communions than rock shows. It goes on for seven minutes too, so it has all the ingredients to be loved by pretend hippies everywhere and dismissed by the rest of us.

But it goes back to that fact: some bands of this nature are really good, and this collective have generally been one of them. They always produce the goods. This meandering highlight from last summer's self-titled album doesn't care much for structure, and neither does it care about being cool or how it's perceived in general. This is why it works: you have to be a right miserable git to not like this tune. From it's lively and joyous opening to the slower, almost anthemic repetition of "everyone love". Some bands would have divided this into three separate tracks, but when you're having such fun then why stop the party? Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy a kaftan, some joss sticks and find some random strangers to hug and give flowers to. Peace.

Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros' website

Buy the album

Catch them live:

Mar 20 Cumbre Tajin, Veracruz, Mexico
Apr 10 Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
Apr 13 West Coast Blues 'N' Roots Festival, Fremantle, Australia
Apr 15 Palace Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
Apr 17 Bluesfest, Byron Bay, Australia
Apr 20 Deni Blues & Roots Festival, Deniliquin, Australia
May 11 Shaky Knees Music Festival, Atlanta, GA
May 23 Boston Calling Music Festival, Boston, MA
May 24 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
May 28 Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto, Canada
May 30 Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
May 31 Northerly Island, Chicago, IL
Jun 03 Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
Jun 04 The Blue Note Outdoors, Columbia, MO
Jun 05 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Lorelle Meets The Obsolete - Chambers

Album review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

Psychedelia. Are you as bored with reading that word as we are with typing it yet? There can be no denying the genre's in the spotlight again, but the trouble with this particular word is that, much like "pop" or "rock", it covers an incredibly broad range of music. 'Chambers' will be the third album from Mexican pair Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, and the first to get a proper release in Europe. It would be ever so easy to talk you through the album with a list of comparisons, but that would be lazy and do the band an injustice. Clichés could also be wheeled out and given an airing (there's two for starters). For example; 'Sealed Scene' is like The Sweet's 'Blockbuster' - on acid, naturally! This driving, screeching track is followed by 'Third Wave' which is The Velvet Underground and Nico teaming up with The 13th Floor Elevators and getting Sonic Boom to man the desk.

So comparisons and clichés are readily available to those who want them, but a shortcut in that respect can be found right at the beginning and runs through the rest of the tracks to varying degrees. If you think Stereolab collaborating with Temples then you have a decent approximation of where things are at. 'What's Holding You' has the drones, experimental nature and female vocals (although there's no real Laetitia Sadier aping going on, it purely is a case of female vocals that are slightly deadpan, also in keeping with Nico in that respect), but it also has the beats, the drive and the guitars of the new UK psych darlings. 'The Myth Of The Wise' contains the same components but they're put together differently, and as the album goes on you notice that there is no formula, no rules that are being followed. Despite certain references, 'Chambers' is surprisingly diverse, and this certainly helps their cause and keeps interest levels high.

The first real change comes in 'Dead Leaves' where they drop into a deeper, weightier vibe; it's one to get lost in and the vocals sound a bit like they're beamed in from somewhere else and projected onto the song. It's a trippy effect and feels smoky and slightly mystical. If you're after an instant hit, then head for the garagey, foot-tapping 'It's Different Now', again plenty of groove is provided, but this time with male vocals and a more accessible feel. The floaty, 'Grieving' is a dreampop delight that many will also connect with right away (should we mention Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star or Beach House? Well we said we wouldn't...). Bluesy single 'Music For Dozens' is as close as we come to a '60s relic, but the production makes it really stand out, especially those otherworldly vocals again. Near instrumental '13 Flowers' ensures that we're taken towards the end of our voyage in trippy fashion, before they sign off with the spaced-out 'Thoughts About Night Noon' with its catchy chorus and jangling percussion. So then, psychedelia, you might be trying to infiltrate the entire world of guitar-based music, but if you're going to do so, then please keep us supplied with the diversity and quality of bands like Lorelle Meets The Obsolete.





Lorelle Meets The Obsolete's website

Pre-order the album

Catch them live:

March 4 – Italy – Lugano – House Show
March 5 – Italy – Padova – Circolo Mame
March 6 – Italy – Genova – Teatro Altrove
March 7 – Italy – Brescia – Lio Bar
March 9 – Italy – Mantova – Arci Virgilio
March 12 – Spain – Vitoria – University
March 13 – Spain – Madrid – El Perro
March 14 – Spain – Barcelona – Lupita del Raval
March 15 – Spain – Hondarribla – Psilocyba
March 16 – Spain – Zaragoza – La Lata de Bombillas
March 19 – Switzerland – Düdingen – Bad Bonn
March 20 – Switzerland – Zurich – Bogen F
March 21 – France – Creil – La Grange à Musique
March 22 – France – Paris – Le 104
March 25 – France – Bordeaux – Le Bootleg
March 26 – France – Nantes – Stéréolux
March 28 – France – Verneuil – Le Sillo
March 29 – France – Grenoble – La Bobine
April 1 – Germany – Jena – Café Wagner
April 2 – Germany – Nürnberg – MUZclub
April 3 – Germany – Dresden – Beatpol
April 4 – Germany – Berlin – White Trash
April 5 – Netherlands – Amsterdam – Paradiso
April 7 – UK – Leeds – Wharf Chambers
April 8 – UK – Manchester – Gullivers
April 10 – UK – London – The Dalston Victoria
April 11 – UK – Bristol – Start The Bus





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

VIDEO PREMIÈRE: Angela Perley & The Howlin' Moons - Athens

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

When Angela Perley & The Howlin' Moons sing the line"I've got more secrets than a girl can keep" you're left in little doubt that the truth is being told. Writing songs that deal with life experience and possible advice for people can sometimes seem a little world-weary, not to mention self-important. On 'Athens', the new video from the band's album 'Hey Kid', you find yourself becoming absorbed in the lyrics and find that Angela Perley would be the kind of friend you'd like to have for guidance. There may be a certain world-weariness at times, but it's so honest that you hang on every word. There are few lyricists who can do this so well. "You think you know me, but everything fades... I don't know if I'm coming back this way". It's almost as though the lesson is to let go of the past, focus on the future, and that way you'll find more freedom and not be tied to previous experiences that may have left scars.

All this before we even get to the music; a quite stunning and at times breathtaking alt-country/rock song that's flooded with passion that oozes from the instrumentation as much as the lyrics. The guitars sound great, and at a time when this genre seemed at saturation point, coming up with something of this calibre is no mean feat. Interspersed with live footage, the video also shows a journey, as Perley is seen walking through alleyways, down steps and onto military graveyards; it's everything you'd hope and expect from Americana of this standard. Forget any notions of musty old music and whiskey drinking old boys with slide-guitars, this may be rooted in tradition, but it's also thoroughly modern sounding and the writing is perfect. From the subtlety of the voice with minimal backing to the explosion of sound when the band erupt for the chorus, even those with little interest in this genre of music will struggle not to fall for this one.





Angela Perley & The Howlin' Moons' website

Buy the album

Catch them live:

Mar 07 Brothers Drake Meadery, Columbus, OH US
Mar 14 Cedars West End, Youngstown, OH US
Mar 21 Hard Rock Rocksino at Northfield Park, Northfield, OH US
Mar 27 World of Beer- Brewery District, Columbus, OH US
Apr 12 Boyd's Jig and Reel Pub, Knoxville, TN US
Apr 18 Alexandrias, Findlay, OH US
Apr 19 Park Street Tavern, Columbus, OH US
Apr 25 Lincoln Theatre, Columbus, OH US
Apr 26 Hard Rock Rocksino at Northfield Park, Northfield, OH US
May 02 Weasel Boy Brewing Company, Zanesville, OH US
May 17 Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta, Atlanta, GA US
Jun 07 Park Street Festival- Time TBA, Columbus, OH US
Jun 08 Granville Concerts of the Green, Granville, OH US
Jun 12 The Hideaway Saloon, Louisville, KY US
Jun 13 MOTR Pub, Cincinnati, OH US
Jun 20 Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival, Gahanna, OH US
Jun 29 Worthington Concerts on the Villiage Green, Worthington, OH US
Jul 10 Upper Arlington Concert Series, Upper Arlington, OH US
Jul 11 Gahanna Summer Concert Series, Gahanna, OH US
Jul 13 Scioto Park Music Series, Dublin, OH US
Jul 19 Ohio Brisket Picnic & Bullride at The Hills Market (acoustic), Columbus, OH US
Sep 14 Marysville Public Library (semi-acoustic show), Marysville, OH US





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

PREMIERE: Skyes - Secondhander

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

As regular readers will be aware, we always keep a close eye on the New York scene, even having a writer based there. But it's Brooklyn in particular that is perhaps the area's greatest hotbed of activity and innovation. Genres are thrown out of the window as people opt to just make "music" instead of anything specific. One such band who are using this approach are Skyes. Relationships ending aren't always a good thing, and when the initial duo of DA Knightly & guitarist Dan split, you'd perhaps expect the Skyes story to end there, but it looks like that was just the beginning. Instead they kept making music by expanding into the quartet that we have today. Naturally, describing their sound means listing bits of lots of styles that have been squished together. For the sake of giving it a name, let's just say experimental electro-pop.

Having waited until they got the sound they were after, Skyes are on the verge of releasing their debut EP, and look like being one of the most talked about new bands from that part of the world due to their ability to straddle the worlds of soul, indie, pop, electro and more. 'A Girl Named Jake' is a lively number that would sound as great on the radio as it would pumping out of the speakers at either a gig or a club. These guys really are universal. There's emotion here too though, and the attention to detail and structure of their music also doesn't follow the rules. For proof that Skyes don't really do formulas, have a listen to the cosmic pop of 'Secondhander' which we'd proud to to able to première. The soulful vocals become a focal point for the verses, but the interesting instrumentation means that repeat plays yield even more returns. From the tribal drums to the space-age bleeps and bloops, this is pop music designed for 2014, and in a world that spends so much time looking back, this is a welcome change. We think you'll be hearing a lot more from these guys.





Skyes' website





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

City Reign - See What It's Worth

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

It feels somewhat odd that City Reign are now an established band with an album, EPs and several singles under their belt. Not because they don't deserve it, but because for some reason I continually see them as a new band. Surely this must be something of a compliment, as others who've been around for less time now appear tired and spent. What makes this even stranger is that the Manchester-based Londoners don't even have a particularly original sound: they're a fairly traditional British indie-rock band. A constant comparison is Idlewild (more on them shortly), and the general feel of their songs is that of four guys who know what music they like and want to make it themselves. The best part is that they don't pretend otherwise.

Since the first time we reviewed them in 2011, their style hasn't really changed, but the quality has. Now these tracks sound more assured, more natural, confident and free-flowing. I guess that's what you get from spending six years or so jamming and gigging together. City Reign have become a well-oiled machine. 'See What It's Worth' uses discordant guitar and a rhythm section that feels unstoppable; it's almost as though it's easy, and the track is strong, dealing with the age-old problem of not wanting to be trapped in the grey world of 9-5 jobs and all that ordinary life brings with it. B-side 'Package It Up' is perhaps even better. It would be easy for this to be an acoustic, singer-songwriter type affair - i.e. quite boring. But they make it more electric, so that it chimes and rings, and the backing touches are a nice addition. Vocally, (apologies lads) you could perhaps convince people that Roddy Woomble was on the mic. City Reign are probably sick of the Idlewild references, but the fact is that the Scots are a good band, so they have no reason to be. With the amount of material now available, we can be confident in saying that City Reign are not too shabby themselves.





City Reign's website

Buy the single

Catch them live:

Mar 21 Gullivers, Manchester, United Kingdom





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Alpaca Sports - Sealed With A Kiss

Album review by andy@thesoundofconfusion.com

"Dreamy Idealist"; that's how a social network personality quiz recently chose to succinctly define this correspondent's outlook on the world he inhabits! (Away with the fairies is what I'd go for - Ed) OK yes, I accept there MIGHT be a case for saying that phrase wanders perilously close to being a euphemism for "unrealistic drifter", nonetheless I'll take it! The reason being is that, even on the greyest of days, the sunshine always resides above the clouds, and a healthy dollop of romanticism swishing around the soul is a sure-fire way to get elevated to the brightness!

Whether Andreas Jonsson is partial to playfully passing his time answering multiple choice scenarios online is, at time of publication, unknown, however anyone acquainted with his output as the songwriting centre-point of Sweden's Alpaca Sports, will already know without the aid of any test, that here is a man with a doe-eyed disposition and a heart that beats in time with the ups and downs of head-over-heels love. It's wholly apt therefore, that it should be in this month, the one given over to Cupid's arrow and affirmations of affection, that the Gothenburg group give us their debut record, a labour of love that comes, metaphorically at least, finely gift wrapped and fondly 'Sealed With A Kiss'.

Spread over ten refreshingly clipped tracks (just two exceed three minutes thirty and only barely at that!) 'Sealed With...' offers the listener the opportunity to take a peek into the diary entries of the terminally lovestruck, then immerse themselves in an emotional rollercoaster of unrequited longing; honeymoon period starry-eyed soulmate-ship; slow-burning break ups; and good old fashioned wistful what ifs. In the wrong hands it's a subject matter that could rapidly descend into self-indulgence, maudlin bemoaning or sickening soppiness, but, in Jonsson's Smiths-moulded mitts, what we instead get are slices of delectably upbeat and jangly indiepop, that's imbued with sunshine melodies and the unceasing charm of retained innocence.

Not that Jonsson can take all the glory. A raft of friends and fellow musicians have been begged and borrowed to bring his ideas to fruition, and special mention must go to long term co-conspirators Carl Jirestedt and Amanda Akerman. While the former receives credits for his role in the writing process, the latter's plaudits will arrive thanks to her pivotal role in giving the album its emotive edge; whispering angelic vocals gently in the background, Akerman dovetails beautifully with Jonsson, enabling the listener a glimpse into the twin sides of each chronicled relationship, and allowing their mood, either in times of emotional feast or famine, to come across in almost tactile fashion.

With a couple of years of preparation leading them up to this point, for those familiar with "The Alpaca's" output to date, some of the pages of this diary will already be well thumbed. Previous singles such as 'Just For Fun', 'Telephone', 'He Doesn't Even Like You' and 'I've Been Running' each claim their place in proceedings, and though whilst on many occasions a first LP littered with prior-released material can feel somewhat like being short-changed, in this instance their inclusion seems entirely appropriate. Partly this is because of the consistent lyrical theme that permeates the tracks, but more so it's testament to the fact that these are tunes that stand up handsomely to repetition, retaining their freshness effortlessly and bringing out the best in débutante recordings like the orchestral love letter that is 'You And Me', or the double-time clapping cajole of 'Will You Ever Come Back Home'. All told, new or old, what's served up is a run of songs that sit snugly side-by-side and hand in glove, coming together to form a massively rewarding sum of their parts.

It was once remarked that for the French, the idea of being in love is more important than actually experiencing love itself. On that basis, from Lille to Nice, Nantes to Nancy, they'll shortly be frolicking and fawning to shimmering indiepop from Sweden. So let's get in there first while we have the chance, eh readers? Tap into your romantic side, seduce summer out to dance, and seal it with a kiss. x

Alpaca Sports' website

Buy the album





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

PREMIÈRE: Le Man Avec Les Lunettes - Cookies

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

If someone was to ask us to name three countries whose music scenes are underappreciated in the UK and North America, then we'd probably go for Israel, Austria and Italy. Lots of other European countries get plenty of coverage (along with other English speaking countries), but these past few years we've been surprised by the scenes that have unveiled themselves. Why don't they get more attention? Is it just a geographical thing? Is it something historic? It's difficult to tell, but Italy seems to have much of the world of guitar music covered, from shoegaze to psych to folk to indiepop. Le Man Avec Les Lunettes might be trying to confuse us with their French name, but they're six-piece from Brescia and have been around for nearly a decade.

After all that time it's a pleasure to discover their music and to be able to première new single 'Cookies', the second offering from forthcoming new effort 'Make It Happen'. This brand of string-laden indie isn't too far removed from the celebrated Scandinavian bands who we hear much about, so hopefully this collective can finally start to become better known to music fans all around the world. "I believe in songs" is a prominent lyric, and given the careful arrangements here you have to believe them (props to Lorenzo Caperchi and Nils Frahm for mixing and mastering respectively). This isn't a straightforward guitar-pop run through; there's an element of class about 'Cookies' which means it works on two levels. You can listen intricately and pick out separate parts and see how they intertwine to form the song as a whole, or you can just sit back and enjoy a few minutes of decent music.



Le Man Avec Les Lunettes' website

Pre-order the album





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Out This Week - 24th February 2014

Yellow Ostrich - Shades

'Cosmos' will be the fifth album in as many years from New York group Yellow Ostrich, and they appear to be coming increasingly worthy of our time. First single 'Shades' took a few plays to take hold, but once this splendid, trippy indie-rock gem unveils its true colours then it turns into something far greater than it first appeared. Constantly getting better from start to finish does't exactly hinder matters either.



Yellow Ostrich's website

Buy the album

Catch them live:

2/27 Allston MA - Great Scott
3/03 Washington DC - DC9
3/04 Raleigh NC - Kings
3/05 Atlanta GA - The Earl
3/06 Nashville TN - The High Watt
3/07 Birmingham AL - The Bottletree
3/08 New Orleans LA - Circle Bar
3/09 Houston TX - Fitzgerald's
3/15 Scottsdale AZ - Pub Rock Live
3/16 San Diego CA - Casbah
3/18 Los Angeles CA - The Echo
3/19 San Francisco CA - Bottom of The Hill
3/21 Portland OR - Doug Fir Lounge
3/22 Seattle WA - Barboza
3/23 Vancouver BC - Media Club
3/25 Salt Lake City UT - Urban Lounge
3/26 Denver CO - Hi Dive
3/28 St. Paul MN - Turf Club
3/29 Madison WI - High Noon Saloon
3/30 Milwaukee WI - Turner Hall
3/31 Chicago IL - Schubas
4/01 Indianapolis IN - Do317 Lounge
4/03 Philadelphia PA - Boot & Saddle
4/04 New York NY - Bowery Ballroom





Poeticat - 3rd Arm

Bands like to be described as genre-defying, but critics and public like to give things labels. It's human nature. On new single '3rd Arm', London collective Poeticat make it quite a challenge to pin them down. Let's go for their website description of "experimental, spoken word, rock, world, poetry, alternative". That's close enough. You can check out the ace single in it's normal format, or indulge in the extended video.





Poeticat's website

Catch them live:

Fri, Feb 28, Poeticat Residency V (The Grand Finale!) Windmill Brixton, London, UK





Flagland - It's Your Time

Want to indulge yourself in the constant buzz of guitars that was the driving force behind bands like Weezer, Veruca Salt and Dinosaur Jr? Well then you need to check out 'Love Hard', the new album from New York group Flagland. Single 'It's Your Time' is particularly good, at first seeming quite straightforward (which it is to a point), it soon gets under your skin in a very good way.



Flagland's website

Buy the album

Catch them live:

Feb 24 O'Brien's [Boston MA]
Feb 25 Monkey House [Winooski VT]
Feb 27 The Stood [Purchase NY]
Feb 28 Dog Morgue [Philadelphia PA]
Mar 01 Shea Stadium [Brooklyn] LOVE HARD release show
Mar 05 538 Johnson [Brooklyn]
Mar 07 Cameo Gallery [Brooklyn]
Mar 27 Shea Stadium [Brooklyn]





Matt Harding - Subsong

It's been five years since London musician Matt Harding released his last album, but this week he's back with his fifth full-length, 'Motifs'. Taking inspiration and ideas from just about every avenue he can find, the record promises to be an interesting sonic adventure. The single 'Subsong' certainly fits that description, with a repetitive bassline and nice twin vocals, it's an understated beauty.



Matt Harding's website





OBLIGATORY RECORD OF THE WEEK

Qiet - The Indie Song

It seems to be an ongoing theme this week. Every track we've posted are real growers, and this single from West Virginians Qiet is much the same. As a band, they take in music from right across the board, and you can hear plenty more on their album 'Pet Driftwood' which is out this week. 'The Indie Song' stands out particularly well, not just on the album, but in general. Here, instead of taking a several plays to convince you it's good, it takes just a few, and in fact you'll spot a marked change in your opinion after the very first listen. Beginning like a fairly regular, well, indie song with a few nice twinkles, it's not long before they throw in one of the most uplifting and euphoric choruses you'll have heard for a while. By the end and a couple more choruses and a messily wonderful guitar solo you're singing along (in you head at least) and will likely have a big smile on your face.



Qiet's website

Stream the album in full

'Pet Driftwood' is available from February 25th on iTunes





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Au Revoir Simone - More Than

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

You know how some bands and artists are constantly praised and absolutely adored by the critics and the public? Bob Dylan would be one name; he's considered by many to be the best solo artist of all time. Radiohead would be another; they're constantly found taking up multiple spots in "best album ever" lists. Both are examples of acts that I personally don't care for. Sure, I think some of their stuff is great, but if I was sitting down for an hour or two and could listen to anything I wanted, well, those two probably wouldn't get a look in. To a lesser extent the same has been true of Brooklyn trio Au Revoir Simone. Public and critics love them, but for me it took fourth album 'Move In Spectrums' to fully begin to appreciate what they do, and even then I'd have to conclude it's a good album but perhaps not one I'll revisit very much.

New single 'More Than' may just change that though. The opening track on the album is also one of the best things they've done. The coming together of dreampop, electronic indie sounds and more straight-ahead pop is a potent mix, even bringing to mind some of the more commercial tracks by School Of Seven Bells (RIP). This is a tune that builds and builds, with sultry vocals that take you on a journey where you "don't care where you're going", but when you get there you know it will have been worth it. The chorus is an earworm, and, like the rest of the song, these seem to become more powerful as the track goes on. After breaking briefly for what could possibly be described as a musical form of cinematic suspense; something to build the tension, the vocals rejoin and it all falls perfectly into place for to final flourish. Count me in as being won over.





Au Revoir Simone's website

Buy the album

Catch them live:

Feb 23 PALOMA, Nimes, France
Feb 24 Connexion Live, Toulouse, France
Feb 28 First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Mar 01 The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL
Mar 03 Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, Canada
Mar 04 Metropolis, Montreal, Canada
Mar 05 House Of Blues, Boston, MA
Mar 07 Webster Hall, New York, NY
Mar 08 Trocadero Theatre, Philadelphia, PA
Mar 09 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
Mar 11 Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
Mar 12 Civic Theatre, New Orleans, LA
Mar 22 Zouk, Singapore, Singapore





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

The Wolfhounds - Anthem/Middle-Aged Freak

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

The reformation of original C86 group The Wolfhounds may not have got the same amount of press as those of Fleetwood Mac or The Stone Roses or whoever, but then you wouldn't expect it to. Until a few years ago, hardly anyone really mentioned the C86 tape or knew what it was. Even now people reference it without really understanding the music that was contained therein. Maybe they should try actually listening to it; it wasn't all sugary, jangly indie at all, much of it was far rougher noise-pop. This year is set to see that celebrated compilation reissued with extra material, so it would be a good time for the Londoners to cash-in, but there's little chance of them doing that. Such a notion doesn't seem to be in their DNA. This double A-side single is their third since regrouping and follows 'Cheer Up' and 'Divide And Fall'.

What really signals the fact that no nostalgic milking of the cash-cow will be done is the fact that the more "indie" sound of those releases has been replaced by something with a weightier tone and a bigger, harder sound. 'Anthem' is classic alt-rock; it could even have come from the grunge era. So much for jangly guitars, this one crunches and chugs from start to finish with a nice chorus appearing like a beam of light through the darkness. They're not afraid of experimenting with their music either, and the instrumental section does just that. On 'Middle-Aged Freak', they do take a trip back to the past though, but it's not to 1986. This track evokes the spirit of 1977 more than anything else: this is punk. A skewed intro soon smashes into a simple chord sequence, thrashing drums and a high tempo with lyrics being spat out with the energy of a band of teenage upstarts (ironically slagging-off people who've hit middle-age...) who are in it for the sheer fun of being able to say you're in a band and have some good tunes, and really that's exactly what this kind of music should be all about.




The Wolfhounds' website

Buy the single

Catch them live:

Mar 22 INTERNATIONAL, Paris, France  
Mar 30 The Windmill, Brixton, London, United Kingdom  
Apr 25 Birmingham Popfest, The Cross, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Jun 14 229, London, United Kingdom





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

KITS - The Glow

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

KITS is the project of Jayson Turner, a man who's also a member of the fine Lancastrian band Sootytern. Initially keeping our feathered friends in mind, KITS' first announced itself on the music world's radar late last year with a cover of 'Burning Stars' by Mimicking Birds. Using a home studio and the time and atmosphere afforded to him by long winter nights and bloody awful weather, we now get the first original material from the project. We've spent the past few months trying to block this never ending deluge of folk music that is still pouring forth from every corner of the world thanks to the influence of some Mumfords and some Foxes. For most of these acts the tern "folk" is just abused; some people with a couple of acoustic guitars and maybe a violinist in tow have proved time and again that there are no short-cuts; you're either good or you're not, and if you're just hopping on a passing bandwagon then you're probably not.

In one sense, there was the worry that KITS would turn out to be one such project, but on the other hand, Sootytern know what they're up to, so the talent is there. Using the term "synth-folk", 'The Glow' isn't a let-down at all. In fact you could almost forget the folk aspect altogether and call this minimalist electronica with a warm heart. So much of the genre is simply bare and cold. Really, if you're a fan of categories then throw this in the "folktronica" pile, but make sure it lands on top because you'll probably want to return to it a good few times. The different sound textures and layers are neatly woven together and offer something of genuine quality, and also something that has clearly had a lot of thought put into it. This is a quality that music of this style often benefits from but doesn't always get, so kudos to KITS for washing our fears away with instant effect.



KITS' website

Download the track for free





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com

Then Comes Silence (feat. Anna Eklund) - She Lies In Wait

Single review by soul1@thesoundofconfusion.com

You've all read the books, seen the films and heard the conspiracy theories on the internet, right? We're in the end of days. Darkness awaits us and the sinners on the earth will be given the Mark Of The Beast. Some suggest that this will be a microchip, some suggest that in the US this will manifest itself in our details being held on a computer system, so there's no escape. "ObamaCare" is apparently going to do this, so he must be the Antichrist. Others suggest this mark will be less cryptic. A barcode perhaps, or some kind of branding or symbol on your forehead. That's part of the idea behind this new video from Stockholm band Then Comes Silence for the song 'She Lies In Wait' which is taken from the album 'Then Comes Silence II'. Generally one of the darker bands of their music scene, guest vocals here are provided by the ever wonderful Anna Eklund from Sad Day For Puppets, something which offers a nice contrast to all that shade.

This pumping post-rock track has a gothic feel in places, and the bass may remind you of Peter Hook. There's an experimental, industrial feel too, and it's here that the sound and the visuals come together well. The video was shot in an old Cold War shelter and involves a girl who's given this mark, but who then fights back against the demons, blade in hand, and defeats them. It gets a bit gory, it's all very mysterious, a bit cryptic and very much a stark representation of life, either taken literally or as a metaphor for mental anguish; the whole thing has the feel of a bad dream. Definitely one of the highlights from the album, 'She Lies In Wait' shows Then Comes Silence seeming to challenge themselves a bit more; to push those boundaries and play around with different sounds to craft something with more identity. You'd have to say that the film only enhances this effect and could lead to them stretching their limits even further in the future.




Then Comes Silence's website

Stream or buy the album

Catch them live:

THU 06 MAR Bunker Ulmenwall, Bielefeld, Germany
THU 06 MAR Bunker Ulmenwall, Bielefeld, Germany
FRI 07 MAR Aaltra, Chemnitz, Germany
SAT 08 MAR Grüner Jäger, Hamburg, Germany
MON 10 MAR White Trash, Berlin, Germany
WED 12 MAR Slow Club, Freiburg, Germany
FRI 25 APR The Liffey, Stockholm, Sweden





For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter

contact@thesoundofconfusion.com