Various Artists - Weirdlore: Notes From The Folk Underground

Album review by KevW

Manchester-based label Folk Police Recordings must be given much respect for their quest to preserve and promote traditional British songcraft and they have released some genuinely great records of late (if you haven't checked out Harp And A Monkey's album you really are missing out). 'Weirdlore' acts as a compendium of modern English folk artists (plus one Scot and one emigrated American) who are keeping the flame of time-honoured acoustic music burning. This is largely folk as it has been for decades; none of the nu-folk brigade and none of the current crop of crossover singer-songwriters. The purpose of 'Weirdlore' is to explore pure folk in its many forms.

With eighteen tracks it's a lot to take in and a lot to dissect without rambling. A few reasonably well known names are here such as Alasdair Roberts and Emily Portman who contributes the dreamy 'Spine Of A Wave'. Tradition is very much the order of the day, Rosalind Brady builds an intimate atmosphere on 'Lore' and Telling The Bees chip in with the very good 'Worship Of Trees'. Naturally that strange intonation used only by folk singers creeps in on tracks by Rapunzel & Sedayne and The Witches with Kate Denny, both of which feel rather like museum pieces, as do contributions from Katie Rose and The False Beards. This is difficult to criticise, as really that's the whole point of the excercise.

When it takes a turn for the mysterious things get more interesting, with the maudlin and fantastical 'Rosebuds In June' by Sproatly Smith, the jazz-folk circus music of Boxcar Aldous Huxley and the psychedelic hum of The Straw Bear Band. Pamela Wyn Shannon and Foxpockets also add individuality. Wispy sweetness is achieved by the beautifully sung 'Walking Into Walls' by Nancy Wallace, as well as Starless & Bible Black and Corncrow. By the time you reach Harp And A Monkey's twinkly contribution 'Molecatcher', you feel you've been on a journey into the past, and a surreal one at that. Wyrdstone wrap the trip up with the just plain unusual but magical all the same 'Pucelancyrcan'. "I never go where the cock never crows, I wouldn't advise any of you to go where the cock don't crow". Wise words indeed.





Weirdlore's website

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Hello Phones - Get It Together

Album review by KevW

They're quite the chameleons, this New York mob. 'Get It Together' is the debut album by Hello Phones and broadly speaking you'd categorise them as electro-pop, yet they allow themselves the freedom to skip about and take in elements from wherever they choose. Good on them, there's a big, wide musical world out there, and New York in particular encourages diversity and innovation. The impressive opening salvo of 'Drip' and 'Circles' both use guitars to bring a harder edge to some driving pop tunes, the latter of which is particularly well endowed in the chorus department. From there on in 'Get It Together' sounds like the work of more than one band.

The visceral 'Do What I Want' is high-octane noise-pop with enough of a soft side not to irritate sensitive ears, and then it's back to a more straightforward modern disco track with the catchy 'Fantastico' and the meandering 'Feel The Beat' which is variously Morodor-influenced retro electronica, a four-to-the-floor stomper and a Ting Tings-style alt-pop song. Single 'Aquarium' sees them fairly close to conventional band format and is probably what the new Garbage album should have sounded like. The closest we get to a radio-ready pop hit is 'NYID', a song that, oddly, would sound perfectly at home on a Carpenters album.

Adding heavier guitars and a male lead vocal to 'Waverly Blues' and 'Can't Take It Away' steers them into the realms of punk, albeit the sort that no true punk would touch with a barge-pole. 'Rustclef' also takes this harsher sound, and offset with female vocals it sounds more natural. Hello Phones are a band who, one assumes, have diverse musical tastes themselves and they're not afraid to use them. Although there are moments where 'Get It Together' chops from one idea to a totally different one, it feels pretty complete and the variety suits them. Not every track works and they're at their best when they toy with retro electro-pop, but there's enough on display to make us hope they call again sometime.







Hello Phones' website

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Dominic Wolf - Anoesis EP

EP review by KevW

Swiss artist Dominic Wolf both spent time in previous bands before deciding to plot a course for more intimate and acoustic musical dimensions. And so Dominic Wolf and Raul Egger left past projects behind and set sail for these calmer waters. At the turn of the millennium they'd have been lumped into the New Acoustic Movement, five years ago they'd have been described as nu-folk. Label them as you wish, but as you can imagine, these delicate songs consist of little more than acoustic guitar and vocals, and they also shy away from too much fiddling with production equipment, thus creating the intimate and live feeling they were aiming for. It works too, although it's more likeable than life-affirming.

Debut EP 'Anoesis' is available digitally and is guitar music reduced down to its purest form (apart from the piano-led 'Chamber R9'). This approach means they nail the personal touch and these songs sometimes feel as private as reading someone's diary. "We twist, we turn but we never learn" laments the soul-baring 'Cut The Rope', just one of the songs that details relationships falling apart. The touching 'Ghosts' also describes feelings of loss and desperation, but some songs talk of a light at the end of the tunnel, such as the relatively upbeat 'Good Vibes' which promises "someday I'll find a way". This is an EP of good, solid, emotional acoustic tracks. If you're after a bit of vigour then there's none here, but if heartfelt, stripped-back musings are the order of the day then tuck in.





Dominic Wolf's' website

Stream or download the EP for free from soundcloud

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Tusk - Boy Bruce, The Mighty Atom/Subtle Fun

Single review by KevW

Poor old traditional British guitar music. It's taken a right pounding recently, especially thanks to monstrosities like Viva Brother and Beady Eye not realising everyone grew out of the whole laddish bravado thing in about 1996. It's either been lo-fi, shoegaze or a unique and inventive slant for UK alternative rock bands to avoid snide comments and press derision of late. Unfair maybe, but things change and rehashing Britpop will only work if staggeringly good tunes are involved. Newcastle's Tusk sit somewhere in the middle of all of this, and it could be the making of them. They're a traditional guitar band at heart who come across as self-assured but certainly not arrogant and up their own arses.

Plus their sound is conventional enough to keep crowds happy, yet they bring their own style to things. There's a sense of atmosphere emanating from these songs that's more than just rock 'n' roll bluster. The moody 'Boy Bruce, The Mighty Atom' has just the right level of experimentation to attract fans from across the spectrum, from Oasis to Radiohead to Foals. 'Subtle Fun' is better still, the math-rock guitars bringing an appealing depth and variation, and the choppy rhythm shows they're no slaves to structures. So in terms of sound they've found a comfortable niche that could serve them well. The songs are decent too, but neither will go down as classics. If they can maintain their position and produce a couple killer tunes to go with it, they could be a great proposition.



Tusk's website

The single will be available on August 27th from Tusk's bandcamp page





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Mothlite - Seeing In The Dark

Single review by KevW

'Dark Age', the recently released album from instrumentalist and producer Daniel O'Sullivan's Mothlite project was a so-so affair, generally holding its own in the tune department but falling short when it came to retaining interest over the course of a full album. There was plenty of repetition, plenty of deviation and little variation. With a slight rule change to allow repetition, it would have been invincible on an episode of Just A Minute. So if the album was a little one-paced to generate much in the way of excitement on its own, maybe isolating tracks to be played alone would be more rewarding?

Well it could have been at least, as although it was all very mid-paced, middle of the road, mid-standard electro-pop on the whole, there were one or two highlights. Sadly new single 'Seeing In The Dark' isn't one of them, instead it perfectly encapsulates what the problem is. It plods into action in a manner that so inoffensive and anonymous that it barely registers. Stick in a chorus or anything else of interest and we could be looking at a decent single. Instead we get some nicely produced blandness. A bit like a jam sandwich, it's alright, it'll keep you satisfied for a minute or two, but you're unlikely to remember much about it the next day, and you wouldn't dream of ordering one at a restaurant.



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NO - Don't Worry, You'll Be Here Forever EP

Article by KevW

Our first introduction to LA indie-rock group NO came with the ripples of buzz emanating from this year's SXSX Festival and the track 'Another Life'. We've since had the time to delve further into their musical box of delights to find a sound that's the amalgamation of some of the most acclaimed bands of the past decade. You can hear Interpol, Arcade Fire, The National, Gaslight Anthem and more. Before you dismiss them as copycat chancers trying to scrape a few crumbs from beneath the table of the banquet enjoyed by those alt-rock giants, it's worth having a dig through what they have to offer, as there are tunes here that could easily compete alongside those colossal musical forces.

This free EP includes the aforementioned 'Another Life', and it's still grand and sweeping like The National at the top of their game. The brooding 'The Long Haul' is hardly likely to set the dance floors alight, but it might prick up the ears of those who look for a few shades of gloom in their post-rock. The the more upbeat 'There's A Glow' lightens the load, although it's probably the least interesting track here. The top honours go to the Gaslight Anthem stomp of 'Big Waves', which although you couldn't exactly describe as an uplifting kaleidoscope of sound, does add some much needed light and optimism, along with some fist-pumping "whoa oh ah ohs" that could indicate future live favourite status awaits, and probably a full page feature in Uncut magazine when they catch up with things in six months time.

NO | Another Life | Live at Old Style Guitar from NOMUSICFORME on Vimeo.

NO's website





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Out This Week - 30th July 2012

Alberta Cross - Magnolia

Multinational alt-rock group Alberta Cross have their new album 'Songs Of Patience' set for a release in early September in the UK (available now in North America), and going off the strength of new single 'Magnolia' we're in for a proper treat of skyscraping, life-affirming, towering indie-rock epics. Everything about 'Magnolia' is grand and glorious, crucially though, they leave out any unnecessary bombast.



Alberta Cross' website

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Opossom - Blue Meanies

Former vocalist with New Zealand band The Mint Chicks, Kody Nielson is the brains behind psychedelic powerpop project Opossom who will be releasing their album 'Electric Hawaii' next week, preceded by the insanely lovable retro bounce of single 'Blue Meanies'. Basically, if you don't like this then your ears are faulty and should be returned to point of purchase for a full refund or replacement.



To download 'Blue Meanies' for free head here

Opossom's website

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Picture - True

'True' is the title-track from this debut EP by Swedish artist Picture, who is also one half of production duo Sail A Whale. 'True' is awash with blindingly bright synths and backing vocals that become engulfed by the swirling tide of shimmering noise. There's an awful lot of sound to be found in this track, and squishing it all together like this makes for an impressively lush cacophony.



Picture's website

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Melody's Echo Chamber - Endless Shore

Melody's Echo Chamber is a one-woman psych-pop genius. Her album is due out at the end of September and by that time you still won't have tired of playing wondrous new single 'Endless Shore' which is out on 7" this week. It's essentially pure fantastical euphoria pressed into some vinyl, a bit like an everlasting gobstopper for your ears, it never loses its flavour.



Melody's Echo Chamber's website

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OBLIGATORY RECORD OF THE WEEK

The Ice Choir - I Want You Now And Always

It can be exciting when members of bands you like form side-projects. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are great, as were side-project The Depreciation Guild. So we got excited when we found out Kurt Feldman had formed The Ice Choir to produce more electronic-based sounds than TPOBPAH. Until we heard them that is. The first track to hit the net wasn't exactly a show-stopper, so our interest waned in the lead up to their debut album 'Afar'. Then what joy! He's only gone and turned it round and come up with some stellar OMD-style synth-pop. 'I Want You Now And Always' is an album highlight with a killer chorus. Suddenly all is right with the world once more.



The Ice Choir's website

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Miasm - The Dark Roads EP

EP review by KevW

You could say that 'The Dark Roads EP' is an unfinished work. Not because these songs are demos or require rerecording, but because they are simply the first half of what will become a full album. Jeremiah Savage's Miasm project are uploading finished songs to the net as soon as they are complete, with the aim of a full LP being complete later this year. Being a sculptor he knows a thing or two about art and approaches making music in a similar way, carving the tracks out of dark noise. Dark being the operative world, as these songs are hardly full of the joys of spring, it seems to be more about crafting an ambient sound experience and accidentally stumbling upon some songs along the way.

So the overall tone is moody, the vocals are as bleak and dusky as the artwork, and guitars and keys are used sparingly as an accompaniment to the distant echo and reverb instead of leading the songs. 'Face On The Water' has an ominous air to it and it's all very much like masses of shadowy clouds appearing just before the apocalypse. Therefore we're looking at a gloomy and brooding atmosphere here, which means it won't go down well at parties. But building a genuinely affecting atmosphere of any kind is a challenge, and while 'The Dark Roads' might be a slow and unsettling listen with songs hovering around the six-minute mark, pieces like 'The Multiverse' bring the doom-laden visions inside Savage's head to life, and in that respect this EP is a job well done.



Miasm's website

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To Kill A King - Word Of Mouth EP

EP review by KevW

It's an impressive sound that Londoners To Kill A King make. It wasn't until I was about half a dozen plays in to their new EP 'Word Of Mouth' that I bothered to read the usual press bumf, and surprisingly learn that these six tracks were essentially recorded live. Live in a studio that is and maybe with the odd tweak in post-production, but it's still mightily impressive that something so seemingly note-perfect and competent was made in such a way. In terms of style you could compare the quintet to alt-rock bands like The National who, one imagines, would generally make their records using several takes, overdubs and rerecordings. So a doff of the proverbial for its brave creation technique.

As well as sounding remarkably accomplished, the actual tunes are not to be sniffed at either. From the escalating potency of 'Howling' to the world-weary final bars of 'Let It Die', they deliver fully-formed ideas, and although it may not be the most varied collection you'll hear all year, its grand ambition is clearly defined. The pinging guitars of 'Funeral' are a particular highlight, as are its orchestral swells. The surging 'Rays' would be the ideal introduction for those who prefer their music to have an instant impact rather than requiring repeat listens. Given the nature of this EP's recording, it goes without saying that catching their Autumn tour would be a good move.





To Kill A King's website

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Mark Lenover - The Wreckage

Album review by KevW

From Syd Barrett to Daniel Johnston to Elliot Smith, the annals of music history are littered with musicians who've battled with mental illness and in spite of (and often because of) it have created some incredibly powerful and emotional records. Ontario singer-songwriter Mark Lenover had already made several albums before being diagnosed with schizophrenia in the last couple of years. His latest album 'The Wreckage' documents this period, his diagnosis and the struggles and treatments he's endured in order to keep his condition under control.

Of course if you were to listen to this album without knowing about his personal turmoil you probably wouldn't find the need to look for a diagnosis, although it's clear that many of these songs deal with emotional struggles and the confusion and pain that can come with life. So this isn't a party album, yet it is an inspirational and occasionally uplifting one. If you avoid delving into the lyrics and concentrate on the music you'll find complex and inventive indie-rock, but nothing that wildly breaks from the norm. 'An Indelible Stain' sounds like a disturbed track and the maudlin 'The Plagiarists', despite its almost sprightly twinkle, also feels pained.

Song titles speak for themselves ('Always Take Your Medicine', 'Down'), however if 'The 'Wreckage' is listened to objectively it feels accomplished, intricate, personal, confident in its sound and lyrically confused and seeking answers, in much the same way that so many people in their 20s try to make sense of the world and its strange unsettling ways and seeming lack of a set plan. "Give me a sign" he cries repeatedly on 'Vampires'. While bravely tackling his own problems, Mark Lenover has made an album that sums up the disorder and confusion that confronts most people at some point in their life, and, objectively speaking, 'The Wreckage' is a commanding and intense chronicle of the human condition in general.






Mark Lenover's website

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Tidal Wars - Veils/Earning

Single review by KevW

This is the debut single from Bristol band Tidal Wars and it's the last 30-odd years of moody British guitar music that they look to for inspiration. They've been labelled shoegaze and they've been labelled post-punk. Both fit the bill and we can have a quick trawl through some comparisons by chucking in names like Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Horrors and even a less bombastic White Lies. These are songs that feel nocturnal, dark and menacing; the kind that are more likely to be found wearing leather jackets and shades than Bermuda shorts. So hardly innovative stuff then, but still a fine gift for those who prefer their music to a usher in a moody atmosphere.

On 'Veils' the pulsing two note bassline will appeal to anyone who favours the alternative heroes of the 80's, as will the near monotone vocal. You can consider the tone well and truly set from these opening bars, but the shade is lifted ever so slightly as the chorus bursts out, heralding a moment of optimism with some chiming guitars and nicely placed "ooh ooh oohs" that offer a nice contrast. 'Earning' is darker still in sound, although its point is driven home in a more subtle way and it wouldn't be far off the mark throwing the name Interpol into the ring. A pair of very decent tracks that could appeal to new-wavers, post-punks, shoegazers and Goths everywhere.





Tidal Wars' website





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Five For Free #100

Prince Of Pressure - Noise In The Night

From what little information we've been able to gather about Prince Of Pressure, it would appear the project is the work of three childhood friends from Montreal. 'Noise In The Night' is their debut release and it's a wonderful introduction; phased vocals, layered synths and enough of a hook to satisfy pop fans as well as those looking for a more left-field form of retro electronica.


Prince Of Pressure's website





Carried By Waves - Lights/Climbing Trees

Sticking with beautifully crafted electronic textures are Irish group Carried By Waves whose new album 'Softly Held Together' is available as a free download from bandcamp. Theirs is an experimental form of electro-pop that's both innovative and accessible, creating a mash of different ambient, chopped up digital and organic sounds, as heard on 'Lights/Climbing Trees'.


Carried By Waves' website

Stream or download the album





The Eastern Sea - The Match 

Austin indie/folk/rock collective The Eastern Sea have recently released their second album 'Plague' and are offering the single 'The Match' as a free download. Taking influence from the cream of the North American alternative scene (Fleet Foxes, Arcade Fire, The National, Grizzly Bear etc.), the single steadily builds from soft guitar and vocals to crescendo of brass, percussion and harmonies.



The Eastern Sea's website

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Izabo - Summer Shade

Izabo may call Tel-Aviv home, but the Israeli band have captured the very same summery vibe that dozens of Californian indie groups are aiming for. Having been together for a decade they've had the time to refine their sound, and free track 'Summer Shade' is delightfully simple and catchy pop that's the perfect soundtrack  to any seasonal activities you may have planned.



Free download: 'Summer Shade'

Stream the EP in full

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Aaron Embry - Moon Of The Daylit Sky

In his long career, alt-country musician Aaron Embry has worked with everyone from Willie Nelson and Elliot Smith to Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. Gentle single 'Moon Of The Daylit Sky' will appear on his debut solo album 'Tiny Prayers' which is out in September and coincides with a tour supporting Father John Misty, and that sounds like a good night out.



To download 'Moon Of The Daylit Sky' for free head here

Aaron Embry's website

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Jethro Fox - Blinding Light

Single review by KevW

We featured a couple of demos by emerging artist Jethro Fox a few weeks ago, a pair of incredibly promising tracks that not only showed that he was a bit of a virtuoso musically (pretty much all instruments are played by him) but that he had the talent to take modern alternative pop and twist it and turn it towards the similarly experimental waters that Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear have dipped their toes in recently. It's hardly a shock then, to find that a couple of months on he's been taken under the very capable wing of Tough Love Records who are releasing 'Blinding Light', his first proper single.

By Jethro's standards this is a reasonably conventional effort, but just as rewarding as some of his more daring compositions. 'Blinding Light' is driven by bursts of rattling drum fills and tinkling piano, the melody could have been plucked from the always sunkissed (so much so that it ended up getting frazzled) mind of Brian Wilson, and this variety of song should be overlaid with copious harmonies. Naturally Jethro Fox obliges and 'Blinding Light' is a lovely twinkling composition that was begging for a summer release. The exciting thing is, we know he's got even better songs where this one came from.



Jethro Fox's website

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Pati Yang - Hold Your Horses EP

EP review by KevW

As if the opening gambit of 'Hold Your Horses' wasn't impressive enough with its thumping stomp and substantially determined vocal, the tracks that follow on this new EP from Pati Yang drill the message home even harder. With these songs the Polish singer is making it known that she means business. The quaking electro-rock of 'Darling' has her voice prowling, as if to both impress and intimidate. She's hunting a big sound and thanks to her fifteen or so years in the business she captures it with both ease and grace. It makes you wonder what level of success she'd have reached by now had she been American or British.

The admirably tasteful bombast doesn't end there, even though the echoing drums and "whoa oh oh ohs" of 'Revolution Baby' could be lifted from an 80's power-ballad, Yang claws the respect back with closer 'Kiss It Better'. While it's hardly pandering to the indie masses, the unashamedly Europop synths and a chorus that attempts to zero in on the pop charts are oddly likeable. Pati Yang has a big voice and these songs are crying out for radio play and substantial sales. Whether or not they achieve them is another matter, but it's a valiant attempt nonetheless.





Pati Yang's website

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Girls Names/Weird Dreams - Split Single

Single review by KevW

Both Girls Names and Weird Dreams have spent the last year or so gently riding the crest of a mini hype wave. Both have acclaimed first albums under their belt, and pairing the two for this split single to unveil their first new material since their debut offerings seems a sensible move, and one that should open up the ears of their respective fan bases to that of the other's work. However you'd expect that such fan bases would at least in part overlap already, as both bands peddle a similar brand of 80's-influenced indiepop sounds, given a distinctly modern lo-fi production of the variety that hordes of dreampop and chillwave groups currently favour.

So we're treated to distant, drifting vocals, rattling drums and post-punk guitars that act as a lead at times, and at other points merely camouflage themselves against the misty background hum on Girls Names' offering 'A Troubled See'. It's almost like The Horrors deciding to ape The Cure for their next record and it gives off a cosy ramshackle glow. 'House Of Secrets' by Weird Dreams is hardly at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to the production, but the song itself is a more relaxed affair, sauntering out of the speakers like mist rolling down from the hills. It has an air of grace and feels effortless, providing the perfect foil to the more upbeat first track, making this single sound like two like-minded groups offsetting each other very well.





Girls Names' website

Weird Dreams' website

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Band To Check Out: Nervous Cloud

Article by KevW

Finding themselves between projects in 2010 after having both worked with several bands on the Chicago music scene, Travis Lee Wiggins (guitar, vocals) and Sarah Sterling (drums, vocals) stumbled across each other while looking for future musical collaborators, and realising that two's company and three's a crowd, they left the line-up of Nervous Cloud as a duo. After performing a handful of shows as Friends Having Fun they knuckled down and began writing the compositions that would eventually make up their eponymous debut album which is set for release on September 9th.

If you're fearing a watered down version of The White Stripes, then think again. This pair may use just drums and guitar as their core instruments but the result is crisp, chugging alt-rock that's angular, eclectic and fun. Of the two free download singles released so far, 'Monarch' feels like Pavement being given a cattle prod up the backside to shock the lethargy out of them and give them a sense of urgency. It's a sharpness they retain on the melodic 'How To Get Murdered In A Made For TV Movie' which is driven by wonderfully ragged guitar. With much of the album drawing both sound and energy from similar places, this pair should have nothing to be nervous about come release day.





Free download: 'Monarch'
(Right click, save as)

Free download: 'How To Get Murdered In A Made For TV Movie'
(Right click, save as)

For more info or to stream and pre-order the album, head to Nervous Cloud's website





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The Dentals - Tennessee

Album review by KevW

Pretty much everything about Swiss band The Dentals screams "joke!". From that cover, to describing their genre as "Alco-pop" to the witty press release "So far the Dentals have not achieved anything at all… but they haven’t really tried yet either... The band's common passion for folk-pop music, catchy melodies and David Hasselhoff results in the release of their debut album 'Tennessee'. The album features 13 songs about getting married, making one’s career, nipples, alcohol and other things that move the world." So they're not particularly asking to be taken seriously, and probably not expecting to be.

The lyrics do indeed talk of nipples and beer, and novelty is never far away (see 'Not Every Idiot Knows How To Drive A Car', Mentally Retarded') which makes 'Tennessee' feel a bit like something a bunch of students came up with on rag week. Musically this record is fine in a slightly goofy indiepop sort of way. Sweet melodies and crisply strummed guitars make it an enjoyable listen if you can avoid the lyrics about "getting slaughtered" and how "your nipples are the best". 'I Am An Artist' is a quite lovely piece of guitar-pop if you strip away the 'wacky' vocals. Some may find the humour an asset but surely most will agree that their talents could be put to better use.

Even a likeable, plucked instrumental they decide to call 'I Am Well But You Are Paul Weller'. If you like base humour in your music then you'll find an indie treat here, but anyone with more mature taste (i.e. post-secondary school) might feel let down that what could be a decent set of melodic tunes is ruined by juvenile wit. There's a talent in The Dentals but it's currently going to waste. Ditch the crap gags, either make them more refined or work on some non-comic lyrics and there are tunes here that could shine. Until then, 'Tennessee' is just decent enough musically, but not something you'd want to play more than once.







The Dentals' website

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The June Brides - Moon/Cloud

Single review by KevW

Nearly 30 years have passed since cult London band The June Brides first graced the turntables of bedsit-dwelling indie lovers everywhere. Frontman Phil Wilson has been sporadically active in that time, releasing solo records and making the odd guest appearance, but despite a one-off show a few years ago, they've remained inactive since 1986, the year of the legendary tape that showcased many similarly-minded bands. With the increased popularity of indiepop over the past few years this comeback single is perfectly timed, and, as you realise from just the first few bars of 'A January Moon', perfectly executed too.

Their guitars still jangle with the freshness of the DIY scene that spawned them and their prowess with a sweet melody hasn't deserted them, but with so many others recreating the genre they helped define, there could be a danger that they get lost in the flood. That is until those sweeping strings kick in and instantly blow many imitators out of the water. It's effortless, cinematic indiepop at its best. On the flip, 'Cloud' is slightly more routine but still pretty adorable and better than your standard B-side fare. Comeback singles need to be something special to reignite interest, and 'A January Moon' sure as hell is special.



The June Brides' website

Buy the single





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Fractal & Eye - Izados 3

Album review by KevW

OK, let's make this very clear from the start: we're talking proper niche market stuff here. If you're not in the mood for listening to lengthy, ambient, instrumental drones then you're best bet it to stop reading right here and check out some of the free MP3s we posted earlier today. This split album (and by album, that is three tracks spread over around 45 minutes) is the latest on Peruvian label Super Space Records and teams up Peruvian artist Fractal (who gets one track) with Argentinian project Eye (who are given the other two). Calling any of this trio "songs" would be pushing it a bit, they're better off being labelled as abstract sound pieces.

Eye's 'Glacier' doesn't exactly burst in to action, but then it's got quarter of an hour to do its business in so why would it? Following the grindingly slow opening few minutes of build-up, the track begins to hiss and fuzz rhythmically, a bit like taking an old Kraftwerk tape and stretching it as far as you can without it snapping. It creates a mood alright, but whether or not you'll enjoy it depends on how open your mind is to truncated repetition with very little variation. The choice to pair this track up with two from the Argentine noisemakers is a good one, as they trade in similarly drawn-out anti-songs.

The steady hum of 'Hz' eventually morphs itself into a quiet throbbing, industrial oddity before an increasing set of rapid electrical pulses jitter into action. It's a bit like listening to an old dial-up internet system trying to connect. Only much much longer. There's a few moments respite before a monotonous alarm sounds, leading us into a finale of what sounds like being trapped inside a giant lazer generator. If that seems odd then they follow it with the equally baffling 'Alejado', a quiet drone of epic proportions that steadily shifts, ending in the nearest the album comes to actual music. It's an unsettling listen and those of a nervous disposition will struggle, but it's great to hear something created with literally no compromise whatsoever. Is it any good? I'm buggered if I know.




Super Space Record's website





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Let's Away - The Brittle Bones Of Let's Away EP

EP review by KevW

When we last mentioned Sunderland duo Let's Away back in April, the pair were gearing up for their first performance as a full band after recruiting some top local musicians to back them. With their live cherry well and truly popped they set about recording their second EP, 'The Brittle Bones Of Let's Away'. As with their debut, the EP was recorded with Hyde & Beast man Neil Bassett at the helm and will be made available for free both digitally and on CD. Much like their first release, these four tracks deal in spacious, reverberating sounds and rely on a steady force to generate power, rather like the unstoppable but slow-moving strength of the rising tide than the full-on surge of a tsunami, but the effect is similarly impressive.

The sparse guitars are treated with echo and twang and the vocals are distant but clear, in fact they could stake a claim to be the male-fronted version of Mazzy Star, such is the mood they generate on all four songs, each of which is essentially the same make and model. Tindersticks would be another comparison, but where that band can be blunt and morbid in their sound, Let's Away are more blurred and booming; a little bit like a Phil Spector 45 played at 33rpm. 'Brittle Bones' with its weeping guitar is perhaps most affecting but there's little to choose between the four songs. The brittle part of the EP's title might be correct, but the sound is more than just bare bones, and this soft wall of sound is really quite majestic.






The EP will be available from Let's Away's website





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Special Feature & Competition: Unique Vinyl

Article by KevW

This is a pretty cool idea, plus as they correctly say, it would make a great gift. Those of us over the age of about 30 will have fond memories of making mix-tapes, and sure, things are a lot easier now everything is digital and we can make and share playlists in seconds on Spotify or Last.fm or whatever, but it's not the same and some of the romance is lost. Unique Vinyl have come up with a great solution: your own vinyl mix-tape (if that's not too much of an oxymoron for you!). Let them know the tracks you want, customise your own artwork and they press it into an actual record for you.

Not only is Unique Vinyl an excellent idea but they're offering readers of The Sound Of Confusion a 25% discount on their first order. So if you're trying to woo the girl/guy of your dreams, send in the songs you want, an idea for the cover (mentioning The Sound Of Confusion for the discount) and the result is bound to impress them! If that wasn't enough, Unique Vinyl are running a competition to win a Music Hall MMF 2.2 record player worth £300. That's one of these sexy beasts:

All you need to do is answer the following question:

Why is vinyl better than digital?

Then post your answer to their Facebook page by August 31st.

Good luck!

Unique Vinyl's website





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Five For Free #99

Blood Red Shoes - Stop Kicking

Brighton's premier alternative rock duo Blood Red Shoes released their third album 'In Time To Voices' earlier this year in the UK (USA and Canada this week) to their usual high acclaim. Both live and on record they're considered a force to be reckoned with, so if you're yet to experience either then you can get a free download of their new single 'Stop Kicking' right here.



Blood Red Shoes' website

Stream the album in full

Buy the album





Anywhere - Dead Golden West

Despite the unassuming name, Anywhere have pedigree. Made up of Christian Eric Beaulieu (Triclops!), Mike Watt (The Stooges, Minutemen) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (At The Drive-In, Mars Volta), this gorgeous psych-folk opus was the last thing we were expecting from such rock titans. 'Dead Golden West' is quite wonderful and features vocals from Sleepy Sun's Rachel Fannan.



Free download: 'Dead Golden West'

Anywhere's website

Stream the album in full





TriTone - System Crash (Ft. Captain Backfire)

'System Crash' is the first track to be released by south London producer TriTone and as first offerings go it's a pretty good introduction. This song is co-written with singer Captain Backfire and is a dark pop track that doesn't seem to care for genres. You could happily label it many ways, but we'll simply go for alt-pop. More music is expected soon and could well be worth keeping an eye out for.


TriTone's website





Koalia - Wine & Brandy

It's taken four years since forming for Finnish band Koalia to release their debut album which is due out in the autumn. The first single taken from it is the slightly bonkers punky pop of 'Wine & Brandy'. If you can imagine a hybrid of Super Furry Animals, The Hives, and the Buzzcocks, then well done. If you can't, then download the single for free and find out how it sounds.



Koalia's website





Lawrence Arabia - Travelling Shoes

New Zealand artist James Milne, also known as Lawrence Arabia, put out his latest album 'The Sparrow' this week, and the album kicks off with the excellent, string-laden alternative ballad 'Travelling Shoes'. The track is slightly less immediate and poppy than some of his work and possibly an indicator of a maturing sound. After a couple of plays though, it turns out to be just as amazing as normal.

Lawrence Arabia's website

Stream or buy the album





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Boxed Wine - EP

EP review by KevW

If we're to go on the slightly ridiculous band name and the refreshingly tongue-in-cheek press release ("it took the band a while to come up with a name as meaningful as Boxed Wine") then it's apparent that this New Jersey lot are not ones to get all pretentious on us. Sense of humour in music and the ability not to take yourself too seriously can be endearing qualities. They can also indicate novelty tunes made by shit comedians. We can all breath a collective sigh of relief, because although this is hardly 'OK Computer', these fizzing indiepop tunes aren't silly or wacky or annoying, yet at the same time they don't scrimp on the fun either.

The band invite us to "make relevant comparisons to all the other bands in the universe". Well there isn't time for that, so think We Are Scientists, The Strokes, Weezer, Supergrass and Nada Surf for starters. This is catchy powerpop with snappy riffs and drumming, no gratuitous soloing of other indulgent aspects. Each track is kept under three minutes and 'EP' is nothing more and nothing less than a decent batch of good old-fashioned melodic guitar-pop. It won't inspire debates, books won't be written about it and it doesn't try and be anything it's not. In cutting the crap and sticking to their ideals Boxed Wine have made an exhilarating and lovable EP, one that's worth raising a glass to.






Boxed Wine's website





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Clara Engel - The Lovebird's Throat EP

EP review by KevW

The latest EP from Canadian songstress Clara Engel gets the brain working before a note is played. 'The Lovebird's Throat'? Lovebirds: romantic, cosy, cute, happy. Throat: a far less romantic word, one associated with strangulation, choking, slitting. That's not just us being vulgar, surely if the title was meant to be all sunshine and sweetness the much more affectionate word 'neck' would have been used? So you already begin to realise this is an album about contrasts, about the dark and the light, about love gone wrong. Look at the cover; is it a fantastical glowing creature carefully holding the EP's title? Or is it just some downright creepy beast, plucked straight out of a nightmare? It's both and it sums these four songs up beautifully. Engel's voice is made for music like this, capable of carrying the most adorable of love songs yet also with the power to invert the words so they become twisted and dark.

Tender love song 'Not Knowing' shows off her vocal prowess well, but what follows impresses most. How about 'Song For The Sea Witch (Disembody My Voice)' for a Gothic title? Zola Jesus springs to mind and sure enough this is worthy of her work in its haunting mood and lyrics about dancing flames through the heart. 'Married To The Bone' is darker still and more emotive. We're talking genuinely moving songs, the sweetness is gone as Engel proclaims "I'd rather howl at the moon" over ominous, pounding drums, "we are married to the bone, so fucking let's get happy love", it's safe to say that this particular relationship might not be going according to plan. Best is final track, the somewhat ironically titled 'Lovebirds'. Again it's all about that voice, backed with reverberating guitars and disturbing lyrics. "Every time I cut off your head you grow another". Engel does power and emotion remarkably well and this is another stirring EP that's well worth the money, but you wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of her vitriol.



Clara Engel's website

Buy the EP





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