Everest Cale - Beast EP

EP review by KevW

The combination of the words 'country' and 'rock' in the description of a band can be an instant turn-off, summoning up memories of some truly awful musical abominations. Yet shoving the genre down a slightly more alternative path has led to some great music. So as a general rule of thumb: country-rock = bad, alt-country = good. Everest Cale are from America's east coast and have been described as an indie-rock band, which I suppose is fair enough, although it does hide the definite country influence to their music. As the grandfather of alt-country, Johnny Cash almost said, they walk the line. It's a fairy traditional rock sound these guys make, and while it's occasionally a little to earnest, there's just enough of the 'alt' part in there to save them.The 'Beast' EP without doubt shows that they can write a decent tune, but what they do with it may be questioned by some.

They don't shy away from conventional formats, they're more than happy to whack in a good old guitar solo and a chest-beating vocal delivery certainly isn't out of the question. All of these aspects can be found on the title-track, but despite these clichés it's actually a likeable song. The tender 'Goodbye' tackles the end of a relationship (such tales are the fuel that's powered the whole genre for nearly a century) but it is quite affecting. Some may find this EP a little too trad-rock for their particular taste but on the whole they take a well worn genre and prove that it still has a bit of fuel left in the tank yet. 'Place We Know Is Home' is a prime example. Guilty pleasure is a term that many people are unhappy with, so let's just say that 'Beast' is a surprising pleasure instead.



Everest Cale's website

Buy the EP





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PolarTape - Airwave Station

Single review by KevW

As dubstep and its bass-heavy variants continue to infiltrate the mainstream and the charts are peppered with pop stars getting identikit low-end makeovers to milk the subwoofer cash-cow for all it's worth, what was formerly known as dance music (it's called EDM now don't cha know) has been going through a funny old phase. Electronic music is positively thriving thanks to the accessibility of the software and hardware needed to create it, but on the whole this seems to be a movement towards experimentalism rather than songs you can actually move to. The other major success in this area has of course been chillwave, and that's hardly aimed at the clubs.

French artist PolarTape has taken a step back from all of this on new track 'Airwave Station', a tune that sounds modern yet realistically could be left over from the late 90's. The chillwave brigade will be happy enough with the relaxed vibes and easy to listen to nature, but the beats, although hardly pounding, also cross into actual dance music territory. It's repetitive enough to lend itself to both partying and the post-match comedown, neatly capturing that surreal twilight feeling as well. From what we can tell PolarTape is a brand new project with this solitary song online. It could be that he/she/they have found a handy little niche for themselves.



PolarTape's website





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Big Tree - Augury

Single review by KevW

When this single hit our inbox, our trend-ometer began to rattle, hiss and give off smoke, such was the Zeitgeist overload given off by Big Tree's new single 'Augury'. With the overheating fad-measurer safely unplugged and being given an MOT by our engineers, let's look at the evidence ourselves. Big Tree are from California but were formed in Brooklyn (making the journey in a vegetable oil powered van, of course). Naturally they've recorded a couple of Daytrotter sessions, and their album 'This New Year' takes in mystical musings on the universe to the sound of harmonious singing and a semi-acoustic vibe. You can practically smell the joss sticks and get a sudden urge to take up yoga.

Joking aside though, 'Augury' may be the kind of thing that half of the modern hippy-type bands in America are churning out at the moment, but this is really quite a sweet song and not as airy-fairy as you might expect. The twin female vocals have some force behind them and there's more substance to this song than all of the bandwagon-jumpers put together. Boosted by a rumbling bass and thudding drums, it's not short on impact either. The Easter Island featuring video feels a little like a Pagan ritual but this is one cult you wouldn't mind joining. We'll make sure the trend-ometer listens to the song before making its mind up next time.



Big Tree's website

Buy the single





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Race Horses - My Year Abroad

Single review by KevW

There's something of a snowball effect happening with Welsh indie popsters Race Horses. Debut album 'Goodbye Falkenburg' was well received and followed a similar slightly bonkers line to their forefathers Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Super Furry Animals (who they must be sick of being compared to). They wrote jovial songs about cake, ponies and Benidorm, and gradually won hearts thanks to their non-conformist music and enthusiastic live performances. Second album 'Furniture' is due to be with us on September 10th and the album's fist single 'Mates' suggested we were in for more of the same, only this time they'd make a bigger splash thanks to their swelling fanbase.

So along comes the LP's second offering 'My Year Abroad' which could well see their popularity increase further, and quash any remarks about a juvenile or novelty aspect to their music. This single is a psych-pop treat that doesn't ask to be taken any more seriously, but it definitely will be. The quirkiness is still there but the song feels more grown-up and bigger all round. It's as if they've teamed up with The Horrors and tried to cram the aspects that have made both bands popular into a handy pocket-sized package. It's catchy as always, fun as always, yet here it feels like Race Horses mean business a little more than before, and 'My Year Abroad' should see their star rise further still.



Race Horses' website

Buy the single





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Horsemen Pass By - Giallo EP

EP review by KevW

How's this for an globe-straddling, genre-spanning biography? Ross Gillanders and Daniel Valle are a Scot and a Spaniard. They're based in Cork where they play as part of electro/surf/punks Beastmen. They also moonlight as Horsemen Pass By, an instrumental duo influenced by cult films, sci-fi and Mexican folk music. It's a colourful story for sure and 'Giallo' is an interesting EP. 'Midnight Chase In Genova' uses analogue electro pulses and some twangy surf guitar, and you can just about see where that Mexican influence comes into it, but really it's best to avoid their references and look at this as a decent electro-rock tune with enough of its own personality to catch your ear. It's probably the best song on the EP, but the rest is hardly a write-off.

A more spacious sound can be found on 'The Lies Of Christian Shaw' with its Vangelis sweeps and retro electronic beats, the second half builds into something more substantial and hints at a more interesting way forward. 'Lanark' is passable but fairly anonymous, while EP closer 'Letters From A Stranger' is better and steers their cinematic experimenting a little closer to the dance floor. But just a little. 'Giallo' is a reasonable introduction but you suspect Horsemen Pass By are capable of better. Their next project is rumoured to be a Spaghetti Western/Horror album called 'The Town That Feared Sunset', and if they pull it off then it could be a genius move. Whatever you make of this debut, you've got to take your hat off to them for ambition.



Horsemen Pass By's website

Stream or buy the EP





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End Of August - Voluntary Breathing

Single review by KevW

Personal torture has been the catalyst for some of the most moving and powerful music ever created. This new single from Finnish duo End Of August was born out of tragic circumstances, with the lyrics dealing with the untimely death of singer Petteri Salonen's wife and the lyrics are heartbreaking as he pleads "please please don't fall asleep to deep". So 'Voluntary Breathing' is heavy in terms of subject matter and is essentially a diary of coming to terms with such life-shattering sadness, yet there's an element of hope which saves the song from being overly desolate, moving from desperation and feeling that your life too was over, to the realisation that "after all I didn't fall".

Lyrically the song speaks for itself and a sadder tale you're unlikely to hear all year (although forthcoming album 'The Deep Sleep' deals with the same subject matter) but this isn't just a weepy that's best avoided for those who are over sensitive. This plucked acoustic track is strong enough to carry any lyrics. It's simple and doesn't lay on a great deal of production, simply the twin voices of Salonen and partner in crime Antti-Jussi Marjamaki. 'Voluntary Breathing' is emotionally stirring but musically restrained and would make a sufficient instrumental if stripped of the meaning the words bring. Naturally we wish this song was made under happier circumstances, but it certainly packs an emotional punch that's difficult not to be affected by.



End Of August's website

'The Deep Sleep' will be available from Lionheart Records





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Five For Free #101

Ghost Wave - Hippy

'Hippy' by name, anti-hippy by nature. New Zealand band Ghost Wave take their cue from the Flying Nun roster (their own version of C86 if you like) to create a fizzing, punky, garagey riot of a song, with buzz-saw guitars and a nice coating of surf. It's frenetic indiepop that dazzles and makes us wish they'd hurry up and get this flipping debut EP out to the world.


Ghost Wave's website





F.U.R.S - Striptease

We heard about F.U.R.S from the ever reliable Young & Lost Club label who are offering 'Striptease' as a free download ahead of the fledgling band's debut show in a couple of weeks. The duo are brother and sister Elle and Liam Wade and this track is a jangly 60's-influenced shuffle backed with some sparkly organ work and no small amount summery melody.


To download 'Striptease' for free head here

F.U.R.S' website





Junk Culture - Growing Pains

Deepak Mantena is the Mississippi dwelling man behind cut-and-paste outfit Junk Culture, and after a couple of albums composed of field-recordings and clips of songs he likes, he's decided to go heavier into his own compositions on his debut album proper, 'Wild Quiet', which is out this week. Free track 'Growing Pains' is a beat-heavy mash of genres and a great showcase of his production talent.



To download 'Growing Pains' for free head here

Junk Culture's website

Buy the album





The Mentalettes - Fine Fine Fine 

The global coming together of these fine folks (from Sweden, Spain, Germany and USA) is a joy to behold. The Mentalettes take retro soul and squeeze it through a 60's garage filter, creating some joyously irresistible pop along the way. If you've been enjoying Chains Of Love (or just great music in general) then 'Fine Fine Fine' is an absolute must.


The Mentalettes' website





Panoramic & True - Product On

Chicago bunch Panoramic & True were formed by songwriter John Lennox to make an alternative form of the indie and pop sounds that were his influence. 'Product On' is taken from the band's recentl released second album 'Wonderlust' and takes traditional guitar songs and pop melodies, adding strings and a fuller sound for a superb baroque feel.



Panoramic & True's website

Stream or buy the album





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