New Video: Strangers – ‘Something New’
Posted: April 22, 2013 Filed under: Reviews Leave a comment »Synth pop trio Strangers have unveiled their new single ‘Something New’. The London band have collaborated with The Horrors and Little Boots producer Dimitri Tikovoi, which does come through in the dark, spangling keys and sturdy tapping beat. The pop elements of Strangers really jump out in the chorus with the catchy, emotive lyrics begging you to hum/sing along, “The sound of my heart to the beat of your drum, we can feel the heat as we follow the sun, then you kiss me again, feels like something new”.
The simple video is centred around a girl dancing with selected lyrics in the background. It’s in black and white, with regular flashes colour illumiating the frame. It’s done really well though, the way I’ve described it sounds like that Apple app, ‘ColourSplash’, where you can colour in monochrome sections and it generally looks bad. But the colour in the video adds excitement with its 3D effect.
I also wrote something about the brilliant NO CEREMONY/// remix of ‘Something New’, which can found here
‘Something New’ is out 13th May.
Review: Sulk – ‘Graceless’
Posted: April 18, 2013 Filed under: Reviews Leave a comment »“Graceless is a near-perfect balance between what was going down 20 years ago and what is being created and reinvented today”.
Read what else I had to say about Sulk’s debut album ‘Graceless’ over on Planet Notion.
http://www.planetnotion.com/2013/04/18/album-review-sulk-graceless/
A selection of this week’s new music from The 405.
Posted: April 17, 2013 Filed under: Reviews Leave a comment »Here are 10 tracks from the past week I have written about for The 405.
Rockie Fresh feat. Rick Ross and Lunice – ‘Panera Bread’
http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/rockie-fresh-panera-bread-feat-rick-ross-lunice
Houses – The Beauty Surrounds (Easy Girl Remix)
http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/houses-the-beauty-surrounds-easy-girl-remix
Magic Arm – ‘Is History’
http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/listen-to-is-history-by-magic-arm-405-premiere
Neneh Cherry and Afrika Baby Bam -’Nina’(produced by Four Tet)
http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/neneh-cherry-afrika-baby-bam-nina-produced-by-four-tet-listen
Among Brothers – ‘Jollica’
http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/among-brothers-jollica-405-premiere
Crvvcks – ‘Luv U’
http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/crvvcks-luv-u-track-of-the-day
Huxley’s Nightmare – ‘Crunchy’
http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/huxley-s-nightmare-crunchy-listen
Shelf Nunny – I Feel So Good About Myself
http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/shelf-nunny-i-feel-so-good-about-myself-track-of-the-day
Moon Duo – ‘Trails’ (White Rainbow Remix)
http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/listen-to-white-rainbow-s-remix-of-trails-by-moon-duo
Pajama People – ‘Wintertime (In My Woods)’
http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/pajama-people-wintertime-in-my-woods-listen
Review: Civil Twilight – ‘Holy Weather’
Posted: April 8, 2013 Filed under: Reviews | Tags: Civil Twilight, Dry The River, Muse Leave a comment »
The ‘dreaded’ second album in any artist’s career usually goes one of two ways. They’ve either progressed and sound like they can do the same again. Or it’s ooh no, it sounds too samey as their first venture or they’ve peaked wayyy too soon. Thankfully for Nashville band Civil Twilight, their second album ‘Holy Weather’ falls under the first bracket. It sounds more exciting and vibrant than their 2010 self-titled debut, though some of the tracks would benefit more if they grabbed this energy.
The grittier riff and heavier keys in current single ‘Fire Escape’ and ‘Move:Stay’ give the album a welcoming element of rawness. While a muffled vocal begins ‘Highway of Fallen Kings’, which along with moments of the guitar’s glowing gleam, liken the four-piece to Muse. Title track ‘Holy Weather’ uses some climate-orientated imagery, which matches its stirring mood. Lead vocalist Steven McKellar sings, “I was drifting further away she was lost like a breeze in the hurricane”, before the haunting repetition of “I can’t escape you”, in the final chorus.
‘It’s Over’ and ‘Sweet Resistance’ are the frontrunners among the softer, harmonic songs. They provide searching, pondering words – “But one word from you and it’s over, one word from you and I’m over”. The delicate tone on ‘It’s Over’ is reminiscent Dry The River. Though, ‘River’, ‘Please Don’t Find Me’ and ‘Every Walk That I’ve Ever Taken Has Been in Your Direction’ just don’t have the same zest as the others. Maybe the length of that last title is unnecessary.
Civil Twilight have shown they’ve grown considerably from their first record and are progressing the right direction, but certain parts of ‘Holy Weather’ lack the energy seen in other tracks to really bring it alive.
‘Holy Weather’ is out now.
Review: Bleached – ‘Ride Your Heart’
Posted: April 4, 2013 Filed under: Reviews Leave a comment »LA sisters Bleached give us their debut album ‘Rise Your Heart’.
http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/bleached-ride-your-heart
Review: Night Moves – ‘Colored Emotions’
Posted: April 3, 2013 Filed under: Reviews Leave a comment »Minneapolis trio Night Moves release their long-awaited debut ‘Colored Emotions’.
http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/night-moves-colored-emotions
Review: Fyfe – ‘Solace’ EP
Posted: April 2, 2013 Filed under: Reviews | Tags: Fyfe, Solace Leave a comment »Fyfe releases his debut EP ‘Solace’ next week. See what I thought of it over on Planet Notion…
http://www.planetnotion.com/2013/04/02/review-fyfe-solace-ep/
Review: Les Mistons – ‘Overcoming Fear’
Posted: April 1, 2013 Filed under: Reviews Leave a comment »
While ‘Overcoming Fear’ alters in mood numerous times throughout, it always remains hopeful and free. There’s split sections in the track, with a high point being the nifty shift in dynamics that hits with thump, and initiates a subconscious head bop. Les Mistons combine synths, which glitter the percussion in a wash of colour and warmth.
The East-London trio, named after a French film by the looks of things, share the same musical optimism as Fenech Soler, with their bright indie electropop sound. Lead singer Oliver Budgen’s vocal ducks in and out with sing back-worthy refrains, which would prise a lot of energy from the crowd.
‘Overcoming Fear’ is out 13th May.
Review: Bored Nothing – ‘Bored Nothing’
Posted: March 26, 2013 Filed under: Reviews Leave a comment »Melbourne artist Fergus Miller takes the name ‘Bored Nothing’ and releases his self-titled debut album, mostly made up of tracks from previous tapes and recordings.
http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/bored-nothingbored-nothing
Review: Kodaline – ‘The High Hopes EP’
Posted: March 22, 2013 Filed under: Reviews Leave a comment »Dublin band Kodaline release their second EP ‘The High Hopes’ a head of their June debut. Read my thoughts on it here…
http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/kodaline-the-high-hopes
