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May 2018

16 Feb 2018

We Are Scientists are set to return with their sixth album. Titled ‘Megaplex’ and released via 100% Records on April 27th. The infamous duo, Keith Murray (guitar/vocals) and Chris Cain (bass), are once again set to dazzle the world with ten brand new splashes of colourful and utterly addictive pop that serve as a welcome distraction to these bleak times we live in.

“In the past we’ve used our music to educate, to enlighten, to awaken people to the depth and complexity of moral concerns. This time, we really wanted to drop a fun-bomb. Something to dance or f*** to,” states Chris and ‘Megaplex’ achieves just that. Recorded at Tim Wheeler from Ash’s Atomic Heart Studios in NYC and once again produced by Max Hart (ex-Katy Perry), the duo set about honing down a sprawling burst of creativity to make the concise pop beast that is ‘Megaplex’.

“At this point in our career, we’ve written so many songs,” explains Keith. “The pool for this record alone was something like 90 songs deep — that we know exactly what we want out of a We Are Scientists record. We want it to be taut, to bang hard, to have a big hook every four seconds or so. We don’t have to be precious about which songs make it onto a record; we can listen to the ones that didn’t make it at home, on our own time. ‘Megaplex’ is just the ten most delicious songs that we have — a stacked-up compound of entertainment.”

“It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of honing of craft to make it to six records,” continues Keith. “ I mean, the Velvet Underground never made six albums. The Smiths didn’t. Pavement, Guns N’ Roses, The Stooges — none of them could do it. So, I guess we’re just objectively better than those bands now? It’s just a mathematical fact, right? Van Halen made six with David Lee Roth but only four with Sammy Hagar, so I guess we’re better than Hagar-era Van Halen but only just as good as Roth-era? Which, saying it out loud, makes total sense, yeah.”

These are stark facts that cannot be argued when faced with the ten melodious molten nuggets that are simply blinding in their brightness. Yes folks, We Are Scientists are very much back.

“Our brilliant work in pop song writing is unsurpassed,” summarises Keith. “And will probably make the We Are Scientists Name live beyond eternity.”

‘Megaplex’ track listing:

One In, One Out
Notes In A Bottle
Heart Is A Weapon
Your Light Has Changed
KIT
No Wait at Five Leaves
Not Another Word
Now or Never
You Failed
Properties of Perception

Catch the band live at the following dates:

Wed 28 Mar 2018 Southampton The Joiners (50th Anniversary Show)
Thu 29 Mar 2018 Stoke Sugar Mill
Fri 30 Mar 2018 Milton Keynes Craufurd Arms
Sat 31 Mar 2018 Stockton On Tees Stockton Calling
Sun 01 Apr 2018 Hull The Welly
Wed 02 May 2018 Bristol The Thekla
Thu 03 May 2018 Brighton Concorde 2
Fri 04 May 2018 London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Sat 05 May 2018 Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Sun 06 May 2018 Birmingham Institute 3
Tue 08 May 2018 Leeds Church Leeds
Wed 09 May 2018 Manchester Gorilla
Thu 10 May 2018 Glasgow The Garage
Fri 11 May 2018 Belfast Limelight 2
Sat 12 May 2018 Dublin Academy
Sun 13 May 2018 Sheffield 02 Academy 2

EP & TOUR NEWS: Lo Shea releases ‘Iterations’, on tour with Dusky February/March 2018

LSF Staff Writers

16 Feb 2018

Fresh from his ‘Let’s Roll EP’ on Radio Slave’s Rekids, Hopeworks curator Lo Shea further cements his status as a true innovator of the UK underground with the ‘Iterations EP’ on Dusky’s 17 Steps.

Leading the charge, ‘Iterations’ is eight dark twisted minutes of tripped-out melodic techno that will sweat the walls of warehouses from London to Tokyo – drawing a lineage from The Omen, Atomic Jam and The Orbit through to Berghain, De School and – indeed – Hopeworks itself.

On the remix, Stockholm’s Peder Mannerfelt takes it down an industrial rabbit hole of terror-core synths, rave sirens and sonic paranoia.

Across the rest of EP, Lo Shea flexes his sonic diversity with ‘Ornithurae’ offering an intriguing mix of bruising bass, twitchy layer loaded percussion and sinister soundscapes – somewhere between D’n’B don Dillinja circa ’96, early Claude Von Stroke material, Radioactive Man and fellow Sheffield legend Oris Jay.

Dark, soulful and ravey, ‘Higher’ closes things off with a uniquely UK hybrid that traces lines through militant Tresor-heyday techno, vintage Strictly Rhythm diva house and hard-core vibes.

‘Iterations’ EP is Out Now through ’17 Steps Recordings’ – stream/download: https://17steps.lnk.to/Iterations

ALBUM & TOUR NEWS: Ducking Punches ‘Alamort’ out today, April 2018 tour dates

LSF Staff Writers

16 Feb 2018

Today – Ducking Punches – finally release their eagerly awaited fourth album ‘Alamort’ via the Xtra Mile Recordings label. And clearly in good spirits for the album to finally be out into the world, the punk rockers have released a hilarious new video for current single ‘Distant Shadows’.

The video arrives ahead of two exclusive album launch shows in London (tonight), plus a hometown gig in Norwich tomorrow (17th Feb).

And fans of the band all across the UK won’t have to wait long to see ‘Alamort’ performed in their own neck of the woods, as Dan Allen’s East Anglian punk rock rabble plot an extensive run of UK tour dates for the Spring. Hitting the road throughout April, the quartet will be taking their latest work to a total of 15 towns and cities near you, including Bristol, Brighton, Bolton, Leeds, Liverpool, Kings Lynn and beyond.

LAUNCH SHOWS

16th Feb – The Lexington, London

17th Feb – The Arts Centre, Norwich

ALBUM RELEASE TOUR – APRIL 2018

7 – Peterborough, The Ostrich
8 – Bristol, Crofter’s Rights
9 – Liverpool, Maguire’s Pizza Bar
10 – Leeds, The Key Club
11 – Bradford, The 1 in 12
12 – Warrington, Old Town House
13 – London, Nightclub Kolis
14 – Brighton, Washed Out Festival
15 – Kings Lynn, Worker’s Club
16 – Nottingham, Bodega
17 – Newport, Le Pub
18 – Stourbridge, The River Rooms
19 – Manchester Punk Festival
27 – Bolton, The Alma Inn
28 – Huddersfield, The Parish

Order ‘Alamort’ here: https://duckingpunches.lnk.to/Alamort

FOR MORE INFORMATION

https://duckingpunches.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/duckingpunchesuk/
https://www.xtramilerecordings.com/ArtistDetails?Aid=XMR_AR_143

TOUR NEWS: The Lovely Eggs May/June 2018 tour

LSF Staff Writers

14 Feb 2018

Hot on the heels of their rammed and raucous Winter tour, Northern psychedelic punks THE LOVELY EGGS announce their next series of live dates for May & June 2018. The shows will follow their current February gigs and the release of their forthcoming album This Is Eggland (out 23 February on Egg Records.)

The Lovely Eggs are one of the most unique, innovative and genuine bands on the British Underground music scene. Setting themselves apart from the mainstream, they’ve built up a cult following which is due to blow wide open with their mild-melting new album,produced by Flaming Lips/ Mercury Rev producer, Dave Fridmann. You can sample what’s in store with their brand new single, “I Shouldn’t Have Said That”, which is out now. They will be supported by comedian Phill Jupitus (in his guise as Porky the Poet) on all dates.

This Is Eggland is heavier and more in-your-face than anything they’ve done previously. Married couple Holly Ross (guitar/vocals) and David Blackwell (drums) bring together a fierce DIY ethos, surreal sense of humour and kitchen-sink realism. Dave Fridmann lends his magic dust to bring out the best of The Lovely Eggs’ explosive blend of motoric krautrock, 60s psychedelia and punk rock attitude, all flipped over and egged up.

The album title This is Eggland is a cheeky nod to Shane Meadows’ series, This Is England. It is a comment on the current state of the country, with The Lovely Eggs encouraging people to build their own worlds and create their own reality in these troubled times. The album is about being an outsider and doing things differently, eschewing society’s conventions as they have done.

The album was self-recorded at Lancaster Musician’s Co-op (a non profit making recording studio and rehearsal rooms, where the pair met and David works) and the Eggs’ own house in Lancaster, while their three year old son was in bed. Dave Fridmann then produced it remotely with the band sending demos and working progress back and forth. The result is a gratifyingly rich sounding record, which still retains the raw energy of the band’s sound but harnesses a real power and dynamism. It’s much heavier than anything they’ve done before. As Holly says: “It’s pretty relentless. It kind of sounds like a chip shop on fire. We still write about everyday life and the stuff that goes on in our world, it’s just the new album is more fierce and really tells it like it is.”

Thur May 24 Guildhall, Preston
Fri May 25 The Exchange, Bristol
Sat May 26 The Boiler Room, Guildford
Sun May 27 The Printworks, Hastings
Mon May 28 Ramsgate Music Hall, Ramsgate
Tues May 29 Portland Arms, Cambridge
Weds May 30 The Hare and Hounds, Birmingham
Thurs May 31 The Hairy Dog, Derby
Fri June 1 Picturehouse Social, Sheffield
Sat June 2 Long Division Festival, Wakefield
Sun June 3 Glastonwick Festival

The single “I Shouldn’t Have Said That” is out now:
Digital: http://smarturl.it/TLEIShouldntHaveSaid
7″: http://www.thelovelyeggs.co.uk/Said-That-Single.php

http://www.thelovelyeggs.co.uk/

TOUR NEWS: Rufus Wainwright June 2018 tour

LSF Staff Writers

14 Feb 2018

Rufus Wainwright has announced 10 not to be missed UK summer shows. Armed with one of modern music’s best back catalogues, an incredible voice and a between song chat to rival anyone, these shows will be a real treat.

Rufus Wainwright plays:

June
Thurs 21st BASINGSTOKE, The Anvil
Fri 22nd COVENTRY, Coventry Cathedral
Sat 23rd NOTTINGHAM, The Royal Concert Hall
Mon 25th WHITLEY BAY, The Playhouse
Tues 26th LEEDS, Town Hall
Thurs 28th BATH, Forum
Fri 29th CAMBRIDGE, The Corn Exchange
Sat 30th BEXHILL ON SEA, De La Warr Pavilion
July
Mon 2nd EDINBURGH, Royal Lyceum Theatre
Tues 3rd EDINBURGH, Royal Lyceum Theatre

Tickets are on sale now from: http://rufuswainwright.com/tour/

EP REVIEW: WUZI – ‘Bozo Material’

Frank

13 Feb 2018

Leeds band WUZI’s new EP ‘Bozo Material’ not only kicks ass but any other part of the body you care to mention. Fuzz laden, riotous where it needs to be, surprisingly melodic at times, a lot more – let’s say – sophisticated than you might expect. Perhaps that’s just me, but the more I listened to the three tracks that make up the EP the more I found that shows the care these songs have been put together with.

The lead track ‘Buffalo Shout’ is going to give you a good indication of what’s to come. Don’t let that psychedelic intro fool you though, you’re going to be dumped into fuzz laden riffs pretty soon. So yep, it does that alt-rock quiet/loud thing but in a fuzzed up almost acid rock sort of way. And those quiet bits, boy are they haunting, I just love the guitar in those.

‘You Are My Shadow’ has more ‘light and shadow’ (if you’ll forgive me that). It has guitar that just won’t quit, it bores into your ear canals. And just when you think it can’t get any more wall of sound, it does, it does it in spades. It’s almost a relief when it ends, except you’ll find yourself hitting repeat for another dose. I really can’t decide whether this is my favourite track on the EP or whether it’s the final track …

‘DD’ is perhaps a lot psychedelic than the other two, at least to start with. There is this slightly warped guitar at the start, then there’s slightly echo-y vocals and BAM you’re dumped into huge guitars. But there’s a tune at the heart of it, honest. So yep this does the quiet loud thing a bit but it does it with a swagger, a swagger you’re going to love. And the vocals on this track are something else. I don’t know but there’s something in my head that says there’s just a hint of MC5 in this track, don’t know why.

WUZI’s EP ticks a lot of boxes for me – it’s psychedelic, it’s guitar laden, the songs are incredibly well put together, and although there’s a hell of a lot going on soundwise you can actually hear it, it’s not just a wall of distortion. What this means is that you can actually sit and listen to these tracks and every time you listen you hear something you didn’t before – another layer, another touch. Or, should you be that way inclined, you could play it very loud and rock out. The choice is yours.

The EP is available to stream and download on all major digital platforms. Physical copies are available at Jumbo Records and Crash Records.

The info

WUZI started in 2016, born from the member’s shared enthusiasm of relentlessly fuzzed-out guitar riffs juxtaposed with melancholic ambiences and catchy hooks.

The band spent 2016 playing shows all around the country and ended the year headlining Indie Week Festival in Toronto where they released their first single ‘Atomis’.

2017 saw the four-piece play some memorable shows at Live at Leeds and Liverpool Sound City as well as releasing their follow up single ‘DD’. Both singles were recorded by Matt Peel at The Nave in Leeds.

They have shared stages with bands making waves around the country such as Strange Bones, Fangclub, Fizzy Blood, Blackwaters, Otherkin and Table Scraps. For 2018 WUZI are preparing to release a multitude of EPs and singles.

WUZI is:

Callum Smith on lead vocals and guitar
Tom Baker on guitar
Arthur Davies on bass
Elliot Marsters on drums and vocals.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wuziuk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wuziuk/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6gelQXbTcgX9IK7iJQuDoa
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/wuziuk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WuziUK

SINGLE & TOUR NEWS: Fizzy Blood drop ‘C.F.O.’, tour starts 22nd February 2018

LSF Staff Writers

12 Feb 2018

Fizzy Blood kickstart a new chapter today, releasing new single ‘C.F.O.’. Brash, fuzzy, and oscillating, the track reinforces the Leeds quintet’s signature sound whilst scaling new heights with contagious, pop hooks. The track is supported by the PRSF Momentum Fund.

“We worked and lived with producer Alex Newport in Brighton for a bit while making C.F.O. and it was an incredible experience. He helped us experiment with the sounds and textures and then glue it all together without us even realising he was doing it at the time. We’ve recorded a few songs that we feel are the best things we’ve ever created, and we’re very proud to present them.

Broadly speaking, ‘C.F.O.’ is a warning about pushing people away who only had your best interests at heart. It’s easy to lose sight of things when you’re mired down in a single minded pursuit. So what I’m trying to say is, stop and smell the roses every once in a while, you’ll thank yourself later.

This is one of those things that is better left up to your imagination. Whatever you think C.F.O. stands for, that’s what it is” – Paul Howells, guitars

Fresh from touring with Spring King, Fizzy Blood are now gearing up for their first UK headline run. Support comes from fellow Leeds residents Forever Cult, and tickets are available at https://fizzyblood.officialstore.co.uk/Live

22nd Feb – Manchester, Soup Kitchen
23rd Feb – Glasgow, Old Hairdressers
24th Feb – Leeds, Headrow House
27th Feb – Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge
28th Feb – London, Camden Assembly

SINGLE & TOUR NEWS: HOME WRECKED unveil ‘Moving Day’, announce ‘Try What You Want, Just Make Sure It Works’ EP due 20th April, tour dates with Carousel Kings

LSF Staff Writers

12 Feb 2018

Rising Sheffield pop punks HOME WRECKED are set to make a grand entrance with forthcoming EP TRY WHAT YOU WANT, JUST MAKE SURE IT WORKS, due 20th April on Primordial Records (Exist Immortal, Veridian).

“I guess our main aim was to just try to write an EP which we all love. We are all into similar bands and music, but at the same time have a lot of different influences. We tried to use this to maybe step a little outside of the typical pop punk style of songs, and maybe a little out of our comfort zone” Ben Hinchliffe, Drums

To mark the occasion, the band are pleased to reveal their new video MOVING DAY. Anthemic and brimming with energy, the track reflects on necessary changes and is telling of things to come.

TRY WHAT YOU WANT, JUST MAKE SURE IT WORKS follows 2016’s debut EP When All Goes Wrong. Both records were produced by Matt Ellis of Axis Recording Studio.

Track Listing

1. Moving Day
2. Back On The Grid
3. Point The Blame
4. Red Card
5. Stepping Stones

The band have just been confirmed to support Carousel Kings on their UK tour in April 2018. They’ll also make an appearance Pop Punk Pile-Up and Teddy Rocks.

Catch HOME WRECKED live

18th Feb – Manchester Fac 251 The Factory (w/ The Ataris)
19th Apr – Norwich, Owl Sanctuary (w/ Carousel Kings)
20th Apr – Ashford, The Junction (w/ Carousel Kings)
21st Apr – Manchester, Satans Hollow (w/ Carousel Kings)
22nd Apr – Glasgow, Broadcast (w/ Carousel Kings)
23rd Apr – Edinburgh, Opium (w/ Carousel Kings)
24th Apr – Birmingham, Asylum 2 (w/ Carousel Kings)
25th Apr – London, Thousand Island (w/ Carousel Kings)
26th Apr – Plymouth, The Junction (w/ Carousel Kings)
27th Apr – Bridgwater, Cobblestones (w/ Carousel Kings)
28th Apr – Pop Punk Pile-Up, Selby
29th Apr – Nottingham, Red Rooms (w/ Carousel Kings)
30th Apr – Southampton, Talking Heads (w/ Carousel Kings)
4th-6th May – Teddy Rocks, Dorset

FESTIVAL NEWS: Tramlines Festival first lineup announcement for 10th edition

LSF Staff Writers

12 Feb 2018

The first Tramlines lineup announcement unveils headliners Stereophonics, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Craig David’s TS5. PLUS Blossoms, De La Soul, Jake Bugg, Reverend And The Makers, Stefflon Don, The Sherlocks, Mabel, The Magic Gang, Coasts, Pale Waves, Gengahr, Naaz, Mullally, Stereo Honey, Mr Motivator and Rhythm Of The 90s.

The highly anticipated 10th edition of Tramlines Festival boasts its biggest, broadest and best line-up of musical talent yet for the new location on Hillsborough Park from Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd July 2018. Household names from the worlds of indie, rock and roll, garage, rap, pop and hip hop are among the first announcement, including headliners: Stereophonics, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Craig David’s TS5, plus Blossoms, De La Soul, Jake Bugg, Reverend And The Makers, Stefflon Don, The Sherlocks, Mabel, The Magic Gang, Coasts, Pale Waves, Gengahr, Naaz, Mullally, and Stereo Honey.

Tramlines’ new home – licenced up to 40,000 people – features four different stages, a wider than ever before range of entertainment including pop-up cinema, comedy lineup, special treats from Sheffield’s local breweries, a kids and family area and much more. It remains one of the best-value for money city festivals anywhere in the country, with weekend tickets now costing £59 plus booking fee and available from www.tramlines.org.uk.

Evolving and growing each year, the 10th instalment of Tramlines will be the most impressive yet, not least because of the new location in Hillsborough Park, but having the space to roll out extra entertainment that makes it as all-encompassing as any traditional, greenfield festival. The new site includes four stages with one hosted by iconic local venue the Leadmill and curated on the Sunday by ‘The Reverend’ Jon McClure, an all new Library Stage offering contemporary live performances from a variety of emerging talent, and a bigger than ever Into The Trees area with a wealth of kids and family friendly entertainment throughout the day and a plethora of party DJs by evening.

Remaining true to its initial vision of being as musically diverse as possible, the 10th Tramlines does so once more by mixing emerging heroes with internationally celebrated acts from a wide range of genres. Friday’s headliners, Stereophonics, with a reputation as one of the best live bands from Great Britain are still riding high off the success of their latest album, Scream Above the Sounds. Current single Taken A Tumble finds the band in fine form and guaranteed to be a highlight of the festival.

Saturday is headlined by ex-Oasis man Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, a band who continue to fly the flag for British rock and roll around the world with smart songwriting and huge hooks. Sunday, meanwhile, sees the ever-popular Craig David’s TS5 headline. Akin to a live dubplate clash complete with Craig David on the decks as well as the Master Of Ceremonies with his speed-rapping skills, it’s a performance not to be missed.

Other acts featured in the first announcement include Manchester rockers, Blossoms, mixing up indie, synth pop, alt and psychedelic rock with their thrilling live show, and flower-power hip-hop legends, De La Soul, who are still one of the most influential groups in the scene more than 20 years after first emerging. Add in the retro-soul stylings of chart topper Jake Bugg, local lad turned global star Reverend And The Makers, and the witty lyrics of rapper Stefflon Don, and the Tramlines Festival lineup so far is looking sharp indeed.

Ever providing a platform for tomorrow’s musical stars, the 2018 lineup includes local South Yorkshire fourpiece The Sherlocks, singer Mabel – daughter of Neneh Cherry and Massive Attack record producer Cameron McVey – NME favourites The Magic Gang, quirk-pop soloist Naaz, pop soul youngster Mullally, plus plenty of rock and indie from Pale Waves, Coasts, Gengahr and Stereo Honey.

Tramlines will open its site earlier than previous years, kick starting the day with some 90s nostalgia in the form of the Lycra clad Mr Motivator and the party starting Rhythm of The 90s. Add this to the lineup announced so far and you have a real smorgasbord of sights and sounds that will add up to a truly diverse and memorable weekend.

Tickets for the 10th Tramlines Festival have been selling fast. They’re now on fourth release but remain unbelievable value at just £59 plus booking fee for a weekend ticket, covering all three days. Tramlines continues is reign as one of the largest inner-city music festivals in the country, situated just 13 minutes from Sheffield city centre via tram.

Keep an eye out for further lineup announcements – visit www.tramlines.org.uk or follow Tramlines on social ‘@tramlines’.

TRAMLINES FESTIVAL TEN YEARS LINEUP – FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

Fri – Stereophonic
Sat – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Sun – Craig David’s TS5

Blossoms, De La Soul, Jake Bugg, Reverend And The Makers, Stefflon Don

The Sherlocks, Mabel, The Magic Gang, Coasts Pale Waves, Gengahr, Narz, Mullally, Stereo Honey

Mr Motivator and Rhythm Of The 90s.

SINGLE REVIEW: Mega Happy – ‘We Can’t Be Friends’

Frank

12 Feb 2018

Oh wow this is great, it’s kinda poppy, kinda indie, with a whole load of 80’s influences. And yes I could play spot the 80’s sound here – I have a particular liking for the almost Altered Images sound (it’s the Martin Rushent produced stuff I’m thinking of here) right at the beginning of the track – but I’m not going to, because Mega Happy take those sounds and blend them into something of their own.

And actually this track isn’t quite as simple as I might have given the impression it is because there’s some really interesting stuff going on, that warped guitar sound isn’t what we might describe as the obvious choice but it works, it works really well. And those bursts of pounding sound are fab. And that drop-out, where in the hell did that come from, brilliant. And I love the dead-pan vocal, I really do. And then not content with what is already a great track there are these things going on that are just the icing – the clap track that suddenly appears, the backing vocal on the last part of the track.

And not only does it work as something you can listen to, and listen to it really closely, you can dance to it as well. It’s bouncy, it had me throwing some suitably embarrassing shapes in LSF Towers; luckily with only my cat as an audience.

And then I find that Mega Happy have been going for only a few months, and they’ve already produced something as accomplished as this track. That’s hugely impressive.

So if you like poppy indie with an 80’s twist then ‘We Can’t Be Friends’ is going to be right up your street. Mega Happy are a band to watch, they really are that good.

‘We Can’t Be Friends’ on Bandcamp: https://megahappy.bandcamp.com/track/we-cant-be-friends-2

The info

Mega Happy are a native Leeds band, formed in October 2017, with a strong lineage of British influences, ranging from New Order and Joy Division to the Beatles. The band are

Jonathan Alderson on drums
Patrick Foster on vocals, guitar and synth
Darcy Midgley on keyboards
Leigh Midgley on bass

https://www.facebook.com/megahappyband/