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SINGLE REVIEW: OtherPeoplesLives – ‘Endless Wave’

By
Frank
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0

I should know by now that it’s easy to be misled by those genre tags on Soundcloud ‘Endless Wave’ took me by complete surprise because the tag says ‘Doom Pop’. I expected something perhaps rather goth in nature, what I didn’t expect was what I heard.

This track is to be frank incredibly beautiful but twisted and warped. You’ll see what I mean when you listen to it. It’s all, and I can think of no other way to describe this, bendy. It has it’s doomy moments musically but the beauty shines through.

Driven by one of those deceptively simple guitar figures and the most understated vocals I’ve heard in a long time, this track dips and sways as it slowly builds. That guitar builds until it burns – it’s not a screaming thing but a gradual slow burn. And then there’s these bits were another vocal voice comes in, that’s oh so good. I don’t want to describe this it’s something you have to hear for yourself.

And the production on this is great, listen closely and there’s all sorts of stuff going on, like this whirring synth that sits way way down in the mix.

The result of this is a track that grabs your emotions – it’s not going to leave you feeling exactly happy but I found it addictive going back to the track again and again.

For the life of me I can’t find an easy way of saying who might like this – it’s pop – in a sort of 80s’ synth band way – but not as we know it, there are elements that might be considered to be a bit psych, and there are some distinct post-punk sounds. This then is music for people who like music that isn’t that easily pigeon-holed.

OtherPeoplesLives have produced something here that is beautiful, beautifully twisted and full of emotion.

‘Endless wave’ is available now for preview. The single is released on 24th April.

OtherPeoplesLives are

Matt – Lead Vocals & Guitars
Chris – Bass & Vocals
James – Guitars, Piano & Vocals
Ellis – Drums

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/otherpeopleslives
Bandcamp: https://otherpeopleslives.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OtherPeoplesLives/
Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/OtherPeoplesLives/

GIG NEWS: Transformer announces Thee Oh Sees headline summer show

By
LSF Staff Writers
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Transformer, the Manchester series of alternative-live music events, is thrilled to announce that Los Angeles four-piece Thee Oh Sees will headline its sophomore show. Taking place at Manchester Academy on Wednesday 14th June, the experimental rock outfit will receive support from fellow San-Fran supergroup, The Peacers, together creating a bold and energetic soundtrack to stir up the Transformer masses. Tickets are now on sale for £21 plus booking fee from www.skiddle.com/e/12902349

Launched in late 2016 by the in-house team at the iconic Victoria Warehouse, Transformer pays homage to Lou Reed and his visionary approach to rock, both in the Velvet Underground and on albums like Metal Machine Music. On Bank Holiday Sunday 28th May, just two weeks prior to Thee Oh Sees event, Transformer will host its debut, indoor festival at the Victoria Warehouse featuring the already-announced Swans, The Fall, Royal Trux and This Is Not This Heat. Previously host to events for the likes of BBC 6Music, Live Nation and SJM Concerts, the Victoria Warehouse is excited to take Transformer a few miles across the city to the Manchester Academy with its next avantgarde lineup.

Leading the all-American lineup on 14th June is the ever-evolving garage rock group, Thee Oh Sees. Led by the acclaimed singer / songwriter and guitarist John Dwyer, and key player in San Francisco’s 90s indie scene in bands such as Coachwhips, Pink & Brown and OCS, this live performance by Thee Oh Sees marks the only northern leg in their 2017 UK tour. The indie-rock outfit – who were voted in Paste Magazine’s Top 10 Prolific Artists of the Decade – are primed to bring jangled, guitar-driven rock to the stage at Transformer.

Opening the show from 7pm is The Peacers, the San Fran-based super-group comprising of Mike Donovan (Sic Alps), Mike Shoun (Thee Oh Sees), Shayde Sartin (Fresh & Onlys / Sonny and the Sunsets) and Bo Moore (Bozmo). It was Donovan of the noise band Sic Alps that first brought The Peacers together, and the timing of the band’s arrival at Transformer couldn’t have been better timed, as their new LP on the Drag City label lands in spring 2017. Expect psychedelic pop and more from the diverging avenues of The Peacers’ garage rock.

 

Event Details

Transformer presents: Thee Oh Sees The Peacers
Manchester Academy, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR
Wednesday 14th June 7pm – 11pm
Age: 16 plus

Tickets:

£21 + bf. Available from www.skiddle.com/e/12902349

Links

Website: www.transformerevents.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformerevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vicwarehouse

BAND FEATURE: WildCohen

By
Frank
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0

First an introduction, when I was contacted by Rob (Cohen) I had originally planned an album review with a bit of an introduction to the band for those of you who haven’t heard of them. When I listened to to some of the material I was so impressed I wanted to know more about them. An album review will follow soon I promise.

WildCohen are Jody Wildgoose – Bass & Vocals and Rob Cohen – Guitars & Vocals (the album features BH – Drums & Vocals). They released their album ‘BloochyKoo’ in July of this year.

WildCohen make music the like of which I have not heard for years. It’s psychedelic – huge and vastly layered. And it is, to my ears at least, different to some of the bands that are labelled as psych, drawing influences from all sorts of music.

Plus, and this is a huge plus for me, they’re not afraid to vary their sound from track to track. I had to reach way back to find something that hit that mark quite as well – for those of you that are interested that was ‘The Family That Plays Together’ by Spirit. I was also reminded in places of the The Dukes of Stratosphear’s ‘25 O’Clock’ an album that I considered to be a classic during my formative musical years. Having said that, and before you write them off as being purely retro, their overall sound is not only very much their own but is bang up to date.

Now, I think, would be a good time for you to listen to some music before we go on

Nice, yeah?

I was also intrigued – to say the least – by their description of the album as being a concept album ‘about the spiritual mother of all universes’. So I had a lot to ask them about. So I pinged Rob some questions and he was good enough to answer them.

For those of us who don’t know anything about you, how did WildCohen get together?
I personally think it was a bit of a happy accident, I knew Jody from years of being in bands in and around Sheffield, back then he was playing with the Various Vegetables, and I was in Marmalade Sun, our path’s crossed on many an occasion, busking and gigging etc, then Jody then went on to put out two brilliant solo albums (backed by a band) on Sketchbook Records, under Jody Wildgoose – check out ‘Lovely White Teeth’ and ‘Afterlife’ amazing albums – and I became a fan of what he was doing, and saw a lot of his gigs, and thought it was kind of similar to what I was trying to achieve, but not quite managing to get it how I wanted, Jody heard a few demo’s I had been doing, and said he would like to produce and work with me as a side project, so he kind of took it all apart, and put it back together again, like a sound mechanic, and the results blew me away, so that is how I remember it starting about 2 years ago!

We are both multi instrumentalists, but I tend to write more lyrics and basic structures, and Jody does all the clever stuff I can’t do, he has a real ear for song Layout / Structure / Layers and Production that is beyond me, but he has been teaching me that side of things as we go along.

Did you come together to make this sort of music or did it grow out of your shared influences?
We have a lot of cross pollination points where we meet, I think I might have been quite influenced by Jody’s albums I am a bit a sponge like that I take everything I hear and it filters through into something totally different, but yeah, we have very similar influences, but Jody introduced me to things I hadn’t really heard before like WEEN & Primal Scream, I might have even played him stuff he hadn’t heard, but it is hard for me to work out with what we do, what is Jody and what is me these days as it kind of just really yin and yang’s together into what I guess is our sound!

Talking about influences, I hear a lot of sounds coming from 60’s psychedelic music, is this something that influences you and if so who?
I think that is both of us, I started out raiding my dads and uncles record collections, listening to classic Pink Floyd, Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Donovan, Bowie and T-Rex and pretty much anything I could get my hands on, there was a wealth of great albums from the 60’s and 70’s.

It was like finding a pot of gold in the cupboard, and at the time it was a bit weird, because I was listening to all this classic old stuff from about 8 years old, and the Thompson Twins we’re singing ‘Doctor Doctor’ and I just didn’t get what was happening in the late 80’s.

I also get quite a lot of hints of 80’s stuff coming through – Primal Scream comes to mind (and even Deee-Lite to my ears) plus some of what I might call the 80’s New Paisley Underground bands, do you reach back to there for influences?
I am not sure where the 80’s thing comes from, as I didn’t really get on with anything in the 80’s, there was the odd classic band like The Cure, but it was a bit bad for me at the time music wise, I have got more into 80’s music recently looking back at it, but at the time, I just didn’t get it, I think Bowie was about the best for me at that time, and Prince in his Raspberry Beret, around the world in a day period. And Jody is well up on Primal Scream and punk low-fi stuff, I listen to a lot of dance based music, or I did throughout the 90’s, and I was a big fan of Nirvana and the grunge stuff from the 90’s also, so maybe its all parts of everything leaking through.

Even though I hear a lot of influences – and what music doesn’t have influences – as a whole the music you make sounds very much your music, is there one thing (or even more than one thing) that you think makes it yours?
Not sure what it is that makes it ours, I guess it is just the combination of influences mixed with life experience, I tend to write about what is happening at the time, right now I am a bit obsessed with time travel, space and alternate realities and concepts that are other worldly things, I stopped watching TV about 2 years ago, and all I watch now is Youtube, but you do tend to end up in the dark side of the web sometimes, you can start off watching the big bang and how the universe started and end up watching something about the mandela effect, and then your onto alien conspiracies but, to be honest I am not sure if any of it makes any sense, but I do like anything that opens your mind up, to other possibilities, I am sure not everything we are spoon fed is true, there seems to be as much disinformation as information, but, it is always good to keep an open mind!

Do you see your music as being separate from the current wave of psych bands (who to my mind filter their music through Indie in a broad sense), even though you probably share some influences?
I am not sure, I keep hearing people saying ‘New Wave of Psychedelic’ about us, and certain bands around like Tame Impala, Foxygen, The Moonlandingz, Temples, Lemon Twigs and GOTSTT, I am not sure we sound like any of those, but I guess the influences are there, there has been an explosion of music that I like again over the past 2 years, I guess its just a bit of a coincidence, but I love some of the bands that I found last year, 2016 was a great year for music, some really amazing albums recently, that remind me of a time when people made, records that are more than processed sugary kind of stuff that dominates mainstream charts, things are changing not just musically but politically.

I love that your album features a range of styles of music, was this a definite choice or just a happy accident?
Cheers, I personally am not keen of albums that sound the same from start to finish, with one ballad somewhere half way through the album, I think the 80’s has a lot to blame for that, I am not keen on music being almost automated, I watched a TV show the other night about a guy who had wrote some software that could write a hit song, although the outcome was, that is couldn’t, I don’t think you can force something, all the best things are accidents or naturally occurring, which I think is true of some of my favourite bands, lets face it what are the chances of the Beatles meeting in the same city and forming a band? but it happened, without being forced! I think the Monkee’s are the only exception to the rule!

You describe the album – ‘BloochyKoo’ – as being a concept album ‘about the spiritual mother of all universes’, could you expand on that for our readers?
I have forgot how it all started, but Jody wrote an unreleased song called ‘God in the Sky’ which must have subliminally influenced me (maybe I nicked the idea subconsciously).

I had a dream around the time of first starting this project with Jody, that I meet an all seeing, all everything being, a female god, of everything the mother of all evolution, all universes and time and all that is, and I was asking her about what is the meaning of life, and why are we here, and from that dream I wrote ‘The Light of the World’ which kind of sums up my dream, but the whole album has this and various concepts running through it, with added parts of Flat Earth Theory / Sumerians / Planet X (Nabiru) Jacksons Sun / Anunnaki / Aliens / Fate / Destiny and the Signs of End Times. I am not sure if that explains it, but that is how it came about, but it is hopefully a journey from start to finish, that opens up doors of perception and ideas! lyrically and musically.

What now for WildCohen – Upcoming new material, gigs?
I don’t really want to say too much about anything right now, as we are still promoting ‘BloochyKoo’, but there are irons in the fires and there are things in the bag, as they say, all I can say, is if anything of this interests people and they want to know more about what comes next, then head over to our main website www.wildcohen.co.uk and join our mailing list, as we will be announcing things later this year, sorry to be so vague, but more coming soon as they say!

Website: http://www.wildcohen.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWildCohen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewildcohen

If you are already a WildCohen convert and can’t wait for the album review before you listen/buy it you can get it here

Spotify: https://bitly.com/1ORFCO9
iTunes: http://apple.co/1QCQxuj
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SnyQMZ

FESTIVAL NEWS: Cotton Clouds Festival, Saddleworth Cricket Club, 12th August 2017

By
LSF Staff Writers
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0

A brand new festival for 2017 conjured up from the blue-sky thinking of brothers Max & Rick Lees and local entrepreneur Luke Stanley, this summer you are invited to leave your troubles behind and pop your head amongst the Clouds for a day of idyllic escapism and top-flight entertainment.

Hosting an eclectic line up of artists across three expertly curated stages, plus an array of activities on site for all ages, Cotton Clouds Festival promises something for everyone…

FULL LINE UP

With over two decades of timeless songwriting and 8 celebrated albums now to their name – Cotton Clouds is delighted to announce – THE CORAL – will honour the Main Stage as festival headliners in 2017. Currently touring with the wispy psychedelia of their critically-acclaimed latest long-player “Distance Inbetween”, and with a back catalogue teeming with balmy and beatific indie pop hits such as “Dreaming of You”, “In The Morning”, “Pass It On”, “Jacqueline” and more, the wondrous Wirralers are in prime position to put you on cloud 9 this August.

With hopes-up for a red sky on the night, there’ll most certainly be Rappers Delight as US hip hop supremos – THE SUGARHILL GANG – bring their ground-breaking 1979 hit and a host of other treats to the main stage earlier in the evening. Plus a man who knows all the hallmarks of a Fantastic Day when he sees one from his years captaining Beckenham new-wave faves Haircut 100, – NICK HEYWARD – will be encouraging all to don their Favourite Shirts and join him for a sing-along through his time-tested Top 10 singles and highlights from his illustrious pop career.

Elsewhere on site, there’s a whirl of home-spun talent from the Northwest to be found with some dancefloor domination compliments of THE WHIP, eclectic and esoteric ukulele escapades with the EVERLY PREGNANT BROTHERS, plus full throttle rulebook-ripping outings from rockers THE BLINDERS and CUPIDS.

EXPERTLY CURATED STAGES & DJ HEROES

With artists sweeping in from all across the country and beyond, the inaugural festival promises a day of engaging end-to-end performances across an outdoor MAIN STAGE, plus two indoor stages expertly curated by firmly established festival favourites TIM PEAKS DINER (of Tim Burgess/Charlatans fame) and JIMMY’S MANCHESTER (the much hyped new bar-de-force from One Night Only).

Bringing JIMMY’S stage to a close, punch-packing Manchester four piece PINS promise to see out proceedings with lashings of their goose-pimple inducing punk;
whereas over at the Tim Peaks Stage expect a headline set of dazzling future pop from the feverishly hyped THE RHYTHM METHOD.

Plus, ensuring the top tunes continue to pump from the Main Stage soundsystem all day long, CLINT BOON and GARETH BROOKS will be taking to the decks between sets to spin you some of their favourite good-time anthems.

FRESHEST NEW TALENT

Looking to the horizon, Cotton Clouds also pledges to provide a platform for the next generation of talent threatening to brew up a storm in the not-to-distant future. Cherry picking some of the most electrifying breaking bands from across the Northwest, this year’s festival will also welcome scintillating sets across the festival from the likes of: STILLIA, GARDENBACK, HELLO OPERATOR, HOWLING RHYTHM & THE HOWLING HORNS, ETHAN & THE REFORMATION, SHADOW PALACE, THE SUNDOWNERS, THE G-O-D, TEAR, NEV COTTEE, YUCATAN, COLOUR ME WEDNESDAY, and PROLETARIAT.

KIDS

With splendour aplenty to be found for big kids on the bill, there’ll also be plenty for the little ones too. The festival’s children’s activities area will be offering the nippers plenty of creative kicks, fun face painting, bold and brassy badge-making, arts and crafts classes and much more.

FOOD & DRINK

Specially selected street food stalls, pop up bars and a real ale tent will be landing at the festival for the entire duration, serving all manner of tantalising tastes and delectable drinks sure to cater to your every fancy.

COTTON CLOUDS FESTIVAL: A FAMILY AFFAIR…

The inaugural Cotton Clouds festival is brought to you by the Lees brothers, Rick & Max, a pair who know more than a-thing-or-two about good times and great festivals. Having initially played festivals the world over as members of thunderous rock & roll outfit Twisted Wheel, in latter years the two have instead opted to put their guitars back in the rack to take up greater roles in helping to establish the touring Tim Peaks Diner at major UK festivals up and down the country, plus launching the runway success club night Howling Rhythm in Manchester. Returning home inspired by their travels and teaming up with local entrepreneur Luke Stanley, Rick & Max are hoping to start new musical adventures for others at the very place that began their own as the inaugural Cotton Clouds Festival takes flight later this year.

Speaking about the debut festival the Lees brothers said:

“Having played and worked at many festivals across the UK and Europe over the last 8 years we’ve built up the knowledge and contacts to finally make this work. Saddleworth is a beautiful setting for a festival and has a rich musical heritage but there hasn’t been a music event of this scale here since The Jam played here in 1979. We hope to build a reputable event that becomes part of the UK festival scene over the coming years.”

TICKETS

Tickets are priced at £39.00 + BF and will be available on the Cotton Clouds Website on Friday 21st April from 9 AM: http://www.cottoncloudsfestival.com/

LOCATION

Situated in the old, industrial textile powerhouse of Saddleworth and set against the breathtaking vista of the stunning Peak District National Park, Cotton Clouds Festival is just a short 30 minute trip by car or train east of Manchester.

By Car / Foot: – Address: Saddleworth Cricket Club, Well-I-Hole Rd, Greenfield, Oldham OL3 7HY

By Rail: – Nearest train station: Greenfield Station, OL3 7JZ

One fine day, three top stages and a heap of stellar acts – the full line up features…

MAIN STAGE

The Coral

The Sugarhill Gang

Nick Heyward

The Whip

Everly Pregnant Brothers

Cupids

Gardenback

Stillia

+ Clint Boon + Gareth Brooks (DJ Sets)

JIMMY’S STAGE

PINS

Howling Rhythm & The Howling Horns

The Blinders

Hello Operator

Ethan & The Reformation

Shadow Palace

TIM PEAKS DINER

The Rhythm Method

The Sundowners

The G-O-D

Tear

Nev Cottee

Yucatan

Colour Me Wednesday

Proletariat

w/ http://www.cottoncloudsfestival.com/
f/ https://www.facebook.com/cottoncloudsfestival/
t/ https://twitter.com/cottoncfest
i/ https://www.instagram.com/cottoncloudsfestival/

VIDEO & TOUR NEWS: John K Samson shares video for ‘Alpha Adept’, tour dates for May 2017

By
LSF Staff Writers
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John K. Samson has released a new video for “Alpha Adept”, a song from his latest full-length album, Winter Wheat, which was released in October last year, on Anti-Records.

The video was made by John K. Samson’s good friend and musician/artist Shotgun Jimmie, who made the video for John as a present.

Dates

May 18th, 2017 – London, O2 Islington Academy
May 19th, 2017 – Manchester, Soup Kitchen
May 20th, 2017 – Brighton, The Great Escape

VIDEO & GIG NEWS: Mt. Wolf share new video for ‘Heavenbound’, live dates for June 2017

By
LSF Staff Writers
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Mt. Wolf have experienced much since their early days as a band – line-up changes, enviable hype and interest and, most of all, a sense of expectation that has never left them. With upcoming debut album ‘Aetherlight’ set to not only meet but exceed those tall expectations, today they release the emotive and thought-provoking video to the anthemic ‘Heavenbound’. The song owes a melodic debt to the literate, epic songcraft of Echo & The Bunnymen and The National while retaining the sky-scraping atmospherics that have become the band’s trademark, capturing the band at perhaps their most anthemic yet. Visually, the short films captures that same ethereal connection as it charts a man’s final minutes, projecting the sense that love will always be so much stronger than hate.

The director James Ayling, of Cape Films, says of the video: “I think everyone will have their own interpretation of the video. For me, it was about the idea of death acting as a force to unite people. For some death offers the chance to reflect and ask for forgiveness; for others, it provides an opportunity to find peace and the ability to forgive.”

And this from Mt. Wolf frontman and album co-producer Bassi: “Heavenbound deals with the different journeys entangled with death. The song is largely about letting go and moving on, while the video takes a slightly different approach: compassion, forgiveness and unconditional love for others can triumph in the face of hate and violence.”

‘Aetherlight’ is now available to pre-order direct from their label CRC Music here.

Patience has been the key, as the band worked tirelessly behind the scenes towards the all-encompassing sound for their new material that they had always aimed for. After a productive 12 months with super-producer Ken Thomas (Sigur Ros, M83, Daughter) they have returned with a debut album that confirms that sound is now very much realised.

The band will play the following shows to launch the album:

8th June – Hoxton Hall, London
9th June – The Eagle Inn, Manchester
10th June – The Lantern, Bristol

GIG NEWS: Space Monkeys perform their debut album at Manchester Academy 4th November 2017

By
LSF Staff Writers
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0

The Daddy Of Them All’, released in 1997, was championed at the time by John Peel, Irvine Welsh, Ian Brown & Liam Gallagher. David La Chappelle, a former apprentice of Andy Warhol chose the single ‘Sugar Cane’ to make his directorial debut and starred Goodfellas actress Debi Mazar and the Rock Steady Crew. The video helped the song become a worldwide hit, breaking into the US Billboard top 50. The band had mainstream success in America during the Nineties and tracks from the album featuredon the movie ‘Sliding Doors’ and TV show ‘Dawsons Creek’.

‘Since we reformed the band it’s been great to get so many positive reactions from people who have listened to ‘The Daddy Of Them All’ album for the last 20 years. It seems like yesterday when we were driving down to Monnow Valley Studio in Monmouth Wales to start recording the album. The Charlatans had just finished their ‘Tellin’ Stories’ album in Rockfield Studios just up the road from us and then The Verve moved straight in to record ‘Urban Hymns’ and in between was our album, so there must’ve been something in the air back then in that summer of 1996. It took another year for us to finally get it released, the last ever album released on Factory Records. It took off in America first selling quarter of a million copies through Interscope Records which was crazy but the really great thing is that it has stayed in the hearts of so many people over here in the U.K. who tell us how it ranks as their top ten albums and they still listen to the songs all the time. That’s very special to us and that’s why we wanted to celebrate the 20th anniversary exactly to the day it was released to maybe give that record one last send off into the world, at a fantastic venue in our hometown of Manchester’ — Space Monkeys

Over the years ‘The Daddy Of Them All’ has gained cult underground status and the band are currently writing and recording for a new album to be released in 2018. This is the band that Tony Wilson described in 1997 as ‘The Manchester band that your mates aren’t cool enough to know about’.

Special guests Stillia and The Scuttlers will also be part of the line-up for this special 20thanniversary show. It’s gonna be a good day for the dreamers.

http://www.thespacemonkeys.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/spacemonkeysofficial

A Manchester Academy presentation

SPACE MONKEYS
20TH ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE OF THEIR CLASSIC DEBUT ALBUM ‘THE DADDY OF THEM ALL’

Plus Special Guests STILLA + THE SCUTTLERS

Manchester Academy 3
Saturday 4th November 2017
Doors 7.30pm
Curfew 11.00pm

Tickets – £11.00 Advance STBF
http://www.ticketline.co.uk/space-monkeys#tour

SINGLE REVIEW: The Seamonsters – ‘Lost (And Found)’

By
Frank
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0

Boy have The Seamonsters shifted up a gear. This is obviously them, it retains the band’s feel and spirit, but it’s all shiny and, dare I say it, more glittery than ever. It’s summery and it’s incredibly catchy. It brings a huge smile to my face every time I hear it.

The Seamonsters have taken their influences – 80s pop and indie – and made something quite quite wonderful, something that is very much their own. From it’s keyboard intro to it’s keyboard and powerchord end (how 80s is that!) this is a slice of perfect poppy indie.

On a closer listen you’re going to hear quite how much care the band have taken recording this. There’s lots going on. The lovely touch of the sound of fingers moving on guitar strings, the layers of vocals, the way it builds and falls. The bursts of guitar. The balance between the poppy keyboards, vocals and rocky guitar. That cymbal sound, something I seem to have developed a particular fondness for.

So it’s pretty obvious that I’m completely charmed by this. In fact I’m charmed in a way I haven’t been for years. It’s reminded me that music can be both fun and clever.

If you like indie with a pop edge, pop with an indie edge, or even have particularly fond memories of that clever perfect pop from the 80s, like me, then this is for you.

In our recent interview (you can read that here) the band were clearly excited about this release saying that it was so much better than their demos. Well I can only agree with the band, this is fabulous stuff. It could be the start of something big.

The single is available on the 14th April and the band have been shooting a video for the track.

Links

https://www.instagram.com/the_seamonsters/
https://twitter.com/cmonstersmusic
https://www.facebook.com/TheSeamonsters/

TOUR NEWS: Indigo Girls announce July 2017 dates

By
LSF Staff Writers
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Twenty years after they began releasing records as the Indigo Girls, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have politely declined the opportunity to slow down with age. With a legacy of releases and countless U.S. and international tours behind them, the Indigo Girls have forged their own way in the music business. Selling over 14 million records, they are still going strong. Amy & Emily are the only duo with top 40 titles on the Billboard 200 in the ’80s, ’90s, ’00s and ’10s. They are now proud to announce they will be touring the UK this July including dates in Manchester, Bristol, and London as well as a main stage slot at the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival on the 28th of July.

Dates

THURSDAY 20 JULY – MANCHESTER, RNCM CONCERT HALL
FRIDAY 21 JULY – NOTTINGHAM, ALBERT HALL
SATURDAY 22 JULY – SHEFFIELD, LEADMILL
MONDAY 24 JULY – BIRMINGHAM, TOWN HALL
TUESDAY 25 JULY – BRISTOL, BIERKELLER
WEDNESDAY 26 JULY – BRIGHTON, CONCORDE 2
FRIDAY 28 JULY – CAMBRIDGE, FOLK FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 29 & SUNDAY 30 JULY – LONDON, ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

After signing to Epic Records in 1988, the Indigo Girls released their critically acclaimed eponymous album to thunderous praise; it remained on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for 35 weeks, earned double platinum status, received a Grammy nomination for “Best New Artist” and won “Best Contemporary Folk Recording.” They were overnight folk icons who continued to live up to the high standards they’d set for themselves: they’ve since released 14 albums (3 platinum and 3 gold), received six Grammy nominations and have won one. Indigo Girls have toured with innumerable star acts including Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez, R.E.M., Sarah MacLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Jewel and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

The duo has balanced their long, successful musical career by supporting numerous social causes – the Indigo Girls don’t just talk the talk; they walk the walk. Having established an intensely dedicated fan base, the duo continues to remain relevant and attract new fans. With their latest release, Beauty Queen Sister, released on IG Recordings distributed by Vanguard Records, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray have secured their spot as one of the most legendary musical acts of this generation.

In 2015 Indigo Girls released their 14th studio album, One Lost Day, produced by Jordan Brooke Hamlin and mixed by Brian Joseph.

TOUR NEWS: David Ford June 2017 tour

By
LSF Staff Writers
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Ford’s songs combine Americana, English melodicism and a touch of rock ‘n’ roll, tied together with finely-crafted lyrics. His emotive stories of social commentary, politics and love in a world going to hell are powerful, engaging and hark back to an era of classic songwriting. Think Tom Waits, Neil Young and Randy Newman. From raw-throated passion to delicate piano balladry, Ford’s music is intelligent, witty and authoritative.

Hailing from the South Coast of England, Ford has been lauded by press and public alike throughout his decade-long solo career. His debut album, ‘I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I’ve Caused’, was included in both The Times and Word Magazine’s top ten albums of the year and his latest album, ‘Charge’, was described by press as his “best album to date”. His records have achieved number one slots on iTunes and in February 2014, a bizarre twist of fate saw him travelling to Paris to receive the French Grammy award for song of the year. Ford ended 2014 with a sell-out tour of the UK backed by a string quartet, playing selections from his new mini-album, The Arrangement. Then in a shift of direction that has come to typify his uniquely eclectic brand of creativity, Ford toured the UK in May 2015 with a show he called “The One-Man Full-Band Show”. This featured Ford playing an entire stage full of instruments linked together by a home-made array of loop machines and triggering devices that helped him produce a full-on rock show played by one person.

A multi-instrumentalist and master of the loop pedal, Ford’s mesmerising live performances regularly sell-out venues on both sides of the Atlantic. As well as playing headline shows to his devoted and loyal fan base, he has toured with and supported artists such as Elvis Costello, Ray LaMontagne, Aimee Mann, Sara Bareilles, Gomez, Aqualung, Richard Ashcroft, Suzanne Vega, Augustana, Ingrid Michaelson and Jakob Dylan.

Despite countless plaudits, the songwriter flies below the radar for many, a subject he has documented in a book entitled, I Choose This – How To Nearly Make It In The Music Industry. Yet Ford’s exquisite songwriting and powerful live performances ensure he remains one of the UK’s most important singer/songwriters in the eyes of critics and genuine music lovers.

Tour Dates:

2nd June Islington Assembly Rooms, London
3rd June Arts Centre, Norwich
4th June Greystones, Sheffield
6th June Cluny, Newcastle
7th June Oran Mor, Glasgow
15th June Thekla, Bristol
16th June Talking Heads, Southampton
17th June Donkey, Leicester
18th June Deaf Institute, Manchester
22nd June Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

http://www.davidfordmusic.com/

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