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SINGLE REVIEW: Yuka Tree – ‘The Man In The Leather Laced Shoes’

By
Frank
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0

As many of you might have realised by now I love a band that does its own thing, especially when the result is crazzzyyy man. Plant Punk band Yuka Tree is one of those bands. And yes you read that right, the band describe themselves as Plant Punk. What this specifically describes I have not the slightest idea; not that this matters when a track is this good.

You might, if you are inclined that way, think that the title of the song is somewhat Fall-ish; and there is the hint of a Fall influence in there. There’s something in the vocals at times and the off-kilter surf sound that surfaces from time to time. You might also wonder what the song is about: vocalist Kieran Breese explains ‘The song is about power dynamics, trust and perhaps finding it difficult to understand when a relationship is in your best interest or when it is being abused. This could be a romantic, platonic, or organisational relationship’.

And after many listens I still have no idea who the man In the leather laced shoes is or how he fits into the song; but I really don’t give a fuck, it’ll come to me one day.

The track kinda goes through a musical progression – from old-school punk, to old-school ‘heavy’ punk (think Anti Nowhere League) but this is liberally seasoned with hints of madness – crazy sawing guitar that at times sounds almost Eastern, breakneck single note guitar. It’s a sonic riot. At times it sounds like King of the Slums; that sawing guitar sounding very viola/violin, the swirling manic sound. And over this the vocals go from old-school punk, to screamed out on the edge of raggedness. It’s a heady mix that drives you into a frenzy.

This, my dearest readers, is the cure for musical boredom, a musical kick up the arse of the workaday.

The info

This is the follow up to the debut single from the Sheffield/Manchester based quintet, ‘PREACHER’. Live, Yuka Tree sold out their debut at Salford’s The Eagle Inn in early
2020 and have supported touring bands across the north. Their biggest live show to date will be supporting Narrow Margin on August 21st at The Breadshed, Manchester.

SINGLE REVIEW: Alice Ashcroft – ‘When Will I Meet You?’

By
Frank
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0

This is, rather modestly, described as a pop song on the preview stream. And on one level it is pop; if huge ballads are included under that umbrella. But on another level it’s something different from pop, something richer and more classic. For you see this song includes elements of folk and something that comes close to pop-rock (although not in a heavy way).

This song has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning is folky with hints of bedroom pop – acoustic guitar to the fore, The middle bursts into full life in an almost strident way, and the end returns to that folk-ish gentle feel.

The icing on the cake of this track is Alice’s voice. Having reviewed previous releases it’s always been her voice that grabs me, and this is no different. Her voice on this track suits the song; it’s small and anxious, almost unsure and nervous; it’s compelling and charming, and tells the story in the tone and feel.

If this is pop then it’s pop that doesn’t sound completely like pop. It kinda reaches back to those big classic pop ballads of the past while having elements of pop now. It might be better to describe this as music, great and wonderful music that’s going to appeal to everyone.

A great song, fantastically put together, and sung wonderfully. Do we really need anything more?

EP REVIEW: The Ocean Beneath – ‘For the Love of Music’

By
Frank
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0

The Ocean Beneath make music that positively oozes class and sophistication. If they are new to you what they do is 80s inspired electronica; but crucially it’s analogue. They are also capable of the odd trip into the unusual, like their cover of ‘Fortunate Son’. So something surprising is always possible. So there was a degree of drooling with anticipation about this new EP at LSF Towers.

The opening track ‘Sounds’ sets the scene for this EP. Rich layers of sound. Smooth to the max. Slow and measured. It being instrumental the thing that compels about this track is the progression, the way it’s almost a set of variations on a theme. And then there’s the unexpected; the small sounds that dart in from nowhere and thrill. It’s so obviously a crafted composition; orchestral in feel.

The title track ‘For the Love of Music’ has so much of an 80s feel and sound that it sent a shiver up my spine as I was transported back in time. It takes the feel of ‘Sounds’ and turns it into something that changes and changes; voice samples, breaks into a sparse Japanese sound. It compels, it takes you on a journey.

‘Bright Lights’ has a sound that at times reminds me of the Bladerunner soundtrack – slightly Japanese sounding synth, a top layer of piano sounding sound. There’s a groove to this, it’s not a dance track but it grooves. And again there’s the unexpected; dropouts, a vocal sample.

Listening to this as a whole EP – which I strongly encourage you to do – you can take this as one piece with three movements. There are themes and feels that are carried through the three tracks.

This EP drips with the feeling that The Ocean Beneath made the music on it with love and a joy in the act of making music, their music. You can feel the craft, time and effort that went into making this. The careful choice of sounds, the adding of small sounds here, an FX there.

All of this is important but even more important, at least for me, is that this sounds organic, it has soul and heart. And this is what gives it a beauty, this is what makes it so compelling.

GIG NEWS: Casino Rockets to play a free open-air hometown show at Halifax’s Grayston Unity, Friday 27th August

By
LSF Staff Writers
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CASINO ROCKETS have announced they will be playing a free open-air hometown show at HALIFAX GRAYSTON UNITY on FRIDAY 27 AUGUST. This will be the band’s first show since before the pandemic struck and follows the release of their debut album, REALITY DISTORTION FIELD, which came out in May.

With an impulsive and mesmerising approach to rhythm, and a force that drives through the heart of the album, CASINO ROCKETS operate within a world of alt / math / post-rock utilising intricate guitar patterns and wall-of-sound synths to create rock with a discerning edge.

Produced by Steve Whitfield (The Cure, The Mission, Jane Weaver) and mastered by Dez Ford (Scenius, The Fossil Collective, Klammer) REALITY DISTORTION FIELD, as the band themselves admit, is an album of, “Persistence and perspective, a journey from the bleakness of the mundane to the exhilaration of elevation; an adventure between the rock bottom and the summit”.

CASINO ROCKETS are TIV WHITAKER (vocals and synths) RICK ANDERSON (guitars and vocals) DAN LEA (bass, synths and vocals) and – out of necessity – the unrecognisable CHRIS (drums).

REALITY DISTORTION FIELD is available now on download and vinyl from: https://casinorockets.com/

WEBSITE https://casinorockets.com/
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/casinorocketsuk/
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/casinorockets/
SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/artist/23TiFdf5dUZYchJxDfpY6K
YOU TUBE https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWIlKrZFaIv8kj_L-_i42XQ

ALBUM & TOUR NEWS: Pat Fulgoni ‘Dark Side Of The Blues: Pat Fulgoni Live In Prague’, Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience dates in Yorkshire August/September

By
LSF Staff Writers
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0

Before lockdown, UK singer Pat Fulgoni rehearsed his new blues band the Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience for a European tour.

The Blues Experience was all set for European festival dates this summer including the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, Colne and Blues Alive, Sumperk, Moravia before the corona blues struck.

Now that COVID restrictions have been lifted the band are ready to hit the road and they’ve now got some Yorkshire dates lined up (see below) and Pat is already penciled in for the Sumperk Blues Alive Festival in November this year.

‘Dark Side Of The Blues: Pat Fulgoni Live In Prague’

Pat released a solo blues album – ‘Dark Side Of The Blues: Pat Fulgoni Live In Prague’: recorded with leading players from the Czech blues scene.

Previously only available on CD in the Czech Republic the album is now available on streaming and download sites.

The album was recorded at Faust Studios, Prague with production by Richard Mader. The album includes covers of songs from Ray Charles, BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Lee Hooker, Led Zep, Bill Withers, Thin Lizzy.

iTunes/Deezer – https://player.believe.fr/v2/3616553542989

Upcoming dates

07 Aug Duck & Drake 43 Kirkgete, LEEDS
08 Aug Blues Bar 4 Montpellier Parade HG1 2TJ, HARROGATE
15 Aug Moll Springs, Netherton, HD4 7DN, HUDDERSFIELD
22 Aug Shady Grove Fest, Shady Hall Farm, Ford Rd, SHEFFIELD
28 Aug Lindley Woodstock, OTLEY
04 Sep Al’s Juke Bar 32a Darley Street, BRADFORD

More info: https://www.facebook.com/patfulgonibluesexperience/

SINGLE REVIEW: Cat Una – ‘Temporary Blues’

By
Frank
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0

It’s been a while since I reviewed a release from Cat Una, too long really. Her music has so much to love – great singing, a wonderful approach to songwriting and composition, and great instrumentation. She’s one of Leeds’s great singer/songwriters.

So to my first listen – I mean serious listen rather than a skim listen – and I’m hooked on this song. The music comes at you in small waves of gorgeous sound. Managing to be both rich and full of space. This is a song you could live in. This is joyous.

But the highlight is her voice; a voice that somehow manages to sound both small and powerful. She’s singing great words but that voice is part of the music, an instrument in its own right. And this is gorgeous.

Cat explains “‘Temporary Blues’ speaks to the journey of learning to navigate the sludgy states we get ourselves into by trying to control everything and the importance of being malleable and trusting the process. There’s a line in it which feels like an ode to witnessing
the seasons changing in slow motion for what seemed like the first time in my life. It’s the first song written, recorded and mixed in our little studio-come-home office-come-living room, and taking breaks in nature played a huge part in providing some much needed respite during the process of bringing this song to fruition”.

It sounds a little bit folky, a little bit soft-rock, hints of Country, even a big ballad. There are bits that have hints of Kate Bush, there are bits that remind me of Judie Tzuke (specifically ‘Stay With Me To Dawn’) and there’s something of a Cowboy Junkies feel at times. I could go on but it seems wrong to compare it to other artists when it’s very much a thing of itself.

There is, to me anyway, something that is decidedly not of this time about this song; it could be something from the 80s, it could be something of now, or even of the future. I’m saying It’s timeless here if you hadn’t already got that.

This is beautiful. It wraps around you and holds gently you in it’s mesmerising beauty.

The info

Cat says ‘I’ve been focused on creating from an unfiltered place and have had an extremely fruitful year of songwriting because of it. Mine and Mac’s biggest rule when collaborating is to express ourselves without worrying about anything external to our D.I.Y living room studio. Experimenting while remaining true to each song feels the most natural way to create and has brought about wonderful sonic surprises. Welcoming to the line up our cherished friend and top class drummer, Jack Clayton, has provided a strong back bone to the recordings, brought vitality to the live set up, and enhanced the transmission of the songs’.

 

ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Generation Blitz’ – Various artists

By
Frank
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0

Generation Blitz brings together artists from the global electronic music scenes inspired by the Blitz Club era.

I’m going to open this review with a track by our local interest, the band Scenius with their track ‘Escalation’. Scenious do electronica with soul and feeling; in the case of ‘Escalation’ that soul is provided by the vocals which, in contrast to many of their other songs, are way upfront. They’ve always made music which harks back to the classic synth-pop/electronica era – usually with more than a hint of post-punk. It’s what I would describe as dark-ish or moody as a rule but this is surprisingly bouncy; but if I’m hearing them right lyrically this isn’t that upbeat. Soundwise If I was forced to I’d say that there are hints of early Depeche Mode and OMD. Electronica pop with depth and feeling. It’s a wonderful thing folks.

This is a double album (there are 34 tracks!) so a whole album review just isn’t practical; here’s some of my highlights.

Falling into what I might describe as a homage to the era is ‘So Gone’ by BlakLight. For those of you who are familiar with Blitz era music the sound of this is going to be instantly familiar. Hints of Depeche Mode, even something of a Spandau Ballet feel, this is that pure Blitz sound. And bloody great it is too; earwormy as hell, great dance track.

Moving onto something a bit more experimental Platronic’s ‘Maybe Someday’ is gloriously compelling. Space-y, echo-y, hints of rave BUT with the sweetest vocals and mysterious spoken passages. Plus the surprising inclusion of piano.

‘The Masquerade’ by Nature of Wires (feat. Stephen Newton) is one of these big electronica songs – powerful vocals, strong beat. But it’s the details that grab you – the vocal fx that are subtle and clever, the clever layering of sounds. And yes, it’s somewhat retro.

I’m including ‘jACQUES bREL iS aLIVE aND wELL (jE sUIS aVANT gARDE)’ by nON sTOP eROTIC cABARET just because it’s fun. And back then synth-pop had more than the odd slice of fun. The words are going to raise a smile, the music is pure early computer games. It’s a blast.

‘Middle Aged Rebel’ by The Livelong June is a riotous, sometimes punky. track that takes what can only be described as the Miami Vice soundtrack and mutates it into something fab.

‘Radio Kootwijk’ by Birmingham Electric deconstructs a certain Depeche Mode track and mixes it with something that can only be described as OMD. The result is something that sounds like it’s from way back but way up to date. It’s just a great pop song, simple as.

‘Hurting for Two’ by Chain Complex (feat. WARTERAUM) is a glorious slice of Gothic post-punk electronica. Huge, rich and layered, deep and dark. Wonderful.

As a compilation this is a great intro to the sounds being made by electronica artists – poppy, raw and riotous, complex, experimental. There really is something there for everyone. Containing so many tracks there’s bound to be some that are going to be favourites but it’s also going to hook you up with some artists you haven’t heard before. And if you’re anything like me you’ll be taking off into streaming services to explore further.

The info

Thirty-four prime cuts from the frontline of today’s 1979 – 81 Blitz era inspired global electronic post punk/ synth-pop underground.

Featuring exclusive songs and remixes alongside classic tracks, Generation Blitz brings together many of the most exciting names from the global electronic music scenes inspired by the Blitz Club era. The collection includes overt homage alongside creative deconstruction of some of the sounds and styles of the period. The set moves from sophisticated synth pop classics to electronic new wave floorfillers and takes in minimal electronic synth punk and outsider post punk along the way. These are the sounds of a global scene that is an open space for all genders, sexualities, ethnicities, ages and abilities.

SINGLE & EP NEWS: Enfers drop ‘Waiting Rooms’, EP ‘Come When They Call Labour’ released 1st September 2021

By
LSF Staff Writers
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0

Leeds-based four-piece Enfers have released their third single ‘Waiting Rooms’ ahead of their debut EP ‘Come When They Call Labour’ which will be released on 1st September 2021.

Their first release ‘Haunted’ set out their stall; Enfers are on a mission to ‘redefine the guitar band model’ with contemporary pop melodies and abstract true to life lyrics.

‘Waiting Rooms’ is the follow up to their second single ‘Awake’ – this new track takes a different approach, presenting a slower and lighter instrumental in comparison, with lyrics that embody the journey of finding new relationships in the ‘twenty-something’ period of life.

Sam Donley on ‘Waiting Rooms’ and ‘Come When They Call Labour’:

“Our debut EP is a collection of songs that encompass many of the ideas, lyrics and melodies that we’ve been gathering and holding onto for a while now. Some songs stem from ideas that were written years ago, whilst others were written only very recently. In many ways, the tracks which we chose for the EP are the ones that most represent the journey from when we first formed the band to where we are now. Each one is quite different to the next but all of them live somewhere along the spectrum between commercial pop and indie rock.

‘Waiting Rooms’ started as an acoustic song that we’d had for a while. Jonny and I were having a writing session one evening, and after working on a couple of ideas that weren’t really coming to anything, I started playing ‘Waiting Rooms’. We’d been loving ‘Kyrie’ by Mr Mister at the time of writing, so took some influence from that more epic rock sound. We’re just a simple pop band, but I think the single and the EP present a lot of ideas that we hope to push even further going forward whilst also hopefully including as many catchy hooks as possible.”

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/enfersband
Twitter: @enfersband
Instagram: @enfersband

SINGLE NEWS: Hebden Red Sox release ‘Freedom’/’Days Of Hope’

By
LSF Staff Writers
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0

Hebden Red Sox are Trish Clemit and Jessika Martin who hail from Hebden Bridge.

Trish Clemit was born and raised in the town of Hebden Bridge and lived there for many years before she departed in order to travel around the world experiencing many different and varied adventures which included working for a good few years on a kibbutz and subsequently touring Europe and Scandinavia with her very own Percussion Orchestra.

Upon her recent return to Hebden Bridge, Trish teamed up with the recently qualified BRIT school graduate and celebrated performer Jessika Martin in order to form the songwriting and performing outfit Hebden Red Sox.

Following a couple of months of intensive rehearsals, Hebden Red Sox entered the widely celebrated Fairview recording studios in Hull recently for a weekend’s recording.

Now, the duo release ‘Days Of Hope’ and ‘Freedom’, their latest soulful offerings that come ahead of their debut album, coming autumn of 2021.

Written by Heath Common for Hebden Red Sox, the musician, writer and spoken word artist says of the tracks “The track ‘Freedom’ was written as a reaction to the increasing number of restrictions currently placed upon our lives. It is NOT intended as a statement of protest more as a yearning for those days of ‘Freedom’ which existed not so long ago.

“The track ‘Days Of Hope’ details a yearning for a future of greater equality in society instead of the increasing tolerance of an ever-widening rift between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ in our world.”

GIG NEWS: Indian Man, Manasamitra, Silverfinger Singh, DJ Deepsta + more – The Parish, Huddersfield – 4th August 2021

By
Frank
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0

A gig to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month. South Asian Heritage Month runs from 18th July to 17th August every year and seeks to raise the profile of British South Asian heritage and history in the UK through education, arts, culture, and commemoration.

INDIAN MAN (Womad resident)

The Bristol based producer began his journey with his Punjabi Indian roots, which has since expanded to create a melting pot of melodic magic by merging the music of his childhood with the UK sounds of Dub, Garage and Jungle. Starting his career as a live touring musician for the past 10 years dabbling in everything from funk, jazz, and Bhangra, the Indian Man project was born three years ago out of a desire to merge his groundbreaking “East meets West” sound on dancefloors worldwide.

A true world selector, Indian Man absorbs the soundscape of every place he visits. Since returning from his WOMAD resident DJ tour of Chile, Gran Canaria and the UK, he is constantly on the move playing festivals worldwide. Whether rocking Shangri La at Glastonbury or Jai Ho in the New Orleans underground, Indian Man brings you the finest world fusions of electronica and unique musical inspiration from all corners of the globe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADz-4mVJesM&t=5s
https://www.facebook.com/IndianManMusic/

MANASAMITRA (Supriya Nagarajan – Worldwide FM)

Performing: “Srichakram – The Ultimate space” – Inspired by the undulating landscape of Yorkshire comes the dawn and dusk chorus of the birds accompanied by the magical sounds of the flugelhorn and mellifluous Indian vocals. Bhakti (devotion) and serenity lie at the core of this journey. Supriya Nagarajan plays with different languages from the North to the South of India to awaken the senses and reach out to the meditative inner core of the brain. Accompanying her on this journey is Duncan Chapman on flugelhorn, field recordings and electronics. This cultural and musical juxtaposition of words and sounds will create a restful and peaceful interlude.

Supriya Nagarajan is a UK based vocalist/composer who creates cross- cultural cross-genre concept driven immersive music work. She has toured the globe and created work for festivals like the hcmf//, Ultima Oslo and Iceland Symphony Orchestra. She is a Performing Rights Society/Jerwood composer and an alumni of New voices 2018 Sound and Music. She is the Artistic Director of Manasamitra, a UK based arts charity and a passionate advocate for fair access in the music sector. Apart from Dusk Notes, recent releases were on the Come Play with me and Café Oto’s Takuroku labels. Supriya also hosts a radio show on Worldwide FM.

www.manasamitra.com

SILVERFINGER SINGH (BBC Radio Leeds)

Leeds based Artist & BBC Radio Broadcaster SilverFinger Singh has music in his blood and is the son of percussion maestro GoldFinger (Fun-Da-Mental, Transglobal Underground, Ian Brown) who will join him on stage alongside MC Oova (Bluefoot Project). As well as supporting legendary acts such as Panjabi MC, Ian Brown, Sugarhill Gang & many more he presents “The Mixtape” on BBC Radio Leeds where he brings the sound of Asian Fusion to promote Brown Excellence on BBC Radio. SilverFinger Singh’s debut release in 2018 ‘Education Road EP’ put him firmly on the map with radio support from the BBC Asian Network, BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Manchester, Punjab 2000, Irvine Beat FM, Sabras Radio, Radio2Funky, Switch Radio, Lyca Radio, Radio XL, Fever FM, RadiAsian.London, Kohinoor FM, Radio Sangam & Soho Radio, as well as support from numerous tastemakers in the scene.

https://www.facebook.com/SilverFingerSingh

DJ DEEPSTA (World Bhangra Day)

Djdeepsta is a local-lad leading the way in Bhangra across the globe. Founder of World Bhangra Day and the ground-breaking Bhangra Lexicon project. Playing a range of old school hits and a few underground gems.

https://www.virsa.info

Info

INDIAN MAN (Womad resident), MANASAMITRA (Supriya Nagarajan – Worldwide FM), SILVERFINGER SINGH (BBC Radio Leeds), DJ DEEPSTA (World Bhangra Day)
+ more to be announced!

The Parish, Huddersfield
4th August 2021
Doors 7.30pm
First act 8pm
Curfew 11pm
£5/£6

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/indian-man-manasamitra-silverfinger-singh-dj-deepsta-tickets-162905413477

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