The Wytches have announced details of their debut album Annabel Dream Reader. The record is coming out on August 25th on Heavenly Records and features previous singles Gravedweller and Robe for Juda and upcoming single Wire Frame Mattress, whose new video has been directed by legendary photographer Steve Gullick:
It’s been a bit quiet from us for a little while, for which we apologise profusely. It’s all the Great Escape’s fault. As fun as it is, it does leave us with no spare time for three days, then knackered for a few days after that.
We’re back now though and unfortunately it’s with some sad news. Last week we got a press release saying that one of Brighton’s finest bands – Us Baby Bear Bones – were splitting up. They’re releasing a second and final EP, Ursari, which has been produced by Blood Red Shoes’ Simon Ansell which is coming out tomorrow on Love They Neighbour, limited to only a hundred copies, and also playing one final gig at the Green Door Store, with support from Hypnotized and Speak Galactic. Here’s the video for Only One from the EP:
Don’t be sad for too long though. Two of the band’s members are continuing as Psalm Springs, and their first track Get Out (Leave) is already out there, tucked away on Cupboard Music’s sampler cd that they gave away to those who made the early start on Record Store Day, which isn’t too difficult to find a stream of with a little bit of hunting. If Psalm Springs are even half the band that Us Baby Bear Bones were they’ll still outshine most of what Brighton has to offer so we look forward to hearing more from them.
Last week, Black Rooster Black Shag released their debut album As Far As My Lead Will Take Me. We were out of town for their launch gig at the Bees Mouth on thursday, but we caught up with Mirika, JJ and Dan last Sunday afternoon when they played a another gig at the Ranelagh.
Brighton Music Blog: So the album’s called…
JJ: As Far as My Lead Will Take Me
BMB: And where did the title come from?
JJ: Between us we came up with the title. I think it really reflected the journey of the record. We met in the Southern Hemisphere, moved to the UK and eventually settled in Brighton and I think it was that sort of journey that by the time we got to Brighton that really made up the record. That whole trajectory that we took and it kind of sums up the spirit of the record in terms of going a great distance and getting to a particular point and the fact that you can still go a little bit further.
BMB: So are some of the songs quite old and have taken this journey or are they all quite new?
JJ: Some of the songs I suppose were composed a while ago but we’ve got Dan into the band and come together as a three piece and the sound has changed, and every time we play we play it slightly differently, we never try and play the song the same way the same time twice. So in that way the songs always evolve and are always fresh and there’s always something different every time we play. The skeletons of the songs were written quite a while ago but every time we play them they’re a little bit different.
Mirika: The band club we sort of had to hold back to really be able to play in this band. J and I were touring other projects when we met so we wrote all these songs cross continentally for a little while we were touring the other projects then once we finished those records we could make this band happen. So we really willed it to happen, although we’ve only been playing shows now for nine months.
BMB: So you launched the album at the Bees Mouth last thursday. How did that go?
M: Oh man, so much fun.
BMB: Did you play in that little sweaty room downstairs?
Dan: I think we made it worse. It probably still stinks of us now.
JJ: Our audience have got a very good aroma! It was just a great night There was a lot of people that came down, a lot of friends. We had a really good time and everyone walked away having celebrated the fact that the album’s finally out really, because a lot of them were friends who played on the record and we did have a lot of people around us that helped so it was just really really nice to have everybody in the same room and celebrating not just the end of one journey but the start of another one.
M: We’ve already been demoing new stuff, so it was quite exciting.
BMB: You first visit to Brighton was to visit the Great Escape?
M: We just came to visit, we weren’t playing. SO many great venues and people were really friendly which was really nice.
BMB: Are you around for the Great Escape this year?
JJ: We’re actually playing the Alternative Escape at Marwoods Cafe, on the saturday afternoon about half past five so we’ll definitely be around.
R: Any tips of bands to go and see at the Great Escape?
JJ: I would just tip to go and check out the Brighton bands. I think there’s such a vibrant scene going on with bands here. Compared to what you see on the surface from other cities it’s unique. There’s a lot of exciting guitar bands happening. For me it’s more about seeing my friends and seeing those bands play in front of a bigger audience of people that wouldn’t normally come and see them play. Anything from Brighton go and check it out.
BMB: Where’s next for the album? You’ve played launches in Brighton, London and Barnsley.
JJ: We’re playing Eastbourne, then Nottingham, then London again, and then Manchester, Doncaster as well. We’d like to play a few smaller towns and some of the bigger cities as well. Our idea is not to have one huge tour, but to keep going out and visiting places. It’s a slower run with an independent band, you can’t throw all your eggs into one basket, you’ve got to work it a bit longer. So we just want to go out and see as much of the country as possible.
BMB: Are you doing any festivals this summer?
JJ: We’re playing Coalfields, up in Barnsley again, but that’s about it really. We’re a relatively new band, so we haven’t really hit the festivals hard at this point. We’re more into playing smaller venues for now, getting the intimate atmosphere going really. That’s where people are responding best to the music so we’re happy cultivating that at the moment.
M: It’s nice when you go to a town and you see people who saw you at your last show. That’s the best. I don’t need to play anywhere extravagant, I just want a good vibe, and to be able to relax a bit and have a bit of fun.
Black Rooster Black Shag’s album is out now, available from EOI productions. You can catch the band on Saturday at Marwoods Cafe around 5.30 as part of the Alternative Great Escape (so you won’t need a wristband).
April was another great month for Brighton music with some fantastic albums being released as well as some lovely one offs for Record Store Day. May’s already shaping up nicely too but until then, here are our favourite tracks from last month:
1. Eagles for Hands – Handprints
Handprints is the sound of the party starting – lots of cowbell, housey piano and uplifting vocals. Eagles for hands are top of our list of bands to catch at the Great Escape next week – they’re at Coalition on Saturday night at 2.30am, and also at KLDSCP’s party alongside Caveman Genius and Foreign Skin and a whole host of other acts.
2. Fujiya & Miyagi – Flaws
Fujiya & Miyagi’s new album Artificial Sweeteners is out on Monday, although if you get down to Resident today they’re already selling signed copies. Flaws is the first single and is a great indicator of what to expect from the rest of the record – classic Fujiya & Miyagi with more electronics thrown into the mix. There’s still a few tickets left for their gig at the Haunt on 6th June but it will sell out, so I’d get a ticket sooner rather than later.
3. Fear of Men – Luna
Luna is the first single from Fear of Men’s brilliant new album Loom. If we didn’t love the track (which we do), it might have warranted a place in our top ten just on the basis of the utterly beautiful packaging – a fanzine written by the band and a clear flexidisc (along with download codes).
.
4. AK/DK – Maxwell’s Waves
AK/DK’s new album Synth + Drums + Noise + Space was one of our highlights this month. The lead track is the bleepy Maxwell’s Waves, and electronic krautrock rush. AK/DK are the support at Fujiya & Miyagi’s gig at The Haunt that we mentioned earlier.
5. Curxes – Jaws
In April, Curxes put out Precurxor – a roundup of of old tracks and demos to keep our interest while they get on with the business of recording their proper debut album. It’s definitely working for us. Our highlight is Jaws, which captures the urgency and power of their live shows.
6. Winston & Goldstein – Ode to a Massive Obsession
When we heard that Jacqueline from Kins had a new project, we didn’t envisage Winston & Goldstein, whose main influence seems to be mid-nineties alternative dance music from what we’ve heard so far. There’s a heavy hint of Leftfield in Ode to a Massive Obsession, which can only be a good thing in our book. Oh, and the video is all kinds of brilliant too.
7. Blood Red Shoes – Speech Coma
Speech Coma is the new Blood Red Shoes single. The the chorus goes “I can’t get the words out / I can’t get the words out / It’s like someone cut out my tongue”. And so does the video. Quite literally. Not for the faint hearted.
8. Cate Ferris – Gotta Do Better
We haven’t got a media link for Gotta Do Better, the latest offering from Cate Ferris. The only way to hear it is to sign up to her page on PledgeMusic, where she’s currently raising money for her new EP.
9. Cleff – Restart
Restart is on Cleff’s new Listen In EP, a lovely blend of electronic and classical music. We posted open the EP’s opening track Big Ideas earlier this month, but it was Restart which got under our skin.
10. Fickle Friends – Play
Fickle Friends have got a real knack for a catchy pop song. We loved Swim earlier this year, and they’ve done it again with Play. Fickle Friends are another band who are on our list for the Great Escape, playing at the Green Door Store on Saturday night, and at the Mesmerist on Saturday afternoon.
Here’s this week’s dose of new music. A real mixed bag, as usual. First up is the video for the new Tigercub single Blue Blood. We’ve mentioned this before, but the video has only just appeared online:
Next up is The Physics House Band’s Samuel Organ with his latest upload to soundcloud, whose title is a real mouthful – It’s cool if you don’t want to say anything, I’ll just say nothing too. The track is easier on the ears than it is on the tongue – lush chilled electronica.
We don’t often post Latin up on the blog but we’ve got reason to with the new track from Winston & Goldstein – Non Omnis Moriar (The Dead Can). It’s been more years than I care to remember since I studied any Latin, so I’ve deferred to Google translate, which tells me that Non Omnis Moriar means I Will Not Die, and the phrase gets chanted over electronic beats which build up over the course of the track. This is the second tgrack we’ve heard from Winston & Goldstein’s upcoming album In The Eyes of Others, and on the basis of these, we’re very keen to hear some more.
Alice Amelia has grown massively since we first saw her and with her debut single, it feels like she’s properly arrived – Sassy r’n’b vocals and big production, 11:11 is really rather good.
K-TV, which got a premier on XLR8R last week, is the second track that we’ve heard from Adolescent‘s upcoming Golden Halls EP. All effervescent electronica and phased synths, this is pushing all out buttons.
Time to wake up a bit now, with the new single from The Modes. The band say they’re influenced by Royal Blood and the Black Keys, and you can hear these influences comin through on Not This Time:
Finally we’re finishing up with an EP from Summa, who has an EP out called Roads – The beautiful, ambient Diapason is the lead track:
Last night Blood Red Shoes played a hometown gig at the Concorde and we managed to sneak a view from the front, for the first three songs, at least. The two piece rocked hard, and the crowd loved it – We can’t remember the last gig we went to at the Concorde that had that such a great atmosphere. And it was loud – my goodness it was loud. Thank goodness for the earplugs which are a must for when we’re up the front shooting.
On Thursday night, Moulettes played at the Haunt to promote their upcoming album Constellations. Moulettes are one of Brighton’s hardest working bands, who seem to be constantly on tour. It’s been over a year since they played in Brighton (and around eighteen months since we last caught them), and you could tell that they relished playing a hometown gig – as well as the opportunity to sleep in their own beds after play a gig! The line up has changed a little since we last saw them, and on top of the original core of members they were also joined by Eliza Jaye on guitar, vocals and violin, Emma Gattrill on harp and saxaphone, Faye Houston from The Resonators on backing vocals on one track and Kate Young on violin, who also played a support set of her own. The album features a whole host of other local musicians and midway through the gig Hannah praised the local music scene for all it’s talent. Constellations is out on June 2nd on Navigator Records. You can listen to the title track below and you can pre-order it here. Click on the images below to view them large.
We’re currently in the middle of an extra long weekend, so we thought we’d celebrate by posting up an extra long New Music Post for you all.
First up, Fujiya & Miyagi have posted a video for their new single Flaws, taken from their upcoming album Artificial Sweeteners. Tickets are selling fast for the album launch at the Haunt on 6th June:
Blood Red Shoes have also posted up another video for one of the tracks from their new album. Speech Coma is a rather bloody and dark black & white affair, probably not one to watch if you’ve just had your breakfast. The band pay a hometown gig at the Concorde this friday which we’re really excited about:
:
Eagles for Hands have a new single out called Handprints. They’re back to dancier territory after their collaboration with Sivu that we posted last month and we like it a lot – bright percussion, chopped up vocals and a housey piano line that ties it all together. Nice and cheap on iTunes at the moment too.
Sticking with house music, Aashton features on a new EP being put out by Sccucci Manucci next month. The Nine Bows EP will be out on double 12″ on 9th May and kicks off with Aashton’s track I Can’t Shake It:
Fear of Men have posted up a couple of tracks as a taster for their debut album which gets released tomorrow. Since we got the promo, Loom hasn’t left our stereo, and The Line of Best Fit have just given it a 9/10 review. Descent is going to be the second single from the album, but there’s no details of a release date just yet because first single Luna got held up at the press because of Record Store Day.
King Porter Stomp have a new single out, available right now as a name your price download from Bandcamp. There are two links to share in addition to the video for Still Running – There’s the link which gives you the single, the instrumental and the acapella, and there’s a remix package too.
Cleff released their debut EP last week. The six track EP is callsed Listen In and is out now via iTunes. Here’s EP opener Big Ideas:
Last, but by no means least, is a new video from Adolescent. Golden Halls Part Two is taken from his upcoming Golden Halls EP which is out on May 12th on KLDSCP, with a launch party taking place on the same day at the Green Door Store.
On Tuesday Fear of Men launched their new album Loom with a gig at the Dome Studio Theatre. Loom is out this monday, but if that’s too long to wait, you can buy the limited edition coloured vinyl edition as a Record Store Day exclusive tomorrow. If even that’s too long, it’s currently streaming on Pitchfork.
The launch gig was the first of a new set of regular nights at the Dome called Spectrum, put on in collaboration with Resident Support on the night came from Grace Carter, Grasshopper and Abi Wade. Here’s our pics – as usual, click to view large:
This Saturday is Record Store Day – a day to celebrate independent record shops, and a day when a whole load of records get put out on special edition vinyl. This year also happens to be Resident Records 10th Birthday, so they’re laying on even more treats than normal. A host of local bands are putting out releases – Fear of Men are releasing a coloured vinyl edition of their album (which doesn’t get a full release until the following Monday), and Metronomy have a one sided 12” of Love Letters, as remixed by Soulwax. The full list of Brighton releases is below, with the full list of everything Resident will be stocking over on their website.
Anushka / Distorted Air EP 12″
Mark Chadwick / Red Sky 7″
Cuz / Tametebako LP
Natasha Khan + Jon Hopkins / Garden’s Heart 7″
Fear of Men / Loom LP
The Levellers / Carry Me 12″
Metronomy / Love Letters (Soulwax remix) 12″
Luke Sital Singh / Greatest Lovers 7″
The Wedding Present / EP4 Can 10″
Brighton Music Blog 