new media from Al Chamberlain, Omega Male, Ital Tek and The Maccabees

Posted on 21/10/2012 by brightonmusicblog

Before we head out to the Dome Studio bar for the Oxjam Brighton Takeover tonight, here’s a few bits and pieces for you to listen to and watch.

We mentioned Al Chamberlain’s Train Song in our review of september’s Bleeding Hearts Club, and since then it’s turned up as a free download on Soundcloud. Go and grab it now – it’s one of my favourite tracks of the year.

Next is a new video by Omega Male, half of whom is Fujiya & Miyagi’s David Best. Take a look at Testosterone here:

Then we have Ital Tek with the eponymous title track from their new album Nebula Dance, which comes out tomorrow:

Finally, we have beautiful, trippy video Ayla by the Maccabees

I am Ampersand / Holding the Negative up to the Light 7″

Posted on 18/08/2012 by brightonmusicblog

Back in January, I only gave I am Ampersand’s debut single “20 Seas, 4 Oceans” a passing mention in a blog post with a few other videos that were around, which is a travesty because it’s fantastic – four minutes of sunshine psychedelic folk pop. Matt Hainsby’s second 7″ is just as good. Holding the Negative up to the Light crams in even more ideas that it’s predecessor without losing any of the charm. And being the sucker for nice packaging that I am, I can only say good things about the translucent orange vinyl that it’s pressed on, and the screen print that comes tucked into the sleeve.

Negative is a tune of two halves – in the first half of the song, the vocals are accompanied by acoustic guitars and strings and then at around a minute and a half the song crumples then revives itself with effervescent analogue synths which bubble along and bring a completely different dynamic to the second half.

I Am Ampersand’s album is due later in the year on the Great Pop Supplement label. On the strength of his first two singles, it should be a corker!

Media Roundup

Posted on 24/01/2012 by brightonmusicblog

There’s been quite a flurry of activity over the past couple of weeks where a lot of bands have obviously been waiting for the new year to unleash themselves onto the world. Here’s a couple of bits and pieces that have come to my attention, some by new artists, some by more established acts.

Fistly some videos, first of which is Moya, covering the Primal Scream track which got remixed to become Loaded. She’s playing at the Juice New Music Showcase next week if you like the sound of that. Then there’s Sebastian Blake, who’s currently working on recording his debut EP, but has put out this taster. There’s also a new track by Chris T-T, who put on last sunday’s Midwinter Picnic. Lastly, there’s a brand new solo release from Matthew from Fujiya & Miyagi, who is recording his own stuff as Ampersand (being neither Fujiya or Miyagi, obviously).

Moya – I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have

Sebastian Blake – Red Underwear

Chris T-T – Binker

Ampersand – 20 Seas 4 Oceans

There’s also some audio too – there’s the latest demo release from Munich, and a taster of Shrag‘s new material:

Munich – Hidden House

Shrag – Chasing Consummations

Fujiya & Miyagi cover New Order for Mojo Magazine

Posted on 05/01/2012 by brightonmusicblog

This is something I was given a heads up for as a New Order fan rather than someone who writes Brighton Music Blog, but it’s worth a mention anyway. On the front cover of Mojo Magazine this month, a whole bunch of artists cover all of the tracks from New Order’s Power, Corruption & Lies, and Fujiya & Miyagi are covering Your Silent Face. There’s a 30 second clip on soundcloud here: