Category Archives: Single Reviews

Ms Mr – Hurricane (CHVRCHES Remix)

By the magic of the internet, this post will hit the internet at, say, 1pm tomorrow. It’s more fitting than if I post it right now, on a rainy Thursday evening. This track that I’m about to ramble on about is full of all kinds of 80s sunshine. Granted, tomorrow we won’t be sunny, this is Spartaaaa England. And it won’t be the 80s, this isn’t New Zealand (sorry New Zealand, but you know it’s true).

Anyway, here comes a Chvrches remix of a track by Ms Mr, whose debut album ‘Secondhand Rapture’ is out next Monday and is currently streaming on The Guardian site. 

But I adore this remix. The original track leads off the album, and is a little more dark and echoey. But Chvrches have gone and shot some kind of electro-sun-synth gun at it, turning it into something really quite brilliant. The chorus power-keys conjures an image of some 80s/Breakfast Club film resolution soundtrack for me. Who knows. And that long electro beat that flips about at the start of most of the 4/4’s. Tchhhhhh. Anyway, it’s nice to see Chvrches put this kind of spin on a record, as it widens the expanse for what their debut LP could sound like.

Happy Friday!

#Beautiful – Mariah Carey & Miguel

Well, I didn’t see this day coming. Mariah Carey, on my blog. Bit weird really. But it’s valid. I haven’t had my password stolen by a 35 year old housewife from Milwaukee (I’ve just decided that’s her target demographic. Very specific).

Anyway, the real reason that she’s here is that Miguel is here. Oh Miguel. His 2nd album from last year, Kaleidoscope Dreams, still gets an unyielding amount of plays from me. It’s been a little bit of a slow-burner in terms of success too, so it’s always nice to see an artist come through the other end and get the respect that they deserve.

Since then, Miguel has turned up to a do a few guest spots here and there. He’s on J. Cole’s track Power Trip which is pretty damn swell, and now this track with Mariah has emerged.

The first thing to dislike instantly is the hashtag before the track name. This is not a cool thing to do. As soon as Will.I.Am did this, it instantly became a terrible thing to do. I mean, it would be a horrible thing to do anyway, but he’s like the Catholic Church of the music business. He really can’t do anything right in most people’s eyes, and with good reason.

So I should probably talk about the track itself at some point. First up, we barely even hear Mariah until 1:30. Bonus. Incredible. Keeping her insane-o warbling vocals off that much of a track is surely something worth knighting Miguel for. I don’t care if he’s American, let’s make him an honourary Brit.

So I’m pretty happy that 0:00-1:30 is basically a new Miguel track – it’s a pretty straight-forward hook, with an ambling guitar fuzz winding its way low in the mix. And then Mariah comes in, and, for the most part, keeps that bombastic bonkers stuff on the sideline (apart from one minor slip), but, it’s actually quite a fun moment. Then Mariah and Miguel sing together, and the thing just works. It’s not going to change the world, it’s not going to save the planet from a meteor, but, it’s really, quite, ok. There you go Mariah, have that one for your scrapbook.

 

Dude York – And Andrew Too

A new find for me, for you, and for your friends too. Dude York make scraggly, fuzzy rock n’ roll that just sounds so good. ‘And Andrew Too’ is a track that sounds like it’s been filtered through a thick woolen pair of socks, but instead of filtering the sound, in this weird universe I inhabit, it makes it sound thick and fluffy.

So what’s fuzzy about it? Nye on everything. Jerky vocals, wiry guitars, we barely even get percussion but for the shake of a well-timed tambourine and a drum beat low in the mix. But I love it. And the video for this track has been up since last summer, and only has 750 views. What is wrong with you internet???!!! ‘And Andrew Too’ comes from their ‘Escape From Dude York’ EP, and is well worth a listen. Have a listen to ‘And Andrew Too’ below.

Deptford Goth – Union

Spring is nearly here. At last! So what we need now is some uplifting, summer-filled noise. Right? Wrong. Here’s Deptford Goth! Described by Last.fm as downbeat electronica, but don’t let that fall you for a second. There’s a sneaky warmth in the melodies and fuzz that make up the noise.

Deptford Goth is a one man machine from London, and his debut album is dropping in March. All I’ve heard so far is ‘Union’, but that’s enough to get me excited. It’s an understated, woozy track that just finds a way of charming the listener. Have a listen to ‘Union’ below.

Boxed Wine – Dayglow (Why Can’t We Stay)

Judging a book by its cover is one thing, but judging a band by a name isn’t something that really happens. Let’s be honest, most times you’ll hear the music first, so band names are pretty irrelevant. However, while scanning a playlist a couple of days ago, one name jumped out. Boxed Wine.  Any band who would decide to name their creative output after such a thing clearly deserve my attention. And as it turns out, they make some good noises. Particularly good is ‘Dayglow (Why Can’t We Stay)’ from their 2013 EP, ‘Cheap, Fun EP’, bringing to mind the likes of Funeral Party with their churning bass lines and disco rock.

Have a listen below.

Pet Moon – Hold The Divide

The Blessing Force crew can do no wrong these days, and living in Oxford means I’m lucky enough to see my fair share of it in the flesh. Recently I’ve been gushing about Chad Valley and Rhosyn (plus Foals, obviously). But Pet Moon are a new one for me.

A free download called ‘Hold The Divide’ popped up onto their Soundcloud page a month or so ago, and it’s brilliant fun. Both Pet Moon and Blessing Force in general make clever pop music seem so easy. ‘Hold The Divide’ drapes noodly guitar bursts with thick electro beats and a warm broth of synths bubbling underneath. Have a listen below, and download (what now appears to be Japanese noodle soup in song form) for free!

AlunaGeorge – This Is How We Do It

This cover of Montell Jordan’s 1995 SMASH ‘This Is How We Do It’ by AlunaGeorge is a little bit nice. I’ve been patiently waiting for a YT version to pop up, but alas and alack, it hasn’t happened. So Soundcloud will have to do. The cover was done for the ageless Trevor Nelson on BBC Radio 1 Xtra. Have a listen below!

Alarm Bells – Cocoons

Close to a year ago today, I saw Dananananakroyd playing in Oxford as part of their farewell tour. It ended up being my favourite live show of 2011, and made me all the more sad that the band were calling it a day after two LP’s and a whole lot of wall of hugs.

The timing is significant, as one year later, a handful of the former members are back as a new band, Alarm Bells. They’ve been playing a few live shows here and there over the last few months, but now we can get our grubby mitts on the first physical release from the band.

The first piece of music we get to hear is ‘Cocoons’, from a 4 track, 28 minute long, limited-edition 12″. And it’s gloriously batshit crazy. The first minute or so act as a rottweiler on the doorstep saying: “If you’re here expecting Dananananakroyd 2.0, keep on walking or I’m going to tear your face off.” This new guise and new formation has given Alarm Bells the chance to expand on the post-hardcore sound that we’re used to, but ‘Cocoons’ is darker, creepier and heavier than anything we’ve become used to. Also helping to create this atmosphere is the loopy video, looking a little like how a Sim’s game  circa 1985 might look. Pre-order the LP on the band’s Bandcamp page, and check out the video for ‘Cocoons’ below.

Spring Offensive – Not Drowning But Waving

This blog claims to be somewhat Oxford-focused, but let’s be honest, we could do better, Gaz Coombes and TEED posts aside. I was planning on going to Truck Festival this year, and in the build-up to it I set about listening to a whole host of bands that were set to be taking to the stage. As it turned out, I couldn’t make the festival, but I had stumbled across a rich vein of brilliant local bands. For today, step forward Spring Offensive.
A few days ago they posted a video for their new single ‘Not Drowning But Waving’ which I wrapped my eyes around for the first time today. While previous music from them has a charming indie-melancholy lilt, this track feels like a step into a slightly different direction. Again, it’s quite a downbeat current running through the track lyrically, but it feels more atmospheric, grander in its scope and execution. They’ve dreamed bigger and brought this track to life in a brilliant way. The track and video feel a lot like Foals’ wondrous ‘Spanish Sahara’, both in the slow building but ultimately glum-euphoria of the end of the track. The video also uses a body of water to carry the storyline, as in ‘Spanish Sahara’. All of this just further wets the appetite for a potential LP down the line. Check out the video below.

MYSTYRYS – Normals

Vowels are for suckahs, right? Except the letter Y, that fence sitting bastard. Hey! Here’s a new band (MYSTYRYS), and their first ever single (Normals). I pretty much adore this, which blows my mind when it’s just their first piece of music they’ve given to the world. Unfortunately, there’s no Youtube-y goodness, except for live versions. So you’ll have to trek all the way to the wonderful Bandcamp website to have a listen. But trust me, it’s worth it. If you like as many time-signature changes as scoops of ice cream on your cone, then this is for you. Plus, some dizzying guitar riffs and clashing drums. Lovely stuff. http://mystyrys.bandcamp.com/album/normals-shadows

Update: The next day a video for MYSTYRYS was lovingly thrown on to Youtube. Hurray!