Author: Crossfire

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Music News

Cancer Bats to play six shows in one day

Cancer Bats have announced a one day ‘tour’ on April 21st.

The Pentagram Tour will see the band play six venues in London on the same day and if you plot the points on a map, you get… you guessed it, a pentagram! The band’s times are below and tickets will be on sale soon so keep those peepers peeled.

11:30am The Old Blue Last
2:00pm Notting Hill Arts Club
4:30pm Upstairs at The Garage
7:00pm Brixton Windmill
9:30pm Camden Barfly
12:00am The Old Blue Last

As if that wasn’t enough, here’s a new track for you to get excited about too:

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Music News

Free Brother Ali track

Brother Ali has put a free track up for download.

The Rhymesayers MC will be releasing a new album this year entitled Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color which has been produced entirely by Jake One but to tide fans over, they rapper has put Writer’s Block up for download along with a brilliantly shot video, below.

To download the track head over to the label’s Soundcloud.

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Music News

ETID drop brand new video

Every Time I Die have released a new video.

The track, Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space, is taken from the upcoming album Ex-Lives, which is released through Epitaph Records on March 5th.

The video features images that some people might find disturbing, so you’ve been warned, but if you want to hear an awesome track then crank the volume and press play.

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Music News

Brand new C2C video

French turntable kings C2C recently dropped a new video.

The track F.U.Y.A., which is taken from their upcoming EP coming in January is a banger and the video isn’t bad either.

Check out the multiple DMC World Champ winners below:

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Album Reviews Buzz Chart Music Reviews

Marmozets

Passive Aggressive
(Free Download)

Freebies are always good. Even better when said freebie is actually really rather special. Marmozets’ average age is 17 years, yet they have produced an EP that belies their lack of years and consists of some ace melodic post-hardcore. Their edge of more yelpy vocals, slightly schizophrenic guitar lines and crashing drumbeats is leveled out by the purest of melodies and some catchy choruses. This band are proving early on that their knack for songwriting is not one to be sniffed at.

Occasional triple vocals led by an assured Becca MacIntyre as the band’s frontwoman (or girl, really) make the band stand out and ensure that the family affair of a band (the quintet consists of two sets of brothers and sisters) are one that won’t be ignored. They’ve already received plaudits from the likes of Kerrang! and Dan Carter on the Radio 1 Rock Show. This won’t be an underground act for much longer.

The overwhelming result of this EP is to highlight the band’s immense potential as major players on the UK rock scene. Make sure you catch them in small venues whilst you can and definitely snap up a copy of this release on the free download wire before they, quite rightfully, start charging you for the pleasure.

Winegums.

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Live Reviews

Shonen Knife – Live

Tokyo Shindaita Fever Club
02.12.2011

Shonen Knife’s singer/guitarist/main songwriter Naoko Yamano is chatting happily to the crowd; a crowd who, less than 10 minutes ago, were very shy and reserved, but are now grinning like loons and ready to pogo like there’s no tomorrow. Unfortunately, I can’t understand Japanese very well, but it’s clear from their fans’ reaction that Yamano’s band – 30 years strong and counting – are still very much loved by those in the know.

Famously the subject of a tribute album only eight years into their career, the Osaka trio’s appeal lies in their ear for a catchy tune, their bubblegum punk-pop sound, and their amusing obsession with the little delights of life. Tonight, everyone bounces around happily to the power-pop of ‘Banana Chips’ (an ode to the snack of the same name), the buzzsaw melody of ‘I Am A Cat’ and the gloriously jangly ‘Capybara’, all delivered in true Ramones-esque style. Twee? Maybe so, but in today’s troubled world, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of escapism now and then, and if ever there was a band that merited leaving your cynicism at the door and bouncing around with a silly smile on your face, then SK are that band.

Much like their younger compatriots Electric Eel Shock, it’s rare to see a band enjoy themselves so much onstage; with Yamano and bassist Ritsuko Taneda soloing away to squeals of delight from an energetic but very good-natured crowd. It feels more like a party than a gig; even more so when the girls return dressed in Santa Claus costumes for an encore of Ramones covers and some punked-up Christmas songs, with handclaps and harmonies in abundance.

On our way to the exit, we’re greeted by a golden retriever, whose friendly demeanour only increases our reluctance to leave. Shonen Knife may not be total unknowns, but they’ve always been something of a cult concern, and in this small west Tokyo club, it feels like we’ve been treated to a taste of Japan’s best cure for the winter blues.

Alex Gosman.

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Live Reviews

Game – Live

The Forum
26.11.2011

Game doesn’t seem to be as popular as he should be in the UK. A slew of big hits and solid albums behind him and you’d have thought the Compton rapper would have packed out the Forum following the likes of Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa earlier in the year. It was by no means empty, but there was certainly room to manoeuvre unlike the sardine-like sweatbox of the Bawse’s show. However, it didn’t stop Jayceon Taylor as he strode on stage, kicking the night off with Kendrick Lamar’s guest verse on The City.

With the crowd having bayed his name through the sub-standard opening sets of the rapper’s Black Wall Street label, Game didn’t disappoint, running confidently through classic tracks as well as bangers from this year’s The R.E.D. Album, showcasing his talent for both rapping and entertaining. Where tracks like Dope Boys and Let’s Ride bounced and smacked the speakers, Game also showed he could switch it up with Hate It Or Love It and My Life, both to great acclaim from the paying public.

It was One Blood that proved to be the show-stealer as everyone wearing Black Wall Street merchandise was invited up onto the stage with a sea of red crowding around the rapper and everyone else in the crowd slamming their hands down with the beat as hype men jumped from the speaker stacks and smiles swarmed across both performers and fans. Finishing up with the stage still full was the much poppier Pot Of Gold but if anything the volume went up a notch as Chris Brown’s chorus rang out around the Kentish Town venue.

He might not be as big as his peers, but he’s just as talented. A great night out.

Abjekt.

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Live Reviews

Random Axe – Live

Jehst
Scala
20.10.11

Just over a week prior to this Jehst had been headlining the Jazz Cafe with a live band, yet here is again playing second fiddle to an under-appreciative crowd. Having released one of the very best records of the year back in June, you’d think playing to such an unresponsive crowd would dampen his performance, but Jehst amicably does he best to energise the gaggle of Random Axe fans who arrived early. To an extent, he has some success, and as he cuts the beat to leave the damning political musings of ‘England’ standalone, the crowd are undoubtedly hanging on to every word. While this won’t be the best gig Jehst will have played this year, it does the job and he remains first choice for rap show warm-up by some distance.

By the time Random Axe appear on stage, though, it’s very clear who this audience are here to see. Black Milk begins on the decks (where he spends most of the evening) playing through a few records, before introducing emecee’s Guilty Simpson and Sean Price, whose presence tonight lends a veteran-like professionalism to the evening. The group run through the majority of their self-titled debut album, before taking the opportunity to show off some solo material from their respective careers. While it’s Black Milk’s kick-snare assault that predictably dominates the night, there are also moments dedicated to the late J Dilla, and also Madlib as they run through cuts from Simpson’s OJ Simpson album.

It’s perhaps Sean Price, though, who is most impressive, and more of a rarity when it comes to appearances in the UK. Previews of tracks from his forthcoming album Mic Tyson show promise, and his stage presence throughout makes the room seem much smaller than it is. While Black Milk emerges from behind the turntable intermittently, the strength of Random Axe is his that all three guys play to their strengths. With Black Milk on the beats, and Simpson and Price up front, this is one supergroup that proves to be a winning combination.

Sleekly Lion

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Album Of The Week Album Reviews Buzz Chart Music Reviews

Mayer Hawthorne

How Do You Do
(Universal Republic)

When he burst onto the scene a couple of years ago, Mayer Hawthorne was something of an unknown quantity to most. Some eagle-eyed hip hop fans recognised him as DJ Haircut of Now On but this new smooth, Motown styled persona was certainly a change from his normal routine. Now known more for his debut album A Strange Arrangement than any of his group work, Hawthorne has gone to Universal from revered hip hop label Stones Throw, but those fearing a change in output can rest easy – the new album is definitely one for fans of its predecessor.

Tales of love abound throughout the release, whether it’s falling for a girl, being in love or suffering from the acrimonious split. From the opening track Get To Know You where he describes his wish to find out more about the object of his affection in order to “get it on tonight” to the Snoop-guested Can’t Stop which documents the struggle to let feelings for the girl go to the instantly catchy The News which turns the tables and blames the girl on the split – “What we had, was all I knew / What we lost, was all on you / I’ve got news for you, we’re through”.

The music isn’t complex, but that’s its most potent weapon. Short stabby horns and bouncy drums surround Hawthorne’s voice as he brings to mind all the greats from a bygone era. With closed eyes, this could easily have been made in Motor City by the legends and stands Hawthorne alongside contemporaries like Raphael Saadiq in achieving such an accolade.

This is feel good music, whatever the weather, once these tunes hit, it’s sunshine and smiles. What might have started off as a jokey side-project is now a thoroughly respectable and enjoyable career.

Abjekt.

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Music News

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks hit the UK

Stephen Malkmus takes his band The Jicks on tour in the UK in November.

The band will play the dates below. Tickets are available at The Arches for Glasgow and See Tickets for the remaining dates.

10th – Manchester, Ritz
11th – Glasgow, The Arches
12th – Leeds, Constellations Festival
14th – London, KOKO