This shouldn’t work but it does. Two artists who are almost the polar opposite of each other in terms of style but who are receiving a similar level of hype and appreciation in the blogosphere have re-imagined an existing track with spine-tingling results. Purity Ring’s ‘Belispeak‘ is a bonafide beauty of a track and here it gets remixed slightly and is graced with some Danny Brown rhymes. The rapper’s inimitable style stands out like a sore thumb on the understated electronic softness of the track but somehow the additional pulsating glitches added to this version meld with Brown’s groove creating an utterly addictive take on ‘Belispeak’.
What we wouldn’t give to see these guys tour together… Or maybe create an entire collaborative album. Just re-work the whole of ‘Shrines’. Why not!
We are the Physics describe their sound as ‘Mutant science punk rock’ and, to be honest, I would’ve put them in a similar category myself. The sound is a vivid mix of genres which create a very exciting and moreish vibe about it.
It’s hard to explain. Like hipsters that found themselves in a studio after mainlining cocaine. The band explain their stance themselves: “Making a fairly derivative sound more interesting.” . Essentially they sound like an indie band (with the temperament of Battles) who have spent a lot of time listening to bands like At the Drive-In. The end result takes mundane ‘indie’ and kicks it into the curb.
‘Your Friend, The Atom’ is like the soundings of a group of particle physicists working on the Hadron Collider whilst writing some epic music. The album maintains an obvious, and somewhat expected Scientific feel about it. Robotic sounds and weird electronic tinkering is scattered across the entire album, even shouting science jargon like “Subject vs. Subject”!
The upbeat tunes and strong bass-lines are impressive, and the vocals match in pace. With standout tracks on the album, the heroic and aptly named intro ‘Go Go Nucleo -> For Science‘ and the more relaxed, but incredibly catchy ‘There Is No Cure For The Common Cold So Don’t Expect A Cure For Cancer’; ‘Your Friend, The Atom’ is an excellent scientific discovery.
‘Sorry’? Don’t make me laugh. Judging by this record (the band’s second), Vancouver quartet White Lung aren’t afraid to hurt your feelings and their raw, blistering punk rock attack will rub salt into your wounded heart. Strangely enough, you’ll thank them.
Belting through ten songs in less than 20 minutes, the pace is Ramones-relentless, but they never sound less than convincing. Vocalist Mish Way could match most typical punk screamers for power, but her piercing howl has the clarity and melodic edge that lingers long in the memory after ‘Sorry’ has run its course. Guitarist Kenneth William is no slouch either, whether scratching out a brittle melodic line on ‘Bag’, an ace spidery riff on ‘The Bad Way’ or unleashing bursts of screeching sonic warfare on ‘Those Girls’.
The overall impression is of a mix of early 90s alt-rock and riot grrl (Mish Way is a self-confessed Courtney Love devotee) fed through an 80s hardcore blender; the end result being as addictive and uncompromising as you could hope for. Granted, they’re not offering up anything particularly new, but they certainly infuse these old sounds with fresh rage and vitality. Check them out – you won’t be sorry either.
Breaking News; I do not have my ear as close to ground as I used to, having failed to register that Canada’s Propagandhi recently released a new album, and it’s on Epitaph. So, having spotted this by chance in a high street music chain, whilst dodging a downpour, I duly stumped up the asking price.
I was a relatively late starter to Propagandhi, with their first 2 albums barely registering on my radar. I had them down as just-another production-line ‘Fat (Wreck)’ band. My conversion came with 3rd album “Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes” which hit me like a jet plane. The union of Thrash Metal, Hard Rock and banging Hardcore, played out to a seriously intelligent and impassioned radical-political agenda, won me over. Learned my lesson. Have been onboard ever since.
Like all great confrontational music, you do not stick on a Propagandhi album, and then get on with something else, whilst the ‘tunes’ idly hum in the background. No fucking way. You soak up the finely crafted (rampaging) music, and give your full attention to the lyrical scripture.
“Failed States“ ruminates not just on basket case countries in faraway places, where punks have their heads shaved by religious intolerants, and lesbian footballers are raped by men to teach them a ‘lesson’, but also closer to home, in our own free and pleasant lands, where life is not always so peachy, and it’s important to take a stand. And all this to a riotously furious soundtrack of precision executed music that veers from tender layered moments, to balls-out jackhammer Thrash/Core ultra-heaviness.
For my money, possibly their strongest album to date. Dyna-fuckin’mite.
As ‘super groups’ go, Diamond Rugs lead the way if your ears are made happy by filthy, laid-back rock n’ roll as a rule. This brand new video for ‘Blue Mountains‘ is fronted by none other than Black Lips’ member Ian Saint Pé who delivers a sleaze-laden, pole-dancing, handful of catchy garage steez recorded down in Nashville.
Diamond Rugs’ debut self-titled album was released by Partisan in the US back in April and will be on our list as one of the Top 10 of the year. There’s talk of a UK release and tour so if we get wind of it, we will share the news. If this new single floats your boat then grab a free mp3 of Gimme A Beer from here. It’s personally my number one song of 2012.
Diamond Rugs is John McCauley (Deer Tick), Robbie Crowell (Deer Tick), Ian Saint Pé (The Black Lips), Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), Hardy Morris (Dead Confederate) and Bryan Dufresne (Six Finger Satellite).
Basement
Colourmeinkindness
[Run For Cover Records]
For only their second album, Basement’s ‘Colourmeinkindness’ oozes with maturity and sophistication. After just one play through its timeless nature is overwhelming, you sense you’ve have heard it before, but not in a negative, generic way; more in the sense that it has the overall feel of a classic.
The rasping vocals and chugging riffs of opener ‘Whole’ kick the record off to a great start and what’s most pleasing is that the rest of the album is just as strong. Although ‘Covert’ drops the tempo, the level of emotion rises as surly lyrics drone over the music in an almost Nirvana-esque style. It’d be easy to analyze each track positively, every song on the album is beautiful. But it’s lead single ‘Spoiled’ that sums up ‘Colourmeinkindness’ in all its glory. The engaging vocals delivered in a soothing nature contrast against a guitar tone reminiscent of Sunny Day Real Estate and Silverchair. ‘Spoiled’ and ‘Colourmeinkindness’ as a whole provide a breath-taking juxtaposition between peace and rage.
With Thrice leaving a void that needed to be filled by a modern emo/post-hardcore band, Basement look like the perfect contender. However after announcing a shock indefinite hiatus which will commence after the release of ‘Colourmeinkindness’ we are again left waiting for the next king to take to the genre’s throne.
It’d be fair to say Basement have made an impact on many hearts in a short amount of time. ‘Colourmeinkindess’ sends them out on an undeniable high leaving one to contemplate what great things this band could achieve if a future was still ahead of them.
If you were born after 1990 then it’s more than likely that you will not have a clue about Grange Hill. It was an amazing daily dose of top acting and kid dramas aired on the BBC in the 1980’s and had more characters than a libel-provoking tweet.
Regardless of your age and your knowledge of Tucker and co in the hit TV show, press play on this solid mash-up of the classic Grange Hill theme tune vs Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem. This will have Roland reaching out for a creme puff and hitting the dancefloor without a doubt. Addictive.
Deaf Havana
‘Fools And Worthless Liars – Deluxe Edition’
I have to admit, when I first heard Deaf Havana‘s material after the departure of unclean vocalist Ryan Mellor, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disheartened. It really lacked the punk bite that their early work was full of. But eventually 2011’s ‘Fools And Worthless Liars‘ began to grow on me, and I’d happily put it up there as one of the most solid rock albums to come from the UK that year.
Via a short documentary put out in summer 2012, the band announced they would be re-releasing the album later this autumn. Rather than just doing some fancier album artwork and a couple of bonus tracks, Deaf Havana went the extra mile and re-recorded the whole thing. Ever the pessimist and never fully content, front man James Veck-Gilodi admitted he didn’t feel the album completely reflected his taste in music where as this re-release does.
All of the songs have been reworked, some slightly, others completely, making the album a totally different listen to the record that appeared first time around. Tracks that were previously acoustic are now performed as a full band and rockier numbers are now toned-down gems. Its beautiful. Lets pick a few stand out tracks to discuss…
Opener ‘The Past Six Years’ feels like its heavily influenced by Irish Rock (think Flogging Molly), and despite being a million miles away from DH records such as ‘It’s Called The Easy Life’ it gets this album off to an optimistic and quite literally stomping start. Piano and vocal track ‘Anemophobia’ is absolutely stunning. Broken down to structurally core elements, James Veck-Gilodi sounds vulnerable and desperate against the lonely notes. Its a heart wrenching performance that could connect with even the emptiest of souls. During ‘Hunstanton Pier’ the guitar tone adds nostalgia and brings the lyrical content to life, but its ‘I’m A Bore Mostly’ that epitomises why this album is a must have.
The recording process of using multiple microphones placed around an old warehouse is slightly bizarre but the effect it has on the track puts it into a different dimension. As the music reverberates through your speakers it feels as if you are there with James as he passionately performs. Even the sound of him slamming the door as he leaves the ‘studio’ is included on the track, a unique element that adds a personal touch to the piece, emphasising the emotion.
Again it has to be said, this isn’t Deaf Havana of old, but thats not a criticism. Its not their early punk/hardcore style, its not their most recent mainstream rock vibe, it’s something else. It is a showcase of the band’s (and in particular their dynamic front man’s) extraordinary talent. It is a touching album which has re-worked a commendable original into something worth treasuring.
A specially curated, new mash up of DJ Shadow’s ‘I Gotta Rokk’ track has been released for free download by London turntablist surgeon STEREO:TYPE and IRN MNKY today.
Commissioned alongside six other incredible artists by Xfm’s Eddy Temple-Morris, STEREO:TYPE was invited to create a new mix using the former UNKLE members’ tracks, in a tribute to his career in music. The new mash-up was aired on the Xfm Remix Show last Friday and blends classic samples from Guns N’Roses, The Prodigy and Led Zeppelin cut into DJ Shadow’s beats.
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“The reason I asked STEREO:TYPE for this DJ Shadow mix was simple.” Eddy Temple Morris explains. “STEREO:TYPE was the author of, without a word of exaggeration, the best mix anyone has ever done for The Remix show in my near 13 year tenure at Xfm. My approaching Chris STEREO:TYPE came with DJ Shadow’s blessing too, and the man himself acknowledged Chris as a kindred spirit and sonic perfectionist.”
Both Eddy and STEREO:TYPE will headline the decks of the Battersea Barge for this year’s Crossfire Halloween Massacre on Saturday October 27th
The mighty Tweak Bird are back with a brand new EP titled ‘Undercover Crops’ scheduled for release on October 29th via Volcom Entertainment.
Featuring 7 brand new songs the ‘Undercover Crops’ E.P. was recorded over a long weekend in June 2012 with Toshi Kasai, who alongside Dale Crover, produced and recorded Tweak Bird’s previous two releases, 2008’s Reservations EP and 2010’s self-titled LP.
The band are currently supporting the Melvins on tour across the US and hope to be back in the UK soon for live shows. Until then, Download their new track ‘People’ for free as a taste of what’s coming on this incredible new ‘bubblegum stoner rock’ EP and await a new video coming very soon.
Purity Ring x Danny Brown
WHITE LUNG
PROPAGANDHI
As ‘super groups’ go, 
Still G.R.A.nge Hill
