Category: Music

Stupids to play London show on April 11th

Post author By Zac
Post date March 11, 2014

80s hardcore kids (now happy old men) the Stupids, have confirmed their first London show in 3 years with Dry Heave at the Black Heart venue in Camden on Friday 11th April.

Still fronted by Tommy Stupid, this lot have been roaming Europe playing their trademark thrashcore and entertaining audiences wherever they play. They have been writing new material, stillplaying the classics of course and are about to release a limited edition re-press of their epic Peruvian Vacation album, fully remastered, on double vinyl through Boss Tuneage. Pre order one here

Tickets fot the Black Heart show will sell out, grab one for just £6 and get ready for a great night of it.

Buzz Chart Single Reviews

White Lung

Post author By Dave
Post date March 10, 2014

White_Lung
White Lung
Drown With The Monster
Domino

Vancouver rock ‘n’ rollers White Lung have signed to Domino Records. To celebrate this magnificent pairing they’ve dropped the video for what is an absolute behemoth of a new single.

‘Drown With The Monster’ is a 2 minute aggression advocate. This track sounds like Kathleen Hanna joined Trash Talk, fueled by face melting guitar and bass riffs that drive front woman Mish Way’s vocal howl straight home.

In her own words – “This song is about kicking habits and running away with a new distraction. It’s a song about my two biggest vices, but I’d rather drown with the monster than blow dry my wounds.”

Now joined by Wax Idols front woman Hether Fortune on bass duties, the new White Lung sound unstoppable. Hit play below and embrace this razor sharp hardcore, guaranteed to blow your head clean off.

‘Drown With The Monster’ is released April 29th via Domino Records. Get your 7″ pre-ordered here and catch them live at The Great Escape in May.

Dave Palmer

Music News

BOOST: In The Studio with Julio Bashmore

Post author By Zac
Post date March 10, 2014

Launching in 2013 and changing the running trainer market for good, the adidas Boost sent shock waves through the industry. Returning with the adidas energy BOOST 2, the brand have partnered with RWD and JD to put their innovative trainers on the feet of two of the UK’s fastest emerging creative talents producer Julio Bashmore and model union Justanorm.

Snagging influential producer Julio Bashmore – whose underground smash ‘Au Seve’ achieved massive crossover success last year and of whom incredible things are expected in 2014 – adidas BOOST joined the producer and DJ in his studio, where the in demand Bristolian talked about his inspiration.

“The most important thing about music for me is creating something that just connects with people. I think that’s an amazing thing.”

Creative movement Justanorm have faces you’ll have seen every day, with the six-male models considered the leading lights in fashion. The likeminded union who call themselves a brotherhood look to change the industry by channeling their energy into music, acting, modeling and other creative ventures. The Kanye West inspired group told adidas BOOST about their plans for world domination amongst other things “[To be in Justanorm] you’ve got to be ambitious! You’ve got to want to get your dreams! That’s the motive for all of us.”

The adidas energy BOOST 2 is available now from jdsports.co.uk.

Watch the BOOST story at youtube.com/rwdmagdotcom.

Buzz Chart

King Khan’s Road Tape

Post author By Zac
Post date March 5, 2014

King Khan & The Shrines
‘Road Tape’
Merge Records

King Khan & The Shrines’ psychedelic road show is coming to the UK this April so the man himself has prepared a banger of a mixtape ahead of his journey that he is calling his ‘Road Tape’. It’s a must-listen mix that takes you from Detroit to heaven with a plethora of genres, flavours and landscapes that all work peacefully together.

UK tour dates:

04/17 UK, BRIGHTON – THE HAUNT
04/18 UK, LEEDS – BRUDENELL SOCIAL CLUB
04/19 IE, DUBLIN – WHELANS
04/20 IE, BELFAST – THE BLACK BOX
04/21 UK, GLASGOW – BROADCAST
04/22 UK, MANCHESTER – THE ROADHOUSE
04/23 UK, LIVERPOOL – KOROVA
04/24 UK, LONDON – SCALA

Playlist:

Chain & The Gang – Detroit Music
Black Rock – Yeah Yeah
The Antibalas Afro Beat Orchestra – Battle Of The Species
Mosby Family Singers – The Lord Is My Shepherd
Cosmic Rays – Daddy’s Gonna Tell You No Lies
Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National – Okwukwe Na Nchekwube
Connan Mockasin – Megumi The Milkway Above
Magnetix – Time After Time
Iron Knowledge – Showstopper
Kealan Phil Cohran & Legacy – White Nile
Ennio Morricone – Navajo Joe
Shabazz Palaces – Are you…Can You…Were You? (Felt)
Big Daddy Kane – Ain´t No Half Steppin’
Red Mass – Saturn
Shannon & The Clams – Rip Van Winkle
Robert Ward – Forgive me Darling
The Mighty Hannibal – We´re Gonna Make It
Link Wray – Girl From The North Country
Penny & The Quarters – You & Me

Music News

Watch OFF!’s Hypnotized video with David Yow

Post author By Zac
Post date March 4, 2014

david_yow_off_jesuslizard_hypnotized

OFF!‘s new video for their ‘Hypnotized‘ track features none other than David Yow from the Jesus Lizard dressed as a caped crusader with a nose full of chore fighting T.S.O.L’s Jack Grisham!

Quite fitting considering the last time I had the pleasure of meeting David Yow was in a dressing room at a Girls Against Boys / Done Lying Down show at the Venue in New Cross in the 90s. He asked about what UK weed I had on me, told him it was quite strong and he yeah-yeah’ed me, taking a massive woof on my bowl with a look of “I know what’s up” on his face….he puked his guts up ten minutes later.

Anyway, back to this OFF! video. It’s fucking rad. What more did you expect from hardcore’s leaders right now? New album ‘Wasted Years’ cannot come soon enough.

April 7th on Vice. Pre-order it.

Album Reviews Buzz Chart

Tense Men

Post author By Dave
Post date March 4, 2014

Tense_Men_When_Dull_Care_Is_Forgotten Tense Men
Where Dull Care Is Forgotten
Faux Discx

Comprising of members from Sauna Youth, Cold Pumas and Omi Palone, namely Rich, Ollie and Liam, together, these three enigmas are Tense Men.

Aside from an unnamed cassette release on Cazenove Tapes a couple of years ago, -back when Tense Men operated as a two piece- little has been heard of this minimalistic trio until now. Tense Men have finally arrived with a mini LP, Where Dull Care Is Forgotten.

‘Stages of Boredom’ sets the tone here. Creeping in with a walking bass and tight, linear guitar riffing. A formula which is applied to most of the six tracks featured on this LP.

The concentrated repetition of ‘RNRFON’ is almost enough to induce a psychiatric episode. The drums and bass lock together so tightly here it’s comparable to having your head stuck in a vice. This is arguably the highest point of the LP and is to be played at no less than full volume to ensure you feel some serious pressure around your skull.

Title track ‘Where Dull Care Is Forgotten’ is almost reminiscent of King Krule and his vocal musings, with steady held notes building in volume to create an accommodating blank canvas for singer/guitarist Ollie Fisher’s haunting drawl.

Closing number ‘Opiate Glow’ finally unleashes the grit that Tense Men have pent up over the past five tracks. Just when you think they’ve ironed out every crease with their tight, close knit chords-a-scratching structures, they step on the distortion and screw it all back up again.

Where Dull Care Is Forgotten is a claustrophobic collection of experimental punk that lives up to the band’s name. Clocking out at just over 20 minutes, these boldly minimalistic jams confirm Tense Men’s sound as raw, stripped back and increasingly intense. Each track boasts a stiff and rigid attitude with repetition at its core, sure to leave you firmly on edge and anxious for more of Tense Men’s mysterious melody.

Where Dull Care Is Forgotten is due for release March 10th 2014 via Faux Discx.

Dave Palmer

Music News

New Cerebral Ballzy track for free download

Post author By Dave
Post date March 4, 2014

Cerebral_Ballzy

Brooklyn punks Cerebral Ballzy have dropped new track ‘Speed Wobbles’ on soundcloud for free download. Released as the B-side to their 7″ single ‘Better In Leather’, both tracks are business as usual for ballzy with hard, fast, full throttle thrashing from start to finish. Much in the same vein as hardcore mob OFF! who Ballzy are set to tour the States with over April and May.

Now signed to Julian Casablancas’ label, Cult Records, Cerebral Ballzy’s second album Jaded & Faded is rumored for release later this year. Stay tuned.

Click below to stream ‘Speed Wobbles’ / ‘Better In Leather’ and scroll down for tour dates with OFF!

OFF! / Cerebral Ballzy Tour Dates

April 9 / Oakland, CA / Metro Operahouse
April 11 / Portland, OR / Hawthorne
April 12 / Vancouver, BC / Fortune Sound Club
April 13 / Seattle, WA / El Corazon
April 15 / Boise, ID / Neurolux
April 18 / Colorado Springs, CO / Black Sheep
April 19 / Denver, CO / Marquis
April 21 / Tucson, AZ / Club Congress
April 22 / Phoenix, AZ / Crescent Ballroom
April 23 / Los Angeles, CA / Roxy
May 7 / Minneapolis, MN / The Triple Rock
May 8 / Chicago, IL / The Bottom Lounge
May 9 / Detroit, MI / Small’s 2H
May 10 / Toronto, ON / Mod Club at CMW
May 12 / Asbury Park, NJ / Asbury Lanes
May 15 / Baltimore, MD / The Ottobar
May 16 / Philadelphia, PA / the First Unitarian Church
May 17 / New York, NY / Bowery Ballroom
May 18 / Cambridge, MA / the Middle East

Buzz Chart

Slowdive

Post author By Dave
Post date February 27, 2014

Slowdive_mixtape
‘Slowdaze’ Mixtape
Slowdive

As if the news of My Bloody Valentine reforming to release a new album and take it on tour to every major city in the world wasn’t enough to instigate a wet patch on every shoegaze fan’s crotch. This year, the younger sibling of shoegaze has done the very same. Slowdive have announced their return from silence with a performance at Primavera Sound on May 30th 2014. Allegedly intended as a one off gig marking 20 years past since their final performance in May of 1994, Slowdive have followed up this massive announcement with a London show at Village Underground, one week before they jet off to Spain. Naturally, tickets sold out in a matter of minutes.

To keep us all interested during the build up to these huge come-back gigs, Slowdive have made an exclusive ‘Slowdaze’ mix for Dazed. There’s more than an hours worth of melancholic and moody shoegaze-tinged tracks that span the decades and genres, jumping from Boards Of Canada to The Drums, then back to Mogwai via Sigur Ros.

Following an official statement from the band on their website, there’s not a great deal of members that have continued to ‘gaze since they all parted ways in the mid 90’s. Having to quite literally re-learn how to play their instruments the way they used to will surely make for an unmissable live show.

With Slowdive’s retrospective step back into the world of shoegaze, is a Pygmalion follow-up album on the horizon for 2014? Let’s hope so.

(via)

Dave Palmer

Buzz Chart Single Reviews

Biggie vs Beethoven

Post author By Zac
Post date February 25, 2014

The Notorious B.I.G vs Beethoven
Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 90/2 – Suicidal Thoughts
Free Download

biggie-beethoven From beyond the grave, Biggie Smalls is still slamming some words, this week to the tunes of Beethoven of all people. This new mashup of Biggie’s ‘Suicidal Thoughts’ is laid over Beethoven’s ‘Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90: II’ by Dan Kreiger who plays Beethoven’s work on this.

Free download from this Soundcloud link.

Album Reviews Buzz Chart

Vertical Scratchers

Post author By Zac
Post date February 25, 2014

Vertical Scratchers
‘Daughter Of Everything’
(Merge Records)
Facebook

vertical_scratchers_daughter_of_everything This is the debut album by Vertical Scratchers and it’s utterly brilliant. I shouldn’t really be surprised by this. Vertical Scratchers, you see, feature a certain John Schmersal – a part of the talent behind magnificent 90s Dayton Ohio Touch And Go Records shronk-rockers Brainiac (whose wonderful burst of creativity and incredible music was cruelly cut short with the sudden death of frontman Tim Taylor in a car accident), he then went on to form Enon, continuing to make eclectic and challenging, yet always melodic and pleasurable music.

Vertical Scratchers very much continues down the path that Schmersal has travelled since the beginning. ‘Daughter Of Everything’ is quirky, jarring and sometimes disconcerting yet from beginning to end and top to bottom it is gloriously melodic. Every song crackles with addictive melodies and sublime harmonies, split between John and his partner in the band – ex-Triclops!/Anywhere man Christian Beaulieu. They met at a Thanksgiving party, started hanging out and writing songs and very quickly, and very naturally a great musical partnership began to flourish and the songs began to flow.

The highlights are many. ‘You Dug Us All’ is pure Shins, Pinback, Heavy Vegetable style quirky harmonies and prime-rump American indie rock, whilst opening track ‘Wait No Longer’ kicks into life with some high-octane drumming from Beaulieu. ‘Pretend You Are Free’ and ‘Rainbows’, on the other hand, shimmer with Beach Boys/Beatles inspired harmonies that are both sublime and beautiful.

Vertical Scratchers have delivered a classic American indie rock album that sounds effortless, fresh and exciting. Not that we should be surprised by this, it’s nothing that John Schmersal hasn’t achieved before.

Pick this up from Merge immediately.

James Sherry