Category: Single Reviews

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Buzz Chart Reviews Single Reviews

The Crafty Butchers

Just A Chicken
Self-released

The Crafty Butchers’ ode to being a chicken is two minutes of punky riffs accompanying some genius lyrics from the point of view of a chicken. Yes, a chicken. The three-piece have successfully captured a rather gleeful chicken world view where the subject of the song is in fact looking forward to becoming a pie or other such delicacy.

This is a brilliantly rough-around-the-edges slab of rock and roll which you can imagine comes fully into its own in a live setting, although the band have to date only played one show so let’s hope there are more on the horizon! These guys clearly take their meat seriously, so perhaps not one for the vegetarians out there.

This bit of call and response with lead vocals against gang vocals towards the end of the song is what really makes it –

“I’m just a chiiiiicken”
“He’s just a chiiiicken”

Has to be heard to be believed.

Winegums.

Just A Chicken by The Crafty Butchers

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Buzz Chart Music Music News Single Reviews

Little Roy vs Nirvana

littleroy_nirvanaUsually I cringe at people’s versions of classic Nirvana songs but Little Roy has taken the original 7″ of Sliver and Dive and knocked out classic roots reggae versions of both tracks this week that need to be on your stereo.

Nirvana’s ‘Smell Like Teen Spirit‘ was released 20 years ago in September this year so expect more mash ups and versions of these classic tracks to be infiltrating the internet on mix tapes and general releases throughout the summer. I doubt though that any of them will come close to being as good as these.

You can find Little Roy vs Nirvana in your local shop available on a limited edition 7″, June 27th 2011 via Ark Recordings and an album that includes covers of 10 Nirvana tracks in a reggae/dub style will be released soon. Watch this space.

Zac

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Buzz Chart Music Single Reviews

Vacationer

‘Trip’
Free Download

vacationer-tripLast night I was just surfing Facebook updates and about to crash out when I pressed play on this youtube video and then had to watch it 5 times in a row before I fell asleep the happiest man in London town. The internet has allowed word of mouth to bring us some of the best music so quickly and for the likes of Vacationer this method of natural goodness will be how hundreds and thousands of us will be drawn to their unique music as it becomes available online.

Based in Philadelphia on the Eastern Seaboard, Vacationer looks to be a an extremely new project. Their incredibly minimal, chilled pop is billed as Nu-Hula and mixes chilled beats with tropical sounds of the 70’s blended with an array of vocal goodness often found at the the bottom of rainbows. This genius song ‘Trip‘ is quite possibly their first ever track and has a mesmerising but cheerfully, warming presence that is seriously addictive. I dare you just to listen to it once as I have a feeling that like myself you will be coming back for more as soon as the waterfall stops running.

There’s not too much information about Vacationer online so be sure to follow their progress as this Nu-Hula stuff could quite easily take off, especially if ‘Trip’ is just the beginning. Download it for free from this widget and pass it on.

For fans of Animal Collective, The Avalanches, TV On The Radio, Boards of Canada and Cloud Control.

Trip by Vacationer

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Buzz Chart Music Reviews Single Reviews

Beastie Boys

Make Some Noise
Capitol

It’s been a while since we last heard music from the Beastie Boys. It was 2009 when they dropped their track featuring Nasty Nas Too Many Rappers and had everyone clamouring for a new album to drop, but with MCA’s fight against cancer, the album took a deserved lay-off. However, now the New York trio are back with Make Some Noise and it was absolutely worth the wait.

The intro wah-wahs slowly before the drums are unleashed and segue into a backdrop for the inimitable MCs to bring the house down. The drums are crisp, the tune is fun and the gang vocal chorus is classic Beasties. We all know what the rappers sound like and we all love them, so hearing them on a fresh beat is as enjoyable as it could ever be.

With MCA rapping about parties on the right and the left, it seems inevitable that your feet will start to tap, your legs’ll shake, your head will nod and before you know if you’re having your very own personal party in your chair. And that’s what the Beastie Boys are all about – getting rowdy. Despite their age, they can still mix it with the very best and if this is any indication of the new album, we’re all in for a treat.

“It’s the anti-depresser” runs one of the opening lines, too bloody right!

Abjekt.

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Buzz Chart Reviews Single Reviews

Among Brothers

Among Brothers
Homes
Barely Regal

Having introduced themselves with the excellent Zero Years compilation last Spring, Cardiff based label Barely Regal have moved on to release the debut EP from Among Brothers. Featuring both of the label’s co-founders, Among Brothers are a six piece chamber pop outfit, combining jittery electronic rhythms with a colorful mixture of guitar, keys and violin. Although this might be a well trodden path, the band’s purposeful and emotive songwriting makes this EP a compelling listen.

Things start very brightly with ‘Montgolfier’, the record’s first and possibly best song. Serving as a welcoming opening statement, the use of choral vocals creates a terrific urgency and drives the song through it’s modest 2 minute length. Comparisons to Efterklang will inevitably be made here but this is no criticism, as few bands could pull this off with such conviction. Arguably the song stops a little short (it really could go on for a lot longer), but its short length whets your appetite nicely.

From here, the results are more mixed, but there are flashes of inspiration throughout. Particularly album closer ‘Great Famine Family’ which runs ‘Montgolfier’ close for the EP’s best track. Again choral vocals are used effectively here, creating a euphoric climax punctuated with intimate piano and subtle electronic glitches. In fact, the barely-there electronic bleeps and scuffles are particuarly effective, perhaps another nod to early Efterklang records.

While ‘Homes’ is a strong first release by any standard, there are also signs that there is something better to come from Among Brothers. For Barely Regal, too, this is another promising release from a growing indie label.

Sleekly Lion.

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Buzz Chart Reviews Single Reviews

Lower Than Atlantis

Lower Than Atlantis
Beech Like The Tree
A Wolf At Your Door Records

Beech Like The Tree is Lower Than Atlantis’ homage to their mate model Josh Beech and it demonstrates just why these young UK rockers are becoming such hot property. The track shows off the band’s songwriting prowess and their slight departure away from their punk roots. Essentially, what this song is is anthemic singalong rock. Where many British acts find themselves leaning toward a more American sound / style, LTA are quintessentially British – a quality that should stand them in good stead as they head off on a mammoth two month tour of the US this month. Those Americans love a good British accent.

With a sound that’s accessible but genuinely quite unique, Lower Than Atlantis are marrying their underground roots with some potentially massive rock melodies which are bound to wend their way into your head and not let go until you are constantly singing the band’s hooks. And the tunes aren’t catchy in an annoying way but in an organic, get under your skin kind of way that just perpetuates enthusiasm for the band and what they’re doing on the songs unleashed so far from forthcoming album ‘World Record’ (set for release 25th April on A Wolf At Your Door Records).

Having built their way up through the UK underground, LTA have started to get some serious mainstream attention on this latest single with Zane Lowe bestowing his ‘Hottest Record’ accolade and the likes of Greg James playing it on daytime Radio 1. With tracks as catchy as this and a burgeoning fanbase of kids and media alike, this is a band who are set to go far in 2011 so watch this space.

Winegums.

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Buzz Chart Reviews Single Reviews

Whistla

Whistla
Pillowtalk 12″ (with 7 Remixes)
L2S Recordings

A veteran of UK Garage, accomplished producer and DJ, Whistla is the main man behind the much acclaimed L2S Recordings and proactively runs SubFM also. On the station he plays sets that many of the writers at Crossfire frequently lock into while also producing bangers like last year’s ‘Etymology Of Maureen EP’ and 2009’s Klaxon-recommended ‘420 Lockdown’. 2010 proved to be almost unnervingly exciting for dance music and few have enjoyed the well-deserved success as much as L2S, who, under Whistla’s direction, have turned their backs against the jump-up mutations evident in mainstream dubstep and have pioneered the rise of UK Garage, 2-Step and more. Future Garage, Future Bass, whatever you want to call it… this movement is undeniably forward thinking and most definitely the future UK sound.

With his latest 12” Pillowtalk, Whistla boldly jumps into 2011 with a snaretastic riddim that utilises a catchy vocal sample reminiscent of the funky yet uncouth choices from Welsh garage peers C.R.S.T. (emotional pitch-warped RnB samples are great and all, but we want us some wubwooooo every now and again) and a pulsating, fluid bassline that sounds like something Zinc would have put together back at the turn of the century. Pounding.

What makes this 12” such a pisstake though is its mighty seven remixes from seven very, very big producers. Whistla on the leading track and the likes of Duncan Powell, Crossfire favourite Submerse, Para of DEA Project and the elusive and stunning VVV on the flip? Jog on Kanye, this is what we call a communal masterpiece. Hold tight L2S, each and every.

Stanley

Pillowtalk [Preview] by Whistla

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Buzz Chart Reviews Single Reviews

Fun.

Fun.
Walking The Dog
Hassle

Having just completed a tour with the insanely massive Paramore, playing UK arenas, fun. have just released their latest single over here. And quite awesome it is too. ‘Walking The Dog’ showcases just what talents this group of musicians are. The trio have crafted a pop tune which combines pure simple melodies with unique intricacies of instrumentation which make fun. absolutely unique. Although they are for all intents and purposes, a pop act, fun. have the potential to appeal to indie kids with their hint of Vampire Weekend-ness and they have also found fans in the rock world with their Paramore association.

Comprising members of The Format, Anathallo and Steel Train, there’s a real melting pot of influences present on this track and you can tell that this is a band open to all influences even if they don’t wear ALL of those influences on their sleeve. As well as being massive Beatles fans, they’re actually pretty into hip-hop. Not totally what you’d expect after watching the below video! The video for ‘Walking The Dog’ certainly lives up to the band’s name as they are all covered in brightly-coloured paint and dancing around with glee.

Winegums

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Buzz Chart Reviews Single Reviews

Middle Class Rut

New Low
Bright Antenna

This pulsating work of repetitive riff genius ingrains itself on your brain and does not let go. With more than a little in common with the likes of rock legends Janes Addiction, Middle Class Rut are poised to make a big impression on the rock scene with debut album ‘No Name, No Color’, from which this new single was taken. The band have been making waves for a while now, having already visited the UK several times with bands like Innerpartysystem and Circa Survive. They’ve also caught the ear of certain Radio 1 DJs and discerning fans of rock music won’t find it difficult to hear why this band’s fanbase in both the press and the general public has been quietly snowballing.

The music video follows this duo through a barren landscape and their relentless pacing matches the hypnotically relentless nature of the song. Rather than the repetition being a bore in this track, it creates an enthralling and addictive soundscape to which you’re really drawn into as a listener. Deep and dark, a tad on the depressing side but in a very determined-feeling way that gives the song a sense of resolve, this is a track you’ll find yourself humming in the back of your mind for days after hearing it. It’s almost inconceivable how a mere two-piece make such a full-on sound. But somehow they manage it.

Chirps Galore

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Buzz Chart Reviews Single Reviews

ZZT

ZZafrika
Turbo Recordings

ZZafrika is the third release to come from ZZT in four years, an analogue-heavy leftfield techno project that resulted from the collaboration of two headachingly awesome omnidancemusic producers Zombie Nation and Tiga. This less-is-more release pattern is often as hard to wrap your head around as the records themselves. ‘Lower State Of Consciousness‘ blew up thanks to heavy inclusion on mixes during 2007’s electro takeover and sowed the seeds of anticipation for ‘The Worm‘ which cemented their current reputation of releasing the most refreshing tech-house record (that’s confidently lightyears away from the saturated minimalstepwave scene) every year they release something. I’ll forgive them for slacking in 2009, as Tiga’s Mind Dimension 2, Zombie Nation’s Mystery Meat Affair and his remix of Tiga’s ‘What You Need‘ collectively made up for it. I should probably be demanding an official apology from the pair to compensate for the amount of the braincells I lost freaking out to each.

The hype for ZZafrika was on the enormous Merriweather Post Pavillion scale of hyperbole and fanboy circlejerks. But the live rips just couldn’t be wrong, and as the gorgeously warm chords sift around an expertly crafted beat (as with any record the disco-sampling, MPC-wizard Florian Senfter appears on) it almost feels like they’re making a sly poke at the hype machine’s nature to build up things more tediously than a self-proclaimed progressive house producer. But when the Motherland inspired funk comes in the club should already be punching the air. As for the drop – even twenty or thirty listens later it still feels like being stung by a swarm of killer bees whose stings contain liquid awesome. I can actually feel my brain melting when the final switch up comes around the four and half minute mark. Oh my word. Wo-WOO indeed.

So far, ZZT have made my favourite record of the year every time they release something. ZZafrika does not break this trend and the hyperbolic build up courtesy of the blogosphere is just part of the ultimate ride to a drop only these two can deliver.

Stanley

ZZT – ZZafrika by turborecordings