White Room - Ysgol Sul - Death Of Guitar Pop - Trevor Hall - Wild Meadows - ALASKALASKA
White Room - The Blue / Tomorrow Always Knew.Background - Brighton indie rockers White Room have announced their debut headline UK tour featuring new double EP Eight in its entirety (released on 1st December).
Recent signees to the legendary Liverpool label, White Room’s nod to 60s psychedelic rock alongside more contemporary influences (Pond, Temples, Cage The Elephant) is evident throughout their new record Eight, a collection of songs that interlock conceptually, comprising similar themes such as forward thinking, hope, positivity and escape.
Inspired by the current social and political climate of the world and the uncertainty we all live with, the synergy between the lyrics and themes signified by 8 – the number of infinity – hints at the real depth within Eight, touching on aspects of joy, strength, balance and power in unity.
Discussing the release, the quintet stated: “In Eight we are offering a way to lose yourself; find an escape, and to embrace the intrinsic ability music has to take you away from the harsh realities of life”. Website here, Facebook here, live dates on Beehive Candy's tour news page.
We have two tracks, 'The Blue' and 'Tomorrow Always Knew' and both vie for attention. The sixties psychedelic influences shine through, the second song has more than a little of The Beatles flavour to it. That said the creativity of White Room deserves full recognition, as does the fresh production, and melodic delivery.
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Background - West Wales three piece Ysgol Sul will be self-releasing their first collection of English language songs –“Eventide”- on 30/09/17.
Brought together by a mutual love of the 90s underground, Iolo Jones (singer, guitarist), Llew Davies (drummer), Cian Owen (bass guitar), formed Ysgol Sul in 2014. Having released several singles and an EP called “Huno”, the band has managed to earn a cult following within the Welsh language scene.
“Eventide” is a stark departure from the slacker and languor of their debut EP, and introduces a touch of darkness to the bands dreamy sound. The EP opens with “Silhouette” – a song with a sense of yearning yet one of the band’s jangliest songs to date.
“Promise Me” sees a return to the trio’s early surfy sound, drenched in reverb. “Elsewhere” is an unholy union of haunting distant sounds and a fierce unrelenting beat. Introverted lyrics coupled with sweet harmonies are brought to the EP by “Dwell”. Krautrock locomotive, “Solitude”, closes the collection. Facebook here.
The Welsh music scene has given us some fine new music this year and Ysgol Sul continue the momentum with 'Elsewhere' a dreamy and expansive rocker. There is plenty to say for singing in the "language of your heart" the switch to English however has not dampened the natural passion & hopefully makes the band more immediately assessable to a larger audience.
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Death Of Guitar Pop - Suburban Ska Club Feat. Neville Staple.Background - Essex-based Death Of Guitar Pop have announced details of their debut album ’69 Candy Street’ (out November 10th), a new single ‘Suburban Ska Club’ (which features Neville Staple of The Specials), and their debut live show as a 9-piece ska band (taking place at Oslo, Hackney on Friday 1st December).
Death Of Guitar Pop have been sparking huge interest from over recent months, with The Orginal Rudeboy Neville Staple (The Specials) collaborating on their new single, the Bad Manners horn section (aka The Mafia) throwing their hat into the ring to play on the album (and will play as part of the Death Of Guitar Pop live band playing at Oslo on December 1st), and with the likes of Pauline Black (The Selecter) and Dave Wakeling (The Beat) give the lads big props on social media.
“Suburban Ska Club” is lyrically inspired by the characters that frequent the bands free Ska night “Ska Club Essex", a “no thrills - just tunes” monthly affair at the spit and sawdust boozer The Traitors Gate, deep in the heart of Grays Essex. Facebook here.
OK so I am a sucker for anything Ska and Death Of Guitar Pop's collaboration with Neville Staple on the new song 'Suburban Ska Club' is an absolute delight. The dancing on the video has some classic Two-Tone era moves, what more can I ask for?
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Trevor Hall - What I Know.Background - Raised on an island in South Carolina, singer/songwriter Trevor Hall realized at a young age that music was more than just a passion - it was, rather, his life’s art. At sixteen, he recorded his first album, soon after which he left South Carolina for Idyllwild Arts Academy in California where he studied classical guitar and was introduced to the practices of yoga and meditation, which would greatly influence his life and his music.
Hall’s music, a blend of roots and folk music, is imbued with a deep love of Eastern Mysticism. This powerful symbiosis fostered a deep connectivity with his growing fan base and Trevor quickly matured into a leader of the burgeoning conscious musical community. Along with numerous pilgrimages to India, he has also completed a series of sold-out tours and collaborations with artists such as Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Matisyahu, Michael Franti, Xavier Rudd and Nahko & Medicine for the People.
His previous full-length album releases, Chapter of the Forest (2014) and KALA (2015), debuted at #3 and #2 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart respectively and were supported by extensive tours around the US and Australia. Beyond his intention to spread love and healing through music, Hall also collects donations to support children’s education in India and has continuously donated to charities and relief funds.
The Fruitful Darkness is Trevor’s first independent release — supported by his fans know as The Villagers — has become the #1 Music campaign of its kind in 2017. “There have been many hurdles and triumphs along the way” Hall reflects, after a decade plus recording for established labels such as Geffen and Vanguard. “This album conveys the deep vulnerability of journeying through the unknown, as opposed to playing it safe.” Besides the change in infrastructure, the album itself explores completely new sonic terrain and is being released unconventionally, in three song installments on specific lunar dates, with the intention to buck the trend of fly-by-night releases and hold the conversation for a whole year. Website here, Facebook here.
When Trevor Hall's vocals kicked in, I just wanted to hear more. 'What I Know' is a fabulously constructed song, the music moves from being understated to a richer, fuller sound, but never loses it's clarity. The harmonies manage to add even more passion and feeling.
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Wild Meadows - Feel The Noise.Background - Wild Meadows present ‘Feel the Noise’, the lead single from their forthcoming debut self-titled LP. A blend of pulsating noise-pop, psych-rock and shoegaze, the track is the first offering from Wild Meadows with this new lineup, with singer Jessica Lawrence, guitarist Dylan Bird and drummer Simon Gemmill joining original members James Ross (guitar/vocals) and Donovan Pill (bass).
Hailing from different corners of Australia and the world, the band’s current members came together in mid-2016 and immediately set about writing material for this new album – a follow-up to the band’s 2015 EP.
Recorded, mixed and produced by Paul ‘Woody’ Annison (Black Cab, Rocket Science) and mastered by William Bowden (The Church, Gotye), Wild Meadows’ self-titled LP is set for release in early 2018. Facebook here.
A powerful yet well defined wall of sound ensures the Shoegaze vibe is there right from the start on 'Feel The Noise'. The vocals add some delicacy and additional atmosphere, and as the song develops the track suggests the band are not stuck in any particular rock genre.
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Background - ALASKALASKA are a London based art-pop 6 piece. Since 2016 they have been busy cultivating a beautiful groove-laden sound, seamlessly blending jazz, disco, funk and R&B into something totally new and unique. Bandleader and vocalist, Lucinda John-Duarte’s ethereal and otherworldly voice twists brooding and introspective lyrics into hypnotic melodies, which play out alongside rich and intricate arrangements - synthetic beats and live drums, shimmering guitars, pulsing bass, with swirling synths and saxophones rounding it all off.
Their brilliant self-titled debut EP is the perfect introduction to their brand of unique off-kilter pop. The four songs - Bitter Winter, Familiar Ways, Patience, This - mark the arrival of a formidable group, reminiscent of Arthur Russell, Talk Talk, Dirty Projectors and Warpaint. They’ve built a cult following and reputation as extraordinary performers through a handful of shows in London and most recently on tour throughout the UK and Europe supporting Alvvays.
'Patience' is inspired by classic 90s film Sliding Doors, and naturally, a love of watermelons, it was filmed around the band’s South East London locale. The song was inspired by the more pop-leaning side of the Tsonga (or Shangaan) disco movement. Its climatic intertwining sax driven finale has become a highlight of their live performances and serves as another taste of their brilliant self-titled debut EP.
ALASKALASKA (EP) is out on 29th September via Marathon Artists’ imprint House Anxiety (the label that introduced the world to King Krule and Courtney Barnett). There is a release party at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club on September 28th, their biggest headline show to date, with support from Sorry and Boniface. Limited ticket and 12” EP bundles are available exclusively from Dice now. Website here, Facebook here.
We featured ALASKALASKA back in May and the latest song 'Patience' is more than welcome. The band have a distinct and pleasing sound, where different musical styles and arrangements emerge within just one song.
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