Calva Louise - Team Picture - Tullycraft
London punksters Calva Louise share gripping new single Tug Of War, the third track taken from their debut album Rhinoceros out 1st February.
Laying down a firm marker within London’s raucous punk scene over the last 18 months, the rising trio have since earned support slots alongside the likes of Albert Hammond Jr, Spring King and Anteros and recently finished an extensive UK tour with label-mates The Blinders.
Bursting with ferocity in their trademark anthemic style, Tug Of War encapsulates everything that’s come to be expected of the band. Silky guitar work, biting vocals and infectious, chaotic riffage takes centre stage and only adds to their growing reputation heading into next year’s debut LP release.
Discussing the video, the band stated: “We feel like in any kind of relationship there are unwritten rules everybody should follow, and that becomes a constant tug of war, dealing with unnecessary pressure. If everybody could have a complimentary point of view, then that tug of war could be a fun game where there are no set rules”.
We have featured Calva Louise twice this year and the new song 'Tug Of War' makes it three. The trio once again provide us with an energised punk come garage rocker, where the vocals add some melodic refinement whilst the music just crunches on with exuberance. The video adds a little humour as this London band continues to impress.
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Leeds-based six-piece, Team Picture have just shared their new track, ’Clone You’. Co-produced with Chris Mulligan (Treeboy & Arc, WH Lung), the track, which was initially penned during the band’s infancy, arrives as part of a AA-side alongside ‘Bedroom Genius’ which is due for physical release as a limited edition cassette via Big Dumb Music (DSP launch for AA-side set for January 18, 2019).
Speaking about the release, guitarist JL says: “‘Clone You’ and ‘Bedroom Genius’ are two songs dating from a period when we were still experimenting with different sounds and lineups which would culminate in ‘RECITAL'. It's the sound of us trying to reconcile our fondness for floaty waves and chunky guitar habits: of a band in the infancy of trying to educate themselves away from popular alt-rock tropes.” The AA-side release acts as the first piece of music from the band since the 6 Music-supported mini-album, ‘Recital’ which arrived earlier this year, produced by Matt Peel (Autobahn, Eagulls, Menace Beach). News arrives ahead of the band’s headline at Leeds’ Hyde Park Book Club on December 7, 2018 (tomorrow).
“The focus of the lyrics wasn't dwelt upon much at the time, but in hindsight, they both feel like they're about loneliness. Something I only really realised when Rufus Newell (designer) sent through his ideas for the artwork.”
Since forming in late 2016, Team Picture have earned praise at Radio 1, 6 Music, Radio X and BBC Introducing, as well as opening for the likes of Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Parquet Courts, The Orielles and Trudy & The Romance. Earlier in 2018, they released the mini-album, ‘Recital’, before embarking upon their debut headline tour, ticking off a stop at Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club and further festival dates at The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City and Hit The North. The band are set to return to the studio in the early stages of 2019 with view to releasing more new music throughout the year.
It's our third Team Picture feature this year with new song 'Clone You'. Once again the band explore different musical territory with a creative and notable style, the vocals are outstanding the mood a little dark, the overall experience is hypnotic and gorgeous.
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Tullycraft debut their first single/video "Passing Observations" off their upcoming 7th album "The Railway Prince Hotel" due out on vinyl & CD on February 8th on HHBTM Records. Tullycraft is known for writing indie pop anthems. Over the years they've penned a handful of songs that practically define the twee movement in America.
While the mainstream has largely ignored Tullycraft, their status in the indie pop underground is undeniable. Formed in 1995, they are considered to be one of the genuine pioneers of the American twee pop movement. Touring relentlessly during the last gasp of the truly independent indie-underground, they influenced countless young bands. They were once called “the Johnny Appleseed of Indie Pop - making their way across the country, leaving new bands, promoters, zines and record labels to sprout up in their wake." In recent years the band has stopped performing live, instead shifting their focus to their personal lives, while still writing and recording music together.
The Railway Prince Hotel is Tullycraft’s seventh album, their first since 2013’s Lost in Light Rotation. This new batch of songs sees Sean Tollefson and Jenny Mears continue to share most of the vocal duties, while long time musical stalwarts Chris Munford and Corianton Hale create most of the music. It would be selling Tullycraft short to say that The Railway Prince Hotel picks up where their last album left off. These new songs have a modestly different sound, somewhat due to the fact that long-time drummer (and original Tullycraft member) Jeff Fell, doesn’t make an appearance, but also because of the fresh approach the band took to recording this record. Equipped with lyrics, vocal melodies and rough bass lines (provided by Tollefson) the band composed many of the new songs from the ground up in the studio. This was an untried approach for Tullycraft. The result is an extraordinary album of 12 ultra-catchy, whip-smart gems that take aim at everything from failed relationships to the danceability of Billy Joel songs.
Throughout the album the music has an exciting urgency which is likely attributed to both the band’s spontaneous recording process and the enthusiasm each member brought to the new material. Are the wonderfully snarky, self-referential indie pop lyrics still here? Of course they are, this is Tullycraft after all. A deep dive into the lyrics uncovers an embarrassment of obscure indie references to be discovered. It’s hard to imagine a band or artist genuinely hitting their stride on their seventh outing, but much like Achtung Baby (U2’s 7th album) or Blonde on Blonde (Bob Dylan’s 7th album) somehow Tullycraft has hit the sweet spot between deliberate and daring. The result is a truly great batch of songs. With standout tracks like “Passing Observations,” “Has Your Boyfriend Lost His Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?” and the much too short “Lost Our Friends to Heavy Metal” – the question needs to be asked: Could The Railway Prince Hotel be Tullycraft’s true masterpiece? Honestly, it very well could be.
The second of twelve tracks on Tullycraft's seventh album due next February is 'Passing Observations' accompanied by a clever cartoon video. It's a good representation of what to expect from 'The Railway Prince Hotel,' where the band seemingly tear their way through the album with some highly original indie pop songs, that consistently have the bands unique and adorable sound.
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