Patterns – Lifecycle

Posted on January 1, 2014 by haymoncollins

artworks-000062741885-u0ny27-t500x500 Lifecycle, apparently a London based trio made up of Geoff Dent on guitar and vocals Tish Austin, bass and Nick Holder on drums, popped out a single, Patterns at the end of November, as a precursor to their debut album slated for later this year. Despite a FB page and their own website/tumblr etc, plus what seems to be their own label, Ricochet Records, they feel a little hard to gather info about, still no matter.

They tag themselves as Alternative/Tribal which I guess is as good a tag set as any if you need one. In truth, based on this single and its ‘B’ side Lose Control (doesn’t ‘B side’ sound quaint…) they are a rather pleasing confection of slightly psychedelic/trippy guitar and vocals over jazzy beats and base lines – sort of Black Market era Weather Report colliding with the echoes of Gong and whiffs of early Hawkwind. Neither jazz nor rock nor electro but somehow a bit of all of that.

Tish’s email to me flags them as an independent band trying to do it for themselves, and as such of course deserve to be encouraged and supported. I can see a slew of dates last year and rather assume that there may be more this year to support the planned debut album. The Youtube clip shows them banging out Patterns in Hoxton last year, so their live capabilities are clear.

On a drear and dismal first of the year Patterns brightens up the day, reminiscent of sunnier and cheerier times, for which I can only be grateful. If Tish is as good as her word, she will keep me updated with news and progress in Lifecycle which I will be only too pleased to pass on and share – keep an eye out.

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Albums of 2013

Posted on December 25, 2013 by haymoncollins

Always in two minds about the end of year list, it does never the less prove a useful reminder of what I was listening to when new fancies steal my attention away over the next year. Based purely on the amount I have played them – which I assume means they have that certain ‘something’ that makes them special – my top ten albums of 2013 are, in no particular order (cue ludicrous and dramatic music and overlong wait)….

Local Natives – Humming Bird

Due to my laziness and pre-occupations, scandalously no scribbles on either this brilliant album nor the entirely lovely gig at the nasty Bristol O2…..

Nils Frahm – Spaces

A combination of not always technically perfect recordings from various shows, Spaces does indeed capture some of the wonder of a live Nils Frahm show – mesmerising

James Blake – Overgrown

Very nearly my album of the year before others seduced me, and most definitely one of the better gigs of the year, Mr Blake et al make some wonderful sounds

Shearwater – Travelers

Never disappointing, Shearwater put together some unexpected and glorious cover tracks in Travelers rather helpfully introducing me to bands I knew little of

Mountaineater – Mountaineater –

At last, at last, a thunderous and joyous debut from Mountaineater, taken a while but so worth it

There Will Be Fireworks – Dark Dark Bright

Late in the year before we saw the second album from TWBF – full of fabulous Caledonian vocals, evocative lyrics and sparkling playing

Message to Bears – Maps

Jerome Alexander aka Message to Bears seems unable to make anything other than rather wonderful music, and on Maps he adds more electronica to sparkling effect

Villagers – {Awayland}

Almost last year and so easy to overlook, {Awayland} proved a brave and progressive step, and the live shows!….

Turin Brakes – We Were Here

We Were Here saw TB resurgent and resplendent, like all their best bits made a bit better and as always joyful live performances

Halves – Boa Howl

Then truly remarkable Halves issued the wonderful Boa Howl along with a few dates this side of the Irish Sea carefully timed so I couldn’t see them (again)

 

But not to be forgotten and only not there because Top Twelve doesn’t scan as well as Top Ten, the mighty…

Tesselators – Harvest of Sorrows

Whose Harvest of Sorrows provided the opportunity for an inspired collision of the concept album and tales of super-heros – top work chaps, top work

Tom Mitchell – Ruthless Thing

The irrepressible Tom Mitchell released EP Ruthless Thing, alongside countless shows and unending enthusiasm bringing his own twist on Elliott Smith/Mark Knopfler stylee, and as a reward may see a track used in the New Year to support TV and cinema adverts – wil you talk to me when you’re famous?

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Fellow Travelers – Shearwater

Posted on November 30, 2013 by haymoncollins

Shearwater-Fellow-Travelers1Shearwaters music lights up my life in so many ways, I can hardly think of a track they have done that doesn’t find a place with me. Always exquisitely played, with immaculate production, through it all shines the extraordinary voice of Jonathan Meiberg – swooping and soaring, operatic, clean as glass, distinctive and defining.

Live they are a wonder, bringing yet more facets to their music. And they tour a fair amount, sometimes supporting, sometimes supported. From this experience has come a range of artists and their music that has connected with the band, and this latest (short) album, is a sort of recognition of some they have worked with, hence the Fellow Travelers title. A title with even greater resonance when you consider the Trotsky use of the phrase and its implications: ‘someone who does not accept all your aims but has enough in common with you to accompany you in a comradely fashion part of the way.’

So a collection of covers ranging from Xiu Xiu, to Coldplay (yes really), from Wye Oak to Clinic. So perhaps a little of a ‘my, look at the artists I know and like’ but at least you get to hear a few out-of-the-way songs as a result.

The album is booked-ended with two of the best tracks, a fragile and lovely take on Jessca Hoops, Our Only Sun and the closer and personal favourite, Fucked Up Life originally from the Baptist Generals. In between are other gems, among them the Xiu Xiu track I Luv the Valley OH and the only new song, the Sharon van Etten duet A Wake for the Minotaur.

This is an album of gentle and insidious charms, understandably without the punch of new Shearwater material but with honest and affectionate renditions of music the band loves. All delivered in an authentic and genuine fashion with the masterly musicianship and that inspiration voice.

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The Dark Dark Bright – There Will be Fireworks

Posted on November 29, 2013 by haymoncollins

1450297_10151786481344541_1423113728_nIts been rather a long time since the first, wonderful There Will Be Fireworks self-titled album back in 2009, even though there was that EP to keep the faithful on side. So, for whatever reason, not a band that throws out a tsunami of music, perhaps characteristic of a band that takes its passions seriously and will not be hurried.

The Dark Dark Bright, out on Comets and Carwheels, keeps the faith with the intensity and emotion of their first outing but as you might hope after the five year interregnum, there is a build here, an added poise with a bit more of the orchestral with softer edges that frame the impassioned vocals of Nicholas McManus and piercing guitar-work of tracks like River.

You could so easily see TWBF heading towards the anthemic, stadium sound which, if successful in such a crowded ‘market’, could bring riches but oh what a loss that would be. For me the distinctive qualities lie less in the soaring, euphoric nature of some songs, but the fragility and almost domestic intimacy that is woven through this album and indeed much of their work, especially on songs like Roots and Youngblood.

Lyrically always interesting and finely wrought, each song captures snapshot stories, moments in time, almost always emotionally charged with loss, hurt or longing. Perhaps not feel-good album of the year, but it does feel, its human and touching and good, very good.

Don’t stay away for so long next time, eh?

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We are Serious and We Mean It – Glacials

Posted on October 30, 2013 by haymoncollins

GlacialsSometimes a little bit of wonderful drops into the inbox and so it was with this album from Glacials. A serendipitous bit of six degrees of separation – Glacials are chums with the ever wonderful Tessellators, themselves pals with the Peeblemeister of (the currently resting but resplendent) Bravo Brave Bats – they somehow got to me, and how pleased I am that they did.

The London quintet is comprised of almost completely (sorry Kenneth you don’t quite qualify!) exotically named chaps; Jaemi Zahra-Hall on guitars and electronics, Kenneth Joseph also on guitars, Sen Xu drums, the enigmatic Ozon on bass and Kathryn Mae providing the vocals. The new album/EP, We are Serious and We Mean It,  (incidentally recorded with David Jackson on bass and Arielle Renwart on vocals) has been out for a few days and can be streamed through their Bandcamp site where it can also be purchased, including a limited edition clear 12″ vinyl version.

Self-described as post-rock, math-rock and shoegaze, they are in truth all and none of these, yes there is a touch of Mogwai in there, a little nod here and there to the guitar style so peerlessly championed by Tristan Dingemans, but there is also a bit of a punk echo beneath the sheen and class of the sound, a splendid squelchy bass beneath the layers of soaring guitar and a whiff of Souxsie-meets-Cocteau Twins in the vocals that adds a distinctive twist; a potent and satisfying combination.

There is much to enjoy here in the twenty five minutes that the set runs to, not least the rather wonderful Appreciator, with its glorious distorted opening, that morphs into (ride it like a cowboy) – I have no idea what the brackets signify – both of which act as a counterbalance to tracks like the ethereal and swooning Sweet Tooth Pink Wrist (the engaging video by Tyler Hurd embedded below)

They may be Glacials by name but not by nature, a thrilling and warm-hearted ride of accomplished musicality and purposeful punch. A head-filling sound as recorded music, you can only wonder how great this might all sound in a live setting.

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Mountaineater – Mountaineater

Posted on October 23, 2013 by haymoncollins

MountaineaterAt long last the eponymous album from NZ sonic behemoths Mountaineater is here, much anticipated and although there have been a few tracks popping up here and there, it has none the less been a long time coming.

They have been out around NZ on a series of launch dates (nothing of course this side of the world) and the album is available through their Bandcamp site, as well as iTunes and the artefact itself can be obtained via Smoke CD’s

A mere six tracks long but with the majority of those running in around six, seven or nine minutes, it is album that grabs you my the scruff of the neck and hauls you through the entirely wonderful 43 minutes of its duration.

Opener Gutterball really rather sets the scene with blistering base and drums from Chris Livingstone and Anaru Ngata overplayed with the remarkable sounds driven from Tristan Dingeman’s guitar. It’s rather needless to go through track by track, although tracks like the aforementioned Gutterball and the epic Spider Baby stand out, to these ears at least.

Mountaineater liveAs someone whose musical tastes lean normally to something less akin to the “rock” mode – to be honest so much of the so-called rock rather bores me, derivative and flaccid – so Mountaineater are one of small group of bands whose music I allow to rip my face off. I guess it is precisely their combination of ferocity and musicality that I am so drawn to.

There is an intelligence, a craftsmanship, nothing that indicates anything less than a determination to do what they think is right, make an uncompromising sound-scape with little regard for commercialism or audience-chasing. That’s not to say that it’s wilfully obscure or ‘difficult’, just self confident and assured.

The sound-scape is startling, rich and complex, towering and absorbing. Of course there are those that draw parallels with their homeland, music that describes the scenic variety of NZ, it’s not a comparison I can draw but there is something undeniably huge and spacious, a sense of far horizons and endless skies. It’s like being in the grips of a grizzly bear, mercilessly hugging you to bits,  a smile all the while on his furry face.

Sitting here writing on a plane surrounded by others with headphones clasped to their ears for the next eleven hours, I wonder what they are listening to and bet that few if any are listening to music as extraordinary as me.

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We Were Here – Turin Brakes

Posted on September 30, 2013 by haymoncollins

1369560_10151942572538055_1131481945_oJust a little while ago I met up, after far too long, with an old friend. The anxieties of how we might have changed, how we’d no longer have those things that once made us close, dissipated in moments; what had I been worried about.

The wait for We Were Here from Turin Brakes, the first new album in a long while, had me similarly anxious that it might simply not be as good as it used to be, that somehow the stutters in their most recent albums might have developed into a disappointment.

But hey, what have we here? Well, blow me down, an absolute stonker of an album. Within a few moments I just knew that they were not only back on track, but had a new fire in their bellies, the glowing embers had caught light and they have produced perhaps their best thing yet.

It’s almost as if they have produced a Best Of but with all new songs. But better than that, there is a bold and ballsy attitude, a bunch of chaps with something new to say, cracked out with a confidence and sure-footed ness.

TBAll the things that made them so well loved are there, the strong hooks and melodies, the quality of playing, but now with added ‘sposh’. Olly’s vocals are warmer and more mature (much like on his fabulous, writers-block breaking solo effort If Not Now When), a man back in his groove and driven with a renewed urgency. Gale’s wonderful guitar is there in spades, nicely upfront with satisfying extended passages. Rob Allen’s percussion and Eddie ‘the caveman’ Myer’s bass hold it tightly together; but truly it’s in a live setting these two blossom and shine. In fact this album has much more of the feel and energy you get from any TB gig, where they excel. Having heard tracks like Sleeper in past gigs, you know just how this set of songs will take flight played live.

Clocking in at a healthy 54 minutes or so, the album doesn’t really put a foot wrong, rolling through the dozen tracks with aplomb, a little musical lull here and there and then lifted up again so you barely notice that nearly an hour has slipped past. Early favourites like Blindsided Again and Sleeper will no doubt be joined by the slower burn tracks, but already here is an album that has earned its place at the top of the TB pile of achievements.

Having seen them countless times I know what a joy their gigs are, but now we have this set of toons to look forward to as well, its not going to be possible any longer for one gig to hold all my favourites. Still let’s see what they can do when they play my backyard in Stroud in a couple of weeks, I predict a, gentlemanly and grown up, riot. Welcome back old friends, top job indeed.

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Hide Away – John&Garry

Posted on September 1, 2013 by haymoncollins

John&GarrySometimes you get nice, unexpected little surprises and so, sitting minding my own business on a Saturday afternoon, an email plops into my inbox inviting me to listen to some music a couple of chaps have been putting together in their bedroom. Well aside from the fact that ‘recorded at home’ might sound a tad less dodgy and despite knowing people who do indeed record some rather fine music in their bedrooms, my expectations were, frankly, not too high. Cue nice little surprise.

The introductory track I was pointed at was, it turns out, the title track  from their debut and oh-so imminent EP that can be streamed and downloaded (although a little donation be both appropriate and welcome I am sure) from their super new Bandcamp site. To be honest everything about J&G is a bit super new, Bandcamp, their Soundcloud , FB and uber new Twitter – so roll along and ‘friend’or whatever…

Young whipper-snapper brothers from Irvine, Ayrshire, the aforementioned John and Garry are dipping their toes into the murky waters that are the music industry whilst they complete their shockingly intelligent-sounding academic studies. To be honest I was expecting something either yawn inducingly indie or hand-over-the-ear, elbow patched folkie malarkey. But no, in fact something much more mature and intelligent, a sound that belies their tender years.

The brothers Kerr (for it is they) naturally hint at their preferences and influences, well who wouldn’t? But with influences such as Bon Iver (a rather fine cover of Re:stacks closes the EP), The National, and the sainted Blue Nile that can be no bad thing. My predilection for Scottish things musical is no secret – Idlewild (ah how I miss thee), Frightened Rabbit, There Will be Fireworks, We Were Promised Jetpacks etc etc – and so the Caledonian twang instantly had me on side, but perhaps even more the vocal qualities that Garry displays on tracks Let Me In and Hide Away. How welcome to have a voice with some depth and warmth rather than the usual adenoidal whine of many a new band.

In truth both chaps have good voices, working nicely together in their sharply executed harmonies, both seem to play lots of bits and pieces though Garry majors on guitar and John on piano and syth it seems, with other instrument honours shared between them.

Well if this is how the J&G are starting off – well crafted songs, played with sensitively and musicality, sung with character and individuality, and produced with a commendable  open and clean sound – you wonder where they might go next? I am genuinely enjoying this little suite of songs and I promise not to be suspicious about bedroom recordings in future.

‘Tis early days of course but I hope they remember me when they get to the big time, you know, the chap who said nice things about them at the kick off – any chance of a guest list place?

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Morning Bruise – Cfit

Posted on August 30, 2013 by haymoncollins

Cfit

I have written a little before about what seems to be a (re)surge(nce) of Irish bands , such as my beloved Halves, Overhead the Albatross, Alarmist, Croupier etc. with their mix of slightly post rock, a bit prog and a twang of indie flavour to them.

Cfit, a seven piece Dublin band born of Noel Duplaa, are a new band to me, their latest EP Morning Bruise released on September 2nd follows on from their debut album Triage of last year, generously a free download at Bandcamp. At just four tracks, coming in at around twenty minutes or so, Morning Bruise is an elegant introduction to the band.

Opener, Coke and Spiriters, is a rich and warm track building on its opening synth moan of a mutant toy train by adding percussion, a rumbling bass and guitar with a multi layers vocal, creating a rather lovely production with a musical a maturity that seems to belie their youth and freshness. The strings are perhaps the thing that link them aurally to their compatriots like Halves. This is a track that, even at six minutes, could easily have built for longer and then perhaps outstayed its welcome instead it leaves its subtle hooks to gradually establish themselves over several plays.

Next up the relatively short track Heliophilia has a vaguely eastern electronic wail and percussion that precedes the vocals that echo the likes of my much loved, but recently quiet, Under the Igloo. The soprano (?) sax line brings memories of early Gong or a calmer Melt Yourself Down, before the track takes off driven by its drum line, only to end again a tad sooner than many a band might have done.

The vocals and later the key guitar line are much more to the fore in Tenderfoot and around 1’45” there is that swooning orchestral chorus section that later builds with a hint of A Day in the Life controlled chaotic sound, collapsing again at the end of this rather blissful track.

Final track Spitefuck is perhaps a more traditional track than the others here, and none the worse for that, and the opening melody is strangely redolent of an old Edith Piaf song. Just about the longest track here it does have the time to grow and develop in the second half into an almost soaring anthemic piece, with a bit of brass and a stately swagger before again falling back into the style it began with.

All the tracks have that sense of an underlying beauty, tenderness and control. A short collection of tracks that repay and require a few plays to present their ethereal qualities. Cfit really do have something rather wonderful here, eminently worth discovering and growing to love.

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Prisms – 65daysofstatic

Posted on August 27, 2013 by haymoncollins

65daysofstatic

Rather shamefully 65DoS never really broke through for me, I am not at all sure why especially as they toured around back in the day with the much loved and missed Forward Russia and Youth Movie Soundtrack Strategies.

Still these things happen, but Lo! into my inbox drops this, Prisms, the ‘single’ from their soon to be released next album Wild Light on 16 September (coincidentally my Pa’s birthday… I wonder if he would like a copy?….) and up for pre-order from their merch site.

Well there will be countless others better informed than I on all things 65DoS but Prisms has a remarkable production and a sound that builds from its early keyboard intro to add layer on layer of guitar, percussion and other sounds that combine to create a veritable tsunami of sound, sweeping you along, before it sinks back into something rather more serene. An entirely gorgeous track and available for free download.

All rather uplifting for a newbie like me, and perhaps so also for those better acquainted to the delights of 65DoS?

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