Latest News
Introducing… Fiona Soe Paing!
Fiona Soe Paing creates unsettling electronic soundscapes on her debut album Alien Lullabies. The album, released on 29th August 2016 via Colliderscope, exists in a world between worlds, a strange avant-garde place where the half Burmese, half Scottish electronic producer and vocalist creates dark, dreamy soundscapes.
Alien Lullabies is a collection of off-world, vocal based electronic tracks, that combine a phrasebook Burmese, English and abstract improvisation. The album is the soundtrack of the Alien Lullabies live show, a mesmerising live performance and cinema hybrid, with projected 3D animation by collaborator Zennor Alexander, who created a dark, animated fairytale to accompany the album.
You can now stream the animated video for the track 'Behrot' from Alien Lullabies via Fiona's YouTube Channel.
Whilst writing the album, Fiona was staying on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, at the off-grid Eco Village, which was founded by the crew of the original Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior - this is where the surreal sounds of Alien Lullabies were born.
Fiona often combines abstract vocals and cutting edge electronica to create strange and intense sounds, which can be heard on tracks ‘Winters Day’ and ‘Tah Stin Koh Mpor’. Channeling a sound akin to Björk, Laurel Halo and Mira Calix, ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Tower of Babel’ are perfect examples of Fiona’s skill with manipulating sound and transforming it into art.
Amongst Fiona’s supporters are BBC Radio 1’s Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC Radio 3’s - World On Three show, BBC
6Music’s Tom Robinson, BBC Scotland’s Vic Galloway and Mary Ann Kennedy as well as Depeche Mode’s Vince Clarke. Previous releases have included a track sung in Burmese, released through Warner Music on the Sound of The World compilation by legendary BBC presenter and musicologist, the late Charlie Gillett.
Fiona Soe Paing’s album Alien Lullabies is out on 29th August 2016 via Colliderscope.
yllwshrk announce single ‘Northern Soul’!
“...endlessly fascinating and engrossing.” - The Line of Best Fit
After appearing as a violist on a number of tracks on Radiohead’s new album A Moon Shaped Pool, classically trained Scottish composer Ian Anderson, along with bassist Dave Brown (who performed double bass on A Moon Shaped Pool), recently announced the release of their debut self-titled EP under the band name yllwshrk (Yellow Shark), due for release on 5th August 2016 via Oramic Records and available to pre-order on the yllwshrk Bandcamp page.
yllwshrk have quickly followed this up with the announcement of official single release Northern Soul, out on 22nd July 2016, where the five piece band explore elements of prog, jazz, ambient and rock music, showcasing the full range of their ability to experiment sonically and structurally. The single stream premiered on The Line of Best Fit and is now available to stream on the ABoF Soundcloud page.
The band have already released the free EP track, a homagé to Jeff Buckley called 'Pull Me Under (In Memory of Jeff Buckley)', which is available to stream and download for free via the ABoF Soundcloud page.
Anderson (rhythm guitar) wanted to tap into his impressive musical knowledge by utilising complex ideas taken from classical compositions, relating to form and harmony, with the aim of implementing them within the context of an alt-rock song structure. Reaching out to Brown, whom he met while touring with Jonny Greenwood and the London Contemporary Orchestra, as well as a number of other musician friends, yllwshrk made their live debut at a London gig in January of this year with Sam West (vocals), Matt Isaac (lead guitar) and Feargus Brennan (drums) completing the line-up.
The band headed to Woodworm Studios in Banbury with the aim of recording their first tracks with producer Graeme Stewart (Radiohead, Ash, Zero 7), the session resulting in three exquisitely crafted songs contained on the EP. All three tracks bear the characteristics that Anderson originally set out to instil into the project with complex rhythms and harmonies scattered throughout, taking inspiration from his work with Radiohead, allied to the majestic, vast vocal stylings of West reminiscent of Jeff Buckley. West’s vocals come close to reaching the same range and emotional intensity as the renowned singer/songwriter with the band giving a clear nod to him on the ode ‘Pull Me Under (In Memory of Jeff Buckley)’.
The rest of the record consists of the aforementioned Northern Soul, displaying gorgeous intricate guitar work which is blended beautifully with technically impressive drumming, and 'Into Her Sleep With Envy', highlighting another incredible vocal performance by West and drawing comparisons with acts such as Grizzly Bear and Dirty Projectors.
yllwshrk’s self-titled debut EP is out 5th August 2016 via Oramic Records and is available to pre-order on the yllwshrk Bandcamp page, with single Northern Soul out on 22nd July 2016.
Law Holt announces debut album ‘City’!
"...explosive..." - The Line of Best Fit
“…playful pop with sinister undertones…” - DIY
“…a voice that could move mountains…” - The Skinny
Law Holt’s debut album City, out 26th August 2016 via Soulpunk, presents her unique, twisted take on pop.
You can now stream the recently released video for 'Spit', featured on Law's debut full-length City via her YouTube Channel.
Alternatively you can stream the track via Law's Soundcloud Page.
After the sessions for the album had finished, in the basement studio where City was recorded, producer Tim London found a folded A4 sheet of paper amongst some lyric notes. Written in three types of coloured biro were these
exact words:
“You don’t know a damn thing. It’s a witchy awareness, and if you could take a little swig from the bottle you might get the telepathy. But right now, you don’t deserve it, cos you think pop is fucking in a photo-booth in a shopping mall, you think it’s the reflection of the tip of your penis vibrating in the dark screen of your laptop. American. Packaging. Wanker.”
“It’s a mock wedding. I’m fucking fed up with it. Don’t judge me. Just because you lost your soul. My tears are real, wet salt. My feelings are raw.”
“OK, in the end I’ll probably forgive you, even if you refuse to dance. I’ll forgive you long enough to make another album from the whole story, which is all it is, from the fantasy, which is all you are.”
“In the end, I’ll use you like you used me, ‘boy’. Then you’ll be discarded like a limp condom on a Spanish beach. Then I will have won and you’ll just be an itch, a gnat bite on my memory. Then people will listen to these songs and they will know how a little, insignificant prick can inspire joy in a woman as he fades away. You. Are. Not. Even. A. Dot.”
When Tim asked her who it was addressed to, Lauren refused to answer and just said, “it’s private”.
Having been described as “the Death Grips of pop”, her sound is hard to define but has received critical acclaim from The Skinny, Guardian, Clash, The Line of Best Fit, DIY and many more. Law transcends genres, time and sound. Loneliness, darkness and romance are themes she regularly explores. She describes her music as “Law themed” and she’s spot on - you can look, but there’s no one quite like Law.
Law Holt’s album City is out on 26th August 2016 via Soulpunk.
HOMES share new ‘Black Gold’ video!
"...a jaunty and highly catchy tune..."
- Louder Than War
"...a catchy slice of indie-pop." - GigSlutz
Welsh indie rockers HOMES have shared their playful new video for latest single Black Gold, out on July 29th 2016 via Outback Recordings.
The video premiered on Louder Than War and you can also watch it via the band's YouTube channel.
Black Gold is also available to stream via HOMES' Soundcloud page.
The single is “Monday's blues and Friday’s booze all mixed into one sentimental pint of coffee” as Dylan Morgan explains, the brainchild behind the band. The track was inspired by the story of an aspiring musician who refuses to give up in the face of adversity. It has all the makings of an infectious indie pop track, filled with upbeat melodies, jangly guitars, flawless harmonies and a singalong chorus. Dylan’s vocal takes centre stage, immediately drawing you in with his powerful resonance.
Dylan formed HOMES in Cardiff back in 2015, with the rest of his band members alternating regularly. Since then they have kept things local, gaining support from the likes of BBC Radio Wales’ Adam Walton, Jamie Owen and Bethan Elfyn, Wales Online and Buzz Magazine. With their debut single Float Like An Animal having steadily made waves in the West, HOMES are keen to introduce their addictive sound to the rest of the UK and beyond.
Black Gold by HOMES is out on July 29th 2016 via Outback Recordings.
Bugeye release ‘Never Let You Go’ EP!
"...Bugeye’s new EP is destined to be a summer favourite."
- Gay Times Magazine“...dripping in attitude and obstinance...” - God Is In The TV
"...Blondie meeting Yeah Yeah Yeahs..."
- The RevueLondon based electro-trash, riot grrrl rock band Bugeye have today released their wonderful new EP, Never Let You Go, out now via Repeat Records/Badger Recording Co and available to buy on iTunes.
The EP is a quirky, dramatic, offbeat and intensely groovy record taking inspiration from 90's and early 00's female fronted alt-rock bands and is available to stream exclusively on Gay Times Magazine. Lead single and title track Never Let You Go wouldn’t be out of place blaring from the Twede’s Cafe jukebox made famous in Twin Peaks, accompanied of course by a slice of cherry pie and a “Damn fine cup ‘o coffee!”. The video for the single, which was directed by Emma Nathan, who directed Suddenly by Anna Calvi and explores themes of domestic abuse, premiered on God Is In The TV and is available to watch now via the band's YouTube channel.
The single was streamed exclusively on The Revue and is also available to listen to now via Bugeye's Soundcloud page.
Having first formed in the late 90’s supporting the likes of The Cranberries at Wembley, Bugeye reformed last year after a series of events drew them back together. The result of these cosmic events, is an EP that not only hints at what could have been, but clears the path for the talented three-piece to fulfil their undoubted potential. Bugeye draws parallels with a number of the defining indie rock bands of the late 90’s/early noughties such as Sleater-Kinney, Le Tigre and Gossip as they pursue, with a great deal of success, the ultimate rock and roll sound. Blending cherry-liqueur lyrics, bubblegum-kneecap bass electrics, goth-heavy drum compactions and high-rise guitar sculptures, Bugeye have created a beautifully, unapologetic riot grrrl-inspired record that is both notable for it’s contemporary sound as much as it is for it’s throwback qualities.
Comprising Angela Martin (Vox, Guitar), Paula Snow (Bass) and Jack Houston (Drums), the trio have reintroduced themselves to the live London music scene with a number of recent gigs around the city and beyond. However, the band are now just hitting their stride with ‘Disco Dancer’ having been released as a free download, the release of official single and title track Never Let You Go and the EP itself now officially out.
Never Let You Go EP by Bugeye is out now via Repeat Records/Badger Recording Co and available to buy on iTunes.