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Introducing… India Mill!
India Mill release their latest single Caribesque on 15th Sept 2014. It is a taster taken from their forthcoming debut album, Under Every Sky, due for release 24th November 2014.
The single is a dramatic call to arms, combining the introspective anxiety of Radiohead with the seismic swagger of Oasis, as India Mill tackle living in the material world. The song was born of a passing remark from a friend of the band regarding a certain member’s Elk-like appearance after a haircut. It sparked a healthy slice of existential angst that looks beyond insecurity about appearances and into the moral predicament of the modern world. The single has already picked up support from the likes of Fresh On The Net who describe it as ‘‘A psychedelic slice of existential angst” and BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson who remarked that the track “sounded effin’ terrific coming through the radio speakers” when he gave it its second spin at the station.
Artrocker premiered album track 'The Hanging Tree' to give people a taste of India Mill's sound, and you can now stream and download the track on SoundCloud or via the embed below.
India Mill take music seriously, taking their name from the biggest landmark and biggest mill in their town of Darwen, one of the most deprived areas of Blackburn. They are four friends who have known each other longer than they haven’t, and their goal is simple: to grasp the riot shield and baton in both hands and continue musical empowerment as witnessed by Stiff Little Fingers, The Clash, REM, Manic Street Preachers and Bruce Springsteen. India Mill is a band that doesn’t believe, but knows that politics and music belong together.
Debut album Under Every Sky fuses both the everyday politics of modern day family life with the turmoil of witnessing Britain’s Big Society coming apart at the seams. Darwen’s neighbouring Blackburn population has a life expectancy seven years below the UK average, many of the town’s children are in care, and radical extremist politics is used to divide previously tight knit working class communities. This is India Mill’s homeland, our homeland, this is Britain in crisis, this is The Big Society broken in two…
Caribesque is released 15th September on Bold Venture Music via AWAL distribution.
Jo Mango announces ‘Transformuration’ remix album!
Following on from her incredible 2012 sophomore album Murmuration, Jo Mango has enlisted the help of an excitingly unexpected grouping of international artists to remix all 10 tracks of that album to extraordinary effect. The result is Transformuration, released via Olive Grove Records on 13th October 2014.
Download and stream album track 'Evermore (The Cormorant Remix)' on SoundCloud or via the embed below.
The album ranges from the breath-taking dignity of English new-folk linchpin Adem’s version of ‘Cordelia’, to Australian Ben TD’s largely instrumental reworking of ‘Blue Dawn Light’ that nods to electro of the likes of Erlend Oye. One half of SAY nominated Scottish duo Conquering Animal Sound remixes as CARBS and completely re-envisages the dark layers of ‘Kingdom’ with finger-clicks and hand-thumps, while ex-Frightened Rabbit guitarist Gordon Skene (aka Fraction Man) takes a bombastic shot at ‘Crossties’. Alongside this, American remixer Cycad moves on from his previous work with Tilly and the Wall, to reshape ‘Every Certainty’ into a sound-designed choir-like, cathedral piece.
The result is like the original album, in that, amongst the clamour of a crowded market, it places a gentle and insistent demand on the listener to stop and consider. Despite the light-hearted humour of the title, Transformuration presents an intellectual reimagining of the original album in myriad surprising and enlightening ways, that continue to foreground the complex (dark and delicate) nature of Mango’s unique voice.
The original album was recorded and produced by Adem Ilhan (Adem, Sliver Columns) who became a good friend of Mango’s during their time on the road together, performing in collaboration with Vetiver, Juana Molina and Vashti Bunyan in the Zero Degrees of Separation tour and with David Byrne, who curated Welcome to Dreamland, the sell-out show at Carnegie Hall in 2007. The significance of the difference in sound that Mango has orchestrated here is all the more surprising given the lo-fi, homespun, African tale-telling of her most recent EP, When We Lived in the Crook of a Tree. As ever, the breadth and depth of her approach to her musical creation, is testament to her deep thoughts on the music world as part of her work as a Dr of Musicology (she was given her PhD in music in 2012), and her insatiable appetite for experimentation with instrumentation and timbre.
Transformuration will be released as a limited edition tape as part of this year's Cassette Store Day celebration on September 27th 2014 and then on full digital release through Olive Grove Records on October 13th 2014.
Introducing… The Retrospectives!
The Retrospectives have unveiled their latest single, Insane, available to download for free via BandCamp.
Exposed at a young age to the British invasion bands of the 60s, with a healthy dose of 70s punk and new wave for good measure, band take their inspiration from the likes of Elvis Costello, Tom Petty and The Rolling Stones. What brought them together was their unshakeable belief that guitars still have a vital place in popular music and their ear for a great, foot stomping classic rock hook.
Previous releases Bittersweet and Gold & Green are also two great examples of a band who are completely in at ease with their sound, with loving nods to the likes of Bad Company and Fleetwood Mac, each single punctuated by impressive, no nonsense guitar work that’s just begging to be played loud on your next road trip.
Watch the video for Bittersweet, on the band's YouTube channel.
You can stream Gold & Green on the band's official SoundCloud page
Originally formed by guitarist Tom Galton and bassist Will Stocks in their youth, the pair were joined by drummer Paul Jackson at the start of 2013. After recording single 52 Records and embarking on a UK tour, the band quickly returned to the studio. The tracks that were recorded formed the EP, Turn Me Up, and the tour that followed saw them take to the stage supporting The Boomtown Rats, Night Engine and Paper Aeroplanes, as well as opening for Bruce Foxton's 'From The Jam' at a sold out show at the famous Cavern Club In Liverpool.
The Retrospectives kicked off 2014 with yet another support slot with From The Jam (this time at Glasgow ABC) and have since gone on to complete two UK tours of their own, support The Buzzcocks at Holmfirth Picturedrome and release two singles, the second of which earned them a Record Of The Week on BFBS, the DAB radio station for the British Armed Forces.
Described by Stereoboard as 'Songwriters with an ability to combine lyrics and melody with rare precision' and having landed themselves a place in BBC Introducing Sheffield's top ten tracks of the year, it's clear their hook-laden, off-kilter, power-pop is starting to turn heads in the right places. Their latest two singles Bittersweet and Gold & Green are available now on 7" Vinyl and digital download, and with another single in the pipeline, 2014 looks set to be a big year for The Retrospectives.
Introducing… Ben Cooling!
Ben Cooling releases single Breathe Again via Circus City Music Group on 8th September 2014. The single is taken from Ben’s EP To Hell With Consequences, released earlier this year.
Watch the poignant video for Breathe Again on YouTube or via the embed below.
Breathe Again is an opportunity for Ben to showcase his talent as an acoustic guitarist, and his distinctive voice that has elements of Nick Cave mellowed out over a Frank Turner fire. The lyrics contain a message of empowerment, urging the listener to not be constrained by regrets, and to acknowledge that things that seem important in the present might hold you back from doing something truly remarkable in the future. Powerful stuff during these uncertain times.
Ben has been performing as a solo artist since early 2012 and has spent the best part of the last 10 years playing and writing music with honesty and conviction with his to the point style and lyrics that anyone can relate to.
Breathe Again is released 8th September via Circus City Music Group.
Introducing… Bear Arms!
"The new knights of the Biffy realm."
- BBC Introducing
- BBC Introducing
Bear Arms announce the release of their debut album, Strength and Conviction, out on 20th October 2014 via Struggletown Records.
Stream and download album track 'Courage' from the ABoF SoundCloud page, or via the embed below.
Watch the live footage video that accompanies the track on YouTube or via the embed below.
Combining elements of emo, math rock and post-hardcore, Bear Arms offer an eclectic take on the alt-rock sound that has swamped the airwaves in recent years. Pulling on early noughties influences such as Glassjaw, Texas Is The Reason and Thursday, Bear Arms have produced an album that accentuates the loud/quiet, singing/screaming dynamic beautifully, while maintaining an emotionality that should endear them to a wider audience.
Album opener ‘Courage’ allows Bear Arms to show off their penchant for a technically expansive sound laden with heavy stop/start guitar soundscapes combined with brutal drumming and a melodic, captivating chorus. On ‘Call to Arms’ Bear Arms show a depth to their songwriting ability as the track builds methodically, slowly and thoughtfully towards a harmony infused, guitar picking, bass-led epic that will have your head bobbing and your body swaying. While lead single ‘Fools Gold’ highlights the band’s softer, more accessible side where they pull on classic 90’s emo influences to produce a track worthy of any radio rock show’s playlist.
Bear Arms, who consist of Richard Wardrop (guitar/vox), Keiran Hird (guitars/vox), Lewis Mcgourty (bass) and Dean Louden (drums/vox), formed in early 2011 after the members grew up playing in bands together when they were at school. Keiran joined after the rest of the band moved to Glasgow and Dean was the final piece of the Bear Arms puzzle when he was added to the line-up in 2013 after the regional drummer left the band.
Bear Arms have already played at Wickerman Festival and Belladrum Festival and supported their idols Funeral For A Friend. They have also picked up support from BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and were named ‘Best Live Act’ at the 2013 Scottish Alternative Music Awards.
Strength and Conviction by Bear Arms is released 20th October 2014 via Struggletown Records.