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Introducing… The Helmholtz Resonators
The Helmholtz Resonators are a renegade group of psychedelic time travelling audio scientists who have been playing and writing music together since the turn of the century. They studied acoustic science and the work of Hermann Von Helmholtz, being particularly inspired by his book On the Wires of our Nerves, essential reading for anyone interested in the science of sound and sound synthesis.
Sunshine/Shadow captures both sides of the band’s personality, making perfect sense as a double A side single. ‘Sunshine’ is a bright slice of electronic feel-good electronica with upbeat lyrics, while ‘Shadow’ is a sinister tale of beady eyed shadow people, omnipresent and always listening. You can stream it on the ABoF SoundCloud page.
Around the same time Carlton Breezy had an old hyper-fuzz pedal he never liked the sound of when used with his guitar, so he discarded the guitar and found the fuzz perfect with an old 1970s precision bass. Chladni Plates was thrilled; he had wanted to form a “hatstand of psychedelia” for some time.
Heavily inspired by the ethos behind concept albums, the band have created a repertoire of songs that are as eccentric as their image, touching on influences as diverse as The Residents and The Kinks to LCD Soundsystem and Hieronymous Bosch and picking up support from the likes of XFM’s Eddy Temple Morris, BBC 6Music’s Marc Riley, Frank Skinner’s Absolute Radio Show, Timeout and The Independent.
Sunshine/Shadow is released 14th July 2014 via Genepool Records.
Introducing… Katalina Kicks
Katalina Kicks announce the release of their sophomore album, Dirt, via Snappi on 7th September 2014.
The London based four-piece have produced an unashamed, foot-stomping rock and roll record that would fit nicely alongside bands such as Nirvana, Misfits, The Hives, The White Stripes and QOTSA - bands that inspired Katalina Kicks to create and write music in the first place. ’Sex N Drugs’ opens the record and sets the tone beautifully - coming out kicking and screaming in a splendorous example of garage rock revival glory. On the surface the sound could be seen as an ode to the likes of The Stooges and MC5, but Katalina Kicks have a charm and swagger that marks their sound out firmly as their own. Dirt takes you on a punk-rock journey, stomping through the decades with energetic gusto, waving at Kurt, Iggy, Evan, Jack and Meg as you pass them by on this magical mystery tour.
To get a taste of their sound first hand, stream and download 'Kings Of America' from Katalina Kicks' SoundCloud page.
Check out the video to their cover of Iggy and The Stooges classic 'Search and Destroy' on the band's YouTube channel.
You can also stream and download the track for free from the band's SoundCloud page.
Formed by Ian George (vocals & guitar) and J Creswell (bass & backing vocals) in 2009 after they began hanging out and writing music together, the aim was to create a stripped back heavy rock sound. Very quickly the duo were offered a publishing deal, so they recruited Harry Stam (guitar) and Jase Wilkinson (drums & backing vocals) and Katalina Kicks were born. Two critically acclaimed singles followed in 2010 before the band released their debut album The Return of Montague Rotter. The album gained a following in the States as it charted on many CMJ College Radio stations which then saw the band showcase at SXSW and the Canadian Music Fest in Toronto. Closer to home, the band started to play some great live shows in London with a headline appearance at Koko, a slot at Club NME and a showcase at Camden Rocks.
To support the release Katalina Kicks will be touring the US and Latin America as well as hosting a huge album launch party when they return to the UK in Autumn.
Dirt by Katalina Kicks is released 7th September 2014 via Snappi.
FUCK ART, LET’S DANCE! release video ‘Hemisphere’
“...melodies so crisp they ought to come foil-wrapped.” - NME
“...rapier-sharp indie-pop...” - The Line of Best Fit
FUCK ART, LET’S DANCE! have released a compelling and stripped down video for album track 'Hemisphere'. The video depicts the band going about their day, with candid moments from photo-shoots and rehearsals captured on camera and laid bare.
You can watch the video for 'Hemisphere' on Audiolith's YouTube channel
You can also watch the sacrilicious video for 'We're Manicals!' on the official Audiolith YouTube channel.
The band's debut album, Atlas, has already picked up support from the likes of NME and The Line Of Best Fit, both giving the album the thumbs up.
If you want an extra taste of their sound, you can stream and download free album track "HOME" on Audiolith's SoundCloud page and watch the video on YouTube.
The band’s name - FUCK ART, LET’S DANCE! - speaks for itself. Whilst listening to Atlas you can imagine club kids from Dalston, London to Williamsburg, New York dancing carefree in the darkest, coolest corners of some of the best underground clubs, music pulsing, the band’s name emblazoned onto loose fitted vests, graffitied luminously across brick walls - FUCK ART, LET’S DANCE! have the capacity to start a movement.
FUCK ART, LET'S DANCE! also gave away two free downloads from their compilation We're Manicals! (Remixes), available now on iTunes, giving fans the opportunity to download and stream Deo & Zman's and Ostbahnof (FR)'s
interpretation of FUCK ART, LET'S DANCE!'s speaker shaking track 'We're Manicals!'.
With Atlas, this addictive four-piece will make you dance, sweat and smile - they embody both the fun and introspective elements of youth and have translated them into thirteen perfect tracks.
Atlas is available now via Audiolith. You can buy it on iTunes.
So Many Animal Calls announce single ‘From The Sick Bed’
So Many Animal Calls will be releasing official single From The Sick Bed on June 9th 2014. The single is taken from their second EP, Burden, due for release via Bloc+Music on 26th May 2014 and available to pre-order from the band's official Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon.
From The Sick Bed illustrates So Many Animal Calls' ability to write solid, sing-along pop-rock songs encased within a song structure that edges towards prog territory. Emotionally charged lead vocals are intensified by relentless drumming and chiming guitars as the track undulates between the quiet/loud dynamic to great effect. The video for the single was exclusively released on Artrocker and is now available to watch on the band's YouTube channel.
You can stream the single from the ABoF SoundCloud page.
You can also stream and download EP track 'Stories' for free from the ABoF SoundCloud page as well as their first free track 'My Blood's Not Mine'.
Burden sees the Glasgow based four-piece make a welcome return after the release of their 2011 debut EP, Eulogy. While Eulogy highlighted the raw, visceral skills of a young talented band, on Burden we see a marked progression in their sound - a more mature sound mixing abrasive alternative rock with layered moments of technical excellence.
As well as their official single, tracks such as ’My Blood’s Not Mine’ showcase everything that is good about So Many Animal Calls - technical guitar pieces, dreamy vocals and time changes galore display an impressive depth to a band who offer far more than the sum of their parts.
The Glaswegian foursome, consisting of Sean McKenna (vocals, guitar), Ross Stewart (guitar, vocals), Ross Coll (bass) and new member Sam Leighton (drums) with previous drummer Martin Johnston featuring on the EP, recorded Burden with producer Bruce Rintoul (Twin Atlantic, We Were Promised Jetpacks) and the EP was mastered by Carl Saff (Joanna Gruesome, Braid, Speedy Ortiz). Drawing on influences that range from The Cure to Motion City Soundtrack, the band have produced a record that would legitimately sit alongside contemporaries like The Get Up Kids, The Promise Ring and Death Cab For Cutie.
Their dynamic sound has also seen the band gain support from the likes of Artrocker, Drowned In Sound, Jim Gellatly, The Herald and Huw Stephens as well as picking up support slots with the likes of Little Comets and The Xcerts and sharing a stage at Rockness with Friendly Fires.
From The Sick Bed is available to buy from June 9th and is taken from the EP Burden which is due for release on 26th May 2014 via Bloc+Music. Pre-order the EP on Bandcamp.
Introducing… Blair Jollands!
"...big soul stuff..." - Uncut
Blair Jollands returns with free track ‘My Way Home’ taken from his third, yet to be named album, due for release this Summer via glowb Records. The album is inspired by his travels across the world, drawing upon various cultural inspirations as he pushes onward from his previous two critically acclaimed albums Hotel and Violent Love, released via Boy George’s label, More Protein. They were
described as "epic and elegant" and "big soul stuff" by Uncut and "Classy" by Tim Jonze at NME.
The video for 'My Way Home' premiered on Gigwise, but you can watch it on Blair's YouTube channel.
You can stream and download the track for free from Blair's BandCamp page.
'My Way Home' is an honest and humbling track with haunting melodies of far away memories. 'Carve it Up', the first track to be released to radio, is a far more orthodox affair – with a familiar feel, yet still bright and fresh with strong hooks and warmth, it embraces the essence of Summer and sun, just in time for the Festival season.
Jollands is also an accomplished composer for film, producing several sound tracks that have collected Emmy nominations and accolades, including Pride, Wild Bill, Bleak House, A Touch of Cloth and the award winning Shackleton (to name but a few). Having been compared to artists such as Nick Cave, Scott Walker, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright, Blair has found his own true voice with this new album which has been some time in the making.
Blair has already wowed audiences at The Great Escape, and if you missed him you can catch his next show at The Camden Crawl, Saturday 21st June.
'My Way Home' is available as a free download now via Blair’s BandCamp page, with single Carve It Up due for release on 30th June 2014.