Latest News
Death Rattle announce upcoming single ‘Wait’!
Death Rattle return with their new single Wait released on May 5th 2014 available on iTunes and limited edition 12” vinyl via Limb Records with the b-side ‘Shell’ available on vinyl only.
The single was streamed exclusively on The Line Of Best Fit and has also appeared on Earmilk. You can now stream the single directly from the band's SoundCloud page, or by clicking on the embed below.
Wait is the London duo's follow-up to the much hyped electro-pop debut EP HE&l, which preceded last year's, Fortress EP - a brooding and introspective four-track masterpiece.
Wait shows a skilfully refined and decisive progression in Death Rattle's writing capabilities, where layers of contrasting electronic beats and complimenting synth lines seamlessly interweave and sit beautifully beneath a captivating vocal. Wait leads the listener through atmospheric and ethereal soundscapes reminiscent of Poliça, Deptford Goth and Zola Jesus.
The song effortlessly caresses the line between light and dark, with Helen Hamilton's lyrics describing the complex breakdown of a relationship combined gracefully with her hypnotic and enticing melodies – this is a signature style that Death Rattle have made their trademark.
Wait was written at the band's musical retreat - a near derelict farmhouse in a remote part of France where the band set-up home every few months to write, record and produce their music in undisturbed isolation from the outside world.
2014 will see the band play a single launch show in London in May with further dates planned throughout the UK and Europe before the band release their much anticipated debut album in Autumn.
Introducing… Douga!
Douga are set to release their long-awaited debut LP, The Silent Well via Do Make Merge Records. The album evokes a sense of much-needed stillness and introspection amidst a world set at full speed and volume.
'Kids Of Tomorrow' is the first free track taken from the album, showcasing the band's ability to create Lo-Fi yet detailed songs, with distorted vocals backed up by a swell of hypnotic guitar. You can download it for free from our SoundCloud page or the embed below.
Named after a childhood nickname given by his parents to founder, frontman, and former Plank! drummer Johnny Winbolt-Lewis, Douga have grown from wide-eyed, exploratory experimentalists to BBC 6music featured artists appearing on both Gideon Coe and Tom Robinson’s shows, and now they’ve created a record gripped with a gentle but firm sense of cohesion and clarity. With a studio line-up of Winbolt-Lewis (vocals/guitar/drums,) John Waddington (keyboards/bass) and guest violinist/guitarist DBH - plus additional guitar and engineering work from Raul Careno – the group have built The Silent Well on the foundations of Winbolt-Lewis’ love of kosmische music, through rhythmic repetition and psychedelic drones.
Some of the childhood wonder of Johnny’s initial fascination with music is contained in this release; in the past he’s likened the joy derived from creative expression to losing himself in his imagination as a child, while he recalls “playing with pots and pans and hitting my parents’ piano with a recorder and chipping the ivory keys” as a youngster. So it is on The Silent Well that his wide-eyed sense of the simple enjoyment of creating noise pervades, with sweetly-delivered pop hooks and melodies carefully included so as to pull songs away from their more deep-seated, eyebrow-furrowed backdrops.
Apart from the vocals, recorded at 80 Hertz studio with George Atkins, the bulk of the record was recorded at BlueSCI – a service and space set up in Trafford, Manchester, for people who suffer from psychological and emotional distress. Winbolt-Lewis volunteers there and as such many of the sensitivities of those he comes into contact with have indirectly rubbed off on the record’s own reflective, deeply thoughtful resonance.
Citing artists like Broadcast, Yo La Tengo and Grizzly Bear as influences due to their use of more leftfield textures set against orthodox melodies, there is something about Douga’s music that perfects a sound that can only be identified as their own, albeit inspired by disparate influences picked up along their journey.
So consume Douga’s music and make some time for it amongst frenetic reality – it’s the very least it deserves.
The Silent Well is released on 19th May 2014 via Do Make Merge Records.
Copper Lungs announce first UK Tour!
In the build up to the release of Copper Lungs' debut EP, the band are delighted to announce their first UK tour. Their self-titled EP is out on April 25th 2014 via Thin Hippo Records.
To give you a taste of what you can expect from the EP and their shows, check out the video for single Lost Without You via the band's YouTube channel, or stream the single on Copper Lungs' official SoundCloud page.
Lost Without You was the follow up single to free-track 'How Long?', that showcased Copper Lungs' ability to create intense and uplifting pop rock, gaining support from the likes of the voice of new music in Scotland Jim Gellatly, Artrocker Magazine and BBC Radio 1's Introducing.... You can download the track for free on SoundCloud.
You can catch Copper Lungs at one of the dates listed below. Tickets are available via the band's official site.
Consisting of Darren Lindsay (vocals/guitar), John Cargill (guitar/vox), Jamie Mayes (bass/keys) and Sean Crossan (drums), Copper Lungs were formed in 2011 in Dundee. Drawing on influences such as Two Door Cinema Club and Phoenix, the band have produced their own powerful blend of melodic harmonized vocally-driven pop rock, a sound that should see them attract a diverse fan base.
Copper Lungs is released April 25th 2014 via Thin Hippo Records.
Mano’s Daughter release EP ‘Smart’!
"A glossy, shimmering lagoon of molten gold..." - The 405
Mano’s Daughter's follow-up to their debut single The Machine, the anthemic, ethereal EP Smart, is available now via Smart & Shiver Records.
The band have already caught the attention of the press, picking up an impressive 7.5 star review from The 405 and support from the likes of Artrocker Magazine, Contact Music and God Is In The TV Zine. They recently released an impressive video for EP track 'Tailored' and you can check it out on their official YouTube channel or click the embed below.
Consisting of Sarah Carter (Vocals), Matthias Garrick (Synths, programming) and Dan See (Drums), the band have been described as a mixture of Little Dragon, Florence + The Machine, with hints of Portishead. They're also renowned for creating explosive live shows, packed with huge choruses and thought provoking lyrics, proudly counting comedian Tim Minchin as one of their biggest fans.
The EP eases in with ‘The Truth In The Madness’ before cascading into the sci-fi soaked sound and imagery of ‘The Machine’. It's a masterful blend of Sarah's strong vocal presence fuelled by a backing track that wouldn't sound out of place in a neon dive bar in the darkest recesses of Blade Runner's LA. Smart, however, isn’t all bombastic synth melodies, there are quiet moments that present the heart of the band. As the EP progresses, we see a softer side emerging with ‘Tailored’ and ‘September’ - imagine Lykke Li covering Cat Power and you’re almost there.
With influences ranging from Bon Iver to Moloko, Mano’s Daughter put their songs at the heart of their identity, spinning epic lyrical stories with intricate production, having created a luscious EP that will astound and impress their fans and newcomers alike.
Smart is the first part of a two-part release. Their follow up EP, Shiver, will be released in May 2014.
Smart is available now via Smart & Shiver Records. Buy it on their official website.
If you'd like more information on Mano's Daughter or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
Universal Thee release debut album Back To Earth!
"…starry-eyed Pixies-meets-Pavement skew-whiff dynamics…"
- The Sunday Herald
Universal Thee are proud to announce the release of their debut album, Back To Earth, which is available now via Eventual Heirs Records.
The band have already teased fans and the press with a cheeky taste of the album by giving away two free tracks - the darkly decadent "Aranis Natas" and the lo-fi Belle and Sebastian-esque "Million Voices". Now they're giving away a third track to celebrate the album's release, the uplifting and whimsical "Bear In The Hospital". You can download it from the
ABoF SoundCloud page or from the embed below.
You can also check out the video for "Bear In The Hospital" on the band's YouTube channel.
The album is a daydream of upbeat guitars and vocals, created by the band's free and easy, non-restrictive approach to songwriting that sees them explore every aspect of their own creativity, with more than a healthy nod to influences such as Weezer and Pavement. As a result, the band's sound is hard to define, with tracks such as "Wolves Of The Netherworld" and "Bone Collector" very much channelling the sense of fun that was inherent in a lot of late 90s college rock, while tracks like "Feeling Fragile" and "Down" tell a more personal story. There is no concrete template for Universal Thee - they play what they feel, which is something that some might say is missing in today's ultra-media savvy musical landscape.
Producing a fun, refreshing, genre-defying sound that gives every member of the band the opportunity to showcase their unique tastes, Universal Thee are yet another shining example of the delights Scotland's music scene has to offer.
Back To Earth is available now via Eventual Heirs Records. Buy it on iTunes.