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Death Rattle Fortress EP Sessions - ‘Fortress’
"...Lynchian-grade dystopian opera."
- The Line of Best Fit
London based electronic gloom-pop duo Death Rattle have released a trio of stunning live performance videos this month, filmed within the stark and atmospheric confinements of an underground crypt. The first in this series of specially recorded live performances was White Ropes followed by In Time and finally, Fortress, released today.
'Fortress' is available to watch now via Death Rattle's YouTube channel.
We've created a playlist on YouTube, where you can watch all three sessions now.
The live sessions feature three tracks from their 2013 Fortress EP - 'White Ropes', 'In Time' and 'Fortress' - and offer the very first insight into how the band perform their alluringly dark and mesmerising tracks as a live band.
Fortress EP received outstanding press from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, The 405, Noisey (VICE) and Artrocker, with their sound drawing comparisons to Lykke Li, Zola Jesus and Portishead.
The EP is available to download free now via Death Rattle's Soundcloud page.
With recent appearances at Tramlines Festival Sheffield and Islington Assembly Halls in London, the band have announced a Pussy Riot Fundraiser show supporting Princess Century (ex Austra) at Kraak, Manchester on Monday 20th August as well as some shows in Belgium and Holland in September.
The band are currently working towards their debut album, due for release in 2014.
Introducing… Campfires In Winter
- The Scotsman
Alternative, indie-rock band, Campfires In Winter are pleased to announce the release of download track 'Picture of Health' taken from the Picture of Health EP, which is out via Bloc+Music on 30th September 2013.
Picture of Health follows the successful recently released debut single, White Lights, and confirms Campfires In Winter as a band with serious designs on becoming major players in the UK music industry. Consisting of Robert Canavan (lead vocals, lead guitar), Wullie Crainey (bass guitar, vocals), Scott McArthur (keyboard, vocals, guitar) and Ewan Denny (drums), Campfires In Winter have become known for their ability to create a sound that is both experimental and accessible - intricate passages of post-rock guitar, akin to US indie stalwarts American Football, are elevated by wonderful vocal harmonies, a tightly driven rhythm section and all sewn together by alluring dream-like piano pieces.
You can download 'Picture of Health' below or from the the ABoF Soundcloud page.
Picture of Health is the perfect showcase of the band’s undoubted musicianship with tracks like ‘With A Ragged Diamond’ and download track ‘Picture of Health’, highlighting the band’s obvious ambition. Weighing in at over six minutes long, ‘With A Ragged Diamond’ undulates beautifully and allows the members’ talents to shine through. Soundscapes of distorted guitar build neatly into Robert Canavan’s crisp, poignant vocals and are buoyed by faultless harmonies and incessant yet seamless time changes, before coming to a close with the graceful, heartfelt sound of Scott McArthur’s keys - evoking the spirit and beauty of My Latest Novel and Broken Records allied by more eclectic moments produced by bands such as Field Music and Errors.
The EP was self-recorded over the course of a few days in Balneden Steading, a cottage in the tiny village of Tomintoul, the highest village in the Scottish Highlands, and mastered by Denis Blackham at Skye Mastering (Otis Redding, Elvis Costello, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Eno, David Byrne).
Campfires In Winter aim to build upon the significant progress they have made as a band thus far having released their debut EP, Cardboard Ships, back in 2010. Throughout the last few years Campfires In Winter have gained support from BBC 6 Music, Vic Galloway, Jim Gellatly, The Scotsman, The Metro and The Sun as well as appearing at Wickerman Festival, goNorth Festival and Oran Mor as part of the West End Festival alongside the likes of The Twilight Sad and Meursault. They’ve also had the privilege of sharing a stage with RM Hubbert, The Twilight Sad and Kid Canaveral and have just played King Tut’s Summer Nights alongside Fake Major.
The release of Picture of Health will maintain the presence the band have built up in what has been a busy 2013 so far. Their hectic schedule looks set to continue with another show at the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh with Kid Canaveral, Ballboy and the Cairn String Quartet before heading out on a Scottish tour in September to support the release of Picture of Health.
You can catch Campfires In Winter at the following venues:
- 24th September - DUNDEE - Beat Generator
- 25th September - GLASGOW - Bloc
- 27th September - INVERNESS - Mad Hatters
- 5th October - PERTH - The Twa Tams
Picture of Health is released on 30th September 2013 via Bloc+Music.
Rue Royale release single ‘Set Out To Discover’
Anglo-American duo Rue Royale released their single Set Out To Discover this week via Sinnbus. The single is taken from their forthcoming album Remedies Ahead, which is out on 30th September 2013.
Set Out To Discover is available as a stream via the Sinnbus Soundcloud page.
An official video for the single will be coming soon, in the meantime you can watch a reworking of the song by mysterious piano man Lambert. Absolutely stunning...
Unlike their first two LPs, Rue Royale (2008) and Guide To An Escape (2011), Rue Royale have taken a divergent approach, writing most of their forthcoming work on the road. The pair give the impression of being plucked out of a Wes Anderson film with deliberate, methodical accentuation. Forged from addictive bitter-sweet harmonies, delicate guitar plucks and a patchwork quilt of percussion Remedies Ahead marks a huge step-up for the pair.
Working with co-producer Paul Pilot (Duke Special, Beth Rowley, Athlete) the pair raised funds through Kickstarter with fans pledging with Rue Royale ultimately exceeding their target they decamped to Bat Box studios in Lewes where along with a tailless squirrel they recorded their latest work.
Named after a road running through the Chicago Suburbs, Rue Royale developed from Ruth and Brookln’s transatlantic relationship. With Ruth being brought up on brit-pop and northern soul and Brookln on American folk and southern gospel the pair cite influences as Mark Kozelek, Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Wilco and Air creating a contrasting array of threads in which Rue Royale can form their distinct tapestry.
With their previous releases receiving numerous BBC 6Music and XFM plays as well as a huge interest in blogs worldwide the pair have showcased their unique brand of indie folk taking in festivals, house shows, club gigs and industry showcases across Europe and the US. With their third release looming Set Out To Discover samples Rue Royals latest work as a momentous statement of intent.
Set Out To Discover is out now and available to buy via iTunes - the duo's forthcoming album Remedies Ahead will be released on 30th September 2013.
Death Rattle Fortress EP Sessions - ‘In Time’
"...Lynchian-grade dystopian opera."
- The Line of Best Fit
London based electronic gloom-pop duo Death Rattle are releasing a trio of stunning live performance videos this month, filmed within the stark and atmospheric confinements of an underground crypt. The first in this series of specially recorded live performances - White Ropes - was released last week.
The second of this trio of videos is 'In Time', which is available to watch now via Death Rattle's YouTube channel.
A trailer for the sessions is available to watch it now on Death Rattle's YouTube page.
The live sessions feature three tracks from their 2013 Fortress EP - 'White Ropes', 'In Time' and 'Fortress' - and offer the very first insight into how the band perform their alluringly dark and mesmerising tracks as a live band.
Fortress EP received outstanding press from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, The 405, Noisey (VICE) and Artrocker, with their sound drawing comparisons to Lykke Li, Zola Jesus and Portishead.
The EP is available to download free now via Death Rattle's Soundcloud page.
With recent appearances at Tramlines Festival Sheffield and Islington Assembly Halls in London, the band have announced a Pussy Riot Fundraiser show supporting Princess Century (ex Austra) at Kraak, Manchester on Monday 20th August as well as some shows in Belgium and Holland in September.
The band are currently working towards their debut album, due for release in 2014.
Unkle Bob ‘Songs For Others’ EP Out Now
- The Daily Record
- The Scottish Sun
Unkle Bob are pleased to announce the release of their stunning EP, Songs For Others, available now on iTunes and released via JustMe.
Songs For Others was largely recorded in a small Scottish bedroom, with singer-songwriter Rick Webster taking inspiration from artists like R Stevie Moore, Nick Cave, Grizzly Bear and The Smiths to move away from a purely acoustic sound, and instead, experiment with electric guitars, distortion pedals and looping effects. The result is a wonderful collection of songs that has seen the band gain support from the likes of The Daily Record and The Sun as well as being named 'UK Artist of the Week' on the Vinyl District and 'Artist of the Week' by Fame Magazine.
The recent free download track, 'Home', is the EP's glorious closer and cements Rick's flair as a talented songwriter and poignant lyricist. Memorable hooks, tight harmonies and an addictive chorus are accentuated further by Rick's powerful vocals as he delivers the lyric "Home is where the heart is, and you still have a heart..." - a lyric that sounds as if such a simple sentiment has never been said before.
You can download Home below or from the the ABoF Soundcloud page.
Watch the video for 'Home' below or from the Unkle Bob YouTube page.
It's easy to see why Unkle Bob have pulled in comparisons ranging from Fables of the Reconstruction-era REM and Aztec Camera to the likes of Nick Drake, as Songs for Others embodies Unkle Bob's ability to create catchy hooks, enhanced by echoing, overlapping vocals and cathartic lyrics that explore love and loss. Opening track, and previous free download, Brother, is a downpour of reverberant, harmonised melodies, and the chorus evokes the spirit of Neil Young, as Rick sings "Forever I'll be your Brother...". While Unkle Bob's accomplished songwriting ability is confirmed by second track 'Change', which immediately picks up the pace, building swiftly into a blissful, crisp pop ballad befitting acclaimed bands like Doves.
Songs for Others follows the critically lauded albums Sugar and Spite (2006), and Shockwaves (2010) - records that made the band something of a cult phenomenon in the US. Their songs were the sound-track to countless US dramas
(spawning well over 100,000 downloads in the process) whilst the song 'Swans' was featured in the climax to a Grey's Anatomy storyline.
This record was funded through PledgeMusic. Using the idea of a 'Song for You' option, Unkle Bob gave fans the opportunity to buy a song written about their lives. Rick entered into dialogue with the fans about lyrics and the general style of the track, giving birth to the single Brother and EP track 'Home'.
Songs for Others EP continues Unkle Bob's hectic 2013 schedule. Having returned with the Letters EP on Christmas Day last year, following the death and resurrection of the band itself, Unkle Bob have gone onto play 3 festivals in Changsha (China) in front of 20,000 people, released two singles from the EP, before the unveiling of Songs For Others.
Songs for Others is out now via JustMe and is available to buy on iTunes.