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Artifacts return with free download ‘Fracture’
- Artrocker Magazine
Artifacts return with the free download track 'Fracture' - the b-side to forthcoming single release Sad Face. Sad Face will be available to download on August 19th via The Disappearing Act Records.
Sad Face, and the b-side ‘Fracture’, sees Artifacts continue to explore their stadium-sized sound, driven by Patrick Fitzroy’s dreamy, echoing vocal melodies and surrounded by walls of epic guitar riffs and chiming synths.
Indeed, 'Fracture' is the work of a band whose expertly crafted sound and lyrical depth belies their youth as the song swells beautifully into a grandiose, hypnotic guitar riff which truly sweeps you away.
You can download ''Fracture'' below or from the the band's Soundcloud page.
Lead track Sad Face further displays Artifacts’ diverse sound, with tender, introspective moments accentuated by the kind of rawness which White Lies and Clinic would be proud of. The song twists and turns from start to finish as the band toy with time-changes and sublime melodies.
Sad Face is the follow up to the brilliant single Echoes, released earlier this year to widespread acclaim. The band picked up support from the likes of Artrocker, The 405, God Is In The TV and Music Muso having previously received praise from Clash who described the band’s sound as “Noisy guitars embellished with synths
struck like percussion”.
Artifacts were formed in secondary school by Patrick Fitzroy (vocals/guitar), Mark Rivers (sampler/keyboards) and Craig Brown (drums/vocals), with Sam Upton (guitar) and Tom Doyle (bass guitar) completing the current line-up. The band draw on influences such as My Bloody Valentine, Jeff Buckley, Sigur Ros and Radiohead, without ever imitating, to produce a modern and distinctive sound unbound by specific genres.
2013 has been a busy year so far for the band - having released Echoes in January, they have been performing throughout the UK, culminating with a recent headline slot at the High Street Live Festival in Crawley. Artifacts will maintain their momentum with a free download of ‘Fracture’ on July 3rd, followed by a remix by Esstie, before releasing Sad Face on August 19th.
Sad Face will be released as a digital download on the 19th August 2013 via The Disappearing Act Records.
Jan Roth free download - ‘Kleine Freiheit’
Jan Roth releases his brilliant debut album L.O.W via cutting edge Berlin based label Sinnbus on 26th July 2013. The album is packed with majestic and quirky melodies that strike a fine balance between post-rock, electronica and chamber music.
Sinnbus is giving away the album track 'Kleine Freiheit' ahead of the release, you can download it free now via Soundcloud.
Jan Roth's video for 'Siebzehn' is available to watch now on YouTube. If you'd like to hear more, digital promos are available now - email info@abadgeoffriendship.com for more information.
On L.O.W, Jan Roth takes us on a weird and wonderful musical journey.
‘Glühwürmchen’ is a quiet start but a wonderful warm-up that showcases Jan Roth’s heart-achingly beautiful piano skills and feels almost post-rock like in parts. ‘Einundzwanzig’ is stunning and filmic - it’s easy to imagine the track as a backdrop to a film like Spike Jonze's Where The Wild Things Are, for example. 'Siebzehn' is as if Darkstar and Hauschka joined forces and, midway through the album, it is one of his more "poppier"numbers. However, as you enter the latter half of L.O.W's journey, more intricate pieces of music begin to creep their way in with ‘Achtzehn’, ‘Rinnsal’ and ‘Regen’ feeling like the perfect amalgamation between Radiohead's Thom Yorke and jazz pianist Brad Mehldau.
Jan Roth has previously played drums live with German musician Tim Neuhaus at many of Hundreds’ live shows. He has also played on many of Clueso and Max Prosa’s records as well as countless jazz bands. Jan Roth's fascination for simple, beautiful compositions is perfectly presented on this debut solo album.
Music aside, in his down time he simply likes to sit and take in the world around him. It's this dreamlike idleness and wonder that inspired L.O.W's eight perfectly formed tracks. The album is a small declaration of love to the sunny side of melancholy and a cinematic gem just waiting to be uncovered.
Jan Roth's L.O.W will be released via Sinnbus on 26th July 2013.
Introducing… Atlas : Empire
Progressive rock band Atlas : Empire return with their second EP, Somnus, which will be released on August 12th via Cold War Legacy Records.
Following on from their debut EP, To the Astronaut, Somnus further cements the loud, abrasive atmosphere that has become synonymous with the band. Tracks such as forthcoming single Mitchy Valentino Sleeps with the Fishes sum up Atlas : Empire's sound perfectly - as echoing vocals are electrified by chugging distorted chords, incessant, sharp drumming and time changes galore.
You can download Mitchy Valentino Sleeps with the Fishes below or from the ABoF Soundcloud page.
Watch the exclusive video for Mitchy Valentino Sleeps with the Fishes below or from Atlas : Empire's YouTube page.
Atlas : Empire cite the influence of Aereogramme, The Dear Hunter and Oceansize in the evolution of their sound, and this is charactrised by their unerring ability to create music that is both spacious and abrasive - a sound that many of their influences would be proud of.
The band display an impressive versatility throughout the record as they straddle various genres with ease. Post-hardcore sits neatly alongside the Maybeshewill inspired post-rock of 'Keep This In The Shallows', while Somnus is sprinkled with the eclectic spirit and instrumental ambience of Oceansize.
Atlas : Empire were formed in the summer of 2011 by ex The Ocean Fracture's Steven Gillies (Guitar, Vocals), multi- instrumentalist, and This Silent Forest's, Jamie Sturt (Guitar, Vocals, Keys, Electronics) and Dave Stephen (Bass, Vocals). In October of that year Atlas : Empire were born when they found permanent drummer Jonny Gormley, before adding a third guitarist in March 2012 when ex Pareto and Sucioperro member, Dave Aird, joined the band.
Somnus was recorded live in one night at Lo Fi Studios in Glasgow with engineer Neil Martin, before being mixed and mastered by producer Oz Craggs (Feed the Rhino, Jairus, Secondsmile). The EP will kickstart a busy second half of the year for Atlas:Empire as they are planning a Scottish tour in August to support the release and embarking on a UK- wide tour in October.
Atlas: Empire will release their second EP, Somnus, on August 12th via Cold War Legacy Records.
Keith TOTP - ‘TOTP 2’ out now!
"Daddy! Get me a Keith!" - Artrocker Magazine
Keith Top Of The Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band
are back with a new album that's even more amazing than the last one! TOTP2 is a tongue-in-cheek journey about love, arrogance, petty jealousy, and being in an amazing band and it's out now via Corporate Records. Listen now on Spotify or buy it from the Corporate Records website!
To celebrate his latest offering, Keith has released 'Do You Want Some?' as a free download.
The album track #ProperMusic is also available to stream and download from the ABoF soundcloud page. Every quote spoken by Sarah Nixey, Jo Bevan (Desperate Journalist, Joanne Joanne) and Julia Indelicate in the song is an actual tweet from the Twitter hashtag #propermusic, which are both tragic and hilarious at the same time.
TOTP2 was recorded in the same live "one take only" scenario with it being rather hard getting all 27 musicians that feature on the album to make it into the studio at the same time being in different bands, touring or living in completely different countries altogether. Amongst the players on this second album are Charley Stone (The Famous Cocks, Joanne Joanne), Sarah Nixey (Black Box Recorder), Jimbob (Carter USM) Charlotte Hatherley (Ash), Johnny Fade (The Fades) and Eddie Argos (Art Brut), Luke Haines (The Auteurs), Simon and Julia Indelicate (The Indelicates).
TOTP 2 opens with “Morrissey Will Never Forgive Me” - a song about being a young Morrissey fan and how Morrissey would be disappointed in the meat eating, beer drinking, non-virgin almost all Morrissey fans become when they grow older and start doing the opposite of a lot of the characters in Morrissey songs. Keith tells us: "The title is a play on the Morrissey song "I Have Forgiven Jesus" which either implies that I've done much worse things than he hated Jesus for in that song, or that I'm better than Jesus. Either is good."
"Better Than Your Boyfriend" and "I'm Alone, You're Alone, Let's Be Alone Together" seem a little more personal but, as ever, tinged with Keith's signature humour and catchy indie melodies.
Keith's debut album Fuck You! I'm Keith Top Of The Pops received support from Artrocker Magazine, gaining a brilliant 5/5 plus many blogs and websites online.
Introducing… Jan Roth
Jan Roth releases his brilliant debut album L.O.W via cutting edge Berlin based label Sinnbus on 26th July 2013. The album is packed with majestic and quirky melodies that strike a fine balance between post-rock, electronica and chamber music.
On L.O.W, Jan Roth takes us on a weird and wonderful musical journey. ‘Glühwürmchen’ is a quiet start but a wonderful warm-up that showcases Jan Roth’s heart-achingly beautiful piano skills and feels almost post-rock like in parts. ‘Einundzwanzig’ is stunning and filmic - it’s easy to imagine the track as a backdrop to a film like Spike Jonze’s Where The Wild Things Are, for example. ‘Siebzehn’ is as if Darkstar and Hauschka joined forces and, midway through the album, it is one of his more ‘poppier’ numbers. However, as you enter the latter half of L.O.W’s journey, more intricate pieces of music begin to creep their way in with ‘Achtzehn’, ‘Rinnsal’ and ‘Regen’ feeling like the perfect amalgamation between Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and jazz pianist Brad Mehldau.
Jan Roth's video for 'Siebzehn' is available to watch now on YouTube. If you'd like to hear more, digital promos are available now - email info@abadgeoffriendship.com for more information.
Jan Roth has previously played drums live with German musician Tim Neuhaus at many of Hundreds’ live shows. He has also played on many of Clueso and Max Prosa’s records as well as countless jazz bands. Jan Roth’s fascination for simple, beautiful compositions is perfectly presented on this debut solo album.
Music aside, in his down time he simply likes to sit and take in the world around him. It’s this dreamlike idleness and wonder that inspired L.O.W’s eight perfectly formed tracks. The album is a small declaration of love to the sunny side of melancholy and a cinematic gem just waiting to be uncovered.
Jan Roth’s L.O.W will be released via Sinnbus on 26th July 2013.