Latest News
Quickbeam Announce Details of Self-titled Debut Album
Glasgow based band Quickbeam return with the announcement of their forthcoming self-titled debut album, part funded by Creative Scotland and due for release on 3rd June through Scottish label Comets & Cartwheels.
Originally formed in 2010 by Monika Gromek (Vocals/Harmonium) and Andrew Thomson (Guitar/Vocals/Piano), the band have since evolved into a four-piece with the addition of Liam Chapman (Drums) and Ruth Campbell (Cello). Having released their first single Seven Hundred Birds to widespread critical acclaim last year, Quickbeam aim to capture the hearts and minds of the music community once more.
The resulting collection of songs captured on the album further reveal Quickbeam’s growing maturity as songwriters and highlights the chemistry between the members - orchestrally arranged strings, brass, and rich harmonium pitted against thunderously distorted guitar passages and pounding rhythms. As a result, Quickbeam showcase their undoubted skills by producing an album filled with melancholic beauty which captivates the listener to stunning effect.
Forthcoming download 'Immersed', available from 29th April, sums up the bands intentions perfectly. Opening with Ruth’s gorgeous cello and allied by Monika’s striking vocals, the song builds beautifully throughout before upping the pace as it comes to a close, finishing with snapping incessant drums, quickening piano all knitted together with the aforementioned cello as the instruments interplay wonderfully. In contrast the following track ‘Mountains’ is instrumental, a further indication of the bands schizophrenic creativity, displaying a diversity to Quickbeam’s work the likes of which Sigur Ros and Low would be proud of.
You can watch the video for the soon to be released download 'Immersed' via YouTube or from the embed below.
Quickbeam will be celebrating the launch of their debut album at a very special event in the disused Victorian swimming pool of Govanhill Baths on 31st May 2013. Having secured funding from PRS For Music Foundation in order to stage a special series of events, this show will see Quickbeam collaborate with local artist Annie Crabtree (Picture Window) and Becca Thomas (Pidgin Perfect) to produce a very special event experience that encompasses environmental artistry, projection, theatrics, and of course Quickbeam's own brand of majestic and cinematic music. The night will also include a full band performance from label-mates Fake Major, and Comets and Cartwheels official partners Brewdog will be providing the bar.
Tickets for the event can be purchased from the Tickets Scotland website.
Quickbeam will release album Quickbeam via Comets & Cartwheels on 3rd June.
If you'd like more information on Quickbeam or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
Fat Goth: ‘Surf’s Down (live)’ single and Kerrang! Introducing feature!
"You'll be none the wiser by the end of it all, but much richer for stumbling in to Fat Goth's odd little universe."
- 4Ks, Kerrang! Magazine
"'Stud' is profoundly uneasy listening at its best, and weirdo freaks everywhere should love it."
- 8/10, Rock Sound Magazine
"The audio equivalent of a bloody massive T-Bone steak covered in BBQ Sauce..." Ally McCrae (BBC Radio 1)
Fat Goth's latest single Surf's Down (live) was released this week along with the b-sides "We Film The Champs Elysees" and "Creepy Lounge" - both live versions of tracks taken from the album. All three tracks are available to download now from the Fat Goth Bandcamp and Soundcloud pages.
And to add to what has already been a super start to the week, the boys are in this week's Kerrang! taking up a full page in the magazine's regular Introducing feature. Fat Goth's Fraser chats about the band's music, Kevin's mysterious man bag and Mark's Patrick Bateman vibe. If you can't see the article below, you can check it out on our website.
Fat Goth released their brilliant second album Stud in January and received an array of outstanding reviews from Rock Sound, Kerrang!, Artrocker, BBC, Drowned in Sound and many more.
This led to the FG boys being nominated for Best Alternative Rock Band at this year's Scottish Alternative Music Awards where they opened the event playing live.
The boys have just announed an array of tour dates including a show supporting the legendary Nomeansno in Edinburgh. Keep checking the Fat Goth Facebook page for the latest announcements.
Thursday 11th April - Electric Circus (Wide Days Event), Edinburgh
Saturday 27th April - Bloc (Teen Riot Night), Glasgow
Sunday 28th April - The Fox & Newt, Leeds
Monday 29th April - Wahlbar, Manchester
Tuesday 30th April - Undertone, Cardiff
Wednesday 1st May - Latest Music Bar, Brighton
Thursday 2nd May - Our Black Heart (Camden), London
Friday 3rd May - UK Tour (Show TBC - keep checking Fat Goth's Facebook for updates)
Saturday 4th May - 20 Rocks, Dundee
Tuesday 28th May - Electric Circus (supporting Nomeansno), Edinburgh
Saturday 27th July - Wickerman Festival
If you'd like to get a taster of how the boys sound live, check the video for Surf's Down (live) now via Fat Goth's YouTube channel.
Fat Goth previously released two free singles - Debbie's Dirty Harry and Creepy Lounge, both of which you can download via the band's Bandcamp page.
You can watch the video for Creepy Lounge now via the band's YouTube channel.
Stud is available to buy via the band's Bandcamp page. Alternatively, you can purchase it via Amazon, iTunes, Play.com or Deezer. You can also listen to Stud via Spotify.
A Badge of Friendship April Goodies!
After the Easter break, we're raring to go! We're covering all genres in April from alt-rock to electro and everything in-between with some brilliant EP and single releases coming up this month from Death Rattle, Fat Goth, Flutes, The Birthday Suit, The/Das, Woodenbox and Olympians.
For information, free downloads and video links read on. As always, if you want a digital copy of anything below for review please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com. For all other information about our clients and the work we do, please visit our website.
April Releases
Death Rattle - Fortress EP
London based girl/boy duo Death Rattle release of their eagerly anticipated Fortress EP on April 29th via Frontal Noize. This four track EP follows on from HE&I, which saw support from John Kennedy (XFM), Tom Robinson (BBC 6Music) and Amazing Radio.Continuing where HE&l left us, Fortress is its insular, brooding cousin subtly creating an even bleaker, impending-doom feel that their previous release always hinted towards with the band's influences - Depeche Mode, Fever Ray and NIN - becoming ever more apparent.
As a precursor to Fortress Death Rattle released The Blows as a free track with Amazing Radio championing it along with respected blogger The Von Pip Musical Express. White Ropes (out 8th April) will be the first single lifted from the EP, which returns the soft fragility similar to that heard on the duo's low-fi, apocalyptic cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain'.
Check out a preview of Fortress on the Death Rattle's YouTube channel.
Fat Goth - Surf's Down
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Fat Goth kicked off their year in style with the release of their second full length LP Stud. With praise coming in from Rock Sound, Kerrang!, Artrocker, BBC and Drowned in Sound and an acclaimed performance at this years SAMA Awards (the band were nominated in the Best Alternative Rock category), Fat Goth will be touring their latest single release Surf's Down (live) throughout the end of April into May with a string of dates across the UK.Their free live single, Surf's Down, which was released this week, was supported by a video and two free live b-sides of the album tracks "We Film The Camps Elysees" and "Creepy Lounge". Along with this release, Fat Goth are set for a full Introducing feature in this week's Kerrang! Magazine (out 3rd April) as well as a New Blood feature in Artrocker end of April setting them up for an unstoppable summer.
For the latest information, tour dates and free downloads check out Fat Goth's Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Flutes - Kilburn
2012 was a busy year for Flutes with the release of their self-titled debut album. A flurry of online press ensued, which saw the band steadily build a loyal fanbase grabbing the attention of BBC Radio 1 Scotland, The Scottish Sun and, most recently, Clash Magazine, with Frightened Rabbit choosing their track ‘Auld Archie’ as a Track of the Day on the Clash website. With all this already under their collective belt, Flutes begin the year on a high and are pleased to announce the forthcoming release of their single Kilburn on 8th April. The band recently released the b-side 'What Is Love' (a cover of the 90s Haddaway track) as a free download and have a single launch show planned at The Good Ship in, you guessed it, Kilburn, London.Flutes plan to release the video for Kilburn on 8th April, in the meantime, check out their other videos on the band's YouTube page.
The Birthday Suit - Uh-Huh Uh-Huh
The Birthday Suit - solo project of Idlewild guitarist and songwriter Rod Jones release their next single Uh-Huh Uh-Huh on 15th April.Their second album, A Conversation Well Rehearsed, was released on 3rd December 2012; the the follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut The Eleventh Hour, which was released at the tail end of 2011 and received support from BBC Radio 1 Scotland, Kerrang!, Rock Sound, This Is Fake DIY and Drowned in Sound. Uh-Huh Uh-Huh is the second single taken from the album, the first was Less Worthless Years, which was released last year.
For the latest information on The Birthday Suit, check out the band's official website.
The/Das - Speak Your Mind Speak
Berlin based duo, The/Das introduce their unique brand of ‘techno tenderness’ with their forthcoming EP Speak Your Mind Speak, which will be released on 29th April 2013 via Sinnbus. On Speak Your Mind Speak, The/Das wield the electronic avant-pop sensibilities of Matthew Dear with an understated melodic charm akin to Darkstar and create something that’s laid back and intriguing. Their label recently released a stream of the EP track 'Keep This' via their Soundcloud account and Notion Magazine and Artrocker have already picked up on the band's sound as they debut their new tracks. The single Have No Fear is also out on 29th April.The/Das duo Fabian Fenk and Anton K. Feist have previously played together with Bodi Bill. As Bodi Bill, the band released four albums together and built a considerable fan base in their native Germany. In the UK, XFM, NME Radio and BBC 6Music picked them up with reviews and features coming from RCRDLBL, Notion, Shortlist Magazine and numerous websites and blogs online. They are no strangers to the live circuit either having played Melt, Eurosonic, Iceland Airwaves, Ekko Festivaland many more festivals and shows all over Europe.
With the release of their debut EP Speak Your Mind Speak, The/Das prove to be one of the leaders and innovators of their genre, showcasing their pop sensibilities as they did with Bodi Bill yet with an edgy toned down vibe making them an exciting prospect for 2013.
Woodenbox - Courage
Alt-folk sextet - Woodenbox release their second album End Game on 27th May 2013 via Olive Grove. Working alongside acclaimed producer Paul Savage (Chem19 Studios), Woodenbox are building upon the success of their debut Home and the Wildhunt with their wild, vivid and moving unique brand of folk. But before the release, the band plan to release the single Courage on 22nd April.Courage is graceful and welcomes influences from heroes such as Scott Walker and Dennis Wilson, whilst "Roll For Me" displays the band’s melodic quirks and intricacies sharing modern, akin to the The Felice Brothers.
The free track 'Roll For Me' was recently released and is available to download now, you can also check out the video on YouTube. The band also released a brilliant video for 'Asphyxiation', which is another brilliant taster of what's to come on the album End Game.
For all the latest new, video releases, free tracks and information, check out the official Woodenbox website.
Olympians - Courage
Math pop bandOlypmians are pleased to announce the release of their single Filling My Heart With Weird Dreams, out 2nd April, taken from their forthcoming EP Adventure Gun released on 29th April via Barely Regal Records.Their new single, Filling My Heart With Weird Dreams, sums up the bands intentions. Highlighting a rich, yet patchwork sound similar in style to Kotki Dwa’s second release ‘Staycations’. The track is focused by rich lead vocals, succulent harmonies and sugar-induced synth pulses and forms a remarkable statement of intent from a band bursting with an impressive creative vision. You can download Filling My Heart With Weird dreams from the ABoF Soundcloud page.
For the latest information, check out the official Olympians website.
Recently released...
Homework - 13 Towers
With two critically acclaimed EPs already under their belt and a growing reputation for thunderous live shows, Edinburgh-based synth lovers Homework released debut album 13 Towers on 25 March 2013 as a CD and download. Check out the video for 'It's All Over' now and the band's official website for forthcoming tour dates and news.
The Caulfield Beats - Garage Electronics Vol. I
The Caulfield Beats are an indie electronic crossover band based in East London. They released their debut EP Garage Electronics Vol. I on 4th March 2013 via Noise Praise - a new electronic label founded by Antwerp. Their video for the EP track "glitch::glitch::flame" is available to watch now via YouTube and you can stream the EP via Soundcloud.
Introducing… Olympians
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Math pop band Olympians are pleased to announce the release of their forthcoming single Filling My Heart With Weird Dreams, out 2nd April, taken from their forthcoming EP Adventure Gun released on 29th April via Barely Regal Records.
Consisting of Daniel Harvey (vocals/guitar/synth); Benjamin Thompson (vocals/guitar/synth/trumpet); Christopher Neil (vocals/bass) and Michael Parkin (vocals/drums/glock), and having formed due to their love for technically proficient bands such as Youthmovies and Don Caballero, the four-piece from Norwich have honed their sound, building a psychedelic twist into their penchant for technical exuberance.
Their new single, Filling My Heart With Weird Dreams, sums up the bands intentions. Highlighting a rich, yet patchwork sound similar in style to Kotki Dwa’s second release ‘Staycations’. The track is focused by rich lead vocals, succulent harmonies and sugar-induced synth pulses and forms a remarkable statement of intent from a band bursting with an impressive creative vision.
You can download Filling My Heart With Weird dreams from the ABoF Soundcloud page or from the embed below.
The record itself is a showcase for an experimental band who also have the distinct ability to write uplifting pop music - putting a smile on your face that is difficult to wipe off. There is a smattering of electronic samples, incessant drum beats that twist and turn, warming harmonies and a musicianship that is subtle yet lofty. All of this is captured in opening track ‘Mountains’ which builds slowly, and rather innocuously, into a track laden with heavy synth, ethereal vocals, compact harmonies and snappy, agile drum beats. If Maps and Atlases made love to Local Natives whilst having and affair with Volcano I’m Still Excited, they would give birth to Olympians - your new favourite band.
Watch the video for Filling My Heart With Weird Dreams on the bands YouTube page or via the embed below.
Olympians have had a stunning introduction in their formative years having supported The Invisible, played End of the Road Festival in 2012 and embarked on a support slot with Tubelord on a full UK tour. Having garnered praise from the likes of The 405 (comparing the band to Spring Offensive and Adults, The Elderly and Children) and Drowned In Sound, it is clear Olympians have captured the hearts of both the press and public alike and aim to continue this throughout 2013.
You can catch Olympians live at a venue near you throughout April and May:
04 April - Cardiff - Gwidhw
05 April - Northampton - Labour Club
19 April - Worcester - The Firefly
21 April - Norwich -Hog In Armour
25 April - Southampton - Avondale House
18 May - Brighton (The Great Escape) - Pav Tav
27 May -London - Old Blue Last
Olympians will release EP Adventure Gun via Barely Regal Records on 29th April.
Homework Release Debut Album 13 Towers Today
"These 12 songs all showcase clear-eyed musical ambition."
- The Arts Desk
"... this lot could be your new favourite band." - The 405
Homework release their debut album, 13 Towers, which is available to buy from iTunes today.
After releasing the stream of album track 'The Edge of Control Was Black' and the brilliant single It's All Over, Homework continue to exhibit their indie-electro credentials through their fantastic debut album.
It's All Over illustrated the bands versatility and ability to produce upbeat, pop-inspired dance tunes akin to Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem, as well as the experimental, challenging moments that are offered up by tracks such as The Edge of Control Was Black. The pulsing "Wouldn't You Love" further demonstrates the bands versatility and highlights their ability to write non-cliched elctro.
Having formed in the Scottish capital in 2009, Homework attracted immediate attention from the nation's new music tastemakers, picking up airplay from BBC Radio One and BBC 6 Music as well as being selected to play the renowned T Break stage at T in the Park festival after only a handful of live shows.
Since then, the band has performed at some of the UK's biggest festivals including Rockness, Belladrum, Wickerman and T in the Park, supported the likes of Suuns, Wave Machines, The D.O.T (featuring Mike Skinner of The Streets) and Cashier Number 9 as well as showcasing at industry events including GoNorth, Glimps (Belgium) and Wide Days. Their recorded output and live shows have been consistently praised by radio (Lauren Laverne, Vic Galloway, Tom Robinson and Ally McCrae) as well as picking up support from The 405, The Arts Desk, The List, The Sunday Herald and many more.
Homework are: O. Kass (vocals, synths), R. Baird (vocals, guitar, synths), R. Kass (drums) and A. Dennis (bass). They hail from the exotic Scottish outposts of Inverness, Mull and Dumfries.
You can see Homework live throughout the UK in April and May.
05 April - INVERNESS - Mad Hatters (Net Sounds Takeover - club night)
03 May - ABERDEEN - Snafu (Dirty Hearts Club - club night)
04 May - INVERNESS - Brew At The Bog Festival
09 May - EDINBURGH - Inspace (album launch party)