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Turnpike Glow debut EP news and video!
Turnpike Glow will release their debut EP Inflatable Optimism on 11th June 2012. The 4-track EP, mixed by Broken Social Scene and Los Campesinos producer Dave Newfeld, perfectly encapsulates their infectious indie pop sensibilities.The EP is the perfect little slice of Turnpike Glow’s agenda - honest, unabashed indie exuberance. Opener “No More Dancing” shows that the band aren’t just about the sing along chorus - they have substance too. “Marie” showcases quirky guitars and summery songwriting not unlike Vampire Weekend. Previously released single 1986 continues the theme with the band writing one of the most infectious chorus’ you’ll hear in a while. The song is about “the heaviest snow to fall in Rome since 1986”, which also serves as the main lyrics for the chorus. Latest single and last track of the EP, The Turn, The Pike and The Glow, was inspired by the documentary ‘Inside Job’. Guitarist / vocalist Sandro notes “the track is an ironic take on off-shore banking and moral bankruptcy.” Despite the seemingly heavy subject matter, the band make light of it all with their signature upbeat indie tempos and catchy lyrics.
The video for the single The Turn, The Pike And The Glow is available to watch now on the band's YouTube channel.
The title of the EP - Inflatable Optimism - not only mirrors the bands music but their outlook as well. “It took us a while to find our way as a band and to settle down in London. There were times for us when optimism had to be 'inflated' artificially. And more generally these aren't exactly rosy times we're living in so it's also a reflection of that in a way,” notes Sandro. Turnpike Glow aren’t all rosy cheeked indie enthusiasm, their cheerful songs front four, deep thinking individuals.
The EP is available to pre-order via Turnpike Glow's Bandcamp page for a very reasonable £3. There are also 500 numbered, limited edition copies available.
The band started life in Rome, in a scene marginalized by glossy Italian mainstream pop and insider trading. However, with their Pavement and Phoenix inspired sound, they soon found themselves supporting acts like The Futureheads and Cooper Temple Clause. In 2007 they started flying over to do live shows in London, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. It wasn't long before Sandro Schiena (vocals/guitar/keys) and Giuseppe La Mela (vocals/bass/keys), the songwriting core of the band, moved to London armed with only their guitars and a bag full of European plug adaptors. One rainy Sunday, the pair bumped into
The band have previously received airplay from Absolute Radio’s Frank Skinner and heavy support from Amazing Radio. Spinner featured 1986 as their Video of the Day whilst Classic Rock awarded The Turn, The Pike and The Glow their Track of the Day and websites like The 405 have hailed the band as “ludicrously catchy”.
Inflatable Optimism will be released via Fünke Pop Records on 11th June 2012.
The Son(s) releases “Leviathan” EP plus new video!
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After their critically acclaimed self-titled album released in 2011, The Son(s) return with their latest EP Leviathan, out now on Olive Grove Records.
To celebrate the release of the EP, the band have uploaded the fantastic video for the EP track "If I Hear You Talk Apostrophes Again..." to their YouTube page.
The track was also released as a free download, which you can grab from the A Badge of Friendship Soundcloud page.
Leviathan was recorded in the middle of winter in an old, cold, empty flat in Edinburgh and, as a result, each track is dripping with atmosphere. The EP picks up where last year's self-titled debut album left off, tipping a hat to the laid back, stripped down qualities of Americana, with tracks like "Cocksure Boys" and "Shot Out A Cannon" utilising echoey minimalist guitar and harmonious vocals to summon images and sounds reminiscent of The Beta Band at their best.
As always, strong lyrics are at the forefront of this release, with each track encapsulated in its own world while The Son(s) paint metaphysical pictures in the mind's eye of the listener.
The Son(s) previous releases received great support from the press, with the single Radar featuring as Track Of The Day on Spinner and Classic Rock Magazine (online) plus some outstanding reviews from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, Sunday Mail (4/5) and The Skinny (4/5).They also received support from BBC 6Music’s Gideon Coe and Tom Robinson plus BBC Radio 1 Scotland’s Vic Galloway and Ally Mcrae. Leviathan is a worthy follow-up to an already impressive body of work.
Leviathan is available to buy now via the band's Bandcamp page.
Leviathan EP is available on Olive Grove Records as a download and limited edition cassette tape, complete with intriguing inlay artwork.
Physical copies of the EP are available but extremely limited, however, we have digital promos and streams of the EP available upon request.
Knifeworld release video for “Clairvoyant Fortnight”!
"...an ambitious, psychadelic wash of melodies..." - Prog Magazine
Ahead of their forthcoming EP Clairvoyant Fortnight, out on 11th June 2012, Knifeworld have released the video for title track of the EP. The video reflects the songs playful nature and the band's upbeat sense of humour with frontman Kavus Torabi leading a prog induced séance ending in the appearance of snooker legend Steve Davis!
The EP follows 2011’s critically acclaimed EP Dear Lord, No Deal and their 2009 debut album Buried Alone: Tales of Crushing Defeat. With their trademark uncompromising psychedelia in full effect, Knifeworld still sound like no-one else. Intense and kaleidoscopic, Clairvoyant Fortnight EP offers another piece of the curious jigsaw.
Clairvoyant Fortnight (Radio Edit), the free single and title track of the EP is available to download via our Soundcloud page. The full version of the track will be available on the EP.
With Clairvoyant Fortnight, former Cardiacs guitarist Kavus Torabi (vox, guitar) has managed to create an eclectic combination musicians with Ben Woollaccott (drums), Charlie Cawood (bass), Chrome Hoof members Emmett Elvin and Chloe Herrington (keyboards and sax, bassoon respectively) and former Cardiacs vocalist Melanie Woods (vox) joining him on his “bubblegum prog” journey.
Heavy support has already come from Prog Magazine (formerly Classic Rock Prog), Rock Sound, The Quietus and Rock A Rolla to name a few. Knifeworld already have the alt rock world covered but with this latest offering, they hope to bring some attention to a wider audience with fans ranging far and wide from snooker champion Steve Davis to BBC 6Music’s Marc Riley and XFM’s John Kennedy.
With this release, Knifeworld prove that "prog" is not just a genre, but a concept, always changing and adapting. They have have applied this ethos to Clairvoyant Fortnight and have created a vast, intelligent, fun and ever evolving sound with few barriers or limitations.
Clairvoyant Fortnight is out on June 11th 2012 via Believers Roast.
Visit Knifeworld's official website, like them on Facebook or follow Kavus' musings on Twitter.
Download the full official press release from the A Badge of Friendship website.
If you would like more information about Knifeworld or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com
The Unkindness of Ravens release album “Virus” + brand new video!
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"Genuine contenders for being one of the best underground electro bands out there at the moment..." - Artrocker Magazine
The Unkindness of Ravens are the hardest working underground electro-rock duo on the scene. After two prolific years of releases, videos and live shows Nina Wagner (vox) and Ben Raine (bass & vox) release their debut album Virus on Sonic Fire Records.
To celebrate the release of the album, the band have released the video for the album track "The Spaces Inbetween", which is available to view now on YouTube. Ben mentions that the song is about an ex-girlfriend: "We had the most messed up on-off thing for so long, but it gave me a lot of fuel to write about." The dark and fetishistic style of the video was inspired by Pam Hogg's festish fashion designs. "I've been wanting to do something with bondage tape for quite some time now, so this really is the result of all these elements combined," front woman Nina notes.
The album itself begins with "Viper" and "Virus" - previously released as a double a-side single. "Virus" is hard hitting, with those familiar driving beats pounding through your chest. "Virus" is almost tribal, yet this feels like the sound of the future. The second, most recent, single taken from the album, "Last Call For The River", features Ravens signature sound of hypnotic, pumping beats supported by Ben's cacophonous bass lines and Nina's sexy, sultry vocals.
"Last Call For The River" is available to stream now on the band's Soundcloud page.
By the time you reach the last half of the album, the music changes pace showing a more intimate side to their songwriting. "Das Gift" is a gorgeous display of Nina's seductive vocals. "White Road" and "Yours Forever But Not To Hold" is another glimpse into the real heart of the band. These songs are full of melody and add a touch of intimacy to their usually beat vs bass heavy sound. Their songs are about love, longing and self-discovery and by the time the album concludes you'll feel you've taken this intimate journey with them.
These last few years have seen Nina and Ben release a slew of singles - Dead Air and White Road culminated with the band's first EP relase in 2010, I Used To Be So Pretty. Excellent reviews and coverage followed from magazines like Rock Sound to Artrocker and an array of features online on Clash, NYLON and The 405. Following on from this success, the band wrote and recorded most of the album whilst living and gigging in Berlin, DJ-ing and playing shows for Berlin Fashion Week. The double a-side single Viper | Virus followed, the videos for which appeared on NME and Artrocker.
The Unkindness of Ravens are one of the UK's most exciting prospects, blending genres and styles and forever trying to push their own boundaries, which every creative band should. Virus is out now on Sonic Fire Records and available to buy from iTunes or the band's Bandcamp page, where you can also stream the album.
Introducing… Night Noise Team
Night Noise Team are set to release their latest EP, Pieces, on June 11th 2012 via Permwhale Recordings.
Pieces displays the band’s multitude of influences – ranging from Serge Gainsbourg to The Smiths to Phoenix - with repetitive catchy, electronic beats that wouldn’t be out of place on a Daft Punk record. Meanwhile, their melodic, harmonised pop-laden vocals are backed up by funky synths, which would make even the likes of Earth, Wind and Fire proud! There is a sense of freshness, guile and clever detail in the bands songwriting that develops subtly throughout the EP, meaning the listener is exposed to something new every time they press the play button.
A free download of the EP track "Picking Up The Pieces" is available to download now from the A Badge of Friendship Soundcloud page.
You can also watch the video for the track on Night Noise Team's YouTube page.
Active since 2007, Edinburgh based Night Noise Team are the product of Frenchman Fabien Pinardon (bass) and Irishman Sean Ormsby (guitar / vox). The duo write, record, produce, arrange and mix their music themselves, but when performed live, Night Noise Team become a whole different beast altogether with the addition of live members Marco Morelli (guitar), Stephen McLaren (Keyboards and vox) and Keith Kirkwood (drums). The band has built a catalogue of work consisting of two albums and three singles while their music has been heralded by the The Scotsman, The List and The Skinny as well as gaining support from BBC Radio 1 Scotland having played a session for Ally McCrae.
With the release of Pieces, Night Noise Team have produced a catchy, upbeat and eclectic sound that transcends various genres - a record that you will want to play over and over again.
If you would like more information about Night Noise Team or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com