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The Unkindness of Ravens to release “Last Call For The River”
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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) are ready to release their next single Last Call For The River, taken from their forthcoming debut album Virus.
The band have previously been compared to The Kills, which is not bad at all, but the pair have taken their sound further than the usual indie electro clash vibe of their peers, transcending all genres - electro, rock and indie.
Last Call For The River, features their signature sound of hypnotic, pumping beats supported by Ben’s cacophonous bass lines and Nina’s sexy, sultry vocals. As Nina seductively calls “I was made this way”, it feels as though they’ve trapped you in their melodic web, with no escape, and after this intense 3-minutes is over, you’ll be left wanting to hear more..
Last Call For The River is available to listen now on The Unkindness of Ravens Soundcloud page. It will be available to download free from March 5th 2012.
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.
In 2011, the pair focussed on playing shows around Europe, particularly Berlin, where they now sometimes base themselves to write and record. Just before the end of last year, they released the double a-side single Virus | Viper, the video for which appeared on NME.com amongst an array of other online hubs. In fact, the band have become known for their unique style when it comes to their videos with the visuals for Virus being hailed by the band as “a cross between Blade Runner and Black Swan”.
The video for Virus is still available to watch on The Unkindness of Ravens Soundcloud page. Please be warned, this video contains strobe effects.
The Unkindness of Ravens are one of the UK’s most exciting underground prospects. Last Call For The River will be released on March 5th 2012 on Sonic Fire Records, with their debut album set to drop in May 2012. The the future looks exciting indeed for The Unkindness of Ravens.
Introducing… French Wives!
Since their inception in 2008, Glasgow’s French Wives have been working intensively to build a strong fan base in Scotland. Now, after a steady rise, the band is ready to release their debut album Dream of the Inbetween on 7th May 2012.The album is a culmination of their hard work over these last four years and follows the release of the singles Halloween / Dogfight (a double a-side), Me vs. Me and an EP entitled Feel Safe Small. Their label – Electric Honey – has also previously released records by Belle & Sebastian, Snow Patrol and Biffy Clyro, and sets up a fascinating 2012.
Dream of the Inbetween encapsulates French Wives ear for a gorgeous melody. “Numbers” and “Month of Sundays” are as good as some of the best modern alternative anthems, with Stuart’s lilting vocals hanging over a glorious cacophony of strings and drums. “Sleep Tight” showcases French Wives diverse writing ability, with an angular take on their gorgeous indie sound.
The album track "Younger" is available to stream on the ABoF Soundcloud page. This will be available to download in full for free from 27th February.
The band are on tour this February and March. See below for their full list of dates:
February/March Tour 2012
- Tuesday 28th February - Sneaky Pete's,
Edinburgh - Thursday 1st March - Hootenannys, Inverness
- Sunday 4th March - Harrisons Bar, Sheffield
- Monday 5th March - Brixton Windmill, London
- Tuesday 6th March - Dry Bar, Manchester
- Thursday 8th March - Milo, Leeds
- Friday 9th March - Stereo, Glasgow
Stuart Dougan (vocals/guitars), Chris Barclay (bass/vocals), Siobhan Anderson (violin/vocals), Scott MacPherson (guitar/vocals) and Jonny Smith (drums/vocals) formed via mutual friends while at University. Although the band’s beginnings are humble, they have been on quite an adventure so far, supporting the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Two Door Cinema Club and Mystery Jets. They’ve also played festivals like T in the Park, Rockness, Wickerman and Stag and Dagger, while their captivating live set has also caught the attention of BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1 Scotland and BBC 6Music as well as making The Guardian’s up-and-coming bands of 2012.
Dream of the Inbetween will be released on 7th May 2012, via Electric Honey.
If you would like more information about French Wives or our PR services please contact info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
Turnpike Glow to release “1986”
Turnpike Glow begin 2012 with the release of their next free download single 1986 available from 5th March 2012. The track has been mixed by acclaimed producer Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, Super Furry Animals, Los Campesinos), giving it that full-bodied edge that has become one of his trademarks. The single is the follow-up to their free download track The Turn, The Pike and The Glow, released at the tail end of 2011. It received a great reaction online including Track of the Day features from Spinner and Classic Rock Magazine.The song captures the end of a relationship under a heavy and unusual Roman snow. That amazing snowfall made for a Guardian headline entitled: “The Heaviest Snow to Fall in Rome Since 1986”. This true story became the inspiration for 1986. The track is unadulterated Turnpike Glow, with the band displaying all their melodic signature moves with Newfeld’s touch packing an extra punch; quirky keys overlay steady beats and a catchy verse and chorus. By the end of the song, you’re sure to be humming along and you’ll definitely want to hear more.
1986 is available to stream now via the ABoF Soundcloud page and will be released as a free download from 5th March 2012.
Turnpike Glow - 1986 by abadgeoffriendship
The band started life in Rome, in a scene marginalized by glossy Italian mainstream pop and insider trading. However, with their Pavement / 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 Anthony J. Hutchinson (drums) busking on the tube in a giant sombrero. They talked, they laughed and eventually, they joined forces to become the Anglo-Italian indie pop powerhouse Turnpike Glow! Their line-up was recently complete with the addition of Jeremy Levy (guitar/keys) and Tom P. Griffiths (guitar/BV’s).
The band will be celebrating the release on 1st March 2012, playing live at Geek Out at the Wheelbarrow (55 Camden High Street, London). The release party will be free entry with A Badge of Friendship and Geek Out DJs.
Knifeworld’s Kavus Torabi and Steve Davis interviewed by The Quietus
It's Friday, the weekend is coyly peeking around the corner, so what better excuse is there to take a long lunch with Knifeworld's Kavus Torabi and former snooker player, cum alternative music aficionado, Steve Davis?
The Quietus caught up with the duo at the King Charles I pub in Kings Cross to discuss their mutual love for French prog rock band, Magma, the album or performance that turned them on to the underground scene, and Davis' regular radio slot (on which Kavus frequently acts as co-host), The Interesting Alternative Show on Phoenix FM. Be sure to check out the full interview.
Knifeworld released EP Dear Lord, No Deal via Believers Roast in July last year. You can download the EP for £3.49 from iTunes.
You can listen to EP track "Pilot Her", and download it for free from the ABoF SoundCloud page.
Knifeworld - Pilot Her by abadgeoffriendship
If you'd like more information about this, our PR services or anything else, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com
Tango in the Attic News Round-Up!
Last week we announced the return of the wonderful Glenrothes four-pieces, Tango in the Attic. The boys are about to release their second album (so fresh from the studio that they've not even given it a name yet) but as a teaser, they've released a live video for the track "Swimming Pool", a track that will appear on the forthcoming album.
NME, Clash, Artrocker and Contactmusic.com were amongst those to feature the video this week with Spinner scheduling a Video of the Day feature on their website for 26th January (so watch out for that next week!).
We'll have more information very soon about the next single and that untitled album in the following weeks so keep checking back here at ABoF HQ for details.
For more information about Tango in the Attic, our PR services or anything else, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.