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Bad Mannequins single ‘Double Denim’ out now!
“...tongue-in-cheek songwriting with
a garage-punk guitar tone which
would've made The Strokes proud.”
- Team Rock
"...high-energy, bags-of-fun..." - The Skinny
"... fiery garage-rock filled with blistering guitar riffs and ground-shaking percussion..." - The Revue
Having treated us to the raucous brilliance of their debut Deny Til U Die Part 1 earlier this year, Glasgow duo Bad Mannequins are back with the first taste of the second instalment of their EP trilogy. Double Denim, the first single to be taken from the forthcoming EP, is out now via Triple Denim and available to to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Double Denim premiered on Punktastic and is now available to stream and embed via the band's Soundcloud page.
The video for the single premiered on The Skinny, watch it now on the Bad Mannequins YouTube channel.
Channelling the late ‘70s CBGB’s era of New York city’s punk rock scene, Double Denim is another racing slice of energy-fuelled glory. As pummelling beats thrash alongside swirling blues-laden riffs and scuzzy vocals, the track’s propelled into a fun, frenzied, hook-laden cacophony. With shades of the likes of The Von Bondies or Electric Six, the duo have created their own unique brand of in-your-face punk, with tongues firmly in cheeks and bodies seriously ready to rock out.
Comprised of Ross Hamilton (lead vocals, guitar) and Jamie McGrory (drums, vocals), the duo formed after having been in another band together. Combining their efforts to write songs collaboratively, they realised they were creating something that was a huge departure from what they had been used to, and they loved it. Taking inspiration from the likes of The Hives, Television, Ramones and B-52s, they have previously received praise from the likes of BBC 6 Music, The Revue, Fred Perry Subculture and Team Rock Magazine, as well as their track ‘No Easy Way Out’ being featured on US TV show Limitless.
Double Denim is another dose of killer garage rock from Bad Mannequins. Buy it now on iTunes or stream the track on Spotify.
Maria Kelly ft. Ailbhe Reddy & LAOISE share stunning video for ‘Hollow’!
"...beautifully mastered and Kelly's
high-calibre artistry is evident in
every note."
- Earmilk
"...Kelly’s art is an immersive experience, imbued with honesty and enthused with youthful exuberance. We love it."
- Wonderland
"...a glorious concoction full of ear-pleasing tones and immense emotion...."
- The Line Of Best Fit
"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales." - Consequence of Sound
Following the release of her stunning debut EP, The Things I Should, Irish artist Maria Kelly returns with another poignant yet profound new single, Hollow, out now via Veta Records. It is available to stream on Spotify and buy on iTunes now.
The live video, featuring Ailbhe Reddy & LAOISE, premiered on RTE and is also available to watch via Maria's YouTube channel.
The single originally premiered on Earmilk and is also available to stream via Maria's Soundcloud page.
The single deals with the disappointment that comes with never quite getting through to someone. Maria explains “It came about when I had to be brutally honest with myself about the state of a relationship. It’s so easy to trick yourself into thinking that everything is fine, but this song represents that moment you snap, get angry and want to confront the problem.” Hollow opens with Kelly’s signature delicate vocal, entwined with a subtle whisper track, creating a powerful sense of secrecy and sorrow. Combined with Kelly’s intricate guitar plucking, earnest songwriting abilities and a captivating string arrangement, Hollow is once again a prime example of Kelly’s unique ability to create beautifully melancholic indie-folk.
This release is the first of Maria’s that she has arranged herself; “I never had the confidence before, as I had convinced myself that I just wasn’t very good at arrangement. But after giving myself the chance, being patient and with the incredible strings and electric coming from Matt Harris (HAWK), I’m really proud of how this track turned out and I hope others like it as much as I do.”
Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years developing her sound into a delicate blend of atmospheric-alt-folk. First taking influence from the story-telling elements of Irish-trad, as well as artists like Regina Spektor and Lisa Hannigan, her music aims to share deeply personal, humanising and heartbreaking experiences. Maria has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of James Vincent McMorrow, KT Tunstall and Billie Marten, as well as playing at this year’s Great Escape Festival and Electric Picnic. Maria has previously received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, The 405, Wonderland, Mahogany, The Line of Best Fit and Radio X. Maria Kelly also recently won the honour of playing at Ireland's acclaimed Other Voices music festival in Dingle.
Hollow is out now via Veta Records and is available to stream on Spotify and buy on iTunes now.
Fuzzystar shares new video for ‘Superhero’!
"...a lovely slice of upbeat jangly guitar pop. " - The Skinny
"...off kilter indie pop laden with
dream-like fuzz."
- Clash
"...infectious, reverb-strewn hooks..." - Gigslutz
Taken from his latest album Telegraphing, Edinburgh-based artist Andy Thomson - aka Fuzzystar - continues to create off-kilter indie pop with the release of new single, Superhero, out now via Satellite Sounds.
The new video for Superhero premiered on The Skinny and you can watch it now via Fuzzystar's YouTube channel.
Superhero is also available to stream on Soundcloud and Spotify now.
Superhero was written while Andy was going through a rough period, unsure of what the future held. He explains "Making this into a superhero story added a bit of distance to be able to write about it, rather than trying to tell it directly. It's about trying to make the best of bad times and just getting through it, whilst being aware of your own flaws and failings.” The single is another infectious slice of indie-pop, filled with twinkling melodies and Andy’s signature colloquial vocal style, sounding akin to the likes of Big Star’s Chris Bell.
Andy Thomson has been playing solo and in various line-ups as Fuzzystar for years; starting in Edinburgh, with a stint in London, before returning to Scotland. The band name comes from an appreciation of the bands Big Star and Mazzy Star. Now, Fuzzystar is made up revolving cast of whoever is available at the time, hence the name - a star which looks like one star but is made of lots of other stars. Andy has received praise from a number of well-regarded publications including The Skinny, Clash, The National and With Guitars to name but a few. With Superhero, Andy hopes to continue to captivate listeners further with his rich lyrical storytelling and lo-fi melodies.
Superhero is out now via Satellite Sounds. Fuzzystar's album Telegraphing is also out now and you can buy physical copies through MusicGlue and Bandcamp, as well as download and stream on Spotify.
North Atlas reveal video for ‘Volcanoes’!
"...moody electro rock with both
menacing industrial riffs and pop-
laden hooks..." - Team Rock
"...ambitious stadium rock choruses with driving beats." - The Skinny
"...soaring, impassioned majesty..." - Gigslutz
Following on from the pulsating Another Ocean, North Atlas make an immediate return with their single, the energy-fuelled Volcanoes, out now via King Of The Woöds Recordings and available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
The video premiered on Fame Magazine and is now available to watch on North Atlas' YouTube channel.
Expertly producing a sound keenly associated with traditional stadium-ready rock bands and combining this with elements of shimmering, modern electronica, North Atlas have constructed an emotionally affecting sound that has seen the band gain support from the likes of Team Rock, Kerrang Radio, The Scotsman and BBC Radio Scotland.
The audio for the single premiered on The Skinny and you can also stream it on the band's Soundcloud page.
Working with producer and Sikth guitarist Dan Weller (Enter Shikari), Volcanoes sees North Atlas progress their sound even further: neatly blending technically gifted instrumentation with a thunderous beat and bold, anthemic vocals.
Tackling themes of self-reflection, the importance of understanding ones self and becoming a better human being, Volcanoes undulates throughout as looped samples glisten, effects-laden guitars swirl and Leon D Hunter’s (vocals) vocals soar.
Having played in a number of bands within the Glasgow music scene over the years, brothers Leon and Cam Hunter (drums / samples) decided to step away from the circuit and spend time mastering the art of electronic music production. Enlisting the help of like-minded musicians wasn’t easy but the brothers made contact with Drew Lesslie (guitar) and Kai Cairney (bass) who shared their vision for marrying a traditional rock sound with a modern electronic approach. This garnered immediate results as the foursome began to produce a number of sonically striking tracks in the studio, before embarking on their first live show together in 2016. North Atlas were officially born and ready to take on the world.
Volcanoes by North Atlas is out now via King Of The Woöds Recordings and available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Alcabean release new single ‘Bloody Pose’!
"...a taut, energised piece of noise rock bluster..." - Clash
"...90s indie, pop and urgent rocky riffery." - Team Rock
Danish noise-rock four-piece Alcabean, make a welcome return with the release of their brand new single Bloody Pose, out now via We Are Suburban and available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
The single premiered on Punktastic and is now available to stream via the band's Soundcloud page now.
The video for the single premiered on GAFFA and is now available to watch on Alcabean's YouTube channel.
Having already picked up support through the release of their 2016 EP Real Time Fiction, Alcabean are gearing up to unleash their fuzz-filled, feedback-laden sound on the UK public once again. Combining elements of 90’s alternative, indie-rock made popular by the likes of Silversun Pickups, Hum and The Smashing Pumpkins with a contemporary sound produced by bands such as Drenge and Wolf Alice, Alcabean straddle the line skilfully between melancholia and euphoria. A metronomic, expertly delivered drum beat is flanked by a thudding, driven baseline and accented beautifully by swirling, effected guitar tones, all neatly brought together by the emotive, atmospheric vocals of Victor Schack. Dealing with themes of growing up, Bloody Pose tackles the difficulties of our late teenage years and the struggle of dealing with increased expectations, identity confusion and how the constant search for acknowledgment sometimes makes you want to give up.
Alcabean were formed by two brothers, Victor (vocals, guitar) and Julius Schack (bass, vocals), who later added Lucas Olierook (drums) and Joachim Holmsgaard (guitar) to create the final four man line up. They immediately began to pick up support from within the music industry with the likes of Clash Magazine, Team Rock and Upset Magazine all praising the band with famed Rolling Stone journalist, David Fricke, playing Alcabean on his Sirius XM radio show.
Bloody Pose by Alcabean is out now via We Are Suburban and available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.