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Black International release video for ‘Shining Swords’!
"...an epic swirl of rising and falling post-punk intensity." - The A.V. Club
"Deliciously self-aware, the record forces its fingers around the throats of our preconceptions.” - The Skinny
"...a sharply poetic mixture of visceral music and vivid lyrics..." - Clash
Following the success of last year's album, A Lesson In Repression, Edinburgh noise-rockers Black International have now released a new video for their forthcoming single, 'Shining Swords', out on November 4th 2016 via Good Grief Records.
The video premiered on The A.V. Club and is now available to stream via Black International's YouTube Channel.
The Edinburgh two-piece create music that is both abrasive and discordant, yet has an unerring ability to pull you in through a magnetic rhythm section that belies their status as a two man band. Shining Swords ominously kicks off with caustic, grinding guitar, dovetailing beautifully with Craig Peebles' incessant drum beats and the raw, stripped-back vocals of Stewart Allan. The outro sees the band embracing the loud/quiet dynamic as they jump from headbanging breakdowns to a more dream-like, melodic instrumental, thus showcasing a duality to the music they create as well as an ability to explore a number of genres.
Comprised of Stewart Allan (vocals, guitar, keyboard) and Craig Peebles (drums, percussion), Black International released their sophomore album, A Lesson In Repression, in October 2015 having recorded with sound engineer Andrew Bush (The Twilight Sad). The record gained a well of support from many tastemakers within the industry, with coverage coming from the likes of Exclaim! Magazine, The Skinny, Clash Magazine, Visions, Big Cheese, Never Mind The Hype and BBC Radio Scotland.
Black International have also played a number of festivals having appeared at Wickerman, GoNorth, Oxjam, Shetfest and Tramlines as well as supporting the likes of Speedy Ortiz and Die! Die! Die!
Shining Swords by Black International will be available as a free download on November 4th 2016 via Good Grief Records.
Melissa Bel releases new single ‘Dirty Word’!
"...an undeniably catchy iridescent pop anthem." - Gigslutz
Toronto-bred Melissa Bel has released her new single, Dirty Word, via Belhop Records. The single is taken from Bel's forthcoming album In The Light, out November 4th 2016 and available to pre-order on iTunes now.
The single premiered on Gigslutz and you can also listen to it via Melissa’s Soundcloud page now.
Melissa also recently shared a stunning live video for her previous single Big Boys Don't Cry, which you can watch via Melissa's YouTube channel now.
Dirty Word is taken from Melissa's latest album In The Light, which charts the journey of how a girl from Canada met the love of her life in Las Vegas whilst attending a friend’s wedding. Little did she know, this meeting would change her life forever and she’d be relocating to the rural coasts of Devon as a result. Each track on the album showcases a different side to Bel, filled with the killer combination of infectious pop beats, powerful soul vocals and heartwarming ballads. Opening track ‘Real Tonight’ is an upbeat, funky rendition of ‘that’ night in Vegas, highlighting Melissa’s incredible ability to write an impressive pop hook akin to the likes of Meghan Trainor and Taylor Swift. Previous single Stay Gone along with tracks such as ‘Dirty Word’ captivate instantly with their contagious pop-infused melodies. Whereas title track ‘In The Light’ is a vulnerable ballad encapsulating the naked hope and fear of finding profound, visceral love.
Melissa grew up listening to soul, classic rock and draws inspiration from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Christina Aguilera amongst others. She also regularly receives creative support from producer/songwriter Justin Gray who has worked with artists such as Joss Stone, John Legend and Amy Winehouse and also produced Melissa’s album.
Melissa is certainly not afraid of hard work, having already released three albums over six years and played numerous live shows including Montreal’s Festiblues and supporting Juno Award winning Canadian artist Matthew Good. With In The Light Melissa has truly found her voice, promising her most vulnerable and electrifying album yet.
You can catch Melissa Bel live at her album launch party on Wednesday 2nd November 2016 at Exeter Castle.
Dirty Word is out now via Belhop Records, and is available to buy via iTunes and Spotify. Melissa’s album In The Light is out on November 4th 2016 and is available to pre-order now via iTunes.
Right Said Fred Announce New Album Exactly!
Right Said Fred return with their 9th studio album Exactly! due for release in March 2017. The album was two years in the making featuring an array of special guests and Fred and Richard Fairbrass’ signature mix of tongue-in-cheek observational pop.
Watch Richard and Fred chat to Lorraine Kelly on ITV about their album Exactly and celebrating the 25th anniversary of their 1991 hit I’m Too Sexy.
Half of the album was recorded with Paul Statham (Simple Minds, Kylie, Dido) and the other half with Gordon Davis and Jason Glover (who was part of the James Taylor Quartet). The album’s opener ‘Me And You’ is an upbeat pop anthem featuring Jodie Scantlebury who has previously worked with Bryan Ferry. The album’s themes range from simple and fun observations like single ‘Sweet Treats’ inspired by a British Airways dessert, to the more serious. ‘Save Me’, which touches upon depression whilst ‘Raining In England’ is a melancholic song about everything in the world around us is changing but the one thing that can be relied upon - the rain in England.
The album arrives after the Fairbrass brothers spent 2016 celebrating the 25th Anniversary of their 1991 hit I’m Too Sexy. They are one of the UK’s most enduring pop acts and in the 25 years since I’m Too Sexy’s release, the brothers have reached fans all across the globe, selling in excess of 7 million copies of their debut album Up worldwide, receiving two Ivor Novello’s for I’m Too Sexy and Deeply Dippy as well as a Brit Award nomination for Best British Act. Fred and Richard have also played The Royal Variety Performance, met the Queen, released a track for Comic Relief (Stick It Out) and, most importantly, Richard was voted Rear of the Year by Smash Hits Magazine.
Right Said Fred continue to appear at various special events and TV shows all over the world performing in front of 200,000 people at the 2006 World Cup opening ceremony and 300 million people for the Bollywood Awards plus guest appearances on Good Morning America, Big Brother’s Bit On The Side,The Wright Stuff, Lorraine, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Pointless and John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight.
However, after 25 years, the brothers remain true to their spirit - they don’t follow trends, they follow their instincts and have fun along the way. Doing music the ‘Right Said Fred’ way has always been the right way and their track record and continued success is testament to that. Long live Right Said Fred!
Exactly! is out March 2017.
Tokyo Taboo release video for ‘N.A.R.C.I.S.M’!
London duo Tokyo Taboo have released the video for their riotous new single 'N.A.R.C.I.S.M', taken from their forthcoming debut album 6th Street Psychosis, out 25th November 2016 via TT Records.
The video premiered on A Music Blog Yea? and is now available to stream on the Tokyo Taboo YouTube channel.
The audio for 'N.A.R.C.I.S.M' premiered on Louder Than War, and is available to listen to via their Soundcloud page now.
6th Street Psychosis, the new album from Tokyo Taboo, features ten tenacious, in-your-face tracks that combine the band’s rock and pop punk influences.
The duo comprise of singer Dolly Daggerz and guitarist Mike, who are joined by a band for their live shows. Dolly takes inspiration from iconic performers from Heart to David Bowie and Karen O and Mike simply loves a good riff. Tokyo Taboo is a perfect amalgamation of Dolly and Mike’s influences; inspired by Manga, Japanese culture, drag and 80s fashion, they are true performers, with an image that equals the intense vibrancy of what you hear on record.
The video for the band's previous single Make It Out Alive is available to watch now via Tokyo Taboo's YouTube channel.
Featuring hectic, heart-pounding hooks and soaring rock-inspired vocals, Tokyo Taboo cover a range of subjects on the album, which was recorded in Downtown LA. From Dolly’s quarter life crisis to politics and vulnerability, they aren’t afraid of smashing the expectations of ‘the industry’ whilst wearing their hearts on their sleeves - cuts, bruises, tears and all.
On the album, ’Bubbilicious’ is a racing, high-octane opener, whilst ‘Emotional Suicide’ is filled with an uptempo, feisty power and ‘N.A.R.C.I.S.M’ oozes brutal honesty, raw riffs and dark undertones. Meanwhile, single Make It Out Alive was inspired by the vote to bomb Syria and the feeling of frustration, hopelessness and anger Dolly felt, which seethe through the music as she spits and snarls each lyric over Mike’s raucous riffs.
Make It Out Alive gained support from the likes of Radio X and BBC Radio 1 and with 6th Street Psychosis out soon, Tokyo Taboo hope to bring their own brand of modern pop punk kicking and screaming into the public consciousness. You can catch the duo live at the following dates:
25th Nov - Album Launch Show - The Borderline - London
4th Dec - The Black Heart - Camden
6th Street Psychosis is out November 25th 2016 via TT Records.
The Empty Page release debut album ‘Unfolding’!
"...recalling Fugazi's righteous fury." - Clash
"...a powerful yet understated alt-rock sound." - Punktastic
"...a rather fantastic, mature sounding album." - Uber Rock
After a successful Pledge campaign, Manchester alt.rock three-piece The Empty Page are excited to share their fantastic debut album Unfolding, out today via Vociferous Records and available to buy on Bandcamp, iTunes and stream on Spotify.
The band enlisted the skills of uber producer Gggarth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Biffy Clyro, L7, Melvins) to shape the sound of their debut record, creating their very own brand of pop/rock. Straddling the line between grunge, post-punk and noise-pop, The Empty Page have produced a sound that has an unerring ability to draw you in through it’s melodic choruses and fuzzy, driven guitar lines.
An in-depth interview, as well as an exclusive stream of the album, was featured on Louder Than War following on from the unveiling of their video for single Big Wheel which premiered on Clash Magazine.
Recent single Turbulence further enhanced the band's burgeoning reputation and, once again, highlighted front woman Kel's captivating presence both vocally and visually. You can watch the video on The Empty Page YouTube channel and stream the track via the band's Soundcloud.
Recorded and mixed in just one week, the essence of a pure, live band can be heard on the ten songs that make up the album, stepping away from the overly produced music that has become synonymous with the pro-tools era of modern rock music. From the grunge-inspired sound of Hole on ‘Cracks In The Surface’, to the riot grrrl stylings of Bikini Kill on future single Wardrobe Malfunction and the the hooky, indie-rock, head bopping melodies of My Vitriol and Llama Farmers on the aforementioned Big Wheel, The Empty Page invite you to join them on their sonic journey through the full alt.rock songbook.
Comprised of Kel (vocals, bass), Giz (guitar) and Jim (drums), the band first came together as friends jamming cover songs, before realising that their chemistry dictated that they should write their own tunes. The results were immediate, fast forward one year and they now have a Gggarth Richardson produced album as well as picking up support from the likes of Louder Than War, Punktastic and Clash and are due to complete their UK tour over the coming days. The band will be launching their album at London's Nambucca this evening before playing the following shows:
Sun 23rd CARDIFF The Gwdihw café
Wed 26th EDINBURGH Bannerman's
Thurs 27th DUNFERMLINE Monty's
Unfolding by The Empty Page is out now via Vociferous Records and available to buy on Bandcamp, iTunes and stream on Spotify.