Author Archives: Alex Knott

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Original Mercury Rev frontman to release EP | Music News

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It’s been 18 since he left the public spotlight but David Baker, original singer in American alt-rock heroes Mercury Rev, is back with a new band, Variety Lights. The band, a collaboration between Baker and fellow vintage synth addict Will MacLean, have an EP ready for release on 21st April, with a full album to follow in June. The lead track is, appropriately, “Silent Too Long”, which will be released as an exclusive single for Record Store Day on transparent peppermint green vinyl.
As co-founder and vocalist of Mercury Rev, Baker helped to forge their revolutionary sound. he left the band in 1993 to be replaced by Jonathan Donahue. Since leaving Mercury Rev Baker has released solo albums and more recently he has been working as a producer for other bands.
The album was recorded by Baker at his own Over the Trees studio using a mixture of 80’s era midi expanders, vintage keyboards, drum machines and effected guitars. Speaking about the band’s sound, Baker says that “personal adventure is and always has been the most important thing”. Baker says that plans are afoot to play the songs live with a full band including drums and bass, with dates to follow at some point later on in 2012.
Variety Lights – Silent Too Long EP is released on 21st April 2012 on Fire Records

 

 

 

Goodnight And I Wish – Goodnight And I Wish EP | Music Review

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Goodnight And I Wish began life as the solo project of Brandon Jacobs, drummer in post-punk band Neil’s Children, and have now spawned into a bona-fide 4 piece band. I must admit I don’t care much for Neil’s Children, I find them vapid. For me they’ve plundered from the worst bits of The Cure’s songbook. Goodnight And I Wish, however, are a more enjoyable affair.

The EP begins with “Witch Doctor” which is a 60’s guitar pop number, “England’s never looked so good” is a lovely breezy pop number with its “sun, sun, sun” refrain and accompanying harmonica. Delicious. This is the kind of record to pop a few sausages on the barbeque on a lovely July day, and sup beer to. “When You Came to Stay” is a relaxed acoustic affair.  “I Spy” is the weak link here, sounding like a million rubbish 90’s indie bands. “Oh, What A Day!” replicates “It Must be Love” by Madness.

“Come Home” sees the vocals of Kelly Thomas at the fore for the first time. It’s delicious. The song sees Thomas and Jacobs singing together and it’s where things start to get interesting. It’s where Goodnight And I Wish start to stand out from being just another indie band with a record collection that includes the Kinks to one with an interesting sound. More Kelly and they’re onto a winner!

 

The Goodnight And I Wish EP is out now on Cool For Cats Records

 

Flats – Better Living | Music Review

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Every band that’s ever made the leap up from from toiling round in the back of a van playing to one man and his dog will have you believe that it took years of hard work to make it. Flats would tell you otherwise. Having only formed in February 2010 they signed with the superb One Little Indian record label, home to Björk, in March 2011, having taken the live scene by storm. The band exploded onto the scene in 2010 and their infuriated-punk sound was a breath a fresh air – think Discharge having a fight outside a kebab shop with Black Flag.

“Better Living” is the band’s debut album and it’s not a bad way to start. Known for their quick live shows, often coming in under 15 minutes, this doesn’t go much further at just under 35 minutes. It’s a short sharp shock of metal, of stoner rock, of punk, of sludge. It’s not an easy listen and certainly not to your mother’s liking but it’s brilliant and worthy of praise. Short, sharp, shocking and often brutal, this record will annoy your neighbours, even if you don’t have neighbours. If you like Black Sabbath, Napalm Death and Anthrax then this one’s for you, if not then keep walking, there’s nothing to see here.

 

“Better Living” is released on 7th May via One Little Indian. Cath them on tour in the UK throughout May.

 

 

Maika Makovski – Thank You for the Boots | Music Review

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Before listening to this record I had never heard of Maika Makovski but by the end of it I was in love with her lush voice and swirling tunes.  Prior to entering my life she’s been a very busy girl, this being her 5th studio album and 3rd in 3 years. On top of that she managed to tour hard and star in her first film, Desaparecer, directed by Calixto Bieto. The writing of the album began with Maika, in her own words, “sat at the piano and wanting to just have some fun” in order to get away from the “dense and serious music” of previous efforts. If that was her aim then she should reward herself with a biscuit as her aim’s been achieved.

The album begins with “Language” that builds slowly with instruments being added as the song goes along. Beginning with bass, then drums, then vocals then Maika on piano. It’s 232 seconds of brooding pop loveliness. On “Get Along” Makovski sings “You know you’re stuck with me, I know I’m stuck with you” much to my liking. I’d happily listen to these songs all day. It’s a thundering foot-stomper built that, along with “Your Reflection”, show her penchant for big fun choruses with a punch. It sounds a bit like a radio-friendly version of Cat Power.

“When the Dust Clears” is where she falls over on her attempt to keep things “fun” as she dips into the past but it’s lovely so we’ll forgive her (yes, i forgave her on your behalf). With “No News” and “Cool Cat” she’s back to form. It’s got a swinging country feel. You could imagine her singing these on stage stomping around in some musical. I mean that in a good way. I’d go and watch it even though I hate musical theatre.

“Vulnerable” and “A Dream” end the record by slipping back into the old dark ways and it’s beautiful. If it’s reminiscent of the sound of her older records then I, for one, am looking forward to them reaching my eardrums. It pleases them.

In short, this is a great record; it’s clever, it’s exciting, it’s fun. You want her to win (at what I don’t know!). It’s a different and interesting sound and that’s reason enough to like it but listen to it a dozen times and that novelty doesn’t wear off. If this was a gamble for her then it certainly paid off.

 

“Thank You for the Boots” is out now on Outstanding Records/Warner Music

Maika Makovski plays Breakout @ Proud Camden on May 9th

Glasvegas + Es Muss Sein – Relentless Garage, London | Music Review

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Es Muss Sein

Tonight’s show was opened by Es Muss Sein, a 16 year old singer-songwriter from Kent. EMS was personally invited to open the show by Rab from Glasvegas who found her via her facebook page. Her debut EP has been earning her rave reviews, including here at Frost, and so we took the opportunity to catch her at her biggest live performance to date.

At four songs short it was a quick set. “Wave Goodbye”, “Sail”, “Seeping” and “Those Eyes” give off little more than the EP did. Hauntingly soulful, achingly beautiful. Nerves showed at the start but she grew in confidence with every  strum of her guitar. She told me afterwards that she”doubted she was good enough” and that she was “very scared”. On this performance the only thing you doubt is that she’ll be bottom of the bill for much longer.

Glasvegas

It’s been a few years since I last saw Glasvegas, atop a mountain near Bern, and it’s fair to say a lot’s happened. In those two years the band have released a new album, Europric Heartbreak, lost their original drummer, Caroline McKay, gained a new drummer, Jonna Löfgren (more on her later), but the most striking change in them is they’re no longer fresh faced new kids on the block. They’ve less teeth and more tattoos yet still, after battling the drugs, perils and heartbreak of fame appear to wear the “happy to be here” look.

Frontman James Allen, as usual dressed all in black, looks exactly like Joe Strummer but despite his attire and the fact that he has the look of a man who may bite your neck at any moment, his autobiographical lyrics about his absent father, his social worker and the struggles of growing up in working class Britain gave him an air of vulnerability that had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.

They began with songs from Mercury Award nominated debut album Glasvegas. Opening song “Flowers & Football Tops”, or in Scottish “Flowers & Fitba Tops”, was written about the reaction to the racially motivated murder in Glasgow of Kriss Donald, a Celtic fan – the same team the band support. It works equally as well as a eulogy for their arch rivals Rangers Football Club, a club staring into the abyss. “Geraldine” comes next, followed by “It’s my own cheating heart . . . ” and the band are on a roll. Hit after hit with the audience. Anthem after working class anthem. It’s a brilliant talent of Allen’s, much like that of Alex Turner and Jarvis Cocker, to turn the mundane aspects of life into anthemic greatness.

Sounds from “Euphoric Heartbreak” didn’t quite stir the same excitement as songs from their previous record but it was an interesting sound and certainly a bit of a departure. Less straightforward rock n roll and a bit more experimental.

It must be said though that new drummer, Jonna Löfgren, is the star of the show. She’s taken over from James Allen as the band’s sunglasses-wearer and oozes rock ‘n’ roll swagger. No sitting down for her though. She stands. All the way through. What you get is pure energy. Imagine Rage Against the Machine’s Brad Wilk dosed to the max on cocaine and pro plus and you’re only halfway there.

Glasvegas tonight in London felt like they were beginning something again. The audience saw a band testing themselves and their boundaries but also a band looking at the mountain off success that they scaled with their first album and thinking “I’ll climb that”. And so they just might!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In that two years the band have recorded a new album, lost their original drummer – Caroline McKay, gained a new one – Jonna Löfgren, bassistPaul Donoghue has lost some teeth, guitarist Rab Allen got some tattoos and singer James Allen nearly lost his mind.

Maps & Atlases – Beware and Be Grateful | Music Review

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I must confess that before being given this to review, I didn’t know of Maps & Atlases. Having listened to their new album “Beware and Be Grateful” I’m still not sure I know them. Getting to grips with them is a tough grind but wonderful, nonetheless.

The band formed in 2004 at art school in Chicago and in that time they’ve grooved their way from being a pure math rock/post rock band to making beautiful pop music but based on the old math-rock principles of signature time changes. We’ll call it Math-pop.

The record begins with “Old And Gray”, a six minute affair that doesn’t exactly blow the doors off of the house that is “Beware and Be Grateful”, but tiptoes gently in and makes a nice cup of tea. It’s clever. It knows it doesn’t need to be route one. It will sit waiting for you in the living room, until you come to and will assassinate you there and then. It’s pop Jim, but not as we know it!

“Fever” moves towards more straightforward pop music and “Winter” is very much in the same vein. Both songs have a million things going on behind the music in the way of vocals and music. It’s all incredibly well arranged – a beautiful layering of the music and backed up by soft electronic beats. On “Remote and Dark Years” Dave Davison’s lush baritone vocal has more than a tilt towards Paul Simon and the song has a lot in common with his African moments.

Throughout the record you can hear morsels of the influences behind the record – all sorts. From Vampire Weekend to Paul Simon to Secret Machines to Joeyfat but built around those math-rock principles. It’s a stunning mix but it’s a mix that needs to be played in the order it was made – no skipping, no shuffle etc. I don’t they Maps & Atlases have quite realised that the internet has rendered the album superfluous but their ignorance is our gain – a finer collection of songs you’ll struggle to find all year.

 

“Beware and Be Grateful” is released 17th April 2012. They tour the UK from 16th – 20th April.

 

Es Muss Sein – Es Muss Sein EP | Music Review

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Es Muss Sein. Remember the name. It means “it must be in German” and is the nom de guerre of Poppy Wilson, a beautifully soulful little singer-song writer from ever-so-cool Kent.

This, her debut EP, deals in contrasting shades – light and dark, loud and quiet and a sadness that isn’t without hope. In fact it’s the hope she wants you to remember. Nobody does though do they? The music is built around her soulful voice and often minimalist approach to guitar playing. It’s beautiful. It’s genius. Think early Cat Power or the long lost child of Elliott Smith. Go and listen. In years to come you’ll be able to tell your friends that you heard her first.

 

Ess Muss Sein EP is released on 1st May 2012