London born singer Eugene McGuinness has announced the release of his new single, 6th August 2012, the video of which is available here:
Eugene has also announced a four date London specific tour entitled ‘The Invitation Tour’, with shows in north (Proud Galleries), south (Corsica Studios), east (Birthdays) & west (Notting Hill Arts Club) London this August, as highlighted below. Eugene’s London show at the Lexingon on 3rd July is now sold out. Further dates have also been announced, including shows as special guest to Anna Calvi and The Wombats.
As the late, great Mark Twain once said, “plain question and plain answer make the shortest road out of most perplexities”. On listening to Milk Maid’s 2nd album, ‘Mostly No’, it becomes abundantly obvious that chief protagonist Martin Coren is a subscriber to the school of though that simplicity is often the best path to tread. ‘Mostly No’ is a great record for it’s simplicity, not in spite of it. It doesn’t matter what you do to it, what effects you layer over the top or what wizardry you imagine into things – great music comes from the simple stuff, great melodies and great lyrics.
The record begins with ‘Dolpamine’, which builds slowly and beautifully from a campfire strum (one with electric guitars, natch) into a beautiful fog of distorted guitars. ‘Do Right’ starts with that fog of distorted guitars and emerges into a cleverly crafted slice of Lemonheads-esque pop before descending into a beautiful cave of feedback and distortion. ‘Stir So Slow’ is Coren’s Nirvana Unplugged moment.
As the record continues on the turntable the one thought on it is that this is probably the sort of music that grunge would be playing if it were alive today. There’s a hint of shoegazing in there too. Acoustic numbers ‘New Plans’ ‘No Goodbye’ and ‘Picture of Stone’ bring to mind Swearing at Motorists and even The Stone Roses. A lush, rich sound that is oh so achingly beautiful.
Whilst ‘Mostly No’ isn’t reinventing the wheel, it certainly deserves its place in any decent record collection. It’s Martin Coren stepping away from being ex Nine Black Alps and into being Mr Milk Maid in his own worthy right. Play it lots and play it loud!
Less than a year ago there was doubt over Bloc Party producing another record again. This week they’ve announced the release of their fourth album, ‘FOUR’, set for release on 20th August via Frenchkiss Records.
Following an extended hiatus after 2008’s critically acclaimed ‘Intimacy’, the four piece of Kele Okereke, Russell Lissack, Gordon Moakes and Matt Tong reunited in New York in the winter of 2011, prompted by a creative impetus inspired by a dramatic year in world events, as well as a shared desire to rekindle their singular musical kinship.
Teaming up with producer Alex Newport (Death Cab For Cutie, The Mars Volta, At The Drive-In), the band, in Kele’s words, “wanted to challenge ourselves by not relying on the invisible grid that seems to be mapping out all of popular music these days” and goes on to say that it “is the sound of four people in a room, loving what they do and doing it to the best of their ability. It is the sound that only the four of us could make, and I am prouder of it than any record we have ever made”.
‘FOUR’ is released August 20th via Frenchkiss Records.
Tracklist:
01. So He Begins To Lie
02. 3×3
03. Octopus
04. Real Talk
05. Kettling
06. Day Four
07. Coliseum
08. V.A.L.I.S.
09. Team A
10. Truth
11. The Healing
12. We’re Not Good People
Louisiana quintet Givers have announced they’ll be returning to the UK in July to perform at Latitude and Larmer Tree festivals. Coinciding with these dates the band have confirmed the release of live favourite ‘Ceiling of Plankton’ on July 30th through Glassnote and Island Records. Have a watch of the video here:
Ben Howard releases his new single ‘Old Pine’ on the 6th August and last night premiered a brand-new Everything Everything remix of the track on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show. ‘Old Pine’ has been a live favourite of Ben Howard since the release of his debut album ‘Every Kingdom’ last year. Have a listen below:
As previously reported Ben is heading out on an entirely SOLD OUT UK tour later this year. Dates here.
Various Cruelties have announced details of the release of a new single. Chemicals, taken from their self-titled debut album, will be released on 30th July. The b side features a cover of Ian Brown’s F.E.A.R. which the band have been playing live for a while. The single was recorded as part of the album sessions with Tony Hoffer (Beck, Goldfrapp, Foster the People) and follows the release of previous singles Neon Truth and Great Unknown, which they performed on Later with Jools Holland alongside Lou Reed and Metallica.
The band have announced a run of festivals over the summer. Details below:
29th Jun Paddock Wood, Kent Hop Farm Festival
7th Jul Over, Gloucestershire Barn on the Farm Festival
8th Jul Merton Farm, Canterbury Lounge on the Farm Festival
Londoners Theme Park are have announced the release of their new single ‘Jamaica’ on 13th August 13 via Transgressive Records. Have a listen and watch the video here:
The band spent 2011 gaining followers galore playing a bunch of live shows and getting plenty of attention from Absolute Radio. Over the last couple of months, the threesome – Miles plus twin brother Marcus and Oscar Manthorpe – have been holed up in the studio writing & recording their debut album with Luke Smith (Everything Everything, Charlotte Hatherley). The aim of these sessions is for the band to release their debut album at some point in 2012 and for the record to make an unabashed pop statement. “I want it to be appreciated as a pop album, not the debut of some East London band making leftfield stuff,” says Miles. “Some albums you listen to and every song is nicely formed. That’s what we’re aiming for. It should all feel effortless and un-self conscious.” A noble aim!
Having just kicked off the festival season at TGE, Field Day as well as recently supporting The Maccabees at Ibiza Rocks, thee band have confirmed a whole host of festival appearances over the summer, including Reading & Leeds, as well as being the main support on Bloc Party’s UK tour in October. Full details below. Theme Park live shows:
20/6 – Ibiza Rocks w/ The Maccabees 30/6 – Blissfields Festival, Winchester 06/7 – Lounge on the Farm, Canterbury 14/7 – Latitude Festival 21/7 – Tramlines, Sheffield 20/7 – Truck Festival, Oxford 12/8 – Knee Deep – Headline show – Cornwall 17/8 – Beacons Festival, Skipton 25/8 – Reading Festival 26/8 – Leeds Festival 31/8 – Underage festival, London
Bloc Party support:
12/10 – Newcastle, O2 Academy 13/10 – Leeds, O2 Academy 14/10 – Glasgow, O2 Academy 15/10 – Birmingham, O2 Academy 17/10 – Southampton, Guildhall 18/10 – Bristol, O2 Academy 19/10 – Manchester, WHP 20/10 – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
South London singer Jessie Ware has announced her debut headline tour of the UK & Ireland. Starting in Dublin on 5th November it finishes up 9 days and 7 shows later at the Thelka in Bristol. Jessie has also announced that her debut album will be released on 20th August via PMR Records, with a new single ‘Wildest Moments’ released on 13th August. Have a listen to the track below:
UK & Ireland tour dates:
05/11 Sugar Club – Dublin (tickets) 07/11 King Tuts – Glasgow (tickets) 08/11 Sound Control – Manchester (tickets) 09/11 Cockpit – Leeds (tickets) 12/11 Concorde – Brighton (tickets) 13/11 Electric – London (tickets) 14/11 Thekla – Bristol (tickets)
