What shocks does Day Three have in store?

The Black Keys vs. Band Of Skulls

Our next selection of battles starts with a retro-rock show down from the main stage as The Black Keys take on Band Of Skulls. The Keys have shot to the top of festival line ups on the back of the Garage Rock duos two hugely successful albums Brothers and El Camino. The edition of some retro-soul and pop hooks has helped catapult the band to stardom but you can expect a mix of tracks as well as signature tunes “Gold On The Ceiling” and “Tighten Up”.

The Essential Album: Rubber Factory

Southampton three piece, Band Of Skulls, also like their rock retro and bluesy, and will bring a more hard edge sound to the main stage. Expect “Sweet Sour”, “Bruises” and “Death By Diamonds And Pearls” to wake up a sleeping early morning throng.

The Essential Album: Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

Two Door Cinema Club vs. Django Django

Melvin Benn’s personal favourites Two Door Cinema Club are returning to Reading and Leeds without a new album, but with a big and faithful fan following. The art-popstars stormed the NME tent two years ago and will be hoping for a repeat performance when they unleash “I Can Talk” and “Undercover Martyn”.

The Essential Album: Tourist History

Hot on their heels are Scotland’s Django Django. One of this year’s hottest acts, this psychedelic five piece love to blend genres and decades into their glorious fusion sound. All delivered with a unique sense of humour and off kilter style expect an explosion when they drop “Default” and “WOR”.

The Essential Album: Django Django

Me First And The Gimme Gimmes vs. The Flatliners

Me First And The Gimme Gimmes are a rarity in modern music; a covers band through and through. Each album spans a different era or theme and you can expect everything from 90s ballads “Nothing Compares 2 U” and “I Belive I Can Fly” to vintage classics “All My Lovin’” and “Blowing In The Wind”.

The Essential Album: Take A Break

Taking things far more seriously are Ontario, Canada’s The Flatiners. Expect a mix of sounds that can vary from post-hardcore to smooth and catchy ska. “This Respirator” should go down a treat before “Count Your Bruises” gets everyone bouncing.

The Essential Album: The Great Awake

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]]> http://www.strictlyrandl.com/features/battle-of-the-bands-round-1-day-6/feed/ 0 http://www.strictlyrandl.com/features/strictly-new-bands-no-55-palma-violets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=strictly-new-bands-no-55-palma-violets http://www.strictlyrandl.com/features/strictly-new-bands-no-55-palma-violets/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 12:20:48 +0000 Simone http://www.strictlyrandl.com/?p=9280

Palma Violets

Hometown: South-East London

Palma Violets have only been around for a few months, they have zero internet presence (Facebook never counts does it?), not even a audio to their name and have managed to squeeze in a fair amount of messy old fashioned rock n roll gigs, mostly in a rundown basement in Elephant & Castle (think Libertines swagger meets do we dare say the-once-upon-time mysterious Wu-Lyf?)

 The word of mouth band consists of four very fresh faced young men Sam Fryer (vocals, guitar) Chilli Jesson (bass, guitar) Will Doyle (drums) and Pete Mayhew (keyboards) mostly recently signed by Rough Trade, that Geoff Travis sure is a fast mover, he takes no chances. Any buzz on the new music streets and Travis is in there before the press take the young bands out. This is why Geoff Travis is the ultimate new music genius.

With the lack of audio presence on the internet (never a bad thing) the band like many bands before, started off with the underground gigs, buzzing to all the A&R types. Palma Violets are highly enthusiastic and must not be mistaken as arrogant, just yet, we all know what happened to a band of that sort only recently.

Front man Sam Fryers vocals come as you like Jim Morrison fronting Joy Division, with bass lines set to cause instant hair erection. The bassist Chilli plays his bass like he has a boner to play against, not a bad scenario surely? We want the bass line to be screaming out, and to stand out.

Having supported another one of Strictly’s favourite bands 2:54 (see rare recording below) and most recently Alabama Shakes, who have nothing but praise the young four piece, the band have the backing of anyone who is needed to get their name out there. Palma Violets played two storming set at last weeks Great Escape Festival in Brighton to a backlog of average Joes, media types and other band members. You have been warned, by the summer, everyone will know who Palma Violets are, in the meanwhile, sit tight and wait for Rough Trade to get out an audio out. Simone F

Buzz: If you thought The Vaccines were covered by layers of industry buzz, you wait until you hear Palma Violets.

For Fans Of: Libertines, Joy Division, good time rock n roll

Website: Facebook

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC_2P7qTnyM

• Easiest way is to check out our Reading and Leeds ticket pages – we only ever link to official sources
• It has come to our attention that people have mistaken us linking to official websites for us actually selling them
• We only ever link to OFFICIAL ticket vendors as supplied by the OFFICIAL site like every legit festival site out there from eFestivals to Virtual Festivals
• Check out the OFFICIAL Reading and Leeds ticket sections
• Don’t use secondary ticket vendors whatsoever (here’s a good reason why)
• The cheapest weekend tickets start out less than RRP (rarely is this the case) but then with all the booking fees, they actually turn out much more than the official primary ticket vendors
• Most importantly, TICKETS ARE NOT YET SOLD OUT! Until that time then please do not use anything other than OFFICIAL sites. Granted, some sites look official and professional but seriously, use common sense when making a purchase
• Official Reading site: http://readingfestival.com
• Official Leeds site: http://leedsfestival.com/
• Official Reading Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialReadingFestival
• Official Leeds Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLeedsFestival
• Official Reading & Leeds Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/officialrandl

Now to make it plain and obvious – we are not the official site. We have no official link with the promoters or the festivals. We are simply a site by the fans, for the fans.

Public Enemy have been announced to play the Sunday night of the South West 4 Weekender festival at Clapham Common on August 26. They will be a UK festival exclusive as the Sunday live headliner and this will be a part of their world tour to celebrate their 25th Anniversary.

Also playing the festival will be the UK debut of Sympho Nympho and Diplo on the Saturday, with A-Track and Crookers announced to play the Sunday.

The Electro/Drum N Bass festival will be headlined by Chase & Status on the Saturday and Skrillex on the Sunday, and will be taking place over the August bank holiday weekend of August 25-26.

Siobhan Gallagher

Could you give us a brief intro of who you are and what you do at Intellitix?

I am the UK & European Operations Director for Intellitix, the world’s leading provider of RFID technology to festivals and live events. Last year we installed RFID systems at all of the biggest American festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, activating over 1 million wristbands in the process. This summer we are bringing it to the festivals of the UK and Europe.

What is RFID for the newbie festival goer?

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a generic term that is used to describe a system that transmits the identity (in the form of a unique serial number) of an object or person wirelessly, using radio waves, to a computer system. In a festival, the serial number is transmitted from a chip in the owner’s wristband, to a reader in an entry gate or handheld device.

The system allows festival-goers to break down the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds and interact in new and amazing ways with the festivals they attend and the artists performing. Right now they can post automated Facebook Likes and status updates by interacting with artists and other attractions, but this is just scratching the surface of possibilities. The system also allows people to make ‘cashless’ payments meaning that they no longer have to worry about carrying cash or tokens around or queuing at ATM’s.

Why do you think the uptake has been slow in the UK?

I wouldn’t say it’s been slow. We are the first company to have successfully packaged this technology into a format that can be readily applied to any music festival. We only opened our UK office last November and already have plenty of major events signed up for this summer. There’s a cultural reserve around being the first to jump into bed with new technology on this side of the Atlantic, so we expect the floodgates to truly open once the first few events take place successfully.

How can a festival such as Reading and Leeds take advantage of RFID whether it be from a promoters viewpoint, customers, artists or vendors?

The best thing about RFID is that everyone benefits. The promoter enjoys much greater efficiencies, the ability to gain deeper relationships with their customers, vast cost savings and new sources of revenue (particularly from sponsors who can gain great marketing value through RFID without the need to plaster their logos over the event). Ultimately, they can deliver a far better customer experience.

The fans can spend much less time queueing and more on enjoying themselves. They don’t have to worry about having cash on them. They can connect their wristbands to Facebook and broadcast their experiences (if they want to). They can connect to new bands they discover. The creative possibilities are limited only by the imagination.

By allowing people to ‘Live Click’ their wristbands at touch points situated near stages, artists can now generate a tangible new following – gaining Facebook followers who could, for example, automatically receive free tracks. We’ve all discovered a great new band on the first day of a festival, only to have forgotten their name by the time we get home on Monday morning. No longer.

Vendors wouldn’t have to carry cash, which is expensive to do, and because it’s so quick, people are served faster so they’re happier.

A lot of people are worried about the “Big Brother” aspect. Is there anything to actually worry about?

Absolutely not; this is pure media sensationalism. The reality is that any data sharing is completely optional. No data about an audience member is shared with a third party without their opt-in permission and knowledge. Should someone choose to share their data with a band or sponsor, it would be entirely up to them. The heart of the festival experience remains unaffected by RFID unless a patron wants to benefit from some of the many benefits that it offers – such as connecting to new bands, checking-in or Facebook, participating in on-site treasure hunts and other games or entering competitions. The experience is nonetheless optional. Using a mobile phone, buying anything online (including a ticket), travelling by plane, owning a car, watching Cable TV and owning a debit card involves sharing far more data than having fun at a festival while wearing an RFID wristband..

But surely knowing their whereabouts can be tracked will freak some people out?

Yup that would freak me out, but the fact is you cannot track the location of someone wearing an RFID wristband. The RFID tags that Intellitix use at live events are passive and have a read range of approximately two inches (four centimetres). Consequently, unless the wristband wearer actively places their band close to a reader (such as at a festival entrance when they come in, or to connect directly with a new band or on social media) their location is completely unknown. Cider drinkers can still get happily drunk and wake up in a hedge with no one being any the wiser.

Will it help reduce touting at all?

The chips are heavily encrypted to prevent them being cloned, which kills ticket fraud. The fact that people have to scan out when leaving the event also prevents ‘pass-back’ scenarios. Plus it’s possible for the event organiser to introduce other measures to help combat resale if they wanted to.

What if the system breaks, what fallbacks are there?

Our system has served more than 1 million wristbands and processed over 6 million cashless payments to date, without a single problem. Redundancy is the keyword here. Neither the event, nor our company, can afford for the system to ever break so we put every measure in place to ensure that it does and cannot. You could drive a truck into one of our portal gates and the system won’t go down. These things can function when submerged in over a foot of water. The system’s completely waterproof, heat-proof, freeze-proof and idiot-proof. Even in the event that a festival loses both power and internet for hours, our RFID system would still be standing. With Keith Richards and the cock-roaches.

Is there a risk of identity theft if my data is held on these wristbands?

No personal information is held on the RFID wristband. Each RFID wristband contains a unique identification number that is effectively a ‘key’ to unlock a specific user profile, which is held securely on a heavily secured event database. You probably have more chance of receiving a billion dollars from a rich Nigerian widow via email than having your identity stolen at an RFID-enabled festival.

Strictly Our Opinion

So hopefully that covers everything. If not then please comment below. Lastly, here’s a nice video. There’s literally no downside to having it considering you don’t have to opt-in. Simple.

Hot Water Music – Exister

The greatest neck beards in punk are back! Hot Water Music released their new record Exister this week, their first studio effort in 8 years. But is it good?

Why yes, yes it is. Hot Water Music are one of those no bullshit, earnest, heart on their sleeve bands, and chief vocalist Chuck Regan’s throaty singing voice sounds as strong as ever here. The break’s been great to them, even if it’s not been so good to us who’ve had to wait so long, because this record sounds fresh and like the band are actually enjoying themselves.

‘Drag My Body’ and ‘Mainliner’ are the stand out tracks but the whole thing is gold really. There’s much to love here for older fans of the band, but with such a break I’ve got to think there will be new fans too, and this is honestly not a bad record if your looking to break yourself into this amazing band.

Chuck and company seem to have the wheels rolling again and hopefully they’ll keep the HWM wagon rolling and we won’t have to wait so long for more gold as this. Go buy it.

NoFx Finished with the Studio

Californian veterans NoFX have been wrapping things up in the studio, putting the finishing touches to their 12^th studio album which is currently nameless but due out on September the 11^th this year. A single is set for release for the end of June, the amusingly titled ‘My Stepdad’s a Cop and My Mom’s a Domme’, which is available now for pre-order at the Fat Wreck website.

 You’ve gotta wait for you 7 inches but the MP3 is immediate!

Dropkick Murphys vs. The Republican Party

Blue collar, down-to-earth, band of the people Dropkick Murphys have little to nothing in common with America’s right wing, The Republican Party. The Murphys’ songs about unions and fighting the power  are clearly at odds with the Republican view point but in their profound wisdom the Republicans of Wisconsin have been using ‘I’m Shipping Up to Boston’ as the walk-on music for Governor Scott Walker. Needless to say Ken Casey & co are up in arms!

The band themselves have made comment on their facebook page, comparing the songs use to that of a white supremacist coming out to gangsta rap, and they’re not wrong! How about the Commissioner of the Met Police coming out to ‘Fuck tha Police’? Or Stephen Hawking rolling on stage to ‘I’m Still Standing’. Heinous.

Top 5 Punk Vocalists

After my lavish praise the other week of new Pennywise vocalist Zoli Teglas it got me to wondering, just who are the greatest punk rock vocalists. Here’s the top 5 I cooked up…

5. Zoli Teglas – Ignite & Pennywise

At 5 it’s the man of the hour (or the past couple of weeks on my iPod anyway) Zoli Telgas. Not only the new vocalist for Pennywise but the Hungarian-American singer has been the long time frontman for melodic hardcorers Ignite. Clear, bold vocals in a genre that can sometimes get mired in gruff barking Teglas is somewhat unique.

4. Dave Vanian – The Damned

Looking like he’d just been woken from his crypt 10 minutes before curtain up Dave Vanian of the Damned is like a punk rock Phantom of the Opera. The music was often gritty and fast but Dave gave it all an air of class.

3. Greg Graffin – Bad Religion

A forerunner to Teglas’ clean, clear annunciated vocals, Bad Religion’s Greg Graffin not only has the brain to get around the lyrical concepts Bad Religion write of but the tongue too.

2. Jello Biafra – Dead Kennedys & The Guantanamo School Of Medicine

A curve ball for you? Jello, a good singer? Well he’s got to have THE most distinctive vocals in the genre and a personality that can carry almost anything he’s recorded. I see Jello’s shrill urgency the perfect ying to East Bay Ray’s surf punk guitar’s yang.

1. Glen Danzig – Misfits & Danzig

Top of the list must be the over the top operatic styling of Mr Glenn Danzig surely? His huge, booming tenor voice and equally huge personality dominates those Misfits records. Truly one of a kind.

Now the results are out the way, let’s run down today’s match ups.

Florence + The Machine vs. Blood Red Shoes

Another tasty match up ushers in Day 5 as the mighty flamed haired Florence Welch enters the fray. Florence took the gothic pop aesthetic, added a dash of faye English folk, and some pre-Ralphalite posturing to create one of the most dynamic aesthetics of recent years. Big tunes “Rabbit Heart”, “Shake It Out” and “Drumming Song” certainly didn’t hurt either.

The Essential Album: Lungs

Blood Red Shoes proved much less glamourous but no less appealing. Favouring brutal beat-downs and a fast paced assault this duo made a hell of a noise. As they developed, their sound evolved to include an array of more subtle and ghostly indie tones. When they take to main stage expect “Cold”, “I Wish I Was Someone Better” and “You Bring Me Down” to enthrall the masses.

The Essential Album: In Time To Voices

The Cribs vs. Twin Atlantic

When Wakefield lads The Cribs burst onto the scene burst in 2004 with their rabble rousing eponymous debut few could have predicted just how elegant and thoughtful the band would become. Across five excellent albums The Cribs sound has broadened, while they continuously added to their already monstrous collection of singles. Expect wild scenes when “Hey Scenesters”, “Man’s Needs”, and “Come On, And Be A No-One” are uncorked.

The Essentail Album: Ignore The Ignorant

Scotts Twin Atlantic were plagued by Biffy Clyro comparisons in their early years but across two hard rocking albums the band have established themselves in their own right. “Edit Me” and “Free” should go down a treat with the sweaty throng in the NME Tent.

The Essential Album: Free

Katy B vs. Jagga

Post-Dub Step took over the world in 2011 as James Blake, SBTRKT and of course Katy B stormed the charts. 2012 will see Katy return for her second appearance at Reading and her first full set. Expect sublime pop, dancefloor bangers, and cutting edge beats. Every track will be big but “Katy On A Mission”, “Witches Brew”, “Easy Please Me” and “Lights On” should tear the Dance Tent to shreds.

The Essential Album: On A Mission

Bass loving Londoner Jagga will be bring some serious soul and deep grooves to the Dance Tent when he rocks up on stage. He might not have the delicious melodies of Katy B but he has a smart laddish charm and some big choruses in his own right, like the pounding “Modern Romance”.

The Essential Album: Modern Day Romance

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Let us begin.

 10. The Minutemen – Double Nickels On The Dime (1984)

After the post-punk explosion of 1978-1982 everything was seemingly possible. The whole idea of being in a band and what constituted pop music had been blown up by everyone from Public Image Ltd and The Talking Heads to Throbbing Gristle and The Human League. In the years that followed, every idealized strand of the revolution would be carved up and expanded into full-blown niches and subgenres. Post-Punk and hardcore superstars The Minutemen weren’t happy to bid adieu to innovation just yet however as their spikey 1984 double album Double Nickels On The Dime bristled with ideas from punchy Gang of Four meets Talking Heads jams to gorgeous Spanish guitar and blues sequences and depraved rants (“It’s Expected I’m Gone”). Whatever The Minutemen turned their hands to they mastered, and they produced a spectacular double album that would provide inspiration for so many today’s post-hardcore heroes like Fucked Up.

9. Bruce Springsteen – The River (1980)

After the morbidly oblique statement Darkness Of The Edge Of Town and the polished street opera of Born To Run, Springsteen could do no wrong, and for his next project he decided to do it all. On his first double LP The Boss abandoned the selective approach of Darkness… and let it all hang out. Luckily enough, it was all brilliant, as The River overflowed with hits. The title track became one of The Boss most enduring and heartbreaking statements, but it was surrounded on all sides by huge tunes; “The Ties That Bind”, “Jackson Cage”, “Sherry Darling”, “Hungry Heart”, “The Price You Pay”, and “Out In The Street”. In The River, Springsteen delivered a greatest hits collection in the waiting.

8. Husker Du – Zen Arcade (1984)

The Minutemen weren’t the only hardcore/post-hardcore superstars making waves in 1984. Minnesota’s sublime Husker Du also unleashed their career-defining opus. Though follow up New Day Rising was arguably more acutely targeted, few albums could rival the boldness and invention of Zen Arcade. Long before Refused expanded the hardcore lexicon, Husker Du were successfully incorporating elements of jazz, psychedilia (plenty of that), and even folk into their formidable assault. What make Zen Arcade so effective was the way in which Husker Du thoroughly co-opted every new element into their signature sound. When they briskly dabbled with whispish acoustic guitars, it was never “Husker do folk”, it sounded like an entirely natural expansion of the bands core aesthetic. Even the starkest sonic contrasts were tied together harmoniously by the sheer pace of Husker Du’s assault.

 7. Prince – Sing O’ The Times (1987)

By 1987 Prince’s powers were unrivalled. When he announced his decision to release a double album, no one question the move, brilliance was excepted. Prince delivered of course. The first line alone left audiences the world over awestruck; “In France A Skinny Man Died Of A Big Disease With A Little Name, By Chance His Girlfriend Came Across A Needle, And Soon She Did The Same”.

Rather than delivering a precision-engineered assault, Prince followed The Beatles model and released a mess of divergent ideas and sounds that in many cases had no business sitting alongside one another. Fortunately enough the star’s impeccable charisma and fearless pop sensibilities held all the insanity together. Sign O’ The Times is effectively everything you’d could want from a Prince double album, even if that means going from death in the slums to partying in bikinis.

6. The Clash – London Calling (1979)

Robert Christageau called it the greatest double album “since Exile On Main Street” and with an album cover that intentionally recalls Elvis Pressley’s inconic and groundbreaking debut album, London Calling was always destined for greatness. With a slightly expanded sound, and with Paul Simonon’s newfound love of reggae and dub, London Calling was neither a full-blown experiment nor a retreat to the Punk values of old. Instead, The Clash’s career defining album reveled in the fundamentals of rock’n'roll and garage rock that The Ramones so expertly espoused in 1976 while simultaneously embrace a new palette of sounds that were sweeping the nation. More than anything however, London Calling was a showcase of Joe Strummer and The Clash’s phenomenal pop and rock sensibilities. The joy of the album still lies in just following Joe’s lead as he shuffles across the dance floor, rages against the machine, and sardonic skewers seemingly everything.

Having spent the past two weekends at festival drinking away the soul, deafen the ears with endless amounts of guitars, and laying the eyes upon scenes of drunken people along the Brighton Pier admiring the ghastly wild of west wildly singling ‘Call Me Maybe’. I kid you not, oh wait, those drunks were actually mostly myself, a few friends and a stranger (a friend of a friend, no-one knows who friend?) who kept touching himself, he ensured us he didn’t have crabs, no one wants to be friends with a crabby itching person do they?

No fish and chips,and no ice-cream, instead guitar music, trying to avoid the fair ground vomit dilemma, whiskey (lots of it) and collecting pebble stones for a lifeless fish tank back home, a weekend by the sea.

Lifeless.

News: 

Mon those Scottish Biffs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEVJJ0A05Lk

Biffy Clyro released a sneaky mouth watering 28 second YouTube clip of the band in the studio. With the name of their new albums, yes albums, two to be precise out The Land At The End Of Our Toes and The Sand At The Core Of Our Bones and now this, Biffy fans should be the most uproar to hear what they have cooked up next, will it a Only Revolutions? Will it be a Puzzle? Let’s face it the older fans, such as much self, would prefer a Puzzle like LP, not sure I could handle that money spinner song on Only Revolutions any more, I feel dirty and have to hastily turn it off. The mind is spinning out of control I wonder how Keane feel about this? Did they not come out in the press recently saying the charts is filled with the ‘Simon Cowell generation‘ music? Last time I checked Keane were never a credable band, they may make their own music, but they too are wet, wet, wet (strictly my opinion, bet you agree? Do you? I do).

Moving on, before I get haunted down (again)…

Other than making new music Biffy Clyro have confirmed a warm up show at Swindon’s Oasis Leisure Centre on June 8 before kicking off at their festival shows at Isle Of Wight and Download, no festival season is complete without an appearance of the Mon The Biffs, is it? Who is with me? (are you pulling the hand heart too?)

All those still wondering wherever to attend Chazzstock Festival in aid of the late Charlie Haddon of Ou Est La Swimming Pool. The dedicated festival will no longer be taking part over a whole weekend in the middle of no mans land, but mostly due to ‘unforeseen licensing issues.’ Now taking place at Wolverhampton Civic Hall starting at 4pm on Sunday 10^th June.

The Chazzstock team have just confirmed Spector and Frankie & The Heartstrings have been added onto the line up. Now looking like being one of the festival to be at this summer containing both big indie names The Horrors, The Vaccines and Tribes but also welcoming new bands such as Joywride and The Ghosts.

Tickets are dirt cheap and for more than seven hours of music, where else will you be able to see this bands close up?

All proceedings go to The Prince’s Trust charity and a small amount for local charities. still to be decided. 

Song Of The Week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDVZB4twGL0

2:54 – Easy Undercover (live session)

Over the past year sister duo Colette and Hannah Thurlow have toured with Warpaint, The Maccabees, Wild Beasts, Yuck and most recently The Big Pink, and now about to headline their own tour. 2:54 have established themselves as one of 2012′s most important under the radar breakthrough bands gathering support from UK press like Q Magazine, NME, and The Guardian while the US critics The Fader, PitchFork (who premiered their latest single ‘You’re Early, gaining more than ten thousand hits in less than 24 hours, wow, huh?) and Gorilla Versus Bear have been busying burying their heads into rock and punk bands that  influenced 2:54.

‘Easy Undercover’ was filmed live under their label Fiction office, home to some great bands The Maccabees, Crystal Castles and The Cure. ’Easy Undercover’ is layered in the now distinctive signature 2:54 sound of haunted lo-fi, hypnotic hooks and seductive cloud searching melodic vocals. Which all combine to create this whole atmospheric let the day go past without a care in the world sound.

2:54 are all set to release the debut album on May 28, be sure to catch them on their tour dates over the next month

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I90FkC6BMbw

Friends – Mind Control

Brooklyn newcomers Friends have released their third single from forecoming album Manifest! To be released the 5^th of June.

‘Mind Control’ is very different sounded from previous songs ‘I’m His Girl’ less hip funk pop and more reggae percussive influenced. Samantha’s sassy vocals are bleeding in 80′s prom music, imagine a line of formally dressed women almost about to break their virginity dancing in tune with each move sucking in every inch of reggae thumping beats, the music video is very 80’s brainwashing sci-fi chick, actually beyond amazing.

Catch Friends playing at Reading & Leeds and on tour including an appearance at Field Day and inner city Dot To Dot festival.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YuAeeF-2Ec

Grimes – Nightmusic ft Majical Cloudz 

Grimes has released the second single from current album Visions ‘Nightmusic’.
The music video for ‘Nightmusic’ is very twitchy crafty hidden in a mist of cloud and mystery as you’re unable to understand the lyrics, most of the YouTube comments go on about Bieber doing something, and Grimes being a weirdo Japanese girl. Buzz off buzz killers, Vevo ruined the internet. Who remembers when the internet was free? Free of advertisement? Free of kids, oh those days…. Grimes, right?

Grimes is currently storming away the UK with her bolt of Murky  lightening psychedelic performances, for such a petite person, she sure does have the energy of a battery and is an absolute delighted to see her name on this year’s Reading and Leeds line up, I hope she brings her dancers and sweat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_pnPJbPBfI

The Maccabees – Went Away

 ‘Went Away’ is the next single from The Maccabees, also one of the highlights of the ever fulgent Given To The Wild album. Not only are The Maccabees chart toppers, the band are gearing themselves up for one of their biggest shows at The Alexander Palace.

‘Went Away’  is directed by Phil Sansom, it’s the first video from ‘Given To The Wild’ to feature the band in and was collated over three different sessions, a triple dose of awesomeness.

Until next time, stay strong, drink that bottle of rum down,

Simone

Each and every record mentioned above is worth a trip to your local record store/iTunes for, If you don’t go, I may just haunt you, I can do this. I am special. Honestly you won’t regret it (the buying I mean, not me haunting you.)

Reading and Leeds Festival legends, We Are Scientists, have announced a UK tour to take place over July this summer. The New Yorkers have already been announced for festivals including Kendal Calling, Y-Not and Tramlines in that month, and recently played The Great Escape Festival in Brighton last week.