Scene Not Herd

New Band of the Week - 23/01/12 - Balue

2012-01-23T19:09:00.000Z

Hello! You’ll be pleased to hear that New Band of the Week is back. We’ve had a little break to put some plans in motion - thus ensuring 2012 is THEBESTFREAKIN’YEAREVER! But, yeah, I can assure you that we’ll be posting about the joys of new music, every Monday, forever more!

So, who is going to be our first NBotW of the year? Good bloody question! I’m really digging US natives Balue at the moment (as in Balue from the Jungle Book, I believe). They combine plinky guitars, that are a bit tinny at times, but surprisingly pleasant; melodic pitter-patter drums and pockets of silence, tinged by the sound of waves and suchlike. It’s quite nice really, and makes me want to sit on a beach, drinking a pinacolada, watching the sunset.

04 Worry Toobs by Balue

New EP from Crackpot on Melodica - 23/01/12

2012-01-12T18:54:00.000Z

Aussie band Crackpot have a sparkling new EP out on Melodica on January 23. It's super chilled out, jammed with fat beats, electronic zaps, and hazy, dreamy vox. Have a listen via their soundcloud.

Flamingods release new tape 'Away'

2012-01-08T17:32:00.000Z

FLAMINGODS are a psychadelic bunch who play a sound which has been described as ethnic pop, freaked folk and tropical noise. They use a number of unique instruments, collected during their travels around Tanzania and the Amazon. They have been busy toiling on a new release 'Away'. You can order it now on Belly Kids, it's being sold alongside an Aztec Zine.

In support of the release they will be playing a special show on 13th January, at Power Lunches alongside a number of great little bands.

You can download 'Away' via the band's Bandcamp.

<a href="http://flamingods.bandcamp.com/track/spirit-away-away">Spirit Away Away by Flamingods</a>

Next SNH - 09/02/11 - Dead Wolf Club LP Launch - The Native Tongue

2012-01-08T16:30:00.001Z

Dead Wolf Club will be releasing their debut, self-titled, album on Scene Not Herd, on 1 February 2012.

As well as undertaking a mammoth UK tour, they will be playing a very special show for us, on 9 February 2012, at the Native Tongue, Barbican, to celebrate the launch. You can find more details here.

Dead Wolf Club are: John Othello (vox/guitars), Alwin Fernandez (guitars), Martha Supajirawatananon (bass), Serra Petalle (drums)

They specialise in loudness, quietness, darkness and light.

Download free track 'Radar' here and watch promo video of 'Alison' below:

New download from Breathe Out

2012-01-04T20:43:00.000Z

Top cats Breathe Out have two new downloadable tracks available on their bandcamp - these slacker-pop purveyors aren't such slackers after all, as it turns out. The tracks are available for free, but any money raised goes directly to Shelter. Have a listen and get downloading.

<a href="http://breatheout.bandcamp.com/track/the-payback-2">The Payback by BREATHE OUT</a>

Dead Wolf Club video teaser

2012-01-04T20:14:00.001Z

Happy New Year! This is the first post from us lot this year - so I guess we'd better make it a gooden! If you're a fan of spiders, you'll definitely appreciate what our very own Duncan (D-money, D-dog, Big-D) has come up with. Behold a treat for your eyes and ears, for he's only bloody gone and done us a promo video for our first release. Have a watch - get involved people!

Yo ho ho! Free music from our favourite Action Beat!

2011-12-24T13:32:00.001Z

We've never hid our love of Action Beat, and why should we? They're noise-tastically up our alley way so to speak. Ignore my ramblings, these are their words -

"All tracks available to download from now until NYE! In 2012 we will give all our newly created music away for free!! The future is sharing. Loads of love, Action Beat!!"

Unless you don't like presents, get your sorry asses over to their soundcloud. Merry Christmas eve!

Latest tracks by Action Beat

Art is Hard release The Black Tambourines EP 'Chica' - 19/12/11

2011-12-21T18:55:00.000Z

Top DIY label Art is Hard relased their 7th record on Monday. The stonking 'Chica' is out on cassette now is an EP from Cornish slackers The Black Tambourines. If you'd like 5 tracks of surfy grunge pop in your stocking - get buying!

Have a listen here:

Chica EP by The Black Tambourines

Fear of Men release cassette and new video - 21/12/11

2011-12-21T18:50:00.000Z

The excellent Fear of Men self-release the “Alice Munro Demos” on December 21 i.e. TODAY! These newest demos will be available to buy on limited tape cassette are are available here.

You can also have a look at their brand new video while you're at it.

DOLDRUMS from FEAR OF MEN on Vimeo.

Spirit House by FEAROFMEN

SNH top gigs of 2011: Shugo Tokumaru (with full band) at Cafe OTO, London, 06/04/2011

2011-12-20T22:17:00.003Z

Us Scene Not Herder’s are usually an unassuming bunch of gig-goers; satisfied with the promise of flowing beer or strong vodka, a half decent sound-system or set-up, booking fees of less than 2 quid, and a modicum of inventive musical tomfoolery.

We like to take the occasional risks and when the mood takes us we venture out to see bands or acts that we've scarcely heard of or listened to before. More often than not this ends up with us huddled in a sweaty pseudo-dungeon listening to pale-faced boys trying to kill each other with reverb, and everybody else trying to drink through the aural pain; but sometimes... SOMETIMES... random ticket-buying splurges result in us seeing an artist so fantastically, brilliantly, wonderful that it all becomes worth the previous misjudgements. Shugo Tokumaru's gig at Cafe OTO, London, in April was a fine example of this.

It's fair to say that Shugo Tokamaru is not exactly unheard of. A quick search of You Tube is enough to reveal a healthy handful of quirky and twisted videos supporting numerous well-received albums to date. Outside of his home-country Japan he is loved by a growing fan-base, most of whom probably have not got a clue about what the lyrics are about (myself included) yet are open-minded enough to accept that good music and a finely crafted song can be all you need.

And boy, Shugo Tokumaru can craft a song! His style is somewhat schizophrenic in that his songs often fall in somewhere between ballads and outright pop songs, but also come incorporated with such invention and unorthodox instrumentation that you can't pin them down to any genre. He plays guitar beautifully, the challenging nature of the fretwork never showing on his face, but he never appears ostentatious - sat onstage quietly in barefeet and seeming almost apologetic throughout. The candle-lit, intimate interior of Cafe Oto was perfectly suited to this musician.

Talking to a few more experienced Shugo followers before the gig I found there was a buzz about the fact that Mr Tokumaru was performing with a band. He has previously visited these shores as a solo act, playing smaller venues such as The Betsey Trotwood. His supporting musicians really did not disappoint either; the drummer a constant source of entertainment, and a second musician creating a beautiful and wacky range of noises with various toy instruments, toy xylophone, and keys. It's only on reflection, and after repeated listens to his albums, as I try to recapture some of the magic of that evening, that I've come to realise how true to the spirit of the recordings this performance actually was.

The effect was mesmerising and enchanting and made the more energetic pieces in the set, such as the breathless melodic summerpop of songs like "Rum Hee" and "Parachute" irresistible. Just as impressive were the couple of songs where Shugo played and sang unaccompanied. His voice frequently accents the rhythmic changes of the song and sounded wonderfully pure in unison with the guitar.

You didn't need to turn around to know that everyone in the room was smiling simultaneously. The mirth and delight reached dangerously potent levels when Shugo broke out the Ukulele and performed a ludicrously endearing version of Buggles' 'Video Killed the Radio Star' for an encore. We were his. Completely and totally at his mercy.

This video should give you a rough idea of what put the smiles on our dials:

Shugo Tokumaru - Lahaha by Polyvinyl Records

Honorable mentions: The Antlers playing "Burst Apart", The Screen on the Green. Tune-Yards at The Haunt, Brighton. True Widow at The Macbeth. - DF

SNH 001 - Dead Wolf Club - Dead Wolf Club - available 01/02/12

2011-12-19T20:55:00.004Z

We could not be more excited to announce the release of our first record: SNH001 - Dead Wolf Club – Dead Wolf Club.

Building themselves a reputation as a vitriolic live band, from the debris of smashed guitars Dead Wolf Club rise to present their debut album, due out on Monday, 1 February 2012.

Tracklisting:

1. Headful of Horrors 2. Radar 3. News at Ten 4. Allison 5. Creatures 6. Wave

7. Disappear 8. Colossus 9. Not What it Seems

In accompaniment of their debut release, they will be touring the UK – catch them on the following dates:

February 2012

1st Lincolnshire - Horncastle Old Nicks Tavern

2nd Leicester - Lock 42

3rd Doncaster - Social Bar

4th Inverness - Ironworks

5th Leeds - Brudenell Social Club

6th Coventry - Kasbah

7th Manchester - Night and Day

8th Bristol - Louisanna

9th London –Native Tongue, Barbican

11th Southampton - Joiners Arms

12th Kilmarnock - Kilmarnock Festival

Radar by Dead Wolf Club

Dead Wolf Club - News at Ten by Dead Wolf Club

New Band of the Week 19/12/11 - PAWS

2011-12-19T19:09:00.000Z

Raw, scuzzy Glaswegian noisemakers, PAWS, are our new band of the week. In their short career, they have supported the likes of The Dum Dum Girls, Ariel Pink and No Age and I’m sure there are even better things to come from the melodic, lo-fi, garage pop trio.

PAWS - 'Jellyfish' by The 405

New Band of the Week - 12/12/11 - WALLS

2011-12-14T00:57:00.001Z

Not so much our newest band we've featured, but I feel compelled to give these guys our Band of the Week after they blew me away as the support band for The Field last Thursday.

WALLS are an incredible blissed out cut of shoegazed laden sonically challenging electronica, with some mean beats to get your groove on to. Veering towards a dancier sound, this duo pull influences from everywhere apparently, from everything to Mogwai to Daft Punk. Hints of early M83 lie scattered amongst the shards of echoey guitars and industrial landscapes.

Again like all my favourite artists, they find a way to pull a plethora of sounds together to create real substance and real melody within the walls of sound they create (mind the pun). This is demonstrated rather well on their track Heat Gaze.

The future looks bright for WALLS. Rave reviews follow their every release, and their live show, as referred to earlier, is nothing less than ear bleedingly brilliant.

Walls - Coracle (Kompakt) by walls_band

SNH top gigs of 2011 - CocoRosie + Ólöf Arnalds - Sydney Opera House - 25/01/11

2011-12-12T21:39:00.000Z

Because we like you so much, dear readers and Scene Not Herd enthusiasts, over the course of this month, we will be bringing you the highlights from our year.

As promoters, it’s always nice to go to someone else’s gig and let them do all the hard work. We have, as a collective, and independently, been to A LOT of shows this year. Some have been stupendous; some have, well, just been shit. But, in the spirit of SNH (and Christmas) we’re just going to talk about the performances that we’ve enjoyed and loved the absolute most. So let me get started...

In January, on a whim, more or less, I decided to go to Australia. I think I went to about three or four gigs while I was there – but this one has completely stuck with me.

I really wanted to go to a concert in the Sydney Opera House while I was down under, so I paid $59, to go and see a band I’d actually never got around to listening to – CocoRosie – rationalising the slightly excessive spending with the argument that if it’s in the Opera House, it must be good.

Opening, and the act that I really want to focus on, was the enchanting Icelandic songstress Ólöf Arnalds; who is perhaps better known for her role in the electronic act múm.

Beguiling, with an air of simplistic innocence, her crystalline voice cut through a transfixed audience as she recited pieces both in English and her native tongue. There was a charming purity to her song 'Vinur Minn', which commences with a passage from an Icelandic poem before transitioning into a joyous, uplifting melody which consists solely of ‘la-la-las’; she later joked that it wasn’t like we understood her singing in Icelandic anyway. Throughout, Ólöf cracked jokes, explained songs and even experimented with the venue’s acoustics; which only served to endear her further to her onlookers.

I think one of my favourite parts of the night was the song ‘Klara’; which, she explained, she had written for her sister’s 18^th birthday. The other highlight for me was Ólöf’s delicate interpretation of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘I’m on Fire’ which was sung with an earnest honesty and full of depth.

Ólöf Arnalds - With Tomorrow / I'm On Fire by One Little Indian Records

Throughout her set, what struck me was the audible silence of the crowd; whose encapsulation said more than a million applausive handclaps.

As you may imagine, Ólöf was a hard act to follow. The lights dimmed, in what I thought was in anticipation of CocoRosie. I was surprised, instead, to be treated to a fifteen minute intense bout of beatboxing, courtesy of super-human French beatboxer Tez. In his set he managed to deliver phenomenal looped beats and complicated synth melodies which had his onlookers captivated in awe.

Enigmatic sisters Bianca (Coco) and Sierra (Rosie) then joined the beatboxer on stage. Surrounded by helium balloons, their fairytale capes glowed and shimmered under bright florescent lights. Behind them, visuals were projected conveying random images that added a eerie, otherworldly layer of occult weirdness to their playful aesthetic.

Amalgamating various genre interpretations including pop, folk, hip hop, opera and electronica, into their eclectic sound, they proceeded to wow their audience with a set, consisting largely of songs from their release, 'Grey Oceans'.

Grey Oceans by subpop

The girls commenced with the downbeat, insular 'Lemonade', which contains moments of dark tenderness, juxtaposed with Sierra’s upbeat chorus. Highlights from their set included the up-tempo 'Hopscotch'; with the girls playing handclaps together and dancing around on stage; as well as the sad and moving 'By your Side'.

The great thing about CocoRosie is the girls' uniquie ability to play off each other; balancing two extremely different types of vocal, one opera, one childlike, to create a combination so affecting.

I think this is my concert of the year, because I came away, musically, with so much more than I went in with. Both Ólöf Arnalds and CocoRosie, have become two of my absolute favourite artists. Had I not gone, I wouldn’t have known or cared about either act at all and I am extremely grateful that I do (and now you do too).

Honourable mentions must go to: Shugo Tokumaru at Cafe Oto; Primavera Sound 2011; and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at Scala - SA

Oliver Tank - Dreams - released 21/11/11

2011-12-04T14:56:00.002Z

Having not dipped into the old SNH inbox for a while, I was pleasantly surprised to find an assortment of excellent music at my fingertips. Our buddies over at one of Australia's most exciting independent labels, Yes Please, have just released a killer EP in the form of 21 year old Sydneysider, Oliver Tank's 'Dreams'. Tranquil and lucid this is a release capable of making even the most severe of Sunday hangovers fade. So, if you, like me, overindulged on the booze front last night, have a listen below, you’ll feel instantly better. If you like this, don’t forget to check out the label – they have some really excellent past releases up their sleeve too.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://yespleaserecords.bandcamp.com/album/dreams"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Dreams by Oliver Tank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Photos - M83 - Heaven - 01/12/11

2011-12-04T13:36:00.001Z

Three of us went to Heaven last week to catch M83. Here are some photos:

Midnight City by M83

New Band of the Week - 28/11/11 - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

2011-11-29T13:21:00.006Z

New Idea #16 for Dave. Possible teen series. Like a hard hitting OC? - topical + branding opportunities. Lindsay Lohan?

(Note to self **** REMEMBER DELETE NOTES BEFORE SUBMISSION *****)

EXT. Scene opens with a long shot of a timber frame house, (picture a classic American Mid-West suburban home with large lawn). Music plays,"FFUNNY FFRENDS” by “UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA” - the song starts all with psyched up chimes of guitar, loose, loopy drums, poetic and jaunty. Into the scene and the camera slowly zooms in and up a long lawn past a water sprinkler and two young children playing in the streams of water with a small scruffy dog (re: Health and safety – remember Ben said he had a potential lawsuit after that Clown with the meat wig riding a Doberman didn’t work out?).

We are carried up past the branches of a Maple tree and shot stops, framing the first floor bedroom window where we freeze on the window and billowing curtains – the cedar sash window half open. A natural frame. A slight pause in shot as the music gains momentum, the guitars reminiscent of early Modest Mouse riffs, but looser, jazzier, stacking up, the vocals like a drunk man wandering home. (Remember to get Dave in on this – can we get rights? These guys are fairly new and debut LP is just out - think they could be massive!!! - Tim in Despatch saw them at some spanish festival - said they were great)

INT. Jump cut to room from rear wall, looking toward the window and the street. A single bed, unmade and scattered with the ephemera of late teenage-life’s loyalties and idiosyncrasies is positioned against the window at centre background of scene. Patchwork quilt of detritus and paraphernalia. Lighting is natural, and sunbeams from the window passing through the tree branches illuminate motes of dust and cast spotlights on a worn rug in the centre of the room, central in the scene. (Can we do dust motes digitally? – might be easier, and would be way cool) Scattered record covers and books with broken spines litter the room and a black cat lies sleeping on the armchair in the corner. Posters show that whoever inhabits this room is clearly a fan of inventive guitar music / psychedelic 60s stuff and Jeff Beck. Kneeling on the rug in the centre of the shot is MARTINE, back angled slightly to the camera, long tousled hair.

She holds a battered record cover of “Unknown Mortal Orchestra” by “UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA” (Can we get the band/label to agree to change the art for this shot? Give them money?) and seems lost in contemplation of it. In the doorway to the right of the shot stands STEVEN, middle-aged and bespectacled, looking with a careworn expression at MARTINE, his arms folded defensively. We come to their conversation perhaps halfway through, aware that we have entered the scene during a natural lull in a long day’s discussion.

"UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA" continues to play throughout the scene, but fades to the level of background music now, evidently the record playing on the record player in the room. It inhabits the silence between MARTINE and STEVEN’s conversation.

MARTINE: This... this is.. well.. umm...

STEVEN: Sounds like nothing I’ve ever heard before... do kids really listen to this? What's this guy singing? Hmmm... is he foreign [fumbling, hesitant, aware of the danger of vocalising the question] I mean... is this what Scott was listening to, you know.... before.. um? [long pause, the question hangs in the air – an elephant in the room]

MARTINE:[Weary, almost absent-mindedly, clearly tired of asking herself the same question] It was on the player... I like it. It sounds like Scotty. I can feel the buzz he gets...[self-correcting] I mean.. got.. from this music... it sings to me. The drums... oh, god... they just get you [jabs a finger at her temple].. here... you know. [Stifles a sigh]

STEVEN: You’re tired. Marty you should get some rest. You’ve been up for how many days?

MARTINE:[interrupting his question, suddenly agitated] I don’t NEED anything Steven, [now contrite, more softly] I just want to listen to this and for you to leave me alone with what I’ve found... I just want to spend a little time listening to this record. [barely whispering] I think it’s beautiful.

STEVEN: I don’t understand it. It sounds a lot like some sixties thing, just louder, less coherent.

MARTINE: Well, YOU don’t need to understand it Steven! It doesn’t NEED you to understand it. You never get anything from new things anyway. It’s not derivative. It wears a heart...

[Cut to CU, MARTINE's POV of the record cover, framed by Martine’s hands on each side, caught in a shaft of sunlight (more digi dust motes?), it is an image of the band UNKOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA, 3 arty looking young men, hippy 'New-Zealandy'-chic, pictured in what is evidently their home town Portland. The shot lasts long enough for us to take this detail in and to register the three or four teardrops that drop from Martine’s unseen head and impact onto the cover. The vocal line of the song is fragmenting, coming apart beautifully as the teardrops hit the record].

STEVEN: [unfolds his arms and moves to a crouching position next to Martine, she is sobbing now and her mascara has run, her tears dripping onto the record cover, Steven puts one hand awkwardly on Martine’s shoulder, and kisses the top of her head. He speaks softly, wisely as he looks out the window beyond the street] C’mon M. Don’t do this to yourself. He’ll come back. It’s not like its the first time.

[SCUFFLING, FLAPPING, ANIMAL SHRIEKS from something out of shot. Camera cuts to shot of STEVEN and MARTINE’s face medium close, both staring shocked at the window behind the camera. Camera cuts to Close up of black cat, now sitting upright at the foot of the bed. It has a flapping squawking behemoth of a black crow in its maw (Real crow? – doubt that’s feasible – issues with the animal rights lot - Animatronics? Probably look shitty - Can we do this with Spielberg's guy? – remember ask Suki/ Dave). Feathers float down through the dust mote, sunshine lit air of the bedroom surrounding the cat. Close up of cats eyes as they close. The music fades in time with shot Fade to Black]

END

Mikey, thanks for this... I do appreciate the effort you go to in coming up with this stuff especially as I know how precious your lunch breaks are down in the mail-room now you have all the mail to open and the semi-janitorial role they’ve assigned you. Erm, the thing is, we have sort of moved on from the whole commissioning of new dramas/teleplays for now, er... so... and we do have a team of fully paid screenwriters up on the 4^th so... you know, don’t kill yourself doing these. Also, I'm not sure how to say this, but er... this is really wordy... I mean, don't get me wrong, I can REALLY visualise it - but have you ever actually read a screenplay that had lines like " quilt of detritus and paraphernalia"????. I know Suki thought it showed potential for some sort of music video, but, well, you know, she's kinda f*cked up at the moment, so please don't send any more to her.... I like what you did with the Cat at the end of this scene.. that was the end wasn’t it?... the script I have just sort of ended at about the 20 second mark... anyway.. thanks.

PPS. I absolutely love the band though... seriously... great find.
PPPS. For reference Digital dust motes are not easier to do than dust motes. I think they just use regular dust.

Oh, and you forgot to delete your personal notes again, and yes animatronics are a no-no, we tried it once for a dream sequence in the pilot of One Tree Hill. Chad Michael-Murray can't even look at a Panda without freaking out now... What a shit-storm... Rgds, Dave.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Ffunny Ffrends (True Panther) by Ragged Words

New Band of the Week - 21/11/11 - Slothbear

2011-11-21T21:24:00.000Z

There is something instantly likable about New Yorkers, Slothbear, who generate a jazzy jumble of overlapping vocal melodies and intercutting jams, that serve to create something totally infectious. There is an abundance of energy and spontaneity to their eclectic, dynamic sound. Youthful and hooky; their 90s inspired tunes convey an accomplished air, but remain vibrant and well, fun. If you like Sebedoh , Apples in Stereo or Guided by Voices, be sure to check this lot out.

<a href="http://slothbear.bandcamp.com/album/canter-on">Canter On by Slothbear</a>

New Band of the Week - 14/11/2011 - I Love Sarah

2011-11-15T01:12:00.002Z

So, we've been following these guys for a while, and they are incredible. Just two people make the fabulous sounds that encompass metal exchanges, sweet twinkly melodies, constant loops via an old Casio, virtuouso drumming and even a nod to Japanese maestro Cornelius. Based in Belgium, we're hoping to see these guys touch base on our shores, seeing as they're playing just about everywhere else on their current tour.

Do listen to the below Baby Kroko from their recently released live album Live in Jezus

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://ilovesarah.bandcamp.com/track/baby-kroko"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Baby Kroko by I Love Sarah&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

SNH Autumn Knit#3 The Future Cardigan

2011-11-09T23:28:00.000Z

Autumn Knit #3 by scenenotherd

New Band of the Week – 07/11/2011 - Savaging Spires

2011-11-07T23:15:00.000Z

Disappearing as soon as they've arrived, like a flighty troupe of minstrels, Savaging Spires' nomadic songs are communal pastoral soundscapes, replete with acoustic guitars, tin whistle, violin and a shambling chorus. Don't expect them to last long (the songs, not the band) but enjoy it while they do.

They've caught the attention of The Wire and Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone to name but two and the excellent debut album is nearly sold out.

Have a listen:

<a href="http://savagingspires.bandcamp.com/album/bending-the-rules-of-time">Bending The Rules Of Time by Savaging Spires</a>

PHOTOS! Warm Digits + Pseudo Nippon + Gum Takes Tooth

2011-10-30T19:27:00.000Z

Gum Takes Tooth

Pseudo Nippon

Warm Digits

New Band of the Week 24/10/11 - Tropical Popsicle

2011-10-24T21:59:00.003+01:00

I’m writing about act who has named himself ‘Tropical Popsicle’. I’m slightly embarrassed that I’m bigging up someone who has dubbed himself this (seems like a common theme for us SNHsters) but every time I listen to Tim Hines, otherwise know as Mr Tropical Popsicle, I forgive him; because his most excellent tunes genuinely do redeem him.

Glazed with an ethereal haze of guitar fuzz Tim troops out a downright awesome array of dark, grungy summer surf psychedelic rock. Echoes of Crystal Stilts, Dirty Beaches and Beach Fossils ring out jubilantly.

TP happens to be playing in San Diego while I’m there, so will be sure to swing by and check the show out. I suggest you do similar and watch this video. NOW! - SA

Untitled from Tropical Popsicle on Vimeo.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://tropicalpopsicle.bandcamp.com/album/tropical-popsicle-2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Tropical Popsicle by Tropical Popsicle&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Interview: Keeping Warm with the Digits

2011-10-23T20:41:00.000+01:00

Fresh from releasing their debut last month, Keep Warm...With the Warm Digits, and receiving rave reviews (as well as quite a bit of attention from those BBC Radio people), we caught up with the lovely lads from Warm Digits ahead of their SNH London show this week. Prepare for tales of Pacman and boyband fame...well almost...

SNH: How did Warm Digits come together? Was there an idea of the sound you wanted?

Warm Digits : We had known each other for ages in Newcastle – both playing on each other’s projects (Cathode and The Matinee Orchestra). As Warm Digits, we were originally a laptop duo, making dubbed-out techno, heavily influenced by Basic Channel. After a few gigs, we were asked to do a live score for a work by (Canadian film maker) Norman McLaren. In rehearsals for this, it became clear that the dual laptop didn’t really work for the scoring project, and we decided to try using instruments that we both played – drums and guitar – and we soon realised that it worked better than the dual laptop, and we have developed Warm Digits in that format since then.

How did you come to call yourself Warm Digits?

Steve’s partner said to him that she had cold digits – Steve thought this would be a good name for our band. However, we thought it was to Northern European, and so changed cold for warm.

How would you guys describe your sound? Is krautadelic a fair description?

Blizzardwave, Trans-Pennine, Krautaphonic duo.

I can hear splashes of Trans Am & Neu! as well as a plethora of other musical greats. Who are your personal biggest influences in music?

Yes – Neu! and Trans AM. Bands that we have talked about around this project have a wide range of connections – My Bloody Valentine, Lindstrom and Prins Thomas, Chris Corsano, Kraftwerk, Can, Harmonia, Michael Rother, Bob Moog, Emeralds, Drexciya…

What’s your plans for the upcoming year?

We are releasing a 7” on Signals record label. Another tour. Another album…

You guys have played the odd show, any stand out gigs you’ve played? Any particular shows you looking forward to?

We enjoyed supporting Goblin at The Sage in Gateshead. Our album launch at the Star and Shadow in Newcastle was pretty cool. It was fun to go Berlin and play earlier this year. It is always great to support Field Music (which we did at The Deaf Institute in Manchester). We love playing live – and it’s nice to play outside of Newcastle – we’ve done about 30 shows there, and have a great following, so we are looking forward to taking our show to other cities.

With names like Weapons Destruction and Grapefruit, what are your songs titles about?

Weapons Destruction is an anti-nuclear weapons track. Often song titles come out of research – it’s great to read around things we are interested in and find titles there. Also some of our song titles come from experiences we have. For example, Trans-Pennine Express is the train line that we use to visit each other (Newcastle-Manchester), and, of course, it is also homage to Kraftwerk.
Weapons Destruction by Warm Digits

Can you give us a heads up on some of the lesser known bands in the Tyneside/Mancunian area?

Quack Quack are amazing. Silver Fox are great. Rachel Lancaster is amazing.

Beards from Leeds are brill. Razmataz Lorry Excitement played a blinder at a club gig we did recently.

Sometimes your music sounds like being trapped in a computer game. What computer
game are you (?), and what is the best video game EVER?!

We are a BBC programme-it-yourself computer manual. (Andy likes Pacman).
PLAY PACMAN HERE

And lastly, an odd Warm Digits fact please?

One member of Warm Digits was in the original line-up of the 90s pop band Orlando (he left before the time of this video, due to musical differences)

Catch the marvellous Warm Digits, along with Gum Takes Tooth and Pseudo Nippon on Tuesday 25th October for Free at The Old Blue Last. Details on our events page or Facebook here

DIVORCE / Stig Noise / Dethscalator - photos!

2011-10-19T20:17:00.000+01:00

DETHSCALATOR

STIG NOISE

DIVORCE

MOSHING!

2011-10-18T23:15:00.000+01:00

Autumnknit2 by scenenotherd2

New Band of the Week - 17/10/11 - The Catcher Nine

2011-10-18T00:10:00.000+01:00

This will sound familiar to any avid follower of ours. Featuring Koichi from London indie faves Screaming Tea Party, The Catcher Nine share some familiar STP traits, as well as managing to squeeze in some Beach Boys goodness as well the odd Velvet Underground esque guitar.

Vocal duties are shared by Koichi and bassist Teresa whose juxtaposition of vocal tones sit perfectly together as they double up a number of times underneath the sometimes sparse picked guitars. Whilst, there are some obvious shared traits with STP, The Catcher Nine are a completely different prospect, somewhat gentler and more focussed on vocal melody in their approach. Do listen to the beautifully sung lullaby Driving Overflow

myspace by thecatchernine

Stig Noise release excellent bout of noise-tastic tunes!

2011-10-09T15:11:00.000+01:00

SNH faves and soon to play our night this Thursday at The Old Blue Last have put together an excellent offering of their blend of their brass/guitar/doom laden punk offerings entitled "Stig Noise VII". Check out superb track "Clearly, There's A Rat In The Building" currently streaming at http://stignoise.bandcamp.com/album/stig-noise-vii or simply turn up on Thursday and grab yourself a copy!

SNH Autumn Knit#1 The Comfy Waffle

2011-10-08T20:01:00.007+01:00

Autumn Knit no1 by scenenotherd

Scene Not Herd's Autumn Knit Collection

2011-10-08T20:00:00.002+01:00

We love Autumn! We flippin’ love it!

It’s time to forget the brief crazy Indian summer of the last few days, dig out your favourite moth-eaten jumpers, put on your leaf-kickers and kick some leaves!

The world takes a deep breath at the end of summer and then slowly, steadily, exhales in a deep satisfied sigh. It’s a time for pondering in parks and gardens, scuffing along in the golden light as you plough through the delicate skins shed by ancient trees. Do you ever pretend that your breath is your soul trying to escape as you see it drift off into the crisp morning air?

Elsewhere; squirrels go mental like furry contestants in a non-stop episode of nature’s ‘Supermarket Sweep’, and nature’s funkiest fruit - the conker – is suddenly everywhere. Bonfire night is just around the corner, and I’m always reminded of my Mum’s horror-struck face as she strode with a smug grin into a big mound of golden brown oak and sycamore leaves and unknowingly plunged her right leg ankle-deep into the corpse of a mouldering dead cat. Dead kitty loafer! Fun times!

So... in honour of this most majestic time of year, we are pleased to introduce Scene Not Herd’s “Autumn Knit” – a series of 4 themed mini-mixes intended to evoke the grand old lady of the seasons, accompanied by the not-so-insightful views of the SNH crew. Oh... and there are jumpers too... did we mention the jumpers?

New Band of the Week ON TOUR - 03/10/11 - Craft Spells

2011-10-03T21:27:00.000+01:00

Your correspondent confesses to frequent and violent mood swings, occasioned by tantrums and swear words and bitter bitter periods of moping that are a little too self-indulgent.

One day I'm soaring high on the back of beautiful giant sea eagle with a sherbet dip in one hand and a hunting horn in the other, the next I'm lying dashed on the craggy rocks of my own stupid mind, with a long-list of all my worldly faults and wrong-doings taunting me from its sticking-place on a dead gull's beak.

Aside from being almost totally self-absorbed and pretentious, I put it down to a lack of whimsy in my life. I sometimes don't get enough of it, you see. A lack of pleasant and frequent playful distraction from the darkness means that the realities of adulthood come knocking; often with all the subtlety of a colossal wrecking ball through the roof of the dingy cobwebbed shack of my mind.

So imagine my joy this week when I discovered two wondrous artefacts that i can contemplate at any time to apparently ward off the approaching darkness (a bit like when the ark opens in Indiana Jones 1 and the ghost thing melts all the Nazis, but with the Nazis replaced by my bad moods and feelings of inadequacy, and the ghost being.. well you know.. these things):

1) A lovely knitted bobble hat with just the right amount of stripes and a bobble that isn't too big, and not so ostentatiously knitted that it looks like it's meant to be ironic. I bought this in Camden on a scorching hot day and I'm putting this aside for winter fun.

2) A record called "After The Moment" by Craft Spells. Which is such a deliciously understated and perfectly formed piece of refreshed-80s pop joy that it must surely have been funded by Leprechaun gold and recorded with guitars strung with Unicorn hair and polished with Morrissey's quiff. I dare say it would make you happier, even if you were already happy when you listen to it. I've never tried this. It might be dangerous.

After the Moment by CraftSpells

Craft Spells are from Seattle, they tour the UK for four days from 11 October, starting with a show at The Lexington, London. They have an album out called Idle Labor. Go see them.

SNH in Photos

2011-09-30T19:41:00.000+01:00

We had a great show last night; with awesome sets from Fever Dream, Flamingods and Hot Panda. A few poleroids of the night are below, there are more pictures to follow...

Fever Dream

Flamingods

Hot Panda

Soph

Too many drinks...

SNH Interviews Flamingods

2011-09-27T12:00:00.010+01:00

Ahead of his show with us on Thursday, we caught up with Kamal from the wizards that are Flamingods.

SNH: So who are you guys and how did you get together?

Kamal: We are Kamal Rasool, Charles Prest, Sam Rowe, Craig Doporto and Karthik Poduval. Flamingods initially started off as my solo project, after releasing the Waves album I started to get offered a few gigs. I knew Karthik from London and Charles, Sam and Craig from when we lived in Bahrain, we were in an old band together so it just kind of worked. They started commuting to London for gigs (from various places in the UK) and we just progressed from there I guess!

SNH: Love the name – how did you come up with that one?

Kamal: The names a funny one, were all a bit confused of the origins, but I'm pretty sure our friend Danny just blurted it out one day and it stuck.

SNH: You’ve been described as psychedelic, tribal, tropical and lo-fi, for example, without generally being compared to any other artist; which is quite an achievement. How would you articulate your sound to those who hadn’t heard you, and what or who are your influences?

Kamal: Flamingods started as a way for me to transfer my personal experiences in other cultures into my music. We don't purposely take influence by certain bands - were just stealing from culture and putting it into our own words or ideas. Although I'm pretty positive that band influences sneak their way into our songs one way or another.

SNH: I hear that a lot of your music is made using African instruments you picked up on your travels; where have you been and what inspired you so much about the culture/music?

Kamal: I was lucky enough to be brought up in a family which saw travelling as an important investment, even though we couldn't do it all the time. Those experiences include living in a hut in the middle of the Amazon and helping to build a local school for a village in Tanzania. Both those situations saw me being up and close with tribes - often living secluded from civilisation and performing ritual as a way of living. During these rituals of singing and dancing these tribes would not read from any music sheets or take influence from anyone, but more improvise, get lost in the music in a trance and play what they thought sounded right, along with borrowing from tradition and that’s what intrigued me/influences the band most I think.

SNH: You released a zine focusing on the Aztecs as an accompaniment to one of your tapes; what generated your interest in ancient tribal culture?

Kamal: I'm a bit obsessed with the Aztecs, it's got to have something to do with the human way of being attracted to mystery and things that are unsolved. That culture in particular had most of its belongings destroyed and therefore is shrouded in mystery. They lived in such an interesting way and had so many outrageous rituals and thoughts on life. The interest was probably generated when I was in the Amazon and my older brother would tell me stories about them. I'm also in love with the Aztec/Inca/Mayan art - it represents what we want to sound like.

SNH: You’ve played on bills with a lot of exciting emerging bands; what’s the most interesting show you’ve played so far and which bands would you recommend we check out?

Kamal: Yeah I think were quite lucky in that, since we don't really fit in a scene or genre, we kind of get thrown around playing with bands that don't relate to us at all - which we kind of like because we get exposed to lots of new music we wouldn't have necessarily initially listened to. Our favourite bands we've played with have to be; Beaty Heart who make this amazing visual, concrete music. Sometimes I kind of think of them as the electronic version of us in terms of what their influenced by. They are incredible live. And Inca Gold who were one of the first bands we played with, who make this amazing psychedelic pop music.

SNH: If you could play your dream show/festival, who else would be on the bill?

Kamal: The bands dream is to play at All Tomorrows Parties (ATP), Its where we first started making music as a band, playing music from our chalet room and having people jump in through the window and join, playing with pots and pans - there was something beautiful about it that can't be recreated anywhere else. We all first went about 2 years ago to the Matt Groening curated event, and we were blown away by all these bands we had never seen live - The Boredoms, Konono No.1 , The Residents, Toumani Diabate, it was insane! I guess a mixture of that lineup along with some of our friends bands would make it just perfect.

We’re super excited to have these guys on the bill and can’t wait to check out their curious sounds in 3D. More info about the night can be found on our facebook page.

<a href="http://flamingods.bandcamp.com/track/kinich-ahau">Kinich Ahau by Flamingods</a>

New Band of the Week - 26/09/11 - Chains of Love

2011-09-26T21:53:00.000+01:00

Taking their lead from acts like the The Shangri-Las and the Ronettes, this dazzling female fronted 6 piece generate grainy 50s and 60s inspired soul that will have you dancing on your feet. Sassy and charismatic like the girl-groups they take their cue from, Vancouver natives Chains of Love create a thowback dark, garage band sound that is entirely relevant for today’s audience. If you have a soft spot for the golden age of girl pop give this lot a listen.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://chainsoflove.bandcamp.com/track/lies-lies-lies"&amp;amp;gt;Lies Lies Lies by Chains Of Love&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Warm Digits + Pseudo Nippon + Gum Takes Tooth - 25 October - Old Blue Last - FREE!

2011-09-25T21:17:00.000+01:00

The third free show of the Scene not Herd autumn sees three superb bands with debut albums out in 2011 light up the Old Blue Last with their mixture of electronics and live drumming.

Expect raw, thrumming and ferocious grooves, improvised and sampled electronics and whacked-out visuals.

For full details, sign up for our facebook event.

Warm Digits

Warm Digits is the krautophonic blizzard-wave duo of Andrew Hodson and Steve Jefferis, based either side of the Pennines in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Manchester. Warm Digits make a semi-improvised brew of metronomic rhythms, snowstorm guitar and radiophonic electronics, dual-laptop electro, swathes of no-wave guitar and frantic free jazz drumming, taking their cue from the hypnotic repetition of Neu!, the textural overload of My Bloody Valentine, the glacial otherworldliness of Emeralds, and the sensuous modernity of cosmic disco, along with a pinch of Brian Eno-esque melody. After remix duties for the likes of UNKLE and Maxïmo Park, Warm Digits coalesced these improvisations into a set of crisp, propulsive instrumental songs for their debut album Keep Warm... with the Warm Digits.

Warm Digits have already pricked the ears of Marc Riley who invited them in for a BBC 6Music session, and David Brewis of Field Music who asked to play bass on their album as a guest. The live show, recently aired around Europe in support of the likes of Field Music, Goblin, Modeselektor and Barbara Morgenstern, aims for fully engaged sensory overload with a live-mixed collision of colour-coded structural films and live-feed video cameras.

September saw the release of their debut album on Distraction records and this will be the sole London date on their UK tour.

Pseudo Nippon

Topless, shouting like a deranged preacher, and restlessly twitching across the stage, Pseudo Nippon isn’t your average frontman. He’s backed by cheap electronics and two live drummers who mimic, jam and interlock, and it all comes at you like an alternative soundtrack to a particularly frenetic Sega game. Come with an open mind and dancing shoes and catch them while you can. Shows like this don’t often stick around for long.

Pseudo Nippon recently released their debut album on One Inch Badge. See their live show here: http://www.pseudonippon.com/#!__live-video

Gum Takes Tooth

Gum Takes Tooth are Scene Not Herd favourites. They played our festival last year and basically make any show they play. Originally a two-some featuring the extraordinary live drumming of Thomas Fuglesang, sampled live and manipulated by electro wizard Jussi Brightmore, they have recently added a second drummer just to make things that bit more propulsive.
GTT’s debut album Silent Cenotaph was released earlier this year to acclaim from mainstream and underground press alike. They have an unrivalled ability to tread the line between wild and weird whilst remaining amazingly danceable.

New Band of the Week - 15/09/2011 - Poino

2011-09-15T01:17:00.001+01:00

Brilliant aggressive math rock goodness from this screamy London trio. In particular, the melodic bass drives the songs and provides the perfect bridge between the intricate sections of their songs, whilst the drummer weaves in and out of the music creating some incredible rhythms alongside the guitarist. Their recent album, Moan Loose, released at the very tail end of last year is a standout record of recent months in the ever growing UK noise scene. These boys are currently embarking on mammoth European tour, do check out the track below and the band if you know what's good for ya!

Poino - Previous He (Moan Loose 2010) by HorseArm

The third podcast....FINALLY!!!!

2011-09-12T22:10:00.000+01:00

The music we play on this August/September edition makes this worth the long wait. Enjoy :)

SNH Podcast #3 August September by scenenotherd
Featured tracks -
Ponytail - Easy Peasy
Bilge Pump - Thank You Very Much
Yellow Ostrich - Blue
Warm Digits - Weapons Destruction
True Widow - Jackyl
Collarbones - Don Juan

Flamingods + Fever Dream for 29/09/11 at The Stag's Head

2011-09-08T21:55:00.001+01:00

We are excited to announce Flamingods and Fever Dream have been added to our night with Hot Panda on 29^th September at the Stag’s Head, Dalston.

Flamingods are Kamal Rasool, Charles Prest (of Cabaret Scene), Sam Rowe, Karthik Poduval and Craig Doporto; their music sounds like a tropical sun beatings down on an exotic jungle island.

Similar to Tune-Yards’ noisy, tribal weirdness, Flamingods make original freaky, folk/ psych music that combines an array of world music influences and a general disregard for musical form or structure. They just play what they want and somehow manage to push boundaries to the outer limits without sounding in any way ridiculous, pretentions or just, well, shit.

Evoking images of tribal revellers whooping, wailing and droning as they dance round a campfire making ready their next human sacrifice, this band really is a step in the right direction of originality and deserving of a listen.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://flamingods.bandcamp.com/album/sun"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Sun by Flamingods&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Fever Dream are dark; they play fuzzy, brooding music that shakes your soul and warms your blood. Taking their inspiration from Sonic Youth, Times New Viking and the like, these post-punk, new wave revellers will have you up and dancing on your feet, if not somewhat moodily. Be sure to get down early and check them out.

This Waste by Fever Dream

Divorce vs Stig Noise vs Dethscalator 13th October at Old Blue and it's FREE!!!!!!!

2011-09-08T02:55:00.001+01:00

How can we contain our excitement about this!? Divorce and Stig Noise kick off their mammoth European tour with this very special London show. Support comes from the mighty mighty Dethscalator! We cannot wait, and things get better, it's FREE!!!!

We're starting things a bit early with a good old skool Street Fighter tournament on the projector. Also, got the fabulous Night School Records on the decks. What more do you want? It's gonna be a riot. Spread the word. Facebook everyone! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=210931572299989

And Duncan's flyer kicks fucking ass! Makes me think of Shadow of the Colossus invading Jurassic Park 2!!!!!

New Band of the Week - 05/09/11 - The Suicide of Western Culture

2011-09-06T01:12:00.000+01:00

The Suicide Of Western Culture are a secretive Catalan threesome who have happened upon a truckload of discarded Casiotones in a forgotten Barcalona warehouse and with the aid of several hundred effects pedals and a sense of whimsy have set about putting them to good use in a synthetic orchestra.

This resembles the heady and honey-thick fuzzed up synth-drone pop of Fuck Buttons at its core but TSOWC do something especially sweet with the sound, blending a good topping of M83 in there along the way.

For anyone who has ever got a kick from the rich unadulterated sound of 80’s toy keyboards being smashed through torn bass speakers with squeaky toy mallets... you will fall in love with this.

Honestly, I’m not even going to waffle too much about this band. I missed them at Primavera this year, and having discovered the simple beauties of their self-titled LP since, I honestly regret it. It is simple, minimal, warm fuzzy loveliness.

And Jean Michel Jarre, take please note; you’ve never needed those laser triggered synth rigs the size of a small Yorkshire hamlet to make soulful electronic music - a knackered old Yamaha PSR 70 and a Big Muff will do just fine, thank-you! - DF

Hot Panda (Canada) + Guests - 29 September - The Stag's Head, Dalston

2011-08-31T19:38:00.002+01:00

We are thrilled to announce our next night on 29 September at The Stag’s Head, Dalston, with Canada’s finest rock and rollers Hot Panda taking centre stage.

Hot Panda are Maghan Campbell (drums), Chris Connelly (vocals, guitar), Catherine Hiltz (bass), and Heath Parsons (keys, accordion); they make music that makes people dance and feel happy...simple.

Playing music that matches each catchy hook with an even bigger sonic risk has always come naturally HP. The band draws from any and every influence, playing indie pop that has no qualms matching Roxy Music style keyboards with a heartbreaking country dirge, and playing it with a punk rock spirit to boot. Since their signing to Canada's Mint Records in 2008, Hot Panda have been on somewhat of a roll; releasing two critically acclaimed full length albums, as well as completing a tour of Europe in 2009 opening for notorious Detroit rockers The Von Blondies.

The band has played some of North America's premier showcase festivals, including South By South West in Austin (where they were selected as one of fifteen hot new emerging artists of the 2011 festival by Esquire Magazine), CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, Pop Montreal, and Canadian Music Festival and North By North East in Toronto. They've also been happy to share the stage with bands such as Art Brut, The Raveonettes, Chad Van Gaalen, Tokyo Police Club, Electric 6, PS I Love You, Brasstronaut, Women, You Say Party!, and many more.

The band's releases have debuted at #1 on Canadian college charts, earned them a Hot Track of the Week selection in Rolling Stone Magazine (Chinatown Bus), an iTunes track of the week selection (Start Making Sense), and won Album of the Year at the 2010 Edmonton Music Awards (for How Come I'm Dead?).

The band has been invited to play the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg in September, 2011, and is currently recording a third album, once again to be produced by John Collins and David Carswell (Destroyer, New Pornographers, Stuart Murdoch, Tegan and Sarah), which will be released in Europe in early Spring, 2012.

Hot panda - Mindlessnesslessness by mon_is playlist

Further acts to be announced shortly, check out our facebook event for updates...

New Band of the Week 29/08/11 - French Films

2011-08-29T12:13:00.001+01:00

What the hell has happened to summer in the UK over the last few years? Like, it’s August right? Yesterday we went to Brighton; I ended up soaking wet, and wearing a woolly hat to fend off the cold. I guess it’s better than last year; we were soggy and freezing at Reading; I remember having to go sit in our friend’s car for 10 minutes with the heater on, before Blink came on.

This week’s band of the week, French Films, are not French – they’re Finnish. They probably just like French movies a lot; which is fair enough. They make sunny music from a cold place. Maybe they’re sick of the cold too and just want it to be sunny; I guess it is sunny in their minds – it’s sunny in my mind when I listen to them.

As a band they are completely uncomplicated; making upbeat pop tunes, about being happy and about being sad. For these guys, life is as simple as that. There is an occasional air of darkness about their songs; generally through the vocal delivery, but fear not, this is often juxtaposed by happy riffs, pumping drums and nice lyrics about love (or something to that effect).

If you like Crystal Stilts and Beach Fossils you’ll probably like these surf happy, sun seekers too. - SA

Convict by French Films Films

New Band of the Week – 22/08/2011 - True Widow

2011-08-22T00:47:00.002+01:00

OK, so you'll hear them on our podcast that goes up later this week, and may well be forgiven for thinking that we work for them. The truth is, this band make me rather excited about music, in particular rock music. I hate that the industry works in cycles; sometimes I really don't want 5,000 similar sounding bands shoved down my throat all in one month. Why can't good bands exist, and their time be now because they are amazing? This brings us nicely to True Widow, who sound like a complete different entity to a lot of the new music that has graced my ears in the last 12 months.

True Widow released their sophomore album, As High As The Highest Heavens And From The Center To The Circumference Of The Earth, in March this year, and my enthusiasm for this album has remained. Every great band would appear to share certain qualities that enables them to survive the space time continuum, when otherwise hours upon months of MP3 is confined to the annals for yet another year. True Widow share these basic qualities, and focus on the most important, beautiful melody. The vocal, bass and guitar each produce melodies that accompany each other much like a string quartet. Neither can exist without the other, yet each melody stands out without ever muddying the other. A tiny part of this may be down to production, which no doubt helps, as rumbling gritty bass lines sit comfortably with crystalline vocals, whilst the hypnotic yet never-too-loudly-distorted guitar provides the finishing chords and harmonious nuances that elevate the music and showcase the vocals. This is demonstrated rather well on the below track "Skull Eyes". I have purposely veered away from comparing them to anyone, because as implied, it’s the melodies that I've taken away from their music, rather than any sort of aesthetic they may conjure up. AF

True Widow - Skull Eyes by Pachinko Records

New Band of the Week – 15/08/2011 - Pseudo Nippon

2011-08-15T20:59:00.001+01:00

This band is completely bonkers and a lot of fun. We can't wait to see them live. Their album Universal Pork Tai Chi is out now on OIB Records. What the album doesn't have is dancers, so check this out as a taster:

We're definitely going to try and catch them next time they're in London. You should too.

Actionbeat Live Video Mash-up

2011-08-03T22:46:00.000+01:00

Here's a taster of what you missed if you didn't attend our recent night in honour of 10 years of noise from the stellar Fortissimo records stable. Actionbeat blew the roof off!

(Please forgive some shakiness of hand - we were busy punchy the air in delight whilst filming).

New Band of the Week - 01/08/2011 - Hooray For Earth

2011-08-03T20:29:00.002+01:00

Hooray For Earth

Ok, ok, I know exactly what you’re thinking... but I’ve been there myself.

I chose a spectacular name for myself at 7 years old, and having proudly announced to all my classmates and playmates with a pomp that extended beyond my years that from now on I should be referred to only as “Doody”, or “Dude”; you can believe me when I tell you that I have experienced the palpable tang of bitterness that comes from your hard won peer group using your proud new title as an ever-present but invisible dagger against you... in every conceivable social situation... for the rest of your life. Hoist with my own petard.

In fairness though, I was a bit of a dickhead, and a little too enthralled by my elder brother’s recent am-dram performance in a village hall production of “Grease”. Even in the lower echelons of my grubby Staffordshire junior school in the late 80s, kids knew well enough to attack any sort of hubris with all their jam-sandwiched atavistic venom.

So, to my point; presuming that their name was not gifted to them by a similarly misled 7 year old, what were the rising stars of Bostonian guitar and synth crew “Hooray for Earth” thinking? I'm not being supercilious here either - it's all too easy to overlook bands with whimsical names.

My own theory is that they were so immersed in the process of making AMAZING JAW-DROPPING EXCITING NEW MUSIC, that they just forgot – and thank Gaia they did – because Hooray for Earth deliver just about the most perfect pop suckerpunch that ever slapped my awestruck chops. The jagged and self-confident beauty of "True Loves" provides a perfect lesson in how to pace yourself in this sort of game, buliding and building, before opening like a peculiar but beautiful sonic flower three quarters in. It is reminiscient of Yeasayer with less of the schmaltz.

“Sails” is a storming atmospheric track that demonstrates the way that Hooray for Earth weave together strands of pulsing and hypnotic pop which has a real drive and momentum. Their new album, True Loves, released on Dovecote in June is redolent with tracks like this.

Hooray For Earth - "Sails" from Dovecote Records on Vimeo.

If you can’t see past a name, it’s a sad day for you my friend; and let notice be served that "Doody", Kenny "Twang", and Vince the Avenger and his stupid name crew will be looking down on you from our lofty plinth of pretension (erected by ourselves, for our own amusement and self-aggrandizement), and not giving a flying fuck if you get it or not. We have the best theme tunes, you see.

And if you think about it... it’s nowhere near as silly as Guns n’ Roses is it?

Patio Photos

2011-08-01T22:46:00.002+01:00

Here are some images of our night on Friday which saw the awesome Patio Set play their last show with bassist Sean before he leaves for Canada. More to come...

Fawn Spots for 20 August

2011-08-01T21:47:00.000+01:00

We’ve added the trebly terrific Fawn Spots to our super excellent bill on the 20August at the Wilmington Arms.

Hotly tipped by BBC6, these fuzzbusting guitar jammers create an explosion of exuberant, clattering noise that will have you dancing on your feet. Check ‘em owaaat!

Age Old by Fawn Spots

SNH DJ set - [Club The Moon 002: Unplugged] feat. Bebe Black, Loui Rose & Grass House - 11 August – The Silver Bullet – Finsbury Park

2011-07-28T21:46:00.000+01:00

We’re excited to be Djing at this most excellent event of unplugged goodness, hosted by our buddies from the uber cool Killing Moon Ltd ; and boy have they got some great acts lined up:

Full of deep swooping vocals, intricate piano lines and soulful lyrics, Bebe Black is a treat is dark, blusy pop. With clear jazz influences, her huge voice oozes heartfelt emotion; can’t wait to catch her live.

Bebe Black - I'll Wait by the ruckus

Evidently inspired by the likes of Bat for Lashes, Kate Bush and even Nina Simone, Loui Rose is striking in her vocal delivery. Tipped as one to watch by many a musical pundit, she won’t be playing such intimate shows for long, so you better catch her while you can.

Hearts + Daggers (DEMO) by Loui Rose

Grass House tinge their ethereal, lucid melodies with moody, bluegrass-esque traits to create a deep, warm, rolling sound; give them a listen.

Grass House by Grass House

More info about the night can be found via the following link.

Blue on Blue, Negative Pegasus, Safari Park - 20/08/11 - The Wilmington Arms

2011-07-27T14:44:00.000+01:00

We are excited to announce our next show at the Wilmington Arms, featuring Blue on Blue, Negative Pegasus and Safari Park. Details below.

Blue on Blue release their debut EP on Tip Top in the next few weeks but you could easily be forgiven for thinking that this rising London duo are veterans of the scene, so assured is the manner in which they channel all manner of influences. The band have been gaining the attention of critics for a few months, and their stripped down and ethereal mixture of swoon-some indie pop and shoe-gaze might sound like a halcyon call to days gone by but members Dee Sada and Billy Trivial tread the line between blissed out nostalgia and innovation perfectly.

This is beautiful dreamy music with an edge and has led to plaudits from VICE, i-D Magazine, TLOBF, and Loud & Quiet alike, with Subba Culture boldly stating “Blue on Blue is one of London’s latest rising stars. Creating eerie, ethereal shoe-gaze, they are undeniably cool and ridiculously good. Truly mesmerizing”.

Serenata by blueonblue

Brighton’s Negative Pegasus - fronted by Todd Jordan formerly of My Device - make noisy, droning, and reverberating psychedelic rock. Perefect agressive, feet stomping music. Recent mentions in the NME and various indie blogs has ensured Negative Pegasus will indeed have an exciting 12 months ahead of them. Do check out 'Psychic Energy' on their bandcamp. Screaming feedback drenched guitars, echoey vocals and various noise elements that fit together like a puzzle.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://negativepegasus.bandcamp.com/track/ottoman-silver"&amp;amp;gt;Ottoman &amp;amp;lt;b&amp;amp;gt;Silver by Negative Pegasus&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Safari Park is a lo-fi, noise-pop band from Bournemouth featuring members of Skitanja and Powdered Cow. They recently played with Joan of Arc and fans of warm and melodious fuzzy guitar offerings can catch a taster of Safari Park’s game with their 6-track EP, 'To The Sea', available to download from 'bandcamp'. These gents have a way of nailing understated everyday musings and nailing them to sebadoh style guitars transmuting the whole into something more poetic. Listening to their song ‘Catchers’ brings to mind early Modest-Mouse. No bad thing.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://safaripark.bandcamp.com/album/to-the-sea"&amp;amp;gt;To The Sea by Safari Park&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

£3 entry 8pm-1am, you can find out further info about the night on our facebook page.

New Band of the Week - 25/07/11 - Gross Magic

2011-07-26T22:40:00.001+01:00

Hooray! I have the internet back, after being without proper access to it for an entire month which means NO NEW MUSIC! I haven’t even been able to update my ipod (because I’m too lazy to type out the track listings). I was feeling like a borderline pleb; with my only sonorous stimulation limited to, god forbid, the TV i.e. T4 on the beach and that terrible Hollyoaks music show. I’ve been so deprived, I’ve started enjoying The Wanted (I’m not even joking). Should probably invest in that digital radio, for emergencies...

So, my new band for the week (well, as per the above, technically the month) is the splendiferous Gross Magic. The name conjures the essence of bogey flavoured Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans but the music lucky evokes something different. Brighton based Gross Magic, also known as the one man band, Sam McGarrigle, soars high on a his own floaty brand of 80s lo-fi. McGarriagle layers his effeminate vocals with twinkly synths and deep beats to hypnotically deliver grunge tinged, static drenched, ultra-violet dream pop. Give it a whirl.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://thesoundsofsweetnothing.bandcamp.com/album/teen-jamz-ep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Teen Jamz EP by Gross Magic&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;