Posted: October 12th, 2009 | Author: Matt | Filed under: Reviews | Tags: Charlotte Hatherley, Enter Shikari, Kill It Kid, Lucky Elephant, Matt Merritt, Young Soul Rebels | No Comments »
It’s been a while wince we last did a singles roundup, but we’re back with a bang. All five of the tracks here are worth your attention and we’d love to hear what you think of them.
YOUNG SOUL REBELS – I Got Soul
Island
Okay so it’s a Killers cover (All These Things That I’ve Done), but it’s for charity. The track itself is a little bland, but the line-up, featuring Chipmunk, Frankmusik, Tinchy Stryder, Pixie Lott and a whole bunch of others, is pretty impressive. Frankly, it doesn’t matter if it’s atrocious, all profits go to Warchild so go buy copies for all your friends.
LUCKY ELEPHANT – Reverend Tilsley & His Magic Lantern
Sunday Best
More upbeat fun from Lucky Elephant. I’m not sure if this track will go down so well now summer is disappearing off into faded memories, but nonetheless it’s a jolly little tune and worthy of a listen and it just might brighten up your day.
CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY – Alexander
Little Sister Records
This, the second single from Hatherley’s forthcoming album, is a pretty little tune, but for all the pretty vocals and simple music, there’s a lack of depth and soul to the track. Sorry Charlotte, but if this is what we’ve got to expect from your new album you might want to get back to Ash.
KILL IT KID – Heaven Never Seemed So Close
One Little Indian
The bombastic opener from this Bath act’s debut album is a bluesy track that sees them come off like a clan of travelling preachers in the Deep South. Gritty, dirty and really quite brilliant!
ENTER SHIKARI – Wall (Remix)
Ambush Reality
This drum & bass tinged remix, courtesy of High Contrast, actually adds something a little more interesting to Enter Shikari’s sound. It’s as if somehow a genre of music that does nothing for me and a band who have continued to underwhelm these ears somehow combine together to become more than the sum of their parts. If you’ve ever thought this band might be worth a look, this is a great place to dip your toes in the water.
Posted: September 15th, 2009 | Author: Matt | Filed under: Media, News, Reviews | Tags: Kill It Kid, One Little Indian | 10 Comments »
Kill It Kid
Call Upon The Author have teamed up with the wonderful people at One Little Indian to offer one of our readers a pair of tickets to see Kill It Kid at Hamptons in Southampton on 14th October. We’re big fans of Kill It Kid here, from Chris Turpin’s baritone vocals, to his interplay with Stephanie Ward and the beautifully dark, smoky atmospherics conjured up by the band. With their eponymous debut set for release on 5th October, here’s your chance to check it out.
To win a pair of tickets and copy of Kill It Kid’s debut album all you need to do is leave your name and a contact email address in a comment below. That’s it, no questions, no riddles, just a simple reply to this post. We’ve even got a copy of the albums for runners up too. We’ll draw the winners this Monday (21st), so stay tuned and, most of all… tell your friends, get them all to enter too!
“Their’s is a vibrant blend of The White Stripes, barn dances and the Stephanne Grappelli – like fiddle-frenzy jazz/blues” – Q Magazine
‘Uncontrived, Kill It Kid are a brave, raw talent’ – BBC Introducing
‘Thrillingly unaffected, delightful’ – Music Week
“Demands attention from the off… the strength and depth of their songs belie their age” – Clash Magazine
“Named after a Blind Willie McTell song, the banjo features heavily in their music but five piece Kill It Kid come from no further south than Bath.”
– Daily Telegraph
www.myspace.com/killitkid
www.onelittleindian.co.uk
www.myspace.com/hamptonsbar
look at them, aren't they lovely?
Posted: May 4th, 2009 | Author: Matt | Filed under: Reviews | Tags: Defend Moscow, Dub Pistols, Fenech Soler, Kill It Kid, Matt Merritt, Strange Death Of Liberal England, The Joy Formidable, Wave Machines | 2 Comments »
Once again, our mail bag is bulging with new singles for you to check out… lets delve into the sack and see what’s on offer this week!
THE STRANGE DEATH OF LIBERAL ENGLAND – Like A Curtain Falling
One of TSDOLE’s best newer tracks, this manages to take a simple melody, couple it to Adam Woolway’s larynx stretching vocals and some very sweet and innocent backing vocals and forge a song that nestles away at the back of your brain only to pounce when you least expect it! This single, released especially to commemorate their theatre show (check out our review…) is strictly limited edition and only available through the bands myspace!
KILL IT KID – Send Me An Angel Down
One Little Indian
A nice relaxing tune this, the violin especially – or so you think, before the band blindside you.. Chris Turpin’s vocals are, frankly, bizarre, but somehow these guys make it work. This reminds me a lot of Moriarty, in a very good way. Melodramatic, folk with a distinct vocal that will mark these guys out instantly to the listener – with an album on the way these guys look all set to follow in the folkie footsteps of Mumford & Sons and CUTA favourites Lupen Crook and the Murderbirds.
THE JOY FORMIDABLE – Whirring
Friends Vs Records
Another act harking back to the darker fringes of eighties music, The Joy Formidable set up their stall between Ladyhawke and White Lies and, with this tune at least, have crafted a song that takes the best elements of both bands and hones them to a penetrating point. If these guys don’t end up massive then there is something seriously wrong with the world!
WAVE MACHINES – I Go I Go I Go
Neapolitan Recordings
If Hot Chip went out on the lash with the Pet Shop Boys and Calvin Harris, this might be the drunken result. One of the barmiest slices of electro pop I’ve heard in a while, I can’t help thinking I shouldn’t like this with it’s casio keyboard beats and Neil Tennant-esque vocals. But as I listen I’m beaming away and my feet are tapping enough to make me consider dancing around the living room a good idea!
DEFEND MOSCOW – Die Tonight
Kids
It’s fair to say this is the first time I’ve discovered a band coupling lyrics about what it would be like to deal with impending nuclear holocaust to a dance beat. What a beat though, this is invoking the very best of the eighties, with it’s boy-girl vocals invoking the spirit of The Human League and coupling it to a modern pop sound that their former touring partner Sam Sparro would be proud of. If you haven’t heard these guys yet, you’re missing out!
FENECH SOLER – The Cult Of Romance
Vulture
Yet another electro-dance-pop type act, there’s a fair few of them this week, but can this bedroom band match up to what’s gone before? Well, yes and no. It certainly doesn’t have the same chart potential, but to be fair, it’s more of a club track anyway, and for those who spend their nights on the dance floor, this is likely to be a great track. Sorry though guys, it’s not one I’ll be listening to at home!
DUB PISTOLS – Back To Daylight
Sunday Best
Much more out and out dance than the other tracks here, there’s something about this track, featuring Ashley Slater, that reminds me of Faithless (they don’t sound to similar though, so I can’t quite put my finger on it. Adding a relaxed hip-hop vibe makes this really stand out, it’s already on my summer play list and it might well end up on yours too!
