Posted: August 14th, 2009 | Author: Matt | Filed under: News | Tags: Hong Kong Gardeners Club, Southsea Fest, Strange Death Of Liberal England, The Joy Formidable | No Comments »
Hong Kong Gardeners Club has gained a reputation for putting on new, exciting and unique bills featuring acts that exist a little outside the road most of us walk in life, but close enough that if we make the effort we can really relate to what they play for us.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? A real musical mixed bag. Everything from the haunting alt.folk of Haunted Stereo to the more mainstream indie rock of Melodramas, and that’s just bands two and three on the bill. You may not recognise all the names on this stage, but they’ll be united by having some of the highest quality live performances you’ll see all day.
NOT TO BE MISSED: The Joy Formidable. Dark, brooding and yet still fun, this Welsh trio have the rock chops that we‘ve come to expect from Welsh bands, but they take it in different directions that hint at the more intelligent end of 80s musical output.
OUR TIP TO WATCH OUT FOR: The Strange Death Of Liberal England. One of our absolute favourite bands, these guys have been compared to the likes of Arcade Fire, Guillemots and, most accurately, British Sea Power, but there’s something unique about this band that’s difficult to put into words. If you check out one actat Southsea Fest that you haven’t before, you owe it to yourself to make it this band!
WHO IS OUR HOST: There are two, Sarah Parham and Abbie Eales, equally lovely and each as enthusiastic about live music as the other. If you’ve been to more than one gig in Portsmouth, you’ve been in the same room as one of these two. This love of things ‘live’ has leant them some of the most discerning ears for searching out interesting new bands that you’ll ever come across.
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!
Posted: April 28th, 2009 | Author: Matt | Filed under: News | Tags: Holdfast, Polly Scattergood, The Joy Formidable | No Comments »
Call Upon The Author favourites Holdfast have announced two very exciting new support slots in the coming months.
On May 14th they’ll be heading up to London’s Luminaire to support Polly Scattergood. Polly is garnering rave reviews in the press and a huge following. This will be at one of The Luminaire’s ever popular Mish Mash nights, blending the best touring artists with young up and comers. Fans from Portsmouth can get in touch with the band via their myspace (below) to book a seat on a chartered bus to take them to and from the Big Smoke for the gig too!
On June 10th the band support The Joy Formidable at The Joiners in Southampton. The Joy Formidable follow the same lineage as White Lies harking back to the sounds of 80’s alt rockers (a sound that Holdfast evoke so well and so naturally).
Fopr those with nothing to do tomorrow night, the band will be playing a set at Waster in Portsmouth’s Envy nightclub too, so strap on your dancing shoes and head down to check out one of the most exciting young acts on the south coast!
www.myspace.com/holdfast
www.myspace.com/pollyscattergood
www.myspace.com/thejoyformidable
