We cut through the hype and give the one thing lacking in so many places these days: an honest opinion. We're not going to put something down for the sake of it either. For an honest outlook on music (and other subjects), you're in the right place!
So, here we are, back again with part two of this week’s singles roundup. Looking at the tracks below (and our ever growing pile of singles to review), it’s nice to see that not only is the quantity of tracks available to us increasing, but the quality too!
TWIN ATLANTIC – Lightspeed
Red Bull Records
For those of you who haven’t heard Twin Atlantic yet (and why not, we’ve written about them a few times not?), this is the perfect introduction to the Scots rockers, encapsulating their pacy guitars and highlighting Sam McTrusty’s vocal – lovely stuff!
WITH THAT KNIFE – This Place, A Thousand Times
Withthatknife.com
This, the debut single from a bunch of lads who met at Manchester University mixes punkish vitality with the sort of modern Britsh alt-rock sound that is growing ever more prevalent – good stuff!
DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP – Get Better
Sunday Best
Casiotone electronics create a contrasted backing to Pip’s spoken word musing on why society seems to be going down hill. It’s not deep reaching social commentary, but it rings true, and as well as being thought provoking, it’s very catchy. What more could you ask for, really?
THOMAS WHITE – The Last Blast
Cooking Vinyl
The Electric Soft Parade/Brakes man’s solo work is every bit as interesting as the songs he performs with his bands. This one, a driving beat, fuelled by staccato drums is strangely engaging, all the more so because of the laconic vocals.
ANGUS AND JULIA STONE – And The Boys
Flock Music
I saw this pair a couple of years ago and really wasn’t impressed, but this track is a world away from that bland live show, endearing quirky folk fronted by a sweet and off kilter vocal, this bodes well for their forthcoming album.
Having caused quite the stir with their ‘Vivarium’ mini-album and subsequent singles ‘You’re Turning Into John Wayne’ and ‘What Is Light? Where Is Laughter?’, Glaswegian quartet Twin Atlantic are set to release new single ‘Lightspeed’ on Monday 1st March.
The track itself, according to frontman Sam McTrusty, is “about unity and self belief but also understanding the importance of friendship. Being in a band and getting to travel the world with my best friends made me realise this so I wrote a song about it. The video has a great vibe as it was a really natural approach by Sean Stiegemeier (the director) and we got to visit exploded meth labs, see a fish massacre graveyard and hang out with a guy who felt a connection with some religious overtones…so he painted a hillside to look like the brain of a child.”
A video for the track, shot in the Salton Sea in the desert of California, can be seen by clicking: here
A previously announced headline tour has seen some changes, as a result of the band’s late inclusion on the Enter Shikari European tour some dates will have to be rescheduled. The following shows go ahead as planned, with rescheduled dates in Cardiff, London, Nottingham, Birmingham and Southampton to be announced imminently. All tickets purchased for those dates will be valid for the revised dates.
FEBRUARY
01 – SHEFFIELD O2 Academy 2
02 – LEEDS Cockpit
03 – MANCHESTER Night & Day
04 – NEWCASTLE Digital
06 – GLASGOW ABC
Speaking of the Enter Shikari news, bassist Ross McNae said, “it’s really exciting to be playing in so many countries we haven’t played in before. We’re looking forward to the next few weeks with Enter Shikari and the rest of the year ahead!”
So, 2009 is pretty much up, how was it for you?
this year has been incredible. it has been a real landmark year for our band and one we will never forget… a trip to the states to record our debut label release and a relentless touring schedule has made 2009 dandy.
Other than your own tunes, what have you been listening to this year?
so much radiohead it is almost sad along with wintersleep, the manchester orchestra, brand new, rage against the machine, sucioperro, and you will know us by the trail of dead, john lennon, muse, animal collective, ryan adams,aereogramme, cave in, mutemath, elbow and the gayblades.
What one thing would you have changed about the last twelve months?
not a thing. everything that has been incredibley shit for our band this year has only made us stronger and more determined and focused on our identity as a band. 2009, like i have said, has been the best year for us yet. roll on 2010 as we have big plans.
What are you looking forward to in 2010?
reaching as many new people as possible through touring in new countries as well as playing another home town show in glasgow which is always special. we have a uk and european tour at the start of the year so we are by no means taking a break. we also have our sights set on another record at some point.
Do you have a message for our readers?
if you bought our record “vivarium” thank you for all the support. you have helped us make 2009 the best year of our lives. also fuck straight lines… bendy is the future. viva la revolution.
So, 2009 is pretty much up, how was it for you?
The busiest of my life! I learned a lot about sewing, sustained many drum/guitar/microphone-based injuries. It was a lot of fun.
Other than your own tunes, what have you been listening to this year?
Mew, Mew and Mew. The rest of the band can’t stand them but I’m completely obsessed. Also a shit load of Yacht Rock like The Doobie Brothers, Toto and Hall & Oats.
What one thing would you have changed about the last twelve months?
I try not to dwell on the past, regret is a pointless wast of emotion.
What are you looking forward to in 2010?
More shows, recording the album, Simon Cowell’s impending murder…
Do you have a message for our readers?
Stay away from the red rope liquorice and look out for each other guys, if someone falls down, pick em up. Don’t be an asshole.
So, 2009 is pretty much up, how was it for you?
Much like any year of our lives. Making music and touring. With a few meals in between.
Other than your own tunes, what have you been listening to this year?
This year I really enjoyed records from Glass Ghost, Animal Collective, and The Walkmen.
What one thing would you have changed about the last twelve months?
More sleep. Particularly in my new apartment that I have only stayed at a couple nights.
What are you looking forward to in 2010?
Seeing more movies. We always plan to see a couple when we are on tour but it rarely happens.
Do you have a message for our readers?
To Beyonce or not to Beyonce? That is the question.
We start this edition of Videodrome with perhaps our favourite band of the last year, Twin Atlantic. This is the promo for their latest single What Is Light, Where Is Laughter and it perfectly captures their frenetic music and powerful lyrics. Next up we’ve got a clip from this years winner of the Best Actress award at Cannes. Charlotte Gainsbourg is a musician first and foremost though and Heaven Can Wait perfectly captures her sometimes brooding, sometimes fragile, but always affecting music. Oh, and yes, that is Beck in the video.
Going off in a different direction, 90’s rockers Far reformed late last year and, after knocking out a cover of Ginuwine’s R&B hit Pony their myspace hits soared and their profile skyrocketed overnight. Check out the video to see what Ginuwine has to say about it all.
How about Drum & Bass pioneers Adam F & Horx collaborating with Redman for a guaranteed party tune? Shut The Lights Off is the type of tune that will drag even the most shy wallflowers onto the dancefloor!
Last, but by no means least, we catch up with Manchester Orchestra for a behind-the-scenes peek at what they got up to on tour in Australia.
With grime vocals bolted unceremoniously to beats that I can only assume were designed to blow holes in your sub-woofer, this is a classic British slice of rap/hip-hop with a refreshing electronic edge. If this isn’t already blowing away dance floors on underground club nights then there’s something seriously wrong with the world, and if this is your kind of tune then go ask for it!
TWIN ATLANTIC – What Is Light? Where Is Laughter?
Red Bull Records
Twin Atlantic are, quite possibly, one f our discoveries of the year here at Call Upon The Author, their Biffy Clyro meets 30 Seconds To Mars sound is fresh and engaging and this is another example of how well they know their way around a song. Seriously, if you haven’t heard this band yet then you’re missing out, so get googling now!
BLACK SOUL STRANGERS – Lies
Squeek Records
This Irish quartet have taken up residence in London to try and bring their indie tunes to the masses. They aren’t bad either, though this is certainly not groundbreaking stuff. In fact, if I’m honest this is almost a throwback to the latter days of the Britpop era with it’s singalong chorus, good fun then, in a throwaway fashion.
RUFFNECK ‘09 FT. NAVIGATOR – Ctrl Z v Freestylers
Never Say Die
Furious electro punk anarchy is the recipe of the day here. If you pogo’d round the dance floor to early Prodigy you’ll be right at home here. Having been the subject of a master class in Computer Music on how to remix (and of course, featured in a video here at Call Upon The Author), give this a spin and we defy you not to be dancing around the room!
BAD FOR LAZARUS – Old Rats On A New Ship
Shit Chic
Like the grubby rocker stood in a crowd of pristine skinny jean clad indie kids, Bad For Lazarus doesn’t quite fit. Somehow that makes this single all the more endearing. The screeching vocal and stomping beat, all drenched in distortion, hark back to the grunge era. Do yourself a favour if you get this disc and check out the B side too. ‘Kemptown Animals’ comes on like a prowling animal being sound tracked by The Fratellis, and it’s a gorgeous mix!
Acclaimed Glaswegian rock band Twin Atlantic are set to release the latest cut from their recently released ‘Vivarium’ mini-album on the 30th of November, in the form of ‘What Is Light? Where Is Laughter?’.
In support of the single’s release, the band has announced a series of in-store appearances as well as their previously announced dates with The Fall Of Troy. In addition to these, the quartet also play the BBC Introducing event on November 17th at Belfast’s Mandela Hall, alongside Two Door Cinema Club, Pulled Apart By Horses and Save Your Breath, before rounding off their live activity for the month with an appearance at the Homecoming Live event at Glasgow’s SECC on November 28th. The band play Hall 3 alongside fellow Scots The View, Teenage Fanclub, Idlewild and many others.
The band will perform at the following in-stores:
NOV 30: EDINBURGH – Avalanche Records, 65 Cockburn Street @ 1pm (01312 253 939)
NOV 30: GLASGOW – Avalanche Records, 34 Dundas Street @ 5pm (01413 322 099)
DEC 01: ABERDEEN – One Up, 17 Belmont Street @ 5pm (01224 642 6
The band then embark on a headline tour in the New Year:
“Frontman Sam articulates endearing confessionals and though parallels to early Biffy are audible, it’s doubtful their compatriots were ever so energetic.” – NME
“There’s something gloriously impassioned about Sam McTrusty’s vocals. Yearning, searching, hoping and, above all, real.” – KERRANG!
Poptastic! Ms Lott is the latest shapely blonde jailbait to make an assault on the charts, but unlike many of her peers, she has the sultry vocal to back up her scantily clad promo pics. If the rest of her debut album is up to this standard expect to see a string of number ones!
HEARTS IN PENCIL – Hannibal Ad Portas
myspace.com/heartsinpencil
This unsigned Oxford foursome have got more than just a snappy title. Eschewing poppy “indie”, this is a challenging track and, on the first listen, there’s little to love. B Side Bigger Games/Better Days is a bit too Pete Doherty for my liking, but the first track shows a band with plenty of potential, we look forward to hearing more.
ENTER SHIKARI – No Sleep Tonight
Ambush Reality
Enter Shikari throw us a curveball with their new single, going all melodic on us (well, relatively). This is still a little jagged and unconventional, but the edges have been rounded down for mass consumption, strangely it makes us like the band a whole lot more.
TWIN ATLANTIC – Lightspeed
Red Bull Records
Scots rockers Twin Atlantic are something just a bit special, coming across like a power pop Biffy Clyro. Lightspeed is a great intro for the band, the vocals take a little getting used to, but the music is immediately catchy. Expect big things from these guys.
