There is a distinctly Olympian feel to this week's round-up...
Royal Blood - Little Monster - Soundcloud/online - out now - ★★★★★★★★☆☆
In which Them Crooked Vultures, White Stripes and Wolfmother quickly become reference points for this visceral and filthy piece of slack-trousered blues-rock that comes armed with a sting in its melodic tail. I can certainly hear how the duo's energy is tearing up venues around the UK and they certainly sound as though they mean business. Like the not-dissimilar Drenge, Royal Blood may have enough in the tank to make it to the end of the year as 'the next big thing' - there's a debut album planned for the late summer. Bronze Medal winner.
Sohn - Artifice - 4AD - Out now via Album pre-order - ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
The attention thrust upon 4AD has increased somewhat recently, due in part to Martin Aston's fine book about the label, published last year. The organisation is now gearing itself up for another golden era with the likes of Camera Obscura, Zomby, The National and, quite possibly, South London's Sohn who deals in crisp electro-pop that isn't unlike label-buddy Twin Shadow, though less retro in execution. Artifice is a tad more polished than previous Sohn offerings Bloodflows and Lessons and, as such, propels the Austria-based performer into the spotlight. I'm not sure which spotlight, but certainly one that will garner attention of a positive nature. A contender but not the judge's choice.
Jim Kroft - I Hope You Know - Jackanope - Apr 7 - ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Crikey - you wait a while for a Kroft anthem and then - bam! - here comes the second in as many weeks. I Hope You Know continues Kroft's journey in search of the perfect chorus with some big drums and jangly guitar that reminds of Chance by Big Country (not sure why, I'll figure it out someday) and a vocal melody that isn't a half a million miles away from something Brandon Flowers might bestow upon us. Compared to Through My Weakness (issued a few weeks ago), IHYK is more radio-friendly but perhaps not as deep and moody as our Jim can be - and we like him like that. Agreeable enough though. A big hope, but didn't make the semis this time.
Death - North Street - Drag City - out now (Soundcloud) - ★★★★★★★★☆☆
A band formed before punk spat its way through US city-streets, Death were to new wave what Thin Lizzy were to metal in the sense that black dudes were stereotyped and limited to making any music other than soul and RnB. Hey, those genres are for the white kids, brother. Bullshit, of course. Thin Lizzy, Bad Brains, Basement 5 and Death proved otherwise and proved it well. By releasing relentless and rhythmic urban garage rock way before the Pistols turned it into an art-form, Death wrote themselves a little piece of history as far back as 1976. North Street hails from the post-punk era and the 1980 album III, set for a reissue by Drag City and preceded by this comely 7" - it's like Hendrix . Detroit has all the best tunes. Again. Unlikely crowd-favourites but retired early.
Ulrich Schnauss & Mike Peters - Walking With My Eyes Closed - Bureau B - out Feb 24 - ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆
Taken from the duo's recent decent new album Tomorrow Is Another Day, this is the least Schnaussy track you've heard in a while, although there is an element of his trademark sparkle present in parts. In truth though, the resultant track is devoid of anything remotely memorable and sounds oddly cluttered as it stumbles towards the merest hint of a hook and a sputtered climax. The parent album is worth the investment though and shouldn't be judged by this forgettable fluff. Fell at the first hurdle, retired from competition.
Bill Pritchard - Trentham - Tapete - out Mar 10 - ★★★★★★★★★★
Tut tut - 'shooting ducks on the lake'? It ought to be outlawed, but if you were a kid growing up in Stoke back in the day and saw 'Hanley as the cultural quarter', then firing off a few Mallard-bound pellets was probably the height of excitement. Needless to say that Bill Pritchard's new album A Trip To The Coast is faultless songwriting and Trentham is very much at the helm of this long-awaited comeback-of-sorts. Lovers of Stephen Duffy, Morrissey and Lightning Seeds will gorge on Pritchard's carefree and wistful indie-pop, as indeed should the rest of the nation if there was a god. There are at least three better songs on the album but this is still a five-star belter. Make him famous. Buy it. Gold Medal winner.
The Traps - Imposter - Fierce Panda - out Mar 17 - ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Fans of Chris Isaak's Wicked Game will be fascinated to hear Julian Cope reworking this for a mid-paced twang-rock anthem. Just kidding, but there certainly is a similarity between the two, aided by the opening credits on the promo video below and some swoon-some guitar work. Birmingham's The Traps have the air of goodness about them actually - assured songwriting and a hazy languid musical approach that suggests they've been studying the art of melody rather than bogging themselves down in hipster hell. The latest in a long line of hopeful releases, Imposter might just help draw attention to the new album Calypso. Podium hopefuls.
Pusher - Let It Break - Genepool Records - out Mar 17 - ★★★★★★★★★☆
Three singles in and doom-wavers Pusher are becoming a serious proposition, musically. Imagine Mark Lanegan fronting Kasabian (when they were heavy) with Drenge supporting and you'll get the idea that this is a band with an intensity and purpose befitting future glories. Let It Break pummels and bullies like a teenage gang on crack, wielding baseball bats and snarling at walls. Guitars howl like pitbulls and the whole thing is glued together by singer James Gilroy's resonating baritone. Comparisons to Ian Curtis might be a little unfounded but there's no doubt that Pusher would probably record a decent cover of Transmission if prompted. Silver Medal winners.
God Is An Astronaut - The Last March - Rocket Girl - out Mar 17 - ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
After the recent interest and Top 10 placing of the similar Mogwai's Rave Tapes album, it seems fitting that the moodier God Is An Astronaut take a punt with another track from their recent full-length set Origins. The Last March is certainly one of the stronger instrumentals on it - subtle electronic beats give away to a tidal-surge of chiming guitars and a detonation of drumbeats that peers Mogwai have been shying away from of late. Several albums in and I wonder if there's an opportunity for GIAA to finally garner more acclaim - The Last March suggests they should. Steadfast performance but not a medal-winner yet.
Royal Blood - Little Monster - Soundcloud/online - out now - ★★★★★★★★☆☆
In which Them Crooked Vultures, White Stripes and Wolfmother quickly become reference points for this visceral and filthy piece of slack-trousered blues-rock that comes armed with a sting in its melodic tail. I can certainly hear how the duo's energy is tearing up venues around the UK and they certainly sound as though they mean business. Like the not-dissimilar Drenge, Royal Blood may have enough in the tank to make it to the end of the year as 'the next big thing' - there's a debut album planned for the late summer. Bronze Medal winner.
Sohn - Artifice - 4AD - Out now via Album pre-order - ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
The attention thrust upon 4AD has increased somewhat recently, due in part to Martin Aston's fine book about the label, published last year. The organisation is now gearing itself up for another golden era with the likes of Camera Obscura, Zomby, The National and, quite possibly, South London's Sohn who deals in crisp electro-pop that isn't unlike label-buddy Twin Shadow, though less retro in execution. Artifice is a tad more polished than previous Sohn offerings Bloodflows and Lessons and, as such, propels the Austria-based performer into the spotlight. I'm not sure which spotlight, but certainly one that will garner attention of a positive nature. A contender but not the judge's choice.
Jim Kroft - I Hope You Know - Jackanope - Apr 7 - ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Crikey - you wait a while for a Kroft anthem and then - bam! - here comes the second in as many weeks. I Hope You Know continues Kroft's journey in search of the perfect chorus with some big drums and jangly guitar that reminds of Chance by Big Country (not sure why, I'll figure it out someday) and a vocal melody that isn't a half a million miles away from something Brandon Flowers might bestow upon us. Compared to Through My Weakness (issued a few weeks ago), IHYK is more radio-friendly but perhaps not as deep and moody as our Jim can be - and we like him like that. Agreeable enough though. A big hope, but didn't make the semis this time.
Death - North Street - Drag City - out now (Soundcloud) - ★★★★★★★★☆☆
A band formed before punk spat its way through US city-streets, Death were to new wave what Thin Lizzy were to metal in the sense that black dudes were stereotyped and limited to making any music other than soul and RnB. Hey, those genres are for the white kids, brother. Bullshit, of course. Thin Lizzy, Bad Brains, Basement 5 and Death proved otherwise and proved it well. By releasing relentless and rhythmic urban garage rock way before the Pistols turned it into an art-form, Death wrote themselves a little piece of history as far back as 1976. North Street hails from the post-punk era and the 1980 album III, set for a reissue by Drag City and preceded by this comely 7" - it's like Hendrix . Detroit has all the best tunes. Again. Unlikely crowd-favourites but retired early.
Ulrich Schnauss & Mike Peters - Walking With My Eyes Closed - Bureau B - out Feb 24 - ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆
Taken from the duo's recent decent new album Tomorrow Is Another Day, this is the least Schnaussy track you've heard in a while, although there is an element of his trademark sparkle present in parts. In truth though, the resultant track is devoid of anything remotely memorable and sounds oddly cluttered as it stumbles towards the merest hint of a hook and a sputtered climax. The parent album is worth the investment though and shouldn't be judged by this forgettable fluff. Fell at the first hurdle, retired from competition.
Bill Pritchard - Trentham - Tapete - out Mar 10 - ★★★★★★★★★★
Tut tut - 'shooting ducks on the lake'? It ought to be outlawed, but if you were a kid growing up in Stoke back in the day and saw 'Hanley as the cultural quarter', then firing off a few Mallard-bound pellets was probably the height of excitement. Needless to say that Bill Pritchard's new album A Trip To The Coast is faultless songwriting and Trentham is very much at the helm of this long-awaited comeback-of-sorts. Lovers of Stephen Duffy, Morrissey and Lightning Seeds will gorge on Pritchard's carefree and wistful indie-pop, as indeed should the rest of the nation if there was a god. There are at least three better songs on the album but this is still a five-star belter. Make him famous. Buy it. Gold Medal winner.
The Traps - Imposter - Fierce Panda - out Mar 17 - ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Fans of Chris Isaak's Wicked Game will be fascinated to hear Julian Cope reworking this for a mid-paced twang-rock anthem. Just kidding, but there certainly is a similarity between the two, aided by the opening credits on the promo video below and some swoon-some guitar work. Birmingham's The Traps have the air of goodness about them actually - assured songwriting and a hazy languid musical approach that suggests they've been studying the art of melody rather than bogging themselves down in hipster hell. The latest in a long line of hopeful releases, Imposter might just help draw attention to the new album Calypso. Podium hopefuls.
Pusher - Let It Break - Genepool Records - out Mar 17 - ★★★★★★★★★☆
Three singles in and doom-wavers Pusher are becoming a serious proposition, musically. Imagine Mark Lanegan fronting Kasabian (when they were heavy) with Drenge supporting and you'll get the idea that this is a band with an intensity and purpose befitting future glories. Let It Break pummels and bullies like a teenage gang on crack, wielding baseball bats and snarling at walls. Guitars howl like pitbulls and the whole thing is glued together by singer James Gilroy's resonating baritone. Comparisons to Ian Curtis might be a little unfounded but there's no doubt that Pusher would probably record a decent cover of Transmission if prompted. Silver Medal winners.
God Is An Astronaut - The Last March - Rocket Girl - out Mar 17 - ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
After the recent interest and Top 10 placing of the similar Mogwai's Rave Tapes album, it seems fitting that the moodier God Is An Astronaut take a punt with another track from their recent full-length set Origins. The Last March is certainly one of the stronger instrumentals on it - subtle electronic beats give away to a tidal-surge of chiming guitars and a detonation of drumbeats that peers Mogwai have been shying away from of late. Several albums in and I wonder if there's an opportunity for GIAA to finally garner more acclaim - The Last March suggests they should. Steadfast performance but not a medal-winner yet.