Waco – Human Magic

Jan29

With requests for its attention coming from various directions including one from an old friend of The RR in the band’s very own Welshy who previously swung the sticks in one of our all-time fav bands, Top Buzzer, we just had to take a gander at the new album from UK outfit Waco. It is a move which brought immediate rewards and pleasure, both increasing by the listen so much so that we just had to introduce you to Human Magic and its riot of anarchic punk infested rock ‘n’ roll.

From song to song, Waco reveals a sound which rebels against expectations and wanders into an imagination which is as feral as the sounds it produces yet comes with a prowess and mischief as skilfully woven as it is organically bred. Describing the band’s sound is easy for a minute or two but soon deviates from any suggestion offered within the next but maybe imagine a fusion of Rocket from the Crypt, Jaya The Cat, and Japanese Fighting Fish and you get an on-going clue to the character of it and in turn debut album Human Magic.

Providing songs “laced with metaphysics, conspiracy theories and spirituality”, 2014 founded London hailing Waco consists of the inimitable lead vocals of guitarist Jak, the hook laded exploits of fellow guitarist Tom, and the addiction crowding endeavour of bassist James around the ever manipulate and bold rhythms of Welshy. Human Magic also features the just as fertile enterprise of former bassist Chris who sadly passed away late 2018 and was an integral part of attention and plaudit grabbing EPs the band released over the years.

Human Magic opens up with The Jersey Devil and immediately had intrigue hooked as a spicy sax rose up around the bold tones of Jak, a lure instantly erupting in a bold and rousing stomp. There is a vein of seventies pop punk come power pop to the track too which escalates its infectious deeds, Welshy’s beats landing with an eagerness only echoed in that contagion and the enterprise around them.

It is a spirit rousing start quickly backed up by the just as devilish Levenshulme Lover, a slice of indie rock meets pop punk that revels in the raw breath and mischievous nature of both. Rhythms again had the body pumped as vocals engaged with the song’s own holler; a touch of Buster Shuffle like revelry joining a bluesy finale to give greater dexterity to the song before N15 saunters in with a summery glow and instinctive catchiness swiftly emphasized by Tom’s melodic touch. Again a sax shares richly flavoursome flames to emulate the heat of the guitar while the union of vocals across the band and more accentuates the radiance of the song.

The album’s title track is a brief cosmic glide, a golden instrumental sunset before the senses bouncing, spirit rousing holler of Anthony. Firm heady beats lead the second track’s entrance, splashes of guitar igniting the air as the bass tenaciously growls and strolls through song and ears alike. Jak’s vocals match the sounds around them in hooks and almost rapacious tempting, everything aligning to provide a thumping virulent rock ‘n’ roll roar with that previously mentioned Rocket From The Crypt like essence icing on the raucous cake.

Next up Daydream has a touch of Flogging Molly playing Elvis Costello to its balladry, a piano shaping its emotive hug before things increasingly grow rowdy with Jak sharing his inimitable expression and presence in its midst while My Brother, We’ll Rise Again surrounds ears in a dark rock embrace hinting of bands such as The Filthy Tongues or The Ugly Kings in its short sultry and soulful croon. Both only further stretch the varied sound and landscape of the album, an endeavour further pushed by the indie pop rock contagion of The Valleys.

As the psych rock scented Smalltown Goths tempts and in turn rocks ears with its own dose of infection and Six Feet Under straight after serenades the same welcoming guests with its country folk lined dance, it is fair to say that Human Magic slipped deeper under the skin, then burrowing just a layer or two further as By My Side serenaded with its lively pop drama and glorious mix of vocals and definitely more so through the boisterous antics of Catbrain. The latter is superb stealing favourite song honours from the moment Welshy’s deviously addictive beats burst from a concussive entrance to infest feet and musical instincts with guitars spinning a web of matching temptation around Jak’s and the band’s devilish vocals and intent.

Completed by Tomorrow’s Gorgeous Globe and its magnetic poetry, Human Magic more than lives up to its suggestive name and all the reasons from many as to why we should have checked it out. To be honest all leasing words only touched on the magnificence of the album and we can only add our own summons to theirs for you to share real attention its way.

Human Magic is out now via Standby Records.

http://www.wacoband.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Wacouk/ https://twitter.com/wacobanduk

Pete RingMaster 27/01/2020

SPInnERS – Operation: Breakout

Jan29

It is four years since we were introduced to Greek outfit SPInnERS through their third album, Ghost. It was a striking and rousing invitation to the Athens hailing trio’s clamorous fusion of post hardcore, punk, noise and indie rock, and reason enough to suggest the band were poised to stir the same attention and recognition that they already had at home further afield. It is probably fair to say that those expectations have not been realised yet but that relative anonymity is sure to be tested again with the release of new full-length, Operation: Breakout.

Between those albums, the 5 Songs EP of 2018 hinted at a new breath of flavoursome adventure to the band’s sound, a richer touch of imagination now flourishing within eleven-track loaded Operation: Breakout and fair to say that the album swiftly had ears hooked with opener We Are Entering A New World Of Artificial Optimism And Massive Screens. The track is a slice of dark instrumental suggestion upon a robust surge of rhythmic enticement setting down the first potent trait to be found within the album, a melodic and imaginative drama which needed no words alongside to provide plenty to conjure with.

Of course the band’s lyrical side does nothing to defuse that potency as the following Revenge Of The Tribesmen proves, the song leading ears in with a tease of guitar before the thumping rhythmic prowess of drummer Chris joins the resonating drawl of Johnny’s bass. As the track twists and turns with hooks and riffs, guitarist Panos weaving a compelling web, his and the band’s aligning vocals roar to further accentuate the song’s magnetic holler.

Bleak is next up, exploding on the senses with cacophonous hunger before settling down a touch though that volatility is surface wore. Whereas the previous album bore the bands post punk instincts quite openly, Operation: Breakout relishes their punk instincts and the third track epitomises that intent though equally it just as openly shares the dexterous variety within the band’s music. Never breaking its raucous stride, the song makes way for the delicious clang of I’ll Be Waiting which just to contradict the previous statement emerges on a delicious post punk lure before exposing its contagion loaded rock ‘n’ roll. Moments spring thoughts of The Membranes and others times fellow Greeks, Three Way Plane are hinted at but essences in something unapologetically individual to SPInnERS.

As Endless Dive brings its alternative rock spiced yell to the band’s indie meets noise punk howl, the threesome unveil more of their magnetic writing and cross genre garage rock bearing imagination, the just as infectious No Exception a creative echo of that invention as it strolls with rhythmic seduction and bursts with equal zeal upon eager ears and appetite. There is something familiar to the track, though we suspect it is simply reflections of the band’s previous triumphs even if Serbian outfit Noyz? is provoked in thoughts occasionally, but that just an ingredient its contagious and wonderfully unpredictable punk ‘n’ roll.

A contender for best album moment, the song is quickly rivalled by Wash You Away with its scythes of post punk guitar within a more punk pop nurtured canter. Even so both songs are eclipsed by the following pair of the album’s title track and its successor Johann Trollmann’s Infinite Punch. The first of the two ambles in on almost ear taunting grooves amidst sonic atmospherics as Chris and Johnny cast their rhythmic incitement, the tones and guitar intimation of Panos keenly as manipulative on quickly hungry ears and imagination before the second of the two simply had us drooling. Just as Buzzcocks shaped their early albums with some truly suggestive and addictive instrumentals, so SPInnERS bless their new release. With the sax of Manolis Kisamitakis a wicked addition, the piece weaves an intimation of intrigue and shadows, danger and compulsion colouring every addictive note and haunting suggestion on offer.

With the acoustic embrace and melancholy of Who Cares? completing Operation: Breakout we can only declare the album the band’s finest moment yet and though it is ridiculously still easy to get lost and overlooked in the vast opportunities modern technology gives artists there is even more that feeling and anticipation that SPInnERS are ready to erupt upon the biggest landscapes of attention given the chance.

Operation: Breakout is available now @ https://spinnersathens.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/spinnersathens/

Pete RingMaster 25/01/2020

The Lighthouse – Whatever Comes Our Way

Jan29

Photo – BAARD Photography

Hailing from the indie pop landscape of Belgium, The Lighthouse describes their music as offering “Songs that feel like Fridays.” We cannot say we exactly understand what they mean by that description but if they suggest it comes with a kind of smile loaded freedom that is felt from escaping the demands of an insatiable working life for most on the close of that particular day than we can only agree. The band recently released their debut album, Whatever Comes Our Way, a collection of songs which more so echo the bright and cheery feeling you get as another summery day breaks upon the senses; each uniting in a collective warmth and infectiousness which just makes you want to get up and sway, dance, and enjoy the day.

There is not a great deal we can tell you about The Lighthouse except that through their sound, songs, and live shows they have been gaining greater and thicker attention across Belgium and the Netherlands as well as further afield earning over 2 Million streams on Spotify on the way. As revealed within Whatever Comes Our Way their sound has a lively mellowness which arouses the senses and a boisterous spirit which gets into feet with ease. There is a certainly coincidental resemblance to the music of US band Paper Jackets, each creating a liberating catchiness and warmth in indie pop orientated sounds unafraid to embrace electronic and various other essences though there the similarities for the most stop.

Whatever Comes Our Way immediately hugs ears with opener Cover Story, the keys of Willem Schellekens an instant caress to which the firm and boisterous beats of drummer Bastiaan Jonniaux and the resonating lure of Yannick H’Madoun’s bass add keen temptation. Simultaneously the guitars of Bram Knockaert and Nick Socquet cast a blend of ear clipping bait and melodic enticing as the combined vocals of Schellekens and Knockaert gather with polyphonic prowess. It all makes for a rousing and striking encounter and a mix which provides the template for the album and its host of boldly individual songs.

Catch Fire is the second temptation on the record, its gait more relaxed and swing less urgent but a track which easily had hips swaying to and ears firmly attentive in its organic catchiness and melodic seduction before the following School’s Out shared its eighties synth pop appreciation and spirited pop instincts. As those before it and indeed those to come the song almost teases with its hooks and rhythms before springing a chorus which is impossible to ignore and rather hard not to participate in.

Next up Tel Aviv is the same, its movement infectious and melodic tempting pretty much irresistible while just leading to another rousing chorus which tested the soprano in us but not the eagerness to try before the two parts of Redwing stepped forward to epitomise the variety and depth of the band’s writing. From its atmospheric opening Pt. 1 blossomed into a predominately electro pop instrumental which hinted at bands such as Ladytron and Bastille before a coaxing of vocals gathers as the track evolves into Pt. 2, it too a thickly atmospheric serenade woven on a reflective tapestry of almost haunting musical and vocal melody.

Pretty Classy is another which revels in the rich almost dense atmospheric side of the band’s sound and its broad adventure whilst relishing the contagious nature of their instinctive touch while Something In The Air equally crafts it’s tempting in that natural catchiness while blending it a more forceful dynamic which again had the body bouncing.

Across the similarly manipulative and buoyant Hear Me Out and the bubbly Vitamin K with its animated energy and enterprise there was no denying the contagious urging of the band, Easygoing backing up their persistence through it’s less vigorous but certainly no less fertile twilight lit stroll.

The album is completed by the seductive serenade of Tundra, a song bountiful in melodic suggestion and creative adventure as it weaves a landscape as rich as that its title suggests. It is a potent end to an album which radiates sunshine and feel-good spirit as well as prime cut pop songs; it all together a pleasure to raise the spirit in a dark world.

Whatever Comes Our Way is out now.

http://thelighthousesound.com https://www.facebook.com/TheLighthouseSound/ https://twitter.com/TLHsound