All This Huxley – Comrade II

Jun7

With a new EP due for release in a few short weeks, Philadelphia based All This Huxley recently gave anticipation a potent lure to its body and heart with lead single Comrade II. A slice of calm but emotively fuelled melodic indie rock, the song nestled with ears like a familiar yet previously unknown friend, the instinct to embrace its serenade inescapable.

All This Huxley consists of multi-instrumentalists Trevor Serine, John Corcoran, Josh Mayer, and Alex Marlys. Formed by the first pair as a jazz-fusion project, the band soon gained a dedicated following with the latter two subsequently joining up in 2014 when as their bio says, All This Huxley was born and has continued to grow and flourish as their sound similarly blossomed in its eclectic and adventurous character.

As mentioned, July sees the release of the Home Stockholm EP, a release sure to beckon keen attention especially if Comrade II has its way.

The single simply caresses the senses from its first touch, guitar strokes on the imagination an alluring creative hand more than matched by the slightly darker rhythmic stroll which swiftly emerges. With vocals and melodies sharing the emotive intimation of words and heart, the track provides a warm at times almost fiery embrace with hope and melancholy hugging seductively.

A blend of indie pop, folk, and melodic rock, Comrade II is a light for ears and thoughts and a potent beacon to the potential of the Home Stockholm EP.

Comrade II is out now @ https://allthishuxley.bandcamp.com/ with Home Stockholm released July 5th.

https://www.facebook.com/AllThisHuxley/ https://allthishuxley.com

Pete RingMaster 04/06/2019

Bastard Disco – China Shipping

May22

Maybe more recognised for its metal diversity and prowess, over the years we have found that the Polish independent music scene breeds some rather fine propositions within other musical flavours. The latest to come to our attention is the noise rock fuelled alternative rock of Bastard Disco and particularly their new album, China Shipping. Across nine ear grabbing tracks, the Warsaw quartet’s sophomore full-length is a magnetic affair as raw and hungry as it is melodically seductive; one of those encounters you cannot help taking real notice of.

Formed in 2015, Bastard Disco finds inspiration in the likes of Fugazi, Quicksand, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, and The Pixies for their own individual sound. 2017 saw the well-received release of debut album Warsaw Wasted Youth via Poland’s oldest independent label, Antena Krzyku. The band has united with the label once again for China Shipping, a release swiftly engaging ears with opener Sophia. The coaxing grooves of guitarist Kamil Fejfer lay down a potent lure, the accompanying grumble of Paweł Cholewa’s bass and the swinging beats of Marek Kamiński soon eagerly accentuating the early temptation. As vocalist Yuri Kasianenko’s melodic tones join the captivation, the track almost haunts the imagination, its hooks and quickly established enterprise proving very easy to devour.

Future Crimes follows, opening with the great dirty growl of Cholewa’s bass before contrasting its grumble with the melodic jangle of guitar. As with its predecessor, familiar essences collude with bold fresh endeavour to create an individual character and presence; its melodic and harmonic boisterousness adding to that distinctiveness. There is a sonic mugginess to song and sound too which similarly just lured ears in and though maybe missing the striking hooks of the opener, the track effortlessly held court before Time Traveller offered up its own humid noise cultured breath. Something akin to Dinosaur Jr meets Big Black the song proved increasingly compelling and contagious as it nagged an already eagerly involved appetite.

Next up is Clear!, a slice of scuzzy indie rock with punk voracity to its infectious holler. Its highly potent persuasion soon matched by that crafted by the outstanding Shining Confidence. The track was pure fascination, its melodic seduction and sultry climate a mesmeric setting for the track’s devilish groove spun chorus. It is another with familiar elements but never proved anything but unique to Bastard Disco while Ministry of Self-Defence emulated that originality straight after with its own sonically dissonant bounce and confrontation. Ferocious yet melodically seductive, feral but craftily conjured, the track provides another particularly compelling highlight before Game of Patriots stole the show. Its first breaths bring the hypnotic coaxing of Kamiński’s beats, every subsequent one exposing his manipulative dexterity as the equally nefariously antics of bass and guitar just enforce the track’s virulence. Kasianenko is just as magnetic alongside their tenacious enterprise, providing further impassioned flaming to the song’s fiery eruptions.

The closing pair of Sink or Swim and B-side Son ensure China Shipping leaves as potently as it arrives, the first enjoying the union of a grumble dark rhythmic incitement and scuzz lined melodic intimation around the perpetually tempting vocals of Kasianenko. The final track is all spirited bounce and creative contagion beneath vocal and emotive energy; a rousing memorable finale to an equally stirring release rather easy to highly recommend.

China Shipping is out now via Antena Krzyku; available digitally @ https://bastarddisco.bandcamp.com/album/china-shipping and on CD/LP through http://www.antenakrzyku.pl/en/shop/bastard-disco-china-shipping-lpdownload-preorder-release-date-030519-kopia/

https://www.facebook.com/bastarddisco/

Pete RingMaster 21/05/2019

C Wired – Angel Circuit Engaged

Apr3

Linking lyrical prowess and imagination with its musical rock equivalent, C Wired drew potent plaudits with eclectic debut EP, Omega, and recently repeated and out shone its adventure with successor Angel Circuit Engaged. Offering six slices of rock ‘n’ roll woven from an array of rock ‘n’ roll flavours, it is an encounter which has proven rather magnetic.

C Wired is Chuck Whyard, a singer-songwriter adept at casting potent imagery in word as in a sound embracing everything from alternative and indie rock to country and blues flavoured rock ‘n’ roll. It makes for a diverse mix and songs as proven on Omega early last year which are as individual as they are united in the C Wired touch. Since that well-received debut, Whyard has pulled in and established a hard rocking band to hit the live scene and bolster an already adventurous sound, Angel Circuit Engaged seeing the craft of guitarist/moog synthesist Addison Smith, bassist Andrew Renner, keyboardist Wil Houchens, and drummer Daniel Kelly alongside its frontman.

Angel Circuit Engaged opens up with its title track and swiftly offers up a multi-scented breeding, grooves and rhythms uniting to impose temptation. Whyard’s vocals are just as alluring as too the warm flirtatious lure of the keys, each matching the instinctive liveliness of a song just as eager in its calmer repose. Inviting from the off and more rousing with each play, and featuring Sol Philcox-Littlefield on guitar, it makes for a highly enjoyable opener.

Its success is followed by Botticelli Baby, it too making a richly enticing intrigue loaded entrance before slipping into its unpredictable stroll. As rhythms pounce and bounce, sultry streams of guitar light up the song’s suggestive body, surf rock hues adding to its already colourful fuel of styles. The track did not quite hit the spot overall as its predecessor but has moments of delicious rock ‘n’ roll in its bait and nothing less than keen imagination in its twists.

There is a great fire in the belly of next up Climb The Mountain, a fevered volatility which may not truly erupt but gives an already strong track greater drama and texture to create the EP’s best moment before Persian Woman rivals its success with a web of styles and tapestry of melodic enterprise from the ever enticing keys and inventive guitar, again provided by Philcox-Littlefield. Bolder by the moment, the song captivated with ease with Angels Are Not Afraid of the Dark sharing its own melodic and lyrical intimation soon after, both an authoritative tempting throughout the release. Another slow burner in comparison to others it effortlessly left ears richly satisfied.

The EP closes up with the excellent Little Sisters, a rocking stomping slice of rock ‘n’ roll with a penchant for pop revelry. It was a conclusion which the body effortlessly bounced to and appetite indulged in especially its fifties nurtured dynamics and mischief.

Produced by Addison Smith, Angel Circuit Engaged is our first taste of C Wired and sure not to be the last as it was rather easy to find a rather contented appetite for their sound; something we can be sure we will not be alone in.

Angel Circuit Engaged is out now across most stores.

https://www.facebook.com/cwiredband/

Pete RingMaster 02/04/2019

Jupiter in Velvet – Beautiful New Day

Jan20

Six albums down and Jupiter in Velvet continues to nurture fresh ingredients in a sound which just seems to grow and evolve by the release. The US bred, UK residing singer songwriter has persistently refused to make it easy to pigeonhole his sound and Beautiful New Day, his seventh full-length, has mischievously not made it any easier. It is a rocking stomping slab of rock ‘n’ roll bred on all the rich essences of previous decades whilst casting more than a few new ones of its very own.

Jupiter in Velvet adds everything from pop and psych rock to indie and electro rock to a classic/hard rock hearted sound, one also just as adept at grabbing metal hues as it is at being a punk. The latest album certainly bears classic rock inclinations maybe more so than previous encounters but with a hunger for any flavour and style which allows the contagion within tracks to truly roar.

Beautiful New Day opens up with Heavy Like A Brick and immediately gripped ears with insurgent strikes of guitar; their guerrilla scythes nothing other than pure temptation. That nagging lure swiftly breaks into a prowling swagger loaded stroll as the richly individual tones of Jupiter add their own swinging persuasion. A track which just tempts more and more by the listen, it is a web of seventies and eighties rock and pop lined with strands of current day devilry; a proposition unapologetically infectious though that instinctive contagion reveals itself to be even more viral like numerous times more across the release.

Next up, Can’t Get It Right is one such instigator; the song a mix of Bowie-esque, INXS infected catchiness with a roar in its breath and angst in its heart. Its controlled swing simply manipulated hips whilst the guitar sparked the appetite with senses stabbing riffs and sonic flames. A feral edge to its tone and catchiness added further magnetism before Monsters took over and uncaged its predacious pop ‘n’ roll. As with most tracks there is a mix of familiarity and individual enterprise which grabs ears and attention and like each, the song springs hooks and melodic tempting with the hand of the Devil.

From one outstanding track to another as latest single Metanoia grips the imagination next. An irresistible blend of indie pop and melodic rock, the track bounces in with a bold and catchy gait but one which only builds greater manipulation of body and appetite when it unleashed a blazing romp of a chorus that is something akin to T-Rex meets The Wildhearts. Again hooks and grooves entangle to tempt and enslave as vocals add their own thick persuasion to another of the album’s finest moments.

The diversity within the Jupiter in Velvet sound is no better epitomised than within The Day I Fell From The Stars and its electro rock bred, celestially shimmering serenade. It is a thrilling Bowie scented courting though which boils as its simmers become tenacious flames of guitar and emotive intimation, a tempestuousness rising up and relaxing throughout without losing the song’s intensity and invention before fading away for the attitude lined punk ‘n’ roll of U Can’t Beat Me. There are flickers of bands such as The Motors, The Stones, and Iggy Pop to a rhythmically compelling, sonically tempting romp which as all tracks there is no option of ignoring.

Across the blues kissed, hard rock bopping Spare Me and the swarthy, humid melody woven balladry of With A Whole Lotta Heart, variety and magnetism only further blossoms. Neither song quite fired up the passions as their predecessors yet both enjoyably lingered in the memory after providing a body sparking, voice recruiting companion; a double tempting even more inescapable with the rapaciously strolling Take Control though it’s surf coloured psych rock ‘n’ roll is in turn eclipsed by teasing lures of Kiss The Flame. It is a coaxing though which almost becomes carnivorous as the track expels its untamed and hungrily magnetic clamour with eager imagination.

The album concludes with out and out rocker Fight 4 Your Life, a track which embodies the inspirations and kaleidoscope of flavours not forgetting craft and fun which makes up the Jupiter in Velvet sound.

Relentlessly rousing, Beautiful New Day is old school, new day rock ‘n’ roll which simply and eagerly feeds what we all want; something to boisterously rock out to.

Beautiful New Day is available now as a name your own price download @ https://jupiterinvelvet.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-new-day

https://www.jupiterinvelvet.com https://www.facebook.com/jupiterinvelvet https://www.twitter.com/jupiterisvelvet

Pete RingMaster 20/01/2019

Gravves – Oh, The Joy

May2

One of last year’s highlights was undoubtedly the broader introduction of UK noise punks Gravves through debut EP Rattle. Now the band is ready to whip up even greater fuss and raucousness with its successor whose title pretty much sums up reactions to it, Oh, The Joy.

The North Wales hailing outfit create a cacophony of sound and enterprise littered with devious hooks and senses harrying rhythms. It is borne of a fusion of punk, noise, and alternative rock, the lustier ingredients of each uniting in a bold and often caustic roar as virulently infectious as it is eagerly abrasive. If Rattle highlighted its instinctive persuasion, Oh, The Joy rams it down eagerly welcoming throats with even greater relish and ferocity.

The trio of bassist/vocalist Adam Hughes, guitarist/vocalist David Thomas, and drummer Tom Williams swiftly blast ears with the Michael Whalley (Kong, Bipolar Sunshine) recorded EP through opener Power Bomb Baby, each of the three bombarding the senses with raw energy and zeal. William’s beats take no prisoners whilst guitar and bass harry and taunt with rapacity as vocals blaze. As imposing a trespass as it is, the track is fuelled by infectious rock ‘n’ roll, sweeping the listener up in its tenacious garage punk/noise rock lures and energy.

The track continues the character and intent which made the band’s first EP so irresistible yet already there is a richer craft and individuality to the band’s sound which continues into next up Monster Truck. The second track also thrusts its rhythmic aggression and vocal abrasion immediately through ears but soon shows a more controlled if still devious attack with skin burrowing hooks and an irritably grumbling bassline; attitude simultaneously fuelling the heart of the outstanding song in word and sound.

From a scuzzy wind This is Bliss springs an indie meets garage punk incitement which had the body rocking with swift submission, Gravves tempering its punk causticity and elevating their cunning imagination for virulent hooks and invasive swings. Like a mix of the St Pierre Snake Invasion and The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, the track quickly had juices running as too did successor Sinister Surf. Emulating its title in flavour and noir lit breath, the track simply haunts as it prowls the senses, seducing and invading with sublime ease and touch even as its tantalising grooves erupt with caustic emotion and intensity.

Hello Sailor bawls and stomps with its own particular virulence next, manipulative hooks and rhythms controlling instincts and limbs like a dictator as guitars spread melodic corrosion across their invasion. The surf rock scent of the previous track is still lapping over things but from a more early Horrors like distillery and it works a glorious treat.

Bringing things to a close, L is for Loser roars with sonic severity veined with a tangle of inescapable hooks and severely magnetic grooves; a track unleashing its full weight on the senses with fury and relish.

It is a fine end to another encounter with Gravves which left us breathless and greedy for much more. It has built upon the strong qualities of the first EP with hunger and imagination whilst still hinting the journey for the band’s sound is far from over. As the new encounter says, Oh, The Joy!

Oh, The Joy is out now through Loner Noise Records and available @ https://gravvesgravves.bandcamp.com/album/oh-the-joy

Upcoming live shows:

06 May 2018 – Liverpool UK, Sound City

10 May 2018 – Wrexham UK, Focus Wales Festival

11 May 2018 – Preston UK, The Ferret

12 May 2018 – Wrexham UK, Focus Wales Festival

26 May 2018 – Llanidloes UK, Kingsfest

27 May 2018 – Birmingham UK, Die Das Der

https://www.facebook.com/gravvesgravvesgravves/ https://twitter.com/gravvesgravves

Pete RingMaster 02/05/2018

The Twindows – Valkyrie 2.0

Mar21

For most, musical bliss can come in various shapes and styles; creative adventures which just connect with personal instincts and tastes. It is fair to say that for us it recently came all rolled up in one hungrily tempting proposal going by the names of The Twindows and their debut album Valkyrie 2.0.

Hailing out of Philadelphia, The Twindows breed a rapacious sound which infuses essences of everything from noise and indie rock to metal and grunge to a punk across the decades borne heart. It is a bold and boisterous web of temptation as virulently infectious as it is ferociously imaginative and led by a voice truly we could listen to all day long. Vocalist/guitarist Aster Grimm has one of the most devilishly tempting voices and just as magnetically matched by the creative antics of guitarist Kyle Anderson, bassist Caleb Banas, and drummer Oskar Daoud across Valkyrie 2.0. Together they have nurtured a release which teases, seduces, and arouses across eleven lust inducing slices of musical diablerie.

It begins with Like My Music; raw and salacious pop infested punk rock roaring from aggravation with Damned like hooks and rhythmic rapacity to the fore. Grimm blossoms in the centre, her tones stirring song and attention further as for one minute and three quarters the track provides the album with one irresistible start.

The following Mosquito / Thick Skin swings in on a blend of grunge nurtured rock ‘n’ roll upon a ska seeded bounce. Fiercer textures with metallic toning soon sizzle and sear around the tenacious attack of Grimm, the track’s noise punk instincts just as vocal before it passed thick attention and an already keen appetite over to Forgiven. Instantly it entangles ears in rhythmic espionage; boisterously coaxing beats and a glorious bass grumble getting under the skin as guitars weave a sonic web around Grimm’s similarly magnetic lures. Something akin to Throwing Muses embroiled in the punk ‘n’ roll of Spinnerette and in turn fused with devilment of Die So Fluid, the track is sheer captivation; one as seductive as it is predacious and all feral temptation.

Dig Tree comes next, the track a bewitching slice of punk pop initially, nostalgically recalling bands such as The Chefs and 4 Non Blondes. It floats across the senses but has a sonic causticity which just adds to the song’s bait again headed by Grimm’s engagingly manipulative presence. Whilst adding a new hue to the album broadening adventure, the song has feet and hips involved just as easily as rock ‘n’ roll instincts.

That variety of flavouring across the release is encouraged again by next up Ska Death (Ska Death Lounge Death Ska), an unstoppable incursion of ska/noise punk which had the body eagerly bobbing along before expelling a hellacious sonic gas of aural volatility, a tempest returning with greater dexterity after the song relaxed again into its lively bounce, and with bolder imagination as sax flames sear the riveting bedlam. Imagine Animal Alpha infused by the spirit of The Jellycats and the punk revelry of The Mo-Dettes and you come close to the song’s infectious alchemy.

The Twindows let their punk instincts run riot in Reversals next, the track an insatiable rock ‘n’ roll charge with noise bred vapours crossing a kaleidoscope of twists and turns while Pulp within a similar but even more corrosive landscape leaps around with kinetic intensity and agility. All the while though as rhythms dance, sonic spices and melodic adventure simmers and rise up to temper and challenge the tempestuous nature of the track.

The inescapably catchy punk ‘n’ roll of Instigator unerringly worms into the psyche within seconds straight after, the song like a mix of The Kut and Daisy Chainsaw but as everywhere uniquely Twindows; a trait just as potently shown by the grunge rock of The Industry. Admittedly, the song did not quite hit the spot as those tracks around it within Valkyrie 2.0 but only added to the fun before The Pixies endowed Sleepycore had us licking our lips once more. With its almost somnolent swing and Grimm’s vocal bewitchment, the outstanding track simply transfixed, even more so when it’s deceitful gait unveiled a furious if still controlled intent.

Bringing things to a close Wire Mother surrounds its energetic croon with abrasive psych and indie punk imagination, the song another as unpredictable in sound and imagination as it is irresistible in persuasion. It provides a provocative and rousing conclusion to an album which just lit the fires of personal tastes while offering something completely fresh to ponder, taste, and devour.

We have nothing more to add except go and have a nibble yourselves.

Valkyrie 2.0 is out now and available @ https://thetwindows.bandcamp.com/album/valkyrie-20

https://www.facebook.com/thetwindowsmusic/

Pete RingMaster 21/03/2018

Mala Ruckus – People Mountain People Sea

Dec4

Formed in Dalian, China, consisting of 5 musicians from 4 different countries and now residing in Prague, in the Czech Republic, Mala Ruckus and their seriously captivating sound is one of the music world’s best kept secrets. Maybe and hopefully that will not be the case for longer with the upcoming release of the band’s debut album, People Mountain People Sea. It is a showcase and rich introduction to the quintet’s multi-flavoured indie folk pop/rock, a collection of songs which get under the skin like a sensuous itch and has the body and emotions bouncing like the first days of summer.

Formed in 2013, Mala Ruckus first came to our attention two years later when they introduced themselves and debut EP Make the Monkey Watch to the site. It offered three lively and swiftly magnetic songs which in hindsight certainly hinted at the wider tapestry of sound now shaping People Mountain People Sea. Those tracks make up a quarter of the album and sound as fresh and exciting amongst their new companions as the first day heard. That is the key to the band’s sound, its ability to feel as refreshing as its first listen a hundred times later, that coupled to a bold imaginative and an instinctive aptitude to be virulently infectious no matter how it comes.

Fronted by the instantly magnetically distinctive voice of Canadian vocalist/guitarist Alex Montyro, Mala Ruckus swiftly get down to business with opener Run. Straight away the melody casting strings of Montyro and Ireland bred guitarist Caolon O’Neill Forde coax ears, the crisp beats of American born drummer Sean Rollins lurking and finally adding a skip to the already boisterous song. The keys of Francis Carlisle and the bass of fellow Brit Ian James add their smiling strolls to the swinging encounter thereafter, the song like a fusion of Jim Jiminee and Arctic Monkeys and quite irresistible.

In saying that it is still eclipsed by the following Hoverboards where straightaway the medieval spiced mandolin of O’Neill Forde has ears and imagination hooked. That melodic invitation sparks a boisterous stroll of indie rock pop, rhythms tenacious bait within the track’s energetically melodic shuffle. Montyro’s vocals again just hit the spot as unerringly as the sounds around him, especially the pulsating bassline, kinetic parade of hooks, and the harmonic glaze from across the band.

Trees, Fields is next, the song a calmer but no less catchy proposition with its bold rhythms within a folkier air equipped with a sighing temptation of strings. Like an Autumn sunset, the song is a fine blend of melancholy and warmth becoming increasingly vivacious by the minute before making way for the compelling croon of Words. With a country twang and a more reserved urgency compared to its predecessors, the song sways in ears, sharing another adventurous side to vocals and melodic enterprise whilst echoing the success of those around it.

The sampled opening of Sheets sets the oppressive tone of the world but one soon calmed and evolved by the emerging melodic canter of the track. As with the previous song, its energy and spirit brews by the second, every twist and turn, each vocal and musical touch escalating in creative drama and thickening emotion. There is a Coldplay like scent to the song by its close but in a good way as it stirs the passions up ready for successor East Hastings. From its own gentle and provocative entrance complete with a Latin seeded seduction, the track rises up with evocative drama for a creative helter skelter. Revolving with fervour and diversity, the track is immense; a slice of indie rock theatre as composed and fluid as it is boldly unpredictable and the best song winner.

It is persistently rivalled to be fair, from those before and following such as the jazz funk lined Nowhere Bound with its smoky tone, soulful brass, and hazy melodies, and in turn Take It Away. The second is a frisky carnival; its Mediterranean swing and smiling melodies pure flirtation backed as teasingly by vocals and its friskier rock ‘n’ roll side. Reminding a little of UK band JacksonsWarehouse, as a few tracks do, the song has hips swinging and spirit bouncing with zeal for four delicious minutes.

New single Beast of our Babylon brings a more sombre breeze to the adventure but with no less captivation and pleasure involved. It is a folk nurtured ballad with melancholic strings and acoustic elegance round the emotive tones of Montyro which just thickens and captivates second by second, maybe missing the mischief of other encounters within the album but rich in creative beauty to spark just as much pleasure.

The following pair of Fire and Ghosts ignite their own dose of lusty acclaim, the first a prime snappy fusion of the band’s folk/indie rock recipe and quite beguiling while the second is the perfect crescendo of energy and spirit. Its build from an emotive kiss and melodic caress is simply sublime, rhythms a brewing tour de force driving the increasing tempo and rousing air looming upon the senses, and its arrival into a virulent rock ‘n’ roll escapade irresistible.

The album departs with Barmaid, a raw sepia hued slice of lively folk seduction which has feet tapping, hips swaying, and vocal chords humming in seconds. Its sorrowful sigh is just as warming as its harmonic tempting and rhythmic teasing providing the perfect way to drift off into the sunset of People Mountain People Sea.

All the promise of that first EP has been exploited within the album but taken to a level not anticipated back then. It is quite wonderful and the fact that the common words coming from those hearing it with us is “Damn this band is good” says it all.