Maven – Am I Awake?

Dec6

Maven is a band which since emerging back in 2012 has earned an increasingly potent reputation for their alternative rock sound loaded with big rousing choruses, captivating melody, and emotive intensity. Increasingly individuality has also been a growing aspect in its persuasive character and all are in full roar within new EP, Am I Awake?

London hailing, Maven has endured a host of personnel changes over the years but with a stable line-up now established, the quintet has built their way towards the encroaching of major spotlights. Their previous well-received EP, Closed Doors, Open Minds, ignited a strong underground following and support and it is easy to see its successor nudging the band towards even greater success and exposure.

Embracing inspirations from the likes of Don Broco, Mallory Knox, Breaking Benjamin, and Story of The Year in their sound, Maven offer up a proposition which is still to find uniqueness but openly comes with individual imagination and bold enterprise as proven by the first and title track of Am I Awake? alone. The song initially wraps ears with a melodic caress, its voice evocative and melancholic as similarly respectful beats court its solemnity. An eruption of guitar and intensity then breaks before another calm reflection of keys as the potent tones of vocalist Dan Nash share their hearts; this in turn leading to another impassioned roar of sound and emotion from which an infectious stroll ripe with tempestuousness breaks. Barely half way and already band and song reveal an unpredictable and fascinating landscape of imagination reflected in sound and enterprise, the guitars of Joe Marshall and Rob Barlow weaving a striking mix of melodic drama and sonic turbulence around the rhythmic agility of bassist Sam Tindal and drummer Josh Stillwell.

The following Stronger Than You is cast in the same theatre of thought and prowess, turning calm reflection into aggressive declaration and rousing intensity into melodic intimation with craft and ear grabbing instincts. Though it just misses rivalling the heights of its predecessor, the song is an inferno of anthemic passion and drama within an infectious landscape of successful sonic persuasion while its successor Heart Time, prowling a similar trail to those before it, strikes out with its own agitated and arousing emotions and contagious melodic rock fertility. As with the previous track, it too lacks the rich unpredictability of the first but only provides a compelling invitation and adventure within a volatile body.

Am I Alive? brings the EP to a close, deep thought and reflection soaking its heart and words as the maturity of the band’s earnest sound and songwriting erupts with poignant intent and sonic power. As the EP started, it ends with a striking and stirring proposal while across its compelling length it increasingly suggests that Maven are heading the right way to sparking eager recognition.

Am I Awake? is released December 6^th

http://www.mavenband.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/MavenBandUk/ https://twitter.com/MavenbandUK

Pete RingMaster 05/12/2019

Neverlanded – F.u.U

Apr2

Voracious in breath, bold in imagination, and a touch irritable in character the sound fuelling the debut EP from UK trio Neverlanded makes no concessions to expectations as they provide one of the more exciting and intriguing introductions heard over recent months. A feisty and uncompromising mix of grunge, alternative rock, and punk rock with an appetite for stoner hues, it is within the F.u.U EP, a striking confrontation as belligerent as it is brazenly adventurous.

Roaring out of North London, Neverlanded consists of vocalist/guitarist Pete Bloom, bassist/guitarist Niki Jester, and drummer Jaca Freer. Initially formed as an online project in 2017, the band has since released a trio of singles to stir up some attention which F.u.U, its full title being the Fluffy Unicorns United EP, can only forcibly escalate. Inspirations to the EP’s sound include the likes of Placebo, L7, Silverchair, Garbage, Nirvana, Cranberries, Pixies and Refused; a selection which gives you a good inkling of its breeding and heart if not its open individuality to those influences.

Neverlanded are giving the Margo Broom (Arrows of Love, Yassassin, Calva Louise) recorded EP available free to anyone who donates money to Mermaids UK, a charity the band eagerly and effortlessly supports in its work supporting children, young people, and their families to achieve a happier life in the face of great adversity including raising awareness about gender nonconformity in children and young people amongst the general public.

F.u.U pounces from the speakers with Brainsane first up, an initial melodic lure enough of a coaxing to set the senses in the face of a swift wall of noise though that too is a quick trespass as sonic calm and vocal prowess bridges another raw surge. Within it all Jester’s bass immediately proven manna to personal tastes but was as resourcefully matched by the biting swings of Freer and the fuzzy exploits of Bloom’s guitar. There is a definite Nirvana meets Pixies spicing to the song but that only added to its imposing magnetism and tempting snarl.

The following MesS.O.S. bursts from the speakers with punk ferocity but soon bounced along with appetite gripping unpredictability and noise rock infused grunge bred self-appraisal. That initial punk causticity still persists though fuelling the track’s rousing antics and agitated frenzy; the result a brief and severely appetising slice of punk ‘n’ roll before This Friend of Mine soothed an inflamed spirit with its invitingly crawling melodic stroll. It is a track where you can see those Placebo and Pixies references seeded but again flavours embraced and mutated into Neverlanded’s own inimitable sonic concoction. A blend of the feral and seductive, the track simply added to the compelling persuasion of the EP.

Scream4icecream completes the quartet of incitements, a song from its first bass amidst crispy beats burrowing under the skin and increasing its slavery through vocal snares and sonic wiring. The track is superb as are all enticements within an EP which had us quickly hooked and greedy thereon in.

How Neverlanded evolve from this impressive moment we will see but anticipation of that adventure is as ripe as the enjoyment with F.u.U was rich; so go explore and remember you can support a great cause at the same time.

The F.u.U EP is released April 1st, for more info go to https://www.neverlanded.com/home and https://www.facebook.com/neverlandedband/

Pete RingMaster 02/04/2019

Das Fluff – Anxiety Dreams

Aug24

Though last year we came to the third album from Das Fluff late, we devoured the temptations within Flower With Knife last year like a kid in a candy store. Released in 2016, it introduced an artist who had an instinctive agility in grabbing attention and ears whilst seducing the imagination. It also sparked keen intrigue and anticipation for the full-length’s successor which the band was beginning to breed at the time we discovered the release. Now we stand poised on the lip of the release of Anxiety Dreams and all we can say is if you were wrapped up in the pleasures of Flower With Knife and its predecessors you really have only been dipping your toes in the post punk electro rock filth fuelled delights of Das Fluff.

Das Fluff is the creation of Berlin/London-based vocalist/writer/producer/rhythm guitarist Dawn Lintern, an artist who like the band’s sound just evolves and grows as an artist by the record. Alongside her is long-time collaborator Christian Ruland, a similarly magnetic presence with his electronic and visual art prowess. 2011 saw the release of debut album Would You Die for Me? with Meditation And Violence following two years later. Both encounters awoke ears and attention to the dance and drama loaded enterprise of the project though it is fair to say that it was the acclaimed Flower With Knife which really awoke a whole new wave of recognition and fans. With lead guitarist Joe Dochtermann alongside the pair, Anxiety Dreams can be expected to ignite even greater and broader awareness amidst a tide of plaudits the way of the band with its every breath, layer, and shadow echoing the intimation of its title.

The album roars into life with Millennial, a track which instantly had appetite and imagination on red alert as fluid electronic squirts align with inescapably coaxing beats while electro punk tendencies gather. In no time it breaks into its infectious stroll with Dawn’s melodic tones as mercurial in expression and attitude as the sounds around her. It is a rousing start to the album, a magnificent trespass of temptation and multi spiced sound seeing lips being licked for what is to follow.

The album’s title track is next up providing a prowling enticement with a matching vocal intent from Dawn as rhythms pulsate. Its electro post punk swells remind of Fad Gadget, an inherent catchiness which lines every dark breath and flirtation within the excellent seduction before Bleed Me Dry brings its own almost tenebrific yet radiant climate to immerse within. There is a far heavier tone and intent to the song compared to the previous one, an imposing threat cast by determined rhythms, the brooding bass of guest Wendy Solomon, and a gothic lined tone which is defiant and bold in its attitude.

Next up is Ringmaster, already a favourite offering from the band here. Released as a single and teaser earlier this year, it is a song which we have a natural connection with not only through its name but in the fact we somehow managed to be a part of its inspiration or rather our review of Flower With Knife was. A richly alluring serenade with a lively energy and pulse, the track rises from a sonic sigh and melodic caress with the ever magnetic presence and tones of Dawn leading the way. Immediately there is a drama to sound and voice; words emulating the theatre as the song’s sawdust earthiness colludes with melancholy lit but elegantly seductive harmonics. As burlesque nurtured shadows continue to envelop the darksome heart of the encounter, a Stevie Nicks-esque hue tinting the vocals, intimate shivers breed at the lure of the crepuscular but starry romance.

Through the irresistible strains of the rather outstanding Animal, a punk bred slice of rapacious electro rock with a deviously manipulative swing and imagination and the predacious almost vaudeville like antics of Freaks, the album evolves yet another shade of adventure and invention. The first of the two manages to be simultaneously hypnotic and feral, Dawn coming over like an especially magnetic Siouxsie Sioux within The Creatures like heart of the track while its successor probes and teases with feline grace within a dark visceral captivation as untamed as it is seductive.

The apocalyptic shuffle of Obey is a web of samples and stirring enterprise where dark predatory clouds and sonic winds trespass the psyche amidst melodic viscera and vocal dynamics. As its rhythmic incitement invades hips, the track invades thoughts and fears with devastation in its dust. As the previous track and Ringmaster, the song sees additional guitars from Stefan Missfeld to add to imposing drama so easy to devour though it still gets firmly overshadowed by the simply glorious affair that is The Cure. Smouldering surf kissed strokes of guitar are the first seduction on offer, Dawn’s melodic prowess the second with both undiluted seduction from the start. There is an intimacy to the album’s best song which feels like you are the focus of its intent while a sixties glaze just adds to its beauty, Dawn like a bewitching blend of Susan Maughan and Chantal Claret but as unique as the music hugging the senses.

The final pair of Rise and Supervolcano ensures that Anxiety Dreams leaves with a lingering touch and tempting. The former also has sixties pop colouring to its much more intense dynamics and suggestiveness nurtured by conspicuous imagination and equally lays blossoming seeds in thoughts for best song honours with the latter matching its fascination through its climacteric breath and inevitable destiny built upon portentous temptation and shamanic beguiling.

Anxiety Dreams is a release with so much in its intrigue carrying layers and diverse depths that each outing is a fresh adventure. We were already locked in an on-going affair with Flower With Knife but quite simply its successor leaves it trapped in its shadows as Das Fluff treads a whole new plateau of creative sorcery.

Anxiety Dreams will be released September 20^th via Sohappymusic.

Upcoming das Fluff Live Shows:

September 14 – The Railway Hotel / Southend

September 20 – Monster Ronsons / Berlin (DE album launch)

October 26 – Paper Dress / London (UK album launch)

October 27 – The Railway Hotel / Southend

November 2 to 25 Asia Tour: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam including 23-25 November The Quest Festival, Hanoi, Vietnam

http://www.dasfluff.com https://www.facebook.com/dasfluff/ https://twitter.com/dasflufftwit

Pete RingMaster24/08/2018

Das Fluff – Far Gone

Aug22

There is no denying we are suckers for a touch of creative theatre when it comes to music and you certainly get that and more within the new single from electro rockers Das Fluff, a dramatic almost psychotic web of temptation and suggestion which has the imagination as busy as ears and body.

Based within Berlin and London, Das Fluff is the brainchild of vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Dawn Lintern supported by guitarist Stefan ‘Misty’ Missfeld and live electronics/visuals caster Christian Ruland. Ahead of an eight date tour of Japan in October and following the recent release on vinyl of last album Flower With Knife, its successor being recorded as you read, Das Fluff tease and tempt for all with Far Gone. Taken from that last album, the track imposes itself with style and imagination nagging enterprise, every second a memorable and relentlessly hungry lure.

As its shaker of electronic coaxing raises the curtain, strings like lures scythe across the senses quickly being joined by Lintern’s equally beguiling vocals. A darker bass tone rumbles in the fore ground, a great distraction soon losing its central grip as more and more hues add to the adventurous story being unveiled. Robustly pungent beats throb as those strings weave sinister suggestion, their rich bait adding to the surges of incessant probing which fire up the senses even more.

With its theme an observation on “society’s addiction to its own misery”, every second is a rousing exploration of the imagination in sound and word with Lintern majestically centring it all with a touch of Lydia Lunch to her presence. More like an intimate play than something cinematic, and just as impacting, Far Gone is an irresistible proposal for the body and imagination to dance to and more than a thick convincing that the next offering from Das Fluff, and their acclaimed last for newcomers, should be highly anticipated.

Far Gone is out now, see the video on our Video Selector page with Flower With Knife available @ http://www.dasfluff.com

https://www.facebook.com/dasfluff/ https://twitter.com/DasFluffTwit https://dasfluff.bandcamp.com/

Pete RingMaster 22/08/2017