Tag Archives: 2010

Yeah Ok by Not Squares

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Not Squares are not really known outside of their home of Northern Ireland, but their epic electro god-like sounds will certainly raise a few eyebrows further afield. ‘Yeah Ok’ is their debut album and they have released two singles previously. Signed to Ricther Collective, I think this album will certainly make some waves going into 2011.

Yeah Ok

‘Release The Bees’ which was the second single off of the album, kicks of proceedings with a haunting and dramatic entrance. With their blend of crashing drums and drippy synths, it is relentless and a perfect introduction to push you on through to the rest of ‘Yeah Ok’. ‘De Na Na’ and ‘In Front’, are both short, direct and focus on the loudest beats possible and the band get knob twiddling like a child with a new toy. Never letting up, they become this “in your face” assault which I also found rather refreshing.

The first introduction I had to Not Squares was their free download single ‘Asylum’. It is one of those “…of the year” moments as every time I hear this song, I get excited and want to jump around like lunatic. Asylum also displays the bands more organic approach into guitar sounds, with its mega math-rock like hook and snare heavy back line. Chants and two/three-part harmonies will also grab your attention and will have you on your feet in a flash. ‘Nothing’ continues where Asylum leads off and has this rather wonderful fuzz that builds up into a euphoric explosion. Driving bass and this funky house guitar riff, that weaves in and out of a coda of “Every night we don’t do nothing”, sublime and simply brilliant.

Another thing is the weird song titles and “Bi Kan Na” is no different. It’s like the best bits of Does It Offend You, Yeah? and Late Of The Pier, with that concoction of live tribal like drumming and dance floor hysteria. It all ends in a storm of feedback on ’53′ as the guitars are out again and this time it’s personal! What makes this album so special, is the bands understanding of mixing live instrument orientated chic with DJ/Sampling edge. It sounds fresh and keeps you in awe throughout, which can’t be a bad thing.

The album is out now and can be previewed and bought via their Bandcamp page, so click on the link and check it out as I genuinely cannot speak highly enough of what they have done.

Just as a teaser, listen to Asylum right here…

Top 10 Albums of 2010

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Its that time of year again, when we all come together and argue the toss about what albums were our favourites of the year. Online discussions and face to face rants, mulling over the fine details and absolute absurdity of everything musical released this year. So I am not gonna waste anymore time, but instead just jump straight into it. I present the Sourmash Music Top 10 Albums of 2010…..

1.  All Our Kings Are Dead by Young Guns - Well certainly a surprise choice for me too, before you start asking why? This big powerful, hard hitting heavy rock gem, just became an instant hit with me when I first heard it. An album that is constantly on repeat and one that I absolutely love everytime.

2.  There Is A Hell Believe Me I’ve Seen It, There Is A Heaven Lets Keep It A Secret by Bring Me The Horizon - One hell of a title, but a genius conceptual Metal album that totally blew me away when I first heard it. This band keep getting stronger and stronger with their relentless and cleverly constructed assault on the eardrums. Two words, fucking amazing!

3.  Romance Is Boring by Los Campesinos! - A stroke of lyrical genius as always from the Welsh 8 piece. As always they never to cease amaze me, with what is ‘officially’ their second album, for me it is definitely their best.

4.  Danger Days: True Lives of The Fabulous Killjoys by My Chemical Romance – A refreshing welcome return for MCR and certainly a sucker punch for all the haters I think. To go from a bleak and “emo branded” last album to a comic book induced, fun thrill ride like Danger Days is one mean feat. It is a joyous album and one that I have had the most pleasure listening to since its recent release.

5.  Treats by Sleigh Bells – M.I.A. endorsed Sleigh Bells delivered a urgent and at points, original debut. Simply one of the most creative electro/guitar crossover albums ever made. Mixing elements of Hardcore and Pop to create what some people called ‘Noise Pop’. Whatever you want to call it, it was a must listen this year.

6.  Dirt by Kids In Glass Houses – I thought they would not be able to better their debut, ‘Smart Casual’, but they certainly did with ‘Dirt’. A pop-tastic, Duran Duran inspired treasure, that invokes all types of happy, warm fuzzy feelings! I mean it even has a “Saturday” on it, what more could you ask for.

7.  My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West - I think I am not alone when I say that was a surprise release from the most ego-tistical man in Hip Hop. Guest spots galore and that’s just on ‘All Of The Lights’, but damn what a rather obtuse but wonderfully odd rap record it is. Those of you that have heard it, know what I am taking about, those of you that haven’t, YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!!

8.  Man Alive by Everything Everything - Lyrically misquoted and a ramshackle of cheesy goodness, it is a forward thinking golden nugget that you should revel in. Quirky, frivolous and sublime in equal doses and fox references thrown in too. Delightfully weird but an accomplished slice of pop genius.

9.  Happiness by Hurts - Are you sensing the Pop theme yet? Big choruses, opera singers and beautiful endearing charm in abundance here. ‘Happiness’ was in a class of its own this year, inspired by the greats and setting themselves the task to write the biggest ballads of 2010.

10.  Odd Blood by Yeasayer – The soundtrack to an unmade John Hughes movie. Certainly a more commercial and mainstream second album from this Brooklyn lot. A little bit kooky, oozing nostalgia and sunshine 80s dreamy psychedelia. It is simply a joy joy joy joy joy from start to finish.

Unfortunately not every album can make it on to the list, but below are a list of albums that certainly deserve a mention also….

  • Tourist History by Two Door Cinema Club
  • Alive Til I’m Dead by Professor Green
  • The Fool by Warpaint
  • Sugar For My Soul by Sweet Jane
  • Fuzzy Dreams by Geronimo!
  • Start/Stop by Union Sound Set
  • Record Collection by Mark Ronson & The Business International
  • Acolyte by Delphic
  • Maximum Balloon by Maximum Balloon
  • Magnetic Man by Magnetic Man
  • Total Life Forever by Foals
  • Avi Buffalo by Avi Buffalo  

Pure Barry Discotek by The Lost Generation

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Unadulterated swagger is on the menu when it comes to ‘Pure Barry Discotek’ by The Lost Generation. Crunchy riffs, big choruses and groovy bass lines all make up a brave album of grand scale proportion.

The Lost Generation

The band kick off proceedings with the mighty ‘How Will You Sleep?’. Powerful Josh Homme like harmonies and near dance influenced thundering guitar crunches, this opener certainly packs an almighty punch and feverishly sets the tone quite quickly. They don’t stop there though, as the pummeling noise of ‘What I Want’ comes roaring through with the war cry of “I’m gonna do what the hell I want”. The band certainly don’t shy away from turning their amps up to 11 and why should they I say. A personal favourite of mine is the simple but affecting ballad, ‘Hold On’. A perfect addition to change the pace of the record, as lead singer Mike bares his soul to plead to the world “don’t break me”, and boy does he mean it.

‘Keep On Runnin’ is like the Chili Peppers doing The Black Crowes. Funky bass lines covered over with a hint of Americana and Alt. Country. An odd mix I know, but put that together with some powerful female vocals and a driving rhythm section and you have a great foot stomping, soulful number. Distorted fuzz and again LOUD guitar moments can be found on the short but not quite sweet ‘Lose Your Love’. Dirty and covered in sludge, at a minute and a half long, what’s not to like. One song I did struggle with was ‘Blame It On The Gun’. Granted, a touching ballad but one that does lose that sentiment with the strange echoey vocals, that unfortunately didn’t work for me. Now any songs with words “Lord” or “God” in I am usually rather sceptical of, so when I see the words ‘Calling For You (My Lord)’ I wasn’t hopeful. What saves it from its appalling title is its big huge chorus and ‘force of nature’ thumping drumming. A powerful and rip-roaring harmonious finale that brings Pure Barry Discotek to a valiant end.

A band like The Lost Generation are not gonna set the obscure or “brain” rock, as I like to call it, masses alight. That’s not the point as this band have that cocky mentality that will make the strongest of males weep and want to rip things apart, all at the same time. They wear their heart and their influences on their sleeve and that I can appreciate and adore all at once. Funny title aside, Pure Barry Discotek is a no strings attached approach to music making. Epic, hands aloft style Rawk n Roll, that gets the pulse racing and the soul singing.

You can find out more info on the band via their website www.thelostgeneration.co.uk and you can download the FREE track ‘Lose Your Love’ too!

The band have allowed me to post the first track on the album, the brilliant ‘How Will You Sleep?’, so here it is….

Roses Kings Castles EXCLUSIVE NEW SINGLE – ‘Subtleties Of Love’

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I have the absolute pleasure of being the first to show you the new single from Roses Kings Castles, ‘Subtleties Of Love’. Taken from his yet unreleased new album, ‘Suburban Timebombs’, I have not only the new single available as a FREE download for you lovely people, but the BRAND NEW VIDEO TOO!!

Adam Ficek Live @St Barnabas Church, 2010

On the 7th November the brand new album from Roses Kings Castles will be available to download. From that and as a special treat to you wonderful people, the man himself, Adam Ficek, has made his new single ABSOLUTELY FREE! It is called ‘Subtleties Of Love’ and it is a gorgeous little gem encased in contagious cheeky brass band moments. It is a classic, quintessentially British pop ditty that has charm and occasions of genuine brilliance. It see’s Adam move forward as a songwriter and captures what can only be described as pure class.

So I’m not going to bark on too much as this little treat is for you guys to enjoy! So for you now I have the brand NEW VIDEO from Roses Kings Castles…..

And finally where you can download this wonderful free track….

You can also pre-order ‘Suburban Timebombs’ right here now!

‘Start/Stop’ by Union Sound Set

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24th October see’s the debut album from hotly tipped Union Sound Set. The album entitled ‘Start/Stop’, see’s previous Prego members, Edd Simpson, Casper Williamson and Simon Britcliffe continue their journey of expressive emotional rock with great results.

'Start/Stop'

It’s a Post-Rock love affair with the Union Sound Set’s debut album. Doused in atmospheric guitars and emotional choral like vocals that are rife with pain and frustration. All this might sound like your typical emo by numbers style release, but there is certainly something rather special about this band, which I discovered first on their single “Hiding Places”. With its powerful hooks and pounding drums, all of which lead up to a big and beautiful sounding chorus and euphoric empowerment. There is also a striking resemblance to lead singer, Edd’s brother’s band. Now if I am right, Edd’s sibling is none other than Charlie Simpson of Fightstar. Not only do they share the same vocal style, but a song like ‘Here’s To You’ would not seem out-of-place on say ‘Grand Unification’.

Comparison of his bro’s band aside, you have ‘Years Days Months’ with it’s immense accession into heavenly like layered guitar work which displays a real maturity and grace. ‘The Longest Calm’ has a much lighter approach and a pulverising punch that is full of energy and urgency. Again with that big powerful chorus that breaks on through and hits the emotional button hard. ‘Hit To Send’ shows how heart wrenching Union Sound Set can get. Edd sings “Hit to send there’s a long way out and it feels your still there” to compelling effect. Ending all that on the real progressive ‘Waiting Minds’ with an organ led intro and a simple but touching clean melodic tone. Take that and add falsetto harmonies and you have the perfect Post-Hardcore ballad.

Soaring, powerful and with a sensitive edge that just keeps on giving. ‘Start/Stop’ is a humble but effective album that is jubilant and heavyhearted in equal measures, and one not to be missed.

‘Hiding Places’ video…..