MUSIC MANSION

If it needs to be heard, it'll be here. Easy, simple new music discovery.

[hellojackoliver]

Love these girls! I was at their EP launch at Corsica Studios earlier this year. They’re slow burners, but with each stoke comes an exciting progression. 

‘The Road’ boasts some pretty beasty drum and riff co-work as Juliette sings in frustration “tell me why you change, because I don’t know why people can change”.

For the pyromaniacs amongst us it’s not until 2.48 when things really starts to heat up, but I’m sure you’ll be able to empathise to the anguish and distress shown in this record. 

Another critical step in the right direction The Big Moon, keep the good stuff coming please!

[hellojackoliver]

Surprise!! Gengahr have wasted no time after the release of their debut album ‘A Dream Outside’ and today have unexpected dropped a new EP.

It’s like someone accidentally trod on the distortion pedal and those dreamy guitars turn into a bit of a rage. All i’m saying is if you know how press Gengahr’s buttons then watch out because they can turn it on.

The EP also features a couple of demos for the album ‘Fade To Black’ and ‘Loki’. You can stream the EP now on Spotify.

[hellojackoliver]

Wolf Alice - Bros (Nao Remix)

Nao remix of 'Bros' from Wolf Alice's debut album, 'My Love Is Cool'. Out now on iTunes: http://po.st/MyLoveIsCool Double heavyweight vinyl: http://po.st/MLICvinyl CD: http://po.st/MLICcd

Nao and Wolf Alice have both had a successful 2015 in their own right, but now they combine, led by the electro soul of Nao.

Worried Nao maybe out of her depth? She’s more than up to the challenge of morphing her new-wave pop around  Wolf Alice and their very innocent grunge record, ‘Bros’, all about childhood friendship.

It’s as if Nao has slipped Wolf Alice lead singer, Ellie Rowsell, into a hypnotised trance, spellbound by the future electro spell of the brilliantly wicked, Nao. The sentinel synths flex, and futuristically distort to connect the two worlds.

This is Nao’s first ever remix... Let me repeat that. This is Nao’s FIRST EVER remix. Smashed it! I’m playing it over and over again and it’s getting better and better each time!!

Annoyingly it won’t let me embed it but click on the link and enjoy.

[hellojackoliver]

Well hello!! Where have you guys been hiding then? Introducing Manchester’s latest gutsy export, FLESH.

This is pretty damn ballsy for a debut release: a boisterous riff, devilishly menacing vocal, and a dangerously infectious hook this is crammed full of everything you need for a stella grunge track.

Frivolous and enigmatic in the execution of a loud angsty style gives these boys a cultured edge that will inspire riotous club moshing.

Their debut EP ‘W8 4 Me / Dead Lonely’ is out 25th September on RIP Records.

[hellojackoliver]

This is the music we are craving right now - TRAAMS have got their guitars out and just stuck their middle finger up to their electro pop counterparts.

There’s no time for slip-ups here - a tight arrangement of new-wave punk that simmers on its bass line, and lets the lead guitar add the kick, whilst Stuart Hopkins’ nonchalantly sings “how long, how long till the silver lining”. 

The band continue to effortlessly curve my ever running addiction for those perfect guitar records to kick back to and feel some energy whilst mellowing out.

The track is taken from TRAAMS’ forthcoming second album ‘Modern Dancing’.

[hellojackoliver]

Hippo Campus showing off why they’re really the ones to be watching for 2016.

Progressive music seems to have gone a miss in recent times, but Hippo Campus have done a sterling job to encourage breadth and retrospect to our minds. A wandering build of echoed picks and strums allows Jack, the leader singer, to apply his roar on top “I scream your name, as blood bursts from my veins.”

Come 4.17 the tension is too much and the track explodes, just how a progressive record should, but Hippo Campus do it in such a raw and honest way, it’s touching.

[hellojackoliver]

DJ Spinn with Danny Brown and the late DJ Rashad have collaborated to drop a footwork gem.

Footwork is a dance that incorporates break, tap and house dancing; basically moving your feet as fast as humanly possible.

For the track its self, a jazz and blues core drops into a D&B onslaught paving the way for a new-wave hip-hop inspired vocal from Danny Brown. I love this! 

The track is taken from the ‘Off That Loud’ EP released on Hyperdub, 2nd October 2015.

[hellojackoliver]

What happens when one of your favourite bands, remixes another one of your favourite bands? It makes great music, obviously!

Jono Ma has hijacked and crashed the enigmatic soundscape of ‘Mountain At My Gates’ and dubbed it full of Jagwar Ma psych beats and synths.

A belter! 

[hellojackoliver]

The only regret I have is not being able to listen to this track for the whole summer, one of my favourites this season.

It’s hard to believe that such a crisp, melodic, warming sound can come out of Warrington. I mean no disrespect, but the boys sound like they’ve been watching over a lot of Ibiza sunsets this summer rather than having it large at Gulliver’s World.

A chord progression that wouldn’t go missing in a big summer dance record, delicious guitars, accompanied with the echo of Bombay Bicycle Club; that image of “All swings and waterslides and summery and pretty high” only enhances my desire to get drunk and slip ‘n’ slide into a big pool under the heat of the Mediterranean. Lets go!!  

[hellojackoliver]

“Have you ever tried to dance in heels?”

This is a spoken word belter that perfectly paints the picture of one of the biggest talking points of 2015.

Scroobius Pip retweeted Jordan Gray’s ‘In Heels’ after being sent the track, and   in doing so he has unearthed a natural hip-hop talent. Jordan perfectly performs, verse after verse after verse, what it’s like to be a transgender female “you see it’s gender gate, when you put your life in the hands of fate, going into battle with a silicon breast plate” I mean... what a line!

It doesn’t stop there; using a huge Pokemon metaphor (never thought I’d write that), that blows the track into crescendo. Also, a quick mention to the production, which very nicely compliments the energy and passion of this track.

I have no idea what Jordan’s plans are musically, lets just let her get her message out and wait and see, because she has something very special.

[hellojackoliver]

You know that thing when you’re not sure what you’re doing so you look in the fridge? Tibet want you to know, it’s not just you.

Blur meets Pulled Apart By Horses, the boys from Cardiff are writing some skilful rock n roll, that’s mean and boisterous. If there’s an up and coming band to keep your eye on, these guys are very high up on the list. 

So simple and clever “I’m looking in the fridge for the answers”, it’s something everyone does, I know I’m still looking, but for now ‘Fridge’ by Tibet will keep me occupied.

[hellojackoliver]

Aaaaaand relax. It’s a sweet, perfect return from Anushka. 

Anushka are a minefield for similes so it’s my challenge to get through this without comparing them to melting butter/musical heaven/the sand between your toes.

‘Kendrick’ is the sound of the final summer sunset dropping behind the ocean. It’s a sweet, scorching melody ride as the chords melt (doesn’t count) into Victoria’s vocal and the house beat murmurs below until one another entwine to create an idyllic ending.

Whenever things are bleak in the winter, get this on and relive summer 2015. Nailed it!

[hellojackoliver]

Had a spell at Cambridge University, decides to make 80s synth pop and thank god he did.

This is Love Ssega’s first release and boy is it a confident one; calm and assured with tinkling synths, a funk laden guitar line and mesmerising piano built around his strong urban vocal, it’s LCD Soundsystem meets Kindess.

‘The Minds EP’ is out 16th October 2015.

[hellojackoliver]

A natural wordsmith of his own personal feelings, ‘Florence’ is about the sister Loyle Carner always wanted.

For a such a young man he is perfectly in touch with his inner feelings - his imagery, word play and voice is utterly beautiful, a natural conversation that grabs your mind. He feels like your own voice in your head. That’s a little scary, but with such a caring attitude Loyle is perfectly harmless; more an example of how we should all be appreciative of our families.

'Florence’ is the B-side to Loyle Carner’s debut single ‘Tierney Terrace’ and you can download it now.

[hellojackoliver]

‘Facety 2:11′ was all about that production from Four Tet, now Roots is warmed it’s time stretch his legs and he certainly does on ‘One Thing’.

Roots Manuva kicking back over a lo-fi trap beat telling you how, he won’t be controlled. Once again we see British hip-hop cross over over with that punk ideal in contemporary form. Roots refuses to be a prisoner of his own experiences “one thing, leads to the next thing”, he’s looking to break the mould “when I shake my tambourine I shake that ever so keenly”.

The prod. is swish, and the rhymes are simple and clever - Roots Manuva is the master and he always will be.

[hellojackoliver]

Petite Noir is taking it upon himself to give Africa a chance.

‘Best’ screams Arcade Fire. It elegantly weaves musical heritage into a water-tight indie record. For Petite Noir it’s about communicating that spirit of Africa and showing a face of the continent that we may not have seen before. His LP ‘La Vie Est Belle / Life Is Beautiful’ will be different to the EP he released earlier in year, expect something with more energy, but still just as natural.

[hellojackoliver]

Oh gosh, Romare’s ability to so naturally and delicately weave his way around dance music is to die for.

I’m sure Love Song is the other track on a double A-side with Rainbow, because this is just pure class. Picks up the blues/soul of the 50s, whilst still retaining those strong African influences that Romare demonstrated so passionately on his first EP ‘Meditations Of Afrocentrism EP’.  

The track has this infectious danceability (Frankie Knuckles esc) about it, the seductive tempo, snake-hipping in and out of the hi-hats and beat, whilst the synths fizz around the vocal samples.

This is quite simply an outstanding piece of house music. I love it! Romare is at the top his game.