needles&grooves

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Fair Ohs | Jungle Cats

FAIR OHS ARE BACK. THEY’RE BLOODY BACK! The guys from London are have just released their new album ‘Jungle Cats’, and boy is it a gooden! As a big fan of all their stuff so far, I was foaming at the mouth when the new record was announced, and they certainly haven’t disappointed. There aren’t any drastic changes musically from the band, however the album on whole seems to be more mature and, dare I say, more cared for. Gone is the definitive raw edge that Fair Ohs of old had, and in its place is a more polished approach. But this doesn’t mean that the band rock any less. After the tropical-pop opener ‘Green Apple Milk’, the band go back to their Pacific Rim roots with the three-and-a-half minute face-melter, ‘Citric Placid’. This alone is where Fair Ohs are different and, therefore, better than most other bands right now. They have such a contrast of styles within their music, from the African-infused ‘Mayan Flex’, right through to the post-punk sounding ‘Cayman Brac’, with a stop off in India on route with ‘Panama Red Jets’. Yet you aren’t left with a record that sounds like a load of tripe. The band simply make it work, delicately lifting all of their different influences and putting their own spin on it, creating an album that sounds amazing. If you were a fan of their debut, then get this album. You’ll love it. You may even love it more than the first. If you’ve never heard of Fair Ohs, get your head out of the sand and stick ‘Jungle Cats’ on the record player. You wont regret it.

Jungle Cats is out now. Get it here: http://www.fairohs.bigcartel.com

Fair Ohs are playing in a tour in support of the new album. Dates are as follows: 4/6 Manchester, Deaf Institute 5/6 Leeds, Nation of Shopkeepers 6/6 Glasgow, Mono 7/6 Liverpool, Blade Factory 9/6 Sheffield, Bungalows and Bears 11/6 Cambridge, Portland Arms 12/6 Birmingham, Bulls Head 13/6 Leamington Spa, Assembly 14/6 Bristol, Start The Bus 15/6 Cardiff, The Moon 18/6 London, The Lexington

[needlesandgrooves]

Mazes | Interview

  The day was finally upon us. The alarm clocks had been set for the crack of dawn on Saturday morning and the wish list had been written. It was, of course, Record Store Day – a day where hoards of people queue for a chance to take home a vast array of vinyl that has been specially pressed for the day. Whether you’re a fan of the concept, or you think it’s just a fad, it has to be good for the independent record shops, who are doing well to survive these turbulent times. To celebrate the RSD, the Oakford Social Club in Reading hosted a full day of events, which included a performance by the London based three-piece (not that this has any relation to how they sound) Mazes. Prior to going onstage, Jack, Conan and Neil from the band chatted to needles&grooves about their new approach to their second album, Ores & Minerals, and not getting free Converse…

  needles&grooves: So today is Record Store Day. Were there any records that stood out for you?

Jack: Absolutely not, but I’m probably not the person to ask. Conan: I saw a few I wanted to get but I didn’t get any. I’ve been to record store day a couple of times and I think it’s a good idea, but it’s not really for me, and not for anyone who doesn’t want to get out of bed for 6 in the morning and queue! I like records but I don’t like them that much. J: I think it started off as a good idea, but I think it got co-opted so quickly by major labels just re-releasing shit that people have already got. C: The records I did really want were two reissues by this New Zealand label called Flying Nun that capture tracks in New York for reissue. But they reissued only like 600 of each one, so it’ limited and not available in the UK, so they’re probably going to be sold out after today anyway. It’s obviously just a moneymaking thing. I don’t really understand it.

n&g: Your second album, Ores & Minerals, was the follow up to A Thousand Heys. When writing it, did you find it to be the ‘difficult’ second album, or was it an easier progression?

J: Not really. I think the first one suffered a little bit because it was just a collection of songs that we’d been playing live, and actually it was easier in a way. There was a bit of a method to this one and when you’re working with a hypothesis its just generally easier. Also, it’s not as if the first album set the world on fire.

n&g: How are you finding its reception? It seems to have had quite good reviews all round.

C: I’ve tried to distance myself from it, and not look. You can’t help but read a few reviews. With the first one, we all would look up and see what people thought of it, but with this one we’ve taken a step back a bit. With the second album thing as well, unless you do have a really big first album, it’s quite hard to do a second album because everyone just wants new bands and new music all the time. As a new band, you get your first album out and everyone is talking about it. You do your second album, and it’s harder to create that buzz because everyone is just so into new music. J: I feel we’ve done okay because the new album is pretty different from the first. If we’d done one just like the first one, it probably wouldn’t have gotten too much response.

n&g: A lot has been said about the addition of loops in the new songs. Did you do this to compensate for your other guitarist (Jarin) leaving?

J: I guess there were a few reasons. I think it was more a way of having something to write to. I used to write in a style where it was very kind of sing-songy, where it’d go verse then chorus. I wanted to switch it up and do something different, and force myself to write in a different way.

n&g: When you play live, you don’t replicate what is on the album. Do you enjoy each performance being like it being different, or would you like to try playing with sequencers, samplers, etc. to try and replicate what’s on the album?

J: It’s just the way we’ve always done it. C: When you record an album, it’s kind of like a snapshot of how that song is at that time, and the more you play it live, the more the song changes and develops. It’s more of an interesting way of playing the songs, rather than just ‘that’s how we recorded it, that’s how we’re going to play it; every single note and bar, every single time we play it live.’ Also, these songs are more open to it. Because it’s a continuous loop, one song could go on for like 20 minutes.

n&g: If ATP (All Tomorrow's Parties) asked you to curate your own gig, who would you choose?

J: There’s a few things you’ve got to bare in mind because there’s some bands that there’s no point asking. You can’t say ‘I want the Beatles to do it’ because two of them are dead! Neil: I wouldn’t mind seeing Neil Young play ‘On the Beach’ J: Yeah that’d be amazing. C: If we could get Daniel Higgs and Zomes to do a show together, Cream, lots of New Zealand bands. J: Antelope. I’d like to see the Zombies, I’ve never managed to see the Zombies. You could get Prince I reckon. There’s quite a good mix there.

n&g: On your website it says that you’re influenced by art. Was there any particular artists or styles of art that influence Ores & Minerals?

J: We were just trying to be pretentious! I think there are so many things about band biographies or interviews that are ridiculous, when they say ‘oh we’re influenced by this,’ or ‘influenced by that.’ C: Foals are pretty good at doing that. I read an interview about their latest album and they were asked what were the influence with this album and they came out with the most obscure art references. Maybe they’re in on it and they’re just making shit up. J: I don’t understand why how many people are in the band is relevant. There’s a thing where people always say ‘a three piece from Manchester’ or ‘a three piece from London.’ Who gives a fuck. And why does that matter where a band is from? We lived in Manchester a bit, but I’ve always seen us as more of a London band. It doesn’t really matter. Most of the bands in the East London scene from a few years ago (Fair Ohs, Male Bonding, Cold Pumas, etc.) were influenced by American culture rather than East London. 

n&g: You’ve toured quite extensively over the past few years, both in the UK and the US, and you’re off on tour with Veronica Falls in Europe next week. Do you find yourself being influenced and writing on the road?

J: Not so much. Travelling just drains any creativity out of you. You don’t necessarily get influenced artistically by bands, but, it’s normal to get influenced by how they do things and how they conduct themselves. We were really influenced when we went on tour with Sebadoh in America because they just toured the three of them. We realised that that was the way to do it, especially if we want to save money. Alternatively, we’ve been on tour with bands who have tour managers and engineers and someone driving them. It’s just not for us.

n&g: How do you (Conan) find managing Italian Beach Babes, as well as doing the band?

C: I have another job that I actually live off, and then I do Italian Beach Babes, and I do the band as well. It’s what I’ve done for quite a few years now. I’m lucky to be in a position where I don’t work full time, so I can have time to do that. It’s not really an issue. There are definitely times where, like when we were recording, that I had a lot of spare time so I got to put out a lot of records, whereas this year, with the new record, I haven’t really been doing much with the label. It’s kind of nice because it’s only me, and there’s no one else depending on it, so I can just come and go from it when I want.

n&g Quick fire Q’s

n&g: How would you describe your sound in three words

J: I don’t know.

n&g: What’s your party trick?

C: Neil playing in time to the backing track and not going out of time!

n&g: What’s your worst vice

J: Beer. It’s pretty bad!

n&g: What’s your favourite sound at the minute?

N: All bands! C: You could ask all three of us and we’d say tiny different things. I think probably Parquet Courts. White Fence as well. Total Control. There’s loads of good things out. Vision Fortune as well, they’re friends of ours from London.

n&g: What’s your favourite label?

J: Mines Italian Beach Babes. It’s as good as any! Flying Nun.

n&g: What’s your musical guilty pleasure?

J: I don’t really acknowledge that I feel guilty about anything… well I do about some things in life! But a lot of the things that I listen to a lot of people used to consider guilty pleasures. The Beatles? I mean some people would consider that to be a guilty pleasure.

n&g: What is the best thing about touring?

C: Just travelling I guess. J: Yeah, just travelling and meeting new people.

n&g: What’s the worst thing about touring?

J: Travelling again probably. C: Yeah, just sitting in a car for like 5-6 hours a day. J: Shitty food. We’re all pretty in to food. N: If we get bad food that’s it! J: Yeah, if we get bad food that’s it! It’s a minefield though eating on tour. You don’t want to eat anything too heavy because then you’ll play bad. It’s a tricky one. I could write a whole tour cookbook.

n&g: What’s the best gig you’ve played?

J: There’s different ones for different reasons. C: It was always like what comes before or after that made it good. J: That one in Columbia, Missouri with White Denim was pretty good. I guess different ones for different stages of the band. That one we played for Primavera in Barcelona was pretty good. And then the last London headline we did was really good as well.

n&g: What was your worst gig?

C: That Converse one at Bestival. J: Yeah that was so bad. C: Playing Bestival in general was one of the worst experiences. J: We were down to play some Converse tent in the afternoon. C: There was no sound check and the generator ran out of petrol half way through our set. J: It seemed like the whole audience was made up of people that they’d hired. It was just so shit! C: It was soul destroying. J: We didn’t even get any shoes! C: We’ve had free shoes off them before. J: We did a show before that was sponsored by Converse, and we’re always in two minds whether to do those sorts of thing. But we’d all worn converse before, and they were paying a load of money. The biggest fee we’ve ever had, like times by three! So we did that, but the show we did for them for Bestival, fuck, it was so bad.

n&g: What’s the best band you’ve played with?

N: I’d say Sebadoh. J: Yeah, Sebadoh.

n&g: What’s the worst band you’ve played with?

J: So many. There’s too many to say!

n&g: What’s next for you guys?

J: Well we’re touring in Europe, we’re doing Great Escape, and then we’re playing with Parquet Courts in London. For the rest of the year we’ll probably do Spain at some point. That’s on the agenda. C: Italy maybe. J: Italy. And that’s kind of it. We’ve been talking for the past week or so about maybe doing the third album, and maybe doing that in America.

Mazes are playing The Great Escape, Brighton 18th May & 100 Club, London (supporting Parquet Courts) 19th May

[needlesandgrooves]

Work experience at The Fly Magazine

So the time has finally come to post up some bits that I did whilst at The Fly which have made it online.

Please find the links below, with a mixture of news articles and a blog piece as well!

Bloc Party announcing Truth EP

Track of the day #221

Is Bowie the comeback king? Wolf Alice announce tour

  Theme Park confirm album release details

[needlesandgrooves]

DZ Deathrays | Interview

Last Wednesday it was brought to my attention that the Australian thrash-punk duo DZ Deathrays would be frequenting the Oakford Social Club in Reading. It was an opportunity that I couldn’t miss, with it being a chance to see the band in a small, intimate venue for free. That’s right, FREE. Not only did the band play an amazing, energy fueled set, but Simon Ridley (Drums/Vox) was kind enough to have a quick chat with needles&grooves before they went on stage about it getting dark at five, Arj Barker, and Death From Above 1979…

  n&g: So how are you finding England? Are you enjoying it?

  DZ Deathrays: Yeah it’s pretty good man. It’s a lot colder than we’re used to, and it’s crazy that it gets dark at like five in the afternoon! But it’s alright.

  n&g: How have you found the reaction to your album?

  DD: Surprisingly good it seems. It a lot better than we anticipated.

  n&g: How did you get Arj Barker in your video?

  DD: Yeah, we just asked him.

  n&g: Ah and he did it? That’s pretty cool.

  DD: Yeah

  n&g: Are you looking forward to playing tonight? I guess it’s a bit smaller than what you’re used to?

  DD: I think it’s really weird. We just came from The Bronx (who played at Sub89, also on Wednesday night) and it was awesome. I’ve seen them like 5 times now, but every time they just gets better. I think everyone’s going to hate us here!

  n&g: No way! Are you working on anything new at all or just playing the stuff from the album?

  DD: Yeah it’s pretty much just album. We’ve been just touring the album for a while now. I think we’re going to go back to Australia at the end of the year and start writing some new stuff.

  n&g: Do you like the whole Tame Impala stuff as well?

  DD: Ah I love Tame Impala. I really like their music and they’re really nice guys. We’ve played with them before, but it’s just like they make really good music, and we just make noise.

  n&g: No, your stuff’s good as well! If I were to say to you ‘Death From Above 1979,’ would you say that you are similar?

  DD: Very yeah. When we started this band, our other band had just broken up and we’re were like ‘we need to make a party band!’ At that point Shane and I had started listening to Death From Above, and we were like ‘this is fucking unbelievable.’ We made a list of bands that we wanted to be a little bit like, so you had Death From Above, The Bronx and sort of shit like that. Yeah they were a very cool influence. They were really nice guys too when we managed to meet them.

[needlesandgrooves]

Tame Impala | Feels Like We Only Go Backwards [Video]

Following the release of their second album 'Lonerism' last month, Tame Impala have just posted the video for the second single to be taken off of the record, 'Feels Like We Only Go Backwards.'

Check out the psychedelic video below, and my review of 'Lonerism' here

[needlesandgrooves]

Foals | Inhaler [Listen]

Foals are finally back, and following the announcement of their new album 'Holy Fire' a couple a weeks ago, the first preview we get to hear of the album has been released in the foot-stomping, head-banging 'Inhaler'

The evolution of Foals from a geeky math-rock band continues, with the band sounding heavier, and in my opinion, better than ever.

Check out the video for the new track 'Inhaler' below, with tickets for their gig at London's Royal Albert Hall being released on Friday (9/11/12) at 9.00 am

[needlesandgrooves]

n&g://003 | Listen Again

The latest needles&grooves radio show went live tonight (05/11/12) on junction11. The show featured an exclusive mix by the curator of the From Disco To Disco nights, Elzar.

With his night having a local feel this month, Elzar has secured the services of the rising local star Majora at Up The Junction this saturday (10/11/12). Also doing on the night are Acronym, Syrex, Shoutyman, and the man behind this weeks exclusive mix, Elzar.

Listen to the show, and look at the track list on the needles&grooves mixcloud below:

N&G://003 - Featuring an exclusive mix by From Disco To Disco by Needles&Grooves on Mixcloud

[needlesandgrooves]

n&g://003

Following the success of his mix for the first show, Elzar of From Disco To Disco is back with another belter of a set for needles&grooves radio show's third instalment. Going live on Junction11 from 20:00 on 5th November, not only will the show feature the exclusive mix, but also a couple of tracks that have got me boogying over the weekend. 

With the night last month featuring a headline set by the rising star of electronic music EJECA, From Disco To Disco never do things in half measures. This month, the night has a more local feel to it, with it headlined by Majora, and also featuring the talents of Acronym, Syrex, Shoutyman and the man behind this weeks mix, Elzar. 

The mix and track listing will be uploaded after the show for you to listen to again, and you will be able to find it either here or on the mixcloud

[needlesandgrooves]

Egytian Hip Hop | Good Don't Sleep

With the four-piece from Manchester being on the cusp of something big a couple years ago, Egyptian Hip Hop seemed to disappear beneath their own hype, seemingly never to surface again. However, it was announced on the twittersphere earlier this year that an album was finished and it would be coming soon. After an enduring year of being dropped and then signed to the electronic label R&S, the LP from the quartet eventually sees the light of day, but has it been worth the wait? The band have been a ‘one to watch’ since their synth-pop Hudson Mohawke produced EP ‘Reptiles Grew Wings’ was released in 2010, but are they going to reach the heights of those such as other ‘ones’ Django Django and Alt-J off of the back of this new release?

The answer to both of those questions in short – probably not. Within their debut album, the band have attempted to move away from their undeveloped, raw sound that shot them to underground fame two years ago. In its place they have developed a record that doesn’t leave a lasting imprint on the mind. In the music itself you can hear nods to the forefathers of the deep, moody synth-pop genre - bands such as The Cure and Cocteau Twins. Present day acts such as Foals circa ‘Total Life Forever,’ fellow Mancs Wu Lyf and the now disbanded Late Of The Pier are also obvious influences. However, rather than picking up the progressive torch and leading the way forward, Egyptian Hip Hop are a poor imitation of the above mentioned; awkwardly stumbling their way through their debut release as though they been forced to write it in no time at all - let alone taking two years to create a final product.

Ask me what any of the songs sound like after a couple of listens and I honestly couldn’t even hum you one. I understand that these sort of records aren’t necessarily supposed to be catchy, but you are certainly not left with an urge to go back for a second listen.

The best song on the entire album is probably the opener ‘Tobago,’ with its trippy underlying synth melody that pulsates throughout the song, and its dreamy, repetitive guitar licks, overlapped with the lead singer Alex Hewett’s distant mutterings. But again, there are bands, such as Holy Fuck, who have done this sort of song before, and a lot better.

The album starts to slide downhill after this opening track, with it losing all consistency and any structure that it may have started off with. Even the first single from the album SYH is a poor attempt to create a poppy song.

The Mancunian four piece have stopped doing what they did well in their previous release, and have created an album that leaves you questioning what the initial hype was about. After two years working on this, the band have maybe spent too long on trying to mature their sound. If their debut had been released two years ago at the peak of their powers, this record may make more sense. Two years is a long time in music, and there have been a lot of changes in the style of up and coming producers and bands. Unfortunately for Egyptian Hip Hop, music hasn’t stood still

2/5  

[needlesandgrooves]

n&g://002 | Listen Again

The latest needles&grooves radio show went live last night (22/10/12) on junction11. The show featured an exclusive mix from Pete Wheeler & Chris Wells (Skint Mondays & Cubed)

With their monthly now over a year old, Pete & Chris have managed to secure the services of Redlight for their next night at Sub89 on 26/10/12. Their mix for the show featured the sounds that you can expect to hear at either of their nights.

Listen to the show, and look at the track list on the needles&grooves mix cloud below:

N&g://002 - Featuring an exclusive mix from Pete Wheeler & Chris Wells (Skint Mondays & Cubed) by Needles&Grooves on Mixcloud

[needlesandgrooves]

n&g://002

Following the success of the first needles&grooves radio show, which featured an exclusive guest mix courtesy of From Disco To Disco, I'm proud to announce the special guest(s) for tonight's show...

In the booth tonight we have Pete Wheeler & Chris Wells (Skint Mondays & Cubed) providing the show with an hour long exclusive mix, featuring what you can expect to hear on the dance floor at either of their nights. Tune in from 8:00 pm on Junction11 to hear the show in it's entirety.

From starting their weekly club night over four years ago, Skint Mondays has gone from strength to strength, and can now be found at Sakura Reading. The night prides itself on bringing exciting new music to students & residents of Reading as well as plenty of classics to create a full party vibe every Monday night (as demonstrated by the mix for n&g).

Highlights over the years at Skint Mondays have included SBTRKT's first UK live show in January 2011, Emalkay as their first ever guest DJ in Feb 2010, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (live) in July 2010, live remix set from Brazilian duo The Twelves (three times), Drop The Lime's spectacular mix of electro, dubstep & rock n roll (Nov 2010), Crystal Castles' mosh pit when they played Nirvana in their DJ set (Aug 2010) & Australian duo Flight Facilities playing a disco set in full aircraft pilot outfits (Sept 2011).

Tonight (22nd Oct), Kissy Sell Out will be on the decks and a few weeks later (19th Nov) Skint Mondays have a DJ set from Bombay Bicycle Club.

Cubed is a monthly night at SUB89 (normally last Friday of the month) with a focus on quality club music, bringing the kind of acts who might headline Fabric on a Friday to Reading. Previous guests include Fake Blood, Disclosure (live), Erol Alkan, Eats Everything, Zinc, MJ Cole, Bondax, A1 Bassline & many more.

This Friday (26th Oct), Redlight headlines with support from Karma Kid, plus local DJ Dolla and three Reading Uni favourites: Chazzymax (Charlie Holman - Windsor Halls), Jamie Pritchard (Wessex) & Counterfactual (Jamie Buckland - room 2 Propaganda).

[needlesandgrooves]

Tame Impala | Lonerism

Imagine listening to a kaleidoscope. You’re not even half of the way there in terms of how this record sounds. The Aussie stoners Tame Impala are back with their second LP in the guise of the recently released ‘Lonerism,’ and in short this album could easily be described as continuation of their 2010 critically acclaimed debut ‘Innerspeaker,’ potentially even ‘Innerspeaker Pt. 2.’ However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Although the psychedelic, trippy guitar riffs, and LSD-infused melodies of their previous release can be heard on this album, the bands ability to be able to structure a second successive record that has such fluidity, and with not a dull moment throughout, has enabled them to create a collection of songs that not only doff their cap to the past, but also to the future.

Straight away, you are thrust into the runaway train that is ‘Be Above It,’ with its pounding drum beat and heavily oscillating synth setting the tone for the remainder of the album. You’re being taken on a trip whether you like it or not.

‘Endors Toi’ follows hot on its heals, and it is where Tame Impala really set out their stall. On this song alone you can see how the four-piece have evolved from the band they were on their debut, with the guitar rifts fatter and seemingly more purposeful, improved production and a thoughtful layering of all the melodic phrases used.

‘Apocalypse Dreams’ follows suit from the previous two songs, and is arguably this albums best song. A foot stopping beat pulsates throughout, and this is overlapped with an alternating melody; one minute paying homage to greats such as E.L.O with it’s quirky, staccato piano chords; and next switching to psychedelic rifts that Hendrix would have been proud of.

Other highlights of the album include the first single ‘Elephant,’ with its heavy, distorted bass line making your head involuntarily nod along, and its synth solo half way through sending shivers down your spine; and ‘Mind Mischief,’ which highlights the bands ability to write raw, laid back rock songs.

If I can criticise the album at all, it would be that it loses its initial intensity towards its climax, with ‘Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control’ and ‘Sun’s Coming Up’ not packing the punch that the rest of the songs on the record had.

Overall, Tame Impala have crafted an album that they have clearly thought a lot about. Gone is the raw sound that had dominated the debut, and in its place is a clear and concisely produced package of songs that flow effortlessly from one to another, allowing the listener a seemingly endless trip into the outer realms of the psychedelic kaleidoscope in their minds.

  8/10

[needlesandgrooves]

n&g://001 | Listen Again

The first needles&grooves radio show went live last night (11/10/12) on junction11. The show featured an exclusive mix from Ryan MacGregor (From Disco To Disco) as well as the best new music from up and coming artists.

With his monthly night growing from strength to strength, Ryan has managed to secure the services of Ejeca for his next night on 13/10/12. His mix for the show featured some of the headliners latest tracks, as well as other bangers which you can expect to hear on the night itself. Other acts on the night include Earl Grey, Mine Our Arc, Oscar Incognito, and the man himself Ryan MacGregor.

Listen to the show, and look at the track list on the needles&grooves mix cloud below:

N&g://001 (Featuring An Exclusive Mix From: From Disco To Disco) by Needles&Grooves on Mixcloud

[needlesandgrooves]

Hiawatha: Egyptrixx vs Thrush Hermit

Please find below a link to my second piece of work for Dazed Digital. It's a head to head between the two guys who make up the collective Hiawatha - Egyptrixx and Ian McGettigan of Thrush Hermit. Their song 'Glass' off of their joint LP 'Language' can also be found at the bottom of the page, and it certainly makes for an interesting listen.

http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/14616/1/hiawatha-egyptrixx-vs-thrush-hermit

[needlesandgrooves]

n&g://001

The first needles&grooves radio show goes live next thursday from 19:00 on junction11. The show will feature an exclusive mix from Ryan MacGregor (From Disco To Disco) as well as the best new music from up and coming artists.

With his monthly night growing from strength to strength, Ryan has managed to secure the services of Ejeca for his next night on 13/10/12. His mix for the show features some of the headliners latest tracks, as well as other bangers which you can expect to hear on the night itself. Other acts on the night include Earl Grey, Mine Our Arc, Oscar Incognito, and the man himself Ryan MacGregor.

The mix and track listing will be uploaded after the show for you to listen to again, and you will be able to find it either here or on the soundcloud

[needlesandgrooves]

Animal Collective | Centipede Hz

Forget any existing memory you had of Animal Collective. Forget the sweeping, sparse synths and dotted bleeps of their 2009 release ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion,’ and while you there, forget what you think the future of music should be like. The band have already looked into their crystal ball and have put what they saw on record.

At first, you will feel like there is just too much going on, and at some points it does sound like a bit of an over zealous mess. After the first listen you may, like I was initially, be pining for the Animal Collective of old, with their graciously crafted melodies and annoyingly catchy vocals. But I implore you to stick with this album. If you do, it will grow on you and will most probably become one of your favourites.

With their 9th studio release the newly reassembled four piece (with Deakin sitting out Merriweather) have forged what, in short, can only be described as a brilliant piece of work. A complete different body from anything they have created previously, Animal Collective have mutated from the outfit they were with their last release – taking all of the highlights of Merriweather and merging it with darker, intense material.

Right from the off the band are firing you head first out of a cannon with the opener ‘Moonjock.’ Mixing a deep, sludgy bass; sharp, punching snare drums and heavily oscillated synth hooks, the band set out their stall for what you can expect to hear from the rest of the record. Building on this foundation is the second track, and first release from the album, ‘Today’s Supernatural,’ with the listener is urged to just ‘Let go!’

Like the previous album, the record goes through heady peaks and more delicate troughs, with the first of these coming in the alias of ‘Rosie Oh.’ Similar to their older songs, like ‘Brother Sport,’ these lighter songs highlight the band at the best, with even a sense of fragility felt in ‘Father Time’ with its mellow steel drum melody flowing throughout its duration. Other clear stand out tracks featured on the release include ‘Applesauce,’ with its catchy vocals; and the closing track ‘Amanita,’ with its oriental guitar licks and tribal drum patterns.

Overall, the latest release from the space aged New Yorkers may initially fly over head, but don’t be put off. Persevere with it and you will reap the benefits; with the Collective taking you on a voyage to the future of music.

4/5

[needlesandgrooves]

RISE: Juk Juk

Please find below my first piece for dazed digital. It features a short interview and an exclusive mix with the up and coming dj/producer Juk Juk. The mix features the likes of Jamie XX, Zed Bias, and some new tracks from Juk Juk's up and coming 12 http://www.dazeddigital.com/mobile/music/article/14664/1/rise-juk-juk