THE INDIE SWAN

Music Writter/Blogger/Smiths Obsessive/Harsh Critic/Promoter/Swansea City FC Lover/Space Cowboy

[theindieswan-blog]

"The Fear" by The Rubys (Released 19th September 2011)

“The Fear” is the single from The Rubys, a promising and surprisingly, unsigned band from the ever growing scene of Manchester.

The single will be out on September 19th 2011. It will be available on I tunes and from a few select and chosen shops in the Manchester area.

This single is due its launch at Manchester venue the Ruby Lounge on September 17th 2011 and is all in aid of an amazing charity.

  100% of the profits from this single will be going to Refuge.

Refuge is an amazing charity that offers life changing support and services, to those experiencing domestic violence.

  The Rubys sent me the press pack and CD through the post, in amazing, well thought out, packaging.

It’s such a refreshing gesture, from what can only be described as “Indies nicest band”. Normally I am lucky if I get a dodgy Mp3 and a garbled press release.

  Well, “The Fear” starts off with an expressive guitar riff, a low rumbling guitar, stating its dramatic intentions.

The uncomfortable lyrics start in next, with “Fear has you locked in this body”.

The chorus is a stretching, powerful and haunting affair with the bulk of it being the “Bruises heal in time, the scars take longer”.

The guitar solo leads the song on, holding its hand and provides a haunting backdrop to the lyrics.

It’s a song that goes someway to explain what Refuge are trying to stamp out and what goes on behind dark closed doors.

The song is all well thought out, it has a quality feel and it shows the quality of the band.

  “Jesus Girl” starts off with a summer riff and opens the song up like a book with the grace and familiar tones and feel of an Ocean Colour Scene classic.

Strong and meaningful lyrics dominate and fight the guitar with expressions and yearnings for that perfect “Jesus Girl”.

  The last song on the single is called “Best Of Me”, with its tender soft guitar work and its soothing lyrics hinting of the desire and feeling.

It’s a strong finisher, with powerful, attention grabbing lyrics that push the song like “You got a hold on me”; it’s expressing all of those things you have ever wanted to say to that special person.

It’s a song that could confidently stroll onto and nestle on any of the back catalogue albums of the Manic Street Preachers.

  “The Fear” Single/ EP is an essential listen, with plenty going for it.

From the thought provoking lead single of “The Fear” to the laid back summer vibes of “Jesus Girl” and throw in the worthwhile cause of Refuge, that this single will help support, you really don’t have any excuse of not buying it.

  You should keep an eye on The Rubys, they are the nicest band on the scene and they have so much promise. It won’t be long before a label snaps them up.

  www.refuge.org.uk

                    www.therubys.co.uk

[theindieswan-blog]

“Plain Lazy” - Tied To The Mast (Mostar Records)

I woke up in a bad mood on my day off, I reluctantly opened my emails and found Mostar records had sent me their latest release.

I am glad I opened it, its dreamy vocals and uplifting guitar riffs made the world a lot better.

  The track is “Plain Lazy” by a new band, from the south coast, called Tied To The Mast.

  It all starts with a very distinct start, an amazing clunky feel, but with its twinkling guitar leading it on a happy path, on its very light feet.

When you there, marvelling at the vibes, a voice made for a band interrupts your voice with the demanding question of “…am I just too lazy?” but before you can answer he finishes his intense, integration with “…am I too cool for school?”.

  It all switches on a new direction, a different path led by the hand by distant, challenging guitar work.

The track settles down, repeats it self with an echo, mirroring voice. This gives it a new edge, a new dimension and depth.

  This is definitely a repeat song, you won’t catch and adsorb it all at once.

It’s another song for the summer play list, its another song to make memories to before the sun leaves us for another year.

It has a haunting feel of old Pavement songs, of old Blur vibes and I reckon that this is the start of a beautiful reign for this band.

  Lets hope Mostar send me the album when its ready!

[theindieswan-blog]

The Beautiful Game - “Broken Clocks”

The Beautiful Game from North West London, are a new upcoming band, with a fresh approach, which will get you dancing in no time.

I got their track “Broken Clocks”

From

  http://soundcloud.com/wearethebeautifulgame

  immediately I was struck with what I heard.

  It has an interesting, ear attacking start; it makes noises similar to that of my head at stupid O’clock in the A.M, after a few large Gin’s.

This turns out to be the bouncing baseline that steers the direction of the song.

It feels like an Indie disco winner, at 3 in the morning, when all is going well.

The song then develops and opens up with a driving Indie chorus, referring to “…Broken clocks and fireworks”, it has a striking impression of a band of substance, a band with confidence.

  The song has a real kick of early Franz Ferdinand of it, that same striking baseline and toe taping appeal that will get many a night going.

  I really like the way the song feels, it has a clever and unique feel from and it gives off an impression, that this band have a new direction that they want to share with us. It’s also refreshing to hear bands sing about drinking and impressing girls.

The Beautiful Game, really are a band to soundtrack your Saturday night.

  If this is a first track from the band then I feel they have a promising future, which no doubt we all will be dancing to at some point in the not so distant future.

[theindieswan-blog]

Drive – “No Feel”

Drive are an upcoming band from the London area, who have brought me one of my summer tracks, for the hot days were having down here.

  The band have a successful Sound cloud page soundcloud.com/drivetheband which is racking up a load of listens to their dreamy, almost, shoe gaze anthems.

  I have been boarder line, obsessed by their track   

“No Feel”.

  The track starts with loud intentions, an almost demanding start, before settling down to a dreamy, summer haze of an indie start.

The vocals of this song sound distant and dreamy, makes you want to be in a festival field.

It sounds like another of my favourite bands, The Sand Band. It has that same soft and sincere feel.

  The song builds and reaches for a strutting, commanding chorus.

It all shows the bands attention to detail with layers of sound and even a fighting bass line towards the end.

  It’s so refreshing to see a new band, with a new sound. The guys haven’t fallen into the trip of being an indie landfill tribute band; the guys have paid homage to the classics, such as The Coral and Pavement.

This makes them an attractive proposition and should lead you to an addiction to their Sound cloud page, just like me!

  Look the guys up on twitter twitter.com/drivemusicdrive and thank them for sound tracking, what’s left of your summer!

[theindieswan-blog]

“The Death of You and Me” - Noel Gallagher

An exciting moment, the first listen of “The Death of You and Me”, Noel Gallagher’s rebirth and first steps after the painful fight and death of Oasis.

The long hyped, first single, the benchmark from the October bound album “High Flying Birds”.

  My first impressions? It’s great!

  I love the poignant start, the build up, a new take on “The Importance Of Being Idle”, its like history, repeating itself, but, obviously, in a good way.

Noels whine reaches and fights its way to the top notes. It’s like he never left us.

Lyrics referring to “Life is getting faster, no-one has the answer”, all draw a smile.

Plus to top it off, an Oasis like, familiar marching beat kicks in and you remember who the talent was in Oasis.

  I love the brass band break towards the end.

I love this new approach and it helps fuel my excitement for the new album.

It feels like this could have been the new direction for Oasis, if Liam hadn’t gone off to do a “Beatles” and “Stones” cover band.

  I am a summer person by heart but I can’t wait for the autumn now, as I really can’t wait for Noel to share his genius.

[theindieswan-blog]

GEORGE WHITE

I made George White’s acquaintance on twitter,

(@Georgewmusic, follow him!),

it was the first time that twitter suggested I follow someone worth while!

Since he has featured in my twitter life, he has always come across as a nice guy and I think this thoughtfulness translates in to his music.

  George White has a presence on Sound cloud, it is http://soundcloud.com/georgewhitemusic/sets/demos

Go and listen to his songs for yourself, it will be worth it!

  Hush was the first song of his I sampled and I was converted to a believer, within the first twenty seconds.

I couldn’t get over the voice of an angel playing a guitar which is battling him for attention but yet still complementing him and encouraging him.

I loved the lyrics and feel that Hush is a song of encouragement, striving and pushing us all on to better things, with Lyrics of “…Best ain’t good enough”, it’s a real song for the optimist in us all.

I was struck by the simple-ness of the song; it’s basic but yet feels so deep. It keeps you captivated and it grows in your affections with every listen.

  I can also highly recommend Loose Control as a standout track.

This is a song with so much more bite, with a strong start, lyrics about deception; it’s a song from a man on a mission.

I love when the chorus kicks in, it takes over like a tidal wave, rushing the song and running with the tempo.

It feels like George is loosing control of the song and chasing the feeling, running from the emotions.

This song is like a self help tape and 3 minutes 34 seconds of common sense, encouraging you to “Let it go”.

It’s like a therapist, like your best friend with an acoustic guitar and a unique perspective of the world, helping you get over life’s challenges.

I adore the break down in the song at the end; it feels personal, a reflective moment on a bad day.

I think this sums up how perfect the song is.

  I feel that this is just the tip of the iceberg for this talented vocalist and I think George will help soundtrack my summer but only when the sun finally, stays out.

I think George’s stock is hot for the future and we have one to watch here. I hope George remembers me when he is famous.

Keep your eyes on our George; he has a lot of heart and a lot of potential.

[theindieswan-blog]

THE VACCINES "All In White"

The Vaccines are one of my bands of 2011 and so far they have made one of my albums of the year.

These darlings of the NME and the indie scene delivered an almost perfect album that has so much to give.

If you haven’t bought it, go buy it, you won’t regret it. I promise you!

  The next release of this album is one of my favourites “All In White”.

This track starts off building and reaching, with great vocals. It all feels like early Foals and all so familiar.

I love how the track kicks in and the drums join in on the perfection.

The guitar work, especially towards the end, shows that this band does have talent and doesn’t deserve the “landfill indie” tag, they seem to pick up off some the lazy members of the music press.

I have to bring your attention to the great, slow finish that grinds to a halt. It shows the bands different approach and feels like the band hasn’t rushed this track.

The lyrics refer to “Fabricate Salvation” and “Lord, I know your type”, this all mixed in with the all in white all sounds like Jesus references, but maybe I am reading in to it all a little bit too much.

  Overall, it’s a good use of 4 minutes and 33 seconds of your life.

[theindieswan-blog]

KASABIAN - “Switchblade Smiles”

The first new full track “Switchblade Smiles” is a treat from what is shaping up to be a promising album from the Leicester lads.

  The rough, shaky, mobile phone videos of “Velociraptor” has hit youtube with the force of a hurricane and its shaping up to be a live staple, a true Kasabian classic.

But firstly we have “Switchblade Smiles”.    

  Firstly, I must thank the numerous other, more popular blogs for dropping this explosive track on a rainy Tuesday.

  The track starts off with an electro loop which I just love and which I guess is going to sound epic in a field, in the sunshine of this summer.

It then pushes on and teases like a cheap stripper, before dropping with the force of nuclear explosion.

  It felt right, it felt like the Kasabian of old, it’s all edgy and unsettled but with its softer uplifting breaks.

It took me back to my love of old Prodigy tracks and brought my child hood rushing back to me, made me feel all 13 years old again.

  This is always, how my love of a Kasabian album will start, just like a dirty affair.

A leaked track, a glimpse of an epic live performance, cocky, boasting magazine interviews and an endless wait, but I am sure it will be worth it.

[theindieswan-blog]

LICKSPITTLE "Steve McQueen" (Mostar Records)

The first thing that caught me with Lickspittle is the energy of it all.

The infectious, low down guitars that reminded me of old bands like Orange Juice and Talking heads.

  “Steve McQueen” is totally different to anything, I have heard for ages. It has a laidback groove that many bands find hard to achieve, a groove that carries this track with a cheeky smile and some clever harmonies and lyrics.

Its one of those songs I found myself humming at random moments, the whole track has a strut and a purpose.

  This is a fresh new approach to music, a little something different from the usual.

With the bands love for infectious bass lines and a fresh new sound, I am intrigued where the band will take us next.

Email me your thoughts or music to [email protected]

[theindieswan-blog]

Where Has The Scene Gone, Swansea?

I am getting worried about our fair city of Swansea. Its music scene is coughing up blood and looking for somewhere quiet to die.

Nowadays we are a city of no culture. We are a city of boy racers, ASBOS and junkies all sound tracked to the strains of whatever rubbish club land CD is out, that month.

  I listen to the elder generation, remembering days of great bands finding their way to our fair city, bands like the Who!

Nowadays were seen to be the UK’s Cul-de-sac, the end of civilisation, stuck and stranded down the bottom of the M4.

This may put the established music press off. When was the last time you saw our fair city ever mentioned in the NME?

But I do believe that the NME is too afraid to leave the safety of London.

Is this what put bands and promoters off? I do think it’s a factor.

There is also the issue of the music venues. We have two major pure music venues in Swansea. One is out of the town centre and obsessed by comedy nights for B-list washed up comedians and rubbish dance nights attended by the teenagers with their fake ID’S and Henleys t-shirts.

The other is going through a midlife crisis and is obsessed with hair metal.

This problem is concreted by the fact that the invisible and dying Indie scene is run by the Swansea indie elites, who don’t care about music!

They are concerned about leather jackets, Smiths and Stone Roses’s covers and Marlborough Lights.

Maybe our fair city just isn’t into it?

Perhaps we are a city that likes overpriced nightclub chains and WKD blue, mixed in with a casual fight and the game of dodging sick on the Kingsway on a Saturday night!

I mean this is the city that caused a bouncer controlled popular fast food chain, to close, as they couldn’t cope with the trouble and broken windows.

Maybe it’s because the city isn’t seen as being cool? I mean we are Welsh and we seem to suffer sheep jokes everywhere we go!

Maybe it’s because the city isn’t willing to try new things? It could be that the promoters are scared to move away from the tried and tested nights that are run each and every weekend?

Something needs to be done, otherwise we will be stuck on a Saturday night, listening to Lady Gaga remixes and getting drunk on watered down lager.

What this city needs is to get a promoter with a sense of upcoming bands and who is willing to try new things.

We need a new toilet venue, with its sticky floors and its smell of sick and cigarettes.

  I hope something happens or we will turn into a musical desert.

[theindieswan-blog]

Grizzly Bear - "While You Wait For The Others"

I have heard a lot about Grizzly Bear and always promised to myself to give them my attention, once I get done with whatever fad band I was in to on that week.

I feel disappointed in myself!

I feel I should of gone straight to this band. That is on the basis of this one song.

    “While You Wait For The Others” starts with his strutting, commanding base line, demands your attention.

Like an early Rolling Stones track, you know its building to something.

The vocal kicks in, with its troubled references and its breathy sound and feel. It refers to “Begging for forgiveness as long as you lie”.

  The striking guitar work drives the track and fights the vocal work for your attention, like a demanding child.

  I did draw a broad smile when the chorus opened up and the vocal harmonies took centre stage. It felt like the sun sticking its head round the clouds on a dark grey day.

  The whole experience came across as a perfect Indie song and it has got me scrambling to discover more from this band.

[theindieswan-blog]

The Rubys "Sun"

  The Rubys are an upcoming Manchester band, which are getting a lot of fuss from the Manchester music press.

I was intrigued if it was all warranted and was pleased when I realised it was.

I was emailed the Track “Sun” by the band manager and as soon as it graced my I-Tunes, it racked up quite a few repeat plays. It even sneaked on in my car and upset the regular cd’s.

  It starts off with a catchy hook and blast of guitar and settles into a pleasing rhythm, an almost blast back to Ocean Colour Scene, before they sold out.

  It struck me of early Manic Street Preachers and that is a compliment to be proud of.

I love the guitar work through it and the Vocals are of a man born to be in a band!

  The whole track is an infectious affair and with lyrics of “Watching the Sun” it takes me back to my happier times!

  I am pleased to be on the band wagon with this band from the ground floor and am sure the status of this band can only increase.

It’s nice to see a band with some substance, a hope for the future, a distraction from the empty promises of the current indie scene A-list!

  One for the future? Definitely!!

[theindieswan-blog]

The Rubys-Manchester's new talent!

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The Riot Tapes, Photograph

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The Riot Tapes "Photograph"

The Riot Tapes

Photograph

  The Riot Tapes are that familiar band, the sound that you have heard before, that song will crop up on your I-Pod when you are on a rubbish bus, but you can’t stop yourself from smiling.

  The back ground of the band is that casualty of the music industry, Chris O’Brien, discovered the soothing Irish vocals of Elaine Doyle and uprooted his life, to move to Dublin and make this project work.

  The song “Photograph” has a timeless sound, with clever guitar work that swirls in the memory of the good parts of the 1980’s.

One half of The Riot Tapes, Elaine Doyle has a voice that complements the words and sings in a smoothing manner about crumbling love and painful photographs.

Her voice is so perfect; she has me looking for ferry tickets, to join her in Dublin.

  The whole set up and song has a driving force that feels powerful and almost unique. I feel privileged that Mostar Records shared this secret with me and I am keen to here what the pair will produce next.

  “Photograph” has made it to the promised land of my I-tunes and I-Pod and I look forward to the next time its beautiful head pops up on a rainy Wednesday on the Number 4A bus across Swansea.

[theindieswan-blog]

I Break Horses

Finally had the chance to listen to I Break Horses from the amazing Bella Union Stable.

Sound Cloud lead me to this lady and I spent an afternoon and an evening ignoring the Eurovision Song Contest, listening, hypnotised to the screen and the sounds.

 I didn’t even lose concentration and try to buy over priced Smiths 7’s from EBay (this is a first for me).

I discovered “Goodbye Sweet Dreams”.  It was a proper builder of a song for me that captivated me from start to finish. I found it haunting, verging on perfection and its shoe gaze appeal rooted me from start to finish.

Finally I persuaded myself to move on to “Hearts” and I discovered a song I could listen to all day.

Its trance like background almost clashes with the Hushed tones. It reminded me of the first time I discovered Beach House and the infatuation that followed for weeks and weeks.

  I finally wrenched myself from the screen with thoughts of the wonders that Bella Union has discovered and brought to us.

I mean bands like Beach House, The Walkmen and Mountain Man.

These are just the ones I found in MY Ipod and CD/Vinyl collection.

Without this fantastic label, I think my music choice and collection would struggle

  I can’t wait to discover and hear more from I Break Horses, let the obsession begin!!

[theindieswan-blog]

Miles Kane "Colour Of The Trap"

Been asked all week, what I have thought about the Miles Kane album, “Colour Of The Trap” and I must say, I am a little impressed.

It’s a great first effort and the majority of the album is an easy and enjoyable indie swagger of a listen.

  The album kicks off with a stomper in the form of “Come Closer”. A riff heavy, weekend rock star anthem, dripping in sweat and filth, it made the speakers rattle and the boy racers at the traffic lights look.

It’s a song made for a Guy Ritchie film! I suppose that is a little bit of an insult, but it would be a complement for the bank balance.

After listening to this song I can see why Daisy Lowe appeared in the video. If you haven’t seen the video and you’re a straight man, you are going to love it!

Straight up next is “My Fantasy”. This is one of the highlights of the album. It’s a lazy, laidback, dreamy summer song.  It asked me to open the windows of the car and share it, whilst the sun shined its approval. I loved the old 1970 ish key change at 2m46sec.

I could feel Noel Gallagher’s influence through and a smile came to my face with his harmonies. Miles could be Noels next Liam, well I suppose myself and Miles can only dream.

Down the album came “Counting down the days”, an enjoyable but slightly forgettable song. It’s a clever idea which has been obviously well thought and recorded, but it all feels a little stolen from The Last Shadow Puppets. The idea has been recycled and used more than an NME review

A downloadable highlight of the album for me is “Inhaler”. It is admitted that Inhaler doesn’t have the best lyrics; I mean “the night time is the right time” isn’t telling a story, it won’t win awards and I am sure even Bon Jovi wouldn’t use it. But then who cares when you have an anthem for the strutting indie drunks on a Saturday night, with a catchy guitar riff running through it and a hook that would make a fisherman happy.

I know it will and I am hoping it doesn’t happen but I guaranty it will feature on Match of the day as ugly Rooney scores a goal.

  “King Crawler” has Gruff Rhys stamp all over it. The song felt like a throw back to the 13th Floor Elevators and perhaps seemed a little out of place. It was enjoyable in its own little Psych way, and came across like Pickled Onion Monster Munch as you shouldn’t love them and people would like it when you eat them, but there is your own little guilty indulgence.

   “Take The Night From Me” shows Miles Kane at his lower, softer moments. It’s a lovely track but it takes up space and harks back to his landfill indie roots.

Towards the end “Better Left Invisible” appears.

A track with edge but has a taint and a trace of being like The Enemy, which is a slur I would wish upon no-one. It’s a track that wishes it was wrote by the Arctic Monkeys, but is thankfully saved by its clever drum work and guitar ideas.

  Overall, don’t let me put you off. It’s a good album which deserves your attention and deserves to be paid for not stolen.

It’s got good ideas, an indie swagger, and a feel good factor and presented Miles Kane in a positive light and as a prospect for the future.

It hasn’t pushed the boundaries and it won’t challenge any ones top ten end of year list, but it will make you smile.

Email your thoughts, abuse, views anything to [email protected]