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TRACKS OF THE WEEK - #23

Pizzagirl - The Ball’s Gonna Keep On Rolling 

Artists from this week have a distinctly old school nostalgia to them, and the most stylish of the bunch is Pizzagirl, whose vintage synths and digital drum beats instantly conjure up the image of driving through Miami at night under the glow of neon streets. There’s a desperate and romantic aesthetic that oozes drama. For Londoners you can catch this upcoming new act at The Shacklewell Arms on the 26th of November! 

GURU - Don’t Talk 

Brighton enjoys its second representative in one week with the punk rockers GURU. They hit you hard and fast with ‘Don’t Talk’, their latest single release which wastes no time, barraging you with an uptempo and catchy garage tune that is both orthodox, yet fresh for the genre. If no-nonsense DIY rock’n’roll is your scene, look no further. 

Two Tribes - Videodrone 

These dance punk rockers from East London evoke some of the best elements of The Horrors and Tame Impala with some added aggression from a forceful and driving rhythm section. The verse has an infectious melody, taking full advantage of the moving qualities of low, rumbling frequencies, whilst exploding into a euphoric chorus as singing duties pass between Patrick and Annalisa. Londoners can catch them at the Shacklewell Arms as they formally launch this single on the 9th of November.

Nature TV - She Want’s To See You Cry 

Nature TV kick off this week with their ethereal dream pop. The intro is fast and intense and sets an energetic mood which breaks off into a slow, relaxed melody that is sheer genius. The transition is marvellous and the music that follows is filled with reverb and chorus drenched guitars. Everything about the song is catchy and infectious, it creates an idyllic soundscape and is a joy to listen to.

Potty Mouth - Liar

When bands evoke 00s pop punk, it's usually a bad thing that is riddled with guitars and lyrics that are oh-so-dated. However, LA based trio Potty Mouth are nostalgic of this era but in all the best ways. Not only do we love their name, but we love their gutsy track ‘Liar’, taken from their recently released sophomore LP SNAFU. With catchy hooks, classic blasé American vocals like they’d be perfect soundtracking MTV’s Daria, and straight-from-the-diary lyrics - this is a track that is an absolute rager in all the best ways, and feels timeless. It’s only two minutes long too, and as we all know, that’s always a recipe for a banger.

*** Follow our TOTW Spotify playlists here! ***

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TRACKS OF THE WEEK - #22

The Ninth Wave - Imitation

The Ninth Wave have been bleeding out tunes for their double album Infancy - this is the second single for part II, and is a great addition to a consistently impressive discography. The interplay of vocals between Millie and Haydn work perfectly, drifting between punk aggression and more softly sung lines over powerful alt rock.

Sick Joy - Vibe Sucker

These Brightonian scuzzers hit the listener with chunky grooves and catchy melodies that match the chorus perfectly. The garage DIY attitude is on display throughout, and ‘Vibe Sucker’ is the perfect tune for new listeners to get sucked into everything that Sick Joy are all about.

Burning House - Her Vowel No

The energy of 90s American indie powers through this tune. The riffs of the verse instantly strike the memory of Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘Cherub Rock’, but played with speed and intensity. This tune features on their newly released debut album Anthropocene, and provides plenty for those with an appetite for riff packed high energy shoegaze. 

Sleater-Kinney - Hurry on Home

‘Hurry on Home’ chugs away with a steady and hard-hitting pace. The punkish vocal delivery and brutish guitars are driven by aggression that wedges itself in your memory, forcing you to click along to the beat. It is modern, edgy, and a great new release from a band that you need to listen to.

MAREY - Synthetic

Swiss duo MAREY have created the most gorgeous and unique slice of art pop with new single ‘Synthetic’, taken from their forthcoming second album due for release next year. A strong hypnotising guitar riff is mixed with trickles of whispers, electronic fuzz and elements of prog too. Stick around for the absolutely euphoric ending - there’s nothing quite like this.

*** Follow our TOTW Spotify playlists here! ***

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LIVE MUSIC - Tacocat @ Moth Club, London 29/08/19

Review by Jasleen Dhindsa  

For fans of: Paramore, The Orielles, Dream Nails

Rating: 5/5

The world is a pretty grim place right now, we can all admit that right? Living in such an intense and polarised political climate can leave us feeling alienated and insecure.

Earlier this year Seattle punk pop rockers Tacocat released their new album This Mess Is A Place, written as the band came to terms with the U.S presidential elections (we don’t need to tell you what one we’re talking about - you already know it). Tacocat have always been a sociopolitical band - their most popular song is about periods - and the other is about cat-calling. However, they always delivered these uncomfortable topics in a tongue-in-cheek manner, provided with ballsy punk rock music with plenty of pop sensibilities and sparkles to go with it.

But the mood shifted slightly on this new record. There’s a new sense of maturity - one that lingered on previous release Lost Time, but was never fully seized. It’s as if the shit we’re all going through as humans right now is too serious to make fun of or poke humour at - so instead these topics are addressed in ways that ooze eloquence and insight, pulling right at your heart-strings.

New tracks like ‘New World’ and ‘The Joke of Life’ fill you with this overwhelming sense of relief - not security as if Tacocat are trying to win you over with rose-tinted spectacles, but instead they tell you straight to your face that yes things are shit, but at least we’re all in this together. 

And in the live environment, this is a feeling that is amplified tenfold. You can’t help but feel emotional when they play these new tracks, as frontwoman Emily Nokes’ vocals are soaring. Each member is dressed as if they’re going to a fancy dress party too (which is always their aesthetic), and that’s truly symbolic of what this band stand for. Tacaocat here to brighten your day - add some glitter and neon to a world that desperately needs it.

Instagram: instagram.com/tacocatband/

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LIVE MUSIC - PYJÆN @ Rough Trade East, London 19/09/19

Review by Chris Bull

For fans of: Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Khruangbin, Babe Rainbow 

Rating: 4/5 

Watching PYJÆN perform was a captivating experience. They are a band that escape definition, and probably set out the mantra “don’t copy me” to each other when composing their tunes. Individually, you could focus in on any one of the musicians and enjoy a completely distinct experience. Throughout the set, I would be gripped by the funky ‘wah’ of the guitarist, evoking the feel of a theme tune to an American TV show from the 70s, while the drums and bass would play a moody psychedelic ‘float-a-thon’ on top. 

But most impressive is how this decade hopping fits so well on a classically jazz offering, from the saxophone and trumpet. I was particularly surprised by ‘In Search of The Sticky Side’ too, which was introduced by quite an indie guitar riff, but as the song developed this riff, changed its aesthetics entirely, making use of downtempo and rock guitar throughout. The change escapes easy description but demonstrates an impressive ability to dance around and develop a core theme musically. 

Altogether, it feels seamless, and the band take pleasure in their mastery of their sound by embracing the tradition of improvisation within jazz music. Watching the other players focus on their fellow bandmates as they passed around solos on ‘Creation’ was a joy, and shows that this band relish in enjoying their music rather than just getting it ready to rinse and repeat. The songs were all interesting and managed to stay groovy and catchy without becoming too complex or burdensome. They play at the threshold of too much technicality and fusion, but never cross over - they remain firmly in the sweet spot. The result is a well-rounded package of melody, blistering solos, and swelling soundscapes.

Instagram: instagram.com/pyjaenmusic

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FESTIVAL - 5 Things We Loved About Visions Festival 2019

Review by Jasleen Dhindsa

Visions Festival took place in various venues across Hackney earlier this month, and we had the fortunate pleasure of attending and seeing what all the fuss is about. With so much to digest, here are our five highlights from Visions Festival 2019...

5. The Dog Show

Visions Festival 2019 kicked off activities (as it does every year) with its inaugural dog show. Though it might not have been Crufts, name another festival where you can get up close and personal with pugs, dachshunds and shih tzus. Didn’t think so.

4. Amazing Food

A lot of the time with all-dayer, the food situation can be dire. You’re often standing around for hours waiting for the next band to get on, looking for activities to bide your time. Luckily with Visions being situated in hipster Hackney, you’re never more than a stone's throw away from delicious food and drink. Space Studios served up delicious street food along with alcoholic ice-pops to quench your thirst, and the totally Instagrammable Mare Street Market provided good vibes, food and drink - as well as a spot of music shopping too with Stranger Than Paradise.

3. Championing Venues

Another fantastic thing about Visions Festival is all of the venues it champions. Though some were a bit of a walk away from each other, you can’t really complain with the likes of the esteemed Sebright Arms and Pickle Factory. Our favourite was by far Hangar - despite not looking like a venue on the outside (more like an unnurtured office block), its tardis-like underground bunker venue was absolutely mammoth and perfect for a festival like this, and definitely needs to get more recognition as a killer space for bands to play.

2. The Genre Diversity

There are not many all-dayers that provide you with both hardcore and chilled electronica, but Visions does. The cute but deadly Kedr Levanskiy was a treat at London Fields Brewery with her spaced-out experimental techno, and Ice Age worked up a sweat at Hangar with their off-beat punk.

1. Orville Peck

By far the absolute creme de la creme of Visions Festival 2019 was masked queer cowboy Orville Peck. He and his band played to a packed out crowd at Hangar and charmed the crowd with his country charisma.

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FESTIVAL PREVIEW - Visions Festival, London

Now in its seventh year, Visions Festival makes its return to Hackney this summer, with a corker of a line-up featuring ambient electronica, deathly doomy fuzz an even country too - across six stages including Pickle Factory and Sebright Arms. It’s not just a music festival either, you can crack on with  Do.omyoga in the morning before the festivities kick-off, and even see the iconic Visions Dog Show when lunchtime comes around.

As there are so many acts to be enjoyed at this year’s Visions, we narrowed down our top five from the line-up that cannot be missed, and our choice proves there’s something for everyone too at this gem of an all-dayer.

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

Newcastle’s Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs (Pigsx7 as they’re also known) are a band that are hard to define, but that’s exactly why they are so great. To sum it up, they play deathly garage rock with 70s heavy metal influence akin to greats Motorhead and Black Sabbath. The band released their sludgy and doomy album King of Cowards last year to critical acclaim, and we can only hope they bless us with new material during their set at Visions. Prepare yourself for not-of-this-world vocals, epic riffage and hellish breakdowns.

Squid

If you haven’t heard of Brighton’s Squid, you’ve probably been living under a rock this past year. Arguably one of the most talked-about bands in the UK indie scene right now, Squid are a curious and experimental five-piece, and one member even plays the saxophone. There are obvious comparisons to Talking Heads, but Squid feel more wobbly and peculiar. Expect the unexpected from this soon to be cult favourite.

Orville Peck

Queer cowboy Orville Peck is Sub Pop’s rising star and slowly becoming a pop culture icon - having recently featured in Vogue as well as becoming buddies with drag legend Trixie Mattel. Donning various masks so we never actually know what he looks like, Orville sings iconic love-ballads that make you yearn for a summer affair with Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley, whatever your orientation. His ability to bring country music to the alternative scene and make it appealing to people who would never consider listening to the genre is why he deserves all the success he's had.

Kedr Livanskiy

Russian electronic artist Kedr Livanskiy released her latest album Your Need back in May, exploring her take on UK garage and house. Livanskiy’s lyrical inspirations of mythology feed into the music she makes, which feel hazy and ethereal. You might not know explicitly what she is singing about as she floats between her native language and English, but the twinkling synths offer refuge for a sound that feels both nostalgic and futuristic, but comforting nonetheless.

Talk Show

The South London scene is bustling at the moment with innovative indie heroes like Sorry, Shame and HMLTD. Goldsmith alumni Talk Show are the newest bunch to come from that scene, having been signed to Yala! Records (owned by Felix from The Maccabees). The band only have two tracks on their Spotify, but the lasting impression they make is enough to keep you eating out the palm of their hands. Poetic and manic lyrics cause chaos next to new wave punk, a concoction that is both going to cause chills down your spine, and also make you want to neck tequila shots and dance haphazardly on tables.

For tickets and more information including stage splits visit: visionsfestival.com

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LIVE MUSIC - Misty Miller @ Windmill Brixton, London 09/07/2019

Review by Chris Bull

Rating: 4/5 

For fans of: Our Girl, Angel Olsen, Honeyblood

Intimacy is a quality every performer attempts to create with their audience, but so few manage to achieve. At Brixton’s Windmill, Misty Miller put on one of the most heartfelt and approachable performances I’ve yet seen; the small venue and stripped back songs, consisting of no more than three people at a time, made this possible. 

Her voice was bleeding with emotion and was akin to storytelling, and her lyrics could just as easily stand on their own as poetry to be enjoyed in its own right. ‘Side of the Bed’ from the new EP Fruit, was a particular highlight that transported me back to the 1960s in Greenwich Village New York, with lyrics woven with heartache. This song was performed at a faster pace than the recorded version and took on a new form with the addition of a band to support - this served to give the song a curious kind of resilience and optimism that sets it apart on the record. The rhythmic wordplay of ‘Broody’ crafts a slow shuffle that covers such a wide spectrum of pressures that people cast against themselves; an all too familiar message for those who worry about how their partners treat them to the ecological disaster of killing the planet. 

Misty Miller’s songs surely strike an all too painfully resonant note with a generation that is growing up in a world that seems to be just that little bit too far out for us to keep on top of. It was also a nice addition how Misty Miller continued the show for a while in a more intimate setting in the smoking area, passing the guitar around and having everyone get involved singing and jamming. All in all, the show made for a delightful and heartwarming evening and one that I would hope to repeat next time Misty Miller comes to Brixton. 

Facebook: facebook.com/mistymillermusic

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LIVE MUSIC - Girlpool @ Moth Club, London 08/07/2019

Review by Jasleen Dhindsa

Rating: 5/5

For fans of: Hole, Cherry Glazerr, Soccer Mommy

Hackney’s Moth Club is heaving for Girlpool’s sold-out headline show. The atmosphere in the room is electric before the band have even made it on stage, Harmony Tividad is visibly nervous, but this doesn’t stop her interacting with the crowd with seemingly effortless charisma.

The show tonight is in celebration of the band’s latest record What Chaos Is Imaginary, the second album from the U.S duo to feature a full-band set-up. The setlist is predominantly filled with newer songs and reworked versions of older tracks - the growth the band have gone through since their inception is remarkable. ‘Hire’ is packed with fuzz as Cleo takes the lead, where his ferocious punk attitude turns the song into a completely different entity on stage. ‘Lucy’s’ chugs with fuzz and the nostalgia of a Californian summer in the 90′s a la Hole’s Celebrity Skin - Harmony even plays a bit of ‘Malibu’ to the crowd whilst Cleo tunes his guitar.

Despite all the changes the band has gone through, what remains at the core is a sheer rawness that projects blindingly when the band play, in an overwhelming catharsis; when Harmony sings the impeccably beautiful ‘What Chaos Is Imaginary’, Cleo and half the audience are left watery-eyed because it’s that moving. 

As the encore comes quickly around the corner, Cleo and Harmony are left to their own devices and take song requests from the audience. When Girlpool play, something stunning is created, a might that sees beauty in all the cracks, flaws and imperfections in the world.

Facebook: facebook.com/GIRLPOOOL

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TRACKS OF THE WEEK - #21

Soft Sports - Silent Type

After a listen to ‘Silent Type’ by Soft Sports, you’d think they hail right from the heart of Nashville. But you’d be wrong as the duo, comprised of Chris Matthewson and Leo Clarke, are based in Brighton. ‘Silent Type’ is a pensive bluesy rock track that features old school psychedelic influence, a killer silky smooth guitar hook and husky vocals.

Trentemøller - In The Garden

Copenhagen based musician Anders Trentemøller has made a track you can’t quite put your finger on with ‘In The Garden’, but in the best way. Part indie folk, part ambient electronic, and part art-pop, the song features beautiful ethereal vocals and lyrics that float like a spirit through the instrumentation that feels like a mysterious cloud of thick fog. This certainly is something different, and stick around for the icy 80s synths towards the end.

Andi -  Agoraphobic prod. Vixu

Canadian artist Andi brings innovative pop with new single ‘Agoraphobic’. This is an experimental track with fragmented electronics, that explores womxn's autonomy and sexual expression. An understated glistening pop gem, the song’s instrumentation feels as progressive and rule-breaking as the community it is a part of.

Los Fiascos - Stitch

Los Fiascos is a project by Phoenix-based songwriter, Aaron Hanlon. Stitchis a ska punk jam, but not feeling like it’s trying to rip off anything that was born out of the 90s. There’s angst and attitude, and lyrics are spat and sung with an intelligent punk attitude. The guitars chug and feel static, driving the beat in a way that you can’t not jam to. This track wants you to crack open a beer and soak up the sun.

Callum Pitt - Slow My Heart Rate Down

‘Slow My Heart Rate Down’ is the beautiful new single from indie-folk newcomer Callum Pitt, where delicate acoustics marry lighter-than-air vocals. The instrumentation gradually builds and builds so your attention is kept hooked on the fairytale forever; strings and drums pound and Callum’s vocals fight more, but it’s not forced, it feels like a natural progression for this track which is nothing short of beautiful.

*** Follow our TOTW Spotify playlists here! ***

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EXCLUSIVE - Stream Fieves’ ‘Trench Foot’

Canterbury garage rockers Fieves are premiering their brand-spanking new single ‘Trench Foot’ right here exclusively with thnksfrthrvw, before its official release tomorrow (Friday 28th) on Easter Island Records!

‘Trench Foot’ comes in guns blazing, with yo-yoing riffs, and lyrics confronting life and mortality. Vocals punch through unrelenting bluesy garage rock, where drums pound for one hell of a rock soundgasm standing at just under three minutes long.

“Trench Foot’ is about the realisation that our time on earth is finite, so you can either spend it being miserable, or find a light." The band offer on the single which will feature on their upcoming EP out later this summer.

Check out ‘Trench Foot’ below, keep up to date with the band on Facebook here and be sure to check out their music on Bandcamp too.

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TRACKS OF THE WEEK - #20

French Alps Tiger - Tell A Lie

French Alps Tiger are named after the elusive tiger found only in the French Alps of South Wales, and their new single ‘Tell A Lie’ peaks in jangly and fuzzy surf rock and troughs in slacker indie rock. It’s a perfect summer jam, nothing too serious, but all the more fun.

BĘÃTFÓØT - HÂSHMÂL

Channeling Happy Mondays if they took psychedelics with Die Antwoord and Infected Mushroom, Tel-Aviv based producer BĘÃTFÓØT launches his new solo project inspired by stoner acid-pop and 90s garage punk. ‘HÂSHMÂL’ has the gobby aggressive confidence of Kasabian in the vocals, but sludges on a bad-trip in the instrumentation. Twists and turns around every corner, this track is manic and chaotic, dark yet bursting with colours.

Guidon Bear - Magellanic Cloud

Guidon Bear is formed of Olympia songwriter Mary Water (Little Red Car Wreck), Pat Maley (Lois, Courtney Love) and E. Michael Bradley. ‘Magellanic Cloud’ (meaning two irregular dwarf galaxies) is an ultimate indie sad-grrrl powerhouse, evoking 90s greats PJ Harvey and Alanis Morisette who deliver sass in a cut-throat dry manner, but also wouldn’t be amiss on a contemporary label like Hardly Art. ‘Magellanic Cloud’ is poetic straight from the diary stuff, like the nerdy girl at school who reads Sylvia Plath and listens to Sonic Youth on repeat.

DefByMisadventure - n0maliz0

DefByMisadventure is an Irish doctor specializing in emergency medicine. We aren’t really sure what that means, but after a listen to ‘n0maliz0′ you don’t really need to question it. This track splices and mixes world music with bassy hip-hop, sparkling house music and trickling electropop, for something unlike anything else on this planet, or universe rather.  

Isaac Dunbar - woman on the hills

It’s hard to believe U.S singer/songwriter Isaac Dunbar is just sixteen years old. ‘woman on the hills’ is soulful alternative R&B, where synths glisten in the background like diamonds in the night sky. Isaac feels wise beyond his years, like an omnipresent being; his lyrics tell a forbidden tale, where you want to be the main character.

*** Follow our TOTW Spotify playlists here! ***

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LIVE MUSIC - Las Rosas @ The Old Blue Last, London 11/06/2019

Review by Chris Bull

Rating: 3.5/5 

For fans of: Temples Black Rebel Motorcycle Club The Zutons

You walk up to The Old Blue Last, swing open the saloon doors, order your beer and dance with friends old and new. Las Rosas’ performance was a wild-western boogie, and the musical style and aesthetic help bring this movie-esque image to life. The set itself boasted an impressive variety with American garage rock that flirts with modern psychedelic rock in the same vein of Temples, Rival Sons and The Zutons. Despite their vintage sound, the songs belong firmly in the present with eyes to the future. The New York trio have some impressive chops to boot with brilliant, blues-drenched guitar solos, fluid bass lines, and tight drums. This is part of what sets Las Rosas apart from their peers in the garage rock scene, as they are a polished unit, delivering their songs with craft and sophistication. 

The song ‘Diamond Dust’ is easily one of the most powerful songs in the band’s set, and they stormed into it at a faster pace than the studio recording, turning an already energetic song into a different beast altogether. Musically, this is the band at its finest, the riff sticks with you and the chorus just makes you wonder how you haven’t heard this track already. Las Rosas closed their set with old fan favourite ‘Black Cherry’ which sent the venue into a frenzy. It’s clear that Las Rosas have already won some dedicated fans that adore the older discography, and with the energy demonstrated in newer tracks, it seems that the band can look forward to more people joining the crowd of new age Paisley Punk, singing and dancing to memorable tracks that draw from the present and the past in equal measure. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lasrosasbrooklyn/

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TRACKS OF THE WEEK - #19

Tragic Sasha - Cake

Surrey’s Tragic Sasha serves up a helping of sweet alt-pop on new track ‘Cake’. Featuring 90s R&B beats a la Bille Piper (I know right?!), the track is soulful and sugary, with equal parts sass and innocence. Sasha’s vocals are delicate, soaring in and out of smooth electronics, packing a punch in just under three minutes.

Miss June - Best Girl

Riot grrrl is reinvented on ‘Best Girl’ by New Zealand punks Miss June. Fronted by the multi-talented Annabel Liddell (who is a writer, musician, model, and doctor!), ‘Best Girl’ is grungey and post-punk in the verse, where Liddell channels apathetic anarchy. When the unforgettable chorus comes around, ‘Best Girl’ truly transforms into the ultimate empowering outcast party anthem.

Abc Dialect - Magic

London-based Argentinians, Tomás Susevich and Luca Oliva Knight make up Abc Dialect, and their new track ‘Magic’ is the smoothest funk inspired indie electro. Soft vocals guide you through this enticing number, where the added element of flute enchants and adds a mystical element to this chilled-out electro track.

INVOKER - Churches

French artist INVOKER brings icy techno on latest single ‘Churches’. Pounding beats build with percussion elements that feel like they’ve been inspired by both East-Asian and Carribean flavours. INVOKER definitely invokes (pardon the pun) feelings of a distant land with ‘Churches’; a perfect feel-good night-time dance number made to awaken your spirit.

Annabel Allum - You Got It Good

thnksfrthrvw fave Annabel Allum is back with more effortlessly cool indie rock on her latest single ‘You Got It Good’. The track feels somewhat whimsical, and the music video marks a step outside the box for Allum. The track switches between droning guitars and more subdued 90s reminiscent indie, and the tick-tocking composition makes ‘You Got It Good’ one of Allum’s most memorable pieces to date.

*** Follow our TOTW Spotify playlists here! ***

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LIVE MUSIC - Petrol Girls @ Rough Trade East, London 29/05/2019

Review by Chris Bull

Rating: 4.5/5

For fans of: X-Ray Spex, Pulled Apart by Horses, Gallows

As I’m sat reading my notes to write this review of Petrol Girls, it's telling how the first thing I wrote, “fucking powerful”, describes them best. They are a loud and frenetic band and the musicians keep you guessing as to whether the next bridge, chorus, or whatever, is going to up the chaos, or slow things down for a breather. This is hardcore that is in control, and it uses that control to amplify the effect of its music. Alongside these heavier tunes are songs that bear the catchy, sing-along addictiveness of pop punk. ‘No Love for a Nation’, the fourth song in their setlist boasted this with the softer lyrics of the guitarist halfway in. ‘Big Mouth’ is another, with a crazy riff that makes you think the guitarist’s hand is making spider shapes to get that sound. The chorus here is so empowering and really just invites you to join in. The setlist was an astounding blend of well polished post hardcore, and the grittier dark underbelly of pop punk.

That being said, any review of a Petrol Girls show, like the band themselves, will probably have to be one half music review and one half politics. This is a big aspect for this band, and they make sure they get their message across both within their music and without. They made time to mention ‘Solidarity Not Silence’, a campaign built to support women currently facing a defamation charge against a well-known musician, and to discuss consent and nationalism. These elements are so valuable to the music and really are the source of where so much of the anger and power stems from. ‘Touch Me Again’, their penultimate song, is probably the most pissed off tune I’ve ever heard. In light of the purpose of this band, it is a pained cry for the most basic provision of autonomy, the way the song ends as well really shows that this is a band that isn’t afraid to push the audience in a manner that some musicians may feel too bold. But that is what makes this band so much better because they are punk and they know that they’re going to get some hate from parts of society, but they know that what they’re saying has to be said. 

This is one of the best new punk bands I’ve heard, and it’s because they’re actually on a mission. As well as being impossible to separate the music from the politics, the politics goes beyond it as demonstrated by their involvement and provision of a platform for campaigns. Punk was never supposed to play it safe, a lot of bands understand this point from a musical perspective, but how few have remembered to put it into their lyrics and how they are offstage.

Facebook: facebook.com/Petrolgirls

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TRACKS OF THE WEEK - #18

Tella Viv - Bisou Bisou

Swedish duo Carl Hjelm and Benjamin Lavén have a wacky The Hives-esque indie rock jam with ‘Bisou Bisou’, which translates as “kiss kiss” in English. Guitars zig-zag and vocals are rough in one hell of a party anthem that harks back to the golden age of post-punk revival, but glistens with modern elements.

Bene - Evil Spider

19 year-old New Zealand artist Bene turns pop on its head with ‘Evil Spider’, where funk grooves blend with R&B beats. Bene’s vocals are soulfully soft and smooth, but reel you in with a bit of a bite, getting you fully trapped in her web. It’s alt-pop at it’s most creative and appetizing.

Instupendo - Antidote

American artist Instupendo has crafted a downtempo electronic track that shimmers with kaleidoscopic lights but also bubbles in dark murky depths. The production brings this track to life, making it feel like a creature with a mind of its own, sending you into a trance-like state with different textures all bubbling together.

Coral Collapse - Never Go

New York band Coral Collapse blend dream pop with surf on ‘Never Go’, that's full of summer-ready melodies. It’s wistful and cinematic, brimming with watery tones and images of dancing on the beach with your friends at dusk, transporting you to a better place.

The Vices - Speeding Up To Last

The Netherlands trio The Vices bring the sass and hooks on ‘Speeding Up To Last’, which crashes with garage rock at the chorus, and echoes of 90s indie in the verse. It oozes a cool, apathetic attitude, which is a recipe for success within this genre. 

*** Follow our TOTW Spotify playlists here! ***

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LIVE MUSIC - TT#4: Flirting, Wutip, Self Help + Civil Partnership @ The Victoria, London 04/05/2019

Review by Chris Bull

At the height of Britpop, with cheesy synth lines, outlandish fashion and superficial lyrics, there was something darker that always bubbled close to the sunny surface. In the dimly lit backrooms of London pubs, there were the moody and introspective heirs to post-punk. The Suede’s, the Garbage’s, the Mansun’s, singing of godlessness, nuclear armageddon and the stuff that no commercially minded artist would ever dream of showing to a record label. The performances were extensions of this, rejecting the slick production quality of bands with money, all they had was their energy to make the sound appear greater than what three or four people should be able to do. 

As Civil Partnership (4/5) powered into their set with the fast-paced ‘Adrian’, you felt immediately transported to the world described above. The musicians on stage were busy and unrelenting in their performance juggling melodic leads and vocal lines between one another. The band displayed an impressive variety of songs with ‘Bear Flat’, showcasing a handling of slower paces. The greatest surprise came with the song ‘Jungle’ towards the end of their set which exploded into a bonafide funk infused rock jam. The versatility and variety of songs really punctuated each from one another and definitely suggest that this band has many more tricks up their sleeve as they continue to develop and grow.

For fans of: Suede, Foals, Placebo

Facebook: facebook.com/CivilPartnershipBand/

Garage rock is the game with Self Help (3/5). Chunky, twangy and crunchy riffs drive the tunes with that American style that could probably only come about from Jack White taking creative lead of Cage the Elephant. The band’s setlist showcases its latest EP Organic Noise Kitchen which again delivers a consistent yet loose serving of hooks and sing along choruses. Over the course of the set however, the songs were gradually blending into one another and losing distinction. There was a superbly well placed off-beat, downtempo ska section towards the end of ‘Gooey’ in the middle of the set, and more genre crossing like this could absolutely send future material to another level. There were bits of it, but you just want that little bit more.

For fans of Cage the Elephant, The White Stripes, Supergrass

Facebook: facebook.com/youneedselfhelp/

Wutip (3/5) are fast and catchy with their driven and quirky punk sound. ‘Scott Walker’ also has elements of the drunken pub rock of The Libertines, something you could imagine singing along to in someone's living room whilst the neighbours try to get your party shut down. Throughout it seemed like the crowd had as much a role to play as the band, as they enthusiastically chanted the lyrics to the band’s originals and covers alike. The delivery of these tunes is fast, fun and depends on a charismatic and captivating stage presence. If you’re still into the honest punk of day to day life as a youth in Britain, look no further.

For fans of Frank Turner, The Libertines, Franz Ferdinand

Facebook: facebook.com/wutipmusic/

The headliners of the night Flirting (4/5) take a stylistic turn toward an indie-pop post-punk fuzz. Guitars are drenched in chorus to give an 80s chime, but quickly crash against a grungey distortion to punctuate choruses. The band has a reserved stage presence and let their instruments do the talking, the performance of ‘Peppermint’ was a great demonstration of the versatility of the band, with harmonics being used to create a delicate atmosphere, tastefully contrasting the explosions spotted throughout. ‘Wouldn’t You’ was performed as a two-piece which helped to showcase the vocals of the band, and approach a song at its most bare. The set was closed with ‘Fingertips’, a relentless and heavy song, with spoken word lyrics that convey a certain kind of subdued anger that boils underneath the already chaotic music. It built up throughout and resulted in the band joining the crowd, playing their instruments and breaking that wall between performer and audience. 

For fans of The Cranberries, My Bloody Valentine, Lush

Facebook: facebook.com/flirtingband/

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LIVE MUSIC - Test Pressing Festival, London 27/04/2019

Review by Nick Jacques 

Rating: 4/5

I don’t think I had ever ventured this far in Hackney before. Previously I had always stuck to Mare Street and Hackney Central whenever I found myself in these parts, so I was intrigued to see what sights and sounds of Hackney Wick would offer up to me on the night.

As I wandered around, I came across a plethora of trendy factory estates primed for greasy raves, and a swarm of OAP bungalows that engulfed the surroundings of this concrete fortress. It reminded me of the Baltic Triangle up in Liverpool, which has been reeling in the punters left, right and centre, and I think that the organisers and developers might be trying to replicate the success of the Baltic Triangle, although there seems to be more of a conscientious vibe towards the local environment, which I thought was encouraging to see.

Test Pressing Festival is back for its second year in 2019, and sees LNZRT, Bad Vibrations and Snap Crackle & Pop promotions creating more psych wizardry in the shape of Moon Duo, Bo Ningen, and experimental industrial EDM with Ancient Methods and Lust For Youth, to name but a few.

At The Old Baths venue I found myself caught up in psychedelic projections covering all the walls of a nondescript hall with Mike Krol’s (4/5) punky crooning sounds hitting our senses. They reminded me of Deerhunter with more balls and directness, which was a welcome start to Test Pressing indeed! After this followed personal favourites, Japanese noise-psych rockers Bo Ningen (5/5). Their set was jam-packed with sonic soundscapes backed with solid rumbling bass lines and beguiling motoric drum licks, and not to mention the singer’s exotic high pitch screeches. It was a quality set combined with a fierce mosh pit that at times threatened to spill over. It certainly added some sweaty spice to the atmosphere.

Brighton’s THYLA (3/5) played a combination of anthemic indie and dream-pop. They have been gathering a lot of attention and will no doubt be picking up more plaudits along the way. Scalping (4/5), who hail from Bristol, brought their immersive hybrid of techno/metal which had the crowd in the palm of their hand. Their set consisted of swirling build ups and compelling drops which made for excellent viewing.

Test Pressing Festival had been a pleasing experience and I was impressed with the line-up which was on show. I hope Test Pressing expands and moves to another area with bigger warehouses to put on another cracking display of psych/freak-out/EDM in a year’s time.

Facebook: facebook.com/testpressingfestival