Album Review : Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind Of Fix

It’s been a whirlwind journey for Bombay Bicycle Club since the release of ‘I had the blues but I shook them off’ in 2009,followed by a then effortless movement leading them on to the release of critically acclaimed acoustic album ‘Flaws’ shortly after. Winners of the best new band 2010 at the NME awards and multiple festival appearances to boot, They return in the August of 2011 with the long awaited album ‘A different kind of fix’.

Album opener ‘How can you swallow so much sleep’ speaks volumes on the Bombay movement, launched in by haunting vocals of ‘Can I wake you up’ sweetly accompanied by the obvious acoustic guitar and the snare drum beat to match. ‘Bad timing’ swallows the shoe gaze sound that is all so imminent within current indie chart albums most notably The Horrors recent release ’Skying’ then back above the water with added cowbell ’Your Eyes’ plays nice to the ears and gasconaded bass line to make you’re chest tight.

Sunday afternoons are what ‘A different kind of fix’ are made of, Imagine a turbulent Saturday night plagued by unwanted text messages, unwanted attention and too much G and T then pop on some headphones within seconds all of that seems to disappear into ’Lights out, Words gone’.  A New Order meets Stone Roses type song follows in ‘Take the right one’ with an early 90s kick and synth combo. Zane Lowes record of the week and most recent release ‘Shuffle’ is an invigorating  3 minutes and 54 seconds with a build up sure to build dance floors across the nation and world.

Bombay Bicycle Club's obvious strong point is there folk roots, ‘Beggars’ feels like it a countryside car ride with the window wide open and wind blowing in you’re face, catch you’re breath and listen in closely to magnificent vocal harmonies and hypnotising guitar riffs. The echo vocals become too much 8 tracks in though but then next track ‘Leave it’ brings more to the table with a rockier side to the band quite possibly being the ‘Evening/Morning’ of the album. From here the rest of the album seamlessly fades from track to track without effort until ‘Still’ which is the end to the start, a bare track with piano and vocals leaving the hairs on the back of your neck on end.

Bombay Bicycle Club fans will be happy with the release, a confident one at that with a shoe gaze twist that you could sit and play in the conservatory whilst it rains or on a summers day by the seaside.  The positives we take are that this won’t be the last release from the successful folk band though the negatives will be that there are still improvements to be made.

Released : August 29th 2011

Album Review : Hard Fi - Killer Sounds

After a lengthy absence Hard Fi return with new album ‘Killer Sounds’. 

The inevitable success of the Staines based band left a melting pot for many bands, first album ‘Stars Of CCTV’ had everything from Friday night battles to teenage pregnancies and everything in between which left us all scratching our noggins on a hopeful second album. ‘Once upon a time in the west’ hit number 1 but lacked impact on home soil though smashed charts around the world, a disappearance from the music scene followed.

‘Killer Sounds’ starts with a recognisable hip-hop beat accompanied by the usual Hard Fi twang of guitar, Richard Archer then leads us lyrically into a beat down of chanting ‘Good For Nothing’ and a catchy chorus.  Next single ‘Fire In The House’ boasts early 80s electro influence with Eurhythmics like break downs, first album returns with ‘Give it up’ whilst the movement of attempt in genre change is still very much on the surface of the music. 

From here it seems like everything joins together like a perfect puzzle piece by puzzle piece, Obvious influence being cited as 80s electro and quite possibly every boy band you’ve ever heard of. ‘Bring it on’ could be mistaken for an album track stolen from Take That's Mark Owen while ‘Feels So Good’ could once again be thrown beside his hit ‘Four Minute Warning’ with added bhangra. Album filler follows ‘Stop’ in a no-more-nails type way then with little or no effort ‘Stay alive’ makes no impact.

‘Excitement’ lacks just that and ‘Love Song’ seems a heavily influenced by 90s dance act Stardust with a lo-fi beat and botched vocals. Dub-step infused  ‘Sweat’ partners Hard Fi alongside Pitbull which could cause minor damage to the top 10 if released, Title track ‘Killer Sounds’ once again sounds like a member of Take That. If anybody can re-call the Robbie Williams album track ‘Me And My Monkey’ I need not explain further…failing that you tube is available.

A lengthy absence seems to have taken the Hard Fi boys on a journey through there parents CD collections, A positive beginning only ends in terrible disappointment. It’s not a HMV £2 Christmas gift, But they’d gave it a good go for nothing.

On The Sonar : Army Navy

Army Navy are a 4 piece prog-indie pop band from Los Angeles, Boasting early melodic brit-pop with Beach Boys-esq vocals to boot.  The surf sound gathers frequent on the blog but is ever more moving forward gaining different angles at every corner.

Sonar track ‘Last Legs’ plays to early brit-pop with a Vampire Weekend twist, recent album release ‘The Last Place’ is the second from the band and includes sing-along ‘Ode to Janice melt’ and ‘The Long Goodbye’ describing the pulling apart, piece by emotional piece of a relationship.

The potential shines through and the market is well open for this sound to spread, championed not only stateside but nationwide. Army Navy continue the sharing of the torch with a personal twist.

The Last Place by Army Navy

http://www.myspace.com/armynavy

Credit to Todd Zimmer for Photography

News Shot : Bebe Black signs to Columbia Records.

Today the news broke that solo artist Bebe Black has signed to Columbia records.

Back in late 2010 the track ’I'll wait’ was passed along to DIY on ExpressFM by our very good friend Joel, From first listen the haunting truth lyrically and the strength in structure showed extreme promise.

From gripping and very intimate performances up in the big smoke adjoined by endless hard work the future now shows bright for the young artist.

We await confirmation of release for future material but here we can bring you the very track we played, ‘I’ll wait’ is a self confirming adorning composition of lust and losing love pieced together beautifully by piano and thundering drum beats.

Bebe Black - I'll Wait by DIYonExpressFM

ClubNME Portsmouth

Saturday night (16th  July) saw the launch of the world famous ClubNME at Portsmouth’s world famous Wedgewood Rooms. Previous artists to grace the ClubNME Portsmouth stage include indie-upstarts Doll & The Kicks and Indie-Electro Italian Death In Plains among a favourable handful of the cities very own up and coming.  

A firm cemented night around the UK and abroad ClubNME boasts all the best in new music from London’s world famous Koko to Milan’s Tunnel club. Since it’s launch in 2004 the club night has seen the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, The Gossip, Glasvegas, Foals, Klaxons and many more, throw in the best local DJ’s and guests playing the biggest and best music around it sure keeps your feet moving until the early hours.

With a slow building Wedgewood Rooms crowd first band CURXES took to the stage, from the remnants of  the equally great HoldFast the spectrum certainly had swung.  Macaulay still held his daunting swagger and Roberta her ever haunting voice but there was something more, This sound that they had created was entwined, polished but still not settled leaving every song ever more endearing.  

CURXES tick over with a collision of sounds that sway around the ballad-like Last Shadow Puppets met intently by The Joy Formidable, adjoin electronic beats near completion they bring the CURXES twist. Unquestionably the future is bright for the band and I hope ClubNME can bring them back in a headline slot within the year.

Without introduction FriendsElectric began their set, Within the year they had Toured with Blondie, The previous night played London’s ClubNME at KOKO and were mid-journey to Latitude…And this shun though from start to finish. Captivating the audience with Delphic-esq electro hooks and a Friendly Fires energy it was hard not to tap a foot, move a leg or have your whole body educed by the wonderful noise that was being made.

A high sense of excitement surrounds the band with gigs lined up at this years V Festivals, A handful of European dates ending on home soil in Shrewsbury. Unsigned and clearly on fire it wont be long until we see official releases through record labels and more endless tours, One to watch.

DJ’s The Quick And The Dead and Lemon took the ClubNME reigns from 12pm playing a wide rage of songs including Calvin Harris, Herve, Gorillaz, Miles Kane, Maximo Park, Kaiser Chiefs, Lady Gaga and many many more…With the dance floor still packed doors were extended into the early hours.

The next ClubNME is at Southsea Fest, rumors are whirring already with acts to be confirmed in the very near future. Firmly cementing themselves on the Portsmouth club night scene the only way is upwards from here.

Jaws by CURXES

More CURXES here : http://soundcloud.com/curxes

OPPOSITES ATTRACT by Friendselectric

More FriendsElectric here : http://soundcloud.com/friendselectricmusic

On The Sonar : The Salvadors

The Salvadors, a 5 piece from Adelaide, Austraila. A clear fusion of modern music, a chant for a chorus and a sing-a-long verse.  They are lyrically spot on and could quite easily soundtrack a summer’s evening.

Carrying the tropical-pop flame Sonar track ‘Eliza Jane’ gathers all you’re feelings together and then throws them towards the wall, what sticks is only a sweet musical taste that you can liken to The Beach Boys. Other tracks include clear future indie disco favourite ‘Atacama Disco’ the gentle ‘Wilson’  and beach ballad ‘Westfield’.

I hold hope that between Paralowie and Mclaren Vale there is a band basking in sunshine with guitars in hands and drums within reach. Safe to say Australian exports come few and far between but they are clearly in line behind The Vines, Jet and Wolfmother.

For more go to : http://www.myspace.com/thesalvadors

The Salvadors - Eliza Jane by homeandhosed

On The Sonar : Bear Cavalry

Bear Cavalry are a tropical-disco-progpop 4 piece from Gosport and are by far the towns best export since Roger Black.

Unequivocally trying to keep them in one position is nigh on impossible, energetic stage shows ensue a plenty most recently resulting in the band winning the Portsmouth heats of ‘The Road To Blissfields’. All reports from the festival point to positives leading the band onwards and upwards.

The coiled musings can only be described beside likeliness to Vampire Weekend with compositions placed beside the ever successful Friendly Fires with added trumpet, annotation aside they cannot be boxed in one genre jumping between many in a matter of seconds.

Recent EP release ‘Maple Trails’ is available on band camp and features Sonar track ‘Custom Hands’.

Custom Hands by Bear Cavalry

For more info go here : www.myspace.com/bearcavalrymusic