Warm Brains // Old Volcanoes

Warm Brains, Rory Brattwell's latest project and the focus of his energies whilst not producing the cream of London's lo-fi, is ready to release its debut single alongside a suitably psychedelic video. There are definite hints of the urgent punk of Test-Icicles in here, while the lopping guitar riff would play happily amid early Weezer and MBV tracks. There's even a special treat in the shape and sound of Veronica Falls' Roxanne Clifford on the B-side.


'Old Volcanoes' by Warm Brains from warm brains on Vimeo.

The Wave Pictures // Little Surprise

On the eve eve of its release, here's the first single off the latest Wave Pictures record Beer In The Breakers, released May 2nd.

What it certainly isn't is a surprise, featuring Dave's rolling East Midlands drawl, Alan Bennett observations and kitchen sink witticisms, Jonny's sparse snares and Franic's rumblings all coming together for another classic Wave Pictures offering. Terminally underrated, here's hoping their forthcoming tour and record result in some much deserved adulation in the coming months.

The Wave Pictures - Little Surprise by moshi moshi music

Here this live at these fine establishments in May:

Sun 1st - Manchester (UK) @ Peel Hall
Mon 2nd - Preston (UK) @ tbc
Tue 3rd - Nottingham (UK) @ The Chameleon
Wed 4th - Liverpool (UK) @ Mojo
Thu 5th - Newcastle (UK) @ The Ccluny
Fri 6th - Glasgow (UK) @ Nice & Sleazy's
Sat 7th - Edinburgh (UK) @ Cabaret Voltaire
Sun 8th - Aberdeen (UK) @ The Lemon Tree
Tue 10th - York (UK) @ The Duchess
Thu 12th - Cardiff (UK) @ Clwb Ifor Bach
Fri 13th - Brighton (UK) @ Moshi Moshi night at Life, The Great Escape Festival
Sat 14th - Bristol (UK) @ Start The Bus
Sun 22nd - Southampton (UK) @ The Joiners
Mon 23rd - Cambridge (UK) @ The Haymakers
Tue 24th - Oxford (UK) @ Jericho Tavern
Thu 26th - London (UK) @ The Scala

Arctic Monkeys // Don't Sit Down ('Cause I've Moved Your Chair)

The tepid at best response to Brick by Brick, the first hint at what's coming next from cheeky quippers turned brooding rockers Arctic Monkeys, must have left the band questionning the new direction.

But on they crack and, overwhelmingly, Don't Sit Down ('Cause I've Moved Your Chair) is an ear-crushing return to form, leaning closer to heavy metal than the proggy riffs of Humbug but maintaining the cryptic lyrical witticisms that have been their bag from the outset. Oh, and Jamie Cook's Jim Morrison beard in the photo is something to behold.

Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair by arcticmonkeys

LCD Soundsystem // Madison Square Garden

Arguably the band with the consistently strongest and most inventive output of the last decade, including perhaps the best song in All My Friends, LCD Soundsystem bid a tearful farewell at Madison Square Garden. Joined by Arcade Fire, Reggie Watts and Shit Robot at various points, this 3 hour plus film is just incredible.

Setlist

2:10 Dance Yrself Clean (with “I’m Not In Love” by 10cc intro)
12:40 Drunk Girls
17:09 I Can Change
23:45 Time To Get Away
28:16 Get Innocuous!
35:18 Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
41:45 Too Much Love
46:53 All My Friends
55:30 Tired (with “Heart of the Sunrise” by Yes snippet)
—
Set 2:
45:33 Part One
45:33 Part Two (w/ Reggie Watts)
Sound of Silver
45:33 Part Four
45:33 Part Five (w/ Shit Robot)
45:33 Part Six
Freak Out/Starry Eyes
—
Set 3:
1:54:39 Us v Them
2:04:00 North American Scum (with Arcade Fire)
2:11:45 Bye Bye Bayou (Alan Vega cover)
2:16:30 You Wanted A Hit
2:24:07 Tribulations
2:29:15 Movement
2:33:48 Yeah (Crass Version)
—
Set 4:
2:45:30 Someone Great
2:53:06 Losing My Edge (With “Da Funk” by Daft Punk snippet)
3:03:36 Home
—
Set 5:
3:15:53 All I Want
3:22:18 Jump Into the Fire (Harry Nilsson Cover)
3:30:30 New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down (with “Twin Peaks Theme” by Angelo Badalamenti intro)

via Abeano

Oupa + Porcelain Raft + A Grace With No Name // Red Light Sessions

A quite beautiful, haunting selection of recordings here, the product of three inventive minds, bottles of wine and a video camera. There'll be a full edited session to come, and these teasers are evidence that greatness may have been achieved one night at Daniel's London flat.


Forget - Oupa (live in Daniel's home) from Oupa on Vimeo.




Balloons - A Grave With No Name (live in Daniel's home) from Oupa on Vimeo.

Local favourites // Fanzine

Fanzine have not been gigging long, but what they have done has been of the highest calibre of bill. London shows with Spectrals, Cymbals Eat Guitars and French Kissing have helped draw a deserved amount of attention to a band with a discerning collective ear for a melody.

While heavily influenced by late 80s / early 90s American indie, there's a gleaming poppiness to the vocals on early track Susan, which draws on Pacific coast surf and, somehow, Pink Floyd, while Run is akin to a sprawling, Smashing Pumpkins re-edit of Graham Coxon. With the band currently recording new material, there should be much, much more to enjoy from Fanzine this year.

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