Review // General Fiasco @ Mandela Hall, Belfast
Unfortunately, due to travel complications Noize poignantly arrived as young supporting upstarts More than Conquerors strummed their last note and left the stage while throwing out demos to the large hoard below. However, having seen them flex their live muscles before, I can vouch for their intensity and surprising tightness for a band who have [...]
-->New Noize Makers // The Grand
Hailing from the sun-drenched stretches of Santiago come The Grand, bringing an edge and a freshness to the Liverpool scene in which they are currently inhabiting. Although they have been together as a band for around two years, to watch them live is to see a band woven together by chemistry that seems to have [...]
-->Review // MGMT – Congratulations
As Andrew Goldwasser and Ben Vanwyngraden have been explaining in recent press interviews, their new album “Congratulations” is something of a reactionary status towards their rapid ascent to fame following debut album “Oracular Spectacular”. There definitely isn’t another “Time to Pretend” or “Kids” on this album but as a whole, the record works as a [...]
-->The Kabeedies + We Can’t Dance + The Vagabond Trills @ Arts Centre, Norwich
The Vagabond Trills are three pretty girls with acoustic guitars from Manchester, and sound exactly how you might expect three pretty girls with acoustic guitars from Manchester to sound. Their sickly sweet stylings backed by a minimal drum kit, sound reminiscent of The Pipettes sixties enthused girl-group harmonies, albeit with slightly more gravitas.Any band that [...]
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Features // Azealia Banks
NME voted her the coolest person of 2011 (and if you watch the video for 212 then you’ll see why), BBC have put her in 3rd position in their Sound of 2012 list (alongside the likes of Frank Ocean and Nikki & The Dove… but Skrillex did come in 4th so clearly a moron played a part in compiling the list) and her debut album is being produced by Florence + The Machine producer, Paul Epworth. Not to mention the fact that in January, none other than Karl Lagerfeld invited her into his Parisian home to perform in a celebration of his new line! Talk about girl power.
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Albums // Beach House // Teen Dream
For some reason, one that I’m gravely disappointed in myself for, I only got into Beach House post the release of Devotion. Once I came to my senses I immediately got my act together and gave all previous Beach House releases a listen. I can now only thank the power of blogging for unearthing this hazy sound of nostalgia to my once ignorant ears.
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Singles // Jack Penate // No-one Lied.
Jack Penate releases are always a joy to uncover and this week’s stripped-down and tender track was a long time coming. It is also completely different to anything we’ve ever heard from the London indie-pop scamp as he wore his heart on his sleeve and, in one take, produced this stunning piece of sentimental charm.
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Videos // Die Antwoord // I Fink U Freeky
‘I Fink U Freeky’ screeches techno synths out at you, while the vocals rap twice as fast as the average person can take a breath. The video is shot in black and white and the audience is welcomed into (what looks like) Die Antwoord’s creepy basement of unearthly delights, where rats clamber over people, alien heads float in oily water, young boys look like a product of the Chapman Brothers and bountiful dance moves are constructed into uncontrollable leg-hopping fits.
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Interviews // King Charles
With his trademark dredhive and finely tweaked mustache, this King Charles looked rather like some kind of sexy pantomime pirate. After a few casual drinks and what seemed like an hour of ‘getting the lighting right’, he was kind enough to sit down and chat about his plans for 2012, being ‘glam folk’ and how his heart constantly beats for music.
Twitter: @_NOIZE
- twitter is being a twat, sorry...
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Albums // Other Lives // Tamer Animals
Other Lives are a folk band brimming with musical talent. They excel in creating rhythmic drum patterns, haunting lead vocals, indulgent chanting backing vocals and a progressive folk sound.
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Single of the Week // Miracle Fortress // Everything Works
No, it’s not another remix of MJ’s Billie Jean. However, from listening to the similar sounding ‘chikka-cha’ drum taps at the intro of Miracle Fortress’ Everything Works, you’d be forgiven for thinking so. Everything works’ ‘80s reference’ only last about a second, until kooky cyber sounds kick in, making the song all about futuristic fun.
