Well this is new.
 
Paper Crows have released four videos, that, when played together, create a collage of one hell of an artsy, interactive mega video like nothing we’ve seen before.
 
The band may be relatively unknown, however they were the first band to be signed to Pete Tong’s FFRR label and have even remixed an audio and video version of M.I.A.’s recent hit, Bad Girls. So to be honest, we don’t know why you’ve never heard of them before.
 
The video(s) for Build is (are) so well synchronised that the electronic duo will be hard pressed to up the ante on their rare live date at London’s The Social on June 12. However, being part of the always surprising Hew Stephen’s Presents… series, it’s bound to be something worth spending your night doing.
 
Now, go on and have a play by clicking here!
 
Or watch their M.I.A. remix below:
 

 
-Laura
-@lrandy
-@_noize

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
South London duo Alpines unveiled the climatic cinematic accompaniment to their stunning single Empire today and it’s set in a realm of such dramatic outfits and deadly finger nails that I don’t even notice how phenomenal Catherine Pockson’s hair is- probably the first time that’s ever happened to me.
 
Watch the video below and gasp in awe of the avant garde-ness of it all. (And then take a listen to the other monumental soudtracks to life that Alpines have brought into our lives)
 

 
-Laura
-@lrandy
-@_noize

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A few days back I came across Adam Bainbridge’s band Kindness, whose album entitled, ‘World, You Need A Change of Mind’ was released in March this year. The sounds of the band are somewhat indescribable yet devilishly mind numbing.
 
There’s something very postmodern about the image the band is creating. Take for example the music video to Gee Up, which ultimately is a music video – about making a music video. Further to this the production of their music is an amalgamation, a collage if you will, recycling old with new. If my understanding is correct, this is a band that wants their audience to find their own personal meaning that lies within ‘Kindness’, perhaps literally. The list of layers and interpretations are countless, but I am only introducing, not deconstructing, so lets fast track onto what got me hooked…
 
The first record I stumbled upon was House, which will be released next month. However, yesterday afternoon a video clip of Bainbridge discussing pop music and demonstrating how House was made to a young boy, was published on YouTube. Since then it has reached over 15,000 views, which is hardly surprising as this isn’t the sort of video we see everyday, with its lack of images and narrative. He brings up some interesting points as he openly states his opinion that only 5% of the output of pop music is ‘good’ and critiques the commodity market that is created for the 8-25 year olds.
 
There is something about young children not being fully constructed by the media, which makes them more authentic subjects to ask opinions of and teach. Bainbridge shows the young boy three instruments, a Hohner Organ, Synth Explorer and a Lynn Drum Machine in an attempt to teach him how to recreate and make music, with instruments that replicate sounds from previous eras.
 
For example, the Lynn Drum Machine makes sounds likened to Prince, exhibited in Kindness’ That’s Alright. The boy describes the sounds from the synth explorer as scrambled, which I guess kind of reinforces what Bainbridge says at the beginning of the video to describe House, that it is “…not just cheery, that’s also unorthodox”. Rules have been abandoned and Kindness are not attempting to be paradigmatic, they are striving to be real and unfocused on an aura of chic, as they attempt to drive us away from the massive hyper reality we live in.
 
The more tracks I listen to from Kindness, the more mystified and intrigued I become, yet that’s what makes them so fascinating. Everything about Kindness is unconventional down to the very fact that they do not want any press – which is a shame because I think they’d enjoy the Noize’ rooftop, don’t you? So far they have only done two live gigs and appear extremely keen on keeping relatively low key. However, they will be playing at Field Day and Bestival this year!
 
House (Video)

 
House (Full Track)

 
That’s Alright

 
-Alexa
-@_noize

As distinguishable as their sound, is their artwork, and skimming through the web and catching the graffitied outline of Disclosure’s trademark imagery left me in mourning of the weekend. There was no way that a new release from the duo was deserved of a Monday morning, but nobody has a choice when faced with a previously unheard Disclosure dance floor jammer, do they?
 
I was right to be mournful, as not only is the track understandably brilliant, but this time the London bass brothers have released something with more funk than Chaka Khan could even dance to, let alone be prepared for.
 
Put it on, turn the headphones up… then turn them up louder, and dance!
 

 
-Laura
-@lrandy
-@_noize

Sea of Bees brought nothing but a guitar along to accompany her gorgeous voice as she sang two songs from her recently released album, Orangefarben. 

We had a short, albeit fascinating chat with the Californian to discuss everything from the meaning behind the album name to what she thinks of a British audience.
 
Not only is her voice something to behold, but her spirit is true, care free Californian- something that we can’t wait to see more of.
 
Watch the session below:
 

 
-Laura
-@lrandy
-@_noize

Whilst they were travelling in the van on their way to Manchester from Glasgow, I managed to speak to the lovely Lesley from FRIENDS, and what a perfect name this is for such a tight knit group of talented musicians from Brooklyn. Close friends, Lesley and Samantha, who front the band, have known each other since the tender age of seven. Lesley met Oliver a few years ago at a sale and repair shop while Samantha worked with Nikki and Matt at a restaurant in Manhattan. And now here they are touring across Europe performing to growing crowds of fans.
 
As they steered towards London we spoke about the rapid selling out of tickets for Scala, to which Lesley said, “London is always a lot of fun…it feels like every time we play in London it’s better than the last time.” Considering their new album, titled Manifest! was supposed to be released before the tour began, the great reception they have continued to receive from gig to gig has been infectious. At a collection of dates FRIENDS have been supported by the amazing AlunaGeorge, who we absolutely LOVE at Noize! The group had heard of and enjoyed the sounds of the duo prior to their record label proposing that they have them as their support on a collection of dates- and I can’t think of a better eclectic of sounds to bounce off one another.
 
The band appears to be a highly hands on group that do a lot on the creative side of things. Samantha came up with the concept of the cover image, and the group has had a large input in the making of their music videos, making sure they are back and forth with the director during the editing process until perfection is achieved. It was nice to hear a band so involved with all aspects of their production, ensuring that they have full control.
 
Their tour ends on the 19th of May in Milan, but fear not if you have missed them this time around, as they will be back in the UK for a few more dates before the launch of their album in early June. And, of course, with the festival season looming (YAYYY) they will be playing at many of the big festivals, including Primavera in Barcelona, Reading and many more yet to be announced. But in the mean time, take a listen to their next release, Mind Control, below.
 

 
-Alexa
-@alexa
-@_noize

Don’t let the name deceive you, they’re not from the 1980s American comedy sitcom that we all know and love. They are, in fact, even better (we think so anyway).
 
The Cast of Cheers are a foursome of talented, melodic and, at times, chilling performers, who don’t only perform songs that are far more intense, dark and mystifying than their Irish happy go lucky personas would imply, but that are incredibly enjoyable.
 
Their interview was a pleasure, as was watching them perform their own hit “Family” and the Smashing Pumpkins cover that they decided on, learnt and performed within the space of a few hours.
 

 
-Laura
-@Lrandy
-@_noize

About to set foot on London soil is New Zealand folk-pop band Avalanche City, and we can’t wait to have them since the release of their first UK single ‘Love Love Love’ has carved itself out a home in our ear drums.
 
Their album ‘Our New Life Above Ground’ was originally released for free on the Avalanche City website as the band’s brainchild Dave Baxter was too eager for the world to hear what he had spent so long creating. “I just wanted people to have it,” Baxter explains. “I’d worked so hard making this album and if I’d sold it, it would have only reached a few hundred people. I just cared so much more about people having it, listening to it, sharing it with their friends and hopefully identifying with the songs.“
 
The response was, understandably, huge, and now we’re desperate to catch them at one of their UK shows in the coming weeks- their first ever in the UK so they’re bound to be worth the wait.
 
CLUB NME- May 8th
The Haunt- May 10th & 11th
 

http://www.facebook.com/avalanchecity

 
-Laura
-@lrandy
-@_noize

Girls just made Thursday the new Friday as they released a new track for us to feast our ears on this morning.
 
The live performance is of a track called “Back to London”, which tells the romantic tale of falling in love in the capital. It’s a song that’s going to be sang by casanovas countrywide, and it’s that good of a song that it would probably win most of those lucky women over.
 
Catch Girls are their only UK Show on 28 May at the Forum and hopefully you’ll get to watch Chris sing it live.
 

 
-Laura
-@Lrandy
-@_noize

Since her collaboration with Chase and Status in early 2011, Delilah has made her mark in the music industry. Her single Go released in September 2011 recycled lyrics from Chaka Khan’s Ain’t Nobody and innovatively combining them with her own. Khan herself branded the single, as ‘Genius’ and I would have to agree.

 
With the official release of Breathe feat Liam Bailey looming on the 13th May, this morning she tweeted, “So honoured to announce that I will be supporting Prince on his Australian tour this may! #dreamcometrue”. That’s right the beautiful Brit will be accompanying Prince on his tour across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this month!
 

She’ll also be performing at Wireless festival in July and set to be touring with other acts who have yet to be identified!

Let us know who your favourite British female artist of 2012 is on Twitter using the hash tag #BritishFemaleArtists2012 @_noize

- Alexa
- @alexa_pearson