German electronica due The/Das have released single ‘Parallel Worlds’ as a free download in the run up to their album ‘Freezer’, coming later this year.
The Berlin based pair, who have used the new album to experiment with a more spontaneous, organic songwriting approach, will be releasing the album through the Sinnbus label.
You can get the download here:
Dark and atmospheric with a killer – if subtle – bassline, ‘Sliding Off the Edge of the World’ is the title track from Nuborg’s new album. The single is out this very day, one of series of singles from the album being released on the 15th of each month.
With comparisons to the likes of Kate Bush, the clear, precise female vocal really compliments the foreboding, light instrumentation. A little gem.
Speedy folk pop from Phillip Phillips, ‘Raging Fire’ is set to be a breakthrough hit for the 2012 American Idol winner. A hectic spin around the big apple, it’s a video that definitely doesn’t lack in energy…
A three piece indie/rock band from Halifax, The McCarrons are a band on the up. Influenced by the greatest of Brit rock and indie, their debut album ‘Whatever Next’ is out now (order here), so we thought it would be a good time to get to know them.
The McCarrons:
| Michael McCarron – Vocals/Guitar Louis McCarron – Vocals/Bass Andy Farrell – Vocals/Drums |
Question: Two thirds of The McCarrons are brothers Michael and Louis McCarron, how long have the pair of you been playing together before third member Andy came along?
Michael: We’ve been playing since we were ten or eleven years old. We were playing pubs and clubs up until about two years ago when Andy came along and broadened our horizons.
And how did you meet Andy?
Louis: We knew his two older brothers who were in bands and we needed a drummer so we just got hold of him!
Most of our readers won’t be familiar with The McCarrons – how would you characterise your sound and influences?
Michael: We’ve based the sound pretty much on Brit Pop and classic British bands. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who. We’re also big fans of the Mod scene, the likes of The Jam, The Specials, Ska. I would say we do take on every single style of music but these are the main ones.
And is that a common trait for bands in Halifax?
Michael: No I wouldn’t say so.
Andy: I think Halifax is quite a big town for music to be honest, so there’s all sorts up here. There are a lot of people coming out of Halifax who are indie musicians but there’s also heavy metal, scar. So there are all sorts here.
Louis: We get a lot of people at our gigs, so there are people who are into what we do, so hopefully we’re starting something.
‘Whatever Next’ is your debut album – how did it come about and how long has it been in gestation?
Michael: We started off playing covers but a lot of people told us to try writing our own stuff, and I always wanted to try it so that’s how it came about. So I’d say we started writing about two, three years ago. For the album we just started collecting songs together.
Louis: There are nine tracks on the album. There were originally ten, but one got dropped.
And why was that?
Louis: We weren’t happy with the sound to be honest.
Michael: It was sort of a last minute job so we weren’t happy with the recording or the sound, so we thought we’d save the song for maybe an EP later on or it could go on the second album.
The album is produced by Pete Maher (U2, Beady Eye, The Killers) – how did that introduction come about?
Michael: We’d recorded the album, and we wanted that professional sound, so we researched on the internet and came across Pete Maher. We thought that, if we wanted to sound professional, then we’d like to work with someone who’s produced the likes of U2, Beady Eye, Nicole Scherzinger, all the top dogs.
Louis: If you want the best you have to work with the best really, so that’s what we tried to do.
Michael: A lot has been put into the production side of the album, and 50% of it has been produced by ourselves too so it’s the sound we want. We also worked with a producer called John O’Halloran, a DJ who’s had some hits in the charts.
Just going back to the music scene in Halifax, where would you say are the top live venues in Halifax?
Andy: I would say The Last Drop. But you’ve also got Hebdon Bridge which is just outside Halifax which is a good place for musicians as well.
Finally, where are the best places to find you online?
You can find us at www.themccarrons.co.uk and search for us on Facebook and Soundcloud as well.
For one week only, until April 11th, Revere are offering a free download of their beautiful cover of Scott Walker’s song ‘Boy Child’.
The track is a B-side to their next single, ‘A Road from a Flood’ (April 28th) which is released one week ahead of album ‘My Mirror / Your Target’, and if you like the sound of that you can catch them on tour soon too, starting with the album launch gig this Thursday in London:
Thursday 10th April: The Lexington, London
Thursday 8th May: Brundell Social Club, Leeds – Newly Added
Sunday 11th May: Spiegeltent, Brighton **
Monday 12th May: Night & Day, Manchester – Newly Added
Tuesday 13th May: The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh
Wednesday 14th May: The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
Thursday 15th May: King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
Friday 16th May: The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool
Saturday 17th May: The Marr’s Bar, Worcester
**A double-bill with Gabby Young & Other Animals
Released to coincide with the film of the same name, ‘I Am Solder’ is a hard hitting, raw indie rock EP from Essex group The Lowriders.
The tracks, written specifically for the film soundtrack on the request of the director Ronnie Thompson, are crunchingly immediate – allowing for dynamic shifts from heavy indie to some lighter moments. It seems, in spite of the heavy effects on the production, like you can hear everything – the mark of a strong recording and well constructed songs.
For a taster, check out the title track:
The indie sound is reminiscent of some of the top UK bands over the last decade. Kasabian comparisons are justified, particularly on the second EP track ‘Big Moustache’ which is led by an epic guitar riff that drives it on.
As the weather begins to heat up (once this weird Saharan dust cloud passes anyway…) the timing is perfect for a brand new summer song.
In the nick of time, comes Resonance’s ‘Reverie’:
The single, out now, was written following a scenic plane flight, and really captures the wonder of the view. But this isn’t scenery swelling instrumentalisation in the vein of Sigur Ros, this is energetic, fun and rhythmic – an excellent tune for a summer party.
Based on this, Resonance – one of last year’s ‘MTV Brand New Unsigned’ nominees – are a properly exciting act worth keeping tabs on.
Jack Robert Hardman returns with The Great Unknown EP, released on 19th May via Pleasant Pursuits/Cooking Vinyl Publishing. The EP’s opening track Loose Connection is available as an instant Free Download with each CD pre-order via Jack’s official website, with digital pre-orders being available via iTunes from 31st March. Loose Connection can also be streamed and shared via Soundcloud and the video via YouTube following its premiere on Clash.
Loose Connection, indicative of The Great Unknown EP as a whole, offers hazy acoustic folk melodies, quirky percussion and Jack’s yearning vocals. The sound recalls artists such as Beach Boys, Grizzly Bear, David Kitt and Sufran Stevens in its presentation of songs intricately layered yet beautifully simplistic. Aptly, the EP was mastered by Alan Douches (Sufjan Stevens and Midlake), recorded in part at the legendary Konk Studios and mixed by Adrian Breakspear (Exit Calm).
The Great Unknown EP follows Jack’s self-released debut album (2012) and the subsequent singles Famous (2012) and Plymouth (2013), all of which picked up impressive word-of-mouth accolades and fans. Simon Raymonde of Bella Union sited Jack as a ‘Breaking Act for 2013’ in his Sunday Times Culture piece. While the singles collectively picked up plays on Radio 1, 6Music, XFM and Amazing Radio.
We Don't Want a Proper Job 