Exciting times at Mudkiss, as we welcome two new regular contributors, with Steve Perks (freelance photographer) covering live gigs in Scotland and Canadian Metal Monster Tim Verhaegen taking partial ownership on the recorded side. Look out for their reviews over the coming days and weeks, as they really are rather good.
Back to the March singles and EP’s and it’s a reversal to February as there’s some really exciting material out there, even from the most unlikely of genres. Spring must really be in the air.
Kindest of Thieves – The Kindest of Thieves EPAlthough hailing from the North West of England, Warrington specifically, “Kindest of Thieves” disregard the more laddish, rebel rousing rock sound that has become apparent in the area over the last twenty years. Instead, they take their influences from across the water, in particular Akron and Detroit, playing psychedelic trash blues of the type favoured by White Stripes or Black Keys. The opening track from the EP “The Only Way”begins with a heavily distorted riff, but that doesn’t prepare you in any way for the voice that soon emanates from the speakers. The vocal starts from somewhere near the bowels of the earth, coursing through 19 year old Chris Fox’s body, before being projected like a screaming minion of Lucifer himself, onto the unsuspecting listener. Has Chris sold his soul to the devil already, in Robert Johnson style? Hopefully not, but that sound comes from somewhere ever so slightly unholy, and for someone so young, that just can’t be right, surely? Fox wails, hollers, screams, sings and produces a wonderfully raw guitar sound through this four track EP, ably supported by Joe Lockwood and James Ashwin on drums and bass. Although perhaps not the tightest of outfits just yet, there are definitely the signs of something special emerging from the Cheshire outfit and the EP is an excellent precursor to the album due out on May 1st.
Who knows, with Jack White having announced the demise of The White Stripes, perhaps he’s created an opening for a band such as Kindest of Thieves to exploit. They are off to a decent start anyway, as the drumming is certainly an improvement. (We should point out that this is not a new release but here are the boys at a recent show in London, with new material - the album to follow in May.)
James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream
It is a fact that there is very little completely original music around at present and to a certain extent that’s going to be inevitable. There aren’t an infinite amount of notes and chords etc, so at some stage, songs do and will continue to sound familiar. The older you become, the more music you listen too, the more you hear that resurrects a memory of yester year.
That isn’t an accusation that can be aimed at James Blake nonetheless, as he is an original, a true visionary and is producing some incredible sounds, both musically and vocally. With “The Wilhelm Scream” Blake is a dubstep balladeer, creating a bass heavy piece of atmospheric beauty. Opening in a very minimalist way, but growing in electronic depth and layers to a point where you feel a shiver running up your back from both the intensity and that gorgeous vocal. The track then drops away to completion and you are left open mouthed at an absolutely stunning composition.
I should have investigated James Blake well before now, but better late than never I suppose.
Both “The Wilhelm Scream” and self titled album are available in all formats now.
www.myspace.com/jamesblakeproduction
jamesblakemusic.com
The Adjusters – Wrong Place, Wrong Time / You Gotta SayThe Adjusters on the other hand are not original or visionaries in any shape or form. Theirs is a path that has been trodden by many before, and while we do need the James Blake’s of this world to expose us to innovation and provide a listening experience for our darker moments, similarly we also need bands like The Adjusters. Bands who blast out punk ’n’ roll, as they like to call it, with gay abandon making music fun. It’s the type of music you play before heading into town on a Saturday night, songs that enhance your mood, preparing you for, hopefully, a great time ahead. “Wrong Place, Wrong Time” perhaps The Adjusters are, but do we really care...... no, just appreciate this for what it is, pure unadulterated entertainment.
Auction – Statues
Auction are also not particularly original, but unlike The Adjusters, this is a problem as they sound very much like Scouting For Girls. I have tried, listening to the track over and over noting some pleasant variation and a nice bouncy rhythm. I also like the fact the band write, rehearse and record in an old railway station that drummer Guy’s dad has converted into a successful auction house (hence the name.) Regrettably, I just can’t move past the simple fact that I really can’t abide Scouting For Girls.
Although “Statues” isn’t released until the 18th of April, it is available as a free download on their website for a limited period.
Band of Holy Joy – On The Ground Were John Wesley Walked / Black MiddensYou can’t beat a stirring piece of folk music with a big arrangement and passionate lyrics, which gives you that feeling of an emotionally swelling chest as it grows and grows. That just about describes “On The Ground Were John Wesley Walked” by Band of Holy Joy. A slow opening with just the electric guitar and vocal before a flute joins followed by the rhythms and then a beautifully mournful violin and we’re heading in to a beautifully constructed and played piece. It’s the voice and violin that really make this, and even though there sounds to be an element of the vocal drifting slightly off key in places that actually adds to, rather than hinders the whole piece.
Black Middens doesn’t have quite the same impact and the introduction does sound a touch too much like “Hallelujah” but it’s still a reasonable track. Disappointingly, it does drift rather than finish at the end and doesn’t really sound fully complete.
Who’d have suspected all those years ago when I spent much of my life at the Manchester Apollo watching heavy rock bands and Band of Holy Joy originally came together, I’d be promoting the virtues of their brand of folk. A musical genre I always considered to be defined by old men and Arran jumpers. How the times change.
Digital Download Single Available on April 7th
www.myspace.com/bandofholyjoy
www.bandofholyjoy.co.ukAfter a good start, on paper it looks as though it’s all going to take a turn for the worse. There can’t be another genre of music that has been hammered to death over the last decade like indie, (whatever that actually means now.) Hundreds of bands have picked up guitars, trying to emulate the success of Oasis, The Libertines or the Arctic Monkeys. When I see yet another indie description attributed to an artist arrive at Mudkiss, there’s always an immediate sense of “here we go again.” The following four bands are all portrayed as Indie and it’s with very real sense of déjà vu that I gingerly approach them.
To the Chase – When You Believed / The Return
“When You Believed” by “To the Chase” however, has something that makes it stand out from what has become a very mediocre crowd. Great guitar work and vocal from Aaron Kravitz and there’s something really going on with those drums. The rhythms are complex and drummer Jim Rooney demonstrates some incredibly quick hands that wouldn’t be out of place in a top metal band. No surprise then, to discover To The Chase were a live drum and bass outfit in a previous life with Jim reaching 180bpm behind the kit. The track has another particularly redeeming feature in an ending that ensures you know that’s it, finished, move on to the next. No annoying studio fades here, that’s for certain.
“The Return” is another solid up tempo song with the addition of brass that gives a real Northern Soul feel. I believe there’s an album due around the end of June, so certainly one to watch out for.
Thomas Tantrum – Sleep
Initially, I’m slightly concerned as it sounds as though Megan Thomas is revving up to launch herself into the old Lulu hit “Shout” but thankfully that proves not to be the case. Instead, this is a piece of jaunty, melodic, three minute pop from a band showing considerable restraint based on their more hyperactive debut album, which is a welcome departure. Megan retains a much more mature tone these days and sings rather than shouts, which sits ideally with the simplistic keyboard and unusual guitar sound. “Sleep” set’s everything up rather nicely for Thomas Tantrum’s second album which is due for release this Summer. Sleep is released on March 27th.
The Birdsong EP recorded last year is also still available free, from the Thomas Tantrum website.
www.thomastantrum.co.uk
www.myspace.com/thomastantrum
Assembly – The Morning After EPThe latest EP from Assembly has been on release since February, so I’m coming to this slightly after the fact, but genuinely pleased Tom took the time to contact us. The three tracks “Dance With The Devil,”” Lies” and“Melanie” remind me of Pete and the Pirates and offshoot Tap Tap for two reasons. Firstly it’s the chiming lead guitar, which is used to great effect by both those bands and secondly they produce perfect pop songs, which funnily enough, so do Assembly. The rhythms from the drums and second guitar are wonderfully understated, just trundling along, but completely underpinning everything. There’s skilful interplay between bass and lead guitar and it’s obvious, to me anyway, that this is a real band, not just a bunch of individual musicians. “Melanie” is the one that really grips, and that’s not suggesting any detriment to the other two tracks. The musical rest at 1m 06, even arriving so early injects fresh impetus and the inclusion of the harmonies just adds icing to the cake.
I know very little about “Assembly” but I aim to find out much more, like when are you heading to Manchester guys?
Vinyl Jacket – Painting Stations
Another single that was released back in February and just missed last month’s round-up. Four strikes in a row on the indie front is almost unheard of, but Vinyl Jacket have also produced another piece of pure pop heaven. I wasn’t sure at the outset as the staccato vocal and busy opening hint at being a touch too much, but once everything settles down, it’s incredibly catchy with a chorus as infectious as conjunctivitis. The student population of Britain will love this.
“To The Chase,” “Thomas Tantrum,” “Assembly” and “Vinyl Jacket” all deserve a special mention, as whatever you want to call their style of music, ultimately it’s pop. Not pop in a bad way, but in a good way, a very British way. All four make you click your fingers, move your feet and play drums on the car steering wheel (well not To The Chase, as that would be suicidal) and that’s exactly what pop music should do, give you a sense of release and pure unadulterated enjoyment. If there was any justice in the musical world, you’d see all four in the UK charts, but I guess that’s just my pipe dream. Little recompense to the bands I’m sure, but my faith in “Indie” is restored and long may it continue.
This album was definitely in my top five of last year and is one of the most powerful collections of music I've ever come across. The tone is set immediately with "Ulvetid" a track of monstrous proportions. An almighty shout, heavyweight drumming and crashing guitar are followed by a throat ripping vocal (to coin a phrase from my good friend Tim Vee) and we are into heavy metal Valhalla as the Norwegian's pin you to the nearest wall. It's that vocal that will deter a number of listeners, as is the case with metal in general, but give this album a chance, as it has so much to offer. The influences are as much rooted in 60 and 70's heavy rock, as more current metal and the three guitar assault not only provides incredibly strong rhythms, but also some fantastic breaks and solos. There's also subtlety apparent here, which may at first go unnoticed. "Mjod" with it's sudden, although brief introduction of acoustic guitar, "Fossegrim" with it's strangely refreshing keyboards and in particular the outro to final track "Ytrydd Dei Svake" which again hosts acoustic guitars but they take on an almost country feel.
Tom Williams and the Boat first floated across my view supporting Stornoway early last year and I’d also heard them played on Tom Robinson’s 6 music Introducing show. There was always something just a little bit special about the band, which I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but have been keeping a close eye on their progress via the mailing list. When the “See My Evil” EP was released last November, it became apparent that this wasn’t, as suspected, just another UK folk outfit, riding the resurgent wave, but a band with real depth and in particular, exceptional lyrical dexterity. “See My Evil’s” collection of songs portrayed some of the most wonderfully dark and twisted images I heard in quite some time and highlighted a talent for writing that appeared to be straight from the heart and lacked the ambiguity seen within the majority of artists. If pushed to name similar writers, perhaps Mike Skinner or Frank Turner who are also not averse to baring their souls and Tom Williams is definitely cut from the same fabric.
