Review - The Stayaways - Controls / Liar Is Me (Single)

The Stayaways - Controls / Liar Is Me (Single)

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3 out of 10

Blur, Future Of The Left, Biffy Clyro, Nirvana, The Beatles. These are the bands mentioned in the Stayaways bio as influences and comparisons. We can ignore the mention of Nirvana and the Beatles, since they've been claimed as influences by every bunch of chancers with guitars since, well, Nirvana. Blur and Biffy are fairly apt comparisons, as the sound is fairly classic indie with occasional chunks of festival friendly big choruses. You could probably go a bit further back and mention the Jam, since there's definitely a distinct jangle to everything. However, the FOTL comparison is pretty ludicrous since, well I don't want to be too harsh but- FOTL actually rock. This, meanwhile, totally failed in getting me going in any way.

Listen: www.myspace.com/stayaways

Tracklist:
1. Controls
2. Liar Is Me

Review - Jonny Cola & The A-Grades - Disappearing Act (Single)

Jonny Cola & The A-Grades - Disappearing Act (Single)

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6 out of 10

Let's start with the name. It's awful. Really. It's like something a primary school teacher would come up with for the band formed in the music class, or something from a fundamentalist Christian propaganda movie about the evils of rock and roll.

In reality, rock and roll is hardly what this lot are about. It's more along the lines of geeky glam indie pop, and I do mean geeky. Like lyrics about formulas and spreadsheets levels of geeky. But it bounces along with a nice summery pop vibe, like that Holloways 'Generator' tune, so we'll give them a pass. The calypso-style musical break at the end also keeps the spirits up, even if the chorus is a bit too saccharine.

As for the two remixes, Hunterheck lays a load of effects over the drums and bass line, and with various blips and beeps bouncing around, it all goes a bit Hot Chip. A decent section is given over to gradually layering effects and echoes onto everything, stretching it out and generally indulging, but overall it's still the same song. Conversely, the Soft Close-Ups mix just takes the keyboard and bass lines, along with a handful of vocal samples, reinventing the song as a sparse late-night dance number. It's actually a bit depressing, compared to the original, but I suppose it's still better than the Enemy.

Listen: www.myspace.com/jonnycolaandtheagrades

Tracklist:
1. Disappearing Act (Radio Mix)
2. Disappearing Act (Hunterheck Mix)
3. Disappearing Act (Soft Close-Ups Mix)

Review - Leverton Fox - Country Dances

Leverton Fox - Country Dances

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9 out of 10

Country Dances starts as any album so entitled should - with the sounds of a forklift truck fucking a heart rate monitor. Various sounds amalgamate, impregnate and fester to produce a perilously contorting cacophony of malaise, but this is a beautiful disease, like the raped girl from G N' R's Appetite for Destruction inlay discovering that she is pregnant. (I'm guessing her offspring would be something along the lines of Tetsuo)

This is a violent whirring and shuddering beast; imagine Venetian Snares if had a more Teutonic bone in his body and I'm not talking about being buggered by Kraftwerk. This is, and, most importantly feels fluid. It may be improvised and jarring but each gurgle has its place, this is the sound of three minds melding, of joining, twisting and cavorting. No drips where there should be drabs, the experimental nature of this summons allusions with Sun Ra, Kayo Dot and indeed Everlovely Lightningheart. Hell lets ego feed those snake heads - Grey Machine's abundant electronic queefing certainly shouldn't be overlooked.

4th track - Rubbed Out suitably posits itself in the mechanised two tones of Eraserhead, but this is where that maniac keeps pulling the other lever. Remember where you left your ears because it is unlikely you will have arrived prepared. Desolate drones club together whilst dog's barks ensure anyone expecting a chorus is left long behind. This is music from those un-filmed moments of bedlam and terror post adrenochrome consumption in HST's F & L.

Snappy stickwork and stalking sub bass throbs gee along the pensive N4 Comedown which, gallantly, invites round terrors loopy friend - confusion. Fortunately as he was about to sit down and cause a nuisance, his Mum called and told him he had to go home for his tea (cornflakes and mustard placed under the eyelids).

The wealth of musicianship that this trio exude is quite staggering and although there will be naysayers based on the lack of convention (get out naysayers, what are you doing here anyway?) this really does warrant an enforced aural inspection, especially when more rhythmic treats turn up in the shape of Spectre & Wagon and also The Spume. Tim Giles' drumming on which is both inventive and spasmodic.

At first glance the artwork seemed too childish and playful to fit this often dark tiger mauling of an album, yet on closer inspection (not to mentioned continued listening) it became apparent that beyond the malevolent edge of this cluster fuck there is a playful vibe that not only deals with the unrepentant crunch of this desperate hollow we call life, it also showcases those brilliant glints where it all comes together to vanquish the rough and rejoice in the soul. Which is why a crayon image of an inverted Yggdrasil seems so appropriate, or have I got the wrong end of the tree?

Listen: www.myspace.com/levertonfox

Tracklist:
1. Radar Remote
2. Prang
3. Basking Sharks
4. Rubbed Out
5. N4 Comedown
6. Uncle Jack
7. Vulpecula
8. Spectre & Wagon
9. The Spume
10. Absenting

Review - Cutaways - Earth and Earthly Things

Cutaways - Earth and Earthly Things

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8 out of 10

Cutaways are a 3-piece hailing from Belfast who creates synthy-indie-boy-girl-jangle-pop. Their album, Earth and Earthly Things, is 12 tracks making full use of this formula to craft an album that smacks of originality and oozes a quirky charm.

The album kicks off with lead single Mio of Kroton, the perfect taster for what is to come. The song showcases the dual vocal style that epitomises the band and is really their secret weapon. Grace McMacken and Paul McIver's vocals effortlessly weave in and out of each others to allow many songs on the album to be lifted to the next level.

Wrong Case, Right Words is a good example of this, changing tempos as often as an annoying pre-teen girl changes her Facebook status, the song bounces and sways, stops and starts and generally leaves you with no idea where it is heading. Not done in an overly arty or pretentious way, it never takes away from the enjoyment of the song. Perhaps the best part of this tempo changing is that on any given song on the album there will always be at least one section that is truly special. For me Lovers Are Lunatics starts off poorly, but quickly shifts into a great song, one of the best on the album.

While attention is easily drawn to McMacken's stunning vocals or the constantly shifting soundscape, it is easy to gloss over the lyrics which are often charming, funny and clever. However, they do on occasion, turn a bit twee, something that some of the songs can be accused of as well, noticeably I Don't Understand What You Say. Also the use of the synths is not at the expense of some decent guitar lines at points in some of the songs, which increases their appeal.

This is a solid album with slick production, originality and full of good songs. It is unlikely you will have anything like this in your collection, and you will be missing out if you don't add it.

Listen: www.myspace.com/cutaways

Tracklist:
1. Milo of Kroton
2. Weapon of Choice
3. I Spilt Your Drink So You Broke My Heart
4. Hey Map My Way
5. Wrong Case, Right Words
6. Earthly Things
7. A Better Paul
8. Lovers Are Lunatics
9. I Don't Understand What You Say
10. Secret Distance
11. Lights
12. Fight To The Death

News - Not Advised - "Fight For This" EP

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Not Advised’s "Fight For This" EP is going to be released on the 14th of September through ...Is A Rockstar Records.

Live dates:

JUL 31: ISLE OF WIGHT, The Studio
AUG 01: READING, Face Bar
AUG 04: LONDON, Underworld (w/ The Ataris)
AUG 05: MANCHESTER, Roadhouse (w/ The Ataris)
AUG 06: MILTON KEYNES, Crauford Arms
AUG 08: STOKE ON TRENT, Harry's Bar
AUG 09: GLASGOW, Capital
AUG 10: SCUNTHORPE, Lincoln Imp
AUG 11: LEEDS, Cockpit
AUG 12: BOURNEMOUTH, Ibar (w/ Flood Of Red)
AUG 13: CARDIFF, Barfly
AUG 14: SALISBURY, City Hall 2
AUG 16: SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners

News - The Silent Years Assault The UK!

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The Silent Years’ new single "Climb On My Back" is set to be released on the 10th of August through Gift Music. The video for the track is up here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g5v9G6L7gA

If you head on over to their MySpace page you can download their self-titled for FREE!

Their second full-length called "The Globe" is set for release in the autumn.

News - Placebo’s Next Single Is...

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Placebo’s next single will be "The Never-Ending Why" that is being released on the 7th of September.

Live dates are as follows:

December

Tuesday 08th Birmingham LG Arena
Wednesday 09th London The O2
Friday 11th Bridlington Spa
Saturday 12 Manchester Central
Monday 14th Glasgow SECC
Tuesday 15th Dublin Olympia Theatre
Wednesday 16th Dublin Olympia Theatre