Whispers From The Web

Crawling through cyberspace, battling blog by blog and listening to the unlistenable so you don't have to......

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To Brooklyn! I know, I know, Brooklyn this, Brooklyn that. But I simply can't help it if so many damn good bands are piledriving around the place. Come on England, step your game up!

Night Manager are a fourpiece who churn out some lo-fi, unfathomable slacker indie. The vocals of Caitlin Seager are distant and harmonious, sent through a phantom zone and zapped back to our ears, aligning in a spooky coalition with grunge-tinged guitars and pulsing percussion.

'Blackout Sex' in particular is so laid back, it falls over into a scuzzy no-mans land full of wonder.

Night Manager's Myspace

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And well done England I suppose for such a quick retort (in my MIND) with South London foursome Beaty Heart. Beaty Heart are another band who have taken the spirit of African triblahblah to heart but manage to do it without sounding like a knock off copycat. They throw together a pile of rhythmic drumbeat into one big cooking pot and it all comes out sounding so very primal, allowing it to melt in your mouth (or ear).

Add in yelps for a bit of vocalisation and some electronic trimmings, and you have Beaty Heart, a true art band who know how to mix the spiritual with the musical. 'Cola' descends into mad cries and warped melody by the end of the track, echoing primitive rituals, whilst 'Get The Girls' utilises a handclap beat not too dissimilar from the world of Gospel. Go get washed away...

Beaty Hearts' Myspace

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Back over to the US, to Pennsylvania, to Philadelphia! This is where Reading Rainbow reside. Reading Rainbow are a duo who soak their music in reverb and a jolly gruffness. The vocals sound like sweet indie pop whilst the guitars rush along on some splendid amphetamine, rough and tumble the whole way.

'Restless' is a sweet pop song caked in grit and grumble, and therefore well worth a listen. They flirt with post-punk sensibility in 'Underground', then wail over the top and chant their way to a fitting finish.

Reading Rainbow's Myspace

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Finally, for now, a band I know very little about except for the fact they make soundtracks to your life. Cabaret Scene are based around London and is a project between a group of friends, started by a guitarist called Charlie Prest. They utilise a range of sounds, styles and instruments to swell everything via math rock, dreamgaze and progressive pop, adding affected vocals where necessary.
'Namaste' starts slowly but surely, steadily gaining a following of new instrumentation until 70s style riffs and electric blotches meet. 'Blueprints' resembles a desert island ditty for the insane man, careening to a crescendo of electro proportions before crashing against the shore in waves of shattered eardrums.

Cabaret Scene's Myspace

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More music arriving shortly....

Cover Me Slowly

This one's rather high profile compared to previous bursts of musical release showcased on New Narcotics but I love it so much, why not share it with the WORLD (or at least someone else).

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The Raveonettes are a well established duo from Denmark who peddle a true garage rock sound via the realms of shoegaze and surf rock. They have four well received albums out, have worked with the likes of Maureen Tucker and Ronnie Spector and releasing a string of fantastic singles, including my personal favourite 'Love In A Trashcan'.

Meeeeanwhile, Dr. Martens are a shoewear brand (who do dabble in other clothing items) who manufacture a particularly heavy-looking and militaristic style which grew in popularity thanks to swathes of young scenes taking them as part of their fashion uniforms. Skinheads, new wavers and, most prominently, punks decked themselves out in the brand and, ever since, the company has remained linked to the alternative music world.

And this year of 2010 is also the 50th anniversary of the fabled footwear, so the clever people in the PR room have encouraged a bunch of bands to cover their version of a cult classic. The Noisettes and BRMC, amongst others, have put forth something (all listenable HERE and downloadable for FREE HERE) but The Raveonettes, as usual, stand out amongst the deck.

They cover The Stone Roses 1991 hit 'I Wanna Be Adored', a moody, needy sulk of a song. The Raveonettes take all of the emotion and snarl of the original but throw in some extra growling and some wailing guitar lines over the familiar riff. Add in Sharon's breathy vocals which drift up and away so breezily by the end of the track, and you've got one beautiful cover.

Watch the strangely sweet video and give it a listen HERE!

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Cover Me Slowly

Yet another Cover Me Slowly, defying the implied lack of haste in the title, but when good music pops up, it has to be reported TO THE WORLD! (Or to the three people that may, possibly read this once I publish a novel and mention the Blog I run within the inlay blurb...)

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This time, for your listening pleasure and courtesy of a University chum who goes by the name of Scott (HEY, check out his website http://scottmichaeldavies.zxq.net/), I have a whole bloody album full of covers for you from an established LA duo going by the name of The Bird and the Bee.

They have toured with Lily Allen, performed on the Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel in the US of A and had their creations broadcast on the likes of Greys Anatomy and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. So, not exactly slouches but still a relatively unknown entity on these British shores.

With their third album, they bring a whole record full of slinky little indietronic versions of Halls & Oates numbers. Yup, the 1980s pop duet containing one of musics greatest moustaches. They turn classic wedding anthems such as 'Maneater' into modern synth seduction, echoing a cheesy, pop-tastic version of The xx.

Top of the pile, personally, is their version of 'I Can't Go For That', viewable here. (Primarily because that song ALWAYS reminds me of THIS)

The Bird and the Bee's Myspace

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BUH BYE!
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Cover Me Slowly

London planning and lazy days and the lack of imagination and inspiration to be found in the ol' hometown have left me starved for words and writing this past month. BUT never look back, never surrender and blah blah blah, so let's jump this engine and see what's ticking on the internetz....

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Cool Runnings are an eight piece from Knoxville, Tennessee who gyrate their way through several different stylings throughout their awesomely titled tracks. 'Burnout' drums along, sinister and heady, whilst 'Babes Forever' gets glitchy and angular and 'When I Got High With You' sounds as stoned and sleepy as implied.

However, this is all about the fabled art of the COVER! And here Cool Runnings take on 'Road To Nowhere', the Talking Heads' choral uttering on the lack of direction in life. Perfect for a band without one specific musical direction so far (which works well as far as the smorgasbord of sound emitted shows).

Cool Runnings throw some tribal drums on the song, whinny out the vocals and bring out the nihilism of the whole thing, dashing bits of archaic synth and communal singing into the mix. A delightfully offtrack take on the 1985 Byrne creation.

Oh and free to download RIGHT HERE!

Publish Post

Check out their own offerings at Cool Runnings' Myspace

GOBBLE GOBBLE

GOBBLE GOBBLE are insane. Possibly actually literally. They appear to be Canadian and are touring all over North America this year. They make music that is strained through a psychedelic blender at high speed, warping and twisting everything until it makes no sense and sounds FANTASMIC! 'Wrinklecarver' is such perfect psych pop, it synths itself into a sexy little black hole of freakout. And their devastating destruction of Pixies' 'Where Is My Mind?' (self described as blasphemy) is wondrous and evokes the spirit of losing ones mind after a healthy dose of hallucinogenic drugs. I would love to see these guys go all out live but will either have to adventure to America (which I am happy to do if someone GIVES me money) or await a British tour....

GO LISTEN at their Myspace NOW!

Whispers From The Web....

Whispers From The Web will see me throwing a whole bunch of new-ish bands at you to listen to, adore, praise, worship or hate (depending on your taste, OF COURSE). ONWARDS!

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I am always joyous to find a band I enjoy from le Midlands (nostalgic hometown glory coming into effect I feel...), and I have discovered one in Boat To Row, a folk group who know how to pluck heartstrings and manufacture such merry melodies. 'Night The Owl Slept' particularly shows off the breadth and width of talent in the young band.

Boat To Row's Myspace



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Oh Brooklyn, go on then give me another bloody reason to move there. ARMS are a trio who churn out moody indie rock that swells and surges with splendid energy, via combined choral vocals, driving riffs and soft percussion. Think a low-key Local Natives with a bit more intensity.

ARMS' Myspace

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I am a bit behind with Suckers, who have released a debut album, 'Wild Smile', after much online acclaim from the likes of MTV and Spinner. Suckers are a foursome who fuse angular jerky indie rock with funk and harmonic chants. They are supporting Yeasayer on tour in the UK in October so will soon be reachable in live form.

Suckers' Myspace

You can also download a free track, 'Easy Chairs', here at Stereogum



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Moving to Canada now, we have another foursome in Braids. Braids make shoegazing music with less of a lo-fi edge and spend up to ten minutes on each track, noodling around with various instrumentation phases and fading. It's all rather daydreamy and highly enjoyable, gently pulsing and breaking at numerous junctions, like the ebb and flow of some wonderful musical tide.

Braids' Myspace

Yet another free track, 'Lemonade', from the wonder of Stereogum



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Sticking in Canadian territory, Memory Screen are a band who make terrifically trippy music and seem to have an addiction to images of leaves and trees, if their Myspace images are anything to go by. Though, this does sound like the kind of music you could get good and lost in the woods to. Its etheral and beautiful and well worth a listen.

Memory Screen's Myspace


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And finally, a bit of math pop. Tangled Hair are a balls-out math rock band who throw angular guitars, jerking percussion, gently yelping vocals and a dash of keys here and there. A free EP, 'First', is available for download below.


Download FOR FREE Tangled Hair - 'First'

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I shall be keeping my eye on the blogosphere (as bloody always) and updating Whispers From The Web every few days (hopefully).

BUH BYE!
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Back on the Beat

'Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends.' ~ Alphonse de Lamartine

Riiiiiiight, so a broken Macbook charger meant I have been dead to the net for a week (HORROR!) but I am back and charging through new music, old music and that music that lies inbetween....

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Lo-fi R&B crooning and rumbling is pretty popular right now, particularly for a great number of solo bedroom musicians such as Toro Y Moi. How To Dress Well is Tom Krell, a New Yorker who has been rolling out EPs for a while now and managed to impress with each one.

Each track is a soothing, seething mass of reverb and ethereal vibrations, eminent in the standout 'Suicide Dream 2' and 'Ready For The World'. Vocals wail and squeal via computer distortion over steady, careful footsteps of synth, keys and percussion. It is soulful and wonderful and sinks into the self so easily.

How To Dress Well Interview and Streaming Songs at Village Voice

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Maximum Balloon is a side-project of Dave Sitek, the TV On The Radio genius, where a whole host of electronic influence and fuzz takes hold, alongside hip-hip, R&B and indie rock. It's modern funk at its twinkling best and the album, expected sometime in August, includes guest appearances from Karen O, Theophilus London, Kyp Malone, Holly Miranda and David Byrne. I AM EXCITED!

Turn up your speakers/headphones/minds to full volume for the pulse and blip of 'Groove Me' featuring a timely bit of hip-hop via Little Dragon, and an occasional riff that feels like an Earth, Wind and Fire offcut.

Maximum Balloon's Myspace

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And Last But Not Least....

• Having just listened to an early copy of Best Coast's 'Crazy For You', I can commend it ridicuously highly and urge you to purchase the West Coast, fuzz-rush of splendor when it is released at the beginning of August....
• Formerly known as Treasure, now known as Prizes, still pretty awesome and percussion perfect....roll along with 'Canada'...
• Tricky is back with 'Murder Weapon' AND it is as pounding and amazing as anything he has done before, with an amazing sample....

Albums out over the next week or so that you should probably buy include;

• 'Mines' by Menomena [Portland indie rock that screeches, wails, kicks, scratches and bites...]
• 'To All Beloved Enemies' by The Shimmies [Relatively gentle garage rock that could soundtrack some 'dramatic' TV shows with ease]
• 'Praise and Blame' by Tom Jones [the Welsh Maestro is back with gospel garble...JUST look at that hair....wow.....]
  

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More special shiz approaching from the West...and East..and North and South and inbetween..

Have fun!

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