Monday Alternative: Funktionslust - Phedre - WoodzSTHLM

Funktionslust - Unstable (Dro Carey remix).

Background - Funktionslust announce their 'Window' EP will be released 20th November. You can pick up hints of all sorts of diverse sounds in Funktionslust’s music, from technoid rhythms to glacial coldwave-esque atmospheres, but they bring these styles into a hyper-modern sound world that is distinctly their own. 'Window' is the duos tightest, tensest most compulsively listenable offering to date. 

Funktionslust formed in London, when Sage Redman and Joe Gillick met in their first year of university, bonding immediately over their love of idiosyncratic pop (St. Vincent, Owen Pallet, Tune-Yards, Cocteau Twins etc.) Originally, Sage grew up in Seattle – her parents were “super unmusical”, but her uncle had connections to the grunge scene. Joe, on the other hand, grew up in London, where he was exposed to the music of grime crews like Ruff Sqwad and Roll Deep. 

'Window' is about a disconnection from oneself inside, (inside as in indoors, and inside as in ones self) and from others outside. It explores the dichotomy and beauty of disconnection vs. connection with partners and friends and the parallels between what one thinks of themselves and what one perceives others to think. Every aspect of each song is created with one synthesiser, acting as a temple for all their ideas. Each idea, each strand of inspiration, bounces off the walls of this 'temple', and emerges as one nuanced, unmediated and tangible sonic construction. 

Funktionslust are classicists, writing traditional melodic pop songs, but there’s an experimental bend to their production informed by artists like Four Tet, Mumdance, and Oneohtrix Point Never.

Prior to the EP's release we have a remix of Funktionslust first single 'Unstable'. Australian producer 'of the moment', Dro Carey's remix, stays reasonably close to the original and if anything lightens & thins the sound a little. Both versions make the pending EP release, of real interest.

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Phedre - Tivoli.

Background - Toronto-based experimental pop duo Phèdre return with new single (+video), "Tivoli." 

Melted-pop duo Phèdre make music for escaping. The visually evocative soundscapes emerging on their previous releases take form like a great comic; a concise narrative, bright colors, and psychedelic textures. If comic books had strobe lights Phèdre's certainly would.

As for what they take from the real world, Phèdre's music borrows from hip-hop, psych and high-bpm electronica to make music digestible to internet-induced-ADD-types and also those who can sit through a heavily conceptual full-length. 2016 will see them entering a new cycle, with a couple of new energetic releases.

A looping sound wall comes to life as the bass kicks in, however the vocals are a surprise. Strangely addictive the soundtrack matches the quirky vocal nature and bang! it's finished and time to play again (like I said, addictive).

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WoodzSTHLM - Underwater (feat. Flores & Olle Grafström).

Background - This is the new track from 22-year-old Swedish producer WoodzSTHLM. 

"Underwater" paints a picture, not of drowning, but of human instinct and it's reluctance to give in, even as the surface light becomes further out of reach. 

The single is part of a complex and dark EP, Lighthouse, coming November 20th via WoodzSTHLM's co-founded label, Mångata Records.

Moody and intricate, the song has sultry vocals and a soundtrack heavy on the bass line. Layers of rhythmic percussion sounds, carry the whole piece along. The synth's bring it all together, and as a tease for the EP it really works.


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Straight Shooting Saturday: Lady Low - The By Gods.

Lady Low - Burning Like A Fever.

Background - Released in mid October “Burning Like a Fever,” is the current single from Hollywood’s favourite romance rockers, Lady Low. Described as “where strings and heartstrings collide,” Lady Low is a rock sextet comprised of Jimmy Sweet (vocals, guitar), Eden Lee (vocals, drums), Shanel Chavers (vocals, synth), Kaitlin Wolfberg (violin), Corinne Olsen (violin), and Mia Siler (viola). Sweet had always wanted to start a band that combined love’s passion and old school rock and roll. After returning to L.A. by way of London, he formed Lady Low.

Sweet started out with legendary San Francisco rock band, The Richmond Sluts. He still performs with the Goodtime Boys, a ‘70s cover band, along with members of Hot Hot Heat, Fleet Foxes, The Heavy, and Beachwood Sparks. While studying vocal performance at Ohio University, Eden recorded and performed with The First Street Heat, a nine-piece funk group. She has also been featured in SassafraZ and Tempo Tantrums, a female a cappella group. More information on Lady Low is available on the band’s official website.

Wolfberg writes the string arrangements and also plays viola, keyboards, and violin. She has worked with indie legends The Bats and The DB’s, and has played with heavy hitters such as Dweezil Zappa and Ruthann Friedman.

We featured Lady Low back in early June, however the current single 'Burning Like A Fever' has got under my skin, so why not give the band another share. The whole structure and feel to this song, just ticks a lot of personal 'like' boxes, simple as that.

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The By Gods - On The Radio.

Bio from the band - Nashville-based band The By Gods — originally George Pauley (vocals, guitar) and Tye Hammonds (drums) — breed hook-laden, roll-your-windows-down rock & roll, respectfully reminiscent of the band’s early to mid-90’s alternative predecessors.

With The By Gods, Hammonds and Pauley are focused on the difficult art of keeping it simple, and making the music they love. "We're really hedonistic when it comes to most things with The By Gods." Hammonds explains, "As long as we're into it, we think that other people will be too."

The band’s new album G​et On Feelings ​is chock-full of rock & roll spark, assembled perfectly with intelligent and, most importantly, intoxicating melodies. With it, the band grows from a duo into a trio, thanks to the addition of bassist Natalie Pauley. Together, The By Gods hit their full-stride from the opening track and, down strokes-be-damned, continue delivering their fuzz-guitar-laden youthful energy in crystal-clear high fidelity on “Miss It” and “On The Radio.” Pauley’s guitar work buzzes with maturity and exploration, from the appropriately off-kilter chorus chords of “My Way,” to the raucous bridge riff in “I Really Don’t Care.”

The new record like it's predecessor was recorded by, Carl Amburn (Riddle Of Steel, Traindodge, Self-Evident, Town Portal), at his Oklahoma barn studio, The Mousetrap. Out of that barn, a most-impressive beast of a full-length has germinated and is ready to devour the planet. You see, eventually The By Gods’ music will help put an end to war and poverty. It will align the planets and bring them into universal harmony. Allowing meaningful contact with all forms of life, from extra terrestrials to common household pets...and, it's excellent for dancing.

From the forthcoming album 'Get On Feelings' (out on January 22nd 2016) 'On The Radio' is their current single, and pretty typical of the power soaked album. It's potent rock'n'roll, reliant on energised and passionate performance, cutting out the nonsense and just playing to please, and pleasing the listener.

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Friday Pairing: The fin. - Cian Nugent

The fin. - Night Time.

Background - About The fin. Hailing from the vibrant Japanese port city of Kobe on Osaka Bay, The fin. have become something of a reputed and singular attraction in their homeland due to their stylish Europhile blend of synth-pop, chillwave and dream-pop, complete with English lyrics addressing universal themes of everyday uncertainties. Often referenced alongside the likes of Beach House, Toro Y Moi, Mew and Washed Out, the quartet have, since forming in 2012, created a sufficient stir to have performed before thousands at major Japanese festivals including Fuji Rock, Rising Sun and Viva La Rock. Not content with such acclaim in one country alone, Yuto Uchino (vocals and synths), Ryosuke Odagaki (guitar), Takayasu Taguchi (bass) and Kaoru Nakazawa (drums), each aged 24, set their sights worldwide and in March this year embarked on a major nine-date tour of the US, which included a blinding performance at SXSW. The UK is next up and what better way to announce their arrival than the four compositions of sophisticated, moreish pop that constitute the ‘Night Time’ EP. Big in Japan? Naturally, but why stop there?

See The fin. live in November
Friday 13: The Finsbury, London N4
Saturday 14: Birthdays, London N16
Sunday 15: The Old Queen’s Head, London N1.

This is a bright indie pop/rock song, simple and catchy hooks and definitely with a hint of the Europhile.

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Cian Nugent - Things Don't Change That Fast.

Background - Night Fiction is Cian Nugent's third album but his first taking on the role of singer-songwriter. Where his previous two albums: 2013's Born With The Caul and 2011's Doubles saw him exploring extended guitar-based instrumentals with his band, The Cosmos, here he has reigned things in and focused his songwriting skills. Guitar fans, do not fear, there is still plenty of soloing and fingerpicking here. With 7 songs both solo and with his band, this album amalgamates everything Cian has done up to this point and reveals a more broad palate of influences, including The Velvet Underground, Richard Thompson, Television, Neil Young, John Lennon, Fred Neil, etc.

Recorded over a week beginning on Valentine's Day 2015, Night Fiction was recorded in Bow Lane Studios in Dublin with Daniel Fox (Girl Band) and mixed by Brendan Jenkinson. The album's seven songs include solo ventures as well as full-band recordings feat. David Lacey on drums, Conor Lumsden on bass, Brendan Jenkinson on organ and piano and Ailbhe Nic Oireachtaigh on viola. The vibe here is familiar yet refreshing and a logical progression for Cian.

This is the first single from the new album, 'Night Fiction', due out Jan 2016 on Woodsist. It's a lovely slow song that calmly builds, and it's a wonder why Cian has left it so long, to put vocals over his music, he has a voice just right for this type of song.

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Thursdays Double Up: The Deadline Shakes - Niall James Holohan

The Deadline Shakes - Sweeten the Deal.

Background - Glasgow's The Deadline Shakes are Greg Dingwall (lead vocals, guitars and keys), Iain McKinstry (guitars and vocals), Martin McLeod (bass), Thomas Booth (drums) and Sam Clark (piano), with Michael Muir (violin) and Kiera Pollock (vocals). 

Their debut album 'Zealots', produced by Greg in a tiny room in the east end of Glasgow, is the product of three years of hard work following the band's inception. Greg’s songs are often widescreen in scope, but lucidly lovelorn lyrics give the album a relatably human quality. This is an album recorded on a limited budget that sounds like a large scale, big studio production. 

Each band member is a multi-instrumentalist who has a passion bordering on compulsion to create, a drive which underpins everything they do. Even the band's unique artwork is designed in-house by bass player Martin. Guitarist Iain has edited their music videos.

Radio support for The Deadline Shake's singles leading up to this album release has been extensive coming from the likes of BBC's Vic Galloway, Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson together with Jim Gellatly (XFM Breakout track), Roddy Hart and and a range of DJs at stations across the world.  The band have also been championed by The List, The Scottish Sun, Daily Record, Louder Than War, God is in the TV, and Artrocker.

From the album 'Zealots' (out on Flowers in the Dustbin Records on the 29 November 2015), 'Sweeten The Deal' is a pacey guitar driven song with stand out vocals and harmonies. Indie pop 'come rock' in nature, it's a definite enticer for their debut album. The album has clearly been a labour of love and has far more depth, than one song can suggest, it's a case of, like the single - love the album.

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Niall James Holohan - New Wave (Is This Rock 'N' Roll?).

And we are told - Reminiscent of Odelay era-Beck and Morning Glory era-Oasis with allusions to 90s hip hop and EDM, 'New Wave' is the ambitious debut single from Irish born and London based solo artist and producer Niall James Holohan; the perfect introduction to an experimental musician with a lot on this mind.

With boundless thumping energy, 'New Wave' is a genre spanning song, that demands to be noticed. It's the mixture of ideas, enthusiasm and refusal to conform to any particular style, that makes this stand out. Having said that it is coherent and clever, and worth a listen at the very least.

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S Is For: Shirley Said - Seth Bogart

Shirley Said - Crash.

About Shirley Said (and we quote) - Shirley Said’s sophisticated, experimental take on alt.digitalism was born in the town of Latina, near Rome, inspired by artists ranging from Bjork to Portishead, Talk Talk to Sonic Youth, as well as auteur's such as David Lynch and Ingmar Bergman. Originally a four-piece, the band performed at a series of prestigious national festivals and live video-based events, which emphasised their dedication to the visual as well as the aural. Subsequently relocating to London, Shirley Said resized to a two-piece, comprising Giulia Scarantino (lead vocal, synth, piano, fx) and Simone Bozzato (backing vocal, guitars, programming, efx). Their sensual, minimalist techno has sound tracked French docu-dramas, Italian TV series and an exclusive fashion film for Vogue. Earlier in 2015, the band’s double-A sided single, ‘Merry-Go-Round’/’Salvation’ firmly established them as one of the English capital’s most coveted electronica acts – the duo’s atmospheric live performances justifying widespread acclaim from keynote reviewers both on line and in print.

Dreamy vocals above a minimalist and cleverly textured soundtrack, that oozes atmosphere. The sort of track that reduces stress levels and puts a smile on your face.

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Seth Bogart - Eating Makeup (featuring Kathleen Hanna).

And the promo succinctly says - Madonna isn't the only master of re-invention - Seth Bogart (Hunx & His Punx, Gravy Train !) has a new album coming early next year on Burger Records and it's a whole new look and sound from him - he's gone "pop".  

The first track "Eating Makeup" features the legendary Kathleen Hanna - album has features from Tavi Gevinson, Clem from Cherry Glazerr, Chela and co-written and produced by Cole MGN (Ariel Pink, Julia Holter, Dam Funk etc).

OK this can easily be described as quirky, breezy, fun, a little different, you get the picture. My serious head says, it's not quite Beehive Candy material, however my serious head is wrong. It's just got under my skin, I like it, music is surely about connecting with our emotions and for whatever reason this song has.

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