Quality Not Quantity: Scatter Factory - Yassassin - Tammy

Scatter Factory - Out the Blocks.

Background -  Scatter Factory presents the new single 'Out The Blocks' from the forthcoming self-titled debut album. Set for release via Flecktone Recordings, this track delivers us a motorik, ghostly and infectious roller-skate bass groove.

This is the solo project of Will Foster, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and arranger who was a member of acclaimed art-pop band Delicatessen, as well as Top 40 hit-scoring Lodger in the 1990s. He has since written string arrangements for acts under Simon Raymonde’s guardianship, been a touring keyboardist / guitarist with Martina Topley-Bird, Brett Anderson/ Bernard Butler reunion vehicle The Tears, and Heather Nova.  Since 2008, Will has been regularly touring and recording as keyboardist with The Fratellis. Foster neatly sums up his shift in position: “I’m still in the background – but now there’s nobody else there with me.”

Suede’s Brett Anderson, with whom he toured in support of his solo album, describes Scatter Factory's music as “beautiful stuff”. Scatter Factory is an eloquent instrumental album that manages to be both vividly imagistic and intriguingly open-ended, playing as a set piece while ranging across pastoral tranquillity, cosmic spookiness and indeterminate dread. Composed, played, produced and mixed by Foster at his home in Oxford, this album features an array of electronica, pianos, guitars and percussion, while also making imaginative use of field recordings and treated sounds.

‘Scatter Factory’ is a non-prescriptive record that poses more questions than it provides answers and artist James Marsh, renowned for his Talk Talk album covers, has responded to this with a striking, retro-futurist graphic design for the cover artwork. It’s bold and dynamic in a way that befits someone flying solo for the first time, even if they are obscured by clouds. From the nine tracks featured on the LP, one other track ‘PowWow’ (edited version) is available for free download and streaming on Bandcamp. Its mix of light-filled lyricism and downright eeriness illustrates Foster’s knack for shifting mood, as well as pace and tone.

As of July 22, ‘Scatter Factory’ will be widely available through digital stores and also as a handsome digipak CD.

From the forthcomingg self titled album we have 'Out the Blocks', a piece of music than merges elements of Neu!, Kraftwerk and even Can, and yet still has plenty of vibrant originality. This is an incredible album, and whilst I'm name dropping you can comfortably add Vangelis and Mercury Rev into the equation. Some of the music is gently melodic, other tracks leaning towards experimental ideas without being self indulgent, and beyond that you have the steady hypnotic beat of early Krautrock. Collectively this is simply wonderful music, and a must listen for anyone who has a taste for any of the above artists.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Yassassin - Social Politics.

Background - Kinetic quintet Yassassin are probably the kind of colourful chaos that you need right about now. With all guns blazing, no exceptions made and nothing left unsaid, Yassassin premiere their debut single ‘Social Politics’. The single is mixed by Margo Broom (Fat White Family, Telegram) and will be available as a limited free download and then released via Enate Records (distributed by PIAS) on all digital platforms in July.

Following successful stints in other bands including The History of Apple Pie and LUST, Yassassin combine insistent, loud-mouthed guitars and throaty bass murmurs with ear-dwelling, pop perfection.

The single is a true reflection of the girls’ ideologies and doing things the Yassassin way. Extrapolating further, they suggest that: ''Social Politics is about standing up to the bullies, both in personal life and in today's society. It's about not always fitting the norm but daring to go your own way. It’s about rebelling against the ‘zombie scene,’ which could be either a social clique where only certain people are accepted, or a society where racism is becoming more glaringly visible.” After just stepping out of the studio with producer Dave Allen (The Cure, Neneh Cherry, Depeche Mode), the band are set to release their debut EP later in the year.

Tuesday 9th August - The Waiting Room, London (w/ Labradoor).

'Social Politics' is a totally likeable indie rock, come jangle pop song. Vocals are part raw and part refined and the harmonies just add melody and beautiful hooks. With a message in the lyrics, and upbeat energy it's one very fine single.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tammy - Hated It (With You).

Background - Two people, one name and a wholly captivating style is the simplest way to describe the breakthrough Sex-Folk duo, Tammy. Members Aaron and Brooke, who met for the first time at a New York bar called Ioana, possess the kind of undeniable chemistry that brings to mind some of the most beloved American folk duos, like Simon & Garfunkel and Dylan and Baez. Aaron’s bouncy acoustic riffs provide the perfect backdrop for Brooke’s sweet yet sultry, honey-soaked vocals, giving Tammy its truly original and unforgettable sound.

Today, Tammy reveals their debut single, "Hated It (With You)." Of inspiration for the candid single, Tammy says, "Brooke had a bad breakup and they starting writing hate songs to make her feel better.” “Hated It” is about trying to forget the bad, walking in the sunshine, and ultimately, moving on. The bridge presents the man who has been left behind, admitting to his loneliness and distress, in a rare moment of clarity. The response of the woman is fittingly unforgiving. She only offers the hopeful image of her pink shoes, along with the simple admission that she "really f##kin' hates you."

Influenced by everyone from Burt Bacharach to Nirvana, both Aaron and Brooke began developing their musicality at the age of four. Now, as Tammy, they draw inspiration from their experiences as New Yorkers. And as Brooke puts it, “We can’t wait to keep singing and writing songs about love, hate and making out.”

Oh what a timeless and beautiful song 'Hated It (With You)' is. It's hard to know what to add beyond the press release above, which is refreshingly accurate. It's a pristine modern folk/pop song with plenty of natural emotion and feeling.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Genre Mix: Suit of Lights - HOO HAs - Stevie

Suit of Lights - Break Open The Head.

Background - Suit of Lights is an American music group founded by Joe Darone, formerly of The Fiendz and The Rosenbergs. Described as genre-defying, Suit of Lights artfully blends elements of 60's pop, punk, progressive rock, metal, jazz, and baroque pop. The group's alumni boasts members of Mr Bungle, Thursday, Streetlight Manifesto and The Tea Club.

At an early age, Joe Darone dedicated his life to making art and music. Darone’s career as a drummer took him everywhere from CBGB’s to The Fillmore, from opening for The Ramones in his punk band, The Fiendz, to touring with Echo & The Bunnymen with The Rosenbergs.

Darone is also a visual artist, creating artwork for the likes of Madonna, Agnostic Front, and Van Halen under the name Zeckle. He continues to create the album artwork for each Suit of Lights release.

In 2003, Darone began focusing on songwriting, and Suit of Lights was born. Not satisfied to stand still creatively, each new Suit of Lights album is a new musical adventure. “Some bands go for 30 years with one sound, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But that’s boring to me,” Darone says. And so, fans have come to expect change from Suit of Lights.

“Amazing,” “Brilliant,” “Beautiful,” and “Truly great” are some of the words critics have used to describe Suit of Lights’ previous releases. Break Open the Head is the follow-up to the band's critically-acclaimed Shine On Forever, which was included in "Top Albums of the Year" lists from Brooklyn's The Big Takeover to the UK's Instrumental. Break Open the Head, produced by Tim 'Rumblefish' Gilles, is a bold, energetic leap forward, at once dense and challenging yet very accessible and insanely catchy. The lyric writing contains the most positive message to date: “honor your higher self.”

'Break Open The Head' opens with nice chunky bass and guitars, providing a suitable soundtrack for the distinct and likable vocals of Joe Darone. However it's the mix of both and a really good melody that makes the song stand out. It's one of many good songs from the sound shifting band, Suit Of Light.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOO HAs - This is the New Me.

Background - HOO HAs are an indie-rock quartet hailing from London. Frontman Jamie started off writing poetry which progressed to working alongside his old friend the late Robb Skipper, helping to write lyrics for his post-Holloways projects. After meeting Mark and Adam when they were performing in various musical outfits (including Hares), jamming at parties led to sessions above the Silver Bullet in Finsbury Park and electric late night gigs downstairs followed soon after. Incendiary live shows have always been a big part of HOO HAs heritage and they have since played shows supporting the likes of Gaz Coombes and alongside their good friends in the local scene such as: Francobollo, LA Salami, Mohit, Amaroun and Itchy Teeth.

Combining cocky and powerful guitar hooks with anthemic vocal melodies and memorable shout-along lyrics, tracks such as ‘This is the New Me’ and ‘Hanna’ feel like they have been plucked from golden-era of NME indie. The band cite their influences as everything from “from JJ Cale to J Dilla”, and it shows, there are clear influences in the earlier tracks on the EP from the likes of Blur, whilst also calling to mind the sounds of Babyshambles and at times Art Brut. The latter tracks on the EP such as ‘Tippex Jeans’ display a completely different element of the HOO HAs songwriting technique with hints of Captain Beefheart and more prog-blues infused guitar lines and psych driven bass parts. Similarly the vocals take a beguiling avant-garde tone and melody whilst the lyrics still retain their acuity.

This EP, much like 21st Century life, is a fast one-way play-through, tackling a whole range of emotions and post-millennial topics. It’s a loose narrative of the low-stakes anxiety that prods us throughout our waking lives, touching on topics usually only discovered post ‘coming of age’ along with the realisation that things are only as hard as you make them for yourself. HOO HAs are writing genuine songs about modern living and irreverently having a good time doing it, and as far as introductions go, their uninhibited and refreshingly original debut is as proficient as it is authentic. It’s reflective, percipient and demands multiple listens – It’s not one to be missed.

The song 'This Is The New Me' has London vibes running right through it. It's a classic indie rock song with hooks galore and lyrics that will have folks singing along in no time.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stevie - Decay.

Background - Brisbane based altpop duo Stevie have returned spectacularly with their new single ‘Decay’, and have sweetened the deal with a coinciding video.

Stevie is Phoebe Imhoff of Go Violets fame and revered producer Miro Mackie (The John Steel Signers, Major Leagues, Babaganouj). Their combined talents make for a powerful sonic experience, and have led to them sharing the stage with the likes of Philadelphia Grand Jury, Jeremy Neale and Big Strong Brute.

Borrowing from nineties house music, ‘Decay’ is Stevie’s most mature single yet. A bed of lush synth heavy production allows Imhoff’s signature vocals to bloom effortlessly; the song has a sombre vibe but will have its listeners dancing. Sonically ‘Decay’ is enthralling, a co-production by Mackie and Graham Ritchie, legendary bassist for Holy Holy, Airling and Emma Louise. Featuring stunning visuals centred on a stark urban environment, the video captures the essence of ‘Decay’ without overpowering it. The band will be touring in 2016 in celebration of yet more music slated for release in the near future. 

'Decay' merges potent synths and addictive vocals in a genre mix that's part electro, part old school house and part alt pop. If the melody does not get you, theres a good chance the rhythm will.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday Four: Ivey - Mother Leads - Lunch Duchess - Old Sault

Ivey - All Things Good.

Background promo - Fresh faced, born and bred to take on new adventures, Gold Coast's Ivey have been charming the pants off music fans and critics alike since 2013. Remaining just as breezy and young in their delivery but continuing to tighten the screws, Ivey ask nothing more of you, dear listener, than to revel in their indie-pop dream.

With half the band still tending to their high school studies, the young troupe is led by young Millie (15), with Lachlan (18) co-fronting on vocals and guitar. Matthew (17) and Dante (19) fill the rhythm out. With Millie at the front-and-centre, Ivey is empowering young teens, irregardless of gender, to pursue their passions.

Building on the warm familiarity of previous single, 'Smell of Smoke' but also daring to tread new grounds, 'All Things Good' both sways and wallops with its charming delivery of honest lyrics that imbed in your brain. 'All Thing Good' was recorded with the helping hand of producer extraordinaire Konstantin Kersting (Yes Sir Noceur, the Belligerents, WAAX) at Brisbane's Airlock Studios and mixed by both Kersting and Gold Coast's own George Carpenter (Waxhead, Jimmy the Saint & the Sinners, Karl S. Williams).

Ivey are not only maturing as musicians, but are doing it with style and ease. Continuing to further their shimmering, indie-pop sound that fans have come to adore just reaffirms the group's much deserved, unremitting success.

Single Launch Shows:
July 8 - Elsewhere - Gold Coast, QLD*
July 16 - Foundry Records - Brisbane, QLD (All Ages)
August 19 - NightQuater - Gold Coast, QLD*
August 27 - ShakaFest - Gold Coast, QLD
* w/ Peach Fur & Lotus Ship

'All Good Things' runs the risk of too many age related comments, because it's such an excellent and well developed song. So lets just say if you love beach pop, then it's happy days all round (including teenagers).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mother Leads - Lost Cosmonauts.

From the band - This is a new song about leaving it all behind. About leaving that place or person..or thing.

Sometimes leaving it all behind means that you end back up where you started. We've found that music is best set against the vacuum of space... the never-ending expanse that begs to be flooded with all that your imagination can conjure, until the inevitable return to Terra Firma.

'Lost Cosmonauts' or 'Lost Cosmos', whichever you prefer, is a soundtrack for your imagination. It's the dream of loss and rediscovery that we've all experienced. Wether it be your town or city,  job or family, boyfriend or girlfriend...or even your metaphorical 'space ship'...we hope this track will guide you back home.Stay in tuned for more and keep your imagination alive. -- Mother Leads.

With a funky alt rock soundtrack and suitably fine and punchy vocals, 'Lost Cosmonauts' is an immediately catchy and very solid song. Ontario band Mother Leads have a well developed and tight sound, that's nicely shaken up by their enthusiastic playing, ensuring those old rock'n'roll vibes come through.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lunch Duchess - Cry.

Background - The Minneapolis, MN grunge-pop band Lunch Duchess have headed out on their first US west coast tour. Their EP “My Mom Says I Have A Rich Inner Life” was released in March 2016 and quickly garnered enthusiastic praise from local radio and local press. The band will soon be recording their debut full-length album for a planned 2017 release.

Tour Dates:
7/1 Kansas City, MO – House Show
7/2 Denver, CO – Club Scum
7/3 Provo, UT – Studio Studio Dada
7/5 Bellingham, WA – Alternative Library
7/6 Vancouver, BC, Canada – TBA
7/7 Seattle, WA – Lucky Liquor
7/8 Spokane, WA – Baby Bar
7/9 Missoula, MT – The Palace
7/10 Billings, MT – Railyard
7/11 Rapid City, SD – Black Hills Vinyl.

'Cry' is the first song off the four track EP (on Bandcamp) released back in March. The band have a wonderfully distinct sound, that is very infectious, and pretty hard to pigeon hole in any one genre.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Old Sault - Sail Home.

Background promo - ‘Sail Home’, the haunting second single from Gold Coast “bandless band” Old Sault aka Angie Farr, was borne out of an existential crisis. Rich in eerie imagery, Farr penned the track after coming to a realisation that much of humanity has struggled with. ‘Sail Home’ unpacks the epiphany that no “grand ark” was ever going to arrive to sail her to her dreams in style – that she simply needed to “get in my shity inflatable boat and start the trek right now.”

This new glimpse into Farr’s ponderous soul follows the success of Old Sault’s debut single ‘Ghost’. The track received triple j airplay as well as praise from influential taste makers, from Italian blog Going Solo all the way to triple j's Richard Kingsmill himself. Both singles were recorded with the help of the ARIA-winning Govinda Doyle (Angus & Julia Stone). Old Sault’s debut EP Mostly Worried is set for an imminent release.

We featured Old Sault's first single back in March and the new song 'Sail Home' is equally delightful. It's an atmospheric composition, that allows Angie Farr to create a stirring mood with her fine vocals, whilst the soundtracks melody unfolds. Looking forward to the next. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lake Ruth - Actual Entity (Album Release)

Lake Ruth - Dr. Snow And The Broad Street Pump.

Background promo - Lake Ruth was formed in 2015 by multi-instrumentalist Hewson Chen of The New Lines, drummer Matt Schulz and vocalist Allison Brice, best known for her prior work with UK groups The Eighteenth Day of May and The Silver Abduction.

With a unique sound rooted in 1960s experimentation, the trio blends elements of baroque pop, pysch, kraut, jazz and electronic music – resulting in rhythmically propulsive tunes, rich with multilayered guitars, modular synths and atmospheric vocals. The nine songs of 'Actual Entity' are highly varied in style yet sonically cohesive, ranging from cinematic Italian soundscapes and post-C86 pop anthems to delicate English folk songs and extended motorik jams.

The album's title 'Actual Entity' is a reference to the Process Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead, and alludes to the fluid nature of reality. Its nine songs are populated with a collection of marginal characters – the dispossessed, the isolated and the dead. An artificial intelligence losing its mind during an endless winter. A necromancer unable to raise the dead. The revolt of nature against industrialism. The ghost of a vengeful mother forever hunting down her daughter's murderer. A Victorian physician desperate to save a dying community.

The Stereo LP (cat: 132) is available from the label The Great Pop Supplement (Spacemen 3, Dean & Britta, Wooden Shjips) in a limited edition pressing of 400 (released 24th June 2016), and available for streaming and download via all major digital distributors.

'Dr. Snow And The Broad Street Pump' is one of nine, really fine songs on the new album 'Actual Entity', (there's also a video for this song which will be added to our BeeVids page). The band cover a lot of musical territory with this album, sometimes it's quite retro, with sixties psychedelic vibes coming to mind, then there's a more modern chamber pop feel on some songs, then if you add folk flavours through to layered synthy music, we start to build the overall picture. It's a treasure trove of beautiful songs, the background above is pretty much spot on, as the old cliche goes - if you like the featured song , you'll love the album.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quality Not Quantity: Febria - Moddi - Brother Hawk

Febria - The End Of Something.

Background promo - Febria is a five-piece alternative rock band washed up on the banks of the river Usk. Originally formed in high school in Pontypool, and influenced by everything from prog, metal, grunge, indie and folk, they have recorded several EPs and a full-length live album, and have played many gigs around South Wales and the UK. Their music reflects a wide range of influences, varying from acoustic folk all the way through to dense prog, and they are proud of not easily fitting into one particular genre as a result. Their latest EP, 'The Sea Around Us', is their fifth recording, and they are currently working on their next release.
 
This EP represents an evolution in sound, carrying even further the complexity and rejection of traditional structure already shown in some of their previous releases adding multiple layers of vocals and guitars. One of the approaches to the songs was the idea of writing music which sounds like math/post-rock, but with vocals, focusing on the concept of introducing motifs and melodies in one section which then reappear in another section, over completely different chords - this occurs in every song. Despite all the repeating parts in many of the tracks, very little was looped artificially, but instead was played naturally from start to finish, to try to retain a sense of atmosphere and feel.

'The Sea Around Us' EP has been available on-line for sometime, with Nub Music recently releasing it. The first song and featured track 'The End Of Something' gives a good indication of the reasonably distinct sound the band create. Febria are clearly musically very competent and not afraid to test boundaries and experiment, whats more important is that they are also one very fine listen.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moddi - Army Dreamers.

Background details - “What a waste of Army Dreamers” – it’s an anti-war sentiment that was openly echoed through BBC play lists before its systematic suppression more than 10 years after release. Penned by Kate Bush in 1980, the Top 20 single was blacklisted during the Gulf War in 1991 – joining a list of 67 songs simultaneously banned from BBC airplay, including The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, ABBA and Queen.

It’s the latest track reworked by Norwegian singer/songwriter Moddi, from forthcoming album ‘Unsongs’ – released Friday, September 16 via Propeller Recordings. The album aims to uncover a collection of 12 songs that have, at one stage or another, been banned or suppressed, with the attempts to silence them as mild as an airplay ban (in the case of ‘Army Dreamers’) and as brutal as a murder. “Army Dreamers became one of Kate Bush’s most popular songs and was widely played on radio and TV until the First Gulf War in 1991, when it suddenly disappeared from all BBC playlists” Moddi explains. Despite on line records and a full list published by New Statesman and Society, in conjunction with Channel 4 [1991], “the BBC has had an absolute no-comment policy on this issue,” he says. “It has been impossible for me to verify that it has even been removed from radio airplay.”

‘Army Dreamers’ follows Moddi’s rework of satirical hymn ‘Punk Prayer’, that had Russian feminist collective Pussy Riot trialled and imprisoned in 2012. Watch it HERE. The track is partnered with news of Moddi’s European Tour to mark the release of ‘Unsongs’, including a one-off London show at St Giles-In-The-Fields on Monday, October 3rd.

I find the idea behind Moddi's planned album extremely appealing, so much so, that had his cover of Kate Bush's 'Army Dreamers' only been average, I would probably have featured it, to highlight this project. As it happens, his version is quite inspiring and also respectful to the original. The link for his Pussy Riot 'Punk Prayer' above is also worth checking. Moddi, is a very talented individual, who creates a beautiful sound both vocally and musically. Definitely an album to keep in mind.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brother Hawk - Have Love Will Travel.

Background bio - Brother Hawk puts on its morning jacket, unhitches its crazy horse, and gallops off in the direction of a big pink house somewhere over the hills and faraway. With this much horsepower at your command, why would you need to reinvent the wheel?

The four piece Atlanta band deals in raging riffs and huge hooks. Rhythms pound and pulse as serpentine guitar leads uncoil and slither, spiked with venomous licks that only a forked tongue could produce.

Their blend of Southern fried blues rock is firmly rooted in the earthy tricks traditionally traded for at the red clay crossroads but their live performances convey an electrified ebullience that blasts them into the stratosphere. On stage, they’re riding rockets fueled by a vicious cocktail of sweat and hellfire. An uncut, undeniable purity of purpose is palpable when the band is firing on all cylinders. Brother Hawk’s sound is the sunset that the hero rides into. It’s red hot white light. It’s honest emotion. It’s alive.

Having released the album 'Big Medicine' not that long ago Brother Hawk head out on a USA national tour this week (tour dates here). We feature the first track on the album 'Have Love Will Travel' which gives a flavour of their bluesy, soulful 'southern' rock. It's a little like early Black Crowes material, where you sense they are not trapped in any one genre, indeed as the album develops 'alt rock' seems just as appropriate as a description. Timeless and wonderful!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------