Post by steve on Dec 27, 2015 14:32:40 GMT 1
After a pretty disappointing 2014, musically 2015 really showcased some astonishing releases from bands both new & old.
I don’t usually subscribe to “best of” lists, as I tend to believe the music we listen to is often defined by the moods we’re in at the time, which is prolly why The Cure, with their sheer diversity can strike a chord in us all at any given moment.
Anyhoo, it was hard to choose just 5, but gradually I settled on these beauties that I would recommend to every one of you, even for just a casual listen.
Eureka Machines: Brain Waves
Another successful pledge campaign from Leeds power pop quartet, Eureka Machines unleashed a fourth helping of hook laden, home made rock music that lifts the roof off within thirty seconds of the opening track & gently lets you down with the almost balladic I Miss You, setting the listener up for their signature exit anthem finale.
Usually, a format/ genre such as this yields repetitive results on an ACDC-esque scale, but front man Chris Catalyst’s knack for making melodic rock tunes make every EM album a unique experience with the only continuity(s) being solid songs that derserve much more attention & (once again) the sound of a band that is so obviously having fun doing what they do that it’s almost impossible not to get swept up in your own personal mosh pit in your lounge.
Bokka: Don’t Kiss & Tell
This band was a true revelation this year. I caught them supporting The Raveonettes & was smitten almost instantly. Their second effort sees them bring more weird sampled layers into their sound which I can only liken to Fever Ray invites Bjork & Zola Jesus over for a bottle of wine & to make a blend of electronic driven music perfectly balanced with traditional guitars & drums that starts to become reminiscent of some early New Order (circa Power Corruption & Lies) without descending into full-on cheesy flashing dance floor discotheque. Some of the rhythm guitar parts on this second album even touch on Disintegration era Smith with his trusty VI adding a menacing layer to events.
Bokka still remain anonymous behind shiny, spiky masks & scuba diving visors, perhaps adding to the mystery & attraction. But, as they type on their monitor at shows, “We prefer to let the music speak for itself”.
Pinkshinyultrablast : Everything Else Matters
Vying for the best band name in….well ever, Pinkshinyultrablast have re-ignited the shoegaze genre all the way from St Petersburg, Russia. Their own brand of shoegaze has been also dubbed “shoegaze-ski”
I heard the single, Holy Forest one morning on the radio & was left scouring the interwebs for absolutely everything I could find by this band.
This debut album mixes the likes of Lush, Ride & My Bloody Valentine into a dream world of delay laden guitars squalls topped with almost Elizabeth Fraser-esque voclas from Lyubov, who is a pocket sized live wire.
Every single track on this album will have the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end without fail & have you reaching for all that 90’s shoegaze you prolly haven’t played for far too long. Deffo one to atch & keep ‘em peeled for a new album penciled in for February 2016.
Killing Joke : Pylon
Another pledge effort in my top 5 & what an effort this is!
After Absolute Dissent & MMXII, KJ continue the all-out sonic assault with yet another album that takes no prisoners whatsoever. Jaz continues to berate society on morals, corruption & generally being douchey, all backed by a wall of post punk /metal that, if you spilt its pint, wouldn’t think twice about taking you outside for a damn good shoeing.
I am hard pushed to identify a duff track on this latest offering. The sound is immense, the detail is exquisite & every one will have you involuntarily nodding along if you haven’t already gone for full-on head banging.
Drenge : Undertow
Another discovery courtesy BBC 6Music. The album’s first single (We Can Do What We Want) almost had me inhale a mouthful of frighteningly hot coffee one morning.
This outing is deceptively heavy in parts to the extent where it becomes hard to lift off the turn-table.
It’s angry & snarly without being shouty & angsty. Totally under control, yet still echoing post punk carnage in its wake. Two tracks, Running Wild & The Snake justify the spend on their own, but that’s not to say the remainder of the disc is any the less gripping.
Get your ears round this turned up disgracefully loud. You know you want to.
Honourable mentions have to got to Nadine Shah (Fast Food), Wolf Alice (My Love Is Cool), Slaves (Are You Satisfied?) & Florence & The Machine (How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful).
Anyway, there’s my 5. How about yours?
I don’t usually subscribe to “best of” lists, as I tend to believe the music we listen to is often defined by the moods we’re in at the time, which is prolly why The Cure, with their sheer diversity can strike a chord in us all at any given moment.
Anyhoo, it was hard to choose just 5, but gradually I settled on these beauties that I would recommend to every one of you, even for just a casual listen.
Eureka Machines: Brain Waves
Another successful pledge campaign from Leeds power pop quartet, Eureka Machines unleashed a fourth helping of hook laden, home made rock music that lifts the roof off within thirty seconds of the opening track & gently lets you down with the almost balladic I Miss You, setting the listener up for their signature exit anthem finale.
Usually, a format/ genre such as this yields repetitive results on an ACDC-esque scale, but front man Chris Catalyst’s knack for making melodic rock tunes make every EM album a unique experience with the only continuity(s) being solid songs that derserve much more attention & (once again) the sound of a band that is so obviously having fun doing what they do that it’s almost impossible not to get swept up in your own personal mosh pit in your lounge.
Bokka: Don’t Kiss & Tell
This band was a true revelation this year. I caught them supporting The Raveonettes & was smitten almost instantly. Their second effort sees them bring more weird sampled layers into their sound which I can only liken to Fever Ray invites Bjork & Zola Jesus over for a bottle of wine & to make a blend of electronic driven music perfectly balanced with traditional guitars & drums that starts to become reminiscent of some early New Order (circa Power Corruption & Lies) without descending into full-on cheesy flashing dance floor discotheque. Some of the rhythm guitar parts on this second album even touch on Disintegration era Smith with his trusty VI adding a menacing layer to events.
Bokka still remain anonymous behind shiny, spiky masks & scuba diving visors, perhaps adding to the mystery & attraction. But, as they type on their monitor at shows, “We prefer to let the music speak for itself”.
Pinkshinyultrablast : Everything Else Matters
Vying for the best band name in….well ever, Pinkshinyultrablast have re-ignited the shoegaze genre all the way from St Petersburg, Russia. Their own brand of shoegaze has been also dubbed “shoegaze-ski”
I heard the single, Holy Forest one morning on the radio & was left scouring the interwebs for absolutely everything I could find by this band.
This debut album mixes the likes of Lush, Ride & My Bloody Valentine into a dream world of delay laden guitars squalls topped with almost Elizabeth Fraser-esque voclas from Lyubov, who is a pocket sized live wire.
Every single track on this album will have the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end without fail & have you reaching for all that 90’s shoegaze you prolly haven’t played for far too long. Deffo one to atch & keep ‘em peeled for a new album penciled in for February 2016.
Killing Joke : Pylon
Another pledge effort in my top 5 & what an effort this is!
After Absolute Dissent & MMXII, KJ continue the all-out sonic assault with yet another album that takes no prisoners whatsoever. Jaz continues to berate society on morals, corruption & generally being douchey, all backed by a wall of post punk /metal that, if you spilt its pint, wouldn’t think twice about taking you outside for a damn good shoeing.
I am hard pushed to identify a duff track on this latest offering. The sound is immense, the detail is exquisite & every one will have you involuntarily nodding along if you haven’t already gone for full-on head banging.
Drenge : Undertow
Another discovery courtesy BBC 6Music. The album’s first single (We Can Do What We Want) almost had me inhale a mouthful of frighteningly hot coffee one morning.
This outing is deceptively heavy in parts to the extent where it becomes hard to lift off the turn-table.
It’s angry & snarly without being shouty & angsty. Totally under control, yet still echoing post punk carnage in its wake. Two tracks, Running Wild & The Snake justify the spend on their own, but that’s not to say the remainder of the disc is any the less gripping.
Get your ears round this turned up disgracefully loud. You know you want to.
Honourable mentions have to got to Nadine Shah (Fast Food), Wolf Alice (My Love Is Cool), Slaves (Are You Satisfied?) & Florence & The Machine (How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful).
Anyway, there’s my 5. How about yours?
