Tag: youtube

The Shutes

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

The A-Z of New Music brings us to S and a band from the Isle of Wight…….The Shutes.

The Shutes play a kind of alternative-surf-style-rock (if there is such a think), clearly heavily influenced by American rock, however, at times, you do get a sense of The Flaming Lips. What they’ve created is an indie rock sound with enough of a psychedelic twist to make them stand-out. Check out ‘The 3 oh 1’ or ‘Noah’s Ark’ which are great tracks, and pretty typical of what you get with The Shutes.

Their forthcoming EP, Echo of Love, released in April, will be well worth a listen.

Overall, a good solid B for The Shutes….

Today’s blog was brought to you by the letter S…..

Robert Glasper

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We reach R and the A-Z of New Music rolls on in an urban jazz hip-hop styley……..Robert Glasper.

Robert Glasper is a jazz pianist from USA and combines jazz, hip-hop and soul to create, I think, a slightly awkward sound. Listen to ‘All Matter’, from Glasper’s album, Double Booked, and you’ll understand. I’m not a great fan of modern jazz but I wished he’d stick to that, this attempt to mix genres doesn’t work in my book. His latest album, Black Radio, has gone down the road of ‘featuring’ different artists. All this creates is an album that barely holds itself together and feels incredibly disjointed.

Overall, stick to the soul stuff and you might just pass…..

Today’s blog was brought to you by the letter R….

The Qemists

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The A-Z of New Music was floundering again, there are not many bands beginning with Q, let alone new bands. So I’ve settled on……The Qemists.

The Qemists are a drum and bass band from Brighton. This statement in the past would have resulted in me running for several thousands miles in an attempt to get out of earshot of said music. Although, what March’s Project has forced me to do is actually spend some time listening to the bands that have made the blog…..and hence why I’ve not actually managed to blog for two days. The Qemists have left me in a state of shock – shock that anyone could actually like this music. Their ear-shattering mix of drum’n’bass, hardcore rock and rave may be enjoyed by glow-stick wielding, ecstasy laden teenagers, but it is definitely not for me.

The issues I have with The Qemists have even prompted me into a bullet pointed list:

  • The name? The Qemists? Really?
  • Latest album only has 9 tracks.
  • Every track, except two, seem to follow the latest fashion of ‘featuring’ some ridiculously named individual who may. or may not actually exist.
  • The Prodigy did this 15 years ago.

Having said all that, please feel free to have a listen….

The Qemists, quite simply a U….

Today’s blog was brought to you by the letter Q……

Peace

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The A-Z of New Music brings us to the letter P and some dark melodic indie techno……..Peace.

Peace are a four-piece band from Birmingham. ‘Bblood’, their debut single released last year, and is your stereotypical drum and guitar track. Describing them as, “dark melodic indie techno”, maybe a bit much, maybe just “dark melodic indie”, or actually maybe just “indie”. Having listened to Peace for a while I’m beginning to feel slightly disappointed. I’m hearing nothing new here. Although, ‘Bblood’ is a great track and well worth a listen…

Overall, began with a B but I’ve since moderated and decided on a C/D….

Today’s blog was brought to you by the letter P……..

OK Go

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The A-Z of New Music nearly came to a complete standstill today. Twitter was offering me zero suggestions. I was really struggling to find an ‘O’, when I suddenly had a brainwave – the treadmill video? OK something? Bringing us to the American rock band…..OK Go.

Not entirely ‘new’, but the best I can do with the limited time I had available tonight (I do actually spend time listening to these bands). OK Go, an eccentric looking group of American nerd-rockers, play a mix of rock and pop. In fact their latest album, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky, has everything, including some 80s synth-ballads and funk. But what you get with OK Go are a collection of tracks that get your feet tapping and your head bobbing. A great album, a definite move away from the power pop that they may be known for.

If you’ve not seen ‘the’ video of Here it Goes Again, and have been locked in a padded room, have a look……

OK Go….B+……

Today’s blog has been brought to you by the letter O……

My Latest Novel

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The A-Z of New Music brings us to the letter M and, thanks to @kennypieper, some Scottish indie-rock………My Latest Novel.

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My Latest Novel have been going for a few years and although I’ve heard them in the past I haven’t really sat and listened to them properly, I did just that this evening. After a listen for an hour or so I’ve come away undecided. I thought some tracks were great, ‘I Declare a Ceasefire’ and ‘Sister Sneaker Sister Soul’ are two such tracks. The rest I found are too overly serious and depressing for me, and at times the tracks all merged into one. If you are to listen to My Latest Novel, try their debut album, Wolves, over their latest, Deaths and Entrances.

My Latest Novel, really not sure at all…..

Today’s blog was brought to you by the letter M…..