Who? Body Type
What? ‘Free to Air’
Where? Sydney
What they say? “‘Free To Air’ is about an old neighbour whose life seemed to play out entirely in his lounge room in front of the TV, which he blasted day and night. My bedroom faced looking into his lounge room, so it was almost like we were waking up and watching the morning news together or having a TV dinner after work…it was definitely not that romantic in reality though. We invited the esteemed video artist & 10/10 person, Matt Griffin, to make a video for the song because he is a master manipulator of screens and could slice us into an assortment of scenes and onto bodies without needing us to be physically present, which is the perfect disembodied embodiment to accompany the song.”
Why we love it? Dreamy and glistening with guitar figures and infused with Annabel Blackman’s reverb dunked, dissaffected tone and longing lyrics are ripe with the preganant emptiness of an unwanted relationship with a neightbour lost in his TV screen (‘he only turns off/when he turns on’). It gives way to wave after tremulous wave of hooks balanced with awesome drum rolls and addictive four way harmonies. Motoring into the intersection of dream pop and garage, and smeared in a infectious personality and attitude. The video is a surreal treat too. Body Type are an immense proposition. (BC)
FFO: The Big Moon, Phantastic Ferniture, Alvvays, Japanese Breakfast
Who? Wreckless Eric
What? ‘Tiny House’
Where? New York
What they say? Imagine no possessions…yeah, right. The easy fix…get on board with the varnished chassis-mounted pine and keep on moving. There are even Tiny House TV shows where people who’ve decided to go tiny stare around compact interiors in moronic, wide-eyed astonishment – Oh my god, it’s so tiny! It’s not going to work – some people spend their entire lives running away from themselves.
Why we love it? ‘Tiny House’ is the second single to be taken from Wreckless Eric’s new album Transience (due out on 17th May on Southern Domestic). It also heralds his forthcoming 13-date tour of the UK which kicks off in Leeds later this week. And it captures perfectly the sound of a man who despite having now spent more than 40 years in the music business is not merely content to just rest on the laurels of ‘Whole Wide World’/Stiff Records nostalgia
FFO: Neil Young, Peter Perrett, Flamin Groovies
Who? LOCALS
What? ‘Talkboy’
Where? London
What they say? ‘Talkboy’ is the new single from London based LOCALS, the first since signing to Clue Records & Disorder Recordings. It’s a short, sharp blast of skuzzy, fuzzy, lo-fi punk about social anxiety and lacking confidence from the mind of singer and songwriter Peech Panko. After moving to London from the north of England Peech started recruiting band members to bring his huge collection of songs to life. LOCALS don’t take anything too seriously, as Peech explains “I formed LOCALS with the intention of creating music that didn’t require too much brain power to listen to. Just happy, fun, cool, slack, easy, melodic singalong tracks to throw your shoes in the lake to.”
Why we love it? Clue Records’ latest signing come well-versed in the arena of Brit-indie guitars and deadpan lyricism. ‘Talkboy’ cycles through the motions, bringing with it a sunny, nostalgic mid-00s vibe that shakes off any potential worries with a joyous, care-free shrug. (NK)
FFO: Wavves, Cloud Nothings, Sports Team
Who? Swanes
What? ‘Dreams Of Iceland’
Where? Toronto
What they say? With production that is coloured by rich atmospherics and vibrant idiosyncrasies, ‘Dreams Of Iceland’ is another expansive step forward for the pair. Drawing on ancient Nordic song forms, melodies, and recorded folklore, ‘Dreams of Iceland’ cuts a fine curve between icy electronic soundscapes and tropical pop, looking to explore various tropes of relationships through sultry vocal harmonies and an earworm chorus hook.
Why we love it? Slick, hazy and funk-laden, Swanes’ latest is a woozy electronic pop number that teleports you to another place entirely. The Canadian duo marry wriggling basslines and reverb-soaked vocals, with warm, soothing waves of synth to provide a harmonious getaway for the subconscious. (NK)
FFO: Caribou, Toro Y Moi, Pizzagirl
Who? ASTRONAUT
What? ‘6 A.M.’
Where? Denmark
What they say? Danish group ASTRONAUT release their debut album, Silence One, on 4/12. The release is the culmination of two years spent in numerous studios around the world, and a realization of a debut album straight from the heart. Five young musicians, with a sound true to their style and heritage, with the purpose of infiltrating the music scene with dark and romantic tones. Out of a galactic mist hanging over Denmark, ASTRONAUT has risen.A rhythmic explosion occurred when the five musicians met at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus. Martin, Rio and Anders had played together since the teenage years, when they met Toby and Jonas at the Academy. Through the years the five boys remained a mystery to the other students of the academy, because of their musical explorations, that according to Martin sounds like a ”spaceship on LSD”.
Why we love it? Opening with twinkling plucks of harp, ‘6 A.M.’ quickly develops into a dreamy and wondrous tune full of subtle piano chords, reverberating vocals and a chasmic spacial awareness in the vain of bands like Air and Spiritualised. Epic, floaty, space-noir for a new generation of star-sailors. (NK)
FFO: Air, Spiritualized, Money
Who? Guru
What? ‘Fixation’
Where? Brighton
What they say? Brighton’s endless production line continues to reinforce their status as one of the UK’s finest indie hotbeds and in punk sensations GURU they’ve certainly found another to add to the growing list. Detailing their upcoming release ‘Fixation’, frontman Tommy Cherrill explained: “Lyrically I’ve focused on the irreconcilable nature of some relationships I’ve failed to repair from earlier years of my life. I realised I wasn’t alone in having these botched relationships and so began writing the verses from the third person as an imagined narrator of others who’ve fallen out. Sometimes things just don’t work out and I’m not making a judgement call on whether that’s a good thing or not, we just wanted to write a bloody number one for the Billboard Hot 100, ha”!
Why we love it? ‘Fixation’ growls, rages and rambles with its chest puffed out, pacing up and down like a Rottweiler, tugging violently on its leash. This is the sound of crumbling council estates, piss-stained phone-boxes and undeniably British discontent. A razor-sharp injection of punk. (NK)
FFO: IDLES, Fontaines DC, Fat White Family
https://soundcloud.com/gurubanduk/fixation
Who? Siobhan Wilson
What? ‘April’
What they say? ‘April’ is a defiant hymn to female empowerment and a call to “smash up the ideal way of existing, and promote the idea to create your own existence”. The title of the song evokes the month, and the season of spring and rebirth, with a reassurance that life is always full of possibility – whether a woman wants to feel powerful, or tough in the face of adversity: “Be like a mountain if you want… or a mountain flower.”
“It’s my way of trying to send a direct message out to do whatever the hell you want with you body, your time, and make your own decisions about your life,” says Wilson.
“’Be a mother if you want, find another if you want’, it’s really a reassurance to women who have had these questions, will confront the question of parenthood or are having these same thoughts as part of their life. ‘April’ looks to give a delicate and friendly voice to millions of people who think – no, a woman is in control of her own body.”
Why we love it? Hushed and haunted guitar plucking is pierced with Wilson’s brittle, delicate yet exquisitely powerful voice. A hmymn for female self empowerment that lends subtle power to this sighing midnight affirmation. Offering a hand on the shoulder of women everywhere to do whatever you want no matter what they say or do to you!
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