Having waited what seems like an eternity to see this London based five-piece, I managed to catch them twice in this glorious month.
Had they supported approximately 97.3% of the other bands in the UK, Video Nasties would have blown their headliners away, however they have the good/mis-fortune of being pals with the ridiculously talented Late of the pier.
Recordings just don't seem to do Video Nasties justice. Not to say that they aren't very good, quite the opposite, but it's a whole different ball game when you can hear the raw, often mesmerising vocals and the deep, rasping guitars being thrashed like their lives depended on it.
I've read some blogs and publications that have just tossed Video Nasties on the "been done before, and better" pile, which is a big error on their part. Coming back with fresh tunes since their Karl Blau EP, it seems the band have grown and developed their sound to a more mature and experienced approach, without losing their essence or edge, something which should be commended.
As cliché as it is, both times, I found myself being swept away by the sheer emotion of their sound, losing myself in the band's brutal and unrelenting delivery, and by the time set-closer Teenage Celebration is at it's end, I felt a spine-tingling high that only a handful of bands can conjur.
Having the good fortune to get hold of one of their tour demos, which includes all four of the songs which presently reside on their myspace profile, I thought I'd share a few....
I have always loved it when I chance upon an ace new band via the good old fashioned medium of late night radio...
This is how I first heard The Joy Formidable - a fantastically noisy pop band based in London. Championed by the likes of Steve Lamacq, they have been getting loads of positive press and message board attention of late and recently played a blinding BBC6music live session for George Lamb.
I threw them a few questions about how life as The Joy Formidable is treating them and here’s what they had to say for themselves....
IT: As a new band journalists will always make comparisons to other more established acts. Which names have been cropping up in reviews etc, and are these ever true/relevant? TJF: We've all got quite eclectic taste, so lots of influences - generally anything melodically pleasing, with a good beat.. that makes us happy. Music journalists will always try and find a comparison, the favourite at the moment is the Yeah Yeah Yeahs... for obvious reasons.. 3 piece, bowl-headed girl! , but musically, I think we're quite different... they're a good band though. The weirdest comparison we've had is to Bruce Springsteen, which flattering though it is, isn’t the most obvious analogy!! Maybe its Rhyds' onstage poise that did it!!
IT: Although you have a very poppy sound, you don’t really seem to entertain the traditional pop structure that much, which I really like. Are you all fans of both pop and more diverse music or are you divided? Was it a conscious decision to shape the music in this way, or was it simply just how they turned out? TJF: I like your questions, very insightful!! I don’t think POP is something to shy away from, so many people think it’s a dirty word, but what we do naturally embraces pop ethos and we're proud of it. Saying that, we do have a bit of an internal struggle sometimes, but the results are what they are, and the blend works.
IT: Were any of you involved in other musical projects before TJF, and are any of you involved in anything musically/artistically outside of the band at the moment? TJF: We've all been in bands, Rhyds and I have worked together for quite a few years, and then we met Justin about 8 months ago. Outside of the band, we're launching our remix label, which is really exciting... so watch out for that. Working with a great act Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs... I mean the name alone makes you prick up your ears!
IT: At times you guys have a huge sound considering there are only three of you, particularly the epic ending to ‘Austere’. Do you build the tracks up in the studio or are the recordings a reasonably true representation of your live sound? TJF: It’s always a tricky one... matching live and recorded sound, and obviously you're a bit more limited in a 3 piece. I think we manage it really well, and even if the recordings are slightly more layered, you can make that up by sheer rawness and energy when you're performing.
IT: The live radio session that you did for BBC6 sounds great, how did you find that whole experience? Did you get to go to the Maida Vale BBC studios? TJF: Thank you. We didn’t go to Maida Vale, it was recorded at the BBC 6 studios. The engineer was shit-hot, so we were really pleased with how it turned out, we had a good day and George Lamb was lovely, massively tall.. he probably doesn’t fit on TV!
IT: How have you found your live shows since the recent positive attention to TJF? I’m guessing busier!? Which gigs stand out as memorable or favourites? TJF: It’s very early days but it’s great when people come to your shows knowing the tunes and are into the band. When you're unsigned, a lot of the time you’re playing to a new audience, who you hope will leave as fans! The last gig we did at Norwich Art Centre was a buzz, great audience and we saw the most beautiful shooting star shower on the way home... i just had to pull the car over and the 3 of us had quite a touching moment! big softies that we are!
"Austere" live on Channel M
IT: I suppse next up is the ‘Support Tour’, is there any particular band you’d like to tour with or think would be fun, or are you not too fussed? TJF: Yeah, a tour support would be a treat... I love being on the road and I'd love to be gigging every night. If we had our pick, if only! A tour with The Flaming Lips would be a dream... how much fun would that be?! So Wayne, if you're reading this....
IT: Are you as a band at your happiest creating in the studio or chugging up the M1 in the back of a transit van? TJF: No complaints here, both are very different but very lucky places to be.
IT: What do you enjoy when you aren’t doing band stuff? What are you reading/watching? Been to any good gigs of late TJF: Lots of reading, I like biographies... reading Lorca's at the moment... films, good telly and lots of going out. I went to see American Music Club last week, got a lot of respect for Mark Eitzel... very weird gig though, a bit crazy, great song writing though.
IT: Last month saw endless lists of hotly tipped and uber hyped ‘Bands For 2008’ etc. Are you into any of the new crop of new bands? TJF: Always a funny one those hotly tipped lists, never go off what the "experts" say! I think Vampire Weekend will do well and MGMT. my tip... Sam Sparro I reckon.
IT: I understand you guys have re-located to London, was this for band related activities or did you just fancy a change? How are you finding it there? TJF: It was a logistical decision really because Justin was living here and we were in Wales, so moving has made things a lot easier. We're having a good time, London’s being kind to us so far!
IT: Finally, what are your plans for the first TJF release, and indeed the rest of 2008? TJF: We'll have a single out in April/May, we've got some touring planned and then a few festivals. Gonna just keep on doing what we do best!
The Joy Formidable have shows coming up in Lincoln and London this month, further details can be found on their myspace as well as three downloadable tracks which include the previously mentioned "Austere".
So I've reached the ripe old age of twenty one years. Fresh from catching Late of the Pier on the start of their tour in Southampton, I'm back and raring to go. In reality, it's ten to eight in the morning on time of writing and I still haven't been to sleep from the night before. Hardcore or insomniac, you decide.
So here's what's been going on in my world...
I'm Not The Complaint Department
Previously mentioned in Liam'stips for 2008, Lykke Li's debut Youth Novels is a more understated affair than first thought.
While Little Bit is undoubtedly the stand out track, the rest of the album is hard to pin down in terms of sound. Flitting from the bubble-gum pop of fellow Swede, Annie to the sultry, seductive whispers of Jennifer Charles on Window Blues.
Whilst I still stand firm on the opinion that the current hype is out-weighing the goods, Lykke could have done a lot worse, and Youth Novels shows she has more strings to her bow than most have so far given her credit.
Another album that's been on repeat during the ridiculous ammount of train journeys I undertake each month is Trouble In Dream by Vancouver artist Destroyer.
The main project of occasional The New Pornographers collaborator Dan Bejar. He has released eight albums under the Destroyer moniker, just over half of which have been through Merge Records.
Despite having proclaimed his own style as being "European Blues", it's obvious when listening, that Bejar takes influence from more indie/shogaze roots than that of blues.
Also noteworthy is Bejar's other project Swan Lake, a sort of Canadian uber indie menage-a-trois consisting of himself, Carey Mercer of Frog Eyes and Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, and Frog Eyes.
It's now almost fourteen hours later and I've found the time to finish this post. I'll end on a weird and wonderful note as I came across this album at random and it's one of the most strange albums I've ever heard. Let's Go Everywhere by Medeski Martin and Wood (aka MMW).
Starting out their careers in 1991 as an acoustic jazz outfit, New York trio John Medeski, Billy Martin and Chris Wood have come a long way in terms of style and experimentation.
Let's Go Everywhere is more experimental and less jazz than previous works, sampling children reciting nursery rhymes and providing vocals for some of the other songs.
It takes a particularly lighthearted turn from it's dark and more accessible predocessor, 2004's End of the World Party (Just in Case). Of which the title track was featured on US tv show Grey's Anatomy according to Wikipedia.
Featuring songs about pirates, cats, cakes and trains, this is full of nostalgia and could almost be the soundtrack to a new Pixar film. It's all about fun and childhood adventure, each track calls upon an individual fond memory or experience. Well worth a listen, even if it's just out of curiosity.
Myspace Medeski Martin and Wood - Pirates Don't Take Baths MMW Store
Again, nothing new here but some music I just want to share because it's that-damn-good. White Flight is the solo project of Justin Roelofs of Kansas alternative rockers The Anniversary.
The story behind his self-titled album is a remarkable one, allegedly an assembly of sound vibrations, both electronic and vocal. Justin recorded the sounds shortly after returning from an enlightening exploration of traditional medicinal and hallucinogenic plants in the jungle of Peru whilst The Anniversary were on a four year hiatus.
With a sound similar to what I'd imagine Modest Mouse would be like if they were raised on a diet of hip-hop and funk, White Flight is full of weird and wonderful sounds and could almost be considered avant-garde.
Released in March of last year, yet still somewhat of a hidden gem, tracks to note are piano driven opener 'Deathlands', the utterly psychedelic RJD2-esque 'Great Gold' and the indescribable 'Superconductor'.
Rather disappointingly, Pitchfork only gave White Flight just 5.5 out of 10, but who reads Pitchfork anyway?!
Admittedly, I was tipped off on the wonders of Edward Ma, aka edIT from another contributor to the blog, Harry. However I decided I'm going to abuse my rights as editor and steal his thunder.
edIT is a journalistic nightmare, his productions adopt many varied and strange styles but somehow manages to pull them off in a cohesive blend of Hip-Hop, IDM, Glitch-House, and Cut&Paste Electro, he is part of Los Angeles based group "Glitch Mob".
Collaborating with the likes of TTC, The Grouch and Abstract Rude on sophomore album Certified Air Raid Material, the sublime follow up to 2004's Crying Over Pros for No Reason.
Having taken four years in the making, Certified Air Raid Material was worth the wait, if the romantic, slow-jam inspired debut was music for the bedroom, this is music to get down and dirty in the club to. While filled with a more aggressive attitude and grit than it's predecessor, CARM is about "...this hole idea, when there's so much war going on, we don't need an more bombs in the world period. Except for the dance floor."
If there was a definition of "living the dream", edIT wouldn't be far from the mark. As a day job, he composes music for adverts and jingles having produced work for Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Calvin Klein according to his myspace. On weekends, he's busy "slaying" clubs all over the world.
It has been a whirlwind 18 months for feisty Welsh seven-piece Los Campesinos!, who are now all set to release their debut album Hold On Now, Youngster… in February.
Having set the blogosphere alight with their whimsical, innovative instrumentation, energetic live performances featuring their endearing call-and-response male/female vocals it’s not hard to see why many people were hailing them as the best new band of 2007.
Their 2007 EP Sticking Fingers Into Sockets was a breath of fresh air in a year full of nu-rave-a-likes, and their new album expands upon their existing catchy twee pop sound with songs old and new.
Including the well-loved dancefloor favourite You! Me! Dancing! and Don’t Tell Me To Do The Math(s), it's given the benefit of higher production values, courtesy of former Broken Social Scene producer and band favourite, David Newfield.
They’ve kept their twee-goes-dance charm, but with this record, everything seems more co-ordinated, sounds more cohesive and a lot better for it. 2008 should see Los Campesinos! bringing the International Tweexcore Underground to everyone’s attention – and it’s about time too.
I’m not sure whether this four-piece from New Zealand want emphasis on how modern they are or that they’re just averagely modern. Regardless, they put out a ‘fucking good tune’ and they are So So Modern.
Having released the Friends and Fires series on four limited edition multi-coloured 7"s on Transgressive, and the 7-track EP Friendly Fires, they only recently finished a massive 70-date European tour which started in September of last year.
A complete hash of sweat, noise and energy, think Shy Child partying with Blood Brothers, and more charisma than you can shake a stick at. Juxtaposing fast-paced electro with just bashing the hell out of their instruments - they promise to create ‘a more fun and meaningful future through performance and music’.
Having had the good fortune to see them perform at the Solent Union bar in Southampton (unfortunately, at a night named ‘Rave in a Cave’) - they lived up to everything I’d anticipated.
Colourful matching jumpsuits, each with an interesting attachment on their heads; running about the stage and kicking large balloons out to the crowd; they’re one of those bands where you just can’t wait to see them in a packed out venue and go fucking crazy.
Touted as the best young producer in the UK, Lillica Libertine (aka 19 year old Laurence Matthew Blake) has been part of the Nottingham scene for some time. Sharing the decks with the likes of Justice, Erol Alkan and Sinden, he's had the perfect opportunity to learn from some of the best in the world.
Gaining rave reviews from such respected blogs as Missingtoof and Trash Menagerie, he is set to release his first EP on London duo Tapedeck's label Meal Deal Records in March. Featuring tracks Limited Edition and personal favourite Ultra 10, the release date had to be pushed back from next month due to demand.
Having founded Fresh Out Of Death, the now legendary Nottingham club night, he has now decamped to Southampton to study at university. However he is still producing and playing sets all over the world, with a date in the US as well as a mini-tour of Australia in the pipeline.
Here's an unreleased remix he did of current indie/electro/insert genre here-kid favourite Bathroom Gurgle, for good friends, blog favourites and fellow Nottinghamshire dwellers, Late of the Pier.
Some of you may have heard it doing the rounds in the clubs, with love from Erol, Luca from Cazals and D.I.M.
Sweden is one of the most prolific yet overlooked countries in the world when it comes to music, modestly producing some of the best bands around with the likes of The Hives, The Knife, The Sounds, I'm From Barcelona, Taken By Trees, Love Is All, Lo-Fi-Fnk, Shout Out Louds, Mando Diao, Peter Bjorn and John, and The Concretes leading the way in recent years. Here are some that have slipped through the net for most... until now.
Stockholm songstress Firefox AK otherwise known as Andrea Kellerman is a former member of UK trip-hop collective Anamorphic, she decided to go it alone in 2005 released her debut EP through her own label, having since signed to Razzia Records and released debut album Madame, Madame in 2006.
The follow-up to which, If I Were A Melody is due for Swedish release in February, with no details of an international release just yet. Winter Rose is the first single to be released. Featuring fellow Swedes and husband Rasmus' band TGR LOU, and also mixed by Matt Didemus of Junior Boys, it a beautifully crafted blend of soulful vocals with delicate synths and Bonde Do Role-esque beats.
After performing alone with nothing but her voice and an iPod in the earliest stages of Firefox AK, she is now joined by Ulrica Brunner (synthesizers), and Andreas Hogby (bass guitar) when performing live, she has toured with previously mentioned TGR LOU and JuniorBoys, with more dates soon to be announced.
Q: What's Swedish for Fight Club? A: Slagsmålsklubben
Formed in 2000, Slagsmålsklubben have released three albums to date; Den svenske disco (2003), Sagan om konungens årsinkomst (2004) and last year's Boss For Leader through EMI.
Essentially a six-man, six analogue synth behemoth, Slagsmålsklubben's style comes across as being heavily influenced by Kraftwerk, and while at times sounding like Happy Hardcore on acid, they can also conjure up all sorts of weird and wonderful rhythms and breakdowns.
About to tour the UK with Late of the Pier of all people, it seems the world is slowly catching on the the wonders of Slagsmålsklubben aka SMK. I've got a sneaking suspicion that these guys are going to steal some of the limelight from their tour mates come February.
Somewhere between Emily Haines and Emmy the Great is 32 year old Stockholm resident Marit Bergman.
With three successful albums under her belt, Marit is well known and very successful in her home nation, gaining five Swedish Grammis nominations and two awards for "Composer of the Year" and "Female Artist of the Year".
A D.I.Y. success story, the former member of Swedish punk band Candysuck released her debut album 3.00AM Serenades on her own label in 2002, before re-releasing it through Sony BMG in 2003.
She has released two albums since, Baby Dry Your Eye in 2004 and I Think It's a Rainbow in 2006. She recently played at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen in November, with no news on furter releases.
WOW have quite literally catapulted themselves to prominence: they formed in November and only two months later, they are playing at one of the biggest music festivals on the Sydney calender, Field Day.
This year, the line-up included the likes of Uffie & Feadz, Felix Da Housecat, Kissy Sellout, Spank Rock, Midnight Juggernauts, The Go! Team, Chromeo… you get the picture.
The Sydney boy/girl duo consisting of Matt Cribb and Bree Carter, formed out of their apparent inability to play any musical instruments properly and too much time messing around on drum machines and cheap keyboards.
The end product however is brilliant: disco-punk, with an element of pop to it, completing the paradoxical pair. Each song maintains it’s own individuality throughout, a rarity in modern times in which songs just seem to amalgamate into one general ‘sound’. If you were to throw The Lost Valentinos, Crystal Castles and Gang of Four into a blender, you’d end up with a WOW smoothie.
Their live performances are something special too. I went down to watch WOW strut their stuff on Friday night and I was blown away. The tempo seemed slightly increased in an otherwise beat-for-beat replication of what I’d heard from their mp3s, but it only added to the hip-shaking, toe-tapping atmosphere they strived to create.
With much thanks to the band, they've supplied us with two demo tracks, which will be re-recorded for their forthcoming debut Common Species EP which will be released in February through US label Metal Postcard. These guys are something to watch. Australia will be theirs this year, the world next year? I predict big things for these guys.
Myspace WOW - Common Species WOW - When You're Dead Ross
