Wednesday 14 March 2012

A Place to Bury Strangers - Onwards to the Wall EP (2012)

   A Place to Bury Strangers are a power trio with a heavy, atmospheric wall of sound-influenced blend of psychedelic rock, shoegaze and space rock.  They have been affectionately lauded as New York City’s “loudest band” by various indie reviewers and bloggers throughout the course of their live music career, as well as “the most ear-shatteringly loud garage/shoegaze band you’ll ever hear” by The Washington Post. The New York Times applauded their revival of “the ominous, feedback-drenched drones of the 1980s”
  Onwards to the Wall is a brief, visceral 16-minute noise jam. APTBS have carved a commendable name for themselves in the abrasive rock scene alongside contemporaries HEALTH and The Horrors, they certainly prove here that they haven’t run out of ideas yet.
  “I Lost You” features crushing reverb, relentless echoes, and breakbeat drum work, as Oliver Ackermann sounds morose as ever. Ackermann also contributed to the creation of the video for So Far Away, a bass-driven, claustrophobic march given added humanity with playful, off-the-cuff visuals.
  The title track’s female vocals add a much-needed dynamic to the APTBS formula, and with melodic, spindly guitar riffs and a catchy motorik/post-punk beat. “Nothing Will Surprise Me” is one of the band’s fastest tracks, while “Drill It Up” is danceable, with a chorus begging to have crowds respond to Ackermann’s tortured calls.
  With moments of breathing room and stripped melodies, APTBS continue subtle explorations of their strengths and the conflict between cacophony and harmony.

Friday 9 March 2012

The Raveonettes - Raven in the Grave

   The Raveonettes are a rock and roll duo formed in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2001. Comprising Sune Rose Wagner (guitar, instruments, vocals) and Sharin Foo (guitar and vocals), their music is characterized by close two-part vocal harmony inspired by The Everly Brothers , coupled with hard-edged electric guitar overlaid with liberal doses of noise.

  The name, The Raveonettes, is a direct reference to The Ronettes, and Buddy Holly’s song Rave On!.

  Their songs juxtapose the structural and chordal simplicity of 50s and 60s rock with intense electric instrumentation, driving beats and often dark lyrical content, similar to another of the band’s influences, The Velvet Underground. Altogether, they sound very much like a slightly more melodic version of The Jesus and Mary Chain.

  On April 4th, 2011, they released “Raven in the Grave”, a nine-track studio album with Vice Records.  It’s their 5th studio album. 

From their site bio:
“I think we have finally hit on something quite important and different for this album,” explains Sune. “This is the first Raveonettes album we’ve done which doesn’t feature the signature Raveonettes surf drumbeat. None of the tunes have any real sunshine to them. It’s all very un-Rave.”
“It has a mood of ethereal defiance” Sharin adds. “It’s dark but not bleak, like the single minded determination caused by crisis that is not quite hope but just as powerful. It’s the perfect winter soundtrack just in time for spring”.

  The album received generally positive reviews upon its release, fantastic album indeed, I liked it very much, The Raveonettes have taken what’s being described as a newer, darker trail, leaving behind the surf drum beats and guitar noise they’ve been identified with for years.  Enjoy!


 Official site



  "Let Me On Out" is probably the least commercial song on Raven In The Grave, in that respect you could refer to it as an anti-single. We really love the song. It's beautiful, haunting, loud, and dynamic. Everything a great song should be. We wanted to showcase the song in a static setting to draw the listeners attention to the raw sound." (Sune Rose Wagner, The Raveonettes)

 


1.-Recharge & Revolt
2.-War In Heaven
3.-Forget That You’re Young
4.-Apparitions
5.-Summer Moon
6.-Let Me On Out
7.-Ignite
8.-Evil Seeds
9.-My Time’s Up

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Seaside Postcards - EP

  
  For fans of Joy Division, this trio hailing from Pesaro, Italy is a must listen. Their dark indie sound is reminiscent of the stark moodiness of Ian Curtis and with their minimal guitar lines and heavy bass.
  Their personal interpretation of a perfectly connotated and deep-rooted sound is the sound of the cold Manchester at the end of the '70.
   Tangible proof is the new homonymous EP, self-produced, recorded and mixed in summer 2011.
   Seaside Postcards are already playing live and writing new songs that will see the light at the beginning of 2012.
   Watch the video for “Strange Days” below and be sure to download your free copy of their self-titled EP, give them support!