Ram Jam - Black Betty
M83 - Midnight City
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know *****
Bombay Bicycle Club’s video is so perfect
Metronomy - Corinne (Acoustic)
Pushing Hands Interview 21/12/11
By Christina Davis
Pushing Hands are a band you might not have heard of. They’re pretty small, and very understated. I met with Freddie Webb (the lead man in all this) in a quiet Café near Soho, London, to get his views on what it’s like being in an unsigned band and if there was anything else we need to be looking out for in the new year.
What’s it like being in an unsigned band? Has it been hard trying to break the industry?
I think breaking the industry all depends on what you want. For us we haven’t got any money from it, but I think we understand why we don’t have any money, we’re not expecting to get paid straight away. I think we’re happy where we are. You have to look at yourself as a product but also thinking about what it is you want to achieve, I think people see bands like the XX and Bombay Bicycle Club and they see an instantaneous transition between becoming a band and being picked up, where as I think there’s more of a long term in what we’re trying to achieve.
Who has the biggest influence over your music?
I think for me it’s been as I’ve grown older, every year I’ve gone through I’ve listened to different things and progressed through different stuff. I think in the same way that’s kind of reflected in the music which is why I’m so interested to see what my music sounds like in three years time as apposed to now because I’ll have different influences and ill have developed. The stuff I was writing years ago was probably good but just very different.
You co-founded a T-shirt company; do you think image is important for an upcoming band?
It depends what kind of band you are. I don’t think so, if you listened to our music and you saw me dressed like I am now you wouldn’t be surprised. It probably fits the music we make. If you’re really product based you’d probably have an image but I think for us it’s not important.
You have a new music video coming out; do you have any other plans for 2012? Any new recordings or gigs coming up?
I think just to create some sort of a plan. I think just building the foundations of what we are. Maybe a three year plan, long term as apposed to playing V festival next year or something. There are things we need to sort out at the moment that are quite fundamental and things that are a bit more impersonal. Dismiss the whole instantaneous record deal thing because its not really gonna pay off. If we get signed in the next year or so its probably not gonna be enough for us.
Where do you see Pushing Hands in a few years?
I think being more aware and more developed and more competent in what we do. Just continuously learning and developing and applying that to what we do. At the moment I’m not thinking about that I’m just thinking about what we’re writing because I think it’s so easy to get sucked into all that.
Do you have any new years resolutions?
My personal resolutions would be to focus and start crossing out things I’m already doing and focus on different things.
Are there any bands you’re rooting for next year?
Trip Wires, it sounds like they’ve signed a deal I think, but yeah, they’re really good, they’re like a better version of Yuck. I like them a lot, they’re good.
Lana Del Rey’s new single, Born To Die
The Vaccines - Tiger Blood
[Warning: This video is so indie it may cause pain to your eyes]
Woodkid - Baltimores Fireflies
Ghostpoet - Liiines
Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See (single review)
The highly anticipated, fourth album, ‘Suck It And See’ was released in June earlier this year and since then the guys have seen nothing but success and praise from it, they’ve even managed to crack the US (finally). This is the latest video single from the Monkeys, released 31st October 2011.
Alex Turner’s talents as a lyricist really come through on this track and it’s clear how much he’s grown as a musician, (from the days of ‘I bet that you look good on the dance floor’, at least). The video sees drummer Matt Helders going all violent and American on us, smashing bottles and having a few, err, troubles with the misses. Speaking of which, the band’s American influences from their US tour and Turner’s new found love for country music bring this single to life, the same of which can be said for the rest of the number 1 album. After the huge success of 2011, the only thing left is the hope that the good fortune will carry them through to the New Year.
The Drums – How It Ended (Single Review)
This three-piece surf-pop band from across the pond broke the UK back in 2010 with their critically acclaimed, self-titled debut album. Since then, they’ve conquered many detractors, most notably, guitarist Adam Kessler who parted with the band last year. This September they let loose their second album - ‘Portamento’, and the guys are now releasing the second single from that album, ‘How It Ended’.
‘I don’t know how it ended/I don’t know where you ran to’ gives us a glimpse into the mind of a seemingly regenerated Jonathan Pierce. The Drums keep it simple here, as always, and have produced a typically twee, indie-pop song; the main difference between their ‘new’ sound and that of their debut being the addition of synthesizers (shocker!). It’s a simple song to digest, be warned though, this is for the already-established members of The Drums’s fan base - don’t expect to be converted…
Trophy Wife – Bruxism EP Review
For those of you who haven’t yet had the pleasure of listening to Trophy Wife, here’s a small introduction for you. Having fairly recently been a support act for the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club and Foals, the Oxford trio are now releasing their debut EP, ‘Bruxism’. With every track comes a different producer, leading to some interesting slants on Trophy Wife’s sound. Creating minimalist guitar/keyboard disco, Trophy Wife have presented us with more mesmerizing music to fall in love with.
‘Canopy Shade’ is the first track from the EP and introduces smooth disco sounds and romanticized lyrics such as “You came to me underneath the canopy shade/ So kiss me and leave me again”. Backed by Plaid on production, here Trophy Wife excel in creating minimal-disco-pop, with a track that is similar to the previous single, ‘Microlite’.
On title track ‘Bruxism’, the band employ James Yuill’s talents at creating hypnotic, mellow soundscapes. Complete with a cow-bell/procession break down, it’s hard to see Trophy Wife passing off any opportunity to step out of their comfort zone(s).
With ‘Seven Waves’ comes a breeze of fresh air through the haze of the EP. Possibly the most chilled out moment on here (and there are a lot of chilled out moments), this track evokes the spirit of fellow Blessing Force member, Chad Valley. However, ‘Sleepwalks’ is a slightly different affair, a claustrophobic message about the frustration of suffering from sleepwalking.
The first video single from the EP, ‘Wolf’, is produced by Foals’ Yannis Phillipakis. This slow, hypnotic track is the most engaging song to be found on this EP, and a true reflection of Yannis’ ever improving talent and prestige.
The thing that makes Trophy Wife and the EP as a whole such a brilliant and exciting prospect is that they’re already creating invigorating, unique music, despite only being introduced to us a year or so ago. Through the measured use of their talents here, Trophy Wife have created a confident and refreshing collection of songs to take them, and us, through to the new year.
CANT – Dreams Come True (Warp Records)
We all know Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear has hidden himself away under the name of CANT to create this melodic solo debut (featuring collaborations from Twin Shadow’s George Lewis Jr.) but I doubt anyone was expecting it to be half as good as this.
‘Too Late, Too Far’, the opener for this woozy album, introduces you to the seemingly authentic, eastern sounds that merge with brilliant synths and a strong, constant drumming. It’s immediately followed by ‘Believe’, which emphasises the warmer element of CANT and the soft vocals that we’re used to hearing from Taylor’s previous work. These are songs that so far wouldn’t sound out of place on any Grizzly Bear album; perfect for a relaxed evening drinking red wine and smoking cigars.
A cool, jazzy love song continues the mood and introduces lyrics such as ‘Just say you love me’ and ‘When you’rit’s e not around just what will I miss’. This song is definitely a track for afternoon radio. It’s more about the vocals and the repeated lyrics of a confused man as opposed to the rest of the instrumentally-focused debut; ‘The Edge’ could be compared to any slower track from Metronomy’s Mercury nominated ‘English Riviera’.
Disappointingly ‘Bang’ is a lost song on this album, nothing new, boring, as is the 53 second piano track ‘(Brokencollar)’, both hardly worth mentioning and not something that should be any bold reflection on the rest of the tracks.
Half way through the album we enter the darker side of Chris Taylor’s work. ‘She’s Found a Way Out’ takes a slower tempo but reveals heavier, thicker sounds; a great reflection of the multi-instrumentalist himself. ‘Dreams Come True’ continues these sounds, the former warmth and relaxation vanishing away. With grungy vocals and a mix of synths, guitars, and a hint of what I can only presume to be cowbells, it rips away from anything that could be compared to Grizzly Bear; after this song it all suddenly makes sense, everything clicks together, this is Taylor shouting out to be noticed as something other than a jazz/soft folk musician. If you were expecting a rebellious sound from Chris Taylor – you’ve got it.
The last two songs on the album really finish it off with ‘Rises Silent’ producing whispering sounds and eclectic beats. It’s brilliantly dark and haunting with eerie pianos that lead nicely into the last song ‘Bericht’. This is by far the most graceful song on the album, slowing it right down in terms of pace and rounding it off with the warmth shown in the opening tracks. The gentle, echoey vocals on this are beautiful; just over two minutes of musical heaven with lyrics such as ‘And it’s all come down to this’. And it has all come down to this. Chris Taylor should now find the acceptance he’s looking for. He’s created a great first solo album sure to be proud of. If this is a taste of things to come then I just hope he doesn’t leave Grizzly Bear behind in the dust of his footsteps.
