Subculture recently got the chance to ask Guillemots front man, Fyfe Dangerfiled about his upcoming solo album, and he was good enough to share his thoughts on recording, Nick Drake, Guillemots and real ale, among other things.
You’re keen to point out that Guillemots are still very much working together. What drove you to make a solo album?
I think just curiosity and impatience really. I’d always really enjoyed making 4-track demos of songs at home back in the days before Guillemots had started, and over 2008 I’d written a lot of songs that I really wanted to record quickly, and also lots of them were only for guitar and voice anyway so it would have been a bit of a waste of time for the others in the band. I just knew exactly how I wanted these tracks to sound so it just seemed to make sense to do them myself, rather than wait for another Guillemots record. We also tend to be writing more as a band now in Guillemots and I just didn’t really hear these songs fitting with what we all wanted to do next. (more…)
It’s almost thirty years to the day that Madness released their third single “My Girl” from their debut album “One Step Beyond”. The track would mark the start of an era, with the band opening the first Top Of The Pops of the 1980s with the song. (more…)
Quite possibly next year’s red headed, female Paloma Faith / Florence and The Machine style cult to mainstream crossover, Gabby Young is perhaps the only performer to market herself, through what appears to be a three tier membership scheme, that Bowie and his share holders would be probably be proud of. He’d probably also approve of her fearsome red hair and glam eye make up, that has earned her the odd spread in style sections, and adds a trademark touch of alternative glamour to live performances. (more…)
In the mood for some DIY this Christmas? Fiercely independent, gritty, indie, Liverpool four-piece, Regards, release their self produced, self released, debut single ‘”After Many A Summer”. See the video below for a flavour of what they do. (more…)
Hailing from Leeds and Sheffield, Volcanoes have released their new EP “Shaking That Brass”. The foursomes’ “Face-slapping Glamfreakbeat” has gained them considerable support from Yorkshire’s music press, as well as indie approving nods from NME and BBC radio.
They also appeared on Channel 4’s “Orange UnsignedAct”, but don’t let that put you off. Basically, If you love The Artic Monkeys, you’ll like these guys. Indeed the boys have cut their teeth supporting Arctic Monkeys, The Maccabees and The Big Pink amongst others. (more…)
Chicago band, Welcome To Ashley will probably not be a name you’re familiar with yet, but that may soon change. Their reassembled blend of brit influences produces songs that sound reminiscent of Suede or The Smiths, albeit with some Midwestern, American seasoning.
Their EP, “Absent Man”, released earlier this year has attracted a lot of local attention likening it to everyone from Jesus and the Mary Chain to Bowie, and Chicago has proved a fertile nursery for American indie in the past, so Welcome To Ashley may be a name to watch out for. (more…)
Everybody’s favourite Polyphonic Spree escapee, Annie Clark (better known as St Vincent) continues to blaze a trail with the latest single offering from her current album “Actor”. “Marrow” juxtaposes Clark’s ever beautiful vocals with high muscle guitars and some other worldly programming. The accompanying video is also a beautiful if slightly unsettling treatment. (more…)
Sitcoms and popular music normally don’t really go together, right? Horrible, awkward transmissions, such as that time Boy George was on “The A Team”, destined to echo forever on youtube, DVD box sets and randomly titled TV channels.
There are exceptions, like that time Motörhead were on “The Young Ones”, Chas and Daves’ soundtracking of “In Sickness And In Health” and of course Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ contribution to “Brush Strokes”. Fortunately “The Inbetweeners Soundtrack” is one of these exceptions. (more…)
Veteran, Scottish, indie band, Trashcan Sinatras have announced some interesting additional dates to their tour calendar, this November, including an outdoor show as part of Kilmarnock’s Homecoming celebrations on Saturday 28th November. The event is intended to show support for Kilmarnock, the bands hometown, which has been bit harder than most by the economic downturn.
“Great Moments in Music History” is the first exhibition in Manchester by Sheffield artist Pete McKee. The show of musically themed images (“Ian Curtis Café” shown above) will travel around Manchester bars Odd, Odder and Oddest this Autumn and Winter.
Musical references have always played a big part in Mckee’s work. Fans and clients include Oasis, Richard Hawley and The Artic Monkeys, with recent commissions including posters for Oasis’ shows at Wembley and Heaton Park. (more…)
We’ve long been fans of keytar queen SaintSaviour (formerly of The RGBs) so we were pleased to see her making an appearance on Groove Armada’s latest track “I Won’t Kneel”. A perfect fit for the
sci-fi, synth flavoured taster of new studio album “Black Light”, due February 2010. She also proves a perfect fit for the video, which features enough LEDs and Lycra to give the new Tron trailer an inferiority complex. (more…)
Not to be confused with Duffy (and certainly a lot less likely to turn up on “Disney SING IT Pop Hits”), 22 year old, potty mouthed, white-girl-electro-rapper, Uffie is finally brought to market by her procrastinating management, ahead of the release of her debut album “Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans” on Ed Banger Records. (more…)
The largely fully clothed, Catch Me I’m Naked (formerly The Vintones) also have a new video to show off, in which they celebrate their apparent love for the colour yellow. The energetic indie romp “Dance Boy” is taken from their debut, “Yellow EP” out now. The London four-piece are planning a UK tour for November. (more…)
September is a busy month for Band Of Skulls with their eagerly awaited debut album “Baby Darling Doll Face Honey” released physically on September 21st. The band kick started their UK tour September 19th giving their homeland supporters a chance to see why they are making waves in the U.S.A.
Having faired better than most in the music press backlash that has blighted some of this year’s crop of electro songstresses, Elly Jackson of La Roux, has told The Daily Star that they are planning a collaboration with much lauded, 80s trio Heaven 17. (more…)
Triangle worshipping, Oregon electro duo, Yacht, have gone all mystical with their fourth album “See Mystery Lights”. The Album is their first to be released via D.F.A. Rrecords. Utilising all manner of good vs. evil, black vs. white, male vs. female imagery, the album seems to be quite a conceptual little package. (more…)
Liverpool’s View Two Gallery will, again, play host to the Above the Beaten Track Festival on 22 August, promising to continue with their “…ethos of championing all things alternative, marginal and local…” (more…)
Californians, The Morning Benders caused the needle on our Newbandometer to twitch last month, following a little exposure from Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie. You can catch them live in London, August 12 at The Old Blue Last and August 13 at The Boogaloo. (more…)
New York tom boy, Lissy Trullie, is showing off her well documented cover version of Hot Chip’s “Ready for The Floor” with a natty video directed by popular fine art perv Richard Kern.
Kern‘s Jean Genie-esque treatment (red hair, lots of leaning against walls, numerous shiny costumes with legs or arms missing) certainly shows off the ex-model’s androgynous charm, with a finished product that fellow New Yorker Andy Warhol would surely posthumously approve. Click through to see the video. (more…)
There is a school of thought (unfortunately one which is often ignored) that states that there is no point covering a song, unless you think you can improve substantially upon the original, or at least add something new to breathe life into otherwise spent material. Run Toto Run have managed to do both with their much blogged cover of Passion Pit’s “Sleepy Head”. (more…)
What would happen if the female followers of The Polyphonic Spree, turned to the dark side, overthrew their male, choirmaster oppressors, and replaced their high maintenance, white robes with neu rave, hooded cloaks? The answer would probably resemble Gaggle, the 22 piece (approx.) riot girl choir. (more…)
The Law’s last single “Don’t Stop, Believe” scored airplay on all the usual frequencies, so follow up “The Chase”, due for release September 14, should grab them even more indie kudos. The Dundee band will release their debut album “Don’t Stop, Believe” soon after on September 28 on Local Boy Records. (more…)
“1Day” tells the story of Flash, a Birmingham gang member whose day begins with a phone call from gang leader, Angel, kindly requesting that he return the half a million notes, that he left with Flash for safe keeping, whilst he was otherwise detained. (more…)
Little Boots has confirmed in an interview with The Metro that she is working on two, as yet unidentified, film soundtracks. At least one of the projects looks to be a collaboration with Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard.
“I have actually starting working on a film soundtrack. I can’t say what it is just yet but it’s quite a big film.”
Despite keeping her cards close to her chest, it appears that the recently released trailer for 20th Century Fox’s upcoming demonic cheerleader flick, “Jennifer’s Body” may spoil at least some of the surprise, listing Little Boots alongside White Lies, Silversun Pickups and others, as soundtrack contributors.
“Missing Out” is the debut single from Bath based electronic group, Elektralux. Including obligatory remixed version b-sides, “Missing Out” is released 19 August. The media are sure to hale it one of the coolest releases of the Summer, if only to crow bar in some pun about the band name’s similarity to a well known fridge/freezer manufacturer (maybe we just became the first). (more…)
Handsome furs’Alexei Perry and Dan Boeckner also use a fair amount of retro synth, albeit in a more John Carpenter style, on their new track “I’m confused”. The video, directed by Scott Coffy, keeps the suburban horror theme (think “Thriller”, but more gore, less footwork), tackling the incessant threat of zombie contagion.
Sensational video aside, the track is great, taken from the Canadian duo’s album “Face Control”, out on Sub Pop
And don’t worry about the zombie intimacy too much, as Perry and Boeckner are married, in real life.
The Secret Faces have charmed Alan McGee and BBC Introducing, amongst others,with their brand of mid nineties flavoured, gravel voiced indie, that will fit nicely into the inevitable tide of parker clad revival, on its way to a town near you.
Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town? Despite the media’s new preoccupations, it’s unlikely that the recent live performances by The Specials have passed you by. Old fans and new enjoyed themselves at their sell out 30th Anniversary Tour, their Glastonbury performance, and their exclusive gig at London’s 100 Club, and now you can download a little bit of the experience for free!
To download a free live single of “Too Hot“ just follow the link below:
Arctic Monkeys have announced that the first single, from the upcoming, Josh Homme produced album “Humbug”, will be “Crying Lightning”. The single is set for physical release on 17 August, a week ahead of the album on 24 August.
The track will be kept under wraps until its Radio 1 unveiling on 6 July, after which the single will be available for download, but eager fans can stimulate their appetite with the mildly erotic, contortionist themed artwork here: www.arcticmonkeys.com
The much anticipated debut album from electro/shoegazers, The xx, titled simply “xx”, also looks set for release on August 17, courtesy of Young Turks. The dark, 80s tinged mood of debut single “Crystalised”, which was released earlier in the year, seems to be a reliable representative of what the album will contain. (more…)
Youngsters, I Haunt Wizards have been making their 80s inspired synth pop since 2007. With cute, female-faced electro being such a hot commodity, their upcoming album should propel them from myspace cult to music press darlings.
Their list of influences reads like the subheadings across the bottom of NME covers circa 1990, and with haircuts to match, these guys are a no-brainer, shrink wrapped package for music journalists and fans wanting to re-live the era.
From the same Liverpool stable as 28 Costumes and Elle s'appelle, Hallo... I Love You have supported Little Boots and Soft Toy Emergency with their charming brand of electronic pop.
Sounding like a less sinister re-imagining of The Bad Seeds, The Bookhouse Boys are a sprawling, nine piece live band, who make timeless sounding music, that begs to be made part of a moody film noir soundtrack.
Featuring SubSonic tipped artist, Joel Morton, unsigned "ScouceSka" quartet, VIVIAN WotLad! are still in their infancy, but have a string of promising demos, displaying a pleasingly Northern flavour, with a ska twist.
