The deliciously
saccharine named Palma Violets have been a band for less than
two years but that hasn't stopped them taking the underground by
storm, and now, in 2013, the band look destined to break through in
to mainstream stardom.
Hailing from
Lambeth, London, Palma Violets have just recently signed to Rough
Trade Records after they were the only label that didn't
show up to their gigs bearing cases of beer and packets of
cigarettes.
Drawing
media comparisons to the likes of The
Libertines and The
Strokes their garage-pop
sound has more in common with The
Vaccines than either of
the former. Indeed, singer and bass player Chilli Jesson sounds more
like The Vaccines Justin Young than perhaps even Young himself does.
Hotly
tipped as a band to watch out for; Parma Violets have appeared on
Later With Jools
Holland and graced the cover of
the NME, twice (most
recently with BBC Sound of 2013 winners Haim)
and all this before even
having released an album. But with their recent signing to Rough
Trade, that looks set to change. Debut album 180
gets released on February 25th
ahead of a small UK tour to promote it. Not only are they embarking
on their own headline tour, but they're also part of this years NME
awards tour, which in the past has given rise to such indie royalty
as The Killers
and Arctic Monkeys
to name just two.
Does this mean that Palma Violets are destined for greener pastures?
I think it's pretty safe to say so. Given the incredible support the
band have garnered over their short life span. Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe
selected their (second) single 'Step Up for the Cool Cats' as his
“Hottest Record in the World” which is somewhat hyperbolic in
that while the song itself is a strong single and catchier than a
cold the band have yet to develop their own stylistic sound and
still obviously owe a lot to the bands that influenced them.
That
said however first single 'Best of Friends' and it's B-side 'Last of
the Summer Wine' are much more on point with 'Best of Friends'
especially standing out. Sounding like The Vaccines if they jammed
with Black Kids
playing Ramones covers
in a sweaty club in NYC, 'Best of Friends' is a sure fire festival
favourite this Summer. The flipside 'Last of the Summer Wine' is a
slower, much more mellowed out song in which the vocals bring to mind
Stephin Merrit of The
Magnetic Fields fame
while the guitar is jangly and completely complimentary of the organ
that plays behind it.
While not quite up there in the Parthenon of indie immortals just
yet; Palma Violets blend of garage-rock and indie-pop sensibilities suggests they are well on their way to making a name for themselves further afield
than the bedrooms of indie scenesters. Sweet, Summery and sure to put
a smile on your face, Palma Violets are definitely ones to watch out
for in the months ahead.
Watch the official video for 'Best of Friends' here
Photo: Richard Johnson/NME
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