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Wednesday 27 August 2014

#342: High Hazels - Misbehave (single review)


High Hazels – Misbehave (Heist or Hit Records)

DL

September 15 2014


Whilst the South of England is funnelling all its creative energies in to ambient darkwave, East End swag rap or the latest generic EDM banger, the North is still relishing in its own personal love of guitar led pop music, churning out new bands at an impressive rate. Whilst most of these bands will flounder in relative anonymity, one  who are head and shoulders above the rest are Sheffield’s High Hazels; their sound might not be entirely original what they lack in innovation it more than makes up for in style.

Tuesday 26 August 2014

#341: Merchandise - After the End


Merchandise

After The End

August 25 2014 (4AD)

6/10


Though Merchandise hail from Tampa, their latest offering 'After the End' seems to have far more in common with 1980s Britain than contemporary Florida, which given the production credit falls to Gareth Jones (Erasure, Depeche Mode), comes as little surprise. That doesn't mean to say that Merchandise are in any way derivative, however. And nor do they stick to a particular aesthetic long enough to carve themselves in to a rut. At least, not until the latter half.

#340: The Travelling Band - Passing Ships (single review)


The Travelling Band – Passing Ships
DL
Out Now

Mancunian purveyors of folk-pop, The Travelling band, get metaphysical on this, the latest single from their forthcoming third album, The Big Defreeze.

Much like their name, the new single from Manchester’s The Travelling Band is imbued with a sense of wanderlust that relishes in the wide, open spaces perpetuated by their latest offering, ‘Passing Ships’. Indebted to the rich history of folk, with glossy slabs of americana thrown in for good measure, the track builds towards multiple crescendos; rising on a wave of mounting keys and understated cello, dropping in to a false finish that once again rises to an emphatic close.


Sunday 24 August 2014

#339: Acre Tarn - Wishing Bone (single review)


Acre Tarn are a duo whose music not only seems to transcend geographical location but also the earthly boundaries put in place by the laws of physics. Ambient it is, derivative it ain’t. And whilst a little over two months ago the band were enjoying relishing in relative anonymity, universal support from across the blogosphere has boosted their profile somewhat significantly, making it a sure-fire bet that as the band’s reputation grows, so to will their mystique dissipate.

Saturday 23 August 2014

#338: Scroobius Pip - Words: Live at Edinburgh Fringe (DVD Review)


Scroobius Pip – Words: Live at Edinburgh Fringe
DL/DVD
Out Now

Rapper, poet, all round wordsmith and ambassador of excessive facial hair, Scroobius Pip returns with the DVD of last year’s Edinburgh Fringe show. Louder Than War’s Dave Beech reviews.
When Scroobius Pip erupted out of the spoken word scene at the tail end of 2006 with producer Dan Le Sac and their seminal debut single ‘Thou Shalt Always Kill’, little could we predict the cultural force that Pip would become seven years later. From underground poet to national radio host, label boss to author, Scroobius Pip has solidified his reputation as being a member of contemporary indie royalty, all the time whilst taking each of his new ventures in his stride, most recently in the form of his DVD release Live At Edinburgh Fringe which documents the last of 2013s 19 sell-out gigs at The Fringe

Sunday 17 August 2014

#337: Lowlakes - Iceberg Nerves


Lowlakes

Iceberg Nerves

September 1 2014 (Kunsthaus/Cargo Records)

9.5/10


Australia isn't quite the musical hotbed that the UK seems to be, and whilst it might seem somewhat stereotypical, it would make sense for one to assume that the Australian music that does reach us would be fuzzed-up slacker rock or laid-back surf-pop. As it happens, however, 'Iceberg Nerves', the debut album from Alice Spring's Lowlakes, is quite the opposite.

Tuesday 12 August 2014

#335: Arctic Lake - How Long Can You Stare (single review)


Very little is known about London-based three-piece Arctic Lake, though it’s doubtful it will stay that way for long. Forming after meeting at university, their sound is best described as a merging of influence. From London Grammar-esque ambient instrumentation to Bat for Lashes‘ penchant for baroque-pop theatrics, it’s an amalgamation which has already earned them favour with the likes of BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio, and, given the success of the aforementioned London Grammar in 2013, as well as Liverpool’s BIRD earlier this year, it’s a sound that’s sure to see them go places.

Wednesday 6 August 2014

#331: Catching Up With...Scruff of the Neck Records (U&I Music Magazine - August Issue)


Having started life as a modest club night in a ramshackle pub on the outskirts of Manchester, Scruff of the Neck have spent the last five years expanding themselves, building on their knowledge and experiences, eventually arriving at the point they're at now; a self-sufficient creative collective whose sticky fingers are lodged firmly in myriad musical pies.

Whilst their many services may well echo those also at the disposal of major labels, Scruff of the Neck ply their trade with a love befitting of their independent nature; what they do is for the love of the music, not the love of the money. As such they've made it their personal mission to “rejuvenate Manchester's music scene” (Emma Wilkinson, Vita Magazine) through offering local bands multiple platforms from which to promote themselves, regardless of the size or popularity of the band in question.

From club nights to record releases, equipment hire to website building, there's not many industry avenues that still remain unexplored, and it's this devotion to their cause that will make Scruff of the Neck the cultural force they're inevitably becoming. With a host of acts already included in their ever-expanding roster of artists, it's easy to see why people are getting excited about the label. One reason they should be excited, is Scruff's ability to see the bigger picture, resulting in numerous partnerships that benefit all involved. Most recently of which, saw the label join forces with another local label MUK Records. Whilst this is a move which will undoubtedly bring exposure to all parties involved, predominantly it will provide a bigger platform for the artists under both names, harking back once again to the unwritten ethos of “Music First”.

Scruff of the Neck certainly aren't alone in their venture; there are other labels working tirelessly in Manchester to provide a bigger platform for those bands overshadowed by the city's history and the stereotypes the history in turn perpetuates. What sets Scruff apart from the likes of SWAYS however (a collective based just outside of Manchester in Salford) is their approachability. There aren't any airs and graces about them that can ultimately end up feeling pretentious. They're down-to-earth and grounded in the fact that music matters more than anything else they're doing, something ultimately intrinsic to their work, the mounting momentum behind it, and their popularity.

We caught up with Mark Lippman to look at the ethos behind his company, and the direction in which it's heading next.

U&I: Hi Mark, Thanks for taking the time out to have a chat and answer some of our questions. First of all, can you outline the ethos behind Scruff of the Neck and tell us what it is you set out to do?

Mark Lippman: The ethos behind SOTN can sometimes come across as a bit too good to be true for artists, but as a record label, promoter or manager the number one rule has to be ‘if the band makes it, we make it.”. We acknowledge artists can do a HELL of a lot on their own these days, so I suppose what we can offer is another set of eyes and to pass on our experience so that the artists can share best practice.

In the way we conduct ourselves, I’d say it’s a little more corporate and geeky; we are always trying to utilise obsessive compulsive organisational skills and modern technology to mean we can do more than your average person in what really is limited time! It’s all about playing to strengths and then trying to connect people who can help bridge your skills & network gaps.


U&I: Has that plan changed much as you've expanded? Or has it just become more ambitious?

ML: It’s evolved a lot really. It’s a bit of a cliché but you genuinely ‘can’t stand still’ in the music industry. The minute you come up with a ground breaking concept, someone is immediately there to jump all over it, something we have been guilty of to! I believe the main thing that’s driven us is my desire to think outside the box. I always want to ‘do’ as well, I NEVER sit back and wait!

U&I: What do you look for when signing a band to the label? Are there any similarities between your artists, or is it more a certain attitude and approach to songcraft that you look for?

ML: I’m going to use that word ‘corporate’ again here to articulate my answer...
Our ethos has always been pretty simple at entry level for artists, we focus on three main criteria:

  1. Music – of course this is the foundation of our existence in this industry, so the music has to have something about it!

  1. Fan Base – some artists get a bee in their bonnet suggesting ‘it’s the promoters / labels job to fill the venue / sell the music’, but that’s pure bollocks! You could pay millions for an advertising campaign for a band, but if they haven’t built that core fanbase to start the proverbial snowball, then there is nothing to build momentum. An act with a current fan base that THEY built is impressive, as it demonstrates work ethic, popularity and that people must like their music!

  1. Professionalism – we only ever want to commit to acts that are committed and serious, but they also have to be nice people. In music, your passion and hobby crosses with your drive and ambition and therefore it’s not all ‘strictly business’. Some of my best friends have come from working with artists, we are all young music and beer lovers at the end of the day!

U&I: As well as your label, you put on a number of gigs in and around Manchester almost every month. Are there any artists that you've yet to book but would love to see playing a SOTN show?

ML: Well I imagine we are referring to ‘emerging’ artists in this instance as it’d be too easy to say Arctic Monkeys! We are big fans of The Darlingtons, although we did have them on once in Chorlton. I’d love to bag them again for a city centre show as they are generally electric.

I also really regret passing up the opportunity to book Catfish and the Bottlemen when I had the chance...they are really breaking through right now.

U&I: Similarly, it's also a city filled with a huge array of characteristic venues, and though we ask this question to most bands you'll be coming at it from a sightly different perspective, what's your favourite venue to host a show at and why?

ML: It’s a toss up between Manchester Academy and Night & Day Café. The reason being is that they are run by great people with great staff. We get treated with upmost respect and professionalism at all times and you can tell both venues really believe in what we are doing, which is incredibly rewarding to know! It’s not city centre, but I’ve also got to mention The Royal Oak in Chorlton who have been so supportive of us since day one, letting us commandeer a large space on floor one for our recording studio!

U&I: Manchester is obviously a city with a massive amount of music happening within it. What do you think it is that makes the city the culturally rich place it is?

ML: I absolutely love the people. You rarely meet a selfish Manc, no matter what walk of life they come from. It’s again a bit of a cheesey answer but I would be lost without the people of this city, they make our lives so much better! I’m marrying one in October and have a baby Manc now (Alfie Lippmann!)

U&I: You recently signed Delamere (a band we've championed here at U&I before now) and they're currently looking forward to releasing their second single 'Headstrong'. Care to give our readers a bit of information on that?

ML: After our affiliation was announced with MUK Records, I think it really grabbed attention. ‘Headstrong’ is the first release since that affiliation was formalised and it hopefully means we are going to gain a lot more notoriety for what is effectively a potential hit. These guys will really blow up in the next 12 months so get them young as they say!

U&I: Any other releases forthcoming on the label you'd like to shamelessly self-promote?

ML: No shame in promotion! We’ve recently put out a few great tracks that are worth a mention: ‘Stay’ by Jolanga and ‘Wilde’ by The Fevers are excellent and we’ve got a really exciting new band coming to the fore in November....but that’s TOP SECRET.

U&I: What does the future hold in store for the label side of things? Is there anyone you've got your eye on signing or bands you've been in talks with? Or is it all a bit hush-hush at the moment?

ML: Let’s just say we’ve got a few groundbreaking acts and projects in the pipeline!

U&I: On a similar note, what are your plans for the company as a whole? More expansions and eventual world domination or are you taking things as they come?

ML: We will always evolve and look for new opportunities, as I said earlier that’s our USP and why people love us. That said, we are now really focussing on making sure the label is of a great standard so we are putting a bit more focus on further consolidating and improving current ventures.

The main thing for me is that I want to meet more people. There are so many doing great things for Music in Manchester alone! My philosophy is again a bit romantic, but let’s all get to know each other and see how we can help each other out. Few beers to be had in that ethos to!

U&I: You've got your finger on the pulse of Manchester's unsigned scene somewhat. Who should our readers be listening to that they might otherwise not be aware of?

ML: I’ve got to say, you don’t need to go much further than the SOTN roster (Delamere, YOUNG, The Fevers, Jolanga & David Liversidge and all the ‘Mix Tape 1 & 2’ acts), the MUK roster is brilliant as they are really on the pop/electronic scene (check MDNGHT, Berlin Berlin, YOU, Animal Music, Red Sky Noise).

Aside from the above, I like the look of The Slow Readers Club, The Tapestry, Puppet Rebellion, The Nankeens, The Lottery Winners, Skinny Roller (soon to be ‘Tremors’), Feed The Kid, Hey Sholay, The High Nines, Lucky T. Jackson...I’ve written this off the cuff so if I’ve missed anyone I hope they understand, they know who they are if we love them!

U&I: You hold a yearly all-dayer in Sale which promotes some of the best bands from the city. Do you have any plans to turn this in to a full weekend festival? A Scruff of the Nextival if you will?

ML: Nice, can I have that one? The Pop-Up Festival we hold in Sale is in its baby stages but it’s been a massive success two years running. Let’s just say we’re laying dormant on the festival scene and will be back sooner than you think! Don’t forget we ran Beached 2 years ago with the Futureheads and The Whip amongst others so we have some experience!

U&I: What advice would you give to smaller bands who are interested in getting involved in some of the Scruff of the Neck Action?

ML: I know artists HATE this, but fill in the contact us form on www.scruffoftheneckrecords.com and leave a personal message about yourselves, I personally read every single one even if it takes a while! Don’t hesitate!

U&I: Finally, any parting words of wisdom or exclusives you want to leave our readers with?

ML: I’d just say don’t be scared to go and have a beer with other people in music, you’ll find we are more friendly than you think. Keep the fun element to what you do whilst remaining focussed, organised and committed. Also don’t hesitate to ask for help off people, you’d be surprised how willing people are to help.

Monday 4 August 2014

#330: Joyce Manor - Never Hungover Again


Joyce Manor – Never Hungover Again (Epitaph Records)
DL/CD/LP
Out Now
9/10

For the last couple of years, Los Angeles’have been a band permanently in my peripheral; never quite fully entering my direct line of sight for the simple reason that I had unconsciously dismissed them the moment I heard their name. It’s a generic name for a start, one that automatically leads one to assume they’re just another pop-punk band. And you would be right. Sort of.

This review was originally written for Louder Than War. Click here to read in full.

#329: The Family Rain - Hunger Sauce (EP review)


EP Review: The Family Rain - Hunger Sauce (2014)

This review was originally written for Shout4Music. Click the link above to read in full.