The internet's a wonderful thing isn't it. Let's say I like sparkly, multi-coloured roller skates. Well I could search for 'sparkly, multi-coloured roller skates' and find everything related to that subject. The same goes for musical genres.
The other day (or two months ago to be precise) I searched for Seattle grunge and found the delightful Seattle-based grunge three-piece M Women. I've been obsessed with them ever since, I mean, how can you not be? The absurdly lo-fi production, the snappy rhythms and crashing cymbals highlighting every aspect of their songs. M Women sound like the band I formed in my dreams where I suddenly develop a bucket load of talent that I use to entertain the masses.
M Women is made up of Schanen, Carrie and Andrew who together form an impenetrable punk crew who protect themselves with their razor sharp riffs and barrier of noise they create. The band released their debut album Faithful, last October on Couple Skate Records. Previously they had released a few demos on cassette and a 7" titled Aubrey in 2009.
Opener 'Tense Hands Talk' is definitely M Women's definitive track. It's a shattering, explosion of a song that has touches of lo-fi favourites Beat Happening, as well as their contemporaries Grass Widow, nestled within the beat. Other treats include 'Mackrel Gray' and 'Dark Space'.
M Women are a band only at the beginning of their career, yet to peak and show us everything they have to offer. Make no mistake when they do, you'll be amazed at what you see.
I had more or less given up on hip hop for a good few years. I was taken in by the blissfully raucous noise that is riot grrrl as a teenager and since then I have found a home for my feelings and emotions in growling distortion and the twang of tight guitar strings. I'm like the guys from Flight of the Conchords, I can only express myself through music (except I don't write witty comedy tunes, just a sparsely updated music blog). Try as I may I can't say I've ever found a home in hip hop like I did with riot grrrl, but that doesn't mean I've given up all hope of finding it. I always have time for someone who wants to shake me by my shoulders and scream "what are you talking about hip hop is the future". Futuristic hip hop duo THEESatisfaction did just that to me.
THEESatisfaction, Stasia Irons and Catherine Harris-White, are a spaced out, jazz-infused hip hop duo that are a step and half ahead of the rest of their contemporaries. The duo are both musical and real life partners. Listen to any THEESatisfaction song to hear their closeness in every melody and every beat. Irons delivers a silky lyrical rhyme for Harris-White to take and inject a kind of soul Aretha would be jealous of into every nook and cranny of the song.
Their style is minimalist, some songs, such as 'Bitch', are just a few simplistic beats and vocals. The duo takes cues from acts such as De La Soul, Erykah Badu and that type of early 90s hip hop that was influenced by jazz, funk and spoken word poets. 'Do You Have The Time' samples an addictive falsetto vocal, which is apt since the band spend the rest song singing about getting high and "chilling out easily".
Along with a love of capitalisation, something that makes someone like me who edits copy for a living very anxious, THEESatisfaction also love to pay homage to their roots with songs like 'On What It Means To Be Black' and 'I Nigress'. They are a powerful sight to behold as well. They command the stage with just a laptop to keep them company, clad in dashikis and afros Angela Davis would be proud of. I almost want to email them just to ask them hair tips. So Catherine how do you get your hair to stay so strong? Stasia come on girl be honest. You're using a special conditioner in that aren't you? That's not just a wash and go do.
It may seem strange but the idea of a hip hop duo that consisted of two black women who shied away from weaves, fake nails and butt surgery, and they were also stridently political seemed so amazing to me I had to check again just to see if I hadn't imagined it. I love that I can listen to a band and know that they represent a part of myself that is rarely represented well, if at all. THEESatisfaction have just realised their debut album on Sub Pop that is full of fuzzed out, laid back soul and they know how to rock a dashiki. What's not to love about them.
With so many free mp3s flying around the internet it's hard to get bowled over by the sound that downloaded itself so quickly onto your hard drive, but sometimes a song catches you when you're least aware and forces you to pay attention to it like a musical spoilt child.
I discovered Lianne La Havas after downloading her single 'Tease Me' through a well known music player. I was immediately drawn in by her husky, low voice. The song is sparse, just quiet vocals and an acoustic guitar that pipes up every now and again when it gets excited.
La Havas is a 22-year-old Londoner with a silky, smooth voice to match her intricate, soulful songs. Although she has only released a couple of EPs, La Havas is whipping up a storm. She supported Bon Iver on his US tour, entertained the nation after appearing on the iconic Jools Holland and is currently getting ready for a UK tour supporting Bombay Bicycle Club.
Normally soft, quiet acoustic music, like La Havas', is like the devil to me. I don't want to be near it and it doesn't want to be near me, but after listening to La Havas I'm starting to change my mind. I love it when music makes you reconsider what you previously considered to be 'interesting' music.
It makes me want to pick up a guitar and whisper softly about lost loves and bad boyfriends, although I'd never be as good as La Havas, no one could be.
Click here to download Lianne La Havas' free Live in LA EP.
Some bands love to seen, heard and talked about. They fantasise about becoming the next Lana Del Ray-sized internet hit and as a result they compose every aspect of their band around becoming 'searchable'. Google groupies is what they are. Fortunately some bands are going against the SEO grain, like Household and their entirely un-googleable name.
Try searching for Household in Google (or you preferred search engine) and see what comes up. I got a couple million pages on everything but the band. It seems Household have a sense of humour since they called their debut album 'Items', which does not help their searchability one bit.
Household are a three piece Brooklyn-based band made up of Talya Cooper (guitar and vocals), Jenna Weiss-Berman (drums and vocals) and Isabel Freeman (bass). Lo-fi to the extreme Household mix rattling snares, rumbling bass lines and droll, matter-of-fact vocals to muster up a sound that can only be described as if Young Marble Giants, Grass Widow and Delta 5 spent the summer renting an apartment in Brooklyn and formed an awesome super band.
Album opener 'Go Away' is definitely the stand out track. It has a soaring, catchy chorus that sees Cooper softly yell "defective, defective"; a comment on old fashioned views of a 'woman's role' or just a statement about a broken household item. You decide (I think it might be the first one to be honest). Songs stop abruptly, change direction and fascinate you in ways you couldn't believe.
Household's minimalist, lo-fi style is certainly a winner and although they have only been quietly discussed on a few blogs here and there, mainly because no one can find them, that is no reflection on the band or their album, which is an impressive debut that everyone should feel excited about.
It's fair to say that we definitely aren't suffering from a lack of cool-looking London bands at the moment. Everyone and their hipster mother seem to be donning oversized 80s jumpers and 'ironic' NHS glasses and making equally cool music together, so what should the lover of leather jackets and a decent pair of dm's do to stand out from the hipster crowd.
Well the most obvious thing to do is just make music so ridiculously awesome that no one even notices what you look like. That's what London-based trio, Skinny Girl Diet, decided to do and it's a formula that works pretty well for them. Taking advice from predecessors such as Hole, Babes in Toyland, Sonic Youth and Nirvana, Skinny Girl Diet make primal, no wave grunge that demand your attention.
Skinny Girl Diet are Delilah Holliday (vocals and guitar), Ursula Holliday (vocals and drums), and Amelia Cutler (bass). It would be easy to link the girls to the Riot Grrrl movement and its recent resurgence but the band take as much inspiration from bands like Dinosaur Jr and The Ramones as they do Bikini Kill and L7.
Their songs are like mini hallucinations; a departure from the real world to a murky underworld full of creatures from your dreams and your worst nightmares. 'Mermaid Veins' is a druggy, 90s lament that throws you headfirst into hallucinations about metamorphosis and rebirth like a musical interpretation of the works of Kafka. 'Eyes That Paralyze' is a no wave, punky song that hypnotises you into submission with its fuzzed out guitars and girlish, reverbed vocals and 'Sunburn' is a slow, woozy number that has the cryptic refrain "You're sunny but you're not warm."
Still in the infant stages of their band, Skinny Girl Diet have already accomplished a lot in their year together and will go on to do so much more. Rumour has it they are currently putting together an EP for release later this year and also playing various gigs in London. Skinny Girl Diet are a raw, visceral band that are becoming a vital part of the London gig scene. See them in their prime while you can.
I always need a bit more riot grrrl in my life but I prefer it when it fits in with my life. Sleater-Kinney is needed when I wanna have a cry, a bit of Bikini Kill is thrown on when I'm feeling a bit more anarchic and, as of now, Throwing Up pops on my iPod when I want to have a good old scream.
The band consist of vocalist / guitarist Camille, bassist Claire and long-haired drummer Ben. The London-based trio make an ungodly, screamy racket and I love them for it. Camille, dressed like a English Courtney Love, decorates their songs with her girly vocals and mammoth screams. Claire and Ben follow Camille's noisy instructions and fill up the song space with clattering, ringing joyfulness.
On 'When I Touch You' Camille berates a nervous lover, or stranger she just met on the tube it's never really clarified, to stop flinching and enjoy the moment. It's a jolty, snarling, concise number and comes to a fiery end when Camille decides to use the song as cheap therapy and directs a deafening howl into our ear holes.
Actually that's how a lot of Throwing Up songs end and that's exactly why I love them. A band that I can enjoy many a head banging Thursday evening with is the band for me.
Another one I would recommend is 'Mother Knows Best', a grungy, 90s tinged affair that sounds like a jolly, modern version of the riot grrrl favourites Huggy Bear. It's disgustingly lo-fi with dirty riffs that you can't help but love. Because I am so lovely I've helpfully put a link to the song below for your perusal.
If you're into female punk, grunge or riot grrrl, and going on who reads this blog you probably are, then Throwing Up are definitely the new band for you.
So this Ones to Watch may be a tad premature. The only online evidence, which is the only evidence that matters, of this band's existence is a bandcamp account with three demos on it. You may think I might be rushing it a bit but wait....these demos are immensely awesome. They are so awesome they've made me use the word awesome three times in the last minute, and I hate the word awesome. Hate it.
This band that I've bigged up to ridiculous proportions are Sneakpeek and this is all I know about them. They are an all female band from Echo Park in LA and they are currently working on their debut EP which is rumoured to be coming out later this year.
Even though I've not been able to drag up much from my investigative work on Google I do know that Sneakpeek make fuzzed out, reverb drenched lo-fi tunes straight from the 90s. If you begin your days wondering why everyone doesn't wear plaid anymore or how you could fashion a pair of dungarees out of your mum's old curtains then you are, like me, a 90s addict and you need a dose of Sneakpeek to get rid of your 90s blues. Take a peek at their demo 'Walk All Over Me (Live)' to help you get by. Trust me I'm a doctor.
Along with listening to amazing artists, meeting other like minded bloggers and sitting around eating bonbons all day getting requests from PRs is one of the nicer things about running a small music blog mainly because it makes you feel like you're one of the big boys (or perhaps big girls).
Now a blogger's relationship with PRs is a tricky one. You can get sent the worst music made by the most deluded, self-involved artists in the world but you can also be introduced to some true gems that you wish you had found earlier.
My example of a PR gem is American folk singer songwriter Lauren Shera. Inspired by the likes of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake, Shera weaves an extraordinary tale that evokes a plethora of intense, emotive stories of days gone by.
Shera clearly has friends in high places as both 90s rock goddess Kristin Hersh and Abigail Washburn stepped in as guest performers on her new album Once I Was A Bird.
Grasping tight to her acoustic guitar Shera bares her soul and her past in a strikingly honest way rarely seen by many performers these days who prefer to shock and disgust their audience rather than focus on talent and it is talent that Shera has by the bucket load.
Catch her before she gets big, you won't regret it I promise.
With the vast array of twee, girl group bands popping up every few minutes it's hard to believe that one group could stand out from the rest. Fortunately one band has done exactly that and made a song that puts them head and shoulders above the other pretenders.
Soda Shop are a Brookyln two piece comprised of Maria Usbeck from Selebrities and Drew Diver from Horse Shoes. They make sun-drenched, 50s pop that will make you yearn for those long gone candy-striped, black and white days of yore.
Although they have only two songs floating around on the interweb they are two amazing songs that I for one could listen to again and again and again....
Garage rock. It's a rarely used term in music journalism these days, the last time the phrase was used so liberally was back when The White Stripes and The Strokes were in their hey day, i.e the good old days. Since then garage rock has gone underground.
Distressed by how we neglected it so when the 80s/electro revival came around a few years ago it vowed never to come back up to the surface to show its face ever again. That was until one determined band dragged it back to the light.
The Barettas, a Canadian three-piece who sport a spectacular array of polka dot dresses, quiffs and red lippy, are the band of the moment or at least the band of my moment.
Katie (vocals and guitar), Kate (bass) and Carly (drums) say that the inspiration for their music comes from the "industrial decay and grittiness" of their home town Hamilton. Now I've never been to Hamilton but I would have to assume from their music that it is a 24/7 doo-wop fest with guys and gals shimmying the night away to cool tunes like theirs.
Their latest single 'Touche' is a doo wop, garage rock inspired guitar pop tune that is so catchy and fun the most sour music lovers will dancing with joy to this one.
The Barettas may not be coming to the UK for a while keep an eye out I'm sure we'll here more from them very soon.
In the last few months despite lowering funds in the old bank account I've still found myself on numerous occasions perusing the rails on Oxford Street. When I'm there, it usually happens whenever I walk into New Look, a certain song breaks through the usual chart drivel and stops me in my tracks. For months I only knew it as my shopping song, now I've found out what it is. 'Katy on a Mission' by upcoming artist Katy B is the soundtrack to my shopping sprees.
Katy B, a 20 something BRIT school and Goldsmiths University graduate, has been making waves in the underground garage and funky house scene for months after her debut single 'Katy on a Mission' was released earlier this year. Somehow she's the perfect mix of unique and marketable making her Radio 1's new favourite act. Both '... Mission' and her latest, 'Lights On' have played heavily on the Radio 1 playlist.
'Lights On' is a dancing song about dancing. The best kind of dancing song. While Katy sings about her love of throwing a few moves on the floor Ms Dynamite waxes lyrical making us wonder why she ever went away. Katy B is working with Ms Dynamite on her upcoming album so hopefully we'll be getting more of the same and better.
Wild Flag (L-R Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Janet Weiss, Rebecca Cole)
Ok this is nothing new but I thought I'd post about Wild Flag.
The all girl (or woman) super group was announced months ago and they have already begun their first west coasts American tour but it still think I really need to push home the point that they are just blowing my little noggin (first and last time I used the word 'noggin' I promise).
Wild Flower
Two parts Sleater-Kinney (Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein) and one part Helium (Mary Timony) and one part Minders (Rebecca Cole) there are enough indie legends for the band to take the world by storm.
Surprisingly they have gone for a different approach. Wild Flag are slightly low key about everything a small press release was all that was used to announce their conception, none of their songs are available on their official sites and most of the buzz around them has been spread by bloggers and fellow musicians.
I suppose that is far more of a real, grassroots way of spreading the word rather than employing a huge PR and marketing team.
Obviously the music's amazing. Their are only a few musicians that could scream "Come on and ride/ Pony up" over classic rock riffs and still make it sound good.
According to their official twitter account they're recording their first 7" right now. I can imagine Carrie laying down some spine-tingly riffs over Janet's steady beats.
Lo-fi girl gangs have ruled the indie airways in America and the UK and it seems the rest of the world have caught the lo-fi bug seeing as the latest lo-fi darlings are from Costa Rica.
Las Robertas are a girl group who make jangly, romantic, fuzzy 2 minute songs that it's impossible not to love. Sweet vocal harmonies, fuzzy guitars and love filled lyrics make Las Robertas a band to keep your eye on.
The group could be thought of in the same vein as American bands such as Best Coast, Dum Dum Girls and, of course, Vivian Girls.
The group have released their debut album, Cry Out Loud, and it is available to download from their bandcamp page.
Listen, like and then fall in love with Las Robertas. You won't regret it.
If you think that I get all of my new music from 6 Musicthen you would be correct (It's Lauren Laverne she's too nice you can't help but listen to her) but this is a great band.
Haight-Ashbury are a Glaswegian trio who make music that evokes their heroes such as Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. The band is made up of Scott James Ashbury on guitar, Jennifer Ashbury on vocals/drums and Kirsty Heather (you guessed it) Ashbury on vocals/bass.
Even though they are from Scotland the trio have a free spirit, peace and love, San Francisco hippy thing about them.
My favourite song is 'Freeman Town' where the two female singers harmonise and discuss, well this is my interpretation, the ideas of female solidarity and freedom.
Me and my girl ain't hangin' around/ Livin' out here in a Freeman town
I get the feeling this band are going to get big soon so listen to them now and you can say I knew them when.
Practically all of my favourite artists are from Mad Decent's label and this lady is one of the them.
Hailing from the city of dreams New York, Maluca is the epitomy of the ethnically and culturally diverse city.
Maluca mixes hip-hop beats, latin rhythms and poppy goodness together to make club bliss. Her latest single 'El Tigeraso' immediately takes you to the hustle and bustle of her hometown. I love it.
Keep an eye on this one you'll hear the name Maluca again pretty soon.
UK Tour Dates:
26th May- Village Underground, London
30th May- Mad Decent/ Bugged Out Warehouse Party, London
Sleigh Bells blew my tiny little mind away when I first heard them.
Unlike the folk tinged tweeness their name suggest Sleigh Bells are 75% Bass and 25% amazing.
Now that's the perfect balance.
Sleigh Bells are a electro duo from Florida and Brooklyn who make bass heavy, girl tinged, hardcore club music.
Having recently signed to NEET recordings Sleigh Bells are over from Florida to woo us Brits, well mainly the Londoners but they'll be back.
I'm definitely going to check them out cuz if they can make my little room feel like a dirty underground electro club imagine what they sound like live.
UK Tour:
23 March- Madame Jo Jo's, London
24 March- Cargo, London
25 March- Notting Hill Arts Club, London
26 March- KOKO, London
The Japanese Voyeurs are one of the many bands that I've been obsessing about lately.
They are a ball of nineties, grunge, babydoll, riot grrl-esque punk and I love it. They sound like a cross between Babes in Toyland, Nirvana and a little bit of Mudhoney thrown in for good measure.
Japanese Voyeurs are the perfect band to scream along to when you're feeling really angry.
Here's one of their songs for you to listen to called Dumb.
I hate being in that awkward situation when you meet someone and they utter the phrase "I'm in a band, you should check them out." That one phrase can make or break a new friendship because basically they could be the worst band you've ever heard and pretending that they're any good could prove pretty tricky.
Fortunately in this situation they turned out to be really good. La La Vasquez are an all-girl band based in Brighton. They make lo-fi/surf/riot grrrl influenced noise. Think Kleenex, Wet Dog, The Raincoats or, to a lesser extent, The Vivian Girls.
I was introduced to La La Vasquez when I went to my first Ladyfest meeting in November. I didn't really know what to expect when I heard them but I was immediately won over by their lo-fi sound and cute lyrics and girl on girl vocals. I love it when female voices seem to re-establish the feminine so it makes unable to edge around the fact that they are women making cool music.
They are set to release their first 7" in March and will be on tour until April so you have no excuse not to catch them when they come around.
Chew Lips are a weird sort of band, well for me at least. I just can't put my finger on them. Band members Tigs, Will and James push their songs forward into another dimension with strained vocals (I mean that as a compliment) and soaring keyboards.
The riff lover in me is slightly miffed that this riot grrrl is in love with what is essentially an electro band but times change and this is a perfect time to go with the flow respectfully instead of jumping on the Little Boots bandwagon (she was boring in Dead Disco and is boring now).
Anyway to give you a little taster of their best work here is their best song 'Solo'.
Their new single Solo, with exclusive remixes, is avaliable to purchase from Kitsune and to download from most download providers.
Chew Lips begin a UK tour supporting wannabe rockstars The Virgins. For more info go to www.myspace.com/chewlips
Straight outta Norwich, that phrase sounded a lot cooler when the NWA coined it, Bearsuit are the kind of boy/girl cutie twee indie band that would have Everett True salivating for more.
I'm loving their low key vibe. They are kinda on the same wave-length as Los Campesinos and Huggy Bear. They are the kinda band that make intentional spelling mistakes like spelling 'your' as 'yr' just because it's cool and makes you feel just that little bit younger.
My favourite songs are 'Foxy Boxer' and 'Pushover'. The main reason I like them is that they got ridiculously excited when Kathleen Hanna, or someone running a Kathleen Hanna fan page it's not been confirmed yet, added them as a friend on MySpace. This shows they are a. human and b. have an amazing taste in music not unlike my own I must say.
