Photo: Press
Back at long last after what feels like an eternity, Yak have ditched the ramshackle delivery for a psych-tinged, Tame Impala-produced release on Felix White’s label Yala! Records – for what could be classed as their weirdest song so far.
Joining them on this week’s list is iconic hip-hop collective Wu Tang Clan and innovative upstarts Pip Blom alongside fresh cuts from Confidence Man and Sweaty Palms. Sound interesting? Tune in now for picks by Gigwise's Nick Roseblade, Dom Gourlay and Cai Trefor.
Sweaty Palms - 'Queer Fatwa'
There's a strong early Fall feel to this. The shambolic clusterfuck of distortion, delay, random piano hits and vocals that sound one bottle of vodka deep are a joy to behold. Their stellar channelling of Mark E Smith will make them appealing to fans of Cabbage and Fat White Family. Moreover, their 60s jangle and loose hipped groove may endear those who like Texan psych revivalists Night Beats to them. With a sound this adrenalised, we firmly believe Sweaty Palms are ones to watch. (CT)
Pip Blom - 'Babies Are A Lie'
Had Courtney Barnett grown up in Holland surrounded by musicians with a love of PIxies, Weezer and Sparklehorse, she perhaps would have sounded similar to Amsterdam native Pip Blom. It's still early days for the singer, but with this single being easily as good - if not better - than the storming recent one, 'I Think I'm In Love', she's showing consistency and creative progress. The singer will edge her way into mainstream consciousness slowly but surely. Get on it early.(CT)
Ysgol Sul - 'Elsewhere'
Fans of Joy Division should get behind this sultry number from Welsh band Ysgol Sul. It's their first song ever sung in English and the Factory Records era comparisons are deserved for the tight medley of hypnotic bass, simple, punchy drums, and whirring analog effected guitars, and a crème de la crème of British 80s indie croon. When it all comes together, it serves as poignant portrait of the rainy, windy North West. It's a reflection on a generation dealing with austerity, and toying with instruments to create magic that quells the disenchantment - their escape is ours too. It's powerful stuff. (CT)
The Bad Flowers - 'Thunder Child'
One band who are set to some damage are Brummie classic rockers The Bad Flowers. 'City Lights' is their first big studio recording, and it delivers the full might of what you'd hear going to see a tightly drilled stack amp loving band live. There are solos that would make Slash's ears prick up, and riffs that will inspire kids to pick up guitars. In an era with declining guitar sales, we need bands like The Bad Flowers to remind us of the pure adrenaline that the riff can deliver. (CT)
Yak - 'Sunshine In My Life'
Yak aren't messing about. Ill-content to allow the sound of Alas Salvation (their debut album recorded with Pulp's Steve Mackay) define them, they've gone forwards to tread new ground and expose their oddball sensibilities in a bolder more meaningful way. The kaleidoscopic and fairly disjointed instrumentation all hangs on a strong melodic core. Thematically, it feels fairly warped with lyrical metaphors that wouldn't feel amiss in a Mark Lanegan song as they sing of "shards of rain" and storms. This brooding track was recorded with Tame Impala's Jay Gum Watson in Kevin Parker’s studio in sunny Perth. The plethora of tools that gear hoard Parker must keep seems to have helped them create their most engaging cut yet. (CT)
Liima - '1982'
Liima’s make a kind of pop music that borrows from the 1980’s as much as it is influenced by contemporary dance music. Drums dripping in melancholy and woozy synths set the back drop for lugubrious vocals that perfectly suit a theme of questioning the concept of identity and other existential woes. However the star of the show isn’t the music but the video, directed by Baby Duka. Starting off as an Amiga version of Akira or Blade Runner, ‘1982’ then skews into a training sessions before ending up as a platform game and the hero speeds off into the distance victorious.(NR)
Wu-Tang Clan feat. Redman' - 'People Say'
Soul and rap come together on this instantly grabbing hit. It feels like a joyous distillation of archetypal Wu Tang Clan mixing in with DJ Shadow, DJ Format, Fat Freddy's Drop and 60s soul. It' s a lush wall of sound that gives the more you listen to it. It's best listened to with mates around, there's no way it won't transform the atmosphere .The track was executive produced by RZA with creative production in the hands of Wu-Tang's longtime DJ Mathematics, and comes out on their album Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues. (CT)
Howie Payne - 'Some Believer, Sweet Dreamer'
Pity we don't live in an era where there are more songwriters like Howie Payne, he'd have been big business if this was the 60s. His taste for sweet, lush folk/psychedelia and his gentle falsetto, not too dissimilar to Neil Young's, has won him some famous fans; including Noel nGallagher and The Coral's Bill-Ryder Jones. The track's well worth a spin: (CT)
Lee Ranaldo - 'Moroccan Mountains'
The Sonic Youth guitarist is - surprisingly to some - a majorly prolific solo artist, with material sometimes as beguiling as the best Sonic Youth stuff. This latest cut 'Moroccan Mountains' is taken from his new album that's out today, and points towards one of the most adventurous, daring pieces of work in his ouevre. Essentially, he draws from his own indie rock roots and mediating scenes that prosaic to mountain dwellers but full of magic and mystery to him, he comes across inspired and passionate, and is a songwriter we want to be around. (CT)
Confidence Man - 'Better Sit Down Boy'
Since signing a deal with Heavenly Recordings at the back end of 2016, they've put out two floor shaking singles in 'Boyfriend (Repeat)' and 'Bubblegum' and live favourite 'Better Sit Down Boy' makes it a hat trick of incredibly infectious 45s. The vocal interplay between Janet Planet and Sugar Bones compliments the pounding disco beats driving the song into its own state of orbit, recalling The B-52s or early 90s one hit wonders Deee Lite as re-imagined by James Murphy. With a handful of UK dates in December and an album set for release in the early part of next year, 2018 is there's for the taking. How confident is that? (DG)
Visionist - 'No Idols'
‘No Idols’, by London producer Visionist, is an unrelenting barrage of caustic breakbeats and delicate pianos. And this juxtaposition is as rich as the city that inspired it. You only have to walk through central London to experience this. Venture off Oxford Street, with it’s never ending parade of shoppers, tourists, buses and taxis, and you’ll find little peaceful patches of green, and this is what ‘No Idols’ feels like. For all its mordant sensibilities ‘No Idols’ is an achingly graceful workout that the demands repeat listens. But this should come as no surprise given Visionist’s rich, and abrasive, back catalogue. (NR)
SOUND DR - 'Girl From Planet Earth'
There's next to no information about this band. They've only just created a Facebook page and put this song out. We know they're from Yorkshire and consider themselves a lo-fi duo into Tame Impala, Beck and Kasabian. Their demo shows huge promise - in fact it sounds pretty complete, maybe they should drop the lo-fi claim. This is bold, colourful pop music that's worth blasting out this weekend. (CT)
