We’ve sorted through our packed inbox for this week’s New Tunes Guide, to bring you all the best under-the-radar mp3s, Soundcloud links and YouTube videos. Among the highlights this week are Liverpool’s Dead At Sea, a ‘dizzy concoction of Sonic Youth, Pavement, The Strokes and Echo And The Bunnymen’, new folk songwriter Will Miles and his strong DIY ethics, and UK duo Paradise with their impressive debut single ‘Endless Wave’.
Check out previous editions of the New Tunes Guide here.
“Inhabiting their own beautiful, ethereal corner of the musical universe, poised exquisitely at the crossroads between the soaring soundscapes of Spiritualized and naive pop melodies, new UK duo Paradise are an absolutely sublime proposition. Although the pair of are only releasing their debut single, their world already sounds so gorgeously and perfectly formed. The heady pop rush of “Endless Wave”, for instance, is pronouncedly idiosyncratic yet utterly glorious, wedding its invocation of towering, wall of sound landscapes to its rapturous appreciation of canonical pop classicism to create the aural equivalent of an adrenaline shot straight to the cerebral cortex.”
Paradise – Endless Wave/Blue Flower by Paradiselovesyou
“US melodic hardcore/punk act Such Gold is set to release their debut studio album, ‘Misadventures’, in the UK on 25th February, 2013 via Razor & Tie. The album was produced by Steve Evetts (Every Time I Die, Saves The Day, Lifetime, The Dillinger Escape Plan). Even before their debut was recorded, Such Gold featured in Alternative Press’ 100 Bands You Need To Know and even made it over to the UK a couple of times with the likes of The Wonder Years. They’ve also supported artists such as A Day To Remember, Polar Bear Club and MXPX back in the States. The release of ‘Misadventures’ will follow the band’s next batch of UK dates which will see them supporting Funeral For A Friend on an extensive run of shows around the country.”
“At odds with the prevailing trend for soundscape and wafting ambience, Night Engine are, as the names suggests, about motorik rhythms, Nile Rodgers guitars, fluid basslines, music to make you sweat and smile and jump around like a thing possessed. This is the world of Iggy through a late 70’s lens, the sense of Berlin, Detroit and New York after dark pervades the songs – and what songs! Lead track ‘I’ll Make It Worth Your While’ is just the tip of the iceberg and lays down their reboot of the Talking Heads jitters, the Bowie style ice cool and Funkadelic groove with class and precision.”
Night Engine – I’ll Make It Worth Your While by Night Engine
“Liverpool’s Death At Sea will release their debut limited edition 7” AA-side single ‘Drag’ / ‘Selfless’ on 22nd October through Kissability / Transgressive. A dizzy concoction of Sonic Youth, Pavement, The Strokes and Echo And The Bunnymen, Death At Sea are the place where coruscating noise meets haunting pop melody and brutal lyrical honesty. In the low-fi punk single ‘Drag’, Death At Sea lay themselves bare with lyrics ‘when he’s with her, she bleeds glitter’ backed by a stunning melancholy melody that’s hard to forget.”
“The Furious Sound is the new record by The Douglas Firs, loosely based around the East Lothian witch trials of 1590. Seventy persons, mainly women, were tortured, tried and burned for their supposed involvement in witchcraft. The record became an investigation into outsiders, madness, extreme internal states, physical degradation and the brevity of human life. Many parts of the record were improvised, inspired by the locations used. No fortuitous sounds leaking onto the tracks were excluded.”
“On the 5th November acclaimed Sheffield-born singer-songwriter Helen Boulding returns with her stunning new single, ‘Jerusalem.’ Taken from her recent LP ‘Calling All Angels’ and referencing the title in its chorus, ‘Jerusalem’ is a hook-filled album highlight, whose majestic tempo belies its subject matter. ‘Some people can be so grumpy, for no real reason,’ says Helen. ‘Open your eyes and look at what we have. Or at least that’s what I say…’”
“Into Arcadia is pleased to release their most ambitious endeavor to date, their first full-length album Escaper. It is an exquisitely dark, artistically abrasive, cinematic listening experience. It is the follow up from the previously released 2011 single Panic and 2008 EP Maps For Children. They have greatly evolved out of the indie rock scene into an intense, all encompassing, post alternative sound. The maturity of the band is seen in its concise epic arrangements, string compositions, and haunting melodies. The first single off the album Into The Water can be seen in a video collaboration with Director Ryan Abel.”
“The track sums up all you need to know about Bluford Duck. Clean production, punchy drums, energy and low subs that will shake your inner soul. His style is ultra current yet formative. His influences are worn proudly like a badge. And his sets are bursting at the seams with retro elements.”
Bluford Duck – Eye See [Savoir Faire Musique] by Bluford Duck
“JAN is the new solo project from Kim Talon, known also as the latter half of art-rock duo Eagle and Talon. Her self-titled debut record packs a mean punch with riot grrrl-infused vocals, fuzzy guitars, and blissed-out grunge rhythms. Produced by John Goodmanson (Blonde Redhead, The Gossip, Sleater-Kinney), JAN will release her self-titled debut album on November 13th via Enclave Music.”
JAN – All Of These Igloos by Enclaves
“Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Wooden Indian Burial became one of the must see acts at this year’s CMJ. Happy to take influence from grey skies, early sci-fi novels, fuzz pedals and homemade drone boxes, WIBG formed as a duo in Portland, Oregon in 2008. Soon after, they took sail in a rickety ship called “The Blue Whale”, making a glorious racket across the United States and releasing an 11 track album of drunken-funeral-folk tunes in 2009 entitled My Bones They Are Naked. Since the band has grown in numbers and signed with Mon Amie Records of Brooklyn, NY in 2011.”
Wooden Indian Burial Ground – Sparklerella by Tell All Your Friends PR
“Miss Beatrice Kateme-Byakika is a singer-songwriter based in London, known for her eclectic interpretation of East African music. What sets this lady apart from others is her warm and soulful voice plus the evocative arrangements with sympathetic collaborator Ivan Anchant that lend a populist arm-around-the-musical-shoulder without spoiling the emotive subject matters. Coming Home was her world music release in 2009. The Inspiration for this began during her time as a backup singer for Uganda’s International diva Rachel Magoola between 2004-2006. Inspired by her love for African music and a varied upbringing in both Kenya and Uganda she spins tales of life and love in a variety of East African languages like Swahili, Lusoga, Samia and English.”
“New London based alternative folk/rock songwriter Will Miles releases his highly anticipated debut double A side single Shallow Water / Angela, on the 26th of November via new grassroots label Wildheart Records. A strong believer in the DIY ethos the single will be available as a limited run CD with handmade sleeves and alongside digital download.”
WILL MILES – “SHALLOW WATER” // “ANGELA” by The Playground PR
