The first New Tunes Guide of 2013 – and it’s a bumper one! Highlights today include We Were Frontiers, a Leeds band who are ‘setting the local scene ablaze presenting their dark, acoustic tinged songs’ and will release the new track ‘End of the Show’ as a free download from the January 21st. Bleached features sisters Jennifer and Jessica Clavin, who will release their debut album ‘Ride Your Heart’ on April 2nd after the success of three singles last year. Farewell Jr began as a solo project for Nick Rayner. The ‘Health’ EP, created in spots as far apart as Cambridge, Ireland and Australia, is next up.
Check out past editions of the New Tunes Guide right here.
“Dragging themselves around the country they have fast been building up a following with their frenetic wave of sound that bursts with energy and creeps relentless into the ears and feet of those watching sweeping them up in a wave of sweat soaked euphoria. Bombers are exactly what we need right now and it’s time for some twisted and psychotic doom-punk.”
“A crushing reminder about just how grim the Granite City can be, Brace are a veritable musical tour-de-force; a heady mixture of sludgy guitars, frenetic metal drumming and guttural screaming. Brace are no stranger to bleak Northern nights in sweaty, crowded venues. Their new EP ‘Conscious Thinking’ is an exercise in controlled demolition, and ‘Living’ is just a taste of what you can expect from these guys in 2013.”
BRACE – Living by Cold War Legacy
“The Leers releasing their sophomore EP ‘Pockets’ has been a longer time coming than most would expect. Hailing from the sun-drenched beaches of coastal New Zealand, in 2010 the four moved up to Auckland to release their debut EP. With their single ‘Shame Shame Shame’ they would eventually peak at #1 on the 95bFM Top 10 as well as becoming an anthem at their highly praised live shows. After months of playing the Auckland gig-and-house party circuit, the band took a brief break before eagerly slaving away in their home garage studio to record their second release.”
“Last year saw the emergence of new Leeds band We Were Frontiers who set the local scene ablaze presenting their dark, acoustic tinged songs. Their exhilarating live show quickly won the band a strong live following and growing national recognition. They kick off 2013 with the release of a brand new track ‘End of the Show’ which will be available for free download from the 21/1/13.”
“Leron Thomas makes it clear with his latest project ..Take It that he has no intention of being bound by genre or held back by being independent. With a soulful electronic vibe Thomas delivers his most challenging album yet. Co-produced with Malik Crumpler, one would never guess this was recorded by the two, home-studio style in NYC. The tracks weave in and out with a knowing sense of chord progression, cutting wit and moments of hilarity. Coupled with new music videos, Thomas shows he has no intention of slowing down and has a seemingly endless pit of creativity.”
“Tony Ferrari is a musician from Thousand Oaks, California. He is an indie artist who released his first album last April, which reached #8 on the iTunes charts for Singer-Songwriter. He has a passion for writing and singing, but loves to do hip-hop covers for YouTube. He has covered Macklemore’s ‘Thrift Shop’, and did an acoustic mash-up with the classic ‘Fly Like an Eagle’ by The Steve Miller Band (or the Space Jam version by Seal).”
“On the back of three well-received singles comes Ride Your Heart, the debut album by LA band Bleached, out April 2nd via Dead Oceans. Sisters Jennifer and Jessica Clavin match their ability to blend a mix of freewheeling ’77 punk with vintage sunny Southern Calefornia melodic rock and roll; creating blindingly bright hooks and dark heartfelt lyrics about love, loss and those moments in between. That’s the goal; the sugary and the sour, repurposed by two aggressively harmonic musicians and songwriters. Their first single Next Stop epitomises this movement – raw, adventurous and free. Tossing you out onto the dance floor, hair mussed from make-outs, cigarette dangling from your fingertips.”
“Sam Sallon‘s ‘Kathy’s Song’ (EP) will be released through AWAL on indie imprint Indigo-Octagon on January 20th. The EP has received great reviews from Hitsheet, MusicWeek and Classic Rock Society. The title track has already been played several times by Chris Hawkins at 6 music and the response from listeners has been excellent.”
Let Faux Ferocious‘ Facebook take this up: “Jonathan Phillips was once born so was Reid. Both Dylan and Terry have not been.”
right on track b/w vicious grin by fauxferocious
“The new release follows Luls‘ hotly tipped debut single Swing Low/Young which came out at the end of last year to a great reception. The band have been keeping busy in the meantime, supporting Crystal Castles on their UK tour, touring with Spector and Swim Deep as well as playing a sold out New Years eve show with Peace at Koko.”
“Farewell Jr initially started out as a solo project for front man Nick Rayner on his return to Cambridge, for what he regarded as some “much needed time to be alone”, has since grown to something much greater. Hunkered down in Cambridge, Rayner wrote, recorded, and mixed a series of stripped back songs that have come to form the basis of the ‘Health’ EP. He then travelled to Ireland, where, with assistant engineer Edan Ray, he recorded the stirring drums, whilst the soaring violins that characterise this EP were being recorded on the other side of the world, in Australia.”
“Sibyl Vane is one of the most notable newcomers in the Baltics in year 2012. A trio from Estonia’s small coastal town Pärnu has done a lot so far. After winning the Estonian Youth band contest they signed under a Latvian record label I Love You Records. After performing at the biggest summer music festivals in the Baltics – Positivus and Summer Sound, the band arrived to the studio in order to record their debut album. While working in the studio they started their first tour in Latvia and Lithuania. Their debut album “Love, Holy Water & TV” was introduced on November 1st.”
Sibyl Vane – Honey Tree by Sibyl Vane (EST)
“‘Forever, Instead’ is the new EP from Dropout Dan, released February 14th through Anchor Music. An inspired collection of heartfelt tracks, the EP showcases the young singer/songwriter’s true talent for instilling his passion and emotion into each note. Dropout Dan was raised in the outskirts of Cambridgeshire, learning from an early age that music would become one of the most important parts of his life. Otherwise known to his family and friends as Daniel O’Dell, he began writing songs from a young age as a way to articulate his feelings and experiences. Following the lead from great British guitar-toting troubadours, Dan began performing wherever he could and his hard work paid off with the release of his first EP ‘Do You Remember?’.”
“Introducing Sukhdeep Krishan, or simply Sukh, the new folk tinged singer/songwriter based in Manchester. Like his medical career, Sukh’s debut “Kings” is a labour of love and precision, having written, performed & produced it all himself. Sukh began writing music at the age of 16 when he was scoring a film for school. What followed was years of playing in bands, after which he found his natural aptitude lies in solo work. Although his interest in moving pictures remains prevalent (he currently has a short film in post production), his inspirations have extended to the literary, from Russian authors Tolstoy and Turgenev through to the more theatrical and poetic Henrik Ibsen. These influences of course impact on his music but it’s his scientific mind set that particularly affects ‘Kings’, a result of his day job as a Doctor.”
“Ghost Carriage Phantoms released their debut album ‘The Boy Lives’ through Marketstall Records on the 12th November as a limited edition (500 only), hand packaged, numbered CD set featuring pictures, lyrics and more. ‘The Boy Lives’ is the first installment of a series of releases tied together under the initialed banner ‘GCP’. This record, the debut album from Merthyr Tydfil born songwriter Michael James Hall was created over a three month period in early 2012 with fellow GCP collaborator Mark Estall at the helm, taking charge of arrangement and production duties.”
“With musical wisdom beyond his years and songwriting with depth and brutal heartfelt honesty, Tom Prior is leading the way for a new generation of artists. Set to take to the stage at iluvlive (21st January) and UD Live (7th February) the shows will see him play alongside Misha B, MckNasty, Joe Black and Bobii Lewis. Nominated for a Spirit of London Award held at London’s O2 for his ‘Achievement in Music’ the nomination highlighted his dedication to helping bring through the artists of tomorrow. At just 19 years old not only can he sing, rap and play the piano he is a steadfast producer and musical genius. Influenced by the likes of Coldplay, Wretch 32, Plan B, and The Streets, he is fast becoming recognized as one of the UK’s freshest up and coming musical talents.”
“Golly! Ghost! are a four-piece folk project from Dersingham, West Norfolk. Formed in 2011, Mathew West (acoustic guitar/vocals) began writing and recording demos with local friends. The intent was to encompass a collection of influences/styles and techniques, and find joy in experimenting with various elements to create a unique blend found in his folk-based compositions. Along with Oliver Rogers (guitar/vocals), Jacob Armstrong (percussion) and Paul Mirić (bass), Golly! Ghost! spent much of 2012 working on material for an EP soon to be released via the internet. Last year also saw collaborations and remixes with local artists such as Klaus Funk and Discoabsurdo; on the back of various successful shows including the BBC Norfolk Introducing programme and charity fundraiser/festival appearances. In Spring 2013 the group will release their yet-titled EP (recorded by Jacob) and desire to continue upon many more shows and beautiful things.”
We All Need Something by GollyGhost
“The irresistible energy of youth is captured perfectly in ‘Bloodsports’, the debut single from Castleton duo Drenge, released on Infectious this spring. It sees the reckless thrills and freewheeling vitality of a new generation distilled to its rawest, most unvarnished essence. Brothers Rory and Eoin Loveless are 19 and 21 respectively – Drenge show a remarkable facility in assimilating influences belying their age group, while also hardwiring them to a stomp and swagger entirely their own.”
