Indie pop
Live Review: The SSS / The Wired / Franko Fraize, at The Leadmill, Sheffield, 19.03.16
It’s a real Sheffield special over at the Leadmill in the shape of two up and coming acts The Wired and The SSS, effectively sharing the bill and selling out the venue. Not everyone can sell out the Leadmill and many act can claim to have by virtue of selling out the smaller of the …
See: New video for “Vice” by Lisbon
When asked during an interview about the upcoming video for “Vice”, lead singer Matty Varty explained how even things which are as seemingly simple as the track’s artwork can be complex ideas and have interesting tales behind them. The concept with the hellish red neon sign was to place it in unusual places to create …
Album Review: Jack Garratt – Phase
Jack Garratt at first sight and listen is a swirling mass of contradictions. Aged just 24, he’s the latest recipient of both the BRIT award Critics’ Choice (previously won by Sam Smith, Tom Odell, Emeli Sande, Jessie J, Ellie Goulding, Florence + the Machine, Adele) and the BBC Sound of… (previously won by (Years & …
See: Prinze George release new video for “Victor”
Maryland based indie/synth pop heroes Prinze George have just released some new visuals for their highly regarded single, Victor, taken from their self-titled EP, released last year. The trio, Kenny Grimm (production/instrumental), Naomi Almquist (vocals) and Isabelle De Leon (drums) make the sort of music that bubbles and scatters in front of you. They’ve upped …
See: Victoria+Jean release new video for Divine Love
Victoria+Jean consist of, unsurprisingly Victoria and Jean. More surprising is that they happened upon each other, Victoria being from Stockholm, while Jean hails from Brussels, where the pair are based. They make this sort of wistful, brooding, almost dreamwave-y indie pop. Taken from their rather wonderful album of the same name, Divine Love displays all …
Album Review: The Crookes – Lucky Ones
Sheffield band The Crookes have returned with their fourth studio album, titled Lucky Ones, accompanied with a full UK tour this February and European and USA excursions not long after. Lucky Ones is a 10-track wonder which lets go of all the bitter anger of Soapbox and the blind hope of Hold Fast; it lands somewhere in …
Track: Tall Poppies – Cat Got Your Tongue
Cat got your tongue is the new single from London indie pop quartet Tall Poppies. The band, fronted by identical twins Susan and Catherine who also contribute bass and guitar, and joined by Diarmuid on Violin and Doug on drums, make this kind of wonky, almost Dexy’s like soul indie, at least judging from their …
Live Review: Big Scary – The Lexington, 8 December 2015 plus Gallery
After impressing audiences throughout Europe supporting Courtney Barnett, Big Scary brought their funky indie pop to The Lexington on the last of two debut headline shows in London. The Australian duo of Tom Iansek (vocals, keyboards, guitar) and Jo Syme (drums, vocals) are joined on stage by a bassist/saxophonist to reflect the layers of sound …
Track: Hey Sholay – Ribcage
Hey Sholay are a curious band, disappearing for months on end before returning with a song and show to remind us, with a gentle nudge and a peck on the cheek, that they’re still here. The mysterious five-piece have just released their second single of 2015, titled ‘Ribcage’, to accompany their one-off shows in London …
News: The Ocean Blue to reissue three Sire albums, share ‘lost’ song, City Traffic
Although their success was almost completely confined to their home country with a generous handful of US alternative chart placings, it was still well received when Hershay PA indie-poppers The Ocean Blue got back together in 2010, and moreso when they released Ultramarine in 2013, their first album for 14 years. Now they’ve raided their …