(Video) Throwing Up – ‘Medicine’

We’ve dropped in on London punk/grunge band, Throwing Up a few times over the past 18 months or so. On each occasion their scuzzy blasts of distortion have impressed and left a feeling of wanting more.

So, here’s the good news. Throwing Up are going to release their debut album Over You, through Tim Burgess’ O Genesis label on July 8th. Recorded and self produced in London last year, it was mixed by Burgess and Jim Spencer and features eleven tracks including ‘Medicine’. The loud, brash and scuzzy ‘Medicine’ has been around for a while but not in it’s newly more polished form. The production may be sharper but it does little to take away from the snarling nature of the song, thankfully. 

Looking forward to finally getting to hear an album from these noise makers, hopefully it lives up to the early promise. 

The Sunshine Underground – ‘It Is Only You’

Remember when ‘nu-rave’ was apparently set to take on the world? Well, that whole ‘scene’ came and went but it left us with a couple of decent acts including The Sunshine Underground.

Pigeonholed into that whole ‘nu-rave scene’, The Sunshine Underground always had something about them. Their debut album Raise The Alarm was great and the long-awaited follow up wasn’t too bad either. They been relatively quiet since then, until now that is. The Leeds lads are back with a brand new single, ‘It Is Only You’. It’s a cracking track which sees a slight shift, the guitars are met with more blinding synths, serving to illuminate their knack for a sing-a-long chorus. An utterly cool track with plenty of oomph, and a pretty sweet video to boot. It’s certainly nice to have them back, even if there’s no word on future releases.

‘It Is Only You’ has already been released as a 12″ limited-edition vinyl but will get it’s digital release next Monday. You can pick it up here.

(Video) The Last Monroes – ‘Underneath the Streetlight’

We heard from The Last Monroes a while back with the release of Live From The Barn, a great introduction to what they’re all about.

The Wicklow duo (of Simon Quinn and Konrad Sheane) are back with a new video for ‘Underneath the Streetlight’, directed by Shane Doyle. ‘Underneath the Streetlight’ is a supercharged blast of heavy blues riffage, a serious jam designed to be played loud and veritably burst out of the speakers and it’s the pick of the bunch from the aforementioned release. It is always a pleasure to discover bands who, with just two bodies, somehow manage to make such an almighty racket. All in all an exhilarating listen and hopefully there’s plenty more where that came from in the future.

You can download Live From The Barn gratis from bandcamp now.

Our Krypton Son – ‘Gargantuan’

You probably know the score already, Our Krypton Son have been one of my favourite acts on this Island for some time now; impressing with the stunning ‘Catalonian Love Song’, the wonderful ‘Plutonium’ and of course their eponymous debut album.

Anyway, the Derry outfit are set to release their brand new single ‘Gargantuan’, the third from taken from their eponymous debut LP, which is great by the way. It is piano led stomper with plenty of punch for sure, but anyone familiar with their LP will know that already. McConaghy’s vocals are impeccable as usual, as they are on the two brand new accompanying tracks; the autumnal acoustic led ‘Bring The Flood’ and somber, meandering ‘How Long Must I Dream’. Chris McConaghy & company are in flying form once more, which certainly bodes well for the second LP and if rumours are to be believed, it maybe with us later this year. Here’s hoping.

Watch the excellent video for ‘Gargantuan’ directed by Tristan Crowe below and cop a load of the two accompanying tracks too. ‘Gargantuan’ is out on June 28th through Smalltown America.

Spectrals – ‘A Heartbeat Behind’

Spectrals popped up on the radar back  in 2010 with A Spectrals Extended Play, an extremely enjoyable blend of 1960s-inspired lo-fi guitar pop flirting with the punkier end of the British indie. 

Where as the former was an exemplary example of velvety smooth pristine pop, the album that followed, Bad Penny, was a bit of a let down. It was loungey and felt a bit lifeless, and left a lingering feeling that it could have been so much more. That is all purely subjective of course, and pretty redundant, especially considering Louis Jones and company are back with a smashing new single ‘A Heartbeat Behind’, suggesting the good times are set to roll on. Jones’ voice is superb, his mellow Yorkshire croon takes centre stage, no longer are the vocals in the background. ‘A Heartbeat Behind’ jangles and it sways, over a rollicking guitar riffs, snapping drums and a little rockabilly flavor. It’s a really great single, and on first impressions the new LP Sob Story, sounds rather promising too. All’s good.

You can give ‘A Heartbeat Behind’ the once over below & Spectrals’ new Sob Story LP is out now.

Shit Robot – ‘Feels Real’ featuring Jenr (Luke Jenner of The Rapture)

Marcus Lambkin’s Shit Robot is back with a brand new single ‘Feels Good’, which features the vocals of Jenr, aka Luke Jenner of The Rapture.

It’s seven-minutes plus of swaggering disco synths topped off perfectly by Luke Jenner of The Rapture’s fantastic falsetto vocals. ‘Feel Good’ is out now on a 12″ through DFA with remixes by Luke Solomon and Larse. It’s always good news to hear new tunes from Shit Robot, consequently if you haven’t checked out his 2010 album From The Cradle To The Rave, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do at the nearest opportunity. You can stream the radio edit of ‘Feels Real’ below or check the video too and get the full seven odd minute version. 

Also this week will see Shit Robot playing a number of shows across Ireland; Cypress Ave, Cork on May 3rd, Roisin Dubh, Galway on May 4th and Button Factory, Dublin on May 5th.

Akala – ‘Lose Myself’ feat. Josh Osho

London MC, Akala has been without doubt one of the finest voices to emerge in UK hip hop over the past number of years.

Always honest, challenging and thought provoking, Akala makes a welcome return with the release of a brand new video for his single ‘Lose Myself’ featuring Josh Osho. Akala is in indomitable form once again, dropping rhymes with help of Josh Osho against a rocking backdrop.  The single is out on May 20, a week before the release of his forthcoming fourth album, The Thieves Banquet, which is out on 27th of May. Akala has consistently proven his talent over the years, consequently it is worth checking out his previous three albums – It’s Not A Rumour (2006) and Freedom Lasso (2007) & DoubleThink (2010) – if you haven’t done so already that is.

You can check out  ‘Lose Myself’ feat. Josh Osho below & maybe, just maybe, this time we might see Akala grace our shores with his presence. Finger crossed.

(Video) No Monster Club – ‘A Better Fit’ + ‘The Community Games’ Compilation

‘A Better Fit’ is one of the three No Monster Club tracks on Popical Island’s The Community Games compilation, which features four EPs from four bands; No Monster Club obviously, Ginnels, Grand Pocket Orchestra & Cave Ghosts.  

There is something delightful about No Monster Club, their rough around the edges blend of surf rock/bubblegum pop/lo-fi indie is just so bloody lovable. Live or on record, NMC never disappoint, there is just a infectious sense of fun to everything they turn their hands too. ‘A Better Fit’ and it’s monkey-suited new video companion (by Narayan Van Maele & David Lester Mooney) is a case in point. The compilation as it goes, is rather excellent, with the Ginnels and NMC inclusions being the pick of the bunch. You can stream The Community Games in full here.

In case you didn’t know, No Monster Club will play ‘BarryGruff Presents’ #14 down here in Newbridge next Saturday, April 20th, but before all that, get to Whelan’s on Saturday for the gig featuring live sets from all four bands. 

(Video) Melody’s Echo Chamber – ‘Crystallized’

Melody’s Echo Chamber‘s self-titled debut (of Melody Prochet & produced by Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker) released last year, proved rather special and is still on rotation around these parts.  

Hardy a surprise then, that any excuse to share this infatuation is grabbed with both hands. Say hello to ‘Crystallized’, the latest single and arguably, the standout track from the Parisian’s debut album. ‘Crystallized’ is beguiling example of Prochet’s flair for dreamy pop being pushed into more experimental, spaced-out zones of bleary psych. Prochet’s light, inviting vocals float above a blanket of reverb and fuzz as the track meanders for a full two and a half minutes, until the breakdown that is. Enter the frazzled electronics and full on fuzz rock.

Yet another superb single from an equally stunning debut. I really hope Melody’s Echo Chamber make an appearance on our shores this year. 

Sweet Baboo – ‘Let’s Go Swimming Wild’

Sweet Baboo is preparing to release his fourth album Ships in April, preceded by the utterly delightful ‘Let’s Go Swimming Wild’.

Sweet Baboo, real name Stephen Black, is a native of the north Wales countryside. Embracing that rich Welsh tradition for psychedelic folk/pop, he delivers it with style, on a par with fellow countrymen Gruff Rhys and H. Hawkline. The sweetly ‘Let’s Go Swimming Wild’ captures this asthetic with perfection, opening in a shroud of melancholy before bursting into life with a delightful melody and irresistible swirls of brass. Aside from this idiosyncratic streak, Sweet Baboo’s star quality lies in his evocative and unique voice. 

‘Let’s Go Swimming Wild’ is out now & you can check it below. The single will be followed by Ships this April on Moshi Moshi and Sweet Baboo will be hitting the gig trail across the UK too, there’s a pile of live dates over on his website.

(Video) Primal Scream – ‘2013’

Primal Scream are set to return with new album More Light, their 10th album and first in almost five years, which will be released on May 6.

Bobby Gillespie & co. spent most of the past decade serving up pretty mediocre records, although spattered with some quality individual songs, they just seemed to lose their way. All that aside, ‘2013’, the first cut from Primal Scream’s forthcoming record is excellent. Driving along a warped saxophone, beats and stunning guitar work from Kevin Shields, it serves as a sort of ‘state of the nation’ address. Gillespie hisses and barks, denouncing everyone from “Thatcher’s children” to the “chairman of BP” while berating the fact that “every generation buys the lie just like the one before!”. There is obviously more, just give it the 9 minutes attention it deserves.

Hopefully ‘2013’ isn’t a false dawn, but judging by this 9 minutes of untamed political anger, Primal Scream may have rediscovered their way and not before time.

Tamaryn – ‘Tender New Signs’

Rather late to the game on this one, better late than never though. Released last year, Tender New Signs, is the second album from Tamaryn, the San Francisco based duo of New Zealand singer Tamaryn and guitarist Rex John Shelverton.

Tender New Signs seeps out slowly over nine tracks, effortlessly combining the hazy vocals of Tamaryn and soothing tranquil atmospherics into wave after wave of irresistible shoegaze. The album makes the listener work a little harder than usual to begin with, but it is worth it. It never looses focus or breaks its smoldering pace and you will eventually find yourself heading for the replay button.

Give ‘The Garden’, ‘Heavenly Bodies’ and ‘I’m Gone’ a listen below but I thoroughly recommend checking out the album in its entirety.