I first came across Keep Shelly In Athens when they provided the vocals for MMOTHS' sublime Heart this time last year , but we should hopefully be hearing a lot more from the duo as they have been welcomed into that beautiful musical family that is Cascine. To mark the occasion they have released the dark, brooding and violent Madmen Love which is having a limited 30 73 pressings as well as a digital release on iTunes . Keep Shelly In Athens [...]
Tom Robinson's show on BBC 6Music is consistently one of the best for listening to new music on the radio (yes we've been on it), and with his Fresh on the Net website he puts up a number of tracks from new artists to get feedback from his listeners. This is how I came across Gymnast 's Build A Boat , with the cello and sultry tones of Cathy Wilcock over a frantic beat making me sit up and listen. Exploring the Manchester band's Soundcloud it is the darker side that shines [...]
London trio London Grammar hit the ground running when they released their debut track the subtle and beautiful Hey Now back in December, and now are back with something similarly delicate Metal & Dust but this time building to a 90s beat to nod your head to. You can pre-order the 73 from Metal & Dust their Bandcamp Bands to watch: London Grammar was originally published on The Blue Walrus .
I've been in love with Yelle since she released Ce Jeu back in 2008 , with her soft French voice that works so well layered above electronic sounds. And on L'Amour Parfait she has teamed up with GrandMarnier and Aeroplane to do just that. As the song twists and turns from the opening deep and vocoded "I don't know what you mean but you mean a lot to me" from Nadia Phillips to Yelle's own soothing tones over the laid back grooves, it is just what I want from her. [...]
Snowfall has illuminated this London city of ours, and I can get lost for hours staring out of the window as the geometric snowflakes glisten in the harsh artificial light. Qtier from this here very town has been soundtracking that experience for me as the understated beats of Still blend with my circadian rhythm, letting soft vocals and harmonies enchant and beguile. Catch Qtier live at the Neu Gallery London on Wednesday 13th February . Introducing: Qtier was originally published [...]
We've been pretty upbeat on these pages recently, but there are times, especially in these bleak months of the year, when something different and introspective is what's required to fill the aching, gaping hole in your soul and make you step back from the precipice. The Brooklyn-based duo Belle Mare is made up of Thomas Servdone and ex-Londoner Amelia Bushell, and the pair have found a sound that is gloriously timeless whether on the tranquillity of tracks such as The City or the delicate and destructive The Boat on the Fragile Mind . [...]
We previously mentioned before the joyful sounds of the Scottish foursome The Deadlines Shake ( Facebook / Twitter ) here on the Walrus back in September last year; when the band released their debut single Sweeten The Deal. We mentioned how their cheerful get up and go vibes could wash away a days worth of trouble in the space of 3 minutes and keep listeners merry and mellow, insuring instant satisfaction. The buoyant quartet have made their mark over the past few months and are now returning this year with their new forthcoming second single Boy. Since their [...]
We've been raving about Irish subtle atmospheric beat production man MMOTHS on these pages for the best part of the year, and his output just consistently gets better and better. On All These Things with XL signee Holly Miranda, MMOTHS doesn't shy away from the discordant using the screeches and seemingly detuned electronic instruments repetitively to such great effect. There is that hypnotic quality that we've come to expect from MMOTHS, but rather than letting you sit back to absorb the sounds, this time he's far more provocative. MMOTHS has a new [...]
Irish duo Ghosts have been making dark, haunting waves over the last few months. Paudie Bob and Kevin Gleeson who make up the Dublin-based team hint at influences as diverse as UK garage and electronica, but it is the soft ambient beats and sampled vocal grooves that skip through your consciousness. They're releasing an EP entitled WLVS on Belfast's Champion Sound Music in late February, but as a little taster for that we've got an exclusive track for you lovely people. Ghosts - I [...]
The fine folks over at Alcopop have always been fine innovators, whether that is with the bands on their roster, the packaging of their releases, or now with just getting word out. Not only did we receive the fantastic new track from Stagecoach , which is everything we love from the band - rough and under-produced indie pop, but we also found ourselves on the receiving end of a personalised mixtape with tracks from other Walrus favourites from the Alcopop stable. So that's The Social Club, Oh No! Yoko, bear Cavalry, and My First Tooth [...]
There is a side to some pop music, a side of subtlety, shimmering beauty, and playful amour. French electronic superstar Alan Braxe , the man who made his name teaming up with Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter on Sounds Better With You, has perfected that on his latest track with Parisian band The Spimes. Starting with smooth, softened vocals and breaking into a dramatic electronic ballad that would be a perfect soundtrack for a slow motion reunited lovers scene from the cinema. Oh and did I mention the whole EP is available as a free download [...]
Walrus favourites MS MR have given us a taste of their upcoming album in the form of Fantasy. It's more of the cinematic pop that we have come to expect and love from the New York duo. It dances with tribal rhythms and rich vocals, and means that I'm even more excited about their debut LP. MS MR - Fantasy was originally published on The Blue Walrus .
It takes just one play of Brighton outfit Gaps ’ debut drop, “Belong”, to understand why the almost permanently divided British blogosphere has been unanimous in its approval of the previously unheard of bedroom recording project. Created using a delicate mix of laptops, guitar and red wine, “Belong” is rare gem, an intoxicatingly heady instalment of deeply moving pop music. Heartbeat piano plinks and shimmering cymbals glint in the otherwise impermeable darkness but it’s the ghostly recitation of “ where I go I will belong/where I go I will belong to you ” that [...]
If the cold frost that has spread across over our fair isle is bringing you down or has snowed you in! Then fear not as Delaware duo Mean Lady ( Twitter / Facebook ) aka Sam Nobles and Katie Dill bring some much needed burst sunshine in the form of their tropical pop. Ok so it might be to ruddy freezing to imagine warmer climates but they are also provide the perfect soundtrack to watch snowflakes fall to. I first heard Mean Lady blissful melodies in May last year after stumbling across their Bandcamp and Facebook pages. [...]
We've been big supporters of Disclosure for a couple of years now, but with their latest release with woman of the hour AlunaGeorge they may finally be about to break into the mainstream. White Noise will likely be the soundtrack to numerous clubs all over the country in the coming weeks, as the infectious groove weaves its way into the dark souls of DJs and ramps up the pressure. It bounces along with the starry-eyed euphoria of acid rave, and AlunaGeorge's vocals seamlessly drop in the pop sweetness. It's exciting, breathless, glorious dance music. [...]
We are finally back to regular programming here on the 'ole Walrus, and as the snow continues to tumble outside my window, I've got Fyfe (or is that "f y f e") keeping me from losing myself into the white bliss below. Fyfe is a 23 year old from this very city of London, and his debut track Solace is the elegant pop that has found its soul, that sounds as if had been carefully sculpted for years before Fyfe finally introduced it to this world. And I for one and very pleased it's found its [...]
I can imagine it must be pretty tough being friends with Roo Panes. Nothing against the guy, I'm sure he's perfectly nice. It's just he's one of those guys, you know the ones, the kind of guy who seems to have discovered the secret that the rest of us aren't privy to and is happy to use it to make the rest of us look inadequate Having moved to London and begun making waves with his own brand of subtle, spacious folk, Roo did what any self respecting troubadour would do: he got on the bell to Burberry [...]
For my final, and actually the final pick for 2013 on the blog (yes I know I'm over a week late), I'm going with Arthur Beatrice . I've written about them quite a few times here on TBW and for good reason - they are brimming with pop hooks and catchy rhythms. It also helps that they have been perfecting their live show with the Open Assembly nights at The Lexington on a semi-regular basis, and they have just finished recording their debut album - so 2013 looks [...]
It seems over the course of the past year the distorted drone and layered grouch of a hefty guitar rift of the patented sound of 60-psychedelia has influenced or at least heavily imprinted itself onto the creative music sphere. While bands like Tame Impala, Moon Duo and Crystal Antlers have been offering up of a healthy dose of spaced out psychedelically across the pond, the radio waves here have been rather silent. Well that’s all about to change thanks to jangly vintage romp of the neo psychedelic kickback of the British invasion of Kettering’s Temples . Their [...]
I have always wondered why list season starts at the beginning of December if not earlier these days. Is it because people are too busy getting drunk with the start of Christmas festivities? Is it to give the readers a few options to think about when buying presents for their loved ones? Whatever the reason, it misses out on a full twelfth of the year, and being as I only came across Pretty Heart late in December thanks to a post by Josh on Crack in the Road , I would have missed Pretty Heart . [...]
The Blue Walrus
Maribou State feat. Holly Walker - Tongue (Official Video)
Ears Wide Open: Ocha la Rocha
New Boards Of Canada - Reach For The Dead
