Foy Vance
We met Foy Vance for the first time at the Greenbelt Festival where we was wowing crowds with a serious of beautifully crafted acoustic sets mixing guitar, voice and his loop machine. By far one of the stand out performers of the festival we've been loving on his album Hope ever since.
From the Press Release
Usual tags such as 'singer-songwriter', 'folk-soul', 'troubadour' are perceived with a considerable amount of cynicism these days, especially since the music scene has been saturated with middle of the road artists, marketed as such by traditional record label formulae. Someone with a discerning ear and trust in their own taste should be able to spot who's the real deal and who's not.
His debut album 'Hope' is now completed and a close listen demonstrates that Foy is a truly unique talent belonging to a calibre of artists that stand the test of time. The recording process has been very organic and spontaneous capturing the live element and the rawness of Foy's performance. In his own words: 'I recorded the album on the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland in a cottage I hired up there. I've used studios in the past and I've always found them a bit difficult when it comes to really getting into the vibe so I figured - I'll just buy the recording gear I need, hire a cottage, stick a piano in it and record. The whole idea was NOT TO have a design and let the album produce itself. Every night we'd get the fire burning, open a bottle of wine put some mics up and record. A lot of what came out of that is what the album is'.
'An unbelievable voice...in the premier league of British songwriters'
The Sunday Times
'The missing link between Richie Havens and Stevie Wonder'
The Independent
'A gospel fuelled Pearl Jam'
What's On In London
'Foy's a giant'
Pete Townshend
Foy Vance Website // Myspace
Ten Bears
Ten Bears are one of the most exciting indie bands I've heard this year. They've already been picking up radio play on Radio 1 and playing venues and festivals across the country. With a new record in the pipeline, hopefully they'll be getting the nationwide exposure they deserve soon. Hailing from Manchester, and with an unbelievably powerful live presence, TEN BEARS are here to stay. Lead by their incredible energy, charm and charisma they have been causing a stir around Manchester and UK music venues, winning over crowds where ever they go. Their energetic 'cOSmiCDiRtRoCK' delivers up pop slices such as 'Charlie', 'To The Moon' and 'Braces' - and brings to life the inner mind thinkings of Ten Bears; Kris Hudson, Luke Daniel, Dom Kozubik, Tim Estherby and Sam Hammond.
Myspace // Facebook // Last FM
Paul Green
This track recently arrived in the IndieLab inbox and has been soothing and intriguing us ever since. We're looking forward to catching Paul live at some point soon to see the live show is even half as interesting as his press release...
Imagine Kraftwerk if someone spiked their punch with absinthe, and you're halfway there.
Paul Green is the controller of a synthetic orchestra of beautifully fluid deeply-layered dark twisting electronic keyboard sounds with a laptop and Tenori-On that make beautiful arppegiated synth sounds and the kind of low tempo clicks and glitches that remind me of walking around an old house when you were a kid and getting a bit scared by the creaky staircases.
There are noises like a lazy summer biplanes passing through a megaphone and then sounds of lush nebula-soaked space blending into electronic pistons working under an iceberg. Melodic and faintly menacing at the same time, sort of like being in a flotation tank with a stingray. The music seemed to map the gluey neurons that fired as I listened: a delicious alarm clock at the end of wintry dream.
Julie Peel
Just had this great little track dropped into our Sound Cloud Dropbox. Softly beautiful and mellow, it evokes feelings of late night firesides under starry skies. From the Cannes born Julie Peel, this is taken from her debut solo album with Near the Sun which is released on American Laundromat Records (ALR) on September 22. "Most of the tracks were first takes," Julie notes, which manifests itself in a sense of both immediacy and intimacy throughout the album. The undeniably catchy track 'Living in a Movie,' replete with irresistible hand-claps, seems sent straight from the soundtrack to a film by Michel Gondry or Sofia Coppola. A sweet and somehow cinematic tune that demonstrates Julie's capability to craft pop songs at once familiar and dream-like, deceptively minimal, 'Living in a Movie' is just one of the songs off Near the Sun that compels repeated listens.
Julie Peel Website // Myspace // Twitter
Run Toto Run - New EP
Anybody who counts My Brightest Diamond, Sujan and The Postal Service amongst their influences is on my wavelength, add into the mix a lady with a gorgeous voice and some recorder love and you've got an awesome little band from Manchester who are well worth checking out. They've picked up airplay on Steve Lamacq and are doing a run of showcase gigs for the In The City event in Manchester. Some more Run Toto Run Love from their biog.
" delightful blend of high tech and lo tech acoustic and marvellous song writing" Tom Robinson-BBC 6Music
"Gorgeous.. another indication that Manchester is crawling with talent" Steve Lamacq
"Hearing that makes me wish I'd got further than I Danced In The Morning on the recorder, she is GOOD, they're a good band"Chris Hawkins on Steve Lammaq's BBC 6 Music show.
More blog love from Breaking New Waves
UPDATE Run Toto Run have just announced the release of a new EP entitled 'Plastic Gold' with 5 more beautiful tracks mixing Rachael's beautiful fragile voice and a mix of lo-fi electronica gorgeousness.
Buy the EP HERE or listen to more tracks on Run Toto Run's Myspace.
The Get Out Clause
I'm sure I'm coming quite late to the party blogging about this video but I love the ingenuity behind it. One of the main challenges bands have these days is making their music or work stand out against the noise of everybody else promoting their latest product. One way to cut through it all is just to come up with a killer idea that gets everybody talking and blogging about you. Walking in the footsteps of fellow low budget music video mysteros OK GO Manchester band The Get Out Clause filmed their music video using security camera footage obtained using the freedom of information act. The result is an awesome little video that has had the web talking from the UK all the way to Standford University USA where it's been used as an outstanding example of viral marketing. Check out more about the band at their website TheGetOutClause.co.uk
Everything Everything
I caught the video for Everything Everything's new single on the Manchester TV channel during a run down of the top 10 bands from the city. The single, Suffragette Suffragette is being released by XL's new imprint label 'Salvia' meaning they'll have one of the best UK indie labels behind them which is a huge coup for the band. Fingers crossed we'll be hearing a lot more from them in the new year and looking forward to the album release. Check out the band's MySpace page to hear the single or just surf over to iTunes.Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy From iTunes
ON ITZ HEAD
Hailing from Manchester this Dance/ Indie/ Disco/ Pop outfit are causing quite stir with their up-tempo party dance floor fillers. Connecting over a love of non classic 70's Disco, Obscure Dance, 80's Pop and Abstract Rock.Jax and Louis' peculiar set of influences, backed up by Alex and Steve's showmanship, crash and collide their way into ON ITZ HEAD. European flair and invention combined with a knack for unusual hooks and cheap thrills. Dirty Guitars, Human Voice, Slap Bass and a Dance Kick.
Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy From iThinkMusic.com
Trailer
Coventry is the home of Trailer, a 4 person wall of dance noise on the cutting edge of a new genre they are calling 'Atmospheric Dance Rock Fusion'. Sounding like Orbital on steroids, Tom Robinson recently featured them on his 6music show saying that "What Trailer need...is a big field and huge PA and listening to that dense widescreen technicolour electro epic Moses you can hear exactly what they mean". It looks like it'll be an exciting year for the band with management company Emsar signing them up and sessions booked at Andy McLusky's studio (ex OMD) in Liverpool.
The Tracks currently out on MySpace are a bubbling mix of techno, rock and dance and fingers crossed a full album and tour will be with us in 2009.
Visit Website // Visit MySpace //
Shearwater
If you haven't already downloaded Matador Record's Fall Intended Play sampler album then click on the link and grab the zip file now for free!. It's 13 tracks worth of classic Indie music polarizing goodness that will have half the tracks boring into your consciousness and whilst the other half has you reaching swiftly for the delete button.One track I've kept coming back to though is the moody and dark 'Snow Leopard' by Shearwater. The song brings together a tapestry of sounds and textures in a dramatic and epic piece with deeply haunting overtones. Matador describes the album it's taken from as
Rook is unlike any other album you'll hear this year. It has the clarity and yearning ineffability of a waking dream, the strange beauty and internal logic of a fairy tale, and above all, evokes a vanishing world that may or may not be our own.
Metaphysics aside, it's a great album and well worth a listen. Visit the Shearwater site for more about the band.
Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy From Matador
Everything Everything
I caught the video for Everything Everything's new single on the Manchester TV channel during a run down of the top 10 bands from the city. The single, Suffragette Suffragette is being released by XL's new imprint label 'Salvia' meaning they'll have one of the best UK indie labels behind them which is a huge coup for the band. Fingers crossed we'll be hearing a lot more from them in the new year and looking forward to the album release. Check out the band's MySpace page to hear the single or just surf over to iTunes.Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy From iTunes
Thomas Traux
Tom Robinson's 6Music show put me on to this complete lunatic by the name of Thomas Truax. He makes his own instruments out of junk in superb Heath Robinson fashion and then proceeds to weave fantastic sonic tapestries with them on stage in what must be of the most unusual and dynamic shows out there at the moment. It may sound like a recipe for disaster and if it wasn't underpinned by an amazing song writing talent then it would just be a mad guy onstage with a bunch of junk - however if you like having your mind bent a bit then it's pure magic. The track on the Indie Music Player is one his more melodic and available for free download from this website, the youtube video features (amongst other guests) his Hornicator!Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes
Magic Arm
Hailed by Iron & Wine's Samuel Beam as 'the master of the loop pedal', multi instrumentalist Marc Rigelsford, AKA the Manchester based Magic Arm, released 'Widths and Heights' on Switchflicker Records in July. I've only just come across it but it's an awesome blend of acoustic folk melodies and loopy synth trickery and is simply great! Can't wait to try and catch him live to see the loopmeister at work. Special mention should also go to the beautiful video embedded below byAndrew Brooks . Gorgeous looking stuff!
Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes
Flashguns
Flashguns have a great new single coming out "Timehouse Blue" with a jangly intro that just screams summer festival stormer. Seeing as it's December though we may have to wait a bit to hear it in it's proper setting but until then at least it's up on myspace so we can all have a listen. The more recently released track Bells at Midnight is on the Indielab Player. Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy From Rough Trade
Susanna and the Magical Orchestra
Sometimes it seems like tracks manage to sneak into my itunes library without me knowing it. I swear I had never heard of this duo or this track until itunes shuffled it into my consciousness. The light beauty of the voice literally made me stop what I was doing and just shudder in that way you do when a classic track is rediscovered in a whole new and unexpected way. Susanna and Her Magical Orchestra are Norwegian duo keyboard player Morten Qvenild and singer Susanna Karolina WallumrØd. It must be something in the wild countryside or the glaciers over there because the interpretation of 'Jolene' is just as sparse and just as beautiful. Their version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is just as heart stopping, the arrangement opening up the lyrics in a way perfectly complemented by the youtube video.
Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes
Joan As Policewoman
The tag line on Joan As Policewoman's Myspace page is "Beauty is the new punk rock" and you know what, she's got the album to back it up with. The sounds and textures are quite simply sublime and the song writing dreamy. This is a lady who has played with a host of exceptional artists including most recently playing with and supporting Rufus Wainwright. As she said herself "I kept trying to make my music a priority but I loved playing in other people's bands". Hopefully she'll be able to find the time to concentrate on her own stuff a bit more now she's getting some deserved attention for her debut album "Real Life".
THE GUARDIAN
'Joan Wasser is the best champagne in the world. A voice so wonderous and moving that it makes everyone else's seem ordinary and mundane, the indie generation's Dusty Springfield. The Ride is the most hypnotic and majestic sad song ever and so good it will make you shiver'
(Record Of The Week)
http://www.joanaspolicewoman.com // http://www.myspace.com/joanaspolicewoman
Susan Enan
Plainsong, the self-produced album from Susan Enan was recorded in 5 different countries features guests musicians including Ashwin Sood, Steve Schiltz, Graham Maby and Oli Kraus, with guest vocals from Declan O'Rouke and Sarah McLachlan. Enan grew up in Cambridgeshire England. After moving to Liverpool to study music she began playing the local singer songwriter scene. During those University years, alongside the great classical composers, she discovered the simple, yet intelligent, folk songs of Woody Guthrie, and a love for film scores. These passions, simple folks songs combined with more complex musical ideas with a visual leaning, have become the foundation for her debut album, with other influences including Peter Gabriel and Tori Amos.
After leaving Liverpool she moved to Northern Ireland and continued to write and record a few small EP's released locally, but it was the 'Moonlight' EP (2003) which began to get more attention internationally. It led to an opening slot on a three month tour with Ohio based band 'Over the Rhine' which in turn led to a signing with Nettwerk Management and a move to New York.
In 2006, while demoing the songs for the album, Enan began receiving worldwide attention after her track 'Bring On The Wonder' appeared on the second season of the Fox show 'Bones.' Due to a large response from the show, the song was also featured on it's soundtrack two years later.
See our interview with Susan Enan for more of the story behind the album.
Susan Enan - Bring On The Wonder
Susan Enan - On Your Side
Twitter // MySpace // Facebook
This Morning Call
This Morning Call has been described as "Portishead on anti-depressants" and "LCD Soundsystem with a hangover". The musical moniker of Manchester producer Ben Heyworth, This Morning Call has a quirky mix with electronic and indie influences with an ear for sonic textures mixed with genuine melodies. More This Morning Call Love
"This Morning Call are one of the most wonderful bands we have heard this year." (Channel 4 Music)
"This Morning Call" is pop music in its best sense. Accessible and easy, yet intelligent and sophisticated” (Sandman Magazine)
A health dose of electronica blended with the soft pop-rock vocals of Ben Heyworth make "This Morning Call" a wonderful, dreamlike experience...."This Morning Call" are here to stay and will be appearing on a radio station near you in the future (WeHeartMusic.com)
"Without doubt one of the most remarkable bands to emerge from the indie deadzone of Manchester in recent history". (rockrobotrock.blogspot)
The Vanguards
Hailing from the out skirts of Manchester hard edged, sub pop, band The Vanguards have been working in the studio producing tracks and playing round the UK in 2008, with their latest single 'Regress' being a hit with the local and student press and radio. Within months of forming, The Vanguards were recording in The Charlatans studio, Big Mushroom, with legendary production duo Dave Tolan and Jim Spencer at the helm. Famed for their work with great British bands such as Primal Scream, The Charlatans and Tears for Fears the production gurus have taken hold of The Vanguards and created a fresh new truly British alternative indie sound.
Really like this indie band from Manchester, looking forward to what they're going to be doing later this year after releasing this debut single in June.
www.myspace.com/thevanguardsuk // http://www.thevanguards.com/
FANGS
I caught these guys at the Un-Convention closing party and they just blew the room away. Signed to the King Tuts Label in Glasgow, they are a bundle of punk electro energy that really come into their own when playing live. Voted X.F.M. and LEVI JEANS 'ONES TO WATCH 2008 and recently getting through to the quarter finals of T4's Orange Unsigned they released their debut single S.I.C.K.O in April and should hopefully have a follow up release later in the year.
From the Bio.. Fangs formed when The Queen met party casualties Marko Nein & Findlay Falls at the Edinburgh Festival.
That night the three started a band that had 'sharp teeth and the right name' - FANGS!!!
With a BOOMBOX OF BLOOD these 'SICK'S SYMBOLS' appeared like diamante on the Glasgow club scene.
Meeting synth lunatic Lloyd Alex at Glasgows Art School the FANGS 4 start their infamous flash gigs, parties and DJ sets, their aim is simple.
To spit no-wave fun and dirty glamour direct to the dancefloor! THIS IS NU ROCK N ROLL!!
Drawing influence from NY's 70s new wave scene and Londons 80s clubs, FANGS create songs for THE DANCEFLOOR, obvious and raw.
Paris Riots
The Paris Riots were recommended to us by Blue Print Studios and they've been on the mp3 player ever since. Obviously a good proportion of the gig going public agrees with us as they've just won the SupaJam unsigned competition to appear on the bill at the Benicassim Festival in Barcelona this July along with Kings of Leon, Oasis, The Killer and Franz Ferdinand amongst a bunch of others. Check out their myspace and sign up to their mailing list to get a free MP3 of 'Introspection' or buy the latest EP from itunes.
Red Labels
We're loving the new 'Silence Breaks' EP from The Red Labels. Recorded with producer Guy Massey at the Dublin Sun Studios it's a storming energy filled record.
With a modern sound which evokes the remnants of 1970s raw rock n roll, combined with a return to grass roots and with a sense of pure energy and determination, The Red Labels have been described as energetic, raw, and an exciting live act.
Having completed an epic twelve-month journey in Ireland. The Red Labels are broadening their horizons with a three-month UK university tour and a string of dates set for Europe. Their EP "The Silence Breaks" is set for release April 10th 2009.
Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on Myspace
The Miserable Rich
We caught these guys at the wonderful Manchester Deaf Institute on their recent UK tour with WoodPigeon and the wonderfully quirky Winter Journey. Described by one reviewer as 'chamber pop' they are an eclectic line up of acoustic guitar, violin, cello and double bass with heartfelt vocals intertwined into the mix.
The album was recorded entirely in the front room of one of the band members using just a single microphone. This approach can sometimes lead to a stale flat sounding records but the debut release of 'Twelve Ways to Count' defies the naysayers with a real sonic depth and energy. The songs find themselves working their way into your day to day life as you realise that daydreaming and humming the melodies once again under your breath when you should really be doing something more productive.
More Miserable Rich Love...
" ...their lush orchestro-folk is so heartbreakingly beautiful, it reduces anyone who hears it to a weeping mess." (NME 8/10)
"Breathtaking... Easily the best record of 2008" (Americana UK)
"The Miserable Rich's striking, fully fledged debut immediately sets them apart." (Q)
"warm acoustic loveliness" (Rocksound)
"...one of the best sessions we've ever had" (Marc Riley, BBC 6Music)
"Destined to be one of the singles of the year"
(Gideon Coe, BBC 6Music [Boat Song])
Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy From HumbleSoul The Amateurs
This arrived in my inbox last week, the track - like the accompanying press release and website - is super slick with all the rough edges nicely cleaned off (but not in a bad way!). The single has mainstream appeal written all over it and if your into the band are touring the UK throughout February, March and April. The Amateurs owe their humble beginnings to performing with Robert Plant on his 2005 "Tsunami Relief" project, playing shows around the Midlands raising money for the charity. Later going on to record their first EP in 2006, they reached the final of Emergenza Unsigned Festival at The Astoria 2 in London. A year later the band returned to the studio, this time with Jon Cotton (Scott Matthews, Passing Stranger 2005) to record "Shoot Me Now", a song that was named winner of Best Unsigned Song on Kerrang! Radio.
The Amateurs de-camped to London to record three songs with The Animal Farm, producers of One Night Only and Rosalita. The resulting tracks are soaring, emotive, piano-led pop songs that never fail to hit the right spot. Lead track Homesick bridges the gap between Coldplay and The Fray with its rousing guitar and elegant vocal performance. London Sky lifts the mood particularly well, driving the almost trademark falsetto vocals that back up lead singer Matthew Colley so effortlessly.
Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes
Oren Lavie
Gorgeous little video, great little song.Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes
Miss Li
Miss Li has a genuinely unique sound combined with a gorgeous sense of humor. Her music is speckled with random instrumentation that at times sounds like a fight between Bjork and a German polka band mixed with some serious Scandinavian joy. The recent 'Best of Miss Li' album is filled with cracking tracks and is well worth a listen - bet you'll be smiling afterwards. Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes
Nat Johnson
After playing with Monkey Swallows The Universe Nat Johnson has forged out on her own with new solo material. September 08 saw her release her debut single Dirty Rotten Soul which I think you'll agree has a great little vibe to it.
"Gorgeous vocals" - The Guardian
"Nat Johnson's at times vaguely Smiths-like melodies and beautiful, Tracey Thornesque voice..." - The Times
"Nat Johnson has a lovely winsome voice, but one undercut with a genuine melancholy as it picks it way through always thoughtful and cleverly expressed songs" - Sounds XP
"Nat Johnson has a voice that can do withering as well as whimsical" - NME
Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes
The Subways
The Subways sound like a ball of punk energy tucked up inside a ball of anthemic melodies and riffs. It's pure live gig adrenaline captured onto a record with the sort of the vibe that blows venues apart. Unsurprisingly that's exactly what the subways have been doing since being selected by Glastonbury to play The Other Stage as part of an unsigned artist competition. Since then they've become regulars on the festival circuit and become an established part of the indie music scene both in the UK and in the US. After having to take an enforced hiatus due to singer Billy Lunn having to have voice saving surgery on his vocal chords (with his singing style - go figure!) they returned to the studio in 2008 to record the new album. Producer Butch Vig swept them out to Los Angeles to record what is undeniably a very British record with the recent single I won't let you down an absolute summer favorite! Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes
Wombats
I recently got to see the MTV EMAs in Liverpool (for free no less!) and amongst all the world superstars these boys snuck in the back door to blow the doors off the Echo Arena with their cover of Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love. Whilst I can't find a version online to post (those MTV lawyers are very efficient) I did find this early wine infused demo version on youtube which captures the guts of it. With great singles like 'Moving to New York' and Let's Dance to Joy Division behind them I can't wait to hear the new christmas single Is This Christmas due out on Dec 15th.
Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes
Fireman
Heard a great interview the other day on Zane Lowe's show on Radio 1, Paul McCartney was in talking about his latest collaboration with Producer Youth called Electric Arguments. It's a true psychedelic mash up of noise, guitars and passion which was not so much written as allowed to evolve in the studio. Paul explained that many of the tracks were built out of jams between him and the rest of the band, his lyrics were not written beforehand but improvised as part of the jam. The creative energy and adrenaline of being made to create something on the spot has bled all over the record and the track currently making the promotional rounds "Nothing too much just outta sight" feels like a window into the emotional place he was in when the record was recorded around time his divorce from Heather Mills was grinding it's way through the tabloids. Whatever the psychology behind it it's another great track to tag onto the ever varied McCartney Collection. Visit StereoGum for more info and the mp3.
Visit Website // Visit MySpace //
Yael Naim
Yael Naim was born in Paris but then moved to Israel at the age of 4, her eclectic lyrical mix of French, English and Hebrew along with gorgeous acoustic arrangements make this a gem of an album. She is also an awesome independent musician success story. Together with percussionist David Donatien she spent 2 years in an apartment in Paris recording the self titled album Yael Naim which was subsequently released on independent French label Tot ou Tard. That may have been the end of the story, just another great album released out into the noise of the music world, until Steve Jobs personally chose the song New Soul as the sound track for the new Mac Book Air campaign. The result was huge exposure and the first top 10 hit for an Israeli artist in the US. Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes
Bettye LaVette
It restores my confidence in human kind that there are still records like this one being churned out from Soul and Motown heartlands like Detroit, USA. It’s a simple formula, find a great soulful singer overflowing with character, add a band of awesome musicians and an awesome audio engineer and you have a gutsy record that can get you grooving one minute and crying the next. Bettye LaVette has not only a stunning voice but also a history sprinkled with working with some of the great Soul Legends. Her wikipedia biog mentions trouble and strife getting labels to take a chance on her which further has to emphasize the fact that it’s time they stopped being able to filter amazing music like this from us. Visit Website // Visit MySpace // Buy on iTunes