Octopuses/Milk & Biscuits Split Single - Pogo/Towns Are Concrete Holes

It's still Wednesday. If I close my eyes and wish hard enough, weekend will bite me on the ankle, I know it. For my third and final blog of the day, I want to bring you another really really excellent split single release. I know, I haven't had one for ages - then two come along at once...

The wonderful chaps at PinDropMusic sent this most very brilliant two track collection to me to have a listen to. Coming via Lick Music (lickyogurt.com/music/) if you want to look at their site, this lovely single features two bands - Octopuses and Milk & Biscuits, both hailing from Brighton.

First of all, I'd like you to have a look at all the necessaries for both groups:

For Octopuses, here is their Twitterz

twitter.com/octopuses100

Here is their Facebookz:

facebook.com/octopusesband

and here is their Bandcampz:

octopuses.bandcamp.com/

For Milk & Biscuits, here is their Twitterz

twitter.com/milkandbisc

Here is their Facebookz:

facebook.com/pages/Milk-Biscuits/

Now then. There are two very important videos to accompany this delicious split single. Here they are - firstly, Octopuses and their song "Pogo"

Secondly, Milk & Biscuits and their track "Towns are Concrete Holes"

In the greatest possible way, Octopuses song reminded me of Madness. Now for anyone who knows me well, they'll remember that Madness were (and still are) one of my all time favourite groups. This song follows in their hallowed tradition, even down to the brilliantly sparky video. It's got a superb catchy hook, it makes you really want to move around and it captures a time and sound that often gets very overlooked. It's a real corker of a song.

Similarly, Milk & Biscuits tread a really delightful 80s sounding path. It's a track which has a super vibe to it, cracking organ vibe in it. If Octopuses reminded me of Madness, these guys put me in mind of what might happen if Squeeze met with Stereolab in the pub one evening. It's another really great listen, slightly more muted - and provides a great contrast to the first. 

The split single is out in June on the previously mentioned Lick Music. Check it/them out. I highly recommend both!  

Moonbabies - Wizards On The Beach

Hello again. It's still Wednesday, I know because I've just checked. I hope you're ready and waiting for some more brilliant music, because that's what I have for you. I've sent my compadre off for a sit down with a cup of tea and I'm going to take you through this next piece.

So for today's second offering, I'm going to share with you a band I've been aware of for a little while - called Moonbabies. I was thrilled when Ola from the group asked me to put together a little something for them (guys I'm sorry for the delay) I'm happy to be finally featuring them now.

Their new album "Wizards on the Beach" is out now (it was released on April 28th) and as always here are the necessaries:

Here is their bandcamp page:

moonbabiesmusic.bandcamp.com/releases

Here is their Facebook page:

facebook.com/moonbabies

Here is their Twitter stream:

twitter.com/The_Moonbabies

And here is their website:

moonbabiesmusic.com/

What can I tell you about this album - other than "you need it". Well, you need it if trippy, vibey, feel good electronica is your thing - and it is mine. The album opens with "Pink Heart Mother" a smashing mix of gentle harmonies and great beats. Title track "Wizards on the Beach" follows and is a corker, which really mixes (and speeds up) the proceedings. It's got a brilliant, cute sounding guitar in it, which just elevates the sound. Standout tracks for thegeneral are the aforementioned first track - and "Bird Lay Frue", "Playground Dropouts" (opening reminds me very slightly of The Magic Roundabout!!) and final track "The Ocean Kill" which is a super, super way to round the album off.

The husband and wife duo mix the vocals up on the tracks which means that nothing really sounds samey, and they have a very distinct, stacatto and upbeat style to their sound, which is really charming. If you like bands like Discopolis (and if you don't - we can't be friends) and you also loved my review of Cantaloupe's new album, "Zoetrope", this should also be right up your street too. Get it in your collection now!

EARTHS - Kangerlussuaq

Good of the Tuesday afternoon to you. Except it's Wednesday. I just thought I'd fox you all. Never let it be said I'm not sharper than a safety knife.

So it's midweek and we're probably all slumped over our desks wondering how long it is till the next Bank Holiday weekend (answer: too bloody long). But never fear, I have something to keep you going until Friday at the very least.

However, I am once again handing over the blog reins to my erstwhile companion, compadre and partner in crime/nail polish, theexistentialist who has taken a break from launching their website (imabloodymiserablemisanthrope . com - just kidding) to make another brilliant contributed post.

Today, they're reviewing the excellent new release from Glasgow's EARTHS - called "Kangerlussuaq"

++++

theexistentialist is delighted to have had the fortune of thegeneral drawing my attention to a brand new act from Glasgow, called EARTHS. They are a great band; although, someone needs to show them where “caps lock” is on their computer keyboard! (thegeneral interrupts to let theexistentialist know that that sort of thing is actually quite cool and trendy actually :D)

First the necessaries. 

You can visit their Twitters here:

twitter.com/ThisIsEARTHS

You can visit their Facebook page here:

facebook.com/ThisisEARTHS

You can download the new single from their bandcamp page here:

thisisearths.bandcamp.com/album/kangerlussuaq

Their new single is Kangerlussuaq is a nice trippy little number, and can be downloaded for free from band camp, by following the link above ^^^. It's got a fantastic bassline and nice chippy guitars. Really dreamlike and ethereal. 

Whilst theexistentialist enjoyed the gentle Kangerlussuaq, it was the b-side (or, whatever you call a b-side on a digital download), The House Above, that really captured my imagination. It is just a little bit bonkers barmy, and unpredictable, but in all the right ways. After the lovely, lulling soundscape of Kangerlussuaq, The House Above is a surprise and a little gem of eclectic oddness. If you've got a liking for some of the more gentle aspects of Math-Rock, you'll love these tracks. 

theexistentialist is rather intrigued to know what will be the next move for this fascinating band, and is hoping to hear more of EARTHS in the near future.

++++

All The People - The Hills

So it's Bank Holiday Monday (though in truth, it's just an ordinary Monday for me - nothing Bank about it) and it's one of those days where you need something to chillax bro, to. (I am SO cool it hurts). Today I've got just the thing...

However, as I'm slightly incapacitated today (nothing that tea and a nice sit down with a book about an horrific serial killer won't sort out), I'm handing over the reviewing reins once more to my lovely, lovely sparring partner, tea addict and generalallroundmisanthrope, theexistentialist - who has really kindly offered, like a slightly camp Knight in Sparkly Armour to come to my blogging rescue.

Thank you theexistentialist for another brilliant review!

++++

thegeneral has been kind enough to bring to my attention a fantastic new band from London, called All the People. 

All the People are busy promoting their debut single, which is due out on 8^th June. Although, it can be previewed, here, at the link below:

https://soundcloud.com/100billionwires/allthepeople-thehills

(In the age of digital technology, I’m not quite sure what it means to release a single on 8^th June, when it is already out!)

You can visit their website here:

allthepeople.me/

You can visit their Twitter page here:

twitter.com/allthepeopleuk

You can visit their Facebook page here:

facebook.com/allthepeople?_rdr

Anyway, The Hills is the name of the track, and wow, what a debut! This band are one to watch, and this is just a beautiful song. I could quite easily become obsessed with it. (thegeneral chips in: Yes theexistentialist will dear readers...watch this space...)

It is melancholy, but the laid-back, druggy-trippy landscape transforms the melancholy into melodic. The obvious reference point for this band are Massive Attack.  However, The Hills is, in the opinion of theexistentialist, superior to almost anything Massive Attack have done; and is, thus far, probably my single of the year!

++++

HOT HEAD SHOW / Ay! : Split 7 inch Single

OK, now - how about this for a total, utter and complete (yet still fabulous) departure. We're taking a blog path that deviates so far from what you're used to reading/hearing on here that some of you might possibly need a steadying cup of tea to bolster you.

I have a total treat for you now - especially if you'd like your head messing with (musically).

It's rare I get to feature a split single these days - with two bands to review for the price of one, but today I'm going to remedy this with a really brilliant release from two bands I'm very new to - the first of these is HOT HEAD SHOW from London. The second is the beautifully nuts Ay! from Roma, Italy. Both come hot from the desk of PindropPublicity, who never fail to send me the best stuff to get my teeth into.

First of all, some necessaries - for HOT HEAD SHOW:

Here's their website

hotheadshow.com/

Here's their Facebook:

facebook.com/HOTHEADSHOW/timeline

...and now for AY!

Here's their bandcamp:

aytheband.bandcamp.com/

And finally, here is the link to the new split single release on the soundcloud page:

soundcloud.com/hot-head-show/sets/hot-head-show-ay-split-7inch

I don't think I've heard anything quite as barking mad as this in a long time - and I love both these bands for it. HOT HEAD SHOW are described as 'avant bang!' and, yep, I don't think I'd argue with that. Their track "Medication, A Success Story"is batshit insane. It's totally impossible to sit still and listen to it. It's got the most chippy, infectious guitar and drumming LIEK EVA U GUISE. The lyrics/vocals are just as wonderful too. This is one of those songs that boxes you round the ears and demands you listen to it at least twelvety bajillion times. I just have done. I'm totally in love.

To follow this, we have a complete contrast in Ay! - well, (aye, well?) Well, not a contrast in that this is a complete departure too, but after the insanity of HOT HEAD SHOW, this is a mellow, jazzy speed calypso interlude with a funky drumming bit and some rootin' tootin' saxaphone.

This kind of stuff is a music reviewers dream - it grabs you by the lapels, shakes you up and makes you want more.

LISTEN NOW AT ONCE OTHERWISE THERE WILL BE TROUBLE WHEN YOU GET HOME TONIGHT.

Catalysts - See In The Dark

Super Blog Sunday continues apace, with another brilliant band to share with you. Again, this is one from the deep, dark recesses of my email account (thegeneralmusicblog@googlemail.com if you're interested) and it's taken me a week or two to get round to writing about them, but I hope you'll agree it was worth the wait.

For this next post, I'd like to introduce you to Catalysts, a rather excellent band from Sheffield, South Yorkshire (if you're a John Shuttleworth fan, you always have to let everyone know where Sheffield is).

As always, the necessaries:

You can listen to them on their soundcloud page here:

soundcloud.com/catalysts-music

You can follow them on t'twitter, like

twitter.com/CatalystsMusic

And last but by no means least, you can make a purchase of their music by following this link:

itunes.apple.com/gb/album/see-in-the-dark-single/id988762893

The song I'm going to talk to you about, "See In The Dark", was released on 16th May and, to be honest, it's a wee gem. It really is. It's one of those brilliant songs that slightly wrong foots you - initially very fast paced and then turning quickly into a staccato-stop-start affair, before revving up the pace again. It's got excellent riffage and a vocal that caught me quite by surprise - a quite delicate and moving contrast to the music.

You can watch the video to the song here:

I'm hoping to hear a lot more from these guys over the coming months - "See In The Dark" is an excellent introduction to a very talented band. Really worth having in your collections.

Lux Lisbon - Get Some Scars EP

So here we are, our second musical stop of the day - and another blinder, I do swear 'pon the life of my pet tea bag, Brian.

I've been promising Lux Lisbon I would write about them for a while and today I finally am - and very pleased to be doing so, too.

First of all, as per usual, the necessaries.

You can listen to them here:

shop.luxlisbon.com/album/get-some-scars-ep-special-edition

You can visit their website here:

luxlisbon.com/

You can home in on them Twitter style, here:

twitter.com/LuxLisbon_Rock

Or you can delve into their world of Facebookz here:

facebook.com/luxlisbonmusic

Now then, first of all - it's important to point out that the "Get Some Scars" EP I'm featuring here today is a free download - if you clicketh the first link, or visit their website, you'll be able to listen and attach the said music to whatever device you jolly well like (I don't know whether it will work on your Kenwood Chef, but you never know...)

So once you've downloaded, you'll also need to have a listen/look at - for me - what is the standout track of the collection - "Bullingdon Club"

Already described as the "best power pop song of the last five years" by Sid Griffin, this basically, has it all. It's opening riff is excellently catchy, it's fast paced, it feels like it should have been out at the height of Britpop (and would have fitted in awesomely well) and actually, given that I'm listening to it after the Election-that-never-was, it feels all the more wrought with tension.

Of course, this isn't the whole reason you need the EP in your collection. Other superb tracks on the EP are "Demons You Show" (triffic bass) and "Memento Mori", it's chippy, powerful and has brilliant harmonies. 

Lux Lisbon have been a shamefully late discovery for me, it's not too late for you to welcome them into your lives either. Do eet!