LISTEN: Febueder - Sloppiness Tank

*Originally published for The Line of Best Fit (20/11/13)

Ahead of the release of their debut EP this month, Ascot outfit Febueder treat us to another bracing, off-kilter pop song in 'Sloppiness Tank'. 

Hollow guitar notes and glottal vocals at the start spark quick comparisons to Alt-J (the track sounds a lot like 'Taro'), but there’s something different about Febueder. There’s more more groove and stomp to what we’ve heard so far of their music – more rock ‘n’ roll – even if neurotic coos and mathy guitars are found sweeping in and out.

It’s early to make big statements about the trio, but they’ve sure as hell got some fire in their bellies.

Soap Carve EP is out on 25 November on Tape Club Records.

LISTEN: Banoffee - Reign Down

*Originally published for The Line of Best Fit (20/11/13)

Australian soloist Banoffee follows up her impressive debut single with 'Reign Down' – a delicious slice of supple RnB. 

Blanket synths, slow beats and twisted, vocoda-like male vocals make a warm concoction for Martha Brown’s brand of sugary, electronic RnB. It’s more immediate than debut single 'Ninja' with its forceful rhythms and is bound to get everyone a little excited for her upcoming EP.

Banoffee’s new EP is scheduled for release in early 2014.

FEATURE: Tracks of the Week - 15/11/13

*Originally published for The Line of Best Fit (15/11/13)

It’s that time of the week when we look back at the most exciting new releases from emerging artists.

In line with the release of their debut EP, Medusa, Washington DC duo GEMS showed off yet more impressive songwriting with 'Ephemera'. Giant beats, 80s guitar, clear-cut vocals and spotless layers of synth congeal to make another pop hit-in-waiting. They’re one of our favourite new bands of 2013.

'Secrets' saw the striking pairing of the established and the new: big vocals from Canadian wonderboy The Weeknd and smooth electronics crafted by little-known producer, Jr. Hi. Starting as minimalist RnB with soulful vocals and restrained bleeps, the track soon progresses into heavier, more bulbous electronic territory. A great collaboration.

NYC model and filmmaker duo Cable unleashed debut single, 'Roxanne', and got us fixated on the song’s seductive protagonist. A definite nod to the 80s with chiming synths and tinny beats, the track details a figure "calling your name" over and over again. The cries continue long after listening.

One of the most creative pieces of new music we heard all week came in the form of 'Keepyourbusinesstoyourself' by Indian born, Australian-based artist Jitwam. A wonderful fushion of sounds from muddled hip-hop to electronic jazz, 'Keepyourbusinesstoyourself' will have everyone guessing Jitwam’s next move.

Finally, Disclosure affiliate Tourist offered-up his take on 'Lies' by CHVRCHES. Reminiscient of Jacques Green’s slow and sensitive rendition of Radiohead’s 'Lotus Flower', the London producer’s remix doesn’t take away from the original – it only adds. Lauren Mayberry’s vocals are left untouched (though sound strangely less Glaswegian without her bandmates’ barrage of muscular synths), whilst a nice house mid-section gets underway. The remix builds at a perfect pace, leaving a gentle piano naked at the close.

Listen to our selection of the week’s best tracks below:

NEWS/LIVE: Glass Animals play a packed homecoming show in Oxford

                             Photograph taken at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton by Andrew Novell.

*Originally published for The Line of Best Fit (15/11/13)

Glass Animals have had a busy summer diet: European festivals, new singles and even closing a deal with producer Paul Epworth’s (Primal Scream, Bloc Party, Adele) new label, Wolf Tone. Last night saw them digest it all with a packed-out homecoming show.

The small space in The Jericho Tavern, renowned for housing Radiohead’s debut gig, was well suited for the close textures of Glass Animals’ experimental sound. Better still, it enabled vocalist/guitarist Dave Bayley’s abstract and poetic lyrics to float between the many pairs of ears stacked to the front. Bayley is a natural frontman, with finely-tuned support from his bandmates.

The gig also gave the four-piece the chance to debut new material; 'Gooey' and 'Fresh Coast' sounded almost as established as buzz-hits 'Cocoa Hooves' and 'Black Mambo'.

A taste of what to expect of their debut album (due to be released in March/April 2014) hung heavy in the air at the show’s close, but at least we won’t have to wait too long for new recorded material. The band plan on releasing a mixtape as a late Christmas present in January.

Setlist
Exxus
Dust In Your Pocket
Psylla
Gooey
Golden Antlers
Fresh Coast
Cocoa Hooves
Toes Wyrd
Black Mambo

LISTEN: Saol Álainn - Nostroke

*Originally published for The Line of Best Fit (15/11/13)

LA producer Saol Álainn may be new on the scene, but debut track 'Nostroke' sounds like an established artist at work.

'Nostroke' is an intelligent, off-kilter piece of music. Weedy harmonies lie quiet at the start, before one of the nastiest drops we’ve heard in months dumps itself atop glitchy electronics. There’s jittery house, rewound piano, dulled beats and intricate time signatures, which all seem to add up to some clever musical algorithm way beyond our ears.

Information on Mr Álainn is sparse; but whatever musical secrets he’s hiding, bring them forth. 'Nostroke' is out now on NY-based label, No Recordings.

LISTEN: GEMS - Ephemera

*Originally published for The Line of Best Fit (14/11/13)

Washington DC pop duo GEMS released their debut EP this week and their latest track 'Ephemera' will make you gush all the more about your new favourite band.

Pop hits-in-waiting of this kind can be few and far between, but GEMS seem to unload them with enviable ease. Opening with starry synths, 'Ephemera' soon ignites with big, bad beats, 80s phaser guitar and Lindsay Pitts’ glacial vocals.

There’s uncanny chemistry between Ms Pitts and her accomplice, Cliff Usher, whose gentle boy/girl harmonies bubble away beneath the surface, quickly reaching boiling point with shattered electro drums and densely layered synth.

If you do one thing this week, listen to their music and tell all your friends.

FEATURE: Tracks of the Week - 8/11/13

*Originally published for The Line of Best Fit (8/11/13)

November is already shaping up to be a very exciting month for new music. Here’s our picks of the best songs from the last seven days.

With driving beats, reverb-soaked guitars and heavy-eyed vocals, No Joy’s 'Second Spine' made it sound like it was ’91 again. The Montreal shoegazers know a thing or two about crafting dreamy melodies (check out 'Hare Tarot Lies') and while this latest offering is a straighter cut, it’s no less enchanting.

Iceland’s Ásgeir has already made waves in his home country, and 'Torrent' is another tempest waiting to hit foreign shores. Much like Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, the pull with Ásgeir is the way he manipulates his voice to become a new instrument. It’s especially apparent on this track, using billowing vocals to lift a marble piano above roll-snap rhythms.

Although we know next-to-nothing about Álauda, we know 'Falling Star' is one of the most arresting debuts of late. Sounding like an unreleased Warpaint song, 'Falling Star' is multi-layered, atmospheric and oddly catchy. Morphing from one structure to the next, it leaves you second-guessing it’s every move. We can only hope another release will follow shortly.

Another mysterious act popped up on our radar this week, this time in the form of Tabloid. Overlooking the seismic seizure that is their tumblr, 'Voyeur' is quick-fire techno-pop, counterbalanced with witch house wobbles and polished vocal. A nice surprise.

Stealing the crown for best hook was IYES with ''Til Infinity'. Dazzling synths, liquorice boy/girl vocals and lucid melodies scramble for an explosive chorus that will leave you panting for another listen. The Brighton duo have been quiet for the past few months, but have more than made up for their silence with this new song.

Listen to our selection of the week’s best tracks below: