Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

10 March, 2015

The Dreaming Spires-Searching For The Supertruth

Filed under: alternative,americana,country,indie,powerpop,Recorded Reviews — Tags: searching for the supertruth, the dreaming spires — willmunn @ 14:47

Searching For The Supertruth is the second album by Oxfordshire based The Dreaming Spires (Robin and Joe Bennett), following on from the critically acclaimed debut, Brothers In Brooklyn, an album that further enhances the duo’s cosmic sound to incorporate indie, roots, harmony enriched 60’s pop and beyond, to create something that’s both timeless and yet somehow new.

The album opens in style with the mesmeric, Still Believe In You, a shimmering slice of cosmic swirling indie, complimented by brothers rich Byrds like harmonies and a lifting psychedelic pop melody that instantly grabs for attention, bringing to mind the likes of Tame Impala, or perhaps a 60’s west coast version of the Flaming Lips. The opening track instantly segues into the gorgeous, strummed acoustic and rolling drums intro of All Kinds Of People, before developing into a glorious widescreen combination of Americana and shimmering indie.

Strange Glue sees The Dreaming Spires change direction to deliver a  hook-laden power-pop anthem, complete with an addictive vocal refrain and infectious fuzzy guitar riffs aplenty, creating a buzzing alternative pop anthem that could have been ripped from the annuals of Apples In Stereo (high praise indeed).

Further album highlights include the sun-kissed, pedal steel assisted, Americana groove of Easy Rider,  the aching country of We Used To Have Parties, featuring the beautiful vocal harmonies of Sarah Cracknell (St Etienne) and the majestic seven minute finale, So Pretty with it’s simplistic piano motif, sawing violin (courtesy of Jackie Oakes) and Robin’s gorgeous vocal drawl.

Searching For The Supertruth is one of those rare albums that you find yourself surrendering to, an album that deserves total immersion, sure there are obvious hooks on the likes of Strange Glue and the funky When The Magic Comes, but there’s also a rich tapestry of layers waiting to be discovered on the aforementioned So Pretty, All Kinds Of People, etc. The Dreaming Spires have crafted a majestic and inventive album that straddles genres and magnificently ignores trends, an album to sit back and saviour.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.dreamingspires.net 

6 March, 2015

Dalton-Dalton

Filed under: alternative,indie,lo-fi,pop,Recorded Reviews — Tags: dalton, debut album — willmunn @ 13:33

Dalton is the work of American singer-songwriter Nate Haar, a LA native who first picked up a guitar at the tender age of 13, since those tender formative years Nate has been busy honing and crafting his sound and writing cumulating in his self titled, bridging lo-fi indie scuzz and shimmering textures creating a unique and somewhat infectious sound that compels from the album’s first fragile notes.

The album opens with Bedford And Grand, starting on a sedate piano melody and Nate’s delicate croon, before sudden bursts of guitar shatter the fragile landscape whilst the subtle piano melody remains throughout underpinning the glorious fuzzy, bombastic riffs, revealing new textures, finishing on an irresistible vocal hook that has you clambering for more.

After such an impressive opening salvo, Breaker continues the impressive form, beginning with a handclap and a simplistic, repetitive guitar melody before Nate’s languid vocals join the mix to create a chilled out slice of indie pop. The collision of pretty pop melodies and clanging lo-fi guitars continues on the dazzling, near anthemic, What Should Never End, with its gradual rise and eventual hollered vocal refrain.

The album continues in the same rich and varied vein from the shimmering, understated New Time and the mesmeric closer, So Long, So Well to the brilliant rolling piano led, near gospel of For The Last via the fuzzy heroic indie rock of Control and the strummed and harmony enriched acoustic beauty of the aptly named Autumnal.

Dalton has created a sensational, stirring debut full of pretty, fragile melodies, contagious hooks and noisy, slacker guitar anthems, that should see fans of lo-fi indie lap up in their droves.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.daltontheband.com

4 March, 2015

Following Foxes-Following Foxes

Filed under: folk,indie,Recorded Reviews,rock — Tags: following foxes, New EP — willmunn @ 11:41

Guildford based four-piece Following Foxes are something of a new name to me, but apparently the indie rock band have been picking up plaudits from the likes of The Musical Melting Pot and BBC Introducing, whilst making a name for themselves for supporting the likes of Winter Island and Yearbook among others.

A couple of previous singles have picked up radio play on the likes of Eagle FM, Radio Warwick and the alike, with the band’s debut, self titled EP likely to see the band further enhance their reputation.

The band mix and match a combination of infectious vibrant indie, with a touch of folk and the harder hitting sounds of Biffy Cylro to create a sound that’s both unique and instant.

The opening track, Almost Like It, serves as a tasty introduction with frontman Gid Smedgwick emoting over a combination of laid back acoustic and electric guitars aside a barrage of meaty drums before winding up to a glorious harmony-enriched vocal hook and a passionate holler.

I Saw, You Saw Me Back is even better, opening as a somewhat folky number before a choppy guitar joins the mix, creating a jerky indie sound, reminding me of a harder hitting, Mystery Jets, whilst the brief middle section has a Floyd like quality. Waiting For Someone comes complete with the aforementioned vocal harmonies, a towering sing-a-long chorus, a number of interesting time changes and a lovely acoustic outro, whilst Mother Brother is an equally impressive genre straddling combination of folk, infectious indie and driving acoustics all topped with those aforementioned winning harmonies.

The self titled EP is an intriguing and infectious introduction to an inventive take on the indie genre, if Following Foxes can continue in the same vein you can expect the band to move onto to bigger and better things in the near future.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.followingfoxes.com

19 February, 2015

Matinée-These Days

Filed under: indie,Recorded Reviews,rock — Tags: matinee, new single, these days — willmunn @ 18:34

Matinée are a four-piece indie rock band originally hailing from Italy but now residing in London, since the band’s formation they’ve picked up loads of support both back in their native Italy and here in the UK from the likes of XFM, Topman, NME and Q among others, previous single Missing Pieces made the top twenty over in Italy, whilst being chosen by Topman for their video jukebox.

The hard working band have also performed with the likes of Franz Ferdinand (who’s single they borrowed their monicker from), Mystery Jets, Futureheads and British Sea Power to mention but a few, gaining new fans along the way, including Chris Geddes of Belle And Sebastian fame who labelled them as “anthemic indie rock with electronic flourishes hints of Franz Ferdinand and the Britpop era abound”

The above quote does pretty much hammer the nail on the head when it comes to the sound of Matinée, they do indeed bring to mind the jerky indie patter of Franz Ferdinand and yes there is something of a Britpop swagger and yes on new single These Days, there’s an electronic flourish (particularly on the fizzy introduction), but despite perhaps lacking a little originality you can’t knock the band’s energy and enthusiasm, add to that, the track is pretty damn infectious, complete with a catchy vocal hook and a contagious repetitive riff that runs throughout the duration of the track.

Matinée may develop their own sound in the future but for now they let them pay their dues and make homage to those indie darlings that came before them, as long as they continue to write songs as infectious as These Days.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 7

www.matineeband.com

Horse Party-Out Of Sight/Receiver

Filed under: alternative,indie,Recorded Reviews,rock — Tags: horse party, new single, out of sight, receiver — willmunn @ 17:09

Last year Bury St Edmunds based alt rock trio Horse Party released their debut album, Cover Your Eyes to critical acclaim and airplay from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Lauren Laverne (both 6Music) and John Kennedy (XFM) among others, the band also performed across the UK taking in the Latitude Festival along the way.

The band follow up last years successes and continue to build momentum with double A-sided single Out Of Sight/Receiver, a fantastic one-two knockout combination, both featuring the band’s razor sharp hooks and attitude fueled menace.

Out Of Sight opens with an infectious chugging riff before Ellie delivers a tough yet seductive croon before guitarist and co-vocalist Seymour and drummer Shannon Hope step on the power, for a glorious chant along vocal hook, bringing to mind the early serrated sound of PJ Harvey.

Receiver is no less impressive, Seymour takes over lead vocal duties but the turn of over power is still very much evident, as the band move through their gears, pealing off yet another contagious flurry of riotous riffs alongside a repetitive, mantra like lead vocal and a handful of icy cool harmonies as Horse Party deliver another slice of deadly infectious alternative rock.

There’s no beating around the bush here, Horse Party offer up melodic, hook-laden short, sharp slices of attitude, full of vim and vigour, what more could you possibly want?

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.horsepartyparty.co,uk

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