Knife and Easy

Shonen Knife
From: Japan

Anyone looking for a radical departure from the usual Shonen Knife formula on their latest album Free Time will be sadly disappointed. It’s more of the same bright, faintly cheesy, quaintly conservative garage rock they’ve been churning out since Adam was a lad. Their’s is a sound untouched by musical trends and fashions. They’re like refugees from the punk wars who’ve been in solitary confinement since the 1980s. The one concession they make to the modern world is the ‘Techno’ version of ‘Capybara’ which sounds exactly like you’d expect a techno track performed by Shonen Knife to sound; a soundtrack to a vaguely disturbing Japanese children’s cartoon.

At its best Free Time is a blast of fresh air to the ears. ‘Economic Crisis’ is fast frenetic and furious like the Ramones on speed. It’s the soundtrack to the world going to hell in a handcart. It won’t be long before the news editors of the world are using it to soundtrack riots in Greece, marches in London and pitched battles in Paris. ‘Perfect Freedom’, an ode to the evils of money, sounds like it was raised on a Japanese island by the Buzzcocks.

But don’t think that Free Time is a political diatribe against the economic forces of evil. Shonen Knife have never taken themselves too seriously and they’re not about to start now. They’re not paid up members of the awkward squad. They’re not the Clash turning protest into art. Take ‘Rock and Roll Cake’, a rock song about how much they love cake or ‘Monster Jellyfish’, a song about monster jelly fish. I may be wrong but I can’t recall Joe Strummer screaming about his recipe for Battenburg or Jello Biafra regaling us with tales of non-aggressive, gelatinous marine animals. At times the bubblegum punk of Free Time is cuter than an ewok in a blanket and so sweet it could send a diabetic into a coma.

Free Time will satisfy Shonen Knife’s long time fans and, it’s combination of the profound and the banal, the curt and the cute, the combative and the kooky may win them some new friends. After 30 years ploughing their particular furrow it’s the least they deserve.

6.5/10

This article was originally written by the Devil for The 405 and is published with permission.

Go Try

Shonen Knife - Perfect Freedom (Single) by rocketpr

Go Visit

Shonen Knife - Myspace : Website : Last.FM

Go View

Shonen Knife
Perfect Freedom

More Ghosts In The Machine

Extra Happy Ghost!!!
From: Calgary, Canada

What is it with band names containing the word ghost? A few years ago there was a influx of bands who simultaneously decided that the route to success was appending the word Wolf to their name. In 2001 it seems that ghost is the new wolf. After recent posts on Ghost Society, Ghost Animal, That Ghost, Ghostly Dust Machine, Ghosting Season and _Ghost I bring you Extra Happy Ghost!!! (the exclamation marks are part of their name and not a result of a sticky keyboard).

The outlet for the creative talents of Canadian experimental pop auteur Matthew Swann, Extra Happy Ghost!!! sound like the Beach Boys if they'd grown up in a garage in Bridlington on Sea during the rainy season. So in other words nothing like the Beach Boys really. It's lo-key, lo-fi and as catchy as a sticky frisbee. It'll work it's way into your head and stick there like an earworm smothered in super glue.

Now bands of the world the ghost naming convention must stop. If I see another band incuding the word ghost in their name they will be relegated to the 'if I ever get round to it pile' where they'll languish in dusty oblivion for ever.

Go Try

MP3 - Extra Happy Ghost!!! - So At One

This track is published with the permission of Banter Media so please don't claim breach of copyright

extra happy ghost - 1990s brain damage by indiebeef.ca

Go Visit

Extra Happy Ghost!!! - Myspace : Facebook : Last.FM : Soundcloud

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Extra Happy Ghost!!!
Sympathy For The Moron

Doing The Splits

Us Girls / Slim Twig
Split 12"

It’s unlikely that you will come across a more idiosyncratic coupling than the new split 12” from those mystical music magicians at Palmist. Pairing the other worldly alt punk of Meghan Remy’s US Girls with the other worldly alt everything of Max Turnbull’s Slim Twig is either a touch of genius or the first signs of madness. Although superficially different the two acts do share a playful approach to the music of the past, taking the legacy of their forefathers and foremothers and twisting and distorting it with a knowing 21st century wink. They also work well together with Meghan contributing backing vocals to Twig’s 'Priscilla' and Max co-producing the U.S Girls contribution to the 12 inch.

On their side the US Girls put the girl groups of the sixties and the punk blasts of the late 70s through the mincer forging a sound that is simultaneously nihilistic and sugary. It’s a sweet and sour blend that works perfectly. ‘If These Walls Could Talk’ sounds like The Crystals if they’d come of age in 1977 and hung around with the Bromley Contingent. ‘I Won’t Tell (Your Papa, No) Excerpts’ and ‘Untie Me’ are in a similar vein, all pure pop splendour and girl group harmonies.

However it’s not all Spector aping retro pop. ‘Pamela + GG’ is a dose of finest vintage dark electro punk that doffs it’s cap to the early years of PJ Harvey. Even more different is ‘Morgan Bolger Lahr Haley’. With it’s sci fi swirls and feedback it feels out of place, like it’s stumbled into the wrong room and decided to stick around. The US Girls side is brought to a close by the frankly odd, and thankfully short, ‘Carr Laugh’ which sounds like the Breeders messing around after a heavy drinking session.

For the shape shifting, song sculptor Slim Twig it’s the crooners of the late fifties and the dark gothic stylings of Nick Cave that are thrown into the mixer along with found sounds and the faintest wisp of mid 60s psychedelia. Opener ‘Paisley Skin’ could be the Velvet Underground gone all medieval on us while on ‘Priscilla’ Slim sounds like the result of a mad scientist’s attempt to cross breed Howard Devoto and Jello Biafra. The disturbing ‘Notorious Bride (A Veil & A Vice)’ sounds like the sound from under Nick Cave’s floorboards where he’s buried the songs too scary to release to the public. Slim brings the party to an end with ‘I’ll Always Be A Child’, the missing link between Magazine at their perkiest and the Stranglers at their most accessible.

I love this album, love the contrast between two intriguing, exciting and strange bands, love the sheer idiosyncrasy of two bands that defy the rules and do their own thing with style, panache and spirit.

8/10

This article was originally written by the Devil for The 405 and is published with permission.

Go Try

US Girls - If These Walls Could Talk by Palmist Records

Slim Twig - Priscilla by Palmist Records

Go Visit

U.S Girls - Myspace : Blog : Last.FM
Slim Twig - Myspace : Website : Blog : Last.FM
Palmist - Website

Go View

U.S Girls
Lunar Life



Here's my favourite Slim Twig video...

Slim Twig
Gate Hearing

Just Peachy

Peachcake
From: Arizona, United States

I first encountered angsty American indie electro rebels Peachcake way back in 2008 (Cup of Tea and a Slice of...) and promptly forgot all about them. Until now that is because they're back as rebellious as ever with their new ep, This Wasn't Our Plan. It's more of the same electro pop with a sting in the tale.

They have a way with song titles that make Morrissey green with envy. They even try to pre-empt the reviews of the less musically literate journos (or maybe it's taken from a uninformed review of their previous work) with 'Who Are These People And Why Does This Music Suck?'. It doesn't suck by the way, it's 6 minutes of brow beating electro that can shift techtonic plates. However the more accessible, more chart friendly You Matter does suck. It sounds like it was written as the opening number for the Glee cast. It's that cheesy. Thankfully they redeem themselves with Speaking Of Handouts, I Got You Something, a track that is heading straight for the world's dancefloors. It sounds like the missing link between The Human League and New Order.

On their new EP Peachcake sound like two different bands welded together like a cut n shunt. Two bands heading in different directions. One for the indie dancefloor the other for the top of the cheese charts. My advice, for what it's worth, is leave the cheese in the fridge and stick to the indie dancefloor, it might not please the bank manager but you'll retain your musical integrity and self respect.

Go Try

Who Are These People And Why Does This Music Suck? by Peachcake

Speaking Of Handouts, I Got You Something by Peachcake

Go Visit

Peachcake - Myspace : FaceBook : Last.FM

Go View

Peachcake
Stop Acting Like You Know More About The Internet Cafe Than Me

The Devil's Weekly Round-Up 26th June 2011

This weeks round up of the tracks that I haven't had the space to post...

Bronze Medallists
From: London, United Kingdom

In the geek pop olympics Bronze Medallists are gold medallists beating Peter Bjorn & John and Kings of Convenience in the process.

Go Try

Bronze Medallists - Mathematics by facultydigital

Little Deadman
From: San Diego, United States

Aching indie rock with more angst than a teenage goth reading 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'.

Go Try

MP3 - Little Deadman - Shooting Seagulls
This track is published with the permission of Banter Media so please don't claim breach of copyright

Frame The City
From: Seattle, United States

Slow adult oriented rock for a post dubstep era.

Go Try

MP3 - Frame The City - The Troubles In Our Eyes
This track is published with the permission of Frame The City so please don't claim breach of copyright

Edgar Smith
From: London, United Kingdom

Fizzy, fuzzy pop that sounds like a distant radio tuned to the sounds buzzing around Jim Reid's head.

Go Try

Fine by Edgar Smith

Moths
From: Newbridge, Ireland


Chillout that is truly chilling. It washes over you in a tsunami of sound taking you to another place, another time, another dimension.

Go Try

blisters by MOTHS

Dead Berlin
From: Argentina

With their neo psych sound Argentinian duo Dead Berlin sound like they've been rummaging around in cellars of the Paisley Underground and uncovered a few forgotten gems.

Go Try

Dead Berlin - The Sun by Dead Berlin

Rock Like An Egyptian

Egyptian Hip Hop at #Glastonbury. On set now making me go all tingly despite the odd technical hitches. Occupational hazard for an electronic band I guess.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

The Cold War Is Still On

U2 headline performing to huge crowds and Cold War Kids are given an early afternoon slot performing to a sparse crowd. You want me to accept there's justice in this world well that my friend proves otherwise.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Horror Show

One song in and The Horrors are already the coolest act at Glastonbury.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Odonis Syndrome

Odonis Odonis
From: Toronto, Canada

Enigmatic Toronto trio Odonis Odonis unite guitars so sharp they can draw blood with hazy, fragile vocals in a holy union of surf pop, shoegaze and old school punk that sounds like the Jesus & Mary Chain riding a wave.

Go Try

Odonis Odonis - Handle Bars by Odonis Odonis

Odonis Odonis - Busted Lip by Odonis Odonis

Go Visit

Odonis Odonis - Myspace : Facebook : Last.FM : Bandcamp : Soundcloud

Go View

Odonis Odonis
White Flag Riot

Calvi Klein

Anna Calvi, Jimi Hendrix in women's clothing.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Yuck

Yuck on John Peel stage.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Fighting Back

Fight Like Apes a small bearded man in a blue jump suit and a mascared up goth yep it's the John Peel stage. They were actually rather good.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Don't Cry For Me Argentina

Las Kellies
From: Buenos Aires, Argentina

I have a confession to make. I’m not that well up on the Argentinean music scene. I know that you probably expect your reviewers to have an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of even the most obscure avenues of music but I’ve racked my brains to recall the names of any Argentinean bands that have become household names and drawn a blank. I’ve scoured my extensive record collection for any hint of an Argentinean influence and come up with nothing, nada, zilch. Well that is about to change. Argentinean trio, Las Kellies, have turned up with their third album Kellies a blast of reggae tinged post punk that sounds like they’ve been communing with the ghost of Ari Up and teaching her Spanish.

With the exception of the four minute long Adwenture the 14 tracks on Kellies don’t break the three minute barrier. They turn up steal your brain for a short while and then bugger off leaving a smile and a memory of something exciting. It’s an album of effervescent post punk that fizzes like a Steradent tablet in a glass of Pepsi. It sounds like they’ve absorbed the entire output of the Slits and the Raincoats and added rap, pop, psychedelia and a sense of fun to the mix.

Prince In Blue starts proceedings with post-punk riffs and lyrical jibes at the men of the world, even those who treat them well. Bling Bling, the 21st century’s Wordy Rappinghood, is a tongue in cheek attack on the world’s WAGs. If there was any justice in the world it’d relegate your Adeles and Lady Gagas to the bargain bin at your local charity shop. Bife Dos, an instrumental begging for a spy related drama to use its services, adds a welcome dose of tropicadelia. Cous Cous could be a long lost PIL track recorded in a jungle. The album comes to a perfectly poppy end with Suffisant, a track that sounds like it’s auditioning for a part in an Argentinean remake of Grease.

Quirky, funky, arsey, funny and so groovy it’s positively corrugated Kellies is leading the Argentinean assault on the ears of the musical congnoscenti of the world. Las Kellies are anything but typical girls.

8/10

This article was originally written by the Devil for The 405 and is published with permission.

Go Try

las kellies - kellies - Bife Dos (fire records) by pdis_inpartmaint

las kellies - kellies - Prince In Blue (fire records) by pdis_inpartmaint

If, like me, the new Las Kellies' album is the first time you've encountered the Argentinian trio then check out these two early tracks...

MP3 - Las Kellies - Pear Tree
MP3 - Las Kellie - Old Man
These tracks are linked direct from the Las Kellies Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't cliam breach of copyright.

Go Visit

Las Kellies - Myspace : Last.FM : Facebook

Go View

Las Kellies
Scotch Whisky

Sibling Rivalry

Brother, Oasis for the post Loaded generation if all the songs were written by Liam.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Chips With Everything

Chipmunk's bass could start the heart of a statue.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

The Other Stage

At the other stage waiting to find out if Brother and The Vaccines can live up to the hype.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Tearing Asunder

Divorce
From: Glasgow, Scotland

Living up to their name Glasgow noise mongers Divorce are a radical break from the 21st century music scene. Their new single is two blistering, mind numbing blasts of uncompromising, uncommercial and borderline unlistenable atonal punk. They resurrect Riot Grrrl, give it a good kicking and send it out into the world snarling and ready to bite any bearded folkies it happens to stumble across. If you like your music unchallenging, straightforward and ukulele strewn then this is unlikely to be for you my friend.

Lead track ‘Love Attack’ is a brash, in your face musical attack. The band beat seven kinds of brown stuff out of their instruments while lead screamer Sinead Young shreds her tonsils. It’s extreme, edgy and aggressive. When Sinead yells “I’ll sleep with you” it sounds more like a threat than an offer. The single’s second track (or b-side for those of you with more miles on the clock than you’d prefer to count) ‘Meating’ sounds like it’s been raised in a commune and force fed a diet of Crass, Huggy Bear and Flux of Pink Indians.

This is music that lives in its own parallel universe far from the mainstream, music that sounds like it was tailor made to order by the ghost of John Peel and for that it gets a thumbs up from me.

7.5/10

This article was originally written by the Devil for The 405 and is published with permission.


Go Try

Love Attack (demo) by divorcetheband

Go Visit

Divorce - Facebook : Website : Soundcloud

Go View

Divorce
Live Under A Bridge

Happy Birthday Love

Happy Birthday Ann

Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Ann, Happy Birthday to you.

It's my wife Ann's birthday today so what better way to celebrate than with some great birthday related tunes...

Go Try

The Way You Make Me Feel by Galaxy Birthday


Happy Birthday by Parties

Busy Being Board - Birthday Present by Busy Being Board

Happy Birthday - Pink Strawberry Shake by subpop

Birthday Party (demo) by thepreachers

Go East

The Village People memorably told the world to Go West well for those of a dubby persuasion my advice is look east. From Russia to Ukraine to Slovakia via all manner of countries that have dabbled with communism artists are dubbing up the old eastern bloc and devolving the dance power to the people.

Go Try

Ukraine

RED ENEMIES by KingImagine=Bass Assassin

Killall rockers by killall


Russia

Blood Brothers by illocanblo

Slovakia

Jazzcause- Futurama "FREE DOWNLOAD" by jazzcause

Identity by stroon

Break!Fast - 2009-04-22 - mix for Manifesto: Eshop/Community/Foundation by breakfastsk

Lithuania

Eleven Tigers - Stableface by dvemp

Bulgaria

Grindbox - Noise Floor by grindboxbg

Latvia

malduguns by oyaarss

Poland

Sulphur Phuture-Penetralia by sulphur_phuture

Hungary

Mister W - The Creature by Mister W

Ghost In The Machine

Ghosting Season
From: Leeds, United Kingdom

I’m sure The Far End of the Graveyard the debut EP from Ghosting Season, a side project for Leeds duo worriedaboutsatan, sounds brilliant in a dark, trendy club at 1am in the morning or maybe in the reception of a prohibitively expensive health spa. Unfortunately I’m listening to it on a dull Sunday afternoon in my living room surrounded by the week’s washing. Not the best time or place to appreciate its qualities I’m sure you’ll agree.

So, to give it a reasonable shot at a decent review I shut the blinds, poured myself a drink, wacked the headphones on, turned the volume up to the max and closed my eyes. Boy did that work. What a revelation, I was able to appreciate the EP’s subtleties, its rejuvenating properties and its sheer muscle. This is not just the ambient chill out soundtrack for stressed executives it appears at first hearing.

The EP’s first three tracks The Far End of the Graveyard, Washed Ashore and Exercise Us are logical extensions of worriedaboutsatan’s oeuvre. They’re ambient, orchestral and fluid. Their, cool, chilled out vibe is perfect for the come down, perfect to help ease the furrowed brows of stressed urban professionals. They’re exquisite, beautiful, they’re just like sleeping gas they’re so ethereal. This is as close as you’ll get to music in its pure, liquid form. But it’s with final track Dead Man’s Switch that Ghosting Season truly leaves their previous incarnation behind. After the restful, ambience of the first three tracks Dead Man’s Switch almost blew my head off, it’s bass bruising my ear drums and probably causing early onset tinnitus. It’s a beefy, muscle rippling heavyweight champion of a track with bass beats big enough to get the seismographs twitching. Bass beats that can be measured on the Richter scale. It sounds like Underworld pumping iron or Tangerine Dream on a diet of protein shakes.

The Far End of the Graveyard is an EP of intriguing instrumental soundscapes that stir up the electronica pot with flashes of post rock, found sounds and power. It lulls you into a false sense of aural security and then pummels your ear drums until they bleed.

6.5/10

This article was originally written by the Devil for The 405 and is published with permission.

Go Try

Far End of the Graveyard (Edit) by Ghosting Season

Go Try

Ghosting Season - Myspace : Facebook : Website : Last.FM

Go View

Ghosting Season
Far End of the Graveyard

Ghosting Season - Far End of the Graveyard from Ghosting Season on Vimeo.

The Devil's Weekly Round Up 19th June 2011

This weeks round up of the tracks that I haven't had the space to post...

Cave Painting
From: Brighton, United Kingdom

Ambient swirling indie with a touch of Paul Simon and a dab of Coldplay but please don't let that put you off they transcend their influences to create a sound that is truly more than the sum of it's parts.

Go Try

So Calm by Cave Painting

Donovans

From: Ile-de-France, France

Sounds like R2D2 being hit with a keyboard.

Go Try

FX1 - Donovans [Original Mix] Preview by dnvns

Mummy Short Arms
From: Glasgow, Scotland

Wierd name, wierd band, wierd sound. If The Waterboys kidnapped Bob Dylan and Captain Beefheart and forced them to write some songs for them they'd probably sound something like Mummy Short Arms.

Go Try

MUMMY SHORT ARMS - Cigarette Smuggling by Flowers In The Dustbin

Mrs Magician

From: San Diego, United States

Mrs Magician are the psych ridden offspring of an unholy coupling of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols with a fine line in eye catching song titles.

Go Try

Mrs Magician - I'm Gonna Hang Out With The Lesbians Next Door And Drop Acid by mrs.magician

Trog Low aka Ghostly Dust Machine
From: Toronto, Canada


Downtempo dub hop from a mysterious Canadian beatmaker that sounds like the future. All other music has now been made redundant.

Go Try

MP3 - Ghostly Dust Machine - Ode To A Baby Snowstorm
This track is linked direct from Bad Panda Records and is therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright

_Ghost
From: Poland


More mysterious down tempo trip hope from another ghost related artiste.

Go Try

Lullaby by _ghost

Slow Boat To Ho Chi Minh City
From: Santa Barbara, California, United States

Slow Boat To Ho Chi Minh City are mysterious dance maestros with designs on the dancefloor.

Go Try

I Want U (I need U to dance)-Slow Boat To Ho Chi Minh City by SLOW BOAT TO HO CHI MINH

Hippy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day dad I wouldn't have amounted to anything without you to push me, to guide me and to help me along the way.

Here are some father related choons and artists to thank you for all you've done for me.

Alone & Dangerous by Father

Dad Rocks! - Nothing Keeps Up by Paper Garden Records


Humdrum by Father of Syn

my dad taught me how to rock and roll by Truffle Shuffle

Gay Dad - Joy! by Deyron

Gills by dad fight

Making The Cut

The Paper Scissors
From: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Paper Scissors were first featured on the Devil's blog way back in 2009 (Rock Music) and time has clearly not dulled their senses nor my enthusiasm for their stunning nu wave. Taller Than You Then from their new album, In Loving Memory, sounds like The Strokes arm wrestling Talking Heads in the outback which is just what the doctor ordered.

Go Try

MP3 - The Paper Scissors - Taller Than You Then
This track is published with the permission of SGC New Media Marketing so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

The Paper Scissors - Myspace : Facebook : Website

Go View

The Paper Scissors
Lung Sum

Lounging Around

Taking place on July 8th, 9th & 10th, Lounge on the Farm festival in Canterbury, Kent, is back for its 6 year and is bigger and better than ever. The festival has a stellar line-up, including Echo & the Bunnymen, The Streets, The Vaccines, Everything Everything, Graham Coxon, Katy B, Jamie Woon, Example, Visions of Trees, Devlin, Slow Club, Johnny Flynn, Cornershop, Egyptian Hip Hop, D/R/U/G/S, Dry The River, Fixers, Chad Valley, Braids, and many, many more.

The festival has carved itself out a niche, known for its unique location on a real working farm (with animals roaming about), plus a strong focus on delicious food and a great atmosphere. Only 55 mins on a train from Kings Cross, it's a great festival for Londoners and locals alike.

To get you into the festival spirit with just 21 days to go until it's underway and because they love you so much, Lounge on the Farm are giving away a free mixtape which includes some great tracks including...

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
From: Oxford, United Kingdom

Wonky electro that sounds like a bent and twisted LCD Soundsystem.

Go Try

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - How Far (The 2 Bears remix) by Anorak London

Summer Camp
From: London, United Kingdom

On I Want You Summer Camp sound like they've injected themselves with essence of Debbie Harry.

Go Try

Summer Camp - I Want You by Anorak London

Dananananaykroyd
From: Glasgow, Scotland

Rowdy rock that makes you glad to be alive.

Go Try

Dananananaykroyd - E Numbers by Anorak London

Slow Club
From: Sheffield, United Kingdom

Bubblegum pop so pure it'll save your soul.

Go Try

Slow Club - Giving Up On Love by Anorak London