Rapid Review.. Peace - 'In Love (Deluxe Edition)'

So, any self-respecting Peace fan has most definitely heard the album by now, after it was streamed in its entirety via NME.com. I could have reviewed it then, like every other music blogger/vlogger/journo-nut did, HOWEVER I abstained, and waited resolutely for my signed deluxe copy to drop through the post.

This was not helped however, by this God awful weather that has swooped upon the nation. We are 5 days from April. NO APRIL NEEDS SNOW! Whilst it may look pretty, the novelty dies rather rapidly (aka. as soon as you step outside) and this as had the unsavoury repercussion of keeping my local postie from my fine looking door. But today - finally (OK, OK, 1 day after release date is not bad, though I was hoping for it to arrive in advance) - Peace's album finally found its way into my eager mitts.

The debut album by the Birmingham four-piece, In Love, speaks of, well, love. It's music has a rosy tinted glow, it's warm and inviting, and would definitely be the perfect soundtrack to a chilled out summer evening, similar to fellow "B-Town" name-makers, Swim Deep. As we well know, every single/EP song that has preceded has so far exceeded the last - 'Bloodshake', 'California Daze', 'Wraith', 'Follow Baby' (see what I had to say about the new re-recorded version) - and such a high standard resulted in my overly high expectations for this album. Were they met? Well, the more I listen to In Love, the more I think so.

'Higher Than The Sun' hits the ground running; if a Peace virgin were to hear this song, they would know exactly what they are letting themselves in for, it epitomises exactly what Peace are about - optimism, love and fun. Because Peace are a fun band, as evidenced by the second song 'Follow Baby' - so good they released it twice. As stated in one of my previous posts, the song manages to feel familiar (The Horrors, Nirvana) yet unique at the same time, though I do still prefer the scuzzier vocal of the original version. 'Lovesick' recalls The Cure's 'Friday, I'm In Love', whilst the ever indulgent 'Wraith' still retains its glow. Things slow down for the first time with 'Float Forever' - a song which sounds deceivingly like its fellow album inhabitant 'California Daze' which, in the boxing ring, still emerges as the superior song.

It is midway through the album that we encounter the first of the In Love (Deluxe) bonus tracks (they have been interspersed throughout). 'Drain' is a song that has managed to forge itself a very special place within my heart. After the singles which, whilst having not lost their sparkle, have lost that early addictive satisfaction that comes when first falling in love with a song, 'Drain' is the song that really hits home with me, so much so that I find it positively scandalous that it is not included in the standard version of In Love, as it feels like such a pivotal benchmark within the album. Whilst at times Peace can feel rather precise, there is a deconstructed segment that makes the listener do a double take - as does the deceivingly premature ending found a little later on, it is the gem that standard edition owners have been robbed of. For me at least, the rest of the album is certainly a 'post-Drain' affair. That said, 'Delicious', 'Waste Of Paint', 'Toxic' and 'Sugarstone' are all what we'd expect from Peace, with 'Waste Of Paint' being a particular '90's infused anthem with a killer chorus. Other bonus tracks 'Step A Little Closer', 'Scumbag' and the Peace song, 'Bloodshake' only enhance what it an already strong album. Songs that I'd earmark for future singles would be 'Lovesick' and 'Waste Of Paint'.

Have Peace changed the indie rock world? The long and short of it is 'no', but it is not something for which I care, as for all their influences worn on the cuffs of their gaudy vintage shirts, Peace embody everything good about the nostalgia wave and re-work it into something fresh and relevant - because Peace can write good songs! - and quite frankly, this is all that I care about! ;D

Standard CD(10 track), Deluxe CD(14 track) and vinyl and MP3 editions of In Love are out now.

http://peaceforeverever.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/peaceforeverever
https://soundcloud.com/p-e-a-c-e
https://twitter.com/PEACE4EVEREVER

Rapid Review.. Chvrches - Recover EP

Glaswegian band, CHVRCHES (that's a more Google friendly "Churches" for the uninitiated) are gearing up to release their debut EP, Recover on 25th March (UK) and have let the lovely folk over at Pitchfork stream it for free - there's no harm in trying before you buy after all, check it out here!

The formerly mysterious trio, who emerged out of the blue in May of last year with the moody electro single that was 'Lies' - read and listen here - were made a part of the BBC's Sound of 2013 Poll at the end of last year, and have since released second single, 'The Mother We Share' and now, the Recover EP. The title track, 'Recover' is a much lighter affair than the aforementioned 'Lies', in fact, it positively sparkles, and I can only describe it as warm electro akin to that of Swedish duo The Knife. The voice of singer Lauren Mayberry is rather inviting, resonating in a childishly innocent manner through the 3 tracks (the additional remix is a treat too), and juxtaposing nicely with messrs Iain Cook and Martin Doherty on the darkly throbbing 'ZVVL', before coming back to the forefront of the poppier 'Now Is The Time'.

Though short, Recover really is a treat of an EP, the high quality electro smothering your brain in a manner akin to dripping treacle, and whetting your appetite for an album release (hopefully) later in the year. If not, more EP's will surely have to tide us over. Get on it now; it's worth all of your attention!

Recover EP is available via iTunes.

The band are touring the US in May/June before hitting the festival circuit later in the summer.

North American Tour - May/June 2013

5/27 — George, WA — Sasquatch Music Festival
5/28 — Portland, OR — Wonder Ballroom
5/29 — San Francisco, CA — Rickshaw Stop
6/1 — Los Angeles, CA — Troubadour
6/2 — Solana Beach, CA — Belly Up Tavern
6/5 — Austin, TX — The Mohawk
6/6 — Dallas, TX — Granada Theater
6/7 — Lawrence, KS — The Granada Theatre
6/8 — Minneapolis, MN — Fine Line Music Cafe
6/10 — Chicago, IL — Lincoln Hall
6/12 — Toronto, ON — The Hoxton
6/15 — Montreal, QC — Le National
6/16 — Boston, MA — Paradise
6/17 — New York, NY — Webster Hall
6/21 — Washington, DC — Black Cat
6/22 — Dover, DE — Firefly Music Festival
6/23 — Philadelphia, PA — Union Transfer

http://www.facebook.com/CHVRCHES
https://soundcloud.com/chvrches
http://chvrches.tumblr.com/

New Music.. Paramore - 'Still Into You'

I'm not much of a music snob, and there's still a part of my heart that harkens lovingly back to the t(w)een years of my adolescent youth that now increasingly feels like a hastily fading dream (apologies, real adults)! Though I have to say that occasionally I have to humour myself in the nostalgia of music that symbolises so many good times that I had in my high school/college years, memories with friends, and my general trying to grow up. Paramore were one of those bands. Along with My Chemical Romance, Lostprophets, Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco, Paramore indulged the emo-pop-rock tween in my soul that thought she was 'alternative' when really she was as non-conforming as half of the 12-16 age bracket in the world, circa '04-'07. I could quote 'The Emo Song' by Adam and Andrew, but I'll leave that up to you ;)

Pushing the cringey embarrassments of youth aside however, we turn away from 'Misery Business' era Paramore all the way to 2013 where, two members down though still flame haired, Hayley Williams and Co are still throwing their pop-punk anthems to thirsty and  impressionable lego-haired teens aching for an idol band to give their lives direction. Are Paramore still up to the cause? Well, with the latest song to be revealed from their forthcoming fourth album (imaginitively entitled Paramore), 'Still Into You' is... somewhat lacklustre, in regards to what Paramore can offer when they're at their best. In fact, it feels like a cheap Fall Out Boy song, especially in the melody. Even Williams' usual powerhouse vocal feels pretty tame. It's not a memorable song, in fact, it's borderline sickly and in writing this, listening to the song for the first time, I genuinely have no inclination to listen to the song again. For of what bite Paramore can muster when, like Fall Out Boy, they create genuinely good pop songs, 'Still Into You' falls far below the mark.

Paramore is released 8th April.

http://www.paramore.net/
https://twitter.com/paramore
http://www.facebook.com/paramore

New Waves.. Peace - 'Follow Baby'

Well, 'not-so-new' would be more appropriate, seeing as the band first released this song sometime last year, but with the run up to Peace's debut album, In Love (pre-order it guys, you know that it's gonna be great!) getting ever shorter, it seems somewhat apt to remind interweb denizens what sparked people's curiosity in the first place.

'Follow Baby' is being re-released almost a year from its original release date, having had a bit of a brush up - cleaner vocals are apparent - however, it doesn't really seem to warrant much of the altering that its been subject to at all. As before, there's some niggling facet of the song that makes you feel like you've heard it before (you have, but I'm not talking about last April!). The flow of the lyrics recalls 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', especially in the original version, whilst the music itself brings to mind The Horrors' 'Do You Remember' at certain points, however, I find myself in a total state of 'not caring!', as 'Follow Baby' is such a great song in its own right that having their influences so obviously displayed doesn't matter at all.

It is easily Peace's 'heaviest' song, with grungy guitars and a somewhat whiny vocal before the jubilant chorus swoops in with all its glittering glory, with lyrics so repetitively simple that they swirl around your cranium, Looney Tunes style. Personally, I still prefer the original version, but if this cleaner version gets Peace more mainstream recognition - which it no doubt will - they will blow up the year of 2013 in a more extravagant way than any music busybody could have predicted.

'Follow Baby' is released March 24th.

http://peaceforeverever.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/peaceforeverever
https://soundcloud.com/p-e-a-c-e

Flashback Friday.. Ladyhawke - 'My Delirium'

I adore Ladyhawke. This Kiwi goddess drew from the Earth delicious retro inspired rock/pop songs that were then neatly tucked inside the treasure trove that was her 2008 self-titled debut.

For Ladyhawke was a brilliant album. Consistent from start to finish, it never wavered, only flirting with the repetitive, and to me, it feels like Ladyhawke could do with a tad more recognition, as one Pip Brown solely managed to resurrect a genre of music and float with it, unmatched, in her own little noughties bubble. The album is literally hit after hit, from my personal favourite, 'Magic', the love-struck 'Back of the Van' and dance-floor stomper 'Dusk Til Dawn', however it is the song of choice for this week's Flashback Friday that is perhaps most outstanding.

'My Delirium  is the album's iconic song. If you asked someone if they knew of Ladyhawke, the first song to be plucked from the air would be this one. As with the majority of Ladyhawke songs, in 'My Delerium' Pip  sings of her dilemmas in love, and her confusion whilst yearning for another. The chorus is a killer; simple enough for you to sing along to after hearing it twice yet carrying the longevity to prevent it from getting stale, the song is a rumbling roller-coaster of bubbling tension laced with '80's inspired dance-floor synths that are summoned to life in that euphoric chorus. The animation weaved into the video is a treat too, done by Brown's artist friend and collaborator, Sarah Larnach, whose watercolour artwork decorates both the aforementioned Ladyhawke album, and its successor, Anxiety.

http://www.ladyhawkemusic.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Ladyhawke

New Waves.. Austra - 'Trip'

OK, so not new at all, but I've only just ran across this band, randomly, via YouTube (off a MS MR video), and I was bewitched.

It was that warm, fuzzy, excited feeling that you get when you discover some amazingly fresh and intriguing new music, something that appears to be getting more and more rare these days. Austra are not a band that sounds like everyone else, indeed they are one of the most unique bands that I've came across in a while and I'm more than glad that I've stumbled across them. At the time of a-tap-tap-tapping away at this post, I have only listened to one song by them - namely 'Trip' - and that song itself, only once. That's how hard it hit me.

My quality of writing also seems to be going out the door in my haste to get it out, but all I have to say is that Austra are witchy and haunting, in a manner that recalls one of my favourite bands of last year, 2:54, though far more eerie  atmospheric and haunting, brushed with a gothic and near industrial edge which makes me recall some of IAMX's darker songs. The voice of singer *uber speedy Google search* Katie Stelmanis is reminiscent of Florence Welch, minus the quiver, full of strength and tone that only compliments the creepy aura.

Their latest album, Feel It Break is available now.

http://www.austramusic.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Austra/124441027607242
http://austramusic.tumblr.com/

Flashback Friday.. Hurts - 'Better Than Love'

You may, or may not, have heard of Hurts. You should have heard of Hurts, as their brand of neo-New Romantic synthpop was applauded by many a music critic after the atmospheric single, 'Wonderful Life' was thrown around cyberspace circa 2009.

If you haven't heard of the Manchester band, I'll resist from spanking you; I've never heard them played on radio and only sporadically on music channels. Despite this almost hot and cold response from Brit music press, the band have practically blasted through the charts on the continent, with their debut album, Happiness charting in the Top 10 in twelve European countries. Their second album, Exile, is to be released on March 11th and the band have recently (and somewhat surprisingly, in my eyes) graced the front cover of NME. To give you a taster of what they are about, take a listen to my favourite Hurts song, 'Better Than Love'.

'Better Than Love' is, in my opinion, the most immediate Hurts song, slowly building with a forebodingly pounding beat juxtaposed with glittering synth riffs at the chorus before exploding in a euphoric crescendo, 'Better Than Love' is an ode to fear of loving but failing to live, and uncertainty and denial in a relationship. In short, it's a terrific song, a genuinely rare gem!

Hurts' second album, Exile is released March 11th.
The first single from Exile, 'Miracle' is released March 10th.

2013 European tour dates are as follows:

March 14 - Cologne, Essigfabrik 
March 15 - Munich, Theaterfabrik 
March 16 - Hamburg, Uebel & Gefaehrlich 
March 18 - Stockholm, Strand 
March 20 - Warsaw, Palladium 
March 23 - Zurich, Kaufleuten 
March 25 - Milan, Magazzini Generali 
March 27 - Vienna, Arena 
March 28 - Prague, Lucerna Music Bar 
March 30 - Amsterdam, Melkweg 
April 1 - Manchester, Academy 2 
April 2 - Glasgow, Garage

http://www.informationhurts.com/
http://www.facebook.com/hurts