Flashback Friday.. The Horrors - 'Who Can Say'

The eternal question folks: what have I been listening to this week?

Or should I say month, with that summer holiday/laptop malfunction/ridiculous shifts/no sleep debacle. I can sure get away with a lot atm, hehe.

This past week, I've been getting into some of The Horrors, a band that - I admit - I had readily dismissed as all style and no substance a good few years back. They looked far too art-school and/or pompous for me to take them seriously, after all, who really needs a mushroom hair cut with a fringe down to their nose (ever practical, me!), however falling in love with 'Still Life' a year or so ago and taking my fine time to get my grubby mitts on their albums, I can declare myself more than pleasantly surprised!

'Who Can Say' is probably one of their best known songs. Taken from their second album, Primary Colours, it is what can only be described as a tuneful cacophony of noise, laced with slightly eerie synths, and with singer, Faris Badwan's sombre recounts of 'And when I told her I didn't love her anymore, she cried' (actually a lyrical lift from Jay And The Americans' 'She Cried'), this is almost an experimental, indie interpretation of a modern day sonnet.

Higher, the deluxe edition of The Horror's third album Skying, featuring reworkings and rarities is out now.

http://thehorrors.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/horrorsofficial
https://twitter.com/horrorsofficial

New Waves.. CHVRCHES - 'Gun'

I feel so far behind. I noticed on my newsfeed (Facebook, private) that this - CHVRCHES' Gun EP - was released last Friday. That was definitely sprung upon me, especially as I had never even heard of the song or its impending release (the cave, the cave!).

But anyway, what's important is that I'm listening to it now, and I.M.O it is the best thing that CHVRCHES have released to date. Which is impressive, as I loved their Recover EP when it was released in March (!?), however, 'Gun' ups the ante as they say; it is more immediate, more commanding, though no less sparkling than the electronic alt. pop that the band have become known for. As always, singer Lauren Mayberry's cute voice is on top form, with revenge being a dish best served very cold, it appears, the singer warning 'You better run so, hide, hide - I have burned your bridges; I will be a gun, and it's you I'll come for'.

It's this sort of song that makes me excited for an album - and low and behold, there it one! Their debut album, The Bones Of What You Believe is due September 23rd, pre-order it here (recommended via the band's FB).

If you can't wait that long, you're best off grabbing the Gun EP (remix galore!) here.

Aren't I good to you?

What do you think of 'Gun'? Looking forward to the album? Have Chvrches  hit a sweet spot with their electronic sound?

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

New Waves.. Swim Deep - 'Crush'

Ladies and gents, what is this? A post? An actual post!?

Alas, I am back from the wilderness, and what better way to get us back on good, loving terms than giving you some of the loverly Swim Deep. The "B-Town" (can we just say 'Birmingham/Brum' yet?) band have unveiled the bonus track from their forthcoming debut album, Where The Heaven Are We. I admit, I find myself asking this question of Swim Deep myself, for that album appears to have been pushed back; I'm sure it was due out in June? Ah well, who cares, when we have a new nugget of noise to whet out appetites.

'Crush' is the sort of Swim Deep affair that made us latch onto them in the first place; this isn't the emotional and atmospheric sister of 'She Changes The Weather', this is the slightly awkward adolescent brother squeezed somewhere in between 'King City' and 'Honey' that is attempting to be sultry and vying to get himself noticed. Austin and Co are on top form here, with the singer stating 'Take my breath and make me crush, talk real slow so I won't rush, take me some place I won't wanna be' over an intensifying, glimmering guitar. If this is the bonus track that they're willing to share now, I'm looking forward to the rest of the album!

The bonus track itself is available when you pre-order on iTunes.
Where The Heaven Are We is also available in CD and vinyl direct from the Swim Deep Store.

http://swim-deep.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SWIMDEEPUK
https://soundcloud.com/swimdeep

Life Log.. Kinda AWOL

Ah, the glorious wonders of blogging on the run or, as is currently the case, blogging from the creature comforts of my snuggly duvet whilst chillaxing to the Gold Edition of Jessie Ware's Devotion and about to dive into Caitlin Moran's Moranthology. Wild life, is me.

You may have noticed, those supposedly regular and avid readers of this blog (if you exist, let me know, I am eternally grateful!), that there hasn't been much bloggy action on these shores as of late. It's a combination of things, I'm afraid. First of all, I went on holiday with my family to the Cotswalds a few weeks ago (who knew a place could be so expensive!?). Second, soon after, the laptop broke and I've been forced to write on the frustratingly sluggish desktop instead - it's not used for a reason guys! And third, I've been so pinned down with work and trying my hardest to get my Renowned for Sound articles done on time that I've not had time to think about content for this blog, let alone write it. It's not something I'm happy about, but something has to give, I'm afraid. Realistically, regular features won't be happening again until the laptop is fixed, at least; blogging via app may be great for quick updates, but it makes imbedding content next to impossible!

So I'm afraid you'll have to bear with me for now. Hopefully things will straighten out soon!

But for now, here's a happy, furry animal:)