December Calls

 

Bailey is our lurcher and like anyone who has a dog will tell you, he has an hilarious personality. The trouble is, he is frightened of his own shadow and so has been the mean reason that nowhere near as much as was needed has been posted here in November. He celebrates his 6th birthday on Tuesday.

November in the UK means dark nights and constant Fireworks. I have no problem with people celebrating Bonfire Night. Letting Fireworks off on 5 November or organised displays at the weekend are all part of the tradition. 

Trouble is, that there are idiots who let them off at all times of night for three weeks. Bailey's bionic hearing means he spends most of the month shaking and being consoled which means less time can be spent here.

That has to be remedied because the popular Best Albums Of The Year in early January only contains albums that we have reviewed and there is a backlog. So the catching up begins in earnest after tomorrow's Listening To This Week playlist. It is an absolute corker and was completely overwhelming to prepare. 

So much so that we are well on the way with the following week's offering. I've said it before, but the popularity of here gobsmacks me. It was set up as a small thing to react against those who said all new music was rubbish.

Likewise, Listening To This Week was started as a platform for singles and has gone ballistic. As our name suggested, we didn't intend to cover individual songs, but so many great songs that didn't appear on albums or EPs were getting missed. Our focus though as always remains on Album Reviews.

So as we approach our 10th Anniversary next year (something special is planned), it is remarkable that November's posts had over 125,000 views. We are not over celebratory, quite the reverse, we like to remain in the shadows and let the music speak for us. But there is something satisfying in showing critics of new music to be completely wrong.

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The Chemistry Set and Custard Flux

 

We don't normally write about single songs. The Listening To This Week Playlist handles the sounds and time constraints mean writing is dedicated to Albums and EPs. However, we make an exception for these videos. It is a one off we are not becoming MTV, although it would probably be VH1 if we were that way inclined.

With our love of Psych Pop, we had to tell you about them. On 15 December, the magnificent Fruits de Mer label release a limited coloured 7 Inch Double A Side from The Chemistry Set. The pair go all UK Beat on The Magic Fridge Magnet, but the Psych Pop takes over on STP. The songs are as hypnotic as ever. You can find further details of both songs and 7 Inch purchase details here.

Custard Flux - The Floating Chamber

Our adoration of Curvey's Custard Flux followed on from our fanboy tendencies with The Luck Of Eden Hall. Custard Flux mix Psych with Prog, but allow the melody and catchiness to flow. The Floating Chamber is the closing track on the splendid Enter Xenon album. It isn't that often that we get a Custard Flux video. Here is all 12 minutes of it.

You can read our review of the album here. You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download.

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Lone Wolf - Dark Thoughts

 

Rotterdam quartet have a great back catalogue and Dark Thoughts may be their best album yet.  It sounds a little, dare I say it, Pop Rock at times, although that would be Rocked up Pop Rock. I hope I don't upset a band noted for being Punk.

They still have their Indie Punk credentials, most notably on Rip It Apart, Take Me Outta Here and Silence. But they are so damn melodic. The album is beautifully produced and arranged and in the days of drenching Indie and Punk in distortion, the instrumental track is sonically perfect.

Songs are built on massive riffs, Guitars at 11 and a rhythm section absolutely locked in, wonderfully so. They are also such catchy affairs that you find yourself singing along whilst shaking your fist furiously. Dark Thoughts is a real album to find release in.

People have compared them to Garbage, but they are far superior. None of the posing and preening, much more about the song and far more accessible. Newcomers may prefer to start with the likes of High All The Time with that cracking Intro Riff or the cranked up New Wave of I Don't Wanna Fight. 

But in truth, any of these 11 songs could be embedded. Lone Wolf don't come up for Air and you don't want them to. Any of the 10 songs could be embedded, but I've chosen my 3 faves. Inexcusably loud, but a real gripping listen, this is top notch. It is a long time since I've been to a Punk Festival, but Manchester in April sorely tests me.

You can listen to and buy the download here. You can buy it on Vinyl or CD from the label Stardumb Records in Europe here. In the UK here. In the US here. In Australia here.

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Hand Gestures - Hand Gestures

 

Brooklyn 5 piece, Hand Gestures have released a debut album that crosses genres, but remains a superb listen. It is extremely jaunty and contains some wonderful arrangements whilst moving across the musical spectrum. A little Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da at times.

The feel good factor and the life affirming arrangements make the album such a great listen. You might call the results Pop Rock, but there is Guitar Pop, Classic Rock, Indie Rock and much more on show. The mellow vocal betrays the pure joy of what is inside.

If You're Watching is very near Americana with a wonderful Organ sound. Stephanie Told You sounds a little Paul Simon, again beautifully arranged. Stuck Like This goes all Country, yet Indication Signs is much rockier. 

The Summer Pop sound of Why Try is totally engaging, but Blacked Out is like a cross between Sharp Pins and Wilco. The album is bookended by two singles, both very different. Closer, Label The Labelmaker is a brooding almost Folk song packed with words.

Once It Starts To Kick In is a crackerjack of a song. An all together now sort of thing that adds a surprise new wave synth run. The whole album though is special. Laidback, but drawing you in, splendidly produced, arranged and written.

 

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl and as a download.

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Tigers & Flies - Expanded Play.

 

At the beginning of September, we reviewed the Smashing Scene EP here. Until recently, it has been at the top of our 10 most read posts, unheard of here for such a new band. Those 4 tracks have had another 4 songs added now on the Expanded Play.

I love 'em. It is the type of Angular Intelligent Indie that I adore. Left field unexpected arrangements with the addition of Brass. It is an intoxicating mix. I mentioned at the time that they reminded me of early versions of four bands.

Early XTC, particularly the Angular Guitar and Rhythm, there is a real Colin Moulding feel from the Bass Playing. Early Blur, vocally and lyrically. The Sugarplastic, production and arrangement wise and The Futureheads for the vibe.

The four additions are just as top notch as those on the EP. Talent oozes from this Manchester Five Piece and they seem to be having such fun. At times, a Talking Heads without the stern faces. I can't wait for the next chapter.

You can buy the album here and listen to the four songs from the EP. You can listen to the whole album on You Tube here. The album is available on Vinyl and as a download.

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Them Elephants - Quattro

 

I'm a big fan of Alex Charlow's Them Elephants project. We've covered the previous two albums, Come Calling actually featured in the Best 100 Albums Of 2024 and now we have a new one and it is a splendid listen.

Come Calling offered great genre variety and was our introduction to Charlie's talent. Sugar concentrated more on Indie Rock and Guitar Pop, now Quatrto goes full on West Coast Power Pop. It wasn't debatable that the man could play and write great Pop songs, but this highlights the strength of vocals,

This is full on Power Pop, built on killer riffs, big choruses and big harmony vocals. These vocals underline what a great Pop Rock affair this is. The riffs hook you and then you get an unexpected killer heavier solo. It works perfectly.

Calculated may be the song of the year, Power Pop goodness with a Beach Boys style harmony take. Give Or Take is very early Weezer with a side order of 80s New Wave synth. Satellite is part Club Anthem, part Electro Pop, very different to what else is on display.

The majority here though is Power Pop joy. Right Way is the 80s US Version, Have Some Fun is slightly Slacker, slightly Surf and Where We Go is all vocal harmony. Get Out My Way is anthemic Pop. Four albums in now and not a duff song on any.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Joint Pains - Ouch

 

Typing in Joint Pains on your search site will probably bring up tons of advice on how to manage your pain. No Pain listening to this. This trio are from Newcastle in Australia and they specialise in high energy Indie Rock, evolving a sort of Power Trio.

I hear a lot of this type of stuff that follows a formula, but these three are different. That energy and the out of ordinary riffs that they come up make Ouch! a really interesting listen. Those riffs allow entry to different genres. There is a great guitar sound.

The intro and guitar sound on Submarine sound very Alex Lifeson and they even add a Geddy Lee type keyboard run. Yet, Sandra Dee gets more 90s Rock, but is still jaunty rather than how Po Faced that genre can be.

Sweet Tooth is more Pop Punk, all pace and none of that robotic vocal nonsense.  You've heard Everything Considered on the current Listening To This Week Playlist. That sounds a s great here and is one of two slightly longer songs. The other being Something To Say which steps wonderfully well into Modern Prog.

This is a beautifully put together album. At times, the trio sound like a Rockier Feeder with certainly more variety. The three are interlocked musically and happily Rock you without getting in your face. A cracking listen, I can't wait to hear more from them.

You can listen to and buy the album at a bargain price here.

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