The Thinking Men: Days Like This

The Thinking Men. Holding eggs.

The Thinking Men, who have previously appeared on Beat The Static when they released their EP Mirror Test a little while ago, released their new single Days Like This on 1 May.

The Norwich-based foursome channel their brand of alternative blues rock with a cheerful quirky touch, with traditional group country-esque vocals juxtaposing against some fairly mental solo vocals, which are incredibly gravelly yet upbeat and chipper at the same time. Almost as though a member of Slipknot decided to cover some Dolly Parton. But not quite.

It’s weird, it’s surprising, it even makes you laugh, but the fact that this band are going for something a little different is refreshing, and this track turns out to be a very catchy feel-good affair. Rather than sounding how they think they should, they go out and show some individual personality – how many bands do you know that pose for press photos holding an egg? Not enough, in my opinion…

Follow the band on Twitter @TheThinkingMen.

Soul Circus: Burn The Map/The Consequence Of Youth Double A Side

Indie rock band Soul Circus

Five-piece indie rock band Soul Circus will be releasing a double A-side single Burn The Map/The Consequence Of Youth on 14 May.

Their sound, which has previously been likened to The Killers and Doves, certainly has a similarly anthemic sound to it and there is something rather Jez Williams-esque about the main vocals. While there is a sense of lamenting for a lost past, this is balanced with the uplifting energetic thrash of the music. Heavy drums, loudly twanging guitars and mature, relatable lyrics are likely to make this band a welcome addition to the indie circuit.

In an interesting departure from the typical music-buying format, the single will be available as a two CD package, aiming to encourage a ‘pass-it-on’ initiative whereby fans can keep one CD and pass the other to a friend they think might like it. Even more excitingly, there’ll also be a Double-Dip included in the deal – the sherbert rather than depressing economic variety.

It’s a well-used formula for a reason, but if you’re after something radically fresh and different, they may not be the guys for you. But you can make up your own mind with this audio-visual treat of Burn The Map:

You can also follow the band on Twitter @soul_circus.

Fresh Like Dexie: Step In The Sun

Fresh Like Dexie performing live

Five-piece multi-genre band Fresh Like Dexie have released a new EP Step In The Sun.

Having first found life on a camping trip in 2010, the band have a sprawling range of influences from Stevie Wonder to The Clash to Rage Against The Machine. And what becomes instantly clear as soon as you hit the ‘play’ button on one of their tracks, is that each of these influences has trickled down into their own music.

From the first seconds of opening track Tifa Lockhart you’re thrust into a ridiculously catchy funky bass riff, which is shortly joined by some energetic and sunny guitar strumming and Danielle Bruton’s pleasingly husky vocals that are just full of soul. The combination conjures echoes of a fresher, and hopefully more sober, Jamiroquai.

As it continues, the EP brushes with a more paired down sound in the eponymous third track, where Bruton’s vocals are combined with band member Cameron Williams-Hill, providing a nice contrast, and taking it up a notch in Sparks, Fuse, Energy , with its generous helping of vintage nostalgia. On every track, the interaction between Williams-Hill on guitar and Sam ‘Tuggy’ Tugnutt on bass and their keen-fingered plugging is particularly wonderful.

Perfect to dance to on a sunny afternoon at a festival – these guys have an infectiously refreshing feel-good factor.

You can also follow the band on Twitter @FreshLikeDexie.

Some Of Us Never Die: Some Day, Brother

Some Of Us Never Die: Some Day, Brother

Some Of Us Never Die, a five-piece band from the particularly excellent (not that I’m biased) town of Epsom in Surrey, have released a new four-track EP Some Day, Brother.

Together since 2009, with a few member changes along the way, the post-hardcore band tend to put a big focus into creating energetic and memorable live shows, with lots of leaping around, shouting and sweat. Tasty.

And while their live shows would be a great thing to watch, the recorded offerings should not be forgotten. The EP kicks off with Sky Scrapers – an explosive opening track delivering a punch of gnarly guitars with a chorus that has some pleasing echoes of Funeral For A Friend. Wolves takes it down a notch, with some effective group vocals creating a lamenting atmosphere. There is  similar feel with Revelations, and it is a track which shows off some rather speedy drumming skills. And finally, Twenty-seven Floods with its mesmerising instrumental opener, is impressively multi-tempo – some switches are smoother than others – with the feel of having several songs in one.

Overall, this is a well produced and predominately satisfying listen, transferring well to recorded use. I bet it’d all sound much better live though…

You can both listen and watch to opening EP track Sky Scrapers below:

Weatherbird: I Might Be More Than You Know

Weatherbird, photo courtesy of End Of The Trail Records

Weatherbird, a band from Telford near Birmingham, are releasing a new single I Might Be More Than You Know on 16 April.

Once you hear the guitars and growling vocals kick in, there might not be anything in particular you’d question about this track. Following the drums as it opens comes an insanely catchy guitar riff, and it progresses to a pleasingly repetitive piece of rock that you find yourself unable to resist singing along to. It’s tightly put together, and not about getting high or being drunk, so presumably the work of a band who have been at it for a few years and have picked up a certain sense of maturity, right?

Wrong. This band is made up of a group of 17-year-olds. I typed it right and everything – they’re 17. When I was 17 I mainly dodged homework in order to watch Hollyoaks and tried to find ways of consuming Smirnoff Ice. I like to think I’ve improved with age, and if Weatherbird do too, I think they could become very impressive.

Pati Yang: Wires And Sparks

Pati Yang, photo courtesy of SuperCat PR

Pati Yang, who you may know from her previous experiences in the band Children with Stephen Hilton, and FlyKkiller – a musical and photographic installation artwork project – released a new solo EP, Wires And Sparks EP 1 on 9 April.

Pati says the four-track EP is about a painful but necessary break-up, a subject that is sensitively explored through her lyrics. A topic that could easily lead to a self-indulgent bout of wrist-slittingly depressive tracks is dealt with maturely, of course there is a sense of melancholy, but it is coupled with affection and enough energy to keep it hopeful.

It’s an EP that is pleasingly easy to listen to, while bringing something a bit different to the table. Pati’s pretty and slightly ethereal vocals effectively juxtapose the heavy, dogged drumbeat on the eponymous first track. There’s almost a tribal feel to the backing vocals to the fairly epic Let It Go, while Take A While embraces a simple piano accompaniment and Breaking Waves‘ echoes, violins and ghostly vocals mixes things up again.

A varied and very enjoyable listen.

Nylon Sky: Man Down

Nylon Sky performing live. Photo courtesy of Crash Club Records.

Nylon Sky, a four-piece band from Guildford, have released new single Man Down prior to their second EP release on 9 April.

The band describe themselves as a genre-straddling mix of alternative rock and hip-hop, with a mix of rapped verses, heavy guitars and gravelly chorus vocals. From the opening guitar riffs, Man Down is full of attitude and effectively cruises through the different genres, paces and tones to make the track a varied and interesting listen, culminating in an impressive roaring finish.

It’s seems a shame that the strong start is interrupted with the slightly jarring opening rap, but luckily it becomes smoother as the track goes on.

A catchy song that is very likely to be a hit with anyone of the post-hardcore disposition.

You can also follow the guys on Twitter @nylonsky