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

Jess Morgan: Aye Me

Jess Morgan, Aye Me album cover. Courtesy of Lauren Razavi

Singer songwriter Jess Morgan will be releasing her new album Aye Me on 26 March.

This record will be a follow-up to Morgan’s 2010 album All Swell, which she toured supporting Ellen And The Escapades and First Aid Kit, among others.

Stating pretty wide influences of English and American folk, this Norwich-based artist has earned an equally wide-ranging international fan base following her increasingly high-profile gigs.

And, on listening to the new album, it’s quite easy to see why. From the atmospheric, and somewhat melancholy, instrumental opening track Heads Of The Valleys Road - a great way to kick things off – the record continues into Workhouse,  the chorus lyrics of which provide the album title, with gentle acoustic guitars and strings adding depth to Morgan’s delicate yet strong vocals.

The pretty, folky vibe is prevalent throughout with some tracks maintaing a more upbeat feel than others, with a duet in The Result adding some extra depth and variation. It’s a confident record, true to the softer end of the folk genre, with a mature world-wearied edge and lyrics that maintain a pleasingly safe distance from the usual cliches.

Workhouse is the first track from the album to have been released and is available now.

You can also follow Jess Morgan on Twitter @JessMorgan.

Bravestation: Signs Of The Civilized

Bravestation, photo courtesy of Nick Law, Led Astray

Canadian four-piece band Bravestation have released a new single, Signs Of The Civilized, which is now available as a free download along with two remixes of the original single.

This Canadian band, whose name sounds like it could be the name of a CGI-packed Jerry Bruckheimer action film starring a pumped up Gerard Butler, hail from Toronto and play self-described ‘quirky tribal pop tunes’.

It’s not a bad summary. Within about two seconds of the track starting, you know you’re not in for your run-of-the-mill indie rock fair – for starters, it kicks off with Eighties ballad drumming and guitar pluckings that Toto would be proud of. But instead of dissolving into a mess of rolled up blazers and mullets, the funk that roots the track firmly in the modern-day kicks in, as do the quirky vocals.

A little Yeasayer, a little MGMT – but calmer and cooler – the track is instantly catchy and addictive, evoking a pleasingly dreamy kind of atmosphere.

You can find out more on the guys’ Facebook page and @Bravestation Twitter account. In the meantime, have a listen for yourself:

Geoff Farina: The Wishes Of The Dead

Geoff Farina. Photo courtesy of Damnably

Cult post-punk rocker, Geoff Farina is releasing his new album, The Wishes Of The Dead on March 5 – his first full-length solo album in over a decade.

With much of his long music career spent fronting Boston-based band, Karate – who were together from 1993 to 2007 making a reputation for their improvised punk rock stylings – as well as The Secret Stars and Glorytellers – who he still plays with, Farina is now releasing a solo album. The record was reportedly written on the Kennebeck River in Maine, with Farina drawing creative interest from his new surroundings after moving to the country.

Whereas life in a small town compared to that of a big city is generally not thought to be all that inspirational or exciting, yet Farina has found plenty of material in his new life. Hammer And Spade tells of the region’s original settlers, and Prelapsarian tells the story of a local heroin addict.

The sound and feel of this album definitely reflects Farina’s departure into a quieter, slower moving way of life. Not that it’s always rosy, but he demonstrates that there is at least time to look around and observe. There’s no loud, distracting chaos – there’s a serenity that can reveal both beauty and melancholy.

This can be heard instantly with the gentle, melodic strummings of opening track Prick Up Your Ears, which combines beautifully with Farina’s husky, world-weary vocals. While there is little departure from this gentle sound in much of the record, Twilit has an interestingly jarring use of flat keys in among the usual harmony to an eerie effect.

Ani DiFranco: ¿Which Side Are You On?

Grammy Award-winner Ani DiFranco. Photo courtesy of Blurb PR.

American singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco, maker of over 20 albums and receiver of Grammy Awards, is releasing a new album ¿Which Side Are You On? on 17 January.

Having carved a career for herself in the folky acoustic category, with a healthy addition of feminism, fans will be glad to know DiFranco is doing two small London performances at the Union Chapel on 10 and 11 January to promote her new material.

The new album, the first in three years, is being released through DiFranco’s own excellently named Righteous Babe Records, which couldn’t suit DiFranco’s sassy, soulful style more. The tracks, as well as making for pleasurable listening, pack a political punch addressing subjects from environmental disaster to problems and injustice in western culture.

From the confident title track, with its energetic catchy slice of country, the album is an uncompromising look at how DiFranco sees the world. And what’s in it for you? Cliche-free lyrics, original folk-infused songs with enough of a sense of underlying vulnerability to keep them relatable, and something to think about afterwards. You can’t say that for many albums.

Will Varley

Will Varley, 'Advert Soundtracks' album artwork. Photo courtesy of Smugglers Records

Will Varley, a name that should be associated with his crowd-pleasing brand of acoustic folk, is releasing his debut album, Advert Soundtracks on 20 February.

After putting in countless hours of work touring around south-east England’s acoustic and open mic nights – on foot, no less, Varley was picked up by Smugglers Records. They will be supporting his tour to promote the album, which will also be carried out on foot. Let’s hope he has some hard-wearing sensible shoes…

You’ve been described as ‘the antithesis of all that Simon Cowell creates’ by Contact Music, is that a label – or lack thereof – something you actively try to steer clear from?

Well, what Simon Cowell or anyone else does really does not concern me. I am in the business of writing songs. Simon Cowell is in the business of bubblegum and that’s fine.

Let’s be clear though, some of his first records included The Teletubbies Single and The Mightymorphin’ Power Rangers. This guy is making stuff for children, like a clown. He essentially is a very famous clown. I like some clowns, but as for Simon Cowell, I’d like to see him with a bloody nose.

You’ve been trying to get yourself noticed from open mic nights and the like for years – was there ever a point when you were tempted to give up?

It depends what you mean. I would never give up making music and writing/playing songs. If you’re referring to the music industry as such, then I gave up trying to get noticed a long time ago. The ‘music industry’ is essentially a whole group of gatekeepers and I’d rather they didn’t notice me.

I play with a small group of dropouts called Smugglers Records. I think I probably noticed them more than they noticed me. The problem is that a lot of people still believe in the concept of ‘getting noticed’. It doesn’t exist, it’s like an old 1980s model that died away years ago. Write a song and go and play it somewhere. People will notice you. That’s enough.

What was your experience like of touring Kent on foot last summer? 

That was beautiful. We walked through the most glorious countryside and met some of the most excellent people in the world. People fed us and put us up and let us play in their pubs or front rooms. A lot of people go travelling in Thailand or someplace and end up in a McDonald’s with an ‘I Love Vietnam’ T-Shirt on.

Anyone can go travelling if they walk out onto their own doorstep one day and go and meet the people you walk past all the time and never speak to. By the time we got home I felt like the whole world was mine. Like every rock was mine to keep and no-one else could claim it. It wore off after a few days when I re-adjusted to living within the confines of my own space but I’ll never forget it.

Do you think the current music climate of embracing all that is folk has helped propel you, or is it more a case that all the practice has paid off?

Ah, shit comes and goes like the plague. Doesn’t bother me. It’ll be out of fashion again before long, I think I prefer it that way. As for propelling me, I’m nowhere. The electric went on the meter earlier and I had to borrow a fiver to turn the lights back on.

What made you come up with the title Advert Soundtracks? A really gripping Nescafe advert?!

The best thing a band can hope for these days is to get their song on an advert. I think that shits on what most people think about music and the power it has to change things or bring people together.

If all goes well with the first album, do you think you’d invest in a car, or even just a micro scooter for the next tour?

No, I want a gold-plated limousine. With twenty hookers and shit loads of cocaine.

As a little pre-album exclusive, you can have a listen to Will Varley’s The Sound Of The Markets Crashing, along with a single from Cocos Lovers who will be accompanying him on tour.