Giant Burger

London's Giant Burger kind of defy genre and description. There are vocals and drums and guitar and bass and keys. There are melodies and there is noise. It's kind of experimental but it's also kind of pop at the same time as being kind of rock and prog and punk and blah blah blah. But then, being made up of a good few members of the now deceased BAANEEX, this kind of skullfuckery is to be expected really.

All that really matters is that I like their songs and hopefully some people who frequent this blog will do too. 'Trapped In Egypt' sounds like the kind of song you might expect to soundtrack a kids' horror TV show, while new track 'Fridges' (taken from a forthcoming four-track cassette on London's Odd Box Records, I think...) hears them at their most self-assured and well-recorded to date. A band increasingly comfortable with their place in the corner of the room with no friends, and I admire that.





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Yola Fatoush - Celine

Starting out as what could be the intro to an M.I.A. song, London two-piece Yola Fatoush's 'Celine' turns into something far more dreamy and ethereal as it progresses - blending experimental electronic beats with delicate vocal layers to interesting and strangely trance-inducing effect. It's taken from a 7" due for release through Parlour Records on June 25. Here's hoping the other three tracks to feature on the EP are just as good.



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King of Cats

"The eccentric creativity of Daniel Johnston with the voice of a dying cat" is how I recently described the sound of King of Cats for a gig listing (although the second part of that description was duly edited out) and, for a rushed one-liner, I think it gives a pretty decent idea of what to expect from Oxford/Brghton-based 19-year-old Max Levy. With a guitar in hand and his unique and oddly effective voice, Max crafts interesting and intelligent - if slightly weird - songs that feel honest and born out of a need to just make music.

And his SoundCloud page is certainly testament to both his urge to write and write and write and his, let's call it, 'unusual' nature - with over 30 tracks penned and uploaded in the last 12 months, with titles ranging from 'Zombie in a well nailed coffin' to 'I stink of human feces'. The most recent of his numerous recordings are set to be released through new DIY label Reeks Of Effort (a label collective run by members of Joanna Gruesome, Playlounge, YRRS, and more) and I'm absolutely in love with them. Seldom does a man and his guitar sound so interesting and compelling - really good songs with vocals that I really enjoy. Listen for yourself with an open mind below, or stream the whole thing on Reeks of Effort's bandcamp.





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tenstoreys - Fhree

Surprises aren't always fun. One time, I went to the shop, and I was surprised to find that they had ran out of Butter Puffs. That certainly was not fun. But what is fun when an unsuspecting email from a band/producer/artist/whatever turns out to brighten up your day. The email from tenstoreys was modest and minimal, and the artist's SoundCloud page doesn't tell us much more - but, luckily, the music speaks volumes, reminding me of the weirdo electronic charms of Mozam Beaks.

Fhree by tenstoreys

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New: Athletes

A few weeks ago we posted about mysterious Danish artist Athletes and their song Raincoats - an excellent track mixing the sounds of The Cure and My Bloody Valentine in an unusually original and exciting way. Thanks to a tip off by Vocododo, we've now stumbled upon two new tracks from them - and they're both stunning. Anyone fond of the Blouse album out a few weeks back, or those with a soft spot for interesting, inspiring, textured pop music, pay attention.

Athletes - Nowhere

Athletes - Fall Apart

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Saturday's Kids - Black Pocket

It's been a while since we heard new material from Saturday's Kids, which makes this post all the more exciting, for me at least. The young South Wales band are due to put out a new 7" early next year, and 'Black Pocket' is one of the songs taken from it. Carrying the same kind of youthful, post-punk angst that we've grown to love in their previous work; the four-piece also continue to make massive forward strides in sound with this release. They're not content to sit still and be comfortable, and they're all the better for it. Catch them playing two live dates with Future of the Left later this month


Saturday's Kids - Black Pocket

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Blood Sport

On listen to Sheffield's Blood Sport, it's difficult to decide whether I really like them or really don't. Whilst their recordings are a bit scrappy (expect instruments to not always be in-time with each other), their sound is inventive, experimental and daring. The band are probably fully aware that a large proportion of the general public will never be interested in listening to their somewhat obnoxious-sounding songs, yet they go ahead and continue making the music that they want to make regardless.

Their sound is a difficult one to pin down, with the three-piece not easily fitting into any specific conceived genres, nor do they have many obvious musical comparisons (though there are definite hints of the care-free attitude of The Fall, whilst also having a 'math'-ish techy Battles-like sound, and reminding me too of Volcano!) - which is always a good thing. What's for sure is that it's noisy, ambitious and anti-social - yet works (perhaps surprisingly) well, for the most part at least. Download a digital copy of the cassette from bandcamp, or order a physical copy from The Audacious Art Experiment.

H.S.F.M. by Blood Sport


Blood Sport - Mayan Dance

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Saint Yorda

Saint Yorda are an interesting prospect. With songs that range from the dark and atmospheric (some might even stick the tag 'goth' on it, in the Zola Jesus kind of sense of the word, at least) noises of 'Death Ray', to the pensive, almost Richard Hawley-with-a-synth sound of 'Yr Bones', to the guitar-meets-electro slow-pop of Sakawa Bones, to the surf-influenced sound of (ahem...) Surf Song', the three-piece from Cork are taking on a lot - and pulling it off. So they might go a bit overboard with the cow-bell at times, and not all tracks are without their flaws, but these lot are pretty impressive. I'd definitely be interested to take a peek into their record collection.

Saint Yorda - Death Ray

Saint Yorda - Yr Bones

Saint Yorda - Sakawa Boys

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New: Baaneex

As if Baaneex didn't already come across as diverse and eclectic experimenters of sound, two new tracks from the London four-piece sees them moving into yet more unexplored noises. Space Wagon opens with a chomping repetitive bluesy bass-line straight out of Road Rash II before the spacey, piercing guitar interjects and moves things into an all-the-more progressive and psychedelic direction; whereas Weird Dance 8 opens with frantic, Jay Reatard-style guitar scruff only to be interrupted by repeating electro-ish bleeps - and of course both are topped off with their usual anti-social chants. And yet somehow they pull off both with style. Stream and download below.

Baaneex - Space Wagon

Baaneex - Weird Dance 8

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Video: yajé - Herbal Drug Clinic

Cardiff two-piece Yajé are a bit odd. Their name is odd both to type and pronounce. Their music is odd. And, surprise, surprise, their song's accompanying videos are odd. There's something ultimately charming and inviting behind all that anti-social raucous noise though, don't you think?

yajé - Herbal Drug Clinic from murray s ward on Vimeo.

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Trwbador

I have a confession to make. I have been ignoring Trwbador for the last few months on the basis of a (purely name-generated) theory that they were a dreadfully boring, entirely average, one-man-band acoustic folk act. They're certainly not that.

The duo, although certainly with folk influences, sit more comfortably with the experimental pop tag - blending electronic beats, acoustic guitar, and wonderful female vocals. This is interesting, enjoyable, and far from my silly prejudice.

Trwbador - Red Handkerchiefs

Trwbador - Sun In The Winter

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New: Acid Glasses

Although not as in your face and obnoxiously weird as My Pale Garden, Tennessee artist Nick Burk aka Acid Glasses continues his assault on our ears with Jpeg Hoarder. It'll be released through Stroll On Records, October 10.

Acid Glasses - Jpeg Hoarder

Flamingods

There are no two ways about it; Flamingods are weird. They make the kind of noise that is impossible to pin down to one genre alone - exploring a wide range of sounds, and creating them with unusual methods.

The London five-piece are perhaps most easily comparable to Islet - percussion-led experimental sounds, touching on 'freak folk' and 'tribal' through the use of distorted vocal samples and synths, and with an interest in a range of worldwide musical cultures. Much like Islet's are, you expect Flamingods' live shows to be an interesting and unusual spectacle, not to mention one that is difficult to keep up with.

Although their sound doesn't initially seem to be a particularly inviting one - all experimental noisy racket - it's well worth sticking with and getting lost in. Listen below, or download a full album for free at bandcamp.

Flamingods - Sun

Flamingods - If You Can Walk

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Acid Glasses - My Pale Garden

Good intentions are all well and good but until they're translated into good actions, they're kinda a little pointless. It's an obvious point, but one that I apparently refuse to take notice of time and time again.

Listening to the wonderfully unusual 'My Pale Garden' by Memphis artist Acid Glasses on an iPod in a pub in London last week, I had every intention of getting home that night and spreading the e-love. Then - being in a pub and all - I drank (impressively bargainous) beer, got on a train and inevitably didn't write anything that evening.

So here I am, 8 days on, finally moving this good intention into some actual-bloody-action, and in that time the song has already been impressively (and deservedly) well covered - The Pigeon Post, A New Band A Day, The Line Of Best Fit, Music Fan's Mic, and even the bloody NME all spreading the love.

For what it's worth - which frankly isn't much right now - I really like this song. Presumably somewhat like trying describe the flavour of a Big Mac to somebody who has never eaten meat, Acid Glasses' (aka Nick Burk) experimental take on psychedelia/pop/electronica/whatever-else-it-might-be-categorised-as on is very possibly unlike much you’ll have heard before, barring some crazy remix of some super catchy pop song. That it has been compared to bands spanning from Animal Collective to The Beatles is a decent insight to its tricky-to-pin-down sound. And whilst it is odd, it's not made with the aim of being kooky.

It's due to be released on 7" through Stroll On Records early Autumn but until then have a listen and download of it in digital form.

Acid Glasses - My Pale Garden

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Yawn

Shamelessly stolen from my other blogging venture (lostlostlost), Yawn are a Chicago tropics-loving four-piece - all rim-clicks, 'tribal' chanty vocals, bongo-taps, and high-pitched, high-paced guitar work. It's the sort of thing that some people will compare to Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, and Yeasayer but it certainly deserves to be seen as its own 'thing'. It's exciting, it's vibrant, and I really, really like it.


Yawn - Toys


Yawn - David


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Revisiting: BAANEEX

Good news! Everyone's favourite weirdos BAANEEX return with some new tracks and news of a cassette release.

It's called Ewan H and will be out in around a month through their own Intenstines label. There will be only 25 of them, so don't hang about. Hear a track from it - 'Ewan H 2' - exclusively below and have a re-listen to some of their equally ace earlier material. Suitably weird, I think you'll agree. Can't wait to hear the full tape.


BAANEEX - Ewn H 2

BAANEEX - Weird Dance 2

BAANEEX - COOOL COUNT

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Hear Hums

From one side of the Animal Collective coin of influence - yesterday's "world"-y World Map - to the other, with the glitchy experimental pop noise of Hear Hums.

Hear Hums are a two-piece from Gainesville, Florida, and consider themselves an experimental and visual band. It's pretty easy to see why this would work, Hear Hums music is driving, complex, kaleidoscopic soundscapes that brings forth visions of colourful and swirling shapes even without the actual visual accompaniment. Bubbling electronic sounds, crashing cymbals, clicking rims and rickety snares, woo-and-ahh-ing vocals, and often bending or looping guitar strums all coming together to create something otherworldly and wonderful.

They're about to head out on tour in the US, but UK people are probably going to have to be a bit patient to see the visuals and sounds working alongside eachother. I bet it's bloody good though. Listen to stuff at bandcamp, or grab whole album Psyche Cycles, released back in December, for free (with permission from the band) here.


Hear Hums - Woo


Hear Hums - BXYZ


Hear Hums - Ay

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World Map

So-called ‘world’ music has seen a huge revival in recent years, at least partly thanks to Animal Collective. The African influenced sound is pretty well known for its ‘tribal’ feel; layers of vocals, a gaggle of percussionists and generally stuff taken on by a group of people. Where Brighton-based artist Calum Bowen, aka World Map, differs is that he ambitiously attempts the sound alone.

Surprisingly it comes off incredibly well. Often sample heavy with plenty of brilliant Afro-influenced chinking and gliding guitar work and also supplemented by drum machine topped off by Calum’s unusual but effective vocals, it all comes together quite brilliant. Although at times it can be a little hit and miss (songs, for me, can sometimes lack a little direction or focus and at times rely slightly too heavily on samples), the consistency is about the only criticism that you can make. There are some real gems here.

How on Earth this would work live I doubt even Calum himself knows, but let’s just enjoy what we have rather than worry about the future, eh? Grab stuff below, or head to bandcamp for a full album of material plus a host of new songs as they come.


World Map - Wouldn't It Be Nice


World Map - Vulcan Shield


World Map - Needles

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Men Of Good Fortune

Photo: Elizabeth WaightStruggling to find words to describe this. Kind of an unusual juxtaposition of catchy and fairly light and 'normal' music with shouty, atonal, difficult to understand and certainly unusual lead vocals that ends up as kind of experimental punk? God knows, I dunno. As much as it perhaps shouldn't work, it kind of does and I like it. They're a London five-piece, by the way, just so this blog post has some actual information.

They just played the Hackney Working Girls Club night and got photographed by Vice Magazine, so maybe expect to hear quite a bit more in the coming months. Listen to sounds below.


Men Of Good Fortune - Infant Eyes


Men Of Good Fortune - Kurt Co-Brain

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P For Persia

Some bands are really noisey. Noise to a level where there is no melody whatsoever. This is perfectly good. Music is art, and noisier music is just as relevant as pop music and should be appreciated just as much. But sometimes it’s a little difficult to listen to, naturally. Sometimes you want that noise - lots of harsh sounds, guitar reverb, cymbal crashes - but also some cohesion and some melody, just to soften the experience a little.

Well, sometimes I want that anyway. I won’t speak on your behalf. But if sometimes you also would like some melody with your servings of harsh noise then Brighton’s P For Persia might be the band for you. Combining synth-y experimentation with heavily distorted, sometimes shouty vocals (at times through a converted telephone), with plenty of lengthy instrumental moments, percussive smashing, guitar riffing, bass buzzing and general raucous fun, but also with definite hints of pop, P For Persia tick lots of my ‘stuff I like’ boxes. As well as sounding good in their recorded output thus far (full-length Mount Muffin Top was a few years in the making but the effort more than pays off), live shows are good fun too, from what I’ve seen (well, this), and the band know how to bring their element of pissing-around-fun to the stage.

You can check out a short documentary on P For Persia made by Brighton band Illness here. Hear more stuff below, and download aforementioned full-length Mount Muffin Top for free from their bandcamp page.


P For Persia - Firing Line


P For Persia - Cliche


P For Persia - Queen Doppelpoplis

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