Oui Messy EP

Perhaps one of one of the most enjoyable parts of listening to music is being pleasantly surprised. It’s all too easy to dismiss a band on the blandness of their list of influences or the bagginess of their jeans (I jest, of course). Perhaps even better than that is being surprised when a band who have already put out some strong material come back with stuff that’s even better.

I posted about Cardiff-based Oui Messy a few months back, based on one live performance and regular listens of a small collection of songs on MySpace, and listening to their most recent EP was exciting.

Such is often the case with young bands the Oui Messy sound is a constantly evolving one, like a band who are both still yet to find a place they are completely comfortable with, as well as one constantly finding new great old bands to influence them. Not that that’s any sort of criticism; EP Gelert (and bonus tracks) are all the better for it. Initially, Gelert may feel a little plain-indie and almost Arctic Monkeys-y, but, given time, it’s a strong demonstration of one of Cardiff’s most exciting offerings.

Lots of small bands seem to find the transition from popular local act to one being more widely appreciated a difficult one, but Oui Messy are looking good for that wider audience so far.

Download or stream EP ‘Gelert’, as well as bonus tracks ‘…and Other Short Stories’ from here, stream Bubblegum (from it) or Salesman (an earlier track, not on it) below.

Oi Messy - Salesman

Oui Messy - Bubblegum

Sŵn for Beginners (and foreigners): Thursday

Last year, Dempseys, a small Irish pub in the centre of Cardiff not far from Clwb Ifor Bach, was the venue for The Drums Swn Festival experience. This year, Dempseys has the pleasure of hosting Cardiff independent record label Barely Regal’s Sŵn festival ‘stage’, and is the place to go on the opening night (Thursday) for a preview of some of the best music Cardiff has to offer.

Kutosis, featured here, open proceedings at Dempseys 1930 (finishing at 2015) and deserve the attention of fans of mclusky, heavy guitar riffs, well-thought lyrics and, well, good music. They also appear on the Barely Regal compilation disc ‘Zero Years of Barely Regal’, which is worth a purchase for anybody wanting to know more about the Cardiff music scene.

Though I think it is Goodtime Boys just before them who grab the title of first Cardiff band to play Swn Festival 2010 – playing upstairs at The Model Inn, down the road from Dempseys. This band’s live shows should really have some sort of warning attached - expect one hell of a lot of screaming, jumping, stomping, shouting, riffing, and heavy head-nodding.

Nip around the corner and down the road to Clwb Ifor Bach (… and in through the door and up the stairs), and you’ll find Sweet Baboo, the Cardiff folk musician who recently put his second album out through Cardiff’s Shape Records. For fans of Daniel Johnstone or The Moldy Peaches, you’ll get acoustic guitars, pleasant lyrics and a ruddy good performance.

Straight up after Kutosis (2045-2130) at Barely Regal’s Dempseys are the mighty Right Hand Left Hand - an instrument swapping two-piece who have expertise in loop pedals. There are a number of reasons why Right Hand Left Hand, who make heavy, math-y, and pace-y post-rock, are increasingly popular in their hometown, and their awesome live shows are one of them. Oh, and they also, appear on aforementioned compilation.

Down in Buffalo Bar, for those in that area of town (or those willing to embark on a few minutes walk down Cardiff’s Queen Street), Oui Messy (featured here) play outdoors (head through the front door and down to the opposite end of the bar you’ll find a door and some stairs leading downwards) at 2115, finishing 45 minutes later. A fairly young band, they’re making a name for themselves in Cardiff with their post-punk sound and their knack of writing catchy, interesting songs. They put on a good live show, too.

Over at The Model Inn, a pub a short walk from Clwb Ifor Bach, Shape Records present attack + defend (2130-2215), a band who haven’t played a live show since Sŵn 2009 – and apparently won’t play live again for the rest of this year. Good reason, then, to catch them while you can. Expect the less expected. Three brothers, fair bit (okay, a lot) of psych-y pop synth, a fair bit of noise, probably some shouting, mixed in with some harmonies, and a ruddy good show (apologies for second use of that..). Two of the brothers also play in much hyped (deservedly so) Islet, which might encourage a few more of you to attend.

Starting as Oui Messy finish up, Among Brothers (2200-2245) - who both Matt and Isaac of Barely Regal help to form – play at Dempseys. Featuring glitchy electronics and lush instrumentation, this six (I think) piece make an unsual mix of folk, electro, and emo. Imagine curating a stage at a festival where you book yourselves to play, eh? Actually, it’s not the first time they've done this kind of thing – they also included their own music on their compilation of local bands. Shocking.

The Cardiff band fun ends not too long after with Samoans at Dempseys, starting at 2315 (and ending at midnight). Soon to release a split with Strange News From Another Star through Barely Regal, and also featured on the compilation, Samoans are a lot rock, a little emo, a bit of shouting, and a lot energy. Especially from the sleeveless t-shirt and short-short wearing drummer. If your ears haven’t taken a little bashing yet, they soon will. We advise ear protection, though, of course.

Oh, and if you aren’t convinced yet, Matt from Barely Regal mentioned to me the possibility of free beer. Excited now?

Oui Messy

Oui Messy refuse to stick to any winning formula, and hats off to them for that.

A quick listen to their MySpace tracks and you will be immediately greeted with the post-punky "Salesman". Catchy guitar riffs accompany a driving bass-line, and vocal harmonies (well, in a sort of Young Knives-y way) lead up to one of the most memorable and immediately enjoyable choruses you will definitely hear for a while (I still remember it well, in fact, from one evening in Cardiff's Bar YK watching them support Saturday's Kids despite a heavy dose of alcohol - "All for the family, all for the family too!"). It's post-punk, relatively light-hearted fun.

From then on, one expects more of the same. Cardiff 3-piece Oui Messy have other ideas. "Example 1" is all dark noise and haunting spoken word distortion. A guitar plays on a loop and a drum beats in the background; screams and shouts pierce the noise every so often and bass muffles. It's a long way from the anthemic Salesman, but yet is equally as effective.

They demonstrate yet more diversity and strength through their 2 further tracks online. "Second House" is fast-paced and choppy, with a bass-line that could happily sit on any Police record. Lyrics are spat out almost in the Gareth Los Campesinos style at times, and the whole song has a vintage feel to it that I struggle to trace the roots of. It's good, nonetheless. "Come Roll Over" sees yet more change, with an almost ska and funk (as ska and funk as post-punk can get, that is) to the rallying guitar and bass parts, and a Babyshambles styled sound creeps in at times. All for the family, all for the family too!

Oui Messy are comparable to Cardiff bands Joy of Sex and Saturday's Kids (blog posts here) and, like them, are really starting to make a name for themselves in the city.

Support slots for numerous noteworthy bands left, right, and centre and a debut EP on its way, Oui Messy are one to keep an ear out for. And to see live.