New ARMS EP

The debut album by ARMS was one that I felt didn't get the man enough credit. Kids Aflame, with is indie folk rock sounds (think Cold War Kids for an easy comparison), received a harsh, but still decent, 6.1 on Pitchfork and proved ex-Harlem Shakes guitarist Todd Goldstein was more than capable of doing things alone. Tracks like "Whirring" and "Shitty Little Disco" demonstrated the knack for catchy (but definitely serious) indie rock meolodies accompanied by Goldstein's deep, resonating vocals, whereas "Kids Aflame" and "Tiger Tamer" are somewhat more delicate affairs; acoustic guitar (or maybe ukelele?) strummed over harmonised vocals, sounding almost like Bon Iver.

The good news is, ARMS, now less a solo project and more a band proper with full-time bassist and drummer recruited, is back with a new EP. And, even better news is, this is free to download! Named simply "EP", the new five-track EP has a similar feel to the debut effort; much of it would be classifieded as chilled out indie rock, with folk and country influences. It's decent on first listen, and will likely grow on me.

Click here for a free, legal download of the full EP. For more info, head to ARMS' website, MySpace, or Twitter.

To Guest-List or Not To Guest-List..?

This little moral dilemma is something that I've been considering for quite a while. Should I feel that I 'deserve' free entry to the show because I am paying for it in the currency of press coverage? Or should I support the band that I'm going to watch and, probably, big up.

I know there are some writers that don't like to ask for guest-list as they feel they are taking away both money from the band and also stopping a potential paying customer from seeing them. And then there are those like me who, so far, at least, feel that free entry to a show isn't too much to ask in return for a review.

I suppose one consideration would be who you are getting the guest-list pass from.

If it's the band themselves sticking you on the guest-list, then I guess that is their way of giving permission - and they get rewarded by the people reaidng about their band on the review I write.

If it's the venue, or promoter, on the other hand, you have to wonder whether the band is losing out from my name being on the guest-list rather than someone else paying to get in. Does the promoter recognise that this band is gaining some press coverage for the gig and the venue. Are the bands getting paid a split of the bar money for the night?

I don't know the answer to these questions. I just hope that they band isn't missing out on money from the generosity of the promoter or the venue.

Fang Island

I'm just listening to Fang Island on Spotify now after reading a good review of the album on Pitchfork, and I too am enjoying it, so I thought I'd spread the love (it also helps that I am incredibly bored...).

It's sort of post-rock, a little math-rock and most definitely definitely rock rock. It has a sort of instrumental feel, though does have the odd bit of vocal work, as pointed out by those pedantic Last FM taggers. At times it has an incredibly cheesey feel with guitar riffs that elsewhere I may cringe at, but here it really works. The band apparently describe their music as everyone high fiving everyone, which is a visual image that accompanies this album well. It's fun.

So yeah, check out the album on Spotify, buy it, or stream it through links available from the band's MySpace. You (hopefully) won't be disappointed.

Gallops

Photo by Paul Gregory of Lense Eyes
Gallops grabbed my attention immediately when I first saw them. That I without doubt remember. What I'm not completely sure is when it was I first saw them. But I think it was at Swn Festival 2008, back in them early reviewing days of mine. I distinctly remember totally, and yet completely accidentally, ripping off another review of Gallops by describing them almost identically (it was a review that I had forgotten I'd read but clearly subconsciously agreed with and thus regurgitated at a later date).

The review (my copycat review) in question described Gallops as the following;

Incredible stuff from the Wrexham post-rock four-piece who opt for energy and an electro math-rock punch in the face over a Mogwai gentle caress approach to instrumental post-rock.

To be fair, it's understandable why my subconscious liked it as it's pretty accurate; Gallops are experts at hitting you with a brick wall of sound. Their approach to math-rock is indeed that of well-bashed snare drums and bassy-electro sounds. Think along the lines of Holy Fuck and Battles, only potentially better. Seriously.

It's an understatememt to say that recordings don't do Gallops justice (though this is nothing against their current recordings and is something that may well change with their eagerly anticipated debut EP), you really must see Gallops live. They are most probably the best live band I have ever seen. They create an incredible atmosphere, regardless of whether they play to a crowd of fans or a small pub filled with those less aquainted with their music. I find the drummer completely hypnotising. There's almways so much going on and he doesn't half smash the shit out of those drums (so much so that their Swn 09 set went on with a split snare skin). And whilst the drumming stirs up a hurricane with some incredible fills and the laptop creates a bassy bleepy buzz, their is still room for intricate guitar work and even at times some heavy riffs.

You really have to head to Gallops' MySpace - they are probably the only band whose page I bother going to just to listen to their tracks - but even more importantly you must go to see them live. It is a decision that you will not regret.

Gallops are in the final stages of preparing their debut EP for release, and have a number of upcoming shows. In the mean time, watch them "rocking out" on the BBC.

Edited to add:
For a free download of a new song of their's, head to A New Band A Day.

Yuck

Once again, I'm not particularly new with Yuck. Well, I am. I've known of them for a while, but only just have I got around to writing some things about them. So I think I still qualify as cool as funk.

I could describe Yuck in a way that would bore you. In fact, I will to start with (and, frankly, probably continue with). Yuck could be seen as another one of those catchy lo-fi indie fuzz pop bands that we've all become accustomed with over the past year or so. They have boy-girl harmonies and, actually most surpisingly when you listen to the band, include ex-members of Cajun Dance Party. But they are this, and so much more.

"Georgia" (which is the second most played song in the last three months, according to those trusty Last FM folk) is an incredibly catchy fuzz-pop masterpiece with an emotive feel that tucks you in and keeps you warm at night. The vocals are delicate yet strong, the guitar riff distorted yet incredibly easy to swallow and I defy you to listen to it and not love it. It's like dancing at a funeral, celebratory and upbeat but with a deep sadness and feeling of grief.

"Automatic" goes all out at tugging at your heartstrings, with no blanket of catchy pop riffs to cover up the despair. The boy-girl vocal work again is delicate, with a fragility and almost desperate feel backed only by a piano for the most-part, which for me brings forth images of a lone pianist in a dark empty room - the simple pressing of keys seems almost too much effort with all the feelings of sorrow that the poor sod is having to deal with.

The band are getting themselves noticed by the right people, and this news is something which pleases me. Not long back did they support Dum Dum Girls in London, but this summer they also go on tour with Japandroids and look set to have a bright future.

New single, "Georgia" has just been released and is available on vinyl here. "Sunday" is available for free download here, and more info can be found at the band's blog and MySpace. Enjoy.

Edited to add:
Legendary noise pop act Black Tambourine are also a good point of comparison.

For anyone still not convinced, check out the new free download posted by the band at their blog.