Band: THE DATSUNS Who: Hard hittin’ gang from New Zealand who gained a lot
of attention with their self-titled knockdown debut album in
2002. So far they released 6 albums.
New single: DEHUMANISE – the third single off the album
The speedy engines still use the same formula to keep you jumping up and
down like a teenage monkey. Boiling riffs, smoking pace, cooking vocals and
a sizzling chorus.
“‘The Darkness That You Fear is a hopeful piece of music. When we found the
combination of the different voices worked set to the flow of the music it made
us feel optimistic, like it was something we wanted to share.” says Tom Rowlands.
It’s a soulful and dreamy vibration with vocal samples (Caroline Ellis and John
Ellison), combining trippy Motown pop and dance floor bliss. Surprisingly moody.
Artist: MAMMOTH WVH
The project of Wolfgang VH, the son
of the late Eddie Van Halen.
New single: FEEL – track from upcoming debut LP, more info here.
Feel is a classic hard rock explosion. Metallic chainsaw guitars electrify
a mammoth hammer blow and Van Halen‘s energetic vocals running all
over it. Wolfgang plays all instruments on this fresh slam.
1984 – The year of George Orwell‘s dystopian social science fiction novel published
in 1949. A visionary book focused on the consequences of totalitarianism, mass surveillance, and repressive regimentation of persons and behaviours within society.
Musically 1984 was a year of sonic eclecticism. Folk, punk, classic rock and pop, ska,
soul, post-punk, new wave. Turn Up The Volume‘s 1984 list has that diversity too.
Score: After debut single Happy House (a Siouxsie & The Banshees cover) Common Flaws just dropped this new rad piece, proving once more that the
irresistible power of repetition has an instant impact on your body language.
Moshi Moshi – mostly instrumental, except for a hazy voice in the distance –
gets under your skin from the clap along intro and goes on like forever. Imagine Aphex Twin going synth-pop for a change. Addictive earworm all the way.
J Mascis: “I was listening to a lot of Thin Lizzy, so I was trying to get some
of that dueling twin-lead sound. But the recording session was pretty well
finished by the time things really hit the fan. When the lockdown happened
in March, that meant I was on my own. But it was cool.”
Pitchfork: “Against steep odds, the Western Massachusetts noisemakers’ classic
lineup has made more records in the 21st century than they did in the ’80s, and
unlike Pixies, they’ve achieved a kind of lineup equilibrium that eluded them the
first go-round… Featuring co-production from Kurt Vile, the classic trio’s latest
reunion album is their breeziest and most melodically generous yet.”
Score: 7/10.
Turn Up The Volume: This could easily be one of their 90s albums.
Same fuzz, same buzz. Still slacking like in the early days. Too familiar
for my liking.
Artist: BUDDY HOLLY (Texas, US)
7 September 1936 – 3 February 1959
John Lennon was a big fan Single: IT DOESN’T MATTER ANYMORE Score: No 1 in the UK this day in 1959
Band: FEAR FACTORY Who: Veteran wellheads from Los Angeles (different line-ups over the years) Active: 1989–2002, 2003–2006, 2009–present / 10 albums (so far)
Dino Cazares (co-founder/guitarist) about the new LP: “This record is one of my
proudest achievements. There were a lot of personal struggles, sacrifices, and legal issues involved. But through passion determination, lots of hard work and not giving up the fight,
it’s finally ready for the world to hear. I felt that I needed to prove myself once again as I always try and make each record better than the last. Listen, and understand! This album is pissed! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear and it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are hooked. You must fight to survive in the Aggression Continuum.”
5 new firecrackers to boost your favorite 48 hours…
Band: A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS Who: Infamous psych-noiseniks from Brooklyn, NY
led by founder/mastermindOliver Ackermann Track: END OF THE NIGHT TUTV says: A razzle-dazzle and spine-and-mind-chilling thriller sounding
like Nine Inch Nails going punk, Spacemen 3 returning from the dead and The Brian Jonestown Massacre freaking out on acid, all at the same time.
This is what happens when lockdown blues leads to schizophrenia.
Step into the darkness…
Band: FIGHTMILK Who: Swirling indie rockers from London Track: HEY ANNABELLE – new track from the band’s
upcoming, second LP – out 14 May. Order-info: here. TUTV says: If a band introduces a new piece as follows “Putting the ‘angry’
in ‘Shangri-La’s’, this is arguably our pettiest song“, you just want to press play
and go gaga. Punked-up energy, in-your-face vocals, amplified top pop shot.
Let’s roll…
. Artists: DAVE GROHL and daughter VIOLET Track: NAUSEA – a cover of a 1980 cracker
by L.A. Punk legends X TUTV says: Violet should form her own band
and rock Foo Fighters into oblivion.
Press play for some ass-kicking rawk ‘n’ roll…
Band: NIGHTJACKET Who: Dream-pop quartet from Los Angeles Track: BURN THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE TUTV says: Close your eyes and you’ll hear the starry-eyed voice of Harriet Wheeler, front lady of former daydreamers The Sundays. You’ll also hear romantic pop sparks floating somewhere up there in the blue sky. Summer is in the air.
Enjoy the trip…
. Artist: LUKE SWEENEY Who: Singer/songwriter from San-Francisco Track: TIE MAO TO MINED “This song has traveled a long ways and continues to morph in a variety
of ways, but the theme remains: it’s a mind you can trick into confinement,
consignment, or alignment,” says the author. TUTV says: Back to the 60s, back to the psychdelic flower power era,
back to never-never land, while the restless mind continues its endless
quest for freedom.
