Press info: Across Black Light Poster’s eight seismic and engaging tracks, a range of vibes come together in kaleidoscopic display across a spectrum of garage rock, psych, post-punk and surf-pop. There’s a darkness to the light, and a lightness to the dark, all wound tightly around a pop-song core by the blood, sweat, and beers of band. The album, can be defined as a sort of tapestry of challenges that life springs onto you when you’re most vulnerable – but also the importance of holding it together to make it to the other side.
SamPitino (Vocalist): “Thematically, the album touches on such a wide range of human conditions: Love, loss, lust, depression, anxiety, disappointment, forgiveness. And we all experience these things every day, in real life situations: Our romantic relationships, our friendships, our workplaces, our politics. It’s a whole world. And when you take a step back and start to put things into perspective, you see that there’s so much gray area and nothing is black and white. But the gray area is the part that’s interesting – that’s where you can immerse yourself and create stories that hopefully resonate.
There’s a range of vibes on the album. It’s like riding a clanky box car into a dark fun-house. There are things that make you jump in your seat. Others make you squirm a little. There’s distorted things you can’t quite make out, things that make you LOL. And a sudden touch on the shoulder from an invisible hand. Each time you go through, the ride is slightly different, but it’s always a good time – and you’re glad you went.”
TUTV: Answerman is a mean psych-rock machine who know exactly what cutting riffs, hooks and licks are all about. From the kick-off, with the stunning single Black Heart they unleash their sonic demons. They repeat it with bravado on Prophet, Jenny, Smoof and BKND. The let’s roll forward motto of 60s legends The Sonics is not far away on these rippers and Sam Pitino heartfelt voice is a perfect match.
But Answerman is not all about high-voltage turmoil. Check psych pop pearl The Trick
and mid-tempo jangler Trampled and you’ll know what I mean. It suits their dark/light, real/fake, past/present/future, hope/fear vision on this record.
The fact that they recorded this album live says a lot about their goal to keep it all
genuine. No whistles and bells for these four sharp-edged hombres out of Boston.
Straightforward and honest rock ‘n roll smells like Answerman spirit.
Who: Three musically seasoned Amazons from NYC using drum machines,
synthesizers, guitars, voice and a variety of sound filters and pedals to make
their point.
It’s an incredible shame that women still have to fight for so many fundamental rights.
It’s bloody 2023 and so much female injustice is still a reality. So, it’s great that female artists get up, stand up and fight for their right to tackle this human disease.
Chic Choc do it right away on their fantastic debut single. They travel around the world looking for freedom with an electronic-booming EBM knockout to fill dance floors with. Boosting beats, catching chorus, sensuous vocals, and a protesting choir, combine for a sassy stunner. Bang-on. Le freak, c’est chique choc.
Who: A synth-fueled post-punk
trio from Seattle, WA.
“Lipstick follows the obscure path of desire. Stretched between the lingering
impression of a touch lost to time, and the unshakable sense of its inevitable
return.”
Lipstick is both a sensuous and affectional tune with gripping vocals
up front and melancholic ones in the back. At times it feels like the track will
erupt into an avid disco stomper. Maybe this debut is a foreplay teaser and
the follow-up will be an orgastic energizer. Anyway Ghost Fetish have my aural
and hip-shaking attention and will have yours too.
3. ‘Right Wing Beast’ by SLEAFORD MODS (Nottingham, UK)
(Cover of new album ‘UK Grim’)
It’s Sleaford Mods by very good numbers. They slam the remorseless Tories and Brexit once again with knife-sharp ranting. Sonically, their characteristic catchy simplicity still activates your limbs. The mods never disappoint. Best track on their best album so far, named UK GRIM.
Who: 2-piece members who have been playing music around Seattle and the west coast of the United States in various incarations for years, and recently stumbled upon the formula that became Docé Operator.
These are the lets-go-bonkers bangers we need in these fucked-up times. Mousehouse
is a kooky disco floor knockout you can jump up and down to like a kanagaroo on E. Middle-finger to reality, bottoms up, ladies and gents. I don’t know who’s the mouse or who’s the rat, but I do know that this tune will bounce in my head for a while.
First single Hello is a euphoric booster expressing a desire for human connection
and a feeling of being lost in the world. This upper will put a smile on your face,
from left to right.
The by-now pretty famous Irishmen are part of a notable cast that cover a song
of the late troubled troubadour Nick Drake (1948-1974) for a new tribute album.
They launch their 3rd full length named God Intentions on 28 April. More infohere.
Ahead of it comes this astounding psych-jam that goes on like forever with motorik,
Kraut-rock-like dynamics. Jangly riffs, 60s resonating organs, floating vocals, and an extensive wall-of-guitar-extravaganza sound to end this intoxicating symphony.
Yes, all ingredients for a mind-bending trip are here at work.
Magician is about having a crush on someone and doing all that’s needed to score. Sonically, it’s a garage rock riff sledgehammer. A mean psych-groove monster doing your head in the way you like it. It goes wham bam bloody wham bam with its manic drum/bass force, its helter-skelter hooks and its hungry vocals. Bring on the album, motherrockers!
Don’t miss the debut LP, entitled 57 Heaven. It arrives on Record Store Day, April 15, both on vinyl and digitally.
“It’s a reflection of how we’re all feeling, trapped in ongoing patterns of depression and anxiety. It’s also the lead single and aural appetizer to our debut album ‘Black Light Poster’, out on April 21.”
No whistles and bells for these four sharp-edged hombres out of Boston. After a short, jangly intro it’s all riff-rotating cylinders and all garage rock burners on. Psychobilly hooks and surf licks swirl side by side with manic magnetism. Black Heart is a roaring steamroller with a buzzing bluster, an electric-energetic flow, and snappy vocals. As the cliché goes, it’s only rock ‘n’ roll but they and I like it any day of the week. So should you.
“The road gets so lonely, got nothing to say
Will the sun shine? Well I hope and I pray
Oh yeah!”
They have a new 6-track EP out, named Echo Reverie.
More info here.
The EP is a characteristically post-darkwave-punk affair with
infectious twilight melodies embedded in a whirlpool of booming
beats, scintillating synths, gloomy stories, cinematic orchestrations
and tenebrous vocals. Footstomper Polarized is my favorite piece,
and probably yours too.
Townshend didn’t release solo work for 30 years, and now, out of the blue
comes this brand new song. It’s composed and produced by his partner Rachel Fuller.
It’s an irresistible, bluesy tune with a country feel.
A little pearl with heart-wrenching Townshend vocals
and melancholic harmonica play.
Who:Harry Sullivan, a seasoned
London-based singer-songwriter.
A majestic melody. A stellar orchestration. A sterling vox. Three matching ingredients
that guarantee an epic composition. And it’s all here. Getting Old progresses with tension and passion, forth and back, and magnetizes all the way through. Epic!
The song wrestles with the idea of us freezing in the moment, gripped by anxiety as fear takes over our ability to do the things we really want to. Familiar thoughts for many of us. But affecting music, as always, uplifts a moody state of mind.
Who: Canadian pop/rock team that
released their debut full length in 2018.
This new punchy piece jumps up and down in your head and elevates your mood from
the kick-off. It’s a contagious foot-stomper with a poppy chorus vibe inviting you to play
air guitar and sing along with all the force your lungs can come up with. Wowzers!
The Italian synth-guitar pop siblings released their 6-track EP, named Lighters
last year. An exemplary accomplishment of skillful songwriting. Sparkling, breezy,
and varied. Turn Up The Volume named it the best EP of 2022.
And the family isn’t done yet. This year another EP, titled Lovers comes our
way. Afterward, Lighters and Lovers will marry and become one full album.
First single, titled Always Wrong. It’s another skilfully crafted
mid-tempo pop tune with glowing guitar sequences echoing
throughout.
Who: Singer-songwriter, 1950s-inspired guitarist, and loop-maker from Oxford, UK. Assisted by trip-hop-inspired percussionist Tom Bruce, she creates complexly evocative soundscapes, filled with dramatic Lynchian atmosphere.
OMG! Emma Hunter‘s vocals reach for the sky on this flamenco-influenced, breathtaking tour de force. She has truly an overwhelming vox that sends shivers down your spine. Mourning trumpets and Chris Isaak-like guitar sparks add a haunting timbre. Morire (the Italian word for ‘to die and fade‘) is what goosebump songwriting quality is all about. It wouldn’t be out of place on the melodramatic soundtrack of western classic Once Upon A Time In The West . Capisce?
Who: An eclectic group of international recording musicians
assembled by Canadian artist Jill McKenna. They joined forces
to make an album of music surpassing geography and genres.
Until The Vague Takes A Form is part of that recently released
album, titled None Of This Mine. More info here.
The song is an intimate, tender and vocally superb collection of romantic balladry, piano/cello/violin/banjo musings, and some intriguing pop experimentalism. Think Regina Spektor and Big Thief. Discover it all, it’s a great companion for relaxing
moments.
Who: London-born singer-songwriter known for his vocal prowess and emotionally raw style. His music reflects his personal struggles with mental health, with an eclectic but immediately recognisable sound, influenced by artists such as Jeff Buckley, The Maccabees, and Fiona Apple.
This is an emotive post-break-up pearl. Heartfelt reflections embedded
in a goosebump musing that resonates like a bittersweet symphony. BLVCK’s
highly passionate vox reminds me of Antony Hegarty‘s sensitive ardency. The
whole-souled tristesse and mixed emotions at play here make you silent.
Who: Fresh NYC dream pop duo featuring voice Ashley Selett and musician David Terranova.
Imagine driving your car in the middle of the night, on the Talking Heads‘ road to nowhere while listening to Massive Attack with Portishead‘s singer Beth Gibbons on vocals and Interpol‘s Daniel Kessler playing trippy guitar lines all along. Sounds pretty intriguing, right? You betcha. Darkcar hypnotizes and magnetizes. Useless to try to resist. Trust me, you’ll join them on their ride the moment they call you.
It’s a reflection of how we’re all feeling, trapped in ongoing patterns of depression and anxiety. It’s also the lead single and aural appetizer to the group’s debut album Black Light Poster, out on April 21.
Photo: Pat Piasecki
TUTV: No whistles and bells for these four sharp-edged hombres out of Boston. After a short, jangly intro it’s all riff-rotating cylinders and all garage rock burners on. Psychobilly hooks and surf licks swirl side by side with manic magnetism. Black Heart is a roaring steamroller with a buzzing bluster, an electric-energetic flow, and snappy vocals. As the cliché goes, it’s only rock ‘n’ roll but they and I like it any day of the week. So should you.
Press play.
Turn it up.
“The road gets so lonely, got nothing to say
Will the sun shine? Well I hope and I pray
Oh yeah!”
