Last AprilBLOC PARTY came up with a new single namedHigh Life, destined to
fill dance floors with. It was their first new music since last year’s Alpha Games album.
And the juice keeps flowing. Kele and his assistants have another new tune out (no news about an eventual new LP). KEEP IT ROLLING is their first collaborative one as they invited noisy American rocker KennyHoopla for some intense vocals.
Chum are a pretty kooky combo that got my ears trembling with joy with their
grooves-filled debut LP a few weeks ago. Its lead single Beefake Doctrine is a
manic mind-twister with its trancy beats creating a mesmeric and puzzling
razzmatazz you can’t and you won’t run from.
With 1:18 these post-punk-rock misfits dropped a neurotic caterwaul that goes forth and back with burning pzazz. Monomaniacal vocalist Angus Rogers gets worked up to an almost hysterical level and sounds like a tormented and obsessed soul and the band’s horn duo blow their lungs out with nerve-racking urgency. Blimey!
My Illusion is a head-banging and riff-crushing jackhammer that makes
your fists pump in the air, makes your legs shake, and triggers you to check out
your vocal cords’ potential. Ignore your illusions, just get real and get out to party.
For those about to rock Electric Circus salute you.
DTL’s mastermind LL Schultz‘s expresses her frustration and stressful state of mind
caused by those two claustrophobic pandemic years with this high-strung cry out. Its ominous mid-tempo progression, its swelling intensity advancing over an ongoing
hypnotic guitar riff and her sky-scraping send shivers down your spine.
Lockdown threw Schultz to the mat, but it couldn’t
knock her out and she’s back stronger than ever.
London‘s up-and-coming young dogs DEADLETTER rattle on repeat
on this rad ripper spiced with relentless vocality, a sensuous saxophone,
a pumping bass and a sickly sticky chorus. 5-star punk funk.
With Sub these Chicago dudes sound like a cross between legends Gang Of Four and Parquet Courts. It’s a riff motherrocker making your head spin uncontrollably. On top of it comes the singer’s highly tense vocal performance. Don’t miss this holy smoke cracker.
These noisy indies from Bristol, UK Post-punk at its sharp-cutting best. Neurotic guitars and frenetic drums alternated with freaked-out vocals, rhythm changes that drive you nuts, an instrumental Devo-esque intermezzo and a mind-boggling climax. I have nothing whatsoever to complain about.
Who? A socially caring dark disco duo featuring Ony Godfrey and Fauzan Pratama from Indonesia.
Your Death Is My Glory is about political hypocrisy
that suppresses the common people for their own
benefit.
It’s a steamed-up disco corker. A catchy-as-hell boomer that
accelerates your bloodstream. An irresistible tune to jump up
and down to like mad while giving the middle finger to all
power-greedy politicians.
The video is a DIY rapid-eye-movement tour de force.
All Of A Sudden is a B-side that easily could be an A-side. It features on the 12″ of
the previous single No Reason It’s a rotating beats-banger to start and end all
(il)legal raves with. It’ll make your adrenalin production go through the roof.
Lunar Twin‘s new full-length opus Aurora is an ideal
companion to relax with when the twilight sets.
One of the highlights and my favorite track Cars is a trippy dreamwave
with tingling guitars, scintillating synths, and near-whispering voice
combining for a top-notch vibration.
This masked Italian dance act describe themselves as “losers on a planet
where nobody really wins. He who has nothing to lose cannot lose anything.”
They recently released a must-hear 5-track EP with Juicy Lips as one of the 5 highlights.
A capricious crackerjack for nightclubs where misfits, dropouts, eccentrics and other related outsiders have a ball. Wicked music for wicked people by wicked madcaps.
They decided to invite an impressive cast of musical friends to remix songs
from that album. The collection is namedSee Trough You: Rerealized. You
can buy it here. The digital version will be available from June 2.
Andy Bell of legendary shoegaze band Ride operating under the moniker
of GLOK is one of the remixes. He picked the psych-mind-bending piece I’m Hurt and turned it into an ambient techno stunner with Kraut-rock-like
synth rhythms and chainsaw guitar fragments. Score!
Who? A British quartet inspired by a mutual passion for the sights,
sounds and creative experimentation of the mid to late 1960s with
its unique blend of garage rock, psychedelia and acid folk.
A 60s colored psych-pop gem that could be written by Californian legends
The Mamas & Papas. Layered vocals, jangly guitars (playing backward at
one point. Remember The Beatles‘ Tomorrow Never Knows song?), and an
infectious chorus. Play it 81 times.
“A song inspired by my walks to coffee shops, my friends,
the band TOPS, and the scotch I like to drink!”
Easy-going tunes you can hum and whistle like this one are always welcome on my headphones after having too much noizz buzzing in my ears. Scotch is a laid-back, jaunty, and happy-go-lucky melody enriched with sunlit guitar play. Perfect for a walk in the city on a lazy Spring day. Kelly‘s mellow voice sounds like it was meant to sing devil-may-care songs like this one. Canadacana at its strolling best. Bottoms up!
To celebrate the first anniversary of their debut album 10 MinutesGmbtLife decided to cover a Pixies classic.
They picked one of their best-known songs, Monkey Gone To Heaven from 1989. Their take is pretty special and surprising. They decelerated it and added subtle piano play, distorted guitars, and low-pitched vocals.
In order to not miss a beat Turn Up The Volume scans the musical
horizon daily (doing it for years now, actually) to stay in touch with
all new things sonically great and shares the results on a weekly
basis.
Check the 10 new rad tracks
added to this rad 2023 playlist.
Daily noise that works faster and harder than any stimulant
24 April 2023
Last year British post-punk combo BLOC PARTY returned with their
sixth longplayer Alpha Games, their first in six years and voice/face
and guitarist Kele Okereke had his 6th solo LP out 2 years ago.
And the inspiration keeps on coming.
BC dropped a new track, named HIGH LIFE.
A guitar-funky disco ball. Top.
Turn Up The Volume picks 10 gems of favorite artists/bands
25 August 2022
Who doesn’t like making all sorts of (play)lists?
I do. Best of lists, end-of-the-year lists, golden oldies lists, only family lists, guilty pleasure song lists, summer lists, brand new song lists. Okay, stop, I think I made my point.
The London post-punk-pop band orchestrated by Kele Okereke.
released 6 albums so far (with 2 different line-ups), with this year’s Alpha Games as the most recent one.
London’s indie warriors BLOC PARTY conducted by Kele Okereke came up with their
6th LP – Alpha Games – a couple of weeks ago. It was received by the press with mixed emotions, which I agree with.
But with single TRAPS they unleash their devils as they used to do in their early days.
And they showed they live on the American The Late Show.
Okereke: “Alpha Games was conceived on the road,
playing in front of amazing crowds on our last tour
and then brought to life with the fire and the frustrations
of 2020.”
NME says: ‘Alpha Games’ sees Bloc Party still championing
the ’00s scene that they came up in, but there’s not a hint of
nostalgia in sight. With a renewed vigour and the desire to
keep things moving, this sixth album could soundtrack
a new generation of indie discos.
Turn Up The Volume: Great singles (below) but for the rest,
this new record isn’t good enough and far from Bloc Party‘s
high standard. Too many songs going nowhere, not enough
tunes that stick. Next, please.
Singles: Traps / The Girls Are Fighting / Sex Magik
Okereke: “Alpha Games was conceived on the road,
playing in front of amazing crowds on our last tour
and then brought to life with the fire and the frustrations
of 2020.”
After 28 years Skin and her henchmen still make your blood cook.
This new sizzling stroke calls out all incompetent governments,
specifically UK’s short-sighted Brexit statesmen. It’s a metallic bomb
with a volcanic Skin chorus.
When grunge has a date with metal, when Nirvana hooks up with Korn, an earthquake is in the making. These Belgian bulldozing
rockers know all about it and make it happen with this explosive
detonation. Hell bloody hell yeah!
Two years ago, director Matt Yoka’s documentary Whirlybird
premiered. It shows the adventures of two video journalists,
soaring above the chaotic spectacle of ’80s and ’90s Los Angeles,
including the OJ Simpson chase in 1994.
A re-release accompanied by a new soundtrack will be issued soon.
One of the participators is musical centipede Ty Segall drumming his
tail off on this dynamizing instrumental
Libertine Peter Doherty is clean for 2 years now and has just been married.
The happy man lives in Normandy, France and teamed up with French musician Frédéric Lo. The result is the album The Fantasy Life Of Poetry & Crime,
coming out on 22 March.
Band: BLOC PARTY Who: London post-punk force
from London led by Kele Okereke Active: Since 1999 / 6 studio albums,
with Hymns (2016) as the most recent one
Okereke: “Alpha Games was conceived on the road,
playing in front of amazing crowds on our last tour
and then brought to life with the fire and the frustrations
of 2020.”
(photo by Wunmi Onibudo)
Singles (so far shared): Traps / The Girls Are Fighting
