TURN UP THE VOLUME’s 20 Best Tracks – APRIL 2023
ALL TOGETHER
on Spotify.
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TRACK BY TRACK
1. Beefcake Doctrine by CHUM (London, UK)
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.
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3. ‘LADS LADS LADS’ by LAMBRINI GIRLS (Brighton, UK)
(Press photo © Bridie Florence)
Who? Three don’t mess with us punk feminists from Brighton
with glam and utterly cool duo Phoebe and Lily in the middle.
They’re fiery Riot grrls wearing their feminist hearts on their sleeves.
Expect primal screams and unbridled in-your-face punk turmoil.
All male machos better hide ’cause this clamorous
uppercut will kick their asses painfully.
Hell yeah.
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3. ‘1.18’ by OPUS KINK (London)
(Photo by Turn Up the Volume)
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!
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4. ‘My Illusion’ by ELECTRIC CIRCUS (Newcastle, UK)
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.
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5. ‘Dead And Over‘ by DOWN THE LEES (Canada)
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.
Alive and kicking!
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6. ‘The Snitching Hour’ by DEADLETTER (London)
(Promo photo)
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.
Tune in.
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7. ‘Sub’ by DEEPER (Chicago)
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.
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8. ‘Complain!’ by HYPOTHETICS (Bristol)
Photo credit: Holly Whittaker
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.
Listen/watch.
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9. ‘Your Death Is My Glory’ by CAMLANN
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.
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10. ‘All Of A Sudden’ by THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS (Manchester, UK)
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.
Dance, dance, dance.
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11. ‘Cars’ by LUNAR TWIN (US)
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.
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12. ‘Juicy Lips ‘ by FIESTA ALBA (Rome, Italy)
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.
Feel the beat.
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13. ‘High Life’ by BLOC PARTY (UK)
Last year British post-punk combo BLOC PARTY returned with
their sixth longplayer Alpha Games, their first in six years.
They returned now with new track High Life.
A guitar-funky discotheque upper.
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14. ‘I’m Hurt’ by A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS(NY)
Last year Brooklyn’s notorious noiseniks A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS,
fronted by mastermind Oliver Ackermann unleashed their manic-maddening
album See Through You, their 6th one.
They decided to invite an impressive cast of musical friends to remix songs
from that album. The collection is named See 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!
Move and Groove.
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15. ‘Gallows’ by VAZUM (Detroit)
Deathgaze duo Zach Pliska and Emily Sturm launched
their 5th album, titled V- a couple of weeks ago.
It’s a greatest hits album consisting of
re-recorded songs from 2020-2022.
One of TUTV’s fav cuts is Gallows resonating like a slowed-down
Siouxsie and The Banshees musing. Enigmatic and haunting.
Watch/listen.
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16. ‘Nine Times Nine’ by THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP (UK)
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.
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17. ‘What I Lost’ by COWBOY JUNKIES (Canada)
The twang country veterans Tornyo announced
the upcoming release of their 16th LP, baptized
Such Ferocious Beauty
First single WHAT I LOST is a bittersweet sparkler of a song.
Sorrowful and heavy-hearted with Margo Timmins‘s mourning
voice as entrancing as ever.
Enchanting.
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18. A Child’s Question, August’ by PJ HARVEY (UK)
Artwork new album
PJ messaged via her socials her 10th album,
baptized I Inside The Old Year Dying. It lands
on 7 July.
First single A Child’s Question, August sounds like
a stripped track from her ‘Let England Shake‘ LP.
Ominous, somber but also quite magnetic.
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19. ‘Scotch’ by TIRED KID (Canada)
Photo by Laura-Lynn Petrick
“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!
Watch/listen.
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20. ‘Monkey Gone To Heaven GmBt LIFE (France)
To celebrate the first anniversary of their debut album
10 Minutes GmbtLife 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.
