Young Fathers

JUKEBOX 2026 – WEEK 12 – Five New Rad Tracks Added Twice A Week

Posted on by JL

Hello, music junkies.

Another batch of 5 new, top-notch tracks have
been added to Turn Up The Volume’s Jukebox.

Listen up.

ALL TOGETHER

TRACK BY TRACK


Photo: Ross Halfin

Band: THE BLACK CROWES
Who: Notorious American blues rockers with
brothers Chris and Rich Robinson as prominent
members.

Track: CRUEL STREAK
Cut from their brand new 10th full-length,
named A Pound Of Feathers.

TUTV: Vintage nasty rawk ‘n heated Crowes roll. A sizzling stroke.


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Tour Dates – Instagram – Linktree
 All Albums
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Band: SECRET WORLD
Who: Ablaze post-punk
combo from down under.

Track: IT HURTS

TUTV: Alarming vocals, vicious pulsations, sick guitars, ceaseless drumming,
and a cry-out chorus. Put all these expressive elements together, and you get
everything you need to go apeshit.

Instagram – Facebook
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Band: THE SOPHS
Who: Young up and coming
indies from Los Angeles.

Track: THEY TOLD ME TO JUMP, I SAID HOW HIGH
Piece from their debut LP Goldstar

TUTV: Olé. A stirred-up ska-like groove gets your pelvis abuzz. Rapping vocals,
a hefty guitar upsurge, and 70s organ glow complete the hustling picture. What
if I tell you to jump? Would you?


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Instagram – Facebook
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Band: YOUNG FATHERS
Who: Scottish hip-rock-hop outfit.

Track: DON’T FIGHT THE YOUNG

TUTV: This is YF’s contribution for the recently released benefit longplayer Help (2)
to raise funds for Warchild UK. It’s a rushing, percussion-motorized steamroller.


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Instagram – Facebook
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THE LEMON TWIGS
Who: 60s guitar pop addicts,
featuring brothers Brian and
Michael D’Addario.

Track: I JUST CAN’T GET OVER LOSING YOU
Lead single from their upcoming 5th LP, their 3rd in 5 years
(hello Radiohead?) Look For Your Mind, out on May 8th.

TUTV: Melodically, harmonically, guitarly, an early Beatles copy/paste tune.

Instagram –
 Linktree – Tour Dates

Soulful Sunday With TUTV’s Best LP Of 2023 – ‘HEAVY HEAVY’ By The Brilliant Scottish YOUNG FATHERS

Posted on by JL

Music for the laziest day of the week

14 January 2024

This sizzling Scottish trio nailed it big time with their 3rd LP. Heavy Heavy is one of those rare remarkable records that arouses from start to finish, with the cliché no fillers, all killers all over it. You hear its sonic brilliance, you feel its dauntless vocality, you realise quickly that this album is special, very special.


(Photo by Turn Up The Volume – Antwerp 2023)

An undisputable first-class work where vitalizing soul, ecstatic pop melodiousness
and self-willed hip-hop come together in an organic way. A spiritual happening.

Funk-punk drunk virtuosity with astonishing vocal teamwork.


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YF: Linktree

Turn Up The Volume’s 20 BEST ALBUMS OF 2023

Posted on by JL

1. ‘Heavy Heavy’ by YOUNG FATHERS

This sizzling Scottish trio nailed it big time with their 3rd LP. Heavy Heavy is one of those rare remarkable records that arouses from start to finish, with the cliché no fillers, all killers all over it. You hear its sonic brilliance, you feel its dauntless vocality, you realise quickly that this album is special, very special.


(Photo by Turn Up The Volume – Antwerp 2023)

An undisputable first-class work where vitalizing soul, ecstatic pop melodiousness
and self-willed hip-hop come together in an organic way. A spiritual happening.

Funk-punk drunk virtuosity with astonishing vocal teamwork.

STREAM


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2. ‘Sea Of Mirrors’ by THE CORAL (Liverpool, UK)

The seasoned psych-folk-pop-rock ramblers launched their 11th album, named
Sea Of Mirrors last September. Unquestionably one of their best in their succesful
career.


(Press photo via Maintain Perspective PR)

Expect a non-stop sequence of reflective pop fantasies, of tantalizing tunes
with a laid-back resonance and meditative musings that cause a welcome,
lazy state of mind.

Blissfully feelgood vocality, with a melancholic timbre, everywhere.

Gently weeping strings. A seamless sonic marriage of acoustic and electric guitars.
It’s vintage The Coral as we know them, but even more yearning for romanticism than before. So they left their island and travelled to their fictional Western reality where all
sorts of misfits try to survive. Americana, the Liverpool way.

STREAM


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3. ‘Fronzoli’ by PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS

The turbulent psych-rock team from Perth, Australia hit bullseye with
their 6th full lenght Fronzoli (meaning ‘something unnecessary added
as decoration’).


Press photo

Uppercut after uppercut, corker after corker, jackhammer after jackhammer and two breathers with Cpt. Gravity Mouse Welcome and the short acoustic beauty ‘Illusions of Grandeur’). Your ears need to be in great shape to absorb
this whirlwind record.

If PPC were animals they would be hungry wolves wandering in the deserts of Australia looking for prey. Their melting pot of glam metal, pithy punk, high-voltage pop and other noisy shout-outs results in an ecstatic body of infectious. Btw, am I the only one who thinks McEwan‘s voice resembles Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner one (now and then) and vice versa, of course.

STREAM


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4. ‘War Is Obsolete’ by THE BARBITURATES (Northern Island)

These Northern Irish political punk guerilla’s launched
a fully topical record titled War Is Obsolete
this year.

Here’s a message from their HQ in Londonderry.

“Some of The 1% are investors in the great big industrial war machine – the clearing / repairing of war torn cities / countries and rebuilding them along with there big pharma – food n supplies companies ect they make massive profits on all levels of war from the bullets n bombs fired to the food n medicine and everything you can imagine in between – this collection of sound scapes and anti war songs on this guerrilla ontological discordant meditation Ep are our SMALL way of trying to help raise money for the innocent human beings being punished and hurt because of other people’s ignorance – hate – fear – oppression!! ALL THE PROCEEDS OUR DIGITAL SALES NOW AND UNTIL THINGS INPROVE WILL GO TO THESE PEOPLE!!”

The Barbiturates care about our messed-up society, about humanity, about the weak, the poor and the outsiders, about tolerance, about inclusivity, about the desperate need for global peace. Couldn’t agree more.

Unfortunately, all the caring in the world can’t avoid (another) dirty war. After Russia invaded Ukraine early last year, Israel and Palestine started a filthy, deadly war in Gaza two weeks ago. Horrible, just horrible, again. One day a devastating world catastrophe will end it all.

War Is Obsolete is an intruiging, versatile and bone-chilling journey. Sonically with its experimental electronica psych jams and ambient, spacey orchestrations. The evil terror caused by war-and-power greedy scumbags needs to be stopped. The late great pacifist John Lennon never understood these murderous maniacs either, as we know it.

Purchase this record, digitally, 5£ or more.
All proceeds got to PCRF – Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

BUY/SUPPORT


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5. ‘Ignore Grief’ by XIU XIU (California)

This Californian experimental act, founded in 2002 by singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart surprise every time they come up with new music. Also with Ignore Grief, already their
13th full length, XX impress mightily.


(Press photo)

Ignore Grief is not happy music, it’s grim reality music, it’s mind-boggling music.
Inventive, capricious and ideal as the soundtrack for one of David Lynch‘s hallucinatory films. Although after a couple of spins, you’ll find out that Xiu Xiu‘s spellbinding sonic exorcism is more accessible than you thought at first. Their orchestral manoeuvres in
the dark are flabbergasting.

STREAM


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6. ‘One Man Band’ by MILES KANE (UK)

British retro-mod rocker Miles Kane, half of The Last Shadow Puppets
(the other half being his great friend and Arctic Monkeys’ maestro Alex Turner)
released his 5th LP, titled One Man Band’ last summer.

As he said himself multiple times Kane loves the swinging 60s/70s pop, rock
and soul splendor. So again, you hear here those flamboyant influences from the past. And he always comes up with upbeat tunes that stick and put a big smile on your face. Guitar pop at its cacthing best.

STREAM


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7. ‘Songs Of Silence’ by VINCE CLARKE (UK)

The synth-pop musician/songwriter who started his career with Depeche Mode,
who he left after their 1981 debut album to form Yazoo (1981–1983, 2008-2011)
with grand voice Alison Moyet and later on he started Erasure with singer/songwriter
Andy Bell launched his solo debut LP with Songs Of Silence.

TUTV: If you don’t pay attention to the author of this record when you’re listening
to it, there’s a great chance that you think that it’s another ambient Brian Eno album.

The relaxing ambient atmospheres Clarke creates (Cathedral / Passage / Imminent / Last Transmission) are similar to the ones Eno composes/composed (29 solo LPs, so far).

Clarke paints synth-scapes with an overall symphonic sonority, with both classical
and futuristic sounscapes. This is the sort of cosmic music that calms me down after a busy day. Its relaxing effect soothes my buzzing mind. Tranquillizing, instrumental (except for Blackleg which is infused with eerie chants) uncomplicatedness for dark winter nights.

Silent majesty.
Sonic ear-massage.

STREAM

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8. ‘God Games’ by THE KILLS (US/UK)

Seasoned blues-rock duo THE KILLS – Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince – are finally back with a new longplayer, their first in 7 years, following the swirling Ash & Ice album in 2016.


(Photo by Turn Up The Volume – Amsterdam, 2016)

God Games features fewer fireworks than on previous LPs, but the pair still move and groove with sonic fervour and melodramatic tunes, as we know them. Sultry, delirious and passional.

When Mosshart sings the blues, her heart-and-soul vocality draws all attention. Her tantalizing timbre and her midnight hour tone combined with Hince‘s edgy riffs and roasting hooks are what made me a Kills fan from day 1.

This 12-track record is a slow grower. Take your time, it’s all worth it.

STREAM


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9. ‘Praise Of The Iconoclast’ by MORLOCKS (Sweden)

Swedish post-punk-Goth turbo MORLOCKS were formed last century by mastermind J.Strauss, and had several line-ups over the years. The trio operate around the borderlines between the collective subconscious, paradoxical multiverses and the bad conscience of the world, as we know it.

They travel either like sinister prowlers through the shadows, or like a raging
bulldozer, sneaking and bolting through and between the Cold War, radioactive wastelands, the catacombs of Rome and unspeakable dimensions beyond
the Unknown Kadath.

They care about humanity, they haunt everybody who doesn’t care, and they
embed their anger, frustration and hope in titanic, intimidating and cast iron
industrial bombast with loud and clear messages. Think Rammstein and NIN
having a sonic fight with riot guns. Doomsday is just around the corner and is
orchestrated by Morlocks.

STREAM/BUY


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10. ‘Islands In The Sky’ by DEATH VALLEY GIRLS (California)

The L.A. garage rock fury led by vocalist/guitarist/organist and natural-born
charismatic front-Amazon Bonnie Bloomgarden triumphed with their 5th LP
this year.


(Photo by Turn Up The Volume – Brussels, 2023)

Islands In The Sky is, without a shadow of a doubt, according to my trained ears, their
best achievement (so far). When you combine pop/rock songwriting quality, richly layered orchestrations, Bloomgarden‘s full-hearted vocal dynamism and tons of tunes (if anything else tunes are key) wrapped up in party-igniting vibes, you have a winner.

STREAM/BUY


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11. ‘Good Busy’ by THE IRRATIONAL LIBRARY (The Netherlands)

Dutch humanistic rock unit The Irrational Library is a pretty special affair.

A band with its roots firmly planted in both the regional and international
counterculture. They produce a raw, dirty groove influenced by punk,
provo, punk icons and spiced with sultry saxophone here and there.

Their poetry is packed with social criticism. They drew my ears’ attention with their 2021 album We Are… Doomed. An open-minded-plainspoken-asskicking-anti-establishement-and-other-scumbags opus.

The same biting spirit is present on their brand new full-length GOOD BUSY. Moody reveries and blasting belters alternate creating an overall stirring/roaring record in the end with, once again, a main role for highly dedicated and caring America-born frontman-punk-rapper-poet-storyteller Joshua Baumgarten.

STREAM/BUY

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12. ‘The Crack And The Light’ by CMON CMON (Belgium)

Belgian guitar pop/rock band CMON CMON started their second coming
about two years ago, driven by sheer love for music. Writing it, recording it,
sharing it, playing it live, and enjoying it along with their fans.

No masterplan whatsoever to conquer the world, no commercial pressure.
They restarted with one and only one goal. Making the best album their
experience and their hearts and souls could come up with.

A balanced mix of amplified guitar-infused dream pop tunes with a melancholic
and soothing touch. References? R.E.M, Dinosaur Jr., Teenage Fanclub, Sparklehorse
and The Chills, to name a few. I’m sure you get the sonic picture.

STREAM/BUY


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13. ‘A Headlong Fall Into The Vast Ocean Of Anxiety’ by EYEMOUTH (Sweden)

Expect atmospheric synth-scapes for soundtracks of sci-fi movies, mellow Pink Floyd echoes, dark-electro-wave surrealism, and an overall synth-symphonic sonority.

All mesmerizingly orchestrated with both classical and venturesome music structures. Now and then composer Marcus Lilja‘s ghostly voice adds an extra mysterious touch to
the instrumental grandeur at play. The power of nature in selectronic motion. Cinematic music that triggers your imagination.

STREAM/BUY


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14. ‘Back In The Room’ by THE DHARMA VIOLETS (Wales)

THDV embed 60s psychedelia in a blistering mix of flaming garage rock mania,
swaggering mid-tempo grooves, an impressive, amplified slo-mo jam right in the middle and a stunning opener with horns snippets of Primal Scream‘s e-tastic classic Loaded.

Overall I hear Beatles-like harmonies, multi-layered guitar extravaganza à la Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, steady drums/bass horsepower, sizzling six-string solos, psyched-out space steamrollers, 24 Karat riff-rushing rockers, some slow ones, and echoing vocals
from the eight miles high past. Final result: a hell of a must-hear record that I added to
my best-albums-of-2023 list. The Dharma Violets should be huge. FACT! Don’t miss them.

STREAM/BUY


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15. ‘Secret Life’ by FRED AGAIN… and BRIAN ENO

Weird collaboration? No, certainly not. The very popular EBM/house/hip-hop/DJ Fred and the legendary ambient wizard Brian Eno complete each other here perfectly. They create a sonic labyrinth where Eno‘s hallucinatory ambient waves progress in slow motion, causing a trance trip in a foggy environment while Fred‘s phantasmal vocals seem to come from an unknown universe.

Secret Life is a hushed, soothing companion for late-night mind entertainment after
another busy day and too much noisy music. Soothing, calming and triggering lazy dreaming.

STREAM/BUY


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16. ‘Shook’ by ALGIERS (US/UK)

With Shook this American/English outfit drew tons of critical praise. Rightly so.
It’s a tremendously varied work. They jump from zestful hip-rap-hop to forceful
post-punk-rock, to soulful lullabies, to arresting spoken-word protest, to sparkling
gospel. 54 minutes long, but you get sucked in every second. Wowzers!


(Press – FB Algiers)

STREAM


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17. ‘Venom’ by WARGASM (UK)

London‘s nu-rap-metal sensation WARGASM – Milkie Way and Sam Matlock – shocked the indie punk world with their debut album, titled Venom.


Press photo

A vicious motherrocker of an album. A monstrous collection of left/right uppercuts.
A schizophrenic series pf brain-breaking slegdhammers you can win sonic wars with. Holy smoke!

STREAM/BUY


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18. ‘The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons’ by THE HIVES (Sweden)

The Swedish amazeballs punk clowns The Hives are back in town. They unleashed
their new LP, called The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons (I have no clue who that guy is?)
last summer.


📸 Bisse Bengtsson

Be ready for a tsunami of Molotov cocktails, punk-o-rama riffage, and yell-along
refrains spit out by primal screamer Pele. No rest for the wicked. Beware, this explosive record can damage your speakers. On the other hand, it’s the ideal soundtrack for banging your poor head against the kitchen wall and/or jumping up and down like a kangaroo on ecstasy.

Alert your neighbours before you start the deafening razzmatazz
and watch out for the anti-decibels police. Lots of LOUD fun.


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19. ‘This Stupid World’ by YO LA TENGO (US)

Yo la Tengo is all things indie. They follow their own capricious path, for almost
40 years now. They create uncomplicated melodies and then give them an edgy touch
that guides them in different directions. From acoustic to electric and back.

Different moods, different sonic tones. It’s old news that we live in a stupid world where political me, myself, and I leaders use the 2000-year-old trick of divide and conquer. YLT know too, of course, but reality as it is, obviously inspired them to make another rad record.

STREAM


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20. ‘Clear Pound Road’ by KRISTIN HERSH (US)

The stirring Throwing Muses legend Kristin Hersh released
her new solo LP, titled Clear Pound Road last September.


(Photo by Turn Up The Volume – Belgium, 2022)

Expect Krautrock dynamics with an acoustic guitar and a mellow cello. Song by song,
the repetitive/rotating rhythms have a magnetic power. 10 intro/outro-spective sparks glowing, like the lights on the LP’s cover. Hersh‘s voice is singular, a bit hoarser than before, think Marianne Faithfull. I love both voices

STREAM


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AMAZING ALBUM ARTWORK 2023 – Turn Up The Volume’s 10 Favourite Ones

Posted on by JL

16 December 2023

Band: PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS
Who: Rowdy noise gang from down under

Artwork: cover of their 6th LP FRONZOLI


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PPC: Instagram
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Band: SUPERBLOOM
Who: Grunge outfit from Brooklyn

Artwork: Cover of their LP LIFE’S A BLUR


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Superbloom: Instagram
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Artist: SZA
Who: R&B superstar born Solána Imani Rowe

Artwork: Cover of her album SOS


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SZA: Instagram
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Band: DREAM NAILS
Who: Queer Grrl 4-piece from London

Artwork: Cover of their 2nd album DOOM LOOP


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Dream Nails: DREAM NAILS“>Instagram
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Band: YOUNG FATHERS
Who: Scottish pop/rap/soul collective

Artwork: Cover of their fantastic debut HEAVY HEAVY


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Young Fathers: Instagram
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Band: QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
Who: Stoner rock heroes fronted by Josh Homme

Artwork: Cover of their 8th LP IN TIMES NEW ROMAN…


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QOTSA: Instagram
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Band: SEXTILE
Who: Electro punk act from L.A.

Artwork: Cover of their new longplayer PUSH


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Sextile: Instagram
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Artist: VINCE CLARKE
Who: Former Depeche Mode/Yazoo/Erasure songwriter/keyboardist

Artwork: Cover (self-portrait) of solo debut LP SONGS OF SILENCE


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Vince Clarke: Instagram
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Band: GORILLAZ
Who: Virtual band created in 1998 by Blur‘s frontman
Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett

Artwork: Cover of 8th full length CRACKER ISLAND.


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Gorillaz: Instagram
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Artist: KELELA
Who: American R&B star

Artwork: Cover of her album RAVEN


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Kelela: Instagram

Turn Up The Volume’s 10 BEST ALBUMS OF 2023… So Far

Posted on by JL

1. ‘Heavy Heavy’ by YOUNG FATHERS

This sizzling Scottish trio nailed it with their 3rd LP. Heavy Heavy is one of those remarkable records (one every 3 months or so) that arouses from start to finish, with the cliché no fillers, all killers all over it. You hear its sonic brilliance, you feel its dauntless vocality, you realise quickly that this LP is special, very special.


(Photo by Turn Up The Volume – Antwerp 2023)

An undisputable first-class work where vitalizing soul, ecstatic pop melodiousness
and self-willed hip-hop come together in an organic way. A spiritual happening.

Funk-punk drunk virtuosity with astonishing vocal teamwork.

STREAM


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2. ‘First Tow Pages Of Frankenstein’ by THE NATIONAL

I second the multiple raving reviews for this brilliant album. It’s not the first time that troubled and depressed artists (Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave and others made a living out of it) come up with healing music.

Despite a temporary writer’s block and severe depression, Matt Berninger (aged 52)
found his way in his chaotic mind and came back to express the psychic fights with all of his demons in a most affecting manner. And his crooning voice, once more, is instrumental for The National‘s sound.

STREAM


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3. ‘Ignore Grief’ by XIU XIU

This Californian experimental act, founded in 2002 by singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart surprise every time they come up with new music. Also with Ignore Grief, already their
13th full length, XX impress mightily.


(Press photo)

Ignore Grief is not happy music, it’s grim reality music, it’s mind-absorbing music.
Inventive, capricious and ideal as the soundtrack for one of David Lynch‘s hallucinatory films. Although after a couple of spins, you’ll find out that Xiu Xiu‘s bone-chilling sonic exorcism is more accessible than you thought at first. Their orchestral manoeuvres in
the dark are flabbergasting.

STREAM


.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. ‘Shook’ by ALGIERS

With Shook this American/English outfit drew tons of critical praise. Rightly so.
It’s a tremendously varied work. They jump from zestful hip-rap-hop to forceful
post-punk-rock, to soulful lullabies, to arresting spoken-word protest, to sparkling
gospel. 54 minutes long, but you get sucked in every second. Wowzers!


(Press – FB Algiers)

A solid gold triumph.

STREAM


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5. ‘A Headlong Fall Into The Vast Ocean Of Anxiety’ by EYEMOUTH

Expect atmospheric synth-scapes for soundtracks of sci-fi movies, mellow Pink Floyd echoes, dark-electro-wave surrealism, and an overall synth-symphonic sonority.

All mesmerizingly orchestrated with both classical and venturesome music structures. Now and then composer Marcus Lilja‘s ghostly voice adds an extra mysterious touch to the instrumental grandeur at play. The power of nature in sonic motion.

STREAM/BUY


.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. ‘Secret Life’ by FRED AGAIN… and BRIAN ENO

Weird collaboration? No, certainly not. The very popular EBM/house/hip-hop/DJ Fred and the legendary ambient wizard Brian Eno complete each other here perfectly. They create a sonic labyrinth where Eno‘s hallucinatory ambient waves progress in slow motion, causing a trance trip in a foggy environment while Fred‘s phantasmal vocals seem to come from an unknown universe.

Secret Life is a hushed, soothing companion for late-night mind entertainment after
another busy day and too much noisy music. Relaxing, calming and triggering lazy dreaming.

STREAM


.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. ‘Islands In The Sky’ by DEATH VALLEY GIRLS

The L.A. garage rock fury led by vocalist/guitarist/organist and natural-born
charismatic front-Amazon Bonnie Bloomgarden hit bullseye with their 5th LP.


(Photo by Turn Up The Volume – Brussels, 2023)

Islands In The Sky is, without a shadow of a doubt, according to my trained ears, their best achievement (so far). When you combine pop/rock songwriting quality, richly layered orchestrations, Bloomgarden‘s full-hearted vocal dynamism and tons of tunes (if anything else tunes are key) wrapped up in party-igniting vibes, you have a winner. FACT!

STREAM/BUY


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7. ‘Exotico’ by TEMPLES

The British glam and glitter popsmiths delivered
their best LP since hitting the scene back in 2014.

It’s their 4th one.


(Photo by Turn Up The Volume)

This album grew on me spin after spin. It’s still a mellow, laid-back, and familiar
resonating collection of tunes. But its sunlit spirit, its vivid vibe, and its melodies are so infectious. Let your thoughts ignore reality and drift away in your happy-go-lucky cocoon. Top-tier effort.

STREAM


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8. ‘This Stupid World’ by YO LA TENGO

No pension yet for these veteran indies from New Jersey who started their journey
in 1984 and recorded/released 17 longplayers so far (new one included).


(Press photo)

They’re experts in creating uncomplicated, electrifying melodies and then giving them a psychedelic edge with distorted guitars. Different moods, different sonic tones. We all know that we live in a stupid world where political ‘me, myself, and I’ leaders use the 2000-year-old trick of divide and conquer. YLT know too, of course, and it inspired them (again)
to can another topmost record.

STREAM


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9. ‘Quiet Part Out Loud’ by FILIBUSTER (Belgium)

It’s the second longplayer from these 4 Belgian mavericks.

Both sonically and lyrically, you get a mood-swings record that evokes both eerie and profound emotions. Filibuster fabricate a melting pot of grunge (Nirvana), slacker rock (Dinosaur Jr.) and anything post-punk edged. You can rock out to it, take a breather now and then, and go quiet/loud all the way through. Overall an impassioned job well done.

STREAM/BUY


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10. ‘Back In The Room’ by THE DHARMA VIOLETS (Wales)

THDV embed 60s psychedelia in a blistering mix of flaming garage rock mania,
swaggering mid-tempo grooves, an impressive, amplified slo-mo jam right in the middle and a stunning opener with horns snippets of Primal Scream‘s e-tastic classic Loaded.

Back In The Room is a hell of a must-hear-now record.

STREAM/BUY


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TURN UP THE VOLUME’s 20 Best Tracks – Februrary 2023

Posted on by JL

ALL TOGETHER on Spotify…

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TRACK BY TRACK

1. ‘Someone Up There’ by THE WAEVE (UK)

British duo THE WAEVE feat. Graham Coxon (Blur‘s guitarist) and songstress
Rose Elinor Dougall – launched their sterling self-titled album early February.

One of the highlights is this turbulent, riff-rotating and capricious groover
named Someone Up There that works as a mesmerizing magnet.

Touchdown!

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2. ‘Casting No Light’ by NOBLE ROT (Canada)

Clamorous frontman Alex Edkins of Canadian noise engine Metz and Graham Walsh, keyboardist of dance punks Holy Fuck, got together for a project of their own, named, Noble Rot. They have their debut ‘Heavenly Bodies, Repetition, Control.‘ out next month.

They just dropped first single Casting No Light. A motorik Krautrock-like mindfucker that circles around like forever, pushed by a pumping synth/drum/guitar riff-boom-beat that grows in hypnotic intensity along the way. Fucktastic!

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3. ‘Drum’ by YOUNG FATHERS (Scotland)

This Scottish dance-funk-punk trio is on an unstoppable roll. Their new, 3rd LP Heavy Heavy is a total triumph (Turn Up The Volume‘s Album of the Month) and their swirling concert in Antwerp (Belgium) blew the roof off the building.

One of the standout tracks on the album is Drum.
A flamboyant, head-over-heels stormer.

Vibe!

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4. ‘How To Replace It’ by dEUS (Belgium)


(Photo by Turn Up The Volume)

The Belgian Gods released their new longplayer How To Replace It?,
their first in 10 years, a couple of weeks ago.

The title song is a phenomenal piece. A mid-tempo stunner, driven by big
drums and frontman Tom Barman‘s bewitching vocality. It advances with
swelling orchestration toward the grand symphonic climax.

Top!

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5. ‘Islands In The Sky’ by DEATH VALLEY GIRLS (Los Angeles, CA)


(Photo by Turn Up The Volume)

The amazing Los Angeles Amazons delivered their
best album (so far) Islands In The Sky only last Friday.

The title track is a blissful guitar-pop earworm that sticks from the get-go
with Bonnie Bloomgarden‘s spell-binding vocals inviting you to her island of joy.
I’m on my way. Join me.

You’re in charge of your perception of your life
You can choose what you keep
And what you leave behind

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6. ‘Heart On’ by 2LIBRAS (Seattle)

This Seattle-based Cyberpunk duo – Wesley and Jewels Foster – nailed it with this arousing mid-tempo, electro-drum-beat-driven knockout from their upcoming full length World’s End. It’s sexy, catchy, trippy, and makes your blood pumping through your heart.

Je T’Aime Moi Non Plus for the dancefloor.

Sonic sex.

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7. ‘Samo’ by A CERTAIN RATIO (Manchester, UK)


(Press credit)

Manchester’s vibrant dance legends A Certain Ratio
canned their 11th LP, named 1982. It lands at the end
of March.

Single SAMO is as funky as hell. Consult your doctor
if your limbs refuse to move to this nightclub corker.

Tune in.

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8. ‘Sinatra Drive Breakdown’ by YO LA TENGO (New Jersey)


(Press photo)

The imperishable indie veterans keep on doing what they do best,
releasing notable LPs, this time with fresh one titled This Stupid World.

Riveting psych-riff jam Sinatra Drive Breakdown
is the track I always go back to.

Here’s why.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. ‘Scatterbrain’ by FILIBUSTER (Belgium)

This Belgian 4-piece outfit is gearing up for their 2nd longplayer, baptized
Quiet Part Out Loud, out next month, on 15 March, via Fons Records and
Gazer Tapes.

Newest single Scatterbrain is a riff-roaring rocker that grows on your ears
with every spin. It has a moody, shoegazy resonance annex reflective vocals.
Striking stroke. Bring on the album.

Press play here.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. ‘What If?’ by QUIZ SHOW (US)


(Photo by Phil Silverberg)

This fresh high-energetic trio features members from
Shudder To Think, Guided By Voices and The Dambuilders.

Their self-titled debut LP will see the day of light on 17 March.

What If? is a freaked-out, riff-drunk sucker punch that could
easily come from a Hüsker Dü LP. Herky-jerky electricity with
a steamrollin’ sticky chorus. Wowzers.

Lit up here.


.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. ‘I Expire‘ by MALE TEARS (L.A.)

This dark-Goth-wave duo from the City of Angels look like vampires,
they sound like vampires and they fabricate vampirish stuff.

The torrid tandem unleash their
new album KRYPT on 28 April.

Ahead of the release, to get us in the right make-up mood, they hit us
with first single I Expire. A punked-up electro uppercut to set batcaves
on fire with. One listen and the brisk beats will haunt you all day long.

In the accompanying video, Male Tears get straight in
your scared face and suck you into their wicked world.

Roll the tape.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. ‘The Court’ by PETER GABRIEL (UK)


Press photo GB – FB

No retirement yet for the once-upon-a-time face/voice
of art-prog-rock titans Genesis. His 9th, solo album,
named i/o lands next month.

Newest single The Court is Gabriel trippin’ in synth-pop land.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. ‘Tiger Girl’ by TEROUZ (France)

Canadian pop noir artist Terouz, as I said before, has a midnight-hour voice, that resembles the tone and timbre of Tindersticks frontman Stuart Staples and The National‘s maestro Matt Berninger’s.

His new song is a groovy love-drunk gem featuring the sensuous voice
of his ex-partner. It gets under your skin from the kick-off. Two spins and
you’re hooked.

Beware, tiger girl is a femme fatale.


.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

14. ‘Death Beats’ by NECRØ (Lisboa, Portugal)

NECRØ is the latest project of Portuguese musician João Vairinhos
featuring idiosyncratic singer and keyboard player Sara Inglês,.

The title track of their 6-track EP Death Beats
is Turn Up The Volume‘s favorite.

A dark-techno-wave rumbling that stomps and whomps with intense
impetus doing your head in from the get-go. Doomed beats for twilight parties.
The tenebrous vibe at play here sends shivers down your spine, while Sara Inglês‘s
ghostly wailing is reminiscent of shadowy Siouxsie Sioux moments.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

15. ‘What A Day’ by THE MYSTERY PLAN (Charlotte, US)


(photo: Daniel Coston)

This Charlotte-based collective seduced my sensitive ears with the title track of
their 3-track EP What A Day. The harbinger for upcoming 7th LP ‘Haunted Organic Machines’.

Feel-good tunes like these are always welcome on my headphones. What A Day is
a breezy synth-scintillating vibration that triggers sensual body moves. Its featherlight tonality causes a dreamy state of mind with trancy tinglings. And when that sweet flute came on, I swear, I saw a Spring bird flutter in the blue sky.

Enjoy!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

16. ‘Lonely Town’ by GALEN & PAUL (UK)

Multi-instrumentalist and songstress GALEN AYERS and former The Clash
bassist PAUL SIMONON have a collaborative album, named Can We Do
Tomorrow Another Day? out on 19 May.

I’ll be a pretty special one as the pair wrote a collection of bilingual duets, with both of them singing in English and Spanish and explore a variety of European music cultures. First single Lonely Town is a sweet, little pop ditty. You can sing/hum/whistle along.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

17. ‘I Remember What You Said’ by Artist: DYAN VALDÉS (Cuban-American)


(Photo credit: Petra Valdimardottir)

This Cuban-American singer-songwriter, living in Berlin, played/plays
in several bands and works as a solo artist too and has now a new single
out, named I Remember What You Said.

It follows her last year’s excellent debut album Stand.

The pretty poppy song is about a nightmarish memory of a poisonous
relationship. With its agitated words-flowing drive it feels like Valdés
wants to wash away all the BS and move on. Mission accomplished.

Check it out.


.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

18. ‘Dust’ by SUMMIT OF THE BIG LOW (UK)

Summit Of The Big Low is the moniker of British musician Toby Uffindell-Phillips,
who was a member of the early 00s folktronica group Sound Sanctuary.

This new piece, from his self-titled album out on 19 May, is an affecting folk-pop reverie that streams as a brisk brook. Sparkling, crystal clear, and glimmering in the sun. Its wistful tone, smooth vocals, and frisky finger-picking guitar play combine for a sweet little pearl.

Stream/buy.


.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

19. ‘Prisoner’ by 7DESCENT (Nashville, TN)

This 4-piece from Nashville produces a mix of metal, opera & 80’s rock.

Their new single Prisoner is about being captured and trapped by someone’s love.
It’s a mid-tempo power ballad that slowly but surely infiltrates your ears with its
anthemic dynamics, impassioned vocals, and weeping guitars.

Play here.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

20. ‘Tongue Of Kalina’ EYEMOUTH (Sweden)

This musical project started in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2014 and presents a soundscape based on electronic backgrounds and a more classic rock instrumentation blended with mellotrons, vibraphone, santur, harmonium and other alluring sounding instruments. In short, atmospheric psychedelic darkness with occult undertones.

Eyemouth‘s new longplayer, titled A Headlong Fall Into The Vast Ocean Of Anxiety reverberates a cinematic synth soundtrack to an atmospheric, hallucinatory dream
movie yet to be made.

Closing track Tongue Of Kalina gives you a perfect idea of it.

.

Best Album Of February 2023 – YOUNG FATHERS With Soul-Funk-Punk Drunk LP ‘HEAVY HEAVY’

Posted on by JL

27 February 2023

Band: YOUNG FATHERS
Who: Blood-tingling Scottish dance-funk-punk trio that made a grand entrance
on the music scene when they won the 2014 Mercury Prize (an annual music
prize awarded for the best album released in the United Kingdom) with their
debut album Dead.

New album: HEAVY HEAVY – their 4th LP
Released: 3 February 2023. Order info here.


(Press photo YF – FB)

Info: Written and recorded over the course of three years, the longest time taken
on a Young Fathers album, Heavy Heavy is a tour de force from the Edinburgh trio.
An overarching theme of being human can be felt throughout the ten-track album, exploring the feelings of euphoria and rush of emotion experienced at the end of a struggle, a sense of fulfillment as a result of the toil and hard graft that life throws at everyone. An unashamedly soulful and heartfelt album, where the drums set the
scene throughout to transport the listener to a place of celebration and awakening.


(Spectacular in Antwerp – 22 February 2023 – photo by Turn Up The Volume)

NME: “‘Heavy Heavy’ is a passionate, soulful and often mesmerising work that will stick around long past the first listen. Succinct and underpinned by a catchy melodic structure, it continues Young Fathers’ peerless run of singular albums and further cements them as one of the more unique acts to exist today.” Score: 5/5.

TUTV: This is one of those remarkable records (one every 3 months or so) that
arouses from start to finish, with the cliché no fillers, all killers all over it. You hear
its sonic brilliance, you feel its dauntless vocality, you know it’s a magnum opus.

Heavy Heavy is an undisputable first-class work where vitalizing soul, ecstatic pop melodiousness and self-willed hip-hop come together in an organic, inventive way.
Funk-drunk virtuosity with astonishing vocal teamwork.

And throughout this diamond of a longplayer a modern-day gospel choir causes
an emotive euphoria that grows on you with every spin. Final verdict: this is the
1st contender for best LP of 2023. Fact!

Singles (so far): I Saw / Tell Somebody / Geronimo

– I SAW –
Stunning stomper

– TELL SOMEBODY –
Majestic chant

– GERONIMO –
Trip-hop lullaby

Full album stream.

.
YOUNG FATHERS: Facebook – Instagram

Scottish Funk-Punk-Dance-Rap Trio YOUNG FATHERS Blew Off The Roof In Belgium

Posted on by JL

YOUNG FATHERS – Trix, Antwerp, Belgium – 22 February 2023

Sassy Scottish trio YOUNG FATHERS released their 4th LP, titled Heavy Heavy, early
this month. The year is still young, but it’s a sterling contender for best-album-of-2023
to Turn Up The Volume‘s exited ears. Take note.

“Heavy Heavy could be a mood, or it could describe the smoothed granite of bass that
supports the sound or it could be a nod to the natural progression of boys to grown men
and the inevitable toll of living, a joyous burden, relationships, family, the natural momentum of a group that has been around long enough to witness massive changes. “You let the demons out and deal with it. Make sense of it after, ” said the band about their new opus.

The once, with their debut full-length (2014), Mercury Prize nominated act
are touring heavily now to bring their new steaming spectacle to the people.

Last Wednesday they blew the roof off in Antwerp with their funk-punk-dance-rap exuberance and astonishing vocal teamwork. Holy moly! What a storming show it was. After the acapella beauty of Only Child they ignite the fireworks with master blaster
single I Saw and never looked back. Neither did the elated crowd.

From there on, assisted by a pounding jungle drum(mer), guitarist/keyboardist Callum Easter (who also was the support act), a grand female soul vox, and digital synths Young Fathers thundered on for 75 minutes with a spot-on selection of booming knockouts from their 4 longplayers.

Stunner ‘Queen Is Dead’ from 2013 LP ‘Tape Two’

As I said their brilliant vocal razmataz is the dominant and overwhelming factor, rollin’ all over the high-powered bass-beat machine. Their non-stop intoxicating ebullience activated all limbs present in the venue and the huge decibels made sure that the whole city of Antwerp could shake their booty along.

Young fathers Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and G. Hastings rule.
Heavy Heavy rules. Their staggering live explosiveness rules. Hail hail.


All together now

SETLIST

1. Only Child
2. I Saw
3. Queen is Dead
4. Wow
5. Rain or Shine
6. Get Up
7. Old Rock n Roll
8. Be Your Lady
9. Sink or Swim
10. Drum
11. I Heard
12. In My View
13. Tell Somebody
14. Rice
15. Geronimo
16. Shame
17. Toy

HEAVY HEAVY

.
YOUNG FATHERS: Facebook – Instagram


Vocal magic

(All photos by Turn Up The Volume)

YOUNG FATHERS – New Soul-Funk-Drunk Album ‘HEAVY HEAVY’ Is The 1st Contender For Best Album Of 2023

Posted on by JL

Standout longplayers

5 February 2023

Band: YOUNG FATHERS
Who: Blood-tingling Scottish dance-funk-punk trio that made a grand entrance
on the music scene when they won the 2014 Mercury Prize (an annual music
prize awarded for the best album released in the United Kingdom) with their
debut album Dead.

New album: HEAVY HEAVY – their 4th LP
Released: 3 February 2023. Order info here.


(Press photo YF – FB)

Info: Written and recorded over the course of three years, the longest time taken
on a Young Fathers album, Heavy Heavy is a tour de force from the Edinburgh trio.
An overarching theme of being human can be felt throughout the ten-track album, exploring the feelings of euphoria and rush of emotion experienced at the end of a struggle, a sense of fulfillment as a result of the toil and hard graft that life throws at everyone. An unashamedly soulful and heartfelt album, where the drums set the
scene throughout to transport the listener to a place of celebration and awakening.

NME: “The versatile Edinburgh trio continue their strong run of form with a passionate,
soulful and often mesmerising work. Anthemic, boundary-breaking pop.” Score: 5/5.

TUTV: This is one of those remarkable records (one every 3 months or so) that
arouses from start to finish, with the cliché no fillers, all killers all over it. You hear
its sonic brilliance, you feel its dauntless vocality, you know it’s a magnum opus.

Heavy Heavy is an undisputable first-class work where vitalizing soul, ecstatic pop melodiousness and self-willed hip-hop come together in an organic, inventive way.
Funk-drunk virtuosity.

And throughout this diamond of a longplayer a modern-day gospel choir causes
an emotive euphoria that grows on you with every spin. Final verdict: this is the
1st contender for best LP of 2023. Fact!

Singles (so far): I Saw / Tell Somebody / Geronimo

– I SAW –
Stunning stomper

– TELL SOMEBODY –
Majestic chant

– GERONIMO –
Trip-hop lullaby

Full album stream.

.
YOUNG FATHERS: Facebook – Instagram

HIGH FIVE – 5 Big Ones For The Weekend

Posted on by JL

14 January 2023

Band: WHITE REAPER
Who: Garage punks from Louisville, Kentucky
Active: Since 2012 / 4 LPs (new one included)

New album: Asking For A Ride
Out: 27 January 2023

New single: PINK SLIP

Start the engine here.

WHITE REAPER: Facebook – Instagram
_________________________________________________________________________________________________


(Press photo YF)

Band: YOUNG FATHERS
Who: Blood-tingling Scottish dance-funk-punk trio
Active: Since 2008 / 4 studio LPs (new one incl.)

New album: HEAVY HEAVY
Release: 3 February 2023

New single: RICE

Psych chant!

YOUNG FATHERS: Facebook – Instagram
_________________________________________________________________________________________________


(photo by TUTV)

Band: SHAME
Who: Fiery post-punks from London
Active: Since 2014 / 3 studio LPs (new one incl.)

New album: FOOD FOR WORMS
Release: 24 February 2023

New single: SIX-PACK

Wham bloody bam!

SHAME: Facebook – Instagram
_________________________________________________________________________________________________


(photo by TUTV)

Band: TEMPLES
Who: Power guitar pop outfit from London
Active: Since 2012 / 4 LPs (new one incl.)

New album: EXOTICO
Release: 14 April 2023

New single: GAMMA RAYS

Summer is coming.

TEMPLES: Instagram – Facebook
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Artist: KELE OKEREKE
Who: Frontman of British indie greats Bloc Party

New album: THE FLAMES PT. 2 – his 6th solo one
Release: 24 March 2023

Funkin’ and groovin’.

.
KELE: Facebook – Instagram