Friday 30 August 2019

WATCH: Liz Lawrence - 'USP'

Following on the theme of yesterday's Bombay Bicycle Club post, here's something new (ish) from one of their touring members. Liz Lawrence gave some pretty sweet backing vocals to the new Bombay track, but more excitingly she's got a second solo album coming out in October (25th to be precise) and recent track USP is ace. The music video sees a paranoid Liz running around the streets and looking over her shoulders - it's a dizzy affair, simple but effective. As Liz posted online - "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you." Cryptic. I like it.


Pre-order the new album Pity Party here - and grab tickets for Liz's London show on 29th October here.

Follow Liz Lawrence Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Thursday 29 August 2019

LISTEN: Bombay Bicycle Club - 'Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)'

The small matter of politics aside, what an absolutely glorious time to be alive. Bombay Bicycle Club are back with new music, and how wonderful to be able to say that?! The band premiered their first single in five years - Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You) - a couple of nights ago on BBC Radio 1 and it is a total gem of a track. I was lucky enough to hear them perform it live a few weeks ago at their London warm-up gig at Islington Assembly Hall, and fell for it on first listen. It was heartwarming at the show to see so much joy on the band's faces, the wait may have been long but I think it is clear that it was just what they all needed, taking some time for themselves and various musical and academic projects, but they're back and as good as ever. And there's an album on the way!

Sharing the track online the band write that they're "excited to be sharing new music after five years away. Recording it earlier this year reminded us all of the joy of working together on something we love. Hopefully you all like it as much as we do." Judging by the response that I've seen so far I'd say that fans are loving it. Listen below!


Follow Bombay Bicycle Club - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Wednesday 28 August 2019

WATCH: Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard - 'Love Forever'

Loving this one from Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard. The Cardiff four-piece are a new name to me - they started out in 2016 as a bedroom studio project for Tom Rees, before he enlisted the help of brother Eddie Rees, Ethan Hurst and Zac White. They've been making a name for themselves with a wild live show, radio support from the likes of fellow Welshman Huw Stephens, and through winning the Momentum Fund via PRS For Music. Getting some incredibly psychedelic vibes from this new track and video, which seems to master the balance between feeling classic with its 70s vibes, and contemporary to the indie bands of today. Very much enjoying this one!


With gigs coming up in the next couple of months, check out the band's upcoming shows here.

Follow Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Tuesday 27 August 2019

WATCH: Christof van der Ven - '4AM' (Live at RAK)

With the release of his second album coming up in just a couple of weeks, get ready for a bit of a splurge of Christof van der Ven content here. For now - I am absolutely adoring the latest of his RAK Studios live sessions, this time performing recent single 4AM. Fans of Bear's Den and Matthew & The Atlas will spot some familiar faces in Christof's backing band, an incredibly talented bunch who have created something really magical in this performance. Loving the combination of Christof and Jools' (drums) vocals. Pre-order the new album You Were The Place here.


Follow Christof van der Ven - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Monday 26 August 2019

WATCH: Common Holly - 'Joshua Snakes'

A big perk of running this blog is the (often endless, it seems) submissions I receive. It's impossible to write about all the tracks but I do try my best to give each a listen and try to share as much as I can, and it's always great to find something that I might otherwise not have discovered. Excited to share a new track and video from Common Holly, AKA Montreal-based Brigitte Naggar. New track Joshua Snakes is taken from her upcoming album When I say to you Black Lightning which is due for release on 18th October. I love the moment that the guitar kicks in properly around the two minute mark - what a riff!

The video is an interesting watch too - with director Steven Z taking inspiration from film The Indian In The Cupboard (1995) and showing a miniature Brigitte in a drawer in a teenager's room, helping her to find focus in her dancing. There's a warning on the video itself but just to be sure - there's a lot of flashing in the video which may trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy.


With a run of North American dates coming up later this year, there are European shows being announced soon so be sure to keep an eye out and follow Common Holly online for news of those!

Follow Common Holly - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Friday 23 August 2019

LISTEN: Catgod - 'Feel It Go Round / Blood'

A quick post today to share the news that my wonderful friends in Catgod last week released a double single featuring the tracks Feel It Go Round and Blood, which are both sublime. There's something really special about these guys, and as we met and became friends in Oxford their sound takes me right back there which is always a joy. Fronted by sibling Robin and Cat, their harmonies are so brilliant but give the effect of being totally effortless, while the overall sound and combination of instruments is magical.



First track Feel It Go Round is a completely new one, perfect for those Summer evenings, while Blood is a reworking of an old track for the band. Get listening to both now, and check out more of their music on Bandcamp here.



Follow Catgod - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Thursday 22 August 2019

INTERVIEW: Flyte (August 2019)

It's time for another interview and I am very excited about this one - the lovely Flyte guys agreed to answer some questions about their recent collaboration with The Staves, upcoming shows and what is coming up for the band this year. Dates for your diary: the band's new EP is due for release on 20th September and they headline London's Village Underground on November 11th.

Flyte with Jess from The Staves

Hello guys! It is wonderful to have you back, but for those who were living under a rock when you released your gorgeous debut 'The Loved Ones' back in 2017 - who are Flyte?

Well hello and thank you it feels very good being back. Ha, well that record still seems to be getting discovered by rock dwelling types, in fact it seems to be getting more attention now than it did on it’s release - which is I suppose is a good sign. Well we’re a band from London who all sing and all write and play instruments. I suppose we’ve become known for singing in harmony in an interesting way but that’s not all there is to it. Our influences are primarily from the past but we definitely bring those influences with us into the present day. Much like artists like Big Thief, Whitney, Phoeobe Bridgers, people like that. There seems to be a fantastic wave of music from America and Australia that seem to be coming from where we’re coming from which we’ve found inspiring. 

You released the track White Roses a few weeks back. It was a much awaited and longed for return for your fans and the reception looks to have been incredibly positive. The track features The Staves - harmonies upon harmonies! How did that dream collaboration come about? 

Very kind of you thank you. We love The Staves, we were always in each others orbit but we only properly met recently. They came to see us on our tour with The Lemon Twigs and we hung out in the pub afterwards. We talked almost exclusively about Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and The Office I seem to remember. So we instantly got on. Not long after that they were doing a Christmas show at Earth in Dalston and asked us if we wanted to do a Christmas song with them. That was obviously a wonderful experience. So when we were making White Roses we instantly thought of them. We just knew it would work and people seem to be reacting really well to it, so hopefully it was the right move!


What's next now that you've got this new track out in the world? Should we keep our eyes peeled for album two? 

Not sure how much information we’re revealing at this point but there’s plenty of music coming that much is for certain. It’s definitely a very personal collection of songs. The Loved Ones was very much an album about other people and this time round it's very much a personal thing. It feels strange and a little terrifying knowing how exposed the writing is.

I've seen various videos online from your years of busking and I get the impression that you are definitely a band that thrive off of live shows and sessions (your Arcade Fire cover is one of my favourite session videos to exist, ever.) How has it been getting back to playing live after a break - the recent Omeara gig must have been pretty special? Not to mention BST at Hyde Park!

It was always good for us to do those very simple live videos. You can sometimes go overboard in the recording studio by thinking everything has to be big and ambitious. Those live videos kept us in check and showed us how well people react when we’re just singing a good song, completely exposed. We’ve tried to bring that mentality with us into the recording environment this time round definitely. The shows we’ve played recently have been incredible, our fans are just the most amazing, thoughtful, passionate, engaged people and it makes preforming so easy - sorry a lot of hyperbole but its true! The only thing I will say is this new material is so close to the bone that I’ve felt emotionally drained after the shows, if you give that much of yourself it can definitely take its toll.


Where can we see you live in the coming months? A little bird (AKA some internet stalking) tells me you're heading stateside soon! 

Haha yes it’s true we’ll be touring all over the States and then the UK and Europe this Autumn, that’ll be announced properly in the coming weeks!

Finally - what are you all listening to at the moment, any must haves for the tour bus playlist? For me it's mostly the new Friendly Fires album... 

Weyes Blood's new album is fantastic, we went to see her London show and she was mesmerising. Aldous Harding is also fantastic. Tunnel of Love by Springsteen has been giving the goods recently - a really good divorce album, put it on the shelf with Blood on the Tracks and Graceland. 

Follow Flyte - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Wednesday 21 August 2019

WATCH: Friendly Fires - 'Offline' and 'Heaven Let Me In' (VEVO)

If you follow me or the blog on any of my various social media accounts you'll have very likely seen my constant stream of Friendly Fires appreciation at the moment. It seems to have been effected because a couple of days ago, I got an email from the band's press with an early preview of two gorgeous new live videos that the band have filmed with VEVO.


The videos see the band performing Offline (above) and Heaven Let Me In, tracks which are both taken from their new record Inflorescent, which was released on Friday. Having already heard half of the record through a very tasty run of single releases, I had fairly high hopes for this record. The band (who I love dearly) have surpassed expectations. Inflorescent is everything I wanted it to be, but somehow so much more. Once I've listened some (lots) more and wrapped my head around each of the tracks individually I will try my best to get a write-up shared because I'm genuinely adoring the album and want to talk about it to anybody who will listen. For now - here are two gorgeous live videos, which showcase the talent and infectious energy that the band bring to each performance.



Follow Friendly Fires - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Tuesday 20 August 2019

WATCH: Flyte - 'I Still Believe In You'

The lovely Flyte chaps have just released I Still Believe In You, a follow-up to recent single White Roses - both of which are gorgeous. I wouldn't expect anything less from the guys! The tracks are taken from an upcoming EP, also entitled White Roses, which features as yet unheard tracks Sometimes and Gone Girl and is due for release on September 20th. Lead single Will Taylor details that the new track was "born out of a very difficult time [...] and grapples with truth, honesty and fidelity in a relationship." In the video for the track, directed by Kasper Häggström, we see a father driving his daughter to University for the first time. It's topical for this time of year (I can't believe my first drive to university was almost five years ago!) and falls somewhere in between humour and heartbreak, and is a beautiful accompaniment to the song.



Follow Flyte - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Monday 19 August 2019

LISTEN: Annabel Allum - 'Altar to Alter'

You may have seen this track on the blog playlist (check that out here - it's where I add all of my favourite new tracks each Friday). Altar to Alter is the latest track from Annabel Allum, the third single taken from upcoming EP Gravel Not The Grave, which is due for release on 13th September via Killing Moon. Having gained much press and radio support, Annabel continues to show how deserved this all is with this ace new track.

Talking about the song, she explains that "Altar to Alter is my protest song, and I'm super proud of how it turned out. It's all about saying what you mean to say and standing up for what you believe in. In my head there's an altar in everyone's mind where they go and choose what they wanna change, and how they're gonna change it. Lyrically the song has a lot of religious themes running through, because we are our own religion and our own God. We forget to respect ourselves and our own powerful abilities to change things."



I haven't seen Annabel live yet, but through her tracks I get the sense that she is both a talented and compelling live act with a string of festival performances, support slots and tours under her belt. She's heading out on a headline tour to coincide with the EP release this Autumn, taking in shows in London (11th Sep), Guildford (22nd) and Bath (26th). Check out the dates and grab tickets here.

Follow Annabel Allum - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Thursday 15 August 2019

LISTEN: Mosa Wild - 'Talking In Circles'

I'm a couple of weeks late sharing this one but still need to spread the word and get you all listening to the debut EP from Mosa Wild. The release sees the band bring together singles Night, Smoke and Tides with brand new tracks Faultine and my personal favourite, Honey. It was produced partly by Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club) and partly by James Kenosha (Pulled Apart By Horses, Dry The River) - a pretty strong foundation!

Vocalist Jim Rubaduka describes that the EP is about "all the stuff people deal with again and again" - love, loss, feeling stuck and heartbreak. As a young band revelling in experimenting musically on their first release, Jim goes on to explain that "we don't feel tethered to an instrument in any way. In this setting anything feels like fair game to us." The result is smooth and full of promise, with Jim's vocals pulling everything together superbly - this doesn't feel like a debut release, but as I know that it is, consider me suitably impressed!



The band sold out their first ever headline show at The Waiting Room earlier this year and they're stepping it up with a show at Omeara on 18th September. They're also supporting label-mate Jade Bird on her UK tour in November. Full list of dates and tickets here.

Follow Mosa Wild - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Tuesday 13 August 2019

WATCH: Half Moon Run - 'Then Again'

I am absolutely delighted to share the news of a new track and music video from Montreal indie-rockers Half Moon Run. Then Again is the band's first piece of new music to be released since sophomore album Sun Leads Me On in late 2015. I love the band and first discovered them almost by accident several years ago - in one of my favourite HMV memories (before working at the store) I recall stumbling across a 4 for £10 offer in which I picked up their debut album Dark Eyes. Partly to make up the numbers, partly because I was intrigued and quite liked the artwork. Sure enough I quickly fell in love with the album and after a couple of near misses, getting to see the band play live a couple of times around the release of the last album was a joy. It's been a while holding out for new music but this first single from the third album is certainly worth the wait and I can't wait for more.


Following shows in Canada and the US, Half Moon Run are touring in Europe this November with shows in Bristol, London, Glasgow and Manchester - London is sold out so don't delay grabbing tickets for the other shows! Full dates and tickets here.

Follow Half Moon Run - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Monday 12 August 2019

WATCH: Friendly Fires - 'Silhouettes'

After years and years (in fact - a third of my life, or thereabouts) of waiting it is finally time for a new Friendly Fires album this Friday (16th) and I couldn't be more excited about it!!! With a bunch of singles being released over the last year or so, we've heard about half of the album and it is shaping up to be something really special. Obviously. Tiding me over at the moment is recent single Silhouettes which I'm loving, particularly it's glorious video. It features frontman Ed Macfarlane busting out some ace dance moves, exactly as he does during the band's live performances, truly a sight to behold. Watch below and grab tickets for the upcoming shows here.


Follow Friendly Fires - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Friday 9 August 2019

WATCH: MarthaGunn - 'Love & Emotion' (lyric video)

I've shared quite a few MarthaGunn related posts on the blog lately, but they most definitely deserve all of the love! They've just shared a lyric video for recent single Love & Emotion, which features footage of the band shot in Pembrokeshire in Wales. Soundtracking one of my favourite tracks from the band so far, the video offers fans an insight into a place that is "sacred" to the band.

Talking about the video, the band explain that "we have spent a lot of time [in Pembrokeshire] over the past 4 years. It's quiet, usually empty, and there isn't a great deal going on. To us, just being there is inspiring. We move all the furniture, set up all our instruments and just spend the days finding new MarthaGunn songs. There has been many a late night spent around the kitchen table. Emptying our minds, talking about everything and nothing. Our fears, our loves... It helps us deeper understand each other."


Follow MarthaGunn - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Thursday 8 August 2019

WATCH: Bear's Den - 'Hiding Bottles'

Back in April, Bear's Den released one of my favourite records of the year in the shape of third studio album So that you might hear me. I was lucky to have an early stream of the album for a review, and an instant favourite for me was opening track Hiding Bottles. I'm excited to share that it is their latest single and that the band have just released a video for the track!


Focusing around the lyric "I'm keeping it together but you don't know the half of it / It's starting to show / I'm not on top of this" the track is a powerful and poignant one for the band's vocalist Andrew Davie. He explains that the song is "about life with an alcoholic relative. It's an exploration of the inability to reach someone and the isolation that intrinsically creates." Having been through this experience himself, Davie sought help from charity Al-Anon, who offer support meetings and a community for those with friends and family that struggle with alcohol addiction.

He explains that "I think the main thing Al-Anon allowed me to understand was that there are just so many people going through issues caused by having an alcoholic friend, loved one or relative - how many lives can be affected by just one life. For us as a band to work with Rollo and be able to make a video that might ring true for other people who could be looking for help or support was something we really wanted to do. The idea that the video could potentially help lead someone to an organisation that has helped me and so many others and could help them just feels really right to us."

The video follows a teenage girl and the pressures that her father's alcohol addiction places upon her and the rest of the family. Director Rollo Jackson explains the use of a "full cast of identical twins and in-camera effects" to seamlessly split the video into two parallel worlds. This process is used to highlight something which became apparent through research of Al-Anon case studies, whereby families going through these situations might exhibit two versions - "one fighting to keep everything 'normal' and another private version, out of control." 

I've a lot of love for the band anyway (is it obvious yet?) and love that they are using their platform to spread the word about something which affects so many people but which isn't always talked about. Al-Anon state that for every problem drinker in the UK, five other people are affected. For more information on the charity and to get help for you or somebody you know, head to their website here.

Follow Bear's Den - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Wednesday 7 August 2019

LISTEN: Geowulf - 'Round & Round'

I'm excited to share a brand new track from Aussie duo Geowulf. Their debut album Great Big Blue was one of my favourite albums of 2018 and I can't wait to hear their sophomore album My Resignation when it is released in October. New single Round & Round joins previously released He's 31 and I See Red as our early tasters of the album, a record tackling themes of loneliness, love and heartbreak.

Talking about the new track, vocalist Star Kendrick explains that "I was frustrated with maybe a lack of self-control and an inability to break patterns in my life... in a few areas. This song is my way of poking holes in how I handled that. The rest of the album follows a similar emotional narrative, and is all about exploring those old things & how I've tried to leave them behind." 


Follow Geowulf - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Tuesday 6 August 2019

LISTEN: Talkboy - 'All Works Out’

Having released a bunch of singles over the past year or so, Leeds based indie-rock six-piece Talkboy have just shared news of their debut EP with the release of a brand new single. Entitled All Works Out, I'm really digging the track and it is sounding glorious on the 2019: cool music and things playlist over on Spotify. With a bunch of festivals, support slots and radio airtime under their belts as well as upcoming slots at Reading and Leeds Festivals, the EP sees the band taking full advantage of their current momentum.

Talking about the new track, they explain that "the song isn't this blissful unawareness that everything will be alright in the end so just shut everything out. It's more like, when stuff does go wrong, I'm here if you want. Being friends with someone is hard and something we are still learning how to do properly, but I think if you can just do the very basic thing of turning up and be there for whoever it is that you are close to, that's a good start."  



If you're not at Reading and Leeds, fear not - you can catch Talkboy at O2 Academy 2 Islington on 11th September.

Follow Talkboy - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Monday 5 August 2019

LISTEN: Christof van der Ven - '4AM'

If you follow the blog, you'll be aware that I'm quite a fan of Christof van der Ven's solo project (and his work with Bear's Den, of course!) With his second album due for release in September, he's just shared the fourth single, the last to be released before the album drops. It's called 4AM and was the first track he wrote for the album. Take a listen below!


If you like what you're hearing, be sure to pre-order the album You Were The Place, which is due for release on September 6th (and is gorgeous!) He's playing some dates to support the release, including London's The Lexington on 8th October - tickets for that one are here.

Follow Christof van der Ven - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Friday 2 August 2019

WATCH: Charlie Cunningham - 'Don't Go Far (Live Session)'

It has to be said that Charlie Cunningham is one of the most sublime live acts I've had the pleasure of watching - his talent with a guitar is unmatched among many of the acoustic acts I've seen. I've seen him play three sets in recent years, first opening for Stornoway in an Oxford church, then in another church for Bushstock Festival a couple of years back, and most recently opening up main-stage proceedings at this year's All Points East. I'd love for you all to check out this gorgeous live session for single Don't Go Far, taken from his recent album Permanent Way. If you'd like to catch Charlie live then you're in luck - as well as an already announced run of shows in November, he is playing his next London headline show at EartH in Hackney on 26th Feb next year.


Full upcoming UK dates below...

2nd Nov: Redgrave Theatre, Bristol
3rd: City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds
4th: Sage Gateshead, Gateshead
6th: RNCM Concert Hall, Manchester
7th: Holywell Music Room, Oxford
8th: The Old Market, Brighton
10th: Liverpool Philarmonic, Liverpool
11th: Oran Mor, Glasgow
12th: Button Factory, Dublin
26th Feb 2020: Hackney EartH, London

Follow Charlie Cunningham - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

TRACK PREMIERE: Robin C-M - 'Sun'

It's been just over two years since I graduated and moved back home from Oxford - I'm really craving being back there, and one of the things I miss most is the lovely bunch of friends I made in the local music scene. Robin Christensen-Marriott is one of the best - known and respected across the local music scene as a brilliant producer and musician, I first met him through local Sofar Sounds shows and saw him playing in various bands (Neverlnd, Roberto y Juan, Catgod) during my time in the city.

I'm really excited to be running this premiere and sharing the news that Robin has spent the last six months working on some new music, the first to be released under his own name, Robin C-MSun is the first of three tracks that will come together to form an EP later in the year. Perfect for relaxed Summer evenings, the track is a dreamy acoustic number, which Robin describes as "an ode to the winter sunshine and a reminder for me to stay lazy and remember I need time to rest." Taking this reminder to heart, Robin explains that he's been working on this project "only when I have felt like it; doing the takes all in one go. It's made for a dreaming flowing sound that brings me back to home." The track is released into the world on Tuesday but I've got a sneaky early listen for you below - enjoy! 
   

Follow Robin C-M - Facebook

Thursday 1 August 2019

LISTEN: Lauran Hibberd - 'Frankie's Girlfriend'

A sure-fire way to pique my interest in your EP... name it Everything is Dogs. From what I've heard so far, Lauran Hibberd is on to a winner, with her EP due for release on 20th September. She first came onto my radar a few months back with Sugardaddy and later Hoochie, both of which I enjoyed. Since then, she's clearly been building a name for herself performing at various festivals and gaining radio support. Taken from the upcoming EP, new track Frankie's Girlfriend follows the same trajectory - it's a confident and charismatic piece of indie rock.

Talking about the track, Lauran explains that it shows "why it can suck to be a nice person. This track is a story, based on true events and exaggerated for selling millions of (aka 600) records. It's honestly a pal of mine Frankie, I had a dream about him, like a weird one. And it spiralled. His chick at the time was a nightmare, I was lucky enough to witness that first hand. For me, it's my darkest track yet. But not dark scary, dark as in three-week holiday to Mexico." 



With an EU support tour alongside Hippo Campus coming up, Lauran also has her biggest headline shows to date coming up this Autumn. Tickets here!

8th Oct: Hare and Hounds 2, Birmingham
9th: Think Tank Underground, Newcastle
10th: Poetry Club, Glasgow
12th: Neighbourhood Festival, Manchester
30th: Boileroom, Buildford
31st: Komedia, Brighton
1st Nov: The Anvil, Bournemouth
2nd: Mirrors Festival, London

Follow Lauran Hibberd - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

LISTEN: The Teskey Brothers - 'Run Home Slow'

Happy Thursday! I’m really excited to share a write-up of a lovely new album that is released tomorrow, from Aussie group The Teskey Brothers. It’s actually only a few weeks since I first listened to the band with the release of single So Caught Up. The track fell into my inbox, I posted about it (saying that I was “really really digging this one”) and was soon watching the band play a set on the Communion Music stage at Citadel Festival. I really enjoyed their set and was as blown away by frontman Josh’s vocals live as I expected. Maybe more. Despite their mid-afternoon slot, the band managed to fill out the tent, playing to a large audience of adoring fans who were lapping up new music alongside older tracks.


Hailing from the outback near Melbourne, The Teskey Brothers are a four-piece made up of brothers Josh (vocals) and Sam Teskey (guitar) alongside Brendon Love (bass) and Liam Gough (drums). They started playing music together as teenagers, realising that they shared a love for 1960s American soul music - an influence which remains clear in the music they’re releasing now. They released debut album Half Moon Harvest around two and a half years ago, for which they were awarded ‘Best Soul, Funk, R’N’B or Gospel Album' at The Age Music Victoria Awards (as well as Best Emerging Act). As well as a positive critical reception, the release of the album saw them starting to amass a larger following and play bigger shows, with recent sell-out shows in Union Chapel and Omeara in London.

Run Home Slow is the album’s follow-up and - I think/hope that fans will agree - it is worth the wait! Recorded straight to 2-inch tape, the band are keen to honour the methods and sounds of old school Motown. Presented as a rebellion to the digital age, the album delivers a quite endearing level of authenticity and rawness that is quite rare in our current age where most music is heavily-produced. From the very first notes of opening track Let Me Let You Down a false-start makes it clear that we're hearing a live take. For me, elements like that give the album some character - who wants a perfect take anyway?

The band enlisted the help of producer Paul Butler (Michael Kiwanuka, Andrew Bird) who flew to the band’s home studio in Victoria to work on the album. Together they've created a record which sees a sonic progression from the first record, whilst still maintaining the elements of that record which fans had loved so much. Of this process, drummer Liam Gough explains that “we were really aware that we didn’t want to alienate fans […] We feel really proud of the first album, but the second album needed to be a step up.

I think it's testament to the recording process that I'm struggling to pick out favourite tracks on the record - I feel that it works best as a whole. I'm loving Hold Me at the moment, particularly in a gorgeous performance for US show CBS This Morning (watch below) - those harmonies are sublime. As my first introduction to the band and one of the livelier tracks on the record, So Caught Up also remains a highlight for me. Falling around the half-way mark of the album, it enlists a bit more ‘pop’ than fans of the band might be used to. Bassist Brendon Love details that it “was a bit different to what we’d normally play […] but we were also quite excited about that.” Judging by the reaction the track got at Citadel: so are the fans.


Closing track That Bird came to Josh in a dream while he was camping in the Colorado wilderness (you couldn't make it up.) Bringing the album and its themes to a close beautifully, its gentle groove provides the setting for a conversation about, Josh explains, whether it is “better to live in the present and forget about the past or is it better to learn from the past and use those mistakes to grow from?” 

To summarise: at various points this album will make you want to dance, sing, cry and play your best air-guitar, all while remaining transfixed by Josh’s stunning lead vocals and the glorious musical talents of the entire band. Be sure to take a listen when it is released tomorrow! 

Having sold out Union Chapel earlier this year, they’ve got a sold out Jazz Cafe gig coming up on 3rd September. Be on the look-out for show announcements for later in the year too! 

Follow The Teskey Brothers - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.