-
Ray Dar Vees
Step aside, step aside, and make room for the best new London band SOIWT has heard in yonks. Probably named after the Kinks lead singer who they sound nothing like, Ray Dar Vees seem to mix stirring, lighters-in-the-air rock anthems (debut single Heart Attack) with burnished softies better suited to subdued Sunday nights (White Gold Tears). Or, in the case of It’s A Feeling I Get, something betwixt the two. The lyrics are pleasantly introspective, and the guitars and drums played with gusto, but I most like singer Fred Murray’s earthy, earnest tones: he’s all heart, and it’s fabulous to hear.
With renowned producer Craig Silvey on board, and a contract with the Pure Groove-linked Seven Sevens label, the future looks mighty promising for this threesome. Indeed, Heart Attack is so good, it could yet be a song of the summer if Xfm and Absolute really push it - although, secretly, selfishly, I kinda hope that doesn’t happen…
-
Disclosure
Sometimes when I’m dreaming, half-asleep and half-not, I hear distant squeals and cries, voices that float agonisingly on the edge of my earshot. They’re diluted and distorted, transmitted on a different frequency that I can only fleetingly tune into. But they’re comforting and magical, and I wish I could hear them more often. Now I can – via ethereal samples and bubbling two-step beats, the mellow garage songs of South London duo Disclosure evoke a similarly haunting soundscape. Not bad for 18- and 15-year-old brothers, right? (Thanks to Don’t Die Wondering for the tip-off)
The brothers are DJing at Proud Camden this Friday, 9 April.
-
Fighting Kites
Fighting Kites are an East London threepiece who produce instrumental music that fuses guitar, bass, drum loops and electronica. Very much mood music, there’s a dash of post-rock about it all, and a likeable, intermittent air of Shuggie Otis-style improv. In fact, such is Fighting Kites’ eclectica in general, I imagine them jamming in an extravagantly-decorated studio, and uttering super-cool sentences like “why don’t you use that velvet glockenspiel by the armadillo’s cage?” at regular intervals. In reality, they probably record methodically in a Clapton bedsit, and talk about loop pedals.
Fighting Kites haven’t any gigs coming up, although they did recently play the Spatchcock warehouse party in Manor House. A four track CD is available. Incidentally, kite-fighting is an actual sport – I think it sounds way fun!
-
The Good Natured
The Good Natured is Sarah McIntosh, a London-based, Berkshire-hailing gal who makes a lustrous disco sound rather at odds with her coquettish appearance. Comparisons with Ellie Goulding (god – Ellie’s that established already?) are inevitable such is the mature-voiced, would-be-cool electro-ness here, but in truth The Good Natured’s sound is more grandiose. The beats are bouncier, too, even if everything feels very, well, considered – pounding pianos and plummy tones, as The Guardian nicely puts it. I like The Good Natured’s pretty and simplistic lyrics (“there’s silver in your lungs”) but fervently wish she’d more regularly let rip vocally: on the brief occasions she hits a high note, life gets a little giddy.
The Good Natured is playing Proud on Monday 29 March and The Big Chill Bar on Thursday 15 April, but the most exciting show is sandwiched in between. On Wednesday 7 April she headlines the latest Lake of Stars (the Malawian music festival in October) night at Rich Mix, in Bethnal Green. Much more on the Facebook page, including ticket links. See her while you can; it won’t be long before the masses catch up…
MySpace | Blog | Buy
MP3: The Good Natured – Your Body is a Machine -
Donaeo’s Riot Music
SOIWT knows about as much about club soul as it does Finnish achilles specialists: a little more every day, but really, the square root of sod all divided by bugger nothing. Nevertheless, such rock-focused ignorance hasn’t stopped your feckless blogger from stumbling on the latest belter from London MC and producer Donaeo. Riot Music has a hint of reggae about it, and a nice finger-jabbing intensity. The Shy FX mix attached is excellent, but it’s worth checking out Skream!’s more ripped-up take, too.
Posts tagged as "alternative"
