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The Hot Five - June #2

  • Published in Columns

The Hot Five – My favourite new tracks of the week, usually rounded off with a classic, obscure or alternate track from my music collection. Tracks usually concentrate on guitar-based music, but really focus on anything and everything that I come across.

Track of the week: Dry The River – ‘Gethsemane’

Dry The River are back. With a UK tour booked for this October, and festival appearances at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds and the Camden Crawl, it seems that Stratford boys are in for a big summer. On top of all this, new album Alarms in the Heart will be released on August 25. Comeback track ‘Gethsemane’ is instantly impressive. A minimal arrangement focuses the attention on high, reverberating vocals that is layered with some clever harmonies. I’ve taken to this track straight away, so lets hope Dry The River continue from strength to strength.

Arctic Monkeys – ‘Snap Out Of It’

Arctic Monkeys new single ‘Snap Out Of It’, released last year on AM, is an example of a very well written song. There’s a sophistication about Alex Turner’s songwriting that has developed hugely since the release of Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not in 2006. ‘Snap Out Of It’ typifies Turner’s swaggering style; it oozes confidence and has the quality to be able to justify the conviction. The band have a busy summer of festival appearances, as well as dates across North America in August.

Strange Cages – ‘Desert’

There’s a really strong music scene coming out of Brighton at present. With new artists such as Royal Blood currently getting a lot of exposure, now seems a good time to be uncovering other artists too. This track from Strange Cages is a great example of garage rock, with a raw sound and energetic delivery. The track is available as a free download via SoundCloud, and Strange Cages will be playing shows in both London and Brighton this month.

 

Lykke Li – ‘Gunshot’

When discussing the writing of this song, Lykee Li said: "I wrote 'Gunshot' straight after a meditation and the lyrics just came out of violent words, 'I'm longing for your poison like a cancer for its prey, I shot an arrow in your heart where you waited in the rain'. This dark element to the song is heard in the reverberating lead vocals, and there is a generally brooding atmosphere on display here.

I’ve decided to share a live version of Lykee Li’s latest single with you. I have to say that I was listening to the track whilst writing this review and the performance was so good that I forgot it was recorded live. ‘Gunshot’ is taken from Li’s recent album I Never Learn, which she will be showcasing at Glastonbury and Latitude this year.

Hidden track of the week: The Stone Roses – ‘Fools Gold’

This is what I’ve spent the last week listening to; it’s arguably the Stone Roses’ best song, with such a strong bass line and drum / percussion section. Released as a double A-side single with ‘What The World Is Waiting For’ in 1989, and is the band’s most commercially successful release. The Stone Roses reformed in 2011, though there are dark rumours of rifts within the band, and as of yet there are no concrete plans for the band to release any new material.

You can follow Tom on twitter @tom_fake

 

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Camden Crawl Further Line-up Announcements

  • Published in News

With only 6 weeks left until Camden Crawl 14 fills the streets of North London with some of the best new alternative sounds of 2014 the festival has announced the addition of further acts to the bill.

With a new album on the horizon, this year's event sees London’s very own Dry The River make their long awaited return to the festival. They are joined by of the moment Canadian songwriter Sean Nicholas Savage on an Electric Ballroom dream bill already overflowing with amazing North American talent including of Montreal, Au Revoir Simone and Jeffrey Lewis & The Jrams.

Over at Dummy’s electronic marathon SOPHIE will present his sonic assault of pop hooks, hyperreal sound design and club rhythms on an unrelenting bill at the Jazz Café whilst Big Deal, Thumpers and The Crookes bring their infectious brands of alt-guitar based pop to the festival’s stages.

CC14 also knows how to make a bit of a punk-noise racket with the likes of Nai Harvest, Youth Man, The Black Tambourines, Gang, Abjects and the truly bizarre Vodun newly added to the line-up.

Comedy at this years festival has two outlets curated by The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society and SHAMBLES. 

All told CC14 festival's 25 locations spanning the two mile stretch of NW1 will play host to over 250 live artists, DJs and specialist fringe events throughout the festival during the Summer Solstice June 20 – 21.

Further details and ticket purchasing can be accessed at the events website here.

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