ISSUE 20 18 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2018
ALBUM REVIEWS
From Paul McCartney, Teleman, Waxahatchee and Mogwai
MUSIC NEWS
From Tru Thoughts, Poppy Ackroyd, The Levellers and more
GIG LISTINGS Our recommended listings of gigs in Brighton
LIVE REVIEWS Featuring Passenger, Goat Girl and GZA
AN HONEST EXPLORATION OF EXPRESSION
ISSUE 20
NEWS
CONTENTS 6
ANNA CALVI Jeff Hemmings talks to Anna Calvi about her new album, her intimate live performance and tackling societal stereotypes
BRINGING THE ARTISTS CLOSER TO YOU... CEO: Frank Sansom EDITOR: Daniel White PRODUCTION: Adam Kidd, Jonski Mason
NEWS
LISTINGS
Local releases and more news from the city’s music scene
Our recommended listings and previews of this week’s gigs
Reviews from the latest album releases this week
CONTRIBUTORS: Jeff Hemmings Iain Lauder Jamie MacMillan Liam McMillen Ben Walker Christian Middleton Kelly Westlake Paul Hill Chloe Hashemi Dan Whitehouse Annie Roberts Rhys Baker
LIVE REVIEWS
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Passenger, Goat Girl, GZA and many more feature in our rundown of this week’s live reviews
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Following her show in Brighton recently, we caught up with Abi Wade
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The Levellers announce 30th anniversary tour
There seems to be no stopping them. Brighton’s most famous sons are celebrating 30 years in the business with a UK tour, aptly entitled One Way of Life, named after their anthemic paean ‘One Way’. They’ll be playing in their hometown on 22nd November, with a show at the Brighton Dome. Earlier this year The Levellers released We The Collective, featuring acoustic re-recordings of many of the band’s greatest hits, plus two new songs. It was their highest charting album for two decades, and showed the band can still hit the heights after all these years.
Fenne Lily has just released a Spotify single consisting of a reworked live studio version of ‘More Than You Know’. Fenne will soon embark on a run of solo shows across the UK, including a date at The Haunt, Brighton, on 29th October.
The New York-based musician, songwriter, and producer, Sam Evian, will be dropping his pastoral single ‘Summer Day’ on 19th October, to coincide with a tour of the UK. Evian will visit Brighton’s The Hope & Ruin on 24th October.
KHRUANGBIN
Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved. At Brightonsfinest we strive to meet all of the best musicians who travel to, or live in our vibrant city. On our YouTube channel you can listen to our archive of radio interviews from both emerging and established artists, highlighting the best in new music from Brighton and beyond. This week we look back at our interview with Laura-Lee and Mark from Khruangbin. Iain Lauder talked to the pair about how they found the time to write and record their second album, Con Todo El Mundo, around their constant touring schedule.
OUT OF TOWN ABI WADE Our favourite upcoming gigs outside of Brighton
The latest video in Small Pond’s series of Down Time sessions has been released, featuring Poppy Ackroyd. The Brighton-based pianist and composer, who also plays with Hidden Orchestra, performs her track ‘Trains’ in an artist’s loft in London.
COVER SHOT: Maisie Cousins
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Shapes: Mountains is the latest in Tru Thoughts’ series of essential label compilations put together by A&R, label co-founder Robert Luis. Featuring their classic cuts, recent releases and inspired remixes, it’s out on digital and vinyl on 12th October.
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PREVIEWS
KOMEDIA
Crown The Empire – The Haunt – Tuesday 18th September 2018 Since forming in 2010, post-hardcore rockers Crown The Empire have been combining catchy choruses with heavy riffs. As a band that Post Malone once auditioned for, they’ve achieved plenty of success in their own right and there’s sure to be a range of material from the band’s first three albums, along with a preview of their newer work. With support from Volumes and Coldrain, it’s sure to be a night for fans to remember.
Jimothy Lacoste – The Haunt – Saturday 22nd September 2018 With silly dance moves, talk-singing in abundance, and an outrageous fashion style, Jimothy Lacoste errs very close to self-parody, but quite clearly purposefully. While his wordplay and singing style seem simple, his music is fantastic. A mix between bedroom pop, soul and laidback rap, he’s one of the more unique artist working today and his show at The Haunt is sure to be not only a rammed affair, but an extremely fun evening.
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The Hope & Ruin
Sabien Gator Tuesday 18th September Tickets: £3 OTD Presented by Carousel
Lumerians Tuesday 18th September Tickets: £7.70 Presented by Acid Box
Chuck Prophet / Jesse Malin Tuesday 25th September Tickets: £18 Presented by Brighthelmstone
SLUG Wednesday 19th September Tickets: £9.20 Presented by One Inch Badge & Love Thy Neighbour
Sextile Wednesday 19th September Tickets: £8.05 Presented by One Inch Badge
The Prince Albert Febueder Wednesday 19th September Tickets: £7 paris_monster Thursday 20th September Tickets: £7.70
Horse Feathers Tuesday 25th September Tickets: £8.80 Presented by Love Thy Neighbour
K PIC HE T OF EK WE
Green Door Store
Lebeaux Thursday 20th September Tickets: £9 Presented by EmbraceAbility
Southwestsiide Saturday 22nd September Tickets: £5 OTD Presented by StrungOut
Oscar Jerome – The Hope & Ruin – Thursday 20th September 2018 With training in classical guitar, as well as studying jazz at London’s Trinity Laban music school, there’s an esteemed, sophisticated sound that Oscar Jerome adheres to, with a twist. The twist comes from soul and hip-hop influences that give his music a unique style and a sunny exterior. Tickets for his show at The Hope & Ruin won’t last long at all, and it’ll no doubt be one of the last times to see him in such an intimate setting.
GIG LISTINGS
GIG LISTINGS
Sticky Mike's Frog Bar Bad Laws Tuesday 18th September Tickets: £6 OTD Presented by Dusty Studio Productions Gender Roles Wednesday 19th September Tickets: £4.50 Presented by PVR Presents No Violet Thursday 20th September Tickets: £5.95 Presented by Strange Place CLT DRP Friday 21st September Tickets: £4 Presented by Say Something Records & Tone MGMT Man Ray Sky Saturday 22nd September Tickets: TBC Presented by Acid Box Holy Esque Sunday 23rd September Tickets: £7.70 Presented by Live Nation Lady Bird Tuesday 25th September Tickets: £11-22 Presented by Hot Wax Promotions & BIMM Freshers Week
Wizard Sleeve Thursday 20th September Tickets: £3 OTD Presented by Green Door Store Side-A Friday 21st September Tickets: £5 Presented by NDPNDNTS Bobbie Johnson Saturday 22nd September Tickets: £4 OTD Presented by QM Records The Hungry Ghosts Sunday 23rd September Tickets: FREE Presented by Green Door Store School Disco Monday 24th September Tickets: FREE Presented by Green Door Store
Concorde 2 Scarlxrd Monday 24th September Tickets: £14.85 The Magic Gang Tuesday 25th September Tickets: £13 Presented by Neat Neat Neat
PATTERNS LOYAL Friday 21st September Tickets: £6 Sœur Monday 24th September Tickets: £11-22 Presented by Hot Wax Promotions & BIMM Freshers Week Fake Laugh Tuesday 25th September Tickets: £11-22 Presented by Hot Wax & BIMM Freshers Albert Hammond Jr Friday 21st September Tickets: £5 Presented by NDPNDNTS
Oscar Jerome Thursday 20th September Tickets: £7.88 Presented by One Inch Badge The Pearl Hearts / Good Guy Clarence Friday 21st September Tickets: £6 Presented by Smashing Blouse Chloe Bodur Monday 24th September Tickets: £11-22 Presented by QM Records & BIMM Freshers Week
RIALTO THEATRE Yatao Wednesday 19th September Tickets: Donations Only Mildlife Friday 21st September Tickets: £13.50 Presented by 1BTN
RESIDENT Pale Waves Thursday 20th September Tickets: FREE Presented by Resident Music Black Honey Friday 21st September Tickets: FREE Presented by Resident Music
Brighton Dome Jose Gonzalez with The String Theory Friday 21st September Tickets: £26.50 Europe Monday 24th September Tickets: £30 Ólafur Arnalds Wednesday 26th September Tickets: £27 Presented by One Inch Badge
NIGHTLIFE 1991 Wednesday 19th September The Arch 11pm - 4am (Addictive future bass)
Dan Shake Thursday 20th September Concorde 2 11pm - 4am (One of disco’s most prized assets)
Nick The Record / Rob Luis Friday 21st September Rialto Theatre 11pm - 5am (Midlife afterparty)
Discojuice Friday 21st September Patterns Upstairs 9pm - 3am (A night of revelry and colourful music)
General Levy Saturday 22nd September Concorde 2 11pm - 4am (The king of jungle)
Michael Bibi / GW Harrison Saturday 22nd September The Arch 11pm - 5am (House, techno and electronic dance)
Serial Killaz Sunday 23rd September The Volks 11.30pm - 8am (General Levy afterparty)
Applebum Monday 24th September Concorde 2 11pm - 4am (A celebration of hip-hop and r’n’b)
OUT OF TOWN The Wedding Present Tuesday 18th September Boileroom, Guildford (Rock) - 7pm
Bill Ryder-Jones Thursday 20th September Southbank Centre, London (Minimalist) - 7.30pm
The Nines Thurs 20th & 21st September O2 Forum Kentish Town, London (Hip-hop) - 7pm
Spiritualized Friday 21st September Eventim Apollo, London (Space rock) - 7pm
Mister Super Juice Friday 21st September Lewes Con Club (Funk) - 8pm
Moses Sumney Friday 21st September Southbank Centre, London (Soul) - 7.30pm
Sleaford Mods Friday 21st & 22nd September Roundhouse, London (Electronic punk) - 7pm
Hospitality In The Park 2018 Saturday 22nd September Finsbury Park (Various) - 11am
Maya Youssef Sunday 23rd September Ropetackle, Shoreham-by-sea (Arabic) - 8pm
Biffy Clyro Monday 24th September Royal Albert Hall, London (Rock) - 7pm
Full event listings at Brightonsfinest.com/listings
With the release of her third album in August, Anna Calvi tackles issues of expression of freedom, gender stereotypes, and social norms. Not afraid to take on the bigger issues in society today, Calvi will be bringing her extremely personal show to Brighton in October. Jeff Hemmings sat down with the her ahead of her All Saints show to discuss discrimination, identity and her live show
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t was at the Grey Horse in Kingston,” says Anna Calvi about her first public performance. “I remember I played ‘Purple Haze’ by Jimi Hendrix. I wasn’t singing, but I remember it gave me such a buzz. I think it ups the stakes as a performer when you’re playing in front of people. You’re wanting to take more risks, and you want to push yourself further. I think I had that from the very first time I played on stage.” This is patently true. Anna Calvi has somehow bottled that live persona, that ecstatically personal outpouring of pure emotion and feeling onto the live stage. Over the years, she has constantly upped the ante, taking bigger risks, and in the process she’s continuously discovering herself, and what it means to be a woman, and more importantly, a human. It’s show business, but with a deep undercurrent of intelligence and thought behind it. A relatively late bloomer in terms of mak-
ing records and performance, Calvi did not begin singing until her mid-20s. “I had a phobia about it. I wouldn’t sing in school or even in the shower. I had this emotional block about hearing my voice. So the guitar became my voice when I was a teenager, it was how I could express myself.” A virtuoso guitarist, with a wide ranging musical education that embraced everything from Hendrix to Beefheart, Django Reinhardt to Nina Simone, and Maria Callas to classical. She learnt both guitar and violin from a young age, and studied music at Southampton University, before being discovered by Domino Records on the recommendation of The Coral’s Bill Ryder-Jones. Along the way Brian Eno became a mentor of sorts (“the best thing since Patti Smith”), she played guitar with Johnny Flynn, and supported the likes of Interpol, Arctic Monkeys and Grinderman, before eventually releasing her first album in early 2011, aged 30, making an imme-
diate impact. Seven years later, she’s just released her third album, Hunter, an even deeper exploration of gender and humanity - themes that run through her catalogue - that is disarmingly honest, powerful, and a longing expression of freedom, from gender stereotypes, and from social norms. “I just think we shouldn’t treat people differently depending on what body parts they have. Obviously, to try and give it some kind of binary way of seeing gender completely excludes so many people, including trans people. There is so much more to the vastness of human experience than a purely masculine or feminine one. I started to wonder what these things even mean, what it means to be a woman or man. If we think it’s not to do with your anatomy, then what is it? And yet, it’s used so much to control both men and women.” On stage, Calvi prowls and exudes the
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We shouldn’t treat people differently depending on what body parts they have. There is so much more to the vastness of human experience than a purely masculine or feminine one.
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It’s definitely a more visceral performance. I’m very close to the audience. It’s both very intimidating for me and for them, but also very empowering for both parties almost religious, people’s belief in love. It’s really tragic, because ultimately it doesn’t save us from death, but it does provide so much happiness in our lives. It’s almost childlike. I wanted a song about that.” Striving for a primal and visceral sound on record, where her guitar and voice are pure expressions of liberation, Calvi has transplanted that on to the live stage, with recent shows emphasising a greater spontaneity and freedom than on record. “It’s definitely a more visceral performance. I mean it’s a record (Hunter) of the body. I really felt it was important to get that across on stage. It’s much more physical. I suppose I was much more interested in how to get the contrast between intimacy against the really powerful, I feel the record has both of those, and how to push that on stage. I’ve been playing with a runway, which goes out into the audience. I’m very close to the audience. And I think it’s both very intimidating for me and for them, but also very empowering for both parties. It’s such a close encounter.”
confidence of someone who may have found the answers. Yet, for her, it is an on-going process, which involves trying to discard the essentially shy and sensitive being that she claims she is, instead striving to articulate her desires and needs. When you’re on stage aren’t you obviously a woman, I ask? “I feel very free to express any masculinity that I have. I feel very free to express it in my music. But, I do identify as female, and I do feel frustrated at the limitations of what that means, and specifically this idea of women being prey somehow. And so I really wanted to express a story as a woman as a hunter,” she says about the new album. “When I say ‘hunting’, it’s not about taking pleasure as a result of someone else’s oppression. It’s purely exploring her pleasure in all the ways without feeling shame for it. Because often women are either overtly or subtly given these feelings, that we should feel ashamed of our bodies, or of our natural desires.”
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Within Calvi’s music there is the pure desire for love and acceptance, brilliantly and beautifully expressed through much of Hunter. For instance, ‘Don’t Beat the Girl out of My Boy’, which on the surface could be about employing gender stereotypes on a newborn, but about which Calvi says, “To me, it’s more about the defiance of happiness, celebrating and identifying yourself without feeling any pressure to conform to something. And that when you’re with someone that you love and you’re free from all of that, you’re purely happy, and you’ll defend that happiness with everything you have. That’s what it means, for me.” Then there’s the meaty muscularity of ‘Indies or Paradise’ which also concerns a vision of love and harmony. “It’s about this pure belief that humans have, that things will get better, and that love will save us. It’s like we always knew that love would save us from death. It feels
Like Nick Cave, for instance, Anna Calvi is willing to let it all hang out, but wrapped up in the guise of expressional entertainment: using music and live performance to break free from the shackles imposed on us all. It’s how she gets her true feelings and emotions across. “Especially when you’re a shy person,” she say, “to have this way of pure expression is very personal.” To read the full interview visit Brightonsfinest.com/AnnaCalvi
Hunter Out: 31st August
LIVE REVIEWS
With a fairly young audience, the majority female, it’s clear to see that Goat Girl’s feminist-tinted lyrics and their angry views on our current political predicaments has really struck a chord with their intended demographic. As feedback goes, their exuberant dancing throughout speaks volumes about their love for the band. With a new bassist now in tow, and their tour injuries behind them, the future looks very, very bright for Goat Girl. It was a really special night as Passenger brought his Runaway tour to his hometown of Brighton. The set was a nice balance between oldies and tracks from his new album, while Michael Rosenberg told stories about how the songs came to be. It felt like the crowd were hanging on his every word and every chord. A high-point of the set was when Passenger brought the crowd to their feet for his cheeky song ‘I Hate’, in which he lists the things that “piss him off”, from “racist blokes” to the “X-Factor” and “fussy eaters”. At the night’s end he thanked Brighton for giving him such an incredible hometown welcome, and allowing him to, “Sing to a room who know all my songs, not just one”. It was a truly incredible and honest show all round.
Read the full reviews at Brightonsfinest.com/live
As Brighton hip-hop shows go, especially in venues as intimate as Concorde 2, GZA was as fresh and exciting as it gets. Ultimately, this felt like a special occasion. A truly exceptional, distinctive and distinguished show with one of the masters of his genre. With iconic hits, an incredibly passionate crowd, and a chance to see a true master at work, this was a remarkably uplifting show and one that doesn’t come around too often.
ALBUM REVIEWS Paul McCartney – Egypt Station Out: 7th September 2018
Egypt Station, Paul McCartney’s 18th solo album, sees the former Beatle in a confident and heartfelt place. McCartney has never been happier and his music, which resembles the early energy of the first four Beatles records, supremely represents that. It is a retro bop that works wholesomely because it not only sounds unique, but it embraces where the 76-yearold is now, unlike many albums made by his contemporaries.
Waxahatchee – Great Thunder Out: 7th September 2018
Katie Crutchfield has returned with a style completely different to what her fans are accustomed to. Featuring a collection of songs originally written for the now inactive experimental recording group of the title’s name, Great Thunder is the culmination of her revisiting and reimagining them with producer Brad Cook. Crutchfield’s vocals sound as mature as ever, all under the backdrop of a change in style which bleeds authenticity.
Teleman – Family of Aliens Out: 7th September 2018
Guitars have taken more of a backseat on Family of Aliens in support of the heightened synthetic soundscapes created by the four-piece. It’s evident that, as they evolve, they have cultivated and honed in on their sound. This is four men who are now fully comfortable with where they are as songwriters, and in possession of a fluid collection of glorious pop songs under the backdrop of a multitude of electronic textures.
Mogwai – Kin Out: 31st August 2018
Rather than falling into the ‘soundtrack album’ pitfall of merely presenting short cues and motifs as a collection of tracks, this is to all intents and purposes a fully formed album. Entirely instrumental (bar the last track), it manages to be both evocative in its story-telling as well as being clearly recognisable. Skip the movie, catch the soundtrack. Kin ranks amongst the very best of their lengthy back catalogue, regardless of genre.
Read the full reviews at Brightonsfinest.com/albums
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ABI WADE Having recently released her gorgeous debut album, Beautifully Astray, at the beginning of April, Abi Wade has long been an incredible Brighton talent. She’s a versatile musician who uses vocals, orchestral and choral arrangements, with synths and location samples to create a mesmerising window into human nature and the abstract. She recently played a show at Brighton’s The Rose Hill, and we caught up with Abi to find out about her current live set, her view on her debut LP, and the incredible projects she does alongside her music.
Hi Abi, can you tell us about your current live show, what’s involved? It’s just me on stage - I use looping, I play the drums by using triggers on my feet, I play the cello and keys, there is a bass part at the bottom of my keys - but it’s all just me, making a lot of noise. Do you prefer playing on your own or in a band would you say? I’ve toured with people before but normally I only get a violinist in or perhaps a pianist. I think because I have written all the music myself, it is kind of easier to play it on my own; as you don’t have to organise anyone else, which is great, and you don’t have to pay anyone else, which is also great. That’s doesn’t mean to say I don’t like to invite other musicians to play as well, I do like playing with other musicians, but at the same time I’m pretty happy to do it on my own. When writing your music, do you think about how it will translate live or is that a task for when it’s completed? With Beautifully Astray, I tried not to think about it too much and to just freely experiment - I had an orchestra on the album, and there is no way I’ll be able to bring them on tour everywhere. I kind of just went for it when making the album, trying not to worry. It was a real logistical nightmare to put it all together live. The songs are quite different live, I don’t mind that as I think it’s nice for people see different sides to the song. Live, it’s a little more stripped back with the core elements and then on the album there are more musicians, layers and location samples - it’s two different experiences. Beautifully Astray features a lot of field recording, something that has always been a part of your music - you must
have a big passion for collecting them and then experimenting with them? Yeah, definitely. I love to find interesting sounds and manipulate them into something. I’ve recently been to China to make some tracks around buildings, which has been great! Hitting big cylinders in an old power station. I love seeing how far I can manipulate and push a sound. There is a quality you get from live samples that you don’t get from plugins on music software. One is the uniqueness, as obviously no one else has got that particular sound, and the other being it gives it a place, a setting, which I like. I went to China as part of a project called Musicity with Nick Luscombe, who is a BBC Radio 6 Music presenter. A group of artists went out there to create these tracks that can only be listened to if you are in the place where they were initially inspired, though I believe this one will be available to listen to outside of China as well. It’s a really cool project which I’m really pleased to be a part of. Your debut album, Beautifully Astray, came out in the beginning of April this year - looking back at the album now, is there anything you see in the album which you didn’t necessarily notice when making it? I think it’s interesting when you live with something for so long and then you put it out there. It’s a peculiar feeling to have other people listen to it and then see the response that it brings. There are some heavy topics in there and I think people have been responding to the depth of them. I think it’s a little ambiguous about what I’m writing about, which is intentional, but maybe it’s not as ambiguous as I first thought. I’m always intrigued and interested by what people think and their thoughts around it.
I love the imagery that goes with your music can you tell me a little bit about the thought process behind them? They are all a partnership with Eley Kishimoto, a fashion designer who I’ve always loved. I wanted to do a picture in front of their Brixton mural, so I got in touch with them and they invited me to their studio - I was like ‘WOW’, all I wanted was to take a picture and they take me to their studio. They are all amazing people; they let me use their patterns for the album artwork, telling me the stories behind them, which matched with the ideas behind the album. The album is called Beautifully Astray, a journey of creativity and not knowing where you’re going to end up. I was really blown away by their generosity and their support for arts and creativity. Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto are both great people and obviously make such amazing artworks. What else have you got planned for this year? It’s very exciting, lots of crazy things happening. I’m doing all the installation stuff under my Gestalt alias, which is happening in a series of different locations around London. As Abi Wade, I’m writing a new track as a response to different words I got back from sending out previews, to be released next year. My stuff for Musicity will be released very soon and I will be going back out to China to perform those tracks in October. I have a UK and European tour coming up as well. I have an idea for an EP based around ‘water’, which is also in the pipeline.
To read the full Q&A with Abi visit Brightonsfinest.com/AbiWade
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