Bristol Live // Vagabon by Bristol In Stereo

BRISTOL LIVE LIVE & NEW MUSIC MAGAZINE

M a y. 1 7 | 6 4

WITH: THE SPOOK SCHOOL

V A G A B O N MILOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PLANES, DOT TO DOT & TONS MORE!

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Wed 3rd May • SOLD OUT

Thu 15th Jun • £18 adv

Wed 4th Oct • £17.50 adv

Future Island + Wing Dam

The Wedding Present Playing “George Best”

Loyle Carner

+ Young Romance

New Found Glory

Wed 10th May • £16.50 adv

Protoje & The Indiggnation Thu 11th May • £20 adv

Underoath + Mewithoutyou Fri 12th May • £3 adv

BA1 Records Showcase Sat 13th May • From £15 adv 10.30pm-5am • over 18s only

Sun 18th Jun • £18 adv

House Of Pain Thu 29th Jun • £27.50 adv

Cheap Trick Tue 4th Jul • £22 adv

Gogol Bordello

Keeping The Rave Alive - Wed 2nd Aug • £20 adv Bad Religion Neon Nation w/ Kutski Mon 15th May • £26.50 adv

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic Tue 16th May • £20 adv

The Cribs Sat 20th May • £25adv

Chronixx

Thu 5th Oct • £22.50 adv

Fri 6th Oct • £22.50 adv

DJ Shadow Wed 11th Oct • £35 adv

Dru Hill feat. Sisqo, 112 & Ginuwine + Csar + Mista Bibs

Wed 25th Oct • £22.50 adv

W.A.S.P.

Sun 6th Aug • £18 adv

Sat 28th Oct • £18.50 adv

Kate Nash

Sleaford Mods + Nachthexen

Sat 12th Aug • £22.50 adv

Tue 14th Nov • £29.50 adv

Sublime with Rome

Happy Mondays

+ General Roots + Stick figure

Thu 16th Nov • £22.50 adv

+ Matt Stocks (DJ Set)

Sat 26th Aug • From £12 adv 10pm-5am • over 18s only

Insane Clown Posse + Mushroomhead

Sat 25th Nov • From £14.90 adv

& The Zincfence Redemption

Breakin Science

Mon 22nd May • £25adv

Bristol Bank Holiday Special

Twin Atlantic

Fri 1st Sep • £12 adv

+ Darlia + The Pale White

Guns 2 Roses

Wed 24th May • £25adv

Fri 15th Sep • £12 adv

Hawkwind

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes

The Velvets

Wed 13th Dec • £27.50 adv

Thu 25th May • SOLD OUT

Fri 22nd Sep • £13 adv

Skunk Anansie

Fish

The Smyths

Thu 14th Dec • £24 adv

Sat 27th May • From £12adv

Tue 26th Sep • £24 adv

Shed Seven + Cast

Dot to Dot Festival 2017

Sparks

Fri 15th Dec • £19.50 adv

Sat 10th Jun • £19.50 adv

Fri 29th Sep • £18 adv

2-Tone Tribute Tour

Mayday Parade

10pm-3am • over 18s only

Festival Of The Dead Fri 1st Dec • £16.50 adv

Purple Rain A Celebration of Prince

O2 Academy Bristol Frogmore Street, Bristol BS1 5NA • Doors 7pm unless stated Venue box office opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 4pm

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May • 2017

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MANIC STREET PREACHERS

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SAD13 SADIE DUPUIS OF SPEEDY ORTIZ - CROFTERS RIGHTS BRISTOL -

19 | 05 | 17

VOK

CRAIG DAVID

- BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE -

24 | 06 | 17

HACIENDA CLASSICAL

GRAEME PARK - PETER HOOK

- THE LOUISIANA BRISTOL -

21 | 05 | 17

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

& MANCHESTER CAMERATA ORCHESTRA - BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE -

MEW

+ WARHAUS - BRISTOL TRINTITY -

25 | 07 | 17

INDIGO GIRLS - BIERKELLER BRISTOL -

20 | 06 | 17

KIEFER SUTHERLAND - BIERKELLER BRISTOL -

06 | 08 | 17

KATE NASH

MADE OF BRICKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR - O2 ACADEMY BRISTOL -

21 | 06 | 17

17 | 10 | 17

BONOBO (LIVE) - BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE -

LAMB

- BRISTOL TRINITY -

A L L T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E F R O M

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PARQUET COURTS, P12

Bigger is better. You may have noticed we look a little bit bigger than usual and well, you’d be right. We’ve expanded our little magazine to bring you even more #content on bands from Bristol and beyond. This month sees the introduction of our What’s New? section, headed by Christian Northwood; each month he’ll be chatting about the new acts you should be buzzed about. Elsewhere, our release section has been amped up to include even more records, and we’ve even compiled bigger, better features. Cover star Vagabon talks to me about the grit and grind that comes with making music for a living, The Spook School chat to Ross Jones about doing things on their own terms, and Oliver Evans speaks with our favourite local lads, Milo’s Planes. Meanwhile LGBT+ club nighters Don’t Tell Your Mother tell us what makes them tick while Dot to Dot festival pick out the acts they’re most looking forward to at their event later this month. So, welcome to the first edition of an all-new, packed-out Bristol Live Magazine. Sammy Maine Managing Editor Ed-in-Chief Loki Lillistone / New Music Ed Christian Northwood / Live Ed Mustafa Mirreh / Plus many amazing contributors both in print and online.

PICKS WITH: DOT TO DOT

W H AT ’ S N E W ?

MILO’S PLANES

BRISTOL BECAUSE: DON’T TELL YOUR...

COVER: VA G A B O N

THE SPOOK SCHOOL

NEW RELEASES

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

DEAR DICK

LIVE LISTINGS

THOUGHTS: DEADPUNK

28th – 29th JULY : BRUTON, SOMERSET

ROOTS MANUVA SHOBALEADER ONE LIVE BAND

GREG WILSON | ACTRESS | DJ YODA NIGHTMARES ON WAX | DELE SOSIMI THIS IS THE KIT | BC CAMPLIGHT DJ SET

DJ SET

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A F RO B E AT O R C H ES T R A

47SOUL | MELT YOURSELF DOWN | GUTS OLIVER WILDE | BEANS ON TOAST DJ SET

FULL BAND

LONDON ASTROBEAT ORCHESTRA PERFORMS: TALKING HEADS CELEBRATING OUR FAVOURITES FROM THE BRISTOL & BATH MUSIC SCENE:

A MISCHIEVOUS MELTING POT OF MUSIC, ARTS, PARTY AND PEOPLE 6

£85 WEEKEND TICKETS | FARMFESTIVAL.CO.UK

Guest Picks

What our pals are into this month.

PHOTO: STELLA MALFILÂTRE

w/ Guests:

words by:

Dan Roberts

Nilüfer Yanya Nilüfer Yanya makes measured, soulful pop music with plucky guitar lines. Counting Jeff Buckley and Connan Mockasin as influences, Yanya has received critical acclaim from a wealth of publications, from The Sunday Times to Vice, Line of Best Fit, NME and of course BLM. Her latest single ‘The Florist’ centres around the idea that nothing lasts forever, of chasing a high that never seems to 8

last long, with a video that proves an aesthetic ode to drugs, sex and romance in London. She’s been mentored by some prestigious artists, including Dave Okumu [The Invisible], since releasing her debut EP through tastemaker label Blue Flowers. Outside of music, Yanya has worked with refugees in Greece alongside her sister, teaching music and arts to children in Athens to try and give them a creative outlet. She’s destined for big things, so check her out in a small room at Dot to Dot this year and you won’t be disappointed.

Yellow Days George van den Broek, aka Yellow Days, is responsible for one of my most listened to EP’s of 2016. In a world with so much negativity, Yellow Days chooses to focus on the good. Perfect for the summer, his first offering takes a woozy and playful look at the world through the eyes of an 18-year-old with wisdom far beyond his years. Drawing on influences from a wide variety of genres from hip-hop to jazz, Broek’s vocals have to be heard in person to be believed; they’re soulful, grainy and smooth all at once. A promising future lies ahead, no doubt.

Cosmo Pyke Currently taking London by storm, another 18-year-old, Cosmo Pyke, talks about life south of the river – from grief with the police, to the role of social media in a breakup, to cycling around Peckham with his mates. Yet more music perfect for the sunshine, Cosmo has a jazzy take on pop music which has been beautifully captured by producer Fraser T. Smith (Stormzy, Adele, Sam Smith) on his debut EP Just Cosmo. If you were at the Crofters Rights show in February then you know. Dot to Dot takes place across Bristol on 27th May.

STOLEN BODY RECORDS PRESENTS

08 july THE TRINITY CENTRE

07 july THE CROFTERS RIGHTS Vinnum Sabbathi | Dr Chan | Umi | Ghost Car Captain SUUn | Agarimo SYNDICATE OF PSYCH DJS T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E AT

What’s New?

Fresh tales from the BLM radar with:

Christian Northwood New Music Editor

Ohyeahsumi Twins are often said to have a psychic connection. Based on the ethereal, other-worldly music created by Rena and Lena Vernon, aka LA’s Ohyeahsumi, it would be hard to deny that claim. The duo’s debut EP Your Friends Are Looking For You, released via Sports Day Records, is a beautifully intimate collection of songs, recorded in the intimacy of their home.

Listening to each track feels like you’re intruding on something personal, a confession from one twin to the other, with waves of echoing and intertwining guitars washing over your ears. The EP tells the story of a relationship, one that ultimately ends, but one which turns the duo from a place of darkness to defiance. Their songs are short – the longest being three minutes long – yet there’s still space for the songs to breathe, still space for lyrics like “I don’t curve my appetite, my dress curves clearly at the waist” to grab you. Ohyeahsumi are a must listen to those who love the in-depth lyricism of Mitski or lush lo-fi layers of (Sandy) Alex G.

Snowflakes (YouTube) 12

fb/ohyeahsumi

Post-Heather For a duo, Post-Heather have a big sound. The band, comprising of Jack Watkins (drums) and Heather Sheret (guitar/vocals), started above LazerZone in Brighton; not the most glamorous of locations, sure, but everyone’s gotta start somewhere. They mix garage-rock crunch and spacey shoegaze swirls to create an engulfing sound that is as intimate as it is expansive. The one song the band have online, ‘Stone’, nicely sums up their sound; gritty, menacing verses giving way to a hypnotic chorus that shows off the range and strength of Sheret’s voice. Those looking for lo-fi shoegaze with bite should step this way.

Stone (Soundcloud)

‘Never judge a book by its cover’ is usually good advice. With Party Hardly though, you can work out how good they are by the name alone. The Leeds four-piece have a brand of slacker-rock that reflects their moniker; reluctant, introverted but secretly a lot of fun. Their new single ‘Oh My God’, out on Witchgirl Recordings, contains two ready-made anthems, with bubblegum riffs and stadium-sized drums underpinning the anxious, deadpan vocals of lead-singer Tom Barr. After supporting the likes of Diet Cig and Bruising, fingers crossed they’ll head to Bristol very soon. Oh My God (S.cloud)

fb/postheatherband

Party Hardly

fb/partyhardlyy

Get more new music from Christian every Monday via Tracks of the Week at bristollivemagazine.com 13

fb.com/dottodotfestival • # d2dfest • dottodotfestival.co.uk • alttickets.com

M i l o’s Planes W.

ns O l i ve r E v a

unk is like Marmite: You love it or you hate it. Defining the genre in 2017 is tricky too.

Purists would swear by The Ramones and Sex Pistols, while others consider bands like Wire and Fugazi to be the core frontrunners. Others prefer the likes of Joe and Harry Sherrin, who make up half of Bristol’s rather prolific Milo’s Planes. “I think I started listening to lots of post-punk stuff when I was 17 or 18,” frontman Joe says of their 16

influences, explaining how their dad’s record shelf acted as a gateway into their formation. But punk wasn’t all the shelf had to offer: “Boyzone is definitely a rite of passage” he says, laughing. The band have even been known to play a cover of the Boyzone classic ‘Love Me for A Reason’, though for now evidence only exists on a few lucky iPhones. Milo’s Planes released their second album Delivering Business Success last year via Howling Owl, with the LP showcasing a passionate set of effervescent lo-fi tracks. They didn’t

“Boyzone is definitely a rite of passage” shy away from the visual side either, with a wild video for ‘Ghost’, directed by James Hankins and featuring a rowdy boat gig with plenty of goo. Joe explains in a little more detail: “The goo actually expired in 1999. We’ve brought it back! And we’ve got black gunge in a new video. It’s a gunge revival.” Harry grimaces, adding “You can’t get rid of it either, it is sticky stuff. It’s like the most bizarre texture.” Gunge-chat aside, the band’s third album Individual Development Plan is fast approaching, with the album launch gig taking place at the lesser-tread White Rabbit in Clifton. The band had to change venues last minute with Joe explaining that they were initially double booked. “There was miscommunication with the venue, they thought we meant the day after.” Despite the confusion, the brothers are just excited to be able to play together. “We’re very rarely all

around at the same time,” Joe explains. “It’s more exciting when we actually get to play as a band. It keeps the songs more interesting.” Speaking of what we can expect from the new album, Harry says, “We wrote the songs a bit more as a band this time, it’s a little more dynamic. We spent a bit longer layering it up.” Describing it as “heavier”, Joe was intent on improving what the band had already achieved with their last two albums. “I went a bit overkill on the overdubs.” he says, laughing. “So less of that. Now we’ve used more amps during the live takes so it sounds bigger.” As the brothers talk of their recording process, it’s clear that the time they spend in the studio is extensive, demonstrating a solid work ethic that seeps into the finished product. “We’ll wait until we’ve got a bulk of songs and then record them all,” Joe explains. “Then we’ll decide what’s for the album and what’s for the EP. That makes us look a lot more productive than we are.” While Delivering Business Success hung around for a year before being released, Joe adds that “the songs are still fresh.” With Harry studying at university in Manchester, bassist Charlie Horne living in Falmouth, and drummer Sam Green residing in Brighton, you wonder how Milo’s Planes keep up their productive stream and group chemistry. However you need only listen to the solid new LP to see that the band’s scattered geography is taken completely in their stride. Milo’s Planes prove punk to be the strongest bond of all. Individual Development Plan is out 12th May.

BRISTOL BECAUSE... City chat with our fave people.

Chris & Nic from Don’t Tell Your Mother. When did you first move to Bristol? Chris: I’ve been here for seven years this summer. This city is definitely where I call home now though. Nic: I’ve lived in Bristol for seven years too however Bristol is very much my old stomping ground as a regular at Lakota in the late ‘90s!

What’s your favourite thing about the city? Chris: The people! Bristol seems to be filled with those ready to try something new, take a risk and be encouraging and supportive along the way. Nic: It’s diversity in everything it does music, people, attitude.

What are your favourite eats around town?

Chris: I’m a huge fan of small plates / tapas-style food and there are plenty of great places to choose from. Bravas, Who’s your top Bristol artist at the Pata Negra, Flow and Birch are all moment? fantastic and suit most budgets between Chris: All sorts! Spunking Octochoke are up them. there though, not only a brilliant moniker Nic: Yes Flow tucked away in the but catchy tunes too (‘Warm Dildo’ is a Bearpit. Best vegetarian food ever... classic!). Nic: Idles, if you go and see them take your And fave gig of the last year? earplugs! Chris: Charlotte Church’s Late Night How would you describe the music Pop Dungeon at Simple Things last year was a tough one to beat! We’re SUPER scene here? excited to be warming the crowd up Nic: Experimental, forward thinking, for her at this year’s Pride Afterparty at fearless... the O2. Don’t Tell Your Mother takes place the first Saturday of every month. The next instalment, Don’t Tell Your Mother: Spring Clean is at the Old Market Assembly on 6th May. 19

VAGABON W. S a m m y M a i n e P. E b r u Y i l d i z

“I feel so small, my feet can barely touch the floor, on the bus where everybody is tall” Lætitia Tamko sings on the opening track of her album Infinite Worlds...

‘The Embers’ is a sombre offering that explores the notions of being the person that looks in from the outside – never really fitting in and feeling the weight of the world around you. However, Tamko

Infinite Worlds isn’t Tamko’s first release as Vagabon. In 2014, she released the Persian Garden EP and although she’s always been passionate about music – “it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do” – she kept her music separate from her family life. “I consciously didn’t tell them [about making music],” she says. “I’m a very private person in general especially with creative projects because I’m just afraid of speaking about things before doing them. I’m the first one to explore anything artistic in my family and so I think I wanted to introduce them to this in a way that will legitimate it.”

I may not be as big or as experienced or as confident or as fortunate as some folks... But I am good. and her project Vagabon are far from being something meagre or insignificant; Infinite Worlds is a celebration in being different and carving out a space that is entirely your own. Tamko has recently been on tour with Allison Crutchfield and enthuses about the reception she’s received while out on the road. “Knowing that people are discovering [Infinite Worlds] every day is also making me discover new things every day about the music,” she says over the phone ahead of show number 38 of a mammoth 41. “It’s been really nice to see how much it’s connected with people and getting to talk to them all after the shows when I’m doing my merch.”

Tamko grew up in Cameroon before moving to New York just in time to start high school. Although she was surrounded by music for her entire life – her mother would have meetups with friends where traditional WestAfrican songs were sung as group chants – she didn’t initially pursue it as a career. Instead, she headed to college to embark on an engineering major. “Engineering school is something that I’m really proud of; I’m not someone who is naturally a genius or naturally great at math from a young age. I taught myself to ace it,” she explains, adding that the focus she needed to finish the course has enabled her to excel at the logistics of a music career. “[Music] is an incredibly tough job,” she continues.

“It’s been really nice to discover my own voice and to make it work for me.”

“You’re working on being more skillful at it. You’re working on making it better, you’re touring, you’re expelling all this energy. I’m doing a job and I treat it as such. The same as when people show up on time and do the best that they can do; just because I’m my own boss, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a grind.” A lot of labour went into the initial stages of the Vagabon project, with Tamko honing her skills and her voice for years. Her vocal delivery on Infinite Worlds is a masterclass in dynamics, with Tamko able to tell a story through soaring outbursts or subtle, hushed confessions. “The first music I owned was like, Mariah Carey, Destiny’s Child and Whitney Houston so I was like, ‘I am so not a good singer’,” she says, laughing. “Compared to those people I’m not but it’s been really nice to discover my own voice and to make it work for me and I think that’s what all of them have done. They don’t all sound like each other. So I think I’m discovering it every day and knowing how to change my range and get it better.” The introduction to Infinite Worlds came with the beautiful ‘Fear & Force’ – “it best embodied the growth that I had made since Persian Garden, as a

musician and as a producer” – before the release of power-pop single ‘The Embers’. Originally titled ‘Sharks’, Tamko explains how the initial meaning of ‘The Embers’ has evolved into something more powerful. “It’s kind of like when Kendrick Lamar made that song ‘Alright’, like, “we gon’ be alright”,” she explains. “To Pimp a Butterfly is such a sombre record and it’s touching on a lot of topics that are very real but it’s not a happy record – it’s not meant to be happy, it’s not meant for dance clubs but that song, sticking that in there, it’s triumphant. Like all this shit is happening but we’re going to be fine and I think for me, ‘The Embers’ turned into a song that said ‘we’re going to be fine’. I may not be as big or as experienced or as confident or as fortunate as some folks but I am good, y’know? It’s all okay.” After the reception Tamko has received, 2017 has definitely been more than okay for the artist. Looking ahead, Tamko has already started work on the much-anticipated follow-up: “Vagabon as a whole, essentially, will encompass whatever music I decide to make,” she explains. “There are many different ways that I could take it and I’m really excited about that possibility.”

Infinite Worlds is out now on Father/Daughter Records. Vagabon plays Dot to Dot Festival on 27th May.

O CTO B E R

D R I F T

W W W. O CTO B E R D R I F T. C O . U K

Ross Jones talks to:

the Spook School S

ince the release of their second album, the lifeaffirming “queer punk” of Try To Be Hopeful, Edinburgh four-piece The Spook School have been finding rightfully-deserved comfort in who they are.

“

When we started out we didn’t exist in any kind of scene... The influence the record has had on them is evident, the band coming across, in their own wonderfully welcoming way, as simply embracing the opportunities afforded to them. “Because we were a lot more forthright and honest with our lyrics maybe it became easier for people to really understand what we were singing about all along.” Singer and guitarist Nye Todd explains when contemplating the band’s progress since. “When we started out we didn’t exist in any kind of scene in Edinburgh and now we’re finding other people who are singing about the same sort of things as us, and realising the world is so much bigger.” 28

The scenes we discuss don’t figure in a geographical sense, with the group making like-minded friends not only in the UK but across the Atlantic; their recent tour with PWR BTTM seemingly having a really positive effect on them. Now with talk of a third album being recorded and ready, the future only looks brighter and more actualising for the band: “I feel like the last album was very affirmative in realising and accepting your own identity,” drummer Niall McCamley confirms. “I suppose with this one it’s a bit more about some of the bumps along the way, and the regrets.” “I think it’s a definite continuation from the previous two records,” guitarist Adam Todd adds. “It deals with a lot of the bigger issues but from a personal level.” The degree of personal passion that the group invest into their music is undeniable, and when contemplating whether their own perception of happiness is difficult to define, the group don’t shy away or overstate themselves. “I think when we are writing we don’t have this big overarching idea that’s going to go into it, we are limited by our own personal experiences and the way we feel.”

Nye determines openly. “We try not to be purely serious or purely optimistic,” Adam adds, “but certainly when playing live we are a bit silly”. On the notion of their sprightly shows, the band are embracing the previouslydiscussed sense of community that they feel is developing from them. “It’s difficult not to have fun at shows, and I think lots of queer kids or gender non-conforming folk are coming and you can tell everyone really appreciates the acceptant community.” Their desire to raise awareness of the queer and gender non-conforming community has shown them just how vital their voice is. “Once you show a venue how many queer kids are out there or how many people will really appreciate gender-neutral toilets, it’s something that hopefully starts as a small wave and can kind of grow, but again you can only start doing things through your own personal actions,” Nye explains. The Spook School’s music is obviously having an integral influence on those who listen. When asked whether it is simple to comprehend, the group are noticeably humble. “I think it’s something that we can understand and emphasise with because we are all also navigating our own understanding of our own gender or sexuality” McCamley says, as Adam concludes “we’ve definitely – as individuals – grown, shifted or learnt a different understanding of ourselves by going through the experience of being in the band.” With each record they release and each show they play, The Spook School are becoming a more vital part of the UK music scene – simply on their own terms. The Spook School play The Stag & Hounds on 13th May. Their album ‘Try To Be Hopeful’ is out now via Fortuna POP!

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Manchester F r i .26.M ay

Bristol

S a t . 2 7 . M ay

N o tti n g h a m Sun .28.M ay

Plus lots more JUST ANNOUNCED across multiple venues #d2dfest • dottodotfestival.co.uk • alttickets.com 30

THEKLA

LIVE LISTINGS The Grove East Mud Dock Bristol BS1 4RB theklabristol.co.uk | thekla.club F L theklabristol | I X theklabris

alt-tickets.co.uk • gigantic.com • bristolticketshop.co.uk

MONDAY 1ST MAY

BLACK SPIDERS + BIGFOOT TUESDAY 2ND MAY

THE RIFLES (ACOUSTIC)

FRIDAY 19TH MAY

RYLEY WALKER

+ HEALTH&BEAUTY SATURDAY 20TH MAY

THE UNDERCOVER HIPPY MONDAY 22ND MAY

WEDNESDAY 3RD MAY

ASGEIR

SAM BROOKES

+ AXEL + TUSKS

+ LOW CHIMES + JOE PROBERT FRIDAY 5TH MAY

TAX THE HEAT

TUESDAY 23RD MAY

ALDOUS HARDING

+ SLEEPTALKING + REACH SUNDAY 7TH MAY

SEAFRET

+ LEWIS CAPALDI

WEDNESDAY 24TH MAY

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART

+ NIGHT FLOWERS

TUESDAY 9TH MAY

WILL JOSEPH COOK + TEN TONNES WEDNESDAY 10TH MAY

MODULUS QUARTET SATURDAY 13TH MAY

TANKUS THE HENGE + IMPRINTS SUNDAY 14TH MAY

WHEATUS MONDAY 15TH MAY

DECLAN MCKENNA + GIRLI WEDNESDAY 17TH MAY

MY VITRIOL THURSDAY 18TH MAY

DAN CROLL

TUESDAY 30TH MAY

CARL BARAT & THE JACKALS SOLD OUT

SATURDAY 3RD JUNE

COASTS SATURDAY 10TH JUNE

WHY? TUESDAY 13TH JUNE

BAT SABBATH THURSDAY 15TH JUNE

DAVID FORD + MICHELE STODART + JP RUGGIERI FRIDAY 16TH JUNE

KYLA LA GRANGE SATURDAY 16TH JUNE

SWEET BABOO WEDNESDAY 21ST JUNE

POND 31

New Releases

Records cut, pressed & out this month.

Girlpool

Powerplant 12.05 | ANTI- Records

One thing’s for certain, Girlpool sure know how to pack a powerful punch of sheer human emotion and experience into a few fleeting minutes. Powerplant sees duo Harmony Tividad and Cleo Tucker augmented in their sound as the tracks swell from hazy, meandering melodies, reminiscent of their greatly acclaimed debut, to heady bursts of clattering, feedbackladen ruckus. Joined by their friend Miles Wintner on drums, the full-band 32

arrangements encompassed on this album deliver moments of indulgent dissonance and weave intricate refrains, presenting a natural progression from their previous release. In spite of this bigger sound, the intimacy and that feeling of hanging out with your closest friends, so much a part of Girlpool’s essence, is resolutely still there. The close-knit pair’s harmonies are honed to perfection throughout and their lyrics channel that earnestness of sharing concerns and contemplations with your best mate. There’s an even greater emotional frankness on Powerplant as Girlpool astutely convey relatable expressions of heartbreak, hopelessness and tenderness, making this a quite unassumingly remarkable and pertinent record. Kezia Cochrane It Gets More Blue

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PWR BTTM PAGEANT Polyvinyl / Big Scary Monsters | 12.05

The cult-like fan base that has rightfully grown in support of New York duo PWR BTTM since their first LP has exploded exponentially, simply through the sheer honesty and triumph of their music. Their second LP, Pageant, is the latest momentous embodiment of such character – a record balancing irrepressible illumination and expressive distress. Open, at times vitally vulnerable and at others downright determined, Ben Hopkins and Liv Bruce produce fireworks in self-confidence simply by being themselves and having the ability to articulate that so emphatically in their music. It’s a record that proves you have every right to revel in being your damn self. Ross Jones

MAC DEMARCO THIS OLD DOG Captured Tracks | 05.05

Mac is back, bringing with him his accustomed summery loveliness. New album, This Old Dog, is everything you’d imagine it to be; acoustic guitar-driven tracks with funky basslines and Mac Demarco’s soothing, Canadian vocal floating overhead. Equal parts charming and peaceful, This Old Dog is a much slower and more acoustic album than his previous releases, but not without sporadic shimmering synth. Although the LP is nothing we haven’t heard before from Demarco, there’s a true charm to the soundscapes he produces, with the gorgeous layering of twinkling textures and sunny melodies. Reaching a whole new level of mellow, this one will have you gagging for the summer sun. Hannah Wakeman

AT THE DRIVE IN IN•TER A•LI•A Rise Records | 05.05

Having acrimoniously split in 2001 after the Relationship of Command LP before eventually reforming in 2012, there’s a lot riding on in•ter a•li•a – At the Drive In’s first album in seventeen years. Things kick off with the band playing as frantically as humanly possible, with the album continuing at full throttle for the next 40 minutes as frontman Cedric Bixler spits out his cryptic lyrics. The only respite comes when penultimate track ‘Ghost -Tape No.9’ sees a brief simmering of the pace. in•ter a•li•a sees At the Drive-in recapture their classic intensity but ultimately lacks diversity, resulting in an album that neither builds upon nor destructs the band’s legacy. Tim Ellis

PERFUME GENIUS NO SHAPE Matador | 05.05

Mike Hadreas possesses a supreme emotive power. Over the course of his previous albums Perfume Genius has granted us sparse, harrowing melodic narratives, fervently dark power pop anthems and everything in between. No Shape, the fourth album from Perfume Genius, sways with swooning sensuality, exudes an aching softness, and erupts with ardent passion. Opening with a gentle, glistening piano accompaniment to Hadreas’ deliberated crooning before bursting into a cacophony of majestic noise, ‘Otherside’, the first track of the album, sets the precedent for a record

TAMU MASSIF BALA EP Chiverin | 05.05

As we move into spring, we see a resurfacing of sounds swept away by the bitter winter winds. Pushing his delicate and precise method of layering conflicting yet somehow complementary sounds, including his own unique voice, Dave Dixon’s – better known under moniker Tamu Massif – forthcoming release on Chiverin is a blissful sonic exploration of youth. Much like its predecessor, the gorgeous Alba EP, Bala was recorded primarily in his humble bedroom. This DIY attitude allows for limitless creative possibilities to seep into his productions, offering an organic quality that highlights Dixon’s 34

Slip Away (YT) perfumegenius.org

that confidently toys with expectation at each sonic shift. ‘Go Ahead’ pulsates with squelching grooves and inviting vocals, summoning the spirit of Prince, whilst ‘Choir’ swirls with orchestral mysticism as frenetic strings and choral incantations crescendo around Hadreas’ hushed, evocative utterances.

No Shape is as sultry as it is sensitive, as emotionally fierce as it is fragile. The songs on this record are empowering in their raw, visceral essence and also deeply moving in their unapologetic tenderness. An elegant and brooding album of dazzling urgency, No Shape resolutely confirms Perfume Genius as a truly inimitable artist. Kezia Cochrane OK (YT) sc/tamumassif

vulnerable and candid approach to songwriting. Tracks like ‘Holding Back’ and ‘OK’ dip in and out of soothing, reflective beats tinged with sultry R&B, while ‘Iron Lights’ and ‘Rare Candy’ manage to capture an honest selfreflection about longing and missed opportunities. Taking a slightly more upbeat turn, ‘Animals’ relies on the extensive use of field recordings and sublime harmonies to construct a charming, picturesque conclusion to Bala. Altogether it’s an assured and candid glimpse of the progress Dixon has made as a songwriter and ensures that Tamu Massif will take over 2017. Yewande Adeniran

POND THE WEATHER Marathon Artists | 05.05

The seventh album from Aussie psych-rock four-piece – and follow-up to 2015’s stunning Man It Feels Like Space Again – has arrived. Yet while the Perthbased collective have always exerted muffled guitar strains and acid-fueled tomfoolery, this time there’s a refreshing, newfound maturity to their work. There’s still that irrepressible buzz for raw experimentation, but they’ve eschewed their previous rock shenanigans in favour of rich, layered synth-pop romanticism, while still creating neo-psychedelia of the loftiest, tripinducing order. Standouts come in the form of ‘30,000 Megatons’, ‘Sweep Me Off My Feet’ and the title track, though every track on the album are terrific. While at times thematically dark, it’s nevertheless all-focused, fresh and consistently fun. Jamie Caddick

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS LOVELY CREATURES Mute / BMG | 05.05

How could a standard greatest hits compilation possibly showcase the poetic obscenities, the gothic romance, the darkest corners and avant garde voyeurism from one of our final living musical maestros? In the truest of elaborate Cave stylings, we’re treated to a 45-track introductory songbook. Spanning 30 years and scores of genuinely breathtaking singles (‘Red Right Hand’ and the Kyliefeaturing ‘Where The Wild Roses Grow’) amongst leftfield cuts (‘O Children’ from the Harry Potter soundtrack...), Lovely Creatures is an introduction to their most poignant moments and the elusive construction of what makes Nick and his Bad Seeds a continued companion piece to jaded dads and Fine Art students worldwide. Richard Walsh

HO99O9 UNITED STATES OF... Caroline Distribution | 05.05

Loud, aggressive and notorious, while making a truthful statement of intent. New Jersey duo Ho99o9, made up of theOGM and Eaddy, have rattled the norm with their genre-twisting sounds. Their debut album United States Of Horror now out in the world, the band’s so-called “Deathkult” will no doubt express more acclaim, and cause more mayhem to the masses. The album’s title track is perhaps the most relatable, its roaring message about police brutality, racism and aggression channeled through their electrifying amalgamation of hardcore punk and hip hop, resulting in a powerful surge that’s near-impossible to resist. This album could not be fresher or more relevant to today. Mustafa Mirreh 35

(SANDY) ALEX G ROCKET Domino | 19.05

(Sandy) Alex G’s new album is brimming with homespun personality. The Philadelphian native encapsulates a sense of humble ambition with his goat-adorned LP Rocket. Dreamy-folk tunes such as ‘County’ and opening track ‘Poison Root’ affirm his place as one of the most intriguing artists around. It feels cohesive and contemporary; the single ‘Bobby’ is melodic and heartfelt, while exploring the story of a slightly ambivalent relationship. Each track is idiosyncratic, from the frantic ‘Witch’, to ‘Proud’ and ‘Powerful Man’; he is able to jump between characters and storylines effortlessly. From his sister’s cover art, to his collaborations with friends and other relatives; Rocket is an intimate collection of offbeat gems. Georgia Balch

ÁSGEIR AFTERGLOW One Little Indian | 05.05

Following the successful English reissue of Dýrð í dauðaþögn, Icelandic artist Asgeir has been laden with praise for his fateful folktronica. Moving onto his second album, his knack for subversive and thoughtful piano pop carries into both the title track and latest single ‘Unbound’. ‘I Know You Know’ trips over itself in its frenzied but flawless delivery, while closer ‘Hold’ is vulnerable with a sweeping orchestral finish serving as the last flourish of sound. Emotions are high, but Afterglow serves them cold. In a world where the likes of Ed Sheeran are armed with innocent acoustics, this Icelandic singer-songwriter’s weapon is his sophisticated sonic cavalry. In the long run, which will win? Time will tell. Oliver Evans 36

PUMAROSA THE WITCH Fiction Records | 19.05

London four-piece Pumarosa have produced an album of transcendence but with a few jarring moments that ensure a varied result. First track and lead single, ‘Dragonfly’, sets the mood of the album, with the extended outros scattered throughout the ten tracks bringing to mind a brashier Mogwai. ‘Barefoot’ is stripped down to the basics, almost qualifying as an acoustic song while ‘My Gruesome Loving Friend’ opens with wonderfully bright notes – reminiscent of the sounds produced by an arcade. Listening to the album, it’s clear that Pumarosa have built their songs through the lens of a show, making the prospect of witnessing The Witch in a live environment extremely exciting. Callum Stevens

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Dear Dick The best bad advice for your musical problems...

Dear Dick, I normally just listen to music through my phone’s speakers, mainly on the bus, but I was considering getting some sweet Beats by Dre headphones. What would you recommend?

Rob, City Centre. There are two different types of people in this world. Those who want to listen to music and those who want others to know they’re listening to music. The second category also carries another, less favourable stigma, which is also what you are. Those who actually care about music are more inclined to keep it to themselves until the appropriate time and place. Those who claim they like “a bit of everything” would more than likely purchase the most garish Skullcandy cans. The kind of people who would match their headphones to their crap Adidas high-tops, somehow incorporating

the Jamaican national flag despite hailing from Weston-Super-Mare. What possible purpose could ‘over-thehead-headphones’ have in the outside world? The outside world is noisy, abrasive and judgemental. Surely you’d want something to block all that out? Something you have to smush into the foothills of wax in your ear canals. That’s what it’s all about; the sweet embrace of composite rubber, the panic of hearing how shallow your breathing is when a song is finished. Real musiclovers embrace these things. You can’t truly appreciate music until you’ve heard it at the lowest possible quality because you couldn’t bear to fork out another tenner on the Mk-II model.

Do you have a question? Email dick@bristollivemagazine.com 41