Cold Weather Company - Wide Eyed

1.   Who are these loose young cats?

Cold Weather Company are an alternative folk band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Wide-Eyed (Jan'16) is the first single from a forthcoming album and the band have one long player, Somewhere New (Jan'15) under their belt.

2. What kind of song have we got on our hands here?

A love ballad, sample lyric, “I could die in your arms, I could die.” A heartacheingly beautiful, piano-led, misty eyed masterpiece that transcends this mortal sphere. Acoustic guitar plays an invaluable part, but is never intrusive, and the ethereal vocals soar so high they tickle the angels feet, and juxtapose nicely when they drop register. This would soften the heart of a Mexican drug cartel assassin. This is why indie means better. Wide-Eyed is one of the best indie songs of 2015.

3. Who do Cold Weather Company sound like?

The piano sweeps in Wide-Eyed called to mind a tune by English band Wulf. Brighter sparks like Music Is The Home For Your Pain have delineated characteristics in the song similar to Mumford and Sons, Vance Joy and Bears Den.

In general Last FM consider Cold Weather Company similar to artists like Evil Arrows, The Flight, Stereoshores and Wulf. Wulf, huh?

4. What is the good word from the fifth estate?

In a comprehensive dissertation of Wide-Eyed, Music Is The Home For Your Pain considered the song “an instrumental masterpiece” that explores the theme of, “commitment to his new love, believing that he can be better this time around.” She also noted that, “The inclusion of a cello line provides a harmonic push and pull to the complexity of the various melodic lines.”  I Heart Moosiq concluded Wide-Eyed is, “ a breathtakingly beautiful return” and “... the sort of music meant to soundtrack those most emotionally moving, heart rending love filled moments in life.”

On the topic of Cold Weather Company's music in general  NJ Entertainment big upped, “... the New Brunswick trio's debut LP, “Somewhere New,” showcases great calm and maturity, as well as consistent power,” the music “... reels us in through nuance and an effortless variance...” whilst also enabling the listener “... to lose ourselves in the fluent guitars and fluttering piano.”



5. Who are Cold Weather Company’s influences?
 
Cold Weather Company’s influences fly straight as an arrow in an ambush. We’re talking Mumford and Sons, Dave Matthews, Coldplay, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Chad Stokes, Tallest Man On Earth and Arcade Fire. Some curve is thrown on the ball with mention of the pianist Steve Shimchick enjoying Bastille, the guitarist Jeff Petescia having love for Blink 182 and some joy from the band for Matt Corby and Matthew and the Atlas.

6. Why should I listen to Wide-Eyed?

Wide-Eyed is a simple, but mint refreshingly clear and honest, examination of universal and integral aspects of human relationships. It will remind you of where your heart is.

7. Do Cold Weather Company have any more good songs?

Their first song Horizon Fire is in the same vein. After that let your ears be your guide. 

8. Is there anything else I should know about?

The band were nominated for best Indie Folk Band at the Asbury Music Awards.

The song Wide-Eyed was recorded in a lakeside cabin.

The band covered Coldplay's Adventure Of A Lifetime.

“What if I lose all sight and ambition?
What if my heart weakens my vision?
What if all I need is right in front of me?”

Sloppy seconds is courtesy of English indie folk band Bears Den who have toured in support of both Mumford and Sons and Matt Corby. This is one of their most popular songs, the beautiful little twinkle that is Agape (2015).

“Even though your words hurt the most

I still want to hear them every day”

Estrons - Make A Man

1. Who are the Estrons?

Estrons are an alternative pop rock band from Cardiff, Wales. They have been smashing it since 2013. Make A Man (Dec'15) is from the short player Whoever She Was (Dec'15).


2. What kind of song is Make A Man?

A noisy race-to-the-finish-line grungy track with a large dose of vitriol and lulls in the verses with flourishes of softer indie rock and sweet ‘ohh ohh ohhs’  scattered about. The chorus does the business and the tune peaks at the end with a full fledged rock out harder than a prison rapist's erection.


3. Who do Estrons sound like?

NME say Make A Man is “cut from the same cloth as Spring King’s ‘Who Are You?’ ’’ and Amazing Tunes thought the tune is  “reminiscent of tracks by The Subways and Wolf Alice.” Killing Moon was minded of Republica and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.


4. What have the press got to say about Make A Man?

Writing about Make A Man, Gigwise went up the middle with “a rollicking slice of punk with visceral guitars.” The Line Of Best Fit commended the songs “raucous riffing and relentless yells,” while at pains to note it is “a solid accessible block of sound.” Notion Magazine felt the track is, “filled with blistering power-chords and galloping drums,” and is “merciless, walking the line between spiteful and sexy.”

 Amazing Tunes said Estrons' music has “punchy melodies, powerful vocals and loud guitars to create an in-your-face indie rock sound, underpinned by garage rock sensibilities.” Buzz Mag gushed about “impeccably crafted, simple and raw songs,” from “a unified and fearsome force.”

5. So who do the Estrons get their belting vibe from?

They have short-listed The Mars Volta, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Nirvana, Elliot Smith, Patti Smith and Blondie as some of their main squeezes. Mention has been made of Welsh legends The Manic Street Preachers and Kate Bush.

6. Why should I listen to Make A Man?

Ever heard of the battle of the sexes? Watch a hip hop video if you think that was won in the seventies. This is a crushing victory for women right here. Bearing all her firepower onto men with inflated egoes and no respect for women the singer obliterates them with a three minute merciless salvo. Punk attitude with riffs and melody in all the right places. Lad or lass you'll be pulling for the protagonist.

7. Have Estrons got any more bangers?

My Turn is a change of pace but just as bloody good. It has relaxed rocking riffs and more of those slamming lyrics, sang sultry style not shouted.

8. Any good gossip I should know about?

The band have the ear of people who matter. London's Radio X hailed them as one of their bands to watch out for in 2016 and they have been getting airplay from BBC Radio and good press.

“I want to take you out all night

You will live to regret it”



 

Dessert today is courtesy of Estrons band influence, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Far more influential than they get credit for, the San Francisco rock legends have been on the go since 1998 and have seven long players in the bank.

Spread Your Love (2002) is one of their most popular songs and is as gritty as road rash from a dirt road when you were wearing boardies on a quick dash from the beach to the bottle store when you thought you were good to ride.

 

“She gave me love like a big fire”

 

How To Loot Brazil - Nothing To Prove

 

 

 

1.   Who are these crafty looking characters?

How To Loot Brazil are a post punk new wave dance band from Germany who sing in English and have six long players in the vault. Nothing To Prove (Jan'16) is a stand alone single.

2. What kind of tune is Nothing To Prove?

A noisy messed up electro rock track that bangs from the first notes yet paradoxically is a slow grower; no instant riff, hook or chorus to supply your sugar rush but they are all there, under camouflage, and ably providing fire support for the vocal assault. It's great variety for a playlist and you will end up loving it. The chorus and bridge infect you like syphilis. A pleasure to catch but a bugger to get rid of.

3. Who do How To Loot Brazil sound like?

Nothing To Prove sounds like Prodigy was giving Mother Mother party favors as they walked towards the bedroom and Jane's Addiction were hanging around poolside with a wistful face.

Sound Mag made comparisons with the B52's, The Ramones, Nation, Guano Apes and We Were Promised Jetpacks. BBC Music says How To Loot Brazil are similar to Hooray For Earth, TRAAMS, Bear Hands and A Silent Film. But if BBC Music is anything like BBC News then don't believe a word they say. Tunes like Shout Out Love mind me of a bastard child of New Order and The Wombats.

4. What have the press to say about How To Loot Brazil?

Precious little. Sound Mag said on the topic of their album F For Vortex, “For friends of innovative and motley indie rock... a real gem.” Reverb Nation called How To Loot Brazil's music “edgy pop music”,  “angry and partly weird but with radiant catchy hooks” and penultimately “a genre-bending mash-up.” Sound Mag summed the band up nicely, “How To Loot Brazil offer a truly eclectic mix, which is more familiar with each rotation of the player and mixes into the blood of the listener.”
 

 

5. Who are How To Loot Brazil influenced by?

They get their frisson from bands like Sonic Youth, The Hellacopters, Public Enemy, Help She Can't Swim, Depeche Mode, So So Modern, The Smiths, Forward Russia!, The Melvins, Les Savy Fav, The Wombats and Front 242.

6. Why should I listen to Nothing To Prove?

Nothing To Prove has a magical mix of aggressive guitar and vocals with a helter skelter beat and the bridge is melodic and memorable. Nothing To Prove will put some 'don't fuck with me' in your stride youngblood.

7. Do How To Loot Brazil have any more good songs?

Check out the indie rocker Backwater Prick or the indie dance of Shout Out Love. If you're still on page then have a taste of their second single release this month, Fire Might Be Helpful. 

8. Is their anything else I should know about How To Loot Brazil?

The guitarist and singer for the band ,The Leach, did an excellent re-mix of The Clash’s apocalyptic hit London Calling.

Other re-mixes include The Cure's Just Like Heaven, House Of Pain's Jump Around and a few from Depeche Mode.

The band were featured on The Indie Rock Playlist Best Of 2014/2015 by Jonathan Hunt.

 

“As you’re lying in wait like a predator”

 

 

The last word today is reserved for alternative funk-punk American rock band Jane’s Addiction who blew like a hurricane out of Los Angeles from the mists of time. Stop (1990) was a number one hit on the alternative rock charts and came screaming of their iconic album Ritual de lo Habitual, itself one of Rollingstones 500 greatest albums of all time.


 

 

 

 

 

White - Living Fiction



1. Who are they?

White are a Scottish indie disco pop band from Glascow. Living Fiction is a 2014 song re-released in January 2016 as a stand alone single.

2. What does Living Fiction sound like?

Middle of the road indie pop rock with a fat slice of funkiness. Modest ska guitar with short lead guitar lines add a modicum of bite and precedes a big 80's pop chorus that is as sticky as a slaughterhouse floor. Smooth and accomplished and ultimately with as much nutritional value as sugar.

3. Who do White sound like?

Living Fiction sounds like Bryan Ferry backed by The Police with a side dish of 70's disco. Contemporarily, here's looking at you The 1975 and Love Me.  For something left field I was minded of the indie disco of San Cisco  and the synth pop of Harriet's Irish Magaritas.

Generally the band have said they make a link between 70's to early 80's music with today and their music has evoked comparisons with David Bowie, Spandau Ballet, ABC, Franz Ferdinand, The Rakes, Hard Fi and Associate. 

4. What have the cut and paste jackals got to say?

They are falling over themselves in love and White are considered a 'buzz band'. The Daily Record hailed the “...incredible fusion of arty 80s pop and pummelling punk-funk dance groove” of Living Fiction and summarised that they are “...about to blow up big with this hit.” Scottish Fiction said Living Fiction is “a fantastically catchy song”. The Guardian made White band of the week saying Living Fiction has “... a real chance of success...” and Crack In The Road called White, “Scotland’s most exciting band right now.” Poor old Scotland, still you've suffered worse I imagine.

5. Who do White get their groove from?

In short Roxy Music, David Bowie, Chic, Franz Ferdinand and LCD Soundsystem. They have mentioned liking Talking Heads, loving David Bowie and seeking to emulate LCD Soundsystem.

6. Why should I listen to Living Fiction?

Listen for pure hedonistic pleasure. The chorus is so contagious as Hollywood should be looking to make a disappointing movie out of it.

7. Do White have any more good tunes?

Future Pleasures doesn't suck donkey dick and Blush isn't mingin.

8. Anything else I should know about White?

They were all in prior bands and have manufactured their emergence to the maximum.

The song Living In Fiction is about perfection through fakeness. Nailed it lads.

Stirring the custard is a palate cleanser, the Scottish indie rock legends The Jesus and Mary Chain and the monster groove that is Side Walking (1988).

“Got ice in my fire, got the heat in my wire
Inject a little heat, I'm burning up the tires”



Louis Berry - .45

1. Who is this champion?

Louis Berry is a young singer songwriter and an indie rock slash blues slash country musician from Liverpool rebelling against the system since 2013 .45 (re-issued Nov’15, initial release Sept’14) is from his second short player of the same name. He has been called a rebel rouser and anyway you kick it the man is the real deal,  “He wouldn’t sell out to anyone – not even Satan himself!”

2. What kind of tune is .45?

A raucous bluesy, almost rockabilly hybrid. A romp, a riot, a rambunctious rebel anthem with Bob Dylan-esque vocals and a seething undercurrent of violent rebellion.

3. Who does Louis Berry sound like?

.45 brought to mind Bob Dylan's Rollin' and Tumblin' or Thunder On The Mountain followed by Benjamin Booker's Wicked Waters. Next of the taxi rank would be a Jake Bugg tune.

On the whole much has been made of a Jake Bugg similarity, in attitude if not exactly tune. But it should be said Louis Berry is quick to write Jake Bugg off as lacking authenticity and don't mention The Strypes, he says he's never heard of them, so put that in your pipe and smoke it. The Upcoming aren't alone in drawing allusions to Johnny Cash and went all common man with mention of the Arctic Monkeys. But they hit the nail closer to the head hailing his “merging of classic rock’n’roll and indie styles.” 

4. What have the jackals got to say?

Next 2 Shine hit a six, acknowledging “the struttin' swagger and blood-pumpin' gallop of '.45's hard-charging exuberance.” Get Into This admired his “rasping burnt and slightly murderous vocals.” Live Manchester highlighted the song's intent, “...a message for people to open their eyes and to question.”

In the main Nottingham Post described Louis Berry's music as “authentic, stripped-back rock’n’roll,” and the Liverpool Echo said it's "channelling the energy of Jerry Lee Lewis through the story-telling of Dylan.” Ticket Line copy and pasted, “A switch blade songwriter with a voice of soul. Through politics and crime, love and loss Louis sets its straight.” Next 2 Shine were more effusive. Way more. “Infusing the whirling, rambunctious energy of his rockabilly and vintage rock'n'roll inspired sound with soulfully gritty vocals, Berry's jangled riffs and barreling grooves prove so instinctively infectious that they positively dare the listener not to get up and move.”


 



5. Who are Louis Berry's influences?

Tupac is to the fore, followed by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. He has expressed some love for Jerry Lee Lewis and admiration of John Lennon. On his 'road' playlist you can find an eclectic mix from Bob Marley, The Wailers, Ben Howard, Craig David, The Bee Gees and Snoop Dogg to name but a few.


6. Why should I listen to .45 ?

It's the sound of rock'n'roll being re-invented. The wheel of rock is making one more ponderous turn and this is the beating heart exposed, devoid of the pretentiousness of so much that rots the heaving beast. The lyrics are sublime and delivered with conviction. Get ready to dance a jig or whatever it is you dance.


7. So what are the good Louis Berry tunes?

Rebel rocks harder with more sense of self-identity. Sound as a pound. 25 Reasons is reading from the same script as .45. The real quid.


8. Any other good gossip I ought to know?

Ha ha. Yeah. Loius Berry is recording a new album in the States this year.

Louis Berry is good for a quote. On the topic of making music that matters he said, “There are a lot of problems. I can raise awareness of them and I’d be willing to do whatever it takes to solve them. I’d like to stand next to people – not in front or behind him but next to them.”

On the topic of today's musicians lack of integrity, “I mean if you walked by the chippy by ours, you’d get your head chopped. The rest, in all them flares or whatever they’re wearing these days, with that hair-do… somebody would smack em on the back of the head.”

And about being the genuine article, “Don’t pretend you’re off a hard estate and you’re a hard case and all that. Because you’re just not. You know, I’ve done all that, I don’t need to prove that. That’s who I am, that’s where I come from.”

Louis Berry is on tour in the UK in March and April opening for Sunset Sons.

“If I should give you reason for a Mississippi bleeding
Then I would take away your pain, you should give away your soul”

Slippery seconds is from the band Louis Berry is touring with in March, Sunset Sons.

An Australian/English indie folky pop rock band On The Road (original release Jan'14, re-released Oct'15) is live here and it's a crowd pleaser.