Here’s some great artists who I'd like to think will do well this year, and who you should check out if you’ve not already.
Our favourite Scouse Blues monsters The Cubical are currently finishing off recording their second album in Liverpool and will soon embark upon more European travels to Spain and Scandinavia. Latest single ‘Dirty Shame’ is the first taster of what’s to come.
The Super Furry Animals frontman is back with a new album ‘Hotel Shampoo’ out on valentines day 14th February, along with second single ‘Sensations In The Dark’ coming out the week before on 7th Feb. Here’s the album promo video showing all the assorted hotel freebies Gruff hoarded from his time touring the world with SFAs, and the miniature hotel he made out of them.
And here’s the video for the fantastic first single ‘Shark Ridden Waters’.
Get a free download of 'Shark Ridden Waters' with this widget:
This is a really great shanty singing folk band from Leeds. I had the pleasure of seeing them a few months back, and was very impressed by their powerful singalong tunes that reminded me of Titus Andronicus. With the sound of eight musicians including up to four guitars, clarinet, violin and a saw, they can sure stir up a ruckus of the best kind. Catch em soon live at Oporto, but in the meantime, here's an exclusive free download of 'Pinhole of Light'.
It was a pleasure to have this talented young band play for us at Oporto back in November. Stream their next single ‘Fast Fast’ below, out Feb 28th.
These pounding psychedelic rockers have a busy year ahead releasing next single ‘Love In My Veins’ in April. The single package will also feature a highly anticipated remix of I Got The Devil from Richard Norris (aka Time And Space Machine & one half of Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve with Erol Alkan). Additionally, the band are planning a vinyl repress of the Erbistock Mill EP as the free CDs were snapped up so fast, and their debut album is due later in the year.
Marina Gasolina
This is the new solo project from the frontwoman of Brazilian Electro/Baile-Funk outfit Bonde de Role. But this time Marina is making music to a different beat, taking influence from rockabilly guitars and garage rock for her new sound. Here’s a teaser video for her latest single ‘Leone’.
Download the track HERE. Also check out this video of Marina in the studio recording her debut album on VBS, with Daniel Hunt from Ladytron taking production duties HERE.
Thanks to For The Neighbourhood for the tip.
A new EP should be coming very soon, and after recently signing to Atlantic Records we can probably expect a debut album in the next 12 months from Paul as well. Check out this video of an acoustic performance of ‘Appointment in Samarra’ from the upcoming ‘Lilac & Wisteria’ EP.
I don’t know much about this band, so I’ve stolen a blurb off their facebook page.
“Woodsman is an experimental ambient post-psychedelic band based in Denver, CO. The quartet contains two totemic percussionists and two sonic animators who employ electric guitars, feedback loops, and recorded samples to build the dreamy astral soundscapes that define Woodsman’s sound. Influenced by hazy mountain passes, the cinema of Stan Brakhage, and early 1970’s improvisational recordings by Miles Davis Woodsman has crafted aural offerings that are uniquely their own.”
They’ve previously released music with hip label Mexican Summer, but their latest album Rare Forms is being released by the Firetalk & Lefse on 25th January. It can be streamed in its entirety HERE, and looks like this:
Check out this video of their ace track ‘Insects’ being played live.
Thanks to The Tree House Sessions for the tip.
‘The Fog’ as they would be known in English, make instrumental Surf-Rock, and they do it goood. We (sortof) had the pleasure of seeing them live at last years SWN festival, but the Cardiff Arts Institute was absolutely packed out at around 4 in the afternoon for these guys, and we couldn’t get a decent view. They were awarded The Sunday Times album of the week the other week, and will soon embark on tour with Gruff Rhys pretty much around the world. Here’s a video of them in action:
…and while I’m at it I may as well give a shameless plug to my own band Buffalo Bones. We’re a Leeds based Alt-Rock 3 piece, putting out our debut EP in March. You can hear alternate versions of two of the four tracks from the EP below, and check out videos and gig dates on our site linked above. Get a free download of 'Left Before I Arrived' (Live) if you sign up to our mailing list HERE.
Thanks for reading, what are you looking forward to this year?
