But can they play. Third album Helping Hands exceeds even the expectations raised by critical acclaim for their first two albums and they effortlessly, beautifully evoke it, without fanfare. Cello, as a lead instrument is a rarity in indie circles but it just seems right and is beautifully underscored by Viola. A shifting backdrop of understated guitars, bass and keyboards creates mood and variety, whilst the beautiful voice of John Blain Hunt picks out the lyrics.

A more self effacing frontman I struggle to bring to mind. Shyness, painfully observed, for songs which cry out to be played live; on listening to the album again, it does not quite capture the beauty evoked by live performance, carefully orchestrated changes of tempo communicated by soundless counting in or a quiet nod, it all seems meticulously rehearsed. I was captivated but this is plainly not everybody’s cup of tea.

Highlights of the set included “The day our voices broke“- available as a free download at present, and, “I am the butcher”, a skiffle tinged country number , a lush sound created by six string instruments knitted together by deliberate drumming.

An hour or so and it was all over. This was powerful, yet subtle stuff. The sheer craft on display is awe inspiring, wonderful music in an idiosyncratic setting made for a very different live music experience.

Earlier, support was provided by Darren Hayman, playing songs from The Ship’s Piano on a baby grand, accompanied by only spare and plaintive trumpet. Perhaps hampered by my lack of  familiarity with the material this was interesting rather than compelling stuff. but delivered with commitment and wit. A fitting support to what was to come later.

All in all, an evening of intelligent, moving pop.

Bonnie Prince Billy - Wolfroy goes to town, album review

The new Bonnie “Prince” Billy album “Wolfroy goes to town” is a spare and haunting piece – 10 tracks only of sombre alt-country which will not be seen as a departure by fans of his work. But novelty is now what you expect from Will Oldham who has been ploughing his distinctive furrow for 15 plus albums now under various different guises.

Opening track “No Match” sets the introspective tone for the rest of the record – beautiful harmonies underlie the repeated “No Match” refrain of the title, juxtaposing opposing statements like, “I’m no match for those who love the lord and they are no match for me” and “You can be a match for me I’ll be a match for you.”

Profound stuff; although I can’t unravel the meaning it’s beautiful all the same. The song ends on a hopeful note;

“Well, age may be a match for you but its no match for me”

The pattern is set by this first song – obtuse lyrics – which might repay repeated listening, and lovely singing, in particular by Angel Olsen who intones, with Oldham, on “New Tibet”

“As boys we fucked each other, as men we lie and smile”

A bird motif emerges in this song;

“Birds fight, birds hate”

And, crops up again later; “Soiled doves are my birds”….. And, in the download only single “Quail and Dumplings”; “Fuck birds in bushes!” he implores us….

As a whole the album is slow paced and introvert, but Oldham lets rip a little (handclaps!!) on the single, instrumentally more complex and dramatic.

“Black Captain” is a lament for lost love and a touching high point of the album, lyrically less oblique, haunting and beautiful.

This is a tender, touching collection of songs; a wonderful record. The best since “I see a darkness” which was the first under the “Bonnie Prince Billy” name, back in 1999.

Bonnie Prince Billy – Wolfroy Goes To Town tracklist:
1. No Match
2. New Whaling
3. Time To Be Clear
4. New Tibet
5. Black Captain
6. Cows
7. There Will Be Spring
8. Quail And Dumplings
9. We Are Unhappy
10. Night Noises

Wolfroy goes to town by Bonnie Prince Billy is released on Domino Records.

They are not everybody’s cup of tea – The NME slated current single “Be a doll and take my heart” I am sure that does not bother them or their fans one bit….those here tonight listened attentively to a set which leaned towards their more introverted folk material, in the quieter moments there was an atmosphere of hushed reverence and the songs were received enthusiastically for the most part.

An upbeat highlight was the title song of the recent album Strange Moosic performed as a sing-along with support Sean Flinn and others, as well as “Tell me something I don’t know” from the same record. These songs seem more in keeping with their various Fortuna Pop label mates but they are not typical, most of the material they played tonight having a folkier feel and at times it put me in mind of Sufjan Stevens and Jonathon Richman.

Incidentally, they are notably absent from the 3 day Fortuna Pop celebration of the label’s 15th anniversary at the Scala next month – maybe they don’t quite fit in?

Singer David Ivar’s voice is Marmite; somewhat reedy and high pitched for some but it suits the whimsical folk that predominate tonight rather well. I have heard it described as a scando-parisian yodel(David is Swedish I think)….Overall this is breezy lightweight stuff played with more precision than passion – It makes for an enjoyable rather than exhilarating gig. The warmth between an audience clearly familiar with their songs and a band appreciative of the response was striking.

A good night for Herman Dune and their fans, perhaps less compelling for the casual listener.

Sweet Baboo is Stephen Black and his guitar

Sweet Baboo, comprised of Stephen Black and his guitar, is back with his latest EP ‘Girl Under A Tree’. Telling tales of love, life and relationships, Stephen’s raspy vocals and sweet lyrics create a stunning contrast.

The opening title track Girl Under A Tree is a wonderfully tender elegy to an endless love. His melancholic lyrics include lines such as “ten of me could never amount to one of you, but I’d like to”.

The Day I Lost My Voice picks up the pace with a marching beat, and the cleverly interwoven guitar strains give the track an edgier feel to the previous ones. The two instrumentals, MB following after Girl Under A Tree and LB after Great Year, set the tone for what’s to come without jarring the listener out of the relaxed mood he’s created.

The final track, Bounce, is a catchy, hopeful track about being ready to look for love once again – without losing sight of the past. With lines such as “how can I forget you, when all my thoughts are of you” sung in such an upbeat way, it’s easy to find yourself humming the tune long after it’s over.

Overall, the EP has a warm, optimistic atmosphere surrounding it. Released via Shape Records on the 19th September, the only downside to the EP is that it’s over too quickly.

Sweet Baboo – Girl Under A Tree EP Tracklist:

1.    Girl Under A Tree
2.    MB
3.    The Day I Lost My Voice
4.    Great Year
5.    LB
6.    Bounce

Frank Turner

Rounding off an exceptional year that has included headlining festivals, Main Stage sets at Reading and Leeds and a chart bothering album, Frank Turner will release his new single ‘Wessex Boy’ on 28th November through Xtra Mile Recordings. Frank Turner has also confirmed his biggest headline show to date at London’s Wembley Arena for April 2012.

The third single to be lifted from the Top 12 album ‘England Keep My Bones’ it encapsulates the album’s feeling of nostalgia, reminiscing about home towns and re-visiting cosy childhood memories after a long time away. And in some uncanny cosmic timing it provides the perfect soundtrack as the winter nights draw in and attention is turned to going home for Christmas.

It also echoes Frank Turner’s return to these shores after months of touring North America and Europe. He’s back for his huge UK headline tour with his band The Sleeping Souls. Three of the six dates are now completely sold out with the others selling fast.

Frank Turner UK Live dates:

November
22 Bournemouth O2 Academy
23 Newport, Newport Centre
24 Birmingham O2 Academy SOLD OUT
25 Glasgow Barrowlands
26 Manchester O2 Apollo SOLD OUT
27 London HMV Hammersmith Apollo SOLD OUT

As the last remaining tickets get snapped up plans are already underway for a humdinger of a one-off event for April 2012. Frank Turner’s Friday the 13th at Wembley Arena will be an extra special one-day festival-like extravaganza offering fans an incredible line-up of musical gems.

Frank Turner Tickets are on sale from 14th October.

Back to this year though and November will also see the release of Frank’s ‘Second Three Years’ – a collection of live tracks, sessions, cover versions, b-sides and lost songs from the past three years. Out on 21st November it features live recordings of the traditional folk song ‘Barbara Allen’ from Shepherd’s Bush and the show-stopping ‘Father’s Day’ from Union Chapel both in 2009; covers versions of Springsteen, Nirvana, NOFX and Flanders & Swann to name a few as well as session tracks from Radio 1 and the bonus tracks featured on the limited deluxe edition of ‘England Keep My Bones’.

And finally on 10th November Frank Turner will be performing at the inaugural AIM Music Awards in London where he is nominated for Hardest Working Act and Best Live Act.

For more information visit www.frank-turner.com.

Crazy Arm new album, Union City Breath

Crazy Arm new single, ‘Tribes‘, is to be released on Monday 15th August followed by a new album, ‘Union City Breath‘ due for release on 10th October 2011. Both are to be released on vinyl, CD & digital download via Xtra Mile Recordings (UK & rest of the world) & Gunner Records (mainland Europe).

Devon folk roots-punks, Crazy Arm new single is the first release ahead of their imminent new album, ‘Union City Breath‘.  A highlight of this live favourite, it is a song of two distinct parts, combining the band’s love of Springsteen, gospel and honest punk rock.  The lyrics are an indictment of man-made structures of violence and a call for a return to simpler, more ethically-centred ways of interacting. Also on the record: the voice of Victoria Butterfield (who sang on the band’s last single ‘Sweet Storm‘) and keys courtesy Patrick James Pearson.  The single will coincide with the band’s debut acoustic tour in August with Cory Branan and Sam Russo in August.

The follow-up to 2009’s dramatic debut, ‘Born To Ruin‘, ‘Union City Breath‘ was produced/engineered once again by Peter Miles (King Blues, The Computers, Sonic Boom Six) at his new studio in the South Devon countryside.  Taking its cue from the spurious idea of the Big Society, ‘Union City Breath‘ is a reminder that all societies are made by people and can be changed or at least challenged by people whenever they see fit. The band will be touring the album throughout the UK in September, and are the main support to Against Me! on their European/UK tour in November.

Crazy Arm set up camp in mid-2006. Not easy to categorise, and all the better for it, their sound is an accumulation of decades of influence and inspiration: rooted in hardcore/punk, 1960’s protest folk/country and classic rock’n'roll, combined with a grass-roots political overview that embraces anti-war, anti-fascist and pro-community activism.

They have toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe many times, sharing stages with the likes of Frank Turner, Chuck Ragan, The Xcerts, Bangers, Apologies I Have None, The Cut Ups, Two Cow Garage and Sonic Boom Six; and have made appearances at festivals including 2000 Trees, NASS, Leopallooza, Boardmasters, Reading and Leeds.

Crazy Arm ‘Union City Breath‘ tracklist:

1.    Of The Tarantulas
2.    Bandalito
3.    Tribes
4.    The Right Wing Never Sleeps
5.    The Endless Carriage
6.    Little Boats
7.    Song Of Choice
8.    200 Pints Of Blood
9.    Meet The Marines
10.    Southway Drive
11.    City & Western
12.    Charnel House Blues
13.    White Canyon

Crazy Arm are currently on tour and will be touring throughout the Autumn – firstly a UK Album tour (23rd September – 10th October 2011) followed by a UK & European tour with Against Me! (2nd November – 28th November).

AUGUST
14th – Tiger Lounge, Manchester (with Apologies + Cory Branan + Russo)
15th – Duke Of Wellington, Lincoln (with Cory Branan + Sam Russo)
16th – Royal Park Cellars, Leeds (with Cory Branan + Sam Russo)
17th – The Maze, Nottingham (with Cory Branan + Sam Russo)
18th – Edge Of The Wedge, Portsmouth (with Cory Branan + Sam Russo)
19th – Windmill, London (with Cory Branan + Sam Russo)
20th – Prince Albert, Brighton (with Cory Branan + Sam Russo)

SEPTEMBER
9th – Ivylive Festival, Ivybridge
11th – Plymouth Punks Picnic, Nowhere Inn
23rd – White Rabbit, Plymouth (with Damerels + more)
27th – Corporation, Sheffield
28th – Karma Café, Norwich (tbc)
29th – Barfly, London (with Apologies I Have None + Great Cynics)
30th – Unit, Southampton (tbc)

OCTOBER
1st  – Cambridge
2nd – Duke Of Wellington, Lincoln (with Above Them)
3rd – The Cluny, Newcastle (with Above Them)
4th – Stereo, Glasgow
5th – Central Station, Wrexham
6th – Fibbers, York
7th – West End Centre, Aldershot
10th – Croft, Bristol (with RVIVR)
22nd – White Rabbit, Plymouth (with Capdown)

NOVEMBER
2nd – Prince Albert, Brighton

(the following dates are with Against Me!)

3rd – La Maroquinerie, Paris, France
4th – Ex-Haus, Trier, Germany
5th – JC De Klinker, Aarschot, Belgium
6th – Dusseldorf, Germany
7th – Abart, Zurich, Switzerland
9th – Wuk, Vienna, Austria
10th – Rock House, Salzburg, Austria
12th – Den Haag, Netherlands (headline show)
13th – O13, Tilburg, Netherlands
14th – Faust, Hannover, Germany
15th – Knust, Hamburg, Germany
16th – Skaters Palace, Munster, Germany
17th – De Onderbroek, Nijmegen, Netherlands (headline show)
18th – Cockpit, Leeds
19th – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
20th – Talking Heads, Southampton
21st – Arts Centre, Norwich
24th – Cavern, Exeter (with Living Daylights)
28th – Peel, Kingston

For more information visit www.facebook.com/thecrazyarm.

Devon folk-punk rockers - Crazy Arm

Devon folk punks, Crazy Arm, release their new single, ‘Tribes‘, on 1st August, the first release ahead of their imminent new album, ‘Union City Breath‘.

Already a live favourite, ‘Tribes/Animals‘, is a song of two distinct parts, combining the band’s love of Springsteen, gospel and honest punk rock.  The lyrics are an indictment of man-made structures of violence and a call for a return to simpler, more ethically-centred ways of interacting.

Also on the record, the voice of Victoria Butterfield (who sang on the band’s last single ‘Sweet Storm‘) and keyboards courtesy of Patrick James Pearson.

The follow-up to 2009’s dramatic debut, ‘Born To Ruin’, ‘Union City Breath‘ is currently in the finishing stages and is being produced/engineered, once again, by Peter Miles (King Blues, The Computers, Sonic Boom Six, Dry The River) at his new studio deep in the South Devon countryside.

Taking its cue from the spurious idea of the Big Society, ‘Union City Breath‘ is a reminder that all societies are made by people and can be changed or at least challenged by people whenever they see fit.

The most authoritarian of institutions and the largest of multinational corporations are still only the product of human endeavour, propped up by other people with the same global interests – they can be, will be and are dismantled if and when they continue to pose a threat and cause violence upon ordinary people.

The band are due to play Shepherds Bush Empire with Social Distortion on 7th July amongst other shows and festival appearances including 2000 Trees and Boardmasters. The album will coincide with a comprehensive tour of the UK and mainland Europe, while the single will coincide with the band’s debut acoustic tour in August with Cory Branan and Sam Russo.

Crazy Arm UK Tour Dates:

Thurs 7th July
London, Shepherds Bush Empire (w/Social Distortion) SOLD OUT

Fri 8th July
London, The Bowery (with The Dissociates)

Sat 9th July
Voodoo Lounge, LMHR benefit

Thurs14th July
2000 Trees Festival, Cheltenham, rock set

Fri 15th July
2000 Trees Festival, Cheltenham, acoustic set

Sat 23rd July
Livestock Festival, near Sidmouth

Sat 6th Aug
Plymouth, Jack Chams (acoustic show)

Fri 12th Aug
Boardmasters Festival, Vans Stage

Sun 14th Aug
Manchester, Tiger Lounge (acoustic w/Cory Branan + Apologies, I Have None + Sam Russo)

Mon 15th Aug
Lincoln, venue tbc (acoustic w/Cory Branan + Sam
Russo)

Tues 16th Aug
Leeds, Santiagos (acoustic w/Cory Branan + Sam Russo)

Weds 17th Aug
Nottingham, The Maze (acoustic w/Cory Branan + Sam Russo)

Thurs 18th Aug
Southsea, Edge Of The Wedge (acoustic w/Cory Branan + Sam
Russo)

Fri 19th Aug
London, The Windmill (acoustic w/Cory Branan + Sam Russo)

Sat 20th Aug
Brighton, The Prince Albert (acoustic w/Cory Branan + Sam
Russo)

Mon 29th Aug
Dbs festival, Bristol

Fri 9th Sept
Ivylive Festival, Ivybridge (with The King Blues + lots more)

Sun 11th Sept – Plymouth Punks Picnic

Here’s the promotional video for Broken By The Wheel

Crazy Arm release their new single ‘Tribes‘ on 1st August 2011 on Xtra Mile Recordings (UK) & Gunner Records (mainland Europe) as a 7″ vinyl and digital download.

Brooklyn-based Michael Grubbs’ project Wakey!Wakey!

Brooklyn-based Michael Grubbs’ project Wakey!Wakey! will release their first full length studio album Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You on 1st August preceded by the single Light Outside on 18th July.

This will be Wakey! Wakey! and Michael Grubbs’ UK debut, and is the culmination of a lifelong eclectic musical education coloured as equally by the anti-folk movement of New York’s Lower East Side as a childhood absorbed in Gershwin and Brahms.

Wakey! Wakey! will bring their live set-up to the UK for a headline show at London’s Scala on 14th June, having sold out The Garage twice in the past year.

Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You is a deft meld of baroque orchestral touches with an easy pop finesse, courtesy of Michael Grubbs’  varied apprenticeships in songcraft; beginning at a baby grand piano aged five, under the guidance of a music teacher mother. Here, the ‘scrawny, dopey’ kid who could never make the sports team in High School grew up on a somewhat improbable mix of Beethoven, Elton John and Led Zeppelin. This collision of the classical and the downright flamboyant, combined with the absence of any formal instruction, led to Grubbs’ idiosyncratic approach to songwriting: ‘I had no idea how to put a song together; no one telling me ‘Hey, you should check out Gershwin’, but it was all so fascinating to me.’

This genre-spanning fascination continued in typically non-linear fashion, as Grubbs lent his talents on two touring musicals. ‘I’m a tall, skinny, straight guy who can sing – that’s basically gold dust in the musical theatre industry, because there’s none of us.’ Settling in New York, he then came under the guidance of Lach, a man best known as the driving force behind the Anti-Folk movement of the Lower East Side. Becoming the tutee of an icon who eschewed the piano upon first hearing the Sex Pistols – and whose movement included Regina Spektor – had quite an effect: ‘to hear someone like Regina perform with such abandon, shouting and hitting her stool with a drum stick, was priceless.’

The broad range of Michael Grubbs’  influence is evident across Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You; from the glistening orchestral sweeps that permeate ‘Got It All Wrong’ and ‘The Oh Song’, to the distinctive whistled hook of ‘Twenty Two’.

The lead single ‘Light Outside’ exemplifies piano-led power pop, driven by the crisp harmonies and the urgent delivery that has earned Wakey!Wakey! a formidable live reputation. Elsewhere, on singular album closer ‘Take It Like A Man’, Grubbs fuses a towering melodic climax with snatches from a Cossack-indebted freakout.

If his time spent in New York with Lach gave Michael Grubbs  the conviction to construct his orchestral pop works, then a chance encounter with a certain Mark Schwahn proved to be his commercial vindication. Schwahn is better known as the man behind the long-running American teen-drama ‘One Tree Hill’, which has attained cult-status over its eight season run, and has been soundtracked by artists including Bon Iver, Frightened Rabbit and Dashboard Confessional.

Having watched a Wakey!Wakey! live set, Schwahn was sufficiently impressed to not only soundtrack a season finale with the title track from their War Sweater EP, but to also recruit Grubbs for a recurring role on the show.

Wakey! Wakey! play a headline show at London’s Scala on 14th June 14th.

Wakey! Wakey! release the single ‘Light Outside’ on 18th July & their debut studio album, ‘Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You’ on 1st August, 2011.

It’s a song about ordinary, humdrum life and the everyday events that happen, with an uncluttered backing and set to a hummable melody. The vocals are pleasant enough and remind me in places of Gordon Gano. The simple verse/chorus arrangement works well and the whole thing hangs together nicely in a Darren Hayman-esque manner.

Ultimately though for me, there’s little to retain my attention beyond the first few spins. The melody is fine but there’s not enough depth for me. Perhaps the album will be more up my street and I’ll definitely be giving it a listen or two. After all, John Peel played more than one or two Herman Dune tracks and they are signed to Fortuna Pop – two institutions with a proven track record when it comes to what’s good and what’s not. I might be missing something but ‘Tell Me Something I Don’t Know’ won’t be lingering too long on my play list.

Herman Dune are playing:
4th June – Bristol – Thekla
5th June – Brighton – Coalition
6th June London – XOYO (with Comet Gain and Tigercats)

Herman Dune release their new single, ‘Tell Me Something I Don’t Know’ on Fortuna POP! (under exclusive licence from City Slang) on 23rd May 2011.

Feldberg live @ The Lexington

Feldberg live @ the Lexington, London Thursday 28th April, 2011.

Feldberg are from Reykjavik, Iceland, a current hotbed for great music.  They play fresh upbeat electro acoustic music that resides somewhere at the tip of an ice cool pop folk music iceberg.  Einar Tönsberg sings while playing guitar and keyboard to accompany the beautiful voice of Rósa Birgitta Ísfeld which drifts between dreamy and a sensuous gravelly Marlene Dietrich.

Tonight they performed as a trio with a drummer as they played to a packed audience at the Lexington pub in London sandwiched between two other bands as part of the monthly Ja Ja Ja Club.  Ja Ja Ja is a monthly club night to help promote exciting artists from the Nordic music scene.

Feldberg played a set of songs taken from their debut album, Don’t Be A Stranger which was originally released in Iceland in 2009 but is only now getting a UK release via the Smalltown America label.  Songs included the wonderful dreamy pop of Dreamin’, Farewell, You & Me and the title track, Don’t Be A Stranger.

Feldberg were greeted by loud applause as they entered the stage and even louder applause as they left.  Einar and Rósa perform well together on stage as a perfect pop couple, engaging the audience with smiles, laughter and talking between songs.

Einar’s acoustic guitar can hit harder sounds with an array of pedals while he uses a computer to manage backing tracks, while Rósa also plays a toy xylophone and manages to shower the audience with shiny tinsel from giant popper tubes, though I’m not sure if this is in celebration of the forthcoming royal wedding or just part of their regular act. Rósa left the stage wearing a mask of the queen, which may be a giveaway.

Feldberg are exciting, happy and perfect for when the sun is shining.  Their music makes me smile and their songs stay in my consciousness.  It won’t be long before Feldberg are far too big to play small venues like The Lexington.  But until then I will try and see them again…. and again.