Excitement reached fever pitch this week at the Static Sounds Clubhouse with the announcement of a new album from Dundalk’s finest, Just Mustard. Out on May 27thHeart Under is the long awaited follow up to their landmark debut album Wednesday. They had teased us with a sneak peek, back in November last year, with the release of ‘I Am You’. It was a typically genre defying, slow burning lesson in how you can take everyday instruments, like electric guitars, and create a soundscape like no other.
This week they have dropped another single from the album. Whereas ‘I Am You’ slowly built to its awe-inspiring finish ‘Still’ comes in HOT! Katie Ball owns this track with her strongest vocal performance to date. This is dark, dark territory we’re in. The bass looms large like an ogre while the guitars rage against each other. It’s the drums however that surprise the most. Driving the funkiest groove under the whole thing they lift this song to another level. Check the track out for yourself whilst enjoying the amazing promo video.
If this is any indication as to what the rest of the album is going to sound like we are all in for quite a treat.
You can pre-order the album now from the band’s website or your choice of indie retailer. The album also came out as part of the Dinked releases however they’ve now sold out.
Two years on from the release of their last album Bright Smiles & Broken Hearts US shoegaze stalwarts Whimsical are back with a new LP and single.
The band, Krissy Vanderwoude (words) and Neil Burkdoll (music), gave us a taster with the single ‘Gravity’ last summer. The album Melt will be released on April 1 via Shelflife Records and Through Love Records. We don’t have to wait to hear the new single ‘Rewind’. Let’s jump in.
The track opens on powerful guitar strums from Burkdoll incorporating a neat false stop to bring in some pulsing electronica. This is something new to the bands sonic arsenal and it really lifts this songs intro. No wonder it was picked to lead out the new album.
Vanderwoude gorgeous, lilting tones sing of a relationship gone awry and her desire to “rewind it to the start”. As always, the sound of her optimistic lyrics claims the gaps in the melody and make the song whole. You can tell these two have a musical telepathy that transcends the physical distance between them.
This is their first single of the year however March heralds the release of not one but TWO more choice cuts from the album. More news on that nearer the time.
In the meantime, head over to Bandcamp if you are in the US or Through Love Records if you’re closer to Europe to pre-order the new album. For now, here is the video for ‘Rewind’ created by the visual and musical genius that is Andy Jossi.
Ireland has been producing some of the finest acts of the last couple of years, especially in the indie and shoegaze / psych scenes. Dublin based artist Keeley is continuing that fine tradition with her Brave Warrior EP. Originally released last year digitally it has now been pressed to vinyl and is about to be released to the world. She has garnered a lot of attention around this collection of songs from the likes of, BBC Radio 6 DJ, Steve Lamacq, so it’s definitely time for me to give it a spin.
The EP opens with the glam stomper ‘The Glitter and the Glue’. Trading off a killer riff and beefy guitar tone this sets Keeley’s stall out early doors. For the past five years, Keeley has been publishing ‘The Keeley Chronicles’ blog, dedicated to the harrowing and mystifying case of murdered German tourist Inga-Maria Hauser in 1988. The lyrics of the song reflect this, her labour of love, and contrast beautifully with the upbeat, tone of the music.
Continuing that narrative into ‘Last Words’ Keeley looks at the final hours of Hauser’s life. She trades the indie pomp of the opening track for the almost Kraftwerk inspired backing to this song. It’s a travelling song and she has imbued that movement into every moment of the song. It’s utterly engaging and you want to know where it’s going to go next.
‘Never Here, Always There’ pivots the sound of the EP again. Much softer and nurturing, this song wears its heart on its sleeve throughout. On the subject of what this song is about Keeley said “It’s a portrayal of purity belonging to a world that’s gone, and the story of a girl who chased the sun only to face soulless ogres who could not be overcome. But her beautiful defiance and soulful strength of spirit continue to generate limitless light from beyond the boundaries of mortality.” Optimism is such an infectious thing. It’s bursting out of every moment of this song.
The EP closes on the dark and brooding ‘You Never Made It That Far’. A pledge, a heartfelt promise from Keeley to Inga-Maria that she won’t ever be forgotten and her memory will live on. Live on in Keeley’s’ heart, these songs and all who are touched by them. It’s a sparse, electronica led song which blossoms in the choruses. Keeley’s’ Irish lilt comes through more here than any of the other tracks suggesting how close to her heart this song is.
This EP is a beautifully compiled tribute to the life of a beautiful soul. The ease at which each track moves from style to style speaks volumes to the skill of Keeley as a songwriter.
Almost a year ago to the day I was introducing you to the debut album from UK-based producer/musician Jamie Duddy. I was absolutely floored by the joyful experimentation and dreamy aesthetic on show. This is why I’m so happy he has returned for 2022 with a new EP called Asleep. Has that experimentation continued? Let’s get in amongst it and find out.
The EP opens with the woozy ‘Connected’. This track immediately reminded me of Ultra Vivid Scene and Throwing Muses. Two massive favourites of mine. I was sold after the intro alone.
‘zzz’ opens with an eerie voice saying “counting sheep” whilst a psychedelic, swirly, raga dreamscape plays out behind it. This is a hypnotic interlude which takes us further down into Duddy’s imagination.
The centrepiece of the EP ‘Vison Clear’ appears next. Hung on a luscious chord cycle Duddy sings the song title like a mantra. A fuzzed guitar trying to edge its way is constantly held just at bay. Holding this perfect moment, frozen in time.
The lullaby ‘Saturn’ follows lifting us into space. Floating through the starlit expanse, in awe at all that surrounds us. This really is an ‘out there’ track where out there is the most wonderful place.
The EP comes to a close on ‘Wakeful’ as we rise from our slumber. The inclusion of pacier drums on this one whist revisiting the themes and motifs of the EP lead to a most satisfactory conclusion to our dream odyssey.
What Duddy has achieved here is a cohesively themed EP which feels like a trip from start to finish. That’s not something that’s easily achieved and certainly not this early in your recording career. I really hope we continue to see this level of songwriting in his future work.
After a short hiatus Static Sounds Club returns for 2022. I’m proud to be bringing you yet another exclusive premiere to kick off this new year.
I welcome back our old friend, Malaysian multi-instrumentalist Eugene San and his superb musical project, Go With Strangers. I premiered his debut single, ‘Further’, in May last year and I’m so happy to share with you his latest release ‘Slow Down, Wild One’.
This is a driving, powerful track straight out the gate. All amps are set to eleven and we’re treated to the catchiest riff before Sans’ soothing and melodious voice grabs us and takes us on a trip. I particularly love the call and response of the chorus. It makes the riff that more exciting afterwards. This is shoegaze with a heart
When asked about the track Eugene said “‘’Slow Down, Wild One’ speaks from the point-of-view of a larger-than-life entity, or a guardian; watching over a dear one whom they care about. Encouraging them along in their path of life, and assuring them that they’ll find their way.”
The single is accompanied by a stunning video which I’m proud to be premiering on Static Sounds Club. I hope you enjoy it.
‘Slow Down, Wild One’ is available from all usual streaming outlets now.
It seems like an age since I heard from our good friends at Dirty Filthy Records. It’s been awful quiet without them around. But what’s this? A new release? Huzzah!!
It’s something a bit different this time. DFR are heading into electronica with English duo Thought Bubble and their new album Around.
Thought Bubble are an alt-electronic duo whose music regularly veers into various noisy skronk fusion pigeonholes. Having spent the last decade or so as members of various psych and spacey fusion bands, on the psychedelic rock festival circuit, keyboardist Chris Cordwell and percussionist Nick Raybould had maintained Thought Bubble as their cherished side project. It’s now time to bring it into the open.
Let’s dive in and see what delights are in store.
The record begins with the ominous and foreboding tones of ‘The Waves’. This is a tune “full of eastern promise” (can any of my readers name that TV advert?) This song has a slouched, downtempo pace, however, that allows room to showcase some stunning rhythmic work alongside some gloriously exotic keyboard textures. It recalls to me the Peace Orchestra album that Peter Kruder put out back in the 90’s. I’m not sure I could pay this track a higher compliment.
The pace picks up on ‘Beatwave’, a krautrock inspired, pedal to the metal freak out. Your attention is demanded right from the get go and is rewarded throughout. Synth strings give way to acid squelches and glitchy synth. Not to mention a cheeky ladies voice popping up from time to time.
There is a nod to Lemon Jelly in the intro to ‘Mobius Trip’. The spoken word intro describing the famous mobius strip being mirrored in the cyclical repetitions of the music. It builds and builds on that foundation, adding guitar and more spoken word making this a truly psychedelic experience.
‘Rat Race’ comes in all anxious and pounding. That feeling is amplified and skewed off on a number of themed tangents. From the tight, fractious percussion to the scattergun synth and samples, this shakes you from the psychedelic stupour of the previous track and slaps you about the face.
Throwing us another curveball is ‘Fluctuate’. This track is beautiful. Its chilled out floaty vibes carry you away and make you feel all warm. Even in the closing section where the tempo drops and the mood gets slightly darker, it still made me smile. A big smile! This is my album highlight!
We close on ‘Devoider’ a spaced out rock jam. This is a cosmic trip amongst the stars. The introduction of a fuzzed out guitar is a welcome new texture to their sonic pallate. It’s wonderful way to close out a much varied and interesting album.
Thought Bubble are clearly fans of the G-Stone and Compost records from the 90’s and they have taken that influence and built something new and unique with it. By playing with tempo and textures they bring us into their world and excite us with each new experience created. This was a very rewarding listen and one I will continue to enjoy.
Friends of Static Sounds Club, The Churchill Garden return with their new single ‘Grounded’.
For those new to the band, The Churchill Garden are multi-instrumentalist Andy Jossi and singer / lyricist Krissy Vanderwoude. They create lush, vast soundscapes you can lose yourself in. If you are looking for a great starting point to explore their music, I can heartily recommend their stunning Heart & Soul album. As well as being a fine collection of songs it’s also one of the most sumptuous records I have in my collection.
Let’s talk about the single. ‘Grounded’ opens like a lost Stone Roses track before erupting into the trademark Jossi sound. Chiming guitars trade off against a fuzz driven bass and driving drums. Vanderwoude has a knack of telling a story in a song. Straight from the heart. I think a lot of us could identify with the daydreamer in the song.
There’s something really special about the musical relationship these two have. The bond between the instrumentation and lyrics is so life affirming and buoyant. Real sympatico in action. That for me is the core strength of the band and one they deliver on time and again.
‘Grounded’ is out on September 8th. Check out The Churchill Garden Bandcamp for the single and their back catalogue.
I’m a huge fan of that ethereal sound the Cure were producing around the time of The Top and Head on the Door. I was so happy when I received the Here and Now EP from French musician, Laurent Guerrier that records under the moniker Dive and Drown.
Guerrier is heavily influenced by that era as well as 4AD bands like Cocteau Twins. This six track instrumental EP is a real homage to that period however it doesn’t wallow in its mores and idioms but uses it as a foundation to build from.
We open on the gothic splendour of ‘I’ll Give You This’. Spanning that early Cocteaus and Cure sound but with an added eastern influence this sets the mood for the EP and stamps Guerrier’s identity on your mind.
‘Discontent’, whilst a darkly bass driven track, is also a gloriously light and airy experience. The guitars are gossamer fine and drive a mean hook in the chorus movements.
Taking the pace down a notch ‘The End Of What Never Was’ enters into some really dark territory. Like a scary walk through some haunted woods at midnight this track had me on tenterhooks start to finish.
If ever there was an aptly named track its ‘This Sea’. The tension builds like the waves in an embryonic storm until we are being bombarded with sound and textures. It’s a very clever piece of work.
In contrast to the deafening roar of the previous track ‘Yet You Stand Tall’ is almost minimalist in its introduction. Then the rug is pulled out from under us. A* fuzzed-out bass blasts from the speakers and the drums kick in. This is a powerful, driving and vital track. It’s so full of life and is my stand out track.
We close on the epic ‘Dispossessed, Forgetful’. Like an amalgam of all we have heard so far, it’s a sprawling journey through the sonic palette of Here and Now. There is no better way to draw this experience to a close.
Guerrier has succeeded in creating a cohesive and all-consuming vision that stays true to itself from beginning to end. I think if Robin Guthrie heard this EP, he would be seriously impressed at what he heard. No greater compliment could I offer.
As the summer draws to a close, I was on the hunt for some new mellow tunes to chill out to. I didn’t have far to look. Waterford’s Crome Yellow have released an album that has been practically glued to my turntable since it arrived from the label.
No Friends or Mirrors is their second album and is a step forward in ambition and scope for the band. Crome Yellow brew a heady blend of psychedelia with a pinch of funk, a sprinkle of 60’s mod vibes and a knowing drizzle of 90’s baggy. Thirsty yet? Me too. Let’s drop the needle and see what this is all about.
We ease into the album with the smooth ‘2.0’. Setting the tone for the album the song grooves along with a gentle sway. Drawing influence from both 70’s funk and new soul of the early eighties. It’s a glorious sound of sundown on a summer’s day.
‘Constant Delay’ maintains that chilled out pace. Even opening on the line “I’m already ready to take it really slow”. What sets the song apart is the cascading guitar lines at the end of each verse. They’re absolutely mesmerising.
After the spaced-out sound experiment that is “Instant Replay” we move into my album highlight.
“Pocket Protector” caught my ear immediately with its shifting off beat chorus and silky guitar lead. There’s nice vocal interplay playing the lead vocal off of a falsetto. This, for me, is this album distilled down into one track.
Next up is the 90’s Madchester inspired “Don’t Really Want To Know Ya”. It sounds like John Squire joined forces with Tim Burgess and Clint Boon. This is the band really having fun. That comes through in buckets. You can’t help but smile and nod along to the infectious groove.
The breathy ballad ‘October’ follows, full of sombre reflection. This song clocks in at just over six minutes but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. The commitment in the vocal delivery is very engaging and holds your interest throughout.
‘Oh How It Feels To Be Down” gives us a false start before kicking into a psych-soaked funky jam. Make no mistake, this band have chops. I can imagine this song would be amazing to see live.
After another short interlude in the company of the distant and shimmering ‘Friends’ we’re back on familiar ground with ‘Nobody Told Me’. There’s something of the Hendrix in the guitar licks on show here. Not too flamboyant but enough to compliment the solid backline. I love how the guitar seems to fight its way through the gaps in the vocal.
From this point on the album switches things up. Gone is the funky, baggy groove replaced by something deeper and more complex.
‘The Ballad of John Who Can’t Open His Eyes’ is nothing short of genius. Channelling the Ready Steady Go Carnaby Street 60’s mod vibe and honing it for 21st Century ears. It’s a fun trip and you will love it.
Our final sound experiment of the album ‘Mirrors’ follows. I really loved it. Perhaps they will develop that idea into a fully-fledged song one day.
The Pink Floydesque ‘No.9‘ follows. To say this is a triumph of song writing would be understating things somewhat. There are moments here where I feel I’m listening to some lost Beatles track from Sgt Peppers. It’s story telling with razor sharp observational lyrics.
Closing the album out is the summery ‘Daffodils’. Apt for a band called Crome Yellow. A cool as a cucumber guitar riff dances along accompanied by a squelchy keyboard motif. This creates another new texture and ambience on this album. It’s the perfect closer, as it leaves you hungry, wanting more.
I think it’s fair to say, Crome Yellow have recorded an album that’ll be appearing in a lot of end of year polls. Its fun, funky, chilled and a deeply satisfying listen. I highly recommend consuming at sunset with a cool beverage of your choosing. Cheers Crome Yellow. Here’s to your health.
No Friends or Mirrors is out now on the brilliant Fuzzed Up and Astromoon Records. Make sure you go check out their other releases. They’re a very discerning label. You can grab a copy of the album over at the groups Bandcamp. There are some lovely yellow themed vinyl variants on offer.
It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since I created this blog. I wanted a place of my own to express how much I love music. Somewhere to showcase and share amazing bands. One year on and I feel I’ve only just started doing that. Looking back, I’ve been lucky enough to have had a sneaky peek at a lot of amazing music. I’m eternally grateful to all the bands and their PR people for working with me to achieve that. It’s something I never take for granted and always relish.
Now, Static Sounds Club is about to evolve into something else entirely.
I’m fortunate enough to contribute to the blog at DKFM Shoegaze Radio. I started doing that around the same time as starting this blog. I cannot stress enough how much I love my extended family at DKFM. They welcomed me with open arms and have got me involved in so much great stuff. From the initial blogs to providing video introductions for the International DreamGaze events during lockdown. This years highlight was collaborating with Deborah Sexton on The Velvet Hum show to showcase the shoegaze and dreampop talent across the UK. It’s all been amazing.
I’ve now been given an opportunity to create my own radio show based around this blog!
Static Sounds Club is going live! Me? A DJ? With my own radio show? On DKFM? I’m still getting my head around that.
Just like this blog, I’d like to use the show to showcase the best Shoegaze and Dreampop the UK and Europe has to offer. I’ll also have a segment where I can devote my attention to bands from further afield, don’t worry about that. Bands, keep getting in touch. You’ll find my contact details in the about section of the blog. Who knows? I might be playing your band next month.
I’d like to thank Greg Wilson at DKFM for taking a shot on me. I really appreciate it!! Also, thanks to Deborah for reaching out and getting me involved in your amazing show, The Velvet Hum. Finally, thanks to Krissy Vanderwoude for all the words of encouragement in those early days.
The first Static Sounds Club radio show goes out on DKFM Shoegaze Radio on Tuesday 17 August 10pm Central, 8pm Pacific, 11pm Eastern, 4am GMT and repeated 12 hours later. For the best listening experience, I recommend downloading the DKFM mobile app from the Apple App Store or if you have an Android device from the Google Play Store. Hope you can tune in!
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