A U G UST 2017 ISSUE 51 // FREE
DS SOUN NEW IONS & VIS AL FESTIV L IA SPEC
GIRLHOOD
P R E S E N T S
17 | 08 | 17
16 | 10 | 17
THE DUKE SPIRIT
ÁSGEIR
- BUSH HALL -
18 | 08 | 17
CONOR OBERST
- O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE -
12 | 09 | 17
THE DISTRICTS - THE GARAGE -
T - 21 |LD T OU | 09 | 17 | 17 20 SOLD SO 09OU 22 | 09 | 17
SIGUR RÓS
- EVENTIM APOLLO, HAMMERSMITH -
25 | 09 | 17
ROBERT FORSTER
- SHAW THEATRE, KING’S CROSS -
25 | 09 | 17
- ROUNDHOUSE -
19 | 10 | 17
SOUND OF THE SIRENS - THE WATER RATS -
27 | 10 | 17
STEVEN PAGE - BUSH HALL -
04 | 11 | 17
PETER PERRETT - ELECTRIC BALLROOM -
07 | 11 | 17
ZOLA JESUS
- VILLAGE UNDERGROUND -
JEN CLOHER
22 | 11 | 17
HVMM
- THE LEXINGTON -
09 | 10 | 17
- SEBRIGHT ARMS, HACKNEY -
- MOTH CLUB, HACKNEY -
JIM WHITE
STEVIE PARKER
26 | 11 | 17
- DINGWALLS -
10 | 10 | 17
JOLIE HOLLAND + SAMANTHA PARTON
30 | 11 | 17
TOM WILLIAMS - BUSH HALL -
- UNION CHAPEL, ISLINGTON -
10 | 10 | 17
THE PREATURES - MOTH CLUB, HACKNEY -
- UNION CHAPEL, ISLINGTON -
07 | 12 | 17
13 | 10 | 17
LAMB
01 | 12 | 17
JESCA HOOP
- O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE –
BERNARD FANNING - THE GARAGE -
09 - 10 SEPTEMBER 2017
ONBLACKHEATH - BLACKHEATH, LONDON SE3 QUA In partnership with John Lewis 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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P R E S E N T S
special guests
TUESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2017
ELECTRIC BALLROOM
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NEW ALBUM ‘TI AMO’ OUT NOW
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WELCOME We've been through some changes here at London in Stereo in the last couple of months as we mix things up to make room for new projects and new ideas. We're always pushing ourselves to constantly improve and do better. The idea of challenging yourself is generally a fairly positive one, growing and learning beyond your current limits is exciting and fulfilling. Sometimes though, it’s easy to forget what the reality of that is like, it’s that struggle, that push to do something that is genuinely difficult, that makes you improve but also scares the living daylights out of you. Steadily I'm remembering it’s ok to have to work through that fear, to keep trying and it will get easier whilst new challenges present themselves. This month we focus on the new exciting acts we can't get enough of and that will be facing their own challenges and exciting opportunities as they start to gain the recognition we think they deserve. GIRLHOOD (interview, pg: 26)
STAFF ON REPEAT
KESHA
the tracks we can’t stop listening to this month JESS: Empress Of - Go To Hell DAVE: Ivy Sole - West LOKI: The War On Drugs - Strangest Thing DANNY: Protomartyr - A Private Understanding GEMMA: Four Tet - Two Thousand And Seventeen JACK: Kesha - Praying RACHEL: Anna of the North - Someone LiS 05
8 – 9 SEPT 2017
Erased Tapes is ten. KIASMOS / DAWN OF MIDI / PENGUIN CAFE PETER BRODERICK & FRIENDS / LUBOMYR MELNYK M A S AY O S H I F U J I TA / R I V A L C O N S O L E S MICHAEL PRICE / DOUGLAS DARE
Erased Tapes
CONTENTS 10
VISIONS SPECIAL
LONDON IN STEREO IS:
Everything you need for this year’s big day. 16
Editor: Jess Partridge jess@londoninstereo.co.uk
NEW SOUNDS
Goat Girl, Amanda Delara & more 19
Deputy Editor: Dave Rowlinson dave@londoninstereo.co.uk
TALES FROM THE CITY
by EMA 22
Online Editor: Rachel Finn rachel@londoninstereo.co.uk
INTERVIEW - SOCCER MOMMY
Sub-Editor : Loki Lillistone loki@londoninstereo.co.uk
26 COVER STORY
Advertising sales@londoninstereo.co.uk
LiS meets Girlhood 32
AUGUST EVENTS
New Sounds Editor: Gemma Samways
The best stuff happening in London this month 34
INTERVIEW - BICEP
38
ALBUM REVIEWS
Staff Writers: Danny Wright, Jack Urwin Photography: Girlhood cover story: Phil Sharp (philsharp-photo.com)
Liars, The War On Drugs, Grizzly Bear, Crumbs, Downtown Boys, Ghostpoet & more 44
In A Day’s Work Artwork: Liyv (liyv.co)
ON THE STEREO
with Fluffer Pit Parties 47
IN A DAY’S WORK
Anonymous tales by...a full time fashion blogger 48
GIGS OF THE MONTH
Contributors: Kate Solomon, Lee Wakefield, Rhian Daly, Geoff Cowart, Jamal Guthrie, Lauren Down, Tim Hakki, Jake May, Grant Bailey, Katie Thomas, Nick Mee, John Bell, Thomas Hannan, George O’Brien.
Our pick of the best shows this August 50
FULL LISTINGS
Your full guide to all the month’s gigs 65
IN LONDON
with Girl Ray 66
LIVE REVIEWS
Lovebox, Citadel and Roskilde re-lived. 69
STAGE TIMES & MAP PAGES 10-13 londoninstereo.com @londoninstereo
PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
by Jamal Guthrie LiS 07
SUMMER / AUTUMN ~ LIVE ~ 04.08 11.08
23.08
14.09
Dun D /
08.09
Coquin Migale /
Avec Sans /
09.10
05.08
12.08 I
Mondo Cozmo /
31.08
29.09
Dregas /
Sainte [Sold Out] /
Leyya /
03.10
10.10
BlueJay /
ke Chuks /
24.08
Naives /
12.09
Welshly Arms
Ine Hoem /
J. Bernardt /
Tom Figgins /
27.10
Sons
Swimming Girls
Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place
Only Sun / 15.09
06.08
15.08
30.10
04.10
18.10
22.09
MassMatiks
Ian Moss /
Cassia /
21.10
05.10
Mullally
Dark Rooms
Cameron Avery
~ LATE ~ 04.08
05.08
12.08
NIGHT CALL
MOHO
Alt-Pop and
90s hip-hop and
Contemporary Sounds
R nB knees up
APPLEBUM PRESENTS LOOSE CATS
19.08
26.08
BUSHWICK BOOGIE
BROTHERHOOD SOUND
House, garage, bashment
A night of
and everything inbetween
Bass Heav y Beats!
Dates, times & tickets: w w w.hoxtonsquarebar.com
| HOXTONSQUAREBAR
MUTEMATH
SNAKEHIPS
MATISYAHU
SAGE THE GEMINI
WED 23 AUGUST
FRI 08 SEPTEMBER
MON 11 SEPTEMBER
THU 14 SEPTEMBER
THE MARCUS KING BAND
TOM GRENNAN
CHIP
MICHELLE BRANCH
WED 20 SEPTEMBER
WED 27 SEPTEMBER
THU 28 SEPTEMBER
O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON
ELECTRIC BRIXTON
SCALA
XOYO
FRI 29 SEPTEMBER
KOKO
02 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE
GEORGIE KELLER THE MODERN STRANGERS
THE HUBBARDS
ZAK ABEL
THE SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS
THU 05 OCTOBER
SAT 07 OCTOBER
TUE 10 OCTOBER
THIS FEELING
BLEACHERS
JORDAN RAKEI
IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE
DINGWALLS
THU 05 OCTOBER
KOKO
BIRTHDAYS
SEBRIGHT ARMS
FRI 20 OCTOBER
KOKO
SAT 14 OCTOBER
WED 18 OCTOBER
KOKO
O2 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE
PLACEBO
KOJEY RADICAL
SINEAD HARNETT LITTLE DRAGON
OU SOLD 23 OCTOBER MON TUE 24 OCTOBER
WED 25 OCTOBER
WED 25 OCTOBER
ELECTRIC BALLROOM
T
O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON
MON 23 OCTOBER
SCALA
SOLD FRI 27OUOCTOBER SAT 28 OCTOBER T
VILLAGE UNDERGROUND
HEAVEN
ROUNDHOUSE
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM TICKETMASTER.CO.UK & VENUE BOX OFFICES
THE LONDON IN STEREO GUIDE TO Visions is tons of fun, but it’s not a day to take lightly - organisation is needed to take in as much as possible. So, here’s how we’re playing Visions this year, come hang with us, or do exactly the opposite to our plans and have a blast your way... 12pm. St John at Hackney Let’s not mess around here, there’s a dog show at Visions, and if you think we’re not going to a dog show... Here’s a fact(ish) - adding a dog to your Instagram guarantees a 50% better response, and if we’re here for something other than music, it’s them Likes. 1pm Is it too early to eat? No, eating is the key to a successful festival day. Stay strong out there. It’s straight to Space Studios for Le Bao’s award-winning grub. Just assume the below includes many food stop-offs. 2pm Okay, we’re into the awkward bit where we have to choose bands. You can’t see everyone, you’re not magic. We’re gonna start with Goat Girl at Mangle and then shoot back to Space Studios for 3pm cos Kero Kero Bonito and Frankie Cosmos are doing a crepe cook-off, obviously. 3.45pm We loved the Noga Erez shows we saw at Great Escape, so it’s to Oval Space to soak it all up again, and then a swift stroll over to Netil House for our absolute favourite, Soccer Mommy at 4.45pm. Frankie Cosmos has already started at Oval Space, but it’s less than 10 minutes away and she’s on until 6pm, so off we go. It’s a real judgement call now, Shame are playing Mangle at 6.15pm, and Shame are incredible live, but we’re at already at Oval Space, and Kero Kero Bonito are on at 6.45pm. It’s possible to catch some of both, but maybe if the sun’s out we’ll take a breather on Oval Space’s terrace and wait for KKB. Blanck Mass are blistering live, so it’s back to Mangle for their 7.45pm show. We’ll probably duck out ten minutes early though, because Helado Negro is on at 8.30pm at Brewhouse, and there’s no way we’re missing that. It gets tricky now. Liars are on at 9.15pm back at Mangle, but Happyness are playing Sebright Arms at 9.30pm and we’ve not been to Sebright yet. This one’s just gonna have to be put to the vote at 9pm. Early instincts say ‘Liars’, though. Whatever happens, we’re 100% going to try and catch at least some of Zebra Katz show at Brewhouse, which doesn’t finish until 11pm. From there? Well, there’s parties at Brewhouse ‘til 2am, or Netil House lasts up to 3am. Can we make it to the end? Of course we can - we’ve been eating sensibly all day, haven’t we? See you out there.
LiS 11
ALL TIMES CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT, PLEASE CHECK @VisionsFestival ON THE DAY FOR ANY UPDATES
FA B R I C
AUGUST 2017 T E R RY F R A N C I S A N T H O N Y PA R AS OL E B I L LY T U R N E R DAS H A R U S H ( L I V E ) DAV E C L A R K E E AT S E V E R Y T H I N G E L L I OT A DA M S O N HUNEE HUXLEY INTERSTELLAR FUNK JESSE ROSE K I M A N N F OX M A N L A DY S TA R L I G H T ( L I V E ) L U CY L U K E S L AT E R MARCEL DETTMANN M I C H A E L M AY E R MR. JONES O / V/ R ( R E G I S & J A M E S R U S K I N ) RED AXES S U P E R FL U www.fabriclondon.com
AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2017
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11pm—7am #FABRICLIVESUMMER17 www.fabriclondon.com
NEW SOUNDS GOAT GIRL
by Gemma Samways
Where once it seemed that hanging out in N16 was the non-negotiable price for London-based guitar groups to command column inches, nowadays all the buzz is south of the river. Joining LiS-favourites Sorry (FKA Fish) and former-New Sounds subjects Shame, South London’s Goat Girl are one of a handful of new bands worthy of the hype surrounding them, even if they’re not especially interested in engaging with it. “We never set out with any intentions of rebuilding a scene or changing culture,” they explained back in December 2016, adding, “The ONLY
important thing about music is how it makes you feel.” Wittingly or not, the tight-knit, teenage indie-rockers have broken out of the thriving scene surrounding The Windmill in Brixton, to win a deal with Rough Trade, and support slots with Parquet Courts, Girl Band and The Fall. As evidenced in their name - which was inspired by a particularly polarising Bill Hicks line - Goat Girl’s natural inclination is to provoke, be that by referencing controversial jokes or through their predilection for satirical lyrics and scuzzy, bordering on abrasive, sonic textures. On the strength of both double A-side singles so far, long may they continue having courage in their convictions.
IN TEN: NEW SOUNDS PHOEBE BRIDGERS MOTION SICKNESS
JUANITA STEIN
SOMEONE ELSE'S DIME
LIYV
KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH
SMERZ
QUAY DASH
JAY STONE
PROTOMARTYR
BILLIE EILISH
LIYV
INDIAN WELLS
AN INTENTION
BOSSED UP
A PRIVATE UNDERSTANDING
HOT LIGHTS
OH MY MY
FLYING MONKEYS
WATCH
IT'S WHERE THE WORLD ENDS
FOLLOW OUR NEW MUSIC PLAYLISTS ON LONDONINSTEREO.COM, EVERY WEEK
GOAT GIRL
(Photo: Charlotte Patmore)
LISTEN TO: Crow Cries LIVE: Visions Festival (at Mangle) August 5th Corsica Studios, November 13th
@goatgirlofficial
/goatgirlofficial
AMANDA DELARA by Jess Partridge Norway is great at pop music, there’s just no denying it, they nail it over and over again with sparkly hooks and clipped drum sounds. Amanda Delara, however, brings something a little different to their tried and tested formula. Iranian by descent, her powerful lyrics are unafraid to comment on difficult political situations, and her wide range of influences are always on display with an array of sounds from around the world. Pop music with substance for people who like to dance.
LISTEN TO: Paper Paper @DelaraAmanda
@AmandaDelaraMusic
/amandadelaramusic
LiS 17
TALES FROM THE CITY We ask artists to tell us stories of times spent in London...
by EMA photo: Eleonora Collini
The most time I’ve spent in London is when my friend Zach and I did the Sacred Objects From Suburban Homes performance and residency at the Barbican. It also had a virtual reality component where people could send in their ‘Sacred Objects’ and have them remade in 3D virtual space alongside a shitty living room, a reptile-man, and a trippy-ass mandala. The pay wasn’t huge for the project, but the Barbican did offer to put us up while we were there. That summer things were
pretty booked but they finally found a spot in Shoreditch. When we arrived it was obvious that it was an apartment that nobody actually lived in, just bought by a speculator to rent out. Our contact’s name was Tony. Across the street there was this amazing junk shop. Or not junk, but crazy art and objects and antiques. It was also owned by a guy named Tony. We immediately called him “Good Tony” and the Airbnb guy “Bad Tony”. We had been obsessing over objects and what they meant, why one object was ‘sacred’ while others weren’t. We found the perfect example in the overflowing junk shop full of things that Good Tony obviously treasured: 90s assemblages made with doll heads, bespoke neon signs and a million dusty artefacts. We also found its inverse: an expensive empty apartment whose only value was monetary, not emotional. These places were in 3 minutes walk of each other, and seemed not only symbolic of the project but of the changing neighborhood as well. We create value out of the things we love, and you can feel it. It’s got an aura, even if it’s technically worthless. It’s when you sell it all out to the highest bidder who doesn’t give a shit about it, that’s when it becomes junk.
LiS 19
EMA releases new album Exile In The Outer Ring, August 25th via City Slang. LIVE: Oslo, October 3rd @the_EMA_
@cameouttanowhere
TICKETS & INFO:
20 SEPT. (early & late show)
rockfeedback.com
Kiran Leonard
St. Pancras Old Church 03 AUG.
22 SEPT.
30 & 31 OCT.
The Islington
With Jacco Gardner Moth Club
The Lexington
Soccer Mommy 05 AUG.
Visions Festival East London 09 AUG.
Holy Fuck Jazz Cafe 23 AUG.
Adam Torres Sebright Arms 29 & 30 AUG.
Beach Fossils Oslo
31 AUG.
Cymbals
Thousand Island 04 SEPT.
Waxahatchee The Garage 04 & 05 SEPT.
Courtney Marie Andrews Bush Hall
The Dream Syndicate 31 OCT.
26 SEPT.
Kevin Morby
Omeara
01 NOV.
Anna of the North
Electric Ballroom
29 SEPT - 01 OCT.
The Orielles
Dreamland, Margate
02 NOV.
By The Sea Festival
The Lexington
02 OCT.
!!!
The Waiting Room
03 NOV.
Malihini
Electric Ballroom
03 OCT.
Francobollo
Oslo
07 & 08 NOV.
EMA
Moth Club
05 OCT.
Father John Misty
Electric Brixton
10 NOV.
Ben Frost
Hammersmith Eventim Apollo
09 OCT.
Julien Baker
Omeara
11 NOV.
Shigeto
Union Chapel
12 OCT.
Pissed Jeans
The Waiting Room
17 NOV.
Yassassin
Electric Ballroom
05 SEPT.
17 OCT.
Cristobal
Boston Music Room
Roundhouse
23 NOV.
Starcrawler
Johnny Flynn
Moth Club
07 SEPT.
18 OCT.
KLLO
The Garage
The Pickle Factory
23 NOV.
Girlpool
Crooked Colours
and the
Sea
XOYO
08 SEPT.
18 OCT.
Marika Hackman
KOKO
Moth Club
23 NOV.
Alvvays Upcoming London Shows
W.I.T.C.H
Frankie Rose
O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
13 SEPT.
25 OCT.
Mammút
Old Blue Last
Scala
24 NOV.
Charly Bliss
Dream Wife
Sebright Arms
14 SEPT.
27 OCT.
Blaenavon
The Lexington
The Garage
30 NOV.
Henry Green
Happyness
14 SEPT.
27 OCT.
The Garage
O2 Academy Brixton
Chastity Belt
MØ
O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Puma Blue
Corsica Studios
interview
NEW DS SOUN L IA SPEC
Soccer Mommy words: Rhian Daly // photography: Ebru Yildiz
here are many reasons a student might take a year out of their course, but it’s not often that move is due to signing a record deal. Sophie Allison, who records and performs under the moniker Soccer Mommy, is a rare instance. She recently finished her second year of studying music business at NYU, but is sitting out her junior year to “do music stuff”. “I should be going back, unless something crazy happens,” she says nonchalantly over the phone from her hometown of Nashville. ‘Something crazy’ isn’t as unlikely as she makes it sound. Her songs, from her very early Bandcamp releases to recent single ‘Allison’, are deftly relatable tales of tumbling in and out of love, insecurity and longing. They’re emotional, but not melodramatic; little crutches to cling to that are sometimes fragile, sometimes defiant, but always ready to share their stories and make you feel less alone. Collection, her debut release for new label home Fat Possum, is the perfect introduction to her intimate writing. On it, she’s chosen not to disregard the songs that got her here in the first place, but re-record some of them and give them the exposure they deserve.
Her simple aim on the record (released on August 4, in the midst of her first UK dates) was “to make something a little bit better to listen to.” Even with a label’s resources available to her, she stuck to her bedroom recording roots and made the album in her bass player’s home studio. Sophie doesn’t see herself changing that process too much in the future, either. “I definitely like the DIY feeling,” she says. “I think I probably want to step it up a little bit, but just to someone’s nicer home studio.” As well as older tracks like ‘Death By Chocolate’, a darkly clever song about being so into someone it makes you “wanna die”, Collection also features some new songs. ‘Out Worn’ details a relationship tearing apart (“I wanna feel like I’m being admired/You only make me feel out worn”), while the aforementioned ‘Allison’ takes on its creator’s decision to keep dating the boy she was seeing back home while she was away in New York. It’s gorgeously bereft; just Sophie and her guitar eking out long, melancholy sighs. It’s an example of how differently she writes when she’s on the east coast compared to down south. “I think in more
LiS 22
“I think my songwriting’s gotten a little more removed from the mainstream, while still being kind of pop.” lo-fi sounds when I’m in New York and then, when I’m back in Nashville, I write stuff that’s poppier and more upbeat,” the musician reasons. “It’s more folky and a bit southern roots-y.” As someone who’s been making music for years - despite only being 19 - she’s keen to develop her songwriting even further. She’ll do so through experimenting with new ideas. “I’m still making pop music, but I’m definitely starting to veer into alternate tunings, more droning stuff and more ambient guitar lead parts,” she explains. “I think my songwriting’s gotten a little more removed from the mainstream, while still being kind of pop.”
A guitarist since she was six years old, she’s taken classical lessons, played in a swing band and learned jazz guitar. All that knowledge, she says, makes trying new things that little bit easier. “I can try to work with something a bit weirder and it helps me to be able to experiment.” Soccer Mommy’s musical trials have already started, too. “We actually already started recording a little bit,” she says of her plans for another album. “We’ve got a couple of tracks down, but I want a bit more time.” If the results are as winningly touching as her past output, we’d be prepared to wait a long time for them. LiS Soccer Mommy release mini-album Collection August 4th via Fat Possum. LIVE: The Islington, August 3rd. Visions Festival, August 5th. @sopharela
LiS 23
@soccermommymusic
CAR SEAT HEADREST TUES 29 AUG O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN
ST VINCENT TUES 17 OCT O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON
INSECURE MEN WED 8 NOV SCALA
THE NATIONAL SOLD OUT MON 25 SEPT, SOLD OUT TUES 26 SEPT, SOLD OUT WED 27 SEPT OUT SOLD & THURS 28 SEPT EVENTIM HAMMERSMITH APOLLO
THE BIG MOON FRI 20 OCT KOKO
ANNA MEREDITH THURS 16 NOV OVAL SPACE
(SANDY) ALEX G TUES 24 OCT SCALA
MICAH P. HINSON MON 2 OCT SCALA
YANN TIERSEN MON 30 OCT OUT SOLD ROYAL ALBERT HALL
FUTURE ISLANDS OUT SOLDNOV MON 20 & TUES 21 NOV O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON
AIR TRAFFIC WED 4 OCTT SOLD OU SCALA MON 9 OCT ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL
CHRISTIAN LOFFLER & MOHNA TUES 31 OCT VILLAGE UNDERGROUND
MELANIE DE BIASIO MON 16 OCT SCALA
ANDY SHAUF THURS 2 NOV ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL PERFUME GENIUS SUN 5 NOV ROUNDHOUSE
KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH TUES 21 NOV SCALA CURTIS HARDING WED 29 NOV SCALA LORD HURON TUES 23 JAN O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
PARALLELLINESPROMOTIONS.COM
interview
NEW DS SOUN L IA C E P S
Girlhood words: kate solomon photography: phil sharp
interview
here are two things you need to know about Girlhood: they make excellent, genre-resistant, intricately textured pop, and they have a really good ‘how we met’ story. If we were Hollywood types, we’d call it a meet cute - but we’re not so we’ll just call the way Christian Pinchbeck and Tessa Cavanna’s paths crossed ‘amazing’ and bagsy the film rights. “We met on a canal,” producer and writer Christian explains. “I used to live on a canal boat and I’d spend a lot of time just sat on my roof. She walked past singing and - I was a little bit drunk - I was like ‘Hey! Do you like music?’” LiS 27
interview
Without even exchanging names the two hopped aboard and got to work, Tessa ad libbing over tracks Christian had “lying around” following the demise of his previous band (the doom-poppy Elephant). This is an amazing story considering every other band in London met through friends or went to school together like all the insufferable couples you know. “It was a risky thing to do,” Tessa concedes. “But he seemed fine. I was like, ok, worst comes to worst I'll fight him to the death and I'll win.”
Turns out what Christian has always wanted to do is make chill summer house with gorgeously warm vocals over the top, chopped and sliced together, layer over layer. Often songs begin as a single sample from an old song that he’ll futz with and build on until the original sample disappears from the song it birthed, then Tessa will lay some vocals over the top. Even these early tracks that started life on an iPad (you don’t get much power on a longboat) sound gleaming, polished, but actually Girlhood prefer to leave the imperfections in, favouring early We decide that Simon Pegg would beat takes over technically perfect but Eddie Redmayne and Rupert Grint to the role tired-sounding later ones. “We only really do of Christian, while Tessa insists that her role one take for each instrument and often goes to veteran broadcaster Barbara if I fuck it up I’ll just leave it in,” Walters - “Bawbwa Wawwawwaa” “You know Chris confesses. “We like the - the pairing of which those people who nuances. We like to be a bit Christian declares to be more real.” And it works “the weirdest mix of fall in love with for Tess too: “Yeah, when people ever”. But it’s people on death row? it’s off the cuff it sounds kind of appropriate; I’m different; we’re trying to not sure you’d ever put I was channelling one make a sound but we Christian and Tessa don’t want to limit it.” of them, and I was together on paper
either. Their musical There’s only really one picturing Charles tastes are radically sample in the songs the Manson because he different, for example. duo have released so far Tessa favours neo-soul and the outrageously summery was just a funny Together, which is bookended RnB over Christian’s glitchy, by a cut of a kid chanting. “I heavy guitar music. His last looking guy.” love kids’ chants,” Christian says. project was a dream-poppy Beach “I don’t know why, I’ve got a real thing House homage worlds away from the about them.” So when he stumbled across “hip hop and stuff” Tessa performs with this one on a royalty-free sample site, he south London collective Inner Peace. Even in knew he had to use it. “We had no way of their demeanours they’re a bit of an odd contacting this person or anything: it’s couple; Christian’s guarded nature falling literally just someone’s kid.” He was also away when you get him on a topic he’s amazed to discover the true meaning behind excited about, Tessa’s hearty laugh following Tess’s lyrics on the funkily romantic ‘My her frequent impressions and snapshot Boy’. Having thought the song was a fragmentary sentences. But it works; the two poignant ode to falling in love he asked who clicked straight away. “I’d never had the it was about: “She told me it was about her chance to work on the kind of music that pretending to be Charles Manson’s wife.” Christian makes,” Tessa explains. “It was “No, not wife!” Tessa shouts, as though that amazing to meet someone who just - ” here, were the most outrageous part of the story. Christian snaps his fingers. “I was like, “You know those people who fall in love with ‘That’s exactly what I’ve always wanted to people on death row? I was channelling one do’.” LiS 28
LiS 29
of them, and I was picturing Charles Manson because he was just a funny looking guy.” The story behind ‘My Boy’ dovetails with the reasoning behind calling a boy-girl duo ‘Girlhood’. They see it as much as a concept as a band name. “Really it was just about making music with a little bit more of a female gaze - for me anyway,” Tess says, even if that female is a woman falling in love with a mass murderer. “You've got so much of the male gaze in music, but I wanted to have something a little bit different. Not necessarily like” - and here she breaks into vocally fried uptalk - “‘It's only for women, made for women, by women’. We can all join in on this ‘other’ perspective. Girlhood just seemed right.” Although sampling and iPads have played a big role to date, Girlhood are keen to stress that nothing you’re hearing is fake. “None of it is synthesised,” Chris says. “It’s all organic instruments.” These organic instruments won’t be coming out on tour with them, though - their first live dates are coming up later this year and they’re keen to put on a show. Instead of instruments they’re planning to feature props. “Lots of props,” Tessa says firmly. “We’ll win everyone over
with props.” They cite Coco Rosie’s avant garde approach and Flume’s basic stage setup as the kind of thing they’re thinking but really, no one knows yet what a Girlhood show will look like other than that it will be a lot of fun. “To be honest, we just can’t wait for people to hear us,” Christian says. “I think we’ll know that we’ve definitely got somewhere when we get to do the live shows,” Tess agrees. “It’s hard to know you’re going anywhere when you’re stuck in the studio. Whenever Chris shows me the Girlhood page on Spotify I just don’t believe it - I’m like, that’s a nice picture that you’ve fabricated, well done. To do them live is going to be so big, I’m really excited.” This is how Girlhood’s film ends: with cheering crowds and dancing feet, confetti canons and a unicorn grazing in the green room. Simon Pegg and Barbara Walters high five as the credits roll up the screen before the words “To be continued” come into view. The story has only just begun. LiS
LIVE: Girlhood play their first ever live show November 3rd at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen. Tickets are free on Dice.
LiS 30
@popsomespank
thisisgirlhood
/thisisgirlhood
SOLD OUT SOLD OUT SOLD OUT SOLD OUT SOLD OUT SOLD OUT
EVENTS Stuff that’s happening soon which we think will be real great
A GIANT GRIME THING
BOY BETTER KNOW TAKEOVER Boy Better Know, know how to do it. If you're gonna take over The O2 you have to bring it, you have to raise the level and you go all out. With music across 6 stages featuring everyone from J Hus, ASAP Rocky, Cosima, Mabel and of course a selection of BBK faves including Skepta, JME, Wiley, Frisco they're only just getting started. The O2 is due to be transformed into a BBK wonderland, so when you want a break form the music (not that it's likely) take yourself over to the 5 aside football tournaments, challenge a stranger at some computer and games, skate and obviously get yourself over to the heavenly selection of food stalls. BBK are not messing around, this is massive. WHEN: AUGUST 27TH WHERE: THE 02 ARENA INFO: bbktakeover.com // facebook.com/bbktakeover
A FISHY FILM THING
MOVIE NIGHTS AT THE MUSEUM For just about as long as we can remember the Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall has been watched over by Dippy, the huge diplodocus skeleton, but it’s now been replaced by a massive blue whale. To celebrate, the hall will be home to four fish-themed films this month. You’ll be sat under the whale as you watch the animated fun of Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid, the stone-cold 90s classic Free Willy or – our favourite – one of the greatest films of all time, Jaws. Even better, before each film starts there’s a quick feature with scientists discussing the facts behind the fishes. Gotta love them learns. WHEN: AUGUST 12TH-15TH WHERE: NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, SW7 5BD INFO: nhm.ac.uk // @NHM_London
A JOYFUL BOUNCY THING
THE BEAST COMES TO LONDON If you get no joy from bouncy castles you're a monster. It's a fact. As if that time when Jeremy Deller's Sacrilege came to town wasn't exciting enough, this month we have the world's longest bouncy assault course coming to town and it looks ridiculous. Row after row of climbing over, under, around and through will have us exhausted, sweaty and deliriously happy. Book your slot quick, something tells us this might be a popular one.
A DAY & NIGHT FESTIVAL THING
SUNFALL FESTIVAL After a hugely successful inaugural event last year, Sunfall returns to London’s Brockwell Park for another day of forward-thinking and carefully-curated dance, house, techno and more. During the day soak up the sun, sounds and crowds in the park soundtracked by the like of Floating Points and Jay Electronica. Then head over to one of the superbly put together night time line-ups at a selection of London’s best venues. A festival for those who want to embrace and celebrate London’s music culture and revel in its far reaching sounds.
WHEN: AUGUST 25TH-28TH WHERE: ALEXANDRA PALACE, N22 7AY INFO: thebeastlondon.com // @TheBeastLondon
WHEN: AUGUST 12TH WHERE: BROCKWELL PARK INFO: sunfall.co.uk // @SunfallLondon
A MAGAZINE THING
SAFARI FESTIVAL 2017 - NEW WAVES IN CONTEMPORARY COMICS AND ART Safari Festival brings together a carefully selected collection of the most innovative art comics and publishers from the UK and further afield for a one day celebration of the truly cutting-edge. With prints, artwork and (obviously) comics for sale, this is the place to be for the truly clued-up comic enthusiast, or for those that want to be. WHEN: AUGUST 12TH. FREE ADMISSION WHERE: PROTEIN STUDIOS, EC2A 3EY INFO: breakdownpress.com/safarifestival // @safarifestival LiS 33
Bicep words: Lee Wakefield
photo: Ben Price
NEW DS SOUN L IA SPEC
“You’re doing remixes, you’re doing EPs and you’re only thinking of a club scenario and that’s the purpose, whereas this was very much fulfilling our want...”
interview
rguably a path less trodden, breaking free of the concise comfort of the 12’’ could be considered risky for a DJ, particularly those that produce tunes more suited to the club. If you’re judging them on previous XOYO and Ibiza residencies or their most crowd-pleasing smash ‘Just’, Bicep, the Belfast duo comprised of Andy Ferguson and Matt McBriar, certainly fit that description. But as soon as their self-titled debut was announced via Ninja Tune – admittedly a long time coming – those that have immersed themselves in the Feel My Bicep blog since 2008 or agonised over every track ID in their numerous and diverse mixes knew it would be anything but one-dimensional.
should make it more clubby’ or ‘it isn’t the sound we know you for’ but it needed to progress beyond that.”
“In terms of growing the connection with our core listener, I feel like the album is a nod to the people that have been following the blog since the early days,” Andy confirms. “And they’ll know we’ve got that influence from new wave to disco to Italo and they’ve followed the journey basically.” These extensive touchstones feature prominently, traditional genres distorted and warped, ranging from the slow-burning, offbeat ambience of tracks such as ‘Ayr’ and ‘Kites’ to the more familiar dance floor stomping of ‘Vale’. There’s little doubt that Ferguson and McBriar are musically uncompromising, two artists that relish creative control, from illustrating flyers by their own hand to mixing the entire album, and both armed with unwavering visions. “You’re doing remixes, you’re doing EPs and you’re only thinking of a club scenario and that’s the purpose, whereas this was very much fulfilling our want and we made a record we liked and sent it out. It’ll hit the mark with some people, other people might not find what they were expecting, but with albums, you have to make it personal.” “Even while we were making it, we weren’t letting anyone hear demos. I think if we had people would have probably said ‘you
This unorthodox approach compliments the graft they’ve displayed from the birth of the Bicep moniker, focusing on various aspects of the record label or a club night for intense two week periods at a time. Not much has changed, including a promise to “keep playing smaller venues and supporting the clubs, regardless of how big the live show becomes.”
Much of that growth could be attributed to the duo’s painstaking ear for detail. In their pulsating, polished form, it’s odd to envisage each track stripped to the bare bones, often starting beatless so that Ferguson and McBriar could pinpoint a melody. “We’d juxtapose things, purposefully put things in the opposite direction from what our heads were telling us. It really was a case of trying to apply as many opposing ideas onto something we felt comfortable with and sometimes it worked, or there were days we’d end up with a really ugly hybrid.”
“By constantly moving, you’re hitting stuff fresh and now we’re onto the live show, it’s a different thing entirely. If we did nothing but DJ on the road all the time, you can see how people get fatigued. Now we’re digging for music again because we’ve got a bit of spare time and it’s really exciting to be spending four or five hours in a record shop looking around. I think it’s definitely important to keep jumping between things.” They might have crafted one of the finest electronic albums of the year, a record that effortlessly unites the club alongside more intimate listening, but don’t expect Bicep to be dwelling on it for too long. That blog won’t update itself. LiS Bicep (finally) release their self-titled debut album September 1st via Ninja Tune. LIVE: Electric Brixton, November 11th
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@feelmybicep
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ALBUM REVIEWS RECORD OF THE MONTH LIARS TFCF
Mute Records // August 25th
Liars’ eighth album is their first without drummer Julian Gross in 13 years, and the first without guitarist Aaron Hemphill ever, leaving singer Angus Andrew the sole member. The fact that such a huge line-up change in the band has resulted in a record that‘s still recognisably a Liars LP is testament to how much influence Andrew had on their sound, or at very least, how closely he was paying attention. While Gross and Hemphill are remarkable musicians, what Andrew brought most was force of personality. And so, while TFCF may hold less interest for anyone yearning for musical chops, it’s a fascinating self-study of Andrew’s brain. "If you listen you will hear that sound right there in my mind”, he sings on highlight “No Tree Branch”, and that’s what this record sounds like a trip in to a fascinating, hilarious and disturbing psyche. We’re told the split was “amicable”, but as we have no further info, let’s instead call it “mysterious” for a laugh. One can’t assume that the oft-cited ‘musical differences’ were behind the schism, because musical difference is the very thing on which Liars thrived. Like all their records, this one doesn’t really sound like any of their others. There’s a lot of acoustic guitar on it; ’Cliche Suite’ employs many of them, along with
tonnes of synth brass, making a sound like Liturgy drowning in a bubblebath. ‘No Help Pamphlet’ is an (almost) pretty punch-drunk waltz. The standout ‘Cred Woes’ borders on minimal techno. None of these are things attempted on a Liars record before. ‘Attempted’ is the operative word though. With his far more musically trained bandmates now AWOL, TFCF does have the feeling of Andrew working out how this shit works - everything from the kit involved to how to structure a song. As such, there are missteps, but that’s to be expected from a work this brave. More power to you, Angus. Thomas Hannan STAND OUT TRACKS: No Tree Branch, Cred Woes, Cliche Suite, No Help Pamphlet. LIVE: Visions Festival, August 5th. @LiarsOfficial
THE WAR ON DRUGS
A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING Atlantic Records // August 25th
“Am I just living in the space between the beauty and the pain, and the real thing?” Granduciel pines in one of many philosophical, melancholy moments of A Deeper Understanding. It is this space that the unique Massachusetts-born songwriter continues to occupy so brilliantly. If the album’s flawless predecessor put The War On Drugs on the map, this effort cements his project as the finest exponent of Americana indie rock on the planet. From the relentless, driving ‘Holding On’ to beautiful slow-burning numbers like ‘Thinking Of A Place’ and ‘Clean Living’, and album highlight ‘In Chains’ - a dreamy, metronomic piece of Springsteen-esque power balladry - A Deeper Understanding provides exactly that, and proves once again, that The War On Drugs are indeed the real thing. George O’Brien
DOWNTOWN BOYS
ARCADE FIRE
COST OF LIVING
EVERYTHING NOW
Sub Pop August 11th
Everything Now/Sony July 28th
Power and oppression have long informed Rhode Island's Downtown Boys. Cost Of Living, the follow-up to their brilliant 2015 debut Full Communism, sees them continuing to fight for what’s right. The surging ‘Lips That Bite’ presses you to fight back (“It’s about time… to take back my hand”), while Victoria Ruiz has so much conviction on white supremacy-tackling ‘Somos Chulas (No Somos Pendejas)’ that, even if you don’t speak Spanish, you’ll want to figure out her message and act on it. ‘Heroes’ might just be a snippet of spoken word, but it holds just as much strength, sampling hacktivist Aaron Swartz speaking of those who “didn't stop to ask anyone for permission”. In these uncertain times, Cost Of Living is a necessary guiding force to political agency. Rhian Daly
It would be fair to say that Arcade Fire have perhaps taken themselves a bit too seriously in the past. To those who were put off by the po-faced nature of The Suburbs, Everything Now sees Montreal’s most popular melange riding their upswing from Reflektor into resplendent synth-pop. Title track ‘Everything Now’ is overclocked for festival fields, main-lining a heady fuel of Primal Scream and Abba, while elsewhere, in the shamelessly upbeat ‘Creature Comfort’, Arcade Fire fully embrace the synth and sleaze of their new direction. It’s texturally threadbare in places (an insult from a band responsible for such rich sounds in the past), but the humour and honesty in its execution is undeniable. This is the boldest Arcade Fire have sounded since Funeral and just as vibrant. Grant Bailey LiS 39
NADINE SHAH // HOLIDAY DESTINATION 1965 Records // August 25th
The tinkering percussion, the tension of those high-pitched guitar strings, the hard and funky bass line … the opening minutes of Nadine Shah’s new album Holiday Destination tell us she has something rather different in store for us. Something unexpected. Something tightly wound, more experimental and, dare we say it, sonically up-tempo. The subject matter is as macabre as ever though - even more so perhaps. Here, on her third full-length, Shah steps back from the microcosm of her own heart break and the romanticism of those early folk tales, and explores the macrocosm of the world’s radicalised, frustrated, empathy-less political climate. Shah has spoken of the need for political rhetoric to be set against a hopeful sonic backdrop, one that would inspire positivity in the face of adversity and uncertainty. There is certainly evidence of this on the record’s opening and closing numbers, and on title track ‘Holiday Destination’ - where the band’s rich instrumentation lifts Shah’s lyrics about the ongoing refugee crisis above pure despair into pointed barbs of anger and, also, cries of solidarity. Drawing on her own experiences, Shah also sings about life as a second-generation immigrant and the identity crisis that racist attitudes bought on in ‘Out The Way’. On this track in particular there is also the sense that adversity and uncertainty do, in twists and turns, feedback into the sparser contorted melodies and rhythms present throughout. Even the epic saxophone solo at the end contributes towards a joyous yet repressive atmosphere. So tragically and perfectly fitting for 2017. Lauren Down
CYMBALS // LIGHT IN YOUR MIND Tough Love Records // August 25th
It’s been three years since CYMBALS last album The Age of Fracture, during which time the band have struggled with losing members, financial pressures and disintegrating relationships. Now, back to the original songwriting duo of Jack Cleverly and Dan Simons, their latest full-length is a kaleidoscope of vibrant synth patterns and guitar-led melodies. This is CYMBALS relaxing into their identity, breaking down barriers and seeking new beginnings. There are moments reminiscent of Metronomy’s groove, Bombay Bicycle Club in the vocal harmonies of ‘I Thought I Knew You’, Delphic in the atmospheric synths of ‘ASMR’ and even Gorillaz in the downtempo and percussive ‘Splitting’. Lead single ‘Decay’ with its aching strings and bright textures is an ode to acknowledging the beauty and inevitability of things breaking down. The album’s two interludes, ‘My Body (Winter Mix)’ and ‘Euphoric Recall’ are heavy with moments of intense, hypnotic reflection as rumbling drumbeats flicker into the last moments of each, signifying progress. There’s an potent use of crescendo in ‘Car Crash’ as hi-hat, synth, vocal and guitar are added to a delicate piano interlude while they sing, “I’ve figured this out… I know who I am.” This much is clear; CYMBALS are back with poise, confidence and the same insatiable knack for rhythm. Katie Thomas
ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER GOOD TIME OST Warp Records August 11th
GRIZZLY BEAR
PAINTED RUINS Columbia Records // August 18th
After five years in hibernation Grizzly Bear are back with their fifth full length. Painted Ruins sees the band at their most adventurous and sonically diverse with its shifts, stylistic breaks and layered electronic flourishes. The signs were there with lead single ‘Mourning Sound’, all propulsive groove, insistent bass and electronic buzz. Had they gone LCD on us? But this is a Grizzly Bear record and it still feels like music that demands you wear a suit jacket and sip at a daiquiri as you listen. The rich textures, intricate details and their trademarked understated charm remain. On closer ‘Sky Took Hold’ the thundering sounds of sheets of glass clatter as they sing “Time just froze”. A reminder that even as they push forward, Grizzly Bear’s sound remains timeless. Danny Wright
Has Daniel Lopatin been watching Stranger Things? Because his award-winning soundtrack to Good Time is straight out of the same pulsating and edgy synthesizer playbook as the hit Netflix series. It nags your brain with its day-glo tension. And tugs away at your ears as it percolates along, never quite bubbling over. Until it reaches its 13th and final track as Iggy Pop drops in to croon about petting crocodiles over a woozy piano on ‘The Pure and The Damned’. There’s little wonder it bagged the best soundtrack award at Cannes earlier this year. And if the snippets of dialogue and percussive effects from the film accurately depict the dark caperfilled crime drama I reckon the pair will make a killer combo on the big screen. Geoff Cowart
CRUMBS
MIND YR MANNERS Everything Sucks July 28th
Leeds-based Crumbs formed with its four members at very different points of their music-making journeys. For Ruth (vocals and lyrics), Crumbs was the start of the end of a musical hiatus. For Jamie (bass and vocals) and Stuart (guitar), it’s one of many bands past and present. For Gem (drums), Crumbs was the start – her first ever band. Two years in and debut record Mind Yr Manners is the sound of a group of friends having a very nice time together: no pressure, no stress, just fun. The 10 tracks – recorded with Hookworms’ MJ at Suburban Home – groove through bouncy post-punk to fuzzy indie pop, all topped off with quick-witted lyrics about ‘the art of coping with not coping’. Stick it on and have a little boogie I reckon. Jake May LiS 41
SUSANNE SUNDFØR
MUSIC FOR PEOPLE IN TROUBLE Bella Union // August 25th
If, like me, you’ve spent the past two years luxuriating in the grandiose, pop splendour of Susanne Sundfør’s last LP, Ten Love Songs, this empathetically-named follow-up might jar initially. Introspective, unguarded and tonally sombre, Music For People In Trouble finds the classically-trained, musical polymath reverting to singer-songwriter mode, to explore anxiety and awe in a frenetically-paced world. Gone are the glittering synths and taut percussion, giving way to wispy finger-picked guitar and sparse piano, perhaps supplemented by yearning pedal steel, as per ‘Reincarnation’. Though subdued, Sundfør’s arrangements are no less ambitious, offering up a spoken-word passages, and a fascinating, seven-minute epic called ‘Sound of War’, which shifts from flute-led folk to ominous, swarming strings, before fading into haunting, Vangelis-like electronics. Gemma Samways
GHOSTPOET
DARK DAYS & CANAPÉS Play It Again Sam // August 18th
For a man with three consecutive Mercury nominations, Obaro Ejimiwe aka Ghostpoet has always been a fringe operator. Too low-key for the pop circuit but blessed with an enviable following, he’s been accorded a certain level of discretion. Fourth album Dark Days & Canapés continues the live band sonics of its predecessor Shedding Skin while sounding like a more realised work. Bangers upon bangers defile our chaste ears as Obaro’s deadpan lyricism weaves a nightmare vision of the sprawling city as a consumerist necropolis. Senseless self and social violence is perpetuated all around as Ghostpoet sings into the void, the grand beautiful irony being, according to ‘Freakshow', that he’s no less trapped: “Ain’t left the city in months / I guess Westfield knows what I want”. Tim Hakki
PORTICO QUARTET
ART IN THE AGE OF AUTOMATION Gondwana Records // August 25th
As first listens to Portico Quartet’s fourth album go, its soundtracking a midsummer train ride through southern England was more or less perfect. With the band’s trademark hang-drum chiming its watery melodies, the graceful sax forming vapour trails and deep grooves supplying momentum, green fields morphed into woods where sunlight broke the canopy and sparkled from rivers. Forgive the florid but Art in the Age of Automation is wilfully cinematic — a scenic union of ambient electro, turn-of-the-millennium chillout and blissful jazz, all meticulously crafted. From the nimble drumming to the rich layers of strings, no semiquaver goes unexamined. Some may find it a little too well-groomed, though anyone taking no pleasure in the hypnotic harmonics of ‘Beyond Dialogue’, fat electronics of ‘A Luminous Beam’, or symphonic opener ‘Endless’, would be cold-hearted indeed. Nick Mee
ON THE STEREO with
Fluffer Pit Parties resonate with an anarchic glee that strikes a real chord with us. Secret venues, huge line-ups, bands right in the middle of the action it should really be a model for all shows. But it’s precisely the rareness of these events that makes them special. The punky, spontaneous energy, the “If we like ’em, we’ll put ‘em on” attitude, the ridiculously lurid artwork...it all adds up to something that feels like a throw-back to less regimented times, but also a blueprint for the future. Ahead of the year’s remaining parties the champs at Fluffer talk us though five acts they can’t wait to see. LiS
1. JAPANDROIDS THE HOUSE THAT HEAVEN BUILT When Japandroids play this track at their Pit Party it will be a special moment. We love all their earlier more skuzzy punk stuff but there’s no arguing that this is a special song that grabs your insides and takes them on a journey for 4 minutes and 49 seconds. There’s something very powerful and seminal about it. The whole place will be bouncing to this massive anthem. We cannot wait.
Find tickets for the Fluffer Pit Parties headlined by Japandroids, Deap Vally and Spring King at flufferrecords.com/parties. @FlufferRecords
JAPANDROIDS
@flufferrecords LiS 44
DEAP VALLEY
3. NOVA TWINS THELMA & LOUISE Nova Twins are doing things no-one else are. It’s so hard to pick what genre they are because their music seems to mix so many influences together. And for us that’s where the magic is. ‘Thelma & Louise’ is a NOVA TWINS great example of this. It’s bangin’. We put them on in a little industrial unit last summer and it went off, so this time around, who knows what might happen? SPRING KING (photo: Amin Musa)
2. DEAP VALLY JULIEN This is Deap Vally’s latest single and it kills. The guitar lines in it are insane and the drums drive the song but add this weird groove that makes you want to move like some sort of crazed zombie. The music video is super cool too. Check it out. In fact, maybe we should make their Pit Party zombie themed?
4. SPRING KING - RECTIFIER Our favourite Spring King track. The vocal melodies these guys are laying down are insanely good. Every track is like a classic, hooky pop song but yet still retains a punky edge and coolness. The level of excitement to see these guys playing in the 360 stage set up is off the scale. Bring a friend, a loved one or a fish.
5. BAD BREEDING BURN THIS FLAG The heaviest of the tracks and probably the most similar to what Fluffer have been associated with through our monthly shows. Brutal, uncompromising punk. Strap in and lose yourself for the next 1 minute and 55 seconds. Whilst the main stream media peddles watered down crochets we are in the lovely position of pushing whatever the fuck we like. And we never compromise on that. Music is the only deciding factor. LiS 45
BAD BREEDING
artwork: Liyv (liyv.co)
IN A DAY’S WORK ...by a full time fashion blogger No two days running a fashion blog are the same. I juggle (albeit in a reduced capacity) the role of writer, editor, social media editor, photographer, model and stylist, and all the meetings, events, stresses and perks that come along with that. I’ve never been a morning person. I start the day with emails, which are mostly trash - another invitation to an affiliate programme; an infographic which has precisely nothing to do with anything I write about; a message from a weird pervert who wants to buy my tights. Another PR has ignored the rate card I sent her and thinks I can pay my rent with a free £120 camera. Today I’m shooting a few outfits to post on my blog, unpaid. An uninvited old man starts taking photos of me; my photographer and I ask him to stop, he responds that it is a free country. We almost get in a fight. LiS 47
After shooting I go to a café to check my emails. A huge American online retailer wants me to do a blog post with ten (!) links to their website in exchange for some free clothes and no money. I call my landlord. Unfortunately he cannot accept a nice skirt in lieu of rent this month. I have an exciting dinner event with a brand I love and who I know have budget to spend on bloggers. I am seated next to a girl from a fashion print mag, who swiftly brings our conversation to an end when I tell her what I do for a living. Dinner seems to go well and I head home pissed on endless wine top-ups. I check my socials on the train home. I’ve gained a few followers; a tweet has done numbers; a weird pervert DMs me about buying my tights. Maybe I’ll make rent after all.
GIGS OF THE MONTH
Our pick of the best upcoming shows around London
O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
THE GOOD SHIP
KATE NASH
THROWNUPS + GUISING + SCAB HAND + GRAVEY
August 9th & 10th £236.50adv // @o2sbe
Shepherd’s Bush KATE NASH
August 30th £4adv // @thegoodshipnw6
Kilburn
O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON MUTEMATH August 23rd £21adv // @O2Islington
THE SHACKLEWELL ARMS
SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS L.A. PEACH + SINEAD O'BRIEN August 22nd FREE // @ServantJazz
Angel
Dalston Junction / Kingsland
J.C SATÀN August 30th FREE // @shacklewell Arms
Dalston Junction / Kingsland J.C SATÀN
THE LOCK TAVERN ROADKILL RECORDS WEEKENDER: THE CAVEMEN + TABLE SCRAPS + DOLLS + BONFIRE NIGHTS + MORE August 5th & 6th FREE // @thelocktavern
Chalk Farm / Camden Town
THE LEXINGTON
THE DOME
NOTHING
BLACK FOXXES September 29th £10adv // @DomeTufnellPark
Tuffnell Park
Angel
BRIXTON WINDMILL
BOSTON MUSIC ROOM
DON'T HAVE TO DO SLEAZE + SKINNY MILK + SPACE BLASTER
FIRST BLOOD August 28th £10adv // @BostonMusicRoom
August 27th £11adv // @thelexington
Tuffnell Park
August 4th £3adv // @WindmillBrixton
Brixton
MOTH CLUB
OVAL SPACE
PROM + DOGFEET
AGENTS OF TIME + HAMMER + KRANKBROTHER + PANGAEA + SHED
August 18th £5adv // @Moth_Club
Hackney Central
HOXTON SQUARE BAR & KITCHEN MONDO COZMO
August 27th £10adv // @PickleFactoryE2
Bethnal Green/ Hoxton
THE TOOTING TRAM & SOCIAL
August 23rd £8adv // @HoxtonSquareBar
Old Street
DESERT PLANES August 25th £4adv // @TootingTram
Tooting Broadway
THE WAITING ROOM GIRL UNIT + SUDANIM + TAYLS + BLIGHTHAND MONDO COZMO
MONTAGUE ARMS CHARMPIT + THE POTENTIALS August 19th Queens Road Peckham / New Cross Gate £5adv // @Montague_Arms
MIRANDA AT ACE HOTEL
Dalston Junction / Kingsland
THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB WILL STRATTON August 24th £5adv // @slaughteredlam
Farringdon/ Old Street
O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN
ALXNDR LONDON August 23rd £8.50adv // @miranda_ldn
August 4th £6adv // @WaitingRoomN16
VINCE STAPLES Shoreditch High Street
PAPER DRESS VINTAGE
August 30th £21adv // @O2ForumKTown
Kentish Town
VINCE STAPLES
CLAW MARKS + BRUNCH + REVENUE August 8th Donation on door // @paperdressed
Hackney Central
FABRIC EATS EVERYTHING + JESSE ROSE + LUKE SLATER + LUCY + MORE August 26th £23adv // @fabriclondon
Farringdon/ Chancery Lane
OSLO KARL BLAU + LAURA GIBSON August 16th £14adv // @OsloHackney LiS 49
Hackney Central
FULL AUGUST LISTINGS
LONDON’S GIG GUIDE
Wednesday 2nd August
Your full listings guide to all the best shows happening across North, East, South and West London this month. Tuesday 1st August
Thursday 3rd August
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo
Friday 4th August
Saturday 5th August
VARIOUS HACKNEY VENUES
£27.50 FROM 1PM WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL AUGUST LISTINGS
Tuesday 8th August
Wednesday 9th August
Sunday 6th August
Monday 7th August
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo Thursday 10th August
Friday 11th August
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL AUGUST LISTINGS Saturday 12th August
Sunday 13th August
Monday 14th August
Tuesday 15th August
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo Wednesday 16th August
Friday 18th August
Thursday 17th August
Saturday 19th August
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL AUGUST LISTINGS
Monday 21st August
Tuesday 22nd August
Sunday 20th August
Wednesday 23rd August
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo
Friday 25th August
Thursday 24th August
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL AUGUST LISTINGS
Sunday 27th August
Saturday 26th August
Monday 28th August
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo Tuesday 29th August
Thursday 31st August
Wednesday 30th August
Cymbals
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
SEPTEMBER LISTINGS Friday 1st September
Sunday 3rd September
Monday 4th September
Saturday 2nd September
Tuesday 5th September
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo Friday 8th September
Wednesday 6th September
Thursday 7th September
Saturday 9th September
F OR TH E V E R Y L AT E S T LIS TIN GS , AN D TO S IGN U P TO OU R G I G S O F T H E W E E K E M AIL, VIS IT LON DON IN S TEREO.C OM
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
saturday 5 August | 7:00
AVERSIONS CROWN + VENOM PRISON
saturday 30 september | 7:00
KADAVAR
wednesday 4 october | 7:00
friday 11 August | 7:00
GALACTIC EMPIRE
saturday 12 August | 7:00
FRANCK CARDUCCI
monday 28 august | 7:00
FIRST BLOOD
THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS
MARTYR DEFILED
BELPHEGOR
AWOD: CHRON GEN AWOD: SUBHUMANS friday 1 september | 7:00 saturday 2 september | 2:30
COLD HARD TRUTH
tuesday 5 september | 7:30
STARCRAWLER
sunday 10 september | 7:00
VALLENFYRE
thursday 5 October | 7:00
saturday 7 October | 7:00
sunday 8 october | 6:00 Monday 9 october | 7:30
SHANNON AND THE CLAMS
thursday 12 October | 7:30
DEAD PRETTIES
saturday 14 october | 7:00
monday 11 september | 7:00
ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE
friday 15 september | 7:30
INGESTED
COVEN
TONY WRIGHT (TERRORVISION)
tuesday 17 October | 7:00
WEdnesday 18 October | 7:30
saturday 16 september | 7:30
DOWNTOWN BOYS + PRIESTS
saturday 16 september | 7:00
DESPERATE JOURNALIST
sunday 17 september | 7:00
THE FLATLINERS
saturday 23 september | 7:00
MAKE THEM SUFFER
thursday 28 september | 7:00
KING DUDE
friday 29 september | 7:00
SATURNUS
GRAVE MIASMA SIEGE
AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE VOODOO VEGAS WINTERFYLLETH BLACK FOXXES
thursday 19 October | 7:00 saturday 21 October | 7:00 monday 23 October | 7:00
tuesday 24 October | 7:00 friday 27 October | 7:00
08—17
Lanzarote
MOTH Club Valette St London E8 Sunday 6 August
C.W. STONEKING Thursday 10 August
JOEY FOURR
lanzaroteworks.com #lanzaroteworks
presents
Thursday 10 August
SKINNY PELEMBE Wednesday 23 August
PRIVATE AGENDA Sunday 27 August
IVAN SMAGGHE + VLADIMIR IVKOVIC
Friday 11 August
DAMO SUZUKI Wednesday 30 August
NEON WALTZ Shacklewell Arms 71 Shacklewell Lane London E8 Saturday 5 August
LOOM Wednesday 16 August
CHRIS FORSYTH & THE SOLAR MOTEL BAND Friday 25 August
THE NATURALS Thursday 31 August
VAATAT CHARIGIM The Waiting Room 175 Stoke Newington High St N16 Saturday 5 August
THE DEATH OF POP
The Lock Tavern 35 Chalk Farm Rd London NW1 Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 August
THE ROADKILL RECORDS WEEKENDER: THE CAVEMEN BONFIRE NIGHTS Wednesday 16 August
SKINNY MILK Saturday 26 August
ANDY FAISCA The Montague Arms 289 Queen’s Rd London SE14 Saturday 5 August
DIGNAN PORCH Wednesday 9 August
NOT SORRY Friday 11 August
HATERS
photo: Neil Thompson
IN LONDON with GIRL RAY Why do you live in London? Grew up here mate, can't afford to leave. Still living at mum's. Where do you like to eat and drink? The truth - Doms and Spoons. Sometimes Britannia Fish and Chips (Mile End). For drinks we usually go for a street bev or a Cherry B.
“...the grass gets greener, the swans get randier, the hedgehogs get absenter, the absinthe gets cheekier, the Jägers get bombier, the lollies get lickier.” It’s summertime in the city - how do you like London when the sun’s shining? We like it a lot. Go and play catch in Vicky Park. Walk along the canals. Catch a sly tan. Drink a cold bev. The drinks get colder, the nights get shorter, the leg hairs get finer, the Pimms gets fizzier, the socks get sweatier, the pimples get moister, the grass gets greener, the swans get randier, the hedgehogs get absenter, the absinthe gets cheekier, the Jägers get bombier, the lollies get lickier. Favourite outdoor spaces? Victoria Park, Hampstead Heath Ponds. Actually though it's all about the back gardens.
If you could live anywhere in London where would it be? Sophie says easty - Mile Endier. Poppy says southier. Iris isn't here. What’s the worst thing about London? Crowded tubes and randy swans. What’s the best way to spend a day here? Wake up, 'spoons for breakfast. Long walk into central via Kentish Town way (pref bypass Camden hellstreet), go on a one man shop for something whilst listening to killer album/podcast. Go to matinee musical alone then meet mates at the casino - lose some money. Do you have any favourite venues? Sophie likes Montague and Brixton Acad because of the slope (you can always see the person). Venues aren't really Poppy’s thing (like festies more) and we think Iris is enthusiastic about Moth but it's always hard to tell. Does living here influence the music you write? Not really tbh. I guess I've got the accent, and that. How would you advise someone to get the most out of London? Get on the bus. And see the parks.
LiS 65
Girl Ray release their debut album Earl Grey August 4th via Moshi Moshi. LIVE: Rough Trade East, August 10th. Scala, November 9th. @G1RLRAY
@girlraylondon
LIVE REVIEWS SOLANGE
FOALS
LOVEBOX, VICTORIA PARK: JULY 14TH
CITADEL, VICTORIA PARK: JULY 16TH
We like to be positive here at LiS so let’s focus on the good things about Lovebox 2017. Frank Ocean was there! He was really there, in real life, proving that he does in fact exist which we were starting to doubt since last time he graced London with his official presence was Wireless 2013 and that had started to feel like a fever dream. He sang his quiet, tender songs which some portion of the crowd really appreciated and passionately sang every word to, and some portions of the crowd decided were a good backdrop to fist fights and loudly asking if anyone had any drugs. Frank didn’t seem super comfortable up there but he had his walkway and his headphones and maybe if he stopped cancelling dates he’d get more used to it. Solange was there too! You know Solange, she’s Beyonce’s sister. She smacked Jay-Z in a lift once and also released a very good album of songs last year so it was nice to hear some of those while negotiating showers of glitter and being kicked in the side of the head by people clambering up on their friends’ shoulders. It looked like a beautiful show through the phone screens of the people in front of us, a stirring theatrical experience. World’s least likely pop star Jamie XX was there too! He played ‘Disco Inferno’ to a crowd of sullen-faced bros and we would have seen more but there were only about eight toilets on site so we spent the rest of the day queuing for those. Kate Solomon
Now in its third year, Citadel holds an interesting position among its peers with a consistently interesting array of acts, drawing in a mixed crowd from glittery, gurning yuppies to children and families alike. The crispest sound was found at the Communion stage, which suited both the grizzly guitar tones of California’s Margaret Glaspy and the deep, bassy synths of Sylvan Esso, the latter of which found Maggie Rogers letting her hair down after her all-smiles show over on the main stage. Set against an ominous grey sky, Bonobo’s performance was sleek and dramatic through a career-spanning selection. Nothing, however, could compare to the anticipation and ferocity that Foals brought to their headline show. Yannis Philippakis came to the stage first to tease with the opening chords of ‘Mountain At My Gates’. The riffs didn’t stop as the band dropped straight into the reckless ‘Snake Oil’, letting off steam cathartically with every chug and every snare hit. Indeed, the sound coming from the main stage was massive, doing justice to the epic soundscapes of ‘Late Night’, ’A Knife In the Ocean’ and the intricate rhythmic hits of ‘French Open’ and rare number ‘Black Gold’. The switch in dynamic from the epic to the intricate is, of course, what make Foals perfect headliners, epitomised by ‘What Went Down’ and ‘Two Steps Twice’. Citadel may have been their only UK festival of the year, but boy did Foals make it one of the best. John Bell LiS 66
LIVE REVIEWS ROSKILDE, DENMARK: JUNE 24TH-JULY 1ST With a line-up that towers over many of its European counterparts, you might be surprised to find that for so many of Roskilde’s attendees it’s more about the atmosphere than the music. When we arrive to the festival, located about half an hour from Copenhagen, the campsite is full of revellers who’ve already been there for days, some of them weeks, despite the main music not having started yet. Roskilde is a festival that’s perfect for when you want your festival to have a little extra than just the same acts that have been shuttled around Europe all summer. Weird festival quirks include an annual naked race across the festival campsite as well as a competition in the festival’s Dream City area, where festival-goers compete to see who can build the most outrageous party camp in the two months prior to the festival gates even officially opening. (This year’s contenders included a ‘metro station’ that its builder had apparently been working on for a seven years, a working library with books you can take away that doubled as a ‘techno yoga’ studio and a multi-coloured party house
complete with solar-powered TVs.) Of course, the music packs a punch too. First headliner of the festival The Weeknd is, well, The Weeknd, providing a solid pop end to a first day that also included stand-out performances from Young M.A and Warpaint. On day two, Popcaan is over an hour late onstage so we give-up and head over to see the Middle-Eastern infused techno duo Acid Arab before Solange performs a celebratory, effortless set to an absorbed crowd. Day three belongs to Lorde, who performs an ecstatic, heart-wrenching pop set that renders Foo Fighters’ set on the stage next door mostly irrelevant, before day four sees Arcade Fire whip the festival into a euphoric finish. With a huge range of musical talent, there’s truly something for everyone here. But judging by the festival’s weeks-long celebration centred around camping, socialising and partying, and a community spirit running throughout, to come to Roskilde just for the music is to kind of miss the point. Rachel Michaella Finn
LORDE (photo: Flemming Bo Jensen)
LiS 67
PRESENTS
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MYTICKET.CO.UK
PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS Alcohol, the ticket queue and sass ramifications by Jamal Guthrie Last weekend a good friend of mine struggled for 22 minutes to put one slice of pizza into his own mouth. This is an intelligent friend who knows far more than I do about the possible financial and social ramifications of Brexit, the nuanced beauty of Sofia Coppola films or the fact polar bears are left handed but an action he’d performed thousands of times before was almost impossible for him to complete because he was rendered incomprehensibly, yet hilariously stupid by alcohol. There must be something in the air causing a similarly mentally destabilising effect in people in the nether zone between showing ID to the security guard and approaching the ticket booth. I’ve seen it from all sides. Being the idiot, serving the idiot and observing the idiot, Attenboroughesque, on the sidelines. Certain encounters are quite inexplicable. There are the people who walk straight past either thinking they’re invisible or that the door person’s job is to make sure the table they’re sitting behind is propped up at all times. The people who say “I’m on the guestlist” and stare at you blankly as though you’re a piece of retina identification software rather than a human who needs some sort of social interaction in order to help you get in. A simple piece of information such as your name would suffice, although admittedly sometimes that is difficult. I always say “ummmm it should be under Jamal” appearing uncertain of my own name. Then there's the questions, the questions which have almost entirely been answered by venue signs you’ve either walked straight pass or are looking directly at. Where’s the toilet? What time are the band on? Where’s the venue? What's a gig? And for the people who truly, truly don’t get it; no, you can’t come in just to see the headliners for free, because you “won’t take up much space.” Another friend of mine suffered from a severe but brief bout of brazen overconfidence. When asked for her tickets by a pleasant, if understandably bored looking member of the door staff at Bussey Building she declared "I've got five tickets bitch!" with a sassy Aunt Viv from The Fresh Prince Of Bell Air style finger snap thrown in for good measure. This was followed by an instant sheepish apology and three subsequent hours of introspective turmoil. This provided two helpful lessons. Number one: do not be sassy at the door. And number two: get better friends. Jamal is head of the internet at LNZRT and editor of Route. On Twitter at @JamalGuthrie
LiS 69
PRESENTS
FRIDAY 08 SEPTEMBER
The Garage
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MYTICKET.CO.UK
PRESENTS
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MYTICKET.CO.UK