JAY PRINCE
JONES
MR CARMACK
WED 03 FEBRUARY
WED 03 FEBRUARY
WED 10 FEBRUARY
WILLIAM BASINSKI
ROO PANES
ESPA
TUE 23 FEBRUARY
THU 03 MARCH
CADOGAN HALL
HOXTON BAR & KITCHEN
GLASS
SNAKEHIPS
KANO
THE NINES PECKHAM
SAT 19 MARCH
SAT 19 MARCH
SOAK
MURA MASA NAO
TUE 22 MARCH
THU 07 APRIL
+ GUESTS
XOYO
+ GUESTS
ICA
+ GUESTS
PRESENTS ‘A SHADOW IN TIME’ + JOHN BENCE
UNION CHAPEL
+ GUESTS
THU 10 MARCH
+ GUESTS
+ GUESTS
THE LAUNDRY
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WED 09 MARCH
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THE STEELYARD
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THE TROXY
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OU SOLD 26 & WED 27 APRIL TUE
KOKO
OVAL SPACE
VILLAGE UNDERGROUND
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ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
Three years, I mean it’s not that long really, but on the other hand it pretty much feels like a lifetime. How much has changed from those first months? When we first started London in Stereo, I had no idea what I was doing. With ten thousand magazines arriving at my home on Hackney Road, I grabbed a trolley (the only thing I'd bought in preparation, it lasted three issues. RIP trolley, you served us well) loaded it up with way more boxes that it could handle and tried to walk into Shoreditch. To say I'm optimistic is an understatement.
This month we'll have it all down to a slick process, visiting more places than ever, in more areas than ever and truly being able to say that we've come a long a way since those days. Determination, optimism and a few amazing friends is all you need to get started. And people like you are all you need to keep it going.
STAFF ON REPEAT the tracks we can’t stop listening to this month JESS: DAVID BOWIE - ANDY WARHOL DAVE: DAVID BOWIE - YOUNG AMERICANS LOKI: DAVID BOWIE - VELVET GOLDMINE DANNY: DAVID BOWIE - TVC15 GEMMA: DAVID BOWIE - MOONAGE DAYDREAM DAVID BOWIE
JACK: DAVID BOWIE - FIVE YEARS LiS 03
CONTENTS 08. ON THE STEREO
LONDON IN STEREO IS:
13. NEW SOUNDS 17. TALES FROM THE CITY
Editor: Jess Partridge jess@londoninstereo.co.uk Deputy Editor: Dave Rowlinson dave@londoninstereo.co.uk
20. CHAIRLIFT
Sub-Editor/Sales: Loki Lillistone loki@londoninstereo.co.uk
26. ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
Staff Writers: Danny Wright Gemma Samways Jack Urwin
32. ALBUM REVIEWS 40. EVENTS
Photography: Animal Collective: Lucy Johnston Chairlift: Rachel Lipsitz Diet Cig (live): Nick Grennon
45. GIGS OF THE MONTH 48. LIVE LISTINGS 67. INTO THE NIGHT 69. IN LONDON 70. LIVE REVIEWS 73. PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
Contributors: Chris Slade, Lauren Down, Nick Mee, George O’Brien, Hayley Scott, Grant Bailey, Henry Wilkinson, Tim Hakki, Geoff Cowart, Thomas Hannan, Francesca Baker, Lee Wakefield, Alyssa Macgregor Hastie.
CHAIRLIFT
londoninstereo.com
@LondonInStereo
/londoninstereo
/london-in-stereo
londoninstereo LiS 05
NME.COM/TICKETS | GIGSANDTOURS.COM | TICKETMASTER.CO.UK A METROPOLIS MUSIC PRESENTATION Tickets include a 50p donation to Teenage Cancer Trust (registered charity 1062559 in England and Wales, SC039757 in Scotland) except 12 February
PINEGROVE
OLD FRIEND
PORCHES
The problem with being a music writer who’s supposed to churn out new content every day is that sometimes you get stuck on one song and you want nothing more than to just bask in the glow of it for days on end. Pinegrove’s latest track, ‘Old Friend’, has been like that for me; the kind of tender but powerful rock‘n’roll song that reverberates like wind through trees and bones until it feels like it’s always been right there, watching out for you all along.
PORCHES
BE APART Weirdly wonderful and wonderfully weird, the new record from Porches is a huge side-step from his previous work but one which, thankfully, also feels like a huge leap forward. Expanding his sound to include disco beats and gnarly synth explorations, Porches have simply never sounded either more alive or more important. The mood is dark and eerie and the result is one of 2016’s first truly great albums.
FLORIST
THE BIRDS OUTSIDE SANG [LP] Florist always threatened something truly special and if you thought that their Holdly EP from last year was it then you’ll be even more thrilled by their debut fulllength. Taking the blueprint from said collection and simply flying with it, tender pop ballads, all led by the overwhelmingly reflective voice of Emily Sprague, have never sounded quite like this – and it’s all so very special.
SEEKER ROMEO A newcomer from London who is still very much in that whole mysterious artist mode, Seeker makes faint but extremely affecting pop songs. If debut track ‘BLEH’ was an intriguing introduction, all swooning vocals and crisp instrumentation, then its follow-up, the beguiling ‘Romeo’, is the moment it all comes to fruition. Keep a very close eye indeed.
FLORIST
MARTHA FFION
MARTHA FFION WALLFLOWER
It’s been heartening, to say the least, watching Martha Ffion’s growth over the past twelve months. From small solo shows in Glasgow to a fully-fledged band signing with Turnstile (Perfume Genius, Los Camp, Trust Fund), her recent bouts of heady, fuzzy, blood-warming songs arrive drenched in a love for the old-school while feeling wonderfully fresh at the same time. With thanks to GoldFlakePaint’s Tom Johnson. GoldFlakePaint online: goldflakepaint.co.uk // facebook.com/GoldFlakePaint // @GoldFlakePaint LiS 09
NEW SOUNDS by Gemma Samways LAFAWNDAH
Like her music, Yasmine Dubois’ backstory is an intriguing geographical blur. Raised in Paris – and of Iranian, Egyptian and English descent – she’s lived in Mexico City and Tehran, and now resides in New York, where she creates what she terms “alien music”, under a pseudonym pilfered from a drag queen she encountered on her travels. To some extent, “alien music” is a valid description, in the sense that Dubois’ disorientating productions possess an unsettling sci-fi feel, in a similar manner to compositions by Planningtorock, FKA Twigs or Rustie. However, the description also drastically understates her fascination with - and application of - indigenous sounds from all over the planet. On 2015’s Lafawandah EP, reference points ranged from zouk and cumbia to grime, while standout track ‘Jungle Exit’ saw Dubois singing in broken Swahili.
The follow-up EP is every bit as thrillingly nomadic in its focus. Released through Warp on 5th February, Tan was co-produced by Dillon’s Tamer Fahri, Teengirl Fantasy’s Nick Weiss, L-Vis 1990 and ADR, and recorded on Fire Island, New York, rather than in Guadeloupe again. The title track is by turns hyperactive and minimalist, its aggressive beats, snaking keyboard riff and warped samples eventually collapsing, leaving bowel-shaking sub-bass, sinister electronic tics and Dubois daring the subject to, “Show me your teeth”. Like the rest of the EP, it’s both strange and seductive; a unique sensory adventure.
LISTEN TO: Tan ONLINE: soundcloud.com/lafawndah // @lafawndah_ LiS 13
THE MOUSE OUTFIT BETHNAL GREEN WORKING MENS CLUB // 4TH FEB 2016
RYLEY WALKER + DANNY THOMPSON LONDON BUSH HALL // 20TH FEB 2016
FATIMA & THE EGLO LIVE BAND UNION CHAPEL // 4TH FEB 2016
GOGO PENGUIN VILLAGE UNDERGROUND // 25TH FEB 2016
DAMA DAMA LAUNCH PARTY + MARIBOU STATE B2B PEDESTRIAN BERMONDSEY SOCIAL CLUB // 5TH FEB 2016 MNDSGN + IVAN AVE BIRTHDAYS // 5TH FEB 2016 THE LONDON FUNK AND SOUL CLUB FEAT: NICOLE WILLIS + JAZZIE B + DJ FORMAT + MR THING ELECTRIC BALLROOM // 5TH FEB 2016 STANTON SESSIONS PRESENTS: STANTON WARRIORS + CAUSE & AFFECT + TAIKI NULIGHT + MAFIA KISS SHAPES // 6TH FEB 2016 MAX COOPER CORSICA STUDIOS // 12TH FEB 2016 GOLDEN RULES CORSICA STUDIOS // 12TH FEB 2016 EPHEMERALS BETHNAL GREEN WORKING MENS CLUB // 17TH FEB 2016 TERAKAFT RICH MIX // 18TH FEB 2016
SOUNDCRASH SHOWS 2016
RYLEY WALKER + DANNY THOMPSON LONDON BUSH HALL // 29TH FEB 2016 DREAM KOALA BIRTHDAYS // 4TH MAR 2016 LUKE VIBERT + U-ZIQ + CEEPHAX ACID CREW + MORE VILLAGE UNDERGROUND // 4TH MAR 2016 BURAKA SOM SISTEMA ELECTRIC BRIXTON // 5TH MAR 2016 SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA O2 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE // 11TH MAR 2016 LEE SCRATCH PERRY SUPER APE TOUR + MAD PROFESSOR / TROJAN SOUNDSYSTEM / CHANNEL 1 / PLUS MORE! ELECTRIC BRIXTON // 12TH MAR 2016 BONOBO PRESENTS… OUTLIER TOBACCO DOCK // 12TH MAR 2016
THE CORRESPONDENTS VILLAGE UNDERGROUND // 12TH MAR 2016 SOUNDCRASHMUSIC.COM
ULRICH SCHNAUSS + NAT URAZMETOVA RICH MIX // 18TH MAR 2016
DIZRAELI SEBRIGHT ARMS // 28TH APR 2016
DJ KRUSH ELECTRIC BRIXTON // 19TH MAR 2016
VENETIAN SNARES SHAPES // 30TH APR 2016
ESKA KOKO // 31ST MAR 2016
BALKAN BEAT BEAT ISLINGTON ASSEMBLEY HALL // 30TH APR 2016
DJ MARKY + LTJ BUKEM ELECTRIC BRIXTON // 2ND APR 2016 BEARDYMAN ELECTRIC BRIXTON // 2ND APR 2016 AKUA NARU RICH MIX // 7TH APR 2016
GOGO PENGUIN KOKO // 5TH MAY 2016 THE SOUNDCRASH FUNK & SOUL WEEKENDER CAMBER SANDS // 13TH - 15TH MAY 2016
RONI SIZE + DJ KRUST VILLAGE UNDERGROUND // 8TH APR 2016
MATTHEW HALSALL & THE GONDWANA ORCHESTRA ST JOHN’S AT HACKNEY CHURCH // 20TH MAY 2016
JULIA BIEL RICH MIX // 15TH APR 2016
OWINY SIGOMA RICH MIX // 22ND MAY 2016
LEFTO SHAPES // 22ND APR 2016
CLAP! CLAP! SHAPES // 22ND MAY 2016
ONRA ISLINGTON ASSEMBLEY HALL // 22ND APR 2016
SONS OF KEMET VILLAGE UNDERGROUND // 25TH MAY 2016
MARIBOU STATE (LIVE) SHAPES 23RD APR 2016
HOT 8 BRASS BAND ELECTRIC BRIXTON // 26TH MAY 2016
LEVELZ SHAPES // 27TH APR 2016
SOUNDCRASH SHOWS 2016
SOUNDCRASHMUSIC.COM
Upcoming London UPCOMING LONDONShows SHOWS www.rockfeedbackconcerts.com www.rockfeedbackconcerts.co
Presents
COSMO BL AENAVON
JLIN
Studios LE1F SHELDRAKECorsica
The Lexing ton Thursday 04 Feb.
XOYO Shoreditch
Wednesday 10 Feb.
The Nest Dalston
Thursday 2nd July THE
Wednesday 8th July
RESIDENTS
POLIÇA
Hackney Empire
Village Underground
Friday 12 Feb.
Monday 15 Feb.
VISIONS FESTIVAL
LE1F RESTORATIO
XOYO
Thursday 11 Feb.
Lexington Islington
Thursday 18th July SUNFLOWER BEAN
The Dome PISSED ARTHUR RUSSELL Thursday 18 Feb. INSTRUMENTALS JEANS THE
BILL 1OO Club Soho ONEOHTRIX Venues across London LANGUAGE Oval Space PLACE10th September RYDER-JONES POINT NEVER Thu 18 & Fri 19 Aug Fields Saturday 8th Sep OF Monday Heaven
St John on Bethnal Green
Scala
Wednesday 24 Feb.
Thursday 25 Feb.
Thursday 03 Mar.
JACCO GARDNER FLUME
Thursday 3rd Wednesday 16 Mar.
KIRAN CAYUCAS LEONARD
RADIATION UNKNOWN CITMORTAL Y
KEVIN CHASTITY MORBY
ALVVAYS
Dingwalls Camden
Roundhouse
HANA
O2 Shepherds Bush Empire Sebright Arms Bethn The Waiting Room The Lexington SeptemberFriday Friday 14th Septem 18 Mar. 11th September Monday 04Monday Apr.
MELT YOURSELF DOWN
GIRLPOOL
ORCHESTRA
BELT
Shapes
The Victoria
Oslo
Wednesday 27 Apr.
Wednesday 04 May.
Thursday 05 May.
Scala Kings Cross
Tuesday 15th September
FATHER JOHN MIST Y
O2 Shepherds Bush Empire The Victoria Dalsto Wednesday 23rd Sep Thursday 15th Octo
FATHER JOHN MIST Y
SONGHOY BLUES
Roundhouse FATHER SONGHOYRoundhouse TITUS ANDRONIC JOHN MISTY BLUES
Roundhouse
Thurs 18 & Weds 19 May.
Friday 20 May.
Saturday 21 May.
JULIEN JULIEN VISIONS Village Undergro O2 Shepherds Bush Empire Koko Camden Wed 28th & Thur 29th Oct Thursday 5th Novem Wednesday 4th November BAKER BAKER FESTIVAL St. Pancras Old Church
MARIKA HACKMAN
Wednesday 25 May.
The Forge
Various, Hackney
Thursday 26 May.
Saturday 06 Aug.
NATALIE PRASS
Get tickets and full info at www.rockfeedbackconcer ts.com
THE ORB
TALES FROM THE CITY by Teen
In 2010, my previous band, Here We Go Magic, played Hard Rock Calling. It was summer and actually a beautiful day, rare during my time in England. We were playing before Beach House, so I was nervous. I remembered our stage being a gazebo, but it was actually a tent. Our backstage a field. I headed to the backstage (field) and drank some of the free wine spritzers and beer to settle my nerves (useful). Calmed, we played, and the show went well. While I was packing up I hear an “excuse me”. In front of me was an actor who most women recognize as terribly attractive, blessed with the camera-beauty face, who I will refer to as the Actor We Will Not Name. As handsome as he was on screen, his blue eyes as bright, he goes on to tell me that he loved the show. I accepted the compliment, bewildered, scarlet, a mere mortal. He walked away and I figured I’d never see his iconic face again. My friends and I have this theory that Actor turned Musician is never a good move. They are full of enthusiasm and confidence, yet the A2M has a success rate of slim to none. There’s about one person that we can all agree has done ok; Drake. For some reason, the other way is perfectly fine! Tom Waits, Bowie and Eminem have all done well. Russell Crowe, Scarlett Johansson and
Gosling however, are not doing so well on the musical front. (Maybe those blessed with the DNA of camera-beauty cannot translate the grief experienced by us mere mortals to express a melancholy or ironic musical idea?) A few hours after the festival, we headed back to the studio where we were recording. Here We Go Magic loved to jam. From the corner behind me, I hear something wrong. Someone did not know what language the rest of us were speaking. Not realizing that our producer was friends with Actor We Will Not Name, I didn’t even consider the possibility of him being there, let alone beating out his hopeful transformation from A2M. I turn to see AWWNN exuberantly ripping apart a bongo. He looked up at me with the innocence of a five year old, not realizing he had absolutely no sense of time or rhythm. I suppose in a dream this would seem like a perfect bonding situation, but at this moment, I lost all attraction, and quickly realized that The Beautiful People and Actors alike are mere mortals too. Teeny Lieberson Teen release Love Yes February 19th via Carpark. ONLINE: facebook.com/teentheband // @teentheband // teentheband.net
LiS 17
Craig Richards Terry Francis Answer Code Request Bicep Call Super Dan Ghenacia Daniel Avery Dave Clarke Dyed Soundorom Eats Everything Function Green Velvet
Kobosil (live) Marquis Hawkes Objekt Paranoid London (live) Rødhüd Shifted Second Storey (live) Shonky Skudge (live) Vrilski (live) Zenker Brothers Plus many more...
www.fabriclondon.com
fabric Feb 2016
February 2016 Acre / Annix / Ben Pearce Benga / Brookes Brothers Breach / CASisDEAD Cedric Maison / DJ Hype Etherwood / Footsie Groove Armada (DJ Set) / Hazard Jesse Rose / Junior Sanchez Keeno / Logan Sama / Mumdance Noisia / Oliver Dollar / Phace Pinch / Rockwell Shadow Child / S.P.Y Stray B2B Fracture Xtrah / Plus many more... ÂŽ www.fabriclondon.com
CHAIRLIFT In an era of instant gratification, being a Chairlift fan requires a fair amount of patience. It took the duo four years to follow-up their 2008 debut, Does You Inspire You, and now Moth is arriving another neat quadrennium on from Something. Reflecting on the gestation period, down the line from Brooklyn, frontwoman Caroline Polachek explains, “We take our time but we need a lot of time,” adding with a half-laugh, “We’re always optimistic that it’s not gonna take us as long as it will, but we’re perfectionists.”
In fairness, Polachek and her creative partner Patrick Wimberly have hardly been idle in the intervening years. Alongside Polachek’s solo album as Ramona Lisa, there have been collaborations with Blood Orange and SBTRKT, instrumental scores and, most famously, production work for Beyoncé. Then there was the small matter of converting a unit in a former pharmaceutical factory into a working studio, before work on Moth could commence. “We started treating the walls with audio panelling in February 2013, and the first songs came shortly thereafter,” Polachek recalls. “The studio really became a cocoon for us. The path that we walked every morning to get to the studio – the
WORDS: GEMMA SAMWAYS PHOTOGRAPHY: RACHEL LIPSITZ sidewalks, the subways – they would mentally set the scene for working every day, and it gave us a lot of energy.” “When we arrived in the studio, it suddenly felt so quiet and intimate and far away from all that… It really did feel like this internal organ of New York City, in which we could reflect on the outside. And I think having built our studio and these productions from the ground up, really made us want to make everything perfect.” Even by their own high standards, Moth is a remarkable achievement; an innovative, soulful electro-pop record that bristles with kinetic energy. It has huge potential for crossover success, which is doubly impressive considering that esoteric reference points included A. R. Rahman’s
Bollywood soundtracks and mid-80s Japanese fusion music, and that it was written with Sean Connery’s 70s sci-fi flick ‘Zardoz’ playing on a silent loop in the background. There’s a newfound directness to their songwriting too, and the duo’s decision to swap the hazy reverb that enveloped much of Something for crisp, clean production allows their skilful arrangements to shine. “We really wanted to hone in on the joy and freedom that some of our favourite songs can give us,” Polachek explains. “And, lyrically, to make ourselves more vulnerable; to bring our actual lives to the table, as opposed to having fun with abstraction.” Like its predecessor, it’s an album with love and relationships at its heart. LiS 21
“WE REALLY WANTED TO HONE IN ON THE JOY AND FREEDOM THAT SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE SONGS CAN GIVE US” However, Polachek emphasises the distinction between the “passiveaggressive” energy of Something and the unguarded emotion driving Moth, which was written while she was falling in love with her now-husband. Listening, the record seems to trace the trajectory of a love affair, from flirtation and lust (‘Romeo’ / ’Ch-Ching’) to intimacy and contentment (‘Ottawa to Osaka’ / ‘No Such Thing’). Though Polachek concedes that, in hindsight, the interpretation “really is accurate” she insists it’s coincidental, and that the sequencing of the record was centred around “the sonics and the energy of it”. Though the majority of Moth was self-produced, they did seek external help
from Quadron’s Robin Hannibal in the final stages, for ‘Ch-Ching’, ‘Moth To The Flame’ and ‘Show U Off’. “Sometimes it just takes someone to say, ‘Look: there’s a reason why the traditional move is the right one’,” Polachek laughs. “It’s because it works.” And yet, it’s this very unconventionality - of both song structure and melody - that continues to keep Chairlift fans enthralled. Moth is out now, via Columbia Records. LIVE: Scala, March 9th. ONLINE: chairlifted.com @Chairlifted facebook.com/chairlift
Goldenvoice Presents
01.02.16 T SOLD OU VILLAGE UNDERGROUND
LUCY ROSE
03.02.16 T SOLD OU HEATH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
VILLAGERS
AIDAN KNIGHT + HOLLY MACVE 11.02.16 ST JOHN AT HACKNEY CHURCH
MARIBOU STATE + KHRUANGBIN 17.02.16 T SOLD OU KOKO
BARNS COURTNEY
18.02.16 HOXTON SQUARE BAR AND KITCHEN
EAGULLS
02.03.16 T SOLD OUHACKNEY OLSO
FUFANU
02.03.16 SEBRIGHT ARMS
HONNE
03.03.16 BRIXTON ELECTIRC
ELLIE GOULDING + JOHN NEWMAN 24.03.16 THE O2 25.03.16 THE O2
26.03.16 T SOLD OU O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN 27.03.16 T SOLD OU O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN 28.03.16 O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN
BRYSON TILLER 29.03.16 T SOLD OU KOKO 30.03.16 T SOLD OU KOKO
BIG UPS
30.03.16 LEXINGTON
MATT & KIM 08.04.16 SCALA
YEARS & YEARS
+ MØ 08.04.16 THE SSE ARENA WEMBLEY
ISLAND
20.04.16 OSLO HACKNEY
FATHER JOHN MISTY 18.05.16 T SOLD OU THE ROUNDHOUSE 19.05.16 OUT SOLDROUNDHOUSE THE 20.05.16 THE ROUNDHOUSE
SHURA
26.05.16 O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
LION BABE 01.06.16 KOKO
goldenvoiceuk
ANNE-MARIE
WOLF ALICE
goldenvoice.co.uk
30.01.16 THE O2
JAN – JUN
THE LIBERTINES
animal collective
words: danny wright // photography & artwork: lucy johnston “We’re not super proficient in the technical language of talking about music and we found ourselves talking about paint a lot. I can remember someone saying ‘I want the song to work as if you took a paint brush and slobbered this one colour over it’.” Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear, is talking about how paint became central to the making of the astonishing new Animal Collective, an album shot through with vivid colours and joyful washes. Painting With, their eleventh LP, is the bewitchingly technicolour work of a unique band. And that singularity even comes across in the way they discussed making the album. “I think the sounds we started hearing made us think of paint and just looking at songs from strange perspectives,” adds Dave Portner (Avey Tare). “In the same way that cubists tried to portray normal things in new or obscured ways.” And yet, of course, in Animal Collective’s universe it makes complete sense. For a band who have created music that’s hard to capture in mere words, pictures and visual language seem like the perfect way to communicate ideas. And all the way through they were crucial to the making of the album. “We had these projections on the wall which was essentially a YouTube mixtape that Dave’s sister made of all this dinosaur stuff,” explains Noah, creating a bizarrely captivating picture of what happened in the studio. “So there was this never ending loop of stuff. Some of it was pretty humorous.”
It begs the question of how dinosaurs became integral to the recording process. “Like paint, thinking about this pre-historic landscape was just something we just found ourselves talking about with the songs. We wanted to make music that kind of sounded like early people, cavemen - I always thought of it like primitive people dancing around a fire. I wanted the music to conjure that idea.” Dave concurs. “Yeah, it came from the primitive nature of the rhythms and sort of cave person vibe we started hearing. I think there’s something about the idea or energy of magic that can be tied into a primitive way of thinking and living – feeding off the power of the basic elements.”
“I thought of it like primitive people dancing around a fire.”- Panda Bear Painting With is primitive in the most human way. Recorded in the same studios that Pet Sounds was recorded (“There was a lot of history in there for sure. Some Marvin Gaye stuff was done there. Apparently Studio 1 there - we were in 3 was Frank Sinatra’s spot and they still had his little podium there which was awesome,” notes Noah.) it’s a record that’s as inventive as they’ve ever been;
LiS 27
a record of gorgeous burbling melodies, kaleidoscopic intertwining voices and that unique Animal Collective magic. Yet, there were also new ways of doing things that helped to shape this sound: this was the first time they’d ever recorded a record without playing it live first. “The fact we’d never done it this way was reason enough to try it. But I also feel when you’re performing songs before you record them – and we’re as guilty of this as anyone else – you sort of get attached to the idea of what the song is, based on that live version. So when the studio version comes out it still might
be great but often that first impression is the most lasting – so I think we were excited to see what it would be like to have the first impression of that song to be the studio version.” “It was nice to go into the studio being really open minded about the songs,” agrees Dave. “Without being precious about what any of us was doing. It’s like we could all hear the songs for the first time.” And both Dave and Noah were attempting to write in a fresh way too. “We wanted to do something vocally that was new to us and that we hadn’t really done and trying
to think about writing music for two singers where if you took one of them out the vocal kind of falls apart.” And it means you’ll see their vocals gleefully falling in and out of syncopation on the record. “I think for both of us it was about basing a melody on both of us singing together,” explains Dave. “Whereas in the past our singing parts usually consists of two melodies sort of twisting around each other or a straight harmony, this new style takes two voices and has them twist into the same melody almost to the point of not knowing who is saying what. In terms of my songs I
think ‘Floridada’ or ‘Vertical’ does this in my own style. It’s tough because we don’t want every song to sound the same. So it became a challenge to do it in different ways.” For Noah it was the beautiful ‘Summing the Wretch’ which showed the way. “That was the first one I did and the way the vocals work on that song I used as a template for all the others,” adds Noah. “Although I have to add that that song actually follows the template of ‘Boys Latin’ off my last Panda Bear album.” LiS 29
Saxophonist Colin Stetson, who’s previously collaborated with Arcade Fire, also brought a fresh perspective. “We’d never really found out a way to incorporate brass into our music, and Colin was able to use it in inventive ways which was super cool,” explains Noah. “There was a specific part of FloriDada that we wanted a saxophone-like sound to take over. And there were a lot of other moments on the songs when we wanted to have surprising moments - where we wanted it popping out of the page like a like a pop-up book where your turn the page and the thing kind of jumps out at you.” Yet despite this ceaseless experimentation it's also the most concise Animal Collective album. And that intention to keep songs short was there from the start. “The brevity of the songs was something we talked about before we’d even written any music and I think we stayed true to that,” says Noah. “I’m blown away by songs like ‘Nature Boy’ or ‘Waterloo Sunset’ where it feels like all of this awesome stuff happens in a really short time,” adds Dave. I mention it also sounds more accessible but, unsurprisingly for a band who have become successful not by conforming to expectations but by constantly turning them on their head, that idea doesn’t concern them. “It’s never really about making an accessible record because I think there will always be people that don’t like our band. At this point I don’t really care much about changing their minds. I just like the challenge of seeing ideas come to fruition and being personally psyched and proud of what I do. And feeling that there is a place in the Animal Collective catalogue for this music,” reasons Dave. So, I ask: this Animal Collective sound – the thing that runs through everything they do, that brings all these ideas and restless invention together over their seventeen
years together – are they able to articulate it? But it’s like grasping mist. “I’m not totally sure,” admits Noah hesitating. “I like to think it has something to do with a kind of openness to styles and forms of music. I guess it’s tough for me to say.” How about Dave? “I can’t do that, I’m sorry. I articulate it by playing it. I guess that’s why I chose to do it.” Colours. Paint. Pop-up books. Dinosaurs. Cavemen. This is the surreal visual language that brings Animal Collective’s work to life. But even these only come close to approaching their weird and wonderful world. Painting With is a masterpiece. Painting With is released, February 19th via Domino. LIVE: O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, April 11/12th. ONLINE: myanimalhome.net @anmlcollective facebook.com/anmlcollective
ALBUMS
RECORD OF THE MONTH SAVAGES
ADORE LIFE Recently a friend and I were discussing the throwaway nature of current popular culture. Will we still be listening to Bieber in 40 years, the way we’ve all been revisiting Bowie? And, though you can convincingly argue that the best pop songs written have been about love, when every song on mainstream radio is now explicitly about that emotion, you have to question whether you can name a singer in the charts that sings about politics, sexuality and gender identity? Is there anyone like Kate Bush exploring gender roles through music and performance, as she did on 1978’s ‘Lionheart’? Pop culture might alienate those of us who don’t quite feel like we belong, but this is why we’re lucky to at least have a thriving underground where bands like Savages exist. With post-punk being their most obvious sonic reference point, it doesn’t matter that their formula is one that replicates an era that was revived a decade before. While those bands Matador that dominated indie rock in the mid-noughties looked to Out Now Gang of Four and Joy Division for rhythmic inspiration, Stand Out Tracks: Savages’ music has always found a kinship with the Slowing Down The World oppositional politics of post-punk, the thematic darkness Sad Person and anxiety about the dehumanising effects of technology. Surrender Particularly on their debut Silence Yourself which, although an undeniably stellar debut, wasn’t, in retrospect, quite as Live: March 17th, Roundhouse game-changing as critics proclaimed; lacking a touch in consistency and assuredness. Adore Life finds the glowing embers of Silence Yourself and stokes them with a confidence that sees the band roar into glorious life. Lyrically, Jehnny Beth is on fire too - and focused on that mainstream radio staple: love. Don’t expect too much in the way of cutesy la-la-love-you, though. Instead we’re dealing with doubt, lust and contradiction at every turn. A place where every “I need you, I need you, I need something new,” is met with a “Is it human to ask for more? Is it human to adore life?” which is met with a “Is it love, or is it boredom?”. We’re talking about the real stuff here. Savages’ music still feels out of step with current trends, and with its tumbling, heavy percussion, Beth’s Siouxsie-like battle cries, and the emphasis placed on Ayse Hassan’s bass, there’s no mistaking this band for anyone else, despite their reference points. Adore Life is a huge step forwards for Savages, and thrillingly the potential for something even better definitely remains. Will we be talking about them in 40 years? Well, maybe not on the same scale as cultural icons like Bowie et al, but as proponents of a music scene that celebrates women and difference? Certainly. This is what you get when you mess with love. Hayley Scott
JUNIOR BOYS
BIG BLACK COAT City Slang // February 5th Rejuvenated after five years working with Caribou, Jessy Lanza and on their own solo projects, Jeremy Greenspan and Matthew Didemus’ sixth album as Junior Boys is equal parts familiarity and revelation. Though their trademark luscious-but-pensive delivery remains, the influence of Detroit techno looms large, with their grooves meaner in spirit. They thrive in unabashed pop, like the classic disco of ‘Baby Give Up On It’ or ‘You Say That’’s infectious chorus, yet on their slower turns – ‘C’mon Baby’ or the barely-there ‘No One’s Business’ – you may find your attention slipping (unless you’re really, really into how nice distorted synths can sound). Minor quibbles however, and though So This Is Goodbye remains the place newcomers should start, they should don a Big Black Coat soon after. Thomas Hannan
MASS GOTHIC
MASS GOTHIC Sub Pop // February 5th Noel Heroux finds himself on the precipice of a big 2016; nestled under Sub Pop’s storied wing, a string of well-received EPs in his wake, he’s emerged from the ashes of NYC’s Hooray For Earth without missing a step. For all the good news, little light penetrates the vein of pessimism that runs beneath the clean veneer of Mass Gothic’s electro-pop. Mass Gothic is inherently uncertain, presenting a string of party lifestyle laments disguised as pre-night pick-me-ups. This misdirection is its main appeal, with tracks like ‘Every Night You’ve Got To Save Me’ pushing Heroux’s sunny brand of disillusionment. The melodic sensibilities will satisfy the indie casual, but for those willing to dig deeper an affecting, bipolar experience awaits. Grant Bailey
MOTHERS // WHEN YOU WALK A LONG DISTANCE YOU ARE TIRED Wichita Recordings // February 26th Kristine Leschper’s quivering falsetto – ushered in on the sparse tinkering of mandolin strings – offers a warming, mournful introduction to Mothers’ debut album. The delicate fluctuations of her voice find their reflection in the poised arrangements of opening number ‘Too Small For Eyes’ whilst hinting at something altogether more tumultuous beneath the surface. It’s this anguished underbelly that the rest of the record concerns itself with. Emotional intensity rises and falls on waves of howling guitar strings and juddering post-rock rhythms – slowing and quickening their pace to suit the mood, occasionally veering into math rock territory. Leschper’s moreish, yearning voice cracks and strains with anger and loss in a manner that elicits comparisons to Angel Olsen, but there is something more intimate, urgent and elegant at play here. Lauren Down LiS 33
MEILYR JONES 2013
Moshi Moshi // February 26th Fond memories aside, all that most of us can hope to bring back from a holiday are a tan, some bearable local booze and a non-crippling amount of debt. The fact that Meilyr Jones returned from his brief Roman sojourn with the inspiration for this excellent record is just one of many reasons why the former Race Horses-singer is better at being a human than most of us. Described by Jones as a “compilation of myself, over the period of a year,” 2013 documents a voyage of self-discovery via twelve inventively-arranged and witty vignettes. On the 60s-inspired guitar-pop of ‘Strange Emotional’ he describes himself as “an actor, recalling my previous lives / No Hamlet, no Macbeth, come and see me tonight,” and he’s consistently captivating, whether playing the narrator or the protagonist. Rome is cast in a crucial supporting role throughout, providing a physical setting for many of the stories, and a rich set of cultural reference points. What’s most impressive here, is the way Jones effortlessly straddles entire centuries, from the buoyant, Belle & Sebastian-esque ‘How To Recognise A Work Of Art’ to the orchestral baroque-pop of ‘Return To Life’, via the stately, harpischord-led ‘Rome’. Tellingly, Jones is just as engaging alone at the piano, as on ‘Refugees’. There’s a lot to digest here, but persevere and you’ll be generously rewarded. A fascinating introduction to a 21st century Renaissance man. Gemma Samways
PORCHES POOL
Domino // February 5th As ascents go, Aaron Maine’s has been steady if a little unexpected. While slightly surprising, it’s hardly undeserved; his ability as a songwriter shone throughout 2013’s Slow Dance In The Cosmos, an album that melded guitar and synth into gleefully offbeat pop with middling results. Pool, Porches’ first effort for Domino, is perhaps the record it should have been. As opening track ‘Underwater’ beautifully unfurls, the confidence from its creator is striking in comparison to what has come before. In retrospect, the subtle signs of promise had been foreshadowed in the sporadic singles – ‘Prism’ and ‘Leather’ – that crept into view in the intervening years however neither of those sported the restraint nor allure that oozes from this long player as it progresses. This time, Aaron Maine positions his grooves front and centre. While not exactly primed for the dance floor, tracks such as ‘Glow’ and ‘Mood’ are the result of slinking bass lines and cascading synths wrestling with darker undertones, lending the album a sense of captivating uneasiness. Despite insisting “I want to be a part/apart of it all”, Pool is still the output of a figure struggling to settle in a new city. Much is made of Maine’s cathartic approach to songwriting; “feeling better was making a song,” he remarks within the album’s press release. If this meticulous process continues to result in brave, beguiling records such as this one, long may it continue. Lee Wakefield
SUNFLOWER BEAN
HUMAN CEREMONY Fat Possum // February 5th “You can drink the elixir now,” Nick Kivlen wails through the opener and title track of Sunflower Bean’s debut full length, a record that is indeed a brilliantly medicinal cocktail of indie shoegaze and bedroom psychedelia. With Human Ceremony, the New York three have realised their potential and the CMJ-led excitement that has been surrounding them. The fuzzed-out rock‘n’roll of ‘Wall Watcher’ is blissfully juxtaposed by the floating, gentle melancholy of ‘Oh, I Just Don’t Know’ and wonderfully woozy displays in ‘Easier Said’ and the dreamy ‘I Want You To Give Me Enough Time’. It is this light and shade that makes Human Ceremony so intrinsically returnable. Sunflower Bean have the perfect remedy for all those wintery indie heartaches. George O’Brien
SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS
PINKSHINYULTRABLAST
Full Time Hobby // February 12th
Club AC30 // February 26th
Written and part-recorded prior to Ben Curtis’ death from lymphoma in 2013, SVIIB was completed by the Brooklyn duo’s remaining half, Alejandra Deheza, in the aftermath of that “tragic, soul-shaking tidal wave”. Given the band’s disposition for sweet tonal melancholy and intimate lyrics, this farewell outing could have been overwhelmingly mournful. Yet the trancey dream-pop retains its Cocteaus meets Ladytron grace, a synthheavy haze enveloping songs reliant on the extent to which Deheza’s swooping melodies haunt your daydreams. SVIIB doesn’t always succeed, but harmonies crest and dip characteristically, especially over the chorus of ‘Music Takes Me’ and glistening opener ‘Ablaze’ – a love letter to Deheza’s absent soulmate. These rapturous touches, and the singer’s soft, methodical delivery to a backing so sparse it’s like ambient vapour, form an affecting eulogy. Nick Mee
Last January saw instances of the words ‘Russian’ and ‘shoegaze’ appearing in the same sentence increase exponentially all thanks to the debut album from Pinkshinyultrablast. A year on and it’s something we’re over and not really in need of repeating. Thankfully though, follow up album Grandfeathered throws a few curve-balls and sees the band carve out more of an identity. Opener ‘Initial’ dives into a brave new world of tectonic electro, sounding like Aphex Twin remixing Cocteau Twins, while ‘Glow Vastly’ and ‘I Catch You Napping’ inject fresh momentum with post-punk and math influences. That’s not to say the Pinkshinies have discarded old habits completely though; each track is coated with seismic amounts of reverb, making this nu-gaze with the grandest of pretentions. Henry Wilkinson LiS 35
SVIIB
GRANDFEATHERED
BLOC PARTY HYMNS
Infectious Music // Out Now When you look beyond the radio-ready songwriting of Bloc Party’s fifth album Hymns it’s evident that Kele Okereke is back on some kind of form. The departure of Matt Tong and Gordon Moakes means the instrumentals aren’t as busy or as virtuosic as anything before, but Bloc Party 2.0 have succeeded in creating a very immediate neo-soul breakup record. Occasionally the subject matter can get a little too mawkish and piss-the-bed for the man whose rise to prominence was hinged around the challenging and poetic lyrical ambiguities on Silent Alarm, but instrumentally Hymns is elegant penance for the graceless Deftones posturing of Four. ‘Only He Can Heal Me’ is one of Kele’s finest moments - it’s a masterly petition for spiritual redemption. Tim Hakki
QUILT
PLAZA Mexican Summer // February 26th Quilt’s latest album Plaza is such a varied patchwork of multi-layered folk, Americana, twiddling psych and choral music that at times I had to flick back to check I was still listening to the same band. Evoking a sound of campestral serendipity and tawny shimmer, it’s a sharply executed album that reeks of wanderlust, while staying rooted at its core in catchy riffs and appealing melodies. Seamless windswept blossoming on ‘Elliot Street’ follows autumnal tumult on ‘Roller’, whilst ‘Searching For’ is a lush sixties-infused pop ditty and ‘O’Conner’s Barn’ hints at influences from Warpaint and Waxahatchee. Threadbare but buoyant, there’s a feeling of happenstance in its felicity and sentiment, a quelled sense of exploration as the day rolls by and the road opens up. Francesca Baker
MATMOS
ULTIMATE CARE II Thrill Jockey // February 19th Easy-to-use consoles make it simple to select the wash/spin speed combination for each and every load, the manual says. However what the folks at Whirpool didn’t anticipate was that their Ultimate Care II washer could spawn 39 minutes of forward-looking electronica. Confined to the Baltimore basement of Drew Daniel and M.C. Schmidt the appliance was tapped to create an otherworldy epic song, ranging from moments of Miami Bass to drone – all while keeping the Matmos guys looking fresh. Even by the sonic prankster’s audacious standards this project sounds fluffy as hell. But the barrage of banging metronomic grooves and water-based samples are softened with a variety of other truly alien, yet intriguing, sonic oddities. Repeated spins prove its musical merits come out in the wash. Geoff Cowart
DHP PRESENTS
WED.03.FEB.16
HUNCK
THE WAITING ROOM
WED.03.FEB.16
TUE.09.FEB.16
AUGUSTANA DINGWALLS
WED.10.FEB.16
ROBERT NICKI BLUHM & WILL SEBRIGHT ARMS THE GRAMBLERS
SAT.20.FEB.16
TURIN BRAKES UNION CHAPEL
THU.25.FEB.16
HUE & CRY
UNION CHAPEL
THE BORDERLINE
FRI.12.FEB.16
THU.04.FEB.16
ROB HERON & THE TEA PAD ORCHESTRA THE ISLINGTON
LUCERO
THE GARAGE
MON.15.FEB.16
MOTH CLUB
THE LEXINGTON
SAT.27.FEB.16
ALISTAIR GRIFFIN THE FORGE
THE RIFLES
ROUNDHOUSE
TUE.16.FEB.16
AKIINE
OSLO
WILL VARLEY
WED.02.MAR.16
NEW DESERT BLUES
THE COURT YARD
THE BLACK QUEEN
THU.10.MAR.16
SCAL A
BIRTHDAYS
FRI.05.FEB.16
WED.09.MAR.16
WAKEY WAKEY
SAT.27.FEB.16
THU.04.FEB.16
ELECTRIC BALLROOM
MON.07.MAR.16
CIGARETTES AFTER SEX
BUSH HALL
DANCING YEARS THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
THU.03.MAR.16
ROCKY VOTOLATO SEBRIGHT ARMS
OSLO
SAT.20.FEB.16
FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS
O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN
FRI.11.MAR.16
RINGO DEATHSTARR
WED.02.MAR.16
ROBERT FRANCIS ST PANCRAS OLD CHURCH
WED.16.MAR.16
SKINNY LIVING
OLD QUEENS HEAD
THU.17.MAR.16
DE STAAT
THE BARFLY
FRI.25.MAR.16
FRI.08.APR.16
THU.05.MAY.16
FAT FREDDY’S DROP CHOIR OF YOUNG MOLOTOV JUKEBOX VILL AGE O ACADEMY BELIEVERS UNDERGROUND BRIXTON 2
OSLO
FRI.18.MAR.16
FIELD MUSIC
ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL
FRI.18.MAR.16
WED.30.MAR.16
BILLY LOCKETT BORDERLINE
ST PANCRAS OLD CHURCH
SAT.02.APR.16
VUKOVI
TUE.05.APR.16
THE BESNARD EMMY THE GREAT LAKES
FAT FREDDY’S DROP O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON
ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL
FRI.06.MAY.16
LUSH
ROUNDHOUSE
SAT.07.MAY.16
MON.18.APR.16
NERINA PALLOT
LUSH
ROUNDHOUSE
UNION CHAPEL
FRI.22.JULY.16
TUE.19.APR.16
MOTH CLUB
THU.24.MAR.16
THU.24.MAR.16
ELECTRIC BALLROOM
RUSTY SHACKLE ARDYN OLD BLUE L AST
THE BARFLY
ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL
MEXRRISSEY
THU.31.MAR.16
MARTIN HARLEY FRANCIS LUNG FIELDS & DANIEL KIMBRO LONDON BREWERY HOTEL
TUE.22.MAR.16
THU.14.APR.16
THU.21.APR.16
WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS ST GILES IN THE FIELDS
SUN KIL MOON SOUTHBANK CENTRE
SAT.17.SEP.16
PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON
WED.23.NOV.16
BETH HART
SOUTHBANK CENTRE
ALT-TICKETS.CO.UK | FB.COM/ ALT.TICKETS.CO.UK | @ ALT_TICKETS
EVENTS
a selection of new stuff we’re excited about: PITT CUE CO MOVES EAST Eyes left. What’s that? That’s the Pitt Cue Co bone marrow mash. Isn’t it just about the prettiest thing you ever saw? Where can you get it? Well, not in Soho anymore, because Pitt Cue are on the move. That’s right, as of the end of January they shut up shop on their original site, and are relocating to Devonshire Square, near Liverpool St Station. Will we be going? Well, we stood under Hungerford Bridge in the rain at their trailer, waiting for macanchini. We queued for howeverlong-we-didn’t-care in Soho. So, yes, we’ll be there because 1) It’s the best bbq food in London and 2) They’ll be taking reservations. What else? Well, we don’t know tons yet, but the site is going to be bigger, the menu more expansive – we’re hoping for some fishy dishes to go with all that meat – and we’re sure the drinks options are going to be incredible. But, to be honest as long as there are picklebacks and bone marrow mash... Opening February. 1 The Avenue, Devonshire Sq. pittcue.co.uk // @PittCueCo
CONVERGENCE FESTIVAL Convergence returns this March to bring you a bigger event than ever before. Emphasising and celebrating the link between music, art and technology, the festival has brought some of the most interesting and innovative events to London in recent years. Ambitious in reach, this year sees them pay homage to the work of Gil Scott-Heron with a night celebrating his life: Jamie Woon, Kwabs, Loyle Carner and more will reinterpret Scott-Heron’s work with a contemporary twist. The festival runs for a total of ten days with installations, workshops and talks run alongside an incredible gig programme. Factory Floor, Dan Deacon, Larry Gus, !!!, Of Montreal and many more put their name in the mix for a real celebration of flourishing creativity. March 10th-20th. Various locations convergence-london.com // @ConvergenceLDN LiS 40
THE LANGUAGE OF PLACE Rockfeedback are pairing up with Faber Social this month for a very special one-off event The Language of Place. Hosted in the beautiful St John on Bethnal Green church, it will be a night of talks from revered and fascinating writers including the prolific novelist, journalist and political commentator Will Self, London expert Iain Sinclair and the exceptionally talented Nina Lyon, interjected with music from digital machinery and acoustic combining act, The Memory Band. An evening to nourish your brain and spark your imagination. Feb 25th. £15. St John On Bethnal Green, E2 9PA. @FaberSocial // @rockfeedback
VOGUE 100: A CENTURY OF STYLE
Photograph: Cecil Beaton/ Conde Nast Publications
This year Vogue is turning 100 years old, and of course they’re doing so in style. Teaming up with one of our favourite London galleries they will be displaying photography from the last century of the magazine’s life. Rich in colour, texture and history, their collection is second-to-none. With over 280 photos from the Condé Nast archive, it’ll undoubtedly be full of breathtaking images from arguably the most influential magazine of all time, that have been taken by the most talented and creative photographers ever. Feb 11th-May 22nd. National Portrait Gallery. npg.org.uk // @NPGLondon #Vogue100
LABEL MATES FESTIVAL We’re giving you an early head’s-up on this March festival: Label Mates is returning to East London, and it’s stronger than ever. What we’re looking at is a collection of the best record labels around coming together to create one huge, celebratory week. The likes of Burger Records, Art Is Hard, PNKSLM, Fortuna Pop, Heavenly, Distant Hawaii and more are going to be putting on a heap of the most fun bands around. So, long story short, you don’t want to miss it. Some shows are free, some cost but are cheap - get on their site and learn more. March 4th-13th, Various venues, East London. label-mates.com // facebook.com/labelmateslondon LiS 41
BLITZEN TRAPPER MON 8 FEB T SOLD OU THE LEXINGTON
GIRLS NAMES FRI 19 FEB THE LEXINGTON
ROYCE WOOD JUNIOR WED 10 FEB OSLO HACKNEY
LNZNDRF FRI 19 FEB OSLO HACKNEY
OKAY KAYA THURS 11 FEB ST PANCRAS OLD CHURCH
THE GOOD LIFE SAT 20 FEB BORDERLINE
RYANN THURS 11 FEB THE WAITING ROOM
MONEY MON 22 FEB VILLAGE UNDERGROUND
THE BLACK TAMBOURINES THURS 18 FEB SEBRIGHT ARMS
CAR SEAT HEADREST TUES 23 FEB DALSTON VICTORIA
HINDS THURS 18 FEB KOKO
MOTHERS WED 24 FEB SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS
MARTHA FFION THURS 25 FEB SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS ROSIE LOWE THURS 25LDFEB T SO OU OSLO HACKNEY FROKEDAL THURS 25 FEB THE ISLINGTON GIRL BAND MON 29 FEB T OLD OU VILLAGE S UNDERGROUND ONLY GIRL TUES 1 MARCH ELECTROWERKZ FORCED RANDOM TUES 1 MARCH SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS
HABITATS THURS 3 MARCH HOXTON SQUARE BAR & KITCHEN
THE ALTERED HOURS WED 16 MARCH THE SHACKLEWELL ARMS
JOAN SHELLEY TUES 3 MARCH THE ISLINGTON
CROOX WED 16 MARCH ELECTROWERKZ
THE FAT WHITE FAMILY WED 9 MARCH THE CORONET
ROBYN SHERWELL WED 23 MARCH HOXTON SQUARE BAR & KITCHEN
KELLY LEE OWENS THURS 10 MARCH SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS
ANNA MEREDITH TUES 29 MARCH ICA
FLOWERS FRI 11 MARCH SEBRIGHT ARMS
ELIZA SHADDAD TUES 31 MARCH SEBRIGHT ARMS
COVES WED 6 APRIL DALSTON VICTORIA GET WELL SOON WED 13 APRIL THE LEXINGTON BEATY HEART WED 13 APRIL ELECTROWERKZ WOLF PARADE TUES 14 & WED 15 JUNE SCALA LA FEMME THURS 17 NOV O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
THE KVB TUES 5 APRIL MOTH CLUB PARALLELLINESPROMOTIONS.COM
PRESENTS D SOLUT O
D SOLUT O
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D SOLUT O
D SOLUT O
MORE INFO & ADVANCE TICKETS WWW.BIRDONTHEWIRE.NET
GIGS OF THE MONTH
OUR PICK OF THE BEST SHOWS HAPPENING IN DECEMBER & JANUARY
THE OLD BLUE LAST
15/02/16 FREE @theoldbluelast
WENDY JAMES
Yes, that Wendy James, Transvision Vamp Wendy James. At The OBL. With a new solo album, and fingers crossed for some 80s classics.
SHACKLEWELL ARMS
SEA PINKS // THE LEAF LIBRARY // YOUNG ROMANCE In our review of Sea Pinks’ latest album ‘Soft Days’, we said: “Take all the best aspects of outsider pop from the last decades and you've got ‘Soft Days’.” 12/02/16 £6 @Shacklewell Arms
DALSTON JUNCTION / KINGSLAND
OLD STREET
THE LEXINGTON MOTHERS
Post-rock rhythms and emotional intensity come together to incredible effect with these Wichita signings. 26/02/16 £7adv @thelexington
ANGEL
BRIXTON WINDMILL
AUSTIN LUCAS // ADAM FAUCETT Country, Americana and more besides; Austin Lucas’ ‘Between The Moon And The Midwest’ LP sees him on top form. 28/02/16 - £9adv @windmillbrixton
BRIXTON
BUSH HALL
LONGFELLOW // FRANKLIN Longfellow are blessed with a natural pop suss. Their crashing crescendos and giant choruses will fill Bush Hall beautifully, for this, their biggest headline show yet. LONGFELLOW
18/02/16 £10 @Bushhallmusic
THE GARAGE
THE STRYPES // THE AMAZONS // OTHERKIN An NME awards show, and a great chance to see some up-andcoming new acts in this relatively intimate venue.
SHEPHERD’S BUSH
01/02/16 £14.60adv @TheGarageHQ HIGHBURY AND ISLINGTON LiS 45
SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS
THE GOOD SHIP
Kamran Khan’s Fake Laugh win hearts wherever they play, with their melodic guitar pop, and hooks for miles.
Peace In The City presents a night of rock action, and all for a fiver!
FAKE LAUGH
23/02/16 £6adv @ServantJazz
DALSTON JUNCTION / KINGSLAND
DEAD PRETTIES // TEAM NEW BAND + MORE 05/02/16 £5adv @thegoodshipNW6
BORDERLINE
THE GOOD LIFE Trading in their folkier sound for something altogether more rock, The Good Life are back with a bang.
THE DOME
TRANSVIOLET
A band getting a lot of love from a lot of people - catch them here whilst you can. TUFNELL PARK
With Noisey, Stereogum, Kick Kick Snare and even Katy Perry getting behind the ‘Girls Your Age’ track, you might want to get involved here now. 10/02/16 FREE @HoxtonHQ
NEW CROSS INN
SECRET TONGUES // CAESAR // KARMACOMA // COLD BONES A whole night of indie thrills. Expect plenty of shoegaze and dreampop. 18/02/16 £3 @NewCrossInn
20/02/16 £12adv @theborderline TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD
HOXTON BAR AND KITCHEN
SUNFLOWER BEAN 18/10/16 £10adv @DomeTufnellPark
KILBURN
NEW CROSS / NEW CROSS GATE LITTLE SIMZ
OLD STREET
OSLO
LANTERNS ON THE LAKE The always-wonderful Lanterns On The Lake return to London after a sold-out Moth Club show, in support of their finest album yet, ‘Beings’. 11/02/16 £12.50adv @OsloHackney
HACKNEY CENTRAL
O2 ISLINGTON ACADEMY LITTLE SIMZ
Our recent cover star, and one of the most electrifying live acts you’ll see around. You do not want to miss this show. photo: Lucy Johnston LiS 46
16/02/16 £11adv @O2Islington
ANGEL
FABRIC
NZCA LINES
NOISIA // PHACE // BENGA // ROCKWELL // MUMDANCE Serious drum’n’bass action in Room 1, celebrating 10 years of the Tectonic label in Room 2. Big night in EC1. 31/02/16 From £40adv @fabriclondon
FARRINGDON
THE PICKLE FACTORY
NZCA LINES // LITTLE CUB Long time LiS favouries NZCA Lines are back with an incredible 2nd album, filled with all the smart synth-pop you’d expect. 16/02/16 £7.50 @PickleFactoryE2
BIRTHDAYS
MÃS // EL CROW // TIM DE GRAAUW Mãs are inspired by the hooks of Michael Jackson, the grooves of Prince and the atmospheres of Daft Punk. Sounds good, right?
BETHNAL GREEN
02/02/16 FREE @_Birthdays DALSTON JUNCTION/ KINGSLAND
BEDROOM BAR
WAITING ROOM
A Cardiff three-piece, formed in Chicago, delving into the angular world of 80s indie and math rock.
Newcomers earning favourable comparisions to the likes of Mazzy Star, which sounds a good thing to us.
23/02/16 FREE @Bedroom_Bar
03/02/16 FREE @WaitingRoomN16
WE’RE NO HEROES
HUNCK
OLD STREET
DALSTON JUNCTION/ KINGSLAND
THE LOCK TAVERN
100 CLUB
We’re promised electronic loft party vibes, and you know what, sometimes in the depths of winter that’s just what we need.
If you’ve seen them live before, you’re probably already going, if not - get along & find out about The Magic Gang fuss.
27/02/16 FREE @thelocktavern
15/02/16 £10adv @100clubLondon
BXCENTRIC // EARL GREY // SUNS
CHALK FARM / CAMDEN TOWN
THE MAGIC GANG
TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD LiS 47
MONDAY 8TH FEBRUARY
TUESDAY 9TH FEBRUARY
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THURSDAY 11TH FEBRUARY
FRIDAY 12TH FEBRUARY
SATURDAY 13TH FEBRUARY
SUNDAY 14TH FEBRUARY
MONDAY 15TH FEBRUARY
TUESDAY 16TH FEBRUARY
WEDNESDAY 17TH FEBRUARY
THURSDAY 18TH FEBRUARY
FRIDAY 19TH FEBRUARY
SATURDAY 20TH FEBRUARY
MONDAY 22ND FEBRUARY
TUESDAY 23RD FEBRUARY
SUNDAY 21ST FEBRUARY
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THURSDAY 25TH FEBRUARY
FRIDAY 26TH FEBRUARY
SATURDAY 27TH FEBRUARY
SUNDAY 28TH FEBRUARY
MONDAY 29TH FEBRUARY
SOLD OUT / 7.30PM / VILLAGE UNDERGROUND
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TUESDAY 1ST MARCH
THURSDAY 3RD MARCH
WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH
FRIDAY 4TH MARCH
FOR THE LATEST LISTINGS, AND TO SIGN UP TO OUR GIGS OF THE WEEK EMAIL, VISIT LONDONINSTEREO.COM
Orange Yard, off Manette St, London W1D 4JB Follow us @theborderline and facebook.com/theborderline Tickets from theborderlinelondon.com or 0844 847 2465 (24hr) WED 03 FEB 7PM 14+ £10ADV
NICKI BLUHM & THE RAMBLERS
THU 04 FEB 7PM 14+ £10 ADV
ALBERTA CROSS
SAT 27 FEB 7PM 14+ £6 ADV
GUTSHOT FOR BROADWAY PLUS GUESTS
WED 09 MAR 7PM 14+ £8.00ADV
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
PRESS TO MECO
FRI 05 FEB 7PM 14+ £8 ADV
SAT 12 MAR 7PM 14+ £13 ADV
FOR APOLLO
INSESSION AND TONY BOWEN
TUE 09 FEB 7PM 14+ £9 ADV
THE SHERLOCKS PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
WED 10 FEB 6PM 14+ £5 ADV
THE ROOM DORIS BRENDEL
THU 18 FEB 7.15PM 14+ £17.50 ADV
MIKEY BROMLEY
DYLAN EVANS + CHARLIE GEORGE + SAMANTHA HARVEY
SAT 20 FEB 7PM 14+ £12 ADV
ALLUSONDRUGS, MAX RAPTOR
BLACKBEARD’S TEA PARTY
FRI 18 MAR 7PM 14+ £20 ADV
IAN SIEGAL BAND SAT 19 MAR 7PM 14+ £10ADV
AIDEN CONNELL LIVE PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
MON 21 MAR 7PM 14+ £8 ADV
HECK
TUE 22 MAR 7PM 14+ £12.50ADV
TOSELAND
FRI 25 MAR 7PM 14+ £15 ADV
TUE 23 FEB 7PM 14+ £8.50ADV
LETZ ZEP - TALES OF STORMS TOUR 2016
THE GOOD LIFE FATHERSON
WED 30 MAR 7PM 14+ £7 ADV
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
BILLY LOCKET
THU 25 FEB 7PM 14+ £15 ADV
FRI 05 AUG 7PM 14+ £12.50ADV
JANE GETTER TINY GIANT
SARABETH & GLENN MITCHELL UK TOUR
EVERY FRIDAY There ain’t no party like our 90s party
Classic Indie, Rock & Brit Pop
– In this month’s column Alan Miller, of the The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), looks at 2016 opportunites and reasons to be positive –
INTO THE NIGHT
STARTING 2016 WITH AN EXCITING COLLABORATION
Many of us are full of resolutions at the start of a new year and that’s all good. Some last longer than others but we at The NTIA are excited to announce, at the start of our second year, a collaboration that really is ‘win, win…win’. I'M IN, the hugely successful app which was launched in Amsterdam has partnered with The NTIA to provide an amazing offer for the night time industry, for people that love going to concerts, events and clubs, for promoters and, indeed, for The NTIA as we seek to win over the hearts and minds of policy makers and authorities up and down the country. So here they are: the three wins. 1: A win for venue owners, operators and, crucially, promoters - I'M IN will offset between £200 and £375 of new membership fees to The NTIA for 2016 for those undertaking a campaign on their platform. This enables a double whammy: premises and promoters get to join NTIA and benefit from additional traffic and revenue from new customers. 2: A win for event and club lovers, or as advertisers like to call us all, ‘consumers’ – with I'M IN you get the chance to ‘spin the wheel’ for all kinds of tickets and opportunities to get to see and go to concerts, club nights and more up and down the country. 3: A win, clearly, for The NTIA - new membership across the UK is hugely important; the more we represent, the further our message carries and the stronger we all are. Also, though the enormous financial challenges, and the increasing psychological pressures of continually tightening regulations, are huge for those in the night time industries world, I'M IN have taken constructive steps to support the voice of nightlife lovers – and this is the first part of
what will go on to become (shh) another national campaign… So all-in-all this is an enormous contribution for all who love our nightlife. While there is so much to do, we’re confident and excited about the year ahead. Last year saw some fantastic achievements: We Love Hackney had thousands of engaged local residents challenge the council’s wrong minded ideas about clubs, The Bussey Building had supporters challenge developers’ plans which led to both Southwark rethinking and the developers engaging and, of course, Fabric fought a valiant twelve-month fight for everyone in the UK by challenging the everincreasing demands for fortress-like security at some of the world’s best run cultural and business destinations. So, I shall leave you with the words of Dick Leijen, co-founder and CEO of I'M IN, as to why they have done this. I would ask you all to give I'M IN a go – try it out, it’s quite unique, spends no money on advertising and marketing and, as we all know, word of mouth is the way to go. “As long time supporters and contributors to nightlife globally, the team at I’M IN are delighted to be working alongside the NTIA in helping raise awareness of the UK’s night time economy which is recognised worldwide for its innovation, vibrancy and diversity. In simple terms fewer venues means less choice and with almost a million music fans now using I’M IN across Europe, we feel that the continued pressure placed on music venues is something the public should be made aware of and so encouraged to support the aims of the NTIA and its members” Come on then y’all. You In? http://appimin.com For more information and to become a member of the NTIA visit: ntia.co.uk // @wearethentia // facebook.com/wearethentia LiS 67
02—16 02—16
Lanzarote Lanzarote presents presents
#lanzaroteworks #lanzaroteworks
Shacklewell Arms Shacklewell Arms 71 Shacklewell Lane London E8
The Waiting Room
JIMMY WHISPERS JIMMY WHISPERS
ETHLY + FLORI
71 Shacklewell Lane London E8 Monday 1 February Monday 1 February
Friday 5 February Friday 5 February
The Waiting Room
175 Stoke Newington High St N16 175 Stoke Newington High St N16 Saturday 6 February Saturday 6 February
ETHLY + FLORI
Tuesday 9 February Tuesday 9 February
DEAD DEADCOAST COAST(LP (LPLAUNCH) LAUNCH)
AVANTE BLACK BLACK AVANTE
COBALT COBALTCRANES CRANES
DAISUKETANABE TANABE(LIVE) (LIVE) DAISUKE
MILD MILDHIGH HIGHCLUB CLUB
TOXE TOXE
Saturday 6 February Saturday 6 February
Thursday Thursday1111February February Friday Friday1919February February
HEATERS HEATERS
TheLock LockTavern Tavern The ChalkFarm FarmRd RdLondon LondonNW1 NW1 3535 Chalk
Thursday 11 February Thursday 11 February Friday12 12February February Friday
Friday26 26February February Friday
NATHANGREGORY GREGORY NATHAN WILKINS WILKINS MOTH MOTH Club Club
Thursday4 4February February Thursday
35 35 Chalk ChalkFarm FarmRd RdLondon LondonNW1 NW1
Friday5 5February February Friday
TOGETHER TOGETHERPANGEA PANGEA
SCREAMINGPEACHES PEACHES SCREAMING MURKAGEDAVE DAVE(DJ) (DJ) MURKAGE Saturday 13 February Saturday 13 February
HUNGUP UPDJS DJS HUNG
Friday 26 February Friday 26 February
ANTO DUST
ANTO DUST
Friday 11 March Friday 11 March
VENICE TRIP
VENICE TRIP
Thurs 24 —Sun 27 March Thurs 24 —Sun 27 March
SKINNY GIRL DIET
SKINNY GIRL DIET
Friday Friday55February February
Friday Friday12 12February February
DAN DAN SHAKE SHAKE//DAN DAN BEAUMONT BEAUMONT Thursday 18 February Thursday 18 February
WHITNEY
WHITNEY
Tuesday 23 February Tuesday 23 February
EMPRESS OF
EMPRESS OF
Friday 26 + Saturday 27 February
Friday 26 + Saturday 27 February YUCK
YUCK
...IN LONDON
with ROSIE LOWE Why do you live in London? Because there is nowhere else I’d want to live at this point in my life - there are a million places I would love to visit but when I’m away from London for more than a few days I start to get butterflies in my stomach thinking about going back. It still excites me and it’s very much my home… Where do you like to eat and drink? I spend a lot time exploring new places but some of my faves are Morito (Clerkenwell) for tapas, Song Que (Hackney) for Vietnamese, Ajiichiban (Greenwich) for sushi, FM Mangal (Camberwell) for Turkish and The London Particular (New Cross) for breakfasts. I’m pretty passionate about food so I could go on all day…. What’s the perfect way to spend the day? Morning coffee and food at Borough Market with friends, walk up the river to Tate Modern, jump on bus to Shoreditch to try on vintage glasses from my fave shop; Catch & Release - followed by coffee at Allpress and a bagel on Brick Lane. Spend the evening watching some theatre or music and grabbing some late night Spanish tapas in Morito... walk across the street to Bar Kick for a bottle of beer and some table football before heading home to Deptford. What a dream. Now it’s getting colder out, where do you hunker down to survive the winter? At home cooking roasts and drinking red wine! I love to spend the winter hibernating in my studio… or sitting in my local cinema (Greenwich Picture House) eating popcorn. Best London show you’ve played? St Pancras Old Church - such a beautiful and special space to perform in.
“I’M PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD SO I COULD GO ON ALL DAY….” How would you advise someone to get the most out of this city? To go off the beaten track. Lots of people I know think London is ‘too hectic’ but that’s because they go to central London on a Saturday. Hang out in a cosy pub or get a picnic in a park outside of Zone 1 and you may see the more real, chilled side of London. Does London influence the music you write? Totally. One of my favourite things is sitting on trains and peering in at all the windows you go by. You catch a glimpse of people’s lives - everyone’s got a story to tell…it gets my imagination going. I’m originally from Devon and my life there is the polar opposite from London (in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nature) but they both have an incredible way of making you feel as tiny and insignificant as the other. That’s important, for me, to take the pressure off a bit and to conquer those initial fears of creating something new. Rosie releases Control February 19th via Wolf Tone. LIVE: Oslo, Hackney, February 25th. ONLINE: @rosielowemusic // facebook.com/rosielowemusic
LiS 69
LIVE DIET CIG The Lexington, January 14th
Way back in the now long-forgotten 2015 we were swanning around Manhattan (no, stay with me) in pursuit of many glorious things: a Katz Deli sandwich, a Russ & Daughters’ bagel, some knish from Yonah Schimmel – if you know your NYC geography, you’ll know we ain’t travelling far here – the list goes on. At the top of that list, though, and still walking no more than a few hundred steps to a venue called Cake Shop, were a band we’d been wanting to see for months. Ever since a track named ‘Harvard’ exploded into our lives we’d been itching to see Diet Cig live. So bravely we flew to New York, bravely we clogged up any remaining arteries and bravely we stumbled down a dark staircase, along a ramp and crammed up to the side of the stage to see them. We like this band. They fooled about to Taylor Swift songs, they absolutely fucking ruled the place, and we were absolutely fucking smitten. And a bit full-up. Screw that though, because now it’s 2016 and Diet Cig are in London. They’ve already slayed the Old Blue Last, already bossed the hell out of Servant Jazz Quarters and already given rave reviews to Lucky Chip burgers (we like this band) and now
we’re at The Lexington ready for one more dose of an act that bring more infectious joy to their live show than anyone since Hinds came bounding along. Professing love for London (smart), comparing us favourably to American crowds (double smart), Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman seem thrilled to be here, and blown away by their meteoric rise. They don’t take up much space on the Lex stage, but my god do they ever own it. Luciano is a human dynamo, perpetualmotion personified. She’s everywhere; in the crowd, clambering speakers, leaping, whirling, gathering up the audience into Diet Cig world, whilst Bowman pummels the living hell out of those drums, propelling the show along at break-neck speed. There’s no resistance, no time to breath, we’re all swept up in the cacophony, all feeding off their kinetic charge. These songs, laced with selfdeprecating wit and liberally scattered with razor-sharp barbs sound huge tonight. Lame indie scenes and lamer boyfriends are handled with all the withering disdain they deserve and, oh god, they’re playing ‘Harvard’ and all that matters is “Fuck your Ivy League sweater!”. We like this band. Dave Rowlinson
Diet Cig photo: Nick Grennon (nicholasgrennon.com)
MEILYR JONES
Electrowerkz, January 13th
“I always wondered if I can change an atmosphere with the click of a finger...” muses Meilyr Jones, as his band launches into lead single ‘How To Appreciate A Work of Art’, from his album, 2013, set for release this month. Jones’s ability to completely capture a sold-out Electrowerkz with little more than a live band (albeit a stellar one) and a few anecdotes will probably answer that. The 200-strong crowd soon forgot about technical issues and the resulting forty-minute delay as the
ex-Race Horses frontman treats us to a winning set-list combining his Gwilym Gold-meets-Jethro Tull style and a triumphant rendition of ‘Rebel, Rebel’ - a touching tribute to "a fellow Jones by birth". This - paired with his Welsh charm and an endearing red turtleneck - means Meilyr Jones has enough under his belt to soon win over an audience much larger than that of his debut London show and become one of the stand-out acts of 2016. Alyssa Macgregor Hastie LiS 71
PRESENTS
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MYTICKET.CO.UK
by Chris Slade The year is 1986. Whitney is in her sixth chart week with undeniable banger ‘How Will I Know’, Madonna just dropped ‘Borderline’ and Diana Ross is #1 with ‘Chain Reaction’, which then meant that you’d sold a fuck load of actual records, which people paid some money for at the shops. The PR guy runs the party in 1986. After a 3-hour lunch with Sounds Magazine, you can head back to the office to delete any answerphone messages before faxing out a press release which is embargoed for the next six weeks. If you wanted to be mean, you could withhold access to the artist or call the lawyer and fuck the editor over. He deserves it. To be nice again, you could fly the guy around the world and pay for all his lobster and drugs, which sort of evens out at them not entirely hating your guts. Fun for everyone involved and there’s more money, don’t worry, the party will never end. It’s so good. It’s like a dream, kind of… Wait, hold on… This is a dream! The year is not 1986! It’s 2016, and in this dystopian future I have just unfollowed a blogger on Twitter for making yet another joke about a shitty press release they received about a new urinal cake that you can eat like a real cake after you’ve peed on it. God, I hate that guy. If I’m feeling mean, I can withhold access to my artist, who the journalist then adds on Skype and flat-out asks them if they’re really a Holocaust denier. Fuck. Uh-oh. The piece runs two hours later, headline: “‘All I’m Saying Is [The Holocaust] Might [Not] Have Happened’ – Shocking Revelations From The Singer/Songwriter”. Nothing I can do, really. I ask them to change the piece but nobody replies. Now, If I want to sweeten this guy up, I can always arrange to meet and have a Red Stripe and go twos on a Marlboro Light in Hoxton Square before a gig I need him to review. He’s reviewing the show that night for a new Snapchat channel. Later that night, his Snapstory reads: “at the worst gig of my life omg help” with three coffin emojis. I screenshot the snap and send it to the manager as proof that he came to the show. He needs a beer, so I get him one. There are five other PR people at this show. One has no shoes on. We don’t know what to do but we can’t go home because the rest of the label came too. I look over at the guy from Columbia promoting his new shoegaze four-piece. While my card gets declined at the bar, we exchange a collective sigh. One PR wearing a burlap sack with a greasy mod haircut asks if I have any change, but I don’t. He gets out Citymapper to look at the night bus timetable. I book my contact an Uber. I see him tweet “lol you guys won’t believe this PR email I got today.” I favourite the tweet but I’m pretty sure the email he’s talking about was from me. I morosely read the chart update email while I wait for the bus. Justin Bieber is at #1 again. He’s sold three million streams. LiS 73
PRESENTS
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MYTICKET.CO.UK
PRESENTS
MONDAY 14 MARCH THE LEXINGTON TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MYTICKET.CO.UK