Nod Ya Head #4 - Jeph, Flying Machines & Fugitive Orchestra

The motto "same old town, brand new music" befits Nod Ya Head well, with the Fareham promoter quickly establishing a deserved reputation for booking an interesting mix of bands for its live music nights. The line-up for their fourth showcase, which includes something great from the other side of the Solent, can only add to this renown.

The Isle of Wight continues to bring forth great musical offerings, such as the cinematic electronica of Curxes, the spiky indie-pop of Lauran Hibberd and the eclectic loveliness of Plastic Mermaids. The island's latest export is Jeph, an indie foursome with a lush line of jangly guitar; if you like The Beths then these should be right up your street.



Second on the bill are Flying Machines who, I have no doubt, some idle writer will tailor a quip about being magnificent men. The band Portsmouth band, not to be confused with the London outfit of the same name, released their debut long player Tales of a Quiet Guest last year.



Rounding out the line-up is Portsmouth's own Fugitive Orchestra, the one-man-band of James Tattington, who recently celebrated the release of his new single Tomahawk Caress with a gig at the city's newest venue, The House of Rapture.



Advance tickets for the Saturday 6th April gig at The Roundabout Hotel are available online now via BookEvents, priced at £6, with entry OTD still a snip at £7. 

UPDATE:

02/04 Physical tickets are available for purchase from Heathen Chemistry, West Street, Fareham.

Jerry Williams - 'Gameshow'

"Lights out, have gone out, I’m worn out from sat here watching gameshows by myself"

Singer-songwriter Jerry Williams has gained a deserved reputation for producing foot-tappingly catchy tunes, slick combinations of singalong lyrics and memorable choruses that take an easy residence in the brain. New release Gameshow however is a stark remove from Jerry's norm, an achingly haunting tune of loss and goodbye inspired by the loss of a family friend.

Near whispered vocals lilt delicately over slow a mournful piano, an approach that lets the weight of the lyrics take hold. It's a beautifully sad song, full of bittersweet loveliness, that may very well leave you misty-eyed after listening.

Gameshow has been released as a streaming EP which includes recent release David At The Bar, as well as live favourites Left & Right and Grab Life, and is available now via the usual online suspects.

Desperate Journalist - 'Satellite'

Ahead of next month's release of album number three, the intriguingly entitled In Search of The Miraculous (which I'm assuming is named after Bas Jan Ader's final work), indie rock four-piece Desperate Journalist have unleashed another screamer of a single upon the world.

Satellite is a jaw-dropping four minutes and twenty seconds of biting lyrics that lead into a melodic chorus, delivered over a guitar riff that won't do your lumbago any good at all. Jo Bevan's soaring vocals, Simon Drowner's driven bassline and Caroline Helbert's powered drumming join together with guitarist Rob Hardy's stellar solo (which is truly a thing of indie rock beauty) to create a song that practically demands repeated listening. 

Unlike previous release Cedars which, I'll admit, took me a few listens to fully appreciate the wonder of, Satellite grabbed me firmly by the lapels and demanded my attention.

The single is available for purchase now via all good digital platforms, new album In Search of The Miraculous is released on Friday 22nd February and can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

Dials Playlist

One of the perks of living in the modern age is that, prior to attending music festivals, we can easily check what acts we'd like to see (or avoid) simply by spending some time on Spotify (other streaming services are available). Of course, this could also be perceived as a drawback; one of the joys of music festivals is stumbling across your New Favourite Band when you were least expecting to, hearing that song, loving that tune. 

So, whilst the lovely folks at Dials have prepared a playlist of artists on the festival's bill, a playlist that I've posted below, it is up to you, gentle reader, whether you listen now or save your jaw-dropping delight for October 6th. 

An Eighties Challenge, Day Two

Day two of the Eighties Challenge where, of course, I've been tasked to choose seven songs in seven days from that decade of excess. Songs to delight, or songs to confuse. Maybe both.

Thinking about it now, despite the tricks memory plays, Saturdays had a regular routine about them (or at least they did until I discovered alcohol); mornings spent festering in front of the telly, flicking between BBC and ITV, followed by a walk into Fareham to waste a not inconsiderable amount of time in Venus Records perusing the 12" singles piled up in their 99p sales rack. Sometimes this exercise would offer up gems, a promo white label perhaps or a new release that had been slipped in to make things interesting, but more often than not I'd end up punting my pounds on something peculiar. All too often I'd be tempted by odd vinyl from bands I'd not heard of, risking my money on the cover alone, and have to wait until I got home to discover if I'd bought a classic or a new novelty place mat.

Today's offering is one from the 99p sales rack, it's not really a gem but it's not something I'd sit my plate of fish and chips on either, that I must have had some reason to buy unheard. A song by a band some might remember but most won't know, to be honest I was amazed to find the audio clip on YouTube (more so that it's on Spotify too), English Evenings released a handful of singles before disappearing back from whence they came. Set your controls for 1985 and, for the next six and a bit minutes, enjoy the slightly overblown 12" remix of I Will Return...

Leonard Bernstein. Leonid Brezhnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs.

No sooner have R.E.M. decided to split up then news of a final Greatest Hits release lands. Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage will be released this November, a double CD that plunders the band's back catalogue for songs you probably already have plus three new songs recorded after Collapse Into Now was completed. For the most part I'm happy with the large chunk of the band's oeuvre I've already paid out for (call me old fashioned but that's how I am) so I can't see myself buying it.

Nevertheless it got me to thinking about what tracks I'd throw onto an R.E.M. compilation CD; what songs I'd include, what songs I'd leave off and why. Then I noticed that the chaps from Pet Sounds had already assembled a packed Spotify playlist over at Strong Island which is more deserving of a listen then something I'd conjure up.

But, whilst you're waiting for Spotify to load up, you could always give the following a listen; first up quite possibly my favourite R.E.M. song ever. It's just... well, you had to be there.

Next perhaps an obvious choice, but there's a (suitably dumb) reason why; once upon a time my local pub had, tucked away on its jukebox, the Greenpeace Rainbow Warriors CD. It was only CD in the damn thing with any R.E.M. on it at all, hence this got played an awful lot.

And finally.. I know, I could've picked something heavier/darker (i.e. anything from Monster) but this is a beautiful tune.