|
|
PREVIEWS (Full Monthly listing for May/June HERE)
Sunday 2nd June
Poor Rich Ones
Poor Rich Ones are another fine example of the stylistically cool
and musically articulate Scandinavians. With the likes of Royksopp and
Kings of Convenience already making the short hop over the North Sea
to Britain, the Norwegian Poor Rich Ones are very much from the same
fuzzy pool of melody and ingenue. Their newly released album Happy
Happy Happy received 4.5 / 5 in Rock Sound (Dec 2001), and their
previous album (unfortunately not released over here) won the Norwegian
equivalent of a Brit award!
Sunday 2nd June
The Alps
Formed atop a snowy peak in the Swiss Alps, Daniel and his pals
have been practicing the art of crafting lovely tunes and are now ready
to perform their sublime brand of melodic pop to the masses. Mixing
lyrical genius with irresistible catchiness, The Alps will stir your
soul to the core. Marvelous!
Wednesday 5th
June
playlouder.com
Singles Club event with
Special Guest + British Sea Power + Beatings
Playlouder, in conjunction with Plum Promotions,
bring you the very best new bands live and direct to The Water Rats.
Tuesday 14th June
Melt
Melt formed in 2000, and after furiously writing and recording,
unleashed their brand of indie angst on the gig going public of London.
The Dublin Castle described them as "Divine Comedy before they
become Radiohead's understudies". Plum Promotions thinks Melt mix
haunting minor chords with big tunes and style.
Saturday
15th June
Strange Fruit / Sink and Stove presents...
SOEZA
Over the last four years Soeza have developed a strangely allusive,
angular yet soulful rock sound, whose emphasis shifts and fluctuates
between all seven members. Likened to Dexy’s Midnight Runners and even
the Nation of Ulysses, the band are proud of a richly layered sound,
made up of horns, cornets, dual guitars and a sweet, beautiful female
vocal. Having already garnered considerable critical acclaim for their
characteristic brand of soul-rock, this is a rare chance to catch their
compulsive live act.
CHIKINKI
Like the bastard offspring of Massive Attack, Chikinki take soul and
drum ‘n’ bass roots and throw it into a raw, vitriolic revelation of
sound. Described by Time Out as ‘uneasy, dark and unusual indie rock
spliced with dirty, heavy beats…’ and The Guardian as ‘One of the South
West’s hottest up-and-coming bands’, Chikinki are often compared to
their spiritual contemporaries Portishead and Massive Attack and their
latest album, ‘Experiment With Mother’, is a masterwork of leftfield
pop. Their live shows are urbane, hip and breathtaking. Definitely one
to look out for.
MORNING STAR
Beautiful and vibrant, Morning Star specialise in subdued, gloriously
mellow pop. Defiant of musical restrictions, Morning Star’s album ‘My
Place In The Dust’ is a deeply personal, profound little number of which
The Guardian wrote: ‘it radiates an assured originality’ Moving and
melancholic, Morning Star are sublime in their simplicity, producing
genuinely dreamy music.
MOOZ
Elegantly contained pop tunes abound. Mooz are sweet, classy and self-assured,
with vibrant live performances.
Tuesday 18th June
Mclusky
Any band who writes a song called Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues
is very cool in my book. Inspired! Mclusky aren not noted for their
watered down, sing-a-long Radio 2 ballads. They are the kings of the
one and a half minute pure punk anthem. Their music makes you want to
punch the air and declare war on everything shit; there's no clutter,
no boring middle sections and no long winded guitar solos to get in
the way. Their album Mclusky Do Dallas was released on the Too
Pure label, are favourites of both Steve Lamaq and John Peel.
Friday 21st June
Alaska
The members of Alaska met on a deserted archipelago in the North Pacific.
Perhaps people have to go that far nowadays to find like minds; minds
with a love of lyrics and melody that map the human heart. Watch Alaska
and prepare to have your soul stirred. Just beautiful.
Saturday 22nd June
The Fallout Trust
The Fallout Trust formed in October 2001. They combine intricate Beach
Boys-style harmonies with guitars, keyboards, orchestral samples and
occasional dashes of electronica, to produce a powerful cinematic sound.
The band is currently recording its first single, due for release in
June 2002, following a succession of sold out gigs around southern England.
In June they are embarking on a nation wide tour to promote the first
single, culminating in a gig at The Water Rats.
|
Other A&R tips
The Whole Thing + Monkey + Imperial
Racing Club (29/05/02)
Hamfatter + Melt + Wokachika (14/06/02)
The Hot Puppies + Budapest + tbc (25/06/02)
|
