Nadine Khouri – Live

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Old Chapel St. Pancras – 26/06/2013
Permalink:http://mostlyferocious.com/2013/09/24/nadine-khouri-live/

Nadine Khouri played at the Old Church at St. Pancras. For anyone who has never had the pleasure of attending this venue, it is exactly as it’s name suggest, a tiny chapel just outside Kings X. It’s the kind of venue best suited for artists like Nadine Khouri, and her brand of stark, slow-core tales of love and spirituality.

Nadine is accompanied by Ruban Byrne on guitar and mostly plays Ukulele, and sometimes guitar, and occasional keyboard. As an artist she is very quiet and candid on stage, but when in full voice has the capacity to hold the entire audience to a whisper. Continue reading →

Teardrop Factory – Topshop EP / Shudder Pulps – Housebound EP

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Teardrop Factory – Topshop EP – Released 27/05/2013 (Faux Discx)
Shudder Pulps – Housebound EP – Released 12/08/2013 (Faux Discx)
Permalink : http://mostlyferocious.com/2013/08/12/teardrop-factory-topshop-ep-shudder-pulps-housebound-ep

Teardrop Factory 'Topshop EP'Faux Discx is a record label based in Brighton, created and managed by (one third of Cold Pumas’) Dan Reeves. The label specialises in bringing guitar based art-rock back to the masses. It’s something of a phenomenon how their acts are sourced, and with each new release comes a new revelation.

Earlier in the year Cold Puma’s redefined noise-rock with their seminal ‘Persistent Malaise’ album, and the labels recent release from Teardrop Factory, and up and coming EP from Shudder Pulps adds to their sterling catalogue.

Teardrop Factory are a three-piece based in Brighton, and keeping in with the Faux Discx tradition of scuzz-pop and melodic guitar-based noise. Their debut ‘Topshop EP’ is released as part of Faux Discx ‘Monotone’ 7″ series and completely encapsulates the many facets of their sound in the four tracks on offer. Continue reading →

The Dodos – Carrier

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Released 27/08/2013 (Polyvinyl Records)
Permalink : http://mostlyferocious.com/2013/07/08/the-dodos-carrier/

The Dodo’s are duo Meric Long and Logan Kroeber (often accompanied by an ever-changing cast of supporting musicians) and they hail from San Francisco. Long time stalwarts of the US ‘college scene’ their breakthrough album ‘Visiter’ was released in 2008, and they’ve gained a huge following since that time. The Dodo’s are famed for their live shows, and imaginative use of instruments (tambourine shoes, no really), and also for their vocals and very technical guitar structures. Labelled as ‘indie/folk’ some time ago, this feels like a label they have both outgrown and redefined. There is no doubt they have some roots in folks, but their ability to shapeshift throughout any of their tracks makes this feel like a catagorisation too far. Continue reading →

Daft Punk – Random Access Memories

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Released – 17/05/2013 (Columbia Records)
Permalink : http://mostlyferocious.com/2013/06/28/daft-punk-random-access-memories/

Daft Punk Random Access MemoriesFollowing on from 2005’s ‘Human After All’ and 2010’s ‘Tron : Legacy’ soundtrack, it’s hard to ignore the media circus which has encapsulated the release of Daft Punk’s new offering ‘Random Access Memories’. It’s easy to forget how long the French duo have been churning out the hits, and their expansive back-catalogue span some 16 years. Over that time, Daft Punk have managed to create some of the most iconic dance music of any artist, and there is always an undeniably timeless feel to everything they do. In terms of musical style, they are electronic for the most part, but never shy away from the use of live instruments whenever they need to. ‘Random Access Memories’ is possibly their most ‘instrumental-driven’ output yet. Continue reading →

Parquet Courts – Light Up Gold

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Released – 15/04/2013 (Mom+Pop / What’s Your Rupture)
Permalink :  http://mostlyferocious.com/2013/05/13/parquet-courts-light-up-gold/

Parquet Courts are a four piece from Brooklyn, New York and possibly the most American band you’ll have heard in a while. Most notably compared to early Pavement, circa ‘Slanted and Enchanted’, they encapsulate just about everything about New York’s musical heritage; repetitive chords from Ramones, spoken word rants from the early eighties ‘No Wave’ scene, and all done with the swagger and confidence that’s impossibly Iggy Pop. They’re aware of their musical pedigree, and my god they’re going to use it.

Opener ‘Master of My Craft’ is a simple three and a half minute pop ditty, with spoken lyrics over aggressive surf guitar. This has Pavement written all over it. Continue reading →

My Bloody Valentine – MBV

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Released – 03/02/13 (Pickpocket Records)
Permalink : http://mostlyferocious.com/2013/03/27/my-bloody-valentine-mbv/

My Bloody Valentine - mbvFor the newcomer to My Bloody Valentine, their music can come to some as a bit of a shock. It’s not like anything you have ever heard before, and it can be an acquired taste.  My Bloody Valentine hail from Ireland and were formed in 1983. After a number of single and EP releases, their first long player ‘Isn’t Anything’ was released in 1988.  The thing with My Bloody Valentine is that their music is very loud and very chaotic, but conversely very gentle. It can feel like an assault on the senses, but with further inspection, it can also be incredibly soothing. Continue reading →