Tag Archives: Liverpool

Loved Ones – End Of An Error

Loved Ones - End Of An Error

Meet your new Loved Ones (FKA Seal Cub Clubbing Club).

The Liverpool band could be described as ambient rock, with tinges of electronica and piano composition thrown in there too.

Lead singer Nik Glover explains about their track ‘End Of An Error’,

“We tried to turn our traditional song structure on its head in End of an Error, piling all the melodies into the verse and letting the chorus speed past with hardly any vocals. It’s a song about naive teenage love and regret, and why sometimes ripping up all your memories of a relationship is better than trying to hold on to it.

Their second album, ‘Harness’ will be out soon.

Sounds like: The Slow Show, Nimmo, Django Django

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Deliah – Better The Devil

Deliah

Deliah

New track, ‘Better The Devil’ by Deliah is slightly out of the realms of what we would normally post, but we think the Liverpool-based duo have something pretty special.

The jazz-tinged R&B release is, as lead singer Michelle Harris and instrumentalist Alex Dopierala put it, “an almost sarcastic look on being oppressed.”

Honing their live set, Deliah have spent the last year supporting Ady Suleiman and Maverick Sabre
Like what you hear? Catch them at one of the dates below:

19th November – Liverpool, Sound Station Podcast Prize
6th Dec – Snug – Bristol – ILUVLIVE
8th Dec – Fallow’s Cafe – Manchester – ILUVLIVE

Sounds like: Ady Suleiman, Maverick Sabre, NAO, Shakka, Låpsley, Dua Lipa

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Black Pulp – Vapour

Black Pulp - Vapour

Black Pulp – Vapour

There is very little we know about Liverpool-based band, Black Pulp, apart from the fact they create illuminating indie pop that reminds us of a “rough around the edges” Foals, or a nodding Bombay Bicycle Club.

Their second ever release, ‘Vapour’, gives us a lesson about the effect girls have on boys.

Sounds like: Foals, Bombay Bicycle Club, Two Door Cinema Club, Bad Sounds, The 1975

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Mononoke – Silence For You

Mononoke

Mononoke

Meet the fierce and animated, Mononoke; the UK’s very own musical princess.

Mononoke did release a couple of singles eighteen months ago, and although they were both well received by tastemakers and blogs, she decided to take a step back and hone her sound and creative image.

The result is her four track EP, ‘Silence For You’, which is set for release on 15 July.

Listen to the title track below.

Mononoke has also been busy putting together a series of cinema graphs for each track on the EP.

Sounds like: Becky Hill, Frances, Saint Clair, Lorde, Say Lou Lou

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BANNERS – Start A Riot

BANNERS

BANNERS

Following a signing to Island Records, it’s the return of Liverpool singer, BANNERS

The third track from his newly announced debut EP is ‘Start A Riot’, which can simply be described as heartfelt, organic, melodic pop.

BANNERS’s songs are almost all geographic in nature. “I tend to write based on the place I’m in and the context,” he says, adding that various cities and the sea are often his primary inspirations. “Water is wild and untamable and a true mystery. I always seem to come back to it.”

Listen below.

Sounds like: The Temper Trap, Dive In, Kid Astray, Keane, Passenger, Arcade Fire, Foxes, Zara Kershaw

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Circa Waves Talk Young Chasers, Dave Grohl, and the Magical World of the Strands

Young Chasers album

Liverpool-based Circa Waves released their full-length album, ‘Young Chasers’, on 18 September via Virgin Records. The British indie-rockers’ debut includes the wonderfully blissful summer anthem, ‘T-Shirt Weather‘, and ‘Stuck in My Teeth, described by Apple Music’s award-winning DJ and producer Zane Lowe as his “Hottest Record in the World.”

Of the compliment, bassist Sam Rourke has said, “It’s great getting the thumbs up from someone like Zane Lowe, he’s been such an important figure in British music for so long. Now that he’s leaving [Radio 1], we’re working out a way to sweet talk Annie Mac — we’re sending her a basket of kittens every day this week.”

Read on as Sam and frontman Kieran Shudall answer my questions about musical influences, the touring experience, and what songs they are jamming to these days.

In a DIY interview, you mention Joni Mitchell, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Arcade Fire as favorites out of your own vinyl collection. Could you throw us a couple more gems from your record arsenal? What have you been listening to lately?

Kieran: I have a little old record player by my kitchen and love to cook ‘n listen to old records. Sgt. Pepper’s [Lonely Hearts Club Band] get a lot of use (cliche, me being from Liverpool, I know.) Graceland gets a lot of attention also. I’ve been listening to Michael Head and the Magical World of the Strands vinyl reissue. It’s underrated and totally beautiful songwriting. It must be heard by more people.

You say you write “loads of mediocre material” for every hit you write. I am quite sure this is the case for most bands. The hits you do have have really taken off. Are there any personal favorite songs you think could have been singles, but weren’t?

Kieran: I wrote a lot for the first record, including a lot more laidback songs which got pushed to the side to make a more explosive first album. There is a track called “Lost It” on the album which Is one of my favourites lyrically and has a chorus that competes with any of the singles we released.

Sam — You mention being fired, just before the band took off, from a job at a cathedral’s visitor center café and described it as “fucking terrible.” Intrigued and being nosy — why were you fired?

Sam: To be honest, I was a terrible employee. I was late all the time, left early, and was rude to customers. I’m surprised I lasted as long as I did.

Circa Waves

You came from humble indie beginnings and blew up as a fairly young band with a lot of buzz. How has this experience changed you?

Kieran: Coming from playing in bands for 8 years previous to Circa, you get knocked down over that time and don’t believe it’s ever going to happen to you. When the band started taking off it was surreal and an almost outer body experience, like I was watching someone else do well. Over recent months I’ve started to really feel like we have earned everything that has come to us. The experience has showed me that we give any band out there a run for their money.

You have toured with some pretty big names, such as Phoenix and The Libertines. How has it been working with such legendary bands?

Kieran: Much like listening to music is good homework for writing songs, I think touring with great bands is amazing for learning from them and their performance. Every successful band has something you can learn from them, be it the energy they put into the show or just how they treat their crew. You need to have your eyes open as a young band and take it all in.

You once mentioned wanting to meet Noel Gallagher, expecting to be called “shit” by him, as he is a well-known sourpuss. You seem to see this as kind of a rock ‘n roll christening. Have you met him since?

Kieran: Ha. I’ve not yet had the pleasure. He has a very similar outlook to writing songs as me and talks about how some songs mean nothing and are just great pop songs and how some tracks mean a lot. I love that way and think it encourages great songs to pour out of you. I’m sure our paths will cross one day.

How has it been touring/meeting bands you admire? (e.g., Arctic Monkeys, to whom you are often compared).

Kieran: [Have] not met the Arctics yet. I hear they are lovely. People say don’t meet your heroes, but that is utter bullshit. The Libertines were so warm and welcoming. They bought Joe a birthday cake! Phoenix invited us for beers and talked about pop music with us. I played ping pong with Interpol. They are just normal people that you meet. The only difference being that you’ve been listening to their records for years and maybe been air-guitaring to their tracks in your bedroom as a kid.

To what extent has the press played a role in your success?

Kieran: We’ve only recently started getting some. We have had bits since the start, but never a lot. Radio 1 and constant touring has been our foundation for building a fanbase in the UK.

What is something you’ve struggled with as a musician. Is it something you’ve overcome?

Kieran: I miss home. Family and my girlfriend are a huge part of my life and I see them a few weeks a year now due to touring. It’s a big sacrifice but luckily I have huge support from them.

You get to kick back, relax, and have a beer with anyone in the world (past or present). Who is it and why?

Kieran: Dave Grohl. He’s someone I’ve been so inspired by since my brother brought home Nirvana Unplugged. I later bought every Foo Fighters record and studied his songwriting. He’s a man who has become so well-known but still maintains this approachable vibe. He seems like someone who would actually have a beer with me one day as well! I’d just have to try and not sweat so much as to drop my pint.

Many thanks to Kieran and Sam, and congrats on Circa Waves’ new album!

Listen to Circa Waves’ latest track on Soundcloud below!

Want more? Check ’em out on Coco!

Young Chasers was released 18 September and is now available on iTunes. For more info about Circa Waves, visit their official website. View upcoming tour dates or stream their music through Spotify. Many thanks to Circa Waves and Virgin EMI Records!

To learn more about the author, visit Lauren Kruczyk’s website. Co-written by Christopher Flakus – Author, Musician, and Huffington Post Contributor.

Sounds like: Catfish & The Bottlemen, Superfood, Wolf Alice, Peace, Palma Violets

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Banners – Shine A Light

Banners

Banners

Liverpool-based BANNERS (formally known as RAINES) releases the catchy ‘Shine A Light’.

It’s an indie pop anthem driven by grand instrumentals and ranging vocals.

Speaking on the track, BANNERS states:

“The song is about feeling lost at sea and desperately searching for a beacon of light. It’s about waiting for that one big wave to finally pull you under while clinging on to that one last ray of hope. It’s a song to the person in your life that offers salvation while the storm is raging around you.”

Sounds like: The Temper Trap, Dive In, Kid Astray, Keane

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The Wombats – Be Your Shadow

The Wombats - Be Your Shadow

The Wombats – Be Your Shadow

Liverpool trio, The Wombats have unveiled their new music video for ‘Be Your Shadows’.

The video, which was directed by James Moore (Coldplay, The Strokes, Catfish and the Bottleman), is fitting to its song title; it features an inspiring and lanky-looking wrestler training for a big fight against his wrestling idol, twice his size.

Download the new album ‘Glitterbug’ now on iTunes. It is out via 14th Floor Records.

Sounds like: The Pigeon Detectives, Circa Waves, The Strokes, Catfish and the Bottleman, Two Door Cinema Club, Of Monsters and Men, The Vaccines, The Kooks, Kopecky

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Circa Waves – Fossils

Circa Waves

Circa Waves

Circa Waves is a four-piece band from Liverpool, England. The band consists of Kieran Shudall, Sian Plummer, Sam Rourke and Joe Falconer.

They today release the video to their new single, ‘Fossils’.

The video, directed by LA based Adam Powell (Jamie TMichael Kiwanuka), was shot during the band’s recent European tour with The Libertines.

Describing the making of the video, Powell said: ” The boys and I bonded over a game of ping pong. The video was more of an ethos than anything particularly planned or thought out, we just wanted to get into Berlin and lose our minds. I slept in the bunk on the tour bus with the super 8mm camera, lost track of my shoes during our 48hour sleepless stay in Berlin and the whole thing was fucking amazing ”

UK Tour Dates in April:

8th Riverside, Newcastle
9th Garage, Glasgow
10th Leadmill, Sheffield
11th Academy, Liverpool
13th Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
14th Library at the Institute, Birmingham
16th Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
17th Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
18th Ritz, Manchester

Tickets for the shows are available here.

Sounds like: The Libertines, Two Door Cinema Club, Superfood, Beta Frontiers, AYER

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Zola Blood – Grace

Zola Blood

Zola Blood

Zola Blood is the latest signing to Pond Life Songs, the label synonymous with Talk Talk’s 1991 album ‘Laughing Stock’ and more recently Liverpool’s avant-pop trio Ninetails. Despite a 22-year hiatus, Pond Life’s passion for bold, inventive new music remains strong, as proved by their newest signing.

First track ‘Grace’ combines R&B with ambient electronica and haunting vocals similar to the that of Foals’ Yannis Philippakis.

Zola Blood’s intricate arrangements were developed over a year on a Hackney Wick industrial estate, dissecting mobile phone recordings and programming synthesisers.

Despite the allure, Zola Blood is a competent group with a bright future ahead.

Sounds like: The Foals, Portishead, Talk Talk, Ninetails, Elbow, New Navy, Mogwai, SOHN, James Blake

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