The latest single reviews from our London Correspondent, Captain Stavros

Aoife Nessa Frances

‘This Still Life’

Protector out October 28 via Partisan Records

As summer slowly slips away, we thought we’d start the STM list with a song that embodies that transition nicely.

 

Courtney Marie Andrews

‘These Are The Good Old Days’

Loose Future out October 7 via Fat Possum

Speaking of seasons slipping away, doesn’t mean the good ole days gotta go with ‘em.

 

Blancmange

‘Reduced Voltage’

Private View out September 30

A mechanical melody from the future.

 

King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard

‘Ice V’

Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms And Lava out now via KGLW

It’s a good track but more importantly these motherfuckers are releasing three albums in October!!!!

 

Beth Orton 

‘Fractals’ (Feat Alabaster Deplume)

Weather Alive out now Via Partisan Records

One time Alabaster told me a funny anecdote involving a child and a tuba, I think, whilst walking down Holloway Road. The lesson? Listen to anything involving DePlume, you won’t be remiss.

https://bethorton.lnk.to/fractals

 

Gold Panda

‘The Work’

The Work out November 11 via City Slang

A hard to describe but uplifting track that sounds sort of like a computer got high in the sun.

 

Deerhoof

‘My Lovely Cat’

Out now via Joyful Noise

As always, get ready to have your mind bent by these lot. You either love ‘em or ya don’t. If it’s the former you’ll appreciate the consistency in their sound carrying through in this gem.

 

Yumi and the Weather

‘It’s All in my Head’

Out now via  Miohmi Records

It’s all in your head and you’ll have a tough time getting it out once it’s in there.

 

Princess Chelsea

‘Forever is a Charm’

Everything Is Going To Be Alright out October 8 via Lil’ Chief Records

It’s got a whimsical B52s-ness with a bit of Blondie, anyone else hear it?

 

Núria Graham

‘Yes It’s Me, The Goldfish’

Ridiculous song-title, ridiculously great lo-fi goodness.

 

Grandbrothers

‘Yonder’

Out Now via City Slang Records

Bit of a clubby anthem vibe, and yet, we were not put off.

 

The Black Angels

‘Empires Falling’

Wilderness of Mirrors out now via Partisan Records

The album is out now, sell your children to buy it, you will not regret it. It’s the love child of the QOTSA and TEODM.

 

Bass Drum of Death

‘Say Your Prayers’

Co-Written by Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr, not sure how we feel about that...

 

Cool Sounds

‘Like That’

Like That Out October 7 via Chapter Music

Cool sounds, now with saxa-ma-phone? Yes please!

 

The Orielles

‘The Room’

Tableau out October 7 via Heavenly Recordings

A band that met at a house party and always feels like they’re catering to that vibe, nothing wrong with that. Another low-fi gem.

 

Jade Imagine

‘Instinct That I Wanna Know’

Cold Memory out now via Marathon Artists

Low-fi funky pop, easy to listen to and feel good about.

 

DEHD

‘Eggshells’

Blue Skies out now via Fat Possum

Grungy and tough to pin down, a song I’d like to hear playing at my local.

These New South Whales

‘Rotten South’

Channelling some grunge/rock sounds of the mid ’90s, digging it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When David Byrne crossed his version of art rock to palatable, more easily consumed ‘80s post punk, he surely had sonic leftovers that were too melodically extreme to work with, to expand on, and produce. They weren't ready for our ears and over time, those lines meandered through voids until they landed in Deerhoof writing sessions. 

 

The seemingly sounding finger exercises for guitar are honed and doubled, portrayed in their latest single, ‘Department of Corrections’ from the band's latest release, Actually, You Can. A firm and positively-named album title for these darker, uncertain times, steeps the listener in Deerhoof's world of music born from art school canvasses rather than a suburban basement or car-hole. This is the furthest thing from your neighborhood bar band. This is music meant for a metropolitan gallery's grand opening, displaying the new wave of avant-garde up-and-comers.  Live sets bounce of white walls, jagged, and with rhythms reminiscent of the randomness of car horns.

 

The experimental nature suits the night, as the seriousness of the surrounded art can turn patrons' judgemental and critique-laden faces at ease with singer Satomi Matsuzaki's playful vocals and lo-fi bass duties. Greg Saunier provides the respectable drum lines and fills, playing less straight beats, but complimenting the angular and sporadically-noted dual guitar parts of John Dieterich and Ed Rodriguez.

 

Though Deerhoof offers upbeat aural fixations, they counter the music with titles aptly named ‘Scarcity Is Manufactured’, ‘Plant Thief’ and ‘Be Unbarred, O Ye Gates Of Hell’; all of which pay homage to the San Francisco quartet's noise and punk roots, but still able to push into fresh and vibrantly green territory.  Rodriguez drew upon his personal struggle of identity between his Mexican heritage while identifying as an American. That struggle and tension is real, especially in the music. The duality between what was, what is known on the surface, and perceptions can create a unique listening experience with Actually, You Can, minus any heavy handedness, where its subtlety could be transmuted upon a gallery's grand opening white walls.

 

9/10