It’s always a good start when the intro to a track makes you get up off the couch to make sure you’ve locked the doors and windows. The heavy mechanical breathing, a gradual drone that gets louder (and creepier) as more instruments join its sonorous climb, and an overall feeling of desolation befitting of the cold weather.

Atom Eye is the new solo project from Elsie Martin (formerly of Phantom), and her new EP, Trilogy 120 – Part 1, whets the appetite for what is sure to be a groundbreaking body of work over the next year. The sound is pure cinematic, conjuring apocalyptic images of abandoned buildings, rusted machinery, and a world over run by the undead – or maybe that’s just me and my penchant for George Romero.

There’s a challenge to be had capturing atmosphere in music, while still creating a worthwhile listening experience, and Elsie has more than risen to it. While the first part of Trilogy 120 wouldn’t be out of place at all on a movie soundtrack, it stands firmly enough on its own two feet that it doesn’t need to be. The music sets the scene, while your brain provides the visuals.

I can’t wait to hear the next two instalments.

You can listen to the track at Atom Eye‘s official SoundCloud page.

Part I will be released on La Nausee Records on 6th February 2012. Part II and III of the Trilogy 120 EP will be released on 12th March and 30th April respectively. They will be available as free download singles from Atom Eye’s official website.

As I teeter toward my thirties, I’ve noticed of late that there are very few places left in Camden where I feel comfortable enough to enjoy myself. Thank christ for nights like Geek Out at The Wheelbarrow. It’s a great little venue that’s large enough that you don’t feel your kidneys jockeying for position amongst your internal organs during the scrum at the bar, yet intimate enough that a band can really make an impact when they get the mix just right on stage. (more…)

Upon their signing to Smalltown America records, More Than Conquerors now find themselves in both familiar and esteemed company in the Northern Ireland music scene – including but not limited to And So I Watch You From Afar, LaFaro, Fighting With Wire, Oppenheimer et al. It is clear though, that this propound to have something more subtle, and more profound to offer. (more…)

I’d heard a few rumblings online about Scots five-piece IndianRedLopez before I got my hands on their debut album, Empty Your Lungs And Breathe, and was suitably intrigued. They’ve been praised for their ability to merge genres, creating interesting new sounds that transcend the usual fare pumped out by most Indie bands at the moment, but then I’ve yet to read a press release that states “if you like your music derivative and your lyrics clichéd, this is the band for you”.

So, what’s the deal with IndianRedLopez? Thankfully, it only takes a couple of tracks of their debut to make me realise that these guys are on to something pretty special. An understated opener gives way to the trance soaked creation that is “”My Eyes”, which really sets the tone for the rest of the album. The listener is then treated to garage/math rock style drums, the best example of which can be found on the minimalist “Ropes” – a track that’s understated, innovative, and actually uses auto tune as a stylistic tool as opposed to a safety net for weak vocals.

IndianRedLopez – K.Y.S by abadgeoffriendship

IndianRedLopez are masters of surprise – the first few bars of a song leave you with no clue to how the track is going to proceed: it could be a instrumental, it could be a lyrically sparse soundscape, or it could explode in a shower of reverbed guitars and thumping drums. It certainly serves as an incentive to listen to the songs in their entirety, as you’re never quite sure if you’re going to miss something wonderful if you skip on to the next track.

They remind me in places of another up and coming band that have been making a lot of noise in London recently, the spectacular Ex Libras. There’s the same level of experimentation, the desire to push sonic limitations and blend genres to create something truly original. I’d say that IndianRedLopez, while not as technically proficient as the London based three-piece, I would say that what they have created is a lot more accessible. You can drop in to any part of this album, and immediately engage with it.

It’s not often I hear a debut album that sounds this accomplished – the production is impeccable, and every track could easily be released as a standalone single. I’d suggest you keep a close eye on these guys, as I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up making a lot of noise on the UK music scene over the coming months.

Empty Your lungs and Breathe was released via CeaselStop on August 4th 2011. You can buy the album on CD for £8 from the band’s official site.

Marina Celeste‘s voice does strange things to me. I haven’t been this moved (for want of a better word) by a french woman’s voice since I went through my Stereolab phase back in the 90s. It manages to be honey-drippingly innocent, whilst maintaining an edge of dark and sultry sexuality. It’s a great combination, that makes for a fascinating album.

The Angel Pop is the third album from former Nouvelle Vague vocalist, and it sees her buddying up once again with everyone’s favourite misery-guts, Specials‘ singer Terry Hall, to create a collection original songs, peppered with some interesting re-imaginings. It’s hard to choose which cover’s my favourite, but if I was forced to choose, gun to my head, it would still be a toss up between “Accroc Aux Bimbo” (Buzzcock’s Orgasm Addict given it’s own french spin) and Marina‘s version of Trio‘s Casio 80s earworm, “DADADA”. The choice is too hard, so I’d no doubt end up with a gaping flesh wound where once my head used to be.

The album is packed full of dreamy pop songs that had drifting along to the music, in a blissed out state – but song’s like “Watching You Naked” soon had me falling back to earth, it’s cheeky off-beat guitar and meat and potatoes drums creating the irresistable urge to dance around the living room in my pants. It’s also amazing how much Marina‘s voice resembles Cerys Matthew‘s in this one song, yet none of the others.

Marina flits in between singing in English and French all the way through the album – but even if you’re French is as bad as mine, it hardly matters. There’s still a lot of enjoyment to be had from The Angel Pop.

4/5

The Angel Pop is released via Cam-Ly Records and can be bought on iTunes for £7.99

I simply refuse to believe that this EP is the finished product. There has to have been a mix up somewhere along the way.

The guitar sounds fine.

The drums sound fine.

The bass sounds fine.

But the vocals. . .

I could write a thesis on how bad the vocals sound on Pose Victorious‘ EP, Beneath The Lighthouse. It’s like the producer forgot to tweak it before sending the CD to press. I wouldn’t usually fixate on one aspect of a release, but it really is distracting enough to ruin the whole experience. “Run To Sea” in particular showcases just how bad Ross Millar‘s voice sounds over the top of the backing tracks. That’s not to say the man can’t sing, just the producer and label should be shot for allowing this EP to be released in this state.

So, let’s concentrate on the music itself: if I’m honest, it’s uninspiring, rock by the numbers. Nothing jumps out and grabs me, the lyrics are a pretty bog-standard throwback to 90s lad rock (the least said about that, the better), and, on the whole, it plods along from track to track, never really going anywhere.

Pose Victorious – Cold Hands//Warm Heart by abadgeoffriendship

It may seem like I’m being overly harsh, but I’d read quite a lot about this band before I received their EP for review, and I am shocked at how well received they’ve been – it all reeks a little of the Emperor’s new clothes. But, somebody has to be the little boy that points it out.

2/5

Beneath The Lighthouse is available on iTunes for £3.95 via Angle Park Records

I’ve got a real soft spot for 70s/80s pub and glam rock, so The Blood Arm‘s latest album, Turn And Face Me, was right up my street. I did my usual of trying not to find out anything about the band before I listened to the promo they’d sent, ignoring the press release until I could decide for myself what their sound did for me. To put it bluntly, I was blown away.

From the Adam Ant infused drums of the opening track, “She’s A Guillotine”, I was hooked. This is more than just tribute to 70s rock – they’ve captured the very spirit that made bands like T-Rex, Buzzcocks, and Dexys Midnight Runners such chart stormers back in the day. This is especially true of the free MP3 the band are giving away, “Introducing Randy Newman”.

The Blood Arm – Introducing Randy Newman by abadgeoffriendship

There’s no riding on coat tails for The Blood Arm – they’ve managed to update the super sound of the 70s enough so it’s their own sound, and not some base approximation. Third track, “Relentless Love”, is extremely indebted to Oakey and Moroder’s classic electronic love song, Together In Electric Dreams, but it’s done in such a way that instead of writing it off as unoriginal, I saw it as a tender re-imagining.

There’s no denying that The Blood Arm haven’t managed to create anything new with this album, but I don’t think this was their intention – this comes across as an album that the band wanted to make, as opposed to one that strives to break boundaries. But, they’ve managed to pull it off so well, that I find it very hard to find fault with it.

A lot of people will write a band off for not constantly striving to push music forward (I’ve done it myself, on a few occasions), but The Blood Arm have managed to strike a balance by creating original material that encapsulates all the best elements of the music they clearly love. In a time when a lot of up and coming bands are starting to sound like a recycled Biffy Clyro, or even worse, Oasis, it’s a welcome break.

I did eventually get around to reading the press release – I cannot believe these guys are from L.A.! If they sounded any more British, they’d be Chaz and Dave.

4/5

The album is out now on Pau! / Snowhite and is available to buy via iTunes.