GIG: METZ

Review by John Cooper

Metz - live at the Soup Kitchen 28.01.13

The Soup Kitchen is well suited for tonights show by Canada's Metz (who are signed to the legendary Sub-Pop label), with its dingy, paint peeling off the brickwork cellar-like appearance - it works with the no nonsense no frills approach of the band - even their lighting is just plain white static spotlights.
It was obvious that this was gonna get loud right from the moment the band kick off (opening with "Knife In The Water") with their hardcore garage punk grunge sound backed by sheer energy - their drummer at times just a blur of hair and arms (reminiscent of Nirvana era Dave Grohl). It only takes them a couple of songs to warm up the crowd and by the time they play their third song "Get Off" the audience are completely drawn in to this sonic assault, and give back the band some of that energy when the whole room erupts as the band kick into "Sad Pricks". The buzz from the audience and the frenzy of the mosh pit doesn't let up to the very last moment of the gig. Even a brief interruption between songs due to technical difficulties doesn't wain the crowds anticipation for more and they are duly rewarded with the set closer "Wet Blanket" which is delivered as a full on growing audio onslaught with guitarist/singer Alex Edkins screaming "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO" and builds to a deafening finale . The lights go down for a minute or two with the crowd repeatedly begging for "one more song" - and Metz come back on to rip it up one last time with their one song encore of "Ratz". In a space of 45 minutes my ears are ringing and I feel mentally exhausted, but I cant wait for the next time Metz are playing in Manchester.

IN CONVERSATION WITH...... THE MUTINEERS

Interview by Jon Birch

Listen Up Manchester caught up with the Mutineers - one of Manchesters favourite up and coming bands! Here is our full interview with Mikey from the band:

- Can you give us a brief history of how you came together as a band?

We came together out of the ashes of a couple of different bands, partly due to the frustration of long periods of inactivity i think! We were all in our mid 20s and needed to pretty much do something different and fresh...something to get excited about....

- What artists did you listen to growing up? Who do you feel influenced you the most?

I can only speak for myself really but i think i was fairly lucky to have been a teenager in Manchester the 90s when the Britpop thing happened, so there was a real wealth of bands writing relevent music and meaningful songs...sometimes commenting on society and things like that...it was also a plus that a lot of them were pretty cool...so i guess the likes of Pulp, Blur, Suede...Verve, Manic Street Preachers,Radiohead...and in america perhaps REM who were still making pretty good music then aswell...so all that sort of stuff was an early influence.....inevitabely, throughout time tastes changes and you grow a little more mature and you check other stuff out...so i love lots of the good 80s stuff...loads of Motown/Northern soul/60s sort of stuff....Nick Drake & John Martyn from the folkier side of things, early Van Morrison.....

- Who are the bands you have seen live who have completely blown you away?

I went to see Depeche Mode play an Arena gig about 7 or 8 years ago. That was an amazing spectacle in itself.....the sort of gig that is a real show...not just a band standing onstage playing their instruments. I'd one day love to utilise all that sort of stuff, lights & movies.....more narrative sort of stuff...

- Whats your favourite album of all time?

That's a pretty hard one to answer! I like different albums for different reasons....so for pure melody and emotion i might pick Pet Sound by Beach Boys....for synthy & electronica vibes i'd probably pick violator by Depeche Mode.....if i want to listen to some classic intelligent moody sort stuff i might stick The Bends or OK computer on....so in some ways it sort of depends what mood you're in....

- Whats been the best gig you've played so far?

Probably the last Manchester show we did at Sound Control. We've played larger venues as support to some big bands but i think the fact that we sold out a 500-600 capacity venue in our home town was pretty special and it was quite exciting to hear the songs sung back to us whilst onstage.

- What three Mutineers songs would you recommend that people listen to give them a flavour of the band?

I think i can be bold enough and say pretty much anything on the album...other than perhaps "Landlords Daughter" which, although one of my favourite songs, isn't the most immediate of tracks!

- What are your hopes and plans for 2013 both in the Studio and on the road?

More than anything to get this next single out and hopefully have it sneak into the indie charts and then get the album out. In terms of live stuff i think we're going to see how the album goes down and then make a plan....although i'm sure we may stick in a couple of little launch type gigs between the single and album release.

- What other up & coming Manchester bands would you recommend we check out?

There's a band called The 1975 who look like they're going to blow up this year, so i'd give them a go and then there's Slow Readers Club who have been around for quite a long time now but if you're into darker sort of stuff give them a whirl.

- Whats your ideal night out in Manchester, where are your favourite places to go?

It's got to be the Northern Quarter really as a starting point....and then as things get a little hazy maybe head up to big hands on Oxford road with a couple of stop offs at Temple of Convenience and The Deaf Institute.....possibly ending up in some cheap studenty indie dive drinking £1 bottles of weak lager and preteding to still be 20!

-...Whats your favourite cheese?

It has to be Martin Platt's "How's yer father" - http://www.saddleworthcheese.co.uk

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH.... CAPTURE YOUR NITE - FEB ROUNDUP

This month's round up of Manchester bands and Artists playing in their home city in the month of Feb now up on the Capture Your Nite website. This is an in partnership with.... article that us at Listen Up Manchester write each month. Read February's Manchester live bands here: http://www.captureyournite.com/Listen_Up_Manchester_February.html

ALBUM REVIEW: BIFFY CLYRO - OPPOSITES

Review by David Beech

Bucking the current coincidental trend of second albums released by bands this January are Scotland's Biffy Clyro who today released their sixth studio album entitled Opposites. Hailing from  Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire the band really need little introduction after their fifth album, 2009s Only Revolutions spawned the bands first top-ten single in the form of 'Mountains' which débuted at number 5 and served to extend the bands touring schedule as their popularity rose in turn causing the longest length of time in between album releases, a period of three years.

Opposites is a double album, a first for the band, and is best described as kind of dichotomy of sounds. The first half of the album entitled The Sand at the Core of Our Bones is described by singer Simon Neil as being “about putting things in the worst possible way and thinking you're getting yourself into a hole.” The music isn't necessarily melancholic or sad but there is an anger behind the music that wasn't present during Only Revolutions. This can be attributed, according to interviews with the band, to the sense of alienation found after prolong periods of touring with Only Revloutions.

The opening track titled 'Different People' builds with an organ followed by the unmistakable sound of Neil's vocals that straight away let's you know you're in familiar territory. The song is melodic, even by the bands more recent standards however it works well for them and you can hear the progression from the last album. The chorus of “I am going home/Forever and ever more/No, I was never born and there's no such thing as home/We used to stand so strong/That's why the others have gone” is classic Biffy Clyro. It's both uplifting in it's sound and delivery whilst the lyrics cover a darker subject matter that is evident throughout  the first half of the album.

Track two will be familiar to fans already as the first single off the album: 'Black Chandelier'. The song is a radio-friendly lament that describes feelings no longer reciprocated within a relationship.

This theme is continued in to track four 'Opposites' which is slow and melodic with a subtle string-section carrying the song.

Fans of earlier Biffy Clyro will be pleased to learn that the earlier math-rock sounds of albums such as Vertigo of Bliss are still there and are most prominent on tracks 'Sounds Like Baloons',

'The Jokes On Us' and especially 'Little Hospitals'. While this might be a point of contention between fans; the inclusion of obscure time-signatures is something Biffy aficionados will be pleased to hear, while the focus the radio-friendly sounds exhibited through Only Revolutions will keep even the most fair-weather fan happy and will certainly secure them fans in a generation not yet introduced to the band.

The second half of Opposites is a different story all together; described again by Neil as “looking more positively” when compared to the first half of the albums bleak outlook on life. This is immediately obvious as track 12 (or track one) 'Stingin' Belle' kicks in. Fans will have heard this track before, as it was the first song to receive radio airplay from the album and, although technically not a single, the song was available via download.

Track 14 'Spanish Radio' will surprise fans with the inclusion of a mariachi trumpet, which aids Neil's claims of the second half of the album being more upbeat and optimistic. Spanish brass inclusions aside, this does feel like the stadium-filling Biffy Clyro that you've come to expect and the songs dynamics rise and fall in a dramatic fashion that stems from years of song writing.

'Pocket' is perhaps the most accessible Biffy Clyro song yet. Harbouring pop sensibilities that will be recognisable to those familiar with Neil's sideproject Marmaduke Duke, the track is sweet and punchy with a simple piano melody running throughout. However the sweetness of the track makes the next track 'Trumpet or Tap' seem really quite jarring. The changing time-signatures will once again be a welcome relief to some but when included after 'Pocket' really detract from the overall feel of the song despite it's chorus being one of the more memorable from the over all record.

Perhaps the strongest three songs from the entire album are reserved for the finale. 'Accident Without Emergency' is probably the best of the three. A marching drum beat coupled with fantastically audible bass drives the song forward while an understated math-rock guitar ornaments the verses. 'Woo Woo' is as a aggressive a song as you're likely to find on the album and one which will please old fans as much as intrigue new ones and will sure to be a crowd-pleaser live. 'Picture A Knife Fight' is the penultimate song on the album (the last being an instrumental) and is a contender for best song on the album. As it the song plays out and Neil is singing “We've got to stick together”, you can't help but feel totally uplifted, although why we have to wait until the closing minutes of the album to hear songs as strong as the aforementioned is anyone's guess.

The releasing a double album is usually reserved for bands who are so wrapped up in their own sense of self importance they feel that all the tracks they write between albums are worthy of making the final cut and for bands that feel a 'greatest hits' album with the inclusion of a few B-sides is a worthwhile substitute for new material. However that doesn't feel the case with Opposites. At times the album may be spread fairly thinly, with a couple of tracks feeling like filler. Nevertheless this is a strong album, albeit not career-defining. The idea of a double-album so as to play on the dichotomous nature of the songs featuring on each disk is at once both interesting and bordering on the pretentious.

There is none of the usual concept album pomp here, despite the cover art being designed by Storm Thorgerson of Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd album cover fame, which is a complete relief. What we have instead is a concept album for the postmodern world. The sounds of the songs overall differ dramatically, not only from disk to disk, but from song to song while still managing to sound completely like the Biffy Clyro people have come to adore. While still not being the strongest album they've released, it is by no means a bad album, and one which has included enough pop to appease radio producers and with occasional elements of the angular guitars which have become a staple of their music. Let's just hope we don't have to wait another three years for the next album.

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: JANUARY

Here is our latest 10 track playlist of music the Listen Up Manchester team have been listening to in January that we wanted to share with you. A couple of Manchester artists (Findlay & Brown Brogues), some old favourites, some new favourites and a track from the Heights Band who we recently interviewed on Listen Up Manchester - head over to our interview page to read our interview with them.

Anyway, enjoy the playlist: January 2013

LISTEN UP: THE STROKES - ONE WAY TRIGGER

Well after a bit of a wait - the first track from the upcoming Strokes album has been released to the world! Upon first listen - Listen Up Manchester was thinking A-ha meets Hot Chip. Not an instant Strokes classic, but will it be a true taste of the album to come? Only time will tell! Lets hope the album proves the Strokes still have it in 2013!!!

GIG: FINDLAY

Review by Jon Birch

Photography by John Cooper

The Soup Kitchen, located in Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter, is a fairly busy but quiet, peaceful bar during daylight hours. At night however, it’s building a reputation as one of the places to see new talent, both local and from further afield. As you take the steps down to the cellar it becomes quickly apparent there’s no glitz or glamour to this place. With its bare brick walls, hastily constructed bar and amps propped up on beer crates, this is every inch the underground music venue. It’s a place where rock and roll stories start.

Tonight, its Findlay, ‘Manchester’s little secret’. There’s been a buzz building around her as she’s slowly built a following around her home town and the gig tonight is sold out. The support band, Temple Songs, does a decent job of warming the crowd up with a blend of fast guitars and echo heavy vocals. They go down well, the drummer in particular delivering a storming performance, but with perhaps a little too much distortion on the vocal in such a tiny venue. Even the singers ‘Thank you’ at the end of the set is virtually indecipherable. 

As the time for Findlay to make her appearance draws near, the atmosphere starts to tingle and there’s a real sense of anticipation in the room. So far, Findlay has only released one single, the filthy, riff heavy ‘Your Sister’, and even though some of the crowd will doubtless have seen other performances, the majority are here because of the hype building around her. As she enters the stage, I’m taken aback for a second at how innocent and waiflike she is. Surely this can’t be the person behind the huge voice on that track? Then she picks up the microphone and starts to sing.

She starts off acapella and her voice is stunning. It’s got the quirkiness of Bjork and the power of Amy Winehouse as she taps out a beat on the microphone. The packed room is captivated as she draws to a close before breaking out into rapturous applause and cheers. She offers a quiet ‘thanks’, the two guitars come crashing in and she unleashes the Vixen. The opening few tracks are filled with dirty blues and garage rock guitar, with her voice always the star attraction. As they build to a crescendo in one song, she pulls out a harmonica and it works perfectly, the crowd again whooping and hollering.

The big single (Your Sister) is pitched in mid-set, perfect timing to keep the momentum going and give the people something to get their teeth into. There is a surge of bodies toward the front and hands go up in the air as the piece de resistance is delivered with aplomb.

The set in total lasts only 45 minutes buts there’s not a dull moment and It leaves everybody wanting more. If there are big things in Findlay’s future, and there should be, I’ll be proud to boast that I was there at the beginning. It’s unlikely she’s going to remain ‘Manchester’s little secret’ for much longer.

For more pics head here: Findlay Photos

ALBUM REVIEW: I AM KLOOT - LET IT ALL IN

Review by Jon Birch

Listen Up Manchester rating: 8/10

Let It All In is the sixth studio album from Manchester based three-piece, I Am Kloot. Formed in 1999, the band has maintained a cult status and, with the exception of 2010’s Sky At Night (which reached no. 24 in the UK Chart and received a Mercury nomination), none of their previous work has made a mainstream breakthrough look likely.

Let’s be clear, Let It All In isn’t going to be the record that does that. It is an album of well-crafted songs, beautiful in some cases, but what this doesn’t have is that one track that grabs you and excites you. There is a 60’s pop feel throughout much of the record, listen to the retro styling’s of Jake Bugg and Miles Kane and its clear their influence is widely felt. Lyrically, there will be almost inevitable comparisons with their Manchester compatriots Elbow (front man Guy Garvey actually produces here, as he did for Sky At Night), and that does come across in the downtrodden Northern wit present in many of the tracks; opening track ‘Bullets’ asking ‘Do you think that someone could have snuck into your life, and overnight has changed the locks?’.

John Bramwells voice is smoother and clearer than Garvey’s though and there is a Beatles-esque sound to many of the songs. ‘Some Better Day’ finds Bramwell almost channelling John Lennon, singing along to a backing track including trumpets, harmonicas and tambourines.

The majority of tracks are simple but incredibly well put together compositions but they do venture into the extravagant occasionally; ‘Hold Back The Night’ builds progressively to a climax filled with strings and cymbal crashes. They even step into what could almost be described as psychadelica on penultimate track ‘These Days Are Mine’. The album finishes as it begins, on an almost tender note, with the gentle ‘Forgive Me These Reminders’ proving that it’s sometimes better to go out quietly. It’s possibly the highlight of the record.

It’s easy to initially pass this album off as dull or maybe even drab. There is no big hit on here, no song that stands out above the rest. However, repeated listens are highly rewarded and the subtleties of the lyrics become more and more apparent each time you hear them.

NEW BLOG PAGE: LUM FOLLOWS SXSW

As a previous attendee to the SXSW music festival in Texas, when March comes along I always wish I was hopping on a plane and heading back. However - like a lot of things, its not all that affordable to head off to Austin Texas once a year, so have taken to following it online.

SXSW is probably one of the best festivals that can be followed online as various showcase events are streamed live & a lot of YouTube bloggers cover the festival with constant updates. With this in mind I have booked the whole week off work and am going to bring you the daily online highlights from this years SXSW festival.

Its also a great place to discover new artists and also see some more established bands playing in unique venues. It has just been announced that Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds will play the NPR showcase at Stubb's BBQ (a backyard BBQ venue with a stage).  Keep an eye on the new blog page leading up to the festival to stay up to date with bands that are playing and new announcements as we hear them.

The blog page address is: http://listenupsxsw.blogspot.co.uk

IN CONVERSATION WITH: THE HEIGHTS BAND

Interview by John Cooper

After stumbling across The Heights Band online we featured them in our New Bands to Watch in 2013 article. Since then we have been in contact with Dustin Dockery from the band from Akron, Ohio to talk about music, plans for 2013 and to find out some more about..... the Heights Band.

LUM: Having heard your music, we instantly recommended you as a band to watch in 2013 on Listen Up Manchester. For our readers who haven’t had chance to listen to your music, how would you sum up your sound?

HB: I think we fall somewhere between punk, grunge, blues and rock. We constantly have new influences on what we write or how we write it. So ask me next week and it might be a different answer.

LUM: Can you give us a brief history of how you came together as a band?

 

HB: The four of us grew up in a small town outside of Akron, Ohio. We were introduced through some mutual friends in high school and we've pretty much been in bands together since. The four of us all finally started playing together as The Heights Band around 2008 and the rest is history.

LUM: You have 2 lengthy EPs released so far, do you have plans for a full length debut album on the cards this year?

HB: The plan is to release our first full length album later this year. We have some other stuff that will probably get released before the album but we haven't made any final decisions on that. I can definitely say that there will be plenty of new music from us this year though.

LUM: As a band who would you put as your main influences? And who are the bands you have seen who have completely blown you away?

HB: Bands like Brand New, Modest Mouse, Manchester Orchestra and the Pixies are a few that we all agree on. I know for me Brand New is the best show I have ever seen by far, Manchester Orchestra was also amazing but both Taking Back Sunday and The Academy changed my idea of how to perform.

LUM: Coming from Akron, Ohio - hometown of one of our favourite US bands, the Black Keys, who have had a lot of success over here in the UK over the last few years, do you feel you have a similar sound and feel to your music & is there such thing as an“Akron sound”?

 

HB: We have got those comparisons before, I think it is almost unavoidable given their success of late. I would say there are similarities between our music for sure, I think that mainly comes from our shared blues and rock roots but at the same time I think when you grow up in the same city you see a lot of the same things, get exposed to a lot of the same ideas and it influences the music you write. So yeah I think there is definitely some truth to the "Akron sound" idea.

LUM: What other Akron, or Ohio, or even American up and coming bands we may not have heard of can you recommend?

HB: Maid Myriad and Red Sun Rising are two of our favorite Akron bands. The Buffalo KIllers are from Cincinnati, Ohio and happen to be signed to Alive Records The Black Keys first label. The Fake Take is a great band from Detroit, Michigan.

LUM: you plan to hit the road and tour much in 2013?

HB: We are planning some exciting stuff with our friends Red Sun Rising for early this year but the main focus is the new album. After that we will be doing a lot more traveling.

LUM: What does this year bring for the Heights Band?

HB: A lot of new opportunities and new music.

LUM: We would love to see you play in the UK – have you ever had the opportunity to play over here?

HB: We haven't made it to the UK yet but it is in the plans down the road.

Thank you for your time the Heights Band & we urge all our readers to go check them out. If you want a taster before investigating further then check out the below tune!

ALBUM REVIEW: JOY FORMIDABLE - WOLF'S LAW

Review by Richmal Lamb

Listen Up Manchester rating 8/10

Looking for home-grown British indie-rock band that delivers true rock sensibility at a loud volume? Look no further than the welsh trio Joy Formidable. 2011’s “The Big Roar” landed with as much noise as the title suggests, and they are back with their second full player “Wolf’s Law”.

It doesn’t take long for the first guitar cord to hit in, 44 seconds into first song “This Ladder is Ours”. The pulsating guitar is everything you would enjoy and expect from Joy Formidable, but on this particular track Ritzy’s vocals are rather on the saccharine sweet side. The next two tracks Cholla and Tendons, although packed with great riffs and crunchy guitar, lack some of the underlying bite of the “The Big Roar”. As the album progresses, the jewels of this album are steadily revealed and you can see the band’s evolution unfold. Rather than increase the volume of an already big sound, new instruments, song arrangements and a tad of psychedelia are thrown into the mix. “Bats” grows and grows from a snappy opening verse into an intense lolloping final crunch at 2:40; “Little Blimp” pummels and buzzes with so much energy that you can only imagine how good it would sound live. This reviewer’s favourite track “The Maw Maw Song” has a interesting psychedelic feel to it; it speeds up, slows down, and spins around breathlessly. There are some slower paced moments on “Wolf’s Law”: “Silent Treatment” is an acoustic number that would have sounded even better if it had not hampered by the unnecessary doubled-up vocals. “The Leopard and The Lung” is a beautifully layered track and“The Turnaround” is a elegant closer with backing vocals, a sweep of violin, and the ability for Ritzy to show off her huge vocal range.

Whilst not a perfectly executed album, the many various attempts at experimenting with the already huge Joy Formidable sound are highly commendable. In the shape of “Bats”, the band has a track to rival “The Big Roar”s colossus “Whirring”. This is a record that will reward you again and again with each repeated listen; Wolf’s Law will certainly give you more than enough thrills to have you howling back for more. 

ALBUM REVIEW: BROWN BROGUES - BORN TO LOSE

Review by John Cooper

Listen Up Manchester rating 6/10

Manchester based duo Mark Vernon & Ben Mather better known as Brown Brogues release “Born to Lose”, their debut album.  After growing a good following with their fast and furious live shows, I was intrigued to listen to the album to see how it translates to record. I’m glad to say they haven’t tried to polish their sound up (at all), and still deliver their own brand of scuzzy garage rock guitar sound with a pumping rhythm throughout. Vocals are loud and distorted, sometimes verging on punk and the whole album has a very lo-fi approach, almost sloppy in parts – with the Brown Brogues however this is not a negative. I would however say as an album it doesn’t quite work as well as it should with abrupt song endings and in parts it being a bit too far on the lo-fi end making the vocals at times too hard to decipher, but having said that there are some stand out tracks on the album too. Our favourites being “Mike, I Love You”, “May I Walk With You” and “I Drove For Miles Just To Hear About The Book That You’re Reading.  All in all if you like a two-piece who can hit it hard and create a hell of a racket then you’ll thoroughly enjoy the Brown Brogues “Born to Lose” album, but to fully appreciate this band – go and see them live!

ALBUM REVIEW: DUTCH UNCLES - OUT OF TOUCH IN THE WILD

review by Richmal Lamb

Listen Up Manchester album rating: 5/10

If I asked you to name a Manchester band at random, what would you say? Chances are you would name one of the big guns such as Oasis, Joy Divison, The Smiths or The Stone Roses. Perhaps Elbow, Doves, The Buzzcocks or Happy Mondays would be your choice. It would be safe to hazard a guess that the Stockport collective of Dutch Uncles would probably be rather far down your list. Quietly turfing out their own brand of alternative indie-pop since 2008, “Out of Touch in the Wild” is their third album after 2009’s self titled LP, and 2011’s “Cadenza”.

Listening to “Out of Touch…”, the comparisons with another, more famous, art-pop band are an obvious chip-shaped elephant in the room. The first single, Fester, could easily have been lifted from Hot Chip’s last effort. You can’t argue that it isn’t punchy and playful, and it is by far one of the highlights of the album. The changing time signatures across the album, which Dutch Uncles are use to great effect in tracks such as Flexxin and Bellio, propel the songs forward and give vitality and energy. Sadly this energy is not translated to all the tracks; Phaedra sounds weary rather than the sombre tone they aim for, and Brio passes you by unmemorably. Godboy is this reviewer’s favourite track; in which Dutch Uncles attempt to break the Chip-mould and use time-change, pause and electronica to great effect. “Microscope Head” is also one of the most interesting lyrics I have heard in a while! I would recommend this record to fans of Hot Chip, Everything, Everything, Field Music and Holy Fuck.

There are more than a few touches of brilliance within this album, but not enough to cause you to venture towards repeat listenings. In stepping up with the production, Dutch Uncles appear to have divorced themselves from the more distinctive sound they honed for themselves on Candez. Less cool uncle, more lukewarm chip; Dutch Uncles are not in danger of bothering anyone’s "Manchester: Best of" playlists just yet. 

ALBUM REVIEW: EVERYTHING EVERYTHING - ARC

Review by Jon Birch

Listen Up Manchester rating:  7/10

In 2010, Everything Everything were at the fore-front of a new wave of British artists pedalling Super intelligent Art Pop. Formed and based in Manchester, the four piece band met at Salford University and are led by singer and lyricist Jonathan Higgs. Their debut, Man Alive, was nominated for the Mercury Prize, an indication that it wasn’t necessarily a record with mass-appeal.

Whether a conscious decision or a natural progression, this has been addressed to a degree on the follow up. By simplifying the melodies and ideas on many tracks, they have negotiated the ‘Difficult Second Album’ and the result is a record that is much more accessible. Second single Kemosabe is the best example of this and with its big falsetto chorus, its already a radio favourite. Taking its title from The Lone Ranger’s faithful companion Tonto’s catchphrase, the song is a somewhat despairing plea to a friend (or perhaps an alibi) in a time of need.

The opening few tracks (including the aforementioned Kemosabe and lead single Cough Cough repeatedly warning, ‘I’m coming alive’) are strong but there are too many misses, too many layers and electronic beeps and blips bouncing off each other to make this a classic album. However, when it is a hit, its on the money, culminating in the trio of Undrowned, _Arc_ and Armourland at the heart of the record.

There are other highlights here (Duet, is well crafted and accessible) but when a band purposefully tries to sound like nothing that’s been heard before, there’s often a feeling of over complication for the sake of it. Often the simplest sounds are the best and when they concentrate on one (or perhaps a small number of ideas) in a track, the result is often intelligent pop music which, if still not quite for the masses, is definitely a step forward.

Favourite Track: Kemosabe

ALBUM/DVD REVIEW: COSMO JARVIS - THINK BIGGER (special edition)

COSMO JARVIS - THINK BIGGER (special edition incl. The Naughty Room DVD & Soundtrack  ***Release date changed to 4th March***

The use of the term "Multi-Talented artist" - is no better fitting than with Devonshire 23yr old Cosmo Jarvis. His new album 'Think Bigger' spans Folk, Rock, Pop, Singer Songwriter genres & he plays a whole array of instruments saying himself "I am by no means a professional on any instrument but if i have a musical idea that requires the services of a particular instrument I will find a way of making myself play the part on that instrument." He's a writer, performer, arranger, sound engineer and 'Think Bigger' begs for repeat listens to absorb it all in.
Not only that, but Cosmo Jarvis releases this album as a special edition which includes a DVD of his movie The Naughty Room, a black comedy which was premiered at the end of last year on BBC4. Cosmo not only wrote, directed, edited and of course recorded the soundtrack (also included in this special edition set), but also acted in the film as one of the key characters. To add to this, the film is an absolute triumph in new British filmmaking, and gives the viewer a thought provoking look into both the issues and lives of youth society, and   also follows broken & slightly twisted relationship between a particularly disturbed mother and her son (played by Cosmo) who has kept locked up since being a child in the "Naughty Room".
Cosmo is playing in Manchester at the Soup Kitchen on the 14th Feb so do yourselves a favour and go check him out live and listen to Think Bigger.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH..... CAPTURE YOUR NIGHT

Listen Up Manchester are proud to announce we are in a new "in partnership with....." scheme with Capture Your Night (a Manchester Bar & club guide). Once a month Listen Up Manchester will be writing a round up of Manchester acts to go and check out and go out and watch in the month ahead.  Our first article is up on their features page - go check it out for your January listings of recommended Manchester artists playing in their home city!!!

http://www.captureyournite.com/Listen_Up_Manchester_January.html

NEWS: BOWIE & HENDRIX - OLD DOGS WITH NEW TRICKS!

Written by JB

Today is David Bowie's 66th birthday. A fact that would probably have passed many of us by had he not chosen to mark the occasion with the release of his first new single for a decade. Completely unannounced and unanticipated, Where Are We Now is a softly sung ballad, sang over the sounds of a wistful piano. Bowie made a trio of hugely influential albums in the late 70's whilst based in Berlin and the song reflects on those times. As if this wasn't enough to get any music fan into a frenzy, a new album has also been announced for March. The Glastonbury rumours have already started...
 
On the subject of Legends with new offerings, previously unreleased material from Jimi Hendrix is also due in March. People, Hell & Angels will feature 12 songs including Somewhere, which has been given airplay this week. If this track is anything to go by, this release is no simple cash in and will hold its own against his classic work.

Below are links to videos for both songs, have a listen and let us know what you think.

David Bowie - Where Are We Now?

Jimi Hendrix - Somewhere

LISTEN UP: TOM WAITS

written by Jon Birch:
 

I've been listening to some old Tom Waits albums recently and came across this version of Ol' 55 on the Unplugged album from 1999. Its such a beautiful song and when you listen to one of the earlier recordings (such as the Early Years, Volume 2) there's a real tender softness to his voice that conveys that feeling of first love and infinite possibilities.

However, for me, the Unplugged recording somehow shows more heart, more feeling and hits you more deeply. His trademark gravelly tones shouldn't work with such a slow, sweet song but somehow they do and as he builds to the chorus this will shake you right down to your soul and rattle your bones.
 

LISTEN UP: NIKKI MURRAY

I may be an honorary Northerner now but my roots are still down South and far back in my distant past, I went to Secondary School with a guy who displayed a fair amount of promise on the Guitar. After years of graft and touring with the likes of Celine Dion and James Blunt, he’s now won his own record contract and the debut album from Nikki Murray will be released early in 2013. The first single, ‘She’s Electric’, is out now and is a catchy pop tune, with a lively, foot tapping beat. Its fun, doesn’t take itself too seriously and has an infectious chorus that will stick in your head from the first listen. Check out the video below (for an added bonus for fans of the American version of the Office the video features Stanley!!!) - by JB

2013 PREVIEW: NEW BANDS

We thought we’d put together our list of bands and artists to keep an eye out for this year. In the following review if you see an artists name in bold then just click on it to bring up a track (mostly via youtube) for you to check out.

We’ll kick off with everyone’s tip for this year, Palma Violets, signed to Rough Trade records, they released a well received single and recently had some good exposure via an appearance on Jools Holland, & are expected for big things in 2013. Also signed to Rough Trade & worth checking out are another guitar based band called The Family Rain. Keeping with the guitar bands, and hailing from Akron, Ohio in the States – the same hometown as the Black Keys (and not dissimilar to the Black Keys in style) come The Heights Band.

Canada has recently had quite a few bands that we have been hearing of and can recommend you take a listen to. These include July Talk who are another bluesy rock band but with a joint male/female vocal. Theres an interesting indie pop band called Royal Canoe who are worth a look and also Mac Demarco who delivers quirky guitars and dry vocals. Stepping thing up a gear are Metz who are signed to the legendary Sub-Pop label and deliver fast heavy garage grunge. Lastly from our Canadian recommendations, and the complete opposite of Metz are the Barr Brothers – an experimental folk band with an outstanding debut album. Keeping with the ever popular folk scene are a Cornish based band called Brother& Bones, who have been compared with Mumford & Sons (who quite frankly disappointed us with their 2nd album) & have just released their 2^nd EP. And then there’s Mt Wolf who describe their music as dream folk & are another band to keep an eye out for.

Another genre that has been growing from strength to strength over the last few years is Synthpop, with a whole spate of bands coming through at the moment. Bastille and Chvrches seem to be the main two that are being touted for big things in 2013. Other synthpop artists we can recommend are Liverpool based Dan Croll and from across the pond is Los Angeles based Sir Sly. Another duo (also from the States) but on the slightly darker side of electropop who are worth a listen is MyPet.
 

I was blown away in 2012 by Brittany Howard from Alabama Shakes there is something about her voice that has real soul in it, for 2013 we would like to highlight two artists we have recently heard of who have something special about them vocally. First up is Neighbourhood – a band from California who have released an EP called “I’m Sorry”, and their singer is a little reminiscent of Amy Winehouse. Also is Laura Mvula who has been tipped for big things by the BBC & Guardian music polls amongst others and has also been shortlisted for the BRITS critics award.  

Following on from one of the best all female bands of 2012, Savages, it seems back here on the Manchester music scene there are three female (or female fronted) artists who are looking to make a name for themselves in 2013, Pins are dark female pop, whilst Findlay (who we have previously featured on Listen Up Manchester) has a more female garage punk sound to her, and finally the Louche who are more down the lines of shoegazing indie. All three are worth checking out. Not too far away from Manchester (down in Stoke) are one of our favourite unsigned acts we have heard – psychedellic rock band Psyence, if you enjoyed the debut album from Toy in 2012, be sure to check out these guys. Also not too far away up in Leeds it seems that the punk scene is alive and well with Eagulls recently releasing a new EP and old school high energy punk from Nervous Twitch (also worth noting their guitarist Jay Churchley’s solo project of lo-fi pop Songs in the Key of Jay).
 

Heres one that’s hard to pigeonhole, a blend of soul, funk & hiphop with falsetto vocals, but with the pedigree backing of Damon Alburn (I believe he plays bass on the forthcoming album) – Child of Lov has been compared to the likes of Gnarls Barkley and Prince. Another band that have had praise from some of the rock hierarchy (Paul Weller & Jeff Beck) are The Strypes an Irish band who are clearly influenced by old rhythm & blues & Rock & Roll. But taking Rock & Roll right back to its roots is the increadible J D McPherson who delivers one hell of an authentic vintage rock & roll style performance in his work. More 60’s inspired jangly guitar indie music (think the Stones if they were born and raised on the west coast of America) are the Allah-Las. More 60’s style jangly indie are Belfast’s Sea Pinks who released their debut album ‘Freak Waves’ in 2012. Other more up to date indie guitar bands worth a look are London’s Cheatehs who have that early 90’s vibe and Wolverhampton’s The Lines who seem to be making a big name for themselves in the Midlands & have similar sound to the Courteeners. If however, you are more into the likes of Vampire Weekend and Two Door Cinema Club, then the next big band on you radar should be Peace a new four piece (or should that be four peace) from Birmingham. Some good indie pop from further afield worth checking out are Reptile Youth from Denmark and SanCisco all the way from Australia.

Next up is a duo from York called …and the Hangnails who deliver a heavy blues sound with fuzzy guitars and punk vocals. If you are into the blues then look no further than Gary Clark Jr – one of the best blues guitarists out there right now, from Austin, Texas (a hotbed for musical talent & home to the SXSW music festival). He’s been around for a few years now & hopefully 2013 will be the year he makes a big name for himself over here! On a completely different note & also from the States is a new industrial rock band described as Nine Inch Nails with the energy of the Foo Fighters – Free Medicine.

To round things up we have a trio of great UK singer/songwriters all very different from one another, but all equally deserving of your attention! First up we have Buckingham boy Nikki Murray – who releases his debut album soon and his first single I’m Coming Back has been doing well across Europe and will be followed up with the infectious She’s Electric. Next up is Sean Taylor from Kilburn, who (the legendary) Bob Harris has described as an ''absolutely superb guitarist ... reminiscent of John Martyn”. Finally we have the beautiful and melancholic Keaton Henson who’s debut album I would recommend you all to listen to. Keaton is currently about to embark on an already sold out tour playing in museums up and down the country.

So it may be quite a long list, and we hope you discover some new artists from it to get excited about, but it is testament to a potentially cracking year ahead in music of all genres. Roll on 2013! For as many of these bands as possible (not all are on there) I have put together a Spotify Playlist for you all to listen to – click here for the link: 2013 New Artists Playlist