Them:Youth - Camden Barfly

It’s obvious that Them:Youth have quite epic ambitions. Still in their honeymoon period of band birth, the West London outfit already boast a song catalogue of anthemic, New Order meets Spiritualized electro induced wonderments. The tenderly brash fierceness of “Halo” swirls and orbit’s the stage like a flock of circling pterodactyls waiting to pounce - or in this case, attack every single ear drum with a tornado of face melting guitar domination that will leave you thinking, “Why the fuck are Them:Youth so untouched?…” Beats me.

Back on track! Back on top! Back in the Game!...back

I've had a little inspiration come my way so this blogging lark is going to be almost too regular. I will begin by offering up a free download.

Listed below is a cover of M.I.A's already classic disco grime tune, "Paper Planes." This acoustic cover by Pale Young Gentlemen transfers this achingly aggro beat down song to an acoustic medley of brass insturments and rusty string plucking. It's approached in a humble manor so at no point does it appear pretentious in its stripped down delivery.

Enjoy. x

http://www.savefile.com/files/2039303

THE MOUTH - CAMDEN ENTERPRISE

It’s Halloween, the one time of the year when the unexplainable happens across the world. Juveniles’ dress up as all things freaky and wander the streets in search of sugary treats, while adults and students alike see it as an excuse to get battered and dress up as something only slightly amusing. Even weirder still! In the Camden Enterprise the drummer from the Darkness is stumbling around the crowded room with a half full glass of vino, just looking for his next autograph to sign, or better yet, his first. Mr Carl Barat has also made an appearance. Quietly drinking in amongst the eye liner clad scenesters, continuously checking their straightened mop-toped barnet’s as they converse about unknown bands and bohemian Camden boutiques.

Upstairs lies a small, dingy room where four irrelevant bands have already been and gone, the main even fast approaches. An undeservedly unknown band by the name of The Mouth clambers on stage. They are set apart from the rest of these myspace urchins. I cannot see a pretentious atom surrounding the euphoric five-piece, and although the cliché is rife, they really do let the music do the talking.



An eruption of enigmatic sound waves begins to bellow from the get-go. Their radio friendly, yet undiscovered anthems lie untouched by the cold grasp of corruption thus far. There is an urban odyssey that coats their big tunes in an aura of hope and longing, and in the case of “Get home safely” this cannot be disputed.

“Lost and Lonely” erects a wall of untouchable distinction. Their loud and full-on music is big, I mean, stadium big! “Bows and arrows” proves itself to be nothing short of a future classic. The ecstasy of such a profound piece of craftsmanship is above everything, Real.



Why this treasure has remained untouched baffles me. The chemistry on stage is reminiscent of an explosive Townsend -Daltrey partnership if only The Who were born in the age of over-crass incendiary guitars and acid fuelled technological advancements.

“Stardust” is in fact the musical equivalent of falling in love while “Halo” closes the show on a high. The chorus, the verses, the riffs and everything about this pure anthem is what good music stands for. The Mouth haven’t missed the boat to success just yet, they have simply not been given their break. One day in the near future a member of the public will watch the London five piece in action, and like me, they will fall in love with a band that resembles everything that is good about music.

Birmingham Barfly - "Best of the Festivals"

Ben Sherman’s “Best of the festivals” is mid-way through gracing the country with some of Britain’s top acts…apparently. And tonight in the Barfly there is a mixture. Veterans and rookies, new and old, and frankly, the brilliant and the down-right shit.

The social commentary of New Street Adventure opens up a proverbial can of worms with tales of muscle clad rugby-types and shallow minded fuck-nuts who waltz around, head held high, with nothing to be proud of, bar their over-sized guns and under worked genitalia.

Destroying the set with northern soul drenched riffs and the knee stomping beats its clear to see that Mr Corbin, of New Street, has a way with the pen and, even more importantly, knows his way around the stage.



But little prepared the grotty hole of Birmingham for the ramshackle mish-mash of Manchester’s Twisted Wheel. Groggy punch-drunk licks hold their own underneath the growl of Johnny Brown’s profound vocal domination. “She‘s a weapon“ bursts in like the drums of a thousand hyped up marching bands while “Let them have it all“ stomps carelessly around the room like a moody teenager..

Fresh from playing Wembley with local Manc heroes, Oasis, Twisted Wheel seem to have their heels firmly lodged into their progressive musical agenda. Columbia have hit jackpot here as even Liam Gallagher is praising Mr Brown and it’s clear to see why.

New single, “Lucy the castle”, is rinsed like a soggy towel of crass lyrical thrush while “You stole the sun” grates the walls with its rough-around-the-edges ramshackle echo. But after tonight the Wheel are hardly finished. It’s back down south for the three-piece to commence another support slot tour with Liam Fray and his Courteeners. A future rock star’s work is never done…

Headliner’s Little Man Tate, arguably not “best of the festivals”, give it their best with their mediocre mumblings and over the top hand movements. “Hey little Sweetie” and other distinctly drab tales from the second album appear and then quickly dissolve until “House Party at Boothy’s” sets the bar for yet another over-hyped LMT showcase.

It’s impossible to fault their enthusiasm. Jon Windle is all over the place like a hyper-active mutt in a kennel, but their tales of love, lost and the like lack any real hearty substance and when each song begins to blend into one another I think it’s time for a word with the organisers. Best of the festivals? I think someone’s cocked up.

The View - 5 Rebbeccas

Everyone has a crucial point in their lives which they dread. For boys it could be the tangled web of love, females and the fast approaching car crash of hormonally charged puberty. For girls, perhaps it’s whose heart to break next, who knows? But for bands it would have to be the monumentally important second album. A decider in their musical career. And in many cases, the approach of a second album will be accompanied by a music critic pointing a fully loaded gun or slander themed adjectives right at the head of the musical mind behind either the monstrosity or the masterpiece…

In this case I feel that I am going to lower my cynical weapon of words doused in negative connotations for it is the return of everyone’s favourite Dundee vagabonds, The View. Although we are only at the first single stage I feel confident in these boys. The double-dutch foursome have returned from their smoke filled odyssey with around four minutes of anthemic, riff fuelled junkie drama.

New single, 5 Rebbeccas, begins like the illegitimate love child of Wasted Little DJ’s. It scurries down the well trodden path of overdosed distortion that the carnage causing Scot’s have taken before. And as they dip into the first verse, the melodically organised ramshackle becomes chaotically poetic as the problem-posing dialect of Kyle Falconer begins to flow from his tongue.

The mixture of grubby rock and roll and beautifully melodic pop is an insight into the hard work that has gone into making this tune. After around three years of touring and making their debut album, “Hats off to the buskers”, the boys have had a wee break and are to release their second album in January 2009, with the intriguing title, “Which bitch?”

According to Falconer and guitarist Pete Reilly, the new album is “darker” and more “experimental”, a step away from their successful pop charged debut, which leaves me wondering…If “5 Rebbeccas” is a taster of things to come, well then we are in for quite a treat.

It’s a drug inspired snippet of rock angst, depicting the trials and tribulations of a young female, “Rebbecca”, apparently based on a real person. Nonetheless, “5 Rebbeccas” is not only caked in a new found musical maturity, but also a cluster of chant worthy lyrics, which like the debut, are sure to engrave themselves into the long list of View lyrics that already echo the towns past played. Dark and Experimental seems to have paid off, and believe me, The View are still very much “On Fire!”

The Courteeners - That Kiss, That first album, That it...?

Now let there be no doubt about it - Liam Fray is a fucking great song writer. I believe the majority enjoyed his yearning penned tales of love, loss, lust and the like. And here, the self-proclaimed musical saviour has taken a step away from St Jude to present that nation with a track not featured on the album, and good on the boy! St Jude has only been out a number of months and the fact that Fray and his lesser known band mates are producing songs not featured on their debut is a productive step forward.

“That Kiss” is a delicate indie ballad, once again, encapsulating Fray’s lovable topic, the hot potato of the broken soul - A man tortured by the unknowing female race who simply continue their business unaware of the catastrophic damage they are causing. And as women continue to break hearts like cheap toys in a problem child’s bedroom, Fray continues to pen his sensitive misdemeanours down…song after song.

There are certain song highlights. Once again Fray shows his capability as a true poet in the urban jungle of house parties, ASBO’s and under drinking and blasts in with lyrical hop-scotch which runs so smoothly of the tongue…”If he only knew what you thought/ The lust, the lack of trust and temptation you fought” entwined into the ever self-reassurance of his personal conversation, “It meant nothing/ It meant everything” proves itself to be a real relationship bust-up anthem.

But here is where the problem lies. Despite the clear lyrical wisdom it seems that this is hardly a step forwards for The Courteeners. Sure it’s not on the album, but “Please don’t” is. A lazy comparison maybe…But a comparison that makes utter sense in the circumstance. And as the brilliant Fray, and I do mean that, continues his soul aching ramblings of “He’s just a passing fashion/ And he’s on his way out” I cannot help but ponder the same thing. A great debut, but with a great debut must come more greatness…that is if Liam isn’t to fall victim to his own written work.

CHECK OUT THE NEW VIDEO HERE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8R6oSOidiI

Sergeant - Top notch guitar pop

Scotland’s latest export, pop prodigies Sergeant, have unleashed a three track E.P. The melody rammed, limited edition record is filled to the brim with youth-defining tales. “Our lives are all about living for the nights we can’t remember” yaps front man, Nick Mercer, in the most sincere and profound manor.

Chirpy indie guitars are strung along by the metaphoric daisy-chain of harmonic Scottish vocals, all of which is accredited by the prolific licks and riffs of a very La’s-esqe swagger. Now comparisons will fly, lazy comparisons which may mention their Dundee counterparts - The View - But let it be known! The Glenrothes four are floating high above the fields of the norm, as here they have created a tip-top pop E.P which dangles strangely close to perfection.