My Favorites My Home Page
 
Home Music Live Lifestyle My Planet
 
Change Background
You are here -> Music / Who the f**k? Sunday, 12 October, 2008
PLANETNOTION TELEVISION!
CAMERA-FOLK AND FILM EDITORS WANTED!
Planet Notion is looking for guys and dolls to film and edit features for its new TV channel, PNTV. Accompanying Notion to artist interviews, gigs, fashion shows, festivals and international events, you will be skilled, passionate and full of ideas about how to produce shit-hot video content. Camera-folk will be experienced and ideally have their own equipment, or at least access to equipment, while editors must be able to turn projects around quickly, and with stylistic flare. If you can both film and edit content, we would especially like to hear from you! These casual, unpaid positions would be ideal for those looking to develop their showreels, and to get the chance to travel, film major artists and top events.
 
Please email lucy(at)musichqmedia
(dot)com if you’re interested in getting involved, cheers!
INFO

These pages are all about bands/artists you may not have heard of, but need to get used to. "Who the f*ck?" Exactly.
RSS FEEDS
Subscribe Feeds
What is RSS?
The Transpersonals
The Transpersonals
01/09/2008
tags: | the transpersonals | the transpersonals band | the transpersonals music | more...

Reemer
23/07/2008
Reemer: Dave Hunter (Vocals), Nick Murray (Guitar), Dan Evans (Drums), Max Redfern (Bass) Reemer may have the sort of name you’d associate with a guy who enjoys licking arse out, but they’re actually a pop-punk band from Manchester. It’s true. Their name has nothing to do with anilingus at all; they took it off a guy from cult film ‘Baseketball’. Think Busted, dunked in a blender with a blotter of LSD and a bottle of fizzy pop, and you’re almost there… almost. Anyway, Reemer are so popular in Manchester and the North-West that a recent gig at ‘Sonic Boom’ was oversold by like, 200 tickets. Everyone stormed the stage like a scene from Zulu, and then, get this… they kidnapped Reemer’s bass player, Max Redfern! Mental isn’t it? Reemer even featured in everyone’s favourite C4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, which has storylines including teen-junkies and a guy who’s faked his own death. The band repaid the favour by roping in Leah Hackett, who plays Tina McQueen in the soap, to star in the video to new single ‘Maniac’. Tina McQueen’s latest storyline was giving birth to her boyfriend’s brother’s baby for her ex-jailbird sister, who goes out with her boyfriend’s brother… or something like that. It’ll all end in tears. In fact, so popular are Reemer up North, that Johnny Vegas is set to ditch the knitted tea-drinking monkey to star in their next video! Alas, Reemer have recently been asked to contribute a track to the Mighty Boosh podcast, have an extensive upcoming tour schedule, and are set to release a debut album on ‘Reaction Records’. This suggests that they’re going to explode like a liquid fart! The upcoming album, Snakes and Ladders, is being produced by Andy Macpherson and Chris Kemsey, who have worked with the likes of Blondie, The Cult, New Model Army, The Who, and The Rolling Stones! Anyway, you can check Reemer out on their MySpace . DD New single ‘MANIAC’ is out now on ‘Reaction Records’. Debut album ‘SNAKES AND LADDERS’ is released September 2008. Check out the video to Maniac starring Tina from Hollyoaks:
Reemer
tags: | reemer | reemer band | more...
Detroit Social Club
16/07/2008
From an area of the North East more recognizable for producing adolescent soaps than generating musical talent, there is now emerging one of the most promising bands of the modern era. Detroit Social Club, a six piece only formed just prior to Christmas, has already been astonishing music lovers and A&R personnel alike with their heavily-distorted, dirty-bluesy riffs, profound bass, thudding drums and powerful, soul-inspiring vocals. Although singer/songwriter David Burn, 27, has exhausted a hefty quantity of the past year in his personal studio vigilantly assembling his songs and mastering a unique sound, only recently has this incorporated some of Newcastle’s finest musical talent – including long term friend, Chris McCourtie, Davids Green and Welsh, along with prodigious teens Bondy and Dale Knight. Despite the solitary beginnings, this crew around Burn have become vital ingredients of his vision to “Bring back the feeling”. Burn explains further: “It’s not just about making something sound nice… but also getting something from someone and getting something out of it, where you listen to something and you believe it”. This deluge of spirit is encapsulated in the quite simplistic yet brilliant ‘Black and White’; likewise, in the swaggering vibe of the formidable ‘Sunshine People’, through which even the most passive listener is transcended into a world of alternative realities. Burn, self evidently the band’s clear leader, speaks of Detroit Social Club as a “schizophrenic band” in seeking to maintain a boundary between the recordings and the live performance. “Recordings-wise, there’ll be a lot of soul - it’s gonna be about the colouration of the tracks, a lot more about the vibe and different sounds we can implement”. He continues, “live is very much about dragging you by the balls from the back of the room! You’re gonna be fuckin’ jumping around, not even realizing. Getting to the end of the gig, they’ll be like, how did I get here? It’s gonna be like two different things; by keeping your live presence and your recording separate you’re always gonna surprise people”. Already evident is how much this young band offer, and so it comes as little surprise that a growing amount of record labels, including several majors, have been eager to be associated with a band that is breeding so much enthusiasm. This has led to what Burn defines as a “stroke of luck” – by chance, a demo landed on the desk of Artic Monkeys manager Geoff Barrowdale one Saturday afternoon. By the Sunday morning contact had been made and within weeks he had became their manager. Happenstance shines on the deserving! The initial “excitement”, in Burn’s words, has now been replaced by “apprehension… apprehension to stop talking about it and start doing it”. With a tour of northern cities announced recently, and the album recording set to commence in September, it has been a hectic, tumultuous journey for a band that non-existent but six months ago. With a number one single in the metro charts, “the best manger in the business”, Razorlight’s engineer collaborating with Burn in his production, a host of top bands clambering for them as tour support, there is no doubt that they are in good stead for an extremely promising career. What cannot be denied is that the management has enabled the process to be accelerated. Nevertheless, nor can it be ignored that this has only been possible due to the implausibly good collection of songs that Detroit Social Club has amassed. Talent shines. It is little wonder that there is so much exhilaration: finally, in Detriot Social Club, a band has emerged eager to challenge that hangover the industry has been nurturing since the demise of the Libertines; the hangover the precedes the ebullient, transcendental presence of a defining rock’n’roll band. Richard Duncan
Detroit Social Club
tags: | detroit social club | more...
Golden Animals
07/07/2008
Nuts and Bolts: Tommy Eisner (guitar/vocals) Linda Beecroft (drums/vocals) Stomping Ground: Southern California/Brooklyn Set to Soundtrack: A journey across Arizona in a 1960s Black LeSabre. Destined to Upset: Anyone who hates the bygone period of free-love, smoking pot, and dropping acid. You’re in business if you like: The Doors, Jim Morrison, Cream, Jimmy Reed, hobos on trains, Jimi Hendrix, early Rolling Stones, and music that’s refreshingly, um, fresh… It’s inevitable that should Golden Animals acquire a glowing reputation, which itself seems inevitable, there are going to be comparisons made to the White Stripes. Why? Because: (A) they’re a two-piece playing music deep-rooted in early blues; (B) ones a bloke, the other isn’t; and (C) Tommy plays guitar and Linda plays drums. However, Planet Notion can safely say, that is where the comparisons end. The fact is that Golden Animals don’t sound like the White Stripes and they don’t seem to be trying to. In fact, Tommy and Linda sound like a throw-back to a period in 60s music when blues was transforming into a psychedelic incarnation; eg: The Doors, and albeit, with their own unique approach. “Early blues recordings are the fountain”, the pair have commented. “Even in 200 years, people will find completely new ways to create all within those rules and algorithms”. Indeed… Tommy met Swedish-born Linda on her first day in Brooklyn; you could call it fate. The pair immediately hit if off and soon set-off travelling Europe and America armed only with the bare essentials. You know; a guitar, a tambourine, a suitcase… A chance meeting with a fortune teller, who predicted music would be the pair’s destiny, sent them packing back to Brooklyn to pursue their interest, and thus Golden Animals was born. A ‘marching band’ drum-kit, acquired from a dumpster outside a church, and Tommy’s distinct slide-guitar, would provide the basis of Golden Animals' sound. However, tiring of the Brooklyn scene, the pair soon headed west, eventually settling in the Californian desert. Alas, it was here that they recorded debut album, ‘Free Your Mind and Win a Pony’, due for release in August and recorded under the guidance of ‘Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ and ‘TV On The Radio’ producer, Chris Cody. Their tale may sound like something from a Mark Twain novel, but the album speaks for itself. Five months recording in the isolated Californian desert has clearly influenced and helped the duo develop their blues inspired sound. Hence the opinion of Planet Notion that Golden Animals are one of the most exciting acts to emerge this year. And just because we find Linda sexy, Tommy friggin’ dope, and have an almost voyeuristic fascination with their music, that doesn’t mean we continually wank over our ‘promo’ copy of ‘Free Your Mind and Win a Pony’. Ahem, well, there was that one time... Words: Dangerous Dave Golden Animals debut album, Free Your Mind and Win a Pony, is released on HappyParts Recordings, August 4th. For more information, visit the Golden Animals MySpace page.
Golden Animals
tags: | golden animals | more...
Nick Sunderland
30/05/2008
Nuts and Bolts: Nick Sunderland (Vocals/Guitar) Stomping Ground: East London . Set to Soundtrack: Love… Loss… Hope… Destined to Upset: The clubbing fraternity. You’re in business if you like: Peri-Peri Chicken style Indie-Rock. Soft, but with a kick. Imagine going for a leisurely run through the woods whilst listening to your I-pod; some gentle Indie-rock beating slowly against your drums. Suddenly there’s a kick, a harder edge to the music, and you pick up the pace. You’re really working it now; your armpits are rising damp and your brow’s getting wet - until suddenly you stop with a jolt to admire an unusual looking specimen! It’s a Liberty Cap: A Magic Mushroom . It looks tasty, and you’re feeling a wee bit peckish, so you take a bite… Oh god! Minutes later you’re on a crazy paranoid trip, peculiar voices infiltrating East-End artist Nick Sunderland on your I-Pod, as he explores deep themes of love and loss; loss and love. You’re running through the woods in a blind panic, arms flailing like an irate gibbon, the trees closing in on you like some paranoid delusion of Edgar Allan Poe. Memories of lost relationships are flooding back to haunt you, like an outer-body experience on a journey to the fiery gates of hell. There’s a bitter edge to Nick Sunderland’s music and lyrics, occasionally interrupted by the schizophrenic voice of inner thoughts and times that were. Sunderland explores subjects more at home within the softer realms of Indie-rock; albeit with a little more panache. By adding distorted electronic-infused vocals as a response to the lyrical context, on top of far edgier guitar solos, he explores the demented side of break-ups and the eternal search for love. Far from being depressing it kicks your sorry arse into gear; tells you to drop that quart of Whiskey and put down the sharpened knife. After all, break-ups and love are rarely lardy-dar (sic); they’re a subject that’s supposed to be approached with edginess and bite. Perhaps that’s why the London artist reached number two (2) in Metro’s singles of the week… Sure, Sunderland may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s a damn sight better than the current crop of soft-Indie rockers littering jukeboxes nationwide, for single drunks to listen to whilst weeping into pints. Check out his MySpace ! Words: Dangerous
Nick Sunderland
tags: | nick sunderland | liberty cap | more...
The Power Lords
02/05/2008
Nuts and Bolts: The Power Lords (Pierre and Bohdan) Stomping Ground: South of France (St. Tropez) and the Ukraine. Set to Soundtrack: Clubs where people sport Croydon facelifts and neck Bacardi Breezers. Destined to Upset: Anyone without a sense of humour. You’re in business if you like: Regular trips to the Krakow club scene. “Let my weiner fire your hummer / Start in the cupboard later the freezer / Ask Boris Becker I’m a grand slam winner.” The Power Lords (Lords of the String) The Power Lords have burst onto the club scene like a teenager on his first gram of cheap whizz; garnering reactions of befuddlement, guilty pleasure and disdain in equal measure. They’re the kind of Euro-techno outfit you’d imagine four fat birds in Benidorm doing ‘big square, little square, cardboard box’ to whilst taking the occasional glug of their Lambrini and pawing over a Spanish hunk - topless but for a dickie-bowtie. We’re talking cheese-smeared, holiday-camp cabaret, only a hell of a lot more polished and with a back-story that makes Star Wars episodes I-III look as dire as Series 4 of Deep Space Nine. The Power Lords’ story started as a dream of two playboy London Hedge Funders living it large in St. Tropez, a mutual love of European Techno inspiring them to have a pop in the music production game. James Burrell, a young composer and songwriter whose résumé includes work for the BBC, Nickelodeon and John Lewis was recruited to help the dream become a reality. Alas, with the playboy Hedge Funders jobs requiring a certain je ne sais quois -“Oh so respectful” - public image, the notorious twosome’s elation soon turned to concern. Having their names attached to a Euro-Tech song deep-set around the ‘St. Tropez G-String’ was hardly going to preserve the respect they’d worked so hard to build, right? Alas, the two pulled out, expecting an end to the whole shebang, but with the wheels set in motion James felt that the “show must go on.” And so the story ends. Well, you could say “And so the story begins” because the national press are lapping The Power Lords up like the Cheshire Cat with a bowl of Jersey’s finest. The Power Lords backstory is one of intrigue and mystery with more questions than answers and this is what makes them perfect fodder for the pad and pen. Debut single Lords of the String is going to be bigger than King Kong’s crown jewels and reading The Power Lords philosophy on music it’s easy to see why: “We love dance music that make you want to dance! Laugh! Kiss! Cry! Make Love too!!!” their MySpace beams. If that’s not the talk of global superstars I’ll eat my St. Tropez G-string and lick King Kong’s bellend! Check out their MySpace ! Words: Dangerous Dave Dryden
The Power Lords
tags: | the power lords | more...
Jay Reatard
28/04/2008
Nuts and Bolts: Jay Reatard (vocals, guitar, bass), Billy Hayes (drums), Stephen Pope (bass) Stomping Ground: Memphis, Tennessee since 1998. Set to Soundtrack: A ketamine and whizz binge. Destined to Upset: Fans of Happy Hardcore. You’re in business if you like: Raucous full-throttle punk-dipped rock with a pinch of new wave. Sometimes an artist will come along and kick you in the balls with such ferocity they go flying through your system and drop out your mouth; before sliding back to their rightful position, intact and twice as big and brutal as before. Jay Reatard is one such artist; his short, sharp, hook-laden tracks triggering an “I’m not gonna take this shit anymore” attitude - only way more successfully than heavy-metal (which isn‘t difficult). Jay began writing songs alone in his bedroom due to an overwhelming sense of boredom and a turbulent home life. He was recognized at the tender age of 15 after sending a demo tape to Goner Records and dropping out of school - which ultimately proved a wise move. Jay produces the kind of music that grips one shoulder tightly and slaps you round the face with a free hand – with lyrics that delve into everything from inner demons and a crap childhood to romance past and drinking piss from a jar… Take ‘Not a Substitute’ from Jay’s ‘Blood Visions’ LP which at 1:04 minutes long contains the simple lyrics “It’s not a substitute / not a substitute for you” before launching into a full-throttle guitar chorus of “MISSING YOU” like a skipping record that you daren’t change. Quite what the substitute for a lost love is remains unclear. It could be drugs, it could be a new missus, and it could be a chocolate bar. The fact is Jay leaves these small details for your interpretation. Jay used to be in punk-band The Reatards, alternating between singing, guitar, and a bucket for percussion. He then created/joined a few other bands, including Lost Sounds, before finally launching his solo career. An initially surprised music press have generally lavished praise on Jay’s first and only solo LP ‘Blood Visions’ which contains a full-throttle 15 tracks at under 30 minutes long. Anyhow, if you’re after punk-rock with the occasional Adam Ant new-wave eccentricity thrown in, Jay’s as good a bet as any… Check out his MySpace .
Jay Reatard
tags: | jay reatard | blood visions | more...
The Parlotones
23/04/2008
Nuts and Bolts: The Parlotones - Kahn Morbee (vocals and guitar) Neil Pauw (Drums) Paul Hodgson (guitar) Glenn Hodgson (bass and keyboards) Stomping Ground: London and Johannesburg since 1998. Set to Soundtrack: Plucking up the courage to approach that girl/boy but never quite succeeding. Destined to Upset: People who HATE teenage rom-coms. You’re in business if you like: Melodious rock with vocals like the guy from Linkin Park - only better! For a band that released their first album in 2003 and started up in ‘98 it seems strange that, if mentioned, The Parlotones garner the following response: “Who?” Or, with this section of Planet Notion being named a certain something: “Who the fuck?” But the South African four-piece have obviously been doing something right because in 2006 Universal Records snapped ‘em up. And it doesn’t stop there. FHM used The Parlotones single ‘Overexposed’ as the soundtrack to their ‘World’s Hottest Woman’ film. With lyrics that go a little something like: “This could be the end of - ‘Who the hell cares?’” it seems a bizarre choice for a film predominantly flesh and thigh. That’s until you hear a peculiar purring akin to the Cheshire Cat on five E’s and a Viagra. As far as sound goes The Parlotones appear to be a band unconfined by boundaries. Vocally they’re consistent, but musically it varies from jangly, up-lifting melodies, to heavy(er) guitar laden rock. As one would expect from a South African “rock band” The Parlotones are pretty bloody big in their native country and that popularity is fast spreading. Perhaps it has something to do with using a megaphone on stage? The band recently announced a European and South African tour which will see them playing Switzerland’s biggest indoor music festival, ‘Bscene’, and London’s legendary 100 Club. Sure, singer Kahn Morbee sounds a bit like that guy from Linkin Park, whose mainstream “nu-metal” whine appeals as much as a night in the sack with Lisa Riley and a dodgy kebab, but it’s kind of cool… Well, a hell of a lot cooler than Linkin Park, a damn sight tastier than Lisa Riley, and guaranteed to soundtrack a teen rom-com sometime in the future. I’ll put my money on it! Check them out: www.myspace.com/theparlotones The Parlotones release new album ‘Radiocontrolledrobot’ on May 5th.
The Parlotones
tags: | the parlotones | kahn morbree | more...
Hungover Stuntmen
21/04/2008
Nuts and Bolts: Hungover Stuntmen - James Haselhurst (guitars/vox) Craig Oxberry (drums/vox) Iain Anderson (bass/vox) Stu Ridley (guitars/vox) Stomping Ground: Newcastle Upon Tyne. Set to Soundtrack: Pre-match drinks down a good old fashioned boozer. Destined to Upset: Those who'd rather a night in with slippers, a cheap cigar and Ella Fitzgerald than a pint, a sing-song and Sky Sports News. You’re in business if you like: British Indie rock. Armed with custom guitars, you know, Rickenbackers, Telecasters and the like; Hungover Stuntmen have been dubbed “just awesome” by (who else) Zane Lowe. Surprising when you consider that they’ve only ever released standard demos. Yet despite their relative obscurity it seems the world is going crazy for the Geordie quartet. Take Yu Kamidozono, a Japanese fan who made a whopping 11,526.52 mile round trip to see the lads perform in London; my god, they have stalkers already! “They can play, sing, I’ve even seen them dance, and for sure they put on one hell of a show”, beamed Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor; you know, the guitarist with the bloated face? Sure, Andy’s bound to be a little biased, having produced the Stuntmen’s debut album ‘Blame it on the BBC’. But then, the rave reviews don’t end there. Suggs described the Stuntmen as “f**king great” and Paul Weller’s such a fan he allowed the boys to join him on stage. Twice! We say “allowed to join him” because the Modfather is so revered by Indie bands; they look up and aspire to be him like Eros, god of love, sex and lust. In fact, the Stuntmen have joined everyone on stage from Jools Holland and The Futureheads to, um… The Kooks and Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly; taking time to play Ibiza Rocks in the process. In a nutshell, people are standing up and taking notice of these Indie rockers. Sure, there are always going to be those that say “Oh god, not another Indie guitar band”, but something tells us these lads are a tad more special than the usual bunch. Catchy, occasionally raw and well constructed? “Way-ey man!” The Hungover Stuntmen’s debut album ‘Blame it on the BBC’ is released on 28th April.
Hungover Stuntmen
tags: | hungover stuntmen | more...
The Steeples
07/04/2008
Nuts and Bolts: The Steeples - Andy Culshaw (vocals), Dan Rankin (guitar), Chris ‘Hutchy’ Hutchinson (bass), Alex Caskie (drums) Stomping Ground: Ormskirk (near Liverpool) Set to Soundtrack: The NHS anti-smoking advert. Sorry, what’s that? They’ve done that already? Oh! Apparently they’ve done that already. Destined to Upset: Eddie would hate them! You know; that dude from Iron Maiden? You’re in business if you like: Jig-enticing pop-guitar and a voice like that bloke from the Kooks… Only with a bit more range. Like that fit bird from the Sugababes, bands seem to be appearing from nowhere these days. They thought we wouldn’t notice that Mutya had gone AWOL and been replaced by Amelle Berrabah, but we all saw through it; you can’t fool me! Hailing from Ormskirk, which is near Liverpool, The Steeples are one such band; the kind that find themselves thrust into the spotlight and hailed “New Indie darlings” before they’ve had time to finish their Munch Bunch, pick their nose and press record for the latest episode of Poddington Peas. In a nut-shell The Steeples emerged from the wilderness and found a whole host of press and radio bigwigs getting hot under the collar; cum dripping down their thighs, salivating, and emitting groans of pure unadulterated ecstasy at these fresh new kids and their guitar-hook laden merry Indie-pop. XFM labeled debut single Britney’s Tears as “Ace;” The Daily Record used such phrases as “quirky” and “brilliant;” FutureSounds yelped “non-stop fun”. Alas, thanks to major radio plugging and frequently smitten reviews, The Steeples found themselves at the centre of a scandal... Well, we made that up; but they do have a band of followers that call themselves the ‘Steeple People’ which, in our opinion, has all the makings of a Manson style cult. Blending witty lyrical tales with pop-guitar riffs to create melodies stained with the butter drips of Indie sweetness, we at Planet Notion expect these guys to be a commercial success. That doesn’t necessarily mean we like ‘em or don’t like ‘em, it just means they’ll probably be huge because they remind us of the (ahem) Kooks. Loads of young whippersnappers love the Kooks (honest they do) and buy their records so they’ll probably do the same for The Steeples. And they’re pretty lads like the Kooks and… erm… Pass me the shovel! Please!? Check out their MySpace ! The Steeples debut album, Tea for Two, is released on Easy Money Records on June 16th following the release of single, Loosy Lucy, on June 9th.
The Steeples
tags: | the steeples | andy curshaw | more...
Tilt City Ghosts
03/04/2008
Nuts and Bolts: Tilt City Ghosts - Nick Bovaird (vocals), Matt Povey (bass), Anthony Hull (guitar), Jon Lamont (drums) Stomping Ground : Anywhere in London… Set to Soundtrack: Aimlessly wandering at three in the morning; silently weeping and chugging a bottle of Castillo de Diablo after failing to pull in that grotty pub. Destined to Upset: Well, they say they’re ROCK, but… You’re in business if you like: Emotional lyrics minus the emo squeal, drum intros, and the occasional gritty guitar lick thrown in for good measure! Bit of a funny one this. Don’t really know an awful lot about them, which is probably why they’ve ended up on ‘Who the Fuck?’ Any-hoo, let’s start with the basics. Tilt City Ghosts are four lads from London. They say they’re not “clowns” for our “amusement”, which means they’re a band with high expectations and want to be taken seriously. They also claim to have “hundreds of songs smeared across different styles and speeds” which means they’re a pretty eclectic bunch. We’re told they have a ballad in stark contrast to their manly lyrics (drinking and the like) which means they have mass appeal to all creeds and genders. They’re also “vibrant, changing and worthy of your belief” (their words not ours) which could be taken in one of two ways: Either they’re a bunch of egocentric wankers or they have an aching desire to be loved. We don’t think Tilt City Ghosts are wankers because they like things like fine art and old vinyl and batman and green tea; whereas people who drink 'Frosty Jack' on park benches and throw stones at the Old Peoples Home have never heard of green tea and use “batman” as a homophobic insult… Anyway, the bands music ranges from “drinking red wine in an empty room and reminiscing about a former love” type stuff to post-punk fuelled Indie anthems. If the combined forces of drink and music seem appealing, whether on your own or in a room full of people, then you’ll probably like the music of Tilt City Ghosts and their surprisingly deep lyrics. Check out their MySpace !
Tilt City Ghosts
tags: | tilt city ghosts | nick bovaird | more...
Ungdomskulen
25/03/2008
Nuts and Bolts: Ungdomskulen - Kristian Stockhaus (vocals/guitar), Øyvind Solheim (drums), Frode Kvinge Flatland (bass) Stomping Ground: Bergen, Norway since 2000. Set to Soundtrack: Getting locked in a cupboard with a Sega Megadrive and a television set from the 1980s. Destined to Upset: Those who sit in fields, drinking milk, chewing straw and strumming an acoustic. You’re in business if you like: Fast and furious rock that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Ungdomskulen means ‘youth school’ in English which goes someway to understanding the band’s (seriously cool) delinquent sound. When we say delinquent, we don’t mean it in a bad way. It’s not like the opening credits of the ‘Clangers’ or ‘Teenage Turtles’ rap, its rock with a hard-edged innocence; like a fat kid given three-months in Borstal for nicking a pen-knife, just so he could chop up an apple as part of his healthy diet routine. It’s music undefined by boundaries, breaking limitations, and packing a punch outside the box. Anyway, the Norwegian threesome formed in 2000 with a sound made solely of guitar, bass, drum and vocals. They originally called themselves ‘Standing Ovation’ but, realising they were probably being a little optimistic, changed their name to ‘Goddammit’ (probably because they were pissed with not getting a standing ovation). Then they settled on the whole ‘Youth School’ shebang which represents that period of transition from boy to man. The lads have played in places like America and are shortly making a return to ‘Blighty’ for an upcoming tour with the Young Knives. Ungdomskulen also have new single ‘Modern Drummer’ coming out soon with a really cool and trippy video. Imagine being stuck in a computer game with a guy that looks like a bear, firing at aliens with groovy guitar licks while his mate bangs the drums like a nutcase and a bass player covers his back on a backdrop of psychedelic colours and crunching sound, and you’re only halfway there. ‘Modern Drummer’ is an ode to the drummer and the way that gadgets are taking over his role and stuff and how, like, that’s not a good thing because nobody can play the drum like the fucking drummer, right?! Ungdomskulen: Three crazy Norwegians pounding out funky, furious, fast-paced rock that addresses subjects that truly matter. Check out their MySpace ! Words: Dave Dryden "
Ungdomskulen
tags: | ungdomskulen | more...
Ashley Alexandra Dupre
20/03/2008
Nuts and Bolts: Ashley Alexandra Dupre (AKA Kristen) Stomping Ground: She’s been about a bit… Recorded first demo in 2004. Set to Soundtrack: You know that scene in American Pie where the geeky guy is seduced by the MILF and they romp on a Pool Table? That! Destined to Upset: Ex-Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer. You’re in business if you like: Raunchy R‘n’B poured from a kettle with a crusty filter. Few positives can be taken from Eliot Spitzer’s resignation as Governor of New York, following his association with a prostitution ring; except maybe the odd STI (evidence pending). But from the blood, sweat, tears and carnage an angel has emerged to bless all with her sweet-sounding R‘n’B. In fact, there’s nothing sweet about it, it’s as raunchy as Act 1 Scene 4 of ‘Throbin Hood Prince of Beaves’. Ashley Alexandra Dupre otherwise known as Kristen, the prostitute behind the Spitzer scandal, started her singing ambition when she moved in with a ‘musician’ during her ‘odyssey’ to New York. Like all budding singers Dupre was singing ‘Respect’ in the shower when (as she herself describes) “he and his lead guitarist burst in [and] had me repeat [it]”. Anyway, Dupre got caught up in drugs and was broke and homeless when she arrived in Manhattan only to find breaking into the music scene easier said then done. Sadly she became a call girl. Since Spitzer was exposed the R‘n’Wannabe has become an overnight sensation. Dupre released her first song ‘Can You Handle Me, Boy?’ as a free download on website Amie Street and due to her vocal skills (and in no way related to the Spitzer scandal) the song became a huge hit and a remixer’s wet-dream. Now Dupre has released both her second single ‘Move Ya Body’ and ‘Can You Handle Me, Boy?’ as pay to download tracks, pocketing a poultry $200,000 in the process (and counting). Does a multi-million dollar career await Dupre in the field of R‘n’B? With lyrics like: “If you wanna take me out after the club, you gotta do it right, baby, show me some love” and “Sex money drugs is what I'm all about / Step your game up so you can see for yourself” and “Brush up against me and whisper in my ear/ Make me feel what you want to feel / Numb to the touch, deeper pulse inside/ Let's hit the dance floor, turn it up inside” we reckon you should go straight down the bookies - NOW - because this girl’s gonna be bigger than a Horses donger! Check out her MySpace ! Words: Dave Dryden
Ashley Alexandra Dupre
tags: | ashley alexandra dupre | kristen | more...
Petter and The Pix
18/03/2008
Nuts and Bolts: Petter Winnberg (vocals), Andreas Gabrielsson (bass), Nils Tronqvist (drums), Mikael Svensson (synthesizer), Mattias Franzen (guitar), Klas Ericsson (guitar) Stomping Ground: Stockholm , Sweden since around 2006 Set to Soundtrack: Skipping through a field of cows. Destined to Upset: If Sting singing ‘I’m an Alien’ to the gentle strum of Jack Johnson and backed by sweet synth madness is your idea of hell, you’ll be down the church faster than a hyperactive hare on M&Ms. You’re in business if you like: Tweed trousers and Chupa Chupps. Sweden gave the world Victoria Silvstedt and Neneh Cherry, who can cook a mean Jerk Chicken as well as rap. The Swedes also gave us half of Johnny Borrell’s Razorlight, but we’ll let that one slide; after all, nobody’s perfect. The biggest Swedish export though (other than Ikea) was Abba, with their sweet pop sound and a break-up album in the vein of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, where like, the people breaking up recorded together and sang about it. Genius! Anyway, Petter and the Pix are further indication of the Swede’s skill at producing commercial pop. Well, it’s more folk/pop really, a bit like ‘Peter, Bjorn and John’ who happen to come from Stockholm too. Can you see the pattern? Anyway, Petter’s been in quite a few bands over the years and even won the Best Swedish Jazz award in 2000 for his album ‘Far from Alone’ with Linda Svantesson. Then Petter turned into a recluse and headed to the mountains to practise the ancient art of Kung-Fu, returning a far tougher dude and forming new band Petter and The Pix. In 2006 he was introduced to a guy called President Bongo (seriously that’s his name) from GusGus who summoned his Bongolites to produce Petter and The Pix’s debut album ‘Easily Tricked’ on Gung-Ho! Recordings. The album features a pretty diverse range of folk-tinged beats, delving into everything from electro-backed sing-alongs to hazy synths, with a spot of reggae thrown in for good measure. I guess you could say its cuddly folk, the kind you’d use to seduce a young virgin, clad in white from head to toe and sipping a glass of baileys. Anyway, ‘Ol Petter, who started off on bass, is looking forward to breaking the UK scene and test-driving the… erm… talent… “I think the Swedish and UK scenes are similar”, he says. “We’ve been trying to copy you guys for quite some time and have got quite good at it. I’m really looking forward to testing out your live scene. And your ladies”. Check out their MySpace ! Words: Dave Dryden Petter and The Pix release ‘Easily Tricked’ on Gung-Ho! Recordings May 12th 2008.
Petter and The Pix
tags: | petter and the pix | more...
Cedar Falls & Z-List Tears
06/02/2008
Dave Adair discusses the performance of two Warrington bands, having witnessed up-and-comers 'Z-List Tears' and 'Cedar Falls' performing at the WA1 Bar. As ‘Z-List Tears’ step onto stage, smiles immediately appear all-round. Famed in Warrington for their live oomph and amiable stage presence, their enthusiasm helps give the rumbling Metallica-instrumental robustness some drive, force, and rhythm. Already the gregarious singer, Bungle, demonstrates a deeper ruggedness to his vocals and has clearly been experimenting with his range. He needs this extra touch to communicate the punchy lyrics over the bass-lines of Al Blackmore; strong and sturdy enough to hold the weight of 200 cattle. ‘Model Behaviour’ grabs the attention of the wandering Friday-night crowd with its grunge revival slant. The versatile vocals lean towards those of Eddie Vedder; the accompaniment spews ‘Rage Against The Machine’ spirited rock-solid grit. Then, as if to say - “You want a mellower anthem, try this for size?” - ‘Oceansize’ adopts a lingering epic feel reminiscent of a ‘Hello Pig’ era Levellers. It’s certainly a growing range that ‘Z-List Tears’ demonstrate tonight. They’re almost moving into veteran category in this town, having been on the scene for what seems like an eternity, but their enthusiasm and passion never wanes. Technical problems have the masses checking whether they’ve dialed a wrong number and put their phone on loudspeaker, blighting the efforts of Cedar Falls; marring their ability to settle into the usual harmony producing set. But a Libertines veined intro shakes a disinterested, seat-hogging crowd, into an attentive state as the band launch into ‘Car Crash’. It’s only then the Liverpudlian trio settles into a middle of the road Indie groove; Keiron Coyne pulling-off the tough task of singing while playing bass, with great aplomb. A tempo change in the form of the gruff and downtrodden ‘Ballad of a Broken Heart’, leads the frivolous chit-chat to increase in prominence. However, this is by no means a bad thing; it adds a perspective to the subject of being ignored, lending a neat, ambient touch. A dual keyboard approach immediately raises intrigue; James’ vocals adding a catchy, feel-good-feel to pop pearl ‘Baa Baa’. Straight away the singers snappy, clear vocals and ebullient manner, draws the crowd into hand-clapping and cheeky “Baa Baas” of their own, bringing life and enthusiasm to the fore. A theatrical soul edge and the rustling percussion of John, the key instrumental controller throughout ‘Bridge’, begins to embellish Joyce’s show. ‘School Boy Error’ bears an acoustic proficiency gaining popularity and importance in the current music scene. Especially as the toning down of their instrumental flamboyancy allows Joyce to expand vocally; a tri-vocal attack taking their Indie/electro/pop combo to a completely different level. Their ability to involve the audience oozes warmth, achieving a feel-good factor that should be enough to draw label interest. It worked for Mika didn’t it? Words: Dave Adair, Photography: www.caerphoto.com & www.myspace.com/cedarfalls www.myspace,com/zlisttearsnew www.cedarfallsmusic.co.uk www.myspace.com/joyceuk
Cedar Falls & Z-List Tears
tags: | cedar falls | z-list tears | more...
NEWSLETTER!
Click here and sign up to our weekly newsletter, to get the latest Notion goodness.
Contact Us Support Us Music HQ Ltd / Notion
Site Map Advertise with Us Website designed and developed by PS Europe Ltd.