Thursday 16 November 2017

The Tates release their new single 'Water' on the 1st of December as a digital download through Libertino Records.

The Tates release their new single 'Water' on the 1st of December as a digital download through Libertino Records.

‘Water’, the brightly infectious new single by Welsh five-piece The Tates, has been eagerly anticipated after the success of the band’s debut release ‘Electric Girl’. The song was supported by Huw Stephens, BBC Introducing, Radio 1 and gained Amazing radio playlisting as well as being A-listed on BBC Radio Wales.

Energized by their summer tour in support of ‘Electric Girl’ a confident and inspired band returned to the studio in Cardiff to work with producer Steffan Pringle (Estrons, Himalayas, Future Of The Left) again. They emerged with a sense of purpose with a song that will redefine 'The Tates' as the torch-bearers of a new sound, a sound that ranges from The Libertines’ poetic raw energy to the death disco of early New Order and the fuzzed day-glow pop melodies of MGMT.

Lyrically ‘Water’ asks a poetic question exploring themes of nature over nurture, as Tom the guitarist explains: “Are the flaws that we share with our parents who we are, or have we learnt from them? Are we free to be the people we want to be or are we trapped by our genetic makeup and our immediate environment and society?” It is testament to the band that with their unwavering belief in the pop song they are in full control of their chosen genre - they make the pop song theirs. 'The Tates' build from the ground up, step by step until they can reach the stars.

Niterooms release their self-titled debut EP on the 20th of November through all major streaming outlets.

Niterooms are wrapped up in computers and introspection. Their musical landscapes blur the lines between electronica, grime, r'n'b, hip hop, ambient and alternative music, imbuing their personal songwriting with a boundary-pushing, intriguing sound that shifts contemporary music into different places.

The four tracks on Niterooms self-titled debut EP are an unmissable depiction of a swiftly emerging outfit already gathering strong praise, "...they're genuinely trying to do something different without it being a challenge ... it exists somehow, somewhere between grime, dream pop and ambient electronic music..." Adam Walton, BBC Radio Wales.

'Headway' the EPs new single, is laced with a deep groove, synth textures and percussive ticks, that vividly demonstrates their mysterious production style. It comes replete with a shape-shifting vocal delivery that tumbles between vocoder and rap, watch the Ed Townend directed video here.

Niterooms are a young three-piece from Brithdir, a small forgotten mining town in South Wales. They are supported by the Forté Project, a new music development project which supports ten young acts from around the region. Their debut EP is the follow up to 'Wash' , their exhilarating minimalist pop debut from earlier this year.

Niterooms debut EP, will be available through Spotify/AppleMusic/iTunes on the 20th of November. Niterooms Facebook Niterooms Twitter Niterooms Instagram

Thursday 5 October 2017

Hoult releases Debut single 'Pharmacy' this Friday

Hoult releases his debut single ‘Pharmacy’ on Friday 6th of October through Phwoar & Peace, it will be available on digital and streaming platforms.

Hoult has the rare knack of sounding both dreamy and sharp at the same time. This, married with vital yet wistful song-writing, concocts his imaginative brand of guitar pop.

‘Pharmacy’ builds from an affecting intimacy into a song with a grand scale possessing folk-tinged anthemic choruses: reminiscent of Bombay Bicycle club and Frightened Rabbit rippling with personal lyrics that tap into wider themes: “Pharmacy summarises the feeling of frustration when you cannot help someone you care about.” Says Hoult “Darker themes run through the veins of this track, yet the energetic and cheerful instrumentation represent the mask a lot of people wear on a daily basis.”

Hoult better known as Sam Fowke is a singer-songwriter / producer from Gloucester, now based in Cardiff. He released one single entitled 'Red Handed’ under his own name last year, it quickly racked up over 7000 plays. He now returns under the new moniker Hoult with his most affecting and ambitious song yet. Links:

www.twitter.com/houltuk www.facebook.com/houltuk www.phwoarandpeace.com www.twitter.com/phwoarandpeace Bill Cummings Sound and Vision PR soundandvisionpr@googlemail.com www.soundandvisionpr.com

Monday 11 September 2017

Ysgol Sul release their first English language EP 'Eventide' 30th of September

West Wales three piece Ysgol Sul will be self-releasing their first collection of English language songs –“Eventide”- on 30/09/17.

Brought together by a mutual love of the 90s underground, Iolo Jones (singer, guitarist), Llew Davies (drummer), Cian Owen (bass guitar), formed Ysgol Sul in 2014.

Having released several singles and an EP called “Huno”, the band has managed to earn a cult following within the Welsh language scene.

“Eventide” is a stark departure from the slacker and languor of their debut EP, and introduces a touch of darkness to the bands dreamy sound.

The EP opens with “Silhouette” – a song with a sense of yearning yet one of the band’s jangliest songs to date. “Promise Me” sees a return to the trio’s early surfy sound, drenched in reverb. “Elsewhere” is an unholy union of haunting distant sounds and a fierce unrelenting beat. Introverted lyrics coupled with sweet harmonies are brought to the EP by “Dwell”. Krautrock locomotive, “Solitude”, closes the collection. https://www.facebook.com/ysgolsulband/ https://twitter.com/YsgolSul3 https://soundcloud.com/ysgol-sul

Ummagma ‘LCD’ EP with Contributions by Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) & Dean Garcia (Curve)

The new ‘LCD’ EP from Canada’s Ummagma, which follows up their 'Winter Tale' maxi-single with 4AD dream pop pioneer A.R.Kane earlier this year, features four superb tracks of ethereal majesty and exquisite composition, including the new original title track LCD and reworkings of Ummagma songs by not one, but two, legendary British musical figures.

The first is respected Cocteau Twins multi-instrumentalist Robin Guthrie, who offers a breathtaking remix of Ummagma 'Lama' – this is the first time he has worked with a female vocalist in a long time. In the Clash Magazine premiere, editor Robin Murray commends its “soaring melodies and swathes of sound... a gorgeous piece with near orchestral reach”, further noting that “LCD’ explores otherworldly climes, matching heavenly vocals to arrangements as complex as they are hopelessly beautiful”.

The other contribution comes from maverick electronic artist-producer Dean Garcia, who contributes two mixes to the EP. Garcia is famed as half of seminal British indie/alt-rock band Curve with iconic vocalist Toni Halliday and half of SPC ECO with Rose Berlin. His enveloping reworking of their track ‘Back to You’ and his unique mix of 'LCD' are two superb additions that round off a release that encompasses a wide spectrum of sonic sound and gorgeous textures.

“When listening to the original versions of these two songs, I wanted to make something that was an extension of the psyche and space mood that to me is the heart n soul of Ummagma,” explains Dean Garcia. “With the ‘LCD’ mix, it was a matter of going into the original stems and extracting the most trippy n spacey elements and expanding them into a different zone. ‘Back To You’ was more about enhancing the mood of the song as it stood, but with view to bring out its dark and foreboding nature. I enjoyed working on both mixes for different reasons, the sense of space and oddness within both mixes is the thing that glues it all together. File under Dark Psyche.”

Ummagma is Shauna McLarnon, hailing from Canada, and Alexander Kretov, originally from Ukraine. Now based in Canada, Ummagma won the Alternative Eurovision on Amazing Radio, representing Ukraine among 23 countries. They have also received awards and charted in places as far-flung as Australia and the USA to Scotland and Russia.

Apart from Cocteau Twins, Curve and SPC ECO, this new ‘LCD’ EP offers delights for fans of Beach House, Stereolab, Curve, Warpaint, Broadcast, GEMS, and MGMT.

“I grew up listening to Cocteau Twins, Curve, and so many bands from the 4AD and Creation labels, and then later introduced them to my husband. He learned of them late, having been born in the USSR. We feel incredibly honoured that Robin Guthrie and Dean Garcia have shaped several of our tracks as they personally envision them,” says vocalist Shauna McLarnon.

Ummagma release their new EP ‘LCD’ on September 22nd via Label Obscura (cassette) and Somewherecold Records (CD). It will also be available across all the regular digital shops and streaming platforms. The EP is now available for pre-order on the duo’s Bandcamp.

SELECT QUOTES "Guthrie’s remix is a perfect slice of laid-back dream-pop, and McLarnon’s vocals seem to float over its woozy instrumentation" – The Skinny

Full kaleidoscope of sounds, harmonies and musical instruments… the result is massive with an intricate fabric – Rolling Stone

Ethereal pop indebted to Cocteau Twins and much of the rest of 4AD’s ’80s output – BrooklynVegan

Ummagma’s sound is so trippy I had to buy new studio monitors to make sure I wasn't hallucinating... If Underworld or Chemical Bros had done their song 'Lama', it would be proclaimed an instant classic – Rudy Tambala (A.R. Kane) Digital order https://ummagma.bandcamp.com/album/lcd CD order https://swcummagma.bandcamp.com Cassette order https://labelobscura.bandcamp.com/album/lcd Soundcloud playlist https://soundcloud.com/ummagma/sets/ummagma-lcd-ep Back to You’ (Dean Garcia Mix) https://soundcloud.com/ummagma/back-to-you-dean-garcia-spc-eco-mix Lama (Robin Guthrie Mix) https://soundcloud.com/ummagma/lama-robin-guthrie-mix Lama (Robin Guthrie Mix) https://youtu.be/Gk0tuoIgWX0

Thursday 3 August 2017

Adwaith new double A-sided single & Welsh Dates including Festival No 6

Fast rising Carmarthen based female trio Adwaith unveil their brilliant new double A-side single 'Lipstick Coch' and 'FEMME' this summer. Vividly depicting their knack for melody and sound and their ability to create a direct emotional connection with the listener. Adwaith’s brand new double A-side single heralds a beginning of a new sound for the band. Whereas previously the band painted sounds with a palette of muted sombre colours Lipstick Coch and FEMME explode with bright confident neon.
"Criticise the double-standards of promiscuity between the sexes, all while wrapping it up in a sweet, jangly, hook-laden melody reminiscent of C86 that makes it all the more biting." DIY MAGAZINE

'Lipstick Coch (Red Lipstick)' is a fully charged post punk anthem in the vain of The Slits at their most immediate, an anthem celebrating youth, androgyny and love.The flipside 'FEMME' on the other hand could quite easily have been a long lost single on Postcard Records or Cherry Red Records from the mid-80s.

With its jangly C86 indie pop sound as a canvas to the witty, heartfelt lyrics Adwaith discuss femininity and the sexism experienced by them as young women. This is an inspirational song from an inspirational band willing to stand up for their beliefs.

These songs are brave, creative moves both musically and lyrically for the band, yet they retain the distinctive melodic gift that is so recognisable in all Adwaith’s songs. A gift that has gained the band fast critical acclaim and extensive radio plays, most noticeably on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio 6, BBC Radio Cymru and Amazing Radio.

The release of the singles come hot on the heels of Adwaith’s Maida Vale recording session for Huw Stephens in these legendary BBC studios. Their summer is full of activity including a live set on the BBC Introducing Stage at FOCUSWales festival broadcast live on Adam Walton’s BBC Radio Wales show.

Adwaith were introduced on the BBC Introducing stage at Latitude festival as the most exciting band from Wales in decades and will finish the summer on the Gorwelion /Horizons stage at Festival No 6. In the middle of all this activity, Adwaith have managed to record their debut album, and their label Libertino believe its 'creatively ground breaking and will stand as one of the important albums from Wales alongside the works of Gorky Zygotic Mynci, Super Furry Animals and Gwenno.'

LibertinoRecords.com

Adwaith upcoming dates 2017:

7th August, Monday, Cardiff Moon Club

8th and 9th August, Tuesday, Wednesday, Steddfod Genedlaethol 8 Llwyfan y Maes, 9 Caffi Maes B

2nd September Big Cwtch Festival, Saturday

8th September, Friday, Festival No 6

9th September, Saturday, Syria SirGar gig Llanelli with Syrian musicians

16 September, Saturday, Indie Fest, Clwb Ifor Bach

30 September, Saturday, Riverfront Newport

3rd November, Friday, Do Not Go Gentle Festival Swansea

8th December, Friday, Libertino Christmas Party, Clwb Ifor Bach Links

Adwaith Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adwaithband/ Adwaith Twitter: https://twitter.com/adwaithband Libertino Records Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-396293907

'Cocteau Twins' mastermind Robin Guthrie re-envisions Ummagma ‘Lama’

Ummagma will release their new ‘LCD’ EP on September 22nd, preceded by the stunning lead single 'Lama', remixed by Cocteau Twins mastermind artist-producer Robin Guthrie. As the first taste of Ummagma's forthcoming four-track ‘LCD’ EP, Robin Guthrie’s mix of ‘Lama’ is a tantalising window into their breathtaking dream pop sound. This musical tapestry, built around delicate percussion, shimmering guitar trails and gorgeous vocal refrains is familiar yet otherworldly. It’s a sublime snapshot of Ummagma as you have never heard them before. When mutual friends put Ummagma and Cocteau Twins multi-instrumentalist Robin Guthrie in touch after introducing him to their music, he was so taken with ‘Lama’ that he decided to not only re-arrange it, but add his own guitar parts to the new mix. The result is this wonderful new version of the song. As a monumental member of the Cocteau Twins, Guthrie helped pioneer their classic 4AD sound throughout their existence and, once again, his trademark feedback drenched guitar sound is featured here, showing his subtlety, as well as his ability to craft majestic sonic textures. Ummagma are a dream pop duo formed of Shauna McLarnon, a vocalist from the Yukon wilderness and Alexander Kretov, a multi-instrumentalist from small town Ukraine. In a chance encounter, they met in the suburban sprawl of Moscow, where they were each pursuing different musical paths. Bonding over their shared influences and weaving in their diverse backgrounds, this affair with love and sound soon developed into a marriage and the musical union we know today as Ummagma. In 2013, Ummagma won the Alternative Eurovision on Amazing Radio, representing Ukraine. Ummagma ‘LCD’ involves not only one, but two legendary musicians, the other being maverick electronic musician Dean Garcia of Curve fame. Ummagma says they are thrilled that that two legends – both personal musical heroes of theirs – have helped shape their new EP. “I grew up listening to Cocteau Twins, Curve, and so many bands from the 4AD and Creation labels, and then later introduced them to my husband. He learned of them late, having been born in the USSR. We feel incredibly honoured that Robin Guthrie and Dean Garcia have shaped several of our tracks as they personally envision them,” says vocalist Shauna McLarnon. Ummagma release their new EP ‘LCD’ on September 22nd via Label Obscura (digital, cassette) and Somewherecold Records (CD). The EP will be available for pre-order on the duo’s Bandcamp. SELECT PRESS This is a really brilliant post-rocky shoegazey woozy ambient thing. It's absolutely beautiful - Dani Charlton, Amazing Radio Full kaleidoscope of sounds, harmonies and musical instruments… the result is massive with an intricate fabric - Rolling Stone Russia Ethereal pop indebted to Cocteau Twins and much of the rest of 4AD’s ’80s output - BrooklynVegan This is really very cosmic music. Made of stardust - Joe Foster (Creation Records) An honest, believable & beautiful lyric delivered by an honest, believable & beautiful voice. When you combine this with the swirling ambience of lush layered guitars this duo end up with their own unique sonic landscape - Malcolm Holmes (OMD) Ummagma’s sound is so trippy I had to buy new studio monitors to make sure I wasn't hallucinating... If Underworld or Chemical Bros did their song 'Lama', it would be proclaimed an instant classic- Rudy Tambala (A.R. Kane) https://ummagma.bandcamp.com/album/lcd