ALBUM: Argonaut – ‘Forever’

Let me posit an idea: The writer asks themselves the questions required for the process of a good album review. Actors do it, why can’t we? My first (and only, to be honest) question would be: what do you think has been lacking from the overall music scene? Aside from estrogen, queerness, and artists of colour, it’s the space for old-school DIY punk rock spirit that is most sorely vacuous.

London-based band Argonaut have that in spades. The card spades, because Wiki told me that one time when I thought it meant the tools you scoop up sand with at the beach. Influenced by bands that make me weak in the knees – Pixies, Sonic Youth, Le Tigre – Argonaut have absolutely nothing to prove when it comes to the art of do-it-yourself no wave art-anarchy.Their third album, Forever, was recorded live over a couple of days in Bally Studios in Tottenham Hale and hits the punk rock spots I sometimes forget still exist.

I remember hearing Dave Grohl talk about his recording process before the Foo Fighters. He’d record the song all the way through, then he’d have to record that tape on another tape to add the next track and so on, so forth. Always thought that was fucking cool.

Recording tracks live and in one piece is a challenge and fifty more, but in listening to tracks like Argonaut’s ‘Zero Said’, ‘Touch Electric’, and the Breeders-like ‘No Song’, you wouldn’t know it. I mean, just listening to the album (which I have been on loop for the last week, battling against the mainstream white-boy snoozy pop music coming from next door’s Sonos), I could hear Argonaut on a line-up with their influences. Or like in a quick cutscene from the (best) documentary (of all time), 1991: The Year Punk Broke. Like there’d be Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr. and Babes in Toyland, and then Argonaut. Yeah, I could see that.

Even cooler is the fact that despite the music landscape these days being so openly accessible to anyone with cash or an internet connection, the band are releasing the record as a limited edition of 100 CD copies. I love the fucking up of a corporate future. The limited release will also be available only from former Argonaut bassist, Paul Saiya’s, independent record store.

If there’s anything better in life than from the belly of the beast punk rock, I don’t even want to know about it. I am awash with the joys of a kid who worshipped Kim Gordon, Deal, and Kathleen Hanna, and because of Argonaut’s Forever, I’m reminded once more that punk will never die. Not so long as there are women around.

Now, how fucking cool is that?

Argonaut’s Forever is out now. Order it here.

Em Burfitt
@fenderqueer

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Track Of The Day: LOTIC – ‘Hunted’

Described as a “high-camp, very abstract take on Queen of the Damned meets Lost Boys,” Berlin-based Lotic has shared a new video for their single ‘Hunted’. Directed by Matt Lambert who gave the above explanation, the dark, sensual, delightfully disturbing set of visuals are the perfect accompaniment to Lotic’s altruistic sound.

The opening lyrics to ‘Hunted’ – “brown skin / masculine frame / head’s a target / actin’ real feminine / make ’em vomit” – provided the perfect context for Lambert’s video: “We had this spontaneous idea of a cursed deity whose strength and sexual energy is fuelled by the souls of bougie white boys they seduced, and then murdered ritualistically in a small beach resort town.” This gritty backdrop is made all the more alluring by Lotic’s mesmerising beats and well-crafted electronics.

‘Hunted’ will feature on Lotic’s debut album Power, which is set to be released via Tri Angle Records on 13th July. “It originally started as an empowerment album,” explains Lotic. “I felt that I needed to offer something outside of myself, as sort of a healing moment.” Power will also be released on limited edition vinyl, housed in a die cut sleeve designed by Marwan Kaabour and will feature a vinyl only exclusive track called ‘Burn A Print’.

Watch the video for ‘Hunted’ below and pre-order your copy of Lotic’s Power here.

Follow Lotic on Facebook for more updates.

Photo credit: Matt Lambert

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Introducing Interview: Chymes

When I find myself describing a track as “so chill, I can’t even” I know it deserves a solid place on my current playlist, and that’s exactly what happened with ‘Dreaming’, the latest release from Sydney duo Chymes. We caught up with Kiersten – one half of Chymes – to talk about how it all began, Australia’s music scene and what equal billing is really about.

Welcome to Get In Her Ears!  Can you tell us a bit about Chymes and how it all started?
Thanks for having me! Chymes came about when I was writing my own music as a folk artist and needed a producer. I found Cameron through some mutual friends and we began working together. We started to turn what we were creating into something neither of us had explored before. We found we had similar ambitions and decided to pursue them together as Chymes.

So you are currently in Australia… Have you ever visited the UK?  If so do you think there is a difference between the two scenes?
I visited the UK two years ago just before Christmas to see my sister who was living there at the time. I wasn’t there long enough to check out the music scene. However it seems to have a really artistic and creative vibe and in the future I’d LOVE to go back and perform our music and write with other musicians.

Australia (Melbourne especially) has such an incredible music scene, with so many great artists emerging. Would you say there is much of a community among emerging artists over there?
There are some seriously talented people coming out of Australia and it is very exciting! All kinds of music too, which is great. In terms of a community… Not really. From what we’ve experienced, it is hard to get in touch with other artists because everyone is hustling and focusing on their own path. In saying that though, we have made really good friends with lots of people who we’ve met through doing shows and often invite each other back for more.
Also, Chymes HQ is an hour and a half away from Sydney and it makes it hard for us to be properly involved in a community if there was one.

We’re loving your latest single ‘Dreaming’ which we played on our radio show, can you tell us a bit more about what inspired this?
Yay! We are sooo glad you like it. It’s about that euphoric feeling when you experience something that feels larger than life, like coming up with a new idea or falling in love and how you find yourself being whisked away into another world or a dream-like place. It’s how we feel when we make music.


Here in London there is a big movement to promote and support women in music, and increase the representation of women & non-binary people in the music industry. I was wondering what the scene is like in Australia?
We definitely feel like it’s growing. The last festival we played at had a designated stage for ‘female artists only’ which is cool. And there are a few “mini festivals” & shows popping up advertising female only line-ups.

Do you have any thoughts on what we can do to combat these issues in the music industry such as equal billing on festival and gig line ups?
Creating awareness around the value that these people have in the industry. Let’s just pay attention to the fact that a woman’s skill set is just as good as anyone else’s and that’s why there should be equal billing, not just because they are suppressed.

Many people I’ve talked to say that more often than not, being a woman is highlighted over the music you are producing. What has your experience been like?
We haven’t experienced too much of that ourselves. I can see why it would be frustrating because it actually has nothing to do with the music. In my experience, I often find an emphasis on how young a female artist is. Which is annoying! As if there wasn’t already enough pressure on women to stay or look young.

Do you have any plans to come to the UK in the future?  We’d love to see you live!
We would seriously LOVE to but unfortunately there aren’t any plans yet. Hopefully soon!

Finally as we’re a new music focused site, are there any other new/upcoming bands or artists you’d suggest we check out?
Omg yes, you MUST check out a band called Refs – my absolute favourite song is called ‘Fools’.

Chymes’ single ‘Dreaming‘ is out now, find out more via their socials Facebook | Soundcloud
Instagram

Tash Walker
@maudeandtrevor

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Premiere: Muertos – ‘Suck It Up’

London-based Muertos combine the songwriting of De Avis and Marc Crane to create their vintage garage sleaze. Now, following their acclaimed debut EP, they’re back to treat our ears to the title track of their upcoming debut album.

‘Suck It Up’ is a dark, gritty slice of desert-rock. Flowing with swooning harmonies, reminiscent of The Kills or BRMC, it builds to a heady climax of swirling, psychedelic haze. An immense sonic delight, it will suck you in and leave you longing for more of Muertos’ eerily addictive offerings.

Of the track, Marc Crane explains:

“The world is a bit strange at the moment and this song is about wanting to get away from it all. Away from the orange goblin in the White House, Brexit, horrible commutes and shattered economy. It’s that feeling, when you are wound up and the least helpful thing someone can do is tell you to calm down and it makes you want to bang their head into a table. This song exists on that space of tension, where you want to BURN EVERYTHING. There is no tidy resolution to this story – we don’t do happy endings. Suck it up!”


Suck It Up, the debut album from Muertos, is out 24th August via Roadkill Records. Pre-order here. Catch Muertos live at the following dates:

8th June – New Cross Inn, London (Single Launch)
24th August – Shacklewell Arms, London (Album Launch)

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Mark Richards

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