ALBUM: Palberta – ‘Palberta5000’

A cacophony of frenzied riffs, energetic beats and chant-worthy lyrics, Palberta‘s fifth album Palberta5000 buzzes with poppy enthusiasm, but remains firmly informed by DIY punk tendencies. The New York trio focused on writing catchy songs that lasted “longer than 50 seconds” for this new record, but they maintain their raw riot grrrl appeal by intricately threading their unpredictable time signatures with their habitual observations about ordinary life.

“While punk music was our first love, pop music has become our fixation,” the trio explain. “Throughout the making of Palberta5000, we were focused on making music that people could not only sing along to, but get stuck in their heads.” This evolution towards the softer side of things is best appreciated via the band’s lush, overlapping vocal harmonies. They soften more discordant tracks like ‘Something In The Way’ and make songs like ‘Red Antz’ ring with an effortless charm.

Across sixteen songs, the band flit between marching-band rhythms, buoyant guitar riffs and blasts of cathartic, joyful noise. The manic sounding ‘Eggs n’ Bac’ and ‘I’m Z’done’ – a 20 second instrumental – are examples of the latter, whilst tracks like ‘Corner Store’ and ‘Before I Got Here’ feel more considered and fleshed out. The trio have toyed with tempos too. ‘Hey!’ lives up to the punctuation in its title, whereas ‘The Cow’ soothes the ears with its strung out guitars and the reassuring lyric “I will be there with my hand on your chest / I feel your rumbling internal mess.”

Together, Nina Ryser, Ani Ivry-Block and Lily Konigsberg have crafted a record that explores the juxtaposition of anxiety and joy without diluting either emotion. Considering it’s the trio’s fifth offering, Palberta5000 packs an aural punch – but it’s one that feels more like a teasing jab on the arm from a friend when you’re hanging around outside the ‘Corner Store’.

 

Listen to Palberta500 on bandcamp or Spotify

Follow Palberta on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Chloe Carrasco

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

Five Favourites: Venus Grrrls

Having previously supported the likes of Anteros and Bloxx, and following the release of their debut EP last year, Leeds rockers Venus Grrrls have now shared a brand new single. Reflecting on the stereotypes surrounding ‘goth culture’ and witchcraft, ‘Goth Girl’ is a fiercely catchy anthem, propelled by a swirling, seething energy and the soaring power of front woman GK’s vocals.

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspires them or influences their writing. So, we caught up with the whole of Venus Grrrls – GK, Grace, Gabby, Hannah and Jess – to discuss the five songs that have made the biggest mark on them. Check out their choices below, and listen to the band’s new single ‘Goth Girl’ at the end of this article

GK (Vocals):
Heart – ‘Barracuda’
Ann Wilson’s vocals just speak to me in a way that many other vocalists don’t. The power and the intensity she holds with her unstoppable vibrato, communicates complete and utter certainty in herself. That’s something I’m constantly trying to channel through my own musicianship.

Grace (Synths):
Grimes – ‘Oblivion’
The way Grimes uses the synth here really inspired me when it came to composing when I was a teenager. ‘Oblivion’ is something I always go back to when writing, or if I’m suffering with any type of writers’ block. It helps to clear my mind and not overthink things.

Gabby (Drums):
Arcane Roots – ‘Curtains’
I always think about this song because it starts off reserved and raw, but then grows into this big intense huge ending, which I love. It was song that got me into drumming in the first place, I’m a huge fan of playing around with dynamics.

Hannah (Bass):
Sonic Youth – ‘Kool Thing’
This song is important to me because Kim Gordon manages to be the main component of the song, but by being so simple and understated. She doesn’t insist on complexity, and the power of this is highly effective and is something I always think back to.

Jess (Guitar):
The Runaways- ‘You Drive Me Wild’
A song that has massively influenced my playing, specifically in Venus Grrrls is ‘You Drive Me Wild’ by The Runaways. Lita Ford’s solo in this track just stands out to me as so cool sounding, it’s unlike anyone else’s playing and has so much style. It’s something I always come back to for inspiration when I’m writing my own solos.

‘Goth Girl’ is out now, listen on Spotify.

 

Photo Credit: Milly Hewitt

Get In Her Ears1 Comment

Track Of The Day: The Other Ones – ‘The Other Ones’

Following the catchy energy of last year’s ‘On Top Of Me’, and previously wowing us live at The Finsbury back in the days of gigs and life, London-based The Other Ones have now shared a fiery new single.

Propelled by scuzz-filled riffs and a blistering energy, ‘The Other Ones’ blasts into the ears with front woman Steph’s soaring, impassioned vocals and a fierce, empowering spirit. With a driving power, it’s an uplifting punk-pop anthem paying tribute to all of us ‘Other Ones’, the wonderful misfits of society.

 

Taken from their upcoming album of the same name, ‘The Other Ones’ is out now via Reckless Yes.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Keira Anee Photography

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

#ThrowbackThursday: GIHE w/ Petty Phase (15.03.18)

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and new lockdown in London, we’re unable to make it into the Hoxton Radio studio to broadcast our weekly live new music show from 7-9pm. Instead, we’re sharing previous GIHE radio show recordings as #ThrowbackThursday sessions, so you can still enjoy 2 hours of new music tunes & chats with some of our favourite artists each week.

Today, we’ve picked our March 2018 show with Essex-based Riot Grrrls Jen & Alyx from Petty Phase. Kate and Mari spoke to them about playing live for GIHE at our first ever Finsbury Pub gig, the unique “subtle anger” experienced in the queue for Wetherspoons, and the pair played stripped back versions of tracks ‘The Jesus Touch’ and ‘Chinese Whispers’

Listen back to the show here:

Tracklist
Chromatics – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper cover)
The Blow – After Party
Faber – Nasty Woman
Bella Barton – Reflections
Henry Green – Another Light
Abie Wade – Reasonable Doubt
Suzie Stapleton – Negative Prophet
GOUX – Over You
MORGAN – Hells Paradise
JAAYNS – Monitors
Rebecca Lou – Under The Moon
Post Louis – Little Jack
Petty Phase – You’ll Be Dead
**Interview & Live Session with Petty Phase**
Honey – Rapunzel
Glam Skanks – Bad Bitch
Smerz – No Harm
Pillow Queens – Favourite
Frankie Knight – Day By Day
Steele – Know Her
Odina – Nothing Makes Sense
Brooke Law – Hidden
Cosy Slippers – Not Hard To Say Goodbye
Tracy Chapman – Talkin’ ’bout a Revolution

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment