Track Of The Day: First Frontier – ‘Take Cover’

Having been creating music together since last year, South London duo Helena Poole (who has previously played for us at The Finsbury in her other band Macadamia Sluts) and Paul Stafford – aka First Frontier – pride themselves on choosing hope over fear and play over fight. Now, having spent time writing together throughout ‘lockdown’, they are ready to share their debut single with the world. 

Focusing on what we can control and devote positive energy to, ‘Take Cover’ is propelled by scuzzy hooks and thrashing beats, creating a catchy slice of fuzzed-out garage rock, tinged with dark ‘80s nu-wave vibes and swirling harmonies. A truly uplifting offering, urging us to live in the moment to avoid burnout, its driving energy and shimmering spirit showcases a band to get excited about: I can’t wait to hear what First Frontier come up with next. 

 

Engineered by Brett Shaw (Florence and The Machine, Foals), ‘Take Cover’ is out 18th September. Pre-save here. And find out more about First Frontier on their website.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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WATCH: Order Of The Toad – ‘Do It With Feeling’

Even though they began making music as flatmates in Glasgow, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Order of the Toad have their origins in sunnier climes. Taking their cue from the intersection of beat, electrified folk and psychedelia, the trio – made up of bassist Gemma Fleet (also part of The Wharves), lead guitarist Robert Sotelo and drummer Christopher Taylor – seem to have that focus firmly set on ’60s California, with latest track ‘Do It With Feeling’. Taken from forthcoming album, Re-Order of the Toad, this latest single follows July’s ‘Lady’s Mantle’ and their Rabbets EP, released in 2019, and finds the group in joyous form, that’s just slightly off-kilter.

Opening with a bassline that throws back to The Animals, the opening verse proceeds with a Byrdsy mix of finger picks and strummed guitar, that sound almost sitar-like. Melodic and gently trippy, the backing is given a warm topping courtesy of Gemma’s vocals, which, by the time the track’s chorus hits, have turned up the power to Grace Slick levels. In fact, that’s reflective of the structure of the whole, with a chorus that kicks the song up to fifth, via a delightfully old-school switch-up in its rhythm section and the whole band on backing vocals. 

The track’s middle eight though, wanders into far more psych territory, verging on something more drone-y, before that familiar melody returns and the chorus reprises. Just as you think the band will take their own order to “stop right now”, so the bass breakdown returns, ending things with just the slightest hint that they’ve gone off the rails.

The video for ‘Do It With Feeling’ sees the band making a series of poses in an aluminium foil draped, DIY photo studio, incorporating various colour filters, props, hats, their instruments and, of course, a life-size model of a toad. It reflects their own home-brewed take on another era’s experimentation and its surrealism, but also the song’s discussion of seeking that perfect take, as the group keep trying for the shot that’s just so, whilst its repetitive nature also matches the track’s earworm tendencies – one listen, and you’ll be humming it for days. And much as it may seem tricky to find new ways to explore the styles of the Nuggets era, it sounds like Order of the Toad have found it pretty easy: even if it is warts and all.

Watch the video now:

John McGovern
@etinsuburbiaego

 

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Track Of The Day: Eilis Frawley – ‘Stats’

How often do you hear something that’s really new? ‘Stats’, by classically trained drummer and percussionist Eilis Frawley is a revelation, unlike anything else I’ve heard.

Kicking off with an arresting, almost military-style drumroll, it quickly picks up the pace and moves into bold, Krautrock-infused spoken word. The lyrics see Frawley recite hard-hitting stats, as the name suggests, which highlight the everyday injustices facing women today.

Using her platform so powerfully, Frawley, formally of Party Fears, tackles period poverty, domestic violence and other vital issues that affect us. Both avant-garde and catchy as hell, the result is a protest song that you can dance to. And is there anything better than that?!

Released on the increasingly brilliant Reckless Yes label, ‘Stats’ is so wonderfully different that it’s hard to anticipate what to expect from Frawley next. That new EP can’t come soon enough!

Watch the new video for ‘Stats’ here:

‘Stats’ is the first release to be taken from Frawley’s forthcoming second EP, which will be released via Reckless Yes this Autumn.

Vic Conway 

Photo Credit: Janina Gallert

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Five Favourites: RAHH

Having previously provided backing vocals for Liam Gallagher and shared stages with the likes of Nile Rogers, Emili Sande and Beverley Knight, Manchester born London-based artist RAHH has now shared a euphoric new single.

A blissful slice of soul-strewn alt-pop, ‘Overkill’ showcases the impassioned soaring splendour of Rahh’s vocals alongside a house-inspired enraptured groove.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with RAHH to ask about her ‘Five Favourites’– five albums that have inspired her songwriting techniques. Check out her choices below, and scroll down to watch the video for her latest single ‘Overkill’ at the end of this post.

TLC – Crazy Sexy Cool
This was my first album, bought for me by my big brother. I think it just opened up my eyes to what was possible as a music artist. I was a little mixed-race girl in a white area and the media and charts reflected that massively. All of a sudden I was introduced to TLC, the coolest girls I’d ever seen in my life and they kinda looked like me. It was massive! Plus I adored the music, I loved that Lisa Left-Eye Lopez rapped and that T-Boz sang so incredibly low – it was totally unusual. I remember learning every word of the rap from ‘Waterfalls’, playing it on repeat in my room and having to turn the volume down when she said “my only bleeding hope..” because I thought my Dad would go mad at me for swearing!

Michael Jackson – History
A different big brother moved out to go travelling in Australia and left me with this album and the VHS to go with it. It was pretty life changing for me. I fell head over heels in love with Michael Jackson’s genius, I was completely captivated. I think his influence can be heard in most music that came after him. The way he created a feel, a groove, and the infectious need to dance is magic. It’s something I think we all aspire towards as songwriters.  

Simon and Garfunkel – Bookends
I think before I’d heard this album I was big on RnB and soul, I was focused on the sound and technique of the vocal and hadn’t opened up to the possibility of liking artists that didn’t champion the voice in that way. After this album, all of that went out of the window and I fell in love with the lyrics and poetry of artists like Paul Simon and Bob Dylan. Track 2, ‘America’, remains one of my favourite songs of all time. I’ve had incredible bonding experiences with other people who adore the song and who know about that one lyric where he addresses his wife who’s sleeping next to him to tell her he’s empty and aching and doesn’t know why.  It is my favourite lyric ever and the way its placed in this song will forever inspire me as a writer. 

Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Every song and every note just seems like effortless genius. I can’t remember when I first heard this album but it is timeless. It inspired me to be a better musician and to care less about perfecting vocals and more about the depth of the song. ‘Ex-factor’ makes me melt!

Solange – A Seat at the Table
As a huge Destiny Child and Beyonce fan growing up, I think I just never imagined I could possibly get into Beyonce’s sisters music more than Beyonce’s herself until this album. It seemed to come out of nowhere. I listened to it over and over, I love the whole concept of it, the fashion and contemporary dance of the videos and artwork. The interludes, the interviews. The running theme of race and Black beauty. I really think it’s a piece of artwork from start to finish. The depth of the music in its content and musicality is inspiring and I strive to instil that in my own writing.

Massive thanks to RAHH for sharing her Five Favourites with us!

Watch the new video for ‘Overkill’ here and listen on Spotify now:

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