LISTEN: Deaf Surf – ‘SOFA’

Exasperation and frustration fuel ‘SOFA’, the debut single from Brighton-based band Deaf Surf. Released via Slingshot Records, the strung-out, angst-ridden track is an apathetic yawn in the face of those who repeat, or preach their travelling stories to clearly uninterested listeners.

Recorded & produced by Boe Weaver at Studio Humbug on the Isle of Wight, ‘SOFA’ marks the one year anniversary of Deaf Surf’s formation, coming together in 2019 after breaking away from other bands on the Brighton scene. French front woman Manon’s raw vocals glide over the band’s post-punk infused riffs, providing a much needed disruption to the narrative she laments about.

‘SOFA’ is a necessary listen for those who need to drown out unwanted background noise and focus on starting an adventure of their own. Listen to the track below, and follow Deaf Surf on Facebook & Bandcamp for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Mentrix – ‘Nature’

A commanding, cinematic, altruistic sound; Iranian singer & composer Mentrix has shared her latest single, ‘Nature’. The track is lifted from her debut album, My Enemy, My Love, which is set for release via her own (female-led) record label, House of Strength, on 3rd April.

Born in Iran but now based in Berlin, Mentrix (aka Samar Rad) blends her experiences of eastern and western culture, along with traditional Sufi instrumentation to create her beguiling, bold soundscapes. Her extensive travels and multiple influences – from Latin and French Literature, to The Qu’ran and traditional Persian poetry – give her music a diverse and fascinating edge.

‘Nature’ is accompanied by a stunning music video, directed by Gilles Estéve and set in the Iranian desert of Kavir-e-Lut. The visuals are as captivating as the sounds they’re paired with, including the beats of the hand-played daf drums – an ancient traditional frame drum native to Iran.

Mentrix explains the meanings associated with this particular instrument: “In Sufism, the daf is a calling for the soul to awaken. It makes that big sound because it’s empty, and its emptiness means two things: on the lower level someone who is empty and has nothing to offer makes a lot of noise. On a higher level, when you are truly empty of the world the entire universe can resonate within you. It’s the dark side and the bright side of the moon in one instrument.”

The duality in Mentrix’s music is what makes her art so compelling. Watch the video for ‘Nature’ below, and follow Mentrix on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: BLÓM – ‘Be Kind’

Noisy, abrasive, and intensely cathartic; BLÓM are firing on all cylinders on their latest single ‘Be Kind’. Self-described as “three qt punks playing pure radge shit; with female, trans and non binary members”, the band power through four minutes of explosive riffs, intense distortion, and raging vocals on their latest offering.

‘Be Kind’ – despite its furious nature – is a reminder to be open-minded, compassionate and understanding towards issues surrounding gender, sexual identity and mental health. It’s the first single to be lifted from the band’s upcoming debut album Flower Violence, which is set for release on 1st May via Box Records.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Sam Grant at Blank Studios, the album explores themes of queerness, feminism, gender identity, mental health, socio economic challenges, Christianity, Twin Peaks and the Fyodor Dostoyevsky novel ‘Crime and Punishment’. That’s a pretty eclectic mix of influences, so BLÓM’s debut looks set to be a diverse and empowering listen.

The band will be touring their riotous sounds across the UK in support of PIGS x7 in April and early May, so grab a ticket quick if you like what you hear. Listen to ‘Be Kind’ below, and follow BLÓM on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

BLÓM UK Tour Dates 2020 (Supporting PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS)
Apr 16 Manchester Gorilla (SOLD OUT)
Apr 17 Birmingham The Mill
Apr 18 Bristol Thekla (SOLD OUT)
Apr 24 Leeds Stylus
Apr 25 Glasgow St Luke’s
Apr 29 Nottingham Rescue Rooms (SOLD OUT)
Apr 30 London Electric Ballroom
May 1 Brighton Concorde 2 (SOLD OUT)

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: THICK – ‘Mansplain’

A cathartic, witty, guitar driven take-down of the men who undermine women in bands (and women in general), Brooklyn punk trio THICK have shared their latest track, ‘Mansplain’. Lifted from their debut album 5 Years Behind, which is set for release on 6th March via Epitaph, the single’s premise will resonate with women and girls who have struggled to be taken seriously on, and off stage.

The track opens with a plethora of snarky comments – “Girl bands are really in right now”, “Does she know where to plug that in?”, “Are those your boyfriend’s drums?” – before the single rips into life with crashing drums, cutting vocals, and riotous riffs. “Those are all things that men have actually said to us or our friends at shows,” drummer Shari Page explains. “A lot of these songs came from feeling stifled in silence, but then the song itself is an answer to that,” adds bassist Kate Black. “It’s us saying, ‘I have my opinion, and I’m going to share it no matter what.’ Instead of keeping things all bottled up, it feels so much better to face everything head on, and just be really loud about it with your two best friends.”

THICK have crafted the perfect track to crank up the volume to, and rid yourself of the unnecessary negativity on ‘Mansplain’. The band took this ethos of doing what feels right into the studio with them whilst recording their new album at Studio G in Brooklyn, with producer/engineer Joel Hamilton (Iggy Pop, Jolie Holland). “It was really important to us that the songs feel emotionally connected to our reality, so that it feels as natural as possible to play them” Black shares. They’ve clearly achieved this on ‘Mansplain’, which is accompanied by a humourous video directed and produced by Jeanette D. Moses.

Watch the video for ‘Mansplain’ below and follow THICK on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: Michelle Lobianco

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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