Features – Page 179 – Get In Her Ears

VIDEO PREMIERE: Hourglvss – ‘Dead Man’s Hand’

Brighton duo Hourglvss blend theatrical flair with their catchy experimental-pop tune in the visuals for their second single, ‘Dead Man’s Hand’. The gothic, Western inspired video is an ode to the band’s love of all things vintage.

Formed of Katie Benbow and Sophie-May Williams, Hourglvss bonded over a shared taste in music, fashion and art, soon discovering that Sophie had unknowingly been a regular customer of Katie’s online vintage store. It’s these unusual coincidences that form the basis of the pair’s musical creations, and ‘Dead Man’s Hand’ is the perfect example of this. It was produced by multi-instrumentalist Benjamin Christophers, who is known for his longtime collaboration with Bat For Lashes, having co-produced her 2016 Mercury Prize nominated album The Bride.

Speaking about the track and the new video, the duo explain: “It follows the story of a villainous character who is wanting to destroy anything and everything in his path to come up on top. However, it doesn’t turn out that way and he ends up being shot and killed. We have both experienced different types of controlling natures in our pasts. This is essentially a metaphor for anyone who has ever been in a controlling situation, whether it’s personal or situational…for them to gain solace from the fact that they are stronger than what they are being controlled by.”

Hourglvss’s defiant attitude and thrilling visuals make ‘Dead Man’s Hand’ a theatrical gem. Watch the video below, and follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

December 9, 2019December 9, 2019

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Premiere: Tribes Of Europe & Barbara Stretch – ‘It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow’

Following previous singles such as ‘You Don’t Speak For Me’, and acclaim from the likes of BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 3, Fenland-based Tribes Of Europe have once again teamed up with former Feminist punk iconoclast Barbara Stretch for their latest single.

Written by Irving Berlin in 1938, ‘It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow’ was originally intended as an anti-war song in response to the the so-called Munich Betrayal when conflict with Hitler was avoided by allowing Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of western Czechoslovakia.

Loosely based on the version released by Vera Lynn to lift spirits during the Blitz, multi-instrumentalist Martin Elsey has put his own Tribes of Europe twist on this classic track. Starting off with glitchy soundscape, the track soon morphs into an angelic ode to hope, oozing Stretch’s smooth, rich vocals alongside blues-infused twinkling hooks and sparkling festive tones. A dreamy, heartwarming accompaniment to the Christmas season.

Of the track, Elsey explains:

“What happened to the ‘lovely tomorrow’ Vera Lynn was singing about? For a while things got better – decent affordable housing, the NHS, effective vaccination campaigns, building stronger ties with Europe to help keep some peace. Then, after years of austerity, and now the Brexit fiasco, the lyric just seemed to become more and more poignant.”

Watch the new video for ‘It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow’ now:

Mari Lane
@marimindles

December 9, 2019

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Five Favourites: Tiberius b

Building upon the dream-pop melodies of the Vancouver duo known as Mu, that have taken us on various adventures in the tragedies of youth, Canadian singer-songwriter Francesca Belcourt now creates under a new musical moniker – Tiberius b.

Having now shared beautifully reflective, nostalgia laden new single ‘No Smoke’, they have showcased their ability to create utterly dreamy atmospheric soundscapes.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them or influences their writing. We caught up with Francesca, who has shared their “Five Favourites” – five tracks or albums that particularly resonate with them. Check out their choices below, and scroll down to listen to latest single ‘No Smoke’ at the end of this post.

Nelly Furtado – Woah, Nelly!
I received this CD along with my first disc-man. I listened to it front to back for the first time over and over and over again on a road trip to Tofino with my family, and was entranced. To be honest, I never really understood what she was saying until revisiting the record recently, but I think her unabashed progressive lyrics mixed with her insane delivery/voice must have impacted me on a subconscious level… Everybody knows ‘I’m Like A Bird’, but everything she says across the whole record is so poignant and empowered. She also grew up on Vancouver Island which is very close to where I’m from.

SOPHIE – ‘Is It Cold In The Water?’
This was my favourite song of 2018. SOPHIE and Cecile Believe are both geniuses. I had the honour of working with Cecile on my upcoming album right before Oil Of Every Pearls Un Insides came out. When I heard ‘Is it Cold In The Water?’ for the first time after coming back from our residency, I was devastated by its tragic and gorgeous intensity.

Portishead – ‘The Rip’
I grew up listening to the albums Portishead and Dummy heavily. They were in the collection of CDs that my parents brought from London to Canada which soundtracked the lonely stretches of my childhood. I felt proud to embrace my creepy dark feelings when as I listened to them. Discovering ‘The Rip’ in adulthood helped reunite me with those early memories, and is my current favourite song by them.

Arthur Russel – ‘Close My Eyes’
I love this song because it is perfect, but also because it encourages me every time I hear it to be unafraid to explore whatever type of music that I’m inspired to create. I admire that Arthur never withheld himself from approaching and releasing a vast range of styles.

Underworld – ‘Born Slippy’ (Nuxx)
One of my favourite songs off of the Trainspotting soundtrack, another album of the dad CD collection which I adored as a kid. We used to dance in the kitchen and make pancakes to this. Growing up listening to dance music made me feel quite free when I entered actual club environments, knowing how to express myself with my body.

Massive thanks to Francesca for sharing their choices with us!

Listen to ‘No Smoke’, the captivating new track from Tiberius b here:

December 6, 2019

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PREMIERE: Kate Stapley – ‘Hermit’

“I’ve been pissing like a racehorse,” confesses Bristol-based songwriter Kate Stapley on the opening lyric of her new single ‘Hermit’. It’s a blunt beginning, but her soft voice quickly draws listeners in to her poignant, slightly hungover reflections on allowing yourself to be tender again in a new relationship.

Set for release via Breakfast Records on 6th December, ‘Hermit’ forms part of a Double A-side, with both songs produced by Oliver Baldwin (Aldous Harding, PJ Harvey). These tracks are the first that Stapley has shared since her 2018 EP, Centella, and they flow in her trademark vulnerable, yet optimistic vein.

“‘Hermit’ is a love song, celebrating those moments in a relationship when you finally have the bravery to embrace everything about yourself,” explains Stapley. “When you stop trying to hide the painful, embarrassing bits – realising you never needed to hide them in the first place.” Observations like this make Stapley’s music intimately disarming and effortlessly relatable.

“You suit me so well / You be my hermit / And I’ll be your shell,” she muses during the chorus, over gently plucked acoustic guitars, and soft percussion. The song’s patient rhythm feels reflective of the self-acceptance Stapley has discovered and it’s wonderful to hear her lay bare her insecurities, transforming them in to new found confidence.

Listen to ‘Hermit’ below, and be sure to check out her second track ‘Hours’ tomorrow when they’re both released via Breakfast Records.