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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INTERVIEW: Hilary Woods

When news reached our ears that Dublin-based artist Hilary Woods had signed to Sacred Bones – a label which hosts our favourites Zola Jesus, Jenny Hval and The Soft Moon – our excitement for her debut album, Colt, gave us palpitations. Both Woods (a former member of JJ72) and Sacred Bones have a reputation for releasing altruistic sounds, so the pairing felt like a divine meeting of musical talent and opportunity.

Hyperbole aside, it’s clear from singles ‘Inhaler’ and ‘Prodigal Dog’ that Hilary Woods’ debut LP is going to be an exquisitely painful listen. Soaked in stark, minimalist, ambient electronic sounds that explore feelings surrounding grief and abandonment, her melancholic music is the perfect fit for venues like St. Pancras Old Church, which she headlines on 11th June (tickets available here).

We caught up with Woods to talk about her anticipations for this show, her multi-disciplinary creativity and what went into the making of her debut album…

Can you tell us a little bit about your recent single ‘Prodigal Dog’? What went into the making of this track, and why you chose to release it as a single?

I made the album without thinking of singles, pretty naïve really! But I think when ‘Prodigal Dog’ was suggested as a single it made sense. This was the first track I recorded in the record making process, bringing it to James we spent a lot of time on drum sounds and enjoyed layering vocals.

Your debut album has been described as “an intensely personal journey through grief, abandonment and mutating love”. How did you manage to translate these emotions into lyrics and music? Do you have a particular process when it comes to song-writing that you follow, or is it a more improvisational?

I’d say both, usually songs either arise after a lot of playing around and experimenting, or they just appear like a bolt. I think emotions and feeling are translated in any given process whether subconsciously or consciously.

You recently signed to Sacred Bones, who we love. What is it about the record label that drew you in? They’re on the ball when it comes to modern electronic music. Zola Jesus, Jenny Hval & The Soft Moon in particular are our favourites (and you of course)…

Thank you! I love their aesthetic, integrity and taste, that’s what drew me in, I’m a fan of many of my label mates.

You were a film, literature and fine-art student back in Dublin. Your music is intensely cinematic and your visuals are highly ornate: did studying a variety of subjects help you to develop your own sound and style easier than if you’d simply chosen to study one specific thing? Would you recommend a multi-disciplinary approach to other creatives?

I don’t know if I’d recommend anything! Everyone is on their own trajectory. In my case I was curious. I liked getting my hands dirty and the physicality of painting. Re studies: I went to college to get out of the house, literally. I needed some structure at that point in my life and I was lucky enough to be awarded some funding to go. It was all a bonus then to be super excited by what I encountered and be inspired by the material I was reading and seeing.

You described Colt as a way to “explore aloneness”, which is particularly poignant as many people use music to escape this feeling. What artists or bands do you listen to when you want to feel less alone?

Gosh, I think a good definition of a good film is one which makes you feel less alone, Music wise: I genuinely don’t have one specific answer to that, anything from Sybille Baier to Jlin to Father John Misty and beyond.

You have two upcoming London shows, St Pancras Old Church on June 11th and Southbank’s Meltdown Festival with Moon Duo on 20th June. What are you anticipating from these gigs?

I’m looking forward to them, they’ll be intimate and atmospheric.

Finally, you’ll be playing at The Sugar Club in Dublin on 14th September. It’s a hometown show, so are you anticipating something extra special from the night?

It’s always different playing at home, feels more vulnerable if anything. It’s a beautiful space with the best of promoters and a great PA and some good friends helping out. I have some plans for it, it’ll definitely be a special one for me.

Huge thanks to Hilary for answering our questions.
Colt is released via Sacred Bones on 8th June. Pre-order your copy here.

Photo Credit: Joshua Wright

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Gazel – ‘Book Of Souls’

A classically trained string player and composer, Gazel has performed in venues such as Hammersmith Apollo, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, O2 Academy Islington, and Borderline. These are impressive feats for the newcomer who independently released her debut EP Bone Key in 2016, after studying at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music.

Gazel’s music encompasses the genres of pop, electronic & modern folk and her new single ‘Book Of Souls’ is a mystic blend of all three. It’s the title track from her debut album, which she’s working on with a team that includes sound engineer Shuta Shinoda (Ghostpoet, Hot Chip) and Haydn Bendall (Kate Bush, Massive Attack, David Gilmour). The single also forms part of a musical Gazel is writing, inspired by the fictional cast of characters that inhabit our collective unconscious.

To celebrate the release of her new track, Gazel will be playing an intimate gig at Birthdays in Dalston on June 15th, hosted by Piu Entertainment UK (RSVP here). Listen to ‘Book of Souls’ below, and follow Gazel on Facebook for more updates.

Gazel’s debut album Book Of Souls will be released in Autumn 2018. Visit her website for more details.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Top Ten To Watch At Long Division 2018

Wakefield’s largest festival of music and culture, taking place across multiple venues in the city, Long Division returns this weekend 1st – 3rd June, after a break in 2017, with its largest and most diverse lineup yet.

One of the partners of the festival this year is Leeds organisation, Girls That Gig, who have taken over and will be curating a stage at the festival. Dedicated to promoting women in music, they’re an organisation after our own hearts, so we asked events manager Jenny Bunn to give her top ten recommendations for the weekend…

The Bleeding Obvious:
As a self confessed “queerdo”, Jessica Rowbottom’s The Bleeding Obvious is an LGBT+ driven musical trinket box of genres, collaborations and “whatever she found in her parents’ music collection.” Interspersed with comedy and stories of her real life experiences, the blend of orchestral, electro and spoken word amongst many others brings a unique take on a contemporary musical project.

The Bleeding Obvious is playing at Long Division on June 2nd at The Red Shed at 1.45pm.

Kermes:
If the weather is as overcast as you’d typically expect in Britain, you’ll want to get down to see Kermes to cheer yourself up. If the weather has decided to treat us to a rare moment of sunshine, you’ll want to get down to see Kermes to dance and have fun. Poppy with a dash of sad punky roots, the eight-legged pop monster that is Kermes will light up your afternoon up and maybe make you forget that it isn’t all doom and gloom.

Kermes is playing at Long Division on June 2nd at The Red Shed at 6.45pm.

Charlotte Hatherley:
If you were into alt-rock in the late ’90s and early 2000s, there’s no doubt you’ve at the very least heard of Ash. Guitarist Charlotte Hatherley’s latest project is a world away from her alt-rock roots with Ash; her most recent release ‘Hook You Up’ is melodic vocals and electro escapism at its finest.

Charlotte Hatherley is playing at Long Division on June 2nd at Wakefield Cathedral at 7pm.

Chloe Juliette Beswick:
Dreamy hypnotic whimsical melodies from Wakefield, the home of Long Division itself, Chloe Juliette Beswick ever so delicately manages to catch a little bit of ’90s grunge in her DIY dream pop.

Chloe Juliette Beswick is playing at Long Division at the Beer Exchange. Time TBC.


Genevieve Walsh:
One of the best parts of Long Division is the sheer diversity of the acts, and Genevieve Walsh is no exception to this. Bringing with her a wealth of spoken word and poetry experience garnered through running Halifax’s longest running poetry night, she tours and workshops poetry in the North of England. Her own unique brand of punk poetry (not to mention fabulous blue hair) is a refreshing interlude that embraces weirdness, rhythm and honesty.

Genevieve Walsh is playing at Long Division on June 2nd at Neon Workshops at 3.40pm.

Fig By Four:
It’s always good to have a chilled out solo project when you’ve been involved in some of the Leeds scene’s most well known local bands over the past few years. You may know of Sarah Statham through Esper Scout, Crake and Living Body or for what she’s done for the Leeds DIY music community, but Fig By Four stands up fantastically on its own with captivating earthy reverb-y vocals and acoustic folksy guitar lines. Definitely one to check out.

Fig By Four is playing at Long Division on June 2nd at Wakefield Beer Exchange at 6.15pm.


Galaxians:
It’s hard to believe that Galaxians came into being in 2012 and not in the mid ’80s. Mixing synths with live drums and vocals, you’ll be back in the age of charismatic energetic synth-pop with a hint of disco as soon as they start playing. Get the Duffer Brothers on the phone, we’ve found the latest addition to the soundtrack of Stranger Things season three.

Galaxians are playing at Long Division on June 2nd at Warehouse 23 at 6.30pm.


The Lovely Eggs:
Wonderful and weird, The Lovely Eggs are an egg-cellent eggs-ample of the fusion of modern day riot grrrl with neon bright psychedelic weirdness, and are bringing their fifth album This Is Eggland to Long Divison. Oh, and maybe check out their website – there’s a petition up there to stop ‘fake encores’ from happening in the modern music scene and an entire page dedicated to reminding us all that people are tw*ts. Cracking.

The Lovely Eggs are playing at Long Division on June 2nd at Warehouse 23 at 10.15pm.

Peaness:
With a name that’s toeing the line between cutesy and inappropriate, Peaness are a harmony laden indie pop trio or “pea pop” as they like to call themselves. Spreading “peas and love” through their sunshiney happy-go-lucky vibes, they’ve already played alongside the likes of The Cribs, Muncie Girls and PINS and are definitely on the rise – keep your eyes on these ladies, 2018 could very well be the year they explode onto the UK Music scene.

Peaness are playing at Long Division on June 2nd at The Red Shed at 7.45pm.

Wiyaala:
Ghana’s finest Wiyaala cites Madonna and Tina Turner as two of her biggest influences alongside afro-pop and tribal folk music. Combining songs written in her native Sissala and Waale dialects with English, she has used her voice to speak out against child marriage, poverty and sanitation issues in parts of Africa. Oh and I should probably mention that, as a member of the international all female band GRRRL, she’ll be performing at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Australia this year. Impressive.

Wiyaala is playing at Long Division on June 2nd at The Red Shed at 8.45pm.

Huge thanks to Jenny at Girls That Gig for her recommendations!

Long Division Festival takes place in Wakefield this weekend, 1st – 3rd June, more info and tickets here.

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