WATCH: Slowcoaches – ‘Complex’

Whilst it’s normal to agonise about the harassment and adversity that female musicians face in the industry, it’s even more important to organise and shout back against the injustice of it all – and that’s exactly what Slowcoaches bassist & vocalist Heather Perkins does on brand new single ‘Complex’.

Perkins has some insightful, valid  observations about the new track and we thought they were worth sharing in full below:

“The music industry really feeds toxic masculinity by putting male artists on a pedestal. ‘Complex’ is a response to the sexual assault allegations against artists that were in the press at the time I wrote it. There’s still a really dirty side to the industry – particularly with the encouragement and portrayal of male artists in rock music to god-like status. All too often, the system is adhering to an archaic, misogynistic interpretation of ‘punk’ that makes guys think they’re invincible, that they have an authority over women’s bodies.”

“It sweeps the artists up, way out of their depth and then there’s no one there to support them in dealing with this stuff in the right way when they eventually get called out. We came up with the concept of the video when we were talking about this – the idea of a split self – that there are parts of the personality that are always hidden from view. Pulling the curtain away, kind of peeling back those layers – the bright light exposing all the grubby stuff underneath.”

The single will be available this side of the new year on screen-printed 7” vinyl, backed by a cover of Fang’s ‘The Money Will Roll Right In’. The band are touring the UK over the next month, so check which date you can go to below, and learn the lyrics to ‘Complex’ in the meantime. Follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Slowcoaches Oct/Nov 2017 Headline Tour:
18/10/2017 – UK, Liverpool – Shipping Forecast
19/10/2017 – UK, Manchester – Soup Kitchen
20/10/2017 – UK, Sheffield – The Rocking Chair
21/10/2017 – UK, Leeds – Lending Room
23/10/2017 – UK, Newcastle – Think Tank Underground
24/10/2017 – UK, Glasgow – Broadcast
25/10/2017 – UK, Nottingham – Bodega
27/10/2017 – UK, Cardiff – Clwb Ifor Bach Downstairs
28/10/2017 – UK, Exeter – Cavern – Indie Club
30/10/2017 – UK, Bristol – The Louisiana
31/10/2017 – UK, Oxford – Cellar
01/11/2017 – UK, Brighton – The Joker
02/11/2017 – UK, London – Boston Music Room

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Queen Zee & The Sasstones – ‘Boy’

We’re hooked on the sound of Liverpool punk sass-perts Queen Zee & The Sasstones, and after watching their new video for ‘Boy’, we guarantee you will be too. It’s an anthem for trans-gender rockers and their allies who refuse to be ignored or oppressed by transphobic or homophobic attitudes.

“You can try and bury my head in the sand / But that won’t make the body at the surface a man’s,” seethes Queen Zee over manic guitar and heart-pounding drums throughout the track. Despite the infectious dancing rhythms, Queen Zee’s lyrics reveal the frightening reality faced by many transgender people, who live in fear of “That skinny kinda lonely kid / raised on homo-trans-hate rhetoric / Waiting for me to come outta the club / a concealed weapon clenched between his fists.”

With their punk attitude and ability to write abrasive heavy-pop tunes, there’s no danger of Queen Zee being melted in to a “masculine mould” – and we’re rejoicing in support of this “whipping girl born into a big man’s world”. Take a look at the incredible video for ‘Boy’ below and follow Queen Zee & the Sasstones on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Beckie Margaret – ‘At Home (Where I Write)’

“’At Home (Where I Write’) is a reflection of how music can carry me out of the depths of my mind,” explains Essex song-writer & producer Beckie Margaret. Released via Cool Thing Records, Margaret’s bright, ear-melting voice on her second single will lift listeners up and out of their heads too.

Beckie’s first release ‘Cars and Catacombs’ received universal praise across the net and the airwaves and her follow-up is equally as charming. She left the crowd spellbound after performing it at her debut London gig at The Waiting Room for Parallel Lines last month (which we reviewed here), and can’t wait to see what she does next.

Listen to ‘At Home (Where I Write)’ below and follow Beckie Margaret on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Kana Waiwaiku

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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ALBUM: Tusks – ‘Dissolve’

If you’re a fan of delicately produced music, Tusks’ debut album Dissolve is an essential listen. Released today via One Little Indian, the ten track record is an impressive offering from newcomer Emily Underhill.

Created alongside longtime co-producer Brett Cox, Dissolve explores territories both internal and external: insecurity, the breaking down of relationships with ourselves and our lovers, and most importantly – hope. ‘For You’ opens the record with lonely keys, clicking beats and Tusks’ delicate vocals, all blended seamlessly to create a moving, ethereal soundscape. On ‘False’ she laments about the lover who “broke down my walls,” the wasted energy and lost faith is explored via piercing guitar riffs and tumultuous percussion.

‘Last’ is laced with reverb and aching vocals and a chorus that rings out in a style similar to that of ethereal indie band Daughter. The eponymous ‘Dissolve’ is a highlight of the record. Slow-building and sensitive, it’s an aural trip through bad memories that have seeped below the skin. It leads in to mysteriously named ‘1807’, which is a masterclass in Brian Cox’s production skills. Each click of percussion and tap of the keys sounds as crisp and pure as Tusks’ measured vocals.

‘Paris’ hosts precious whisperings of love and insecurity – “I’m not safe when I’m alone” –  and could soundtrack a sad night in the city it’s named after, whilst following track ‘Ivy’ is a metaphor for the suffocating doubt that lingers in toxic relationships. ‘Toronto’ contrasts nicely with predecessor ‘Paris’, and while the soundscape here is larger and lonelier, there’s still an essence of hope present in both the vocals and ambient guitar.

Penultimate track ‘My Love’ is a gentle ode to the discovery of true romance, bathed in twinkling synths and more of Tusks’ trademark echoing vocals. The record closes with an eerie cover of Foals‘ ‘London Thunder’ – which Tusks delivers in her own pensive, mesmerising way. Buy your copy of Dissolve today, and let its sensitive sounds erode your fears away.

You can order your copy of Dissolve here, and RSVP here to the album launch show at Kamio on November 15th. Follow Tusks on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Harvey Pearson

Kate Crudgington
@KCBocCut

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