Track Of The Day: Clara Tracey – ‘Baby Witch’

A hopeful musing on the fluctuating nature of falling in love and surrendering yourself to the feeling, Belfast-based artist Clara Tracey has shared her latest single ‘Baby Witch’. Taken from her debut album Black Forest, produced by Daniel Fox (Gilla Band) and set for release via Pizza Pizza Records in Autumn, the track is a woozy reflection on the tumultuous feelings that come with navigating the early moments of a new romance, led by Clara’s lilting keys and clear vocals.

Originally from Fermanagh but now spending her time between Paris and Belfast, Clara Tracey is inspired by the sultry heroes and heroines of French chanson and literature, from Gainsbourg and Birkin to Anais Nin and Colette. She was able to create and explore her sensual sounds during a recent residency programme in the French countryside, organised by Northern Irish art gallery Hambly & Hambly and the Centre Culturel Irlandais. Performing at local chateaus during her time there, Clara was invited back to play in a neighbouring chateau by the local mayor, which coincided with the release of ‘Baby Witch’.

“I wrote this song soon after I moved back to Dublin from Paris,” Clara explains about the track. “I was living in a shabbier than chic flat above a shop called Bohemia and we thought it was paradise. In the middle of all there was this new love story. ‘Baby Witch’ is about trying to just let yourself love someone even when it feels like your hands or mind might be tied.”

Listen to ‘Baby Witch’ below.

 

Follow Clara Tracey on Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Slagheap – ‘Destination Boyfriend’

Following the vibrant energy of last year’s single ‘Caffeine’, having supporting the likes of Billy Nomates, Wet Leg and GIHE faves Big Joanie, and with acclaim from Radio X’s John Kennedy and BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq, Bristol ‘do-it-for-yourself’ band Slagheap have now announced the release of their new EP, due out in August.

Taken from the EP, new single ‘Destination Boyfriend‘ is a joyously discordant yet euphoric celebration of femininity and feeling comfortable in your own skin, regardless of how far from the ‘norm’ you may stray. Reflecting on the different paths that bisexuality may take you on, it races with a scrappy, jangly energy as clashing beats sizzle alongside swirling, scuzzy hooks.

Creating a frenzied, shimmering cacophony, ‘Destination Boyfriend’ oozes a stark post-punk fuzz with the added quirky, playful spirit and tongue-in-cheek wit we’ve come to know and love from Slagheap. Of the track, the band have commented:

“From our first Barbie Jeep, the GPS was programmed for heteronormativity. As we journeyed through puberty our eyes began to wander from the set path. The pre-planned girls trip is appealing… But so is the sweet fruit on the lay-by.”

Set to be a queer girl summer anthem, ‘Destination Boyfriend’ is accompanied by a nostalgia-tinged, and typically fun-filled, new video. Produced by Bristol’s Clump Collective, and featuring some of the band’s own artwork, you can watch the wonderfully wacky visual here:

Appetites, the upcoming new EP from Slagheap, is set for release on 5th August. And we’re super excited to have Slagheap headlining for us at The Victoria in Dalston this coming Friday 24th June – it promises to be a super fun evening, with support from Nervous Twitch and The Famous Daxx. Get your tickets here!

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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ALBUM: Soccer Mommy – ‘Sometimes, Forever’

Inspired by the concept that neither sorrow nor happiness are permanent, Sophie Allison aka Soccer Mommy cleverly nods to synth sub-genres on Sometimes, Forever. From new wave to goth, the album broadens Allison’s repertoire without abandoning the compelling melodies she’s known for.

Throughout, Sometimes, Forever is informed by historic musical movements. It’s entirely plausible that the album has been described as “a moodboard of vintage touchstones”. ‘Unholy Affliction’ and ‘Following Eyes’ both echo the 1990s grunge scene, with the use of guitars in the latter particularly drawing inspiration from Nirvana’s ‘Heart Shaped Box’. Likewise, opening track, ‘Bones’ wouldn’t feel out of place on Alvvays’ eponymous 2014 album.

Thankfully, Sometimes, Forever falls short of simply recycling old sound as the album transcends its influences. Later track ‘With U’ and lead single ‘Shotgun’ both incorporate heavier synth notes. The juxtaposition between this sound and the previously mentioned tracks separates Soccer Mommy from a sea of grunge and indie-pop imitators. The synth notes should come as no surprise though – Sometimes, Forever was produced by Daniel Lopatin of Oneohtrix Point Never, most notable for the score of ‘Uncut Gems’ and The Weeknd’s chart-topping, ‘Dawn FM’. Lopatin has an unbounded synth vocabulary, which particularly shines through on ‘With U’.

Radiating an overwhelming theme of blueness, Soccer Mommy’s album is partially galvanised by the push and pull between Allison’s yearning to produce meaningful art and her scepticism about artless careerism. The echoey vocals on ‘Fire In The Driveway’ accompanied by nothing but acoustics certainly represents this disposition. Interestingly, the downcast lyrics depicting elitism on Sometimes, Forever follow Soccer Mommy’s past successes. Strikingly, her studio debut, Clean, is one of the most beloved albums of the 2010s lo-fi bedroom-pop scene. Similarly, her sophomore effort, color theory, was GRAMMY nominated. As explorations of artistic integrity go, Sometimes, Forever is a brave effort.

Sometimes, Forever will be released on June 24th via Loma Vista. Pre-order here

Follow Soccer Mommy on Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Sophie Hur

Sarah Bennett
@sarah_benn3tt (Twitter)
@zasbennett (Instagram)

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Track Of The Day: All Cats Are Beautiful – ‘Heartbeats’

Having fallen completely in love with London duo Elena and Kyle – aka all cats are beautiful (ACAB) – upon listening to last year’s album the things we made, with this love only growing further when they delivered their ‘sad dance tunes’ for us live at The Shacklewell Arms in February, we’re super happy to hear they’ve now released a beautiful new single.

With their rendition of The Knife’s ‘Heartbeats‘, acab offer a truly enchanting dreamscape. Flowing with delicate, twinkling hooks alongside the duo’s luscious harmonies, it’s a stripped back, yet instantly immersive, version of the original, oozing a lilting, blissful energy and captivating, heartfelt emotion. Maintaining all the infectious electro scuzz of the original, whilst adding the duo’s own unique resplendent grace and spellbinding allure, it builds with a whirring splendour to a vibrant, danceable anthem shimmering with a swirling, soothing charm.

Of the decision to release the track, the duo explain:

“It was conceived and recorded in just one day in January this year while we were preparing to go on tour, and is the third in our ongoing covers series (previously featuring works by Arthur Russell and Daniel Johnston). We wanted to tap in to our usual nostalgic vibe by covering a song very much more in the public consciousness, and at the same time showcase how our glitchy modern production can add a new shiny element to this beautifully written piece of pop history.” 

‘Heartbeats’ features backing vocals by actor/singer Jola Jassy. Listen here:

the things we made, the beautiful album from all cats are beautiful, is out now via Moshi Moshi Records.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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