NEW TRACK: Vivienne Cure – ‘Barricade’

A commanding, heavy lament to resisting self-sabotage, Vivienne Cure has shared her latest single ‘Barricade’. Full of ominous riffs, thundering beats and her potent vocals, the London-based musician and visual artist traces over feelings of rage and regret on her new offering.

Previously supported by the likes of Kerrang! and CLASH, Vivienne Cure finds refuge in the realms of doom, metal and industrial music, as well as alternative Gothic art spheres. She uses her sound to exorcise personal demons, break free from negative thought patterns and ultimately to connect with others.

“My collection of musical works lay at the centre of a vortex of swirling fragments of deeply personal memories, driven by my inner war and reaction to society’s underlying sadness,” she explains. These forces propel Cure into action, as she explores the macabre and the meaningful in both her aesthetic and her sound.

New single ‘Barricade’ flows in this dark vein. Cure’s plaintive cries are imbued with a sense of power and self autonomy. Grinding riffs and brooding beats swirl around her, as she vehemently grasps for control amongst the chaos. ‘Barricade’ is accompanied by a new set of visuals, which show Cure and her bandmates immersing themselves in their performance.

Vivienne Cure will be playing a London headline show at The Black Heart in Camden on Wednesday 22nd November. Support comes from Jo-Jo And The Teeth and industrial rock four piece DROWND. Tickets are available here.

Watch the video for ‘Barricade’ below.

Follow Vivienne Cure on Spotify, Facebook & Instagram

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Sheherazaad – ‘Mashoor’

Having grown in up in San Francisco in a second generation immigrant household, Brooklyn based artist Sheherazaad fuses influences from both Western classical and her own South Asian sonic lineage through her exquisite interwoven soundscapes.

Drawing on themes of displacement and nostalgia with a contemporary, genre-defying spirit, Sheherazaad’s debut single ‘Mashoor’ showcases her ability to blend a stirring alternative folk musicality with experimental techniques, exuding a contemporary, genre-defying spirit. With a spellbinding rippling allure, her sumptuous vocals flow throughout, allowing ‘Mashoor’ to immerse the listener in its soaring splendour on first listen.

‘Mashoor’ is accompanied by a moving video. Filmed throughout New York in extreme weather, it is a beautiful representation of worlds colliding; combining a South Asian immigrant story with America’s historical fabric. Watch now:

‘Mashoor’ is out now via Erased Tapes. It was recorded at The Glass Wall in Brooklyn, produced by Arooj Aftab, mixed by J. Valleau, and mastered by Heba Kadry. It features performances by Ria Modak on classical guitar, Gilbert Mansour on percussion, and additional vocal mixing by Runar Blesvik.

Photo Credit: Zayira Ray

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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NEW TRACK: body / negative ft. Midwife – ‘everett’

Following on from their recent release ‘persimmon‘ – an exquisite blend of ethereal guitar sounds and tender mellifluous vocals – multi-instrumentalist Andy Schiaffino aka body / negative has shared their latest single ‘everett’. The eponymous track from their upcoming album, which is set for release on 8th December via Track Number Records, ‘everett’ is a delicately distorted, glistening piece of ambient shoegaze, featuring “kindred collaborator” Madeline Johnston aka Midwife.

Mastered by Slowdive’s Simon Scott, body / negative’s third record Everett is a poetic rumination on love and loss, and how they deeply affect our interactions with the world. Dedicated to Schiaffino’s late mother and father, the album features contributions from Randall Taylor aka Amulets and Midwife, whose studio Schiaffino was initially supposed to occupy as a residency. Schiaffino’s plans changed imminently when their father was suddenly diagnosed with a terminal illness, and as a result, most of the album was written and recorded while they looked after him in a hospice. This single ‘everett’ is one of the first tracks Schiaffino and Midwife worked on together, and it glimmers with bittersweet melancholy.

Underscored by a deep vulnerability and empathy, Everett is a remarkable effort from an artist in acute pain. By recording through a hand-held tape recorder and filtering their vocals through a landline-style microphone, they give the record a familiar, yet far-off feeling of transience and disconnected communication. Tracing over their grief with meticulous care and tranquility, body / negative lulls listeners into a state of bittersweet calm across each of Everett‘s eight tracks.

The new single is accompanied by a glitchy video which shows body / negative performing alongside Midwife, interspersed with images of the outside world. Watch the visuals for ‘everett’ below.

Follow body / negative on bandcamp, Spotify & Instagram

Photo Credit: Audrey Kemp

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: deep tan – ‘xenomorph queen’

Having been a big fan of London’s deep tan for a few years now, I’m excited to see that – following last year’s diamond horsetail EP – they’re back with a brand new single, and new line-up, ahead of their live shows supporting QOTSA on tour next month.

Reflecting on themes of matriarchy, queer parenting and sapphic love, ‘xenomorph queen’ oozes all the discordant immersive allure that we’ve come to know and love from the trio. Instantly captivating the senses with its mystical ethereal majesty, it showcases deep tan’s ability to create their own truly unique brand of other-worldly angular post-punk.

Of the track, the band expand:

“‘xenomorph queen’ witnesses the real star of the alien franchise in a new context: in the throes of a lesbian romance. a sensual – but still punk – track about matriarchy, queer parenting and sapphic love, this close encounter offers a new, intergalactic perspective on #hotmilfsinyourarea #xenomilf”

‘xenomorph queen’ is accompanied by an animated new video; in equal parts playful and enthralling. Watch it now:

‘xenomorph queen‘ is out now via Practise Music.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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