WATCH: Brutus – ‘Liar’

Gritty vocals, powerhouse percussion and charged riffs punctuate ‘Liar’, the latest single from Belgian trio Brutus. Taken from their upcoming third album Unison Life, which is set for release on 21st October via Hassle Records/Sargent House, the track is a heavy lament that criticises the lies we tell ourselves in order to keep a false and temporary sense of calm.

“When things get a bit more difficult or when relationships demand too much energy, I choose to avoid confronting things, or just lie about it for the sake of keeping the peace,” vocalist and drummer Stefanie Mannaerts explains about the context of the new single. “At that point, it just seems like the easy thing to do so that nobody gets hurt. But in the long run, those well-intentioned lies will catch up with you, and the peace you thought you’d found turns out to be an illusion.” Through her instinctive, thudding beats and primal vocals, Mannaerts shatters these illusions amidst a cacophony of riffs from guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden and bassist Peter Mulders.

The single is accompanied by a video, directed by Maximiliaan Dierickx and shot in the desert near Marrakech and Essaouira in Morocco. The visuals reflect the duality expressed in Mannaerts’ lyrics, and how masking your true feelings ultimately only leads to further disappointment. Dissecting the darker, more desperate parts of the emotional spectrum fuelled the creation of Brutus’ new album Unison Life. “I wanted every song to feel like the last song we’ll ever write,” Mannaerts comments about its conception. “It killed me inside because it’s almost an impossibly high standard, but that was my personal goal for this album. It was a two-year quest of trying to do better.”

Pre-order your copy of Brutus’ new album Unison Life here.

Watch the video for ‘Liar’ below.

Follow Brutus on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook & Instagram

Photo Credit: Eva Vlonk

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Miya Folick – ‘Nothing To See’

Emotional, raw and beautifully resilient, Miya Folick‘s latest single ‘Nothing To See’ is a tender ode to rediscovering yourself in the aftermath of a painful breakup. Taken from her new EP 2007, which is set for release on 9th September via Nettwerk, through her clear vocals, candid lyrics and considered instrumentation, Folick accepts that love makes fools of us all, and gracefully reclaims the time she spent changing herself to suit the needs of an unappreciative lover.

“This song is about falling in love with someone emotionally unavailable,” explains the LA based songwriter. “Someone whose feelings and desires were so obscured to me and themselves, that I had to become a detective. I studied their life for clues and tried to fit the role of the person I thought they’d like. Eventually we broke up, and I realized that I’d lost the plot on my own life. My body and personality and life were so populated by the interests of this person, that once they were gone, there was nothing left to see. But, to me, this song isn’t bleak. I think there’s power in being brave enough to say ‘I was made a fool by you.’”

Despite the single’s painful context, ‘Nothing To See’ is a merciful, cathartic offering that reminds listeners that whilst unhealthy romantic infatuation can be draining, there’s comfort in knowing you can break free from the toxic cycle and rediscover your autonomy in the aftermath. This type of personal epiphany permeates the tracks on Folick’s upcoming EP, 2007, on which she scrutinises and forgives herself for feeling things so intensely.

Watch the visualiser for ‘Nothing To See’ below.

Follow Miya Folick on Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Maya Folick Tour Dates 2022 (supporting Tove Lo)
29th October – Olympia Theater, Dublin, IE
1st November – SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow, UK
2nd November – Academy, Manchester, UK
3rd November – O2 Institute, Birmingham, UK
5th November – The Roundhouse, London, UK

Photo Credit: Jonny Marlow

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Chorusgirl – ‘Don’t Go Back to ’89’

Having announced the much-anticipated (by me in particular!) release of her third album this Autumn, Silvi Wersing – aka Chorusgirl – has now shared her first new single in a few years, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Following their self-titled debut album in 2015, and 2018’s perfectly titled follow-up Shimmer and Spin, this new offering could not be more welcome.

Flowing with a majestic, swirling grace, ‘Don’t Go Back To ’89‘ poignantly reflects on feelings of nostalgia and hopelessness. Propelled by a shimmering splendour and glistening celestial charm, it’s a beautiful slice of jangly dream-pop, sparkling with a glowing summer haze, whilst tinged with stirring undertones of darkness. With a scuzzy, whirring energy reminiscent of the lilting allure of early ’90s shoegaze/post-punk such as Cocteau Twins or Pixies, it’s a perfectly captivating immersive introspection for anyone in need of some calming aural therapy.

Of the track, Silvi explains:

“Thematically, it riffs off the following idea: what if you could travel back in time in order to save a loved one? What if you’d have to do this over and over and over again, because it turns out that that person cannot be saved? What if you still can’t stop trying again and again though, and end up stuck in a never-ending loop?”

I must admit, I’ve felt quite emotional hearing Silvi’s voice again, with Chorusgirl’s previous two albums having provided so much comfort to me in the past. What she’s able to create is just utterly unique; a soothing amalgamation of influences resulting in truly blissful soundscapes.

Mixing Super 8 footage of a dancer with images of Silvi with a psychedelic, kaleidoscopic allure, watch the Busby Berkeley-inspired new video for ‘Don’t Go Back To ’89’ here:

Colapso Calypso, the upcoming third album from Chorusgirl, is set for release on 14th October.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: congratulations – ‘Kryptonite’

A frenetic, playful anthem born form the desire to release pent up energy post-lockdown and shake off the memories of a bad date, Brighton-based band congratulations have shared their latest single ‘Kryptonite’. Full of lively riffs, chant-worthy vocals and driving beats, the track was inspired and built around the momentum of the the band’s live performances, which were warmly reciprocated after months of absence from the live music scene in 2020.

Formed of James Gilligham, Greg Burns, Jamie Chellar and Leah Stanhope, congratulations have been busy writing and recording their EP in their own studio (a shed attached to the back of guitarist Jamie’s house), with bassist Greg on mixing and production duties. They’ve got plenty of new material to share, with singles ‘Lucy, Lucy’ and ‘Kryptonite’ offering a taste of what’s to come. “With live music finally hitting its stride again, we’ve been able to do what we love and play to people – it’s been magic,” the band explain. “It means we’ve looked at all of our songs completely differently and its influenced the way we write. Before, we’d write in the studio, and have to learn it all over again to be able to play it live. But this time ‘Kryptonite’ came to life in rehearsal rooms and onstage, where we were hammering it into shape every time we played it. I think because of this, it’s a much more straightforward song compared to our others; it’s four people playing very hard”.

A rousing, defiant track that instinctively inspires listeners to move along to the beat, ‘Kryptonite’ is accompanied by a fun workout themed video featuring the band members in their trademark brightly coloured outfits. “The tempo of the chorus has inspired this run on the spot move we all do live, which in turn inspired the music video for the track,” explains Leah. “We joke that the song is such a workout for us when we play it, we thought wouldn’t it be fun if we did a workout fitness video and people could join in! I couldn’t do a vocal take in the studio without instinctively doing the run – its part of the song now!”

Preferring not to be too prescriptive about the lyrics and inspiration behind the track, Jamie offers the following cryptic information about ‘Kryptonite’, explaining that the classic 1978 Superman film played a part in its conception. “I always watch the film with my mum and sister, we love the scene where Lois Lane interviews Superman, where she gets so dressed up for him – I mean you would wouldn’t you? – And he ends up dropping her from 1000 feet. Not the best first date! I think we’ve all been excited for a date, only for the person to be a bit of a… well not what you expected. I’m never mad keen on explaining a song to the nth degree but hopefully it’ll just make you smile listening again and realising what we were on about.”

Watch the band’s self-directed video for ‘Kryptonite’ below.

Follow congratulations on Spotify, Tik Tok, Instagram & Facebook

congratulations Live Dates 2022
26th July – The Hope and Ruin BRIGHTON
29th July – Heartbreakers SOUTHAMPTON
5th August – Moth Club LONDON

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut

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