Track Of The Day: Show Boy – ‘Like That’

Trying to reinvent a genre that is already so diverse can be difficult, and yet with new single ‘Like That’, London-based alt-pop artist Show Boy seems to do just that.

Taken from his upcoming debut EP Surreal, ‘Like That’ starts off simple; a gentle kick and snare behind a light-hearted guitar riff, before a short and poppy synth joins the mix. From the get-go, the beat is catchy, oozing perfect summer vibes. Of the track, Show Boy explains:

“It’s about the confusion and panic felt when you realise you have more affinity with a past snapshot of yourself than the person you currently are.”

This juxtaposition of ‘Like That’s uptempo music, with the deeper, more meaningful, lyrics is something extraordinary and wonderful; marking the track out as a poignant, impassioned pop anthem. 

Show Boy, aka Jovis Lane, adds something to his music that we haven’t seen before – a unique and exciting prospect in the industry as a whole. 

 

Surreal, the upcoming EP from Show Boy, is set for release next month. Catch Show Boy live at the EP launch on 11th July at Dalston Superstore.

Bekky Smart
@bekkymays

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Track Of The Day: Automatic – ‘Calling It’

Automatic are Izzy Glaudini (synths, vocals), Lola Dompé (drums, vocals) and Halle Saxon (bass, vocals). They’re from LA, but their sound is straight out of early 1980s Yorkshire.

‘Calling It’, their first single, is an ear capturing listen, marked as it is by distinctive post punk stylings which include lots of echo, tinny drums and a loud, dominant synth sound, all of which are set off by deadpan vocals. It’s as though the Delta 5 have mated with the earliest incarnation of the Human League and spawned a many legged Leeds/Sheffield-based hybrid creature that is now throwing super cool shapes on the student disco dance floor. More prosaically, Izzy Glaudini speaks of the track thus:

“Its lyrics capture the sensation of being adrift in a wide-open space, and the desire to rip it all up and start over.” Destruction in art.

‘Calling It’ is out now via Stones Throw Records.

Cazz Blase
@CazzBlase

Photo Credit: Logan White

 

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ALBUM: Personal Best – ‘What You At’

The tagline (yep, it’s got a tagline!) of Personal Best’s second album, What You At, is “classic rock for tragic lesbians”. And I can’t think of a greater summary. It’s sweet and spiky, sad and uplifting. And it’s going to soundtrack a lot of break-ups.

Opener ‘Just Friends’ sets the tone. It starts out like a torch song – all acoustic guitar and raw emotion – but soon engulfs into crunchy rock riffs. The album has sadder, slower moments, like ‘Near To The Wildheart’ and closer ‘Salute’, but with front-person Katie Gatt’s powerful voice and lyrics, it remains an angry, empowering record.

Standout ‘Radio’ is a proper stomper, as is the single, ‘Baby’. When Gatt sings “I’m getting better”, backed by frenetic, punky guitars and pure pop harmonies, you really believe her. The album’s penultimate song, ‘One More Thing’, brings the record to a silly, splashy crescendo, which begs to be turned up to 11, Spinal Tap-style. I can almost picture the band playing it live, doing that classic rock, duelling guitars thing, and having an awesome time doing it.

It makes me so happy to see Personal Best stomping all over a traditionally male genre with their tongue firmly in their cheeks. As far as break-up albums go, What You At isn’t about feeling sorry for yourself. It’s the equivalent of a messy night out with the people you love. It’s sticky dancefloors and Strongbow; it’s crying on your best friend’s shoulder and putting the world to rights on the nightbus home.

A perfect fusion of wit, honest emotion and luscious harmonies, What You At will leave you elevated and ready to take on the world, break-up or no break-up.

What You At is out now via Sheer Luck Records/Dovetown Records. Order here.

Vic Conway

Photo Credit: Jennifer Doveton

 

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Track Of The Day: HIDE – ‘Chainsaw’

**trigger warning: mention of rape/sexual assault**

Not for the faint-hearted: Chicago-based electronic duo HIDE mesh abrasive, pulverizing synths and aggressive vocals on their latest track ‘Chainsaw’. Taken from their upcoming album Hell is Here, set for release August 23rd via Dais Records, the track’s accompanying video closes with the statement “Rape culture kills” and lists the names of multiple women who were raped and murdered whose pictures feature in the video.

The track’s uncomfortable context is deeply rooted in the band’s own reality; the lyrics to ‘Chainsaw’ are a slew of verbal assaults the duo have received repeatedly on the street, often while in the company of a child. The video is a collaboration with film makers Chris Hefner and Menthol Pictures.

HIDE are formed of fine artist Gabel and percussionist Seth Sher, and together the pair use a combination of self sourced field recordings and various pop culture/media to create their intense and powerful sounds and visuals. ‘Chainsaw’ is one of many HIDE of tracks that challenges misogyny and the pain of those who have been brutalised, explored through blistering noise and confrontational vocals.

The duo will be touring both the US and Europe from July onwards, including a show with Kontravoid at London’s Shacklewell Arms on 3rd October which we urge you not to miss. Watch the video for ‘Chainsaw’ below and follow HIDE on Facebook for more updates.

If you have been affected by these visuals and want to seek support, visit the Rape Crisis website here.

Photo credit: Nicola Kuperus

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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