ALBUM: Witching Waves – ‘Persistence’

Founded just over five years ago by Emma Wigham and Mark Jasper, Witching Waves are a DIY post-punk trio hailing from London. Sharing the name of an amusement ride from Coney Island, New York (and later Blackpool, England) Witching Waves is as raw as its namesake; a juxtaposition of metallic melodies and propulsive rhythm.

Having released their debut LP, 2014’s Fear of Falling Down, and 2016’s Crystal Cafe, on the now-defunct Soft Power Records, Witching Waves are now set to release their third album. Joining Wigham’s infectious drumming and Jasper’s angular riffing is Estella Adeyeri on bass guitar. Adeyeri’s addition to the band in 2016, in addition to a relentless touring schedule, sparked the creative energy that culminated into their most confident record, Persistence.

Writing for Persistence started in 2016, with the music recorded over two days in 2017, and mixing done in 2018; hence the name of the album. With their debut, Witching Waves were simply experimenting; Wigham was learning how to play the drums at the time, in the studio, and in front of a live audience. Songs were often recorded not long after they were written. But on Persistence, Witching Waves have taken their time – preforming new songs live, laying the foundations for the LP – resulting in a much more focused release.

This is not to say that Persistence is a more polished record. Recorded live directly to tape within Jasper’s Hackney warehouse studio, Sound Savers, Witching Waves have lost none of their DIY ethics; as is evident from the opening track, ‘Disintegration’. The band recorded the album on their own – with minimal help with the mixes – resulting in much welcome distortion. Without being able to monitor the levels on the tapes, Jasper’s guitar frequently went into the red and Persistence is all the better for it! ‘Disintegration’ is a great example of how these live takes make the record sound so authentic.

Next, Wigham goes full throttle on ‘Best of Me’ – the latest single to be released. Crashing against the drums with ferocity, Wigham displays a sense of discomfort with lyrics that touch upon self-worth and identity. “I can’t move on / I can’t go back / You’ve got the best of me.” The tension throughout is inescapable, but it is the frantic raw energy of ‘Eye 2 Eye’ – a self-described “ode to conflict” – that displays the maturity of a band pissed off. Wigham and Jasper trade vocals that demand your attention amongst scratchy guitar riffing, pulsating bass lines, and clashing cymbals: “When did we decide to talk about it? / How do we begin to talk about it?”

 

Persistence continues to see Witching Waves channel their internal tensions regarding relationships and society into each unapologetic track. An obvious example would be ‘Money’, a song focused on the English capital that is becoming increasingly unaffordable for its many residents. The band’s honesty and emotion is admirable, with each member revealing themselves to the world; their frustrations and discomforts captured on this very personal record.

With Persistence, Witching Waves have produced a brash, complex, and dark post-punk record with pop sensibilities that documents an authentic, ongoing struggle worthy of repeat listening.

Persistence, the upcoming album from Witching Waves, is out 5th April via Specialist Subject Records.

Ken Wynne
@Ken_Wynne

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Track Of The Day: Art School Girlfriend – ‘Come Back To Me’

A delicate blur of dreamy sounds designed to pine over; ‘Come Back To Me’ is the latest single from Margate-based producer Art School Girlfriend​. It’s her first release of 2019, and draws a full circle to her debut ‘Bending Back’, which she describes as its “lyrical inverse”.

Art School Girlfriend is the moniker of Polly Mackey; a producer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist from Wrexham, North Wales. Since moving to the British seaside town of Margate and opening her bookshop “Spine Books”, Mackey has spent most of her time creating new recordings that reflect the space and clarity she has found since her move away from the crowded city to the coast. Speaking about ‘Come Back To Me’, she explains: “The song is quite transparently about lust and being out of control of your own desire. It’s about wanting someone to come to you and how that yearning can be simultaneously enjoyable and torturous.”

Mackey performed at this year’s SXSW festival and will be joining The Japanese House on her April & May US tour dates too. She’ll be playing some UK shows before she sets off (see dates below) so make sure you catch her when she’s in town. Listen to ‘Come Back To Me’ below and follow Art School Girlfriend on Facebook for more updates.

Art School Girlfriend 2019 UK Tour Dates
02/04 – Bristol, Louisiana
03/04 – Leicester, Cookie
04/04 – Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club
05/04 – Newcastle, Cluny 2
06/04 – Glasgow, Hug & Pint
07/04 – Manchester, Soup Kitchen
09/04 – Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
10/04 – London, Omeara

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: HunBjørn – ‘Who Are We To Love’

Danish electro-pop artist HunBjørn – which roughly translates as “small bear” – has shared a new element of her musical universe in the form of single ‘Who Are We To Love’. It’s a dreamy combination of synths, distorted guitars and sweet melancholic vocals.

HunBjørn (aka Ulla Pihl) was the former lead singer and songwriter in the experimental pop band Lima Lima, but now she’s recording as a solo artist. She released her debut EP In Vacuo in September of 2018, and began growing her fan base on social media by using a messenger-bot called the “She Bear Bot”. It’s an interactive behind the scenes experience for her EP that fans could join, and includes personal vlogs about every song and the story behind it.

Now, HunBjørn is ready with a new set of stories on her second EP Next Summer. She produced the record herself and it was mixed by previous collaborator Brian Batz (aka Sleep Party People). ‘Who Are We To Love’ is the first single, and it’s a love song to the environment, written to remind us that taking care of it is the responsibility of all of us.

Combining both organic and digital synth textures, HunBjørn has created a twinkling track full of her soothing vocals. Speaking about the single, she explains: “For a long time, I had been wanting to write a song about the environment expressing my concerns about where we’re heading. But I didn’t want the song to be sanctimonious or a lifted finger. So instead I tried to express the double standards that I myself apply. I was planning to fly to the other side of the world, well knowing how big my CO2 footprint would be. At the same time I see myself as environmentally conscious person. So I’ve tried to express those opposing feelings in the song. How much is just words and how much do we really act? How much do we leave for our decision makers or even worse – for our kids?

The official music video for the song is directed by Daniel Charluck Garrelts from Karma Film. HunBjørn’s pregnant body is painted in gold as a picture of the earth, which is marred by black oil as a symbol of how we treat the earth and what our children are born into. Take a look at the footage below and follow HunBjørn on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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ALBUM: Anteros – ‘When We Land’

After putting it off for many years, I’ve finally learned to drive, and as every 27 (or 17) year old knows; a perfect driving album is key to any good road trip. Enter When We Land, the debut album from Anteros released via Distiller Records. It’s the perfect dream-pop companion to hit the open road with.

Since forming in 2014, the band have been making the rounds touring the UK with groups such as Two Door Cinema Club, Blaenavon, and White Lies. They hit up Glastonbury and Reading along the way, honing their disco-pumping rock. I love a band that waits a little while to put out their debut album, and just like driving, this album is well worth the wait.

Standout Tracks include ‘Honey’ – an absolute thumping ear-worm with a lovely, sticky, fuzzy-bee of a bass tone. If ‘Honey’ is the call, then ‘Afterglow’ is the superb melancholic response. This banger would sound at home on the Atomic Blonde soundtrack. It sounds like you’re trying to dance your troubles away in a Berlin club and don’t want to find the exit.

‘Drive On’, the lead single from the album, keeps this record steaming on, and I particularly love the exposed fragility of Laura Hayden’s vocal in the bridge. ‘Ordinary Girl’ is a slowed down power ballad to gesticulate to, the best part of which being the drop before the gargantuan chorus kicks in. If the rest of the album is a night out, then this is the crippling, reflective hangover. Actually, this track is the reason for the night out in the first place; there’s an underpin of heartbreak to this album, and ‘Ordinary Girl’ finally gives the listener some answers as to where this heartbreak came from.

If you’re a fan of Black Honey, Dream Wife or Goldfrapp; you’re definitely going to be interested in Anteros’ album. It’s a great debut from a hard-working new band and it’ll take them to all the right places. Grab your copy here.

Anteros UK Live Dates 2019
26/03 Banquet Records in-store, London
27/03 Rough Trade in-store, Bristol
28/03 Rough Trade in-store, Nottingham
07/04 The Waterfront, Norwich
08/04 The Joiners, Southampton
09/04 Scala, London
11/04 Mama Roux’s, Birmingham
12/04 Dryden Street Social, Leicester
13/04 Arts Club, Liverpool
15/04 Stereo, Glasgow
16/04 The Cluny, Newcastle
17/04 The Gorilla, Manchester
19/04 Bodega Social Club, Nottingham
20/04 The Key Club, Leeds

Mark Docherty

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