LISTEN: Tara Tine – ‘The Night Was Cold’

Activist and artist Tara Tine has shared her single ‘The Night Was Cold’, taken from her debut EP Battle Cry. The native Dundalk author & musician is dedicated to putting the arts scene of her hometown in the spotlight of the national and international media, as well as championing the independent warrior spirit in her music.

In the last two years, Tine has balanced writing two novels and a novella alongside playing and writing music. She’s supported the likes of The Pale, The Fureys and Jinx Lennon, and now she’s shared her debut EP Battle Cry – “a rallying call for the would-be warriors of the world”. The release hosts six tracks, which Tine describes as a “patchwork” of musical genres – from Zeppelin-inspired blues, to old-school reggae.

The atmospheric ‘The Night Was Cold’is the lead single from the EP, and it’s accompanied by a gothic set of visuals, which show Tine wandering through the woods and around a graveyard. Watch the video below, and be sure to grab your copy of Battle Cry from Classified Records in Dundalk, or via Tine’s Facebook page.

Photo Credit: David Manning

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LIVE: Boy Harsher – HEAVEN, London 27.02.19

Jaded electronics, sultry vocals, and 80s inspired beats dominated Boy Harsher‘s sold out show at Heaven earlier this week. The Massachusetts’ duo blended nostalgic percussion with sharp modern production – and a stunning light show – to create an immersive live experience.

Presented by Night Terrors, the evening began with one-man-show Kontravoid. Masked and moving between his synths, the soloist was well versed in the nuances of the cold wave sound, paving the way for Boy Harsher to deliver a set that was designed to ricochet around Heaven’s walls.

Together, Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller played a mixture of old and new material, kicking things off with the aptly named ‘Intro’. The pair played a slow-burning but slick first half, which included the title track from their 2016 album ‘Yr Body is Nothing’, ‘A Realness’ and new single ‘Fate’, taken from their recent album Careful.

Caution was thrown to the wind mid-set as denser beats and more sporadic lighting was introduced, with Matthews fully relaxing in to her movements. The throbbing synths and pounding beats on ‘Come Closer’ were intoxicating, and the grand synthesizers on new track ‘LA’ felt like they could’ve scored an escape from a night-time crime scene. Matthews’ voice was as morose and lusting as it is on record, and Muller’s triggering capabilities were equally as precise.

The pair tore through the remainder of their set list – which included ‘Suitor’, ‘Tears’, ‘Tower’ and ‘Modulations’ – before returning for an encore that included ‘The Look You Gave (Jerry)’ and the pulsating intensity of ‘Pain’.

A cohesive blend of slow-burning and scintillating tunes, Boy Harsher’s live show was an alluring, seductive affair. Their capacity crowd was proof that Matthews and Mulller continue to capture the ears of their loyal fan base after five years together, and we’re excited to see what direction the pair take next.

Follow Boy Harsher on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Light Emitting Dinosaurs – ‘Ambition’

Formed last year with members from Peter Cat, the rock musical The Quentin Dentin Show and vocalist Nikki Lewkowicz, Brixton band Light Emitting Dinosaurs have now released their debut single.

Propelled by the power of Lewkowicz’s soaring, soulful vocals, ‘Ambition’ emits an eerie, electronic soundscape alongside deep bass and glitchy beats, providing the backdrop for the track’s epic, sweeping splendour with shades of ’90s trip-hop. Of their unique sound, the band explain:

“We want to be on the borderline of epic and silly. Like your gran doing a surprisingly good rap.”

Accompanied by a fantastic animated video adding to its racing sense of drama and intensity, ‘Ambition’ is a stimulating delight for both the eyes and ears.

‘Ambition’ was recorded by Nick Howiantz at Brixton Hill Studios.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Mammoth Penguins – ‘I Wanna’

Following previous releases Hide and Seek and John Doe, and having supported the likes of Adult Mom and Swearin’, Cambridge trio Mammoth Penguins have now signed to Fika Recordings and announced the release of their third album There’s No Fight We Can’t Both Win. 

Taken from the album, new single ‘I Wanna’ is filled with all the jangly, joyous goodness we’ve come to expect, with the raw, distinctive vocals of Emma Kupa oozing a sunny charm and twinkling romanticism. With its hugely relatable lyrics for anyone that’s ever been a bit in love, alongside shimmering, dreamy melodies, it’s an instantly catchy slice of lush indie-pop that leaves me with butterflies in my stomach, longing to hear more of Mammoth Penguins’ fuzzy, scuzzy loveliness. Of the track, Kupa explains:

“‘I Wanna’ is a super simple song about how liking someone can unlock a load of creativity and energy… and suddenly there are so many possibilities and so much potential, and life becomes way more fun.”

 

There’s No Fight We Can’t Both Win, the upcoming album from Mammoth Penguins, is out 26th April via Fika Recordings, pre-order here. And you can catch them live for yours truly at The Finsbury on 12th April – we can’t wait!

Mari Lane
@marimindles

 

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