Track Of The Day: Boy Harsher – ‘Face The Fire’

Hazy electronics and sultry vocals combine in hypnotic style on Boy Harsher‘s new single ‘Face The Fire’. The Massachusetts duo have shared the track alongside the announcement of their new album Careful – set for release on February 1st via their own imprint Nude Club Records – as well as US & European live dates.

Described as “a wild ride that celebrates feelings of abandon whilst mourning attachment and love” Boy Harsher’s Careful sounds like a heavy but heartfelt listen. If new track ‘Face the Fire’ is anything to go by, the band’s new record is going to be full of beats that ricochet around dark dance floors, or lonely bedroom walls.

The single’s accompanying visuals were created by band member Augustus Muller, and present “the trappings of classic Goth culture in a serious, yet irreverent way”. Together, Augustus and Jae Matthews have overcome many obstacles to maintain Boy Harsher’s cool sound, and ‘Face The Fire’ is another example of their ability to succeed even when the odds are stacked against them.

Watch the video for the new single below and follow Boy Harsher on Facebook for more updates.

Boy Harsher 2018 EU live dates (with Kontravoid except those marked #):
21/02 Hamburg, DE – Turmzimmer
22/02 Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg
23/02 St. Maló , FR – Route Du Rock #
24/02 Bristol, UK – Lanes
25/02 Leeds, UK – Wharf Chambers
26/02 Manchester, UK – Soup Kitchen
27/02 London, UK – Electrowerkz

Pre-order Boy Harsher’s upcoming album Careful here.

Photo Credit: Samantha Casolari

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

EP: Projector – ‘How Does It Feel?’

A visceral, grunge-infused exploration of love, loss and anxiety; How Does It Feel? is the knockout debut from Brighton trio Projector. Released via Roadkill Records on 9th November, the four track EP showcases the band’s ability to fuse nostalgic 90s noise with crushingly relatable modern sensibilities.

Recent single ‘Full Circle’ is an impressive opening track, and Bassist Lucy’s vocal range is beautifully showcased here. Switching between coarse, gravelly screams and clear, magnetic harmonies; her voice is enviably distinctive. Drummer Demelza’s beats drive the song to its conclusion, alongside Edward’s spiraling guitar sounds. It bleeds in to ‘I Am Shamed’, which is a raging onslaught of furious, fx-soaked riffs. Edward’s vocals take center stage here, giving the track an urgent, manic dimension.

The band’s earlier single ‘Break Your Own Heart’ is just as infectious after multiple listens. It’s a thundering, three and a half minute blur of aggressive, melodic sound. Closing track ‘Let Me’ is an ode to mutual self-destruction. “Let me ruin you, I’ll let you ruin me too” sings Lucy, an invitation that’s underscored by brooding bass lines and more of Demelza’s perfect percussion. It bookends a brief but blistering record that’s been crafted with aggressive intricacy.

So, ‘How Does It Feel’ listening to Projector’s debut EP? It feels pretty fucking good. We recommend you invest your listening time in the Brighton trio, and that you catch them live at Moth Club on 10th November. Tickets are available on DICE now.

Order your copy of ‘How Does It Feel?’ here. Follow Projector on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Jessie Morgan

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

LIVE: Zola Jesus – Omeara, London 05.11.18

Zola Jesus stunned her sold out crowd at Omeara on Tuesday night as she appeared shrouded in red, delivering her flawless operatic vocals. Her performance embodied the promise she made during second song ‘Soak’ – “You should know I would never let you down” – and her rendition of the track made our gothic hearts bleed.

She took to the stage after Ah! Kosmos, who performed a stunning one-woman-show in an equally stunning sequin blazer. The Istanbul-born artist gave a masterclass in how to perform electronic music solo, and was the perfect warm up for Zola Jesus’ eager crowd.

Whilst on stage, the Sacred Bones signee said she was “chuffed” to be in “Blighty” and was happy to talk between songs about TV show Nathan Barley and the shortcomings of British Airways (who had lost her guitarist’s luggage earlier that day). Her set was laced with penetrating vocals that rang out across her hypnotised audience, and included an emotive dedication to her Uncle who recently survived a suicide attempt.

The blend of industrial and classical elements in Zola Jesus’ music translated well live, and she was accompanied by a violinist and guitarist for the duration of her set. Her tortured but tentative lyrics on ‘Skin’ and ‘Exhumed’ as well as the hypnotic, off-kilter, bouncing synths on ‘Bound’ provided fans with an eclectic mix of old and new material, and an opportunity for the performer to remove her red cloak, and break the fourth wall towards the close of her set.

Her lyrical lamentations about disconnection are made all the more powerful by her altruistic voice. Recorded, her vocals are striking enough – but to hear them live is confirmation that Zola Jesus truly has a divine set of lungs. If you weren’t there to hear her at Omeara, you missed out on a mesmerising performance from this warped and wonderful artist. A definite live highlight of 2018.

Follow Zola Jesus on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

ALBUM: Fightmilk – ‘Not With That Attitude’

There’s something about Fightmilk’s debut album, Not With That Attitude, that takes me back to my youth. I realise that nostalgia is a given as a writer, but it takes a special band and a special punk pop-rock sound to do it for me. Keep your Something Corporates, I’ll take ‘Dream Phone’ and ‘Your Girlfriend’ over Fall Out Boy and Paramore any day.

With relatable lyrics that never cease to be less than blamefully self-deprecating and angsty, Not With That Attitude has created itself a lie in just its title. Fightmilk are going somewhere. They’re going through the motions and creating art. More than that, listening to this album makes me want to be young again. To feel okay with feeling not okay. Morein, to feel not okay with feeling not okay, and it being acceptable to do that.

In parts, such as one of my favourite tracks on the album, ‘Solving Crimes in Sweden’, the album could add to the perfect soundtrack of one of those alt-teen movies of the ’90s. The kind where Dawson was a dick and cried all the time and Ryan Phillippe was a dick but hot, not the kind where Freddie Prince Jr. is falling for the “ugly girl” and there’s a happily ever after.

It’s an album that marries pop-punk sensibilities with Natalie Merchant vibes, with both halves somehow seamlessly interjecting with one another; the same beast with an entirely different piece of lore. It’s also an album that reminds you that no matter what mistakes you make or how much you fall down, there’s always a “then…”

Not With That Attitude is the perfect record for those burgeoning onto the scene of adulthood. But it’s also magic at speaking to those of us still trying, twenty years on.

Favourite tracks: ‘Solving Crimes in Sweden’, ‘Get A Grip’, ‘Over’. 

Not With That Attitude is out now via Reckless Yes. Catch Fightmilk live headlining for us at The Finsbury on 14th December!

Em Burfitt 
@fenderqueer

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment