Track Of The Day: Varley – ‘Lonely Were The Days’

With last single ‘Roamer’ reaching #23 in the Spotify Viral Charts, Berlin-based international band Varley are following its successful footsteps with the luscious sounds of their latest offering.

Reflecting on the ever-growing demands of today’s society from the effects of social media and the pressure this puts on a whole generation to “be something”, ‘Lonely Were The Days’ is an instantly infectious slice of dreamy alt-pop. As pulsating beats propel the track alongside the shimmering splendour of front woman Claire-Ann Varley’s vocals, a captivating soundscape is created, leaving you no choice but to bask in its glorious, glistening glow.

 

Catch Varley playing for us live at Notting Hill Arts Club on 1st December alongside Alyss, Elsa Hewitt and Temples Of Youth!

 

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Daniel Eisenlohr

 

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LIVE: Sextile – Electrowerkz, London 18.09.18

Beneath the flashing lights and amidst the smoke machines of London’s Electrowerkz, Sextile brought their brand of manic ‘Disco’ to town on Wednesday night. The L.A. band celebrated the release of their new EP 3 with a set full of pounding beats, wailing guitars and glitchy synths.

Greeted by a loyal and energetic crowd, drummer Melissa Scaduto and guitarist & vocalist Brady Keehn bounced around the stage for the duration of their gig. Joined by a brilliant, blue-haired multi-instrumentalist for their live shows, the trio played with an energy that matched their manic synth textures.

Front-man Brady jolted back and forth across the stage, delivering his delayed vocals with care-free aplomb. His movements were mimicked by the crowd who fed from his jagged energy – which amped up each time he played guitar throughout the set – whilst Melissa kept things steady with her relentless drum beats.

The aptly named ‘Mental’ taken from the band’s 2017 album Albeit Living, and new track ‘Spun’ (taken from 3) were highlights in a set that included tracks from both releases. The trio barely paused for breath between songs, and closed the night covered in sweat to the sound of rapturous applause. Sextile’s sound was built for venues like Electrowerkz, and with the help of support act Numb.ers – they electrified their crowd on Wednesday night.

(Support came from Numb.er)

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Pip Blom – ‘Come Home’

Having recently supported none other than legends The Breeders on their recent tour and received plenty of acclaim from the likes of BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 1, Dutch artist Pip Blom is back with another slice of infectious garage pop.

Flowing with scuzzy, discordant hooks and Blom’s trademark seductively lethargic vocals, ‘Come Home’ maintains the catchy, jangly spirit of earlier releases but with an added gritty edge. With a fuzz-filled energy and slick lo-fi melodies, this new single is further proof that Pip Blom deserves every bit of success she’s been receiving so far, marking her out once again as a firm favourite here at Get In Her Ears.

 

‘Come Home’ is taken from Pip Blom’s upcoming EP Paycheck, out 5th October via Nice Swan Records. Catch the band live on their extensive UK tour:

14th November – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
15th November – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
16th November – Think Tank? Underground, Newcastle
17th November – The Night and Day Café, Manchester
19th November – The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
20th November – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
21st November – The Prince Albert, Brighton
22nd November – The Lexington, London
24th November – The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool
25th November – Whelan’s (upstairs), Dublin
26th November – The Cookie, Leicester
27th November – The Boileroom, Guildford

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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ALBUM: The Joy Formidable – ‘AAARTH’

As guitarist and vocalist Ritzy Bryan explained to DIY Magazine, AAARTH is what happens when you stop “giving a fuck about things that don’t matter.” The Joy Formidable‘s fourth album is an aural plunge into freedom and self-exploration that brims with the trio’s trademark alternative sound. The record is set to be released via Hassle Records on 28th September.

AAARTH bursts into life with the sound of ‘Y Bluen Eira’. Sung entirely in Welsh, it’s a powerful, all-encompassing track permeated by waves of Ritzy’s buzzing guitar, Rhydian’s brooding bass and Matt’s heart-thumping percussion. ‘The Wrong Side’ follows, pushing through with steady grace before the thunderous ‘Go Loving’ breaks in. It’s a solid example of the band’s ongoing ability to pause and punch in all the right places.

Acoustic guitar and distorted bass lines sit perfectly next to each other on ‘Cicada (Land on Your Back)’, whilst Ritzy’s hushed vocals on ‘All In All’ provide a moment for quiet, ambiguous reflection about the “something missing”. The track’s pay off hits at the three minute mark in the form of swirling, atmospheric riffs and crashing drum beats. ‘What For’ bleeds in afterwards, leaving no room for respite. The same can be said for ‘The Better Me’, which rips and roars for just shy of four minutes, and hosts an incredible outro that will be the highlight of future live sets. It’s a song about “self-acceptance, living with your mistakes and appreciating how we all make up the whole and have something different to offer” Ritzy extrapolates.

The melancholy ‘Absence’ follows, acting as a calm interlude before the raucous ‘Dance of the Lotus’ kicks in. It’s easily one of the strongest songs on the record, with its immense drop-ins and wonderful guitar wails. Penultimate track ‘You Can’t Give Me’ rings out with orchestral elements and buzzing guitar for a full five minutes, before ‘Caught On a Breeze’ closes the album with more belting percussion, rumbling bass lines, and filthy guitar riffs.

AAARTH is a fierce collection of songs that reinforces The Joy Formidable’s seamless ability to keep the momentum going with – what feels like – minimal effort. A decade after the release of their debut EP, A Balloon Called Moaning, the trio are still releasing sharply produced, thunderous sounds that are best appreciated at full volume, or in the flesh live on stage. Don’t miss out on their in-store gigs at Rough Trade (dates below).

AAARTH is released on September 28th on CD, LP, limited boxset, Indie retail exclusive vinyl & Rough Trade exclusive vinyl. Pre-order here.

The Joy Formidable Live Dates 2018
Sept 29 – Rough Trade in-store, Nottingham
Sept 30 – Rough Trade in-store, Bristol
Oct 01 – Rough Trade in-store, London East

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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