Track Of The Day: Menace Beach – ‘Crawl In Love’

Fuzzy, strung-out, but fueled by positivity: Liza Violet & Ryan Needham – aka Menace Beach – have shared their new single ‘Crawl in Love’, taken from their upcoming album Black Rainbow Sound. Due on August 31st via Memphis Industries, the new record is a “a colourful world of bizzaro no-wave analogue synths and static, drenched in electronic euphoria”.

The Leeds-based band have been busy flitting between their bedrooms and The Nave studio in Leeds, writing and recording Black Rainbow Sound with producer Matt Peel (Eagulls). It’s the band’s first new material since early 2017’s Lemon Memory, and features a collaboration with Brix Smith of The Fall, and Brix and the Extricated.

Speaking about their new song ‘Crawl In Love’, Ryan said: “It’s tough to justify chucking another song with ‘love’ in the title on the pile, but ’Crawl in Love’ is truly the most unabashed, chock-full of joy song we’ve ever written and it came to us at a time when the endless horror of these times seemed to be really upping its game on a daily basis…I just went full cliche hippy and started writing list after list that explored and celebrated all ideas of love in the universe, a search for every last drop I could think of. Writing this one really gave me the mental rest I needed at that time.”

Menace Beach are gearing up to tour the UK again in October & November. Check out their dates below, and learn the words to ‘Crawl In Love’ in the meantime.

Pre-order Menace Beach’s Black Rainbow Sound here
Follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Menace Beach UK Tour Dates 2018

18 Oct – Derby, The Hairy Dog
20 Oct – Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
22 Oct – Glasgow, Broadcast
23 Oct – Newcastle, The Cluny 2
24 Oct – Manchester, Deaf Institute
25 Oct – London, Oslo
26 Oct – Bristol, Rough Trade
27 Oct – Sheffield, Picture House Social
02 Nov – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Jemma Freeman and The Cosmic Something – ‘Heaven On A Plate’

Following the release of their debut EP Someone Else To Blame last year, and having just wowed us at Get In Her Ears live at The Finsbury, Jemma Freeman and The Cosmic Something are back with a dreamy new single. The first time that the band has truly written in a collaborative way, ‘Heaven On A Plate’ was simply jammed out in practice about three times and the results seemed too perfect to interfere with. 

A bittersweet ode to putting up with situations and people whilst maintaining a facade of grim determination, ‘Heaven On A Plate’ is a soaring slice of glitzy psych-rock. As Jemma’s sweeping vocals flow with an hypnotic majesty, eerie hooks underpin catchy melodies, taking your ears on a spacey sonic journey. With their vibrant charisma and immense guitar-playing skills, JFATC have once again created something truly captivating. 

Of the inspiration behind the track, Jemma explains:

“I was inspired by the multi dimensional nature of the world’s evoked within science fiction novels (of which I am big fan) and the idea of hiding your true feelings when you are in certain scenarios or spaces. It’s also about mental illness and the distractions you can use as subterfuge to throw people off and avoid confrontation.“

Filmed with ‘cosmic’ film-maker Taylan Mutaf, the accompanying video was inspired by the surreal performances on ’70s shows such as The Old Grey Whistle Test, and is a wonderfully trippy, kaleidoscopic work of art. 

Mutaf wrote some words about the filming of the video (whilst he was at sea on an unpowered boat exploring old trade routes!):

“Jemma and myself had a chance to collaborate last year at a live performance of them at a small venue in our neighbourhood. We used 9:16 format and used multiple screens which made the video look like a kaleidoscope… When Jemma Freeman and The Cosmic Something was planning their next single release Jemma got in touch and told me about their idea for a new performance video for ‘Heaven On A Plate’. They had the idea of the studio, cosmic portraits and the footage from artist Lucietta Williams who created their own digital pin-hole camera… I  combined these ideas with a crystal lens, over layered images, and gelling everything together by filming the final edit with a very dusty high 8 camera that we found in Cosmic bassist Mark’s studio. I felt like a carpenter who works with a beautiful block of wood with the great tools that was given to me. I treated it step by step and I am so proud of the final product. ‘Heaven On A Plate’ was a great collaboration to be a part of and I really feel lucky to work with Jemma Freeman.”

Watch the epic, other-worldly video for ‘Heaven On A Plate’ now:

Catch Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something live this Wednesday, 25th July, at The Five Bells in New Cross, with fellow GIHE faves Scrounge!

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Suzi Corker

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Nova Twins – ‘Lose Your Head’

A lesson in cutting loose and walking on the wild side, London-based duo Nova Twins have shared a video for their latest track ‘Lose Your Head’. Adorned in neon make-up and customised boiler suits, Amy & Georgia blast through this mind-melter of a track in the accompanying visuals, proving there’s no limit to their creative potential.

Praised by Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, Nova Twins’ abrasive, genre-defying tunes are consistent favourites here at Get In Her Ears and ‘Lose Your Head’ is no exception. It’s a sonic spiral of distorted bass lines, lethal vocals and thunderous beats that fizzes with a unique punk-infused energy.

“Flipping punk rock on its head, ‘Lose Your Head’ is a rejection of off-the-peg opinions,2 the duo explain about the track. “It’s a rallying cry and a celebration of difference, an invitation to walk your own path. We want to open people’s minds and invite them to the wild side.”

Nova Twins will be touring throughout the summer across the UK, Europe and America. They’ll also be headlining Loud Women’s night at The Lexington on August 18th (tickets here)

Check out the video for ‘Lose Your Head’ below. Follow the pair on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

EP: Fistymuffs – ‘About Time’

If you’re still sitting back waiting for the return of the riot, you’ve been doing so with your ears covered. Scottish three-piece punk outfit Fistymuffs‘ upcoming EP, About Time, is a fantastic soundtrack to what they represent. What that is? “What we’re singing about is relatable to 90% of the audience,” answers bassist, Patty.

The original punk rock came off the back of a political climate that alienated youth. It doesn’t stand to question why, in the decades that followed Thatcher – before the banking crisis and the housing crisis and the flurry of food bank necessity for the working people – the privileged few said punk was dead.

About Time opens with ‘Innocent Contact’ and its jarring monologue; the kind that will undoubtedly spur choruses of cis white male journalists to utter the word patriarchy. While the EP does tackle the rejection of patriarchy, the lyrics are pulled from personal experience that touches on abuse regardless of gender.

“Get away, stay away, I don’t want your innocent contact” are the lyrics that make up the earworm chorus, making the opening track the most powerful on the record. It’s a track that harks to the legacy created by Kathleen Hanna and Donita Sparks, where screams are more valuable than words.

Third track, ‘Time’ introduces a more Mancunian sound, with echoes of Joy Division and New Order taking over. Drummer Nikki, in particular, being from Manchester, is massively influenced by both bands, and it shows – “Diverse influences are what give our sound an edge.”

Fistymuffs certainly have an edge, and anyone who wants the world to stop suffering in silence by speaking out will find an idyllic companion in About Time.

 

About Time will be released as a physical copy on 28th July at Leith Depot and on Bandcamp the following day. Follow Fistymuffs on Facebook and Twitter.

Em Burfitt
@fenderqueer

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment