LIVE: The Big Moon – Omeara, NME Awards Nominations Party, 17.01.18

They may have based their bitter-sweet single ‘Happy New Year’ around memory loss, but The Big Moon‘s set at Omeara on Wednesday night was far from forgettable. The band played the intimate venue as part of the NME Awards Nominations Party, and their garage-rock tunes and contagious enthusiasm kept the crowd bouncing from start to finish.

Introduced by NME Deputy Editor Tom Howard as “really great, and a little bit tipsy,” the band kicked things off with summery anthem ‘Silent Movie Susie’. What followed was a set-list brimming with tracks from their Mercury Prize nominated debut album, Love In The 4th Dimension.

Established singles like ‘The Road’ and ‘Sucker’ sounded as fresh as ever, whilst newer releases ‘Formidable’, ‘Cupid’ & ‘Pull The Other One’ were delivered with precision and charm. The riotous ‘Bonfire’ was the clear fan favourite, and when vocalist Juliette broke the fourth wall and made her way in to the middle of the crowd – their faces lit up.

The Omeara show marked the band’s first gig of 2018 and they thanked fans for coming out to join them on their “rusty roller-coaster”. As an unexpected treat, they covered Bonnie Tyler’s classic ballad ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ in their own joyful, laid-back style, before closing their set with ‘Sucker’. The Big Moon have an enviable ability to charm and impress a crowd with their relatable indie tunes and they left everyone* (*us) with heart-shaped eyes at the end of the night.

Vote for The Big Moon in the ‘Best Video’ category of the 2018 NME Awards!

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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EP: After London – ‘After London’

If you’re looking for a slice of anthemic, alternative indie-rock, look no further than After London. The five-piece have released their eponymous debut EP, and it’s a record that shows they’re well-rehearsed, wickedly talented and ready for bigger things.

‘Bitter Man’ kicks things off with sardonic yet sublime vocals that recollect a blur of sexist poison and disappointment. Following track ‘Dreams’ flickers with the energy of over-active pupils during a case of REM sleep, and fans of London-rockers Anteros will approve of this indie tune.

On the penultimate ‘Highlife’, vocalist Francesca sings “you don’t like the taste of my despair” – but it’s hard to imagine anyone not savouring the sweet qualities of her voice, even if they do lament the sourness of dejection. The opening lyric on final track ‘Waiting For You’ feels particularly poignant – “Silence says more than what you think / it colours things that you can’t see” – and paves the way for an anthemic four minutes of taut percussion and melodic guitars.

Listen to After London’s EP in full on Spotify, and head down to their launch party at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen on 7th February to hear the record live. (RSVP here).

Follow After London on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Talking Violet – ‘Aspen’

Having only formed early last year as an acoustic project, Canadian band Talking Violet are now ready to share their debut single.

Filled with an ethereal, scuzzy haze, ‘Aspen’ is an utterly dreamy slice of ambient shoegaze. As a gentle, swirling whirr soon builds to a raw, frenzied cacophony, it’s an effervescent treat for the ears; like a wonderful sonic fusion between Best Coast and Deftones.

Of the track, singer/guitarist Jill Goyeau comments:

” (it’s) a song that emcompasses who we are as a band, becaude it has a blend of both softness and heavyness to it. The song sums up how we tend to use sonic juxtaposition in our songwriting.”

Round Dreams, the debut EP from Talking Violet, is released 2nd February.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

 

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Track Of The Day: EMA – ‘Dark Shadows’

EMA – aka Erika M. Anderson – returns to Europe next week to tour with Depeche Mode, but before she shares the stage with the iconic 80s band, she’s found time to share her new single from her upcoming EP, Outtakes From Exile, set for release on 2nd February via City Slang.

‘Dark Shadows’ is a blend of hazy vocals, sharply produced beats and opulent electronics, inspired by the film 20th Century Women. “I wrote ‘Dark Shadows’ for the film,” EMA explains. “I was intrigued by the premise — badass women living in 1970s Santa Barbara getting into punk. That’s all I knew! I wrote the song with that in mind. I think of it as a survivor song, someone leaving a dark past behind, emerging again into the world. Whoever it is, they’re definitely wearing sunglasses.”

Sitting comfortably in what she calls “The Outer Ring” of society – the zone between the country and the city, both literally and figuratively – EMA’s sound oozes an unease and intensity inspired by “material that speaks truth to power.” Rather than agonise, she organises synths and vocals to express her resistance against poverty and inequality – all whilst wearing those super cool shades she mentions.

Listen to ‘Dark Shadows’ below and follow EMA on Facebook for more updates.

Pre-order your copy of Outtakes From Exile here.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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