Track Of The Day: VISCERENE – ‘Zeros and Ones’

An ominous reflection on the way that technology influences our behaviour, industrial/electronic duo VISCERENE have shared their debut single ‘Zeros and Ones’. With a sound reminiscent of Pretty Hate Machine-era Nine Inch Nails, the track is a brooding cacophony of chaotic synth textures and glitchy beats, exploring what happens to our thought processes when we spend too much time online.

Formed of Charlie Beddoes and John Briginshaw, VISCERENE is the sound of two experienced musicians navigating new sonic territory on their own terms. Briginshaw is a session drummer, who wanted to create music instead of just playing songs by other people. Beddoes is a bassist and vocalist who has played in many bands, including Rub Ultra, No Santa, and most recently fronted Rock In Your Pocket and Nasty Little Lonely. Now, the pair have combined their many talents to create visceral electronic noise under their new moniker.

“‘Zeros and Ones’ is about technological determinism,” Beddoes explains about their debut offering. “The lyrics refer to how human behaviour changes because of technology, and not always for the better!” The duo explore this element of the human psyche through Beddoes’ cutting lyrics and Briginshaw’s ordered yet erratic percussion.

As well as forming this new project, Beddoes has recently released her memoir, Overdriven, which is described as “the true story of a girl with a dirty bass sound and more ambition than sense”. Her book is full of fascinating anecdotes about the 80s and 90s rock scenes, as well as her own experiences of being a women in rock and alternative music spheres. You can buy a copy here.

Listen to ‘Zeros and Ones’ below.

Follow VISCERENE on bandcamp, Spotify, Facebook and Youtube

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut

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Track Of The Day: DEBBY FRIDAY – ‘So Hard To Tell’

An altruistic mix of bittersweet vocals, glitchy beats and evocative electronics, DEBBY FRIDAY has shared her latest single ‘So Hard To Tell’. Taken from her upcoming debut album, GOOD LUCK, which is set for release on 24th March via Sub Pop, the Nigerian-born, Toronto-based artist’s track is a candid reflection on growth and the indecision encountered along the way, explored through her magnetic vocals and candid lyrics.

“I have a lower register and speak with vocal fry, so I don’t know what came over me when I made this track,” Friday explains about ‘So Hard To Tell’. “I have never in my life sung like this before and I had no idea I could even make these kinds of sounds with my voice. There’s no pitch effects, it’s all me.” Differing dramatically from her previous sounds on EPs BITCH PUNK and DEATH DRIVE, this single further showcases Friday’s talent for traversing unknown territory and totally acing it.

The track is accompanied by a video, co-directed by Kevan Funk and featuring Friday in many magnificent forms, effortlessly commanding attention wherever she goes. Her upcoming album, which was co-produced and mixed by Graham Walsh (METZ, Holy Fuck) at Candle Recording Studio in Toronto, and mastered by Heba Kadry in New York, documents Friday’s fascinating journey from being a self-proclaimed “club rat” to a multi-disciplinary artist. The record will be co-released with a short film of the same name, co-directed by Friday and Nathan De Paz Habib. Friday will also be playing a UK show on 3rd May at Corsica Studios, with support from GROVE.

Watch the video for ‘So Hard To Tell’ below.

Follow DEBBY FRIDAY on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Debby Friday Tour Dates 2023
Sat. Jan. 21 – Montreal, QC – La Sala Rossa w/ Pelada
Fri. Feb. 17 – Toronto, ON – Boiler Room
Wed. Mar. 15-18 – Austin, TX – SXSW
Fri, Mar. 24 – Montreal, QC – Phi Centre
Sat. Mar 25 – Toronto, ON – Garrison
Wed. Apr. 12 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Thu. Apr. 13 – Seattle, WA – Barboza
Fri. Apr. 14 – Los Angeles – Zebulon
Sat. Apr. 15 – Vancouver – Cobalt
Wed. Apr. 19 – Brooklyn, NY – Babys Alright
Thurs. Apr. 20 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
Wed. May 03 – London, UK – Corsica Studios w/ Grove

Photo credit: Katrin Braga

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut

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Track Of The Day: Maggie The Cat – ‘Donne Moi Ta Chose’

Dressed in a sultry and mysterious aesthetic, Maggie The Cat (who you may know as the vocalist of London legends Madonnatron), has released ‘Donne Moi Ta Chose’. Bubbling with darkness and intrigue, she brings her trademark enticing vocals to centre stage with a refreshing twist for this solo endeavour.  

Maggie The Cat embodies a vintage dream, calling back to synth pop heavies from the ‘80s, but with an accessible sound that lands in similar territory to Lana Del Rey and St. Vincent. ‘Donne Moi Ta Chose’ grounds itself with a steady retro drum beat while Maggie The Cat allows her voice to drench your attention, creating something truly captivating. The instrumentals then expand with simple, satisfying guitar riffs that bring a tenderness to the track’s overall mystery. 

The rich mix of this track allows for Maggie The Cat to take up space in both a gentle and intense way. Everything about ‘Donne Moi Ta Chose’ feels like a Gemini, serving us the best of both worlds. It demands our attention – “I’ll take anything you got” – with its relentless pulse into a goth-synth universe. As vocal layers build, criss-crossing with an immersive chaotic energy, Maggie The Cat creates an epic storm that we cannot turn away from; mystifying and beautiful.


Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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Track Of The Day: Berries – ‘Sprial’

2022 has been a big year for BERRIES. With their fiery yet honest take on grunge, alt, and rock ‘n roll, the London-based trio have staked their claim in the country’s live scene, as well as receiving international acclaim supporting bands such as The Subways. Much to the pleasure of seasoned fans of distortion, as well as newly of-age gig rats still enthralled to legally order a pint.

Such widespread appreciation is a direct result of the youthful yet mature energy BERRIES brings to their music. A type of energy that comes fully to form through their lauded debut album How We Function. Now, in the midst of an exciting series of tour dates that will continue well into 2023, BERRIES have shared a new single from the LP, ‘Spiral‘.

Coming in as hot as it does intriguing with an ensnaring syncopated riff, ‘Spiral’ bounces between various band-driven calls and responses. Switching back and forth between 6/8 and 4/4 with jazz-era precision, the song feels frenetic but also contained for when the bridge comes in and provides the reminder that everyone’s gone through a spiral of their own. Of the track, vocalist Holly explains:

“‘Spiral’ is about how easily we share insignificant details about ourselves but struggle to open up about serious matters through fear of seeming weak or vulnerable. And how what we do share with people is often for the satisfaction and approval of others and not for ourselves.”

Another uplifting anthem oozing all the trademark scuzzy allure and whirring charm that we’ve come to know and love from BERRIES.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5uQQnQOBB9iffWPaZSpKxh?si=97e63857e8154112

How We Function, the debut album from BERRIES, is out now via Xtra Mile Recordings.

Harry Levin
@harrywlevin

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