PLAYLIST: November 2018

The dark winter nights are creeping in, but our brand new November playlist is filled with bright, vibrant new sounds from a range of unusual and inspiring new artists. Take some time to scroll through our words and hit play on the Spotify link at the bottom of the page…

Temples Of Youth – ‘Darker Places’
Temples Of Youth have long been a favourite of ours here at Get In Her Ears, so we were thrilled to have them as guests on our Hoxton radio show last week (listen back here). ‘Darker Places’ is the title track of their latest EP, and I love Paul’s sweeping guitar sounds and Jo’s melancholy, but powerful vocals. We can’t wait to have them play for us at Notting Hill Arts Club on December 1st alongside Alyss, Elsa Hewitt & Varley (tickets are available on DICE. RSVP here). (Kate Crudgington)

Montauk Hotel – ‘Stains’
I poached these Dublin indie girls from Tash after she played ‘Stains’ on our Hoxton Radio show last week. I love their gentle, melodic, shimmering sound. They’re definitely ones to watch… (KC)

Scrounge – ‘Etch’
Both edgy and itchy, the appropriately named ‘Etch’ is a short, but very sweet blast of perfect scuzz-filled post-punk. A track that will indeed remain etched on your ears, demanding multiple listens, it’s propelled by Luke’s thrashing beats as Lucy’s colossal vocals rage alongside whirring hooks with a gritty sense of urgency. Oozing the duo’s epic, swirling wall of sound, with ‘Etch’ Scrounge have blown me away once again, marking themselves out as definite ones to watch. (Mari Lane)

Vulpynes – ‘2 Cents’
A song about freeing yourself from expectations, Vulpynes’ ‘2 Cents’ is propelled by the gritty, impassioned vocals of guitarist Maeve, raging with a seething energy and sublime raw power as punk-fuelled riffs are blasted out alongside intense pummelling beats. Reminiscent of the riotous force of the likes of L7 or The Distillers, it’s another storming, empowering offering from the Dublin duo, showcasing all there is to love about them. (ML)

Chorusgirl – ‘Demon Baby’
Following 2015’s wonderful self-titled debut, GIHE faves Chorusgirl have now announced their long-awaited new album Shimmer And Spin, and we couldn’t be happier for them. Taken from the album, ‘Demon Baby’ is the first song of the band’s to be released that’s written and sung by Faith Taylor (also of faves Suggested Friends). A slight change in tone from the usually guitar-driven jangly indie of Chorusgirl, ‘Demon Baby’ combines those welcome fuzz-filled hooks with a backdrop of a glitchy, electronic soundscape, filled with sparkling effects and luscious cascading harmonies. Shimmer And Spin is out 16th November via Reckless Yes. (ML)

Worst Place – ‘Square Eyes’ 
Oozing all the totally dreamy vibes we’ve come to expect from the East London band and GIHE faves Worst Place, ‘Square Eyes’ is an ode to Netflix lovers (me!) everywhere. Flowing with the scuzzy whirr of guitars alongside bassist Amy’s luscious honey-sweet vocals, it’s a simply perfect slice of sparkling, woozy indie-pop. ‘Square Eyes’ is out now on limited edition green glitter cassette, along with its double A Side ‘Soak’. (ML)

Bryde ‘On the Subject of Breathing’
Following a nomination for the Welsh Music Prize for her debut album Like An Island, London-based Welsh songwriter Bryde has share this new single ahead of her UK tour. It’s strummy, it’s seething, it’s sullen. (Tash Walker)

The Orielles – ‘Bobbi’s Second World’ 
The story of a cat named Bobbi, this new track from faves The Orielles flows with an onslaught of scuzzy, funk-fuelled hooks and groove-laden, disco-reminiscent vibes. With the noticeable addition of keys courtesy of new member Alex, ‘Bobbi’s Second World’ initially sounds a lot less ‘indie’ than previous releases – focusing on creating a poppy danceability -, but it is certainly no less innovative. It remains distinctly The Orielles; an instantly infectious anthem filled with a buoyant energy and oozing a colourful spirit. ‘Bobbi’s Second World’, along with accompanying track ‘Makes You Forget (Itgehane)’, is out now via Heavenly Recordings. (ML)

Planningtorock – ‘Much Too Touch’
I have loved Planningtorock for many a year now, having seen them for the first time in 2011.  Oh how the years fly by and the music just gets better and better. ‘Much Too Touch’ is the second track Planningtorock has shared in the run up to their very recently released album Powerhouse and the only track from the album to feature a co-producer, who is long time friend and collaborator Olof Dreijer of The Knife. Powerhouse was released last week on the 9th November via DFA records and is EXCELLENT. Go listen. (TW)

Queen Zee – ‘Hunger Pains’
Will there ever be a day when Liverpool rockers Queen Zee release something we don’t immediately love? (errr, no). ‘Hunger Pains’ is the band’s latest knockout single, and it’s accompanied by the news that they’ll be releasing their debut album in February 2019. We. Can’t. Wait. (KC)

Nasty Little Lonely – ‘Excuses Excuses’
Bristol’s Nasty Little Lonely are taking a step back from band life for the foreseeable future, but they’ve released the powerful ‘Excuses Excuses’ in to the world just before they do. Of the track, vocalist & bassist Charlie explains: “The song is about how fucked the planet is and how we all know we need to do something about it, but things need to get serious right now or it’ll be too late”. We’re definitely aware of the climate change epidemic, and we’re glad we have the riotous sounds of NLL to motivate us in to action. (KC)

Zilla With Her Eyes Shut – ‘Cut Me Boy’
‘Cut Me Boy’ is the latest single from Zilla, who now goes by the name Zilla With Her Eyes Shut. This track was created using samples of unconventional objects such as a Stanley knife, liquid iron, rocks, elastic bands and an eye mask. The results are a thick mixture of unusual beats and warped vocals. I love it. (TW)

Elsa Hewitt – ‘Invisible Threads’
I saw Elsa Hewitt at The Great Escape Festival in May and her ambient, altruistic electronics have been floating around my head ever since. This is her latest stand-alone single, and it’s full of intricate loops and hushed vocals. She’ll be playing for us alongside Alyss at our next Notting Hill Arts Club on December 1st, so grab a ticket on DICE now and come along to appreciate her talent in all its live glory (RSVP here). (KC)

CHINAH – ‘Real Thing?’
Oh-so-many sultry beats which carry the promise of more to come. ‘Real Thing?’ comes from Copenhagen’s CHINAH, and their debut LP Anyone is out now. You can read more about them in our GIHEs interview with them here. (TW)

 

LIVE: The Joy Formidable – The Lexington, 22.08.18

Almost six years to the day since they last played the venue, The Joy Formidable made a triumphant return to The Lexington to perform to a sold out crowd on Wednesday night. Ritzy, Rhydian and Matt are masters of loud-and-quiet alternative anthems and despite being absent from the London live scene recently, the trio have lost none of their momentum.

Opening their set with the riotous and rarely played ‘Greyhounds In The Slips’, the band tore through the song with impressive precision and energy. ‘I Don’t Want To See You Like This’ followed, before the all-encompassing ‘The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade’ took hold, filling the venue with foot-thumping and chants of appreciation. At the close of the song, guitarist & vocalist Ritzy and bassist Rhydian addressed the “familiar faces” in their crowd, and banter about her “mountain troll” clumsiness – as well as drummer Matt’s intake of walnuts and whisky – drew laughs from their loyal fans.

The trio eased into a stellar rendition of ‘Ostrich’, which unlike the recorded version, hosted a calmer intro, reflecting Ritzy’s words about the song’s theme of “moving on and forgiving” people. With their fourth album AAARTH due for release next month, the band then showcased some of their new material, including latest single ‘The Wrong Side’ which rang out with trademark Joy Formidable intensity.

Hitch track ‘This Ladder Is Ours’ thundered through after, before the band briefly left the stage, returning for a knockout encore. Between the blur of ‘Buoy’ – which was given similar treatment to ‘Ostrich’ – and final track ‘Whirring’ the band took time to remind fans that next year marks the tenth anniversary of the release of their debut EP, A Balloon Called Moaning. Ritzy promised the band would be celebrating the occasion with some intimate acoustic shows, then promptly apologised for not playing the acoustic dates she promised last time she was in town, when the band played Oslo in Hackney.

In one final six minute frenzy of riffs and raucous drumming, the band threw themselves and their instruments around the stage during ‘Whirring’, leaving their crowd fired up with the promise of seeing them in town again soon. The Joy Formidable have been on the musical radar for almost a decade, and last night’s performance proved they’ve got another decade’s worth of raw live power in them.

Support came from the wonderful Bryde – who performed with a full band – who TJF heartily praised.

Pre-order your copy of The Joy Formidable’s AAARTH here.
Follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Track Of The Day: BRYDE – ‘To Be Brave’

It’s been a busy year for London-based, Welsh-born musician Bryde. After setting up her own label Seahorse Music to publish records by like-minded women and help make them more visible in a male-dominated industry, Bryde finished up her debut LP Like An Island, while flitting between London and LA. Exploring themes of independence, liberation, and relationships, her candid indie rock sound were fully fleshed out with mixing help from Catherine Marks (Wolf Alice, PJ Harvey, St Vincent) and mastering by Mandy Parnell.

Lyrically, Bryde concentrates on life and human interaction, her songwriting persona wears her heart on her sleeve and new single ‘To Be Brave’ showcases this open attitude. Speaking about the track, the songwriter explains: “’To Be Brave’ was written as kind of a soft squeeze of the hand to many friends who have, like me, been through many a dark period and put on a brave face and just got on with it. It’s a comment about how we all live out certain episodes of our lives in such a public setting these days that I feel we almost edit them to appear flawless, nothing but smiles.”

We’re big supporters of Bryde’s bravery and can’t wait to hear her EP Like An Island when it comes out on 13th April. Listen to ‘To Be Brave’ below, and pre-order your copy of her EP here.

Follow Bryde on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Sarah Howells & Jamie Ahye

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut