WATCH: Petrol Girls – ‘Survivor’

Inspired by the growing movement against sexual violence, PETROL GIRLS have shared their riotous new single ‘Survivor’. It’s another much-needed anthem from a band who are dedicated to shouting back against the damage of patriarchal oppression.

Produced by the band’s vocalist Ren Aldridge, the accompanying video for ‘Survivor’ is a collaboration between Andrew Northrop and painter Mariah Pearl. Ren explains: “The way that Mariah’s paintings play with the surface of the canvas gives me a really strong feeling of a clandestine power that refuses to be captured or identified. For me, this reflects whisper networks and the erupting movement against sexual violence. It’s like the tree roots that push up through the tarmac.”

Ren and her band mates’ passion for social justice has led to PETROL GIRLS being signed to UK-based independent label Hassle Records, and the band will head off on tour this month to share new track ‘Survivor’ with their fans.

Watch the video for ‘Survivor’ below and follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

PETROL GIRLS UK TOUR DATES & FESTIVALS
Apr 20 – Glasgow @ St. Lukes w/ Propagandhi
Apr 21 – Edinburgh @ Girls To The Front Fest
Apr 22 – Liverpool @ Sound
Apr 23 – Sheffield @ Picture House Social
Apr 24 – Nottingham @ The Bodega
Apr 25 – London @ The Shacklewell Arms
Apr 26 – Cambridge @ The Portland Arms
Apr 27 – Bradford @ 1 In 12 Club
Apr 28 – Newport @ Le Public Space
Aug 24 – Reading Festival
Aug 25 – Leeds Festival

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: For Esmé – ‘For Others’

Dazzling synths and strong feminist beliefs combine on ‘For Others’, the latest single from Toronto-based For Esmé. The track negotiates the struggle between the “impossible things” women must contemplate whilst struggling to balance a career, a family, a romantic life and an honest expression of self-identity.

The project is fronted by multi-talented artist Martha Meredith and the new single is taken from For Esmé’s upcoming LP, Righteous Woman, set to be released on 25th May this year. The album was co-created with collaborator Dave Thiel and producer James Bunton (Donovan Woods, Too Attached) and mastered by Mandy Parnell (Bjork, Aphex Twin, Dirty Projectors).

Described as “a confrontation with self and the systems that shape us,” Righteous Woman was influenced by Meredith’s ongoing work with Toronto Women in Music, a network of female identifying musicians working to support one another and claim space in a male-dominated industry. With such vital foresight and passion, we’re sure For Esmé’s music is going to inspire other women to create their own sounds and opinions in music and beyond.

Watch the video for ‘For Others’ below and follow For Esmé on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LIVE: Fever Ray – The Troxy, London 20.03.18

There are plenty of reasons to admire Fever Ray (aka Karin Dreijer) after her sold out show at London’s Troxy last night, but not all of them are based around her electrifying music.

In Fever Ray’s space, she takes care to make sure no-one is an outsider: everyone is welcome in her warped and wonderful world.

Before the gig, signs around the venue explicitly stated she wanted fans not to use their phones to document the evening and immerse themselves in her performance. The same signs requested that women come to the front and taller people stand back if obscuring a shorter person’s view. Outside of the toilets, another sign indicated that for the duration of the night, toilet facilities were trans-friendly spaces and trans fans were free to use the bathroom they felt aligned with their gender identity.

Emerging from the lights in her trademark “I heart Swedish girls” t-shirt and bare scalp, she plunged in to ‘An Itch’ as her crystal clear vocals swept across her excited crowd. From start to finish, the sound was flawless: each lyric, synth sequence, and drum beat distinct and easily discernible from the next. She delivered only a simple “Hello” or “Thank You” between songs – scarcely interrupting the torrent of sound.

She tore through ‘A Part Of Us’ and ‘When I Grow Up’, before performing ‘Mustn’t Hurry’ and ‘This Country’ with full fervor. The politically charged lyrics on the latter: “Free abortions and clean water / destroy nuclear / destroy boring” were echoed back by the crowd, and erotically charged line “this country makes it hard to fuck” was passionately reciprocated too.

Plunge‘s lead single ‘Wanna Sip’ sounded every inch as intense live, followed by ‘I’m Not Done’, the superb ‘Red Trails’ and the ominous ‘Concrete Walls’. The luscious “To The Moon & Back” came next, with it’s upbeat electronics buoyant lyrics, bleeding into the infectious ‘IDK About You’. The eerie ‘Keep The Streets Empty For Me’ was a fitting penultimate track and prepared fans for a powerful encore of ‘If I Had A Heart’ and ‘Mamma’s Hand’.

Fever Ray’s fierce, focused, full-on performance at the Troxy proved she’s an inimitable talent with a vision, generosity and energy unlike any other. Simply put: if you weren’t there, you missed out.

Support came from the the fluorescent and fabulous Bunny.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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