EP: Vulpynes – ‘Dye Me Red’

With four unforgiving, relentlessly scuzzy songs, Irish grunge duo Vulpynes release their second EP Dye Me Red.

Kicking off the stormy ride with a riveting riff dripping in fuzz, Molly and Kas launch their EP’s roller-coaster ride with ‘I Can’t Sit Still’: immediately introducing listeners to a perfect taste of what’s to come. Tastefully driven angst spoken through guitar tones meets hard hitting vocal melodies that marry in a chaotic yet sparse way. No matter the moment, Dye Me Red hosts a harmony between noise and sparseness throughout, allowing each instrument their room to thrive and dance within their own vein. With such tight instrumentals in correspondence to rebellious, catchy melodies, Vulpynes draw wisps of early Foo Fighters or The Distillers with a chanting tone throughout the whole of this EP. 

It is hard not to feel Riot Grrrl energy with the powerful vocal doubles coating Dye Me Red. At just the right times, listeners feel like they’re invited to the party with the EP’s punchy communal vocal layers. ‘Bitches Are Like Waves’, the follow up track to ‘I Can’t Sit Still’, serves a protest-like disposition. As much as this song emotes lyrically, it also draws severe attention with its instrumentals. With delicate percussion sounds in a punk setting and classic guitar character, Vulpynes do an incredible job of showcasing the dance-ability of electric guitar. It is indeed hard to sit still throughout the journey of this EP’s sounds, there is truly an undeniable movement to it. 

In more ways than one, Vulpynes embody their lyrics – “won’t settle down, gotta settle up” -throughout their music that doesn’t wait for anyone. ‘The Hunt’, the EP’s finale, is a noisy, ghostly outro that haunts the EP with its feet sturdy in the ground. With elements reminiscent of Kim Gordon, Molly and Kas leave us with a hushy universal sentence: “I am not your prey.” Through their bold lyrics, sharp instrumentals and unique chemistry, Vulpynes create a space for everyone to celebrate themselves as emotional human beings. Dye Me Red is an empowering, charging EP for anyone seeking a release. 

 

Jillian Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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Track Of The Day: Projector – ‘Superstar’

“Don’t wanna be a woman with a smile like flat champagne” sings Projector vocalist & bassist Lucy Sheehan on the band’s latest single ‘Superstar’ – and we couldn’t agree more. Filled with crashing drums, powerful vocals and strung out guitar riffs, ‘Superstar’ is an immersive, raw exploration of the uncertainties that come with trying to make it big.

Based in Brighton, Lucy, Demelza (drums) and Ed (vocals and guitar) formed Projector in 2017, and began creating music together, creating sounds that were influenced by the 90s grunge era. Their blend of cathartic lyrics and abrasive, catchy sounds caught the attention of PRS and Festival Republic’s ‘Rebalance’ initiative this year, and since then the trio have been busy recording and gigging across the country.

Listen to the track below and follow Projector on Facebook for more updates.

Projector UK Tour Dates 2018
Oct 15th – Electrowerkz, London (w/ Thyla)
Nov 7th – Green Door Store, Brighton
Nov 8th – Paper Dress Vintage, London
Nov 14th – Heartbreakers, Southampton

Photo credit: Jessie Morgan

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut

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Track Of The Day: Lande Hekt – ‘The Future’

If you’re looking for a tonic to ease your anxiety about the current state our society, we recommend you listen to Lande Hekt‘s latest single ‘The Future’. Whilst it doesn’t ignore the bleak prospects that a Tory government and a climate crisis have thrust upon us, it does remind us to take a minute to remember you can do something to tackle it.

Best known as the vocalist and guitarist for Exeter indie punk band Muncie Girls, Lande is now focusing her energy on her solo work, and is set to release her debut EP Gigantic Disappointment on the 15th of November. It’s filled with catchy, defiant guitar anthems that showcase a (slightly) softer side to Lande’s music.

Speaking about her new song, Lande explains: “‘The Future’ is about getting older, trying to exist in a truly horrible world and trying to be a good person (and often not succeeding). It’s an homage to my friend who taught me that you can’t ignore environmental issues and showed me how scary it all is. We’re all running out of time.”

With the aid of Lande’s clear vocals and rolling guitar rhythms, hopefully listeners will be motivated in to thinking about the kind of future they want to be a part of, and actively work towards making it a good one. Listen to the new track below, and follow Lande on Facebook for more updates.

Lande Hekt 2019 UK Tour Dates
Sunday, 6th Oct – Exeter, The Cavern (with Cheerbleederz)
Monday, 18th Nov – Bristol, The Exchange (with Soot Sprite)
Tuesday, 19th Nov – Exeter, The Cavern (with Soot Sprite)
Wednesday, 20th Nov – Southampton, The Hobbit (with Soot Sprite)
Thursday, 21st Nov – Brighton, Rossi Bar (with Soot Sprite)
Friday, 22nd Nov – London, Sister Midnight

Photo Credit: @gingerdope

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut

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Five Favourites: The Paranoyds

Set to release their debut album next month, LA band The Paranoyds have been treating our ears to singles such as ‘Carnage Bargain’, ‘Hungry Sam’ and ‘Trade Our Sins’ throughout this year, cementing us as firm fans who cannot wait for the full length release. Delivering striking grunge-fuelled anthems filled with scathing lyrical observations and languid, insouciant vocals, we just can’t get enough of The Paranoyds’ raucous rock grit and sunny, punk-pop energy.

We think one of the best ways to get to know a new band/artist is by asking them what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with Lexi, Staz and Laila from The Paranoyds to talk about her ‘Five Favourites’ – five songs or albums that have influenced their songwriting techniques, or simply take them back to a specific feeling or time. Check out their choices below, and make sure you watch the band’s latest video for ‘Carnage Bargain’ at the end of this post.

Built to Spill – There’s Nothing Wrong with Love
We love Built to Spill! Staz and I went through a huge phase of non-stop listening to them in 2014. This album is so good, the songs are so friggin’ catchy. I think it’s impossible to listen to it and not belt out the lyrics. I love that indie, strat tone and how the guitars complement but also play off with each other. The tracks are misleading too, on the surface they seem like simple, straight-forward songs, but there are a lot of layers. Favourite song, ‘Car’
– Lexi 

X – WILD GIFT and UNDER THE BIG BLACK SUN
Every track is a banger on both of these iconic albums. I would throw Los Angeles, X’s first born in a lineup of legends, but I want to give these other records some love. You will always remember the time and place you got into X. These records forever hold that time in your life captive like a spell. I put on ‘The Once Over Twice’ and there I am 13 years old in my friends exhausted bedroom wondering if I’ll ever make anything that’ll sound this good and last this long, coming to life as soon as the right circuits touch. Those perfect imperfect harmonies, Chuck Berry guitar licks making sense with vulgar lyrics. And those keys! Good god! Some things last a long time and my love for X may last forever!
 – Staz

DEVO – Are We Not Men?
DEVO is a benchmark for The Paranoyds. When we’re writing songs, the thought running through our heads is “is this as weird and strange as a DEVO song?” Lexi and I first saw DEVO when we were 16 through a fence in Brooklyn and we were undoubtedly blown away. Staz often describes their live set as seeing lightning strike. I feel the same way listening to this album. It’s a rare piece of art that you can’t recreate, and you find something new in it with each listen.
– Laila 

The Strokes – Is This It?
We love this album like a guilty pleasure. It’s become a sort of tour tradition to blast the whole album in the van and have a group sing-a-long. These songs have the catchiest melodies and you can’t help but belt out the songs like you’re a teenager in your bedroom. What I love most is that all the tracks have the grit of classic rock and roll, but they also have the upbeat feel-good vibes of a disco song. It’s such a solid album that I always come back to. For me, it’s timeless and I’ll never get tired of it!
– Laila

Massive thanks to The Paranoyds for talking about their five favourite albums with us! 

Carnage Bargain, the upcoming debut album from The Paranoyds, is out 13th September via Suicide Squeeze. Watch the video for the title track here:

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