Track Of The Day: Guitar Gabby and The Txlips – ‘The Dead Pool’

Consistently partnering with Girls Rock Camps internationally and nationally to bring classes about home recording, equipment set up, copyright law and more to young girls setting out to become their own artist, Atlanta based Guitar Gabby and The Txlips‘ mission is to change the narrative in which the music industry showcases women. Here to remind the world that Pussy is Power, they carry just the sort of empowering message we need right now.

Following 2018’s EP ‘Queens Of The New Age’, brand new single ‘The Dead Pool’ is filled with scuzzed out riffs as Gabriella Logan’s seething growl soars, creating a grunge-fuelled impassioned anthem with shades of the likes of Alice In Chains. Oozing a gritty emotion, it’s a ferocious, empowering anthem; a completely necessary angst-driven offering for these strange times. 

 

The Txlips are set to release a new album later this year. In the meantime, you can check out some of their live sessions here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Painted Zeros – ‘Commuter Rage’

“I don’t owe you anything” Painted Zeros‘ Katie Lau firmly states on her latest single ‘Commuter Rage’, a song that tackles the natural resentment towards those who invade your personal space. The Brooklyn-based musician & sound engineer blends elements of shoegaze and indie music with her cool vocals to set the record straight.

Lifted from her second album When You Found Forever, set for release on 29th May via Don Giovanni Records, ‘Commuter Rage’ is the sound of an artist who has had enough of making space for everyone else, and is ready to take it back for herself. “Go read a fucking book / don’t you fucking look at me / to teach you things that you are responsible for learning on your own” Lau sings, with quiet and relatable anger, over a deceptively sweet melody.

Lau is the focus of the visuals that accompany the single, directed by Jess Coles. She explains why she enjoyed working with Coles so much, and how the context of the video is linked to her growth as a musician: “I was excited to work with director Jess Coles for multiple reasons: we are both queer women, and her style of film-making mirrors the way I make music. I write, perform, record, and mix everything myself, and Jess directs, shoots, produces, and edits all of her own work.”

“While discussing video ideas over coffee, I mentioned that I felt like I had been hiding myself in the past;  hiding from taking ownership of Painted Zeros as my solo project, hiding my voice in my last album by burying it in my mixes, and that I didn’t want to hide or allow my art to be dictated by fear anymore. Jess suggested a music video that focused mostly on my face, with me and the sky as characters…I have to confess that a music video where my face is the unflinching focus was not the most comfortable idea for me to wrap my head around, but after working with Jess and seeing the outcome, I’m glad I did.”

“The chorus of ‘Commuter Rage (“I don’t owe you anything”) has become something of a personal mantra, a note-to-self when dealing with people who feel entitled to my time and energy. I wanted to write something that combined the feeling of being pissed off about injustice with a tongue-in-cheek (“be your benevolent overlord”) and ultimately joyous reclamation of my space/emotional boundaries.”

We’ve got all the time in the world for Painted Zeros’ music, and fully support her messages of self-autonomy and overcoming personal fears. Watch the video for ‘Commuter Rage’ below, and follow Painted Zeros on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: TOPS – ‘Colder & Closer’

In anticipation of their fourth full length record, Montreal rockers TOPS debut a shimmering new single and music video for ‘Colder & Closer’.

With an atmospheric and dewy soundscape, TOPS showcase a sophisticated and emotive arrangement that is just as groovy as it is lean. With shades of retro ’80s pop and the crispness of modern dream-pop, ‘Colder & Closer’ is a treat to the ears both in its melodies and production. The tone of this single seems to live in the breath of its perfectly decaying delays and echoing reverbs.

TOPS have done a compelling job to musically illustrate the whirlwind of emotions discussed in their lyrics by meticulously mirroring human emotions in every layer of this track.

While alluding to the irony of social distancing and physical closeness to others (a particularly poignant theme right now), TOPS creates a “slip into nostalgia” for listeners with feelings of hesitation met with an eagerness to love throughout the song’s narrative. Nowhere are these thematic perspectives of loneliness discussed explicitly, rather they are implied throughout – seeping from the song’s chilling vocals to the groaning synths.

TOPS have truly elaborated on the artform of their genre in ‘Colder & Closer’ and set a powerful standard for their upcoming LP I Feel Alive.

Directed by Mashie Alam, watch the new video for ‘Colder & Closer’ here:

I Feel Alive, the upcoming album from TOPS, is out 3rd April via Musique TOPS.

Jillian Goyeau
@jillybxxn

Photo Credit: Justin Aranha

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Track Of The Day: LibraLibra – ‘Panic Buy’

Having been massive fans of Brighton-based LibraLibra for a couple of years now, especially since they completely blew us away live at The Finsbury in December, it’s brought us all a bit of joy in these dark times to hear that they’re sharing a new song today.

And it’s not just any song. ‘Panic Buy’ was written only last week; a heat of the moment reaction to all that’s going on right now. And it couldn’t be more spot-on. Oozing a raging, ferocious energy alongside the phenomenal impassioned vocal power and immense raw emotion of front woman Beth Cannon, it’s a frenzied slice of angst-driven punk – a perfect riotous catharsis for the anger and fear we’re all feeling right now. An all-too-poignant colossal cacophony reflecting on these terrifying times.

Watch the new video, made alongside Eliot Tatler, for ‘Panic Buy’ here. And download the track from Bandcamp, from which all proceeds will be going to Age UK to help the elderly in this crucial time.

Please read Beth’s statement on ‘Panic Buy’:

Last week myself and the rest of LibraLibra were on our own personal mini lock-down. The best kind, at Echo Zoo Studio, where you are equipped with your best mates, snacks, tequila and a gorgeous vintage studio full to the brim with synths, gear and grand piano. We were set with the task of writing a bunch of songs from scratch to make waves for our eventual album. It was on Tuesday 10th March 2020 we wrote ‘Panic Buy’. 

Trying to get our ‘head in the game’ as some may say was virtually impossible, COVID-19 is the hottest topic on earth right now, it’s all around us! Every time you message a mate, pick up your phone, check the news, it’s there staring you in the face. It’s rife with an impending doom. Who is it effecting now? Which industry is it demolishing? What is the government doing to protect us? What can we do to help? Will we all survive? It was in the studio where it became obvious to us that inevitably elements of COVID-19 would seep its way into our writing whether we liked it or not. And it’s not hard to guess what began to plague our minds when you see the title of the song, ‘Panic Buy’.  

We began to hear reports of loo roll becoming non-existent, supermarkets being ransacked of tinned goods and essentials. The concept baffled us, as I’m sure it has for many of you, I felt like I was falling deep into my belief that as society we are in a perpetual episode of Brass Eye or The Thick of It. I’m just waiting for the camera to pan around to Chris Morris – alas I know this won’t happen, no matter how hard I fantasise. And at first, like many, we found the concept of loo roll riots amusing, because quite frankly we couldn’t understand why. Why, when thinking it might be the end of the world was there this nationwide consensus that you need to have the cleanest arse in the land for one? But more importantly, where has the love gone? Had it completely disappeared or was it ever even there? We need to think of the vulnerable, the elderly, our children, our society as whole. Why aren’t we looking after one another in this global pandemic?

I would also like to take this moment to explain that we are not attacking any of those who have panicked, because quite frankly it’s understandable. The media and our government have toyed with us, it’s relentless with one click-bait-horror-headline after another. Where is their compassion in trying to help us as a society unite? Instead they torment us, turn us against one another and promote selfishness and create this draconian ‘every person for themselves’ mentality. This has got to stop. 

So, on Tuesday 10th March 2020, ’Panic Buy’ was written in the heat of a moment, a worldwide moment of frenzied fear, frustration and confusion. ‘Panic Buy’ is a snapshot of a moment that we never thought we’d come too. A moment that we certainly never want to return to. We hope it serves as catharsis. We hope that as a society we use the pandemic as an opportunity to learn and grow. We hope to expand our compassion, realise the fragile and intimate connections that we all share and come to remember that our humanity is universal.”

At times like this, we really do need to seek catharsis in music more than ever, and without bands like LibraLibra putting words to our fury and fear, I’m not quite sure what I’d do right now. So I’d like to give a big thank you to them for keeping going and continuing to create, in spite of everything – and all the other bands I’ve been seeking refuge in over the last couple of weeks.

Artwork by Jay Bartlett (@burtbile), from his photo series ‘How To Adapt in Panic-Buy Britain’:

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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