Track Of The Day: Menace Beach (ft. Brix Smith) – ‘Black Rainbow Sound’

If you’re going to shift your sound, then who better to team up with than Brix Smith. Joining infamous post-punk Mancunians The Fall in the early ’80s, she helped reshape the band into something more akin to Californian new-wave pop. Here, she joins Leeds band Menace Beach on new single ‘Black Rainbow Sound’, ahead of the band’s third album of the same name. Menace Beach are a loose collection of musicians, a ‘sort-of supergroup’, featuring members from Hookworms and Sky Larkin, but featuring Liza Violet (formerly of Department M) and Ryan Needham (Komakino) at its core.  

‘Black Rainbow Sound’ is a notable move away from the band’s previous lo-fi ’90s alt-rock guitar noise, found on debut Ratworld and its follow-up Lemon Memory. Here, bleepy synths and loops whirl around a spiky guitar that starts off like Pavement but, as the whole builds – with a grinding bass, drums that snap to the point and vocal harmonies – starts to sound increasingly krautrocky. This is particularly true of its middle eight as Needham spits “Make it all the time, make it all the time”, before it leads into Smith, cameoing with a voice from the ether, a character that changes the song’s narrative, talking about being “between molecules…beaming out thoughts which…ricochet across the universe”. It’s delightful nonsense that breaks up the repetition of the song and, after several listens which bring out the multiple layers, the track reveals itself as a bit of a pop grower. Quite a feat from a band whose last two singles were titled ‘Maybe We’ll Drown’ and ‘Give Blood’!

With a chunky bassy chug, shiny bright synths and vocals that chime just right, the song’s multiple layers that arch together are a perfect aural depiction of the titular ‘Black Rainbow Sound’, with Brix Smith’s golden shimmer as its highest curve. With the knotting together of the natural electronic and guitar tendencies of members Liza and Ryan, ‘Black Rainbow Sound’ points towards an album that may well be Menace Beach’s best.

Black Rainbow Sound, the upcoming album from Menace Beach, is out 31st August via Memphis Industries.

John McGovern
@etinsuburbiaego

Photo Credit: Tommy Davidson

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Track Of The Day: Hope – ‘Drop Your Knives’

Praised by Bristol punks Idles and set to headline London’s Sebright Arms on 20th October, Berlin four-piece Hope have shared new track ‘Drop Your Knives’. It’s a visceral exploration of refusal, anger, desire and love, and the track is accompanied by a stark set of visuals, directed by Riccardo Bernardi.

Taken from their self-titled 2018 EP, released via Haldern Pop, ‘Drop Your Knives’ contrasts dark emotions with stomping, upbeat electronics and percussion. The blurred monochrome visuals, interspersed with faded stripes of red, reflect the band’s artistic direction, as singer Christine Börsch-Supan explains: “The black aesthetic is not the same ‘black’ of wave or gothic bands, but the unpretentious black of Talk Talk. A black which lets you forget the jazz, the academics, and the provinces that we come from.”

With their optimistic name and dark outlook, we can see why Hope are catching the attention of audiences and artists alike. Watch the video for ‘Drop Your Knives’ below and follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Riccardo Bernardi

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: V V Lightbody – ‘Fish In Fives’

Before settling down to listen to the latest single courtesy of V.V Lightbody, make sure that you have tethered yourself down to a heavy object as her latest offering runs the real risk of causing listeners to float away amongst the clouds with its kitsch, folksy acoustics. Hailing from Chicago, Vivian McConnell treats us to her dreamy new single ‘Fish in Fives’, taken from her new LP. 

Classic, vintage harmonies ease us into the track before V.V. Lightbody’s ethereal vocals tell us that although she is gentle, she is powerful – “I’m a hummingbird in its net”. Imagery of nature isn’t just reserved for the lyrics however, as the accompanying video sees V.V Lightbody in a dutiful, domestic setting, preparing flowers to eat before swallowing down a spoonful.

Playful flutes halfway through add to the other-worldliness of the track as the gentle acoustics aid the free-flowing nature of the song. V.V Lightbody gifts us a dreamy lullaby with ‘Fish In Fives’, leaving us eagerly anticipating her new LP. 

Bathing Peach, the new album from V V Lightbody, is out now.

Nicky Lee-Delisle
@Nicky___Lee

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Track Of The Day: Miss Eaves – ‘Bush For The Push’

Having previously fallen in love with Miss Eaves‘ fun-filled, empowering anthems like ‘Thunder Thighs’ and ‘Hump Day’, we’re extremely excited to find out that she’s now set to release a (amazingly titled) new EP Me AF in August.

Our first taste of the new EP comes in the form of ‘Bush For The Push’- another vibrant celebration of self love. With her trademark disco-punk energy, reminiscent of queen Peaches, it’s an empowering and wonderfully entertaining call to be free to have the bush you want – “It’s your body, so have a little fun…”

As well as showcasing her skill for creating immensely infectious, patriarchy-bashing tunes, ‘Bush For The Push’ also gives an insight into Miss Eaves’ love of crafts as a group of women rock her funky handmade ‘merkins’ as she blasts out her liberating message: “Who cares, just dance, let it go!”

Basically, we LOVE everything Miss Eaves does and all she stands for, encouraging us to celebrate and take pride our body, whatever shape or size it may be. Thank you, Miss Eaves, for your wonderful lessons in self-love.

Me AF is out 3rd August. Catch Miss Eaves live:

21st July – Larmer Tree Festival, Salisbury
24th July – Soup Kitchen, Manchester
26th July – DIY Space For London, London
27th July – Dark Horse Moseley, Birmingham

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Sarah Jacobs

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