Track Of The Day: Body Breaks – ‘Eyes To Brightness’

A jagged, hazy art-punk tune that meanders through the restless thoughts we have when we’re attempting to sleep, Canadian duo Body Breaks have shared their latest single ‘Eyes To Brightness’. Taken from their upcoming album Bad Trouble (We Are Time), which is set for release on 18th June, the track chronicles band member Julie Reich’s lifelong struggle with insomnia.

Formed of Reich and Matt LeGroulx, Body Breaks create sounds inspired by the likes of Pavement, Velvet Underground and Sonic Youth. Fuelled by a strong DIY & experimental ethos, LeGroulx played with quarter tone guitar scales to form his distinctive riffs on their debut album, whilst Reich mined her own personal experiences to form the lyrics. New single ‘Eyes To Brightness’ is a cohesive culmination of these efforts, with it’s striking vocals and off-kilter guitar twangs.

“I’ve always hated sleep ever since I was a little. It means the day is over, and I’ve never wanted that to happen,” Reich explains about the context of the track. “This was the first song I recorded vocals for on the album. It’s different from all of the others in terms of the recording process and how I approached it. After this I decided on an identity for the person writing these songs, even though it’s all me. The video is a 3D animation that I made mainly using SketchUp. I like to create worlds, so this was a fun exploration.”

Watch the video for ‘Eyes To Brightness’ below.

Follow Body Breaks on bandcamp, Twitter & Instagram

Photo Credit: Natalie Logan

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: She Drew The Gun – ‘Cut Me Down’

“Deeper, faster, harder”. The stunning opening single from She Drew The Gun’s third full-length release is a revelation in sonically perfect protest – and it demands to be turned up loud. The swirling melody of that instantly catchy refrain combines strikingly with a bite of heavy punk, resulting in a formidable anthem that bursts out of the speakers – an enticing masterclass in attention-grabbing rock. Flawless production from Ross Orton on ‘Cut Me Down’ amplifies the grungey, driving bass, while hard-hitting drums mirror the lyrics’ spirited rebellion.

The band is the project of Merseyside-based Louisa Roach, who reveals the track was “inspired by the Las Tesis protests in Chile which brought a new level to the idea of a protest song, where hundreds of thousands of women took to the streets and sang ‘The Rapist is You’. The police, the government, the judges, the system was not designed to look after women’s’ rights and it still does not, so I will have to fight ‘Deeper, faster, harder, cheaper, stronger, further, smarter’ just to get even with you.”

A flavour of incredible music in store from the upcoming album, ‘Cut Me Down’ is an entrancing, unsparingly energetic hit of defiant politics, and an outstanding testament to the unstoppable musical force of She Drew The Gun.

Behave Myself, the upcoming new album from She Drew The Gun, is out 24th September via Submarine Cat Records. Pre-order here.

Leonie Bellini
@teenpeachmovie

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Sophomore – ‘Montenegro’

Following last May’s timely single ‘Social-Distancing’, a track which tackled important issues such as the spread of misinformation amidst the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Australian-based alt-rock foursome Sophomore have recently thrown their latest refreshingly punchy single ‘Montenegro’ into the ring. Only the band’s third single, but undoubtedly a release set to solidify their rightful place within Australia’s recently opened and ever-growing gig circuit, ‘Montenegro’ was written in an old olive mill-turned-hostel, nestled deep in the mountains of Montenegro from which this exciting new release takes its name.

Despite the exotic writing location, the track itself is wholly relatable to anyone who has lived through the past year, as it explores the feeling of being lost despite being unable to escape the place that find yourself in. Its repeated, yet captivatingly catchy, lyrics speak about waking with the “best of intentions” only to be stopped in your tracks, despite having “nowhere to go…” It also touches on being far from home – a harsh reality experienced by a countless number of Australians who struggled to get back into the country last year, for which this track could serve as a subtle acknowledgement.

Lead guitarist and vocalist Vanessa oozes a nostalgia for ’90s grunge and simpler times with a new-age Pixies vocal that chimes in alongside a deep and progressive baseline, immediately drawing us into this modest yet thought-provokingly explosive track. Anticipation continues to build as both Vanessa and rhythm guitarist Elly’s moody yet mesmerising harmonies strike out against the resonant attack of the kit, entrancing us with the band’s poignant riff-based resurgence of the post-rock genre.

‘Montenegro’ is accompanied by a video of the band getting lost in the endless corridors of a building that has laid abandoned since the 1920s – the perfect location choice for the song’s inescapable yet blissfully honest narrative. 

Watch the video here:

Find out more about Sophomore on their Facebook page.

Lauren Roberts
@robauren

LRobertsLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Krush Puppies – ‘Slay The Dragon’

Having charmed us with their immersive live performances on more than one occasion, Alexa Daly, Jenny Wells, Jess McGill and Heather Britton – aka Krush Puppies – have been establishing themselves on the London scene for a few years now, with support slots for the likes of Squid and Sorry already under their belts. Now, they have shared a unique, medieval-inspired, new single.

Propelled by an eerie, synth-driven drive, ‘Slay The Dragon’ is a poignant reflection about “transcending the monsters we’ve all had to endure“. Showcasing the band’s swooning harmonious vocals, which flow throughout with a mystic allure, the track builds with a gritty, swirling energy and scuzzy hooks to a frenzied cacophony, suddenly coming to a halt with a resonant, impassioned wail. Oozing a whirring, bewitching splendour, it oozes a raw, haunting majesty reminiscent of fellow London post-punkers Goat Girl. Offering equal parts playful wit and angst-driven emotion, ‘Slay The Dragon’ cements Krush Puppies as definite ones to watch.

Recorded during Lockdown No.1, ‘Slay The Dragon’ is out now via Strong Island Recordings.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment