NEW MUSIC

June is nearly over so it's around the time we look at some of the music that's popped up this month

Haim

If TLC were white and sounded like a mashup of 80s, folk and RnB then they'd be Haim.

Sisters Danielle Haim (vocals, lead guitar), Alana Haim (vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, percussion), Este Haim (vocals, bass) and their drummer Dash Hutton make up the genre confused LA band and they're pretty fucking cute.

They're influences include Fleetwood Mac, Aaliyah and En Vogue and this is clearly visible in their "folk&B" 3 track EP Forever, featuring 'Better Off', 'Go Slow' and 'Forever'. Sweet harmonies, punchy beats and chill vibes exude from every song.  The EP is officially dropping on 2nd July. However, the internet is a beautiful dustbin of freebies so you listen to it now on their SoundCloud 

☆☆☆☆

Wild Nothing

The new Wild Nothing 7" released on one of our favourite labels Captured Tracks gives you a pint-sized taste of what to expect from his upcoming album Nocturne. It features 'Shadow' on the A side, a dreamy pop rock song. Jack Tatum's voice on the track is just like a cuddle. Comforting and soft, making us feel all warm and tingly inside. On the B side is an exclusive track not featured on the album called 'Feel You Now'. 

Jack Tatum is the one and only super shoegaze musician behind Wild Nothing and he pushed his way onto the scene with his debut album Gemini. Now the hype is building for Nocturne and if Shadow's anything to go by it should be pretty fucking sweet.

What really gets me excited in my knickers is the fact that Shadow is a limited edition EP with only 500 clear blue vinyl copies.
Get yours here because we're definitely getting ours.

☆☆☆☆☆

Lana Del Rey

A$AP Rocky is president. Are we dreaming? Unfortunately yes. It's cool though because he does play the black JFK in Lana Del Ray's new 7 minute video for 'National Anthem' direced by Anthony Mandler. The Super-8 cinematography and the 60s aesthetic of the video is the complete opposite to the the music it accompanies, which is clearly influenced by hip hop. Somehow it all works though. The song's alright too.

☆☆☆

Eagulls

This band is fucking cool. We saw them at The Great Escape in Brighton and it was love at first note. Following a load of limited cassettes, splits and 7" releases DIY Punks Eagulls are finally putting out an EP on July 16th on transparent green vinyl. It features 5 tracks, Coffin’, ‘Moulting’, ‘No If’s, No Buts’, ‘Cripple (Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis)’ and ‘Still Born’. They give off the same vibes that bands like Dinosaur Jnr, Blur and Sonic Youth do, if they lived on a diet of whisky and fists.

'Coffin' has already been put up on their soundcloud, listen for a snippet of what to expect from the EP

☆☆☆☆☆

Cheatahs

Nothing beats discovering a good band for the first time and this month I finally stumbled across Cheatahs. It was once a solo side project from Male Bonding guitarist Nathan Hewitt until he got his 3 friends on board, former Weird Dreams band members James Wignall and Craig Bowers and Conan Roberts (Mazes). The four-piece sound like 90s lo fi grunge that could be the soundtrack to shows like Freaks and Geeks. They are based in East London and signed to label of the moment Marshal Teller Records who have just released their debut 12" EP on the 25th of June which is limited to only 300 coloured vinyl, fuck! Coared features 4 tracks. If you're into beautiful meloncholy vocals and fuzzy production that sounds like a old cassett you just discovered in the attitc then you'd definitely be into the slacker-pop vibes that Cheatahs put out. Just listen to nostalgic summer jam 'Froshed' featured on a 4-way 7-inch split with Dignan Porch, Colours and Not Cool as well as on their EP:

   

☆☆☆☆

Words by Natalie Archer

DIY pioneers SEXBEAT have coupled up with Nudie Jeans Co in bringing us the appropriately named RADFEST.

Shit's gonna kick off on the 19th August 2012 at Hackney Downs Studio and by shit we mean 15 live acts will be playing on 3 different stages, a market will be set up including a Poster Roast poster exhibition and a Kristina Records pop up store aswell as clothes and food stalls.

Unlike Glasto, Reading or Bestival you don't have to worry about the inevitable crappy weather, wellies or tents. It's all inside.

The acts already confirmed are: Veronica Falls, Ceremony, Eaqualls, Jacuzzi Boys, Virals, DIIV, Fidlar, Holograms, Maria Veronica, Minerva and Fear of Men.

SEXBEAT have also been cutie pies and made 2 mixtapes of the confirmed acts so far to get us in the mood.




Follow the link and get tickets if you like good music and having fun. It's only 15 quid. WEGOTTICKETS

MY DINNER

THE ULTIMATE STEAK SANDWICH

 

We put Jamie Oliver’s 30-minute steak sandwich, stuffed mushrooms and new potato recipe to the test. The grilled mushrooms filled with cheese and marinated in chilli, parsley and garlic were divine. The fluffy potatoes fried with garlic and rosemary, bursting with flavour. However, attempting to eat the entirety of this meal was like a challenge set for Adam Richman (the guy from Man vs. Food). The meat sweats took over and alas, I was defeated. It was however the best steak sandwich I have ever tasted and will definitely be making it again. Perfection in half an hour.

Here’s a link to watch Jamie make this mouth-watering meal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isxKwvIcudU

- Photo and words by Vanessa Smart

LOVEBOX | FRIDAY REVIEW

We went to Lovebox on the Friday because it was the cheapest day obviously. A festival that’s grown in popularity and ability to draw big names to headline their three day slots during it’s 11th year run. We weren’t disappointed at all despite the recurring showers and the mud ruining our Dr. Martens.

Honestly? We only managed to catch about 4 bands throughout the day. Not because there weren’t sufficient worthy-of-our-time names on the line-up but because there is so much else to do at this thing. Also walking from stage to stage, having dull conversations with strangers and refilling our bellies with beer constantly is quite time consuming. Before we knew it we were fucked. The crowd was actually bearable and the pretentiousness of East London was almost non-existent thanks to the heavy ‘urban’ line up. Crucifixs and creepers were replaced by high tops and hoods.

Crystal Castles were predictable as ever. Alice, this time around sporting light pink hair in contrast to her usual goth persona, mumbled and screamed her way through their set. Ms. Dynamite was fierce, singing all her famous collabs and some DJs we don’t even remeber the names of because we were too fucked, had us bouncing about like trolls. Highlight was Hot Chip obviously, who in our eyes have earned their status as British Pop Royalty by giving us an amazing set that featured the hits and bangers from their newest album ‘In Our Heads’.

In conclusion, it was alright. We wish we would’ve gone on Sunday. The Guardian described the crowd during Lana Del Reys set as ‘gay men snogging during Blue Jeans and Summertime Sadness’. The sheer cringe factor of this makes us wish we’d splurged on the 50 quid ticket instead of Friday. Also we missed the sight of M.I.L.F Grace Jones showing her firm buttocks. 

On an attempt to have a 'street style' section we just ended up snapping some ladies & gents that either looked fab or tried way too hard:

- Photos and words by Walter Adrian

LUTON ISN'T READY

14/07/2012