My Freedom Spark Playlist for August is now up! I reviewed new tracks from Iggy Azalea, Crystal Castles, Karma Kid, Purity Ring and Baauer- AND, from the playlists' of which I usually celebrate (Aka the tracks I've chosen) , the first two artists mentioned above this month are more like "This-isn't-your-best-work-but-I-still-can't-help-but-listen-to-it-so-sort-it-out-in-future" kind of ponders. Whatever, they are all still rad and I can't help the Iggy-induced gun fingers (My bad) and non-stop dancing around to Karma Kid although the sun has disappeared now. Enough babbling, I'm off to do Twin Peaks style coffee and cherry pie whilst getting ridiculously stressed about party planning- enjoy it here!
Evening! I'm still in hibernation until Saturday (Apparently there is a heatwave back home? Say what?!) so until then, Purity Ring's debut record 'Shrines' is released today, so, I reviewed it for 4AD and I thought I'd paste it below as I havn't been really keeping things original on this blog as of late (sell-out?). When I first saw PR play Deaf Institute back in November, yes, they were pretty fucking good live but I honestly didn't believe they'd have the balls to make something so bursting with talent and individuality. Hell, the only thing I don't like about it is the artwork but I suppose I can't really hold that against them. Basically, read the kind words below, listen to a few tracks and most importantly, buy it. I hope you love it as much as I do! X
Purity Ring- 'Shrines' (4AD Records)
The words ‘Montreal’ and 4AD have both popped up onto our radar quite substantially this past year (Let’s not name names’ now...) and with the highly-anticipated debut full-length from Halifax/Montreal duo Purity Ring finally birthed into the world later this month, our Google+ notifications are spiralling out of control more than ever. Comprised of Corin Roddick and Megan James, both fundamental artists in their own right before channelling together for this project, create otherworldly “lullabies” for the dance generation and conduct experimental live shows- of which is all alluring in black and white for sure, but what exactly will release ‘Shrines’say to those listening?
For persons unfamiliar with the work of Purity Ring, one might conjure up a mentality of choral, clean-cut melodies and orderly compositions, oh how you should never judge a band by their name! Introducer, ‘Crawlersout’ showcases blissed, metallic whirrs married together with compelling keys and James’s seraphic tales to develop the track into a blissful state of equilibrium. Pulsations of resonating, twisted Male distortions- of which we can only presume is the alternative contribution on Roddick’s behalf- adds another depth to the darkened cosmos the duo have so beautifully created…not what you expected from a band named after a religious piece of chastity jewellery, eh? This is dance music done differently, one that challenges the listener to ponder themes and reach a point of empathy through James’s impressive allegory skills, rather than elation as usually anticipated from such a genre.
First official release, ‘Fine Shrine’, indicates the duo of sticking to their fool-proof formulae comprised of gloomy palpitations and angelic accounts coming across overtly Salem a la King Night on the instrumental front- yet lush anecdotal flutters throughout, help the track to reach an eerie level that reinstates their identity as a dance band, rather than being confined to short-lived tags of ‘witch-house’ or ‘drone-pop’. ‘Ungirthed’ uncovers itself as a showcase of what the couple do best, with James’s vocal range being reflected superbly (without being detracted from, unlike earlier tracks where production attributes, although executed well, do so) and suggesting that they’re not going to lie down and take labels, especially when it comes to that “lullaby” branding.
‘Amenamy’ continues on to exhibit dazzling ripples of metallophone and electronic vibrations before weaving into spacey working ‘Grandloves’, featuring a flavouring of male reverberations that add an unconventional element of complexity to not only the track but the whole collection, by flirting with hip-hop flairs and experimental concepts, of which the release is not exactly in need of but welcomingly embraces. ‘Lofticries’ incorporates a union of skewered soul undercurrents and flourishing stems of piquant stories throughout, a manner continued on (although under much more moving, stripped-back nostalgic terms) to closer ‘Shuck’, a certainly touching track that shimmers of its own accord, with impassioned lyrics of “I’ve shook all the light from my skin and I’ll light it in you” divulging a narrative of optimism and positivity to a truly empyrean level. Although experimental acts often find it difficult to execute a whole body of work seamlessly, without appearing brash or cacophonous, this is exactly what James and Roddick have managed to accomplish naturally whilst still retaining an air of immediacy and rapture.
An enigmatic collection of gorgeous, contrasting endeavors that not only presents itself as a universal piece of art but also cements Purity Ring as a limitless act with a bright future ahead of them. Exquisitely atmospheric and strikingly transcendental in more ways than one, listen for yourself when ‘Shrines’ is released July 24th and see why it is definitely commended as one of the albums of 2012 so far…
Don't worry, I'm alive! I've been hiding from the world residing at my Dad's in the Isle Of Man (Who knew stupidly high roaming charges on my "international" number would be a god send of an excuse to switch off?), catching up with the family and spending all my time by the seaside- I guess everyone needs to get away once in a while. Before I came over here, I headed over to The Kazimier back home (One of my fave venues I missed SO BAD whilst I was away) to interview Cerebral Ballzy; they were late, overly arrogant and we ended up taking them to a Blink182 afterparty after missing our last train home and then ending the night in a Travelodge carpark at 4am...awks? You can read the piece over on Vice's music site Noisey here and to be honest, I'm feeling pretty proud to be contributing to one of the best new music blogs avaliable on the net now, their writers are innovative and completely not afraid to take risks with their angles and pieces, so if you don't already follow Noisey, sort it out and do the right thing. I won't be home and back up on my writing game until mid next week (I think) BUT I'll have a review of one of my favourite new albums of the year come Sunday/ Monday, so keep your eyes peeled!
You may have noticed that a few weeks ago, the boring piece of text that used to head this blog up top ^ has now been replaced with a creepily rad logo- yes, my very own logo! Designed by the terrific Idiot's Pasture, a Yorkshire-based illustrator who has worked with the likes of Hookworms, Slowcoaches and even designed some ace posters for Hyde Park Picture House screenings, I caught up with the man behind the guise to talk about his inspirations, how art is often too high-brown and Justin Bieber-inspired artworks. You can read the interview over at Spindle Magazine here (HEY SPINDLE! Thanks for having me!) who I'll hopefully be contributing to a lot more in the future, so go check those wonderful new gems out!
In a more I-don't-think-anyone-really-cares-but-I'm-gonna-tell-you-all-anyway bulletin, I celebrated passing my first year of uni (I got a 1:1 in my law module, NO BIG DEAL!1!1!) by eating more space cakes than I should have, being convinced to watch Boogie Nights (A film I learnt that NO-ONE SHOULD EVER WATCH. EVER.) and thinking that my body, along with its unhealthy fondness of cookie dough and menthol cigarettes, could handle a run my 16-year-old self would've laughed at. I was wrong. OH and I literally just finished watching the whole first series of HBO's 'Girls' in one sitting. ONE SITTING. Don't even judge me, I have no words (Except, what the hell was that finale apart from pretty fucking weird?!), it is basically my generation's SATC and Lena Dunham, you are a cinematic power. I'm going to spend the rest of my Tuesday hiding from this biblical downpour by prepping for interviews later this week and listening to the new Purity Ring record that the babes of 4AD just hooked me up with- enjoy your Great British Summer, even if it is raining, its not like you're Andy Murray... X
Y'all know the drill by now, a new month= a new playlist! For July I wrote some nice words about Die Antwoord (You can watch their latest video below so do so, it blew my mind and ears for like, a week), Two Inch Punch, Para One, Splashh and the magnificent Frank Ocean. CLICKETY CLICK IT'S OVER HERE! I'm off to listen to 'Manifest!' repeatedly whilst wishing I was Samantha Urbani and swooning over how cute the new Summer Spin cover feature is- oh, incase you didn't get the memo, this morning's office and workload will be conducted live and direct straight from ones bed, where I think you will all agree, is definitely where every Monday in the history of the world should be spent. Hope you dig the tunes! X
Sorry for the lack of posts boys and girls, I've been down South visiting my editor from Freedom Spark and learning how to DJ at LeeFest! I had so much fun finally catching Slow Club live, losing all feeling in my legs after watching Jakwob smash their headline set, calling into Rough Trade, eating bagels and drinking daiquiris' on Brick Lane, visiting a prostitutes graveyard (beautifully a million times better and less seedy than it sounds) AND going to watch AlunaGeorge play in the stunning gardens of the mega-posh Sanderson Hotel, £12 for a single and mixer, anyone? Apart from that I leant how to master the tube like a boss and realise that there really is no city like it- I hope you all had a great weekend, here are some shots I took and seriously, articles will be coming soon, I'm chasing things round like a madwoman X
