Vampire Weekend // Modern Vampires of the City - Review

Vampire Weekend have made their best album yet. The preview songs were designed to shock – Dianne Young is a noticeably different song, laced with samples and oscillating, pitched-shifted vocal effects. Song writing soars to new heights on this for Ezra Koenig and co.

Experimentation has benefited them. Take Ya Hey for example, it’s chorus is incredibly catchy, mainly due to it’s weird vocal sound on “through the fire, through the flames ya hey, ya HEY”. Typing that doesn't do it justice – you simply have to listen to it below. The band pursued a higher level of recording quality for the listener to enjoy than ever before. They painstakingly listened to Modern Vampires of the City over months to edit out the harsher, colder frequencies – softening the listening experience. This required a spectrum analyser and many commercially available earphones to test the process; iPod headphones were featured to check “the relative warmth levels”. If all that is too long, and you didn't read it, listen to the music. It speaks for itself.

The lyrics may not be as catchy, but the music is incredibly advanced. You wouldn't be surprised if your local music university professor had gone missing when you listen to this: the mixing, the orchestra, the layered vocals all add to the effect Vampire Weekend clearly have desired to have. Piano sticks out like a jealous child to the guitar, seemingly being granted its wish by the parents, as the piano marks, often, the best parts of the album: Young Lion and Worship You. I say the best parts of the album, I've been trying to find any bad parts... maybe where it ends!

If this is the third chapter of a trilogy, then I can’t wait for the next one. More of the same, please?

9/10

The Shermans // LUNA - EP Review

The Shermans, a band I know locally from Brentwood, have released their second EP "LUNA". After their first foray into recording with "Marina", which you can read my review of here, they have changed studio and upped their game.

The songs here are more coherent in the nature of the band, and are definitely an improvement. The vocals have improved, not due to the singer Callum Quirk, but the recording quality that they found in their new studio - less effects and clearer melodys help push the songs along fluidly. The lyrics are better too, whether it be Callum or the rest of the bands input, but they are noticeable: on "Since I Lost The Summer", Callum croons: "I've been thinking way too much, memoirs, snapshots I can't touch". The emotionally connecting lyrics of the chorus: "You don't know what it's been like/this time apart just don't feel right" could easily be a hit at festival across the country, let alone pubs in Essex.

The variety on the album is noticeable, but less stark than the previous EP - they have found their sound. "Like A Fool", with it's reminiscent sound to Jake Bugg, is catchy at the same time it is developed. Clever music and lyrics are to to be found all across the album, something I particularly look out for.

The bass and drums are truly exceptional on this album - as is the rest of the band, but it was already evident on the last album. Jake on bass dances around notes on "Like A Fool", and Alex introduces some "indie" drumming with a cowbell on "Since I Lost The Summer", my personal favourite, that you can hear below, along with "Like A Fool". If I had to criticize the album, which I don't really want/have to, the songs perhaps are a bit safe, and would fit perfectly on an album rather than a fan grabbing EP.

Their setlist for the now infamous record-company-that-doesn't-deserve-credit in Camden! Hide and Seek has hidden itself we have seen!

Overall, the progress is rewarding, for the listener and the band. For the listener there is great music to delve into; for the band, great things to come.

You can follow them on Twitter here, or soundcloud below for their latest and past releases.

8/10

Chapel Club // Debut new single "Shy" on BBC Radio6

This has been a long time coming, but not nearly as long as it has been for Lewis and co. Not soon after they released the hounds that was Palace's tracks, their debut LP, that they were mixing new material with the week-old favourites.

The new single follows the term of being "new". Very new for fans of the last album - a bit of rap is present this time. But it is very melancholicly melodic as you would expect - but wait for the chorus. This is where it really soars.

You can listen to the track again below, and pre-order their album "Good Together" soon on their website and all fabulous record shops and sites.

8/10

H x

Exclusive // New Two Door Cinema Club single released 'in 2 or 3 months'

After seeing Peace at Birthdays in the week, you can read my interview here, I left the place ready to go home. But then, I noticed *that* beard:

"But... I'm not from Peace!"

Kevin Baird from Two Door Cinema Club! I grabbed my friends and I a beer, and waited for the best time to start chatting. After 20 minutes, I grabbed a photo and got talking. To my surprise, he let go something.

Me: "So are you guys working on any new material, anything soon?"

Kevin:"..."

Me: "Oh, you can't say!"

Kevin: "No. But if you ask me in 2 or 3 months, then yes. We're working on something, yes. A single."

So there you go: a brand new single. What do you want from it? A summer anthem or a progression from their previous work? Whatever it is I am sure it will be good - and I very much look forward to it.

Peace // Birthdays, London - Review

The 1st of May was the second of four sold out nights in London for the Btown-made-its Peace. The recently renovated Birthdays did not know what hit it when the chimey start to their first song "Delicious" kicked in, right until the drummer threw his sticks behind him at the velvet draped wall.

SO psychedelic!

The thing about indie music is it can either be a fresh new take on guitar clattering, melody matching music; or a dreadfully boring rehash of what wasn't even very good 20 years ago, let alone a dreary-weathered 2013. Don't let first impressions get to you with Peace: you've got to give Peace a chance, and they certainly grabbed it with the full force of a top 20 album. This means something - guitar music is on the rise.

Some call us the Two Harry's, and neither of us need boyfriends (read: badge)

After the rocking O'Children warmed up the already warm crowd, it was time for the main act to take to the stage. They started things off... pacy, shall we say? "Delicious" received a rapturous reception from the hoard of fans, who lapped up the music they were presented. This was followed by the hit single "Follow Baby", with the chorus that sounds like it will be added as an 11th commandment, if the crowd are anything to go by: "Follow baby, we're gonna live forever baby".

If any new band was going to start a new religious cult, it would be this lot. Chanting throughout the night for an early demo "Vials", they received a wry smile from Doug Castle, the lead guitarist, throughout the night. The band have a certain dynamic on stage, with the pair of brothers Harrison and Sam Koisseur providing a rhythm to dance to in the form of sways and, in Harry's case, satsuma. Of course, only at an indie gig. Oh, and I have one, as well as the set list.

Which leads nicely on to my next point. The band certainly have the tunes - their singles "Wraith" and "Bloodshake" were received with a far from icy reception - but will they stick or twist, or disappear into the psychedelic sunset? Their only weak song if the night was "Scumbag", which should of perhaps been swapped for the faster paced bonus track "Drain", with its clashing middle 8. But, scribbled in the rather lovely handwriting of Harry was "forever" in the corner of the set list. I for one hope they will be here for a long, long time after this splendid gig.

8/10