Single of the Week | DELIGHTS – ‘Jungle’

Manchester Band DELIGHTS grab Single of the Week with ‘Jungle’

It’s Sunday, which means it’s the time where we dive into all the new music which has recently been released and pick our favourite single!

This week it’s the Manchester band DELIGHTS, who delight (sorry) us with their brand new track ‘Jungle’!

Listen Below:

The simplistic track has a cool breeze feel about it, as the lead singer compares his lovers mind to a jungle, as they express the desire to get away. The riff is tight creating a nice little indie melody which could stick around for days, could easily see this track being added to a few playlists.

After releasing their first track back in 2017, Delights are still fresh but they can clearly put a quality indie track together, very looking forward to hear more.

Make sure you add this one to your playlist below!

FACEBOOK /  TWITTER  / SPOTIFY

Words by Alex Wise

New Release | Ivory Wave – ‘Frankie’

One of Birmingham’s Finest Ivory Wave Release Autumn Banger ‘Frankie’

One of Birmingham’s hottest bands have released a tune which will cure those post-summer blues, welcome ‘Frankie’!

The song slips and slides as it makes you feel like the coolest in the room, which is down the the excellent musicality of the track. Having remnants of The Stone Rose and Happy Mondays, it just has that swagger which has become a trademark for Ivory Wave. Love what these guys are doing at the moment, and it won’t be long until we hear even more! In the meantime dig through their tunes, see them live and enjoy!

Catch them Live

September

15th – Worcester – The Marrs Bar

October

20th – Manchester – Night People

25th – Leeds – Lending Room

November

2nd – Birmingham – O2 Institute 2

Words by Alex Wise

Live Review | Idles live show + meet & greet @ Record Junkee, Sheffield – 5/9/2018

IDLES Prove Live Why They Are a Must See Band!

I slowly make my way through the sea of people; the place is packed, yet the atmosphere is weirdly calm. My eyes still haven’t adjusted to the extreme contrast in darkness within the venue, compared to the daytime sunshine from outside; and with blurry eyes I’m beginning to wonder if a matinee show at half one in the afternoon, where people are clutching coffee cups, will in any way live up to the energy produced from your typical, alcohol-fuelled evening gig. But then I remember who I’m about to see.

This is an Idles gig, and I’m surrounded by fellow Idles fans, or ‘AF gang’ members, who in my eyes, are some of the most dedicated music fans out there at the moment….who cares what time of day it is – this is going to be amazing!

This statement was quickly confirmed in the time it took Idles frontman Joe Talbot to finally make his way onto the stage to join his fellow band members, who had already been blasting the intro to ‘Colossus’ (the first track off their new album) for a little too long. Well, just enough time for us all to really appreciate the rumbling guitars, while simultaneously being tortured by a painful suspense.

This is it.

Talbot takes his place and ‘Colossus’ continues in all its glory, eventually ending in the first mosh pit of the day. The inevitable energy has officially been created and it is here to stay; flailing limbs, sweat, spilt alcohol (and coffee) are all continued into the next massive tune from Joy as An Act of Resistance. Already a favourite with fans, ‘Never Fight a Man with a Perm’ thunders throughout Record Junkee; with people screaming ‘CONCREETE AND LEATHEER’ until they’ll all be needing a much smaller packet of Tunes; but these ones for soothing their poor (but never bored) throats (other sore throat lozenges are available).

As people recover from what has just occurred, the scene of the next 45 minutes or so is set when Talbot announces that this will be a request show. A beautiful, light-hearted energy diffuses throughout the crowd as Talbot appears to channel his inner Cilla Black, greeting various members of the crowd and retrieving their favourite Idles songs. Even though one of my faves – ‘Date Night’, was never played, I guess we got to experience bit of Blind Date instead – “What’s yer name, and where’dyer come from?” echoed numerous times throughout the venue, accompanied by Talbot’s comedic style; “Do you know any Idles songs?”

Fans from all over; Rotherham, Nottingham, Selby, and even Edinburgh, got their chance to request their favourite tracks – ‘1049 Gotho’, ‘Television’ and ‘I’m Scum’ were the first to shape this very special and intimate gig, followed by an ambitious yet ‘stunning’ rendition of Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas is You’, because why the hell not?

Talbot made his way into the bouncing crowd to round off Brutalism’s ‘White Privilege’ perfectly, with some audience participation; AKA taking it in turns to shout “YEAHH!” down the mic. “How many optimists does it take to change a lightbulb?” was never more apt when a light fixture was later accidently ripped from the roof during a mad crowd surf (with no butler in sight to change it.)

The explosive throwback ‘Queens’ from their 2015 Meat EP was just as explosive as the next request ‘Mother’ where Idles once again mingled with the crowd. While face to face with guitarist Lee Kiernan as he manically played off-stage, it was at that moment I realised how lucky we all were to experience this unique and unforgettable gig. Idles are a band who care about their fans, there is a mutual level of appreciation.

Another stand out moment was during the break down of ‘Exeter’, when guitarists BoBo and Lee summoned the crowd that circled them to crouch on floor; we obliged, everyone mesmerised by their performance. Boundaries were blurred between the fans and the band, we were all in it together. ‘Samaritans’, the penultimate request, was met with adoration, then everyone began to wonder who Talbot would pick to request the final song.

But after selecting someone who claimed to only know one Idles song, Talbot asked if it had already been played – ‘ohhh yes’, meant that the pressure was placed onto some other lucky person. ‘What would you like us to play?” Talbot enquired for the last time. It just had to be ‘Danny Nedelko’.

“He’s made of bones, he’s made of blood
He’s made of flesh, he’s made of love
He’s made of you, he’s made of me
UNITY!”

Never had I attended a gig and left feeling such a sense of unity and optimism, until now.

What lovely guys, what a lovely day.

Words By Meg Wood

August 2018 | Top 5 Albums of the Month

IDLES smash the Top 5 List, Along with Two Debut Albums!

 

5) Muncie Girls – ‘Fixed Ideals’  – LISTEN HERE

This was the second album released by Exeter trio Muncie Girls. Working up to the album I went and listened to their debut record again just to see how this one measured up and it’s clear that ‘Fixed Ideals’ is a step further for the band. Their lo-fi riffs are brilliantly under produced giving a raw feel. The hard hitting tracks are opinionated and fun to listen to, with wild drums throughout. FULL REVIEW HERE.

 

 

Top 3 Tracks : ‘Jeremy’ , ‘Locked Up’ and ‘Bubble Bath’

 

4) Slaves – ‘Acts Of Fear and Love’ – LISTEN HERE

Over the past five years Isaac and Laurie have continued to grow and develop as a band while keeping their core sound – and this album they offered something a bit different. Of course you still have that raw aggression from the vocal delivery and tireless guitar riffs, but this album had something different which is shown in the song ‘Daddy’. Throughout the album you hear the bands wicked wit, which never gets boring and keeps the album at their high standards. FULL REVIEW HERE

 

Top 3 Tracks : ‘Photo Opportunity’ , ‘Daddy’ and ‘Magnolia’

3) Bad Sounds – ‘Get Better’ – LISTEN HERE

Bad Sounds debut album promised the World to us, from new and innovative sounds and limitless creativity, and they delivered. After a lot of build to it with ‘Wages’ and ‘Evil Powers’ the band really did had a lot to live up to, and it was a relief to hear they done just that throughout the album. Listening to the album is a complete joy, and will have you bopping around the room and whistling those sweet little hooks that they deliver with ease. FULL REVIEW HERE

 

Top 3 Tracks : ‘Wages’ , ‘How You Gonna Lose?’ and ‘Evil Powers’

2) Our Girl – ‘Stranger Today’ – LISTEN HERE

Since they announced their debut album I was waiting with high anticipation, as everything up until then had moved me and left a mark. From songs ‘I Like You’ to ‘Our Girl’ they had it down. With this release they managed to do that at numerous points in the album, with distant sound of ‘Being Around’ to the mumblings on ‘Two Life’, their sound just throws you around room, and it was everything that I wished for on this album. FULL REVIEW HERE!

 

Top 3 Tracks : ‘I Really Like It’ , ‘Being Around’ and ‘Our Girl’

1) IDLES – ‘Joy as an Act of Resistance’  – LISTEN HERE

IDLES completely blew us away last year with their debut album ‘Brutalism’ (Album Review Here) which seem to come out of nowhere. Now with expectation resting on their shoulders, it was interesting to see how the band would fair with a second album. The band proved that they did not suffer with second album syndrome, as they made an equally good, if not better, successor. Much like their first album it’s completely packed with piss and vinegar, and the band will not rest until they’ve got everything off their chest. An excellent listen which firmly puts IDLES as one of the best bands the UK have today, cannot wait for the third release! FULL REVIEW HERE.

Top 3 Tracks : ‘Never Fight A Man With A Perm’ , ‘Love Song’ and ‘Great’

That’s it for this Month, what did you make of the albums in the list? What would you have put in the Top 5? Let us know, in the comments below!

Enjoy!