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

New release | Freeda – ‘Go Home’

Freeda release Fun-Packed Guitar Track ‘Go Home’

Manchester based band Freed have released their new track ‘Go Home’, and it will instantly have you bouncing around the room.

Listen Below:

The track has a certain Wombats feel about it, especially with the upbeat rhythm, jumpy melody and catchy hook. You can also hear a hint of Catfish and the Bottlemen on the surface, especially the lyrical/vocal content as lead singer Sean Rowles sings “Go Home Now Darling”!

If you like what you’ve heard and want to see them live you can, check out the date below!

October 20th – This Feeling – Jimmy’s

Words by Alex Wise

 

New Release | Johnny Kills – ‘Seems’

Johnny Kills release Brand New Track ‘Seems’!

Johnny Kills are a three piece garage/indie rock band who span across York, Cambridge London and Brighton, a lot of places for three people to be. This is a debut for them on on WFM, and they’re making it a well worth one.

After releasing ‘Who’s Counting’ earlier on in the year, the band have built up a bit of momentum and really solidified their sound. This can be heard on their latest track ‘Seems’!

Listen Below:

‘Seems’ has a sense of urgency applied to it with the quick I’m late for work pace of the vocals, backed by these melodic distorted guitars! The track has a sense of glammy surf rock about it, something which has hints of Bloody Knees, Wavves and Weezer in parts.

If you wanna here more from the band, make sure you catch them live!

September 22nd –  @ The Finsbury

October 4th – @ Paper Dress Vintage

Support the Band: Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud

Words By Alex Wise

Add the Song to your Spotify Playlist, we have!

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!

New Release | The Novus – ‘Break’

The Novus Release Brexit Fuelled Track ‘Break’ and give a real opinion!

I think this new track by The Novus symbolises an under pressure Government, trying to keep its head above water in a post-Brexit society. And we as a country are to scared to speak up, previously and to this very day. All I know is there’s Talk of a deal, or no deal UK. And I can’t help wonder if we need to give Noel Edmonds a phone call, get deal or no deal back on the TV? Featuring Teresa May as a special guest, picking our kids and grand kids futures from 22 boxes at random, which will be filled with pros and cons. The banker will be the European Union Headquarters, offering us imported French wine on the cheap, in exchange for Boris Johnson’s resignation letter as she progresses through the game. And so on and so forth.

Some one give the government a better idea ? Now as you’ve probably gathered, I’m not a Brexit enthusiast. I’m a music fan. This song is electric from the start, and as the vocalist sang “left hand is held high, la la la la la la laaa” I instinctively raised my left hand and sang along. I was in that mad mosh pit without physically being there.

The song was a time machine, transporting me back to the 80’s. When the Smiths burst on the scene, and Morrissey spilled lyrics without a care, conveying controversy and standing by his beliefs. As did the sex pistols. this song paints that exact picture. With the lyrics ‘We’re scared to speak out, about those men who walk those carpet halls’. And I can’t help agree, and make this song one of the best I’ve heard in sometime in that context. The vocals have some mega phone effect, it’s regal, and you’ll hear it from outside as well as you would right up the front of their gig. Like the ring leader of a protest, only in dynamic, political punk-rock style.

What do you make of it?

Words by Captain Sound

Add it to your playlist!

Single of the Week | Ginger Snaps – ‘With Or Without Her’

Single of the Week gets Ginger Snapped!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday it’s the return of Single of the Week, probably the longest running feature we’ve had here at WFM! This week we have the immensely talented Ginger Snaps who’s been dropping bangers since 2016 with ‘Phat Kids’!

His newest Single ‘With or Without Her’ has got Single of the Week for undeniable catchiness and wonderful production – something which is always prevalent on every Ginger Snaps track. This song takes a slower approach than it’s predecessors, as it seems lead singer Jay Brook seems to mulling over something as he sings “Take it easy little soldier / You’re almost done with this’.

Listen Below:

Jay’s casual rapsy delivery is really infectious and calming to listen to, as he reels off lyrics on top of this subtle crunch sounding drum beat with spiraling guitars. The crystal clear production is impeccable, which really makes this track stand out from a lot of other peoples. You can just tell by the way it sounds it’s been looked after and carefully crafted.

Ginger Snaps still continue to be one of my favourite acts of the year, and I expect something big from them next year like an EP or Album because I’ve got the taste for it, and I need to hear one!

That’s it for this week, you think you have a Single of the Week get in touch over twitter by messaging @WFMBlog or email: wordsformusicblog@gmail.com

Words by Alex Wise

Add it to your Spotify Playlist!

EP Review | The Americas – ‘Guitar Music Is Dead’

The Americas Release a Stellar Debut EP with ‘Guitar Music Is Dead’

‘Guitar Music is Dead’ is the debut EP by West Midlands trio, Harry, Aaron and Alex. The Americas have had a busy year to say the least, gigging all over the country, recently performing at the fringe at the Tramlines festival in Sheffield.

I must admit, the band is very new to me, but the sound doesn’t feel that way at all. The sound is so nostalgic that the tracks seem to have years behind them. The short, six track EP packs a whole load of guitar in one place. The ring of the classic bluesy vocals are complemented by rock and country guitars while hats are surely tipped towards indie music, making you really question the Midland origin of the band.

This nostalgia is really alive in the sound, the six short tracks taking great influence from good old fashioned guitar music. The lead track, ‘Come on Out’ has a Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones drawl, down to the “Oh, Oh, Oh” in the background of the track. The vocals are also delivered beautifully Jagger-y in ‘I Don’t Wanna Go Home’ and ‘American Morning’, putting Jagger in a country situation with clever guitar and drum arrangements.

 

 

True, expected country rock is really explored in ‘Rosanna’, one of three tracks released before the EP. The production of the track is really intriguing, the tempo is particularly mellowed out, giving you a rather odd feeling while you listen. The song, before the guitar amplifies towards the end, is rather hypnotising, you may catch yourself feeling as if you’re in a Southern American bar surrounded by people in cowboy hats dancing around you.

The lyrics and their sentiment in the EP, although filled with guitar and drums, make for comfortable listening. Lyrically, the EP seems to encapsulate a certain extent of storytelling with pretty dreamy melodies. ‘Backyard Love Song’ comprises electric guitar and a steady drum beat, but begs deliverance by a raconteur.  The track describes an uninspired life and relationship with the typical wish to get out of their town and regular life. Here, the story begs a familiarity and relationship with the listener, while also inspiring ambition in “Maybe I could get away/ across the country and stay…. It’s somewhere out there, of that I’m sure”. We can see this ambition in the shape of the EP and the number of gigs performed, as well as the quest to make sure guitar music is in fact not dead.

The Americas by @anniewarnerr

Perhaps the stand out track of the album is ‘Bad News’. This track strays from the remaining consensus of the EP. With a much faster deliverance and a heavier feel. Here, the vocals seem less bluesy and more snare like. This is more likely a rock track with indie roots, bringing a further dimension to the EP, maybe teasing other avenues they are willing to explore musically.

 

All in all, this EP was a surprising listen. I was not expecting such nostalgia in a new release, but this really is what makes The Americas stand out. The tongue in cheek title Guitar music is dead is definitely challenged in the EP, band member, Aaron explaining ‘Guitar music seems to die every year. Huge artists like Kasabian and the Gallagher brothers always claim to be the ‘last survivors’, maybe adding The Americas to the list.

This band is definitely one to watch!

Words by Robyn Hartley

 

Facebook: The Americas

Twitter: @TheAmericasYeah

Instagram: theamericasyeah

 

New Release | Toothpaste – ‘Bedtime’

Dream Pop band Toothpaste release New Track ‘Bedtime’

London Dream Poppers Toothpaste have released their first single of the year, and it’s steeped in DIY dream pop textures that will warm you up when listening.

As the track starts with a slow guitar and a beat so laid back that it could fall off the chair when leaning back, Toothpaste create a perfect bed of music for equally mellow vocals. The song stays around that slow melodic beat for the entirety of the track never drifting too far, as some finger clicks are introduced.

The track was produced by band member Daisy Edwards, meaning the band had a huge say int what this track sounded like at the end. However it did have some mastering work completed by Slowdive’s Simon Scott, who has an ear for this style of music, refining the track to a high standard.

The tracks has some very dark undertones to it with the lyrics, as they read “Waiting in my bed for the Perfect Time / To tell the one I love I might be dead Inside / Oh what a nice surprise”. This is at contrast with the beautiful atmosphere the band have created for us on this track, and it works so well. It’s a delicate number the band have created, one which I would love to see performed live.

Which you can see, as the band are having a FREE launch party! – Details Here

Hope you enjoyed the track, what did you make of the bands first release of the year?

Words by Alex Wise

 

 

 

 

Album Review | Her’s – ‘Invitation To Hers’

Liverpool Dream Pop Duo Her’s do Good on their Debut Album ‘Invitation To Hers‘

The charm of dream-pop duo Her’s is that you never quite know where you are with them, yet that dizzy displacement is what you came for. It’s 2018, and we have been given ‘An Invitation To…’: a succinct slice of wit as a title, heightening the supposition that here we have an album that is a confident debut; a statement of standing by their intent. Her’s take us by the hand into their kaleidoscopic world: jarring in its restlessness, captivating in its colour.

Her’s have been dogged, since their first collation ‘Songs of Her’s’, by parallels drawn between themselves and the hazy chimera of Mac DeMarco. Though they were once steeped in DeMarcian sensibilities, with swooping, twinkling guitarwork and drawling vocals as nonchalant as a backyard hammock, ‘An Invitation To…’ is a bold step away from that. Her’s have tapped into the springs of originality, bravery and identity. ‘Harvey’ opens with a sleepy Parisian instrumental that kicks into skittering drum beats and gleaming synth that feels like you’ve been dragged back into a kitsch 50’s gameshow. They tamper with vocoder-distorted vocals, at once kooky and almost nightmarish. Despite ‘Harvey’ being a frontal curveball, it’s an infectious track that is as silly as it is fun. In a genre that is meant to be light and free, yet weighed down by taking itself too seriously, Her’s have created something that feels authentic.

‘An Invitation To…’ is packed with melodic ambition. With instrumentals echoing the carefree jangles of 80s pop music in the likes of ‘Mannie’s Smile’ and ‘Low Beam’, their sound is sun-dappled, contrasted with slippery vocals; one moment baritone, the next minute soaring high, but always mocking. There is nothing smooth about Stephen Fitzpatrick’s voice. The minute you are settled with the sound, he distorts it at will.

‘Don’t Think It Over’, one of the more visceral, sensitive tracks on the album. Its throbbing basslines from Audun Laading and shrug-of-the-shoulders mumbles is at odds with the lyrics that tell a story of budding paranoia: “Still you sweat / Over what she could be doing / It’s a simple threat / Is it only the beginning?”.

The influences on ‘An Invitation To…’ are far more variegated than what you could imagine; Her’s show a refreshing irreverence for the confines that come with being a “dream-pop duo”. Wallowing vocals walk bravely into the post-punk territory in ‘She Needs Him’, optimism clashes with numb melancholia in a Joy Division vein. Laading’s inclination for powerful bass is best shown in ‘Under Wraps’, which exudes a Brooklyn-born coolness as if it came from the same streets as The Strokes, just breezing along, rather than running at a hundred miles an hour.

This is a knock-out debut album. It’s hard to not be enamoured with its ever-changing style and sound – but above all, its imaginative sense of humour. It sounds beautiful and strange without the ostentation of other artists in their milieu. How could you refuse an invitation to Her’s?

Words By Sophie Walker

 

 

New Release | Nervous Pills – ‘Our Returns Policy’

Sheffield Grunge Rockers, Nervous Pills release New Track ‘Our Returns Policy‘

‘Our Returns Policy’ is the new release from Nervous Pills – the alternative, grungey, indie rock trio consisting of 3 Sheffield lads Tom, Harry and Liam; and this debut single proves to be just as satisfying as it is catchy . After meeting at school and deciding to form a band 5 years ago; these guys have been spending some time refining their sound, and playing various gigs in and around their hometown – which included two successful stints at this years’ Tramlines fringe. Now the band have finally officially released some of their creative output for us to enjoy.

Of the top of my head, the one word to describe this band would be ‘LOUD’, but I think they deserve much more credit than that! For me, this track oozes the full-on energy associated with classic grunge and indie rock, with the band’s influences clearly including the likes of Nirvana, Arctic Monkeys and The Cribs. Their sound also manages to capture the deep, moody bass of Joy Division, alongside an air of punk rock – with bands such as Idles and Flatworms also being extremely influential to the band’s musical productivity.

When listening to ‘Our Returns Policy’, you are greeted by a wonderfully heavy introductory bass line, executing a simple yet effective riff. It feels reminiscent of something off Nirvana’s Bleach album, and is effortlessly continued throughout the song to provide the perfect mix of intensity and composure, not to mention major headbanging potential.

With the edition of some fuzzy, indie guitars and classic drums, this quickly becomes a track you could most definitely mosh to!  As well as being strangely catchy, with lyrics adhering to how capitalism draws us into buying things we later regret; the wonderful Sheffield tones of lead vocalist Harry shine through to deliver these lyrics with a relatable, non-nonsense yet passionate style, nodding towards Milburn’s Joe Carnall and early Alex Turner.

You can sense the hard work and passion these guys have put into their debut, through every aspect of both the music and singing of this track, not forgetting the atmospheric backing vocals from Tom and Liam, which really help the track to build before it’s explosive finale. By the end you’ll definitely be shouting with them loud and proud “YOU WON’T GET YOUR MONEY BACK!“.

This is an exciting debut from a band with a lot more to offer. Keep your eyes peeled for their new material and upcoming gigs in Sheffield this October!

By Megan Wood

Our Returns Policy is available of Spotify now!

Facebook: Nervous Pills

Instagram : nervouspills_band