Their debut project ‘The House VP’ is an ambitious cinematic compact with four unreleased songs that coincide with the narrative and flamboyant visuals. The scenes and locations are captured in house parties, estates and community buildings all marvel the lives and stories enwrapped by the band in lyric and song. The making of the VP was a completely DIY affair by Holly Ann Croucher (Bezann Productions), lead vocalist Gracey's younger sibling. 

With a bold and snappy description, MOK explain: "The House VP' is MOK's debut project. Four brand new tracks accompanied by 20 minutes of mind-altering visuals and twisted narratives. This one off short film/e.p looks at the darker side of living a life of excess.”

Each track is a combination of experience and memories of their time together sharing a house, from friendships, excess, mental health, everyday life, highs and lows. With scenes of cult-like groups that herald this madness the band surround deeply in the visuals.

The juxtaposition between Gracey Croucher and Lee Jones is effective, their combined vocals in the project flows completely naturally. Stagnating percussion rhythms, growling synths lines and new wave trap beats balance well and builds the tension throughout the project and the transitions sound as orchestrated as a symphony. Each scene follows co-operatively with the soundtrack and focuses on different experiences that the band has experienced in their own lives.

Watch The House VP: http://www.vevo.com/watch/FRW771692558

During her busy festival summer of taking her heartfelt and soulful sounds on the road, we asked her to pause for a moment to wrap her ears around the biggest new tracks - taking on everyone from Wild Beasts and Die Antwoord to Dinosaur Jr, Justin Bieber, Glass Animals, Brand New and more... 

Wild Beasts - 'Tough Guy'

"Love this! Not my usual cup of tea but when the guitar riff kicks in it’s great. Reminds me a little of Queens Of The Stone Age. Hadn’t heard much about Wild Beasts before this but will definitely check them out more. They sound like they would be great to watch live too."

Major Lazer - 'Cold Water' (feat MO, Justin Bieber)

"This combination of artists on one track is just crazy! Three massive artists at the absolute top of their game. It’s a really well-written pop song (I think I’m right in saying Ed Sheeran wrote it?!) and is definitely a grower. Much better after the third listen I think as it wasn’t completely what I was expecting from this combination of artists. I am sure this is yet another Bieber tune that will continue his reign as world leader. Nobody can deny the Biebs <3"

Mark Stoermer (The Killers) - 'Spare The Ones That Weep'

"This one made me feel uneasy... In a good way though. Not very relaxing but got quite a cool European feel to it. Not one for me personally but it’s really good to see someone else from The Killers releasing something as a solo project! Very cool video to go with it too."

Dinosaur Jr - 'Goin' Down'

"Some more riffage! Definitely not enough of it around right now. I love how rough/raw the recording sounds too, it's so natural! Also, the lead singer sounds a lot like Dave Grohl?! Proper old school sounding but definitely one to blast out loud. I love the artwork for it too, really unique!"

Glass Animals - 'Youth'

"LOVE this. Glad to see how well Glass Animals are doing, such a great band! Their production always manages to sound so current but still sounds really ‘live’ too. Can’t wait for the new album. Such a great video too! Very nostalgic and goes with the song perfectly."

Jenny Hval - 'Conceptual Romance'

"Have never heard of Jenny Hval before this. Definitely on the more left side of things in this list! Some of the vocal harmonies are incredible, as is some of the production too. There is such a contrast between how easy the verses and choruses are to listen to. The chorus is beautiful and yet the verses are so jarring. It’s definitely different!"

Desiigner - 'Tiimy Turner'

"Nobody can understand a thing Desiigner is saying and yet he has managed to have one of the biggest hits of the year… I think he has just managed to nail a sound of his own. It's quite amazing. I literally don't understand a word apart from the odd ’Timmy Turner', but it’s very catchy and that’s all that matters I guess? Also, the video of him playing Pokemon Go is just incredible so I can’t help but love him and how massive he has become."

Chairlift - 'Get Real'

"Another artist I hadn’t really heard of before doing this. The production is really unique as are her melodies. Really interesting how soundscape-y it becomes and some of the noises they have used/recorded."

Die Antwoord - 'Banana Brain'

"WOW. This could soundtrack an intense workout. This is what I would call an Intense Banger. Not really sure what else to say!"

Brand New - 'Out Of Range'

"This is beautiful. Super chilled. Would be great for a Sunday. From all the comments it looks like the fans really appreciated them putting this up. Great tune!"

Okkervil River - 'The Industry'

"I had never heard of these guys before this either, but I absolutely love this and the video is great too! Sounds like it would be great in a film. The soundtrack to a teenage romance perhaps. Love it!"

Frances' summer of touring incudes appearances at Festival No.6 and Bestival.

As they gear up for yet another heavy run of touring iin support of their immaculate debut album Full Circle, we asked the band to run us through their favourite tracks of 2016 so far. 

Before they take to the stage at Secret Garden Party and Lollapalooza before returning to the UK for yet more shows, find out what they'll be listening to on the bus - with everything from Rihanna to Radiohead via James Blake, Lapsley and many more...

Michael Kiwanuka - 'Black Man In a White World'
"Michael Kiwanuka has a brilliant way of transporting you to an other era while still sounding fresh. This first track from his new album is really addictive. Love the gospel influences and realness to the lyrics. The video is also worth a mention; beautifully shot and emotive."

LK - 'Its Been A Long time'
"Dom came across LK late 2015 and we've all since become fans. This most recent release on 'Shall Not Fade' records feels like one of the freshest dance tracks of the year. Love the funky disco influence and dusty production. We invited LK down to play our clubnight 'Blackout' the first in a series of parties we're throwing in London this year to showcase our favourite new dance music. LK is definitely one to watch."

Formation - 'Pleasure' 
"We've played a few festivals with these guys now and it's always a pleasure. Wicked vibe and energy on stage. Produced by the awesome Leon Vynehall this is a strong party tune with touches off jazz and just the right amount of cowbell."

Rihanna - 'Work'
"This year's guilty pleasure. Sang it on repeat as we were loading in and out of venues on our recent US tour. Speaks for itself really.. Work Work Work Work work work."

Radiohead - 'True Love Waits'
"An incredible re-imagination of this beautifully haunting track from their 2001 live album 'I Might Be Wrong'. Thom Yorke's vocal pulls you in and glides you along in a tragically honest and fragile way. One of our favourites on a sublime new album. Can't wait to see them play this year at Lollapalooza."

Loyle Carner - 'Stars And Shards'
"Loyle's sound has a nostalgic feel similar to many of the hip-hop acts we grew up listening to. While giving a nod to the old school 'Stars and Shards' feels fresh and completely his own."

Daughter - 'No Care'
"A favourite off the new album, Not to Disappear. Riding on an wicked grungy riff, it's more gritty than their previous work whist still retaining their melancholic signature style."

James Blake - 'Always'
"There's something so urban about this track yet still comforting. Love the garage feel and aggressive vocal chops over the lullaby piano which somehow shouldn't work but does."

Thinkpiece - 'Voice For Us'
"We met these boys last year while mixing our record. They put up this tune recently, it's epic and we think they're one of the freshest new acts coming out of East London at the moment. Worth checking out.."

'Lapsley - Operator (He Doesn't Call Me)'
"Really cool soul-soaked track from Lapsley who we love. It's got that feel good thing going on..."

Their debut album Full Circle is out now.

Haelos' upcoming world tour dates are below...

Jul 23 Secret Garden Party Huntingdon, United Kingdom
Aug 02 Neumos Seattle, WA
Aug 04 Constellation Room Santa Ana, CA
Aug 05 Teragram Ballroom Los Angeles, CA
Aug 06 Rickshaw Stop San Francisco, CA
Aug 12 St Malo London, United Kingdom
Aug 25 Battersea Arts Centre London, United Kingdom
Aug 26 Bramham Park Leeds, United Kingdom
Sep 08 Bestival Isle Of Wight, United Kingdom
Sep 22 U Street Music Hall Washington, DC
Nov 10 Heaven London, United Kingdom

To celebrate this momentous occasion, we thought we'd bend the ears of brothers Fred and Richard Fairbrass to see what the Euro-pop heroes makes of the week's biggest new tracks. Are they too sexy for the likes of Pixies, PJ Harvey, Wild Beasts, Banks Ed Harcourt and more? 

FRED:

PJ Harvey – 'Guilty'
"I like the verses, they are full of promise but the chorus is disappointing, it never gets to where I wanted it to go.

"I’ve always liked her voice, it sounds unschooled and genuine which is why I’m surprised by whoever mixed this, they’ve buried the vocal in with the track.

"‘This Is Love’ for example allows her vocal to dominate the track, the dynamics work really well for that reason.

"Maybe it’s because Guilty’ as a song doesn’t really deliver that it sounds unsure of itself."

Wild Beasts – 'Big Cat'
"It starts well, very bare with the vocal very dominant in the mix.

"I like the repeated hook “big cat top of the food chain’ but the song is too linear for me. I was expecting/hoping that it would explode into something bold and brash. Big old school dynamics kicking in, it’s a path well trodden but it works, it’s a pity they didn’t walk it."

Pixies – 'Um Chagga Lagga'
"The guitar tone is great, sounds like a filtered distortion, which I’m a big fan of. I know they have a very loyal fan base, I’m not part of that, I’ve liked a couple of tracks over the years, ‘Um Chagga Lagga’ isn’t one of them.

"I love a bit of chaos in songs and bands that sound continually on the edge, this doesn’t work for me on any of those levels."

Crystal Castles – 'Char'
"I’m not familiar with Crystal Castles.

"The girl’s voice is really haunting, I like it a lot but for me the repeated synth line is a distraction and annoys the crap out of me.

"There are some really nice vocal melody parts but they aren’t supported or aided by the track, maybe that’s the point.

"Am I missing something?"

Ed Harcourt – 'Furnaces'
"Again I’m not familiar with Ed Harcourt. On the plus side he doesn’t sing like a girl and doesn’t think swapping to falsetto equals a chorus.

"He’s got a very solid ‘rock’ voice.

"The lyrics are good, I like the message “these furnaces still want more’.

"The instrumentation feels a bit ploddy to me, not a lot of groove in the bass and drums, I think the song would have benefited from more thought in that area."

RICHARD

The Hour - 'Answer'

"I had to watch their video twice, it didn't really help. I decided therefore to review this in two sections: 1) the vid 2) the track

"1) A very dark video with echoes of Bowie's 'Blackstar' together with a bit of X-Files. As the video played there was text running across the bottom of the screen which I couldn't really understand (am I being thick? Answers on a post card!). It was a cool addition to the visuals but distracting. Nevertheless it was great to see something not pandering the predictable demands of the 'MTV Generation.'

"2 )The track is more commercial than is hinted at in the video. The vocal treatment is good as is the backing. The chorus is deceptively hooky, as is again the treatment on the vocal. However I didn't understand anything The Hour were trying to tell me (were they trying to tell me anything?) but I will remember meeting them."

Banks - 'Fuck With Myself'

"OK, two things I want to get off my chest immediately: 1) I thought I was going to hate it 2) I don't.

"In a way, it's a shame the song title is going to put some people off - it shouldn't. This is a really interesting track complimented well by an original and compelling video. 'Banks' is the artist's name I guess, unfortunately this doesn't give much of a clue as to how sexy and erotic she is. With no vocal histrionics and an intense delivery both aurally and visually this was a really refreshing experience."

Jamie Lidell - 'Walk Right Back'
"Well someone's been listening to Stevie Wonder, I think. There's little I can say about this I'm afraid. The raw groove is interesting spoilt by a derivative vocal. The chorus is catchy but not necessarily in a good way.

"This is one of those tracks that some thoughtless twat will probably play too loudly in their car most probably with the windows open! I'm still thinking about 'Banks.’"

Manuela - 'Cracks In The Concrete'
"I remember years ago we had a sit down meeting with our then manager who has since sadly passed away. He used an expression then which I'd never heard before and which I've never forgotten since, he asked us "what's your cutting edge?" This track by MANUELA seems to me to show evidence that they haven't given any consideration to this question.

"The backing is unsurprising, the song is for me at least melodically uninteresting and the vocal delivery lacks panache. Only the lyric prevents this track from being pretty forgettable. This track would benefit from a heavy dose of steroids."

For more on Right Said Fred, find them on:
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As they gear up for a long slog of touring - including an appearance at LeeFest Presents: The Neverland next month - the band very kindly wrapped their wise ears around the biggest new tracks unveiled this week, to give their opinion on everything from Sigur Ros and The National to The Avalanches via Bat For Lashes, Sleigh Bells, Little Boots, Metronomy and more. 

- Big Deal release their brilliant new album Say Yes today

Deap Vally - 'Smile More'

"Holy shit. This is refreshing . Big and bold. Bad. Ass. If Deap Vally were not a band but a Pokemon, this would be their final evolution where they shoot lightening bolts out of their eyeballs." (Kacey)

The Avalanches - 'Frankie Sinatra'

"This made me exceptionally nervous. The music/video combination produced heart palpitations. My skin is on edge. The video’s amazing! Reminds me of the Russian revolution." (Kacey)

Angel Olsen - 'Intern'

"This track is so dreamy. I love how simple the production is. It shows what a great song she's written, that it doesn't need to be propped up by complicated instrumentation or even a rhythm section! I want to float up into the clouds with Angel Olsen and have magical girl chats in the sky." (Alice)

Bat For Lashes - 'Joe's Dream'

"I'm biased here, I adore Bat For Lashes. Natasha's voice speaks truth. I like the imagery of the verses and the line in the chorus 'now I can see just how much my heart can hold'. Beautiful." (Kacey)

Sleigh Bells - 'Rule No.1'

"Sleigh Bells are Sleigh Bells." (Jessica)

The National - 'The Day I Die'

"Everyone's always told me I should listen to The National because I love Arcade Fire so much, but I never have until now. I like the uplifting lead guitar parts and their understated vocals, though for now I don't have enough room in my heart for both bands." (Alice)

Little Boots - 'Staring At The Sun'

"I can imagine that if you went to a club they might be playing this song and you might want to dance to it. Unfortunately I've never been to a club so I'm a pretty bad judge but I like Little Boots' positive message in the song, 'the past is gone, the future’s calling'." (Alice)

Sigur Ros - Ovedur

"This calmed me right down. It sounds like there is someone losing their mind, whispering really softly in the background. Or is that just me? Strange and beautiful if you are patient." (Kacey)

Beach Baby - 'UR'

"Vocal harmonies! Guitars with chorus on 'em! Yes! Manages to be driving yet gentle, with a polished sound that doesn't detract from its organic delivery. Five fire emojis out of five." (Jessica)

Glass Animals - 'Life Itself'

"If you like shiny polished pop music, then you'll probably like this song! I'm trying to imagine what a glass animal sounds like and I reckon they've come quite close." (Alice)

Metronomy - 'Back Together'

"It’s like hanging out with Bowie at a '70s disco-themed roller skating party, drinking pop." (Jessica)

Big Deal will be performing at LeeFest Presents: The Neverland this summer from 28-30 July. The immersive festival weekend full of incredible new music including headliners Lianne La Havas, Circa Waves, Ghostpoet, Everything Everything, Shura, Roots Manuva, Little Simz, Spring King, VANT, Loyle Carner, Formation, The 2 Bears and many more. For tickets and more information, visit here. 

Ahead of their appearance on the main stage at Kendal Calling this summer, we sent Smith the week’s most exciting releases - from Bat For Lashes to Chance The Rapper via Red Hot Chili Peppers - and asked for his thoughts.

Shura - ‘What’s It Gonna Be?’

"More frothy than a finely-whipped cappachino, this slice of Candyfloss Pop has its charms and doesn't outstay its welcome either. If the Breakfast Club was constituted of Urban Outfitters acolytes rather than lovelorn '80s nerds in suit jackets with rolled-up sleeves, then perhaps this would be their updated soundtrack."

Red Hot Chili Peppers - ‘The Getaway’

"After a promising start featuring some pleasingly aerodynamic clipped funk, this song flatlines a little, lacking the joy of this (knowingly?) ludicrous band's best work. Credit to the cartoonish sock-rockers for stepping outside of their comfort zone, but without a truly purposeful hook, this song drifts into anonymity, which, love them or hate them, is something you wouldn't usually report with this act. And, erm, do have a look at the album cover if nothing else."

The Strokes - ‘Oblivius’

"I suspect the wibbly Dave Longstreth meets Samuel T. Herring vocal delivery will garner most of the initial attention and rightly so, since it marks a slight shift in the more recent Strokes sound. Otherwise, it's business as usual, with the immediacy of their earlier albums jettisoned in favour of a more elastic grip on songwriting. If this song was a ship it'd be a scuzzy yacht, captained by a rich recovering-alcoholic golfer."

Slow Club - ‘Ancient Rolling Sea’

"This song lopes pleasantly into the sunset propelled by a growling bass throb that anchors the featherlight melody. Like a British Grizzly Bear, there's something tender and heartfelt, yet non-demonstrative about this music. It's the opposite of in-your-face and all the better for it."

Woodkid and Nils Frahm feat. Robert De Niro - ‘Winter Morning II’

"Well, Pop Pickers, I wasn't expecting to be reviewing Robert De Niro in this week's batch of new singles, and although there are only one-minute samples online, I can already say it beats his performance in the trailer for Dirty Grandpa. Keyboardist Nils Frahm has a winning way with a plaintive melody so I'm guessing this soundtrack to a film about refugees will be suitably moving and sombre. Proceeds go to the charity Sea Watch, so I'll be buying this one and I'd like to make the suggestion that you do too."

Haim - ‘Nothing's Wrong’

"Haim's debut album is one of my most-played albums of the last few years. This song is so new, I'm reviewing a YouTube video of the band playing it live. The talented trio have come up with another slice of slick MOR funk-pop, brimming with vim, and if you can't dig that, then you need to loosen up. I can think of no higher praise than saying it reminds me of Pat Benatar."

Garbage - ‘Even Though Our Love Is Doomed’

"Shirley Manson was always one of the Alternative Nation's more bold and outspoken characters. This song is a showcase for the brooding side of that character, with a finale that eventually hits the button marked 'engagingly creepy'. Before that though, the glacial pace does the song no favours and I found myself yearning for musical diversions. The video features lots of animals hunting each other and I could've done with a little more wild life in the song itself."

Bat For Lashes - ‘Sunday Love’

"I've always been a fan of Natasha Khan's music. There's a frailty to her voice that is very engaging. This song reminds me of her first record but with an insistent electronic backing that propels it forward and takes her music somewhere else. The characters she inhabits often have otherworldly qualities but I'm drawn to the more vulnerable, everyday aspects of her various personas."

Chance The Rapper feat. 2Chainz + Lil Wayne - ‘No Problem’

"The death of autotune gets no closer, it appears. I'm not against it per se but surely mainstream rap needs to move on at some point soon? If anything, Chance The Rapper gives the gimmick a stay of execution here. Thankfully, the main sampled hook that underpins this track features a rejigged gospel hook that really gets under the skin. I've got a lot of time for Lil Wayne and his giddy guest rap stands out in terms of delivery if not entirely in content. Recently, I've been increasingly disillusioned by the macho posturing and misogynistic language contained within the rap music I love. The same goes for the odd line here and there in Weezy's rap about 'bitches' and 'pussy'. If nothing else, it's become repetitive, and it now feels regressive to me, like sexist TV hosts from the 1970s patting a woman's bottom. Rap music is joyful and the bragging, competitive aspect is part of the genre's DNA, but this casual, crude disparagement of women and their genitalia sticks in the craw."

No Problem video w 2chainz & Lil Wayne Coloring Book tour tix soon!!https://t.co/pUjsSIDzC8

— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) May 26, 2016

Kendal Calling takes place between 28 and 31 July. Get tickets and more information here.

As the band gear up for an epic run of touring, we asked  frontman Oscar Lulu to wrap his ears around and lend his opinion to the biggest new tracks unveiled this week - with everyone from Biffy Clyro and Wild Beasts down to the new side-project Interpol's Paul Banks and Wu-Tang's RZA - along with some weird curiosities from the likes of Bright Light Bright Light.

Needless to say, he's not a fan of everything... 

Wild Beasts - 'Get My Bang'
"Firstly, what does 'get my bang' actually mean? Secondly, the drums are fucking ace. Dig the bluesy soulful vibe, like a filthy cross between Cold War Kids and Hot Chip. Production is really strong, everything hits you in the right places. Noice." 

Bankz & Steelz(Interpol's Paul Banks & Wu-Tang's RZA) - 'Love & War' feat. Ghostface Killah
"For a track featuring Ghostface, expectation was high, perhaps too high. It's kinda like if you were to put the wrong amount of bicarbonate of soda in a cake mix, it would taste slightly bitter. Don't get me wrong, the track is better than a bitter cake, just not as good as Eminem."

The Kills - 'Siberian Nights'
"This is sick. Always loved The Kills but perhaps have never given them enough time and this track makes me think I really should. It's got that kind of Miles Kane/ Last Shadow Puppets feel, current but still cool. Dynamically it's a bit flat, nothing jumps out at you, but that's the vibe and it works."

The Hour - 'The Answer'
"Not massively into this. Makes me want to listen to The Weeknd and that's saying something. I get why people would be into it. Probably going to be massive."

The Julie Ruin - 'I'm Done'
"Jimmy Nutron meets My Parents Are Aliens meets Courtney Barnett. Really like it, the vocals are strong and it feels totally honest. Wouldn't be out of place at a Primitives gig nor on the Mean Girls soundtrack."

Shura - 'What's It Gonna Be'
"It's a strong pop song, production is great. Think it's my favourite Shura track I've heard. A decent Record and proof that the 80's revival isn't showing any signs of slowing down."

Bright Light Bright Light - 'All In The Name' (featuring Eltion John)
":/"

Tiggi Hawke - 'Burn Notice'
"The magic moment is when the chorus first hits, rest of it is a bit lacklustre, but for what it is it's good and satisfies the need for a bit of pop indulgence."

Cymbals Eat Guitars - 'Wish'
"One of the Youtube comments for this track was "This isn't "Cymbals Eat Guitars," it's actually "Drum Machines Eat Synthesizers" and he's not wrong. Dig the vocals, it's like a cross between Bruce Springsteen and Stephen Malkmus."

Cass McCombs - 'Opposite House'
"This is so good. Favourite track out of all the other ones we've reviewed. It brings to mind a golden LA sunset where everybody's sipping on Pina Colada's and the Pina Colada's are ice cold but the weather is scorching so the Pina Colada's go down even easier. Really want a Pina Colada."

Biffy Clyro - 'Animal House'
"Riffs are sick, vocals are sick, production is sick, drums are sick, bvs are sick, melodies are sick, the tattoos are sick, this is sick."

Sundara Karma's full upcoming UK headline tour dates are below. For tickets and information, visit here.

24/05 - CLWB Ifor Bach, Cardiff
25/05 - Wedgwood Rooms, Portsmouth
27/05 - Dot To Dot, Manchester
28/05 - Dot To Dot, Bristol
29/05 - Dot To Dot - Nottingham
31/05 - Oran Mor, Glasgow
01/06 - Cluny, Newcastle
02/06 - Arts Club, Liverpool
03/06 - The Rainbow, Birmingham
01/07 - Blissfields, Hampshire
16/09 - Heaven, London

Meanwhile, they're also set for the following festivals:

27/05 Dot to Dot, Manchester
28/05 Dot to Dot, Bristol
29/05 Dot to Dot, Nottingham
18/06 110 Above Festival
26/06 Glastonbury Festival
01/07 Blissfields Festival
16/07 Truck Festival
22/07 Secret Garden Party
23/07 Tramlines Festival
24/07 Bluedot Festival
30/07 Y Not Festival
31/07 Kendal Calling Festival 05/08 Forgotten Fields Festival
13/08 Summer Well Festival
26/08 Electric Fields Festival
27/08 Reading Festival
28/08 Leeds Festival
03/09 LodeStar Festival 

With this is mind, we thought we'd see if that same passion and spirit ran beyond their music, and asked frontwoman Leila Moss to tackle the week's biggest new tracks. Naturally, she brought the fire that she's famed for to the table - and she's not exactly a fan of everything. 

CHVRCHES - 'Warning Call'
"I have enjoyed some of their past work, there is a blissful charm and allure in the mix of restrained electronic sounds and lovely girlish vocal timbre. BUT this has a horrid American teen plastic sheen all over it, boring melody and I feel transported back to an early 80’s world dominated by Tiffany and Debbie Gibson, posters of Teenwolf, MFI furniture, cheap clothes in BHS and shit pop. That almost sounds cool, but it's not really."

Metronomy - 'Old Skool'
"Interesting sounds, funny lyrics. I like it. They make choice, spare use of that nice subby bass. It builds in a subtle way. I dig it."

Glass Animals - 'Life Itself'
"Yeah! This is ace, I love the groove right from the top. Great chorus. The lyrics are good, stimulating, piss-taking.I’m in. Lets do this!"

Brand New - 'I Am A Nightmare'
"Boring. Although ‘I am a nightmare and you are a miracle’ is a pretty good chorus line. Not going to reach to play this again in a hurry though unfortunately."

Sampha - 'Timmy's Prayer'
"I do like this track, and I like his voice for sure, but it is a song that makes you feel like you’ve heard it before. Not that I believe that reinventing the wheel is the only point of making music, but this does fall a little flat. But you know what, I like it. I’ll give it another spin in a min."

Die Antwoord - 'Bum Bum'
"Following a recent conversation with a male friend about a "possible, accidental anal incident” with a new lady friend, I feel like this track is timely. It's is possible - when its late and people have had too much to drink - to miss one’s target momentarily, we all know that, lets face it. And there are those who enjoy transgressing the sodomy taboo altogether. I don’t give a flying fuck what people do to get off, as long as they mutually consent and have a right hoot getting there. Maybe my pal and his lady should really listen to these lyrics and work together on investigating what went where? Clearly this ‘Ninja’ (aka God) and his co-singer (it doesn't sound like Yolanda?) are more than happy to run through the various anatomical options they have for gratification.

"This Ninja particularly likes it when his lady friend is “face down ass up” and when she “drops to her knees” so she is conveniently at the right height for Ninja to “slap (her) in the face with (his) dick”. I mean, he sounds lovely. Ninja even likes to “snuggle like a teddy bear”. Yeah, I bet he does, when he’s probed her for all she’s worth and cum everywhere the selfish bastard. The presentation of the female as sex-hole in this track is pitifully lacking in dignity and utterly demeaning. If he spoke her name or told us about what a brilliant person this gal was, maybe I’d be into the saucy track. As it stands, this is all about what he likes, and that is mostly wangling his dick about and sticking it in places. I can't help but hope he has a touch of Balenitis after all that. Artless fuckwit."

Tegan and Sara - 'Stop Desire'
"This isn't much different to the CHVRCHES track. Beige, forgettable, slightly sexy in a moribund way that has made me feel ashamed now. A bit like thinking about masturbating and then think you can't be bothered. Bye bye."

Justin Timberlake - 'Can't Stop The Feeling'
"I can't even remember listening to this it was so boring I had to check the link and realised I'd just heard it."

Super Furry Animals - 'Bing Bong'
"Oh God! I love the Superfurries and this track is groovy and psychedelic and funny in equal measure, but it could also be the theme tune to a kids educational cartoon series. The intro is awesome though. I've just played the opening 33 seconds over and over. I feel totally joyful and slightly mental, which is the magic of what they do really, innit?"

KIN by The Duke Spirit is out now. For more information, find them on:
Facebook
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Official website

By day, she works in human rights law, but by night, she becomes something altogether otherworldly. An angelic and soft voice, met with a wisdom far beyond her years, soars over a thick haze of pop-noir, electro, krautrock and and a hint of shoegaze, creating a propulsive soundtrack charging boldly onwards into the future. Utterly bewitching.  

- MORE: 11 brilliant Dutch bands that you need in your life

To get a taste of her true promise, make sure you catch her at the Dutch Impact showcase at The Great Escape this week, held at The Komedia in Brighton from 12pm-4pm - where she'll be playing with the eclectic mix of sounds that comes from P​ink Oculus,​ T​im Vantol​, ​Klyne​, PAUW​.

But until then, here she is sharing the 10 most influential tracks that changed her life...

Yo La Tengo – 'From a Motel 6'
"Ah, Yo La Tengo. They are my favourite band in the world. Isn’t it the weirdest/best thing how they can go from making this intense life-affirming shoegaze on one album to making quirky country on the next, and kick ass at both, and still sound like the same band? I also love how the female vocals aren’t sung to sound very feminine or pretty, just very real and natural sounding."

Deerhunter – 'Agoraphobia'
"Don’t even get me started about how much I love Deerhunter. Again, the diversity that they are able to bring while still sounding like the same band blows my mind. Also, I love how the songs are very poppy in terms of melodies, but are anything but pop in their instrumentation and production. That’s kind of how I try to approach things, too. In essence, the tunes I write are pop songs, but I’m always looking for ways to weird them out a bit arrangement and production wise."

Broadcast – 'Corporeal'
"It took me a while to get into this album (Tender Buttons). I loved how their previous work had a lot of lush production and very melodic vocal lines. This record and song is far more stripped back. But, when I finally got it, it became one of my favourite records ever. It really got me thinking about music and arrangement in a different way. The minimalist approach makes every element so powerful, and Trish’s vocals are bewitching throughout."

Depeche Mode – 'Enjoy the Silence'
"Roughly between the age of 14 and 17 I was this goth girl mostly listening to synth pop, new wave kinda stuff and this tune was my jam. I actually hadn’t listened to it for quite some time but I looked it up when I was making this list and turns out I’m still in love with it. Such haunting melodies."

Mazzy Star – 'Fade Into You'
"I had actually never heard of Mazzy Star but when I put out my first songs in 2013 people kept comparing my music to them, at least my voice/way of singing. So I looked them up, and turned out they’re amazing. Been listening to them ever since! Perfect for those two warm and hazy summer nights we get every year here in the Netherlands."

Ryan Adams – 'Come Pick Me Up'
"I’m always really impressed by artists who are able to reach a big audience while also still being loved by the cool kids who mostly only like things when no one else has heard about it yet. I feel like Ryan Adams is one of those artists. And it’s probably because his songs are just so damn good. Like this one. A staple in our touring van for when we want some good sing a longs going on."

The Band – 'Evangeline'
"I definitely have a soft spot for country songs. The first band I ever played in was a blue-grass outfit made up of a bunch of punk kids jamming out on banjo’s and violins, busking in the parks of Philadelphia. The melodies and harmonies in this song are amazing, gets me every time. Also, like this song, country songs are mostly all about melancholy and people cheating and dying. Guess there’s still an inner goth in me somewhere that is obsessed about these dark themes, haha."

Blonde Redhead – 'Here Sometimes'
"Blonde Redhead was one of the bands that was kind of a “transition band” for me as I started to break out of the goth-zone. Still melancholic and weird enough to please my teenage goth heart at the time, but also opening my ears to other musical pastures. This song is a universe in it self, I can submerge in it completely."

The Velvet Underground – 'Sunday Morning'
"I love the Velvet Underground partly because I feel like they aren’t the best musicians, technically speaking, so they work more from intuition than from skill, which translates into songs that feel very natural. As for this song, it’s great when songs can feel very sunny and carefree on one hand and can totally creep you out at the same time. The laid-back drums and background vocals combined with the totally spooky sounding xylophone and echoes make for an intriguing listening experience."

Sharon van Etten – 'Serpents'
"I listened to this record (and song) so much when I was in the middle of a horrible break up some years ago. It really pulled me through that period. Also, singing Sharon’s songs all day, I actually learned a lot about my voice. I had always sung in a higher, brighter tone of voice, but I really loved how her vocals sounded very warm, low and haunting. Got me to experiment with the lower vocal register a bit more, too. Now I actually prefer my voice when I sing in a lower tone."

Gearing up the the release of his debut solo release, EP One, on 10 June, the record features everything from 'revenge rock' to shimmering pop via some cinematic soundscapes. It's every bit as eclectic as you've come to expect from him, so we thought we'd through the full spectrum of new music at him - taking on everyone from Manic Street Preachers and Radiohead to James Blake via Ariana Grande, De Le Soul, Dua Lipa and more. 

Manic Street Preachers - 'Together Stronger (C'mon Wales)'
"The Manics and Wales in Euro 2016, what can’t you not like about this? I played football with Gary Speed as a teenager and sort of welled up when James DB sang about him in this song, Gary Speed stood head and shoulders above every lad in our town, Deeside, as a footie player when we were kids so this song took me by surprise, the Manics can touch people with their directness, still.

"I grew up in North Wales and supported the Manics at many a blistering gig, then sat at the side of the stage in awe. This is sort of light hearted and really sad at the same time for me, literally the Manics are the only band that can do this, how do they do it? They touch people in a way very few artists can do, even with a footie song, maybe you have to be Welsh or have a Welsh connection to understand. God bless you MSP, the greatest Welsh band ever, and the kindest…" 

James Blake - 'I Need A Forest Fire'
"I loved Limit To Your Love and James Blake's use of synths, and became interested in him a while back. This track has an r n b feel to it and not one of his best songs but still a great artist. Theres a formula evolving amongst 'artists' of laid-back pads over 808s and layered vocals, it sort of straddles genres, but isn't that was 'art' is? James Blake is certainly a wold class artist but I like other songs of his better."

Radiohead - 'Daydreaming'
"Not immediate, like a lot of their latter stuff, but a great piano riff in parts, nice synth textures as is the modern world of music, worth listening to a few times to find the fragile elements in it all, meanders a bit once it gets going, the end sounds like the start of '1999' by Prince, really, but they are of the highest quality and do it consistently track after track."

Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Dark Necessities'
"Always loved the Chilli Peppers since I heard 'Give It Away' at the rock disco at our local club as a teenager, and they were a big influence on me and one of the reasons I love and play rock music. This is a great record, classic Chilis but with a different twist with pianos and a denser arrangement that make it fresh enough that its not the same old. Excellent stuff still."

De La Soul - 'Trainwreck'
"Wow, when I saw this it brought me straight back to 3 Feet High and Rising, what an original twist on hip hop when it came out, my mates and I loved that record. No new ground covered here, a bit of classic De La Soul but I'll always have a soft spot for them as they were part of my clubbing past. A few classic De La Soul touches and a James Brown sample, what more could you ask for! Not an obvious single, not the best they've done, but Ill always love their style."

Speedy Ortiz - 'Death Note'
"It has Death in the title, 8 bars in I know why, and reminds me a bit of Gary Numan and Veruca Salt, with a touch of Garbage? I love all those things and this record is beautifully out of its time. Keep going on the songwriting and these guys might have something, big audience for this stuff, even me occasionally..."

Ariana Grande - 'Into You'
"Pretty good for contemporary pop in this genre but not outstanding, I'm no expert on this genre, but has a few little moments, lots of stuff this polished out there, not my particular thing, unless its Hideaway by Kiesza, now thats amazing pop at its best, I wonder if we'll regret music getting this precise and computerised in the future."

Grace Lightman - 'Faultless'
"I love the snare drum. A Kate Bush-esque chord change, and a hint in the voice? This has a foot in power balladry, which is no bad thing, I actually had a tingle down my spine at one point in this record the chord change and melody were that good in the verse. There’s loads I like about this, if its real, you just got yourself a new fan Grace, this is ace. This and the Chili Peppers are doing it for me during this listening session, make more stuff this good and you’ll be huge. THIS ARTIST IS UNSIGNED."

Dua Lipa - 'Hotter Than Hell'
"I don't know too much about this genre of music, sounds very familiar, it might be a popular formula, and I struggle to see beyond that. Why don't the BPI put a threshold on Auto Tuning vocals, and anything above the threshold doest get through, a bit like, err, Auto Tune!! Big hook dropped over the beatz though. Im not qualified to comment on this really as it might be amazing but Im not the audience this is aimed at."

Elki - 'Sirens'
"Crazy…. no, fuck me is that a real drum kit? Interesting.... sort of like it. Hmmm, I like the bit where she goes ridiculously high, promising, if I keep listening I think I might get addicted to that bit, thats the bit, just that bit can sell millions, I thought I didn’t like this that much but I keep playing THAT BIT back, this record could, just might, be fucking massive. SOLD! Elki, have you got a good radio plugger? This is as they say, a slam dunker in the right hands, I hope this is No.1 in America and I reviewed it first, sort of reaffirms your belief in pops validity. Massive."

Skepta - 'Man'
"I'm more into his videos! My engineer worked with him for a day and said he was a top bloke. I like him as a lyricist and producer and he's current and creative, I like old school songs personally but respect this guy a lot, he has a credibility in this arena thats hard to achieve for us Brits, file this under 'artist', talented lad!"

And it's a long way from over yet. Before the band hit the road for a hectic month of festivals, incuding Latitude Festival, we asked frontman Scott Hutchison to review the biggest new tracks of the week - taking on everyone from Radiohead and Biffy Clyro to Busted, Blink 182, Calvin Harris and beyond... 

Radiohead - 'Burn The Witch'
"It was never going to be shit, was it? I don't love this just yet, but there are some brilliant moments. Whoever dealt with the strings on this deserves a firm handshake. Would've been a very average Radiohead song without them plucking away. The video is superb."

Biffy Clyro - 'Animal Style'
"Bit of classic Biffy here. Little shards of madness, big fuckin' chorus, snarling maniacal vocals. I like it and canny wait to see them out on tour again."

Busted - 'Coming Home'
"Well this is a bit of a surprise. There are one or two iffy lyrics in there (the Taj Mahal bit? Errrrr), and overall it's a bit dull but there are some nice wee sections to this song. I have no idea what most Busted fans will make of it, and although I do admire the attempt to be grown ups, shouldn't they just have written another one about high school?"

Blink 182 - 'Bored To Death'
"Sounds like a Blink 182 song. People who like Blink 182 will like this song. I don't really like this song but that doesn't matter at all, does it?"

Todd Terje - 'Do You Wanna Bump?'
"This one is a tad ridiculous, but I could definitely shrug my shoulders along to it at 3am. I enjoy the way he says "bumP" with the accentuated 'P'. That's probably the best thing about this tune. Would've made for an excellent 80's one hit wonder. I can picture this lot being introduced by Bruno Brooks on Top Of The Pops."

Marissa Nadler - 'Katie I Know'
"All the dreamy swoon you could ever want. Maybe a little bit meandering for me, but I'd happily spend a small portion of a Sunday with this song."

Mitski - 'Happy'
"I enjoyed this, but I would like for everyone to STOP with the saxophones. It was fun initially, now it's an absolute eye roller. The song reminds me of another artist and I can't think who it is right now. Help. (Five mins later... Got it. St Vincent)."

AlunaGeorge - 'My Blood'
"I'm not really into the "bomp clicky tappy" genre. You know, all those fast electro hi-hats and finger clicks and almost nothing else going on at all. The video features exactly the kind of place one might listen to this music. Alone in a bed sit, checking yerself out in a mirror after one of the marijuana cigs."

Calvin Harris & Rihanna - 'This Is What You Came For'
"Sorry, I only did 30 seconds of this song. That's all I could handle. What a vodka and coke of a tune. I do not like this one bit, but I'm glad he's rich and fit and tanned and happy."

Jodie Abacus - 'She's In Love With The Weekend'
"I like this one! Enjoying the Princely sound, and the subtle vocal effect is brilliant. The video is an instant classic, I love his shoulder shrug dance! Bravo Jodie!"

MORE - Check out more from our Frightened Rabbit takeover below:

- An in-depth chat with Scott Hutchison opening up about heartache, recovery, The National and the trouble with Miles Kane

- Scott talking us through his favourite music, books and TV (including a desire to go on Bake Off) 

- Scott's magnificent track-by-track review of Painting Of A Panic Attack

- Drummer and brother Grant gave us his guide to the finest pubs for a pint in Glasgow

That's why we've scoured the glove to bring you 13 restaurants owned by rock stars that you really have to visit...

Jay-Z – The Spotted Pig, New York City

The rapper’s most famous food venture has had some success over the last 12 years. Michael Stipe, Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim and Pete Tong are amongst the big-names involved in Ken Friedman’s culinary project (he also spent years managing The Smiths). The first time Friedman met Jay-Z the rapper handed him a $50,000 after a short pitch, and the rest was history. Expect award-winning British & Italian food including oysters and polished mains all round.

Damon Albarn – Kaffibarrin, Reykjavik

The Blur frontman owns this cult bar in Iceland’s coastal capital. By all accounts, Kaffibarrin is a fashionably crowded bar. It baosts good food, and excellently curated music selections, but the long trip probably remains for only the hardcore fans. 

James Murphy – The Four Horseman, New York City

Not content on having his own coffee range Murphy (of the recently reformed LCD Soundsystem) has opened a Brooklyn based wine bar. And, we would expect nothing else but this dimly-lit, Scandanavian styled joint. A glance at the menu reveals beef tartare, black bass and tonnes of other intricately and beautifully prepared dishes. It’s easily the hit we wanted.

Win Butler and Régine Chassagne – Agrikol, Montreal

Upon its opening the Arcade Fire duo’s Haitian themed restaurant earned mixed reviews based on it’s long waits and sold-out dishes. However, the partnership with successful restaurateurs Jen Agg and artist Roland Jean suggests that the venture will continue to improve. With plans to include a next door café and later opening hours to house dishes like their rum soaked potato dessert, and dreamy drinks selection, this can be no bad thing.

 

A photo posted by Marc-Olivier Frappier (@parmesaneater) on Apr 3, 2016 at 11:57pm PDT

St Vincent – Resident Taqueria, Texas

Annie Clark doesn’t own this Mexican restaurant as such - her sister does, however she famously moonlighted at the location last year. The singer posted on Instagram of her experience that, “You learn new things every day. I learned that I am a terrible waitress”. Despite the poor service, sumptuous tacos paired with a magaratita or two doesn’t sound half bad.

 

A photo posted by @kotokotooto on Oct 10, 2015 at 1:23pm PDT

Bill Wyman – Sticky Fingers, London

Sticky Fingers’s prime location and solid atmosphere is great for any lovers of BBQ food. And, with a whole host of memorabilia to boot, this one’s must be an easy visit for any Rolling Stone fan too.

Seth Troxler – Smokey Tails, London

The hipster’s techno hero recently opened a full restaurant version of the popular ‘Beats & Eats’ pop-up created by the DJ and Wilderness festival co-founder Jo Vidler, and professed ‘flavour technician’ Jona Ahearne. Its permanent home resides in East London’s flourishing food scene at Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen. Like Wyman’s it is also a BBQ-themed joint, but one that is perhaps a little more refined than your average eatery.

Jon Bon Jovi – Soul Kitchen, New Jersey

Refreshingly, Soul Kitchen aims to offer a cheap alternative to fast food for low-income families in New Jersey. After two years of moving around the restaurant has set up a permanent home offering, “organic, healthy, good-for-you food”.

Julian Lennon – Blowfish Sushi, San Francisco

John Lennon’s son is a partial owner of the popular US West Coast sushi chain. The restaurant’s tagline, "sushi to die for", is thankfully nothing more than that, as the location doesn’t serve the incredibly dangerous fish that can only be prepared in the most specific way. Japanese Animation and Manga streams across multiple video screens in-keeping with the modern Tokyo vibe, and the food has been praised by various esteemed outlets.

Justin Timberlake – Southern Hospitality, New York City

Yet, another BBQ eatery set up by a popular musician (is BBQ food the easiest food to make?). This edition, founded by JT is described as an “authentic Memphis-style restaurant and bar”, offering anything from Ribs to Pulled Pork, and an extensive Bourbon selection. So barbecue food then.

Moby – Little Pine Restaurant, Los Angeles

It wouldn’t take a genius to guess Moby’s gastronomy venture - a casual vegan spot, located in Little Pine, in the popular Silver Lake Neighbourhood. TeaNY, his previous venture in New York lasted well over a decade before he moved on to his latest project. To be fair to the singer it's aesthetic's and food selection is something to behold.

Pharrell, Queen Latifah – Fatburger, Various Locations

Fatburger, which sounds like a nightmare to market, is a franchise with previous owners including Kanye West. Known for thick greasy burgers and a tagline of, ‘we’re not for everybody” – an acquired taste is key. R&B musician Pharrell bizarrely opened several Fatburger restaurants in China between 2007 and 2008.

Billy Corgan – Madame Zuzu's, Chicago

If it wasn’t already obvious that the Smashing Pumpkins singer was losing the plot a little, Corgan opened a Chinese tea house mimicking the style of 1930’s Paris. He told Rolling Stone he imagined the small parlour to become a community gathering place for the sharing of art. Zuzu’s focuses on gluten-free, healthy eats including various sandwiches, and of course numerous types of tea.

To mark their return and get them in good fighting form, we asked them to review the week's biggest new tracks - with drummer Gavin 'Mo' Edgeley taking on everything from PVRIS, Dead!, Band Of Horses and Garbage, through to Azealia Banks, Ladyhawke, Tegan & Sara and more. 

Bring it on. 

Band Of Horses - ‘Casual Party’
"I love Band Of Horses - sentimental, beautiful. Shit hot. Really like this song."

Azealia Banks - ‘The Big Big Beat’
"It’s quite confrontational, and the first part made me feel slightly anxious. Then it got going and I felt like twatting around the room. I approve."

Ladyhawke - ‘Dangerous’
"SYNTH….. Fair bit of synth going on here. A few nice hooks here and there, but not ultimately for me. I’m sure her fans will love it, but I’m a weirdo."

Dead! - ‘You’re So Cheap’
"Not for me."

Hannah Jane Lewis - ‘Why Start A War’
"The production is great when it kicks in. It makes me feel like I should be coming up on a pill. That’ll do."

Beartooth - ‘Always Dead’
"I like this straight away. If my girlfriend wasn’t here I would’ve smashed up the front room. Brilliant."

PVRIS - ‘Empty’
"This is the first time I’ve listened to this band. Absolutely beautiful voice, and a banging song. Really fucking like this."

Bruce Springsteen - ‘Purple Rain’
"The Boss can do what the fuck he likes. Lovely. RIP."

Garbage - ‘Empty’
"Manson's back (not the crazy cult leader) but SHIRLEY! This is a pop banger that my other half is banging her head to. We’ve come back to this song because we like it so much."

The Big Moon - ‘Cupid’
"This is a very nice song, but I feel like they should be trying harder. Come on guys, thrash it out a bit."

Tegan & Sarah - ‘Boyfriend’
"I should really hate this, as it’s completely not my usual cup of tea, but I can’t stop listening. Pop music done right."

Lonely The Brave release new album Things Will Matter on 20 May. Their upcoming tour dates are below, for tickets and information visit here. 

29/04/16 MK11, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
30/04/16 Handmade Festival, Leicester, United Kingdom
13/05/16 Transbordeur Lyon, France
14/05/16 Le Pop-Up du Label, Paris, France
17/05/16 Zephyr Lounge Leamington Spa, United Kingdom
18/05/16 The Cavern, Exeter, United Kingdom
20/05/16 Corn Exchange, Cambridge, United Kingdom
23/05/16 Open, Norwich, United Kingdom
24/05/16 Sub89, Reading, United Kingdom
26/05/16 All Saints Church, London, United Kingdom
27/05/16 The Riverside, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
28/05/16 Common People Festival, Southampton, United Kingdom
30/05/16 Melkweg Oude Zaal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
31/05/16 Cacaofabriek, Helmond, Netherlands
02/06/16 Musik & Frieden, Berlin, Germany
03/06/16 Rock Im Park, Nuremberg, Germany
05/06/16 Rock Am Ring, Mendig, Germany
07/06/16 Kavka, Antwerp, Germany
02/07/16 Main Square Festival, Arras, France
08/07/16 2000 Trees Festival, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
15/07/16 Truck Festival, Oxford, United Kingdom
17/07/16 Welcome to the Village Festival, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
31/07/16 Y Not Festival, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
20/08/16 Open Air Gampel, Gampel-Bratsch, Switzerland
27/08/16 Anchored To The Sound Festival, Plymouth, United Kingdom
03/09/16 Fort Fest, Bedford, United Kingdom

With a wit and intelligene to their intensity and sheer volume, there's so much at play with this band than just noise and bravado - they mean it, and they matter. That's why we thought it would be interesting to ask singer Haley Shea to give her verdict on the biggest new tracks. See below as she takes on everyone from Royal Blood and Deftones to PJ Harvey, Florence + The Machine, We Are Scientists, M83, Frightened Rabbit and more...

Frightened Rabbit - 'Woke Up Hurting'
"I am so ecstatically happy there is a new Frightened Rabbit album in the world for me to shed tears over. Love the lyrics. 'Woke Up Hurting' has got to be one of the most beautiful choruses I´ve heard in a while. Not sure how I feel about the slightly more "synth-y" vibe they're going for, but I guess they're just trying to keep up with the times. Not my favourite Frightened Rabbit track, but will definitely be giving the album some ear-time."

Royal Blood - 'Where Are You Now'
"Well that intro is pretty killer. Shame the verses don't really keep up with the intensity. Pretty uninspired lyrics and the choruses are a bit of a let-down as well. Highlight is absolutely the intro for me, the rest of the song has a pretty cool vibe, but stays pretty much in the middle throughout. No high-highs or low-lows."

We Are Scientists - 'Too Late'
"Another band I've been missing for a bit that seems to be doing the synth thing in a bigger way. This one is really not getting me though. After the 100th time I get that 'it´s never too late'. Please stop reminding me. Snooze song."

Florence + The Machine - 'Stand By Me' (Ben E King cover)
"First off, I love the combination of Florence Welch and a video game. To me she is pretty much a fairy dream queen from another world, so this seems fitting. Pretty tough song to cover. Luckily it´s as massive as I would expect it to be in the chorus, even though I have quickly had enough harp in the verses. Power house chorus in every sense of the word. Goosebumps."

Deftones - 'Hearts/Wires'
"I know embarrassingly little about Deftones, sorry. Love the intro guitars and get chills as this goes into the verse where it´s filled out by amazing vocals. Groovy, sexy, angsty, right up my alley. Amazingly emotive chorus that is such an exciting leap from the verse. Really like this."

Band Of Skulls - 'Killer'
"Good week for new rock and roll tracks. The bass lick in these verses is damn cool and it just gets better going into the chorus. Very groovy without being too rock clichéd. I'm a sucker for any song that uses a 'woop' as an integral part of the chorus, so I guess I´m sold from that point on. Love this track. Total banger. Want to see this live in a packed venue jumping up and and down yelling "woop, killer, killer" as soon as possible."

Tom Odell - 'Wrong Crowd'
"He´s very sad in this video isn´t he? Sad, sad boy. I like how organic and unpolished the vocals sound, but I could do without the "oo-ooo" falsetto choir and the John Mayer guitar solo in the second chorus. Lyrics don´t really get me either. Parts of this have a very interesting, weird vibe,and some of the little details are very cool but the lyrics and flatness make it a bit too generic as a whole song. Quite cool video as well, even though I have had quite enough of emo boys feeling out of place for one lifetime thank you very much."

Minor Victories - 'Folk Arp'
"Oh. I hear a fuzzy guitar intro, that sounds promising. Turns out to be a very floaty track. Sounds a bit like something you would hear in a dream sequence of a movie. Someone should be spinning around in slow motion with a golden lighting filter to this. Quite a tease of a song. Over four minutes of slow build. Will it? Won´t it? Agh. Thankfully it does! When that final drum beat comes in at the end I am wildly satisfied. Beautiful track. Took a while for me to get into it, but by the end I love it. Video should have more spinning though."

M83 - 'Go'
"Very funky, M83. That funk guitar is a welcome replacement for the porn-stach saxophone intro.The combo of funky guitars and the naive young girl robot voice has me very confused, but that chorus has me moving a bit in my seat. Can see this being great on headphones on a sunny morning walking to work. Think I´ll add it to an appropriate playlist right away. Will need a few more listens to be less confused."

PJ Harvey - 'The Orange Monkey'
"Hooray for new PJ Harvey. Just such an important artist writing about important things, thank god. Must admit a lot of her lyrics are a bit over my head, but it is so much more interesting to have tracks like this that require some unravelling to get to the meat than having everything out there in the open. I love this. So much texture and interesting use of vocal technique at the same time as it feels very simple. Every sound seems very thoroughly contemplated and appropriately placed. Want to listen to this over and over."

- The 'Sponge State' EP will be released on 27 May.

It's this rich tapestry of sound that makes up Band Of Skulls, so you'd guess that they have pretty eclectic tastes. That's why this week, we gave Matt Hayward, Russell Marsden, Emma Richardson to take it in turns and try their hand at reviewing the week's biggest new tracks - taking on everyone from The Last Shadow Puppets to Kanye West via The National and Smashing Pumpkins.

Band Of Skulls release their fourth album By Default on 27 May, 2016. They'll also be appearing at Kendal Calling and Forgotten Fields festivals this summer. 

Emma

The Last Shadow Puppets - 'Miracle Aligner'
"A relaxed confident cool glossy sheen of a song with Alex Turner's lyrical style in full effect. Big swooping strings and that Phil Spectre influence coming through again. They seem to be a good team these two, so looking forward to hearing the rest of the record."

The National - ‘Morning Dew' (Grateful Dead cover)
"Always interesting to hear how a band have interpreted another band's song, and The National have definitely brought the atmosphere to this version. It's brooding, dark and expansive and quite cinematic. His vocal has a great effortless delivery akin to Mark Lanegan or Richard Hawley."

Twin Peaks - ‘Butterfly'
"A little slice of garage pop from these Lynch fans. Channeling that 60’s garage band sound of The Sonics and The Ready Men, his vocal has it by the bucket load. It sounds like their gigs would be sweaty riots."

Holy Fuck - ‘XED Eyes'
"I like how this band make interesting danceable electronic music without laptops. I like their style and again it makes me want to hear more of their music."

Matt:

Smashing Pumpkins - 'New Song'
"Billy Corgan at an open mic night in Iceland. It doesn't do a lot for me, I liked the Smashing Pumpkins, once upon a time. Not into this slow acoustic offering. Best avoided is my advice."

White Lung - 'Kiss Me When I Bleed'
"Pretty heavy stuff. Again not my sort of thing. Not really a pop-punk fan. Im sure there's lots of people that will disagree but I guess that's a personal taste thing. It's very well put together, the singer has a powerful voice, but I think I'll again sit this one out."

Kanye West - 'Ultralight Prayer'
"I guess most people have long made up their minds on Kanye. Lots gets written about him, it's not going to change much. Personally I liked him a while back, 'Jesus Walks' at Dave Chappelle's Block Party is amazing (youtube it), but when something/someone gets that level of attention, I tend to turn off."

Russell:

Pet Shop Boys - 'Happiness'
"Here's the new single by the Pet Shop Boys, One of Britain's best electronic exports. You can argue they were pioneers,or musical tastes have veered back towards them but here in 2016 it's probably both. So perfect timing to show your imitators how it's done. 'Happiness' is a mixture of country and western and modern EDM, and is not what anyone was expecting. Like a weird dream everything is not quite where you left it. Brave yet odd, as they've always been. Wild West end girls."

Phoria - 'Evolve'
"Straight into 2016 and a new band to my ears, Phoria's mix of folktronica and falsetto vocals offer up a beautiful slice of considered folktronica. The vocal reminds me of of Sigur Ros, but without the mystery of an unknown language. And perhaps some more extreme moments like SR, would make this particular landscape more of a expert challenge. Could be more volcanic."

Yeasayer - 'Gerson's Whistle'
"Like three songs in one, perhaps ten. This song romps around like it owns the place, like the Rolling Stones in full psychedelic mode it pits bass and drums against a vocal that's pretty intoxicating. The pop art influence on the cover fits the attitude of the music, no rules and more is more. Whatever is fuelling this party I'll have some. Beggers banquet belief."

Band Of Skulls upcoming tour dates are below. For tickets and more information, visit here.

Thu April 28 2016 - GUILDFORD Boileroom
Fri April 29 2016 - STOKE Sugarmill
Thu May 19 2016 - LONDON Electric Ballroom

That's why this week, we're handing her the reigns - asking her to lend her wise ears to review the biggest new tracks of the week, from Ariana Grande and Gwen Stefani to PJ Harvey, Bat For Lashes and The Last Shadow Puppets...

Cat’s Eyes - 'Drag'
"Off the top I really like the chord changes, really unpredictable but still satisfying. I like the lo-fi, soft vocals, it feels really ambient and cool. The production is pretty classic and I think it could belong to any era. Lyrically this song employs one of my favourite songwriting tactics, a soft and happy-ish sounding song written about something really dark. Apparently these folks don’t get along."

Last Shadow Puppets - 'Aviation'
"This one didn’t stand out much to me until the chorus, but there it is! I like the words, suddenly everything makes sense. The rhythm of the vocals are really interesting. The string section makes it feel cinematic which definitely contributes to the visual aspects of the lyric."

PJ Harvey - 'The Community of Hope'
"I always notice lyrics first in a song. This lyric pretty much sounds like an essay on the state of a capitalist society with very little poetic flare but I think it really works in this song. I always love to hear songs written for a greater purpose, I think it’s an important time for that if you have something to say. All the melodies are super simple making this kind of a sad anthem."

Ariana Grande - 'Dangerous Woman'
"I don’t love the verses in this (doesn’t quite stand up to the rest of the track) but the sweet, unexpected melody in this pre chorus is really killer and sets up the dark, powerful chorus really well. Most of the lyrics I can’t really understand, but I like how she mumbles a lot. Some people can get away with that because their vocals are so great. I don’t really believe her when she sings “I live for danger” though."

Rostam - 'Gravity Don’t Pull Me'
"This is really weird and cool. I can’t tell if he is about to laugh or start bawling to be honest. But it’s easy to listen to, I like all the filtering synth arpeggios that run throughout, I suppose that’s what moves along what would ultimately be a pretty simple and slow song. It’s really great when the lo-fi 808s kick in."

Bat for Lashes - 'In God’s House'
"This one is ultra dark, I can’t fully tell what’s going on in the story even after a few listens. But I’m getting a dark bride vibe. I like how unpredictable it is. Not my favourite Bat for Lashes track, but I love her fearlessness and pure force of creativity."

Gwen Stefani - 'Misery'
"Gwen has been one of my heroes for years! I think she’s such a legend. This isn’t my favourite song of hers though. Some of the lyrics in this are really cheap but when the chorus kicks in I like it a lot. I love her voice and think she can get away with anything for the most part. She’s doing some stuff with it that’s really moving in this track. I like the Cyndi Lauper vibe!"

Peter Bjorn and John - 'What You Talking About?'
"The energy of this one is awesome, and some of the production flares like the little hooky bell in the tag is really interesting. The melody wanders all over the place and I really like most of that. Sometimes I wish it would resolve more, it feels like the melody is trying to be too dark over major chords but that was likely done purposefully."

Lights releases new album Midnight Machines on 8 April.

The Gromble (band not monster) are an indie-pop quartet who have been working away at getting ears on their infectious music for a few years now. Comparisons have been drawn to Neutral Milk Hotel and Smashing Pumpkins but you'll probably find this new track, 'Real Sympathy', landing closer to an inverse rework of that electronic Bright Eyes album, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, with 100% additional sunshine.

Nominated for an Independent Music Award for their last EP, The Gromble are on the right track to becoming ambassadors for new Cali music. The last couple of years for the indie sounds of West Coast has transpired into a melting pot of angsty surf-punk a la Wavves, so it's refreshing to hear music that extracts the optimism of their surroundings but maintains the glitchy sentimentality.

Listen to The Gromble's 'Real Sympathy' exclusively on Gigwise below

The Gromble are constantly working on new music and will hopefully be over in the UK for some touring dates so to keep up with all that's going on with this awesome upcmong band, be a good person and swing by their social media channels below:

Facebook
Website
Soundcloud

The Barcelona quartet's brand of psychedelic noise-rock was first showcased through their self-titled debut LP in 2013. Their name, in case you were wondering, is a translation of Sweet Bird Of Youth, the Tennessee Williams play which became a film starring Paul Newman and Geraldine Page.

Triumph defies categorisation, drifting between spaced-out instrumentals and tightly-wound rock melodies. In fact, it changes pace often enough to give you mild whiplash, traversing from parallels with Tame Impala to Antony & The Johnsons between each track.

Listen to Triumph first on Gigwise below

Dulce Pájara de Juventud's new album, Triumph, is officially released via BCore on 16 March.

For more information on Dulce Pájara de Juventud, find them on:

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Meet Cantaloupe - where krautrock, afrobeat and the proggiest of synth sounds blend to form a near-toxically-inebriating cocktail of shameless poppy-goodness. In a space where Django Django meets Kraftwerk, the sound of Cantaloupe is both futuristic and tropical - not to mention life-affirming and utterly joyous. 

Championed by BBC 6 Music and hailing from the hotbed of musical creativity that is Nottingham Cantaloupe release Zoetrope on Monday 16 March on the excellent Hello Thor label (you should also check out Anxieteam, Fists, Hot Horizons and We Show Up On Radar).

Listen to the Gigwise premiere of Zoetrope by Cantaloupe below

For more information on Cantaloupe, find them on:
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Twitter
Soundcloud
Official Website

Cantaloupe's tour dates are as follows: 
Tue 14 Apr 2015 The Head Of Steam Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
Wed 15 Apr 2015 Kazimier Garden Liverpool, UK
Thu 16 Apr 2015 Caroline Social Club Shipley, UK
Fri 17 Apr 2015 The Eagle Inn Salford, UK
Sat 18 Apr 2015 Chameleon Arts Cafe Nottingham, UK
Fri 08 May 2015 The Hairy Dog Derby, UK
Sat 09 May 2015 Mk Gallery Milton Keynes, UK
Fri 22 May 2015 Corner House Cambridge, UK
Sat 23 May 2015 Star of Kings London, UK
Sun 24 May 2015 The Wheatsheaf Oxford, UK
Thu 25 Jun 2015 Unknown venue Nottingham, UK
Fri 26 Jun 2015 The Audacious Art Experiment Sheffield, UK
Sat 27 Jun 2015 The Matrix Club Grimsby, UK

Now on their third album, Norway's Katzenjammer return to their legions of cult followers with yet another dizzying blend of rock, folk, blues and pop - masterfully crafted with the excess of 30 instruments they can play between them. They’re all drummers, they can all play the banjo, or the trashcans, the kazoo, the celeste or the washboard, but that's just the start.

That's not to say there's anything self-indulgent about Katzenjammer. Once described by radio legend Steve Lamacq as "the best gig of my time at Glastonbury", these four talented woman destroy the boundaries of genre to create an all-encompassing and all-consuming celebration of song. 

"We have our own world in Katzenjammer," says Solveig Heilo. "We never follow the rules, or try to be commercial when we write music. We’ve always done what we feel like and went with our hearts. It’s not a parallel to getting imprisoned but we’re together in this bubble where the rules are quite different to the rest of the world. That’s what Rockland is a symbol is for."

 Listen to Gigwise's exclusive premiere of Rockland below

Rockland will be released on 2 March 2015, before embarking on a massive UK and European tour. For tickets and more information, visit here. 

8 May - Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
9 May - Glasgow, Oran Mor
10 May - Manchester, The Ruby Lounge
11 May - London, Scala

For more information on Katzenjammer, find them on:
Facebook
Twitter
Official Website
Youtube