Free Download: Smallpools – “Dreaming”

So, May pretty much turned out to be a damp squib in the end didn’t it? Ridiculously cold temperatures and rain aplenty lashing down from the skies above. Joy. But wait a second, is that a beacon of light trying to break through? A bright glimmer desperately trying to usher in summer and bring us warmth and a feeling of happiness and well being?

It is you know, but it damn well isn’t coming from the sky above. Oh no, instead it has been left to a new four-piece from Los Angeles to bring us some of their year round sunshine and chase away the darkness and the cold. “Dreaming” is Smallpools first track and while the subject matter may be confusion, panic and no small degree of horror at something that has gone entirely pear shaped, the music is devilishly upbeat and full-on technicolor brightness. It is the kind of track that requires sunglasses. Brash and in-your-face funky and poppy, it is beautiful people laughing, standing arm-in-arm with beers held high, singing and dancing in the sunshine.

Produced by Captain Cuts, “Dreaming” is a euphoric statement of intent, a dazzlingly confident and a debut single that should chase away the blues and bring joy into the lives of all who hear it. The weather may still be awful, but summer is here so slap on the factor 15 and get on down to the sound of Smallpools. It’s free, grab it below.

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Free Download: The Disraeli Gears – “Mother, I”

Set phasers to ‘fuzzy’, Alphabet Band members The Disraeli Gears are back with another slice of deliciously hazy, prog-injected indie rock. Featuring the now trademark guitar jangles and blurred lines, “Mother, I” also comes with additional world-angst and greater urgency than we are used to from the London/Leeds/South African quartet.

Teia Fregona’s vocals float out once more but in a dark, confessional and eerie mood. The track flickers and dances like candlelit shadows on the wall but as it builds so does the tension. On “Back of my Eyes”, the band played with drama that rose and fell like the tide, here it climbs like a tower of blocks just waiting for a toddler to send it crashing to the floor below. Crash it does too; frustration, desperation, anger and the feeling of hitting rock bottom all come wailing out as the song builds to a great Jackson Pollock painting crescendo of sound and emotion.

Read More: ‘D’ is for The Disraeli Gears

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Watch: Fenech-Soler – “Magnetic”

Did any of you ever see the Donnie Darko sequel? S. Darko? No, us neither (it has a score of 3.7 out of 10 on IMDB, why would we? Even Man Getting Hit By Football has a higher rating – probably) but apparently the plot involves people having lots of weird visions. Kind of like what is going on in the new Fenech-Soler video then…

In the promo for “Magnetic”, a big and upbeat piece of synthy electro pop excitement, singer Ben Duffy finds himself jumping through time and locations, and looking quite harangued for it. Lights flicker and clocks spin backwards as a doppelganger and the rest of the band (who turn up everywhere) appear, as does a rabbit-headed character who bears a no-doubt entirely coincidental resemblance to Frank (and any other persons living or dead) from the aforementioned Donnie Darko.

In his attempts to find sanity and sense, Ben runs, turns, wades and sits, though why anyone would voluntarily crawl into a washing machine, regardless of the messed-up stuff going on around them, is beyond us. You could argue that it’s an allegory for Alice in Wonderland but we’re not trying to impress a cute girl in English Literature now, so we won’t.

The video moves at pace, jumping around all over to give a sense of confusion and chaos. It’s a lot of fun and one that we have no doubt in proclaiming to be almost certainly a significantly more entertaining watch than Donnie Darko 2.

As an aside, while we wrote this all the lights in Alphabet Towers started flickering in agitated excitement and the wifi dropped out completely. Maybe we will be the next ones to receive a visit from Frank?

”Magnetic” is out on 1 July and is the first official single from the band’s second album, ‘Rituals’, which will be released on Warner Bros. Records on 2 September. Fenech-Soler’s next headline show will be at London’s Electric Ballroom on May 22nd. Tickets are available here.

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Review: Misty Miller – Next To You EP

At just 19 years old, Misty Miller has already crammed more into her musical career than some artists manage in a lifetime. Her debut album of ukulele-based folkiness, released when she was just 16, had many a muso jumping up and down in delight and comparisons to the likes of Laura Marling soon came flooding in. Since then though a change has occured and Misty is now all about ripped jeans, a fun-filled ‘folk that’ attitude and high octane bluesy rock. It’s quite the musical turnaround but given the quality of her latest EP, Next To You, it is one that was well worth making.

Her voice overflows with depth, passion and maturity. It is a powerful weapon in an extensive armoury and one which belies her youth. Much like her songwriting, which at times echoes the simple emotional resonance of The Airborne Toxic Event’s Mikel Jollett and conveys both youthful exuberance and world worn wisdom. They are damn catchy too.

“Next To You”, complete with its pulsating and grinding surf-guitars, and “Anything For You” are both full on, in your face, jump up and down, break stuff, blues infused pop rock gems. Both too are full of sing a long moments, get under your skin riffs and complete and utter play it loud and again-ability.

It is the softer, more soulful and wistful “Wait” that threatens to steal the show though. It exudes hope and fear, bleak optimism, love and death all delivered in a breathy, heart-wrenching lament. A lament than none-the-less features some “ooo, woo-ooo” moments that will give you a Cheshire cat grin without you even realising. You’ll also find it seeping back into your consciousness a long time after you’ve stopped listening.

That said, the slow and powerful grind of “Tea In China” is pretty special as well.

Miller is quite the talent and Next To You is a brilliant showcase for her. It will make you dance, leap about, sway, smile and maybe even cry. This is her second recent EP and while she has changed musical direction since her debut album, we can only hope she continues to embrace this newer side, as it sure does rock our world.

The ‘Next To You’ EP is out on 2 June on Relentless Records and available to pre-order here.

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Listen: Sameblod – “Norwegian Summer”

It’s been a year since Sameblod released their debut album and rocked our world (it was #5 in our albums of the year countdown) and now, after quietly slipping a couple of tracks and remixes online, they are back with a brand new release and once again, we are in love. ”I love the way you make me wait” they sing, which is exactly how we have felt while patiently awaiting their return.

Featuring trademark swirling Sameblod synths and carefree breeze like melodies, “Norwegian Summer” reprises the kind of cool summer evening sound that brought the band into our hearts in the first place. A bit more frenetic than previous offerings, it is no less infectious and enjoyable. Mikael’s vocals echoe around this deep valley of electronic wonder; synths tumble and cascade over synths while the beat clatters along underneath, sweeping forth all that exists around it.

“Norwegian Summer” is taken from the forthcoming ‘Swoon’ EP which is released on 31 May by Riot Factory records.

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