Phenomenal Cat - Yours Sincerely.

Phenomenal Cat release their 11th single of the year and whilst I could rave on about this band for a lifetime, like I have all year, I am handing this one over to my lovely guest contributor "Interplanet Janet."

Sax Please. We’re British.
How Phenomenal Cat Are Reworking the Brit Sound

When I was nineteen and the irresistable lure of London reeled me in, I met a member of a soon-to-be successful Britpop band, and discovered to my delight that he was my neighbour. We bonded in our mutual insomnia and spent many a late and early morning hour listening to his records and discussing all things music-related.  One night, as we sat on his floor and drank tea, the conversation led him to accuse me of being an Anglophile.  I was nineteen, from The Midwest in America, and in all honesty— pretty thick. I was taken aback. What did he just call me? Confused, and suspecting that I just had a very British insult hurled at me, he went on to clarify that this simply meant a love of all things English. Looking back, he was most definitely right in his assessment, at least when it came to music. Now, many years later, and me being hopefully a bit less thick, I still wear that label with pride, but also because I don’t know the proper term for lover of all things British. Never mind. The point is, from those educational wee hours to this very day, I am always  astounded by the quality music that comes out of the UK.
So what’s the scene like now? If your looking for something a bit more interesting and with a bit more depth than what’s in the charts, there’s no better place to start than with Phenomenal Cat, an eclectic band from Kent who are carrying on the tradition of flying the Union Jack high, both in imagery and in sound. At times, one could almost mistake them for an exuberant 90s Britpop band, if it weren’t for some key differences that make them so very now (for example, their genre-hopping instrumentation). Postcards From The British Empire is an ambitious twelve-month project wherein the band write, record and release one song for each month of 2012. Aside from the songs themselves, I think it’s worth noting that the imagery on each single’s cover art is fabulously retro, wonderfully nostalgic and very creative. 

There’s a problem though. Whenever I see the word British Empire, the Critical Studies scholar in me eventually tries to force her way into my consciousness. What does it mean to be British? What about the contentious post-colonial legacy? I’ll stop myself here, for the sake of not boring you into a coma but also because that’s political. When used in the context of popular music, Britishness always strikes me as an immensely positive thing. A proud, yet irresistable mix of tongue-in-cheek humour and likeable self-awareness attached to a cultural identity that Brits and music lovers across the globe just get. The musical genealogy of Britain is too vast to even attempt to sum up in a few words, besides, you already know it. Instead, like Phenomenal Cat, I’ll give a nod to bands like the Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, but also Blur, Pulp and many other 90s Britpop bands who lamented aspects of modern Britain but who also carried a sense of pride along with them and, to boot, had the pluck to challenge America’s sense of entitlement in the international music scene. 

Yours Sincerely is Phenomenal Cat’s track for November and it is a rolicking romp of brass and rocking guitar licks, sung with an accent guaranteed to charm the pants of impressionable Americans. Having now listened to  all the eleven singles that have been released to date, one can see musical patterns and lyrical themes merge into what one might think of as the band’s distinct sound. It’s a delicate operation though. Just when you think they may be in danger of becoming a caricature of a Brit band or a pastiche of all the Brit bands that have ever been, they do one of two things:  they create a bridge and continue to play a very different song. The three-songs-for-the-price-of-one approach to songwriting that Paul McCartney does so well springs to mind here. I always loved that about Macca and it works with Phenomenal Cat as well. Oh, and if I forgot to mention it before, you should know that this band can rock when they want to. The other novel thing they do in some of their songs is adopt a piece of Americana to balance things out a bit. If you listen closely to all the tracks, you should be able to spot a jangly Byrds riff, what I think is a slide guitar and, I kid you not, at least one cracking sax solo. Yep, that’s right. I know the saxophone is a mainstay in some British stalwarts like The Specials, Madness and other funky bands like Ian Dury and The Blockheads, but they fall into what I would consider a different subgenre. It’s remarkable how Phenomenal Cat manage to deftly and brilliantly incorporate so many different features of British music to date, across the spectrum and throughout time.  

 On top of that, they throw a little Americana into the mix that, quite frankly, has left me thinking if I hadn’t heard it for myself I’d say it couldn’t be done well. This is all while still trying to get the absolutely brilliant and ultra-catchy single from March, also titled Postcards From The British Empire, out my head.  Ah, but there’s plenty of room in there.

Interplanet Janet

Download the single for a "Name Your Price" fee or Free, but definately download this single, Ray Davies would have liked to have penned this one!  Get it here: Bandcamp

The band are producing a bespoke box set of the years singles ready for Christmas, show someone you really love them, with that one, diamonds are forever, but music is for longer! All details on the Bandcamp page.

Like, love, befriend, contact, follow Phenomenal Cat here: Facebook

Many thanks to Interplanet Janet, again, for her contribution to the blog.

The Barbacans - No Hits For The Kids. OUT NOW

Fuzz and Farfisa galore, The Barbacans, from Fano in Italy, really rip it up on "No Hits For The Kids,"  guitars chopping so hard and fast, they could clear a forest in under 3 minutes, which is ideal, as in true 60's garage style, not one song on the album passes the 3 minute mark, short, sharp and great!

The band recorded their debut album, "God Save The Fuzz" in 2009 at the famous "Circus Perrotti Studio" in Gijon, Spain and was released on the excellent "Boss Hoss Records" label, gaining the band media interest and wall to wall positive reviews.

During one of their concerts in Italy, two members of the band were shot by an ex policeman who was angry about the volume, leaving one of the band requiring surgery for their injuries, an experience the band want to forget, but a story that will stay with them for life.  The offender, strangely, served no jail time!

The Barbacans name is derived from local slang, with Barbacan meaning a bad and lazy man, which, when you look at this bands touring schedule, you have to wonder if they chose the right name for themselves?  The band have played extensively in Europe and in the early months of 2012 played Mexico and China.

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Barbacans here: Facebook

Stream the bands first album here: God Save The Fuzz

Buy the bands album from: Boss Hoss Records

The Riots

The Riots are three young men with an excessive lifestyle, they hail from the Russian city Perm.

After finishing school the lads made haste for London to indulge in the Mod culture of the UK, no doubt taking the 5.15 to the Mod mecca of Brighton during that year, they then returned to Russia and set about making some great music in Moscow.

Originally known as the "White Trainer Community" the band released 2 singles and a long player (all of which are well worth checking out) but, like all good things, the band came to an end after problems with EMI in Russia, but, with a serious passion for music the band rose from the ashes and reformed with a new name and a new drive.

This year, the band have released 3 singles, "Dance on your problems," "Out of control" and "Truncheons, shields and size 10 boots," all which have met very positive critical acclaim, both at home in Russia, their 2nd home, the Uk and all over Europe.

The bands mod sounds hail more from the UK mod revival period rather than the 60's, so what you get is all the energy and excitement of bands like The Jam, added to that is a little of The Clash, which all makes for something special.  If like me you were in the scene back in 79, you were either a Clash fan or a Jam fan, whilst, of course, liking the other band as some sort of guilty pleasure, The Riots bring all that together and save us the need for any guilty pleasures.

The lads have recently enjoyed a small tour of Germany and are planning more tour dates in and around Europe (Don't forget Sweden in there chaps!) and look as though they are going to set the world ablaze with their high octane fuelled take on all things Mod.
Work is well underway on a new album which is due for release very soon and it promises to shake up a sleepy and dour music scene.

The previous incarnation of the band, "White Trainer Community" should also be high on your list to check out, mixing the sound of The Libertines, Secret Affair, The Chords etc, once again high energy music that will be sure to get you in the mood to party like it is 1979 again, and the X-Factor and all that shit is still a long way off in the future, waiting for a certain size 10 boot to kick it where the sun don't shine!

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Riots here: Facebook

7" Singles "Out Of Control" and "Dance On your Problems" available here, you can also pre order the "White Trainers Community album too, which is set for release on the 6th of December:
 Time For Action

The latest release "Truncheons, Shields And Size 10 Boots" available here: Copasetic

As soon as the new album is released, I will put up a review and details of where it can be purchased.

The Smoking Trees - Acetates (2012)

Here is a lovely treat for a Monday morning, some really cool sunshine infused, 60's styled psychedelia.

The Smoking Trees are duo from Los Angeles, California, made up of Sir Psych and L.A Al. Acetates is an all out psychedelic pop album that is decorated & performed in pure 60's fashion. 21 songs with over 70 minutes of music, which is full of catchy hooks, echoed harmonies, backwards guitars, harpsichords, sitars, and pounding drums. All of which that makes up an overall fun release to wind down 2012.

"Acetates" has a really warm sound and the production of the album is excellent, the songs are well crafted using a multitude of instruments and percussion producing catchy pop psyche songs that may well lead you to think we are just drawing into a good summer rather than into winter.

The official release date for the album is 27th November and you can stream and buy the album here: The Smoking Trees. Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Smoking Trees here: Facebook

Suzi Chunk - Girl from the neck down.

A while back I ran a feature on the brilliant "State Records" and some of their artists, I briefly mentioned Suzi Chunk then, but this very talented young lady really deserves a feature of her very own on the blog, Suzi's songs will make you want to smile and dance and return to them time after time.

Teesside born Suzi moved to Cardiff in the late 90's where she began her singing career providing backing vocals for a wide variety of bands/artists. These included Tigertailz, Syd Kitchen,Then Came The Wheel, Alan Thomson All Stars, Frank O'Hagan, Rhian Benson, Angel De Lux, Leighton Jones, Angel Farringdon and the John Martyn Band. In the mid-Noughties she worked with rock/funk outfit Dark Chunk (from where she took her surname and became Suzi Chunk) who were named as Best Newcomer at the Glastonbury Festival in 2004 and went on to record an album-"Multi Speed Stimulator" -in 2005. She went on to work and record with Omega66 and still regularly plays live gigs with Monkjack.

It was Suzi's lead vocal work with Omega66 (the track "Celebrity Burn Out" to be precise) that caught the attention of songwriter Glenn Prangnell (of Groovy Uncle)and prompted him to ask Suzi if she'd be interested in recording lead and backing vocals on a Groovy Uncle album. Suzi was receptive to the idea and travelled to Sandgate Sound Studios in Kent to record 3 songs written especially for her. By the end of the session it became obvious to all that this album should be a Suzi Chunk album and everyone got to work on what would become the "Girl From The Neck Down" album. During one of those sessions it was decided that a single was needed and "Look Back And Laugh"/"Tripwire" became Suzi's debut solo release in April 2012. Both album and single were released by State Records on vinyl.

Suzi's track "Look Back And Laugh" has been short listed for Little Stevens "Coolest song in the world 2012" so if you like what you hear and want to show your support go over and click on her song to vote for her, no registration or anything needed to participate and you can vote once every 24 hours too, I know I will be!

Little Stevens coolest song in the world 2012

The album is available on cd format here: www.groovyuncle.co.uk

Vinyl format here: State Records

Downloads are available here: itunes and amazon

Contact, befriend, follow like and love Suzi Chunk here: Facebook

Sunday Sun - III FREE DOWNLOAD

Now this album has some fantastic harmonies and tunes, I can't help thinking of Fountains of Wayne when listening to Sunday Sun, and that can only be a positive thing.  Having the word "Sun" in the bands name is perfect, if I close my eyes and listen to this, I can pretty much feel the warmth of the sun on my back, this is music for summer days kicking back, hanging with friends and enjoying a long cold beer and whilst summer is but a distant memory now, this should help to keep those winter blues at bay.

Sunday Sun hail from Uterecht/Amsterdam but have a sound that will make you think of Californian beaches and sun kissed days, happy days!

Sunday Sun are:

  Yoshi Breen Vocals/Guitar/Keys

Koen-Willem Toering Vocals/Guitar 

Jan Teertstra Bass/Vocals 

Wouter Rentema Drums/Vocals

Go grab your Free Download here: Bandcamp

(Be sure to check out the other amazing releases by the band too!)

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Sunday Sun here: Facebook

The Biarritz Boys - Enjoy the hip, slick, ultra​-​violent and super sexy surfsound of​.​.​. (Name Your Price Download)

The Dutch, famed for their canals, bikes, tulips windmills and clogs now add surf to their attractions, not just any old surf, super cool surf music that will have you flocking in your droves to Amsterdam with your longboard and hanging ten along the stretches of the Prinsengracht and Herengracht canals.

Ok, maybe not, but, The Biarritz Boys play surf music that will move you into a state of mind that will make you want to grab your board and head for the nearest stretch of beach.

Founded in 2001. Played wet 'n wild surfshows all over Europe. Just finished a smashing new album. Ready to shoot curls on stages all around the globe.

- Enjoy the hip, slick, ultra-violent and supersexy surfsound of The Biarritz Boys -

The album is available for download for  a "Name Your Price" fee, as always, with this option, please consider making some sort of donation to the band, this will ensure that they are adequately funded to make more great music in the future.

Download and Stream the album here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, surf, like and love The Biarritz Boys here: Facebook