T R A C K S      O F      T H E     Y E A R     

check 'em out

PEACE - 1998

Splashh - All I Wanna Do

Swim Deep - Honey

DIIV - Oshin (Subsume)

Tame Impala - Elephant

Pond - Fantastic Explosion of Time

Temples - Shelter Song

Alt-j - Taro

FOALS - My Number

Wild Nothing - Shadow

Bahamas - Lost In The Light

Mac De Marco - Freaking Out The Neighborhood 

happy new year
&

bring on '13

    I N T E R V I E W    

  Q/A  

   A L T E R N A T I V E     J U K E B O X   

Picture courtesy of 'http://cosmicambience.wordpress.com/'

  SWIM DEEP  

≈

I interviewed SWIM DEEP for 'Alternative Jukebox' which you can check out below:

BTOWNERS Swim Deep have made quite a name for themselves this year. The release of ‘Honey’ catapulted Swim Deep into the music worlds spotlight, their distinctive trashy-look and ‘beach grunge’ vibes have caught the eyes of many. With stacks of plays on MTV, the launch of a solo tour and talks of their debut record, Swim Deep are a band to watch. We spoke to the Austin, Higgy, Zachary and Cavan to mark the closing stages to a successful year and to discuss what’s next as they drop the tour-partying antics for work in the studio.

You guys just finished a UK tour with Splashh and Spector, how was the tour?

It was incredible. We couldn't of hand picked a better tour if we tried. We were basically just partying with our best friends for a month straight.  

How were Splashh and Spector as company on the tour? 

Really cool man, There we're just so many vibes floating around you could see them, and eat them.

Any crazy or troublesome antics on tour with Spector/Splashh? 

I think we managed to get us Spector and Splashh kicked out of every single bar we went into after the shows. We were just being little brats to be honest. I (Zach) got wrestled to the ground by a huge bouncer in one of the city's it was really funny looking back, but really scary too.

Are you surprised at the support ‘Honey’ has been getting? Plays on MTV in particular are nothing to be ashamed off. 

Definitely nothing to be ashamed of. It’s just so amazing that our music's making its way into people’s minds through all these cool shows that we all used to watch when we we're little being like 'How cool would it be to get on this show man' It’s a dream I guess.

In Feb, you’re off riding solo, you excited about embarking on a solo tour and to take centre stage?

Yes we can’t wait, We've only played like 2/3 headline shows so far and there definitely the coolest shows, to know that everyone in the crowd is there to see you play is an amazing feeling. It all seems so far away though because we have an album to record before it, but it’s going to be ace!

Which dates are you most excited about on your tour? 

All of them. Obviously the home coming to Birmingham is going to be huge, the London date, but we've been to most of these cities before on the Spector tour so it’s going to be so good to go back and rock shit.

How has the recording process of the album been so far? 

Great, we're in Brussels and at the moment it feels like it’s the best place we could have chosen, the vibes are so good out here, the studios amazing, we have the best producer (Charlie Hugall) what more could we possibly need...

Whats the next step for Swim Deep? 

Well we have the album to record, then we have Christmas to celebrate which we're all huge fans of, headline tour in February. Next year's going to be very busy for swim deep it’s going to be incredible.

   T R A C K S   O F    T H E    W E E K   

Listening to:

#1

temples / shelter song

#2

allah-las / catamaran

#3

the staves / tongue behind my teeth

#4

mac demarco / freaking out the neighborhood

#5

palma violets / best of friends

                                     M U S I C A L     M A T H E M A T I C S                                      

&

                                     A L T E R N A T I V E    J U K E B O X                              

New work. Working for both Musical Mathematics and Alternative Jukebox, two very diverse, contemporary and ever-expanding music websites. Please check out the links below for interviews, new music, columns and so much more. Big thanks to editors Andy Crowder (MM) & Sam Cornworth (AJ) for welcoming me to the teams. 

http://musicalmathematics.co.uk/

http://www.alternativejukebox.com/

In the meanwhile sit back and listen to Mac:

   N E W    M U S I C   

FOALS

inhaler

Foals are back, and packing a punch. New single 'Inhaler' is the latest record by this Oxford five piece. A new sound for a band that are constantly creating and expanding there musical direction. A lifetime away from there previous records. Their pre-pubescent debut 'Antidotes' and the solemn maturity of 'Total Life Forever' seem a distant memory to the destructive, over-driving sound of new record 'Inhaler' which is off their latest album 'Holy Fire' due in February 2013. 

Something new, but something grand. 

listen below

Foals are also embarking on a grand 'sweatbox' tour of the UK. 

The dates are below:

1-28 Sheffield, England - Queens Social Club
11-29 Leicester, England - Lock 29
11-30 Stoke, England - Sugarmill
12-02 Doncaster, England - Leopard
12-03 Derby, England - The Venue
12-04 Gloucester, England - Guildhall
12-06 Southampton, England - Cellar
12-07 Bournemouth, England - 60 Million Lights
12-08 Aldershot, England - West End Centre
12-10 Brighton, England - Concorde 2
12-11 Tunbridge Wells, England - Forum
01-23 Sydney, Australia - Oxford Art Factory

                                                                     L  I  V  E                                                                 

tame impala

@

brixton academy

30th October 2012

Picture courtesy of RichardIsaac.co.uk

The 30th of October saw the arrival of Aussie band tame impala entertain a sold out crowd at Brixton Academy. They delivered a set that never grew stale, or lack-lusted yet a constant remember of why tame impala are so loved and adored. The pure essence of psychedelia on a 70s groove. The bands selection of songs kept an excitable audience on their toes as uproars of cheers echoed around the theatre at the break of each song. Crowd favourites 'Elephant', 'Solitude is Bliss' & 'Mind Mischief' were clear examples of how to get a crowd moving. Amongst a packed setlist oozing with psychedelia and experimental rock the bands performance felt entirely unique and fresh, somehow. With strong supports from 'The Amazing' & 'Young Dreams' it created the perfect showcase for these Aussie favourites. If you ever get to see this band, go. Even just to appreciate what a wonderfully creative & unique genre psychedelic rock can be.

9.5/10

*****

              M U S I C   B R O K E   M Y   B O N E S           

I am now writing for Music Broke My Bones, feel free to check out the website @ www.musicbrokemybones.co.uk

Here are my two single reviews available on the site.
Be sure to visit for new music, features, interviews, and downloads.

Release Date – 22nd October 2012

Label – Domino

Rating – 5/10

Villagers have returned after their debut album Becoming a Jackal reached the hearts of folk/alternative lovers a-like. However, new track ‘The Waves’ seems to be a new sound in comparison to the humble, warming sound of the first album. The track itself starts as if Villagers have taken a dose of electronica. Its always an enjoyable risk to hear bands push their boundaries, and try to create a new sound, but in terms of Villagers perhaps they should have stuck with what they know. The song itself I think fails to cover-up a rebranding of their sound, it’s as much a new sound, but not necessarily as strong as their previous record.

Release Date – 26th November 2012

Label – Believe Recordings

Rating – 6/10

Oxford five-piece Wild Swim have released their debut track ‘Echo’. A truly distinctive sound that is created by the sheer voice prowess of frontman Richard Sansom. Sansom’s haunting high-octave voice progressively immerses you in the track. Often compared to the likes of Wild Beasts, Wild Swim have created a track that is unflustered, creative and progressive. The track is laced with intricate drum patterns, seductive keyboard and the vocal mastery of Sansom’s. A band that are worth a listen, yet perhaps not something to scream and shout about. The band have released a self-produced b-sides with their second track ‘Bright Eyes’.