The Fat Angel Sings

Last Thursday the Stones launched their new album “Hackney Diamonds” in a packed out New York club… The full performance of “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven” from that iconic show is up now on You tube, featuring Lady Gaga, With rumblings of a secret Rolling Stones gig breezed through New York City. For a band long associated with seemingly impromptu club performances intended for an intimate audience–they had strategically assigned timing to reflect a preconceived agenda: A release party in celebration of their latest studio endeavour, the 12-track set, “Hackney Diamonds”. Included was a special appearance by Lady Gaga, who sings on the track “Sweet Sounds of Heaven.”

Before the veteran musicians appeared on stage at Racket in New York City, the night started off with a DJ set courtesy of Quest Love, and Samantha Urbani, who ignited the 650-capacity space, which soon filled with the likes of VIP guests: Elvis Costello, Daniel Craig, Chris Rock, and more, anticipating the prospect of an exceptional musical performance from one of the genres most auspicious groups.

Just after 10 p.m., the room dimmed, and with six decades worth of gained swagger, a la Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood appearing on stage. Joining the core members were bassist Darryl Jones, drummer Steve Jordan, keyboardist Matt Clifford, and background vocalist Chanel Haynes, who assisted throughout the event on choice numbers, ranging from beloved fan favourites to new material from their latest LP. 

Before the music began, Jagger directed his attention at the audience, asking: “How are you doing?” And, preluding what was to come, adding, “You having a good time? We’re going to play old! We’re going to play new!” Staying true to his word, the band ripped into the 1978 released “Shattered” before following up with a live debut of “Angry,” which represented Rolling Stone’s initial pull off “Hackney Diamonds”. 

From one new tune to the next, the band ran through “Whole Wide World” before stepping back to 1972 on “Tumbling Dice,” a song that returned to the band’s live archive after a two-year hiatus in 2021. After a tight run-through of the “Exile on Main St”. tune, Jagger directed his focus at the audience again: “This is the first club gig we’ve played in a long time in New York. I used to come to this club when it was called the Highline. Then it was called Blow and then Powder. Anyway, it’s great to be here making a racket. We’re going to make a racket with this next one. It’s called ‘Bite My Head Off.’” 

Following the aforementioned debut, the band closed the main frame after a lively rendition of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” . For the final musical moment of the event, The Rolling Stones strode off stage in fitting end-of-set fashion, only to return moments later and welcome one of their “Hackney Diamonds” collaborator to the stage. Gaga appeared assisting on “Sweet Sounds of Heaven,” adding her pristine vocals to the gospel-leaning ballad. 

Upon completing the musical performance, Gaga added, “Ladies and gentlemen, The Rolling Stones” before urging them to “Take a bow.” On the New York show & playing the album live for the first time Keith remarked – “A great feeling, you know, the band feels really good about it. A band exists.. on what it does!”

Jimmy also brought up the time Keith decided to have a cigarette backstage & set off every fire alarm…

The band’s Racket gig marked one of their smallest venue locations to date–particularly in the Tri-State area. The intimate environment assisted with the close feeling of friends experiencing new music for the first time. 

1. Shattered
2. Angry(live debut)
3. Whole Wide World(live debut)
4. Tumbling Dice
5. Bite My Head Off(live debut)
6. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
7. Encore: Sweet Sounds of Heaven(with Lady Gaga)

Mott The Hoople, a UK band that not only provided a big hit with “All The Young Dudes” from their fifth album, then gave us two more gems before calling it a day, gave Glam a chapter, But Mick Ralphs left after the “Mott” album to form Bad Company and frontman Ian Hunter began a successful solo career that is still vibrant decades later. But overall, Mott The Hoople left behind an influential legacy.

On December 8th, the great minds at Madfish Music will assist Mott The Hoople in celebrating their 50th Anniversary of their most iconic album, “All The Young Dudes“.

Originally released in 1972, this album was the springboard for a band ready to call it quits until David Bowie stepped in to help them remain grounded. 

A 140g-weight 2LP, 2CD, 7″ single slip-cased Box will supply the original album remastered as well as providing a handful of bonus tracks that include remixes, outtakes, edits, and single edits. A richly designed 72-page hardbound book will join the box, as will 3 art prints, 2 posters, a “Sea Diver” membership card replica, and a numbered certificate to authenticate the box. The 7″ vinyl single included in the box will be of the ” ‘Unlocked Car’ version of “All The Young Dudes”, backed with the UK B-side single of “One Of The Boys”.

Mott The Hoople’s David Bowie produced gem from 1972 given a remastered 50th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set treatment (with bonus tracks).  
A limited edition, the box includes 2 LPs in gatefold covers, 2 CDs, a 12” vinyl single, a 72-Page Hardback Book, 3 Art Prints, 2 Posters, a ‘Sea Divers’ membership card, and an individually numbered certificate.
 
“All the Young Dudes“, Mott’s 5th studio album, remains a special and vital record. The title track (penned by Bowie) became the band’s highest-charting hit single, with the album being referred to as, “The ultimate document of an era.” The 5-CD limited edition deluxe boxed set features newly remastered audio, rare tracks and previously unreleased takes. Also included are two vinyl LPs and a 12-inch single.
 
December 8th release. The 50th Anniversary of “All The Young Dudes” will also reissue 2LP vinyl set. 

“Need Nothing” is a song about appreciating what you have instead of dwelling on what you don’t. Gratitude is reinforced by frequent reminders and practice– upon slowing down and zooming in to a brief moment of contentedness, the ordinary can reveal itself as extraordinary.

Just like the last single, one new song with the other newer singles tacked onto the end. “Need Nothing” is probably the best of the lot so far. 

Vocals, piano, guitar, bass and synthesizers by Peter Silberman
Drums by Michael Lerner

released October 26th, 2023
Written between 2022 – 2023 by Peter Silberman and Michael Lerne

This is going to be the indie pop album of 2024. A sheer delight from start to finish. For fans of Orange Juice, Sarah Records, early Creation, Mary Chain, C86, Lush. The Umbrellas are four renegade romantics crafting irresistible indie pop hymns. The band’s self-titled 2021 debut album became a breakout moment, winning critical praise and sparking an international tour. Follow-up LP “Fairweather Friend” goes a step further – absorbing the sonic attack of their live shows, it balances this with studio finesse, allowing the San Francisco four-piece to become the band they’ve always aspired to be.

It’s a record overflowing with highlights. The candyfloss melodies of introductory track ‘Three Cheers!’ are matched to an impactful percussive punch; ‘Say What You Mean’ finds The Umbrellas working with total confidence, letting the song ride out to its chiming conclusion, four voices working in precision. ‘When You Find Out’ offers rotating notes of guitar punctuated by a vocal that pushes past angst to accept a world full of hope. A lean 10 track affair, it grasps towards beatific pop while fuelled by a sense of risk, and the precision that comes from long months on the road.

The Umbrellas coalesced around a group of musicians who would frequent legendary San Francisco record emporium Amoeba Music. Singer and guitarist Matt Ferrera links with bassist Nick Oka, while Keith Frerichs is the powerhouse drummer. A chance encounter with Morgan Stanley singing karaoke at a Fourth of July party cemented the line-up around an avowed thirst for melody. “All of us love really earnest pop songs,” Nick points out. “I guess we got to a point in our lives where we wanted to be genuine.”

Playing shows at San Francisco’s vital DIY redoubt Hit Gallery, The Umbrellas would share line-ups with local heroes such as April Magazine and Cindy. Recording their debut album across a two-day spell at Matt’s parents’ house, the results won a devoted cult following. Yet the experience of touring bonded them tightly and allowed the volume to tick up a little higher, and higher, and higher. “I think we got tired of people saying, oh you’re so much louder than I thought you’d be!” laughs Matt. “Our early recordings are sweet and earnest… and we wanted it to be louder.”

Kicking off sessions in November 2022, the band used an ad hoc space Matt created in his basement, working across a four-month period. Sessions were a little more relaxed in terms of timescale than their debut, but The Umbrellas were incredibly focussed on the project. “We gave ourselves more space for this album,” says Keith. “We wanted time to sit on the songs, and really work on them.”

Allowing their live dynamic to bleed out on tape, The Umbrellas are at once more physical and yet also more controlled on their new album. Take opening track ‘Three Cheers!’ – the peppy, sun-soaked rush masks a barbed lyric, courtesy of Nick Oka. “It’s a pseudo-political song about power struggles that occur in a job situation, or a friend group. It’s an observational song.”

‘Toe The Line’ has an unkempt, rollicking sense of energy, the playful relationship analogy of the lyric pushed to the speed of light by Keith’s ultra-fast punk drumming. ‘When You Find Out’ meanwhile epitomises their unified, egalitarian way of making music – with The Umbrellas, each voice counts. “It sounds different from any song we’ve ever written together,” says Morgan. “It shows how much we’ve grown. Trust helps us to build the songs. It’s definitely a team effort.”

It’s also a record of ambition. ‘Say What You Mean’ stretches past the four-minute mark, the viola performance informed by Estonian minimalist composer Arvo Pärt. ‘Gone’ was the first song attempted for the new album, and the last they actually finished, endless re-writes transforming it into a manifesto of control and release. Taken as a whole ‘Fairweather Friend’ is a bold indie pop triumph, crafted with purpose and attention. Taking their time over each note, the four-piece have strengthened their song writing, adding depth and assurance while unlocking their potential. Some bonds last a lifetime – The Umbrellas are ready to capture your heart.

“Fairweather Friend,” out January 26th 2024 on Slumberland Records & Tough Love Records.

The Leeds outfit Yard Act return sounding as lively as ever. Showing no signs of slowing down Yard Act announce a new co-produced record with Gorillaz’ Remi Kabaka Jr. Taking notes from Fela Kuti to Ennio Morricone, the band dig into a broader sonic world with Smith’s lyrics front and centre that reach to new heights.

In the wake of this year’s riff-tastic, parklife-esque epic, ‘Trenchcoat Museum’, our ears are salivating at the prospect of a whole new album of creatively virile new material, as Yard Act unveil their sophomore opus, ‘Where’s My Utopia?’

for us, this release has some pretty big shoes to fill, as it’s following in the footsteps of a debut that blasted its way into our top 10 favourite records of 2022! but all signs point towards a group that’s honed its sardonic, groovy post-punk sound whilst expanding into more vibrant & explorative avenues, & we can’t wait to reap the whirlwind.

can they catch lightning in a bottle twice? our money’s on “absolutely they can!”

The New Pornographers are thrilled to share “Firework in the Falling Snow (Acoustic Version),” a reworking of the “Continue as a Guest” standout featuring a huge guest of its own in Aimee Mann!

As they begin their West Coast tour, The New Pornographers shared a reworked, acoustic version of the track “Firework in the Falling Snow,” featuring Aimee Mann.

“I played the new song ‘Firework in the Falling Snow’ at last year’s Aimee Mann and Ted Leo Christmas Show, and Aimee joined me on vocals,” A.C. Newman says. “So I figured, let’s do a for-real studio version like this, and here it is. Honoured to sing with her—she is a giant and just a cool person.”

New album ‘Continue as a Guest’ out now on Merge Records.

Suicide Squeeze celebrates Chastity Belt with the latest in its split 7″ single series–a pair of covers by Friends of the Band and tourmates Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett. For this release, Kurt and Courtney each recorded a song from the band’s third album, 2017’s “I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone”, in their signature styles. Side K is Kurt’s version of “This Time of Night,” on which he lovingly recreates the anxious interplay of Julia Shapiro and Lydia Lund’s guitars, stretching each note of the song’s fraught vocal melody to its breaking point.

Says Kurt Vile of this Chastity Belt cover: “When I first met Chastity Belt it was Halloween 2015 in Amsterdam and they were all wearing pointy elf ears. I joke with them that ever since I saw them with those pointy ears I knew… but what? Maybe that we were soul mates! I missed their set that night but we had alotta fun anyways… A couple yrs later I heard a joint interview / podcast with Julia (of Chazzy) and Courtney (Barnett!) and then I immediately played Chazzy’s latest album: “I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone”. It hit me hard right away… So catchy but with lyrics both hilarious while true to life… sad and beautiful all at once… nostalgic hooks, great songs.”

Flip the record to Side C for Courtney’s take on “Different Now,” where she pulls the song from its Pacific Northwest haze, leaves it out to dry in the middle of the desert, and wrings something almost joyous from the original’s ambiguity. “This Time of Night” / “Different Now” will be available on vinyl and digital platforms, with a one-time retail vinyl pressing limited to 1500 (250 pink, 250 black, 1000 blue) copies on heavyweight vinyl.

From the founding member of Sonic Youth, a passionate memoir tracing the author’s life and art—from his teen years as a music obsessive in small-town Connecticut, to the formation of his legendary rock group, to thirty years of creation, experimentation, and wonder.

A study of a life lived in an environment of wild music and endless wonder, Sonic Life is the long-awaited memoir of iconic American musician and Sonic Youth frontman, Thurston Moore. A music-obsessed retrospective, beginning with his childhood epiphany of rock ’n’ roll in the early 1960s into an infatuation with the subversive world of 1970s punk and no wave blasting forth from New York City – where he eventually runs off to join a band in 1978. By 1981 Moore would form the legendary and notorious experimental rock group Sonic Youth, who proceeded to record and tour relentlessly for almost 30 years, always progressing, always exploring.

Along the way we meet a constellation of artists and musicians who colluded and collided with Sonic Youth including Velvet Underground, Stooges, Patti Smith, Television, Sex Pistols, Clash, Nirvana, Hole, Beastie Boys, Neil Young and a cavalcade of other musical visionaries, as well as figures from the art world – Jean Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Gerhard Richter.

Simply put, Thurston Moore and Sonic Youth changed the sound of modern alternative rock music and opened the minds of a generation of artists to new possibilities within the form. This is essential reading.

“Laugh Track” is the band’s most freewheeling, all-hands-on-deck album in years. If “Frankenstein” represented a rebuilding of trust between group members after 20+ years together, the vibrant, exploratory “Laugh Track” is both the product of that faith and a new statement of intent.

Revelling in the license to radically upend its creative process, The National honed most of this material in live performances on tour this year, and captured those invigorated versions in impromptu sessions at producer Tucker Martine’s Portland studio, Flora Recording & Playback. The nearly eight-minute album closer ‘Smoke Detector’ was recorded in June during a Vancouver soundcheck, completing a body of work bristling with spontaneity and vintage rock energy that makes a perfect complement to the songs found on its more introspective predecessor.

The surprise companion to The National’s April release “First Two Pages of Frankenstein”, “Laugh Track” is the band’s most freewheeling, all-hands-on-deck album in years.

released September 18, 2023

“Hurt So Bad” is the brand new single from London three-piece Girl Ray, and their first new music since the recent critically acclaimed album “Prestige”.

The band share on the track, “Hurt So Bad” was written during the pandemic, when I was working on writing our third album and still deciding what the feel of it would be. Initially I thought that a more electronic/house inspired sound would be a good fit for us, and with “Give Me Your Love” and “Hurt So Bad” demoed, we visited Al Doyle and Joe Goddard’s studio near Brick Lane to flesh them out. They were a great match for the songs, and we loved playing with their mountains of rare synths.

Although our album ended up being more live, I think you can still hear the beginnings of our disco inspiration in this track.”

released October 25th, 2023