The Fat Angel Sings

“Uncertain Joys” is the fifth studio album by The Subways, and their first without longtime drummer Josh Morgan. Drummer Camille Phillips now rounds out the trio that also includes guitarist/vocalist Billy Lunn and bassist/vocalist Charlotte Cooper.

The keyboards in the album’s title track give the song an ‘80’s synth-pop vibe. Cooper’s bass provides the foundation, and there is some good vocal interplay between Lunn and Cooper in the song’s midsection. “Lavender Amelie” is acoustic based and has a lighter touch than most of the other material on the album. There is a brief clip of studio banter at the start of the song. Lunn’s vocal on the track is quite good. The rocker “Influencer Killed The Rock Star” features a tight performance by the band, solid drumming by Phillips and terrific vocals by Lunn and Cooper. “Fight,” the first song that the band recorded without Morgan on drums, is a very political song that was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s a heavy track on which Lunn delivers the lead vocal in rapid-fire style.

“You Kill My Cool” features a slightly distorted vocal by Lunn and is a rocker that should go over very well in live performances. “Love Waiting On You” is a good power-pop tune that has the feel of a tune that you might hear on AM radio in the 1970s. Cooper’s backing vocals on the track are quite good. “Incantation” is a powerful tune that has the band firing on all cylinders, and it has great vocals by Lunn and Cooper throughout.

In the rocking “Black Wax,” Lunn namechecks several artists, including Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Madonna, Fiona Apple and Aretha Franklin, in the song’s midsection. Phillips’ drumming propels the heavy “Swanky Al.”

The album closer “Futures” is a bit of a wild card. It starts out heavy with rock-solid drumming, good guitar and bass and a strong vocal performance by Lunn. About three minutes in, it downshifts into a keyboard-driven section that provides a synth-pop mood. It then morphs back into a heavy rocker. Toward the song’s conclusion, it shifts once again to light keyboards with distorted spoken-word vocals.

“Uncertain Joys” is a 12-track album that would have been better served with 10 tracks. The weaker tracks hurt the album and seem like padding. While the album lacks a breakout single like their 2005 hit “Rock & Roll Queen,” it is a worthwhile release that the fans should enjoy. And it will provide some powerhouse songs to the band’s concert setlists.

Jethro Tull launch first single “Ginnungagap.” taken from their 23rd studio album, ‘RökFlöte’, which is set for release on April 21st, 2023 via InsideOutMusic. Following 2022’s ‘The Zealot Gene’, the band’s first album in two decades, Ian Anderson and the band are returning with a 12-track record based on the characters and roles of some of the principle gods of the old Norse paganism, and at the same time exploring the ‘RökFlöte’ — rock flute -which Jethro Tull has made iconic.

Today also sees the launch of the first single from the album, and you can watch the stunning animated video for ‘Ginnungagap’

The track takes inspiration from the god Ymir, the proto-being, a primeval being, who was born from venom that dripped from the icy rivers called the Élivágar and lived in the grassless void ​of Ginnungagap.

Ian explains the album’s title & theme in more detail: “The title of this offering went through a little change or two along the way. I started with the idea of a predominantly instrumental album for rock flute – as in rock music. When the subject material of the album presented itself, I was drawn to the term Ragnarök from Norse mythology – their version of apocalyptic end times or Biblical Armageddon. The “final showdown” scenario is ubiquitous and inherent in Hinduism, Christianity and Islam, for example. Ragnarök translates as “destiny of the Gods”, the rök part meaning destiny, course, direction. With umlaut firmly in place, courtesy of the Germanic origins of Old Norse, Flute became Flöte in keeping with the spelling. With me so far? I just can’t miss the glorious opportunity for a good and legitimate umlaut.”

With more than 30 albums to their credit and sales totalling more than 50 million, Jethro Tull are one of the most successful rock bands of all-time with a catalogue that contains classics that still resonate today. Led by Ian Anderson, Tull still continue to tour throughout the world

‘RökFlöte’ will be available on several different formats, including two limited deluxe formats that include bonus demo material, extensive liner notes & a blu-ray featuring Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround sound, alternative stereo mixes by Bruce Soord (The Pineapple Thief), as well as a bonus track and in-depth interview with Ian Anderson. The album will also be available digitally in the spatial audio formats Dolby Atmos & Sony 360 RA.

When Sophie Allison says to our friends and coworkers assembled around the desk, “We’re finally doin’ it,” she really means it. A little less than exactly three years ago, Allison had just released the wonderful “Colour Theory” as Soccer Mommy; it’s an album that marked significant strides in her songwriting and production. A big year was doubtless in store for her and her bandmates… and we all know how that went. The band’s visit to the Tiny Desk, scheduled for March 30, 2020, was the first of many to be canceled due to the pandemic.

That time in history required a lot of lemonade-making from all of us; we at NPR Music and beyond were lucky that, not too long after lockdown had sunk its teeth in, Soccer Mommy was the first to record a Tiny Desk (Home) performance for us. It was an early, much-needed sign that life might still be waiting for us on the other end. But, as we’ve learned well, there’s no replacement for proximity.

With all of that indelibly in mind, it was particularly lovely and emotional welcoming Sophie, guitarist Julian Powell, keyboard player Rodrigo Avendano, bassist Nickolas Widener and percussionist Rollum Haas, finally, to the Tiny Desk. Their four-song set, with work from each era of Soccer Mommy’s catalogue, is beautifully performed and contoured.

SET LIST “Shotgun” “circle the drain” “newdemo” “Still Clean”

MUSICIANS Sophie Allison – vocals, guitar Julian Powell – guitar Rodrigo Avendano – keyboards Nickolas Widener – bass Rollum Haas – drum machine

Billie Marten releases her fourth record “Drop Cherries” via Fiction Records. Recorded entirely on tape in Somerset and Wales late last summer, “Drop Cherries” marks the very first time that Billie Marten has both written and co-produced (with Dom Monks) one of her records; following critically-lauded 2021 album “Flora Fauna, Feeding Seahorses by Hand” (2019) and “Writing of Blues and Yellows” (2016).

The title is taken from a tale she heard from a friend just before she was starting to create songs for the album, and the title track came soon after. It’s a metaphor where the gift of cherries stands for offering someone your love; doing anything you can to make them happy. “Dropping cherries,” she begins, “is such a strong, visceral image that I tried to channel throughout recording in Somerset and Wales, to capture the vibrancy, unpredictability, and occasional chaos one experiences within a relationship

The new album ‘Drop Cherries’ out 7th April.

And so it has arrived. 2023. And just like that our fourth album, “Pedestrian Verse” turns 10 years old. This has always been the album we were most proud of as a band. It was written collectively and I think was the best and most mature example of Scott’s songwriting.

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Frightened Rabbit’s critically acclaimed Pedestrian Verse album, this special edition release contains the original 12 track album with an additional 11 bonus tracks.

“Pedestrian Verse” was the bands fourth studio album by Frightened Rabbit, originally released on 4th February 2013 on Atlantic Records. Produced by Leo Abrahams and the band itself, it is the only studio album to feature guitarist and keyboardist Gordon Skene, who departed from Frightened Rabbit following the album’s accompanying tour. Partly inspired by a break-up, the album features increased song writing contributions from each member of the band

On marking the 10 year Anniversary of the album, we wanted people to see his lyric notes and get an insight in to how he works on a song from start to finish. We’re immensely proud of this album and will be forever grateful for where it took us.

Disc 1 is pressed on clear vinyl and disc 2 is pressed on black vinyl.
The records are housed in a gatefold outer sleeve with a gold foiled motif on the front cover and printed inner sleeves containing album lyrics. Celebrate its 10-year birthday with us and raise a dram. It’s appropriate to drink at a 10th birthday party right?!

“Pedestrian Verse” 10th Anniversary Edition is out 17th March

With their highly anticipated debut album due out later next month, Honeyglaze have shared new single “Female Lead” and announced new shows, including Wet Leg dates followed by their own headline tour in May, and numerous festivals this summer.

Their Dan Carey-produced, self-titled debut album will be released on 29th April 2022 via Speedy Wunderground.

The South London based, haiku-loving trio formed just before the first lockdown, and a combination of compelling live performances and early singles “Shadows“, “Creative Jealousy” and “Burglar” has seen their profile rise rapidly and garner support from a plethora of early fans including Steve Lamacq, Matt Wilkinson and Wet Leg – who have all declared themselves in love with their intoxicating brand of poetic lyrics and impressive musicianship. Today they also share new single, “Female Lead“, with accompanying video directed by James Ogram and the band’s Anouska Sokolow, and featuring Jojo Macari, one of the stars of Netflix’s Sex Education.

“I was overwhelmed by the state of the world during the first lockdown and constantly being surrounded by bad news,” Anouska says of “Female Lead”. “It was a time when people were playing with changing their appearance and I felt incapable of writing anything of any actual importance so I decided to write about something as completely arbitrary as dying my hair. I was inspired by the song ‘Leader of the Pack’ by the Shangri-las  and the narrative heavy pop songs that were coming out of the Brill building during the 60s.”

Of the video she adds, “Given that the song itself is so narrative heavy, we knew we wanted to make something with its own separate story. It started off with some ideas about duality and stolen identity. I had recently watched Casablanca that’s where we got the idea of this movie character coming to life and we ended up writing a full scene for a made-up, 50s adventure romance. The rest was kind of influenced by films like Mullholland Drive and Purple Rose of Cairo.”

After her visceral debut single for Speedy Wunderground, “Consistent Dedication,”  Heartworms (Aka Jojo Orme) returns with another incredible slice of gothic-tinged dystopian post/punk/rock. 

“Retributions Of An Awful Life” is magnificent, the sort of music that stops you in your tracks –   full of throbbing menace, dark poetry angular guitars and propulsive rhythms that is light years away from the vile ghastly flaccid morass of cowflop that indie music has become.  This is genuinely exciting original music from an artist who could well take 2023 by storm. The track is from her debut EP “A Comforting Notion”

Released on 24th March via Speedy Wunderground , The track arrives with an equally mesmeric video which Heartworms describes thus “The song itself lyrically is deeply unsettling, I wanted it to come alive in action. I had an idea of being kitted up in full militaria of no specific regiments, in black and white, putting my body through cold water and wet mud. This was stepping outside my comfort zone because I’m not a skilled swimmer; deep water frightens me immensely, especially when cold and in full military gear.”

Official Music Video for “Retributions Of An Awful Life” by Heartworms, taken from the band’s debut EP ‘A Comforting Notion’ – out 24th March on Speedy Wunderground.

A leap of faith reaps extraordinary rewards on “Black Bay”, an album of depth, atmosphere and daring from the collective known as Silver Moth. Recorded under unusual circumstances, “Black Bay” is the sound of seven storied musicians yielding to shared goals, a policy of trust in action. Between hushed incantations and molten guitars, 15-minute noise-rock epics and healing psalms, the record is a testament to connectivity and receptivity: to a union of disparate minds committing to something greater than the sum of its parts.

Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai, Elisabeth Elektra, Evi Vine, Steven Hill, members of Abrasive Trees, Burning House and Prosthetic Head convened to improvise the album in early 2021, inspired by a Twitter exchange between Abrasive Trees guitarist/songwriter Matthew Rochford, musician Elisabeth Elektra and fellow artist Nick Hudson about the Isle of Lewis.

A couple of Zoom meetings would subsequently lead to Rochford, Elektra, Vine, Braithwaite, Hill, drummer Ash Babb and cellist Ben Roberts visiting the dramatic location of Great Bernera’s Black Bay Studios on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, where they tracked the songs in just four days: a testament to the musicians’ focused openness to their shared mission and environment.

This is an album of elemental force and evocative poise, its controlled power focused around the ego-free chemistry between the players. By abandoning all certainties, Silver Moth have found something truly special on “Black Bay”.

Silver Moth is…

Ash Babb – drummer in Burning House/Academy of Sun
Stuart Braithwaite – Mogwai/Minor Victories songwriter/guitarist/singer
Elisabeth Elektra – singer/producer/songwriter
Steven Hill – guitarist/keyboards in Evi Vine
Ben Roberts – cellist/bassist/multi-instrumentalist in Evi Vine/Prosthetic Head/Abrasive Trees
Matthew Rochford – guitarist/songwriter of Abrasive Trees
Evi Vine – singer/songwriter/bassist/guitarist

In March, Pink Floyd will release a new deluxe box set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their classic 1973 album “The Dark Side of the Moon”.

The album has been newly remastered for this release and the deluxe box set includes both a CD and a gatefold vinyl version. A brand new Dolby Atmos Mix is included, along with the original 5.1 and the hi-res stereo, however these are spread across two blu-rays and a DVD which is an odd thing to do (The Beatles ditched DVDs for spatial audio five years ago and all this content would comfortably fit on one single blu-ray). The Quad mix (included in the 2011 Immersion box) does not feature and the unreleased tracks from that 12-year-old collection (the 1972 ‘Early Mix’ of the album and the extra audio tracks such as demos and the ‘The Hard Way’ from Household Objects) are also not part of this new package.

The “Live at Wembley Empire Pool” show (from November 1974) has been newly remastered and is made available on vinyl for the first time. The 50th anniversary deluxe box includes this live performance on vinyl and CD and both of those elements are available separately, with artwork featuring an original 1973 line-drawn cover by George Hardie. Fans in Britain would be well advised to ‘lock in’ to Amazon UK’s current vinyl pre-order price of £19 for the “Live at Wembley 1974” vinyl!

The new box also includes two replica seven-inch singles (‘Money’/’Any Colour You Like’ and ‘Us And Them’/’Time’) which brings the total number of audio discs to nine (two CDs, two vinyl LPs, two blu-rays, two seven-inch singles and a DVD). There’s no video content at all.

In terms of other ‘stuff’, there’s the 160-page book curated by photographer Jill Furmanovsky and art-directed by Hipgnosis co-founder Aubrey Powell, but this is available separately for just £30.

The box set also includes a music book of the album, and a replica ‘EMI pamphlet’ and invite to the February 1973 preview which was staged at the London Planetarium. The vinyl record comes with the original posters and stickers and the “Live at Wembley 1974” album also comes with a two posters.

There does not appear to be any standalone reissues of the 2023 remaster of “The Dark Side of the Moon”, so the three physical formats for this 50th anniversary campaign are: deluxe box set, vinyl LP of Live at Wembley 1974 and CD of Live at Wembley 1974. Unlike with “Animals”, they are not making the spatial audio available separately, so buying the box set is the only way to get the Atmos mix, physically.

“The Dark Side of the Moon” 50th Anniversary box, the “Live at Wembley 1974” release and the 160-page book will all be released on 24 March 2023. 

New box set triples the price of the Immersion edition • Includes Dolby Atmos Mix • Live at Wembley 1974 on vinyl for the first time

Brooklyn punk outfit The Men are today sharing their new single and video ‘Anyway I Find You’, the latest to be lifted from their ninth album ‘New York City’ due out February 3rd on Fuzz Club. Where recent singles ‘Hard Livin’’ and ‘God Bless The USA’ honed back in on an abrasive proto-punk/noise-rock sound, it wouldn’t be a The Men record without some detours along the way and the dusty, sun-bleached country-rock of ‘Anyway I Find You’ lives up to that promise.

The Men’s Nick Chiericozzi said of the new single: “‘Anyway I Find You’ was written in a kitchen. The album take is a bit louder and looser than the track’s original intent. It’s akin to the Bo Diddley line, ‘If I get to heaven before you do, I’m gonna make a hole and pull you through.’”

That the Men’s new album returns to a more raw, back-to-basics sound owes largely to the way in which was forged. “The New York City” album was revised, reorganized and shaped until it became clear that things fall into place like the hammer driving the nail or the scythe’s swipe through the tall grass.”

 
First completed with a different tracklist by founding members Chiericozzi and Mark Perro alone in late 2020 using a drum machine, that version was thrown out in favour of the sound of four people getting in a room together and thrashing the songs out live. With drummer Rich Samis and bassist Kevin Faulkner in tow, the resulting LP was recorded live to 2″ tape in Travis Harrison’s (Guided By Voices, Built To Spill) Serious Business studio in Brooklyn.

Out next month, ‘New York City’ is a record that doesn’t stop moving for a second, packed full of the kind of energy you can only really capture in a live setting. “These songs became the blood of the band as the band could only exist for and of these songs. There was no place else to hang their hats. Without making this record, the group would not exist, so there really wasn’t another option. NYC is fluid. It means a lot of different things to all kinds of people. We present the record in that spirit.

The Men’s incoming ‘New York City’ LP, due out February 3rd 2023 on Fuzz Club Records.