The Fat Angel Sings

Porridge Radio seem primed for indie world domination with the release of their amazing second album, “Every Bad“, but then the coronavirus really took the wind and momentum out of their sails. Maybe this will be the year, though, and they also seem to have set their sights beyond just indie. “I kept saying that I wanted everything to be ‘stadium-epic’ – like Coldplay,” singer and songwriter Dana Margolin says.

The U.K. band Porridge Radio have already shared two excellent singles off their forthcoming album “Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky” (out May 20th via Secretly Canadian), “Back to the Radio” and “The Rip.” now they shared a third single, “End of Last Year,” along with an animated video for the track created by Maura Sappilo.

Porridge Radio frontperson Dana Margolin’s considered, heart-on-sleeve lyricism steers “End of Last Year” as she talks herself through what seems like the slow, painful collapse of a relationship she holds dear. “What you take from me / I don’t ever want it back / I don’t want to go back,” she chants over the rising crash of cymbals and the warm melancholy of horns that replace the chiming keyboards that rang out over the song’s intro, signalling that the situation will cave in on itself sooner rather than later. Though it feels and sounds gentler than the other two singles, letting itself gently unfurl rather than storming in and demanding what it’s owed, the song features some of the most devastating imagery we’ve ever heard from the band: “Cut off my shoes instead of taking them off / Cut off my hands because they’re itching so much / Talk to myself because it?s getting so bad / Do you know? / You break everything you touch.” Even when they attempt to be delicate, there’s a defiance to everything Porridge Radio create, taking what could’ve been a whisper of a song in different hands and blowing it up to an eruption that could shake the ground with how much they mean it.

In a statement, Margolin talked about the inspiration behind “End Of Last Year” and the process of making the animated video for the track:

The video is by my friend Maura Sappilo. I’ve been a fan of her work for a long time, and I wanted her to make the video for this song because whilst her work is playful and bright, she knows how to bring the dirty and painful and disgusting aspects of being a person and having relationships into her paintings. Her art is lyrical and sensual and painful and beautiful, and I love how she brought all that to this song.

“End of Last Year” is a love song for my bandmates and for myself. It?s about not trusting my intuition, not trusting my body to heal itself, not trusting the people closest to me, but it is also an ode to all those people, and to difficult platonic love. It came out of a particularly painful period of communication breakdown and high pressure that hurt a lot, but ended in reconciliation and understanding.

October 24th – Nottingham, UK @ Metronome

The forthcoming album ‘Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky’ out May 20th on Secretly Canadian.

Metric have announced the release of a new album, Formentera, which will be out on July 8th. They have also announced a tour and have shared a video for a new album single, “All Comes Crashing.” View the Justin Broadbent-directed video below, along with the album’s cover art and full list of tour dates.

“Not everyone has a conventional life with conventional relationships,” states frontwoman Emily Haines in a press release. “‘All Comes Crashing’ is a love song that goes beyond romantic love, it’s an expression of solidarity with whoever it is you would want to have beside you in the event of catastrophe. It might be your best friend, it might be your blood brother or your dog. The song is dedicated to those you consider your family, whatever that looks like for you.”

Metric’s previous album, Art of Doubt, came out in 2018 via MMI/Crystal Math Music.

The Afghan Whigs announced their first studio album in five years: It’s called “How Do You Burn?” and it’s coming out September 9th via Royal Cream/BMG. The band revealed that two tracks on the album feature backing vocals from the late Mark Lanegan. “It was Mark who named the album,” frontman Greg Dulli revealed. The 10-track album also features Susan Marshalls, Van Hunt, and Marcy Mays.

They’ve also released the first single called “The Getaway” and a video for it directed by Philip Harder and Patrick Pierson. The visual depicts the band in silver astronaut suits. Are they on Earth? Are they on a newly discovered planet? It’s all a bit unclear. The sun blazes as The Afghan Whigs jam in a desert. “Sitting on a wire, hiding on display / Waiting for the night, as I destroy the day,” Dulli sings. But wait! There’s another astronaut and they walk toward an eerie space station with a rocket. The rocket has the letters “USA” on it. Maybe they’re on Earth, or maybe it’s an abandoned ship on another planet? Who’s to say.

“How Do You Burn?” is out September 9th on Royal Cream/BMG.

Jethro Tull live audio at the Los Angeles Forum June 23rd1972. This is one of my favourite bootlegs of the “Thick As A Brick” tour with great sound and a very enthusiastic audience, so I dressed it up with lots of photos. I especially like how Jeffrey’s bass playing comes to the front in the mix.

Among my favourite Jethro Tull show. Which is difficult to gage when considering the shows the band performed “A Passion Play” in 73 and The “Warchild” tour in 75.
This though was highly anticipated and a landmark in terms of rock concerts of the day, as funny as it was surprising and electrifying.

Setlist:

0:00 Introduction 2:48 01A. Thick as a Brick part 1 (opens with a few seconds of Only Solitaire) 7:11 Telephone Interruption “It appears there is a very urgent telephone message for a Mr Mike Nelson if he’s in the audience tonight – I think there might be a dover sole on the line” 7:39 01B. Thick as a Brick part 1 (continued) 16:48 02. Keyboard Instrumental 22:26 03. Thick as a Brick part 2 25:08 04. Flute Instrumental 26:27 05. Flute Solo (includes God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Bourée) 37:24 06A. Thick as a Brick part 3 40:32 Jeffrey: Ian is now playing a rhythmic link sequence . . . 41:26 06B. Thick as a Brick part 3 (continued) 46:59 07. News and Weather 52:22 08. Thick as a Brick part 4 54:05 09. Drum Solo 1:05:50 10. Thick As A Brick Jam (We are geared toward the average rather than the exceptional) 1:12:23 11. Thick as a Brick part 5 1:17:14 Applause 1:18:04 “And now for our second number”, Introduction to Jeffrey, Jeffrey introduction to Cross-Eyed Mary 1:19:36 12. Cross-Eyed Mary 1:22:36 “What’s the name of that song they used to play” . . . 1:22:58 13. A New Day Yesterday 1:37:45 14. Aqualung 1:44:36 Thank you, applause 1:48:09 Introduction 1:49:50 15. Wind-Up 1:54:46 15. Instrumental 1:59:31 16. Guitar Solo 2:06:19 17. Locomotive Breath 2:12:53 18. Hard-headed English General 2:14:00 19. Instrumental 2:15:50 20. Wind Up (reprise) 2:17:56 Applause

Newly announced today, on this session the Perth-based rock n roll machine Psychedelic Porn Crumpets rip through a full platter of their high-speed tunes, shot in two locations and heralding their new LP, Night Gnomes. The Perth-based psychedelic rock n roll machine rip through a full platter of their high-speed tunes, shot in two locations and heralding their new LP, Night Gnomes. A kaleidoscopic array of crunchy riffage, addictive melodies and no-holds barred psychedelia, all on tap to feed your head.

A mix of sprawling, exploratory, psych-pop, prog rock, and heavy garage riffs, Australia’s Psychedelic Porn Crumpets rose out of Perth’s indie underground, earning a devoted fan base through hard touring and releases like 2016’s “High Visceral, Pt. 1” and 2019’s more muscular “And Now for the Whatchamacallit“.

releases May 13th, 2022

Vocals/Guitar: Jack McEwan
Guitar/Backing Vocals: Luke Parish
Guitar/Keys: Chip Hazard
Bass: Wayan Biliondana
Drums: Danny Caddy

The Fuzz Club Edition comes on Fire Galaxy Vinyl and is limited to 300 copies.

Girlpool – the Los Angeles–based duo of Avery Tucker and Harmony Tividad – have followed up 2019’s “What Chaos Is Imaginary” with a new album called “Forgiveness“. Out now via ANTI-Records, the record was previewed with the tracks ‘Dragging My Life Into a Dream’, ‘Faultline’ and ‘Lie Love Lullaby’. “A lot of my songs on this record are about relationship dynamics where I experienced frustration and pain, and struggling to hold a lot of complexity in my emotions,” Tucker said in press materials. “Writing “Forgiveness” helped me fit all those pieces into an acceptance: that my fate pushes me exactly where I need to go.” Tividad added: “A lot of life feels like unavoidable experiences to me.

To me, “Forgiveness” is about accepting that concept. It’s about forgiving reality for having to be exactly what it is all the time.”

When Girlpool released their fourth LP at the beginning of 2022, it would have been hard to predict that by the end of the year, the folk-turned-synth-pop duo would have disbanded for the foreseeable future. That this may be the last statement from Avery Tucker and Harmony Tividad makes what was already a career high feel all the more poignant, from the forward-thinking industrial-pop of “Nothing Gives Me Pleasure” to the dreamy, folk-leaning farewells of “Butterfly Bulletholes” and “Love333.” It’s the sound of a longtime duo finding thrilling new paths forward, even if it means starting over anew.

Released April 29th, 2022

Written by Girlpool

There’s a line from the first Melody’s Echo Chamber album where French psych-pop voyageuse Melody Prochet confesses “in the calm I find my truth”. Ten years on, that same principle bears some pretty heavenly fruit with “Emotional Eternal“, a more grounded and complete record than what has come before.

Melody’s Echo Chamber has released her third album, “Emotional Eternal”, via Domino Recordings. Like 2018’s “Bon Voyage“, the LP was initially recorded in the outskirts of Stockholm with Reine Fiske Fredrik Swahn of The Amazing. The singles ‘Looking Backward’, ‘Alma’, ‘Personal Message’ preceded the record. “I hope the record has that uplifting quality,” Melody Prochet said in a statement. “I wanted to be more grounded and mindful through the process. I guided the sessions with simplicity—a contrast with the maximalism of “Bon Voyage” and the wilderness of my delusions.

I made some big and impactful decisions and changes to my life. It took me to where it is peaceful, and I think the record reflects this. It’s more direct.”
 While admittedly not as adventurous or wildly experimental as her last release, “Emotional Eternal” supplements that with a much sharper focus and much more consistent sound.

released April 29th, 2022

After blazing a trail with 2020’s critically acclaimed “Good Luck Seeker“, The Waterboys waste no time in delivering their brand new record “All Souls Hill” on Cooking Vinyl. First track “The Liar” is a creeping, groove-laden masterpiece, taking a powerful, descriptive swipe at Trump and the lies and deceit that infest those in power.

 The video, featuring a haunting image by satirical collagist Cold War Steve, amplifies its subject matter in dark eerie fashion. Mike Scott says, “The Liar” is a comment on recent and still-current events, and both song and video speak for themselves. We are proud to work on this video with the brilliant Cold War Steve “.

The Waterboys have dropped the trippy video for their new single ‘Here We Go Again’ the third taste from their forthcoming new album, “All Souls Hill”, out May 6th on Cooking Vinyl. The album follows 2020’s critically acclaimed album “Good Luck Seeker”.

‘Here We Go Again’ is a rousing singalong whose freshness belies the lyrical subject matter. “It’s the idea we’re living through a communal Groundhog Day. We’re all looking at the news headlines, but nobody seems to learn the lessons,” Mike Scott said of the track. “As a culture we keep making the same mistakes. It’s a wry look at humans not being so smart – and yet I have good fun being one.” 

“All Souls Hill” is nine tracks of Waterboys brilliance, mixed by Scott himself. “All Souls Hil”l is current, on the money social commentary, but with an air of hope.

“All Souls Hill” is mysterious, otherworldly, tune-banging and emotional,” comments Mike. “I made it with Waterboys old and new and my co-producer, brilliant sonic guru Simon Dine. Its nine songs tell stories, explore dreamscapes, and cast a cold but hopeful eye on the human drama.”

All Souls Hill is nine tracks of Waterboys brilliance, all mixed by Mike Scott himself. “All Souls Hill” is current, on the money social commentary, but with an air of hope. “All Souls Hill” is mysterious, otherworldly, tune-banging and emotional.” comments Mike. “I made it with Waterboys old and new and my co-producer, brilliant sonic guru Simon Dine. Its nine songs tell stories, explore dreamscapes, and cast a cold but hopeful eye on the human drama.”

The Waterboys will headline at WICKHAM FESTIVAL in WICKHAM, near FAREHAM HAMPSHIRE, UK on Sun 7 August.

out on Cooking Vinyl  The Waterboys “All Souls Hill” To be Released 22/04/22

“Radiate Like This” — Warpaint’s much-anticipated new record, not to mention their first in almost six years — arrives with its own very modern mythology intact, continuing the strange, brilliant, beautiful story of the band and quite neatly picking up where “Heads Up” left off. If the previous album was the coming of age, “Radiate Like This” presents Warpaint mk II in all their glory, a luminous coalescence of sound and vision which stubbornly belies its genesis, with the quartet of Kokal, Theresa Wayman, Stella Mozgawa and Jenny Lee Lindberg all recording their parts separately in various cities. “It’s the first time we’ve ever made an album like that, but in a weird way, it made us take our time with everything”, muses Kokal. “The process felt more meditative, less rushed.”

This new sense of quiet confidence can be heard all through the album, which pulsates with ideas, energy and — most crucially — gorgeous melodies. Listen on in wonder.”

Rough Trade Nottingham is very excited to present a live performance from Warpaint at Metronome. This unique event celebrates Warpaint’s much anticipated new record, not to mention their first in almost 6 years ‘Radiate Like This’ released May 6th via Virgin / Heirlooms. Performing 6th May , METRONOME Nottingham,

“Sharon Van Etten has always been the kind of artist who helps people make sense of the world around them, and her sixth album, “We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong“, concerns itself with how we feel, mourn, and reclaim our agency when we think the world — or at least, our world might be falling apart. How do we protect the things most precious to us from destructive forces beyond our control? How do we salvage something worthwhile when it seems all is lost? And if we can’t, or we don’t, have we loved as well as we could in the meantime?

Did we try hard enough? In considering these questions and her own vulnerability in the face of them, Van Etten creates a stunning meditation on how life’s changes can be both terrifying and transformative. “We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong” articulates the beauty and power that can be rescued from our wreckages.”

“Used To It” by Sharon Van Etten, out now on Jagjaguwar.