NEW MUSIC: WILD SWIM - NEW DAWN

A band tipped for big things in this blog's 2012 review, Oxford quintet Wild Swim have been gathering their creative energies ready for an imminent studio hibernation, the fruits of which will be seen in 2014. In the mean time, the band have given have left a Hansel-and-Gretel-esque trail of aural goodies for fans to feed on. The latest of these offerings, 'New Dawn', follows much in the footsteps of previous singles 'Echo' and 'Another Night', further establishing the Wild Swim sound. The track is characterised by Richard Samson's caramel vocals, effervescent piano and a kind of effortlessness that one does not often hear from a group of lads who have yet to celebrate their 21st birthdays. A triumphant look into the future both lyrically and musically, 'New Dawn' bodes well for the much-anticipated debut album.

'New Dawn' is released on 21st October; check the track out below.

NEW MUSIC: TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - CHANGING OF THE SEASONS

On the back of announcing a new EP and a headline show at the O2 Arena, Two Door Cinema Club premiered the EP's title track 'Changing of the Seasons' this evening on Radio 1. Produced by electronic artist Madeon, this track indicates a change in direction for the Northern Irish trio, but it is unclear whether this new direction will prove fruitful. All the trademark Two Door elements are here; the lilting guitar riffs and smooth vocals are present and correct, but the electronic presence sounds as if it has been messily placed atop everything else and left alone with an "it'll do" attitude. The attempt to change direction is commendable, but change for the sake of change is not; in this case the phrase "if it ain't broke don't fix it" springs to mind. 

Two Door Cinema Club

ALBUM: OUTFIT - PERFORMANCE

Liverpool quintet Outfit have been on our radar ever since their run of shows supporting the indefatigable Everything Everything on their February UK tour. Since then they have been tantalising fans by uploading album demos for a few hours at a time throughout the spring, and the finished article, in the form of debut record Performance, will be released next week.

If, like us, you’re feeling delirious from the improbable heatwave hitting the UK, this album will not do much to quell the delirium - if anything, it is more likely to enhance it. Performance is transformative in several respects: whether you’re after a bad-dream kind of ambience, some Eastern vibes or party atmospherics, this record will take you there.  Not only does Performance move up and out in this manner, but also forwards and backwards; while ‘Spraypaint’ evokes comparisons with Tears For Fears and company, album closer ‘Two Islands’ could not be more current, sure to be heard in hip high-street clothes stores the world over.

The title track, nestled in the middle of the album, is a refreshing moment of clarity in amongst the madness. A cautionary tale on the now all-encompassing nature of performance, this track has Andrew Hunt mournfully crooning “now everything echoes the same way”. It is clear that to Outfit, the idea of performance is not just a lyrical touchstone but something that permeates the record in numerous ways. “All the world’s a stage” Shakespeare once wrote, and the band have taken this old adage to heart, creating percussion out of DVD drives, snowy footfall and snooker balls among others.

This is a bold debut; Outfit have cultivated a sound borne of confidence and imagination, a combination which many bands don’t manage to achieve this quickly. Performance is a delightfully chameleon record that will, if there is any justice in the world, turn many heads. For those who embrace the adventure on this album, there are many rewards to be had.

8/10

Stream the album here

Outfit

EP: CHVRCHES - RECOVER

After the success of single 'The Mother We Share', CHVRCHES have released EP 'Recover' to tide fans over while the Scottish trio work on their debut album. There is an awful lot of hype surrounding this band, and so far they look up to the challenge of working under such pressure. The title track is, to put it simply, massive; synths soar, as do Lauren Mayberry's defiant vocals. 'Zvvl' and 'Now Is Not The Time' do much to enchant the ears, and while the tendency is to skip past the remixes that so often pad out a single or EP nowadays, both of the 'Recover' remixes are credible listens. With a busy summer schedule and a debut record imminent, CHVRCHES look set to become one of the bands of 2013. 

CHVRCHES

VIDEO: VUKOVI - THICK SKINNED

After the release of latest EP 'Sweet Swears' last October, Scottish quartet Vukovi have dropped a video of 'Thick Skinned' live in session for our delectation. 'Thick Skinned' is arguably the strongest track on 'Sweet Swears' and this video showcases not only the track's irresistible appeal but also the raw energy that has earned the band such a positive reputation on the road. This is nearly four minutes of indefatigable and chameleon-like rock; the band cite such disparate influences as Florence Welch, Deftones and Foals, and all of these influences can be located within the many layers of 'Thick Skinned'.  With a new live session soon to be unleashed, don't expect Vukovi to run out of steam any time soon. 

Vukovi